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In this debut episode of "Hedaux, Hogg & the Machines", host Simon is joined by guest co-host Ed Hogg, CEO of SolvedBy.ai. Together, they explore the fast-moving state of AI technology and its practical applications across retail, hospitality, and customer-facing environments.

Key takeaways:

🔹 Data Security: Why enterprise security settings matter when using LLMs and the hidden risks of unvetted open-source models.

🔹 Head Office Efficiency: How area managers are using AI agents to automate weekly store action plans in minutes.

🔹 Shop Floor AI: How retail giants like Walmart, Tesco, Lowe's, and M&S are rolling out AI tools to frontline teams.

🔹 What’s Next: What to expect from upcoming models, enterprise forecasting tools, and the realistic timeline for store robotics.

📅 Save the Date! Join us live at the Productivity Forum on 10th September in Birmingham.

🎟️ Secure your spot: ReThink Forum 2026

Download a copy of our first ReThink Productivity Retail Report

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This month on our business productivity podcast, we spoke to Will Eadie, Chief Strategy Officer at WorkJam.
We discussed how Task Management tools are helping drive compliance, productivity and colleague engagement, and looked ahead to when systems will automatically suggest actions, saving even more admin time.

Key takeaways:

Productivity Drives Engagement: Why giving frontline workers clear expectations and streamlined tasks boosts overall job satisfaction and engagement.

The £6.25 Billion Opportunity: Insights from the Rethink Productivity 2026 report, highlighting the massive savings organizations can unlock by managing capacity intelligently.

From Insights to Execution: How AI is moving beyond data-dumping to provide store managers with actual decision support and dynamic task prioritization based on real-time signals like footfall and POS transactions.

Democratizing Tasks: Real-world examples of how digital collaboration platforms allow managers to assign tasks based on skill and availability, keeping operations running smoothly even across differing shift patterns.

The Autonomous Frontline: A look ahead at the next 12 months, predicting a shift toward systems that automatically suggest optimized actions—freeing managers from administrative burdens so they can focus on coaching teams and serving customers.

Event Alert: Catch up with the WorkJam team at the Rethink Forum on September 10th in Birmingham.

📅 Save the Date! Join us live at the Productivity Forum on 10th September in Birmingham.

🎟️ Secure your spot: ReThink Forum 2026

Download a copy of our first ReThink Productivity Retail Report

#theproductivityexperts
Register for the 2026 Productivity Forum
Download a copy of our first ReThink Productivity Retail Report
Connect to Simon on LinkedIn
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Send us Fan Mail

We sit down with Peter Kuhlang, CEO of the MTM Association, to unpack MTM as a process language that turns work description into reliable time standards. We also test the hype around AI by looking at how video and motion data can speed up analysis without losing credibility.

• Peter’s path from industrial engineering to leading MTM globally
• What MTM is and why predetermined motion time systems matter
• How the MTM Association maintains methods, rights, and training standards
• Picking the right MTM method based on repetitiveness and detail needed
• The top benefits we see in practice: transparency, standardisation, cost planning
• Where AI helps and where human judgement still has to step in
• How MTM Motion validates AI-identified motions into a correct MTM analysis

📅 Save the Date! Join us live at the Productivity Forum on 10th September in Birmingham.

🎟️ Secure your spot: ReThink Forum 2026

#theproductivityexperts
Register for the 2026 Productivity Forum
Download a copy of our first ReThink Productivity Retail Report
Connect to Simon on LinkedIn
Follow ReThink on LinkedIn