Send us a text We weigh the real trade‑offs of building AI in‑house versus buying and configuring proven tools, and map a practical route from pilot to production without blowing the budget. Clear steps on data, governance, ethics, and IP help you create value you can measure. Build vs buy decisions tied to strategy and IP When generic problems justify off‑the‑shelf tools Niche bottlenecks and owning differentiated capability Real costs of talent, data architecture and compute&...

Send us a text Notebook LM has had some significant updates over the last few weeks Have a listen to the latest iteration of a Notebook LM created podcast based on ReThink marketing materials #theproductivityexperts Register for the 2026 Productivity Forum Find us in the Top 50 Productivity Podcasts Connect to Simon on LinkedIn Follow ReThink on LinkedIn

Send us a text We dig into practical AI that saves time: personal LLMs, embedded features already in your tools, and AI‑native agents that take action, not just give answers. We share proof points, pitfalls, and simple ways teams can adopt safely and quickly. Personal LLMs as thinking partners and draft acceleratorsEmbedded AI in email, slides, CRM, and meetingsAI‑native tools mapped to roles like SDR and legalAgents that act: scrape, configure, reset, and scheduleQuality, speed, and evidence...

Send us a text We strip away the jargon and show how to use AI as an assist that lifts productivity, trust, and measurable outcomes. From data readiness to culture, governance to first use cases, we focus on steps that turn hype into results. Clear definition of AI and human‑in‑the‑loopWhere AI adds value across knowledge workCulture over tech as the main blockerData readiness and training data basicsGovernance to reduce shadow AI risksLeaders modelling tools and setting objectivesSelecting f...

Send us a text Theo Gott and Mark Stacey from ModusForce discuss the evolving landscape of workforce management and how their Dayforce implementation expertise helps organisations maximise efficiency and employee satisfaction. • The WFM market is experiencing 20% growth globally with key trends including AI automation, flexible working arrangements, and legislative changes • Advanced scheduling combines WFM capabilities with automated scheduling and budgeting to deliver significant opera...

Send us a text Diane Wehrle CEO at Rendle Intelligence and Insights joins Simon for their monthly chat about footfall trends.August retail sales dipped 4.8% year-on-year despite stable footfall, with fashion and general retail taking significant hits. Consumers are demonstrating caution by making fewer transactions while spending slightly more per purchase, reflecting broader economic uncertainty and diminished confidence • Consumer confidence remains low at -19 according to GFK's Consumer Co...

Send us a text Tom Coe, VP of Growth at Retail Insight, shares how data-driven solutions can tackle the perennial challenges of retail operations while empowering store colleagues to deliver better customer service • Retail Insight provides in-store operations analytics software for over 50,000 stores globally • The complexity of modern retail operations creates compliance challenges as colleagues juggle multiple responsibilities • Process execution suffers when labour models are tight and co...

Send us a text We recap the highlights from the Productivity Forum 2025, diving into key presentations and insights that left attendees buzzing with new ideas about retail productivity. • Alex Rezvan kicked off the event with insights on retail's evolution toward non-transactional, cultural spaces that are highly tech-enabled • Halfords shared their productivity journey and implementation successes • The Innovation Lounge featured eight partner companies showcasing technological solutions in...

Send us a text Rob Bate, Co Founder at FrontlineXP, shares insights from his extensive retail experience and explains how FrontlineXP is working to improve the experience of customer-facing employees through innovative technology solutions • Frontline workers and operations teams are chronically underserved by technology and expertise • The genesis of FrontlineXP came from wanting to help retail operations teams improve profitability and performance • Successful transformation requires balanc...

Send us a text Diane Wehrle CEO at Rendle Intelligence and Insights joins Simon for their monthly chat about footfall trends. July retail data shows positive signs with spending down only 1.4% compared to 8.5% in June, though footfall decreased by 1.7% as consumers remain cautious with their spending. The warm weather has encouraged more UK residents to holiday at home, redirecting spending into local economies rather than abroad. • Five key retail sectors (fashion, food and drink, general re...

Send us a text James Bolle, Rethink Productivity's Head of Insight Development, reveals how businesses can transform raw productivity data into meaningful insights that drive tangible improvements. His career-spanning mission has focused on helping organisations make better decisions through data analysis, quality processes, and contextualisation. Rethink's rigorous three-layer quality control ensures trustworthy data analysisStandardised templates and visualisations make analysis more effici...

Send us a text Simon Hedaux from Rethink Productivity provided NotebookLM with his thoughts on the dynamic world of retail productivity, challenging traditional assumptions to uncover hidden costs and untapped opportunities in modern retail operations. Retail businesses face a productivity paradox where despite working harder and implementing efficiency measures, many find themselves "sprinting to stand still" as costs rise and operations grow more complex. Simon Hedaux from Rethink Productiv...

Send us a text Matthew Haywood, Owner of WFM Consulting, a seasoned retail expert with over 25 years of experience, shares his framework for effective workforce management through seven essential pillars. He dispels common myths about auto-scheduling while providing practical insights into achieving the elusive "right people, right place, right time" goal that transforms both customer and colleague experiences. • Understanding the five key challenges: mindset, capability, confidence, simplici...

Send us a text Diane Wehrle CEO at Rendle Intelligence and Insights joins Simon for their monthly chat about footfall trends. The UK's summer heatwave has driven an 8.5% decline in high street retail sales compared to last year. This retail slump reflects a combination of weather impacts, calendar effects, and persistent economic headwinds affecting consumer spending patterns. • UK high street footfall down 3% during June's heatwave periods • Food spending up 4.1% while non-food spendin...

Send us a text Retail businesses face a productivity paradox where despite working harder and implementing efficiency measures, many find themselves "sprinting to stand still" as costs rise and operations grow more complex. Simon Hedaux from Rethink Productivity provided NotebookLM with his thoughts and insights into navigating this challenging landscape through systemic changes rather than incremental tweaks. Rethink Productivity provides crucial insights into navigating this challenging lan...

Send us a text Tim Waterton, CRO at HappyOrNot, shares how their iconic smiley face terminals pioneered the micro-feedback approach that has collected over 2 billion pieces of customer feedback across 4,000 brands in 100+ countries. Their in-the-moment data collection method delivers higher response rates and more actionable insights than traditional surveys. • HappyOrNot started with simple four-button terminals and has evolved to include tablet kiosks, digital options, and intelligent signa...

Send us a text Productivity specialist Ed unveils the science behind different types of studies that transform raw data into powerful insights for businesses seeking to optimise their operations. • Activity studies break processes into elemental detail, identifying best practices and opportunities for simplification • Efficiency studies use rated activity sampling to categorise tasks as value-add, essential non-value add, or non-value add • Role studies follow specialists throughout their sh...

Send us a text Diane Wehrle CEO at Rendle Intelligence and Insights joins Simon for their monthly chat about footfall trends. The retail landscape continues to face challenges as May's data reveals decreased footfall and consumer spending across most sectors, with fashion retail experiencing a particularly steep decline of 3.6% year-on-year. • High street footfall down 2.5% with only retail parks showing a minimal increase of 0.2% • Overall spending in high streets down 1.8% year-on-year, wor...

Send us a text Sue and Simon explore key retail trends reshaping operations: loyalty-based deep discounts, data-driven opening hours optimization, and the challenges of tech fragmentation for managers. Each trend reveals how retailers are balancing cost pressures with customer experience in an increasingly complex operational landscape. • Loyalty programs now offering "deep cuts" exclusively to members rather than broad price reductions • Promotional displays featuring loyalty prices c...

Send us a text Gail, Rethink's Project Coordination Manager, reveals the secrets behind planning and delivering successful productivity projects across diverse industries and time zones. • Communication, proven planning processes, and a professional team of work-study engineers are Gail's "secret weapons" for keeping projects on track • Project setup involves three key steps: initial planning with clients, detailed scheduling, and ongoing support throughout the project • ReThink adapts its c...