After getting some extra sleep last night, my group decided to get up around 10 to go to La Croissanterie for breakfast. I got a delicious chocolate chip muffin and enjoyed extra time in the morning to relax before visiting PwC. It was a quick drive there, and upon first impression, everything in the building seemed very modern (glass elevators with see-through doors). We waited for everyone to gather in their innovation space and began the presentation around 12.

I’m not sure what I was expecting from PwC, but I was definitely not prepared for a hologram speaking to us about their company in a creative space filled with large exercise balls functioning as chairs. This was the first time I saw such advanced technology in person, and it was pretty impressive. After a brief overview, we moved across the room to another space with a large touchscreen that had useful features to help facilitate presentations. One of their employees from Germany, actually, gave us a presentation about different aspects of a connected and autonomous supply chain over a Zoom call.

We also heard from one of PwC’s clients: Superhome Center. He spoke about some of the company’s numbers and reactions to the ongoing pandemic, mostly emphasizing people and their power to make a difference. I found it interesting that they had used costly taxis to deliver goods when more efficient means were unavailable because the customers’ needs were most important.

Afterward, we had some time to speak with other employees and hear about different topics, like blockchain and a circular economy. I was unfamiliar with the idea of a circular economy, so I went to that station. Currently, there is a very linear system where goods are produced (adding value), given to the consumer, and then used (decreased value). The idea of a circular economy employs techniques of redistributing, refurbishing, recycling, and reusing in order to reduce overall waste. For example, a new company called Loop is partnering with major brands to offer a refill service for bottled home goods like detergent. It offers competitive pricing and using established brands like Nivea to gain the trust of consumers.

Overall, I really enjoyed seeing their innovation space and could tell there was a certain company atmosphere that was very modern and collaborative. The employees seemed to be passionate about the topics they were discussing, which made it more interesting for me. The only sad part was that I left my water bottle in the lobby on the way out… but I still had a great experience!