Q&A with Jay Gaines, CMO at Forrester

Media 7 | April 22, 2020

Cameron Worth, CEO & Founder of SharpEnd leads the company’s mission to help brands move closer than ever to consumers by connecting packaging, retail and experiential activity. He is a regular speaker and writer on how to build brands in a connected world. He has spoken at Cannes, the Festival of Marketing, LuxePack Monaco and New York, Ad:Week Europe and New York, DMA, the Connected Consumer Conference, Mobile World Congress and the IoT World Forum. MEDIA 7: How did the idea of “the agency of things” come to your mind? CAMERON WORTH: SharpEnd was created in 2015 as the world’s first Internet of Things focused agency, so there is a slight play on words when we say we’re the Agency of Things. I think the idea of giving things their own agency is an interesting concept, and the strapline fits our capabilities on multiple levels. M7: In what way does technology drive the association of SharpEnd with global brands? What approaches are followed to enable sustainability? CW: Our simple proposition is to help build brands in a connected world, and to do that you must always start with identified consumer needs or pain points and look at technology as just an enabler to deliver an appropriate solution (when appropriate).  Take the issue of sustainability, which is often a pain point for brands that grapple with issues such as how we can reward sustainable behaviour change. One of our approaches to this could be to look at communicating the recycling credentials of the different products. Whilst the consumer can engage with a product as part of a wider consumer experience, the same technology could also house content that could tell you whether the product is recyclable, which type of bin it goes in etc. SharpEnd’s work with Unilever is a case in point. We built a digital product that incentivised recycling through gamification but also served to educate through informing people how and where to recycle in a clear fashion. All users had to do was simply scan their packaging to have all this information at their disposal.

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Media 7 | November 15, 2021

We had the opportunity to interview the data-enthusiast and the former first Chief Data Officer in Sweden, Vanessa Eriksson, SVP, Chief Digital Officer at Zenseact and Board Member at Fidesmo, where she explored the different features of the autonomous vehicle. Read on to find out more about the Zenseact protects critical business and company information.

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MEDIA 7 | March 9, 2020

Rachel Gabato, COO at ripe.io is a highly experienced and proven Product Management executive and advisor with experiences in designing, developing and delivering enterprise SaaS solutions for start-ups, mid-size and large companies. I have demonstrated success is managing solutions across all stages of the software lifecycle. Deck 7: What is your favorite part of working at ripe.io? RACHEL GABATO: My favorite part of working at ripe.io is the diverse background of people that ripe.io has brought together. We’re a blockchain technology company with a mission to build long-lasting trust and confidence in our food supply chain through a platform where everyone can access transparent and reliable information on the origin, journey and quality of their food.  Our co-founders originate from the fintech space, so they were very familiar with blockchain as a technology. They assessed multiple industries and identified the food supply chain as a industry which could be transformed by leveraging this technology. I didn’t have any knowledge of agriculture and the food supply chain, but I had a background in retail supply chain technology. However, we also have food scientists, data scientists, farmers, sustainable agriculture specialists, flavor specialists, blockchain technologists on staff;  it’s a diverse group that has their own specialty but when we have ideation sessions, the education and sharing that happens is tremendous. This is one of my favorite parts of ripe.io – seeing us all educating, supporting and working together to work on our common mission. If you would have asked me two years ago if I would be visiting farms, I would have said no. However, much has changed, and I’ve been on hog farms, produce and citrus farms, sugar cane farms, etc. and visited all participants involved in the supply chain. I find this space incredibly fascinating and interesting. I now have a much better understanding where food comes from, how it gets to us, how it’s grown and handled. I’ve learned a tremendous amount from our team and it’s the intersection of technology and solving the challenges of the food supply chain which I’m incredibly passionate about.

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SUPPLY CHAIN, TRANSPORTATION

VSE Corporation | January 25, 2023

Leading aftermarket distribution and maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services provider, VSE Corporation, yesterday announced its all-new e-commerce fulfillment and distribution center in greater Memphis, Tennessee area. The company serves government and commercial markets with MRO services for air, sea and land transportation assets. VSE’s new state-of-the-art center is spread over 450,000 sq.ft., double the size the current warehouse for its fleet segment. This new center provides VSE’s Wheeler Fleet Solutions segment with the additional capacity to meet the growing demand for aftermarket products for its commercial and e-commerce fleet customers. VSE’s new fulfillment center is to support faster, same-day deliveries including order-to-delivery. This allows for additional shipping options, while ensuring the best level of services for the company’s aftermarket parts distribution portfolio. The new center harnesses a warehouse management system (WMS) and automation to increase productivity and capacity while maintaining order and delivery accuracy. The center can stock more than 175,000 SKUs when operating at full capacity. John Cuomo, President and CEO of VSE Corporation, said, “The addition of our new distribution center is an important strategic milestone for our Wheeler Fleet Solutions subsidiary, one of the leading fleet-focused parts and services companies serving heavy, medium and light duty vehicles in the United States.” He further added, “During the last four years, our commercial fleet sales have grown from approximately 10% to 40% of Fleet Segment revenue, driven by share gains across both commercial fleet and e-commerce fulfillment channels. Looking ahead, we anticipate this distribution center will contribute more than $50 million in new, incremental sales to our Fleet segment in 2023.” (Source – Business Wire) About VSE Corporation VSE is a customized solution provider to support mission-critical platforms for commercial and government aircraft, ships and vehicles. The company is registered as a professional services and supply chain management firm primarily offering its services to Fleet Management Services, Federal & Defense Services, and Aerospace Distribution & Repair. It provides technical and engineering services to operators and owners of equipment and transportation assets, large, mission-critical fleets of aircrafts, vehicles and ships.

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LOGISTICS

RSI Logistics Inc | January 23, 2023

In a recent development, RSI Logistics, Inc. has announced a strategic partnership with Transtar, LLC as well as with its operating companies. As part of this agreement, RSI Logistics will manage the Zug Island transloading facility for Delray Connecting Railroad Company within Transtar's rail network. At the same time, the two companies will work together to promote the facility. Zug Island bulk terminal, within Detroit (Michigan), is a significant shipping location for a wide variety of goods, along with Toledo (Ohio) and Detroit markets. The partnership between RSI Logistics and Transtar will help rail shippers because both companies put customer service at the top of their priorities. Kelley Minnehan, Vice President of RSI Logistics, Inc., said, "This partnership between RSI Logistics and Transtar brings together two organizations that care deeply about providing quality in rail shipping. We are ready and excited to begin working with Transtar to provide more opportunities for transloading. Transtar is all about providing rail transportation services and satisfying customers, and we foresee a successful journey together." (Source- GlobeNewswire) The following are some of the advantages that will result from this newly-formed alliance: Access to growing markets and prospects for truck and rail freight via Transtar's position in Detroit and Zug Island, which is convenient for rail shippers; the ability to develop new opportunities by upgrading equipment and personnel and extending track capacity; and opportunities for future collaboration between Transtar, LLC and RSI Logistics, Inc. are possible at some point in the near future. About RSI Logistics, Inc. RSI Logistics, Inc., a leading rail logistics provider, has helped clients in every major industry improve rail transportation efficiency. RSI Logistics offers various services to meet each client's specific requirements. These services include logistics, rail management software, and transloading solutions. Since 1984, RSI Logistics has helped organizations improve rail shipping with over 20 locations in 14 states. Its range of solutions includes rail management software, logistics services, transloading solutions, etc. The organization learns the client's business and customizes transportation services accordingly.

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TRANSPORTATION

Descartes | January 24, 2023

On January 23, 2023, Descartes Systems Group, which provides solutions for logistics-intensive businesses, announced that Topps Tiles, a UK-based tile retailer, is using Descartes' cloud-based route optimization and planning solution to boost fleet delivery capabilities. Topps Tiles is reducing the average kilometers driven per delivery route by 2% through its collaboration with Descartes. The solution also helps Topps Tiles identify the potential impact of delivery strategy changes. Descartes' route planning and optimization solution is an aspect of its Routing, Mobile, and Telematics suite. It assists in lowering costs with more efficient and agile routing, enhancing fleet resource management by generating increased delivery capacity, and growing sustainability by reducing their CO2 footprint and paper use across the route network. Companies can use strategic route modeling to understand and refine their customer service and delivery strategies before implementing them. Descartes' mobile application aids drivers in completing their daily routes, keeps managers informed of progress, and provides an accurate estimated time of arrival (ETA) to alert customers of their deliveries. In addition, real-time mobile communication allows proof of delivery (POD) functionality support that facilitates excellent customer service and order accuracy. Pól Sweeney, VP of Fleet Sales in Europe at Descartes, said, "Topps Tiles' long-term success is based upon its ability to continually provide customers with a superior shopping experience while offering cost competitive pricing." He added, "We're delighted to help Topps Tiles minimize its operational costs today through our route planning and optimisation solution and in the future with our strategic route modelling capabilities." (Source – GlobeNewswire) About Descartes Systems Group Based in Waterloo (Ontario), Descartes offers software-as-a-service solutions that improve the productivity, security, and performance of logistics-intensive businesses. Customers work with one of the world's largest, collaborative multimodal logistics community to carry out various tasks, including routing, scheduling, tracking, and measuring delivery resources; planning, allocating, and executing shipments; rating, auditing, and paying transportation invoices; and completing many other logistics processes. As a result, the company helps safely and securely get assets, information, inventory, and people where and when needed.

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