ReThink Productivity Podcast

Send us Fan MailWe 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 peak demand. We trace how wage pressure, algorithmic scheduling, and physical layout decisions reshape what workers do and what customers feel.Minimum wage pressure and the knock-on effects of wage compressionThe efficiency index and why zero slack systems lose resilienceVariable efficiency and why two stores can feel like different companiesAlgorithmic break scheduling that prioritises compliance over footfallHidden travel time that turns a short break into a bigger productivity hitManager role drift and why leadership disappears into shelf-stackingHow quick service restaurants redesign space for delivery driversKiosks, upselling psychology, and the customer dithering factorMicro efficiencies in kitchens that function like pit-stop engineeringParcel collection bottlenecks and the shaky maths of the halo effectStock replenishment waste, taking stock for a walk, and lean batch processing #theproductivityexpertsRegister for the 2026 Productivity ForumFind us in the Top 50 Productivity PodcastsConnect to Simon on LinkedInFollow ReThink on LinkedIn

Send us Fan MailHear directly from our experts—Sue, Simon, & James —who share real-world trends, new data findings, and actionable productivity insightsWe dig into stock to shelf benchmarking and reveal how much replenishment time is lost to movement and returns. We share early findings and details of our benchmarking report and Retail Technology Show plans• Early look at our retail benchmarking report launch • Why benchmarking gives context beyond raw task times • The real cost of replenishment and movement waste • Impact of returning stock to backroom and double handling • Lean-inspired fixes: batching, pull signals, one-touch flow • Resource vs demand mismatches driving “keep busy” habits • Per-item cost insights and how to track them We will be at the Retail Technology Show the 22nd and 23rd of April at the Excel in LondonWe’ve got the VIP party in partnership with Solvedby.AI on the 22nd April. Register here... VIP AftershowOur Productivity Forum takes place on 10th September in Birmingham. Register here... ReThink Forum 2026 #theproductivityexpertsRegister for the 2026 Productivity ForumFind us in the Top 50 Productivity PodcastsConnect to Simon on LinkedInFollow ReThink on LinkedIn

Send us Fan MailWe 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 data on jobs, wages, footfall, discounts, online share, and consumer psychology, and find common ground on how to survive right now.• Structural shift versus cyclical contraction• Job losses, wage compression, and automation incentives• Consumer confidence, high savings, and spend mix• Black Friday’s pull-forward and the golden quarter• Footfall declines, online stabilization, and hyper localism• Store productivity, time-use, and ATV strategy• Rates, taxes, and hiring freezes shaping near-term demand• Shared focus on margin protection and experience #theproductivityexpertsRegister for the 2026 Productivity ForumFind us in the Top 50 Productivity PodcastsConnect to Simon on LinkedInFollow ReThink on LinkedIn

Send us Fan Mail Diane Wehrle CEO at Rendle Intelligence and Insights joins Simon for their monthly chatA 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 entry roles, and why productivity must carry the next phase of retail.• January footfall near flat with retail parks up• Sales values rise while transactions fall• Food inflation props value; non-food softens• High street sales close to parity year on year• GfK confidence slips, savings tick up• Youth unemployment at 16% drives concern• Wage rises meet NI pressures and job cuts• Pay bands compress between colleague and supervisor• Housing sales drop chills discretionary categories• Shift focus from process to experience #theproductivityexpertsRegister for the 2026 Productivity ForumFind us in the Top 50 Productivity PodcastsConnect to Simon on LinkedInFollow ReThink on LinkedIn

Send us Fan MailHear 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 peaks by separating delivery from dine‑in, scaling kiosks, and engineering seconds out of core tasks. Ed shares ground‑truth from trials that reveal hidden costs, smarter layouts, and why testing beats gut feel.• Defining QSR and why delivery changed everything• Price ceilings versus operational innovation• Separating driver pickup to protect space and speed• Hot hold units and lockers preserving food quality• Kiosks driving consistent upsell and lower labour• Loyalty and simple personalisation improving repeat visits• Micro‑layout tweaks multiplying capacity gains• Testing trials to surface hidden operational costs• Moving tasks out of peak to protect throughput• Staffing thresholds for sharper peaks and channel mixWe will be at the Retail Technology Show the 22nd and 23rd of April at the Excel in LondonWe’ve got the VIP party in partnership with Solvedby.AI on the 22nd April. Register here... VIP AftershowOur Productivity Forum takes place on 10th September in Birmingham. Register here... ReThink Forum 2026 #theproductivityexpertsRegister for the 2026 Productivity ForumFind us in the Top 50 Productivity PodcastsConnect to Simon on LinkedInFollow ReThink on LinkedIn

Send us Fan MailWe 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 standard work, stronger business cases, and better rollouts.• Method determines the time, not the stopwatch• Ergonomic gains from reducing reach distances• Testing layouts and methods before rollout• Surprising warehouse findings beyond the scope• Operator buy-in through iterative coding and trials• Standard work supported by reusable MTM codes• Low-barrier adoption using spreadsheets or software Find out more at the UKMTM Website #theproductivityexpertsRegister for the 2026 Productivity ForumFind us in the Top 50 Productivity PodcastsConnect to Simon on LinkedInFollow ReThink on LinkedIn

Send us Fan MailBuilding 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 chatWe unpack December’s retail data: footfall fell most in shopping centres, high streets held up better, and sales rose only because food prices stayed high. Confidence is inching higher, small towns are gaining share, and the high street is evolving rather than dying.• Footfall down overall, led by shopping centres• High streets more resilient than retail parks• Sales growth driven by food inflation• Discretionary categories fall in towns and cities• Average transaction value up as visits fall• Consumers stay local to cut travel and parking costs• Savings ratio high despite wage growth• Retail churn continues with notable brand moves• High street evolves through mix, value, and relevance #theproductivityexpertsRegister for the 2026 Productivity ForumFind us in the Top 50 Productivity PodcastsConnect to Simon on LinkedInFollow ReThink on LinkedIn

Send us Fan MailWe 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 reliable, safe methods.• MTM motion categories and why they matter• Video-based analysis for repeatability and detail• Differences between MTM1, MTM2, and UAS• Choosing the right system for cycle length• How motion rules remove subjectivity• TMUs explained and conversion to seconds• Practical coding tips and peer review• Coding the intended method for safety and quality Find out more at the UKMTM Website #theproductivityexpertsRegister for the 2026 Productivity ForumFind us in the Top 50 Productivity PodcastsConnect to Simon on LinkedInFollow ReThink on LinkedIn

Send us Fan MailHear 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 systems, and colleague headsets drive speed, safety, and sales. The chat covers the sales uplift from parcel traffic, the strain of returns, and how lockers and paid returns could shift behaviour this year.• Wait time trends and the drivers of delay• Best-in-class setup for retrieval and storage• Store factors that create parcel hotspots• Basket uplift and the halo beyond the collection• Handling returns without blocking operations• Staffing models, headsets, and pickup points #theproductivityexpertsRegister for the 2026 Productivity ForumFind us in the Top 50 Productivity PodcastsConnect to Simon on LinkedInFollow ReThink on LinkedIn

Send us Fan MailWe 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, influence factors and TMUs explained• When to use MTM versus a stopwatch• Hybrid approaches for fixed steps and variable customer moments• Training pathways and the main MTM variants• Building quick business cases with what‑if scenarios• Leveraging CAD, VR and motion capture for pre‑build timing• Ergonomic insights alongside time standards Find out more at the UKMTM WebsiteWe just wanted to remind everybody that as of 1st January 2026, the UK MTM Association is now part of ReThink Productivity #theproductivityexpertsRegister for the 2026 Productivity ForumFind us in the Top 50 Productivity PodcastsConnect to Simon on LinkedInFollow ReThink on LinkedIn

Send us Fan MailBuilding 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 chatWe dig into why Black Friday footfall held up while November spending slumped, and what that split means for December. We talk inflation turning to deflation in fashion and furniture, caution on inventory, and the ripple effects that hit suppliers when retailers stumble.• Footfall marginally down on Black Friday day, week up 1.1% year on year• November spend down 7% in towns and cities, steepest since July• Budget jitters and weather weighing on sentiment• Christmas timing supports a late pre‑holiday push• December growth outlook moved from +1.5% to flat• BRC: food drives growth, non‑food barely moves• Inventory discipline favours sell‑through over deep January markdowns• Fashion and furniture show deflation amid heavy discounting• Employment and housing trends dampen big‑ticket demand #theproductivityexpertsRegister for the 2026 Productivity ForumFind us in the Top 50 Productivity PodcastsConnect to Simon on LinkedInFollow ReThink on LinkedIn

Send us Fan MailHear 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 the real use of self‑checkout. We finish with fast wins in quick‑serve layouts and why adoption fails without hands‑on coaching.• Wage increases by age bands and implications for costs• Compression of supervisory pay differentials• Leaders pulled into front‑line tasks reducing leadership capacity• Queues at peak despite self‑checkout availability• Break timing clashing with customer demand• Micro‑improvements in quick‑serve cycle times• Layout tweaks, tool placement, and motion design• Training and engagement to adopt new kit and processesKeep an eye out for those queues at peak, everybody listening, and see if you can identify the issues, we'll be back in the new year #theproductivityexpertsRegister for the 2026 Productivity ForumFind us in the Top 50 Productivity PodcastsConnect to Simon on LinkedInFollow ReThink on LinkedIn

Send us Fan MailWe 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 benchmarks, we map the methods, the maths, and the immediate actions that cut costs without cutting quality• Spotting inefficiency in everyday work• Time versus motion as separate measurements• Resource planning using standard times and allowances• Micro savings through layout and sequence changes• Example maths for staffing and throughput• Study types: activity, efficiency, role, predetermined• History of Taylor and the Gilbreths• Quantifying financial waste from poor scheduling• Modern tech: video, sensors, software analysis• Benchmarking click and collect performance• Practical ergonomic and staffing changes• Continuous improvement as the new one best wayNot only will our approach to a Time and Motion Study plot out exactly where you stand versus where you could be, but our analysts will provide practical steps on how to help you get there, saving you time, effort and, ultimately, moneyContact our team todayMore information on Time and Motion Studies can be found in our whitepaper – our experts’ views into how modern techniques are bringing about new productivity insights. Download here >> #theproductivityexpertsRegister for the 2026 Productivity ForumFind us in the Top 50 Productivity PodcastsConnect to Simon on LinkedInFollow ReThink on LinkedIn

Send us Fan MailBuilding 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 chatIn this episode we cover why average transaction value now matters more than footfall, and how Black Friday has shifted the peak. We share sector signals, consumer confidence trends, and what the budget and labour market mean for Q4• Footfall softness versus inflation-adjusted sales decline• Average transaction value as core survival metric• Examples of ATV growth in small towns• Discounting patterns and price guarantees in Black Friday• Staffing planning shifting towards November peak• Sector signals in health and beauty and fashion• Consumer confidence at minus 19 and job market risk• Online share stabilising and omnichannel basics that matter #theproductivityexpertsRegister for the 2026 Productivity ForumFind us in the Top 50 Productivity PodcastsConnect to Simon on LinkedInFollow ReThink on LinkedIn

Send us Fan MailProductivity 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 can do to stabilise performance. We also show how role drift reduces leadership time and how structured interviews add a 360 view that turns data into action.• Variable efficiency index and why it matters• Removing slack and the risks at peak• Tactical fixes for rotas, breaks and coverage• Building a robust workload model linked to WFM• Reallocating budget to balance the estate• Role studies revealing leadership time drift• Restating manager expectations and blockers• Structured interviews adding qualitative insight• Turning insights into consistent employee and customer experience #theproductivityexpertsRegister for the 2026 Productivity ForumFind us in the Top 50 Productivity PodcastsConnect to Simon on LinkedInFollow ReThink on LinkedIn

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 monthOur new focus is simple: Less Noise, More IntelligenceWe’ll now be releasing two essential episodes per month—a mix of deep-dive interviews and actionable, data-driven insights—perfect for busy leaders who need to stay ahead of the curveThe Relaunch Lineup (Your First Two Episodes):🎙️ Episode 1. The Productivity Pulse (Early Month)Data-Driven Action: Hear directly from our experts—Sue, Simon, & James—who share real-world trends, new data findings, and actionable productivity insights emerging from live projectsLearn from Real-World Wins: Get tactical advice and success stories from organisations that have achieved transformative productivity across the board💡Episode 2. Basket & Barometer (Late Month)Elevated Insights: In conversation with industry expert Diane Wehrle to move beyond surface-level metrics and tackle complex, data-driven metrics around customer shopping behaviourFor leaders in Operations, Strategy, and HR, this podcast provides the modern tools to build a smarter, more efficient, and ultimately more profitable business #theproductivityexpertsRegister for the 2026 Productivity ForumFind us in the Top 50 Productivity PodcastsConnect to Simon on LinkedInFollow ReThink on LinkedIn

Send us Fan MailWe 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 decisions tied to strategy and IP When generic problems justify off‑the‑shelf tools Niche bottlenecks and owning differentiated capability Real costs of talent, data architecture and compute Governance, scope control and reliability expectations Data quality, sourcing and security by design Measurable pilots, baselines and explainability EBITDA impact, inference costs and ROI discipline Ethics beyond bias, oversight and customer impact Partner contracts, IP protection and reuse limits Scaling blockers across finance, compliance, HR and IT Regulations to watch including EU AI Act and GDPR #theproductivityexpertsRegister for the 2026 Productivity ForumFind us in the Top 50 Productivity PodcastsConnect to Simon on LinkedInFollow ReThink on LinkedIn

Send us Fan MailNotebook LM has had some significant updates over the last few weeksHave a listen to the latest iteration of a Notebook LM created podcast based on ReThink marketing materials #theproductivityexpertsRegister for the 2026 Productivity ForumFind us in the Top 50 Productivity PodcastsConnect to Simon on LinkedInFollow ReThink on LinkedIn

Send us Fan MailWe 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 and draft acceleratorsEmbedded AI in email, slides, CRM, and meetingsAI‑native tools mapped to roles like SDR and legalAgents that act: scrape, configure, reset, and scheduleQuality, speed, and evidence versus laziness concernsTraining, culture, and best‑case sharing for adoptionGuardrails, verification, and human‑in‑the‑loop controlReal‑world cases in support, retail, facilities, and QSR #theproductivityexpertsRegister for the 2026 Productivity ForumFind us in the Top 50 Productivity PodcastsConnect to Simon on LinkedInFollow ReThink on LinkedIn

Send us Fan MailWe 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‑loopWhere AI adds value across knowledge workCulture over tech as the main blockerData readiness and training data basicsGovernance to reduce shadow AI risksLeaders modelling tools and setting objectivesSelecting first three use cases aligned to KPIsMeasuring adherence to AI recommendationsBalancing efficiency vs productivity for trust and ROIPractical rollout: owners, feedback loops, training #theproductivityexpertsRegister for the 2026 Productivity ForumFind us in the Top 50 Productivity PodcastsConnect to Simon on LinkedInFollow ReThink on LinkedIn