WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.620 Welcome to the Deep Dive! If you're a retail 00:00:02.620 --> 00:00:05.320 executive, you definitely know that high quality 00:00:05.320 --> 00:00:08.080 video is probably the most powerful way to train 00:00:08.080 --> 00:00:10.080 your associates. Oh, absolutely. It's visual. 00:00:10.179 --> 00:00:12.380 It's engaging. Right. It shows people exactly 00:00:12.380 --> 00:00:15.240 what good looks like in action, you know, for 00:00:15.240 --> 00:00:17.379 standardizing service or handling equipment or 00:00:17.379 --> 00:00:19.879 even compliance. Video is just unmatched there. 00:00:20.059 --> 00:00:21.859 It really is the gold standard. I mean, think 00:00:21.859 --> 00:00:24.339 about showing someone a complex display setup 00:00:24.339 --> 00:00:26.920 or inventory flow or maybe a tricky customer 00:00:26.920 --> 00:00:29.719 service situation. Video just cuts through all 00:00:29.719 --> 00:00:32.530 that text instantly. Mm -hmm. But let's be honest, 00:00:32.549 --> 00:00:33.969 there's always been this elephant in the room 00:00:33.969 --> 00:00:36.409 for, well, pretty much every retailer. The cost. 00:00:36.530 --> 00:00:39.490 The cost, yeah. And the huge logistical hurdles 00:00:39.490 --> 00:00:42.229 of actually producing good traditional video. 00:00:42.429 --> 00:00:44.929 It's the friction point, isn't it? Mm -hmm. It 00:00:44.929 --> 00:00:47.890 stops good training from getting made, or, maybe 00:00:47.890 --> 00:00:50.149 even worse, stops vital updates from happening. 00:00:50.329 --> 00:00:52.450 Exactly. Okay, let's unpack this. Before we get 00:00:52.450 --> 00:00:54.829 to the future, let's nail down what the status 00:00:54.829 --> 00:00:57.609 quo really costs, because that's the burden we're 00:00:57.609 --> 00:00:59.399 trying to lift for you, the listener. Right. 00:00:59.719 --> 00:01:02.439 And the cost you see on paper is just the tick 00:01:02.439 --> 00:01:04.640 of the iceberg. Think about the actual doing 00:01:04.640 --> 00:01:07.180 of it. Producing these videos in a live store. 00:01:07.299 --> 00:01:09.120 Yeah, that sounds like a nightmare. It is. You 00:01:09.120 --> 00:01:11.200 can't film when customers are around, obviously. 00:01:11.420 --> 00:01:13.379 It disrupts everything, messes with the brand 00:01:13.379 --> 00:01:15.359 experience. So you're forced into off hours. 00:01:15.540 --> 00:01:18.640 Exactly. You're scheduling overtime or expensive 00:01:18.640 --> 00:01:21.200 overnight shifts just to get the store to yourself. 00:01:21.540 --> 00:01:23.769 Huge, hidden costs there. And we're not talking 00:01:23.769 --> 00:01:26.030 about just using a smartphone here, are we? Oh, 00:01:26.069 --> 00:01:29.870 heavens no. Not for polished, effective training. 00:01:30.209 --> 00:01:32.230 You need a full production setup. Like what? 00:01:32.530 --> 00:01:35.230 Camera operators, sound engineers, proper lighting, 00:01:35.430 --> 00:01:38.250 directors. Often post -production editors, too. 00:01:38.349 --> 00:01:40.269 It's a whole crew. OK. Then there's the talent. 00:01:40.709 --> 00:01:42.890 Whether you hire actors or use your own associates, 00:01:43.030 --> 00:01:45.670 they need to look right. Makeup, stylists? Yep. 00:01:45.890 --> 00:01:48.069 Makeup artists, stylists, ensuring they're camera 00:01:48.069 --> 00:01:51.060 ready. And the details matter. They have to be 00:01:51.060 --> 00:01:53.560 in perfect uniform, dress code compliant right 00:01:53.560 --> 00:01:56.500 down to the name badge, and any accessories. 00:01:57.239 --> 00:02:00.180 Authenticity is key. That sounds incredibly expensive 00:02:00.180 --> 00:02:02.439 up front. Yeah. But the real killer, the thing 00:02:02.439 --> 00:02:05.579 that drags on must be the changes, right? Retail 00:02:05.579 --> 00:02:08.520 changes so fast. That's the long term pain point. 00:02:08.599 --> 00:02:11.120 Absolutely. What happens when your product packaging 00:02:11.120 --> 00:02:14.639 changes or there's a new state compliance rule 00:02:14.639 --> 00:02:18.120 or even just a tweak to your internal safety 00:02:18.120 --> 00:02:20.699 script? Which happens constantly. Every quarter, 00:02:20.939 --> 00:02:24.139 easily, sometimes monthly. And every single one 00:02:24.139 --> 00:02:27.439 of those changes means that whole expensive process 00:02:27.439 --> 00:02:30.479 cranks up. Ugh, it's reshoot. It's this vicious, 00:02:30.780 --> 00:02:33.639 really cost prohibitive cycle. Rebook the crew, 00:02:33.860 --> 00:02:35.819 reschedule the talent, disrupt the store again. 00:02:36.139 --> 00:02:39.460 The costs just spiral. Yeah. And what we hear 00:02:39.460 --> 00:02:41.719 from sources is that this often means training 00:02:41.719 --> 00:02:43.840 content is actually out of date almost the moment 00:02:43.840 --> 00:02:46.360 it launches, sometimes before you've even recouped 00:02:46.360 --> 00:02:49.479 the initial cost. So teams just stop making videos. 00:02:49.500 --> 00:02:51.879 They get hesitant. They dread that reshoot penalty. 00:02:51.939 --> 00:02:53.699 So maybe they stick with manuals, which aren't 00:02:53.699 --> 00:02:56.990 nearly as effective. OK. Here's where it gets 00:02:56.990 --> 00:02:59.789 really interesting. Let's pivot to the economics. 00:03:00.370 --> 00:03:03.590 You mentioned AI video is changing the game How 00:03:03.590 --> 00:03:07.110 is it shifting the CFO's view of the L &D budget? 00:03:07.469 --> 00:03:09.689 How big a change are we talking? It's honestly 00:03:09.689 --> 00:03:11.969 a fundamental cost revolution We're seeing a 00:03:11.969 --> 00:03:14.650 big leap from you know, those earlier AI video 00:03:14.650 --> 00:03:16.990 platforms, which were okay, but a bit limited 00:03:16.990 --> 00:03:19.270 little robotic Yeah, kind of. Now we're looking 00:03:19.270 --> 00:03:23.490 at sophisticated tools like Google's VEO3. The 00:03:23.490 --> 00:03:25.909 capability now is generating these incredibly 00:03:25.909 --> 00:03:28.729 realistic on -camera performances. You genuinely 00:03:28.729 --> 00:03:30.530 struggle to tell them apart from pro actors. 00:03:30.689 --> 00:03:33.550 So we're past that uncanny valley stage. No more 00:03:33.550 --> 00:03:36.009 stiff avatars. Absolutely. That hyperrealism 00:03:36.009 --> 00:03:39.349 is the game changer and the ROI impact. It's 00:03:39.349 --> 00:03:42.750 immediate and frankly... Give me an example. 00:03:43.050 --> 00:03:45.310 OK, say a critical safety protocol needs an update. 00:03:45.490 --> 00:03:47.969 A traditional one -day reshoot might cost a retailer, 00:03:48.009 --> 00:03:51.030 let's say, $15 ,000 all in crew, store closure, 00:03:51.370 --> 00:03:53.729 talent time, everything. Right. With AI integration, 00:03:53.889 --> 00:03:56.370 you could slash that update cost and time by 00:03:56.370 --> 00:04:00.330 maybe 90 % or even more. 90%. Easily. You're 00:04:00.330 --> 00:04:02.629 taking what used to be maybe a two -week delay 00:04:02.629 --> 00:04:05.430 just for scheduling and filming and turning it 00:04:05.430 --> 00:04:08.569 into potentially a two -hour content update done 00:04:08.569 --> 00:04:11.969 remotely. So you can generate update, reissue 00:04:11.969 --> 00:04:14.889 content almost instantly without anyone ever 00:04:14.889 --> 00:04:17.170 needing to step foot in a physical store for 00:04:17.170 --> 00:04:19.829 filming. Okay, that immediately solves that reshoot 00:04:19.829 --> 00:04:22.089 penalty you mentioned. Exactly. If a compliance 00:04:22.089 --> 00:04:24.850 rule changes tomorrow morning, you don't need 00:04:24.850 --> 00:04:26.709 a lighting crew. You update the script in the 00:04:26.709 --> 00:04:28.790 AI platform, generate the new video clip, boom. 00:04:29.149 --> 00:04:32.089 Done. It removes almost all those physical and 00:04:32.089 --> 00:04:34.410 financial barriers to keeping essential training 00:04:34.410 --> 00:04:37.449 current. It's about agility, pure efficiency. 00:04:37.769 --> 00:04:40.250 That sounds incredible. But, okay, let's hit 00:04:40.250 --> 00:04:42.170 the brakes just for a second. You mentioned VE03, 00:04:42.589 --> 00:04:44.430 and right now I think those clips are limited 00:04:44.430 --> 00:04:46.670 to, what, about eight seconds? That's generally 00:04:46.670 --> 00:04:49.629 the current state, yes, around that length. So 00:04:49.629 --> 00:04:51.269 for the retail executives listening, they're 00:04:51.269 --> 00:04:54.430 probably thinking, hold on. How does an eight 00:04:54.430 --> 00:04:57.110 -second clip cover a complex safety procedure? 00:04:57.389 --> 00:05:01.470 or explain a minute -long compliance law. And 00:05:01.470 --> 00:05:04.110 I don't want 30 tiny disjointed clips stitched 00:05:04.110 --> 00:05:06.189 together. That sounds messy. That's a totally 00:05:06.189 --> 00:05:08.649 fair question and a really important one, especially 00:05:08.649 --> 00:05:11.009 when you're dealing with critical or regulated 00:05:11.009 --> 00:05:14.529 stuff. But what's fascinating here is that eight 00:05:14.529 --> 00:05:17.350 -second limitation. it actually encourages, maybe 00:05:17.350 --> 00:05:20.149 even forces, a better training approach. How 00:05:20.149 --> 00:05:22.730 so? Well, think about traditional training videos. 00:05:22.870 --> 00:05:25.529 We often fall into the trap of making one long, 00:05:25.529 --> 00:05:27.589 maybe 10 -minute video lecture. Right, the passive 00:05:27.589 --> 00:05:29.910 viewing problem. People just zone out. Exactly. 00:05:30.430 --> 00:05:32.769 Our sources really highlight that this modular 00:05:32.769 --> 00:05:35.629 approach, these short bursts of targeted video, 00:05:35.930 --> 00:05:38.430 is actually much better from a learning perspective. 00:05:38.990 --> 00:05:42.009 Pedagogically superior. Okay. It forces the instructional 00:05:42.009 --> 00:05:44.949 designers to be really crisp. Focus on just one 00:05:44.949 --> 00:05:47.319 or two to clear learning objectives per clip. 00:05:47.819 --> 00:05:50.779 These concise, super -realistic little eight 00:05:50.779 --> 00:05:53.160 -second segments become memorable building blocks 00:05:53.160 --> 00:05:55.579 of learning. Oh, okay. Building blocks. Yeah. 00:05:55.740 --> 00:05:57.579 You sequence those blocks logically to cover 00:05:57.579 --> 00:06:00.180 the full 60 -second compliance topic or the multi 00:06:00.180 --> 00:06:02.680 -step procedure. It makes complex stuff much 00:06:02.680 --> 00:06:04.920 easier to digest and remember, especially because 00:06:04.920 --> 00:06:06.980 it lines up better with how people consume content 00:06:06.980 --> 00:06:10.399 today anyway. Short bursts. So, kind of ironically, 00:06:10.699 --> 00:06:13.600 the tech limitation forces better instructional 00:06:13.600 --> 00:06:16.660 design. built -in micro learning. You've got 00:06:16.660 --> 00:06:19.019 it. It channels the focus. And you mentioned 00:06:19.019 --> 00:06:22.160 realism before. This extends right down to the 00:06:22.160 --> 00:06:24.660 store environment itself now. Does it? Because 00:06:24.660 --> 00:06:27.000 that's important for buy -in. It is, dramatically 00:06:27.000 --> 00:06:30.699 so. For training to really land, associates need 00:06:30.699 --> 00:06:33.600 to feel like it applies to their world, the latest 00:06:33.600 --> 00:06:37.259 AI tools. They deliver amazing realism, and critically, 00:06:37.259 --> 00:06:39.939 they get the details right. Like uniforms, badges. 00:06:40.220 --> 00:06:43.500 Exactly. Uniforms, name badges, specific brand 00:06:43.500 --> 00:06:46.120 styling, even the look of the store fixtures 00:06:46.120 --> 00:06:48.939 can often be replicated very accurately. It matches 00:06:48.939 --> 00:06:51.360 the feel of their actual workplace. That makes 00:06:51.360 --> 00:06:53.839 sense. That authenticity helps the training stick 00:06:53.839 --> 00:06:56.379 because it feels relevant, not like some generic 00:06:56.379 --> 00:06:58.759 corporate video. Precisely. It's filmed in their 00:06:58.759 --> 00:07:01.079 world, even if it's generated digitally. OK, 00:07:01.139 --> 00:07:02.740 so we've established that the tech is getting 00:07:02.740 --> 00:07:04.899 incredibly realistic, it's efficient, it slashes 00:07:04.899 --> 00:07:07.639 costs, especially for updates. But let's talk 00:07:07.639 --> 00:07:09.639 strategy, because just having the tech isn't 00:07:09.639 --> 00:07:13.120 enough, right? You can't just hand VEO3 over 00:07:13.120 --> 00:07:16.600 to, say, the marketing intern and expect great 00:07:16.600 --> 00:07:19.079 training. Oh, absolutely not. That's the biggest 00:07:19.079 --> 00:07:21.680 strategic risk here. The risk of what? The risk 00:07:21.680 --> 00:07:26.199 of dropping AI into untrained hands. The tech 00:07:26.199 --> 00:07:28.860 alone doesn't guarantee good training. You could 00:07:28.860 --> 00:07:31.300 make video that looks incredibly professional 00:07:31.300 --> 00:07:33.959 polished. But it doesn't actually teach anyone 00:07:33.959 --> 00:07:37.540 anything effectively. Exactly. If the core instructional 00:07:37.540 --> 00:07:40.279 design, the scripting, the content flow, the 00:07:40.279 --> 00:07:42.519 actual learning objectives, if that foundation 00:07:42.519 --> 00:07:45.850 is weak, the training will fail. The danger for 00:07:45.850 --> 00:07:48.490 you, the executive, is spending maybe less money, 00:07:48.850 --> 00:07:51.209 but generating hours of video that looks great 00:07:51.209 --> 00:07:53.850 but delivers zero business results because nobody 00:07:53.850 --> 00:07:57.230 retains it. Cheap doesn't equal effective. So 00:07:57.230 --> 00:07:59.730 what's the difference then between a good traditional 00:07:59.730 --> 00:08:02.269 instructional designer and one who can really 00:08:02.269 --> 00:08:05.509 leverage these new AI tools effectively? Is it 00:08:05.509 --> 00:08:07.569 a different skill set? It's an evolved skill 00:08:07.569 --> 00:08:09.930 set. It's about strategic sequencing and speed. 00:08:10.529 --> 00:08:12.769 A traditional designer focuses, quite rightly, 00:08:12.910 --> 00:08:15.029 on the learning objectives and the content. An 00:08:15.029 --> 00:08:18.149 AI era designer needs to do that and understand 00:08:18.149 --> 00:08:20.290 how to break those objectives down into that 00:08:20.290 --> 00:08:22.790 modular, super efficient, maybe eight second 00:08:22.790 --> 00:08:25.149 delivery structure we talked about. They need 00:08:25.149 --> 00:08:28.310 to grasp the pedagogy plus the visual branding, 00:08:28.470 --> 00:08:31.290 the execution tools, and how to manage this incredibly 00:08:31.290 --> 00:08:35.149 rapid update cycle potential. It requires strategic 00:08:35.149 --> 00:08:37.460 integration. So you really need a partner who 00:08:37.460 --> 00:08:40.419 gets it, someone who understands the retail world, 00:08:40.600 --> 00:08:43.700 the pressures, the need for solid instructional 00:08:43.700 --> 00:08:46.940 design, and knows how to actually wield this 00:08:46.940 --> 00:08:49.279 new tech properly. That's exactly right. Expertise 00:08:49.279 --> 00:08:51.700 becomes absolutely crucial here for any executive 00:08:51.700 --> 00:08:54.259 wanting to use AI strategically, not just tactically. 00:08:54.320 --> 00:08:56.139 It seems like the point where having that experienced 00:08:56.139 --> 00:08:59.059 partner really matters. It is. And this is precisely 00:08:59.059 --> 00:09:01.840 why expertise from companies like Multimedia 00:09:01.840 --> 00:09:04.519 Plus becomes such a vital resource, specifically 00:09:04.519 --> 00:09:07.139 through their designed by MMP services they've 00:09:07.139 --> 00:09:09.299 been doing this for what over 28 years creating 00:09:09.299 --> 00:09:11.740 high -impact training for major global retail 00:09:11.740 --> 00:09:14.340 brands they don't just know the AI tech exists 00:09:14.340 --> 00:09:16.600 they know how to weave it into a strategy that 00:09:16.600 --> 00:09:18.700 actually works in retail and drives performance 00:09:18.700 --> 00:09:21.549 so they bridge that gap between the cool tech 00:09:21.549 --> 00:09:23.809 and the actual learning outcomes. Precisely. 00:09:23.889 --> 00:09:26.389 Their teams blend that deep instructional design 00:09:26.389 --> 00:09:28.970 know -how with practical production skills. They 00:09:28.970 --> 00:09:31.110 handle the scripting, the sequencing, integrating 00:09:31.110 --> 00:09:33.950 the visual branding, the whole execution. They 00:09:33.950 --> 00:09:36.509 ensure the AI video isn't just slick, but it's 00:09:36.509 --> 00:09:40.070 strategically sound, impactful, relevant, and 00:09:40.070 --> 00:09:42.549 tied directly to your business goals. It's not 00:09:42.549 --> 00:09:44.830 just about cost -cutting. It's about effectiveness. 00:09:45.669 --> 00:09:48.159 So bottom line. What does all this mean for you, 00:09:48.259 --> 00:09:50.759 the retail executive, looking at your L &D plans 00:09:50.759 --> 00:09:53.899 and budget right now? It means you can realistically 00:09:53.899 --> 00:09:56.440 look at permanently eliminating those painful, 00:09:56.659 --> 00:09:59.340 costly in -store shoots, getting rid of the talent 00:09:59.340 --> 00:10:02.279 logistics headaches, the store disruption, and, 00:10:02.320 --> 00:10:04.860 crucially, escaping that endless, expensive reshoot 00:10:04.860 --> 00:10:06.820 cycle. You get scale and cost -effectiveness. 00:10:07.000 --> 00:10:09.240 Yes, and you get it combined with a level of 00:10:09.240 --> 00:10:11.620 hyper -realism and operational speed that was, 00:10:12.000 --> 00:10:13.759 frankly, unthinkable even just a couple of years 00:10:13.759 --> 00:10:16.179 ago. The economics of training are genuinely 00:10:16.179 --> 00:10:18.220 changing for good. Today's eight -second limit? 00:10:18.220 --> 00:10:20.740 That won't last forever. Longer sequences, even 00:10:20.740 --> 00:10:23.049 deeper realism? all coming. So the retailers 00:10:23.049 --> 00:10:25.830 who jump on this shift now, they gain a real 00:10:25.830 --> 00:10:28.509 competitive edge, right? And agility and impact, 00:10:28.950 --> 00:10:31.570 their training can finally keep pace with how 00:10:31.570 --> 00:10:34.509 fast the business changes new products, urgent 00:10:34.509 --> 00:10:37.909 compliance needs. Absolutely. But the key for 00:10:37.909 --> 00:10:40.850 any executive listening is unlocking that potential 00:10:40.850 --> 00:10:44.399 smartly. It means partnering with experts. You 00:10:44.399 --> 00:10:47.559 really need to trust proven resources like designed 00:10:47.559 --> 00:10:50.240 by MMP production services from Multimedia Plus. 00:10:50.600 --> 00:10:52.519 They have the track record to make sure this 00:10:52.519 --> 00:10:55.019 powerful technology works strategically for you, 00:10:55.259 --> 00:10:57.440 not just superficially. It's about making sure 00:10:57.440 --> 00:10:59.620 the efficiency game doesn't come at the expense 00:10:59.620 --> 00:11:01.679 of learning impact. Couldn't have said it better 00:11:01.679 --> 00:11:04.019 myself. The ultimate goal isn't just saving money 00:11:04.019 --> 00:11:06.940 anymore. It's making training as dynamic and 00:11:06.940 --> 00:11:09.950 responsive as your retail business itself. Okay, 00:11:10.009 --> 00:11:11.850 so here's a final thought for you to chew on. 00:11:12.250 --> 00:11:14.710 Think about your current training library. What 00:11:14.710 --> 00:11:17.409 essential compliance topic, what critical procedure 00:11:17.409 --> 00:11:20.129 is currently out of date? Or maybe hasn't even 00:11:20.129 --> 00:11:22.429 been turned into video yet, simply because the 00:11:22.429 --> 00:11:25.190 cost of that reshoot or the sheer hassle of setting 00:11:25.190 --> 00:11:27.769 up a film crew in store was just too daunting. 00:11:28.029 --> 00:11:30.750 That barrier, it effectively no longer exists. 00:11:31.529 --> 00:11:33.990 The tools are here now to get it done accurately, 00:11:34.190 --> 00:11:35.769 quickly, and keep it current today.