Organizations are waking up to the fact that today's weather is a dramatically different beast from years past.
Early last month, hundreds of thousands gathered at the Las Vegas Convention Center for an annual tech-head ritual – the world-renowned Consumer Electronics Show, or CES, for those more familiar.
Between hundreds of incredible conversations with businesses and individuals alike—all fascinated by the weather and impacted in their own ways—our team found time to sneak away and check out some of the show. Many of the trends we noticed were subtle shifts in how ideas and technologies are presented, which followed through in several key areas.
Xweather’s booth featured an interactive spherical screen displaying global weather conditions, allowing visitors from all over the world to view current conditions in their hometowns.
CES is always a great start to the year - It energizes you and paves the way for events later in the year by setting a baseline understanding as to where customers stand.
Samuli Hanninen, Executive Vice President
AI integrations for daily use
One clear change this year was in the AI space, especially concerning the automotive industry. Instead of broad visions, the focus now lies on the execution, particularly in how AI continues to be integrated into the technologies and systems we use daily to streamline work and activities. The quick update from in-vehicle voice-activated assistants on the road and beyond appears to be one trend that's here to stay as AI weaves itself into the fabric of our society.
Expanded automotive partnerships
One interesting trend centered not on the presence but the absence of European automotive OEM booths. However, these companies were still very much present, mainly through product placement in partner and supply chain booths. This suggests a shift in how these automotive OEMs engage with audiences at events like CES, leveraging targeted collaborations rather than direct representation.
Sustainability remains a must
We’re seeing an evolution in the way sustainability is approached in marketing and events, emphasizing resilience and adaptation to climate change. Companies at CES made this clear by weaving sustainability into their wider messaging approach rather than making it their sole focus.
That said, sustainability is still front of mind for many companies, especially with an ever-heightened emphasis on sustainable business practices at the consumer level. This focus naturally leads to increased business interest in weather data integrations, with companies aiming to understand the environment and their potential impact at the hyperlocal level.
Hyperlocal weather for operational continuity
Weather continues to be very personal. Everyone who used the weather globe wanted to zoom into where they live and work. Weather solutions need to be just as personal.
Conversations both at the Xweather booth and on the floor featured weather. The fusion of data is everywhere, with more companies than ever before seeking solutions for high-quality weather data and hyperlocal forecasting to improve their business operations, open up new revenue streams, and lessen impacts on global climate change.
There isn't one silver bullet for any application—conversations included fleet management, connected cars, energy savings, and smart cities. It’d be hard to find an industry immune to extreme weather impacts, often in ways many of us haven't considered.
Dr. Scott Mackaro, Director, Innovation and Xcast
Technology is reshaping value chains and opening opportunities for those willing to push boundaries. Many organizations are waking up to the fact that today's weather is a dramatically different beast from years past; the outdated stereotype of a traditional TV meteorologist still remains but seems to be fading.
We have an opportunity to change that narrative—to make weather intelligence an integral, high-tech component of decision-making across multiple industries rather than just an afterthought. Enabling businesses across the globe to build confidence in their ability to navigate and adapt to weather challenges is no small feat, but it's a challenge we welcome with open arms.
Disruption favors the bold, and we are a high-tech company with the potential to foster weather confidence in industries that have yet to fully realize its impact.
John Liljelund, Director, SaaS
Check out Xweather Live, our interactive web-based weather application launched at CES. Play around with weather layers and ask Nimbus, our AI bot, everything you've always wanted to know about weather.
Did this article get your gears turning? Get in touch with our team to discuss weather confidence solutions for your unique application.
