Experts from Google, Chick Digital, Autonomate, Push Group, Furniture Connect and ACID were on the agenda at the BFA AI Summit: Efficiency-Productivity-Possibility sharing tailored advice for the industry to a packed room at Coventry Building Society Stadium.

The event gave delegates the chance to explore the cutting-edge technology as well as offering deeper insights into evaluating the potential benefits of AI and how to incorporate it into a business strategy with confidence.

BFA MD Phil Spademan said: “It is our mission, as the national trade body representing the interests of the UK furniture industry, to champion the success of British furniture manufacturers, suppliers and retailers by driving innovation and growth.

“The demand for an event of this type is evident. The BFA AI Summit was a sell-out event, attracting a wide range of delegates to hear from expert speakers and discuss practical applications for this new technology.”

Fatou Fall, a customer engineer at Google Cloud who regularly presents on industry panels discussing next-generation cyber threats, AI-driven security mechanisms and cloud business transformations lead the first session of the day ‘designing the future: AI in furniture manufacturing and retail.’

She was followed by ‘the seven dimensions of AI momentum: why most AI projects stall and how to build momentum that lasts,’ presented by Jamie Claret, CEO of Autonomate, with Dids Macdonald of Anti-Copying In Design (ACID) rounding off the morning with a discussion around AI and intellectual property.

The first session of the afternoon featured Steve Hyde, CEO and co-founder of Push Group, outlining the role of AI and automation in reaching customers, improving marketing and making more of opportunities online and in the showroom.

Pavir Patel from Furniture Connect conducted a practical session on the process of getting a product from supplier information to a live listing and the day rounded off with Matt Chick, founder of Chick Digital, who shared his perspective on the direction of travel for AI and the opportunities still to come.

Phil Spademan added: “AI is no longer a distant prospect. It is here now and our Summit was designed to ensure all delegates were able to access the expert information and insight needed to plan for the future.

“Alongside networking with other forward-thinking businesses across the sector, the event provided practical and relevant discourse around AI, its uses in manufacturing and retail, and its potential implications for future decision-making.”

 

Photo: Fatou Fall, Customer Engineer, Google