Tell us about yourself
Throughout my 17-year career in the manufacturing sector, I have proudly led the development of sales and marketing teams focused on funnel management, lead generation, and new product development. I am an ardent follower of the build, measure, and learn cycle as it applies to all professional pursuits. Within the last 7 years, my professional focus has shifted to product innovation as an amalgamation of my customer-first, problem-solving mentality and personal passion for all things tech. I live by the philosophy that the only constant in life is change; one’s happiness and success is dependent upon the ability to understand and take advantage of that change.
What are the top 3 trends in your transport/smart city niche that everyone should look out for in the next 5 years?
1. Decreasing preventable road fatalities and injuries: With fatalities on the rise, DOTs and municipalities are looking to private sector road safety innovation to improve safety for drivers and pedestrians.
2. Connected devices into the transportation infrastructure sector: This has created a data overload that traffic engineers will need help mining for actionable insights to drive improvements in safety and mobility for the traveling public. More and more companies will continue to offer their own platforms, making connectivity ubiquitous. Building a network of connected devices that operates in unison will be needed to drive insightful data science.
3. Connected, autonomous vehicles and their impact to infrastructure: The growing intelligence of vehicles on the roadway, let alone fully autonomous vehicles, will cause a disruptive effect on everything from traditional road markings and signage to wireless networks, cameras, and sensors used in intelligent transportation systems. The movement and interaction between motorists and pedestrians as we know it will radically change, invoking the need for a new generation of transportation safety solutions.
How do you/your company innovate?
By combining core strengths of expertise, service, and technology adoption, TAPCO is uniquely positioned to provide best-in-class solutions to customer transportation safety problems. We have a growing staff of engineers and technical sales specialists who develop system-level solutions based on existing and emerging consumer needs. Our 65+ years of passionate, family-owned operation informs a legacy of lessons that influence our methodology and willingness to push the boundaries of technical integration. There are newer companies entering the industry, but few can rival TAPCO’s years of customer experience and understanding of the challenges DOTs, cities, and municipalities face each day.
Why is encouraging innovation, new ideas, and tech important?
In the transportation industry, especially in our niche of road safety warning solutions, innovation can make the difference in saving a life or avoiding serious injury. TAPCO’s “why” is to ensure everyone returns safely home to their families and loved ones. Without an emphasis on continuous innovation, stagnation materializes. And complacency with the status quo is simply not tenable with current statistics and trends pointing to the need for new, innovative traffic safety solutions.
Do you know anyone trying to change how the transport industry works? Maybe that’s you!
We’d love to have a chat. Show us how you’d like to move the transport industry into the future!
