#business

White space, commercial, white space, underpenetrated (eww), white space,…

AT&T Is Automating Away Jobs—and Its Old Telecom Empire

The telecom giant is eager to show Wall Street that it can do more with less. That means fewer employees, less electricity, and increased automation.

https://www.wired.com/story/atandt-is-automating-away-its-old-telecom-empire/

There is a question worth asking about the recent RIFs affecting Customer Success Managers across Oracle Consumer Industries:

Why does it appear that Hospitality CSMs are carrying a disproportionate share of the reductions compared with Food & Beverage?

The question becomes more interesting when you consider the nature of the two businesses.

Hotel technology particularly at the enterprise level is incredibly complex. A Hospitality CSM may be dealing with global hotel companies operating hundreds or thousands of properties, OPERA Cloud deployments, integrations, payments, distribution, loyalty, partners, escalations and major transformation programs.

These aren't simply account-management roles. The best Hospitality CSMs often become the connective tissue between the customer, Support, Development, Consulting, Sales, Product and executive leadership.

If Hospitality is also delivering stronger profitability and margins than F&B, as some believe, the disparity becomes even more difficult to understand. It would be useful to see the actual numbers.

And there is another question that probably needs to be asked:

Does the background of the current Consumer Industries leadership play any role in how Customer Success resources are being allocated?

With leadership experience coming from the F&B side of the business, could there naturally be greater familiarity with or a different view of the F&B Customer Success model and its staffing requirements?

That doesn't mean anyone is deliberately protecting one organization at the expense of another. Nor is this an argument that F&B CSMs should be losing their jobs instead.

It's a question about whether the two businesses are being evaluated using the right criteria.

If Hospitality has greater customer complexity, larger enterprise transformations, significant integration requirements and attractive margins, what is the business rationale for deeper reductions in Hospitality Customer Success?

Maybe there is a good answer.

But employees and customers deserve to understand the strategy.

What metrics are actually determining where the CSM reductions occur and are Hospitality and F&B truly being evaluated on an equivalent basis?

Is Wellmed a functioning company ? where are they doing business ?

https://www.businessinsider.com/oracle-cloud-layoffs-america-roles-hit-hardest-leaked-doc-2026-9

About $18 billion in loans tied to an Oracle-leased data center in New Mexico ​has come under pressure, with loans quoted at 89 ‌to 91 cents on the dollar by syndicate banks including Santander and Jefferies.

https://www.reuters.com/business/finance/oracles-18-billion-data-center-debt-under-pressure-ft-reports-2026-09-18/

Many believe that the board/HY has a medium term headcount goal, a specific number to which they'd like to reduce the domestic internal employee numbers to. If so, what's your guess? I think it's around 120k. Basically two more years of downsizing. Sometime around 2030 the current regime bails with huge golden parachutes and a real team of executive leaders is brought in to grow the business.

Belk’s workplace culture is antiquated and old school, as is the customer base.

The customer base is dying. Literally. Belk’s customers are kicking the bucket and there is nobody to replace them.

The ones with applicable skills should go into to BUs

For God's sake, we are a commodity business.

Planned water level reductions for Lake Austin this fall are expected to cause significant financial losses for local businesses. Several business owners anticipate layoffs and the cancellation of popular holiday events due to the reduced lake access. The drawdown, scheduled from October 12 to November 30, aims to facilitate dock maintenance and manage hydrilla growth. However, operators like Float On Boat Rentals and Austin Rental Boats foresee substantial revenue shortfalls and job cuts. Business owners are concerned about the short notice and the potential negative impact on tourism during a peak season.

Austin, Texas

https://www.kxan.com/news/local/austin/lake-austin-drawdown-could-cost-jobs-cancel-holiday-events/amp/

Predict and manifest BPs future state in 2027..
What’s production like?
Employee Morale?
India Tech support Integration?
Does BP sell USA unconventional? Meg has already sold this once in the past.
What does UK BP look like?
Predict Stock Price

I'm seeing lots of "good roundtable", "great roadshow" type posts. Unfortunately that seems like a red-ish flag to me.

I guess business lines are doing ok? (Maybe One Talk is helping.) Not sure if the AI Connect stuff is real or not.

If VCG struggles, can they carry the load?

Several major food and beverage companies are implementing significant layoffs, signaling a downturn in industry sales. This trend is attributed to a combination of factors, including public health advocacy against ultra-processed foods and the growing impact of GLP-1 agonist dr-gs that reduce appetite. Additionally, rising food prices due to inflation are contributing to decreased consumer spending. These developments, while potentially beneficial for public health, present a challenge for the food industry's business model. Consequently, companies are responding with workforce reductions to manage declining revenues.

New York, NY

https://www.foodpolitics.com/2026/09/layoffs-a-sign-of-flagging-food-industry-sales/

Sooo, was Monday a major layoff day as many suggested...or...was it simply a business as usual day?

Nike will have upswing eventually.
When hot brands Hoka, On, adidas, Asics slow down, it will have its chance.

the job for Nike is to be ready when that chance comes up.
Not sure if EH will be here 3 years down the line but Nike needs to be ready for the chance that it will have to move up.
It is not if but rather when and how much ready you will be to take advantage when the opportunity comes up

Uber's CEO announced a surprising strategy for recent layoff savings, stating the company will use the funds to reduce rider prices. This approach differs from typical corporate practice, where savings are usually retained as profit. The CEO also indicated that lower insurance costs will contribute to this pricing strategy. He emphasized that these moves are intended to boost rider engagement and increase trip volume. The company has not yet specified the extent or timing of fare reductions.

San Francisco, California

https://www.thestreet.com/employment/uber-ceo-makes-admission-about-layoffs-ride-fees

Omnicom is conducting a thorough review following the loss of PepsiCo's media business. The company is analyzing the reasons behind this significant client departure after a long-standing relationship. This review is part of a broader business assessment and will inform future strategies. While the immediate financial impact is manageable, Omnicom is focused on understanding the reputational implications. The company plans to aggressively pursue new business opportunities to offset any revenue shortfalls.

New York, New York

https://www.storyboard18.com/agency-news/omnicom-plans-workforce-reduction-as-pepsico-loss-triggers-business-review-110407.htm

Anyone else area focused on having all employees fill in trackers for production and what is being worked on daily and what lines of business you support? Seems we have been sent a handful of report trackers to fill out over past month or two…..

Next week is D-Day. Dell is a joke!

We don't need id--ts to sink and ki-l our workforces by 40K in a few months. That is a failing business isn't?. We just need new young smart MBA people to expand our business with another 50K employees to be successful going forward. Please get rids of those id--ts or fired them immediately !

Here's the thing about a company that just fired its CTO and didn't line up nobody to take the seat. Ain't nobody in that boardroom saying it out loud, but what they just did is tell every business unit in the building it's open season. And people don't wait around to be told twice when there's power sitting on the table unattended.

First thing goes is the process. Won't be loud about it neither — nobody's gonna stand up and say "let's stop vetting our technology properly." What happens is smaller. A review gets skipped 'cause there's no one senior enough left to insist on it. Then another. Six months on, don't nobody remember there used to be a process at all, just some folks vaguely recall filling out a form once.

Then the business units start making technology decisions same way a man starts driving a truck he's never driven before — confident right up until the ditch. They ain't wrong to want progress. They're just the wrong people making the call, and everybody in the room knows it, and everybody in the room decides that's a tomorrow problem.

Costs go up. Nobody owns admitting that, 'cause the money's coming out of two pockets now instead of one, and when it's two pockets, it's nobody's fault special. That's not an accident. That's what happens when accountability gets split — same as blame does. Everybody's a little bit responsible, which means don't nobody's really responsible at all.

Give it a year, they bring somebody in from outside to fix it. Stranger walks in, looks around, tells 'em exactly what they already knew walking in the door — you people tore down the fence and now the cattle's in the road. Only difference is they're paying consultant rates to hear it said back to 'em slow.

And the folks who used to complain about the old CTO? They're the ones left standing in a hallway with a job title that don't mean nothing no more, waiting on somebody to tell 'em what they're supposed to be doing today. Nobody comes. That's usually how it goes.

I have no idea how to spell that subject line and was too lazy to look it up.

Enrique spoke yesterday and he basically trashed the business model Alex put into place and said PayPal focused too much on merchants at the cost of consumers.

When Alex came in he trashed the model Dan had in place and said we focused too much on large enterprise at the cost of small businesses. So he hired Gill and lifted that whole pillar. We know what happened to that when Enrique joined.

It’s absolutely clear to me that Enrique is throwing the last spaghetti on the wall and praying it sticks. So now, sc--w you branded checkout and merchants. We are a consumer first company. Good luck! Wall Street responds as Wall Street responds.

https://www.investing.com/news/transcripts/paypal-at-goldman-sachs-communacopia--technology-conference-reset-deepens-93CH-4894720

There is something almost comforting about mid-September at Honeywell.

Everything is business as usual. Forecasts. Customer calls. Q4 plans. Strategy decks. People talking about 2027 priorities as if every box on the org chart is permanent.

And anyone who has been around large companies long enough knows the rule: it is business as usual right up until the exact moment it isn’t.

One day you’re debating a KPI. The next day the KPI, the team, the reporting line and half the PowerPoint have changed.

That is what makes these periods so strange. Big organizational change rarely feels dramatic while it is approaching. Most of the time, Tuesday still feels exactly like Tuesday.

Until an email lands.

I have absolutely no inside information, which makes me about as qualified as everyone else to read the corporate tea leaves.

But this particular September has a very strong “enjoy the current org chart while supplies last” energy.

For the Honeywell veterans: what was the biggest “business as usual… until it wasn’t” moment you’ve seen here?

I suspect the comments on this one could be educational.

Rising costs are significantly impacting small businesses across Minnesota, leading to difficult decisions. Companies are reducing inventory, cutting executive salaries, and implementing layoffs to manage increased expenses. Higher prices for essential goods, fuel, and insurance are squeezing profit margins. Some businesses are also facing challenges due to federal immigration enforcement actions and global trade disruptions. These economic pressures are forcing many to seek new clients and re-evaluate operational strategies to survive.

New Hope, Minnesota

https://www.startribune.com/small-business-inflation-layoffs-salaries/601874966

So anyone have a clue if this is the call we have been waiting for???

https://www.discerningreaders.com/martin-schroeter-best-choice-ceo-kyndryl-newco.html

Just curious how many clubs out there have the merchandisers bale their own cardboard and how many make the backroom associates bale the merchandisers cardboard.

Study being done to benchmark travel costs with recommendation to eliminate business class for non executives.

"I enjoyed speaking with Saurabh Kumar at ETGCCWorld about India’s growing relevance for ExxonMobil and the role Indian talent plays in our global strategy.

Over the last decade, India has become one of our most strategic locations worldwide.

Today, our capability hub in Bangalore delivers value across our global operations. The range of solutions we’re delivering from India is simply incredible!

From supporting the development of advanced catalysts for polymer manufacturing and modeling CO₂ storage, to creating AI tools for real-time spill detection and scaling the buildout of our energy equipment from India, our teams are driving impact at a truly global scale.

The depth of talent in India has enabled us to grow rapidly, but when combined with the country’s expanding capabilities and ambition, it creates a unique advantage.

Seeing our teams create meaningful impact around the world every day is deeply rewarding, and the alignment between our capabilities and India’s priorities has never been stronger.

Now is the most exciting time to be at ExxonMobil in India with lots more exciting times to come. Stay tuned!😊"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LbycxF7zoO4

I just wish our business and tech leaders could generate enough revenue and deliver products that work for our clients so Fiserv wouldn’t have to layoff employees. When you’re not growing anything but expenses, people lose their jobs.

Good morning APAC folks anyone getting business update meeting this morning ?

https://www.barrons.com/articles/ibm-stock-quantum-computing-1384b7c4

By: Mackenzie Tatananni | Updated Aug 31, 2026, 11:11 am EDT / Original Aug 31, 2026, 10:39 am EDT

In their latest research note, Susquehanna analysts raised a question most tech investors probably have considered at least once: “When do investors need to own IBM for quantum?”

The line of questioning makes sense, considering IBM’s quantum division has drummed up plenty of attention in recent months—a bright spot at a time when the stock is under pressure.

Second-quarter earnings were the latest reminder of IBM’s sluggish organic growth, compounded by new threats including customers reallocating their budgets to artificial-intelligence hardware.

Shares have slumped 19% since July 14, anchored by a record plunge the same day IBM pre-announced earnings. In contrast, the S&P 500 has gained 2.1% over the same period.

As other business lines face headwinds, IBM’s quantum division has been a shining star in its portfolio. Susquehanna analyst James Friedman ticked off a number of recent developments including IBM’s acquisition of HRL Laboratories to bolster its hardware capabilities and a partnership with the Commerce Department to build Anderon, a standalone quantum chip foundry to serve IBM itself as well as industry players.

Still, it may seem difficult to consider quantum a cornerstone of IBM’s business. Although Big Blue has researched the technology since before the turn of the 21st century—and contributed to major scientific breakthroughs along the way—the effort generates paltry revenue. Researchers are banking on big technological advances before the end of the decade to usher in broader commercialization.

Friedman is tempering his expectations. “With a number of upcoming quantum catalysts on the horizon, each deliverable keeps accelerating,” he wrote Monday. “At the same time, there is a lot more to getting IBM’s fundamentals right as the other segments transform.”

The analyst flagged a renewed focus on software within the consulting arm, marked by a new leadership appointment, and limited growth in IBM’s Red Hat software business due to passing server supply constraints. There is also the “math of the mainframe cycle” to consider: Revenue was delayed rather than lost, with 40% of the deals that slipped in the second quarter closing early in the following period.

While Friedman remains Neutral-rated on IBM shares, he raised his price target to $235 from $225. The revision reflects upcoming catalysts expected to generate buzz around the technology, particularly the annual Quantum World Congress meeting in late September.

I’ve been watching these new CE get their number and realise that they actually are responsible for ITOM Business networks and Cyber. I’ve been invited to their meetings for input…… The ITOM business and Cyber haven’t done big deals in years…..

Has anyone noticed this

SpaceX may need 1.5 million small cells to compete with TMO to bad Crown caved to Elliott management and no one would listen to JB. Now Crowns is a singular business with no growth

We have been in the news so much as of late as we are making deals left and right. I have a good feeling about the direction we are heading in.

Megan Ellison's Annapurna Pictures has laid off approximately 30 employees, representing over 15% of its workforce. This significant reduction comes as the independent media company navigates shifting market conditions. The company confirmed the layoffs, stating they reflect current business realities. Annapurna is currently realigning its operations to adapt to the changing landscape of the entertainment industry. Ellison remains at the helm as CEO during this period of restructuring.

Los Angeles, California

https://variety.com/2026/film/news/megan-ellison-annapurna-layoffs-1236843926/