Harnham
SEARCH
Shortlist

Where Tech Meets Tradition

Anna Greenhill our consultant managing the role
Author: Anna Greenhill
Posting date: 8/15/2019 8:43 AM
If you’re lamenting the decline of handmade traditional products, cast your cares aside. There’s a new Sheriff in town and its name is, Tech. Just a generation ago, children would leave the farm or the family business, go to school, and then move on to make their place in the world doing their own thing. Away from family. 

Today, the landscape has changed and those who have left are coming home. But this time, they’re bringing technology with them to help make things more efficient and more productive.

Is Tech-Assisted Still Handmade?


In a word, yes. Artists still make things “from scratch”, except now technologies allow them to not only see their vision in real-time, but their customers, too. Have you ever wondered what the image in your head might look like on paper or in metal? What about the design of prosthetic arms and healthcare devices by 3D printers? You’re still designing, creating. 

But just like any new technology, there’s still a learning curve. Even for cutting-edge craftspeople who find that sometimes, the line between craftsmanship and high-tech creativity may be a bit of a blur. Not to mention the expense for either the equipment required or being able to offer art using traditional tools at technology-assisted prices. Somewhere between the two, there is a trade-off. It’s up to the individual to determine where and what that trade-off is.

Life in the Creative Economy


One of Banksy’s paintings shredded itself upon purchase at an auction recently. AI is making music and writing books. Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality, and Blockchain all have their place in the creative economy from immersive entertainment to efficient manufacturing processes. Each of these touches the way we live now.

In a joint study between McKinsey and the World Economic Forum, 'Creative Disruption: The impact of emerging technologies on the creative economy', the organisations broke down the various technologies used in the creative economy and how they’re driving change. For example:

  • AI is being used to distill user preferences when it comes to curating movies and music. 
  • The Associated Press has used AI to free up reporters’ time and the Washington Post has created a tool to help it generate up to 70 articles a month, many stories of which they wouldn’t have otherwise dedicated staff.
  • Machine Learning has begun to create original content. Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality have come together as a new medium to help move people to get up, get active, and go play whether it’s a stroll through a virtual art gallery or watching your children play at the playground. 

Where else might immersive media play out? Content today could help tell humanitarian stories or offer work-place diversity training. But back to the artisan handicrafts. 

Artistry with technology


Whilst publishing firms may be looking to use AI to redefine the creative economy, they are not alone. Other artists utilising these technologies include: 

  • Sculptors
  • Digital artists
  • Painters
  • Jewellery makers
  • Bourbon distillers

America’s oldest distiller has gotten on the technology bandwagon and while there is no rushing good Bourbon, but you can manage the process more efficiently. They’ve even taken things a step further and have created an app for aficionados to follow along in the process. Talk about crafted and curated for individual tastes and transparency.

It may seem almost self-explanatory to note how other artisans are using technology. But what about distilleries? What are they doing? They’re creating efficiency by:
Adding IoT sensors for Data Analytics collection
Adding RFID tags to their barrels
Creating experimental ageing warehouses (AR, anyone?) to refine their craft.

Don’t worry, though. These changes won’t affect the spirit itself. After all, according to Mr. Wheatley, Master Distiller, “There’s no way to cheat mother nature or father time.”

Ultimately, the idea is to not only understand the history behind the process, but to make it more efficient and repeatable. A way to preserve the processes of the past while using the advances of the present with an eye to the future.

If you’re interested in using Data & Analytics to drive creativity, we may have a role for you. Take a look at our latest opportunities or get in touch with one of our expect consultants to find out more. 

Related blog & news

With over 10 years experience working solely in the Data & Analytics sector our consultants are able to offer detailed insights into the industry.

Visit our Blogs & News portal or check out the related posts below.

Data Science For Business Decision Making

All strong and successful businesses are built and run upon well-informed decision-making, which derive from a mix of leader experience, industry knowledge and, more recently, the regular implementation and use of advanced Data Science teams.  While the use of data has been around for many years, it’s hard to believe that it is only in the last five years or so that we have seen the adoption of such technology and skills really take off. Five years ago, the importance and demand for Data Scientists sat at a very meagre 17 per cent, whereas in 2019, we saw exponential growth of over 40 per cent – a number that is expected to continue growing as we move forward.  Within Data & Analytics, Data Science is a crucial arm within many businesses of all shapes and sizes. Through the collection and analysis of certain datasets, Data Science teams can delve into an organisation’s pain points, any potential obstacles and future predictions; crucial elements which, if looked at and planned for in advance, can be the making of a business.  So, how else can Data Science influence the decision-making process and make a positive impact on a business and its bottom line? The removal of bias and the increase of accuracy As humans we are innately susceptible to bias, conscious and unconscious, and this can be a hindrance on our ability to make informed yet impartial decisions. By relying solely on facts and figures instead of our own opinions, we are not only removing bias, but we are in turn making the decision-making process more accurate.  Accuracy within decision-making will remove the potential risk of mistakes and the need to re-do tasks, therefore saving precious time, resource and money, unequivocally a benefit for any business’s bottom line.  Efficiency There are elements of all businesses that require trial and error for example, hiring practices. People who look great on paper and perform exceptionally well in first interview may turn out to be utterly the wrong fit six months down the line. However,  collecting and recording data of those employees who do fit well into the business, compared to those who don’t, can help to reduce the chance of choosing the wrong candidate. This in turn improves staff retention rates, helps create a positive work culture and, of course, positively impacts profitability.  Considering the cost for hiring one person for a company is around £3,000, Data Science is of huge benefit to any company, large or small, in reducing the risk of high staff turnover.  Mitigating risk All businesses at some point in their lifetime will come up against potential obstacles and risks that, if not managed properly, can be potentially lethal. The implementation of Data Science will allow senior leaders to learn from past mistakes and create evidence-based plans to better tackle, or completely avoid, similar problems in the future.  This could be for either organisational risk or strategic risk, both of which can be extremely damaging if not prepared for. Organisational risk entails problems occurring within daily business tasks such as fraud, data loss, equipment and IT issues and staff resignations. Strategic risk relates to events that cannot be planned for in advance; those sudden and unforeseeable changes - a great example being the current COVID-19 pandemic.  However, with both risk groups, Data Scientists can help to mitigate these risks through learnings and observations made from reams of previous data, as well as real-time intelligence. This allows senior leaders to act fast where needed, and plan where possible.  Data & Analytics, and especially Data Science, has been, and will continue to be, a key driver in the evolution of many industries worldwide. As we move forward, we will undoubtedly see an even larger uptake of the available technologies as business leaders everywhere begin to see the influential value of data-driven decision-making. If you’re a Data Scientist looking to take a step up or are looking for the next member of your team, we may be able to help. Take a look at our latest opportunities or get in touch with one of our expert consultants to find out more.

Rosie O'Callaghan

Rosie O'Callaghan

18. February 2021

Using Data Ethically To Guide Digital Transformation

Over the past few years, the uptick in the number of companies putting more budget behind digital transformation has been significant. However, since the start of 2020 and the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, this number has accelerated on an unprecedented scale. Companies have been forced to re-evaluate  their systems and services to make them more efficient, effective and financially viable in order to stay competitive in this time of crisis. These changes help to support internal operational agility and learn about customers' needs and wants to create a much more personalised customer experience.  However, despite the vast amount of good these systems can do for companies' offerings, a lot of them, such as AI and machine learning, are inherently data driven. Therefore, these systems run a high risk of breaching ethical conducts, such as privacy and security leaks or serious issues with bias, if not created, developed and managed properly.  So, what can businesses do to ensure their digital transformation efforts are implemented in the most ethical way possible? Implement ways to reduce bias From Twitter opting to show a white person in a photo instead of a black person, soap dispensers not recognising black hands and women being perpetually rejected for financial loans; digital transformation tools, such as AI, have proven over the years to be inherently biased.  Of course, a computer cannot be decisive about gender or race, this problem of inequality from computer algorithms stems from the humans behind the screen. Despite the advancements made with Diversity and Inclusion efforts across all industries, Data & Analytics is still a predominantly white and male industry. Only 22 per cent of AI specialists are women, and an even lower number represent the BAME communities. Within Google, the world’s largest technology organisation, only 2.5 per cent of its employees are black, and a similar story can be seen at Facebook and Microsoft, where only 4 per cent of employees are black.  So, where our systems are being run by a group of people who are not representative of our diverse society, it should come as no surprise that our machines and algorithms are not representative either.  For businesses looking to implement AI and machine learning into their digital transformation moving forward, it is important you do so in a way that is truly reflective of a fair society. This can be achieved by encouraging a more diverse hiring process when looking for developers of AI systems, implementing fairness tests and always keeping your end user in mind, considering how the workings of your system may affect them.  Transparency Capturing Data is crucial for businesses when they are looking to implement or update digital transformation tools. Not only can this data show them the best ways to service customers’ needs and wants, but it can also show them where there are potential holes and issues in their current business models.  However, due to many mismanagements in past cases, such as Cambridge Analytica, customers have become increasingly worried about sharing their data with businesses in fear of personal data, such as credit card details or home addresses, being leaked. In 2018, Europe devised a new law known as the General Data Protection Regulation, or GDPR, to help minimise the risk of data breaches. Nevertheless, this still hasn’t stopped all businesses from collecting or sharing data illegally, which in turn, has damaged the trustworthiness of even the most law-abiding businesses who need to collect relevant consumer data.  Transparency is key to successful data collection for digital transformation. Your priority should be to always think about the end user and the impact poorly managed data may have on them. Explain methods for data collection clearly, ensure you can provide a clear end-to-end map of how their data is being used and always follow the law in order to keep your consumers, current and potential, safe from harm.  Make sure there is a process for accountability  Digital tools are usually brought in to replace a human being with qualifications and a wealth of experience. If this human being were to make a mistake in their line of work, then they would be held accountable and appropriate action would be taken. This process would then restore trust between business and consumer and things would carry on as usual.  But what happens if a machine makes an error, who is accountable?  Unfortunately, it has been the case that businesses choose to implement digital transformation tools in order to avoid corporate responsibility. This attitude will only cause, potentially lethal, harm to a business's reputation.  If you choose to implement digital tools, ensure you have a valid process for accountability which creates trust between yourself and your consumers and is representative of and fair to every group in society you’re potentially addressing.  Businesses must be aware of the potential ethical risks that come with badly managed digital transformation and the effects this may have on their brands reputation. Before implementing any technology, ensure you can, and will, do so in a transparent, trustworthy, fair, representative and law-abiding way.  If you’re in the world of Data & Analytics and looking to take a step up or find the next member of your team, we can help. Take a look at our latest opportunities or get in touch with one of our expert consultants to find out more.

Henry Rodrigues

Henry Rodrigues

21. January 2021

View all blogs

RELATED Jobs

recently viewed jobs