For some time, I’ve been looking for one “source” that curates modern takes on HR Tech, perspectives from the people who build it, and its impact on enterprise — something that’s tailor-made by professionals for decision-makers.
I never found it — so I decided to build it.
Every week, I’ll be sharing fresh insights on tech platforms, design, data, and the future of work — straight to your inbox.
This week, we have a guest contributor: Lee Pierce.
My Thoughts
My name is Lee Pierce, and I’m honored to be a guest writer for EI this week! I serve my clients here at SEI in a variety of ways: through program/project management, business process management (BPM) and, most recently, working on a major ERP transformation as a Release Train Engineer (RTE). Along with those interests, I enjoy deep-diving into industry disruptors who bring cutting-edge opportunities and innovations to their industries.
As one of the first five people staffed in our newest Charlotte office, I am also heavily involved in the recruiting and business development of this exciting new SEI location. I’ll be discussing the new office along with digital transformation in construction and the importance of data for the climate crisis in this edition of Exit Interview. So please, scroll down to keep reading and thank you for the opportunity!
Tech Innovation at Work
Like many SEI-ers, I find excitement in digital transformation stories and where some industries are falling behind. While Finance, Insurance and other industries are moving quickly into more digital transformation, we see that shift lagging in construction. The construction industry is primed for some significant paradigm-shifting events — from geo technologies, 3D printing, and augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) to advanced project management solutions designed for full project lifecycles.
One particularly exciting digital transformation opportunity in the construction space is Digital Twin technology. Essentially, the Digital Twin is a digital representation of your object (a building, a wind turbine, or another large structure) created using continuous, real-time data from on-site sensors. Construction engineers can use Digital Twins to view, control, and understand essential elements from a digital standpoint. Everything from managing climate control, enacting fire suppression, and locking down doors to using predictive modeling for immediate design decisions is possible with Digital Twin tech. You can even use a Digital Twin to estimate task time and better align teams, significantly decreasing downtime in your building plans.
Digital Twin technology is just one element of Digital Planning within the construction space, which is the overall concept of using a digital replica of a physical object to aid building and development. VR and AR are two particular powerhouses here, as are drones. Drones are especially fantastic for safety reasons — instead of placing humans in risky positions, drones can travel high into the air or through dangerous construction zones and gather critical information for builders, engineers, and planners. Some companies, like DroneDeploy, combine drones with AR and VR to create realistic virtual environments that can leverage real-time data.
Interested in learning more about digital transformation and construction? Next time you’re in Chicago, plan a visit to the Construction Engineering branch of the Oracle Innovation Lab. This simulated worksite demonstrates “the transformative power” of the digital transformation technologies we’ve discussed today — and even more! Start your deep dive on the Oracle Construction and Engineering blog.
The Changing Workplace
As mentioned in My Thoughts, I’ve taken on an additional role at the new SEI Charlotte location: recruitment. Although this isn’t my first recruiting rodeo, it’s certainly been a unique journey — one that’s taught me how sourcing the right candidates for our SEI office requires a far different approach than your run-of-the-mill hiring process.
Each individual SEI office acts as its own unique consulting center. We get the best of both worlds — a local, tight-knit community of consultants backed by a vast pool of knowledge and expertise. This makes recruiting for our new Charlotte office less like adding a new SEI branch and more like starting a brand-new business.
Recruiting for a new company takes more than recruiting for an existing one. You’re not just finding the right fit for a particular role — you need people who will support a strong start. You need self-sufficient, confident and connected candidates who can create and develop your brand, establish and protect your company culture, and promote the longevity of these essential building blocks. This is particularly important at SEI, where we’re known for our strong company culture supported by an employee ownership model.
Throughout the recruitment process for SEI Charlotte, I’ve found that it’s less about “recruiting” and more about “creating.” It’s my job to bring in folks who will inspire business development and ensure we’re building the right SEI culture for us and for Charlotte. I look forward to continuing this process and helping our new office become a powerful, long-lasting SEI hub in the Charlotte community. Check out our press release for more information on this exciting journey.
All About Data
In lieu of the usual data points listed in this section, I’d like to take this opportunity to highlight some new, very important data points that — despite not being available yet — will greatly impact us all.
Two months ago, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) approved a proposal that will require all publicly traded companies to track, report, and disclose their businesses’ planet-impacting operations, particularly those related to greenhouse gas emissions. Along with demanding hundreds of businesses be transparent about certain “climate-related risks,” “climate-related risks,” the SEC’s proposal also offers a way to standardize this kind of climate data for the very first time.
Needless to say, this is a huge deal. By approving this proposal, our government has now truly acknowledged the pressing need to rapidly confront the looming dangers of the very real climate crisis — dangers to our planet as well as our nation’s economy and financial stability. As a U.S. government agency that oversees financial elements like mutual funds, investment advisors and securities exchanges, some people — particularly climate activists — wonder if the SEC is the best governing body to be demanding, reviewing, and distributing such critical climate information.
Personally, I think climate change can’t be fought by just one single governing body or organization. During this crucial time in the climate crisis, we must work together to tackle the rapid development of climate change and save our natural world. We all must be better stewards of our planet, in both our personal and professional lives — even (or perhaps, especially) companies and corporations. Learn more about this landmark ruling here.
Click here to subscribe to Exit Interview, a weekly email about tech platforms, design, data, and the future of work — straight to your inbox.
