Episodes | Industrial Talk

Jason Meshell with Microsoft

Industrial Talk is onsite at Accruent Insights and talking to Jason, Client Director at Microsoft about “The demands for AI and need for a powerful infrastructure”.

Scott MacKenzie interviews Jason Meshell from Microsoft Azure at the Accruent Insights user conference in San Antonio. Meshell discusses the evolution of cloud computing, emphasizing its benefits over on-premises solutions, such as data security, scalability, and cost-effectiveness. He highlights Microsoft’s strategic partnership with Accruent, which has enabled Accruent to leverage AI and cloud services for data-intensive tasks without the need for extensive on-site infrastructure. Meshell also touches on the environmental considerations, like power optimization and the strategic placement of data centers near power sources. He concludes by encouraging listeners to reach out to him on LinkedIn for further discussions.

Justin Sirotin with OCTO Product Development

Scott MacKenzie interviews Justin Sirotin from OCTO, a company that designs complete customer experiences across various industries. OCTO, named after the octopus’s adaptability, has been in operation for 15 years. Justin, with nearly 30 years in industrial design, emphasizes the importance of usability in technology. They discuss the challenges of integrating edge technology with utility grids to improve efficiency and user experience. Justin highlights the need for seamless, user-friendly designs to avoid user frustration. They also touch on the rapid prototyping and testing approach of companies like SpaceX and Formula One, which emphasize real-world testing and continuous improvement.

Tom Mack and Darin Briskman with Imply

Industrial Talk is onsite at IoT Solutions World Congress and talking to Tom Mack and Darin Briskman with Imply about “Your IoT strategy begins and ends with data and ability to access the insights”.

Scott MacKenzie hosts an industrial podcast from the IoT Solutions World Congress in Barcelona, featuring Darin and Tom from Imply. Imply specializes in real-time analytics for IoT data, offering a database that integrates data from various sources for end-to-end solutions. They emphasize the importance of collecting and analyzing data in real-time to improve efficiency and decision-making in manufacturing and other industries. They discuss the challenges of dealing with large volumes of data, the need for clean data, and the role of historical data in contextualizing current events. The conversation also touches on the importance of user-relevant data presentation and the evolving landscape of IoT and SCADA systems.

Brooke Huling with Accruent

Industrial Talk is onsite at Accruent Insights and talking to Brooke Huling, Chief Product Officer at Accruent about “Developing a strategic North Star for your technology”.

Brooke Huling, Chief Product Officer at Accruent, discussed the company’s customer-centric approach and strategic direction. Accruent’s portfolio includes 14 products, each with unique needs, from large, complex use cases to SaaS solutions. Huling emphasized the importance of listening to customers and adapting strategies accordingly. For 2025, Accruent plans to enhance connectivity through an integration hub and data as a service, including using Snowflake for data storage. They are also focusing on AI-driven anomaly detection, such as predicting refrigeration leaks. Huling highlighted sustainability efforts, including a large carbon recapture plant in West Texas, supported by Accruent’s engineering document management solution.

Donna Peterson with World Innovators, Inc.

Scott MacKenzie and Donna Peterson discuss B2B marketing strategies at FABTECH in Orlando, Florida. Donna emphasizes the importance of building relationships and personalizing marketing efforts, including email campaigns and leveraging AI tools like ChatGPT and Descript. She highlights the need for consistent, valuable content and the significance of showcasing a company’s unique qualities. Donna also notes the impact of AI on equipment efficiency and productivity, suggesting it could lead to higher-level job opportunities. Scott and Donna agree on the value of humanizing B2B brands and the benefits of stepping out of comfort zones to foster deeper connections and long-term relationships.

The world is changing fast! Industrial businesses are juggling every facet of business maintenance and growth, ranging from technological/digital media adaptations to cash flow management and operational efficiency challenges. How do industrial business leaders stay current while managing growth and casting vision for the future? The answers could be found in a learning environment, but never before has there been a place for continuing education in the industrial business arena. UNTIL NOW…

The INDUSTRIAL ACADEMY IS HERE. Finally there is a clearinghouse for all things industrial to assist the business leader. Course offerings provide up-to-date applicable information in business development, technology, finance, operations and leadership presented in an engaging, movement-oriented manner by those in the know. These professionals don’t just talk the talk. They walk the walk with purpose and passion for building not just the industrial business but also the people who make things happen.

The Industrial Talk Podcast family looks forward to learning and growing with you!

When I was in elementary school, our teacher would show us films of industrial professionals making our lives better. For me, these films instilled the passion for industry.

Today, industry has come along way from when I was a boy. It is innovative and focused on solving problems. In short, it’s really cool and exciting.

We need to teach children, around the world, and bring back the “Cool” and “Exciting” and why industry is a wonderful profession. That means we need industrial professionals to re-instill this industrial passion.

This is the Purpose of Industrial Pop. It is an online learning management platform (LMP) dedicated to educating our youth in the ever expanding and innovative world of industry. We also provide this LMP for our teachers to share with their class.

These are very exciting times for industry and we must begin educating our future and it starts with you. If you are interested, please contact me at: https://industrialtalk.com/contact/ and just let me know that you are interested in positively impacting our future industry leaders.