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RedThread Report Reveals 50% Drop in L&D’s Involvement in Strategic Discussions, Offers Framework for Reclaiming Influence

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RedThread Research’s latest report, Hope Isn’t a Plan: Building a Progressive L&D Strategy, highlights a 50% drop in Learning & Development involvement in business strategy discussions over the past two years, signaling a shift from strategic partner to reactive function. The report also provides a comprehensive five-part framework to help L&D leaders articulate their strategy, collaborate effectively across departments, and balance stability with flexibility.

WOODSIDE, Calif., Nov. 14, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — RedThread Research has published its latest report, “Hope Isn’t a Plan: Building a Progressive L&D Strategy,” which underscores the declining strategic role of Learning & Development (L&D) functions and offers a comprehensive framework for leaders seeking to recalibrate their strategies.

“L&D needs to rethink its strategy or risk becoming irrelevant. More than just talking about being strategic, they need to align, act on, and operationalize it. That means doing things differently, thinking more strategically, and embedding learning into the heart of the organization.”

The study reveals a sharp 50% drop in L&D’s involvement in business strategy discussions over the past two years, signaling an alarming shift from strategic partner to reactive supporter. The research also shows that L&D’s involvement in workforce planning discussions similarly declined sharply over this same period.

“L&D needs to reclaim its strategic voice or risk becoming irrelevant,” said Dani Johnson, Co-founder and Principal Analyst at RedThread Research. “More than just talking about being strategic, they need to align, act on, and operationalize it. That means doing things differently, thinking more strategically, and embedding learning into the heart of the organization.”

The report highlights several pressing insights, including:

Declining Strategic Influence: L&D’s diminishing role in strategy discussions has led to a more tactical and reactive function in many organizations.The Importance of Articulating Strategy: Many L&D leaders lack a clearly communicated and well-defined strategy, further compounding their inability to respond effectively to changing business needs.Collaboration as a Cornerstone: Successful employee development requires structured collaboration and cooperation across departments, challenging entrenched mindsets about L&D’s role. L&D functions need a plan for how to best collaborate with other business functions.Balancing Stability with Flexibility: While adaptability is essential, the report argues that stability also forms the foundation for long-term success in L&D efforts.A Five-Part Strategic Framework: The study provides a detailed framework comprising five core elements of an L&D Strategy—Organizational Alignment, Employee Impact, Operations and Governance, Tech and Data, and Stakeholder Engagement.

“Learning and Development can’t afford to play it safe,” added Johnson. “They must be prepared to continually evolve— locking down what works while still flexing to meet what comes next. And they need to double down on strategy to show how that connects back to outcomes — and prove that L&D is not just a cost center but a critical driver of success.”

For access to an infographic of the framework and other exclusive research, navigate to https://members.redthreadresearch.com/spaces/12680089/feed and register for a complimentary Starter Tier membership in the RedThread Research community.

For companies and individuals interested in exploring this research more deeply, RedThread offers exclusive membership opportunities. Join the RedThread research community or the Tech Consortium by visiting the RedThread website (https://www.redthreadresearch.com) or reaching out to RedThread by emailing hello@redthreadresearch.com. 

About RedThread Research

At RedThread Research, we get it.

Sure, we’re experts in performance, people analytics, learning, and D&I – and we’re well-versed in the technologies that support them. But we’re also truth-seekers and storytellers in an industry often short on substance, and too full of #!%. Our mission (indeed, our very reason for existing) is to cut through the noise, and amplify what’s good. We look for the connections (or red threads) between people, data, and ideas – even among seemingly unrelated concepts. The result is high-quality, unbiased, transformative foresight that helps you build a stronger business.

To learn more, visit https://www.redthreadresearch.com.

Heather Gilmartin
RedThread Research
646-275-0742
heathergilmartin@redthreadresearch.com

Media Contact

Heather Gilmartin Adams, RedThreadResearch, 6462750742, heathergilmartin@redthreadresearch.com, https://redthreadresearch.com/

View original content:https://www.prweb.com/releases/redthread-report-reveals-50-drop-in-lds-involvement-in-strategic-discussions-offers-framework-for-reclaiming-influence-302306028.html

SOURCE RedThreadResearch; RedThreadResearch

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TIER IV and Shunan Bulk Terminal collaborate to automate transportation using an autonomous dump truck, targeting driverless operations by the end of 2028

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TOKYO, Nov. 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — TIER IV, Inc., the pioneering force behind open-source software for autonomous driving, and Shunan Bulk Terminal Co., Ltd., a bulk cargo handling and transportation company operating at the Port of Tokuyama-Kudamatsu and a consolidated subsidiary of Tokuyama Corporation have launched a collaboration to automate transportation operations using an autonomous dump truck. With support from Tokuyama, the companies aim to achieve driverless operations at the port by the end of 2028.

Ports in Japan’s coastal industrial areas serve as vital logistics hubs, facilitating trade with countries across Asia and around the world while supporting the storage and transportation of raw materials and energy resources essential to the country’s manufacturing industries. At the same time, the logistics industry faces an urgent need to address driver shortages resulting from an aging and shrinking workforce and to establish more sustainable transportation systems. Against this backdrop, there is growing demand for greater efficiency through labor-saving measures and automation in transportation operations at ports and in surrounding coastal areas.

TIER IV is advancing the deployment of autonomous driving technology across a wide range of specialized vehicles, including construction and agricultural machinery, and factory transport vehicles, in addition to public transportation, leveraging Autoware, open-source software for autonomous driving. Shunan Bulk Terminal handles the unloading, storage and outbound transportation of energy resources, including coal and biomass fuels, at the Port of Tokuyama-Kudamatsu, an international bulk strategic port on the Seto Inland Sea in Yamaguchi Prefecture. Tokuyama, a chemical manufacturer, utilizes these energy resources to generate electricity and steam at its in-house power generation facilities, supporting the production of chemicals, advanced electronic materials, and other products.

Combining TIER IV’s expertise in developing, deploying and operating autonomous driving technology with Shunan Bulk Terminal’s experience in dump truck transportation, the companies will work to automate the currently crewed dump truck operations along the route from Shunan Bulk Terminal’s storage area to Tokuyama’s in-house power generation facilities, taking into account the on-site requirements associated with Tokuyama’s receipt of energy resources. They will develop the technologies and operational framework required for the specific site environment, advancing efforts toward driverless operations by the end of 2028.

The autonomous dump truck will run on Idemitsu Renewable Diesel, a next-generation biofuel supplied by Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd., one of Shunan Bulk Terminal’s shareholders. By using this fuel, the companies also aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with transportation operations.

Building on the knowledge and experience gained through this collaboration in deploying and operating autonomous driving technology, the companies will explore opportunities to extend automation beyond the initial route to similar transportation operations in and around the Port of Tokuyama-Kudamatsu.

About Shunan Bulk Terminal

Shunan Bulk Terminal was established in August 2008 with investments from entities including Tokuyama, Idemitsu Kosan, Tokuyama Kairiku Unso and Shunan City, following the designation of the Port of Tokuyama-Kudamatsu as a designated industrial port area, beginning full-scale operations in April 2012. Operating primarily at the Port of Tokuyama-Kudamatsu as an intermediate storage and relay hub for imported coal and biomass fuels, the company handles the unloading, storage, and dispatch of bulk cargo. The company is also actively working to reduce CO2 emissions through initiatives such as installing an on-site solar power plant to supply a portion of its electricity with renewable energy.

About Tokuyama

Established in 1918 in Shunan City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, to manufacture domestically the soda ash that has previously been imported, Tokuyama operates in diverse sectors. Alongside traditional basic chemicals such as soda ash and caustic soda, its main business fields currently include advanced electronic materials (such as polycrystalline silicon for semiconductors and high-purity isopropyl alcohol for the electronics industry) and life sciences (such as photochromic lens materials and dental materials).

About TIER IV

TIER IV stands at the forefront of deep-tech innovation, pioneering Autoware, open-source software for autonomous driving. With a comprehensive suite of platforms and services built around Autoware, TIER IV provides everything from software development and vehicle procurement to operational support. Through the Autoware ecosystem, TIER IV works with partners worldwide to shape the future of intelligent vehicles with open-source software, aiming to create mobility that is safer, more sustainable, and accessible to all.

Media Contact
TIER IV pr@tier4.jp
Shunan Bulk Terminal sbt.admin@tokuyamagr.com
Tokuyama Corporate Communications & Investor Relations Dept. tel. +81-3-5207-2552

The word marks and logos of TIER IV are trademarks or registered trademarks of TIER IV, Inc. in Japan and other countries. All other company names, product names, service names, and logos referenced herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.

Autoware is a registered trademark of the Autoware Foundation.

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SOURCE TIER IV, Inc.

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FinPrime Named Best Trading Infrastructure Provider at the Finance Magnates Awards 2026, Unveils Refreshed Brand

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Industry and expert-panel recognition coincides with FinPrime’s brand and website relaunch

MELBOURNE, Australia and JAKARTA, Indonesia, Nov. 12, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — FinPrime, a global provider of institutional liquidity, execution technology, risk management and trading infrastructure, today announced that FinPrime Group has been recognised as Best Trading Infrastructure Provider 2026 at the Finance Magnates Awards. The recognition coincides with the unveiling of FinPrime’s refreshed global brand identity and newly redesigned website at finprime.com.

The award represents an important milestone for FinPrime, recognising its commitment to developing institutional-grade trading infrastructure and technology solutions that support the evolving requirements of brokerages and financial institutions.

One Partner. Every Step Ahead.
FinPrime’s refreshed brand is built on this proposition of breadth and continuity: one relationship across the capabilities clients need to build, operate and evolve their business.

This is more than a new visual identity. It reinforces FinPrime’s commitment to delivering integrated solutions through one partnership, bringing together four core capabilities, Liquidity, Risk Management, Technology and Infrastructure, to support clients’ trading strategies, operational efficiency and long-term growth.

These capabilities do not work in isolation. A change in flow affects risk settings, a new platform affects connectivity, and entering a new market affects all four. FinPrime plans them together as one partner, tailoring each setup to the client’s operating model, with specialists who stay close as the business grows, so that it is ready before the business needs it.

This reflects FinPrime’s purpose: to make sophisticated market infrastructure easier for institutions to put to work and grow with. As financial markets continue to evolve, FinPrime remains focused on continuous innovation, operational excellence and creating long-term value for its institutional partners.

Advancing Institutional Trading Infrastructure
As financial markets become increasingly interconnected and technology-driven, institutional market participants require more than competitive liquidity and execution capabilities. Infrastructure resilience, connectivity, risk management and operational efficiency are equally important components of a sustainable trading environment.

FinPrime continues to invest in institutional trading infrastructure, combining connectivity across major financial centres with resilient architecture, advanced monitoring and layered cybersecurity controls.

These capabilities are designed to support execution efficiency, operational continuity and the evolving technology requirements of institutional clients operating across global markets.

Through ongoing technology development, FinPrime aims to strengthen the integration of its liquidity, risk management, technology and infrastructure offerings, enabling institutional partners to adapt to changing market conditions and business requirements.

A Refreshed Digital Experience
Alongside its new brand identity, FinPrime has introduced a redesigned website at finprime.com, providing a clearer and more comprehensive view of its institutional solutions and capabilities.

The refreshed digital experience reflects FinPrime’s commitment to transparency, accessibility and building stronger relationships with its institutional partners.

Together, the industry recognition and refreshed brand identity mark an important step in FinPrime’s continued development as a global institutional trading solutions provider, guided by its brand proposition:

One Partner. Every Step Ahead.

About FinPrime
FinPrime is a global provider of institutional multi-asset liquidity, advanced execution technology, risk management and trading infrastructure solutions. Through its integrated capabilities, FinPrime supports brokerages, financial institutions, hedge funds, asset managers, proprietary trading firms and other eligible professional market participants with solutions tailored to their trading and operational requirements.

FinPrime is a global brand used by a group of entities operating across multiple jurisdictions. Products and services are provided by the relevant entities, subject to applicable regulatory requirements and client eligibility criteria. They are intended solely for eligible institutional, professional, wholesale or other qualified clients and are not available to retail or private clients.

Media contact: FinPrime Marketing Team, media@finprime.com  

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/finprime-group/

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SOURCE FinPrime

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Olight Showcases Oclip 2 Series for Close-Up Automotive Work at SEMA 2026

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LAS VEGAS, Nov. 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Following its successful global release earlier this fall, Olight brought its acclaimed Oclip 2 Series to the 2026 SEMA Show in Las Vegas (Nov. 3–6), targeting automotive technicians, mechanics, and inspectors who demand compact, versatile, hands-free lighting across tight vehicle spaces.  

For a technician inspecting a recessed connector deep inside an engine bay, both hands are fully occupied—one holding wiring aside while the other maneuvers a tool. Bulky work lights cannot squeeze into confined spaces, conventional magnetic torches only point rigidly where brackets face, single-beam lights rarely cover varied tasks, and ordinary lights struggle under daily shop abuse. At SEMA, Olight demonstrated how the Oclip 2 Series eliminates these bottlenecks through three core capabilities built for automotive realities.

Hands-Free Lighting That Stays Where You Aim It

The dual-axis design tilts the head up to 115° and rotates the clip a full 360°, supported by self-locking pivots and dual magnetic points. Technicians can secure the light by clipping, magnetic attachment, or hanging onto irregular strut towers, control arms, chassis rails, panel edges, or toolboxes, then aim the beam into recessed crevices without shifting the mounting point. At SEMA, mechanics and trade media praised how the dual-axis design and dual magnets maximize flexibility and stability, acting as an indispensable “third hand” that frees both hands for work.

Multiple Light Sources for Versatile Automotive Work

Different jobs demand different light. The Oclip 2 Ultra delivers dedicated UV output through an industry-first R/UV emitter, enabling diagnostic specialists to trace fluorescent dyes in leaking A/C lines, coolant hoses, and oil seals at the vehicle without retrieving a standalone detector. Both models also share an even pure flood for close-up engine bay work, a focused spotlight for deep chassis and exhaust inspections, and red light for under-dash electrical checks and night roadside assistance, delivering the right beam without changing tools.

Built Tough for Relentless Workshop Environments

Under vibration from impact tools and engines, lighting must endure heavy abuse. The dual-axis mechanism is validated through 10,000 clipping and 10,000 rotation cycles to ensure consistent tension through a full shift. Both models feature aluminum construction, IP66 resistance, and a two-meter drop rating to survive concrete floors and fluid splashes. The Ultra further upgrades to scratch-resistant OAL aluminum that better withstands severe impacts and corrosive brake cleaners. Compact size ensures the light still fits the tightest spaces while supporting extended multi-bay work without interrupting workflow.

At SEMA, the Oclip 2 Series illustrated Olight’s focused approach to the automotive trades: hands-free aiming, versatile light sources, and rugged reliability for daily shop demands, elevating the professional standard for automotive lighting. For full specifications and configurations, visit olight.com and Amazon. 

About Olight

Founded in 2007, Olight is a global innovator in portable lighting, offering high-tech solutions for everyday carry, outdoor, tactical, and professional use. With over 1,200 patents and iF and Red Dot design recognition, Olight serves users in over 100 countries.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/olight-showcases-oclip-2-series-for-close-up-automotive-work-at-sema-2026-302937175.html

SOURCE Olight

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