In 2024, the corporate blog team here at Dassault Systèmes learned a lot. We always do. It’s one of the benefits of working for a company whose solutions help innovators from more than a dozen industries shape our future. We tackled topics related to AI, sustainability, transportation, mental health, skills gaps in the workplace, gender diversity, and so much more.
In celebration of all the amazing stories that hit the blog this year, I had to ask my team for their favorite takeaways. I wanted to know what surprised us and gave us hope for a more sustainable future, with the hope these messages will reach the Dassault Systèmes community and beyond.
Starting the roundup off is Patrick Ball, WW Senior Communications Manager, who learned:
1. The planet should be considered as a stakeholder when deciding how to legislate human and business activity
Historically, legislation has addressed the current climate crisis in pieces. Laws have been passed on a country-by-country basis meant to limit the degradation of water, air and endangered species. Earth doesn’t function in silos, though, and nature is a complex system where every change can have thousands of repercussions on multiple ecosystems. This has led to business leaders increasingly acknowledging, accepting and acting on the reality that our planet must be considered as a stakeholder in the fight against climate change. But how do we give Mother Earth a seat at the table? Virtual twins provide an answer.
Learn more: How can we make Earth our most important stakeholder?
2. Virtual twins provide a failsafe environment for innovation
Depending on where you live, failure in the workplace could either be considered a simple “bump in the road” or something far worse – potentially leading to embarrassment or damage to one’s reputation. However, as many of today’s greatest leaders have proven, great innovation is impossible without taking risks and failing from time to time. How do we eliminate the fear of putting out a product that isn’t ready for the real world? It will require a safe, virtual environment to test, fail, pivot and restart new ideas before it is brought to market. Enter science-based modeling and simulation.
Learn more: Fear of failure? Virtual twins offer an antidote
Next in the roundup, we will find out what Shoshana Kranish, Senior Communications Manager, learned from the corporate blog this year.
3. AI has a last-mile problem to work through before reaching excellence
Early adopters of AI are using it to be more efficient at work by speeding up processes and streamlining basic tasks. But it continues to be an evolving technology and its flaws are a point of discussion. Take AI hallucinations for example. These are inaccurate or misleading generations of AI that might be produced for a number of reasons – user, processing mishaps or poor training data. And for industries like the healthcare industry, manufacturing and more that are counting on AI to transform their industry there will need to be ongoing improvement to boost AI’s reliability and harness its full potential ethically and effectively.
Learn more: Are AI’s hallucinations its last mile problem?
4. Rapid technological advancements could be fueling a skills gap in the workplace
There is a skills gap in the workplace. Recruiters and hiring managers on the frontline are noticing that technology is advancing faster than people’s skills and as a result, existing expertise has become outdated. Closing this gap and ensuring the transformation of industries will require more industry-led courses at the collegiate level, vocational training, mentorship programs, certifications and more.
Learn more: Is tech creating a skills gap or closing one?
Next in the roundup is Maryann Dennehy, Global Senior Communications Manager, and her favorite insights from the year.
5. The dawn of urban air mobility is closer than you might think
The world is preparing for future air travel, and with the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recently announcing its final rule for powered lift operations, including air taxis and cargo delivery, the future is closer than you might think. One company leading the way in this new form of aircraft is Joby Aviation which became the first electric air taxi developer in the world to complete three of the five stages of the FAA’s certification process. Offering high speed mobility with zero operating emissions and a fraction of the noise produced by helicopters, we can expect other aircraft companies following in their impressive lead.
Read more: How Dassault Systèmes technology is bringing electric air taxis closer to reality
6. Imposter syndrome and burnout happen, but there are ways to overcome it
Many working professionals reach a point where they realize they need to prioritize a better work-life balance. For Els Van Langehove, a senior strategist at 3DEXCITE, it took reaching a period of extreme burnout and taking eight months off work to make serious changes in her life. How does Langehove achieve a healthy work-life balance today? It is habits like meditation, journaling and bringing positive energy back into the universe – like mentoring others and helping others achieve balance in their careers. Langehove shows that being candid about your struggles can help you overcome them.
Read more: Meet the mindful mentor who is changing the way we think about work
Next, we’ll hear what Gabby Gelbien, Worldwide Communications Manager, learned from the blog this year.
7.Gaming is one way to encourage more girls to pursue STEM fields
Today, 46% of video game players identify as female. The industry is becoming more inclusive, and a new generation of women are proudly gaming to challenge themselves, improve their cognitive skills, relieve stress and connect with others. More people are realizing the benefits of gaming and there’s even some talk that gaming could have the potential to inspire a younger generation of girls to pursue a career in STEM – a field still very much in need of greater gender diversity.
Read more: Is gaming the gateway to more women in STEM?
8. Building an inclusive city is about more than infrastructure – and virtual twins can help
For decades, cities have worked to make infrastructure more accessible to those with limited mobility by designing wider sidewalks, providing handicap-accessible entrances, and adjusting crosswalk signals to give sufficient time to cross the street. A truly inclusive city though, goes beyond structural changes and focuses on initiatives that provide equal opportunity for all, like providing affordable housing and job opportunities for underrepresented communities. As populations continue to grow, city planners will be faced with handling a multitude of challenges that can be addressed through the power of virtual twin technology.
Read more: Beyond accessible: Making cities inclusive for all
To finish off our roundup, we will find out what Alyssa Ross, Communications Director, learned from the corporate blog in 2023.
9. Virtual twin experiences are touching every aspect of our daily lives
For years, virtual twins have been quietly working hard behind the scenes across a range of industries. Designers, engineers and architects have successfully used these science-based digital replicas to create, test, iterate and operate their products and processes before they enter the real world and are subject to a range of factors. Earlier this year, millions of people got to see the power of virtual twins in action for the first time at Piccadilly Lights in London, England. Attendees saw examples of virtual twins as scientifically accurate organs, rescue roadsters, robotic arms and astronauts and even got to use an augmented reality app to see how Picadilly Circus could look in a more sustainable future. With over four decades of innovation from Dassault Systèmes, it is safe to say our products will continue to touch every area of life for years to come.
Read more: What’s Dassault Systèmes doing at Piccadilly Circus?
10. Sustainable fashion is part of the solution to the fast fashion’s environmental impact
The fast fashion industry is rapidly growing and has proven to be financially successful. But, it’s also contributed significantly to the climate crisis, accounting for an estimated 10% of global carbon dioxide emissions. With consumers increasingly wanting to shop sustainably and support businesses that align with their values, sustainable fashion has entered the picture. Sustainable fashion, or slow fashion, offers a mindful approach to clothing that is rooted in ethical production and encourages consumers to buy made-to-last pieces. Proven to prevent waste and overproduction in the industry, we can expect more fashion houses to explore sustainable alternatives.
Read more: Why is fast fashion bad for the environment?