Yukon Palmer on Strategies for Staying Ahead

Yukon Palmer is President of FieldLogix and took some time out to speak with Rob Barratt from The Industry Leaders about how they stay ahead of the game in their industry.
Can you introduce yourself and share a little about your background?
I am the Founder and President of FieldLogix. We provide a Field Resource Management provider that helps fleet operators improve driver safety, reduce vehicle emissions, and eliminate paper-based processes. I started the company over 21 years ago and have navigated my company through several challenges since our founding.
As a forward-thinking professional, how do you identify ways to stay ahead in your industry?
I alway keep a close ear to our customers' needs to learn how they use our solution and about any unmet needs that we would be able to address. I always keep abreast of new technologies that can be leveraged to help our customers accomplish their goals.
How often do you reassess your competitive landscape and, as I know you're very busy, I'd love for you to share any tips you have on carving out the time to do this?
I conduct a deep dive on our competitors once a year, then monitor them via social media and Google Alerts to learn about any new updates. Part of my deep dive includes learning about their leader's focus and tactics and their product positioning.
What have been the most significant challenges you've faced when striving to stay ahead in a rapidly changing world, and how have you overcome them?
The most significant challenges have been dealing with the broader economic issues. This includes the recession of 2008 and COVID-19. During the recession of 2008, we were able to reposition our solution toward an industry that was more resilient to the economic downturn. During COVID-19, we adjusted our cost structure in order to be more nimble as the economy fluctuated.
Can you pinpoint a defining moment or experience where your innovative strategies led to success or a competitive advantage in your business or career?
One of the biggest defining moments was when we developed our proprietary solution. Prior to 2006, we were reselling products developed by other companies. We decided to build our own solution in 2006 and business grew exponentially shortly thereafter. It gave us more control over the product and more flexibility as to the direction that we took the product.
In your opinion, what are the key ingredients of an effective strategy for staying ahead in 2023?
The key ingredients include: Staying nimble in order to adjust to any sudden economic changes; flexibility with working with a remote vs on-site workforce; staying ahead of new technological innovations.
In your opinion, what role does continuous learning and personal development play in staying ahead, and how do you incorporate these practices into your own professional journey?
It is critical to stay on top of new technologies and issues being faced by our customers. I read books, listen to podcasts, and conduct internet searches on topics that are relevant to my business to stay on top of these trends.
Looking ahead, what emerging trends or technologies do you believe will have the most significant impact on businesses or ambitious professionals, and how are you preparing to leverage them for future success?
Artificial Intelligence will play a key role in optimizing business processes in the future. Everyone should be aware of how AI works and how it can be leveraged to make them more efficient. We have adopted AI into our solution in order to help our customers identify drivers at risk of being involved in accidents.
Where should people follow you to find out more about your work?
My Linkedin Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yukonpalmer/