Hedaux, Hogg & The Machines 1

9th August 2026

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.

Key takeaways:

🔹 Data Security: Why enterprise security settings matter when using LLMs and the hidden risks of unvetted open-source models.

🔹 Head Office Efficiency: How area managers are using AI agents to automate weekly store action plans in minutes.

🔹 Shop Floor AI: How retail giants like Walmart, Tesco, Lowe’s, and M&S are rolling out AI tools to frontline teams.

🔹 What’s Next: What to expect from upcoming models, enterprise forecasting tools, and the realistic timeline for store robotics.

📅 Save the Date! Join us live at the Productivity Forum on 10th September in Birmingham.

🎟️ Secure your spot: ReThink Forum 2026

Download a copy of our first ReThink Productivity Retail Report