[{"summary":"Businesses don't want to miss out on this unprecedented opportunity.","title":"A New Class Of Consultants Are Trying To Clear Up Some Confusion About AI","_createdAt":"2024-06-28T21:13:28Z","_rev":"0sm0cIPrrxmscoBjhTqBJf","body":[{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"b6ace044227f","markDefs":[{"_type":"link","href":"https://www.businessinsider.com/ai-questions-consulting-firms-are-answering-for-clients-2024-6","_key":"daca8a0a755e"}],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"No matter your age or background, you’re probably at least a little","_key":"58649d7317830"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" intrigued and/or worried ","_key":"cee490f1cce4"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"about the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence. And regardless of whether you have an optimistic or pessimistic outlook on the topic, there’s likely a little ","_key":"e78ad59d758f"},{"_type":"span","marks":["daca8a0a755e"],"text":"confusion","_key":"58649d7317831"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" mixed into the equation.","_key":"58649d7317832"}]},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"For business leaders, this confusion can lead to costly mistakes or missed opportunities, so an increasing number of them are soliciting the advice of specialized consulting firms.","_key":"136da6862c6b0"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"84bc3df84822"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"6b55acb140c9","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Cashing in","_key":"7cb17a1fd9dc0"}]},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"Businesses want to leverage AI to boost their bottom lines. But before they get richer with this new technology, those who help them understand it are already raking in the dough.","_key":"f35e17f68b7c0","_type":"span","marks":[]}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"adf9afc5bd6c"},{"style":"normal","_key":"cf6bd80c8ff5","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"A full 90%","_key":"328658737f900"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" of advisory firm PwC’s top clients are seeking guidance regarding the implementation of AI into their operations. And last year alone, McKinsey & Company reported","_key":"df3ffe436000"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" $16 billion in revenue","_key":"187db8d865f1"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" — a record sum boosted in large part by the demand for AI consultancy.","_key":"0b42b72d2f23"}],"_type":"block"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Now that powerful AI features have been around for a while, the nature of that advice is shifting from answering basic inquiries to providing customized plans.","_key":"6e8da81a08b80"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"e34d8a3f621d"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"52c8b994bb56","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"“Eighteen months ago, the conversation was all about, ‘What is GenAI?’” explained Boston Consulting Group’s Allison Bailey. “Today, it is, ‘How do I actually ","_key":"fcec4cb5ba870"},{"marks":["strong"],"text":"drive value with AI ","_key":"9e791fec74af","_type":"span"},{"text":"and drive meaningful change in how we work?’”","_key":"c4d4988414f7","_type":"span","marks":[]}]},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"Stay in your lane","_key":"4b981e393e970","_type":"span","marks":["strong"]}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"31202824a996"},{"style":"normal","_key":"64d13c519a67","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"1755f44b7f450","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Even though AI is likely to infiltrate every conceivable industry over the next few years, it’s important for businesses to understand"},{"marks":["strong"],"text":" the most effective ways to use it","_key":"56ec86637dd1","_type":"span"},{"_key":"d406f4d018d8","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" for their specific goals. And you don’t have to shell out a fortune to consultants if you’re just getting started."}],"_type":"block"},{"_key":"cf012b35b180","markDefs":[],"children":[{"marks":[],"text":"Experts recommend beginning with a broad game plan including what you hope to achieve with AI, how to find the right team to pursue those goals, and what roadblocks you’re likely to encounter along the way.","_key":"6660841be4740","_type":"span"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"}],"visibility":"true","_type":"story","author":{"_ref":"phCNL32Gn","_type":"reference"},"_id":"e287c2de-d457-40da-bd84-b440d2e5a74a","image":{"_type":"image","attribution":"Giphy","asset":{"sha1hash":"452d65c9cdadd40c17cc7920161e9601aaf3cc48","url":"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/8mioycse/v3/452d65c9cdadd40c17cc7920161e9601aaf3cc48-480x267.gif","path":"images/8mioycse/v3/452d65c9cdadd40c17cc7920161e9601aaf3cc48-480x267.gif","_createdAt":"2024-06-28T21:12:41Z","_id":"image-452d65c9cdadd40c17cc7920161e9601aaf3cc48-480x267-gif","uploadId":"Cq4hqCalmNowGVUkf29jpo2erzGF7cQJ","_type":"sanity.imageAsset","assetId":"452d65c9cdadd40c17cc7920161e9601aaf3cc48","originalFilename":"e348faf1-8ff4-4eae-a16e-53cc6741cd57.gif","metadata":{"_type":"sanity.imageMetadata","palette":{"dominant":{"title":"#fff","population":6.98,"background":"#3c426a","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff"},"_type":"sanity.imagePalette","darkMuted":{"foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":6.98,"background":"#3c426a","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch"},"muted":{"title":"#fff","population":0.51,"background":"#57759e","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff"},"lightVibrant":{"background":"#88b7db","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#fff","population":0.74},"darkVibrant":{"background":"#0e3063","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":0.11},"lightMuted":{"population":6.57,"background":"#bcacaa","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#fff"},"vibrant":{"background":"#a6764f","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":0.03}},"hasAlpha":true,"lqip":"data:image/jpeg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wAARCAALABQDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAGAAAAgMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYEBQf/xAAhEAADAAEDBAMAAAAAAAAAAAABAgMABBESBSFRcRQyQf/EABUBAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAMA/8QAGREAAwEBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAECEQMh/9oADAMBAAIRAxEAPwDMug6W6aOgqlQrbctiRt7ybqdCUk0fhstnU7UDEnj6y2FaKkoqxE3+y+cYNHJLVQ0XkUTZT+gY0zHiwnVa2JM9FakZlZVI4gd174Y8QJCHbycMKuK0VdXh/9k=","dimensions":{"_type":"sanity.imageDimensions","width":480,"aspectRatio":1.797752808988764,"height":267},"isOpaque":true,"blurHash":"M5C6o%In8^E1r900o#InM_JC~ks7j]o$9#"},"source":{"name":"Kenan Thompson What GIF by Saturday Night Live","id":"KyrVtxE9x9yUNOuNOp","url":"https://giphy.com/gifs/snl-saturday-night-live-season-47-KyrVtxE9x9yUNOuNOp"},"mimeType":"image/gif","size":3130388,"_updatedAt":"2024-06-28T21:12:41Z","extension":"gif","_rev":"chQWOmp2AIkRT8OQXNtT2i"},"crop":{"top":0,"left":0,"bottom":0,"_type":"sanity.imageCrop","right":0},"hotspot":{"x":0.5,"y":0.5584885331691547,"height":0.8830229336616906,"_type":"sanity.imageHotspot","width":0.9760273972602739}},"_updatedAt":"2024-06-28T21:31:43Z","publishDate":"2024-06-29","category":"business","slug":"/story/2024/06/a-new-class-of-consultants-are-trying-to-clear-up-some-confusion-about-ai","id":"x3UXPBwc"},{"body":[{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"You might have seen one of the many reports asserting that there are more Subway locations around the world than McDonald’s. But that doesn’t mean everything is going great for the sandwich chain.","_key":"40c905b50e7d0"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"e70ab613f81e"},{"style":"normal","_key":"95250e37fdb4","markDefs":[{"_type":"link","href":"https://www.vox.com/money/355959/subway-ads-athletes-explained-simone-biles-travis-kelce","_key":"e6a6c17a49ff"}],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"There have been concerns about the quality and ingredients of the food and a recent buyout by a private-equity firm puts","_key":"fff301694e3f0"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" a cloud of uncertainty","_key":"1bd5f129577a"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" over the entire company. 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We’ll leave it to the nutritionists to determine whether that perception is valid, but plenty of sports figures have been","_key":"219b80f21f5f0","_type":"span"},{"text":" willing to accept corporate cash ","_key":"557018d84a27","_type":"span","marks":["strong"]},{"_key":"ee2dd55b67b8","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"in exchange for appearing in Subway commercials."}]},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"It all plays into the “Eat Fresh” mantra the company has been promoting for years, but spending millions on celebrities without revamping the aging chain is a dubious strategy, says market researcher Barry Thomas.","_key":"3018a06e502a0"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"b0bfee76d52e"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"marks":[],"text":"“The ads drive you into a restaurant that ","_key":"c3009e8d50d10","_type":"span"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"looks and feels like the ‘90s","_key":"0e7f7d33feac"},{"marks":[],"text":",” he said, adding: “We can’t keep advertising Serena [Williams] with the sandwich if we just don’t deliver on the restaurant.”","_key":"bb80e4e1fd63","_type":"span"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"b9927c684a2c"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Better late than never","_key":"eeb547237f8b0"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"16942c71d5bd"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Even Subway execs have indirectly acknowledged that the company has let itself go in recent years, but one insider pointed to a “transformation journey” currently underway that will bring “","_key":"cf88b52d26e60"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"digital innovation and restaurant modernization","_key":"d01d6531ef01"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"” to the 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Even though the results have been pretty positive, there are concerns about malfunctions that have caused traffic jams and even a handful of injuries.","_key":"85513f2264490"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"7805e4d366e4","markDefs":[]},{"_key":"c23556a212c9","markDefs":[{"_type":"link","href":"https://sg.news.yahoo.com/100-ton-locomotive-no-one-120614174.html","_key":"ee8b41d1da53"}],"children":[{"_key":"a42d0882fff50","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Now imagine the potential pitfalls that could result from "},{"_type":"span","marks":["ee8b41d1da53"],"text":"removing","_key":"a42d0882fff51"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" the human from a massive locomotive. That’s exactly what is happening across the country, and some say the results could be catastrophic.","_key":"a42d0882fff52"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"One family’s story","_key":"58deef6f6f700"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"9c624cf934db"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"As we’ve seen with train derailments and collisions, the rail industry is fraught with risks that often carry life-and-death consequences. 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And in addition to the latest controversy, he also took aim at corporate financial reports, asserting: “Their numbers are very suspect.”","_key":"271b83747b58"}],"_type":"block"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"294a387d7cdd","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Google reported ","_key":"3e6230a535240"},{"_key":"43e23aca4f3d","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"a 2,800% rise in searches"},{"_key":"e4501907350f","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" for how to cancel Planet Fitness memberships recently, so it’s certainly not just the company’s founder who has deep concerns about its direction. 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But with other companies competing for market share, the platform is hoping to engage customers with its own TikTok-inspired feed.","_key":"bd3fad48815f0"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"6416d38c9470","markDefs":[]},{"style":"normal","_key":"fc3d384cd1de","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"5b7eef8031d40","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"So far, the update to the Uber Eats app has been updated to include a carousel of short videos"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" in major test markets","_key":"c1221ebbee81"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" including New York City, San Francisco, and Toronto.","_key":"90f25a796d83"}],"_type":"block"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"ba5a3dfda6ad0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"The company hopes to boost interaction by displaying different dishes being offered by restaurants within a specific user’s delivery area. Clicking on a preview provides video content such as the preparation or packaging of certain menu items."}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"2c9c2a89913b"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"9b115e66b6e1","markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"Uber Eats executive Awaneesh Verma cited data that “shows people are much more confident trying new things they otherwise wouldn’t have” if they know more about the items.","_key":"03b7314522370","_type":"span","marks":[]}]},{"style":"normal","_key":"7a2330dab47c","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"“Even little things like being able to see texture, and the details of what a portion size looks like, or what’s in a dish, ","_key":"1fc8361f5fb80"},{"text":"has been really inspiring","_key":"d644373a0ce6","_type":"span","marks":["strong"]},{"text":" for our users,” Verma said.","_key":"4df98bf6d594","_type":"span","marks":[]}],"_type":"block"},{"_key":"cf4860f6cbff","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Not just Uber Eats","_key":"df1c82d315ab0"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"8823e697defb0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"The rush to copy TikTok’s formula is evident "},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"across the social media landscape","_key":"1b08f95958a7"},{"marks":[],"text":", with rivals including Snapchat, Instagram, YouTube, and even LinkedIn implementing some sort of short-form video feed to their platforms. 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And many of those motorists are keenly interested in keeping their rolling investments clean.","_key":"7a0869b6ee220"}],"_type":"block"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"9ed2549c9e99","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"That’s why commercial real estate experts like Jeffrey Circurel say there’s still plenty of upside for investors and entrepreneurs who want to get into the car wash game.","_key":"537d1f4d864b0"}]},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"“Americans are moving to the suburbs and Americans want quality retail — and ","_key":"1453537ae1750"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"quality car washes come with that","_key":"86aaa64261f4"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":",” he said.","_key":"096979781a6a"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"10593ea21494"},{"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Plus, the shift toward subscription models has fueled even more optimism, since more customers are having their accounts automatically debited and providing consistent revenue for the businesses.","_key":"8fa8ba1a153c0"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"062391f0ba98","markDefs":[]},{"_key":"b53cedf17b1d","markDefs":[],"children":[{"marks":[],"text":"Taking a look at the recent and projected growth of the industry shows how far car washes have come from the humble self-service bays of decades past.","_key":"d72de49306c60","_type":"span"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"ac9705dd04d3","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"There are ","_key":"a5e39f9051c80"},{"text":"roughly 60,000 car washes","_key":"21cf95ea11df","_type":"span","marks":["strong"]},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" currently open nationwide","_key":"14bb17655c55"}]},{"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"48a3d211aca2","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"0e9d2e99e6df0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"The overall industry is valued at"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" more than $14 billion","_key":"f8cc70d0a206"}]},{"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"More car washes were ","_key":"4240e38ca3750"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"built in the past 10 years","_key":"f97e7303b708"},{"text":" than in all previous years combined","_key":"ae390731d411","_type":"span","marks":[]}],"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"85fec35be571","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[]},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"aa3858ac3f7f","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Some experts think","_key":"c131f066a0000"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" the market will double again ","_key":"4c69c487fcaa"},{"marks":[],"text":"by the end of this decade","_key":"9c3324dd334f","_type":"span"}],"level":1},{"children":[{"_key":"40bc3d3309480","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Some communities push back"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"62856a0f19c0","markDefs":[]},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"While loyal customers and profit-driven investors see the car wash boom as a good thing, many local leaders and residents say the trend is having a negative impact.","_key":"e3a13b7c9dac0"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"e154bda1b905"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Mayor Glenn Broska of Streetsboro, Ohio, explained why his town recently enacted a prohibition on future car wash construction.","_key":"9ab8c2027cfe0"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"5c2f9b682bf2"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"“A car wash ","_key":"732f9b2391b50"},{"marks":["strong"],"text":"does not provide a lot of jobs","_key":"09c1bcc39cd3","_type":"span"},{"text":" for the community and they ","_key":"6307752c4fe8","_type":"span","marks":[]},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"take up a lot of space","_key":"fad3f3f8b3d2"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":",” he said.","_key":"58bde079a8fe"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"c3bd6113d2d5"}],"_id":"0242cdf9-6a04-4393-81aa-243a35b9f651"},{"_updatedAt":"2024-03-15T02:19:28Z","publishDate":"2024-03-15","_createdAt":"2024-03-14T22:35:58Z","summary":"It looks like actual humans will soon be operating the cash registers again.","_id":"74e7615a-86bb-4c52-a28d-2a2009319aba","category":"business","author":{"_ref":"phCNL32Gn","_type":"reference"},"body":[{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"You might have heard that discount retailers Family Dollar and Dollar Tree are planning to close hundreds of stores. 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From the perspective of shoppers,"},{"_key":"f60f8b820e36","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" the reception to self-checkout options has been mixed"},{"marks":[],"text":" — but Vasos isn’t implementing this new strategy in response to complaints from customers.","_key":"9d8c6b0c07e8","_type":"span"}],"_type":"block"},{"_key":"86ef612ca50f","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Instead, he said that thousands of stores will see a significant scale-back in self-checkout stands in order to curb shoplifting.","_key":"76588888fa980"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"children":[{"_key":"d33edb416acc0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"“We believe there is truly "},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"no substitute for an employee presence","_key":"25b3c9e12d2f"},{"marks":[],"text":" at the front end of the store to greet customers and provide excellent customer service, including at checkout.”","_key":"717f3d135f4f","_type":"span"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"f60265ecb69f","markDefs":[]},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"How things will change","_key":"edd6e5dcff9b0"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"1f834563b2f9"},{"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Dollar General will roll out its new strategy based on the rate of theft in specific stores. It’s expected to look a little something like this:","_key":"210aa43d19d10"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"71711d04967a","markDefs":[]},{"style":"normal","_key":"d32ed6b0af75","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"About 300 stores will","_key":"c170c74d6b340"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" no longer have any","_key":"31812c04d87b"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" self-checkout options","_key":"3e449b27fd23"}],"level":1,"_type":"block"},{"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Another 9,000 will","_key":"b44f5387b4fb0"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" transition to “assisted-checkout” stands ","_key":"cb09cf26b10d"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"during busy periods","_key":"ab097ac821a3"}],"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"7f0fb7ca3263","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[]},{"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"The remaining stores 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But the retail giant already has its own in-house electronics brands — so what’s Walmart’s ","_key":"7b1280d2883e0"},{"marks":["4192ecf2b36d"],"text":"motivation","_key":"7b1280d2883e1","_type":"span"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"?","_key":"7b1280d2883e2"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"a88162f67b8f","markDefs":[{"href":"https://www.axios.com/2024/02/26/why-walmart-bought-vizio","_key":"4192ecf2b36d","_type":"link"}]},{"style":"normal","_key":"b8de9596e0ea","markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"All about the ads","_key":"9d3e09e473eb0","_type":"span","marks":["strong"]}],"_type":"block"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Even though Vizio’s name might be plastered on a bunch of flat-screen televisions, that’s not the only (or even the primary) business the company is in. 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But UPS has implemented some general rules of the road aimed at shaving off as much time as possible.","_key":"2b5fb6b338970"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"25e928681897"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"1f215cc81f5f","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"7b3cc676e11f0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"The main three optimization techniques include:"}]},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Driving with the ","_key":"df72da100a640"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"door open","_key":"022163a28b23"}],"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"6cc02f7246c4","listItem":"bullet"},{"listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Not engaging in ","_key":"217e2af7ade10"},{"text":"small talk ","_key":"4da7469ac4b3","_type":"span","marks":["strong"]},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"with customers","_key":"266ab01f781d"}],"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"1fd8e2b57dff"},{"_key":"8db4789fd9ed","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Avoiding ","_key":"7fda31fc8c590"},{"_key":"3740b490f358","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"left-hand turns"},{"marks":[],"text":" at all costs","_key":"467009ee94b3","_type":"span"}],"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"marks":[],"text":"That last one is a biggie. Not only does turning left take longer since it involves cutting across traffic, it is also much more dangerous. Left-hand turns lead to more than three times as many pedestrian deaths than right-hand turns.","_key":"bf3a8f7927420","_type":"span"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"12aed618d97a"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"ad3785a3bc1f","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"4032b41a9e590","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"And focusing strictly on the profit margin, UPS has found that eliminating unnecessary left-hand turns saves about "},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"10 million gallons of gas","_key":"85afc510bd45"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" (and 20,000 tons of carbon dioxide release) each year.","_key":"a54f6c694754"}]},{"_key":"82e6022221c5","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"2dde059a71cd0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"It also allows the company to deliver about 350,000 more packages annually."}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"}],"_id":"6ab5abc6-ed62-4b84-8d9f-bb11ee828777","_rev":"HiNkyB3IM691k9R9JHkVSV","_type":"story","title":"Let’s Discuss Why UPS Has Such An Aversion To Left-Hand Turns","summary":"When it comes to delivering packages, it seems that right really is right. 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Returns have always been a part of the retail experience, but the ease of doing it with online purchases has exacerbated the problem.","_key":"e134f8e74241"}],"_type":"block"},{"children":[{"text":"And with retailers trying to stay profitable, many of them are ","_key":"7912b38cbf840","_type":"span","marks":[]},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"rethinking their return policies","_key":"fe54196dd621"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":".","_key":"471388b5b332"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"31b8516e2fe1","markDefs":[]},{"_key":"6d5e9e348f2c","markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"Some major store chains are now requiring customers to bring back their returns to brick-and-mortar stores to avoid the return shipping costs and other hassles. 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Now that it’s becoming more transparent, perhaps we should all think a little harder before we select “Buy It Now.”","_key":"b986a4ac72ec","_type":"span","marks":[]}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"a38b8db3c88f","markDefs":[]}],"_updatedAt":"2024-02-18T23:53:38Z","slug":"/story/2024/02/say-goodbye-to-the-era-of-returning-online-purchases-for-free","id":"LBHvhpOg","_rev":"iF2vGmW38fJrStJgfptMJs","_createdAt":"2024-02-18T23:53:38Z","_id":"ae1fc32d-a19f-4eb8-88a8-5ec5a3006740","publishDate":"2024-02-19","_type":"story","author":{"_ref":"phCNL32Gn","_type":"reference"}},{"publishDate":"2024-02-16","_updatedAt":"2024-02-16T01:26:55Z","_rev":"iF2vGmW38fJrStJgfn3D52","title":"Volkswagen And Porsche: Let’s Try To Figure Out Who’s Really The Boss","_type":"story","body":[{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"marks":[],"text":"If you’re a fan of precision German auto engineering, you’ve probably marveled at the incredible performance of a sleek Porsche 911 coupe. And if you’re looking for a stylish family transporter, perhaps you’ve considered one of Volkswagen’s many SUVs.","_key":"29cfd54cc9240","_type":"span"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"55a806ab0ef8"},{"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"But did you know that these two automakers are fundamentally ","_key":"610f19ba3ba80"},{"_type":"span","marks":["d6de5e140151"],"text":"linked","_key":"610f19ba3ba81"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"? And figuring out","_key":"610f19ba3ba82"},{"marks":["strong"],"text":" where one starts and the other ends","_key":"a676c1d6be18","_type":"span"},{"marks":[],"text":" can be confusing.","_key":"54a9b203d7ab","_type":"span"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"0cb9871bb3ad","markDefs":[{"_type":"link","href":"https://youtu.be/tlfmaBsZQ5U?si=q3ZVL4KJxj0Jt97_","_key":"d6de5e140151"}]},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"marks":["strong"],"text":"Some historical context","_key":"b03f4dc7444a0","_type":"span"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"61c708ef72de"},{"style":"normal","_key":"a9d4df170e30","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Ferdinand Porsche, who would later create the brand that bears his name, worked for VW and ","_key":"500bb3a0a13b0"},{"marks":["strong"],"text":"designed the iconic Beetle","_key":"f3e0a949699a","_type":"span"},{"_key":"1acd773cbf83","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":", which became a mainstay in Germany prior to the outbreak of World War II."}],"_type":"block"},{"children":[{"_key":"43867671603b0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"When he started making Porsche models, many of the parts were shared with Volkswagen — and the new brand opted to"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" invest heavily in VW","_key":"f780997e707d"},{"text":" after the war was over. The plan was to buy up a controlling three-quarters stake in the brand, but was only able to acquire just over half.","_key":"8ca07cd7a960","_type":"span","marks":[]}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"a101ff219bb2","markDefs":[]},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"An unusual arrangement","_key":"d8b9e79c25390"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"85c98e021b6e"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"3fb695f555a3","markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"Porsche’s inability to obtain as much of VW as planned could have derailed the company entirely, but there was an unconventional path forward.","_key":"d30d4a58a04a0","_type":"span","marks":[]}]},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"The strategy involved","_key":"08949c7f326e0"},{"text":" dividing Porsche into two separate entities","_key":"007b9e1c4da0","_type":"span","marks":["strong"]},{"text":". One, called Porsche AG, was responsible for creating the vehicles, and the other, Porsche SE, is a corporation created entirely to serve as Porsche AG’s owner.","_key":"6835f7ee710e","_type":"span","marks":[]}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"e9adc368a1e2"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"With that circular structure in place, Porsche SE sold Porsche AG to Volkswagen to repay the debt it racked up trying to buy the VW stock to begin with.","_key":"d55fe5a1c2130"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"885f262db21d"},{"children":[{"_key":"9f47dd36f2460","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Things only got more complicated when Germany repealed a longstanding law that only an entity with 80% ownership of VW could control the company’s decision. 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And in the late 19th century, some important leaps were starting to be made … perhaps most notably by innovator","_key":"d209da82b29d0","_type":"span"},{"text":" Herman Hollerith’s punch-card tabulator","_key":"abe4033b57b5","_type":"span","marks":["strong"]},{"_key":"80ec4e0e28c0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":", which was used in the 1890 census to record the nation’s population."}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"7978fa864d1f","markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"International Time Recording Co.","_key":"eaa556e213cf0","_type":"span","marks":["strong"]}]},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"4a5c1c4830c6","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"b583bd87e1f30","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Around the start of the 20th century, another important company popped up in Endicott, New York. The International Time Recording Co., or ITR, was spearheaded by Charles Flint, "},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"who already had a reputation for streamlining businesses","_key":"97a15fa49c6b"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":". He would later go on to head up companies like the Computing Scale Co., which revolutionized the grocery industry, and the Tabulating Machine Co., which made the aforementioned punch-card tabulator.","_key":"e1cf6939b323"}]},{"children":[{"text":"The birth of C-T-R","_key":"4941de3b4c000","_type":"span","marks":["strong"]}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"533f639260f6","markDefs":[]},{"children":[{"text":"Flint decided to combine each of these three companies into one major business called Computing-Tabulating-Recording Co. 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