The US job market started 2025 by adding 143,000 jobs last month, down from the 169,000 forecasted by economists, according to the Labor Department. The unemployment rate dropped from 4.1% to 4%, to remain around historic lows. The "jobs report has likely taken a March rate cut off the table," says Principal Asset Management's Seema Shah.

US labor productivity slipped to 1.2% in Quarter 4 after rising at a rate of 2.3% during Q3, per data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Overall, productivity was up 2.3% during 2024, marking the highest annual gain since 2010 after stripping out the pandemic effect of 2020. Unit labor costs rose 3% in Q4, while hourly compensation grew 4.2%.

Arca Continental Coca-Cola Southwest Beverages plans to cut the ribbon on its 120,000-square-foot distribution center in Waco, Texas, on Feb. 12. Coca-Cola Southwest Beverages President Jean Claude Tissot, various officials and representatives of the Waco Chamber of Commerce plan to participate in the ceremony.

AI is becoming a fundamental tool in business, especially in procurement and cybersecurity. Seth Catalli, chief revenue officer at Globality, notes that AI-enhanced procurement systems are enabling more informed decision-making and optimizing vendor relationships. However, Simon Pamplin, chief technology officer at Certes, emphasizes the need for robust data security to ensure AI reliability, advocating for data-centric security measures to protect against sophisticated cyberthreats

Amazon is advancing its warehouse robotics technology by introducing six new models in the past three years, enhancing nearly every aspect of fulfillment. These robots are employed in tasks ranging from picking and packing to inventory management, significantly cutting costs and improving efficiency. The company estimates savings from its robot fleet of $4.5 billion to $10 billion annually by 2030.

B2B brands are increasingly using Super Bowl ads to build long-term brand awareness and engage a large audience, writes Vanessa Chin of System1. Examples of successful B2B Super Bowl ads include ClickUp's humorous take on version control, Salesforce's sustainability message with Matthew McConaughey and Workday's "rock star" campaign featuring music legends.

Business automation can transform B2B marketing and sales by simplifying processes, reducing human intervention and enhancing efficiency. Marathon Health's success in generating $66 million in net new pipeline revenue by integrating AI-driven tools and personalized marketing illustrates the potential. Automation supports marketing by improving personalization, content distribution and real-time analytics, while also benefiting HR, payroll and customer support.

Change fatigue is increasingly impacting corporate environments, with rapid transformations leading to employee burnout and reduced productivity. Experts suggest that treating change fatigue as a business risk -- and employing continuous design approaches -- can help organizations adapt more effectively.

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