S.M.A.C. Talk Technology Podcast The demand for single-aisle airplanes is exploding, while large aircrafts are scaling down production. Space travel is shifting from a government ambition to a private enterprise, and there's a lot of research fueling innovation. With the increased risk of fraud, the promise of blockchain offers increased visibility and security into the supply chain.

S.M.A.C. Talk Technology Podcast Traditional wholesaler distributors must provide value above and beyond the ability to quickly serve orders placed online. For instance, machine learning can help match old parts to replacement items through visual references taken via a mobile phone or tablet, and quality can be precisely maintained through continual temperature monitoring of cold goods in transit.

S.M.A.C. Talk Technology Podcast Within the utilities industry, an influx of meter, sensor, and customer data is enabling better response times. Failures can be predicted and dealt with before they occur. And in the case of natural disasters, responses based upon real-time data keep both customers and workers safer.

S.M.A.C. Talk Technology Podcast Increasingly, customers expect personalized services when they travel; however, providers have struggled to keep up with customers’ imaginations and expectations. Now, with new technologies, travel companies have an opportunity to leverage live data to connect with travelers in the moment.

S.M.A.C. Talk Technology Podcast Transportation companies have done a pretty good job at operational efficiency; however, the threat of new entrants is a forcing factor to push into customer-centric innovations. For instance, shippers could use blockchain to provide greater transparency into the journey of goods from factory to customer receipt.

S.M.A.C. Talk Technology Podcast The explosion of data from in-store beacons, environmental sensors, and mobile devices can be harnessed and monetized. New business models will need to balance data privacy and the possibility of mining data purposefully and in the customer's best interest.

S.M.A.C. Talk Technology Podcast New generations of retail customers expect more personalized services and product offerings. Big Data coming from mobile devices, social media, and transactions can be analyzed via machine learning algorithms to deliver personalization in ways previously impossible to execute at scale.

S.M.A.C. Talk Technology Podcast Governments have a timeless mission to protect the community, to provide services, and to help the economy prosper. However, a lot of governments struggle to engage with citizens the way they expect and to deliver on promised outcomes. New technologies can help overcome these challenges, enabling governments to become more transparent, responsive, and efficient.

S.M.A.C. Talk Technology Podcast Machine learning will significantly disrupt the professional services industry. While repetitive, rule-based, professional services such as auditing, certain legal tasks, and call centers become automated, new value-added services are being designed. Machine learning can also help predict workforce needs.

S.M.A.C. Talk Technology Podcast Paper and packaging faces price pressure on finished products because the production of materials is costly (asset-, energy-, and transportation-intensive) given the value of the finished products. The industry is striving to cut costs and optimize production via machine learning and the synthesis of multiple data pools.

S.M.A.C. Talk Technology Podcast Oil and gas companies are grappling with the big questions, like how to survive possible ebbs in demand (e.g., electronic vehicle proliferation), address cybersecurity, and minimize environmental impact. They need to be able to tie back predictive information gained from data visualization into the financials to plan their next well drilling.

S.M.A.C. Talk Technology Podcast With commodity prices falling, mining companies are struggling to maintain profitability. Renewables threaten the mining industry. To attract young talent, mining companies are turning to remote operating centers with digital equipment where operations seem almost like a video game – which is just one example of how the industry is reinventing itself.

S.M.A.C. Talk Technology Podcast The metals industry has potential for significant disruption. Machine learning coupled with Big Data will simplify production processes, virtual reality will allow plant operations from afar, and the tracking and tracing of materials combined with blockchain will build trust into premium purchases such as green (recycled) steel.

S.M.A.C. Talk Technology Podcast The media industry has undergone a transformation from a distribution model to a direct-to-consumer model. Media companies grapple with the challenge of getting the right content to the right consumer at the right time. Machine learning, predicative algorithms for recommendations, and social graphs can make it easier to use data to drive engagement.

S.M.A.C. Talk Technology Podcast Transformation within life sciences has been driven, in part, by the erosion and progression of reimbursements, which then exerts margin pressure. Clinical trials are experiencing an exponential increase in patient data because of sensors that can be analyzed to provide a more holistic view of patients – and blockchain offers the promise of an irrefutable record of trial results.

S.M.A.C. Talk Technology Podcast Insurance has evolved from a financial service to a life service. Sensors and early warning systems are saving lives. With the ability to collect more data, insurers can offer innovative services to customers, but they must be careful to treat data with care given the privacy entrusted to them.

S.M.A.C. Talk Technology Podcast Imagine connecting an increasingly diverse set of assets and components, extracting data from them, analyzing that data, and using it to reimagine your core business processes – or using blockchain to be able to prove the validity of a warranty claim. These innovations are now transforming industrial machinery and component manufacturers.

S.M.A.C. Talk Technology Podcast Higher education faces challenges with affordability, accessibility, and relevancy. Accessibility can take the form of increased mobility or access to distance learning. Relevancy includes everything from personalized learning to having the constant ability to check progress against some non-traditional measures (in other words, it's less about grades).

S.M.A.C. Talk Technology Podcast High tech is challenged by hardware commoditization, new regulations, changing privacy laws, and cyber security. The industry is contemplating how to balance individual protection and enterprise protection. Also, there is excitement about using technologies like machine learning – not just to make better use of existing data, but to actually advance to writing new code and developing new products.

S.M.A.C. Talk Technology Podcast Buildings consume 40% of energy – yet 90% of buildings lack the controls to be able to actually implement savings. Real estate is normally the number-one or number-two asset on the balance sheet, so the opportunity to leverage sensors or machine learning technology to cut down on energy consumption is vastly important.