Having spent the last 30 years in the retail and visitor economy, I bring a fresh approach, with understanding, on how Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) are influencing and changing service led industries.
The Visitor Economy is a sector hard hit by the advancement of global tech, platform economics and AI and ML. Currently there are individual businesses offering solutions to the issues raised, supporting a local approach to platform economics. In my professional opinion those tech companies fail to represent the values of supporting local digital transformation, still basing their business models on profit, as opposed to empowerment of individual businesses and local governments, to achieve digital transformation goals, through education and knowledge. Helping independent businesses to thrive in an ever more competitive digital marketplace. An example of this; through the pandemic, the then Chancellor Rishi Sunak gave billions of pounds of taxpayer’s money to the ‘Eat Out to Help Out, scheme, whilst in the same parliament, ‘through the Competition Market Authority’ gave 16% market share to Amazon in Deliveroo! A clear demonstration of giving on one hand and taking away with the other.
The ramifications of the continual advancement of this drive by Tech Giants may be said to be inevitable, however ignorance really isn’t bliss. The impact on the economy with developments like Air BnB, which give households autonomy, in renting their homes, airbnbcitizen.com (2018) state; Air BnB has taken £854 Million in direct income. Within the UK there is interpretation that Air BnB is fiscally and legislatively detrimental to traditional accommodation providers.
Even though I lead a Community Interest Company, what we lack in budgets and resource, we make up for in presence and authority, not only in Somerset, but the wider Southwest Peninsula, Devon, Cornwall, and Dorset, which commands over £7 Billion of Visitor spend annually.
This influence reaches out to central government and the department of culture, media, and sport. To whom we have a direct communications line each week, discussing the ongoing issues related to impacts on our Visitor Economy.
Data driven decisions and impacts of AI, ML, and platform-based economies, for local governments and businesses rarely appear on the strategic agenda, despite the massive benefits to individual businesses both in productivity, customer engagement, return on investment and re gaining competitive advantage.
As Visit Britain now reviews the future status of Destination Management Organisations. Examining the
de Bois Review (2022) (an independent review of destination management organisations in England.) I have been informed by Senior Executives that the new model replacing DMO’s, ‘Local Visitor Enterprise Partnerships’, will look for strong private, public-sector partnerships, able to demonstrate specialisms in their fields of operation, so that cross resource sharing can be achieved across UK.
If I was fortunate enough to be able to study at Oxford in AI and ML this would compliment my new position as an Industrial Fellow at the Institute of Mathematical Innovation at Bath University. It would enable me to gain vital credentials to influence with more credibility.
Having spent the last 15 years studying, I am not work shy and I am committed to continuing pursuing my professional studies to create the necessary change personally and professionally. I made the effort to attend the recent open evening at the University, again demonstrating my commitment to my ongoing education.
Bibliography:
Air BnB stats (2018) taken from
https://www.airbnbcitizen.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/AirbnbUKInsightsReport_2018.pdf
The De Bois Review (2022)
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1011664/2585-C_The_de_Bois_Review_ACCESSIBLE__for_publication_.pdf
Competition Markets Authority
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/cma-clears-amazons-16-investment-in-deliveroo#:~:text=Following%20an%20in%2Ddepth%20investigation,will%20not%20substantially%20lessen%20competition.&text=The%20Competition%20and%20Markets%20Authority,investigation%20in%20December%20last%20year.
Institute of Mathematical Innovation linked page on John Turners role
https://imibath.ac.uk/members/john-turner/
.