ReThink Productivity Podcast

Hosted by ReThink Productivity

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Episodes

338

Latest episode

Oct 2026

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EN-GB

About the show

Join Simon Hedaux , Co-Founder of ReThink Productivity, alongside a network of industry leaders, innovators, and clients as they share proven strategies to build smarter, leaner, and more profitable organisations. Whether you lead Operations, Strategy, or HR , this podcast delivers the tactical advice and real-world data you need to bridge the gap between high-level strategy and on-the-ground execution. What to Expect Every Month: Early Month: The Productivity Pulse Data-Driven Action: Hear directly from our internal experts— Sue , Simon , and James —as they share real-world trends, fresh data findings, and actionable productivity insights emerging straight from live projects. Align & Engage: Discover practical ways to connect head office goals with frontline execution, ensuring every team member is pulling in the same direction. Real-World Wins: Get tactical advice and success stories from organisations that have successfully unlocked transformative productivity. Late Month: The Industry Guest Spotlight Elevated Insights: We sit down with industry experts, trailblazing leaders, and clients to tackle the macro trends shaping business today. Deep-Dive Content: Move beyond surface-level metrics to explore complex, data-driven insights covering customer behaviour, market shifts, and evolving industry standards. Ready to transform your business? Subscribe today and get the tools to power your organisation's potential.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

October 31, 2026Episode 331 min

Hedaux , Hogg & The Machines 3: AI Safety Moves Fast, But Can You Trust It?

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Hedaux, Hogg & The Machines , Ed & Simon catch up on the last five to six weeks in AI and what it means for productivity, workforce management and retail. Payroll and scheduling: Would anyone trust AI to check payroll before payday? Managers will still need to sense-check the output. Forecasting models: Ed warns that some published accuracy gains use data you wouldn't have at forecast time, such as actual weather. Walmart's Agent Gateway: Walmart opens its shop to AI shopping agents while Amazon tightens its rules. What does that mean for liability and click and collect? Driverless cars: Simon shares his first Waymo ride, and they ask why the US is moving faster than the UK. Measuring AI productivity: Saving a manager two hours a week only counts if the time is reinvested well. Area managers in 2027: How AI could help them plan visits and cut through comms overload. #theproductivityexperts Download a copy of the ReThink Productivity Retail Report Connect to Simon on LinkedIn Follow ReThink on LinkedIn

October 25, 2026Episode 1512 min

Productivity Pulse Episode 11

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Productivity Pulse , James , Sue , and Simon talk about recent project insights, ReSearch developments and team milestones and the 2027 Productivity Forum The Self-Checkout Dilemma: The team examines the evolving role of self-checkouts in retail, the customer frustration caused when peak times cause queues, and how businesses can balance assisted checkouts with self-service tills Risks in Advice-Led Retail: An exploration of why self-checkouts can undermine customer value in service-driven environments, alongside the growing complexity of front-end operations handling click-and-collect, refunds, and exchanges Uncovering the "Why" with ReSearch: A deep dive into how pairing quantitative time-and-motion studies with in-depth employee interviews and interactive, post-it-driven workshops reveals why staff spend their time the way they do Team Milestones & Upcoming Events: An update on achieving Cyber Essentials certification and details on the Productivity Forum scheduled for September 8, 2027, at the National Conference Centre in Birmingham Resources: Save the Date: Register now for the next Productivity Forum on September 8th, 2027 , at the National Conference Centre, Birmingham #theproductivityexperts Download a copy of the ReThink Productivity Retail Report Connect to Simon on LinkedIn Follow ReThink on LinkedIn

October 18, 2026Episode 17616 min

The Smart Shop Floor: Transforming Retail Ops with AI & Data

Send us Fan Mail Physical stores aren't dying—they're evolving. In this episode of The Productivity Podcast, Simon sits down with Bradley Capon , VP at Yoobic , to dissect the future of frontline retail operations and why human-led stores remain the heart of the industry. AI-Powered Store Support: How instant AI assistants and automated visual compliance (processing millions of photos) are solving frontline issues in real time. The "Retail Apocalypse" Fallacy: Why 75% of retail revenue still comes from physical stores and why human staff remain non-negotiable. Data-Driven Operations: Shifting from generic task dumping to hyper-targeted, store-specific action plans that prioritize high-impact sales opportunities. BYOD on the Rise: How Bring Your Own Device policies are successfully connecting frontline teams directly to central operations without overwhelming them. #theproductivityexperts Download a copy of the ReThink Productivity Retail Report Connect to Simon on LinkedIn Follow ReThink on LinkedIn

October 11, 2026Episode 140 min

ReThinking CX 1

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to the inaugural episode of Rethinking CX , hosted by Simon Fraser & Simon Hedaux , where customer experience meets productivity at the intersection of emerging technology, operational strategy, and consumer behavior. In this episode, the hosts unpack the key macro forces shaping the modern business landscape—exploring how AI agents are transforming retail, why climate change is becoming an operational imperative, and how brands can avoid the trap of experience homogenization. Key Topics Covered: Moving Beyond Pure CX Metrics: Why organizations need to look past rigid NPS and employee experience (EX) scores to focus on genuine brand identity, employee behavior, and understanding the root "why" behind customer actions. From SEO to GEO (Generative Engine Optimization): Understanding the consumer shift toward generative AI tools (Gemini, ChatGPT, Copilot) for recommendations, and why brands must provide deep product data and crawlable site infrastructure to enable frictionless, agentic AI transactions. The Operational Impact of Climate & Weather: How rising temperatures and prolonged heatwaves affect labor productivity, supply chains, transport infrastructure, and store-level operations—and why resilient infrastructure investment is becoming essential for business continuity. The Threat of Brand "Same-ness": Analyzing the risk of experience homogenization caused by over-reliance on algorithms, shared playbooks, and trend-chasing—drawing parallels from sports analytics, consumer goods, and entertainment. Adam Mastroianni. The Decline of Deviance links: https://www.experimental-history.com/p/the-decline-of-deviance https://www.experimental-history.com/p/the-decline-of-deviance-2 #theproductivityexperts Download a copy of the ReThink Productivity Retail Report Connect to Simon on LinkedIn Follow ReThink on LinkedIn

October 4, 2026Episode 223 min

Hedaux , Hogg & The Machines 2: AI Safety, Agentic Shopping, and the Battle for the "Agent Shelf"

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Hedaux, Hogg & The Machines , Ed & Simon dive into seven chaotic weeks of AI developments and what they mean for the retail and hospitality sectors. From debunking extreme AI safety headlines to examining how autonomous agents are making purchases on behalf of consumers, this discussion breaks down the practical realities behind the hype. Key Topics Covered: Who Owns the Customer? The complex privacy, security, and margin-sharing challenges when orders pass through an AI agent, delivery platform, and retailer. AI Safety vs. Practical Reality: Cutting through the noise of AI doom statistics to understand model guardrails, sandbox testing, and why current models are already more than powerful enough for retail needs. The Rise of Autonomous Shopping Agents: How personal AI assistants with virtual "agentic cards" are booking cinema tickets, purchasing tech, and changing consumer buying habits. Advertising to Algorithms: Why marketing is shifting away from traditional human-facing ads toward conversational and agentic advertising strategies. Winning the "Agent Shelf": How brands and retailers must adapt their product listings, photographic evidence, and fulfillment speed to ensure AI agents pick their products. Black Friday & Q4 AI Surge: Preparing for a massive increase in agent-assisted shopping and evaluating the impact on click-and-collect logistics. #theproductivityexperts Download a copy of the ReThink Productivity Retail Report Connect to Simon on LinkedIn Follow ReThink on LinkedIn

September 25, 2026Episode 1413 min

Productivity Pulse Special. ReThink Forum 2026 Review

Send us Fan Mail In this special recap episode of The Productivity Pulse , James , Sue , and Simon reflect on the key takeaways, sessions, and strategy insights from the recent Productivity Forum at the National Conference Centre in Birmingham. Joined by over 160 clients, industry leaders, and partners, the team breaks down the core themes of the event—from rethinking efficiency to pragmatic technology deployment and peak capacity management. Key Topics Covered: Retail & Footfall Insights: Hannah from MRI sets the stage with data on high street, retail park, and shopping center trends leading into peak trading periods. Rethinking Operational Efficiency: Why cost-saving is pivoting toward reinvestment, featuring Heart of England Co-op’s success in speeding up operations through stock simplification. Pragmatic Tech & AI Integration: Insights from Center Parcs, SSP, Simms & Associates, and Our Coop on why technology should amplify human capability—keeping humans in the loop rather than overcomplicating processes. Data Quality & Decision Making: The critical role of reliable data input and actionable analytics in driving operational changes. Managing Peak Capacity: Lessons from Greene King and hospitality leaders on handling demand surges, agile testing, and fast-failure learning mindsets. Fireside Chat with Sarah Willingham: Highlights from Sue’s stage interview with the investor and former Dragons' Den panelist. Resources & Next Steps: Save the Date: Register now for the next Productivity Forum on September 8th, 2027 , at the National Conference Centre, Birmingham! Download the Report: Access the full Productivity Benchmarking Report #theproductivityexperts Download a copy of the ReThink Productivity Retail Report Connect to Simon on LinkedIn Follow ReThink on LinkedIn

September 12, 2026Episode 1312 min

Productivity Pulse Episode 10 - ReSearch

Send us Fan Mail Why do operational bottlenecks persist even when you have access to performance data? In this episode of The Productivity Pulse , James , Sue , and Simon discuss how qualitative research bridges the gap between knowing what your workforce is doing and understanding why they do it. The team shares real-world case studies from recent client projects—ranging from store managers stuck resolving minor issues to HR teams battling mismatched software systems. In this episode, you’ll discover: What vs. Why: The distinction between observational role studies and deep-dive qualitative interviews. The "Sock Drawer" Effect: Why disorganized systems waste energy and how employees describe their operational friction. Managerial Coaching Dynamics: How identifying "learned dependence" in underperforming stores creates clear pathways for sales growth. The Power of Anonymity: How structured, active-listening interviews give staff the confidence to share authentic, actionable insights. Resources: To learn more about our qualitative research services, visit our website ReSearch or connect with the team on LinkedIn. #theproductivityexperts Download a copy of the ReThink Productivity Retail Report Connect to Simon on LinkedIn Follow ReThink on LinkedIn

August 30, 2026Episode 17422 min

Fix the Behavior, The Sales Will Follow

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Productivity Podcast, we speak with Kayleigh Fazan , founder of the International Retail Academy , to discuss why transforming the customer experience has to start behind the scenes. Kayleigh shares her insights from over 20 years in retail, explaining why true productivity is all about empowering leaders, building team confidence, and getting the basics right. Here are the key takeaways from our conversation: Behavior Over Metrics: Retail leaders often fixate on lagging indicators like conversion and ATV that only show what happened yesterday. To genuinely improve productivity, managers must focus on the daily behaviors that create those results. The Power of Service: Delivering an exceptional, consistent customer experience is one of the most commercially productive activities a retail business can perform. Targeted Training: Overwhelming part-time staff with massive libraries of learning materials is highly ineffective. Businesses should instead empower their leaders to separate critical, "must-do" training from optional "nice-to-have" learning. Sustainable Growth: Retailers cannot simply cut costs to achieve growth. Adopting a bottom-up approach to customer service naturally boosts commercial numbers, which in turn allows for future budget growth. 📅 Save the Date! Join us live at the Productivity Forum on 10th September in Birmingham. 🎟️ Secure your spot: ReThink Forum 2026 Download a copy of our first ReThink Productivity Retail Report #theproductivityexperts Download a copy of the ReThink Productivity Retail Report Connect to Simon on LinkedIn Follow ReThink on LinkedIn

August 23, 2026Episode 128 min

Productivity Pulse Episode 9 - Case Studies and More

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Sue and Simon explore essential resources for enhancing productivity and validating business cases. If you're seeking insights to inform your next project, this conversation is packed with valuable information. Case Studies : Learning from the Best Sue highlights the importance of case studies for anyone looking to build a solid business case. These real-world examples provide a deep dive into specific projects, showcasing what clients aimed to achieve and the results they accomplished. This firsthand knowledge can guide you in tailoring your own strategies. "If you're trying to think about what will be the business case for a particular project, it's a good one to drill into and find out what somebody else's experience was." — Sue Whitepapers : Broadening Your Understanding In addition to case studies, Sue discusses the wealth of knowledge available in white papers. These documents offer a broader introduction to topics like improving productivity and workload modeling, featuring multiple case studies to illustrate different approaches. Ideal for those still narrowing down their options, whitepapers can provide the general learning needed to kickstart your projects. "If you're still thinking about what you should be doing and want to get some general learning about what other people have done, then the white paper is a great place to start." — Sue Further Learning : Books and Courses Simon and Sue also touch on the book Every Second Counts , which compiles frequently asked questions and offers practical insights along with various case studies. This resource is particularly beneficial for those looking for quick wins in their productivity efforts. From foundational training courses at the ReThink Academy to specialised workshops on workload modeling and methods study, there are numerous opportunities for deeper learning. As Sue notes, these courses can equip you with crucial knowledge and skills whether you're new to productivity or seeking a fresh perspective. Upcoming Events and Resources Don't forget to sign up for the ReThink Forum 2026 happening on September 10th in Birmingham. With over 200 episodes of the Productivity Podcast available, there's a wealth of information at your fingertips. Additionally, Simon and Sue announce a pause on the Basket and Barometer series, making way for new conversations, including the intriguing Hedaux Hogg and the Machines , focusing on AI's role in retail and hospitality. #theproductivityexperts Download a copy of the ReThink Productivity Retail Report Connect to Simon on LinkedIn Follow ReThink on LinkedIn

August 16, 2026Episode 17319 min

Data-Driven Coaching and AI in Store Operations

Send us Fan Mail This month on the productivity podcast Ben Collier , co-founder at Ocasta discusses how streamlining store communications is helping drive actionable tasks, frontline micro-learning, and better sales conversions, and looks ahead to when AI will automatically guide managers through effective team coaching. Key takeaways: From Consumer Apps to Frontline Operations: How a serendipitous project shifted Ocasta from building consumer apps for major brands into creating user-friendly, bespoke operations platforms for retail enterprises. Removing Operational Guesswork: Why turning disguised head-office communications into clear, actionable tasks with real-time visibility eliminates confusion on the shop floor. Micro-Learning in the Flow of Work: How extending traditional knowledge bases into bite-sized, AI-generated training allows store teams to access and complete critical standard operating procedures in just minutes. The AI-Powered Coach: A look ahead at Ocasta's upcoming AI coaching assistant, designed to analyse real in-store observation data and provide managers with tailored action plans and prompts—removing the guesswork from human judgment. Ocasta Webinar: Watch the Webinar Ben mentions in the Pod Event Alert: Catch up with Ben and the Ocasta team to get an early look at their new AI coaching assistant at the upcoming Productivity Forum. 📅 Save the Date! Join us live at the Productivity Forum on 10th September in Birmingham. 🎟️ Secure your spot: ReThink Forum 2026 Download a copy of our first ReThink Productivity Retail Report #theproductivityexperts Download a copy of the ReThink Productivity Retail Report Connect to Simon on LinkedIn Follow ReThink on LinkedIn