In an industry where business owners are increasingly time-poor , but hungry for information , having access to practical , tangible advice is crucial . This is why over 350 professionals from across the glazing supply chain attended this year ’ s Glazing Summit , which took place on 17 October at Edgbaston Stadium in Birmingham for a day of learning , networking and socialising .

The event was organised for the first time by GGP publishers MA Business , but consistency was the name of the game – the aim for this year ’ s event was to continue the success of previous versions , run ably by Purplex Marketing .

To that end , the conference programme was kicked off – as it has every year – with a state of the industry report delivered by Andrew Scott , MD of both Purplex and marketing data supplier , Insight Data .

Drawing on data collated by Insight Data ’ s specialist research team , which conducts an impressive 20,000 monthly phone calls to ensure real-time accuracy , Andrew shared key data , emerging trends and essential market insights . The presentation , which was well received by the audience , was specifically designed to help industry professionals make informed business decisions and take advantage of new opportunities in the ever-evolving landscape .

“ In today ’ s rapidly evolving market , having access to accurate and up-to-date data is essential ,” said Andrew . “ At Insight Data , we ’ re committed to providing the fenestration industry with the insights they need to stay ahead of the curve and the Glazing Summit is the perfect platform for us to address everyone in one room .”

The future of selling windows

Following Andrew was an engaging and eye-opening session presented by Elton Boocock , managing director of Business Pilot , which looked at the power of Artificial Intelligence and how it

will transform the way we sell windows and doors .

Elton said : “ AI is here , and we ’ re already using it in our everyday lives . From us talking to our AI assistants like Alexa and Siri , to retail giants such as Amazon using AI tools to help us get faster access to information on products , including reviews and FAQs . Google is even listing AI generated information at the top of search pages !

“ There is no escaping it and it ’ s developing at a really quick pace . But there are massive opportunities for businesses to take advantage of , starting right now .”

As well as looking at the possibilities AI could bring to the industry , the Future of Selling Windows and Doors presentation included a live demonstration of how AI can already be used to create personalised videos and automatically send them via email as a response to sales leads received via websites . All the graphics in the presentation was made using AI – including an advertising jingle for an invented window company – which further demonstrated the capabilities that AI is already able to achieve .

Policy focus

Up next were two sessions focused on policy . Firstly , a sobering look at the Grenfell Inquiry Phase 2 report , which was published in September , and its impact on the industry . Jon Vanstone , chair of Certass , provided an overview of the report before being joined by Nicola John from Fire Door Maintenance , part of UAP for a discussion around practical steps businesses can take to align with evolving safety and quality standards .

Secondly , Jon was joined by Karen Wood from the Department of Business and Trade , and Mussa Awaleh of the Health & Safety Executive to explore key policy updates from the new Labour government that will affect the construction industry . Karen highlighted a need for industry to work closer with government