Author: Peggy Smedley
For decades, ERP (enterprise-resource planning) systems have been the backbone of business. They brought together finance, manufacturing, supply chains, procurement, human resources, and customer data into one centralized platform. Then came M2M (machine-to-machine) communications and the rise of the IoT (Internet of Things), connecting physical assets, equipment, and infrastructure to digital systems in realtime. Now, AI (artificial intelligence) has entered the conversation—and many are beginning to ask one really big question: Will AI be the end of ERP? I’d like to add my two cents to this conversation. For one, this isn’t the first time we have had this conversation.…
Journey back with me 20 years ago. Manufacturing leaders were asking whether automation would fundamentally change the workforce. Today, the conversation has shifted, albeit only slightly. Now, the debate centers on AI (artificial intelligence), robotics, and what many are beginning to call physical AI. And once again, the fear narrative dominates the headlines: Will machines replace people? But perhaps we are asking the wrong question. The manufacturing industry has always evolved through disruption. Steam power changed labor. Electrification changed productivity. The internet changed connectivity. Industrial IoT (Internet of Things) changed data access. And now AI is changing decision-making itself. Yet…
Safety isn’t just nice to have on construction jobsites. It is a business imperative, and many construction companies are beginning to recognize and embrace this. A new report illustrates exactly this, highlighting how strategic investment in workplace safety can transform a construction jobsite. The latest Health and Safety Performance Report from the ABC (Associated Builders and Contractors) shows comprehensive safety programs and leadership engagement can achieve incident rates nearly seven times safer than the industry average. That is a big difference. We are talking achieving incident rates 686% safer than the U.S. Bureau of Labor statistics construction industry average, reducing…
We are at a critical point in time where data is the new oil, but to access that precious new oil is all the buzz. We must have the correct tools and infrastructure to drill for it, and that critical infrastructure all rests on erecting more data centers. Construction companies are now tasked with building this infrastructure of the future, which will not be an easy feat. Here at Constructech, Connected World, and The Peggy Smedley Show, we have watched closely the trends related to the North American engineering and construction market, and there is one clear trend for 2026:…
In the warehouse and distribution center operational space, the required periodic task that is loathed and sometimes feared by operations people, and disruptive to daily order fulfillment operations, is the taking of a physical inventory of the merchandise stored and stocked within the four walls. Merchandise stored and stocked in a warehouse or distribution center has a monetary value, and in the United States, owners of the merchandise must adhere to the accounting requirements of the FASB (Financial Accounting Standards Board). The FASB sets GAAP (generally accepted accounting standards) regarding how inventory is measured, valued, and reported based on the…
Today, AI (artificial intelligence) is reshaping business fast, but there is still a gap. This is precisely the conversation that is happening at IBM Think this week, May 4-7, in Boston, Mass., as we explore day zero of the AI revolution. The reality is AI is here now and we must start taking action. “The gap between who is winning and who is falling behind is increasing. What I want you to start thinking about is why is that happening,” Arvind Krishna, chairman and CEO, IBM, says in his keynote. He shares 80% of executives expect significant AI revenue by…
Construction Safety Week, which is May 4-8, serves as an important reminder of the shared responsibility we are all required on creating safer construction jobsites. Safety is not just a buzzword. Let’s set the record straight right now. This six-letter word must be a prerequisite if we want to ensure everyone goes home safely at the end of each day. It is so important, it needs to be a fundamental part of the job. And this means focusing on education, awareness, and proactive practices to eliminate risks while they are employed. Here’s the challenge. We have barely scared the surface…
Here at Connected World, we have always said data just for data’s sake doesn’t provide any value for anyone. This is a conversation we need to be having in today’s AI (artificial intelligence)-driven world. Rather what OEMs (original-equipment manufacturers) need is that critical, rich data that comes around the IoT (Internet of Things) data. What they need is contextual data. A 2025 Deloitte survey of 600 manufacturing executives found 80% plan to invest 20% or more of their improvement budgets in smart manufacturing initiatives, with a focus on foundational tools and technologies. These include automation hardware, data analytics, sensors, and…
For years, financial management in construction has been complex to say the least. Project-based work, multiple entries, decentralized teams, and constantly shifting costs created a level of nuance, which led to fragmented visibility, delayed reporting, and decisions made without access to the full picture. But now all of that is starting to change. Construction accounting is evolving, and it is quickly becoming a strategic function rather than just a backoffice necessity. First and foremost, I hope this change is for the long haul. I’ve written in this column many times about the need for real transformation, but it never sticks…
Consider this fun fact: 87% of business leaders expect AI (artificial intelligence) to reshape jobs within a year. However, only 29% believe their workforce is truly ready, according to Kyndryl’s 2025 Readiness Report. Industry is so consumed by AI hype that it’s forgetting the obvious: you can’t scale what your people aren’t ready to use. Companies are buying technology faster than they’re building capability and then wondering why nothing transforms and businesses freak out. It demonstrates organizations are still thinking about jobs in static terms while technology is evolving dynamically. One new research hub aims to change all of this.…