Oliver Guy

Oliver Guy

Senior Director, Industry Solutions at Software AG

With significant experience in Digital Transformation and technology strategy, Oliver advises organizations seeking to compete more effectively. Working with the biggest names in retail and consumer goods across the globe for 25 years, he has provided deep experience in supply chain, omni-channel strategy, operations and optimization. This enables a broad and creative perspective on how data drives value through optimization and transformation. Prior to Software AG, Oliver held senior consulting and advisory positions in Europe and Asia.

Recent posts

  • IoT

    What Happens in your Store at Night?

    Have you ever wondered what happens at your grocery store at night? Late one evening this week I was walking around a grocery store (belonging to one of the big four UK grocers).  Why?  Because like everyone else this week I was trying to get my hands on some disinfectant to aid with coronavirus preparations at home. In the store…

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  • Integration & APIs

    To Deal with a Crisis, you need Visibility

    As we see the global pandemic continue to spread, there are increased concerns over the impact it is having on manufacturing and the global supply chain. Recently, I saw Gartner offering advice for supply chain managers on the subject, acknowledging the potential impact on today’s hyper-complex supply chain – one that is far more intricate than during the 2003 SARS epidemic. In…

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  • IoT

    Retailers and the Rule of Three

    You all know this phrase: “Friends, Romans, Countrymen…” Or this one: “Location, location, location.” Why can you remember these so easily? The Rule of Three; it comes from a speech-writing technique that drives a point home more effectively and memorably.   So, when I was asked by a customer what I saw as the three biggest factors influencing change in…

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  • IoT

    What’s in Store for Retail in 2020?

    Here are my predictions for 2020:   Open Relationships Winning retailers will build ecosystems by accelerating the use of value-adding partners, seeking those who can supplement their product with a unique service - and adding new channels through which to sell their products. As Gartner said, these ecosystems create “connections between partners, employees and even competitors… built into vibrant networks that can unlock value…

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  • IoT

    Retail calls TKO on disruption

    As retailers, you have taken a lot of punches over the past few years.  Your high street stores and shopping malls are all being knocked out by more agile, digital-savvy disruptors. These disruptors have been winning the retail race because they solve a pain point in the customer experience. Ten years ago, omni-channel was the disruptor – it solved the…

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  • IoT

    A Mindshare on Customer Centricity

    This is just one of the topics discussed last week when Software AG’s Innovation Tour stopped in London where I hosted a thought leadership lunch for some of our most valued retail customers. I have long believed that discussing perspectives on industry trends and changes with customers provides valuable input for Software AG’s Industry Solutions in order to drive even…

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  • News

    Sometimes, Things Just Work

    September 2019 is a triple milestone month for me.  Not only do my wife and I celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary, but it also marks 5 years since I joined Software AG and 21 years since I took my first role in the software industry. Twenty-one years later I have worked with countless customers in at least 25 countries across…

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  • IoT

    Customer Focus is at the Heart of Transformation       

    The “expectation economy” has put customers’ desires at the center of retailers’ digital transformation, but winning the hearts and minds inside your organization is also critical to achieving success. These are two of the main conclusions from Retail Insider’s Digital Champions Report, 2019. Glynn Davies, Founder of Retail Insider, asked senior leaders from a selection of retailers – which included a…

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  • IoT

    Are Customer Expectations Hurting the Planet?

    Really fast delivery - for free – is part of the instant gratification experience. It is an important element of online retailers’ offerings, appealing to the “I want it and I want it now” crowd. Delivery speed and convenience has become a differentiator and competitive weapon. As BBC commentator Natalie Berg said: “Time wars are the new price wars.” A story on CNN caught…

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  • IoT

    Retailers have to Shape up – or Ship Out

    “Excess inventory will kill a business. It doesn’t just cost money; it hides real problems that are lurking in the shadows of the business.” I remember it like yesterday; it was the early 1990’s and I was in an operations management lecture at university. The lecturer had just used the overhead projector to show a diagram similar to what you…

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