French translation (Lire la version française) As we have shared, content from news outlets, including news publishers and broadcasters, will not be available to people accessing Facebook and Instagram in Canada if Bill C-18, the Online News Act, is passed into law. As we prepare to comply with the legislation, we are announcing today that we will begin tests on both platforms that will limit some users and publishers from…
My organization urgently needs to execute a new strategic initiative, but I’m not confident that my current staff members have the skills and drive required. How can I field a championship team when I don’t have any all-star players? It’s easy for managers to succumb to a scarcity mentality and believe that their people aren’t good enough — but it’s important not to nurture this mindset. When we look closely…
1. What’s software-as-a-service? Software-as-a-Service, also known as SaaS, is a web-based model that allows internet access to data from any device. The SaaS solution connects users to data stored in the cloud so that you can use it like an on-premises app but running through a web interface or mobile app. SaaS models are usually licensed on a subscription basis you renew monthly or annually. 2. What are the advantages…
Life sciences companies are putting more thought and strategy into utilizing cloud solutions not only for their enterprise systems, but for their laboratory and quality systems as well. The cloud, simply put, is the ability to access servers, software, and databases over the Internet. This works by using a virtual machine (VM) that acts as a physical computer with its own hardware that users can access via a web browser.…
A multinational, multibillion-dollar manufacturing company with 30+ subsidiaries was facing several imminent retirements at the C-level. Each case required a decision: promote, move, or hire. The organization had a strong “promote from within” culture and talent strategy and sought to accommodate the retirements by either elevating current employees to new roles or moving people laterally. In some cases, the retirements and necessary placement decisions were several months out, while others…
Lately, new AI tools like ChatGPT have been so impressive that employees are clutching their purse strings. Not too long ago in human history, we were gaping in awe of the revolutionary assembly line and wondering if any of us would ever work again – but look at us now. While there are certainly benefits to regulations and caution surrounding the unknown, it is not the first time nor the…
Building social media security awareness at work may not be as exciting as, say, developing TikTok engagement strategies. But it’s still a critical function for social teams at organizations of all sizes. That’s because social media threats don’t just impact your brand’s social accounts. If they aren’t handled, security risks can infiltrate an entire organization. They can even threaten the safety of your company and customers. To protect your brand…
Are you ready to tap into ChatGPT social media success? Social media managers have suffered too long with tedious, manual tasks. Caption writing, image sourcing, responding to followers…the list goes on. Luckily, ChatGPT, a conversational artificial intelligence (AI) tool that generates human-like content, promises to make social media success more attainable. Streamline your workflows, automate tasks, and never worry about finding the perfect caption again. Here’s how you can get…
Generative AI is the shiny object that’s making many of us wonder how fundamentally it will change our work. It even begs the question whether “old school” chatbots have a future. The short answer is that, yes, chatbots do have a purpose in this new world of large language models (LLM) and generative AI. And, if you want to deliver a great customer experience, you’ll still be able to with…
One of the most well-known issues in business is the lack of alignment between sales and marketing. In fact, some companies have even begun to merge their sales and marketing teams. Both teams must work together but struggle to communicate and often lose respect for one another. Sales may blame marketing for poor lead quality, while marketing blames sales for not following up on marketing-qualified leads from their latest campaign.…
Regardless of industry or what you’re selling, delighting your customers is key to your success — where trust, personalization, and seamless interactions intersect. But pleasing your customers isn’t just about meeting their needs — you need to be one step ahead. In fact, 62% of customers expect businesses to anticipate their needs. But making customers happy is often easier said than done. The sheer volume of data and the fact…
Why drive to your neighboring city or region when you can fly? Over the past 30 years or so, the standard response has been because driving is cheaper, more convenient, and probably faster door to door. That may not be true for much longer, however. Advances in aerospace technology, new attitudes about travel, and a growing ecosystem of established players and startups could drive a resurgence in regional air mobility.…
Since the COVID-19 pandemic hit, many companies have implemented flexible work patterns in pursuit of better employee experience, real estate cost savings, and more sustainable operations. However, a McKinsey survey of real estate and employee experience executives from 50 companies reveals that most firms have only scratched the surface. The survey asked how far along companies are in implementing 12 practices McKinsey has identified as key to developing effective and…
The FTC is not alone in taking aim at non-competes. Yesterday, the NLRB’s General Counsel Jennifer Abruzzo issued a memo to all regional directors, officers-in-charge, and resident officers at the NLRB stating that non-competes in employment agreements and severance agreements violate the National Labor Relations Act except in rare circumstances. Specifically, Ms. Abruzzo claims that such covenants interfere with workers’ rights under Section 7 of the Act, which protects employees’…
Walmart announced new steps to help make the everyday choice the more sustainable choice by adopting measures designed to reduce the amount of packaging waste associated with online orders. This includes moving from plastic to recyclable paper mailers, right-sizing cardboard box packaging, giving customers the option to consolidate shipping on eCommerce orders, opting out of single-use plastic bags for online pickup orders and last mile delivery efficiencies to reduce…
Creating a vision and developing the strategy. Forming a plan and implementing the processes. Working with a group of like-minded people to achieve one goal. At its core, these three sentences can describe both a business and a sports team. Whilst the day-to-day successes of a sports team are of public interest, the inner workings of a company are not often discussed – it’s all about the finished product. However,…
The agriculture industry is under pressure. Dramatic cost increases for inputs and labor are putting farmers’ profitability at risk. Globally, farmers report that prices for inputs such as fertilizer and crop protection chemicals have risen by 80 to 250 percent over the past few years. Climate change is also squeezing profits. A warmer climate is resulting in increased weather variability, more frequent acute weather events, longer droughts, and new invasive…
The California Privacy Rights Act has significant implications for businesses operating in California and those that process the personal information of California residents. What is the CPRA? The California Privacy Rights Act, also known as CPRA or Proposition 24, is a data privacy law that builds upon the existing California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA). The CPRA was introduced to enhance and strengthen data privacy protections for California…
As the retail industry continues to evolve, one of the greatest challenges in creating an omnichannel experience is converting website visitors into loyal, returning customers. To ensure a seamless and consistent user experience throughout the customer journey, businesses must prioritize meeting customers’ needs and providing easy access to their brand at every touchpoint. When assessing any part of your omnichannel strategy, consider these three tenets for optimizing the omnichannel experience. Optimizing…
Healthcare M&A Activity: Q1 2023 Overview The healthcare industry has seen an increase in M&A activity in Q1 2023, with 15 announced transactions, just below the post-pandemic high of 17 in Q4 2022. During Q1 2023, the average size of the seller in announced transactions remained high at $827M, just below the historic high of $852M reached in 2022, indicating that the trend towards larger transaction sizes continued. The total…
Open-Source vs. Proprietary Software – What’s the Difference? To thoroughly grasp what open source is, one should understand what it is not. Open source is not restricted by licensing agreements, and the user behind open-source software is not forbidden to change, edit, study, or redistribute manipulated versions of it. Open-source software grants its users a degree of accessibility that is not possible through its proprietary counterpart. Open-source codes are published…
Fashion, one of the most unsustainable industries on Earth, has long grappled with its damaging environmental and social impact. Consumers, on the other hand, tend to act like passive bystanders at a crime scene, placing the blame solely on brands and producers. While companies and executives face mounting pressure to adopt sustainable practices, consumers need to recognise that they are actively complicit in the very same crime. The evolution of…
“Quick wins” are music to our ears. To stay ahead, you need to move fast: test, learn, optimize, and repeat. It used to be that commerce deployments were massive and intimidating, requiring major IT resources, long timelines, and big budgets. But with the constant pressure commerce leaders face to both innovate and be more efficient, that kind of investment doesn’t always fly. Thanks to intelligent and flexible new technology, you…
Do you worry that your business isn’t generating as many sales as it could be? If so, then you are not alone. So many other business owners are in the same position that you are right now, but there are things you can do to try and turn things around. Take a look below to find out more. You’re Too Focused on Marketing Reaching out to a networking contact is…
Navigating the New Swiss Data Protection Act: A Checklist for Compliance and Key Differences between the Swiss regulation and the GDPR In the ever-evolving landscape of data protection regulations, Swiss companies are bracing themselves for a significant milestone – the implementation of the new Swiss Data Protection Act (revFADP). As of September 1st, 2023, businesses operating in Switzerland must ensure compliance with the new rules. While the revFADP draws inspiration…
In today’s ever-evolving work landscape, it’s refreshing to see organizations finally acknowledging the pivotal role of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) in cultivating a thriving workplace. At the same time, the growing recognition of mental health’s significance reflects employers’ understanding that the well-being of their employees is integral to overall organizational success. As Mental Health Awareness Month draws to a close, it’s crucial to remember that our dedication to…
Toyota today announces a series of improvements and enhancements that will further strengthen its Yaris Hybrid hatchback range, increasing the market appeal of a model range that has proved an outstanding success for the brand. A significant programme of performance, safety and styling upgrades will ensure the model presents class-leading qualities in its area of the highly competitive B-segment in Europe. As well as strengthening the power and performance of…
In support of The National Brain Appeal‘s Rare Space Garden at The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Chelsea Flower Show 2023, we have partnered with The National Brain Appeal to launch an augmented reality garden (AR) experience that helps people with rare dementias. ‘The Rare Space Garden Experience’, which was developed by immersive reality agency Arcade using Meta Spark, uses technology that helps people living with cognitive conditions to create their…
When Geoffrey Hinton, a pioneer of deep learning, quit Google recently, he made it clear that he is worried about the risks of artificial intelligence. He is not alone. Following the launch of ChatGPT-4, thousands of artificial intelligence experts signed a letter calling for a pause in the development of more-powerful AI systems. On the other hand, excitement about the opportunities arising from large language models (LLMs) and their speed…
Clarkston’s LIMS experts recently attended LabVantage’s North American Customer Training and Education Conference (2023). The event brought the LabVantage community together to gain new skills, share best practices, network with fellow LabVantage customers, and discuss new solutions to help solve the latest challenges within the LIMS space. Below, Tina Yauger shares key takeaways and themes from CTEC 2023 and what to expect with LabVantage in the months to come. LabVantage…
Communication is a fundamental aspect of human interaction, enabling us to connect, share ideas, and build relationships. However, for individuals with hearing impairments, participating fully in conversations and accessing auditory information can be challenging. Fortunately, advancements in technology have given rise to a wide range of hearing assistive technologies, revolutionizing the way people with hearing loss engage with the world. In this blog post, we will delve into the world…
As part of the Paris Agreement of 2017 ‒ and backed up by a Federal Council decision in 2019 ‒ Switzerland has committed to becoming climate neutral by 2050. The reduction targets adopted so far are 20% by 2020 and 50% by 2030 versus the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of 1990. According to the latest figures from the federal greenhouse gas inventory, the goal was narrowly missed in 2020 with…
A study by the University of Zurich has been stirring things up in Switzerland in the last few days. The alleged and heavily debated core message is that female students in female-dominated fields of study have fewer career ambitions because they stick to traditional gender roles. Now imagine if the cantonal council of Zurich were to take this study as an opportunity to limit the admission of women to disciplines…
Following a number of GDPR complaints, including with the assistance of Mishcon de Reya, the Belgian data protection authority has held that the transfer of data to the United States under FATCA is illegal. FATCA requires the automatic exchange of sensitive personal and financial information relating to bank accounts to the US (see our background note). Under FATCA, information exchange takes place on an annual basis and without the requirement…
Many in our readership will have embarked (or are embarking) upon a compliance audit of workplace entitlements. Anyone who has done so will appreciate the difficulties associated with what becomes a massive and complex task. The future will see monthly pay reviews as a matter of course rather than large and costly remediation processes. Indeed, a whole industry has been built crunching the numbers on wage/time and attendance compliance. With…
I like to shop, and I think I am really good at it. I have the ability to make wise and efficient purchasing decisions when shopping. This may include having a keen eye for identifying high-quality items, knowing how to find the best deals and bargains, calculating my cost per use, and being able to manage one’s budget effectively. Ultimately, being good at shopping involves a combination of practical skills,…
Overview A few years ago, Adobe introduced a feature of Adobe Experience Manager as a Cloud Service which reduces the amount of time it takes to produce creative assets. This work is typically done by Creative groups and involves some manual steps and operations before having a completed, web-ready set of assets to release to market for an organization. With Content Automation, an add-on to Assets, the manual tasks typically…
To kick off National Women’s Health Week, we facilitated a discussion with leaders from American Cancer Society and BD on inspiring and supporting proactive women’s health. Our conversation covered several ways the health ecosystem seeks to better understand women’s needs and a meaningful care journey. The discussion was moderated by Marlana Voerster, senior healthcare & life sciences strategist at Perficient. Experts included: Kathleen Goss, PhD, SVP, Partnerships & Capacity Building, American Cancer Society…
With post-pandemic workforce trends in a state of flux, developers, landlords, owners and corporations are continually adjusting strategies as they consider the performance of their real estate portfolios. If you’re one of these real estate stakeholders, understanding what is driving the new workplace, from hybrid work to variability and flexibility, will enable you to navigate through conflicting predictions so you can evaluate scenarios and implement solutions that best align with…
Clarkston’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Consulting Practice recently partnered with a global luxury brand to enhance their approach to internal communications relative to DEI. Download the full corporate DEI communications plan case study below to learn more or contact us to learn how Clarkston can partner with businesses like yours in the consumer products, retail, and life sciences industries. Recently, Clarkston’s diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE+I) team partnered with a…