(Looking for Emily's Report from the Newsletter? Click here)

Shifting

I had the pleasure of attending ProMat2025 in March and the first day began with a keynote presentation that was intriguing. At least to me it was.

Paul Zikopoulos calls it “Shifting Left” and “Shifting Right”.  It was loosely about fixing basic problems (shifting left) so you could make a dramatic improvement (shifting right).  And his presentation focused on generative AI and using AI to solve problems. He gave some amazing examples. Pardon my simplification (or hijacking) of Paul’s message.

If you’ve heard me speak, you might know I’m hesitant about leaning too hard on technology.  We have so many technology applications that are, in fact, not working as well as they could. That doesn’t stop me from trying technology whenever I can. Maybe a better statement is that I’m not in favor of applying technology to broken processes instead of fixing the broken processes. Not everything is ready for the tech advancement.

This week’s example of tech failure is Hotel Access Cards.  Is there anyone who has never experienced problems because the access cardkey didn’t do what it should?  Only those who have not traveled, I’m guessing.

We had several access card key problems this trip.  But, the mobile key (phone app) worked every time, if I remembered to try it.  Old Tech: -3, New Tech: Winner.

Back to my story.  My interpretation (or my application) of the keynote message was this: Maybe we need to go back to the basics and fix some things (shift left) and then we can apply the newest and latest advancement (shift right) to achieve greater greatness.  Taking things that are not working well and applying technology is what I call “doing the wrong things faster.”  Like putting a new roof on a house whose foundation is crumbling.

Don’t get me wrong.  I am very willing to try technology.  I think the future will be amazing and made better by all the technological possibilities. I can’t wait for innovation to arrive, and I don’t believe everything has to be perfect on the first try.  Just because it’s not perfect doesn’t mean we abandon it.  Progress is made in small bites, though sometimes it feels like Giant Steps.  I am eagerly waiting to be amazed!

John Melbye, Managing Director
ASCM Twin Cities