ReThink Productivity Podcast
by ReThink Productivity
Join Simon Hedaux, Co-Founder of ReThink Productivity, alongside a network of industry leaders, innovators, and clients as they share proven strategies to build smarter, leaner, and more profitable organisations. Whether you lead Operations, Strategy, or HR, this podcast delivers the tactical advice and real-world data you need to bridge the gap between high-level strategy and on-the-ground execution. What to Expect Every Month: Early Month: The Productivity Pulse Data-Driven Action: Hear directly from our internal experts—Sue, Simon, and James—as they share real-world trends, fresh data findings, and actionable productivity insights emerging straight from live projects.
Episodes
-
Hedaux , Hogg & The Machines 3: AI Safety Moves Fast, But Can You Trust It?
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Hedaux, Hogg & The Machines, Ed & Simon catch up on the last five to six weeks in AI and what it means for productivity, workforce management and retail. Payroll and scheduling: Would anyone trust AI to check payroll before payday? Managers will still need to...
-
Productivity Pulse Episode 11
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Productivity Pulse, James, Sue, and Simon talk about recent project insights, ReSearch developments and team milestones and the 2027 Productivity Forum The Self-Checkout Dilemma: The team examines the evolving role of self-checkouts in retail, the customer...
-
The Smart Shop Floor: Transforming Retail Ops with AI & Data
Send us Fan Mail Physical stores aren't dying—they're evolving. In this episode of The Productivity Podcast, Simon sits down with Bradley Capon, VP at Yoobic, to dissect the future of frontline retail operations and why human-led stores remain the heart of the industry. AI-Powered Store Support:...
-
ReThinking CX 1
Send us Fan Mail Welcome to the inaugural episode of Rethinking CX, hosted by Simon Fraser & Simon Hedaux, where customer experience meets productivity at the intersection of emerging technology, operational strategy, and consumer behavior. In this episode, the hosts unpack the key macro forces...
-
Hedaux , Hogg & The Machines 2: AI Safety, Agentic Shopping, and the Battle for the "Agent Shelf"
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Hedaux, Hogg & The Machines, Ed & Simon dive into seven chaotic weeks of AI developments and what they mean for the retail and hospitality sectors. From debunking extreme AI safety headlines to examining how autonomous agents are making purchases on behalf of...
-
Productivity Pulse Special. ReThink Forum 2026 Review
Send us Fan Mail In this special recap episode of The Productivity Pulse, James, Sue, and Simon reflect on the key takeaways, sessions, and strategy insights from the recent Productivity Forum at the National Conference Centre in Birmingham. Joined by over 160 clients, industry leaders, and...
-
Productivity Pulse Episode 10 - ReSearch
Send us Fan Mail Why do operational bottlenecks persist even when you have access to performance data? In this episode of The Productivity Pulse, James, Sue, and Simon discuss how qualitative research bridges the gap between knowing what your workforce is doing and understanding why they do it.…
more -
Fix the Behavior, The Sales Will Follow
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Productivity Podcast, we speak with Kayleigh Fazan, founder of the International Retail Academy, to discuss why transforming the customer experience has to start behind the scenes. Kayleigh shares her insights from over 20 years in retail, explaining why…
more -
Productivity Pulse Episode 9 - Case Studies and More
Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Sue and Simon explore essential resources for enhancing productivity and validating business cases. If you're seeking insights to inform your next project, this conversation is packed with valuable information. Case Studies: Learning from the Best Sue highlights...
-
Data-Driven Coaching and AI in Store Operations
Send us Fan Mail This month on the productivity podcast Ben Collier, co-founder at Ocasta discusses how streamlining store communications is helping drive actionable tasks, frontline micro-learning, and better sales conversions, and looks ahead to when AI will automatically guide managers through...
-
Hedaux , Hogg & The Machines 1
Send us Fan Mail In this debut episode of "Hedaux, Hogg & the Machines", host Simon is joined by guest co-host Ed Hogg, CEO of SolvedBy.ai. Together, they explore the fast-moving state of AI technology and its practical applications across retail, hospitality, and customer-facing environments.…
more -
From Insights to Execution: The Future of Frontline Productivity with WorkJam
Send us Fan Mail This month on our business productivity podcast, we spoke to Will Eadie, Chief Strategy Officer at WorkJam. We discussed how Task Management tools are helping drive compliance, productivity and colleague engagement, and looked ahead to when systems will automatically suggest...
-
All Things MTM with Peter Kuhlang
Send us Fan Mail We sit down with Peter Kuhlang, CEO of the MTM Association, to unpack MTM as a process language that turns work description into reliable time standards. We also test the hype around AI by looking at how video and motion data can speed up analysis without losing credibility. •...
-
Productivity Pulse Episode 8 - Countdown to the Productivity Forum 2026!
Send us Fan Mail The countdown is officially on. We are just two months away from the annual Productivity Forum on September 10th in Birmingham, and this week on The Productivity Pulse, we’re giving you an exclusive sneak peek at what’s in store. With over 150 operational and productivity leaders...
-
Basket & Barometer June 2026
Send us Fan Mail Diane Wehrle CEO at Rendle Intelligence and Insights joins Simon for their monthly chat We take a look at May’s retail and economic signals, where the mood stays low but the sales numbers finally lift. We tease out how heat, online shopping, and where people choose to spend time...
-
Productivity Pulse Episode 7 - ReThink Academy
Send us Fan Mail What separates guesswork from actual, sustainable efficiency? Professional training. In this episode, our resident experts—Sue, Simon & James—are joined by special guest Phil to break down why credible productivity work must start with the right foundations. They dive into how…
more -
Basket & Barometer May 2026
Send us Fan Mail Diane Wehrle CEO at Rendle Intelligence and Insights joins Simon for their monthly chat April’s numbers look grim on the surface, but Easter timing shifts spending into March and distorts the year on year story. We discuss the real signals behind falling footfall and softer…
more -
Productivity Pulse: Retail Technology Show Live 2026
Send us Fan Mail We recorded our first live ReThink Productivity podcast at the Retail Technology Show after-show party, talking candidly about what retail tech is actually doing for productivity right now. Chris Chandler and Steve Young share what is changing with AI, wage pressure, training…
more -
The ReThink Productivity Retail Report 2026 and NotebookLM
Send us Fan Mail We gave Notebook LM our first ReThink Productivity Retail Report NotebookLM digs into why shops can look perfectly staffed and still fail you at the checkout or on the shop floor, then trace the problem back to how retail measures efficiency. We use the ReThink Productivity…
more -
Basket & Barometer April 2026
Send us Fan Mail Diane Wehrle CEO at Rendle Intelligence and Insights joins Simon for their monthly chat We read the March 2026 retail and economic data against a month shaped by war and an early Easter, where strong headlines hide weaker high street reality • March footfall rising year on year…
more -
Productivity Pulse Future Ready Retail Benchmarking Report SPECIAL
Send us Fan Mail Sue, Simon, & James share the top-line findings from ReThink Productivity Future Retail Ready Benchmarking Report and explain how a £6.25bn opportunity could be unlocked. They walk through six golden rules to improve store performance, protect customer experience, and avoid…
more -
Productivity Pulse 6
Send us Fan Mail Hear directly from our experts—Sue, Simon, & James —who share real-world trends, new data findings, and actionable productivity insights We share the latest ReThink Academy training updates and why we built courses we wish we’d had when we first stepped into productivity and...
-
Basket & Barometer March 2026
Send us Fan Mail Diane Wehrle CEO at Rendle Intelligence and Insights joins Simon for their monthly chat They break down why February 2026 turns into a tough month for UK retail, with record rain dragging down footfall and high street sales. They also zoom out to consumer confidence, inflation...
-
Productivity Pulse Nov 2025 - Feb 2026 NotebookLM Summary
Send us Fan Mail We gave NotebookLM our Productivity Pulse podcasts from November 2025 to February 2026 with Sue, Simon, & James and this is what it came up with... We follow the stop-watch data behind everyday queues and show how “efficient” labour models can still create predictable chaos at…
more -
Productivity Pulse Episode 5
Send us Fan Mail Hear directly from our experts—Sue, Simon, & James —who share real-world trends, new data findings, and actionable productivity insights We dig into stock to shelf benchmarking and reveal how much replenishment time is lost to movement and returns. We share early findings and...
-
Basket & Barometer Nov 2025 - Jan 2026 NotebookLM Summary
Send us Fan Mail We gave NotebookLM our podcasts from November 2025 to February 2026 with Diane Wehrle CEO at Rendle Intelligence and this is what it came up with... We test a hard question: are UK retail’s brutal numbers a structural reset or a severe cyclical slump? We argue both sides with…
more -
Basket & Barometer February 2026
Send us Fan Mail Diane Wehrle CEO at Rendle Intelligence and Insights joins Simon for their monthly chat A cautious consumer shows up in January with fewer trips but bigger baskets, while retail parks gain and high streets hold on. We dig into youth unemployment, wage compression, AI’s impact on...
-
Productivity Pulse Episode 4
Send us Fan Mail Hear directly from our experts—Sue, Simon, & James—who share real-world trends, new data findings, and actionable productivity insights. This month they are joined by special guest Ed Thompson We unpack how quick service restaurants (QSR) cut through rising costs and sharper…
more -
Using MTM To Improve Methods, Not Just Set Time
Send us Fan Mail We explore with ReThink Productivity’s Simon Woodfield and Ed Thompson how MTM drives method improvement, not just time measurement, and share real case studies across logistics, retail food, and warehousing. We show how operator involvement, ergonomics, and clear coding lead to...
-
Basket & Barometer January 2026
Send us Fan Mail Building on the success of footfall insights we broaden the conversation with the Basket & Barometer podcast. Diane Wehrle CEO at Rendle Intelligence and Insights joins Simon for their monthly chat We unpack December’s retail data: footfall fell most in shopping centres, high...
-
How MTM Really Works: From Motions To Time
Send us Fan Mail We dig into how MTM turns micro motions into fair, consistent time standards with ReThink Productivity’s Simon Woodfield and Ed Thompson and when to use MTM1, MTM2, or UAS for different kinds of work. We share how video, TMUs, and peer review remove bias and help teams set...
-
Productivity Pulse Episode 3
Send us Fan Mail Hear directly from our experts—Sue, Simon, & James—who share real-world trends, new data findings, and actionable productivity insights In this episode they discuss why parcel pickup times vary from 27 seconds to three minutes on average and show how storage design, retrieval...
-
What Is MTM And Why It Still Matters
Send us Fan Mail We unpack Method Time Measurement (MTM) with ReThink Productivity’s Simon Woodfield and Ed Thompson, from its 1940s roots to modern use with motion capture and VR. The chat explains how MTM coding works, and why fair, consistent standards matter. • Origins of MTM • Motion codes,...
-
Basket & Barometer December 2025
Send us Fan Mail Building on the success of footfall insights we broaden the conversation with the Basket & Barometer podcast. Diane Wehrle CEO at Rendle Intelligence and Insights joins Simon for their monthly chat We dig into why Black Friday footfall held up while November spending slumped, and...
-
Productivity Pulse Episode 2
Send us Fan Mail Hear directly from our experts—Sue, Simon, & James—who share real-world trends, new data findings, and actionable productivity insights We unpack the wage rise headlines and the quiet costs they trigger up the ladder, then move to peak‑time realities: queues, break timing, and…
more -
The What, When, Why & How Of A Time And Motion Study
Send us Fan Mail We gave NotebookLM our record breaking blog to see what happened when they turned it into a podcast... We examine how modern time and motion studies expose hidden waste, translate seconds into savings, and protect sustainable pace. From Taylor and the Gilbreths to sensors and...
-
Basket & Barometer November 2025
Send us Fan Mail Building on the success of footfall insights we broaden the conversation with the Basket & Barometer podcast. Diane Wehrle CEO at Rendle Intelligence and Insights joins Simon for their monthly chat In this episode we cover why average transaction value now matters more than...
-
Productivity Pulse Episode 1
Send us Fan Mail Productivity Pulse Episode 1 Hear directly from our experts—Sue, Simon, & James—who share real-world trends, new data findings, and actionable productivity insights We dig into why efficiency swings across sites, how that volatility hurts peak service, and what workload models…
more -
Productivity Podcast 2.0
Send us Fan Mail 🚨 Podcast Reboot Alert! The ReThink Productivity Podcast is Back—and Smarter Than Ever! 🚀 We're thrilled to announce the official reboot of the ReThink Productivity Podcast with a brand-new format and a commitment to delivering high-impact, actionable insights twice a month Our...
-
AI Value Track Podcast - Episode 3
Send us Fan Mail We weigh the real trade‑offs of building AI in‑house versus buying and configuring proven tools, and map a practical route from pilot to production without blowing the budget. Clear steps on data, governance, ethics, and IP help you create value you can measure. Build vs buy...
-
AI Made This Podcast - Notebook LM October 2025
Send us Fan Mail Notebook LM has had some significant updates over the last few weeks Have a listen to the latest iteration of a Notebook LM created podcast based on ReThink marketing materials #theproductivityexperts Download a copy of the ReThink Productivity Retail Report Connect to Simon on...
-
AI Value Track Podcast - Episode 2
Send us Fan Mail We dig into practical AI that saves time: personal LLMs, embedded features already in your tools, and AI‑native agents that take action, not just give answers. We share proof points, pitfalls, and simple ways teams can adopt safely and quickly. Personal LLMs as thinking partners...
-
AI Value Track Podcast - Episode 1
Send us Fan Mail We strip away the jargon and show how to use AI as an assist that lifts productivity, trust, and measurable outcomes. From data readiness to culture, governance to first use cases, we focus on steps that turn hype into results. Clear definition of AI and human‑in‑the‑loop Where…
more -
The Evolution of Advanced Scheduling: How ModusForce Is Changing the WFM Game
Send us Fan Mail Theo Gott and Mark Stacey from ModusForce discuss the evolving landscape of workforce management and how their Dayforce implementation expertise helps organisations maximise efficiency and employee satisfaction. • The WFM market is experiencing 20% growth globally with key trends...
-
Footfall Insights September 2025
Send us Fan Mail Diane Wehrle CEO at Rendle Intelligence and Insights joins Simon for their monthly chat about footfall trends.August retail sales dipped 4.8% year-on-year despite stable footfall, with fashion and general retail taking significant hits. Consumers are demonstrating caution by…
more -
Beyond the Yellow Label: Transforming Retail Operations with Smart Technology
Send us Fan Mail Tom Coe, VP of Growth at Retail Insight, shares how data-driven solutions can tackle the perennial challenges of retail operations while empowering store colleagues to deliver better customer service • Retail Insight provides in-store operations analytics software for over 50,000...
-
Productivity Forum 2025: Key Takeaways
Send us Fan Mail We recap the highlights from the Productivity Forum 2025, diving into key presentations and insights that left attendees buzzing with new ideas about retail productivity. • Alex Rezvan kicked off the event with insights on retail's evolution toward non-transactional, cultural...
-
The Robot Won't Steal Your Job, But It Might Make It Awesome
Send us Fan Mail Rob Bate, Co Founder at FrontlineXP, shares insights from his extensive retail experience and explains how FrontlineXP is working to improve the experience of customer-facing employees through innovative technology solutions • Frontline workers and operations teams are…
more -
Footfall Insights August 2025
Send us Fan Mail Diane Wehrle CEO at Rendle Intelligence and Insights joins Simon for their monthly chat about footfall trends. July retail data shows positive signs with spending down only 1.4% compared to 8.5% in June, though footfall decreased by 1.7% as consumers remain cautious with their...
-
ReThink Revealed - Ep.5. The Data Deep Dive: Productivity Lessons from the Numbers - James
Send us Fan Mail James Bolle, Rethink Productivity's Head of Insight Development, reveals how businesses can transform raw productivity data into meaningful insights that drive tangible improvements. His career-spanning mission has focused on helping organisations make better decisions through…
more
About this show
Join Simon Hedaux, Co-Founder of ReThink Productivity, alongside a network of industry leaders, innovators, and clients as they share proven strategies to build smarter, leaner, and more profitable organisations.
Whether you lead Operations, Strategy, or HR, this podcast delivers the tactical advice and real-world data you need to bridge the gap between high-level strategy and on-the-ground execution.
What to Expect Every Month:
Early Month: The Productivity Pulse
Data-Driven Action: Hear directly from our internal experts—Sue, Simon, and James—as they share real-world trends, fresh data findings, and actionable productivity insights emerging straight from live projects.
Hosted by
ReThink Productivity
Categories