Author: Business Enquirer

Why AI is a force multiplier, and why the replacement narrative lets leaders avoid the harder question. By Brad Nicolaisen, SVP Strategic Growth & AI Innovation, TotalTek, Inc. Most leaders are still asking the wrong question about AI. They ask, “Will AI replace people?” It is an understandable question. It is also too small. The more important question is this: what happens when every broken process in your business gets a faster engine? That question matters because AI will not simply replace jobs. It will expose operating models that rely on wasted time, undocumented exceptions, institutional knowledge, endless coordination, and…

At a time when global supply chains are being reshaped by shifting demand patterns, geopolitical pressures and the need for greater responsiveness, the role of planning has become increasingly strategic. At PUMA, this evolution is being driven in part by a move towards more centralised decision making at Global Headquarters, alongside a renewed focus on inventory discipline, market proximity and cross-functional alignment. As Senior Director of Supply Chain Planning, Munir Trad sits at the centre of this transformation, helping to redefine how planning supports both global consistency and regional agility, while ensuring the business remains resilient, efficient and closely attuned…

Europe’s downstream industry is entering another period of adjustment. Refiners, petrochemical producers, EPC contractors, licensors and technology companies are all working against the same backdrop: shifting demand, rising pressure to decarbonise, tighter requirements around efficiency and competitiveness and a growing need to make investment decisions with greater precision. These pressures are no longer abstract. They are influencing project pipelines, asset strategies and partnership models across the sector. This is the setting in which the Petrochemical and Refining Congress (PRC): Europe 2026 returns to Amsterdam on 18-19 May for its 10th anniversary edition. PRC Europe is not simply another industry event.…

In an industry defined by volatility, complexity and high operational stakes, procurement has become one of the most critical engines of resilience. At Grand Isle Shipyard, the procurement and supply chain function has evolved into a strategic pillar that underpins the company’s performance across construction, engineering, and fabrication operations . Today, the team is not only solving logistical problems but shaping how GIS competes, innovates and delivers value across the Gulf of America region and beyond. The work they undertake is vital but often invisible. Materials appear on time, schedules stay on track, and safety remains uncompromised. These outcomes do…

As Interclass moves towards its 50th anniversary in 2026, its reputation as a trusted regional contractor has been built on more than delivery alone. At the heart of the business is a clear philosophy: buildings exist for people, and construction should leave a positive, lasting impact on the communities it serves. We spoke with Managing Director Des O’Neill about how that principle shapes Interclass’s work, from heritage restoration and healthcare to skills development, transparency, and leadership. Interclass often talks about “building communities, not just structures.” What does that really mean in practice? For us, every project has a purpose, and…

In manufacturing, protection is often measured in certifications, compliance standards and product durability. Yet long before a hard hat is worn on a construction site or a pair of safety boots step onto a factory floor, there is a far less visible discipline at work. Procurement determines the resilience of the supply chain, the integrity of raw materials and, ultimately, the performance of the finished product itself. At BBF Safety Group, Africa’s largest head-to-toe personal protective equipment manufacturer, that discipline is overseen by Lindokuhle Nhlapho, Group Procurement Manager. Responsible for procurement across four group production sites in Durban, Gqeberha, and…

There is a quiet divide emerging in air cargo. On one side sit the large, increasingly consolidated players, building scale through systems, networks and standardisation. On the other, a smaller group of operators are choosing a different path entirely, resisting uniformity in favour of precision, proximity and control. They are not trying to outgrow the market. They are trying to outthink it. Gert-Jan Lantrok has spent more than two decades navigating both worlds. Since entering the industry in 1999, he has seen cycles of expansion, contraction and reinvention, but the underlying mechanics of success, in his view, have remained remarkably…

In the rarefied landscape of American luxury travel, where expectations climb as steeply as the mountains themselves, there are few companies that have managed to cultivate both discretion and distinctiveness. InvitedHome has done precisely that. The company, which quietly oversees more than one and a half billion dollars worth of some of the most coveted ski properties in the Rocky Mountains, has become synonymous with a style of hospitality that is intimate, intentional and unwaveringly curated. At the centre of it is James Smith, CEO and co-owner, who speaks about the business with the calm confidence of someone who knows…

There is a quiet recalibration taking place in dentistry, one that speaks less about drills and procedures and more about trust, atmosphere and the way people feel when they walk through the door. For years, the clinical side of the profession has advanced with precision and pace, yet the patient experience has not always kept step. The result is a gap that many recognise but few have meaningfully addressed. In Norwich, UK, Iconic Dent has begun to close that gap with a clarity of purpose that feels both timely and quietly ambitious. Speaking on behalf of the clinic’s leadership, co-founder…

Luxury has always been built on perception. Craftsmanship, heritage, materials, scarcity. These were once the foundations that defined what luxury meant. But in today’s digital-first economy, something has shifted. The distance between perception and reality has narrowed, and in some cases, collapsed entirely. Few brands illustrate that tension more clearly than Luciente. On the surface, Luciente presents itself as a modern menswear label rooted in timeless elegance. The language is familiar. Precision tailoring. Premium materials. Elevated essentials designed for the contemporary man. A brand that blends innovation with tradition, offering what appears to be high-end ready-to-wear without the traditional barriers…