Author: Peggy Smedley
Today’s executives have a lot on their agenda. Amid climate change, global conflict, a worker shortage, and supply-chain hiccups, many need to prioritize objectives across many areas of the business, while also evaluating long-term costs, risks, quality, and ROI (return on investment). We are now at the juncture where technology needs to deliver value to organizations that are looking to scale and deliver new services. It is no longer a nice-to-have; it is a must-have. These are all tall orders today in an ever-changing environment that continues to experience exponential technological growth. In an attempting to master this level of…
Here in South Carolina, manufacturing is a growing market, leading to more job opportunities and more sustainability for all. There are so many benefits when we bring manufacturing home. Let’s explore some of these right now by looking at a few recent examples right here in South Carolina. Consider the case of Redwood Materials, which has announced its next Battery Materials Campus, just outside of Charleston, South Carolina, and will break ground this quarter. The plant will recycle, refine, and manufacture anode and cathode components on more than 600 acres. Here’s the value for the local community. It will create…
Looking to the year ahead, there are several challenges and opportunities on the horizon for the construction industry that will require new ways of working and maybe even hiring in the months ahead. Let’s take a closer look at predictions for 2023 and beyond—and identify some of the biggest trends to watch specifically in construction. A new whitepaper from JLG Industries, an Oshkosh Corp. company, highlights five emerging megatrends to watch in the next five years, as we enter a post-pandemic era. Let’s explore each of these five areas briefly and some other thoughts as well. Shifts in Growth and…
During the COVID-19 pandemic, customers learned new buying patterns—namely that products could be ordered online and delivered to their door. As such ecommerce has changed drastically in the past few years, and industries are being reimagined. Case in point: the automotive car buying experience. This is precisely the conversation I had with Smith Codio, director of customer experience, automotive, mobility, and transportation industry, Microsoft, on The Peggy Smedley Show. “For most people, a car is the second biggest purchase they will ever make,” he says. “That process is not the most user friendly or customer centric. We believe, at Microsoft,…
With the economy slowing down and supply-chain hiccups still happening around the globe in all industries, are truck sales up or down? Is now a good time to buy—or are there still hurdles? And how does technology factor into all of this? All in all, it appears that sales are still somewhat stagnant, although research does point to some interesting trends to keep an eye on including the rise of EVs (electric vehicles) and the growth of telematics. Data tells the story. Vehicle Sales in 2022 U.S. new vehicle sales for the month of November 2022 represented a dip of…
Our towns and our homes are changing, as technology continues to advance—and growth is imminent too. In fact, Grand View Research suggests the global smart-home market size is expected to expand at a growth rate of 27.04% from 2022 to 2030. Some of the biggest drivers include the convenience and ease of installation of smart-home devices and the demand being generated by homeowners for such technology in the home. Some areas of connectivity in the home include lighting control, entertainment devices, HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning), home appliances, smart furniture, and more. Grand View Research suggests we will continue…
As many of us in this industry know, our devices are powered by software and that software is powered by semiconductor chips—and it is predicted to be a trillion-dollar industry 2030, driven by demand for higher quality products and digital experiences in our lives. This is a conversation I recently had with Tim Ryder, general manager, U.S. Manufacturing Sector, Microsoft, on The Peggy Smedley Show about the state of the semiconductor sector and how the industry is always evolving to power the continuous connectivity that we demand in our lives. “They are always under continuous pressure to innovate around power,…
As technology proliferates and the amount of data surges, are contractors faced with too much “digital clutter?” One new survey points to new digital habits and how to manage the digital clutter that exists in both life and at work. The 2022 Cyber Hoarding Report from HighSpeedInternet.com suggests Americans are spending an average of eight hours online each day in 2022. A survey of 1,000 Americans shows 62% feel stress or anxiety due to the sheer number of digital files they have, which can manifest in slower internet speeds and increased cybersecurity risks. When it comes to the construction industry,…
If we know lighting can reduce crashes up to 42% for nighttime injury pedestrian crashes at intersections, then why do some states still have poor lighting at nighttime? According to the U.S. DOT (Dept. of Transportation) FHWA (Federal Highway Admin.), the number of fatal crashes occurring in daylight is about the same as those that occur in darkness. However, the nighttime fatality rate is three times the daytime rate because only 25% of vehicle miles traveled occur at night. Therefore, at nighttime, vehicles traveling at higher speeds may not have the ability to stop once a hazard or change in…
Scope 1, Scope 2, and Scope 3—and sometimes even Scope 4—are a greater focus for businesses all around the world. Many businesses recognize that CO2 emissions are harmful to the environment and want to do the right thing. In recent years, we have seen the movement toward reducing emissions pick up speed dramatically. In some cases, we are seeing companies almost take an about turn when it comes to focusing on reducing emissions and being more sustainable. “If you look at science-based targets initiatives, or just the number of organizations in the world—which is companies and governments in the world—that…