S5 | 398: AI and the workforce, with Alice Fournier, CIO, ISS Americas

Digital StrategyTechnologyConversational AI

Jul 26

About the Episode

AI4, the world’s premier conference discussing artificial intelligence and its many applications for business is being held August 7-9 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. I’m happy today to be joined by one of the many great speakers that will be leading the conversation in a few weeks.

Today we’re going to talk about AI and how it is shaping—and will shape—the future of the workplace.

To help me discuss this topic, I’d like to welcome Alice Fournier, CIO at ISS Americas.

About Alice Fournier

Alice Fournier is an experienced technology leader with a strategic approach to leveraging technology for growth. With deep experience driving technology-led transformation, Alice is a strong collaborator who successfully manages across functions and regions to establish a secure and agile digital workplace, while actively contributing to business growth.

Alice currently serves as ISS’ Chief Information Officer for the Americas. She brings to the role a multidisciplinary background at the intersection of IT, marketing, sales, and digital. Alice knows how to leverage technology to both optimize costs and drive revenue. She brings a bold, strategic, business-led approach to the IT function; she leads in a servant mindset; and is dedicated to empowering her team to grow, learn, and thrive. Alice has previously held several senior management roles including most recently Chief Digital Office and VP Digital Capabilities for WD-40 Company; Senior VP Digital Commerce for Geometry Global, VP ECommerce and Omnichannel for Kantar; ECommerce Manager for BIC LGS, all in the New York City Metropolitan area.

Resources

ISS Website: https://issworld.com/

The Agile Brand podcast website: https://www.gregkihlstrom.com/theagilebrandpodcast

Get the latest news and updates on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-agile-brand/

For consulting on marketing technology, customer experience, and more visit GK5A: https://www.gk5a.com The Agile Brand podcast is brought to you by TEKsystems.Learn more here: https://www.teksystems.com/versionnextnow

The Agile Brand is produced by Missing Link—a Latina-owned strategy-driven, creatively fueled production co-op. From ideation to creation, they craft human connections through intelligent, engaging and informative content. https://www.missinglink.company

Synopsis

In this episode, the Alice Fournier from ISS Americas delves into the concept of the "hybrid world," which refers to a work environment that combines remote and in-person work. The speaker emphasizes the importance of understanding how people truly interact in this hybrid world, rather than solely relying on verbal communication. They highlight the value of behavioral data, such as analyzing how individuals connect through Teams or Zoom meetings and their email interactions, to gain valuable insights into collaboration and interaction patterns.

By analyzing this behavioral data, organizations can gain a deeper understanding of how different teams and departments actually interact, rather than relying on assumptions or self-reported information. For example, the speaker mentions that they might discover unexpected connections between sales and marketing teams, rather than the anticipated connections with finance teams.

This data-driven understanding of interactions can then be utilized to reshape office spaces. By leveraging this information, organizations can make informed decisions about office layouts, seating arrangements, and team placements. For instance, if the data shows that certain teams collaborate more frequently, it might be beneficial to physically locate them closer to each other in the office to foster better collaboration and communication.

Overall, this episode highlights the importance of using actual interaction data to inform the design and layout of physical workspaces in the hybrid world, rather than relying solely on assumptions or self-reported information.

The speaker also discusses the significance of creating a unique, seamless, and user-friendly experience in the office to "earn the commute." The idea behind this concept is to ensure that employees and clients feel that going into the office is worth the time and effort it takes to commute there.

With the introduction of new technologies, there are higher expectations for a more consumer-driven user experience (UX). Employees and clients now expect the office environment to be as user-friendly and intuitive as the technology they use in their personal lives. Therefore, it is crucial for businesses to deliver a seamless and easy experience that meets these expectations.

The speaker further emphasizes the role of technology in shaping the office experience. By leveraging data and analytics, businesses can make better decisions about how to set up their physical spaces. For example, they can use data to understand which departments or teams should be located near each other to facilitate collaboration and improve productivity. This data-driven approach allows businesses to make informed choices about how to design and organize their office spaces to enhance the employee experience.

Additionally, the speaker highlights the importance of cleanliness and hygiene in the office, particularly in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. The speaker's business specializes in janitorial services, indicating a priority for maintaining a clean and safe environment. This aligns with the overall goal of creating a positive office experience that meets the expectations of employees and clients.

Overall, this episode emphasizes the need for businesses to prioritize creating a unique, seamless, and user-friendly experience in the office to "earn the commute" and meet the expectations of employees and clients. By leveraging technology and data, businesses can make informed decisions about how to design and organize their office spaces to enhance the employee experience and ensure that going into the office is a valuable and worthwhile experience.