Jean Thompson, Author at Dual cow

Monterrey, in Mexico: Why nearshoring decisions hinge on suppliers, talent, and infrastructure

May

Monterrey, Mexico nearshoring: a focus on suppliers, talent, and infrastructure

Monterrey, Mexico, is a manufacturing and logistics powerhouse that sits at the intersection of North American supply chains and Mexico’s industrial heartland. As companies evaluate nearshoring — moving production closer to end markets, especially the United States and Canada — decisions often hinge on three tightly linked factors: the local supplier ecosystem, the available talent pool, and the quality of physical and soft infrastructure. Each factor affects cost, speed-to-market, resilience, and long-term competitiveness. The Monterrey metropolitan area, home to roughly 5 million people and one of Mexico’s top three economic centers, exemplifies how these elements combine to shape nearshoring outcomes.Supplier…

How is liquid cooling evolving to handle AI data center heat loads?

May

By Jean Thompson

Investments and Business

How do cloud cost optimizations impact software margins and valuations?

Cloud cost optimization describes the deliberate process of cutting and managing expenses tied to cloud infrastructure, including compute, storage, networking, and managed services. As software companies grow, particularly those offering software-as-a-service, cloud spending frequently emerges as one of the largest elements within the cost of goods sold. In recent years, mounting cloud expenses, economic pressures, and investor emphasis on profitability have elevated cloud optimization from a purely technical topic to a priority discussed at the board level.Optimization techniques typically include rightsizing workloads, committing to reserved capacity, improving software efficiency, adopting FinOps practices, and, in some cases, moving workloads between cloud…

a woman in yellow sweater holding gift boxes

May

By Jean Thompson

Culture and Entertainment

What is a seasonal collection?

A seasonal collection is understood as a carefully selected range of products—commonly found in fashion, home decor, and retail—created and launched to correspond with particular times of the year, allowing brands to tailor their offerings to shifting consumer preferences influenced by climate, cultural moments, and holiday periods.The Concept Behind Seasonal CollectionsFashion and retail industries use seasonal collections as strategic tools for capturing consumers' attention and driving sales. By aligning with the environmental and social climate, brands can offer products that are both aesthetically and functionally relevant. For instance, a fashion brand may launch a winter collection that features warm clothing…

Discover the best guide on sustainable fashion: features and tips

May

By Jean Thompson

Culture and Entertainment

What defines slow fashion? An in-depth look

The idea of slow fashion arises as a mindful, sustainable counterpoint to the rapid, profit-centered routines that dominate the global fashion industry, and at its heart, this movement prioritizes enduring quality rather than mass quantity while encouraging environmental awareness, social accountability, and a more meaningful link between how items are made and how they are ultimately used.Historical ContextSlow fashion originated from the wider slow movement, which took shape in Italy in the 1980s as a response to fast food, advocating for sustainable farming and the pleasure of savoring meals. In much the same way, slow fashion promotes a deliberate, thoughtful…

assorted clothes hanging on a wooden rack

May

By Jean Thompson

Culture and Entertainment

The meaning of gender-neutral fashion

Gender-neutral fashion, also known as unisex or non-binary fashion, represents a revolutionary shift in how we perceive and wear clothing today. At its core, gender-neutral fashion challenges traditional gender norms by promoting clothing that is not limited to male or female categories. This paradigm shift is not merely a trend; it is a cultural movement towards inclusivity and self-expression, reflecting broader societal changes in understanding gender identity.Background and HistoryHistorically, fashion has been largely dictated by strict gender norms. From the corsets and dresses worn by women in the Victorian era to the tailored suits that defined male attire, clothing served…

How are serverless and container platforms evolving for AI workloads?

May

By Jean Thompson

Science and Technology

AI-Ready: Serverless and Container Platform Developments

Artificial intelligence workloads have reshaped how cloud infrastructure is designed, deployed, and optimized, prompting serverless and container-driven platforms once focused on web and microservice applications to rapidly evolve to meet the unique demands of machine learning training, inference, and data-intensive workflows; these needs include extensive parallel execution, variable resource usage, ultra‑low‑latency inference, and frictionless connections to data ecosystems, leading cloud providers and platform engineers to rethink abstractions, scheduling methods, and pricing models to better support AI at scale.How AI Processing Strains Traditional Computing PlatformsAI workloads differ greatly from traditional applications across several important dimensions:Elastic but bursty compute needs: Model training…