Q&A with Paige O'Neill, CMO at Sitecore

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 | 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 | April 15, 2020

Tara Ryan, Chief Marketing Officer at Incorta has over 25 years experience and success in global marketing for technology businesses in ERP, mid-market, SMB, security, industry offerings and has driven fast growth for multiple SaaS , IPO and public companies.  Ryan works with executives and board on planning, creation and execution of global branding, communications, sites, field programs, public relations, investor relations and demand generation. MEDIA 7: When did you first start working and what was it? TARA RYAN: My first job for a real paycheck was at 15 when I worked at a deli in Fresno, CA where I grew up. M7: With over 25 years of experience in global marketing for technology companies, how has the demand generation for tech firms evolved, and how do you see it changing in future? TR: Marketing used to be a stand alone, unautomated function and in all honesty, a bit of a mystery. Now marketing is threaded through every single thing we do in business and with technology innovations, there is a real understanding of it, the programs we run, the expected outcomes and even the real time analysis of successes and failures. We used to plan a campaign, process out the creative, media and execution and wait to see effectiveness – now we do all at once. I see the future going back to simplification and less is more. We have added so many tools and ways to analyze.

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FREIGHT

Flock Freight | February 01, 2023

On January 31st, 2023, Flock Freight, a company using proprietary technology to pool freight at scale, announced a partnership with BluJay Solutions, e2Open's subsidiary, to improve service for large shippers who use BluJay's popular TMS (transportation management system) platform. BluJay users can now access FlockDirect rates in the TMS platform without delay due to this integration, which utilizes an API connection that enables real-time communication between the two software. This new feature will streamline and expedite booking on FlockDirect so shippers can enjoy the advantages of Shared Truckload. Flock Freight's more innovative alternative to traditional shipping, Shared Truckload searches and fills vacant truck spaces to move goods more economically and sustainably. This proprietary service ensures that shippers' freight is on the most efficient routes and that their wares arrive on time and in good condition. Customers of BluJay will now receive more dynamic rates and improved pricing based on the quantity of freight they ship. Other features include easy access to FlockDirect rates with minimal setup time and shippers receiving instant quotes for non-contracted rates, eliminating the need to visit multiple spot boards or call to request prices. Flock customers can still browse FlockDirect non-contracted rates via Flock's native web application or using EDI and API integrations with other prominent TMS, such as Banyan, Kuebix, Project 44, and more. Flock Freight's Chief Operating Officer, Chris Pickett, shared, "Our partnership with BluJay Solutions helps us meet more shippers where they are and where they want to buy." He added, "Now, anyone who uses BluJay's TMS platform, whether they're a new or existing Flock Freight customer, can instantly view and book FlockDirect services. Our goal with this integration is to help shippers of all shapes and sizes discover how Shared Truckload simply outperforms traditional shipping modes in many cases, driving immediate value to their bottom line." (Source – Business Wire) About Flock Freight Founded in 2015 and based in California, Flock Freight is reimagining supply chains with more intelligent and greener shipping solutions. By leveraging its patent-protected technology, Flock Freight matches schedules, locations, and compatible shipments, identifying the best options among billions of possible combinations to pool freight on a large scale. Among the first freight shipping companies to receive B Corporation certification, the firm’s solutions for filling trucks and optimizing routes result in up to a 40% reduction in carbon emissions compared to conventional methods. The company was recently named one of TIME's Most Influential Companies in the World and one of CNBC's Disruptor 50.

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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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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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