It’s no secret the global tech sector is advancing at an astonishingly rapid pace – not least in relation to the now integral role of digital transformation in spearheading growth and success. But no matter the size or scope of your organisation – or how sophisticated your innovation strategy is – the only way to drive significant change is to leverage the power of people.

So, to champion some of the industry’s finest talent, and gain some insight into the minds of individuals from across the tech space, we’re inviting friends and partners of the business to take part in our quickfire Q&A.

Up next, it’s Andy McCaul, managing director of The Bigger Boat (TBB) and Scriba PR…

Tell us about your role at TBB and the part you play in the tech sector.

I’m Andy, MD of The Bigger Boat and Scriba PR. Alongside my business partners, I look after the running and direction of both businesses.

TBB’s role in the tech sector is enabling clients to better communicate and market their products or services digitally. Sometimes this involves redesigning a new website; other times, it may entail helping clients to integrate systems so that lead generation activities sync with their internal systems. 

What innovation was the turning point for your organisation, to get it to where you are now?

I wouldn’t say there was one specific innovation that marked a turning point for us. Due to the nature of marketing, things constantly change, so you always have to innovate to deliver the best results for clients. Whether that’s on a creative or technical level, both are just as important.

More recently, we have invested in building headless websites — which involves decoupling the front-end interface (what people see) from the backend (everything that happens ‘behind the scenes’). This has opened the door to conversations with many different companies, but specifically in the tech sector, where clients may have complicated web projects with lots of integration.

And where’s next for your business?

We have just acquired Scriba PR, which is an exciting time for both businesses. The focus now is to add value to each agency’s clients by integrating our services more.

The biggest misconception faced by the tech sector is…

That artificial intelligence (AI) is everything! There are tons of brilliant and fascinating applications of AI, but not everything needs it.

With any tech development, you have to ask yourself the same questions: “Is it better?” and “Is it quicker?” Those two things do not always go hand in hand. An example of this is people gravitating towards ChatGPT for content production. It’s definitely quicker, but it’s not better. In some cases, it does you more harm than good. 

What do you think will be the biggest tech trend over the next 12 months?

Definitely AI. There are so many good places where it’s being used. Applications where large volumes of data can be analysed to make quick decisions, based on probability, work really well.

There are also less data-focused applications, such as Midjourney — an AI system that generates images from language. We’ve used this a lot at TBB to visualise concepts at the creative stage of a campaign. It is quicker and more impactful than anything we could do before. 

What top tip would you give to an individual trying to excel in their tech career?

Be passionate about learning and never be afraid to try something new. Tech changes all the time — if you think you know it all, you’re not learning or improving.

The next purchase on my personal tech wish list is…?

I feel like I have all the tech I need in my life right now, but that could change tomorrow. Who knows?

And what is your earliest memory of tech in your life?

Game Boy. As a young kid in the 90s, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on one. 

What is one long-standing piece of tech you are shocked is still used today?

The good old calculator. Even though we've moved on from physical calculators to using apps on our phones or computers, the basic principle remains unchanged. Calculators replaced the abacus long ago, and in terms of innovations, it's a remarkably enduring one.

If you were without the internet for an hour, what would be the first activity you’d resort to, to pass the time?

Without the internet… easy! I’ve got three kids, so there’s no shortage of activities. We’d probably be at the park or playing football. Or, if I’m lucky enough to have some child-free time, out for a run.