Author: Peggy Smedley
I am sure by now many of you have seen the statistic that shows 75% of companies encounter rework at least twice a week. It is startling, to say the least, but I have some thoughts about what might lie a bit deeper under the surface. First, let’s dig into the report, which polled 541 decisionmakers from construction companies in the United States and the United Kingdom. The research is from XYZ Reality, which was carried out in partnership with market research company OnePoll. The research finds delays and defects are squeezing tight markets, with a variety of reasons including…
Sustainable materials have the potential to completely transform the construction industry in myriad ways, ultimately benefiting the homeowner. One example comes from UPM Biochemicals and URSA, which are working together to develop environmentally friendly building insulation. The result will be reduced energy consumption and lowered emissions. Why Go Green? Before we get into the details about this particular insulation, let’s explore the benefits of healthier insulation, which we have written about on this blog before. In addition to being better for the environment, eco-friendly insulation can cut costs in the long run because it is better at keeping heat or…
Even though we have been talking about climate change for decades, and ESG (environmental, social, and governance) has been around for about 20 years now, the tipping point was 2020. We began to see a greater focus on extreme weather events, social justice issues—particularly in the United States—and COVID-19. All of this has accelerated the broader understanding of ESG, but it seems there is still sometimes confusion. I recently sat down with Matt Sekol, sustainability industry advocate, Microsoft, to discuss this very topic. He explains that ESG often gets conflated with a lot of things including sustainability, climate change, and…
Peggy Smedley talks all about autonomous vehicles on The Peggy Smedley Show. She says the closer we get to automated vehicles, the closer we are to huge societal transformation—but there is one really big caveat. She also discusses: One patent that could make a big difference. One very critical thing that needs to happen in order for autonomous vehicles to take off. Some very important questions businesses in this space need to be asking themselves. peggysmedleyshow.com (6/6/23 – 825) IoT, Internet of Things, Peggy Smedley, artificial intelligence, machine learning, big data, digital transformation, cybersecurity, blockchain, 5G, cloud, sustainability, future of…
Peggy Smedley and Karen Wayland, CEO, GridWise Alliance, talk about the current state of the grid and why it is receiving so much attention right now. She says it is undergoing a rapid transformation, which presents opportunities and challenges, and explains how the grid began with large generators and it evolved with new technologies on the grid and behind the customer meter. They also discuss: Increasing customer demands for clean energy, security risks, and severe weather events that have the potential to disrupt the grid. How to protect the data and use all the information to make the grid respond…
Peggy Smedley and Bob Underwood, author, Dam It! Electrifying America and Taming Her Waterways, talk about his background and his book. He says what led him to write the book is the fact he lived in high school with a grandfather who was a legendary dam builder. They also discuss: The history of the race to electrify America. How hydropower fits into the big picture. His biggest takeaway that future generations should understand. bobunderwood.com (6/6/23 – 825) IoT, Internet of Things, Peggy Smedley, artificial intelligence, machine learning, big data, digital transformation, cybersecurity, blockchain, 5G, cloud, sustainability, future of work, podcast,…
EVs (electric vehicles) are speeding on the scene at a rapid rate—something my team and I love to talk about and one we have shared a lot right here on this blog many times. But we would be remiss if we didn’t address the fact that material shortages are quickly putting the brakes on the rapid growth? Research from a university in Europe uncovers some interesting trends. With the growth of electrification and digitalization in the car, there is a growing need for critical metals in electric vehicles, but the challenge is only a small amount of metals are currently…
The construction industry is facing an ongoing labor shortage that has been years in the making and has reached new heights this year. Research from the ABC (Associated Builders and Contractors) suggests construction has the tall task of attracting an estimated 546,000 additional workers on top of the normal pace of hiring in 2023 to meet the demand for labor. As such, it becomes critical to find ways to optimize each labor hour to get the most performance and value. This is where technology enters the equation. Field solutions can help improve efficiency on the construction jobsite while also attracting…
I have been writing about the supply chain—and cybersecurity—for decades, warning that we needed the right technology—and the right security protocols—in place to make our supply chains resilient and more secure. Seriously, for those of you who follow this column, you must be saying I sound like a broken record. I know what the heck is that? But all kidding aside, this is a problem. And a new report shows cyberattacks targeting software supply chains will cost businesses billions, and I mean billions, and most businesses can’t afford paying out millions, let alone billions. The study, from Juniper Research, examines…
Homes are changing, with the rise of smart and connected devices. Such is the case with home health devices, which are poised to transform the smart-home market, driven largely by remote-monitoring technologies. This will absolutely transform our homes, enabling many of us to age in place. New research shows the smart-home healthcare market is still growing, but the challenge is the scale of the opportunity still remains largely underpenetrated. That means a lot of opportunity and growth still exists for many companies. Here’s just a quick glimpse at what the numbers are showing from ABI Research, which reveals how this…