What is our ice-breaking networking session?

Many summits or conferences have networking sessions, as do we. However, we actually have a few different types of networking opportunities because we understand that people form relationships differently. The first networking session you will find at our events is the, “Breaking the Ice” Speed Networking Session.

WHAT IS IT?

The “Breaking the Ice” Speed Networking Session separates us from other business event hosts because it is set up in the style of speed dating without the need for awkward small talk. This is a 30-minute opportunity to connect with as many other individuals in your industry as possible.

Meet the speakers and other attendees of the summit, exchange business cards and have small introduction conversations with a maximum number of people. The goal of this networking session is not to have groundbreaking conversations that last longer than a few minutes. That opportunity will come in the later networking sessions.

The “Breaking the Ice” speed networking session is designed to establish initial connections, learn who else is attending the conference with you and possibly find out who is facing the same challenges as you (but you will explore this more in the other networking sessions too).

This session helps everyone get comfortable with each other before the keynote speakers start and gives you a preview of what a longer conversation could bring later on.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

After the opening remarks from the chairman of the event, participants will be paired up and have a set time — generally a few minutes — to introduce themselves and what company they are from. If time allows, you can also share a success story or challenge from your business. Our conference producer will be there to signal when it is time to make a new connection and to keep everyone moving.

For more information on how this type of networking session works and to find an upcoming event that interests you, click here!

10 Tools That Can Help Your Company Automate HR Tasks

Every industry is experiencing rapid change and evolution due to automation tools and the HR industry is no different. HR automation is one of the latest tools to enter the market and make an instant impact. For the longest time HR tasks were handled manually but with advances in technology, companies can expect to see less paper, less filing and less outsourcing or people needed to complete these processes.

Companies are seeking an efficient, agile, and fast-paced HR management software and HR automation provides this at a significantly lower price.

Reasons You Might Need HR Automation Tools:

Some leaders are hesitant to adapt to new technology as it enters the market for several reasons and the topic of machines replacing a human workforce is always a hot debate but here are some reasons it might be time to make the switch:

· Reductions in budget or staffing

· Unsuccessful recruitment and onboarding processes

· Difficult Timesheet management

· Unproductive performance appraisal process

· Outdated leave approval process

HR Automation Benefits:

If your company is struggling with any of the scenarios listed above, HR Automation is a necessity. The right tool can provide countless benefits. Here are just a few:

· Higher accuracy, eliminating human error

· Time-saving

· Cost-effective

· More efficient

· More consistent

Choosing the Right Tool:

Now that you know why you might need an HR automation tool, how do you choose the right one? Well, there are several popular HR tools on the market so you must evaluate them and the needs of your business thoroughly before deciding. Here are 10 great HR automation tools to get you started:

· BambooHR

BambooHR is ideal for small to medium businesses. Their software collects and organizes every data point throughout the employee life cycle. Data should be behind every important decision you make and BambooHR makes it easier to analyze that data before hiring, onboarding, preparing compensation or other important events. They take pride in giving you your time back to focus on what matters, your people.

· BreatheHR

BreatheHR is a cloud-based HR software, ideal for growing businesses. Their software saves you time by making it easy to manage your staff from anywhere and they always have support to help. They offer a 14-day free trial with a 10% annual discount but also offer a variety of monthly plans if you are not ready for a year commitment yet.

· CavinHR

CavinHR is designed for any size business but they specialise in attendance tracking and time off management. Their software is available on the cloud and accessible from any device. They also offer an activity feed, messages & notifications and to do tasks to foster engagement within your organization.

· WebHR

According to WebHR, they are the global leader in cloud-based HR. They offer an all-in-one HR software that helps you manage every aspect from hiring to retiring. Their software is available in 30 languages and is capable of integrating with 20+ software solutions, one being Amazon Alexa to create a hands-free work environment.

· Sigma HR

Besides the normal HR tasks like talent management, attendance tracking and managing expense reports, Sigma HR also allows you to manage Occupational Health and Safety by efficiently managing workplace accidents, controlling your annual contributions to the worker compensation board and assessing your risks.

For even more HR automation tools and to learn more about the World HR Automation Summit, click here!

Retail Technology That Can Boost Revenue

A few global brands may be dominating discussions around the future of retail for the moment but with retail technology constantly evolving, the conversation is also.

If businesses can master the implementation of these new technologies, they can better compete with global leaders and boost their own revenue.

We will examine a few of those new technologies here. In addition, these and other retail innovations will be discussed by leading retail executives during the 2nd Retail 4.0 Summit.

Augmented Reality

Augmented reality is one of the latest trends in mobile gaming apps but the use of this technology can spread far beyond gaming. Augmented reality is a technology that overlaps digital aspects on top of the physical world.

With digital shopping pulling some customers away from physical stores, this is a great way to engage your customer’s in-store. Augmented reality can be used to allow your customers to try on your products without the hassle of a changing room. Ikea used augmented reality to show consumers how a previous product they viewed in-store will look in their home.

These are just two examples and the global augmented reality market has great-expected growth potential through 2020. Get creative and see how you can engage customers and ultimately boost revenue with this technology.

Staff-less Store Technology

Staff-less stores might be the newest trend to influence the retail market. There are many different technology tools working together to accomplish the staff-less operation. Some of those tools are facial recognition, deep learning algorithms, sensor chambers as you exit, QR codes and more.

Amazon is the most recent company to utilize this technology in its Amazon Go store. The use of several retail technologies has allowed Amazon to create a hassle-free, grab-and-go shopping experience. Customer convenience is very important for businesses to focus on and can help to boost your ROI.

Alibaba is another company using technology to create an almost staff-less store with its Tao Cafe. They still have some staff to deliver the orders but the actual ordering process is completely automated, making it more convenient for the customer. Alibaba is also benefiting from better data capturing and an overall reduction to staff costs.

Free Wi-Fi

Wi-Fi is not a new technology by any means but the utilization of free Wi-Fi can be a new strategy for some businesses. By offering free Wi-Fi, you increase the number of visitors to your physical store and increase the time they spend in your business.

This is an especially good strategy is your target market is the younger generations. According to a study from Euclid, 53% of Gen Z consumers and 41% of Millennial consumers admit to visiting a store because it offers free Wi-Fi.

If you take this strategy a step further and make users input an email address to access the Wi-Fi, you not only increase in-store traffic but also collect valuable data. Both of which can lead to an increase in revenue.

Window Display Technology

Window displays were one of the earliest forms of advertising and they are still very important today. Advances in technology have made window displays movable, interactive and personalized.

Augmented reality, which we discussed earlier, is a great way to create attention-grabbing designs. You can utilize this technology to place your customers inside the scene of your window display or allow them to view your products on themselves before ever going in the store.

Creativity is the most important aspect of any design, no matter what technology you choose, but you also want to make sure your window display has a clear goal. It might not always be to bring in foot traffic right away; some displays go beyond the window to continue the customer journey in an app or on social media. Whether the goal of your window display is to lead to a purchase in-store or online, new technology can help to increase your revenue through this area.

We discuss a few other retail technologies and the 2nd Retail 4.0 Summit on our blog, here. Read more, then request your free brochure with the complete speaker list here!

The exclusive panel of keynote speakers during the 2nd Retail 4.0 Summit will dive into these and other technologies affecting the future of retail. Do not miss the opportunity to learn and network with executives from leading global brands.

4th Innovative Learning Spaces Summit: Interview With The Chairman Mark Swales

1) Can you tell us about Sheffield Hallam University and their vision for the industry?

Universities shape lives. For almost two centuries, Sheffield Hallam — and its predecessor institutions — has exercised a powerful impact on the city, region, nation and world. It has an impressive history. In rapidly changing times, the demands on universities are multiplying. The world needs universities to respond quickly, applying academic excellence, innovative research and open-minded engagement in new ways to meet society’s needs.

2) In 2012, Sheffield Hallam implemented energy efficient upgrades. Can you explain those upgrades a little bit and how they positively affected the teaching and learning structure on campus?

We were one of the first University’s in the world to be accredited with the ISO50001 Energy Management Standard. This requires us to continually demonstrate improvements in meeting reduction targets on our energy consumption, a great discipline to have with increased costs of utilities and developments in renewable energy sources. We have a strong focus on managing costs and building innovation into how we deliver our requirements in a sustainable way. We’ve adopted a wide range of technical solutions from ground source heat pumps to generating our own electricity and having a campus wide building management system in place to monitor performance.

3) What advice do you have for teachers who want to redesign their classroom but are not sure where to start or might not have the budget?

Always start with the learning outcomes you wish to achieve. Any design needs to be student centered, recognising the varying requirements from different student groups (e.g. undergraduate v postgraduate) and the diversity of the student body.
Next add the need for any space to be agile so it can be used for multiple users where practicable and affordable. Agility costs money but if it leads to higher levels of space utilisation it may in the end be a worthwhile investment to make.

4) What are some of the latest learning spaces innovations that you are excited to see enter the market?

I think that student centered learning where the academic program is a facilitator rather than pronouncer of knowledge is very exciting. The challenge is that practice is inconsistent at the moment so we are very much in a transitional phase. The potential for digital learning both on and off campus is both exciting and terrifying as the potential and impact are yet to be quantified. That is why the summit is so useful because you get to hear about how these challenges are being met globally.

Read the rest of Mark Swale’s interview here and learn more about the 4th Innovative Learning Summit. Then, request your brochure here.

5 Reasons To Attend The 2nd World RPA & AI Summit

We are so excited for the 2nd edition of the RPA & AI Summit. We hope you are too. Here are some things to look forward to if you have signed up and reasons to join if you have not registered yet.

#1: Discuss Case Studies With Global Brands

Over 10 global brands will attend and they all have great case studies to share with you. One the first day you will hear from Western Union, Booking.com, Microsoft and more. They will discuss moving money for better with RPA, RPA in HR and AI for customer service. On day two, you will hear from IBM, Vodafone, Philips and more. They will discuss intelligent automation at scale, using agile in RPA and capturing value in digital innovation.

#2: Learn The Pros & Cons of Automation vs. Outsourcing

Many industry leaders agree the replacement of outsourcing with automation is inevitable. There are several benefits to this but it can be difficult navigating that transition. Is your business ready? Hear about the benefits from industry leaders and discuss implementation techniques to drive your business forward.

#3: Get Real Solutions To Give Your Business A Competitive Edge

You will hear about several intelligent automation and AI solutions in various industries. Aside from the keynote speaker panels, there is also a mastermind session. This allows you to bring the challenges you are facing to your colleagues and receive honest feedback. Brainstorm with other individuals who share common interests and leave with real solutions.

Read the other two reasons to join the 2nd World RPA & AI Summit and learn more about the 2-day event, click here!