Escalation of commitment

Fleet Decision-Makers Seek Proof Amid Slow Battery Electric Vehicle Adoption

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, November 16, 2023
Acquisition, Ford, Risk, Traction, BEV, Legacy, Emotion, Bev, Chevrolet/GMC B series, Ram, Rail transport, Retail, Renewable energy, Airline, Amazon, Escalation of commitment

LIVONIA, Mich., Nov. 16, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- While many headlines indicate battery electric vehicle (BEV) adoption is increasing, traction remains slow in the commercial vehicle and fleet segment, where decision-makers cite several reasons for apprehension, including seeking proof manufacturers can deliver reliable products and easy-to-implement electrification solutions.

Key Points: 
  • LIVONIA, Mich., Nov. 16, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- While many headlines indicate battery electric vehicle (BEV) adoption is increasing, traction remains slow in the commercial vehicle and fleet segment, where decision-makers cite several reasons for apprehension, including seeking proof manufacturers can deliver reliable products and easy-to-implement electrification solutions.
  • On the other hand, attributes that define brand reputation and underpin a brand promise—such as vehicle cost, quality/reliability/durability and performance—resonate with decision-makers.
  • These are the latest findings of the newest Fleet Electrification Brand Landscape Report from Escalent’s Fleet Advisory Hub™ , a leading insights program designed to explore the needs, expectations and emotions of commercial vehicle and fleet decision-makers.
  • This report explores the perspectives of nearly 1,000 fleet decision-makers on manufacturer brand-related sentiments across four key fleet and commercial vehicle segments: light passenger, commercial van, commercial pickup truck and medium/heavy-duty vehicles.

Small Business Owners on Cusp of Offering Employee Retirement Plans

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, October 31, 2023
Capital Group Companies, Small business, Ageing, Social media, Hearing, Legislation, Escalation of commitment, Research, Senior, Learning, Janus Capital Group, Private sector, Retirement, LOS, Pension, Capital, Life insurance, Management

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Small businesses account for 99% of U.S. businesses and employ nearly half of private sector employees.1 In today's competitive market, business owners are increasingly recognizing the advantages of offering retirement plans for their employees, according to a new survey from Capital Group, with 69% of owners citing helping employees save for the future as a primary driver to offering a plan. The secondary drivers were retention and attraction of top talent (47% and 40%, respectively).

Key Points: 
  • However, despite a 7% uptick in interest in offering a retirement plan post-SECURE 2.0 Act, and with 74% of small business owners indicating they're 'likely' to implement one in the next two years, nearly 40% of owners still believe their company isn't big or stable enough to offer a retirement plan.
  • Additionally, 35% say limited administrative resources are holding them back and 32% more small business owners feel they lack the knowledge to offer a retirement plan or don't know where to start.
  • To better understand the challenges and motivations of both small business owners and their employees, Capital Group, a leading provider of retirement plans to small businesses, surveyed over 600 business owners and employees between May 17 to June 16, 2023.
  • The small business owners surveyed included both those that do and do not currently offer an employee retirement plan.

Declining Brand Trust and Higher Prices Drive Texas Customers to Shop for New Retail Electric Providers

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, October 19, 2023
Reps, Stream Energy, REP, Energy, Electricity, Research, Trust, Haggerty, Amazon, Communication, Perception, Online shopping, Escalation of commitment

The study finds overall Texas REP Brand Trust has dropped a statistically significant 17 points from 2022 to 708 this year and is now at its lowest level in seven years.

Key Points: 
  • The study finds overall Texas REP Brand Trust has dropped a statistically significant 17 points from 2022 to 708 this year and is now at its lowest level in seven years.
  • REPs remain near the bottom of various service providers, posting Brand Trust levels comparable to those of phone companies and cable TV companies.
  • By contrast, companies such as banks, Amazon and streaming TV services post significantly higher Brand Trust scores.
  • Although overall REP Brand Trust scores have declined, six REPs are leading the Brand Trust Index this year.

Trusted Business Partners Have Elevated Their Relationships With Business Customers

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, July 20, 2023
Communication, Public utility, Haggerty, Business, COVID-19, Energy, Research, Customer, Pinnacle, Behavior, Video game, Escalation of commitment

Today, we name these 15 top utilities as the 2023 Trusted Business Partners.

Key Points: 
  • Today, we name these 15 top utilities as the 2023 Trusted Business Partners.
  • Additionally, the Brand Trust gap continues to widen, with Trusted Business Partners scoring 46 points higher than the industry average.
  • “Trusted Business Partners have proven the value of frequent communication and a visible presence in the local economy,” Haggerty added.
  • “Their business customers report higher awareness of their utility’s local economic development activities, and the same customers are more likely to consider them a partner and a trusted energy advisor.”
    Escalent is pleased to name these 15 utilities as our 2023 Trusted Business Partners.

2023 Dubbed “Year of the Rebound” for Fleet Technologies

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, June 20, 2023
Bev, Research, Emotion, Trust, Growth, Weather, AI, AVS, FTI, Renewable energy, Airline, Escalation of commitment

From 2020 to 2023, there’s been an overall 27% increase in Escalent’s Fleet Technology Index (FTI) score trend, indicating a marked increase in the perceived value of, and market readiness for, eight key fleet technologies.

Key Points: 
  • From 2020 to 2023, there’s been an overall 27% increase in Escalent’s Fleet Technology Index (FTI) score trend, indicating a marked increase in the perceived value of, and market readiness for, eight key fleet technologies.
  • Altogether, fleet decision-makers recognize technology is advancing quickly and realize those who do not adopt a future-oriented mindset will be left behind.
  • The program, developed in 2019 by Escalent, offers an annual snapshot of the state of emerging technologies among commercial vehicle and fleet businesses through its flagship Fleet Technology Index report.
  • The proportion of companies that are walking away from data analytics, telematics and BEVs has declined from 2022 to 2023, reinforcing the industry’s commitment to these technologies.

Small Business Owners Offering Employee Retirement Plans Are More Attuned to Employee Needs During Uncertain Time

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, May 4, 2023
Small Business Administration, Small business, Janus Capital Group, Senior, SIMPLE, Friends, Escalation of commitment, Research, SIMPLE IRA, Retirement, COVID-19, Pension, SEP, LOS, Ageing, Family, Capital Group Companies, Social media, Legislation, Bank, Life insurance, Financial adviser

LOS ANGELES, May 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- While most Americans saving for retirement do so through their employer's retirement plan offering, small businesses are much less likely than larger companies to offer a plan. Only 28% of businesses with less than 10 employees offer retirement plans and only 51% of businesses with 10-24 employees offer them.1 New research from Capital Group, one of the world's largest and most experienced active investment managers and a leading provider of retirement solutions for small businesses, found that many business owners may not be offering a plan due to misperceptions around cost and company size requirements.

Key Points: 
  • "With the passing of the SECURE 2.02 Act earlier this year, now may be a great time for small business owners to set up a retirement plan.
  • A financial advisor can guide business owners on how to maximize the full benefits of offering a plan, including important tax credits for themselves."
  • The survey revealed that business owners offering retirement plans were more aware and sympathetic to their employees' financial situations:
    71% of business owners who offer a retirement plan reported inflation was their employees' biggest financial challenge, with 79% of employees agreeing.
  • The small business owners surveyed included both those that do and do not currently offer an employee retirement plan.

West Palm Beach Selected as Host Site for a 2nd Time for Artificial Intelligence Bootcamp – APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN!

Retrieved on: 
Friday, April 28, 2023
PALM, NextEra Energy Resources, Natural language processing, Food, Natural language, Student, Curriculum, Electricity, ChatGPT, Florida Power & Light, ML, Intelligence, Facial recognition, Escalation of commitment, NextEra Energy, Wind, Computer vision, Dallas Mavericks, FPL, Machine learning, Generative, City, Ethics, AI, Transport, Robotics, News, NYSE, Data science, MCF, Medical device, Tutoring, Boot camp

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., April 28, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) will host a Mark Cuban Foundation Artificial Intelligence (AI) Bootcamp for high school students at no cost for a 2nd time in the fall of 2023.

Key Points: 
  • WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., April 28, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) will host a Mark Cuban Foundation Artificial Intelligence (AI) Bootcamp for high school students at no cost for a 2nd time in the fall of 2023.
  • The AI Bootcamp in West Palm Beach will be targeted at underserved high school students (9th -12th grade) and will introduce these high school students to basic AI concepts and skills.
  • FPL is one of 28+ host companies selected to host camps across the U.S. in fall 2023.
  • The FPL Bootcamp will be held over four consecutive Saturdays starting on Oct. 14 and ending on Nov. 4.

Fleet Businesses Show Increased Need for Enterprise-Wide Connected Services Education

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, April 26, 2023
Intersection, AT&T, Office management, AT, Emotion, ERP, Accounting, Tablet, Verizon Communications, Ecosystem, Harman Connected Services, Retail, Online shopping, Airline, Escalation of commitment

On average, companies use eight connected services, and one-third (34%) of companies use at least 10 connected services.

Key Points: 
  • On average, companies use eight connected services, and one-third (34%) of companies use at least 10 connected services.
  • This is juxtaposed to the 66% of fleet decision-makers who, valuing simplicity and efficiency, find it important to minimize providers of connected services within their operations.
  • “Nearly one-half of fleet decision-makers conduct internet searches to learn about connected services, providing a stark potential for margin of error.
  • The newest report, Connected Services: The Intersection of Connected Fleet and the Enterprise, explores the state of connected services and the decision-making process that enables adoption by fleet companies—deliberately going beyond take rates of vehicle telematics and vehicle-focused services to build a bridge to understanding the overall ecosystem of connected businesses that operate vehicles.

Institutional Investors Persist, Reveal Approach to Adopting ESG Investments Despite Controversy

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, April 25, 2023
Linda, CFOS, Generation, US Institute for Environmental Conflict Resolution, Aitor Ocio, DC, ESG, Investment, Financial services, Financial adviser, Escalation of commitment

The strongest demand for ESG investments is among $1 billion-plus defined contribution (DC) retirement plans (59%) and insurance company general accounts (35%).

Key Points: 
  • The strongest demand for ESG investments is among $1 billion-plus defined contribution (DC) retirement plans (59%) and insurance company general accounts (35%).
  • Millennial and Generation X employees are likely driving demand for DC retirement plans while risk mitigation is influencing insurers.
  • Environmental concerns continue to lead institutional investors to adopt ESG investments across all institutional categories, with 70% of respondents indicating interest due to environmental factors.
  • “Despite continuing concerns, the institutional community agrees the environmental aspect of ESG is here to stay,” said York.

Leading Utilities Engage Their Customers About the Energy Transition

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, April 18, 2023
Lighting, Pressure, Cogent, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Carbon footprint, Electricity, Escalation of commitment, Carbon, Wind, Investment, Customer, Natural gas, Biophysical environment, Weather, Environment, Behavior, Renewable energy

According to the study, customers continue to strongly support electric utilities using solar and wind energy to generate electricity, with 71% and 59% of customers respectively preferring these sources.

Key Points: 
  • According to the study, customers continue to strongly support electric utilities using solar and wind energy to generate electricity, with 71% and 59% of customers respectively preferring these sources.
  • As a result, customers increasingly prefer buying energy-related technology from a contractor or home-improvement store, progressively leaving utilities out of the picture.
  • As the industry faces increasing pressure to reduce its carbon footprint, this report is a vital resource for utilities looking to meet customers’ expectations through the energy transition.
  • The 30 utilities below stand out among the 141 utilities surveyed for winning high marks on their environmental commitment, support of environmental causes and aiding customers to become more environmentally friendly.