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  • Sunday Morning: Design of Things or Experiences?

    Simon Elliot Managing Partner 4xi Global Consulting & Solutions I woke up this morning to a lively chat on LinkedIn about the design of things, buildings and spaces vs. the design of people focused experiences. I went to reply to the group but ran out of space, so, I decided to share my meanderings over a mug (or two) of Sunday morning coffee. The first post of the exchange read: I learned this morning that a number of workplace folk were to start trying to clarify a number of terms for the physical workplace that are often used interchangeably - such as agile, flexible, activity-based and hybrid. Or any of the many other names for the same thing that have been invented since lockdown. Yet this works on two levels. First, what those who design the space determine it should be. Sometimes an industry term is used, occasionally a bespoke name. It usually heralds a whole series of panel-beating ‘change’ activity to try to turn people into the ideal occupant. But people being people they tend to find their own purpose for space. Sometimes it’s what they’re told it’s for, but mostly it’s what it’s needed for. Second, therefore, the manner in which it’s used. Because the workplace is nothing at all until it’s used. Paraphrasing Albert Camus, ‘emptiness makes all space equal’. The definition of a workplace is therefore far more likely determined by the work undertaken. For example, it’s a ‘flexible’ space if people keep to differing patterns of attendance and groupings. And the work – and the need – will change over time. We can build it and call it what we want. But what it is and becomes is not up to us. Then one of the responses: A workplace’s impact is driven by the physical design of the space, the services provided to support people within it (note the people NOT the work!) and the leadership evident within it. Not necessarily in that order and a truly holistic outcome needs all three as appropriate and that’s why it’s complex. This back and forth really got me thinking. One seemed more focused on the design in relation to the work, and how people would adapt to the space and evolve over time. The other more focused on the upfront research and data of what people really want, and then to use that data and learning to complete the design. "Two different perspectives in surely a complex problem - predicting the future has always been a tricky thing no matter how you go about it, the only judge of who's ultimately right will be time itself." The thing is that both approaches may have an acceptable outcome, maybe even very similar outcomes but this intrigued me as I thought about some of my own experiences. In the Good Old Days before the pandemic, I was at a work experience meeting in London. The meeting was being led by architect/design folks and they kept making reference to "our industry", and eventually I had to ask them which industry they were referring to. They looked at me as if I had just come from another planet and the response from around the room was unanimously "the design industry" and how they design things like buildings and spaces and such for purposes identified, by what I could work out, them. I kept my thoughts to myself as I didn't want to offend, and I admit a bit of jet lag probably stopped me from piping up, "We're in the business of Experience aren't we?" At least that's what I thought we were in. Back in Silicon Valley I had worked with 1st generation technology companies (including Company A below) desperate to reinvent themselves, their work experience proposition. Then 2nd, 3rd and new entries to the market designing and providing the best possible work experience - why? To attract (and retain) the best talent to their businesses, the brightest minds to continue the development of their products or to invent the next Big Thing. I was talking to one CEO of a Start-up (Company B) a few years ago who was relocating his $125M+ business just a few miles from Palo Alto to San Jose, I asked him why, he looked me in the eye and responded, "It's simple. We're moving nearer to where the talent is so that they don't have to change, move home, increase their (already miserable) commute, remove the barriers so that we can steal the best and brightest talent from Company A." I sat there as his words sunk in. It was at that point that I realized that there really was a War for Talent and that it was so specific he knew exactly which company he wanted to steal that talent from. A few months later I was on a flight sat next to another CEO of a Start-up Company C who at some point during the journey he made a full admission that he was relocating his $75M business close to Company B so he could steal their talent. I had no idea that this level of competition for talent existed. Moving entire enterprises to be closer to the talent pool. At the time I was blown away by that concept. On my travels I came across a business located in a disused warehouse space in San Francisco. This wasn't a designer warehouse, this was the real thing. Although polished at least, there were cracks in the concrete floor, an eclectic mix of furniture evidently salvaged, begged and borrowed, the dress code was also eclectic, in fact non-existent - I stood out like a sore thumb in my jeans, suede boots, dress shirt and casual sports jacket. There was evidence of takeaway food deliveries strewn around in the aftermath of lunch, makeshift partitions to form meeting rooms, kegs of beer, music playing, even a couple of old Space Invader machines in the corner. "Was this a place of work? I thought to myself as I recalled the sea of cubicles, the company branded polo shirts and chinos at Company A." The place was full of buzz and energy, the people, although casually dressed in some cases to the extreme were all super friendly, clearly very smart, and ultra focused on their mission. Their workspace had no design, it was just a space that they had filled with their own culture, not curated in any way, but it certainly seemed to be working (pardon the pun). It reminded me of the initial article on LinkedIn and maybe the author was right - that people fit into the building and space and not the other way round. Then, a large social media company who built a new headquarters building complete with a social area filled with bleachers, bean bags and funky looking chairs. I observed how the occupants gravitated to the more traditional (and comfortable) spaces, and in fact the modern design features appeared to be nothing more than Architects Folly. During the WORKTECH20 North America Conference I was honored and privileged to introduce a panel discussion including work experience leaders from Facebook, Uber and LinkedIn and I was really struck by the essence of their overarching approach to design the future work experience. "Basically, to forget the past, pre-pandemic, look at what the people want, need, how to help them become more efficient with work and life and design the future from a blank canvass, not try to retool the past." I really liked this thought. Rather than design a space to accommodate people, what about designing an experience for people to make them more successful across every aspect of their lives, including work. I thought this was genius and really fit into my own aspirations around the future of work, and how to meet the needs of all of the diversity that exists in the workforce. On our travels we came across ART Health Solutions who talk about bringing science to the workplace and how they collect robust data that produces deep insights to how workspaces impact employee performance. Data collection on what people think, how they work, how they perform, their health, their wellbeing and what are the elements of workplace design that they react positively and negatively to. As I think about the conundrum posed on this mornings LinkedIn chat, I think about the "Build it and they'll come" approach, the evolution of people fitting into the building, and the approach of using actual human behavioral data and insights to design the future state of work experience. What do you think? Which approach will you choose? 4xi Global Workplace Consulting & Solutions provides a range of services to support Corporations, Service Providers, Innovators, and Accelerators to navigate the world of work. Inspiring the future of work, together. 4xi is proud to be Chair of WORKTECH Academy for North America and a member of its Leadership Advisory Board. 4xi is a Global Ambassador for WORKTECH Academy. San Francisco | New York | Los Angeles | North Carolina | Santiago | London | Porto | Tokyo

  • Coaching for Change During Times of Transformation

    Georgina Miranda Explorer in Residence 4xi Global Consulting & Solutions Time for conscious leadership and change from the inside out in business. “After helping people and companies transform for over a decade across the globe and starting 3 businesses - I see the world and work with new eyes. 2020 has been the ultimate time of awakening for many, but it’s not enough to wake up. The question then is how will you live and act with your new level of awareness and knowledge?” Last month, I partnered with 4xi Global Consulting, and joined the business as Explorer in Residence Exploring and inspiring the future of work, together. The future of work means employers prioritize mental wellbeing, they develop conscious leaders, they invest in transformation from the inside out, and diversity and inclusion is a way of working, rather than an initiative. I’m thrilled to innovate for better work environments globally. “Too often I saw really unhappy and unhealthy people in the corporate environments I was in. I knew our wellbeing and joy should never be compromised for a “good job.” For the world to change, the change starts in us. The world no longer needs leaders, it needs conscious leaders, entrepreneurs, and changemakers committed to doing work that benefits the greater collective of ALL people and planet. There is no going back, there is only going forward to create a new world. Let’s shape one of love, compassion, unity, and one in harmony with the earth. Here to partner with you and your teams on your journey to new awareness and action in a new world. With this in mind, we have put together different options for businesses and business leaders who are seeking to address these issues and build a level of mindfulness and conscious leadership in how we tackle and surpass the current and future challenges. How together, as a team, the whole can be greater than the sum of the parts, and we can improvise, adapt and overcome the challenges before us. Ways to work together and create a new future of work: Mindfulness @ Work Bring transformation to your work and life with mindfulness. Mindfulness has been proven to transform stress, build resilience, while also training your brain to have better focus and happiness. Mindful leaders and teams are able to be responsive versus reactive. Space is given to grow in awareness and mental wellbeing. With awareness comes more informed and sound decision making. There is an openness to vulnerability and to developing practices to help people navigate through uncertain times with less stress, fear, and anxiety. Conscious Leadership Development Conscious leaders are committed to their own growth in awareness to better serve. They practice personal leadership. Personal leadership requires us to care after our physical, emotional, spiritual, and mental wellbeing. To change the world, we must first change within. We work together to develop the conscious leader in you and to grow a business that thrives in profit, impact, and wellbeing. There is equal focus given to personal growth and the growth of the business/career. Change and Transformation Transformation from the inside out. We partner with you for your intended transformation (people, process, technology, mission/vision), while also guiding your people through the adoption process to make the desired change a success. Initiatives that do not have a strategy for overall adoption and engagement are the ones that struggle the most. Our world is in a state of change, and keeping our people feeling secure, valued, and well during these times is critical. Guest/Keynote Speaker As the year comes to a close there is a desire to grow inspiration at organizations or to kick off 2021 with a new perspective for the future. I am a sought-after international speaker and thought leader in the areas of Mind Power and Energy, Transformational Travel, Adventure, Exploration, Conscious Business, Entrepreneurship, Impact-Women + Planet. “Bringing calm and transformation to your work and life in uncertain times.” Every business, every team is different and on a different stage of your journey and discovery, 4xi offers Consulting, Expertise-on-Demand, and Programs that are tailored to those needs, and whatever your immediate or longer term focus, we can help you explore new horizons. Beyond one off engagements, here are just some of the ways on which we could work together: Mindfulness at Work Course Consisting of 4, 60-minute virtual training sessions, email coaching support, including course materials to support the learning journey. This is ideal for a team who want to explore the foundations of mindfulness and how to apply them in the context of the world of work for both themselves and for their teams. Conscious Leadership & Mindfulness Initial 60-minute introduction to the team, followed by 15-minute, bi-weekly drop-in slots during regular team meetings, then voluntary monthly sessions of 60 minutes for team members, and then end of quarter wrap up meeting, 60 minutes including summary. This is ideal for a team that is committed to driving a culture of Conscious Leadership & Mindfulness. One-to-One Coaching Supplementary one-to-one coaching sessions to address individuals’ opportunities around Conscious Leadership and/or Mindfulness. Ideal for leaders who want to progress their own soft skills, or for individuals seeking to overcome personal challenges. “I am fascinated by the infinite human potential available to us all and to helping others break through to discovering theirs in business, life and beyond. I often say to not let your starting point determine your end point. There are no limits. If we can learn to tame and train our minds, infinite possibilities become available on every level.” While it is an extremely challenging time to be running a business with the massive amount of change being thrown at leaders and entrepreneurs daily, it’s also an incredibly exciting time to be on this earth and drive positive change and innovation that prioritizes people and planet. We are shaping the new future of work. It’s an adventure! I am curious, what would you like to see shift where you work or have worked before? Please message me or leave a comment. e: georginamiranda@4xiconsulting.com Georgina Miranda Adventurer, entrepreneur, advisor, transformation expert, global citizen and keynote speaker, dedicated to the transformation of people, companies, and societies for their highest and best good. Georgina brings almost two decades of experience as a social entrepreneur, adventure athlete, international speaker, writer, transformation coach, consultant, mindfulness and energy practitioner, and founder and CEO of She Ventures - a social enterprise focused on the global advancement and well-being of womankind. She is known for producing transformative experiences and events and for developing proficient, conscious leaders, entrepreneurs, and companies alike. Her client roster spans Fortune 500 companies globally as a management consultant and executive coach. An adventure athlete, Georgina is in the process of completing the Explorer Grand Slam, a grueling challenge of climbing the highest peak on each continent and skiing to the North and South Pole. A feat that less than 15 women have completed globally. This journey has taken her to climb Mt. Everest twice, and began in 2008, when she could barely run a mile. Her mission is to share the stories of women and places at risk highlighting gender-based violence and climate change. She also shares how mindfulness and a shift in mindset was the key to her own personal transformation. Georgina holds an MBA from Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. She is a graduate and has been an advisor for the Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center in San Francisco. She serves on the Board of Directors as the Vice Chair for SheJumps and serves as an advisor for many other startups and leadership organizations. She is formally trained in mindfulness/meditation, yoga, and energetic healing practices. She is a contributor for Thrive Global, and has been featured and quoted in Forbes, Vox, Glamour, NBC News, Mindful Magazine, Mindful Leader, Intel, Women’s Health, Huff Post, Latina, and many more media outlets and films. 4xi Global Workplace Consulting & Solutions provides a range of services to support Corporations, Service Providers, Innovators, and Accelerators to navigate the world of work. Inspiring the future of work, together. 4xi is proud to be Chair of WORKTECH Academy for North America and a member of its Leadership Advisory Board. 4xi is a Global Ambassador for WORKTECH Academy. San Francisco | New York | Los Angeles | North Carolina | Santiago | London | Porto | Tokyo

  • 4xi Perspectives: WORKTECH20 North America

    Simon Elliot Managing Partner & Co-Founder 4xi Global Work Experience Consulting & Solutions 18th October, 2020: Last week WORKTECH20 North America held its first virtual conference with 500 attendees joining from organizations across the Americas and around the world, and what a super line up of interesting speakers, topics, and attendees. LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, PwC, Avuity, Genentech, Intel, Locatee, Johnson & Johnson, Siemens, Netflix, VECOS, Liquidspace, Smarten Spaces, Global Workplace Analytics, Ford Motor Company, SoftBank Robotics, LifeWorks Restaurant Group, WeWork, Condeco, WellnessCoach, Nasdaq , Saltmine, Woodall, Irisys, Allwork, Gensler, M Moser Associates and EPOS to name but a few were either speaking or in attendance - thank you to all the sponsors, speakers, contributors, and attendees. Here's what one first time attendee said of the event: “I enjoyed the level of thinking that it provided, more at the strategic level and less of the tactical. I also liked the ability to choose which topics might fit with what I was interested in and the ability to move between the east and west stage.” Key Takeaways and Themes COVID-19: An Accelerator of Change Many of the issues we have seen over the past 8 months or so existed before the global pandemic. Real estate was under utilized, some say less than 50%. The commute was a major bug bear and a reason to take a job or leave. Video technology already existed but has been catapulted into everyone’s personal and professional lives. The need to expand the work experience to an evermore dispersed workforce, now an absolute reality for organizations. The global pandemic has also exposed and accelerated pre-existing conditions in sectors such as hospitality, leisure, retail, and restaurants around the world. Employee Safety has Changed its Focus No longer just about risk factors and accident mitigation, employee safety is now much more about providing safe environments where occupants of buildings, employees, wherever they are, can be safe and stay healthy from less obvious and visible risks to their health. Dave Santo from Siemens talked about air ionization and how that linked with other innovations and visible measurements can be a reassurance to occupants re-entering buildings wherever they may be. Health, Wellness & Well-being Always a factor, but the pandemic has not only accentuated the focus but also the risk. As people work from home, deal with the crisis, trying to keep in employment in the shadow of global layoffs, as they try and balance their home working environment, deal with a new way of working, the intensity of video conferencing, and in many cases working longer than ever before. Sara Escobar of Netflix, Kate Lister of Global Workplace Analytics talked about coming to work as yourself, about mental health and wellbeing, about managing issues like depression that may also have been accentuated during these unprecedented times. Those with the luxury of a dedicated home office, or even a spare bedroom are in a much better position than those that don’t have this, working at the kitchen table, with children, pets, interruptions making the experience even more stressful. Corporate Loneliness This phenomenon existed even pre-COVID-19. Implants in new metro cities reliant upon their work for the foundation of their social network. Cut off, alone, in their expensive apartment that they may struggle to afford with isolation and the fear of layoffs looming. For many, this has brought mental health and wellbeing issues to the forefront and for millions now a reality. “I find the WORKTECH events head and shoulders above anything else. The community, network, the insights, quality of the content and the attendees. This is not a ‘trade event’ but a serious gathering of workplace professionals dedicated and committed to transforming the work experience for GOOD! ” Dr. Douglas Terrier, Chief Technologist at NASA talked about the ultimate innovation machine and how many of the technologies that have been developed for space exploration are now ubiquitous today, and with many more to come. How designing the ultimate workplace in space has lessons for us all as we try to do the same on terra firma. Then, Ebbie Wisecarver from WeWork sharing her own insights on reinventing the workspace of the future. Phil Kirchner, Future of Work Consultant led a panel of Terry Raby, Global Workplace Design at Facebook, Brett Hautop, VP Workplace Experience at LinkedIn, and Tracie Kelly, Head of Workplace & Real Estate, Uber and discussed their approach to what the new future might be. Invent the Future, not Re-tool the Past What do employees really want, need, where they work, how they work, how they can be their very best? These key questions are top of mind as these leading workplace experience organizations consider and design the future of work. Magnetizing the Work Experience No doubt the world has changed, and post COVID-19, it is unthinkable that companies or governments will introduce any mandate to return to the office. They say it takes 66 days on average to change behaviors and habits forever. We are now way past that milestone, and the future physical work experience has to be much more compelling than ever before. A place where people choose to come, not have to. Food & Hospitality Experiences as a Draw A seamless commute, arrival, meet and greet, room booking, meet with colleagues, friends, project partners. The experience is going to be the draw of the future and not the space itself. The overall experiential proposition will need to be elevated, and likely with different economic models, more subsidies, lower volumes, maybe even more free amenities in a smaller footprint to attract the now inevitably, and permanently dispersed workforce of the future. Bruce Daisley, Author of The Joy of Work & Eat Sleep Work Repeat and former VP for EMEA at Twitter had an energetic and inspiring session that touched on a couple of very interesting topics: Redundant Real Estate As inevitably corporate demand for real estate subsides, and at the same time a potential glut of retail real estate, what becomes of all that square footage of space to avoid mothballed Class A buildings and shopping malls turn into ghettos. It is true that some of this space could be converted to warehousing for local deliveries, even ghost kitchens, but there is a lot of foot print to repurpose. "Hotelification" of the Work Experience Is the future work experience equivalent to that of a hotel experience? If so, what start level of workplace do you want to be, or need to be? But then, what do you do with the potentially redundant space that you may or may not be able to offload? What about literally a hotel, a conference and events center, office space for nominated non-profits, vocation, higher education, even housing? “Networking was fantastic! I actually met more people in the virtual setting than I have in the live conferences.” All in all, WORKTECH20 North America was another great event, albeit in a different format but the overall feedback, evidenced by the attendance and participation was very positive indeed and we look forward to welcoming you to the next event. For further details of the benefits of joining the WORKTECH Academy, then please feel free to reach out. If you attend any WORKTECH event then you are already signed up as an Individual Member but there are also other membership opportunities including Community Member, Corporate, and Global Partner. “Come lead the conversation and shape the future of how we'll work tomorrow.” For further information about the different membership levels of WORKTECH Academy, request a Membership Pack HERE. 4xi Global Workplace Consulting & Solutions provides a range of services to support Corporations, Service Providers, Innovators, and Accelerators to navigate the world of work. Inspiring the future of work, together. 4xi is proud to be Chair of WORKTECH Academy for North America and a member of its Leadership Advisory Board. 4xi is a Global Ambassador for WORKTECH Academy. San Francisco | New York | Los Angeles | North Carolina | Santiago | London | Porto | Tokyo

  • #InsightsIn5: The necessity of a GLOCAL perspective

    Jenna Rowe 4xi Advisor, Sustainability The combination of Global perspectives and Local execution is a powerful concept that when together can drive a whole host of benefits to people, economies, and positively impact the planet too! A significant number of Environmental and Social Shareholder Resolutions with majority shareholder support have been passed in 2020, demonstrating the increase in investor focus on environmental, social, governance (ESG) as a priority. ESG factors into debt & equity, with more than 90 country exchanges joining the Sustainable Stock Exchanges Initiative (SSE) and creating ESG indexes to promote greater coherence, consistency and comparability in corporate reporting. Shareholders and other stakeholders are paying close attention to the details. Investors and talent alike, are carefully evaluating companies by their position, reporting and performance, and overall approach to demonstrating corporate responsibility. Few stakeholders state expectations as clearly as BlackRock’s CEO: “A company cannot achieve long-term profits without embracing purpose and considering the needs of a broad range of stakeholders.” While a company’s industry, geography, complexity, and leadership influence the organization’s commitment to environmental sustainability and their approach, more companies are defining clear ESG priorities as part of their overarching corporate business strategy. Key to this effort is disclosing sustainability information in their financial filings such as annual reports, Forms 10-K, and proxy statements. This is a clear indication of the growing acceptance that sustainability information is material to investors. This shows companies are paying attention and adapting to increasing expectations from stakeholders. Purpose Driven Position The most successful companies are those taking a “GLOCAL” position, meaning they “Think Globally and act Locally.” Through this Glocal perspective, individuals and companies can drive greater positive impact, especially in the areas of environmental and social responsibility. The overwhelming number of sustainability organizations, reporting standards and frameworks that have emerged in the last decade have created confusion for firms beginning their sustainability or ESG journey and articulate their purpose. Though daunting, a glocal perspective simplifies the decision process by narrowing the options from the top down using three pivotal criteria to define potential pathways to defining their corporate responsibility position: - Adopt a Globally Applicable set of principles, and commit. - Define Regionally Relevant, quantifiable, time-bound goals which align with your commitment, address stakeholder expectations, such as reporting, and are compliant with the industry and regulatory requirements where you operate. - Develop a strategy that is Locally Actionable and provides measurable benefit to key stakeholders, such as employees, tenants, and the communities in which you operate. When defining a purpose driven position, follow the money. One recommendation is following it to Davos, Switzerland, the site of the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) annual meeting. The WEF hosts political and economic leaders, climate activists, royals and reporters, all focused on sustainability. Totaling 3,000, WEF participants include business leaders, the CEOs of global companies, NGOs, Labor organizations, Business Associations, and Academics. This year’s meeting launched the Davos Manifesto 2020, a bold statement defining the “Purpose” of a company: “Engage all its stakeholders in shared and sustained value creation. In creating such value, a company serves not only its shareholders, but all its stakeholders – employees, customers, suppliers, local communities and society at large.” This particular pathway to purpose also aids in identifying sustainability principles, as the WEF runs alongside the United Nations General Assembly, and many WEF members are also participants in the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC). The UNGC’s aims to mobilize a global movement of sustainable companies and stakeholders, supporting companies to: Do business responsibly by aligning their strategies and operations with Ten Principles on human rights, labor, environment and anti-corruption, and; Take strategic actions to advance broader societal goals, such as the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals with an emphasis on collaboration and innovation. Globally Applicable Regardless of size, industry, complexity, and geographic coverage, all companies can contribute to the Sustainable Develop Goals. Global issues – ranging from climate change and natural disasters to water scarcity and food waste, from social conflict and inequality to pollution and loss of biodiversity – need solutions that the private sector can deliver. This broad array of challenges represents a large and growing market for business innovation and collaboration. Since January 3rd of this year, more than 2,000 new participants have committed to the U.N. Global Compact Sustainable Develop Goals (SDGs). This has brought the total to more than 15,500 organizations, despite the pandemic, and the number grows almost daily. No other organization or universal set of principles, has gained this magnitude of support and this level of participation and support. Regionally Relevant While the SDGs are universal, individual countries establish and enact national plans for achieving the global goals. The Global Compact has launched Local Networks in over 85 countries, providing the platform for businesses to engage with stakeholders from Government, the UN, civil society and communities to design a shared approach. This type of collaboration provides another benefit, which is ensuring that participating organizations have a voice in developing national policies and the regulatory requirements to which they are held accountable. On the regulatory front, a strong push for corporate sustainability has come from Europe. The European Union Directive on non-financial and diversity reporting, passed in 2014, requires large public companies to include a sustainability statement in their annual reports. Other countries including South Africa, the United Kingdom, Japan and India have also taken steps to require different forms of sustainability disclosure for public companies. Regulatory reporting requirements, alongside the developments in the investment community, are driving the need to address, and improve disclosure of, sustainability issues deemed material to companies’ long-term health. Over 90% of GRESB participants now have multiple ESG objectives that are fully integrated into their business strategy. Meanwhile, the non-profit CDP, which encourages transparency around corporate ESG performance, launched a 2020 Non-Disclosure Campaign. This initiative is driven by global investors, holding more than $10 trillion in assets, who are urging corporations to improve their environmental disclosure on the themes of climate change, deforestation, and water security. The 1,051 companies from 49 countries being urged to share environmental data are estimated to emit more than 4,800 metric megatons of carbon dioxide equivalent annually, according to CDP. Locally Actionable Just as stakeholders are one of the drivers behind a company’s need for an ESG program, stakeholders require purposeful communication and engagement. In fact, stakeholder engagement is both a requirement for most principles and disclosure frameworks, as well as a key element to a program’s success. More recently termed “experience” and focused on employees, effective engagement efforts can help a company gain a competitive edge, improve brand and reputation, increase their market share, and boost shareholder value. The importance of stakeholder engagement is such that the SDG library includes an entire section on the topic. Emphasizing the “Social” in environmental, social, governance, best practices align human resources, public relations, philanthropy, community, and sustainability efforts through employee participation to maximize an ESG program’s return on investment and the value delivered through the program. In addition to benefits such as compliance with local regulatory requirements, community engagement also provides opportunities for collaboration across multiple corporations, non-profits, industry organizations and utilities. This collaboration is where opportunities for driving community benefit through corporate actions can begin to gain the most traction – integrated into each organization’s efforts in partnership. Trash pick-up days, e-waste recycling, local education and green events, all deliver measurable results to enhance reporting and are built on stakeholder participation, which delivers other valuable metrics – all in support of achieving ESG program goals and meeting corporate responsibility commitments. Conclusion Integration is the keyword when it comes to sustainability or environmental, social, governance efforts. These initiatives must be reinforced by the implementation of company policies, standards and guidelines which are integrated into the culture of the company and embedded in their business operations. No matter your organization’s current progress or lack of progress in this area, the time to act is now. Proactively assessing the situation, defining your purpose, and developing a strategy is efficient and effective. Reactively responding to pressure from government and stakeholders is expensive - and exhausting. What Next? Sustainability is a complicated and complex puzzle, but if your shareholders, stakeholders, and your own principles, are committed to making a difference, let 4xi Global Consulting help you navigate the unknown, and discover new horizons. Jenna Rowe, Advisor, Sustainability & Resilience at 4xi Global Consulting offers insights, guidance, and programmatic support for organizations who are seeking to drive their sustainability efforts, make a change, and create impact in how they operate and achieve their sustainability goals for the future. To learn more about how 4xi can help, contact us today: w: www.4xiconsulting.com e: jennarowe@4xiconsulting.com "Inspiring the future, together." 4xi Global Workplace Consulting & Solutions provides a range of services to support Corporations, Service Providers, Innovators, and Accelerators to navigate the world of work. Inspiring the future of work, together. 4xi is proud to be Chair of WORKTECH Academy for North America and a member of its Leadership Advisory Board. 4xi is a Global Ambassador for WORKTECH Academy. San Francisco | New York | Los Angeles | North Carolina | Santiago | London | Porto | Tokyo

  • 4xi: Meet the Team: Ann McNally

    4xi is delighted to welcome hospitality and growth strategist, and coach Ann McNally after a stellar career spanning over 25 years. Working on the client-side of the business as Vice President of Amenities at Morgan Stanley and as Director for Contract Services at Bristol-Myers Squibb, she managed soft services such as food, conference centers, reception services, janitorial, fitness centers, and more. Ann worked on the operations side of the business for 16 plus years in the airport, education, and corporate services sectors in varying roles from business operations to Vice President of Sales. Prior experience also includes working as the Chief Operating Officer for Emcon Associates where Ann had the opportunity to remarket and re-structure the organization in preparation for the firm to be sold. Ann was responsible for launching several projects and initiatives in all of her roles. As an experienced leader and industry connector, Ann is well versed in the workplace experience and knows how to connect productivity, sustainability, and wellness to the overall value of the hospitality program for organizations. In 2010, Ann served as President for the Society for Hospitality and Foodservice Management (SHFM) and sat on the SHFM board of directors for six years. In 2011, Ann received an honorary doctorate in food service from the North American Associations of Food Equipment Manufacturers (NAAFM). Ann proudly served as a founding board member for Dress for Success, Mercer County NJ (serving underprivileged woman), and helped start this 501 c 3 with a group of passionate women at Bristol-Myers Squibb. Ann has a deep understanding of business operations, excellent strategic planning skills, and genuinely enjoys coaching others to learn about our industry. At 4xi, we believe that our strength is in the power of our collective. We're excited to have Ann join our growing global team of experts. UP CLOSE & PERSONAL Q1: Where do you live? AM: I am right in the process of moving to Southport, North Carolina outside Wilmington. Q2: What was your journey to 4xi? AM: After working in the onsite soft services world for 28 years when Barbara Boden called with this cool concept, she and Simon Elliot were developing the timing was perfect for me to do something different. I love helping clients with various pieces of their business needs and look forward to working with many of them. Q3: What’s your favorite holiday destination? AM: My little ski house outside Ludlow Vermont (Okemo Mountain). Q4: Desert Island Discs: What’s your top 3 music artists? AM: Crosby Stills and Nash, Van Morrison, and Jackson Brown. Would throw me back to my younger days and get me through the time on the island. Q5: Desert Island Food: What’s your top 3 cuisines or foods? AM: I love to eat healthy food so any seafood grilled to perfection, any mixture of healthy salad, and when I venture off the daily rules Thai food does it. Q6: If you were invited to a dinner party of 10, who would you invite, alive or dead? AM: My son, Michelle and Barack Obama, Oprah, Hillary Clinton, Brene Brown, Deepak Chopra, Elizabeth Gilbert, my mom, dad, and sister who have passed away. Q7: What are the top 3 most important things to think about in the future of work right now? AM: How to help get your employees through COVID. Then Post COVID looking at the entire work experience from the moment they enter the workplace until they leave to go home. How are they impacted during the day, how can we help them be productive, how can we attract and retain them and keep them in our workplace? Let's not forget supporting them at home. The new normal may never return to a full building of people so let's make sure we invest in our employees at home as well whether through wellness offers, zoom cooking classes, packages of surprise. Let's make sure they feel valued now more than ever. Q8: Who is the most influential person, leader, icon, colleague in your career to date? AM: Annette Erario, my boss at BMS. She taught me so much about business, encouraged me to return to school while working full time, and taught her entire team the importance of continual improvement. Q9: If you could change one thing, anything, what would it be? AM: A cure for cancer. Q10: Describe your best consumer experience ever, and why it stands out? AM: I love a good sense of humor so on a flight one time the steward made his little speech about keeping everyone safe the funniest story I have ever heard. And his delivery was spectacular. The entire plane was in stitches. Q11. Tell us something about you that most people don't know about you? AM: I ran four New York City marathons. My personal best was a 3:40 marathon and I'm still here! Q12. If you support a charity, what is it and why? AM: I support a few. One close to my heart is Dress for Success which helps suit women for job interviews. When I worked at BMS a group of great women worked together to start the Mercer County Dress for Success. Q13. If you could live in any book, what would it be? AM: Becoming by Michelle Obama just so I could hang with her. Q14. If you could have superpowers, what would they be? AM: Change the way politics work in this country. Especially the electoral college. Q15. What are your passions and why? AM: I love to help women in their careers. As a single mom I was fortunate to have a number of family and friends and phenomenal bosses behind me nudging me along. Not everyone has been as fortunate as I to have this support. My favorite anonymous quote; "Behind every successful woman is a tribe of other successful woman who have her back." Q16. If you could offer one piece of advice about the future of work what would that be? AM: Look at the entire workplace experience from your employee's eyes and invest in them wisely as they hold the keys to your firm's success. Thanks Ann for a super interview, and welcome to the 4xi team! ------------ 4xi Global Workplace Consulting & Solutions provides a range of services to support Corporations, Service Providers, Innovators, and Accelerators to navigate the world of work. Inspiring the future of work, together. w: www.4xiconsulting.com San Francisco | New York | North Carolina | Los Angeles | Santiago | London | Tokyo

  • 4xi Innovation Lab: Mashgin: Revolutionizing the Check-Out Experience

    What: 4xi Innovation Webinar: Mashgin: Revolutionizing the Check-Out Experience Where: Webinar: REGISTER FOR FREE HERE When: Wednesday 28th October 2020, 10.00 (Pacific Standard Time) Join 4XI Global Consulting and Mashgin for a discussion on the benefits of utilizing computer vision technology to create a touchless, safe, and speedy self-checkout experience for consumers. Touchless, socially-distant purchasing is the new norm across the world and companies everywhere are adopting new technologies to accommodate this customer need. Learn how other organizations have successfully used Mashgin to dramatically reduce lines and increase revenue while setting a new standard for consumer safety. Webinar Presenters: Toby Awalt Director of Product Marketing @Mashgin Product Evangelist and startup veteran, Toby has the honor of representing a world-class team at Mashgin. Barbara Boden Managing Partner @4xi Global Consulting & Solutions Global hospitality and employee amenity strategic thought leader focused on data-driven insights. "Inspiring the future of work, together. Innovating the every day." 4xi Global Workplace Consulting & Solutions provides a range of services to support Corporations, Service Providers, Innovators, and Accelerators to navigate the world of work. Inspiring the future of work, together. 4xi is proud to be Chair of WORKTECH Academy for North America and a member of its Leadership Advisory Board. 4xi is a Global Ambassador for WORKTECH Academy. San Francisco | New York | Los Angeles | North Carolina | Santiago | London | Porto | Tokyo

  • #InsightsIn5: WORKTECH 2020: North America

    WORKTECH20 North America is taking place next week on the 13th and 14th of October 2020, bringing together some of the world’s largest brands and most influential thought-leaders to explore the future of the post-pandemic workplace. Register HERE to join WORKTECH 2020: North America, come join and lead the conversation on the future of work. This exciting virtual event will offer senior workplace professionals first-hand insights and expert advice on what is next for the future of work, from a people, place, culture, design, innovation, and technology perspective. International thought-leaders will share practical knowledge and actionable insights around re-thinking, re-opening, and re-investing in businesses during this challenging time. Download the FULL CONFERENCE AGENDA HERE Expert Speakers include: Dr. Douglas Terrier, Chief Technologist, NASA Steve Todd, AVP, Global Head of Workplace, Nasdaq Terry Raby, Global Workplace Design Director, Facebook Brett Hautop, Global Head of Design and Build, LinkedIn Tracie Kelly, Head of Workplace & Real Estate - HQ Bay Area, Uber Sara Escobar, Director, Workplace Experience, Netflix Bruce Daisley, Former VP, EMEA, and Author Twitter Lynda Gratton, Author, Professor of Management Practice, London Business School Don’t miss this opportunity to hear from industry thought leaders and network with senior decision-makers at the forefront of workplace innovation. Leading companies attending WORKETCH Events include: PepsiCo, Google, Citibank, Facebook, Wells Fargo, Aramark, WSP, LinkedIn, Nike, BofA, HP, Spotify, Scotiabank, Uber, Genentech, Lifeworks, Ericsson, Netflix, McKinsey, SoftBank, Sun Life, Twitter, Regeneron. Sign up now to join and lead the conversation: Inspiring the future of work, together. The WORKTECH Academy is proudly supported by Global Partners: ------------ 4xi Global Workplace Consulting & Solutions provides a range of services to support Corporations, Service Providers, Innovators, and Accelerators to navigate the world of work. Inspiring the future of work, together. 4xi is proud to be Chair of WORKTECH Academy for North America and a member of its Leadership Advisory Board. 4xi is a Global Ambassador for WORKTECH Academy. San Francisco | New York | Los Angeles | North Carolina | Santiago | London | Porto | Tokyo

  • #InsightsIn5: Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue!

    This famous wedding recipe derives from the Old English rhyme: "Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue, and A Sixpence in your Shoe” which names the four apparently good-luck objects (plus a sixpence) a bride should include somewhere in her wedding outfit or carry with her on her wedding day. Apparently from the Victorian era, and from the Red Rose of Lancashire, England, the phrase was designed to ward off the ‘evil eye’ and moreover celebrate the opportunities and hope presented by marriage and what the future together may hold. “So, what’s this got to do with the world of work?” Just like marriage, business is about the long-term and the more you are committed and vested now will guide the levels of success for tomorrow. The points of this age old saying has many meanings and implications for our world of work of today, and tomorrow. Here are my meanderings of why: Something Old History is immensely important. It gives a sense of depth, of experience, and of long-term commitment and sustainability. Grounding the proposition on this is crucial to establishing credibility and the connection with the past to the opportunities of the future. "I have often been impressed with Kristine Woolsey of BCG Platinion and how she makes the important connection between people, culture, place and purpose, and how emotional connections to the work experience are so very important." Something New What has passed cannot be the only thread of the proposition, most are as interested, if not more in what the future may hold and how your ‘thing’ is really going to drive benefit and value into the future. Whether new ways to address the challenges of a dispersed real estate portfolio, clean and safe air in a building, touchless, computer vision check-out, or robotics that drive efficiency and experience, operational, and financial betterment, 4xi’s mission is to deliver impact to the world of work. Something Borrowed And don’t worry if its not just about you but about the multiple layered value and relationships you bring by offering ‘things’ from friends, and family members to ultimately drive real and tangible business value. At 4xi we are growing our eco-system of combined value through the consulting and on-demand services we provide, the programs we develop, and the strategic partnerships we have formed – all designed to create a better work experience and advance the world of work. Something Blue In such uncertain times, what is the right blueprint for the future? How can you shape the future to what you want it to be? Challenge the status quo of the past and help redefine the possibilities and the new future of tomorrow? How can you access insight, innovation, and impact that will set your trajectory for the future? Let 4xi help and support you through your journey of discovering the unknown and exploring new horizons. Our team is made up of some of the most talented people within the world of work with combined decades of experience across almost every aspect and function of creating the blueprint for your future work experience proposition. And a Sixpence in your Shoe And, notwithstanding, ultimately cash is king. Whether that be funding for your ‘thing’ or driving tangible financial impact for your clients and prospects, the ‘sixpence in your shoe’ is ultimately, and probably the most powerful ingredient of all because without it, the possibilities of progress are undoubtedly more limited. Whether crafting a proposition that drives more customers, an experience that retains more clients or employees, or methods or technologies that deliver efficiency and financial improvement, 4xi can help you navigate the labyrinth to the future. Summary You cannot take these piece-meal, this tradition has stood the test of time for a reason, and in the most sensitive of lifetime relationships. If you are truly focused on Clients for Life and all that means, then let 4xi help you on that journey. 4xi Global Consulting & Solutions is committed to supporting the entire eco-system of the world of work and helping you discover new horizons. Just like a successful marriage, business is the connection of two parties, who are aligned, of the same beliefs and long-term objectives, and are committed to a partnership of cooperation, collaboration, and mutual success. Let us help you today to thrive for your tomorrow. ------------ 4xi Global Workplace Consulting & Solutions provides a range of services to support Corporations, Service Providers, Innovators, and Accelerators to navigate the world of work. Inspiring the future of work, together. 4xi is proud to be Chair of WORKTECH Academy for North America and a member of its Leadership Advisory Board. 4xi is a Global Ambassador for WORKTECH Academy. San Francisco | New York | Los Angeles | North Carolina | Santiago | London | Porto | Tokyo

  • #InsightsIn5: The Corona Wars

    Gary Mackay 4xi Regional Consultant, LATAM The Coronavirus pandemic is having a huge global impact on the daily lives of the people of all nations. The economic impact has led to a new categorizations of essential workers and a large scale move towards staff working remotely and a colossal number of people now unemployed. In the United States alone unemployment has risen to more than 30 million people over the past 6 months. The full force of the hammer on the global economy is something that has not been experienced since the Great Depression of the 1930s. Never in my lifetime! As a child growing up in the North of Scotland beside the North Atlantic coastline. A beautiful but brutal part of Scotland where there are few jobs and even less entertainment for young people. I never thought for a second that space rockets would leave earth 2 miles from my family home. However the world has changed and so has my mind set. In that same place I was raised, within spitting distance of my childhood home and the bedroom I nicknamed “The Freezer” we now have the first UK Space Hub under development by UK Space Agency. "What the world will look like in 2021, never mind for my children. I can only imagine?" As many countries make their way towards relaxing COVID-19 lockdowns, many of us are looking forward to getting back to some resemblance of life as it used to be before the global pandemic. However with a second wave of the virus on the horizon, this could be a very long road for us all. Working from home is not always practical and very few of us have homes ideally equipped for working remotely. Working from a kitchen table does not always make for a productive environment especially with the family pets and children seeking attention. Yet in the absence of a vaccine, many aspects of the modern work environment will need to change, putting employee safety first and foremost if they are going to return safely to their desks. Experts suggest this could involve a number of short term fixes aimed at boosting employee confidence. Reducing the number of staff in the workplace at any one time, and longer term design upgrades, building modifications that put hygiene and safety at the very heart of office building planning. With the list of global pandemics over the centuries we can only expect the trend to continue. We must be prepared. Seek out and utilize all the solutions and innovations currently at our disposal to protect our populations including those in the workplace. "Working from my kitchen table with my pet parrot, Martin, hungry for conversation, and my cross terrier, Milou just hungry for treats, does not make for the most productive working environment" The way forward to a safe work environment. It can be done! COVID-19 has been an accelerator of issues that existed before. The transportation infrastructure of our major centers of population were already overstretched, over-crowded and under-invested. This a major pinch point in exposure to the virus for our work force traveling to and from the work place, never mind the focus of continuous employee dissatisfaction levels and a major factor of why employees accept a job, or not, stay in a job, or leave. This will have to be addressed and technological solutions found. Some 74% of businesses in the US want some of their employees to remain working at home. Business leaders are actively reducing their physical footprint by scaling down their number of office locations and reducing the size of their teams as a reactionary measure to get them through the coronavirus pandemic. This strategy will change with time as businesses gain more confidence in how to deal with the virus. If a working vaccine is found, this will restore much confidence, but the risk factor is already here, and businesses will be more focused on a preventative strategy to deal with future pandemics. "As businesses and governments implement back to work strategies, we can expect the biggest remote work experiment in history." There is a way forward to a safe work environment. It can be done if we all work together to make it happen. Science can get us part of the way but technology can also be an important contributor too. Technology leaps forward in times of crisis, the technological developments as a result of 2 World Wars and a Cold War are testament to this. "Maybe now is the time for mankind to join forces to combat our mutual enemy as opposed to each other." Our World in the Near Future Apart from preliminary measures to minimize congestion and maintain social distancing such as for example staggering shift times and lunch breaks so that everybody can get to work and have lunch without being exposed to a high traffic environment, we can expect to see more technological solutions impacting our offices and work places. Office cleaning by conventional means will become a thing of the past with companies such as SoftBank Robotics investing millions of dollars to bring us their autonomous robotic vacuum cleaning technology, Whiz. This could allow our cleaning staff to focus on maintaining a clean disinfected building. Facial recognition technology will also play a part in signing us into the premises, eliminating the morning biometric check in to work procedure currently used by many companies. Nobody wants to touch the same fingerprint scanner as the other potentially thousands of people that work in your building. The office restaurant services will also change with faster touch-less checkout systems such as the Mashgin computer vision driven checkout solution that can identify any product through facial recognition technology. This swipe and go system can actually see what’s on a plate of food. It is 30% more efficient than the standard bar code reader resulting in no queuing at the checkout and a much safer experience for the consumer. "Softbank Robotics receptionist robot, Pepper, “Morning Mr. Mackay, how may I help you today?” Eliminating the “Never in my lifetime” mindset many of us used to have, including me. And a few still do!" One thing is certain, that the only constant is change, and I would suggest that we have not been through such an accelerated period of rapid change for at least in the last 80 years. Let 4xi help you discover the unknown and explore new horizons. ------------ Gary Mackay, 4xi Regional Consultant for LATAM has lived in Santiago for the past decade and can help your organization navigate your journey not just in Chile but across South America. Gary has a wealth of experience globally in business and industry, mining, and remote sites, and helping organizations navigate the labyrinth of opportunity in LATAM, including: Gathering insights and exploring opportunities Regional and local support with existing operations Making connections on the local level Helping organizations enter new markets Local leadership and presence “4xi Global Consulting through its strength and power of collective experience can help you navigate the unknown and explore new horizons.” To learn more about how we can help you, visit our website at www.4xiconsulting.com, email us at Hello@4xiconsulting.com or you can contact Gary directly at GaryMackay@4xiconsulting.com ------------ 4xi Global Workplace Consulting & Solutions provides a range of services to support Corporations, Service Providers, Innovators, and Accelerators to navigate the world of work. Inspiring the future of work, together. 4xi is proud to be Chair of WORKTECH Academy for North America and a member of its Leadership Advisory Board. 4xi is a Global Ambassador for WORKTECH Academy. San Francisco | New York | Los Angeles | North Carolina | Santiago | London | Porto | Tokyo

  • #InsightsIn5: Filling the Value Void

    Barbara Boden Managing Partner & Co-Founder 4xi Global Consulting & Solutions In our current environment many organizations have been forced to make tough choices about their workforce and many have downsized and do not have the ability, or appetite, to quickly refill those positions. This has created a value void for organizations that no longer have key functional support roles and much-needed brainpower and experience on their teams. Equally, for those companies that have never benefited from these resources in the past, on-demand-expertise has never been so sought after and needed in these times. Typically, organizations have filled senior and specialized roles in workplace and hospitality with full time employees. 2020 has significantly impacted this, providing an opportunity to reimagine how these services are provided. The 'gig economy', or 'independent contractor', offers up a variety of solutions to fill these holes. "Workloads and projects will increase; however, they may be sporadic and having seasoned professionals available on a freelance basis can help companies retain and maintain their edge." In addition to specific project or operational support, other areas that can have tremendous impact for companies in this time is to outsource functions such as Diversity & Inclusion, Wellbeing, Customer Experience, and Sustainability. "Companies need to tackle these essential platforms and can utilize the experience through the consultant network to address these important issues." The impacts of COVID-19 have caused re-evaluation of work and life and many experienced leaders want balance going into the future. Large numbers are turning to consulting to provide this opportunity and a new chapter. This work allows them to use their knowledge and experience while working on several projects at once while enjoying the flexibility of choice and time. The benefits to companies include lower costs, compared to a full-time employee; access to experience that brings innovation and fresh ideas; and the ability to flex resources based on actual needs and projects. Why not focus on your core business and let specialists fill the value void? "4xi offers the resources to develop the strategy and execute globally, linking the world of work through a hospitality lens. Our power is in our Collective Experience." To learn more about how we can help you, visit our website at www.4xiconsulting.com, email us at Hello@4xiconsulting.com or you can contact Barbara directly at BarbaraBoden@4xiconsulting.com "4xi can help you discover the unknown and explore new horizons." ------------ 4xi Global Workplace Consulting & Solutions provides a range of services to support Corporations, Service Providers, Innovators, and Accelerators to navigate the world of work. Inspiring the future of work, together. 4xi is proud to be Chair of WORKTECH Academy for North America and a member of its Leadership Advisory Board. 4xi is a Global Ambassador for WORKTECH Academy. San Francisco | New York | Los Angeles | North Carolina | Santiago | London | Porto | Tokyo

  • #InsightsIn5: Food Delivery: The Quest for Replacement Revenues

    COVID-19 has served as an asteroid to our restaurant industry, with one of its largest impacts resulting the rapid acceleration of consumer preference for online ordering and delivery. While we all hold hope for a resurgence in the popularity of on-premise dining, the restaurant business in the early part of this decade will look much more like this “new normal” than the pre-COVID restaurant world. If you find yourself on the fence or reluctantly 'sticking your toes in the water' with delivery, here are a couple of eye-popping numbers from earlier this summer: - 60% of U.S. consumers order delivery or takeout at least once a week. - 31% now use third-party delivery services at least twice a week. As many in our industry struggle for survival, some concepts - big and small – have acted nimbly to thrive in this unsettled environment. As someone who has helped facilitate healthy sales and profits during this time, here are my top three considerations toward delivery success. 1. Be the Concept You Want To Be Online ordering and delivery provide an opportunity to expand or contract your concept and menu to a version that attracts the most customers and attains the highest profitability. As evidenced by the ghost kitchen movement, we can even be a totally different concept. Delivery and ghost kitchens extend freedoms to us to address additional customer need states and operate in additional dayparts than our brick-and-mortar locations may have previously served. If you want to stretch your concept to add revenue, look first for what you can do within your existing labor model, equipment package and ingredient portfolio. This is a great opportunity to test items and ideas. Make sure you’re measuring results promptly and ready to make adjustments. While stretching is possible, conversely, don’t feel that you must offer your full menu online. If you have items or categories that are unpopular, difficult to execute, lack portability or present an unhealthy profit compared to others, consider not offering them on the menu. When it comes to cooked items, ensure they hold, travel and/or reheat to put your best foot forward. For many consumers, the experience they have with their delivery order may be their only impression of your brand. 2. Be Popular, Unique AND Profitable There are a massive number of potential online delivery customers every day and a seemingly infinite number of alternatives for them to choose from. Brands that are not widespread or extremely well-known, must achieve three things in order to compete online: Your listing must inspire customers to visit your menu Your menu should compel purchase on first sight, and The ordering and dining experience needs to inspire repeat business and a spot in customer ordering rotation. Balance items of high consumer demand with your unique take and quality proposition. Many will choose to participate in crowded categories that offer a huge volume of potential customers but bring a large number of competitors as well. In crowded categories, you must find a way to stand out. Highlight your signature items and bring them front and center. Make your burrito, burger or chicken parmesan unique and memorable and ensure your photos are more enticing than those of your competitors. Alternatively, choosing to stand out in a focused, under-served category can have big upside potential, but comes with the risk of not attracting enough business and revenue. If going this road: 1. Ensure there is enough customer demand to meet your revenue and profit needs, and 2. Make sure you can confidently say your product is fantastic. If you can appeal to enough of the customer base, you are more likely to drive trial and gain repeat business. Customers are less sensitive to item pricing in online meal purchasing. Price your offerings at a competitive level that also reflects the increased costs of delivery. Make sure to include options for customers to personalize their items by adding extras, sides and beverages. You’ll be surprised at how many double burgers with bacon and avocado you’ll sell. Much the same labor goes into preparing each order, so explore elevating check average through things like bundles or combos. 3. Treat Delivery Companies as Partners Meal delivery companies are often portrayed as parasitic predators taking advantage of the restaurant industry. This is fundamentally false. These companies are focused on the same purpose as most restaurants: offering customers the best options at competitive pricing, while differentiating themselves from competitors to maximize their revenues and profits. Allowing others to handle the logistics of delivery management enables your team to focus on accurate, fast order fulfillment for delivery orders and providing great experiences to our precious dine-in, takeout and outdoor diners. The market share and strengths of each of the big four delivery companies (DoorDash, Grubhub, Uber Eats, and Postmates ) vary widely by geography. Choosing the right partner requires understanding your market(s) and doing some alternative modeling. For some brands with strong awareness or heavy regional presence, it may make sense for your brand to focus on one “exclusive” delivery partnership and negotiate better rates or other benefits. For many others, you will want to open the gates for customers to enter your menu from multiple platforms. When determining the preferred partner(s), there are a lot of variables beyond commissions to be considered. Marketing tiers, enhanced search, prep times and delivery radii and service times are just some factors that can heavily impact your customer exposure and purchase rates. Now is The Future While these are certainly turbulent and less than predictable times, we can be sure that the restaurant business model has been forever changed. Succeeding in the online ordering and delivery world requires bringing together the right concept, menu, pricing and presentation, as well as maximizing delivery partner relationships. Taking a strategic and nimble approach enables companies to not only recover lost revenue, but to also ensure your business is optimized for whatever the future may hold. ------------ Contact Sean at 4xi to learn more on how we can help you navigate this labyrinth and optimize your approach and presence to online ordering and delivery. Sean Reiter Consultant, Online Delivery & Revenue 4xi Global Consulting & Solutions Sean is a 30+ year restaurant professional hailing from the San Francisco Bay Area. Having held senior positions in well-known restaurant companies, he has spent the last decade helping restaurants solve the conundrum of establishing new areas of profitable revenue through online ordering and delivery platforms, delivering real value and impact to clients. To learn more about how we can help you, visit our website at www.4xiconsulting.com, email us at Hello@4xiconsulting.com or you can contact Sean directly at SeanReiter@4xiconsulting.com ------------ 4xi Global Workplace Consulting & Solutions provides a range of services to support Corporations, Service Providers, Innovators, and Accelerators to navigate the world of work. Inspiring the future of work, together. 4xi is proud to be Chair of WORKTECH Academy for North America and a member of its Leadership Advisory Board. 4xi is a Global Ambassador for WORKTECH Academy. San Francisco | New York | Los Angeles | North Carolina | Santiago | London | Porto | Tokyo

  • 4xi: Regional Insights: Chilecon Valley

    Gary Mackay Regional Consultant LATAM, 4xi Global Consulting Founded in 1541 by Spanish conquistador Pedro de Valdivia as Santiago del Nuevo Extremo (‘Santiago of the New Frontier’), the city is nestled under the serenity of the towering Andes Mountains and is today a bustling and vibrant city full of opportunity and home to a multitude of Chilean and global companies. With a population of nearly 19 million and a GDP of $294 Billion, Chile is ranked by the World Bank as a high-income economy and is considered one of Latin America’s most prosperous nations leading the way in terms of competitiveness, income per capita, globalization, economic freedom and low perception of corruption. That said, Santiago is a tale of two cities with high economic inequality as evidenced by recent social unrest and followed by the impact of the global pandemic hitting Chiles poor harder than those in more privileged areas. With an average net salary of just over $16,600 per annum, still, one percent of the Chilean population lives on less than US$1.90 a day. Nevertheless, that is still 180,000 people but comparative with neighboring countries including Uruguay, Argentine, and Brazil. Chile ranks high in terms of global competitiveness and number one in Latin America well above the likes of Brazil, Mexico, and Argentina. It is also recognized as a country that is relatively easy to do business when compared with other countries in the region. Dominated by the mining of mainly copper, and lithium, Chiles predominant industries include agriculture, fish processing, iron and steel, wood and wood products, transportation equipment, cement, textiles, and business services. Mining represents nearly 60% of all exports with the manufacturing sector accounting for 34% mainly in food products, chemicals, and paper products. Nearly 14% of the workforce work in agriculture, Chile is the world's second-largest producer of salmon, forestry at over 13% is one of the major exports, wine continues to grow as consumers widen their appeal for quality at reasonable and competitive prices. The service industry continues to grow with many international companies located in Santiago. Technology firms from Microsoft, SAP, IBM, and Nokia. Professional services from EY, Deloitte, and PwC. To the ubiquitous Amazon, and mining conglomerate BHP to name but a few. Chiles own Banco de Credito, LATAM Airlines, and Santiago’s Universities are also major employers in the city. Over recent years, Chile has focused on developing homegrown tech talent and attracting global tech companies to what some have termed as Chilecon Valley. Here are some of the moves designed to stimulate and potentially simulate the foundation of global innovation in California. Seed accelerator Start-Up Chile has been a huge success and has benefited more than 1,960 businesses to date. This publically funded program launched in 2010 to help promising young businesses grow, provides them with equity-free grants of not less than 10 million pesos and also provides working visas for foreign nationals. To date entrepreneurs for more than 79 countries have been involved with the Start-up initiative. First initiated by Nicolas Shea, a Chilean businessman with the aim of speeding up the economic and social development of the country the program has been a huge success and has been replicated in more than 50 countries around the world. It is currently valued at $2.1 billion USD in Chile and has a retention rate of 47%. Education As with Silicon Valley, Santiago has a robust connection with and availability of higher education and uptake. Nearly 90% of high school students successfully enroll in a university in Chile, in 2017, this ranked the 5th highest in the world. With some 32 universities, students have plenty of choices to meet their demands for higher education. Chile has some of the best universities in South America, ranked in the top 4 on the continent, with the likes of the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, Universidad of Chile, and Universidad de Santiago Chile in the lead. Entrepreneurship Chile’s more traditional conservatism has in recent years given way to a surge in budding entrepreneurs choosing a career as an entrepreneur above more traditionally risk-averse channels. The high level of education, travel, and work experience with global organizations both in-country and elsewhere has fueled the ambition of the latest generation of business leaders. The start-up portfolio in Chile is now valued at over $1.5 Billion. “About half of the total early-stage entrepreneurship activity in Latin America takes place in Chile. The country’s entrepreneurial ecosystem promotes risk acceptance and product innovation.” Government Support Chile is making it easier for foreign entrepreneurs and investors to take part in Chile’s startup ecosystem. The government has introduced a tech visa that allows tech talent to acquire a visa in just 15 days. This visa is attracting foreign talent and helping to further position Chile as a leading global technology capital. The government-backed Start-Up Chile program offers equity-free grants up to $40,000 has attracted technology entrepreneurs from all over the world. The government also gives one-year visas to those who want to continue developing their startups in Chile. The Start-Up Chile program offers mentoring workshops, co-working spaces, and access to investors. The government’s public investment laid the foundation for a growing culture of entrepreneurship. Startups that have completed the program have also generated more than 8,500 jobs, with more than 50% of those staying in Chile. Innovation Eco-system According to the Global Innovation Index, Chile ranks first in LATAM for innovation investing more in research and development than its contemporaries in the region. This spending by the government is spurring innovation through investments in startups and loosening restrictions for larger companies looking to penetrate the Latin American market. Chile is also ranked 14th for the number of firms created each year. FinTech Driving Change The implementation of mandatory electronic invoicing in Chile has made doing business and dealing with taxes in the country much more efficient. There are many benefits of electronic invoicing, including the ability to optimize cash management, minimize risks, improve real-time traceability, improve data quality, access and accuracy, as well as reduce complexities with trading partners in other countries. This policy change has spurred Chile into a leader in electronic invoicing and in the FinTech space. S-Factory for Women The S-Factory is one of the only acceleration programs in Latin America that promotes technology startups led by female founders. S-Factory is a pre-acceleration program for startups led by female founders. There are two batches a year with 20-30 companies in each batch. Female founders receive training, mentoring, and approximately US$15,000 in equity-free funding to help get their projects off the ground and build their MVPs. Affordability Then, unlike Silicon Valley, the cost of living is a fraction of its forefather in California making it much easier to live, survive, recruit, and retain talent, and thrive. There are many lessons to be learned from how Santiago and Chile is leading the way in LATAM and building a culture of success. “For global organizations, LATAM represents a great opportunity to access a highly educated workforce but often need help navigating the nuances of politics and culture.” Gary Mackay, 4xi Regional Consultant for LATAM has lived in Santiago for the past decade and can help your organization navigate your journey not just in Chile but across South America. Gary has a wealth of experience globally in business and industry, mining, and remote sites, and helping organizations navigate the labyrinth of opportunity in LATAM, including: Gathering insights and exploring opportunities Regional and local support with existing operations Making connections on the local level Helping organizations enter new markets Local leadership and presence “4xi Global Consulting through its strength and power of collective experience can help you navigate the unknown and explore new horizons.” To learn more about how we can help you, visit our website at www.4xiconsulting.com, email us at Hello@4xiconsulting.com or you can contact Gary directly at GaryMackay@4xiconsulting.com ------------ 4xi Global Workplace Consulting & Solutions provides a range of services to support Corporations, Service Providers, Innovators, and Accelerators to navigate the world of work. Inspiring the future of work, together. 4xi is proud to be Chair of WORKTECH Academy for North America and a member of its Leadership Advisory Board. 4xi is a Global Ambassador for WORKTECH Academy. San Francisco | New York | Los Angeles | North Carolina | Santiago | London | Porto | Tokyo

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