Drivers of Innovation

100 driverless electric mining trucks. Fully operational. No cabs. No drivers. In Inner Mongolia, China has just deployed the world’s largest autonomous mining truck fleet. Here’s what makes it stand out: 🔹 100 trucks in full operation 🔹 Each carries 90 tonnes per load 🔹 Powered by 564kWh lithium iron phosphate batteries 🔹 Range of 60km per charge 🔹 No cabins – built from the ground up for autonomous haulage 🔹 Backed by centralised control systems and AI coordination It’s a major leap in mine automation and electric fleet technology firmly cementing China as a major player in mine automation. For the wider mining industry, this presents huge opportunities to build new skills and future-proof careers: ✔️ Supporting and maintaining electric drivetrains ✔️ Working with autonomous fleet software and control systems ✔️ Building expertise in diagnostics, telemetry, and AI-assisted maintenance While we’re not there yet in WA, it’s a glimpse into what’s coming – and a reminder that trades and technicians will continue to play a critical role as new technologies roll out. The next generation of mining roles won’t just be about operating machines – they’ll be about supporting smarter, safer, and more sustainable operations. #MiningCareers #ElectricFleet #AutonomousHaulage #BlueCollarTech #MiningJobs #WAMining #Upskilling #MiningInnovation #RecruitmentInsights

Transforming Financial Institutions Using API-based Approach 💡 External pressures across Financial Services to deliver new customer experiences and product innovation are driving the need for core architecture and systems transformation. APIs are the key ingredient for enabling such a transformation to create a modern, agile financial institution organization. Today, we can notice two-pronged approach to core transformation and platformification: ☁️ Modernize Core Systems via solutions such as resilience-by-design and a shift to the cloud; 🤝 Develop an API network that drives collaboration with ecosystem partners, to enable new products/services and revenue streams. By becoming an ecosystem of business services, change can occur at pace. These business services are then underpinned by IT services which can operate at a Macro level (e.g. SaaS platforms) or at a micro level though the deployment of micro services architectures. APIs enables these services to be decoupled and exchange information through defined and secure contracts. API-led connectivity is based on the principle of connecting systems and exposing data through modern APIs with the integration split into three layers that compliments the different types of APIs: 👨💻 System APIs provide access to the end systems to abstract the complexity of each system. As well as providing downstream insulation, System APIs provide a single point of entry, a single point of governance and management, as well as single, consistent way of accessing the data. 🌐 Process APIs orchestrate data extracted via the System APIs and encapsulate business processes independent of the data source or destination, to create a higher level of value. The orchestration involves one or more aggregating, splitting and routing of data. 📱 Experience APIs are designed specifically for consumption by a specific end-user, an application or a device. This API layer allows developers to quickly innovate or build new experiences by consuming the underlying assets without having to know how the data or the business capability go there. If anything changes to any of the systems or processes, it requires minimal changes to the experience layer and therein lies the agility required by IT to respond rapidly to changes to business requirements. Developing an API based strategy is the key to addressing the challenges and opportunities presented by the rapidly evolving digital environment for financial services organizations. There will be different starting points for the journey depend upon the organization's maturity, however there is a need to get started to ensure one is not left behind as the pace of change is only increasing. Source: Capgemini x MuleSoft - https://bit.ly/44iQNbF #Innovation #Fintech #Banking #OpenBanking #EmbeddedFinance #API #Microservices #FinancialServices #Data #Cloud #SaaS #Ecosystem #OpenEconomy

As Rio Tinto’s Chief Technical Officer, I have the privilege of a front row seat to the transformative potential of emerging technologies to support decarbonisation, growth, and productivity in the mining industry. I’ve been asked to share some of these insights recently. With global demand for minerals and metals rising due to societal needs and the energy transition, we must find better ways to produce more materials with a lower carbon footprint. Key technologies such as electrification, reprocessing and waste valorisation, big data, AI, machine learning, robotics, and automation are becoming increasingly crucial, as explored by industry leaders in this article https://lnkd.in/gB4PkbEv However, the availability of new technologies is just one part of the equation; understanding how to implement them effectively is another. In my article https://rdcu.be/d3E7C published in Society for Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration Inc. (SME), I delve into the role of strategic mine planning and how technology can support decarbonisation. The future of mining demands we rethink how we operate today, using innovation and strategic mine planning to safeguard tomorrow.  #Mining #Decarbonisation #Sustainability #Innovation #GreenEnergy #MiningIndustry #StrategicMinePlanning #NetZero 

I’ve been to more accelerator demo days than I can count, but this one was different. Innovation Day showcased impactful POC collaborations with FIS that are pushing the boundaries in fintech: 1. Prelim: A seamless integration pulling core data into treasury management documents, removing manual input and boosting efficiency. In partnership with FIS, this innovation transformed a bank’s workflow, making data entry accurate and fast. 2. RiskScout: As financial crime rises, RiskScout provides real-time solutions that streamline compliance, automate workflows, and ease BSA team workloads. Partnering with FIS, they tested transaction monitoring, risk scoring, and automation, setting a new standard for regulatory compliance at reduced costs. 3. Entrio: Simplifying vendor management, Entrio offers visibility into tech stacks, identifying and optimizing existing solutions. FIS worked with Entrio to clean and consolidate its own vast supplier network, unlocking new efficiency in vendor governance. 4. Spade: With real-time merchant intelligence, Spade identifies genuine merchant identities to enhance transaction clarity. A POC with FIS saw 96.4% of transactions accurately matched to merchants, improving approval rates while preventing fraud. 5. MoneyKit: Connecting fragmented financial accounts is key, and MoneyKit offers FIS a single API for five major platforms, driving seamless customer interactions. The POC demo showed how consolidating data can boost engagement and loyalty in digital banking. 6. Blooma CRE: Automating commercial real estate underwriting, Blooma’s cloud-based platform delivers faster and smarter insights. FIS’s POC confirmed Blooma’s potential to minimize implementation fatigue and manage risk, with AI adding value without replacing human judgment. Stay tuned for Part 2, where I’ll cover the remaining companies and panel takeaways! #fis #innovationday #fintechinnovation #ecosystembanking

One lesson I learned in writing "Aaker on Branding, 2nd Edition" was that disruptive innovation, the only way to create growth, is more frequent, faster, and more impactful than ever. This has implications for strategies and branding. I define disruptive innovation as creating a brand “must have” that defines a new subcategory and makes competitors irrelevant or less relevant. A ‘must have” can be a superior feature, benefit, appealing design, buying experience, systems offering, technology, segment-driven offering, or low price point. It can also involve a superior basis for a customer relationship that a customer segment will insist on such as a shared interest (as reflected in Pampers Village, a go-to site for baby care), a personality (the competence of Charles Schwab or the irreverence of Virgin), a passion (Wholes Foods Market’s focus on organic food), or organizational values (Unilever’s program on sustainability). It needs to be so compelling to the customers that they will have a smaller chance of considering a brand that lacks the “must have.” Branding is critical to implementing this growth strategy but is usually undervalued or ignored. Learn about the two roles that branding plays in the below PDF. For more details read "Branding Enables Disruptive Innovation" a learning from "Aaker on Branding, 2nd Edition." https://lnkd.in/gpVMgqnr #AakerOnBranding #Branding

Emerging Departments: How AI is Transforming Organizations Transformation in light of AI isn't just about digital change—it's strategic, cultural, and organizational. Early results of organizational optimization with AI reveal that traditional structures are evolving into new, combined departments that break down silos and enhance collaboration. Here are some emerging trends: 1. Human Experience Department (Led by the CXO) Combines marketing, HR, and customer service to create a unified experience approach. Focuses on customer and employee experience as a seamless continuum. Example: Airbnb and Starbucks blending internal and external engagement for holistic experience design. 2. The Intelligence Function (Led by Chief Data & Intelligence Officer (CDIO)) Merges IT, data analytics, and AI strategy into a unified intelligence function. Enhances decision-making with data-driven insights and technology integration. Example: Microsoft and Amazon use intelligence functions to support strategy and innovation. 3. Integrated Growth Department (Led by the CGO) Combines Marketing, Sales, and Customer Success to create cohesive client journeys. Prioritizes growth by aligning customer interactions across all touchpoints. Example: HubSpot and Salesforce driving client experience continuity. 4. Strategic Innovation & Transformation Office (Led by Chief Strategy Officer or Chief Transformation Officer) Combines strategy, innovation, and transformation initiatives for continuous evolution. Fosters agility by integrating foresight and innovation into long-term strategy. Example: Tesla blending innovation with strategic growth planning. 5. Technology and Digital Transformation Department (Led by the Chief Technology & Transformation Officer) Integrates IT, digital transformation, and cybersecurity under one strategic role. Embeds technology into workflows while ensuring security and compliance. Example: Cisco and IBM streamlining their digital transformation efforts. 6. Resilience and Continuity Department (Led by the Chief Risk Officer) Oversees Risk Management, Business Continuity, and Strategic Foresight. Ensures organizational resilience in an increasingly FLUX world. Example: JP Morgan building resilience to mitigate risks and ensure continuity. 7. Ethics and Responsible AI Office (Led by the CEAO) Ensures ethical AI use and compliance with regulatory standards. Maintains trust and integrity as AI becomes central to business strategy. Example: Microsoft and IBM proactively building ethics frameworks for responsible AI. In sum, AI is driving fundamental shifts in how we structure our organizations. To thrive, leaders must think beyond digital transformation and focus on strategic, cultural, and organizational evolution. The companies that succeed will be those that break down silos, integrate their functions, and embrace transformation as a continuous journey.

Tech is hitting a rare inflection point where the ground shifts faster than leaders can map it.    Arriving just in time for the holidays, Deloitte Tech Trends 2026 (https://deloi.tt/4aEpSfJ) is all about that shift — not someday, not theoretically, but what’s unfolding right now inside the enterprise.    Over the past year, I’ve heard a noticeable change in conversation with tech leaders. The question used to be “if” AI was the right move. Now, it’s about turning experimentation into real impact before they get left behind.   The urgency is real. A technology that once took decades to reach mass adoption now does it in weeks.   Innovation is moving in a flywheel (better models → more apps → more data → more investment → lower costs → even better models) and accelerating faster than any prior tech cycle.    This year’s report zeroes in on five forces reshaping the enterprise:    🟢 Physical AI: Intelligence stepping off screens and into the physical world.  🟢 Agentic AI: Pilots everywhere, yet scarce production, and a focus on why redesigning operations matters more than deploying agents.  🟢 The compute reckoning: Token economics rewriting cloud strategy  as usage skyrockets.  🟢 The great rebuild: Orgs are redesigning around speed, modularity, and human–agent teams.  🟢 AI advantage vs. AI risk: Security racing to defend at machine speed against threats operating with the same intelligence we’re harnessing.    The pattern across all five is more than just an enhancement cycle – it’s a rebuild cycle. And the organizations pulling ahead are the ones willing to rethink the playbook entirely. They’re redesigning instead of automating, prioritizing velocity over perfection, and anchoring every investment to real business outcomes.    So, grab some hot chocolate, a warm blanket, and dive into the trends we’re exploring for 2026 and beyond in Tech Trends 2026. A MASSIVE thank you to all the incredible minds that brought these insights to life: Kelly Raskovich, Jim Rowan, Tim Gaus, Franz Gilbert, Caroline Brown, Nitin Mittal, Parth Patwari, Ed Burns, Nicholas Merizzi, Chris Thomas, Lou DiLorenzo, Anjali Shaikh, Michael Caplan, Erika Maguire, Sunny Aziz, Adnan Amjad, Naresh Persaud, Mark Nicholson, Brett Davis, Simona Spelman, Amit Chaudhary, and Ranjit Bawa. 

How can you grow innovation in an organisation that is tired and overloaded? No! Not by launching yet another innovation programme. Tired teams don’t need more. They need different. Here are 5 things to do: 1. Kill before you create You can’t grow innovation on top of a full plate. Make a stop list before a to-do list: which meetings, reports, projects and rituals will you end to free up energy for new ideas? 2. Protect small islands of focus time Innovation dies in back-to-back calendars. Block fixed “no meeting” slots or a monthly sprint where teams can work on one opportunity without interruptions. Guard this time like you guard client deadlines. 3. Shrink the ambition, speed up the learning Overloaded people fear “big transformation”. Instead, ask for tiny experiments: 1 idea, 1 customer segment, 1 simple test within 2–4 weeks. The goal is learning, not a perfect business case. 4. Change leadership behaviour, not posters Culture follows what leaders do on Monday morning. Leaders should ask: “What did we learn?” more often than “Did we hit the numbers?” and publicly reward smart experiments, even when they don’t “win”. 5. Make progress visible and human Tired organisations often are moving… they just can’t see it. Create a simple “innovation wall” (physical or digital) showing ideas, tests, and outcomes. Celebrate small wins with names and faces, not just dashboards. Innovation culture doesn’t start with energy. It starts with permission, space and small, real progress – especially when everyone is tired. #innovation #innovationculture #leadership #change #futureofwork #organisationaldevelopment

All valuable work will increasingly be done by Human-AI hybrids. An insightful research paper identifies both challenges and good practices from multiple case studies to propose an overall framework. The authors propose that generating effective human-AI hybrids is divided into two phases: Construction - in which Technical implementers design the architecture of the hybrid - and Execution - where Organizational implementers facilitate how participants engage and interact. They suggest 3 primary success factors: 🔧 Interface and Technical Design focuses on making AI systems accessible and reliable through code-free interfaces. The technical architecture should allow rapid testing of different approaches while being supported by effective data curation strategies. 🧠 Human Capability Development prepares people to work effectively with AI systems through training, in critical assessment and prompting techniques. Employees must understand AI's capabilities and limitations, and develop skills to integrate AI into existing workflows. 🤝 The Collaboration Framework structures successful human-AI interaction through aligned mental models and clear role definitions. It emphasizes improving underperforming areas rather than disrupting successful processes, while ensuring both human and AI agents contribute their unique strengths to achieve optimal outcomes.

If you don’t disrupt yourself, the market will. I learned this lesson early in my career. I was hired by a large international organisation to drive innovation and creative thinking. The irony? While we were tasked with pushing others to embrace change, internally we were paralysed by tradition. "The system won't allow it" "Policy from the 1970s says no" "We've never done it that way" Every suggestion for improvement hit the same wall: Tradition. Policy. History. The result? An organisation designed to create global change Couldn't change itself. I see it everywhere now: Teams choosing comfort over growth. Leaders picking familiar over effective. Businesses dying slowly because "that's how we do things here." But we've seen it before: Kodak, Blockbuster, Nokia -> these giants that fell because they didn’t disrupt themselves. The truth? Yesterday's solutions won't solve tomorrow's problems. Your processes should evolve. Your strategies should adapt. Your thinking should grow. Because what got you here? Won't get you there. If you want to stay ahead, disrupt yourself before the market does. ⬇️ Tell me in the comments a business practice you've seen that desperately needs an upgrade. ♻️ Share with your network to remind people to keep "disrupting" and not going with the status quo. ➕ Follow me, Jen Blandos, for daily insights that challenge the status quo