Back to Lokad TV
00:00:00 Introduction
00:03:17 Why do forward deployed engineers exist?
00:09:48 Why AI projects fail inside large companies
00:13:35 Does expert support undermine plug-and-play software?
00:18:33 Does the FDE trend validate Lokad’s approach?
00:22:55 Automation versus consequential decisions
00:28:07 How a Supply Chain Scientist approaches a new client
00:32:26 Evaluating experts across long time horizons
00:36:12 Is product adoption the right success metric?
00:40:06 Why automation is a zero-to-one problem
00:43:09 Financial impact versus economic impact
00:48:05 Why decision-making requires domain expertise
00:52:32 How Lokad identifies strong Supply Chain Scientists
00:55:22 Hospital automation versus medical decisions
00:57:09 Do FDEs disprove plug-in optimization modules?
00:58:43 The cost problem of FDE services
01:01:04 Conclusion
September 23, 2026
00:00:00 Introduction
00:03:17 Why do forward deployed engineers exist?
00:09:48 Why AI projects fail inside large companies
00:13:35 Does expert support undermine plug-and-play software?
00:18:33 Does the FDE trend validate Lokad’s approach?
00:22:55 Automation versus consequential decisions
00:28:07 How a Supply Chain Scientist approaches a new client
00:32:26 Evaluating experts across long time horizons
00:36:12 Is product adoption the right success metric?
00:40:06 Why automation is a zero-to-one problem
00:43:09 Financial impact versus economic impact
00:48:05 Why decision-making requires domain expertise
00:52:32 How Lokad identifies strong Supply Chain Scientists
00:55:22 Hospital automation versus medical decisions
00:57:09 Do FDEs disprove plug-in optimization modules?
00:58:43 The cost problem of FDE services
01:01:04 Conclusion
Summary
Conor Doherty and Joannes Vermorel examine why forward deployed engineers have become one of enterprise software’s latest trends. They discuss the talent shortages and failed AI initiatives driving their rise, while distinguishing mundane automation from financially consequential decisions. Joannes argues that automation should remove work entirely, whereas decision-making systems require continuous maintenance, economic judgment, and deep domain expertise. The conversation compares FDEs with Lokad’s Supply Chain Scientists, questions adoption as a success metric, and explores whether expensive human support exposes the limitations of supposedly plug-and-play enterprise software.
