Piggly Wiggly Midwest stores operated by C&S Wholesale Grocers in Wisconsin and Illinois are piloting Focal Systems' Focal Operating System, which uses artificial intelligence and automation to optimize inventory management, ordering, in-store labor and merchandising. "Our partnership with Focal Systems will enable us to provide an even better shopper experience by leveraging the most innovative retail automation technology available," said Mark McGowan, senior vice president of retail at C&S.
The latest warehouse management and transportation management systems are adaptable to a company's particular needs, take up less space and use automation and artificial intelligence to facilitate data analysis and predict outcomes, writes Brielle Jaekel. Companies that want to adopt a new system should consider the user experience and the number of required updates, Jaekel writes.
Experiential artificial intelligence, which incorporates human oversight and regular modification, can help businesses enhance performance and "generate informed and ethical decisions" along the supply chain, writes Usama Fayyad, executive director of the Institute for Experiential Artificial Intelligence at Northeastern University. The best way to start with experiential AI is "to identify the problem to be solved, measure its scope in the form of data, and then seek out AI experts who can help design, develop, and implement an effective solution that addresses the organization's specific needs," Fayyad writes.
Salespeople can actually benefit from a recession by taking advantage of cost-cutting opportunities, greater access to decision-makers and decreased competition and shortages, writes sales trainer Paul Reilly. Recessions also show salespeople how they can improve and motivate them "to find something greater," Reilly writes.
Seth Richtsmeier explains eight ways marketers can generate leads via social media, including hosting live events, posting video testimonials and running contests. Other tips include using targeted social ads, referral campaigns and video content.
Leaders are part of their team, but not being able to share some information or be part of some gatherings can make the position feel lonely, writes Kevin Eikenberry. Leaders can minimize that feeling by building trust with their team, acknowledging the situation and creating networks of trusted colleagues in other parts of the company and industry, Eikenberry advises.
Maximize the value of those who are opposed to changes in your organization by giving them the role of skeptic to root out weaknesses in your plan, and empower those who back the changes, writes Greg Satell. "If we are going to overcome our most fervent opponents we don't need a better argument, we need a strategy," Satell writes.
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