Improving employees and consumers experience through innovation

Paul Bean, CEO Mining Worldwide for Sodexo Energy & Resources, explained how to improve workplace experiences during a panel discussion at Vivatech, the world's rendezvous for startups and leaders to celebrate innovation, last month in Paris.

A great consumer experience begins with solid consumer insights, so for us it’s all about understanding what people want and when and how they want it. Only then do we turn to how we can provide it. It’s not just about changing the menu cycle or having new offers, for example, it’s about providing a much more personalized service. Sodexo’s unique approach to innovation through technology manifests not only in the ability to access data about specific demographic groups and their preferences, but insight about their environments as well. Both the quality and quantity of information allows us to adapt much more quickly – and has changed our approach in terms of subject matter expertise as well – with new disciplines such as content management emerging.

Tech and digital together drive our new offers and solutions. In the Mining industry, for example, the workforce is typically at a location for 2-3 weeks. Not only is it not the same as being at home, but the nearest town or village can be quite a distance away. It may seem obvious, but just bringing retail services into an environment like this can enhance the experience of consumers and improve their mental health.

‘’Sodexo’s unique approach to innovation through technology allows us to adapt much more quickly’’ Paul Bean, CEO Mining Worldwide for Sodexo Energy & Resources

Similarly, we are increasingly taking a lead role in how critical life services are managed and maintained. Historically, for example, water treatment or storage would have relied on a labor-intensive inspection routine, but by relying more on IOT and data to inform us about the performance of those assets, we both reduce risk and allow that labor to be deployed elsewhere. This is a win all around because it protects the wellbeing of both employees and the environment—which is a great example of added value for Sodexo, our clients and consumers.