The AI Epoch

The AI Epoch | Episode: From Help Desk to Revenue Driver — AI in Retail with Murray Vanwyk

What does it take for a data science team to stop fielding requests and start driving real business impact?

In this episode, Joe Watkins sits down with Murray Vanwyk, founder of Data Simply and creator of Open Retail Science, to unpack how AI is reshaping the retail analytics landscape.

Murray draws on two decades of experience with major grocery and retail brands — from Canada's largest grocer to Metro AG — to share why so many data teams get stuck in "help desk" mode, and what it actually takes to break out.

From building MVP-first analytics products to using AI as a real-time sparring partner for analysis, Murray offers a grounded, practitioner's view of where the opportunity lies — and where the risks are just as real.

The conversation covers the K-shaped productivity divide AI is creating among data professionals, why legal departments are the unexpected gatekeepers of AI adoption in retail, and how product thinking — not more headcount — is the key to making data science matter.

Whether you're leading a data team, working in retail, or just trying to figure out how to make AI work beyond the hype, this episode is packed with actionable insight.

Topics covered: Building fast, iterative data products that win stakeholder trust | Using AI to accelerate analysis without losing critical thinking | Why most retailers are still stuck — and how to get unstuck | The case for running open-source models in your own cloud | Claude Code, Remotion, and the tools Murray can't stop using

Amrit is a Forbes 30 Under 30 alum and a force of nature in the UK tech scene. We took a deep dive into how he’s pivoting from the world of renewables to capturing "knowledge gems" with his new venture, Lorefully.

Here are 3 quick takeaways from our chat:

• Stop Losing Your Best Ideas: Every time experts gather for a workshop or event, brilliant ideas walk right out the door when the lights go down. We discussed how Lorefully uses AI to turn that disappearing "brain trust" into permanent, actionable data.
• Find the "Toothache": Amrit’s rule for pivoting? Don't build a vitamin; build a painkiller. If your customer doesn't have a "deep toothache" they’d pay anything to fix, you haven't found your product-market fit yet.
• The People Factor: We often obsess over the tech, but Amrit reminded me that every business problem is ultimately a people problem. AI should augment human expertise, not replace the soul of it.

In this episode, host Joe Watkins welcomes Manjit, a 3-time founder and veteran architect (formerly of Ocado and HBO), to discuss the shift from experimental AI pilots to enterprise-grade automation. As a co-founder of Kritmatta, Manjit shares how his team is solving the "trust gap" by building AI agents that are deterministic, auditable, and grounded in real-world business context.

• The Problem with "Prompt Chains": Why traditional chatbots often fail in business settings due to hallucinations, and how Kritmatta uses fixed execution graphs to ensure reliability.
• The System of Context: A look at the technical challenge of "entity resolution"—connecting a stray WhatsApp message to a specific HubSpot deal and an email thread to create a unified knowledge graph.
• SME-First Automation: Why small to medium enterprises (starting with recruitment firms) are the "wedge" for AI adoption, as they often lack the engineering teams to build these complex systems themselves.
• Multi-Agent Situational Awareness: A peek into the roadmap where multiple agents across different channels (LinkedIn, Calendar, CRM) share intelligence to assemble insights automatically without being asked.
• The "Boring" Rule of Success: Manjit’s advice for business owners: don't start with a grand vision. Instead, pick one "boring," repetitive process, put a human in the loop, and scale only once trust is earned.

The transition from traditional SEO to AI-driven search is transforming how brands reach their audiences. In this debut interview, host Joe Watkins, Managing Director at Epoch AI Consulting, sits down with Lucile Ripa, founder of FanePath AI and former Head of Analytics at Wunderman (WPP).

Together, they dive into the complexities of Large Language Model (LLM) optimization and how marketeers can adapt to a landscape dominated by players like OpenAI and Anthropic.

In this episode, we explore:

• The Evolution of Search: Why traditional SEO is no longer enough in the age of AI chat.
• Strategies for Visibility: How FanePath AI helps global companies stay relevant across different AI providers.
• Tactical Advice: Practical tips for navigating AI search optimization and evolving ad models.
• Unified vs. Fragmented Strategies: Does a single approach work for both ChatGPT and Claude?

Whether you're a data leader or a marketing professional, join us for a deep dive into the front lines of the AI Epoch.