PwC launches new hands-on tech experience to support reinvention
Professional services firm PwC has launched a new ‘immersive experience’ which will allow participating businesses to test and explore advanced technologies in a hands-on fashion.
As a permanent feature of its Sydney office, PwC says the space will support organisations in addressing critical challenges such skills shortages, supply chain constraints and business model reinvention through technological solutions.
In the first of its industry-specific immersive experiences, the space launched with a mock-up of a frictionless retail store and a humanoid avatar, designed in collaboration with Microsoft. PwC aims to extend the concept to Melbourne in the near future.
“We can’t solve the big, persistent problems with the same old thinking,” stated Ro Antao, who was appointed head of consulting earlier this year alongside his concurrent role as PwC’s global cloud transformation lead. “The space is more than just showcasing what’s possible, it’s about co-creating bespoke solutions with our clients, in a collaborative and purposeful way.”
The space is an extension of PwC’s ‘Reinvention Lab’, which the firm describes as a business imperative in a world defined by rapid technological advancements, shifting market dynamics, and evolving societal needs. PwC points to its latest annual global CEO survey, which found that almost half believe their business will no longer be viable in the next decade without innovation.
Antao continued: “This space is about allowing organisations to genuinely consider where technology sits in their workforce, supply chain, customer experience or business models, not as a replacement to humans, but to add value. It’s about sparking ideas and testing how things such as AI agents could be incorporated into your business, in a really tangible and practical way.”
With the firm citing research from Jobs and Skills Australia which found that more than a third of local occupations are struggling with skills shortages, Antao suggests that AI avatars can also provide a human touch to enhance otherwise digital experiences and make them more engaging and seamless for customers, be it in an online purchasing setting or through in-store guidance.
While the first edition of its new immersive space has been designed in collaboration with Microsoft, PwC said it’s looking to engage with other technology alliance partners such as Amazon, Salesforce, Oracle, and SAP on future iterations, as well as bring the offering to Melbourne, with interested businesses able to book a tour or work-shop through the PwC Australia website.
