ReThink Productivity Podcast

Send us Fan Mail We weigh the real trade‑offs of building AI in‑house versus buying and configuring proven tools, and map a practical route from pilot to production without blowing the budget. Clear steps on data, governance, ethics, and IP help you create value you can measure. Build vs buy decisions tied to strategy and IP  When generic problems justify off‑the‑shelf tools  Niche bottlenecks and...

Send us Fan Mail Notebook LM has had some significant updates over the last few weeks Have a listen to the latest iteration of a Notebook LM created podcast based on ReThink marketing materials  #theproductivityexperts Register for the 2026 Productivity Forum Download a copy of our first ReThink Productivity Retail Report Connect to Simon on LinkedIn Follow ReThink on LinkedIn 

Send us Fan Mail We dig into practical AI that saves time: personal LLMs, embedded features already in your tools, and AI‑native agents that take action, not just give answers. We share proof points, pitfalls, and simple ways teams can adopt safely and quickly. Personal LLMs as thinking partners and draft accelerators Embedded AI in email, slides, CRM, and meetings AI‑native tools mapped to roles...

Send us Fan Mail We strip away the jargon and show how to use AI as an assist that lifts productivity, trust, and measurable outcomes. From data readiness to culture, governance to first use cases, we focus on steps that turn hype into results. Clear definition of AI and human‑in‑the‑loop Where AI adds value across knowledge work Culture over tech as the main blocker Data readiness and training da...

Send us Fan Mail Theo Gott and Mark Stacey from ModusForce   discuss the evolving landscape of workforce management and how their Dayforce implementation expertise helps organisations maximise efficiency and employee satisfaction. • The WFM market is experiencing 20% growth globally with key trends including AI automation, flexible working arrangements, and legislative changes • Advanced schedulin...

Send us Fan Mail Diane Wehrle CEO at Rendle Intelligence and Insights joins Simon for their monthly chat about footfall trends. August retail sales dipped 4.8% year-on-year despite stable footfall, with fashion and general retail taking significant hits. Consumers are demonstrating caution by making fewer transactions while spending slightly more per purchase, reflecting broader economic uncertain...

Send us Fan Mail Tom Coe , VP of Growth at Retail Insight , shares how data-driven solutions can tackle the perennial challenges of retail operations while empowering store colleagues to deliver better customer service • Retail Insight provides in-store operations analytics software for over 50,000 stores globally • The complexity of modern retail operations creates compliance challenges as collea...

Send us Fan Mail We recap the highlights from the Productivity Forum 2025, diving into key presentations and insights that left attendees buzzing with new ideas about retail productivity. • Alex Rezvan kicked off the event with insights on retail's evolution toward non-transactional, cultural spaces that are highly tech-enabled • Halfords shared their productivity journey and implementation s...

Send us Fan Mail Rob Bate , Co Founder at FrontlineXP , shares insights from his extensive retail experience and explains how FrontlineXP is working to improve the experience of customer-facing employees through innovative technology solutions • Frontline workers and operations teams are chronically underserved by technology and expertise • The genesis of FrontlineXP came from wanting to help reta...

Send us Fan Mail Diane Wehrle CEO at Rendle Intelligence and Insights joins Simon for their monthly chat about footfall trends. July retail data shows positive signs with spending down only 1.4% compared to 8.5% in June, though footfall decreased by 1.7% as consumers remain cautious with their spending. The warm weather has encouraged more UK residents to holiday at home, redirecting spending into...

Send us Fan Mail James Bolle, Rethink Productivity's Head of Insight Development, reveals how businesses can transform raw productivity data into meaningful insights that drive tangible improvements. His career-spanning mission has focused on helping organisations make better decisions through data analysis, quality processes, and contextualisation. Rethink's rigorous three-layer quality...

Send us Fan Mail Simon Hedaux from Rethink Productivity provided NotebookLM with his thoughts on the dynamic world of retail productivity, challenging traditional assumptions to uncover hidden costs and untapped opportunities in modern retail operations. Retail businesses face a productivity paradox where despite working harder and implementing efficiency measures, many find themselves "sprin...

Send us Fan Mail Matthew Haywood , Owner of WFM Consulting , a seasoned retail expert with over 25 years of experience, shares his framework for effective workforce management through seven essential pillars. He dispels common myths about auto-scheduling while providing practical insights into achieving the elusive "right people, right place, right time" goal that transforms both custome...

Send us Fan Mail Diane Wehrle CEO at Rendle Intelligence and Insights joins Simon for their monthly chat about footfall trends.  The UK's summer heatwave has driven an 8.5% decline in high street retail sales compared to last year. This retail slump reflects a combination of weather impacts, calendar effects, and persistent economic headwinds affecting consumer spending patterns. • UK high st...

Send us Fan Mail Retail businesses face a productivity paradox where despite working harder and implementing efficiency measures, many find themselves "sprinting to stand still" as costs rise and operations grow more complex. Simon Hedaux from Rethink Productivity provided NotebookLM with his thoughts and insights into navigating this challenging landscape through systemic changes rather...

Send us Fan Mail Tim Waterton , CRO at HappyOrNot , shares how their iconic smiley face terminals pioneered the micro-feedback approach that has collected over 2 billion pieces of customer feedback across 4,000 brands in 100+ countries. Their in-the-moment data collection method delivers higher response rates and more actionable insights than traditional surveys. • HappyOrNot started with simple f...

Send us Fan Mail Productivity specialist Ed unveils the science behind different types of studies that transform raw data into powerful insights for businesses seeking to optimise their operations. • Activity studies break processes into elemental detail, identifying best practices and opportunities for simplification • Efficiency studies use rated activity sampling to categorise tasks as value-ad...

Send us Fan Mail Diane Wehrle CEO at Rendle Intelligence and Insights joins Simon for their monthly chat about footfall trends. The retail landscape continues to face challenges as May's data reveals decreased footfall and consumer spending across most sectors, with fashion retail experiencing a particularly steep decline of 3.6% year-on-year. • High street footfall down 2.5% with only retail...

Send us Fan Mail Sue and Simon explore key retail trends reshaping operations: loyalty-based deep discounts, data-driven opening hours optimization, and the challenges of tech fragmentation for managers. Each trend reveals how retailers are balancing cost pressures with customer experience in an increasingly complex operational landscape.  • Loyalty programs now offering "deep cuts" excl...

Send us Fan Mail Gail, Rethink's Project Coordination Manager, reveals the secrets behind planning and delivering successful productivity projects across diverse industries and time zones. • Communication, proven planning processes, and a professional team of work-study engineers are Gail's "secret weapons" for keeping projects on track • Project setup involves three key steps:...

Send us Fan Mail Diane Wehrle CEO at Rendle Intelligence and Insights joins Simon for their monthly chat about footfall trends and shopping behaviours from March to April 2025. Consumer confidence has taken a hit as Easter trading results reveal ongoing caution, with the GFK Index dropping from -19 in March to -23 in April 2025. Despite footfall increasing by 7.2% in April year-on-year, the combin...

Send us Fan Mail Discover the intricate costs associated with employee turnover and how they impact your business. Join us as we dive deep into the hidden implications and strategies for retention with Helen Seale founding partner at WH People • Understanding the alarming rise in post-pandemic turnover rates • Exploring the hidden costs beyond recruitment • The importance of effective training and...

Send us Fan Mail Simon Hedaux, co-founder of Rethink Productivity, shares his expertise on implementing simple, actionable solutions to common workplace productivity challenges. Drawing from over 20 years of experience from the shop floor to productivity consultancy, Simon reveals how businesses can achieve quick wins through data-driven insights and practical process improvements. Understanding b...

Send us Fan Mail Focusing on the fundamental aspects of successful tech implementations, we explore the importance of team composition, data readiness, and fostering change within organizations with Paul Karnowski founding partner at WH People • Importance of having a dedicated project manager • Effective data preparation is crucial for success • Need for quick decision-making and transparency • E...

Send us Fan Mail Creating a vibrant workplace culture is essential for driving employee engagement and business success. Wendy Muirhead founding partner at WH People discusses the interplay between culture, visibility, and technology, emphasising the need for organisations to invest in their people while simplifying processes through effective Workforce Management (WFM). • Exploration of workplace...