Tech Talks Daily

• 3220: IBM Consulting Unpacks The Great Tech Reset

  What’s the return on your AI investment? In today’s episode, I’m joined by Varun Bijlani, Global Managing Partner for Hybrid Cloud Services at IBM Consulting, to explore why 2025 is shaping up to be a pivotal year for IT leaders under pressure to deliver stronger, measurable outcomes from technology investments. While many IT projects have historically delivered modest returns, expectations are rising. With a growing number of executives focused on increasing ROI by 25 percent or more, the ability to connect AI efforts to real business value is becoming non-negotiable. Drawing on insights from IBM Consulting’s latest book, The Great Tech Reset, Varun outlines how the shift from experimental AI projects to production-level deployment is exposing the cracks in outdated infrastructure strategies. He explains why many businesses are trapped in what he calls a hybrid by default architecture, and how that limits the potential of generative AI. Instead, he advocates for a hybrid by design approach, one that aligns cloud infrastructure with AI goals from the outset. We discuss the organizational mindset shifts needed to move from fragmented systems to intentionally built environments that scale with innovation. Varun also shares real-world examples of companies achieving returns as high as 3.3 times their investment through more intentional planning and execution. As IT leaders look to reset priorities for the year ahead, how can they build the kind of foundation that allows AI to thrive? And what steps can they take today to ensure their technology choices drive value, not just cost?

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• 3219: Orange Business on Empowering the Factory Floor with AI and AR

  What can the UK learn from the Nordic approach to manufacturing—and how can technology play a central role in revitalising the sector? This week on Tech Talks Daily, I sat down with Simon Ranyard, Managing Director for Northwest Europe at Orange Business, to explore the strategic differences between two regions facing similar challenges but moving in very different directions. Simon brings a unique cross-regional view, overseeing Orange Business operations across the UK, Ireland, and the Nordics. While labour shortages and productivity declines are shared concerns, Simon explains why Nordic manufacturers have responded with long-term investments in digitisation and automation, creating not just gains in efficiency but also a rise in high-skill employment. In contrast, many UK firms are still defaulting to short-term headcount increases, missing the bigger opportunity. We discuss the data behind the divergence, including why Sweden has three times the robot density of the UK, and what that means for output and workforce transformation. Simon highlights how automation isn't about job replacement, but role elevation—moving people away from repetitive tasks and into positions that require critical thinking and collaboration with advanced tools. He also shares practical insight into how technologies like 5G, AR, and IoT are reshaping production environments, lowering operational costs, and helping companies stay competitive globally. With government-backed reskilling initiatives and AI now moving from theory to application, Simon makes the case for UK manufacturers to adopt a more strategic, future-facing mindset. If you work in manufacturing, policy, or are simply curious about how different regions are using tech to solve shared problems, this episode offers real-world perspective and tactical advice. What kind of investment decisions will define the next decade of UK industry—and can a mindset shift help close the productivity gap?

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• 3218: Freshworks CEO Shares Why Speed and ROI Matter in AI Adoption

  How do you turn AI investment into measurable outcomes, not just inflated expectations? In this episode, I’m joined by Dennis Woodside, CEO of Freshworks, to unpack how mid-sized businesses can move fast with AI, show results quickly, and stay competitive without enterprise-level complexity or pricing. Dennis shares how Freshworks is helping companies achieve real productivity gains and customer support improvements through accessible, enterprise-grade AI tools. With solutions that boost agent performance, reduce repetitive tickets, and deliver useful insights to managers, Freshworks is proving that you don’t need to be a tech giant to see value from AI. We also explore the challenges that hold mid-market businesses back from adopting AI, and how Freshworks is helping them overcome barriers with tools that are fast to implement, easy to evaluate, and flexible enough to grow with the business. Dennis also reflects on what the industry can learn from customer case studies, including how one company achieved over 250 percent ROI and saved $100,000 annually by streamlining support with AI. If your business is exploring how to make AI work without long timelines or runaway budgets, this conversation offers a grounded view into what’s working—and why. Are you measuring real return on AI in your organization, or just chasing the trend?

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• 3217: How Indeed.com Uses Research to Drive Strategic Action Across Teams

  Why do so many businesses struggle to turn insight into impact? At the X4 Summit in Salt Lake City, I sat down with Adam Hagerman, UX Research Director at Indeed, for a refreshingly candid conversation about how his team has helped reshape the company’s approach to research, collaboration, and decision-making. In a tech culture that values autonomy and individualism, aligning people around a shared understanding of user needs is no small feat—but it’s exactly what Adam has been working on. In this episode, we unpack how Indeed built a shared research framework that breaks down silos, creates a common language, and encourages teams across the business to talk to one another in more meaningful ways. Adam shares how his team tackles the challenge of information overload by focusing on relevance over volume—and how measurement itself becomes a shared system of accountability across functions. We also discuss the evolving role of AI in research, including how Adam’s team uses it to reduce cognitive overhead, accelerate workflows, and spark better questions. But perhaps most importantly, Adam talks about the mindset shift needed in times of rapid change—and why embracing uncertainty and remaining curious is more productive than clinging to old ways of working. Whether you’re a UX leader, researcher, or business decision-maker looking to get more from your data, there’s plenty here to reflect on. How do you ensure your insights aren’t just collected, but acted on? How do you build trust in research across teams? And how can we all get better at asking, “What problem are we actually trying to solve?” Let me know what resonated with you. What challenges have you faced in translating research into action within your own organisation? I’d love to hear your thoughts.

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• 3216: Rethinking Distributed Work with Atlassian's Teamwork Lab and People Insights Leaders

  How do we build high-performing teams in a world where colleagues might never meet face to face?  At the X4 Summit in Salt Lake City, I caught up with two standout voices from Atlassian—Molly Sands, Head of the Teamwork Lab, and Emma Crockett, Head of People Insights. Together, they bring a rich mix of behavioral science, experimentation, and data-driven strategy to the future of work. In this episode, we unpack what it really takes to design distributed work environments that foster both productivity and connection. Molly shares how her team studies internal and external teams to understand what drives collaboration in a hybrid world, while Emma reveals how Atlassian turns insights into action by grounding people strategies in measurable outcomes. We talk about clear goal setting, the power of asynchronous communication, and how the physical workspace itself can evolve to support a flexible, purposeful culture. But this isn’t just about metrics and models—it’s about human connection. From a delightful experiment involving “Chief Vibes Officers” and quirky team questions, to Atlassian’s scrappy and iterative approach to designing new ways of working, this episode offers real-world ideas for reimagining how teams collaborate. We also explore the pitfalls of defaulting to old habits like Zoom fatigue and information silos, and what it takes to fix them. As we touch on people analytics, the role of trust, and the impact of thoughtful measurement, Molly and Emma remind us that even with AI and automation in the mix, work is still about people. So, if your team is struggling with how to work better together—whether you’re all remote, hybrid, or co-located—what lessons could you take from Atlassian’s approach? Let us know your thoughts. How is your organisation adapting to the realities of modern teamwork?

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