#efficiency

US car companies have been protected and bailed out too many times and are now not only completely uncompetitive on the global market, but set up to be completely demolished as EVs take over.
Their bad leadership and overall inefficiency mean that either investors are going to pay a massive price, or US consumers are going to pay a massive price. If we keep on pushing up consumer costs by propping up bad manufacturers with protectionism and bail outs, the US's entire economy is dr-g down by that.
There needs to be some creative destruction, ruthless culling of the least efficient manufacturers, so that their best workers can go to the better manufacturers, if the US is ever going to be a top tier car manufacturer again.

Ford CEO Jim Farley says the company's next generation of electric vehicle technology could give Ford a significant efficiency advantage over Chinese automaker BYD.

Speaking during Ford's Q3 2026 earnings call on October 29, Farley claimed that Ford's new electric motors, gearboxes and inverters are approximately 30% more efficient than BYD's.

According to Farley, the improvements are part of Ford's efforts to develop more efficient electric powertrains while keeping vehicle costs under control.

The potential impact goes beyond efficiency. Higher powertrain efficiency could allow Ford to achieve competitive driving range with smaller battery packs, potentially reducing one of the biggest costs of manufacturing electric vehicles.

Farley's comments also come as Ford prepares to introduce its new Universal Electric Vehicle (UEV) platform, which is expected to underpin the upcoming Ford Fathom, an electric midsize pickup with a starting price of $28,350 in the United States.

Sooo, is the Client Executive model helping anyone close deals? Client Executives are getting pulled into every deal nowadays. I see them handling questions that sales should covered. maybe this works somewhere. maybe. yet i'm struggling to see the benefit if it adds another step, layers work, slows things down. i doubt that a CE can help win or grow a deal

Nothing says “strategic cost management” quite like laying off people who actually deliver while protecting layers of management that should never have existed in the first place.

Software sourcing at Kyndryl is a great example: bring in a director to manage another director who is already managing sourcing/procurement. Two Band 10 directors for a relatively small function. Brilliant organizational efficiency.

Maybe the problem isn’t that there are too many workers. Maybe the problem is that there are too many chiefs managing other chiefs.

And somehow, when it’s time to cut costs, the axe always seems to fall several layers below where the expensive redundancy actually sits.

• 3,500 jobs eliminated: American Express plans to cut approximately 5% of its global workforce.
• Profits surge 28%: Q3 2026 net income reached $3.71 billion, despite planned layoffs.
• Revenue grows 9%: Quarterly revenue climbed to $20.06 billion, reflecting strong customer demand.
• AI drives restructuring: Executives cited automation, efficiency, agility, and preparation for artificial intelligence.
• $336 million restructuring charge: The company recorded significant costs associated with organizational changes.
• Customer spending increases: Average quarterly cardmember spending rose 5% to $6,375.
• Earnings outlook improves: American Express raised its full-year adjusted EPS forecast to $17.60-$17.90.

https://americanbazaaronline.com/2026/10/24/american-express-to-cut-3500-jobs-despite-28-profit-surge-490669/

American Express is reducing its global workforce by 5%. This amounts to approximately 3,840 job losses. The company cited a need for greater agility and efficiency. These changes are intended to accelerate innovation. The layoffs are a direct result of integrating artificial intelligence systems.

New York, New York

https://www.fastcompany.com/91629156/american-express-layoffs-today-amex-slashes-jobs-ai-push

Barclays plans to eliminate approximately 5,000 jobs by the end of 2026 to reduce operating costs. This significant workforce reduction is part of a broader strategy to streamline operations and leverage technology. The majority of these cuts will affect support functions, including software development roles. The announcement coincided with the bank's third-quarter financial results, which showed increased profit but missed market expectations. These measures reflect a growing trend among financial institutions to enhance efficiency amid economic uncertainty.

London, England

https://www.firstpost.com/tech/barclays-layoffs-bank-plans-to-cut-5000-jobs-by-year-end-to-reduce-costs-14054576.html

I can’t believe that they are actually going through with this. Why doesn’t operations know about what processes and systems are in place that use Microsoft and they put those things in place for those users/departments? Why is IT going through this route? They are trying to have a boatload of people request license for Microsoft users? What’s going to happen once user have no access to do their job. Customers use excel and we would not be able to assist them with data we supply to them. I am so frustrated with this company and how dysfunctional they have become. So much for efficiency.

Valnet has announced significant job reductions impacting its workforce. The company is implementing these layoffs as part of a strategic restructuring. This move is expected to streamline operations and improve efficiency. Details regarding the exact number of employees affected have not been fully disclosed. The company aims to navigate current market challenges with these changes.

Montreal, Quebec

https://carbuzz.com/gm-plant-headed-for-production-hiatus/

The 10/13 earnings call included a statement that employees in operations, customer service, technology and risk should examine closely. Scharf described AI agents capable of performing work in call centers and operations sites. His point was that a large company can deploy technology across a much wider workforce and achieve greater benefits from the same investment. This matters because Wells Fargo is already operating with substantially fewer employees.

THE WORKFORCE CONTEXT

September 2025: 210,821 employees

September 2026: 194,369 employees

That's 16,452 fewer employees over one year, approximately 7.8%.

And Wells Fargo's headcount has declined for 24 consecutive quarters, according to management's six-year statement.

WHICH FUNCTIONS DID MANAGEMENT DISCUSS?

The October earnings call described AI applications across several areas:

1. Software development: Faster coding and autonomous agents where appropriate.

2. Customer service: Automation of common banking activities.

3. Operations: AI agents capable of performing work within operations sites.

4. Cybersecurity: Identifying vulnerabilities and accelerating code development and testing.

5. Risk management: Simplifying existing processes.

6. Underwriting and complaints: Accelerating response times and routine workflows.

7. Financial-advisor support: AI tools that reduce routine administrative work and improve information access.

These are applications management discussed. They are not a confirmed list of departments scheduled for layoffs.

HERE'S THE REAL QUESTION

If AI reduces the time required for routine tasks, what happens to the employees who previously performed them?

There are several possibilities.

The bank could redeploy employees into higher-value work.

It could increase output targets while maintaining existing staffing.

Or it could allow departures to go unfilled as automation takes over portions of the workflow.

All three are possible. Actual decisions depend on the business.

THE CFO'S MESSAGE MAKES THIS MORE IMPORTANT

Discussing 2027 expense planning, Mike Santomassimo said:

"we expect every part of the company to drive meaningful efficiency."

He also explained that next year's expenses would reflect continued efficiency work, investment needs and salary inflation.

Questions:

Ops: Are AI tools reducing staff requirements or simply increasing transaction targets?

CS: Are service expectations changing as more routine customer tasks are automated?

Tech: Are faster coding tools being used to justify larger delivery commitments?

Risk: Are manual reviews disappearing, or are employees still responsible for checking automated output?

Nobody can confirm individual layoff decisions from an earnings call.

But when management identifies specific work AI can perform and simultaneously expects companywide efficiency, employees should be asking where the staffing assumptions are changing.

Sources:

October 13, 2026 earnings call:
https://www.benzinga.com/news/26/10/62329932/full-transcript-wells-fargo-q3-2026-earnings-call

Wells Fargo Q3 workforce and AI analysis:
https://www.grindhotline.com/wells-fargo-2027-job-risk-q3-2026-headcount-ai.html

No other biz in the world has as much Indirect / Overhead costs as the GSEs. If Trump & Pulte are targeting 15%, plenty of more fat to trim.

Universal Music Group's Nashville division, MCA, has implemented layoffs affecting approximately fourteen employees. This move follows broader cost-cutting measures initiated by the parent company. Several key executives, including the COO, were among those let go. These reductions are part of a larger corporate restructuring aimed at achieving significant annual savings. The company cited the need to adapt to industry changes and enhance efficiency.

https://www.billboard.com/pro/universal-music-mca-layoffs-staff-cut-restructuring/

For health insurance corporations looking for a turnkey product to calculate health provider settlements, the selection depends on whether you are analyzing fee-for-service (FFS) reimbursement contracts, processing complex bulk provider payments, or needing a data extraction layer for your core adjudication system.
The industry's leading turnkey software options specialized for health plan/payer settlement calculations include:

1. Milliman Dynamic Reimbursement Modeler (DRM)
   The Milliman Dynamic Reimbursement Modeler is a highly specialized turnkey solution built precisely for healthcare provider reimbursement negotiations, calculations, and contract management.

• Best For: Payer-provider contract settlement modeling, reimbursement parity analysis, and fee-for-service contract calculations.
• Key Capabilities: It allows health insurance corporations to input complex reimbursement terms alongside claims data to assign expected payments, reduce manual workflow errors, and provide audit-ready traceability documentation.

1. PLEXIS Healthcare Systems (Quantum Choice)
   PLEXIS Healthcare Systems provides turnkey financial administration and revenue reconciliation platforms tailored for commercial health insurance corporations, Medicaid, and Medicare Advantage plans.

• Best For: Core claim administration, daily provider payment settlement processing, and complex multi-payer revenue reconciliation.
• Key Capabilities: It modernizes back-office financial administration without forcing a total core business model replacement, streamlining the operational math behind multi-facility provider settlements.

1. Comarch Insurance Claims
   Comarch Insurance Claims is an end-to-end, API-ready software platform engineered specifically for health and life insurance carriers.

• Best For: High-volume digital health claims calculation and rapid automated provider payouts.
• Key Capabilities: Focuses heavily on lowering operational costs via automated decision-making and seamless integrations into existing payer ecosystems.

1. Regure (Claims Automation & Adjudication Feed)
   For health corporations utilizing legacy core platforms (such as TriZetto Facets, QNXT, or HealthRules Payer), Regure Health Claims Automation acts as a turnkey data layer.

• Best For: Modernizing settlement workflows by feeding clean, structured data into core adjudication engines.
• Key Capabilities: Features bi-directional integration that automatically moves adjudicated payouts, denials, and calculated provider settlement figures back into communications and audit trails, removing manual data entries from the calculation loop.

Why are noninterest expenses only down 1%?

The answer: the great su-king sound that is Wealth and Investment management. Higher "revenue related" compensation (i.e. sales bonuses). The efficiency ratio of every other business is good; the efficiency ratio of WIM is 80, bringing the efficiency of the whole company down.

We are all getting pressed so WIM can su-k corporate resources.

The grocery giant Kroger intends to eliminate approximately 3,000 corporate positions over the next three years. CEO Greg Foran stated in an internal memo that the company has too many layers and excessive overhead. This move is part of a broader strategy to increase efficiency and competitiveness. Kroger aims to leverage technology to reduce duplication and streamline operations. These changes are expected to allow for greater investment in associates and improved customer benefits.

Cincinnati, Ohio

https://www.grocerydive.com/news/kroger-corporate-layoffs-3000-employees/832811/

Walmart's extensive automation initiative is encountering difficulties with basic warehouse operations. New robots are failing to handle common items like dog food, turkeys, and cardboard boxes. The company is redesigning its packaging to accommodate the machines, which is increasing costs. Additionally, the robots experience frequent technical issues and breakdowns. Despite these challenges, Walmart anticipates eventual cost savings and increased efficiency.

https://nypost.com/2026/10/09/business/walmarts-multibillion-dollar-push-to-replace-workers-with-robots-hits-snags-on-dog-food-cardboard-boxes-report/

Hertz’s story has been more restructure and squeeze efficiency out of the organisation than slash thousands of jobs. It’s layoffs season hopefully we remain intact. Thoughts?

Harborstone Credit Union has confirmed systemwide layoffs impacting fewer than 40 employees. The credit union stated the organizational restructuring was done to align with future business needs and improve efficiency. Positions affected included branch managers, operations, and finance roles. Harborstone is providing transition support to those impacted. This follows a period of significant expansion for the credit union.

Lakewood, Washington

https://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/article317499783.html

Several health systems are implementing workforce reductions to address financial challenges and improve efficiency. Brown University Health has eliminated leadership positions and offered buyouts. City of Hope is laying off employees primarily in support roles. Kaiser Permanente is cutting administrative staff, while Catholic Health is eliminating positions across clinical and non-clinical areas. PeaceHealth is also reducing its workforce, particularly in its IT division.

http://www.modernhealthcare.com/providers/staffing/mh-layoffs-closures-healthcare-live-updates/

Health insurers rarely announce layoffs by citing specific software. Instead, they frame software implementation around "auto-adjudication" and operational efficiency.The Goal of Software: Platforms like TriZetto are designed to increase a health plan's auto-adjudication rate—meaning claims are processed, edited, and paid entirely by the system without a human ever looking at them. The Impact on Roles: Cognizant has documented case studies where its automated workflows and robotic process automation (RPA) reduced manual data processing workloads by 50%

Reposted from @b5+1m1h3embr, 100 percent on point.

Citigroup has implemented further job reductions across its US operations, impacting middle and back-office functions. These layoffs are part of a strategic initiative to enhance operational efficiency through automation and a multi-year transformation program. Affected departments include risk, compliance, and operations, with some roles being automated and others potentially offshored. The bank has reiterated its commitment to reducing its global headcount as part of its ongoing cost-discipline efforts. These workforce adjustments align with broader industry trends of leveraging technology for structural efficiency.

O'Fallon, Missouri

https://www.peoplematters.in/news/strategic-hr/automation-push-drives-fresh-citi-layoffs-across-middle-and-back-office-functions-52470

Citibank has implemented more extensive layoffs than previously disclosed, impacting middle and back-office roles across various U.S. locations. These cuts have affected long-tenured employees and teams involved in critical functions like regulatory reporting and risk management. The bank attributes these reductions to ongoing transformation efforts, technological efficiencies, and aligning staffing with business needs. Some eliminated positions have been automated or moved offshore to locations like Costa Rica. Further workforce adjustments are anticipated in the coming weeks as Citi continues its efficiency drive.

https://www.efinancialcareers.com/news/citi-s-2026-layoffs-have-been-more-frequent-and-widespread-than-we-thought

https://www.ndtvprofit.com/business/apple-scraps-5-000-applecare-layoffs-amid-broader-push-for-efficiency-under-ternus-12116169

Word is once the new CRO gets settled, they will be merging ITV and compliance. The goal, of course, is more layoffs in the name of efficiency.

A major technology firm has announced significant job cuts affecting a substantial portion of its employees. This decision comes as the company navigates a challenging economic climate and seeks to streamline operations. The layoffs are part of a broader restructuring effort aimed at improving efficiency and profitability. Employees impacted by this move will receive support packages. The company is committed to managing this transition with care for its departing staff.

San Francisco, California

https://www.ababnews.com/news/278bba84-473a-4465-998b-c780357ff905

• Wells Fargo shed almost 80,000 workers since 2019 and expects more cuts.
• The bank uses autonomous coding agents to replace hiring and contractor work.
• AI helps Wells Fargo reduce costs in legal, finance and call center operations.

https://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/news/2026/09/15/wells-fargo-layoffs-ai-technology-cfo-productivity.html

The company is currently liquidating legacy assets, rewriting its core operational script, or letting go of divisions that no longer serve it. It is a period of internal "rewiring" that paves the way for massive efficiency. Expect a major battle with corporate compliance, tax authorities, or intense competitive pressure in early 2027. However, this trial-by-fire will actually result in the company restructuring into a dominant market leader. Massive cash flow or funding injections are highly likely by mid-2027. Will win many govt contracts, and pivot well. Do not dilute the brand, there will be a strong temptation in 2027 to jump into completely unrelated Canadian market niches. Resist this. Double down on the core product or service that made the company resilient in the first place.

Bank of America's chief executive stated that artificial intelligence tools have generated $800 million in benefits. These AI solutions are helping the bank grow without increasing its workforce. This development aligns with a broader industry trend of leveraging technology for efficiency. Other financial institutions are also exploring similar AI applications. The bank is focused on using AI to enhance its operations and financial performance.

Charlotte, North Carolina

https://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/news/2026/09/16/bank-of-america-ai-avoid-layoffs-brian-moynihan.html

• Wells Fargo & Co. Chief Financial Officer Michael Santomassimo said that the lender’s net interest margin is expected to be better than initially expected.

Coming into the quarter, Santomassimo said executives thought the margin would be down three or four basis points. Now, the measure is likely to be down one basis point or potentially even flat, he said Tuesday at a Barclays Plc conference.*

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-09-15/wells-fargo-cfo-points-to-better-than-expected-interest-margin

... but we will still ✂️ people to improve our efficiency ratio. The target is below 60% for the full year.

During his fireside chat at the Goldman Sachs Communacopia + Technology Conference on September 9, 2026, Dan Schulman explicitly highlighted that these cuts are not a single-year exercise, seeing substantial continued runway for additional efficiency gains into 2027 and 2028.

Fierce Network by Linda Hardesty, September 11, 2026

Speaking at last week’s Goldman Sachs Communacopia + Technology 2026 conference, Verizon CEO Dan Schulman emphasized four main things at Verizon over the past year: stopping the company from “being overly engineering focused and really be obsessed with our customer”, shaking up the company culture, efficiency, and delivering ROI for investors.

Schulman also spoke about Verizon’s prospects from providing fiber connectivity to hyperscalers for their AI buildouts, noting the company has a lot of dark fiber capability. “It opens up a quite large addressable market for us,” Schulman said. “It’s growing quite rapidly, and we have the right assets in place and experience to take advantage of it."

Future Plc, a global media and entertainment company, has initiated a round of layoffs impacting its workforce. The company is implementing these cuts as part of a strategic restructuring effort. These changes are intended to streamline operations and improve efficiency across the organization. Specific details regarding the number of employees affected or departments impacted have not been fully disclosed. This move reflects broader trends in the media industry facing economic pressures.

London, England

https://www.gamesradar.com/games/fallout-co-creator-tells-new-devs-terrified-of-layoffs-theyre-wrong-to-expect-making-games-to-be-a-stable-job-art-itself-is-inherently-unstable/

News 4 and KABB in San Antonio have both experienced significant layoffs. A spokesperson for Sinclair Broadcast Group confirmed the job cuts, stating they were made to improve efficiency and ensure long-term sustainability. The exact number of positions eliminated was not disclosed. These layoffs follow similar reductions at other Sinclair-owned stations in Texas. This development reflects broader industry trends impacting local newsrooms.

San Antonio, Texas

https://www.mysanantonio.com/entertainment/article/news4-kabb-san-antonio-layoffs-22425351.php

Why do we have some supervisors with such small teams? Why not combine teams so that team sizes are reasonable and above a minimum number. It makes no sense to carry the overhead of a supervisor for a small team.

Uber is implementing a significant workforce reduction, impacting over 300 employees in its Chicago office. This move is part of a broader company-wide effort to decrease its overall headcount by 10%. The decision stems from a desire to simplify organizational structures and improve efficiency. CEO Dara Khosrowshahi communicated these changes to staff, citing the need to address complexity that has arisen with the company's growth. The layoffs are officially categorized as a "mass layoff" according to a WARN Act notice.

Chicago, Illinois

https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/more-than-300-chicago-uber-employees-cut-in-mass-layoff/3984895/

Meta has laid off over 1,000 employees across its three Manhattan offices. These cuts represent a deeper reduction in personnel for the New York City locations compared to the company's overall layoff percentage. The affected employees were part of a larger workforce reduction announced by the tech giant in May. The exact number of affected workers in Manhattan was revealed through a state labor department notice. These layoffs are part of Meta's broader strategy to increase efficiency and reallocate resources towards artificial intelligence development.

Manhattan, NY

https://www.chelseanewsny.com/news/meta-axes-over-1000-workers-across-3-manhattan-offices-BC6163892

I wonder how much more the company has had to pay compared with the price last year at this time just to keep adding fuel to the cell site and MTSO/CO generators from the numerous power outages. With them 'cutting' expenses, how many markets have they changed the weekly generator tests to monthly to 'save' on fuel from the weekly tests?

Didn't they years ago proudly 'boast' on the internal sites how much more energy efficient the buildings were becoming?

Charlotte-based real estate developer Crescent Communities has reduced its staff by 15 percent. The company cited a slower development market as a primary reason for the layoffs. These organizational changes were made to improve operational efficiency. Crescent Communities is involved in numerous residential and industrial projects. The company is a major developer in the Charlotte region.

Charlotte, North Carolina

https://www.wcnc.com/article/money/business/crescent-communities-layoffs-charlotte-north-carolina/275-7d34421c-3755-4e57-9991-73efc1baf552

Wells Fargo executives indicated that further layoffs are expected as the company aims to increase efficiency. Technology and AI are expected to play a role in achieving this goal. The bank has seen its employee count decrease for 24 consecutive quarters. Despite overall staff reductions, Wells Fargo is actively hiring in high-growth sectors and technology roles. This strategic hiring aims to expand market share and enhance client relationships.

Charlotte, North Carolina

https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/business/article316519034.html