The FODcast – Détails, épisodes et analyse

In the second of our FODcast ‘shorts’ with CEO, Tim Roedel, we’re excited to bring you another great discussion on the rising trend of fractional hiring with Adrian Wakefield, Co-Founder of The Digital WoW Group.

With over 35 years of experience in delivering technology and digital transformations, Adrian's journey spans from manufacturing and operations to tech leadership, including his role as CIO of a global tech organisation. Now at the forefront of fractional consulting, Adrian helps businesses leverage high-level expertise on a part-time basis – and was therefore a great guest to feature on the topic.

🔍 Discussion Highlights:

• Drivers of Fractional Hiring Increase: Learn about the flexibility, cost-effectiveness, and access to specialised skills driving this trend.
• Organisational Adaptation: Understand how businesses can navigate regulations, adjust roles, and manage operational people matters to integrate fractional leaders.
• Characteristics of Effective Fractional Leaders: Discover the key traits of successful fractional leaders, including availability, expertise, strategic vision, and strong communication skills.
• Future Outlook: Explore the long-term benefits of fractional hiring and its potential to become a permanent fixture in the business landscape.

Tune in now to gain a deeper understanding of fractional hiring and its impact on digital transformation and business strategy.

Simply Commerce is the leading supplier of talent into digital commerce across technology, digital marketing, product, sales, and leadership.

Find our more about our approach and our services within digital commerce recruitment here: https://simply-commerce.co.uk/

Ever wondered how a gym chain can expand from one country to multiple regions using the power of technology? Join us as we sit down for Episode 3 of Season 6 with Lee Pentecost, experienced Tech Leader and currently Group Head of Architecture at PureGym. 

You’ll hear about Lee’s own career path, from crafting websites in the late '90s to his current role in driving PureGym’s growth and digital transformation. Plus we touch upon the business’ mobile app and how it’s revolutionising member engagement with functionalities like class bookings and gym access, and imagine an ambitious future where it becomes a full-fledged fitness assistant. 

We also consider the future of gym operations with automation and AI…and finding the balance between foundational services and advanced innovations, ensuring PureGym caters to both tech-savvy fitness enthusiasts and the everyday gym-goer. 

Simply Commerce is the leading supplier of talent into digital commerce across technology, digital marketing, product, sales, and leadership.

Find our more about our approach and our services within digital commerce recruitment here: https://simply-commerce.co.uk/

Welcome to Episode 4, Season 5 of The FOD: The Future Of All Things Digital - the podcast designed to bring to you the latest hot topics and trending discussions across the wider world of eCommerce.

In this fourth episode we were delighted to welcome digital expert, Gert van Vliet to the ongoing Composable conversation.

Gert has many decades of experience working in and around the digital commerce space; initially as a functional designer and developer, before moving into consultancy across sales, marketing, accountancy and IT functions for a range of businesses and agencies.

Gert is currently the Managing Director for Netherlands-based digital commerce agency, TouchTribe - part of the MakerStreet Network, one of the country's biggest digital agencies, offering complete end-to-end solutions for its clients.

In our chat for The FOD, we talk in detail about the number one reason why Composable transformations fail, the importance of culture and the 'human element' of being part of an often very complex project, and the inevitable (and unpredictable) future of the sector as AI-use and implementation start to take hold.

Simply Commerce is the leading supplier of talent into digital commerce across technology, digital marketing, product, sales, and leadership.

Find our more about our approach and our services within digital commerce recruitment here: https://simply-commerce.co.uk/

Welcome to Episode 3, Season 5 of The FOD: The Future Of All Things Digital - the podcast designed to bring to you the latest hot topics and trending discussions across the wider world of eCommerce.

In this third episode we welcome seasoned technology leader, Dom Selvon, to the ongoing discussion on all things Composable. 

Dom has many decades of experience within the sector, working initially within management consultancy services and technology delivery, and then as a solutions architect and CTO for systems integrators.  

Currently the Global Chief Technology Officer of Apply Digital – a leading digital solutions agency, Dom has spent the best part of the last five years advising clients on the move to composable and has helped some of the world’s most recognised brands including, Moderna, Kraft Heinz, Lululemon, and The Very Group.  

An Executive Board Member of the MACH Alliance, Dom chats to us in detail about the importance of departmental collaboration, ensuring the IT/Tech department is part of the wider delivery team (and not viewed as a ‘supplier’) and why understanding the business vision is critical for all parties who embark on the journey to composable. 

Simply Commerce is the leading supplier of talent into digital commerce across technology, digital marketing, product, sales, and leadership.

Find our more about our approach and our services within digital commerce recruitment here: https://simply-commerce.co.uk/

Welcome to Episode 2, Season 5 of The FOD: The Future Of All Things Digital - the podcast designed to bring to you the latest hot topics and trending discussions across the wider world of eCommerce.

For the second episode of the season, we were delighted to welcome experienced digital leader, Tomas A. Krag to join the discussion on all things Composable.

Currently Chief Technology Officer at full-service agency NoA Ignite, a full-service agency based in Denmark, Tomas has also held senior positions client-side, with CTO roles at home retailer and manufacturer Hilding Anders and more recently Bang & Olufsen where, in building an eCommerce team from scratch, went on to win multiple awards for front-end design and MACH architecture.
 
In our chat with Tomas, he talks openly about the most common mistakes companies make when going down the composable route, as well as reasons why some decide to change paths altogether and move towards a more monolithic architecture >>>

Simply Commerce is the leading supplier of talent into digital commerce across technology, digital marketing, product, sales, and leadership.

Find our more about our approach and our services within digital commerce recruitment here: https://simply-commerce.co.uk/

We are BACK with a new season of the Simply Commerce podcast, the show that brings you the latest insights into the future of digital commerce.

After a welcome response to Season 4, episodes in this Season continue to have a primary focus on all things Composable. And, while this isn't a new topic per se, it is undoubtedly still a popular one with many unanswered questions.

Through conversations with our guests - this time agency leaders - we'll be trying to find the answers.

Our first episode of Season 5 features an insightful discussion with Michiel Tielemans, MD of Lab Digital, one of the Netherlands' leading composable agencies who have helped a wide range of clients over the last decade including Frasers Group, Mars, Suzuki and Toyota.

Michiel shares with us the reasons why Composable transformations fail, as well as advice to end customers on how to make sure they are set for success from the get-go.

It's a fascinating, honest discussion and will no doubt be of use to businesses considering a move away from monolith >>>

Simply Commerce is the leading supplier of talent into digital commerce across technology, digital marketing, product, sales, and leadership.

Find our more about our approach and our services within digital commerce recruitment here: https://simply-commerce.co.uk/

We are delighted to present to you a BONUS episode for Season 4 of our podcast; The FOD, where we chatted in depth with former Head of Software Development at Wiggle, David Hardiman.

 In our chat with David, we learn more about the retailer’s move to Composable which started in earnest back in 2020 – a move necessitated by an outdated e-commerce infrastructure. 

In this episode we hear about the challenges that the decision to go ‘Composable’ presented and why anyone embarking on that journey or indeed weighing up their options, should (in David’s words) go into it with their eyes wide open, and with a crystal clear vision of what business requirements are; an understanding of what problems they are looking to solve, and an acknowledgement that this is an inherently complex process despite the obvious advantages it can bring.

It’s a fascinating discussion that offers an honest and balanced view from someone who has lived through the journey – and has come out of the other side with clear insight on the positives …and the pitfalls.

Simply Commerce is the leading supplier of talent into digital commerce across technology, digital marketing, product, sales, and leadership.

Find our more about our approach and our services within digital commerce recruitment here: https://simply-commerce.co.uk/

In this final episode of Season 4, our host and Director of Client Engagement, James Hodges looks back on the conversations we've had with our guests from across the sector on the hot topic of Composable.

This short wrap-up looks at some of the key insights shared with our guests; the challenges faced with real-world examples, mistakes and learnings along the way, and invaluable top tips for those beginning the move to a Composable architecture themselves.

A huge thanks to all who have tuned in, downloaded, and watched over the last few weeks - and of course to our guests who have given up their time to talk to us about a topic that shows no sign of abating.

• Dr. Anjali Subburaj, MACH Ambassador & award-winning technology leader
• Craig McLaren - Head Of Digital, MKM Building Supplies
• David Crawford - former Group CTO, Naked Wines
• Glen Leakey - former Digital Transformation Director, Specsavers
• Alexander Ives - Director of Enterprise Systems, Boden
• Felix Alonso - Systems Architect, Rapha

Season FIVE.... coming soon!

Simply Commerce is the leading supplier of talent into digital commerce across technology, digital marketing, product, sales, and leadership.

Find our more about our approach and our services within digital commerce recruitment here: https://simply-commerce.co.uk/

Here is the SIXTH Episode of Season FOUR of the Simply Commerce podcast, the show that brings you the latest insights into the future of digital commerce.

Our guest for the latest episode is Felix Alonso, Systems Architect at leading cycling clothing brand, Rapha.

In our chat for the FOD, Felix talks to us about the move to Composable which started in earnest back in 2019. Nearly 4 years into the process, we hear about the initial challenges faced, as well as the overriding benefits that the business has seen throughout the implementation period.

This episode gives you, the listener, a glimpse at the future of digital commerce as Felix shares his knowledge of living through the initial proposal and kick-off phases, and the opportunities the transition has presented along the way >>>

Simply Commerce is the leading supplier of talent into digital commerce across technology, digital marketing, product, sales, and leadership.

Find our more about our approach and our services within digital commerce recruitment here: https://simply-commerce.co.uk/

We're now FIVE episodes into Season FOUR of the Simply Commerce podcast, the show that brings you the latest insights into the future of digital commerce.

Our guest for the fifth episode is Alexander Ives, Director of Enterprise Systems at leading British clothing brand, Boden.

In our chat for the FOD, Alex talks to us about the digital transformation of the retailer as it moved from a mail-order catalogue business to an innovative eCommerce brand serving some 1.7 million customers worldwide.

This episode gives you, the listener, a glimpse at the future of digital commerce as Alex shares his vast knowledge of breaking up a traditional monolithic system, the challenges of the move to a composable architecture, and ultimately how the move has proved vital for a business that wants to remain competitive and a leader in their market >>>

Simply Commerce is the leading supplier of talent into digital commerce across technology, digital marketing, product, sales, and leadership.

Find our more about our approach and our services within digital commerce recruitment here: https://simply-commerce.co.uk/