Category: Technology

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Smarter, Safer, Faster: How Smart Tech Is Redefining the Industrial Workspace

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In an era where every minute counts and every error can carry a steep cost, modern industrial environments are rapidly adopting smart technologies to stay ahead. From sensors embedded in equipment to wearable safety devices and automated systems that think ahead of human operators, the rise of smart technology is transforming how factories, warehouses, and production floors operate. The goal is not simply to add gadgets for the sake of innovation, but to meaningfully increase productivity, reduce injuries, and ensure facilities meet the ever-tightening web of regulatory compliance. Today’s facility managers aren’t just running machines—they’re running ecosystems, and smart tools are their new lifeline.

Leverage IoT to Monitor Everything, All at Once

You can’t fix what you can’t measure, and that’s exactly why the Internet of Things (IoT) is such a valuable ally in the industrial sector. With smart sensors monitoring temperature, pressure, humidity, vibration, and countless other variables, your equipment becomes a source of insight rather than guesswork. This constant stream of data doesn’t just help identify when something goes wrong; it helps predict problems before they occur, slashing downtime and allowing proactive maintenance. Whether you’re running a small facility or a sprawling complex, IoT turns your operation into a living, breathing organism that reports on its well-being 24/7.

Navigate the Tech Maze with a Consultant

Deciding which smart technologies will help, not hinder, your workspace can be overwhelming. That’s where bringing in an independent management consultant can be a game-changer, especially one with experience bridging operations and digital strategy. A consultant acts as a translator between what your facility needs and what vendors are selling, helping you avoid costly missteps and focus on solutions that truly move the needle on safety and efficiency. For expert guidance, it’s worth checking out ITB Partners, where seasoned professionals specialize in aligning technology choices with business goals across a wide range of industrial sectors.

Integrate Smart Oversight Through Industrial Servers

When you’re dealing with dozens of machines and hundreds of sensors, industrial servers make it possible to bring all that real-time data into one centralized location. This kind of consolidation lets teams spot inefficiencies, react faster to anomalies, and make smarter decisions backed by live information. To keep things running smoothly, it’s essential to work with servers that offer enough memory to quickly access and store vast amounts of operational data without lag. You’ll also want systems built with industrial-grade durability so they can stand up to heat, dust, vibration, and other harsh conditions commonly found on the floor, especially for applications utilizing edge servers where responsiveness and reliability are non-negotiable.

Wearables: The Safety Net That Moves with You

Smart helmets, connected vests, and wristbands that monitor fatigue are no longer futuristic accessories—they’re today’s essential safety gear. Wearables can track workers’ vitals, detect falls, and even issue real-time alerts when someone enters a high-risk zone. This not only protects individual workers but creates a culture of accountability and care that ripples through the whole team. For industries where danger lurks around every corner, these devices offer peace of mind and a tangible reduction in incidents, all while generating data that can improve training and workflows.

Find Automation That Thinks Ahead

Automation has been a fixture of industrial life for decades, but recent advancements have given rise to systems that go beyond pre-programmed motions. Today’s robots and automated platforms adapt to the environment, learn from past tasks, and even collaborate safely alongside human colleagues. These systems don’t just replace manual labor—they elevate it, taking on the most repetitive and dangerous jobs so that your team can focus on what requires human creativity and oversight. In the long run, smart automation doesn’t just boost productivity; it reshapes what your workforce is capable of achieving.

Energy Efficiency Through Smart Grids and Controls

Energy waste is both a cost issue and a sustainability one, and smart controls can drastically cut both. Smart grids analyze usage patterns and automatically adjust energy consumption based on real-time demand, reducing waste without sacrificing performance. When integrated with IoT sensors, these systems can even shut down unused machinery or reroute power to where it’s needed most. This kind of adaptive control not only cuts utility bills but supports your facility’s green initiatives, something that’s becoming increasingly vital in attracting clients and staying ahead of regulation.

Train Workers for the Age of Smart Industry

All the tech in the world is useless without a workforce that knows how to use it. That’s why forward-thinking companies invest just as much in training as in hardware. From VR-based safety modules to hands-on tutorials with wearable tech, training programs today are as smart as the systems they support. When workers understand how and why these tools exist, they’re more likely to embrace them and identify issues before they escalate.

The industrial world is no longer a place of brute force and blind repetition. It’s becoming smarter, more connected, and infinitely more adaptive thanks to technologies designed to work with human beings, not around them. Whether you’re investing in wearables, deploying IoT sensors, or building a server system that ties it all together, the goal is the same: make your operation faster, safer, and more resilient. As the line between digital and physical continues to blur, the most successful facilities will be those that embrace smart tools not as novelties but as necessities. The future is already here—it just depends on whether you’re ready to plug in.

Discover how ITB Partners can solve your toughest business challenges, fuel your growth, and help you reach your goals with their expert management consulting services.

Thank you for visiting our blog.

 

Jim Weber – Managing Partner,  ITB Partners

I hope you enjoyed our perspective and would like to receive regular posts directly in your email inbox. To this end, please put your contact information on my mailing list.

Your feedback helps me continue to publish articles that you want to read.  Your input is important to me, so please leave a comment.

Jim.Weber@itbpartners.com

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How HR Can Proactively Prevent and Prepare for Cyberattacks

Jim Cichanski – CEO FlexHR

Since Russia invaded Ukraine in early 2022, cyber-attacks have become more of a threat than ever before. Any countries that had ties to Ukraine were made vulnerable to Russian cyber-attacks. To keep ahead of these, HR departments stay apprised of the latest cyber threats from Russia and can advise companies about how to best protect themselves.

Some of the most harmful attacks are those on payroll, where funds are rerouted to untraceable debit cards. These cyber-threats can be costly and must be prevented.

Yet, those aren’t the only cyber threats companies should be worried about. We need to look no further than the LinkedIn data breach in 2021 to see that cyber security threats come in all shapes and sizes.

The LinkedIn data breach exposed 700 of the 756 million LinkedIn users to being hacked, as their personal information was scraped. Armed with email addresses, phone numbers, usernames, and other personal information, the hackers had the potential to target millions more easily.

How Employers Can Prepare

Many employers are aware of the devastating effects of cyber-attacks, but not all of them know how to prevent and plan for them.

As Jim Cichanski, the CHRO and Founder of Flex HR, states, ” Many companies have put extensive policies and procedures in place to protect cyberattacks,” but “stop short on the employee preparation on how to get critical tasks done. If they lose internet or power, what would they do?”

So, what should employers do to protect their employee’s data? How do you prevent and prepare for a cyber-attack?

First, every company should have policies and procedures that safeguard information, just in case. Companies need to prevent important information from being stolen and create plans to keep the business operating if there is a cyber-attack.

One of the most important pieces of information that needs protecting is payroll. One of the latest cyber threats is someone hacking into the system and rerouting the money. To protect against cyber-attacks, always check that the information for direct deposit is correct before pressing payroll.

Similarly, if you receive an email request to change or set up a new direct deposit, never do so automatically. Always call the person who sent it and verify the request. Additionally, you may want to send a new email instead of replying to the thread so that you can check the source of the email you received.

Cyber-attacks usually happen in grids, and therefore each company should have a backup grid if one is shut down. At Flex HR, our payroll partners have a 3-loop backup. If up to two of the grids get hacked and shut down, there is still a third available.

IT supports should also have backup internet and files. If a grid is shut down, all the important files should be backed up so they can be accessed elsewhere.

How HR Helps to Prevent and Plan

HR can help companies create plans to prevent and deal with cyber threats. If the power grid has to be shut down, HR can devise a strategy to communicate to employees what they need to do.

Employees will need to be prepared to move to a different grid if necessary, which would require them to have enough gas, emergency food and water, and internet backup such as a cell phone.

Employees would need to be able to continue operating as normal, which means that they should have phone internet cards and be able to use their office, home, or a family member’s home as backups. Similarly, employees can prepare to operate when the power is down by having solar-powered devices and chargers.

Additionally, the company will need to have their clients’ numbers on hand to let them know what is happening.

HR can help companies create a tiered protocol plan in the case of a cyber-attack. Using payroll management as an example, the first backup plan would be to do payroll in the office, then in the employee’s home, and thirdly in a family member’s home. If none were possible, employees could use an air card with internet access that does not require a cable to be hooked up.

It Could Happen to You

We all want to believe cyber-attacks won’t happen to us, but they are increasingly common. Human Resources can be a great asset in preventing and planning for cyber-attacks. Contact Flex HR to increase your cyber security and peace of mind.

Thank you for visiting our blog.

 

Jim Weber, Managing Partner – ITB Partners

Jim Weber – Managing Partner,  ITB Partners

I hope you enjoyed our point of view and would like to receive regular posts directly to your email inbox.  Toward this end, put your contact information on my mailing list.

Your feedback helps me continue to publish articles that you want to read.  Your input is very important to me, so please leave a comment.

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Important Offer from Bright Water Consulting

Happy New Year and best wishes for a prosperous 2021.

I have an important offer for your consideration!  We at Bright Water Consulting would like to ensure that your IT Infrastructure is supporting your needs.  I am sure that you will agree that with all the turmoil of 2020, this area needs to be reviewed. When IT is in sync with operations, success is assured.  We will evaluate everything from cyber-security and employee safety to data analytics and supply chain.   We will validate that IT is in sync with your operations and/or identify needs for improvement.

Bright Water Consulting a full-service IT and  Business consulting firm. Everything we do is with an agile mindset for getting to market quicker, while reducing risks, and cost.  We serve companies from SMBs to Fortune 500, like The Coca-Cola Company, Fiserv, and Georgia Pacific Corporation.   Although we are based in Atlanta we service clients nationwide.

Let’s schedule a discussion, at your convenience, to determine how Bright Water Consulting can ensure your success.  To make it easier for you, just click here to find the most convenient time to talk.

I am looking forward to our discussion.

Warm regards.

Dan Ricks

Bright Water Consulting, LLC
678-457-3098
dricks@brightwaterconsulting.com
https://brightwaterconsulting.com

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Weinstock Lands New Client – Disinfect Group

Ron Weinstock of Weinstock Marketing and ITB Partners lands New Client, Disinfect Group. 

Disinfect Group USA, offers a variety of systems to allow retailers, offices, venues to reopen safely.  Total flexibility of units depending on the size needed. All manufacturing is in the USA. Disinfect Group USA’s  product has the ability to:

  • Disinfect people and their belongings safely – 99.9999% effective
  • Take thermal temperatures
  • Count capacity in/out
  • On product branding
  • Offer LED sponsorship opportunities

Disinfect Group – Sanitation Tunnels

SANITIZING TUNNELS

Dry Fog is an innovative new product that creates an invisible “haze” in our tunnels which are completely safe and approved for use on humans against viruses and bacteria. It works using electrolyzed water technology.

Available with 1 to 5 tunnels and comes as a fogger or a misting sprayer.

 

SANITIZING FOG

Each visitor and worker pass through a completely safe dry fog before

gaining access to your facility.

 

THERMAL IMAGING SCANNER

Screens for elevated body temperature at a safe distance for employees and guests entering your facility. Alerts staff when a high temperature is detected.

 

DIGITAL CAPACITY COUNTER

Add a Body counting camera that helps you know exactly how many people are in your venue or facility at all times.

 

NO-TOUCH SANITIZER DISPENSER

Automatic hand sanitizer dispensers allow everyone to disinfect their hands helping stop the spread of viruses.

 

STAY CLEAN. STAY SAFE.   RETURN TO WORK.

Contact Ron Weinstock for more information.

(310) 663-7669 | ron@weinstockmarketing.com

 

 

Ronald D. Weinstock

Ron Weinstock is an experienced restaurant and retail industry executive, consultant, and entrepreneur.

Over thirty-plus years of successfully launching, building, and revitalizing national and regional brands have positioned Ron Weinstock as a business and marketing leader in industries that include restaurants, financial, health, entertainment, and retailing. Ron is a business and marketing executive with a proven track record and a passion for team building, which/that includes leading cohesive & purpose-driven teams that consistently deliver exceptional results.

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Who can Keep Up with Marketing Technology?

According to a recent study by Chief Outsiders, a national marketing strategy consulting firm, 88% of Chief Marketing Officers (CMOs) see the difficulty in staying ahead of Marketing Technology.

Why?

According to Forrester, technology has not just impacted business, it has disrupted it. So much so that CNBC reported that the average life span of an S&P 500 company is about 20 years. It was 60 years in the 1950s according to Credit Suisse. 1

The way technology is evolving, imagine what that figure might be in 20 years.

All you have to do is look at Moore’s law to understand why technology is moving so fast.

What is Moore’s Law & How Does It Impact Marketing Technology?

In 1965, Gordon E. Moore, the co-founder of Intel, made this observation that became Moore’s Law.

Moore’s Law refers to Moore’s perception that the number of transistors on a microchip doubles every two years, though the cost of computers is halved. In addition, Moore’s Law states that we can expect the speed and capability of our computers to increase every couple of years.  Plus, we will pay less for them too. Another tenet of Moore’s Law asserts that this growth is exponential.2

Marketing Technology is influenced by Moore's Law
Moore’s Law tenet is that the number of computer chips on a single board grows exponentially.

Source: Moore’s Law graph3

It is hard for a human to keep up with exponential growth. And marketers are human.  This is why marketers are having trouble keeping up with marketing technology.

Why specifically do CMOs think it will be hard to stay ahead of technology?

Because many CMOs haven’t kept up with marketing technology to-date.  And the exponential growth that is expected to continue will be mind-boggling.

The Marketing Menu Changed!

For example, as recently as the 1990s, marketers had a finite list of advertising and promotional tactics at their disposal.  The tactics to increase sales, improve brand awareness, and grow market share were low tech too.

  • Television (local, spot and cable)
  • Radio (Local & national)
  • Print (Direct mail, FSI’s, newspaper -remember those?)
  • Out of Home (Billboards, transit benches, and shelters, taxi’s, etc.)
  • Promotion (sports teams, schools, etc.)
  • Yellow pages if a local or multi-location business

Today, with the addition of  OTT (Over the Top) TV, banner ads, advertising on social media, and other digital options, the choices on where to place advertising dollars are staggering.

MARTech = Marketing Technology

The modern CMO is faced with options in Martech and Adtech.  Yes, those are real terms used within the marketing world. In 2011, we had about 150 MarTech choices.  By 2019, there were over 7,000 choices.

Marketing Technology growth since 2011
In 2011, there were about 150+ Martech vendors. By 2019, there were over 7000!

 

To put in perspective, RedHat published the following tech stack that is aligned with the customer journey. One brand using this technique would interact with over 30 Martech vendors.

Who can keep up with that, let alone stay ahead of it?

Marketing Technology used for customer journey
Illustrates 30 MarTech companies have to work with to manage the customer journey.

Source: 4

Technology has disrupted business in many ways.  According to Forrester, the primary reason technology has disrupted business is based on three issues:

  • Empowered consumers
  • Blurred lines between digital and physical
  • Disruptive business models powered by data and tech

In their reports titled “Winning In The Age Of The Customer,” and “The Customer-Obsessed Enterprise” Forrester suggests that companies that are not just customer-focused, but customer-obsessed, achieve higher revenue growth, customer satisfaction, and employee satisfaction.

Enter the COVID-19 pandemic

To put into perspective how important technology to business is, consider how different brands in food service were impacted by the pandemic.

 

As reported in QSR magazine for Domino’s “What’s happened in the first four weeks of Q2 (March 23 to April 19) has been more enlightening. Domino’s witnessed U.S. company comps jump 10.6 percent. Franchises are up 6.9 percent. Blended, it’s a 7.1 percent year-over-year same-store number.”

Chipotle’s digital sales grew 80.8% and accounted for 26.3% of sales for the quarter leading into the pandemic. Source:   https://ir.chipotle.com/2020-04-21-Chipotle-Announces-First-Quarter-2020-Results

The first 3 examples are from brands that were already focusing on their digital capabilities.  Wing Stop was one of the first restaurant brands to offer chatbot ordering on social media platforms. And Domino’s has become the de facto leader in the pizza segment when it comes to technology.

The key takeaway for restaurants is that the pandemic created a new set of consumer desires and demands and the brands (often chain with marketing teams) already knowledgeable and leading in technology won. This plays out in retail too.  If you’re a retailer and you didn’t have an eCommerce platform prior to March 13, you’re probably hurting bad, or closed.

The pandemic forced many brands to accelerate their use and adoption of technology to meet the new consumer needs.

Conclusion

The bottom line when it comes to brick & mortar businesses is that marketing technology is part of the customer experience and great technology can create a great frictionless user experience. Bad technology can do the opposite. The pandemic forced business owners to embrace eCommerce, digital ordering, and contactless payments and transactions faster than ever before. Consequently, brick & mortar brands must:

  1. Own all the consumer touchpoints
  2. Own customer data
  3. Connect offline to online for a true omnidirectional view of your customers

It’s not easy to keep up with technology. The effects of social distancing and working from home simply made every business pivot or adapt to less touch and more connection via technology.

If Forrester is right, the technology we marketers use to reach intended customers needs to pivot and more companies need to become customer-obsessed to succeed.

Staying ahead of that trend will be very difficult, very difficult indeed.

 

Head shot of Doug Reifschneider
Doug Reifschneider

Doug Reifschneider is a 30+ year marketing veteran in the foodservice industry.  He currently works with Chief Outsiders as a fractional CMO.

https://www.itbpartners.com/doug-reifschneider/

Sources:

  1. https://www.cnbc.com/2017/08/24/technology-killing-off-corporations-average-lifespan-of-company-under-20-years.html
  2. https://www.investopedia.com/terms/m/mooreslaw.asp#nearly-60-years-old-still-strong
  3. https://hackernoon.com/moores-law-is-alive-and-well-adc010ea7a63?source=rss——-1
  4. https://cdn.chiefmartec.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/red-hat-martech-stackie.jpg
  5. Source: Winning In The Age Of The Customer Forrester report
  6. Source: The Customer-Obsessed Enterprise Forrester report