Simplifying and Elevating GraphQL to New Heights: Grafbase’s Strategic Leap in Enterprise Adoption

NEW YORK, Mar 12, 2024 – (ACN Newswire) – According to a report by Gartner, the adoption of GraphQL has been on an increasing trend, from less than 10% in 2021 to over 50% by 2025. Demand for GraphQL has been growing exponentially and yet its implementation in enterprise settings has been marred by complexity and time consumption.

Recognizing these challenges, Grafbase emerges as a beacon of innovation, offering a comprehensive solution that streamlines and simplifies the GraphQL API development process. Grafbase is strategically positioned at the forefront of this technological evolution by providing a modern developer experience to build and deploy high-performance GraphQL APIs.

Furthermore, the advanced platform supports the composition and connection of data sources across microservices using GraphQL Federation. Recently, the San Francisco-based tech startup introduced Federated Graphs, a significant enhancement that allows composing multiple, independently deployed GraphQL APIs into a single endpoint.

Grafbase empowers not just individual developers but entire enterprises by enabling them to leverage GraphQL technology more effectively. At the heart of Grafbase’s offering is its TypeScript SDK, a tool designed to resonate with modern developers’ needs. TypeScript, known for its scalability and developer-friendly syntax, makes Grafbase an ideal platform for building robust and efficient applications.

“GraphQL adoption is on the rise, but building and deploying GraphQL APIs remains complex and time-consuming,” says Fredrik Björk, Founder & CEO of Grafbase. “Grafbase addresses this by offering a modern developer experience, simplifying GraphQL development, and accelerating market readiness for companies eager to adopt GraphQL.”

The recent introduction of GraphQL Operation Analytics at Grafbase is a testament to the company’s commitment to innovation. This feature provides users with real-time insights into their GraphQL operations, enhancing understanding and efficiency.

Grafbase distinguishes itself in the market with features designed for high performance and efficiency. Its Edge Deployment capability ensures operations are executed with minimal latency, enhancing user experience. Additionally, the GraphQL Edge Caching feature boosts global application performance. The platform is at the forefront of innovation, introducing next-generation Connectors. These Connectors, designed for seamless integration with microservices, databases, and third-party APIs into GraphQL APIs, are setting new benchmarks in the industry.

Choosing Grafbase is not just about meeting current needs; it’s about investing in a technology that remains relevant and beneficial in the long term. Grafbase’s capability to convert REST APIs to GraphQL APIs, along with advanced security standards, makes it a forward-looking option for companies preparing for the future.

As the digital landscape rapidly evolves, Grafbase is poised to lead the GraphQL revolution, providing innovative solutions that not only keep pace with change but drive it.

About Grafbase

Grafbase is a powerful data platform designed specifically for developers. It offers cutting-edge tools and features that make it easier and faster to deploy GraphQL APIs. Grafbase aims to streamline the entire development process, enabling developers to focus on building robust and scalable applications. Whether you’re a developer or an enterprise, Grafbase is a platform for anyone looking to create high-performance backends quickly and efficiently. For more information, visit https://grafbase.com/.

HQ Address: 3039 Octavia Street, San Francisco, CA 94123
Email: fredrik@grafbase.com

Spacely AI Raises Pre-Seed Funding From SCB 10X and Launches Spatial Design APIs

BANGKOK, Mar 7, 2024 – (ACN Newswire) – Spacely AI, a comprehensive interior architecture design platform powered by Generative AI, is excited to close a pre-seed investment from SCB 10X. The funding will fuel Spacely AI’s mission to empower everyone with the opportunity to design their own success and position Spacely AI as the go-to platform in spatial design.

Spacely AI x SCB 10X Pre Seed Investment
Spacely AI Pre Seed Investment from SCB 10X

“SCB 10X is proud to back Spacely AI and their mission to unlock productivity and creativity for designers. Given the powerful breakthroughs in visual-based generative AI, spatial design is an application that will continue to benefit with the rapid advancements of this technology. We will continue to support Spacely AI in identifying the strategic and product priorities for the platform, enriching Spacely AI’s proposition from Thailand to the global design community,” shared Mukaya (Tai) Panich, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Venture and Investment Officer of SCB 10X.

“The backing from SCB 10X is a partnership that aligns with our vision to transform the spatial design landscape. This underscores our mutual belief in the potential of Generative AI to redefine global design standards,” says Paruey Anadirekkul, Chief Executive Officer of Spacely AI.

Spacely AI is expanding their global footprint, serving users from Thailand, United States, Portugal, and several other countries worldwide. They have achieved recognition from the global startup community, winning the second runner-up in the “Tech in Asia 2023 Regional Startup Competition” and emerging as the first runner-up in the “LabLab Stable Diffusion Hackathon 2023”.

Forming strategic partnerships with Index Living Mall and Proud Real Estate, Spacely AI’s has designed over 1,000,000+ spaces for 120,000+ users worldwide. The platform offers 12+ innovative features, 100+ interior curated premium styles, and supports more than 100+ space types, from interiors to exteriors, providing a comprehensive solution for all spatial design needs.

“In choosing Spacely AI’s technology, Index Living Mall aims to precisely capture customer requirements, boost designer productivity, and enhance the customer experience. This platform streamlines our design process, reducing the need for revisions and improving efficiency. It represents a significant step forward in our commitment to service excellence and business growth,” said Ekalak Patamasatayasonthi, Senior Vice President Business Development at YOUNIQUE & The Walk Line.

“Our partnership with Spacely AI has enhanced the customer journey, creating unparalleled experiences that truly reflect our brand and our real estate offerings. Their AI-driven designs have created our spaces into interactive canvases, serving as the touchpoints for engagement throughout the customer journey. This enables customers to seamlessly bring their design ideas to reality,” stated Pasu Liptapanlop, Director, Proud Real Estate.

Today Spacely AI unveils its new API products made available for enterprises:

Instant Rendering API: Allows for quick visualization of design concepts, effortlessly bringing ideas to life.
Smart Recommendation API: Matches your products with customer’s designed space based on their preferences, budget, and space.
Product Visualization API: Provides a visual representation of your products within customer’s spaces.
Precision Space Planning API: Offers detailed space measurement guidance for optimal fit and sizing.

The enterprise’s API solutions offer product visualization that enhances both sales and customer experiences.

“The launch of our Enterprise API is a significant leap forward as we set our sights on expanding towards the full spectrum of spatial design, pushing the boundaries of creativity and functionality,” adds Paruey Anadirekkul, CEO of Spacely AI.

Join Spacely AI in this exciting journey to redefine spatial design with Generative AI.

Contact Information
Paruey Anadirekkul
CEO
paruey@spacely.ai

Thanatcha Pojthaveekiat
Head of Commercial
thanatcha@spacely.ai

Nawinda Hanrattana
Marketing
nawinda@spacely.ai

Napatsapa Vajarodaya
COO
napatsapa@spacely.ai

SOURCE: Spacely AI

View the original press release on newswire.com.

Trustifi Launches Geofencing Capabilities in Australia

LAS VEGAS, NV, Mar 5, 2024 – (ACN Newswire) – Trustifi, the premier provider of AI- and cloud-based email cyber security solutions, announced that it is now able to “geofence” email data for its growing base of MSSP (managed security service provider) customers in Australia in accordance with nationwide compliance needs. This makes Trustifi’s unique next-generation cybersecurity solutions more effective for a greater addressable market of businesses and MSSP partners in Australia, opening new opportunities for solution providers in this market to enhance their cybersecurity offerings. Trustifi has been serving managed service providers (MSPs) in Australia and New Zealand since 2022 and is steadily building a partner community in this high-potential marketplace. The ability to geofence data in this country comes due to Trustifi’s new relationship with a powerful AWS data storage center in that country.

The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) oversees issues relative to data privacy in Australia. One of its core functions is to help safeguard records pertaining to individuals, and provide guidance on the collection, storage, and transmission of that data. The Australia Privacy Act is applicable to all private healthcare providers throughout Australia, including practitioners and private hospitals. Due to these statutes, MSSPs are recommended to maintain confidential personal data on servers that are local to that country, especially in sensitive industries such as healthcare, financial services, and legal. This procedure is known as geofencing, or the establishment of a virtual boundary that limits the geographical transmission of data to a designated region-in this case the nation of that data’s origin. Trustifi now offers geofencing in a range of countries, including the US, Canada, Ireland, Germany, Singapore, Brazil, and Australia.

Trustifi MSSP partners who work with global end-customers can easily add Australian geofencing capabilities to their client’s security plans with one click via a newly implemented software setting. The company added this feature to better serve its expanding Australian customer base, and due to the strong general growth of the security market in this country, resulting in notable opportunities for MSPs.

“Compliance is a crucial element of any security program, and personal data is subject to a roster of complex regulations and recommendations across the globe, including in Australia,” said Trustifi CEO and Co-founder Rom Hendler. “Trustifi continues to expand its global footprint, offering easy-to-implement compliance capabilities for our customers in a variety of countries. The Australian market is rife with opportunities for managed service providers, especially in complicated verticals such as healthcare and financial services, where sensitive patient and client data is subject to additional compliance needs. We’re proud to be able to offer new, more stringent geofencing capabilities to our customers who work in global markets, better securing their patients’ data while opening new potential sales avenues across the Australian business community.”

Trustifi offers a comprehensive suite of email cybersecurity solutions that leverage advanced AI-driven tools to accomplish what many traditional, gateway-based solutions can’t. They combat sophisticated image- and text-based, AI-generated attacks. This includes techniques like the resurgence of the “@” bypass strategy, where hackers surreptitiously insert “@” signs into URL names to disguise the phrasing of malicious links, which many security solutions can’t interpret. These disguised URLs pass through security filters without being flagged. Trustifi’s proof-of-concept scans have indicated an uptick of this method in recent months (after the “@” scam had seemingly receded for several years).

According to Trustifi’s data, the use of infected QR codes has also sharply increased, since hackers have realized that most security solutions treat QR codes as harmless images. Trustifi’s AI-driven tools and metrics are designed to root-out such tactics. This is opposed to traditional solutions that rely too heavily on age-old methods like the blacklisting of known nefarious IP addresses.

“Trustifi has been a committed technology partner for our business, providing superior security for our clientele and an ease-of-use that outpaces other security and encryption solutions,” said Jess Walker, founder/CISO, of Holocron, a Trustifi MSSP located in Brisbane, Australia. “Their ability to easily geofence data is a critical asset for MSSPs who work in sensitive verticals. It will allow more Australian customers to take advantage of Trustifi’s next generation, born-in-the-cloud capabilities in an environment where AI-based threats continue to escalate.”

Trustifi was recognized in the 2023 Gartner Market Guide for Email Security* for its Outbound Shield, Inbound Shield, and Account Compromise Detection solution. Trustifi’s solutions have repeatedly been acknowledged through awards from esteemed sources such as CRN Magazine, SourceForge, the American Business Association, ChannelVision magazine, Expert Insights, the Cybersecurity Breakthrough Awards, and the Golden Bridge Awards.

*Gartner, “Market Guide for Email Security”, Ravisha Chugh, Peter Firstbrook, Franz Hinner, 13 February 2023. GARTNER is a registered trademark and service mark of Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and internationally and is used herein with permission. All rights reserved. Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in its research publications, and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors with the highest ratings or other designation. Gartner research publications consist of the opinions of Gartner’s research organization and should not be construed as statements of fact. Gartner disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this research, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.

https://go.trustifi.com/gartner-email

About Trustifi

Trustifi is a cybersecurity firm featuring solutions delivered on a software-as-a-service platform including sophisticated AI-driven tools. Trustifi leads the market with the easiest-to-use and deploy email security products providing both inbound and outbound email security from a single vendor. The most valuable asset to any organization, other than its employees, is the data contained in its email, and Trustifi’s key objective is keeping clients’ data, reputations, and brands safe from all threats related to email. With Trustifi’s Inbound Shield, Data Loss Prevention, and Email Encryption, clients are always one step ahead of attackers. www.trustifi.com

Follow Trustifi: Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook.

Contact:
Suzanne Mattaboni
CommCentric Solutions
610 737-2140
smattaboni@commcentric.com

SOURCE: Trustifi

NEC and Sumitomo Corporation Sign Strategic Partnership Agreement to Expand Global Sales of the CropScope Agricultural ICT Platform

TOKYO, Mar 4, 2024 – (ACN Newswire) – NEC Corporation (TSE: 6701) and Sumitomo Corporation (Sumitomo) have signed a strategic partnership agreement to expand global sales of NEC’s agricultural ICT platform CropScope. Based on this partnership, NEC and Sumitomo aim to develop markets mainly in South America and the ASEAN region by utilizing Sumitomo’s global network. To this end, NEC will expand the range of crops from the tomato farming support it has been focusing on and add functions to optimize and streamline a series of processes from cultivation to harvesting and processing. Through this partnership, CropScope is initially being introduced on a trial basis to major sugar companies in Thailand and Brazil.

Background

Since population growth and economic development are projected to increase global food demand, there are concerns that ongoing climate change will cause a serious impact on crop production. In addition, recent pandemics and unstable global situations have caused a sharp rise in prices of agricultural materials and stagnation of exports, threatening the stable supply of food. Increasing agricultural productivity is essential for ensuring food security on a global scale, and countries where agriculture is a key industry face the challenges of upgrading production technology and increasing the efficiency of farm management.

Summary of the Partnership

1. Expand sales of CropScope to emerging countries

Sumitomo has a network of regional organizations in 65 countries around the world and is engaged in sales and distribution of agricultural materials such as agrochemicals and fertilizers in about 40 countries. Through this partnership, Sumitomo will utilize its global network to expand CropScope’s sales area to Thailand, Brazil, and India, aiming for business growth.

2. Expanding the range of focus crops and integrating management from cultivation to processing

CropScope has been expanded to support sugarcane, wheat, soybeans, and corn, as focus crops in addition to processed tomatoes. AI functions will be applied for these new crops, learning from past farming and harvesting data to recommend the optimal time and amount of harvest, and a harvest planning function will be added to manage harvest planning and results. Combining this function with the existing optimization of fertilizer application and irrigation will enable comprehensive management from cultivation to harvesting and processing.

Future developments

NEC has been continuously enhancing the functionality of CropScope and collaborating with various partners to meet the diverse needs of customers involved in agricultural production. This partnership with Sumitomo, which has a broad global network and extensive knowledge in the agricultural and food fields, will be a significant milestone in the expansion of CropScope’s global sales.Sumitomo has been focusing on developing new businesses that contribute to sustainable food production with high efficiency and low environmental impact by utilizing advanced technologies, in addition to expanding its existing business base in the agriculture and food fields. One of the most important themes is smart farming, which contributes to the realization of safe and highly efficient food production by utilizing such technologies as automation of agricultural operations and data analysis. This collaboration with NEC, which has established AI technologies in agriculture and other fields, will be an important initiative.NEC and Sumitomo will continue to expand the range of focus crops and functions of CropScope while responding to issues and needs of agricultural production and processing sites. This will be performed as part of the companies’ support for environmentally friendly and profitable farming globally, and to contribute to sustainable agriculture and global food security.

NEC Smart Farming Management CropScope
www.nec.com/en/global/solutions/agri/index.html

About NEC Corporation

NEC Corporation has established itself as a leader in the integration of IT and network technologies while promoting the brand statement of “Orchestrating a brighter world.” NEC enables businesses and communities to adapt to rapid changes taking place in both society and the market as it provides for the social values of safety, security, fairness and efficiency to promote a more sustainable world where everyone has the chance to reach their full potential. For more information, visit NEC at https://www.nec.com.

About Sumitomo Corporation

Sumitomo Corporation is a leading Fortune 500 global trading and business investment company with 128 locations in 65 countries and regions. The entire Sumitomo Corporation’s group consists of around 900 companies. Sumitomo Corporation conducts commodity transactions in all industries utilizing worldwide networks, provides customers with financing, serves as an organizer and a coordinator for various projects, and invests in companies to promote greater growth potential. Our corporate message, “Enriching lives and the world”, was created to encapsulate our vision for sustainability in the next 100 years. Our mission is to grow sustainably alongside society, pursue development for the world, and enable better lives for all.

GoDaddy sponsors WordCamp Asia 2024 bringing together the WordPress community

SINGAPORE, Mar 4, 2024 – (ACN Newswire) – GoDaddy (NYSE: GDDY) is sponsorsing WordCamp Asia 2024. Running from March 7–9 2024 in Taipei, Taiwan, WordCamp Asia is a highly anticipated event within the WordPress community, and GoDaddy is proud to play a part in it.

In this year’s booth at WordCamp Aisa, visitors to the GoDaddy Booth can expect interactive demonstrations, arcade-like games and a chance to win exciting giveways while seeing how GoDaddy Managed WordPress products and services can further help grow the community of WordPress users.

WordCamp visitors can also see demos of GoDaddy’s Managed WordPress plans which include integration and benefits like introducing quicker publishing with the AI onboarding capabilities to page load times that are up to 2x faster than the competition*.

WordCamp Asia will also feature a special “Contributor Day,” where attendees can actively participate in the opensource WordPress project and participate in its development, improvement, and maintenance. GoDaddy staff will be on hand at the event and available for questions from customers about GoDaddy products and services.

GoDaddy’s new AI capabilities in its Managed WordPress plans include asking site creators questions during onboarding, about their industry, business name, products sold, location, and business hours, all designed to enable the AI engine to draft a variety of design options for the creator to select from. Each design option contains relevant content that pertains to the site creators’ individual answers. This feature helps deliver more complete, content rich WordPress websites upon completing onboarding.

Selina Bieber, Vice President for International Markets at GoDaddy says: As a WordCamp Global Community Sponsor, GoDaddy’s commitment extends to various WordPress community programs, including local WordCamps, WordPress Chapter Meetup groups and other community activities. GoDaddy believes in the power of a community to help empower individuals and businesses to succeed online.

WordPress powers ~45% of all websites on the internet. Its user-friendly interface, flexibility, and extensive plugin ecosystem have made it the go-to platform for individuals and businesses alike. In 2023 alone, there were 77 WordCamps held globally, with over 3,300 WordPress meetups taking place. These events serve as valuable opportunities for attendees to network, learn from industry experts, and contribute to the WordPress community.

To learn more about GoDaddy’s involvement in the WordPress community, visit our Resources blog, where we regularly share our WordCamp experiences. These blog posts provide detailed summaries of our contributions to the WordPress project and other valuable information.

*Page load times compared to leading WordPress hosting providers Flywheel, Automattic, Siteground, Hostgator, Dreamhost, Namecheap, Hostinger, Bluehost and IONOS for page load times between January and March 2023. GoDaddy does not claim that Managed WordPress Hosting has the industry best page load performance. Actual performance may vary by region. Please see terms and conditions for any uptime guarantee.

About GoDaddy:

GoDaddy helps millions of entrepreneurs globally start, grow, and scale their businesses. People come to GoDaddy to name their idea, build a professional website, attract customers, sell their products and services, and accept payments online and in-person. GoDaddy’s easy-to-use tools help microbusiness owners manage everything in one place and its expert guides are available to provide assistance 24/7. To learn more about the company, visit www.GoDaddy.com

Notes to Editors:

WordCamps are community-driven conferences held around the world, dedicated to all things WordPress. These events bring together developers, designers, bloggers, business owners, and enthusiasts who share a common interest in WordPress. WordCamp Asia is the largest WordCamp in the region, attracting attendees from all over Asia and beyond.

YOHO eCommerce unveils “YOHO AI Assistant” to Enhance Shopping Experience, Introduce “Best Deal Guarantee” to Train the Pricing Algorithm

HONG KONG, Mar 1, 2024 – (ACN Newswire) – Yoho Group Holdings Limited (“YOHO” or the “Group”; Stock Code: 2347), a leading e-commerce platform in Hong Kong, is pleased to announce that as a pioneer in Hong Kong’s e-commerce landscape, it has been actively exploring the synergistic integration of AI technology with retail experience, with a commitment to revolutionizing the online shopping experience for every online consumer. To celebrate its 11th anniversary, the Group officially unveiled its AI e-commerce blueprint and launched YOHO AI Assistant, a personal AI shopping assistant on the YOHO platform, to comprehensively address customers’ various shopping queries. In addition, in gratitude for the longstanding support and trust of its vast consumer base, YOHO is launching a citywide shopping promotion and activities with the theme “Best Deal Guarantee” during the 11th Anniversary Thanksgiving Festival to celebrate with its customers.

Exciting Debut of YOHO AI Assistant

YOHO AI Assistant serves as a personal AI shopping assistant for each customer, embodying the five core objectives of personalization, professionalism, convenience, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness. It is equipped to provide eight major shopping assistance functions, including comprehensive product information, personalized product search, insightful product comparisons, comprehensive price comparisons, aggregated product reviews, professional product recommendations, 24-hour customer service, and shopping reminders. These features will be rolled out and made available in phases. The YOHO team is dedicated to further enhancing the Group’s AI strategy, integrating data across the entire platform to efficiently apply it to customer service, AI conversational shopping interactions, and other areas, with the aim of significantly improving the customer experience. For more details about YOHO AI Assistant, please visit https://bitly.ws/3ey2K.

YOHO Celebrates its 11th Anniversary Thanksgiving Festival with the Citywide “Best Deal Guarantee” Shopping Promotion

Since its inception, YOHO has adhered to the philosophy of “offering an extensive range of quality products at affordable prices”. In 2019, the Group successfully developed an in-house “automatic pricing system” that utilizes an algorithm to determine the optimal pricing and discounts for products, thereby assisting consumers in making the most competitive shopping decisions. Marking its 11th anniversary, the Group has strategically introduced the “Best Deal Guarantee” offer. From 1 March to 31 March 2024, YOHO members who identify the same product available at a lower public price in another Hong Kong store within 24 hours of their purchase on the YOHO platform are eligible to apply a price difference refund of up to HK$1,000.

Furthermore, YOHO will host a 13-day citywide flash sale event starting from 1 March to 13 March 2024. An extensive selection of flash sale deals will be launched precisely at midnight each day, featuring selected themes from over 60,000 products. The categories include major appliances, mobile phones, computers, beauty and skincare devices, games, kitchen appliances, supplements and vitamins. Additionally, the Thanksgiving Festival will feature a special “Fixed Price $11” promotion, offering a variety of limited-quantity products at a flat rate of HK$11. In addition to the best price guarantee and flash sales, YOHO is partnering with Mastercard, BoC Pay, AlipayHK, and X Pay to offer various payment discounts, with savings of up to HK$500.

Ms. Kathy Tsui, Co-founder and Chief Operating Officer of Yoho Group, said, “Amid the complex and ever-changing external geopolitical and economic landscape, the Hong Kong economy still faces significant challenges that cannot be underestimated. YOHO is acutely aware of consumers’ strong demand for products with great cost-effectiveness. Coinciding with the YOHO 11th Anniversary Thanksgiving Festival, we are genuinely launching a vast array of offers and privileges to reciprocate our customers’ support. Additionally, as an e-commerce player persistently leveraging technology to enhance the shopping experience, we believe in the transformative potential of AI technology on the future retail ecosystem. Consequently, we are actively engaging with leading global AI firms to research and develop applications and integrations of AI technology. We are thrilled to announce the launch of the YOHO AI Assistant Beta version on 28 February, marking a pivotal milestone in the YOHO AI e-commerce blueprint. Looking forward, YOHO will further amplify our market strategy, embracing innovative thinking and technological advancements to provide an unparalleled intelligent shopping experience, with the ambition of expanding from a local Hong Kong e-commerce platform to the global market.”

For more details on YOHO’s 11th anniversary promotion, please visit https://bitly.ws/3exhY

About Yoho Group Holdings Limited (Stock Code: 2347)

Yoho Group Holdings Limited, Hong Kong’s first B2C e-commerce company listed on the HKEX main board, operates on the online-merge-offline (OMO) business model. It has more than 1.1 million registered users and more than 2,290,000 monthly active users and offers a diverse product portfolio covering approximately 60,000 SKUs (with a focus on consumer electronics and home appliances). According to Frost & Sullivan 2020/21 data, Yoho ranked first as an e-commerce platform with a primary focus on consumer electronics and home appliances in Hong Kong in terms of website traffic and recorded the highest online retail sales of consumer electronics and home appliances among all Hong Kong e-commerce platforms.

Digitalization Empowering Foreign Trade Shipping – Nanhua Logistics, a COSCO Shipping Group Subsidiary, Partners with Bravowhale Technology to Spearhead the Online Implementation of ESG Compliance Standards

HONG KONG, Feb 27, 2024 – (ACN Newswire) – Based on customs statistics, China’s total value of goods trade imports and exports soared to RMB 41.76 trillion in 2023, marking a record high of 645,000 foreign trade enterprises. Despite the ongoing positive growth trend in China’s overall import and export activities, the escalating global ESG-related regulations have imposed more stringent export compliance requirements on foreign trade enterprises. Consequently, enterprises find themselves grappling with uncertainty and a lack of clarity on how to proceed. Moreover, the industry currently lacks standardized and targeted ESG compliance service channels to promptly tackle the challenges faced by enterprises.

As the main artery for international freight transportation, maritime shipping shoulders nearly 90% of China’s foreign trade transport volume. COSCO SHIPPING, a Fortune Global 500 company, holds the top spot globally in terms of comprehensive capacity and scale among state-owned shipping enterprises. With a fleet of over 1,300 vessels and more than 50 terminals, it spans routes covering 1,500 ports across 160 countries. Against this backdrop, aiming to assist foreign trade enterprises in tackling export ESG compliance challenges, Nanhua Logistics under COSCO Shipping partnered with Shanghai Bravowhale Information Technology Co., Ltd. (referred to as “Bravowhle Technology”) on February 22nd. This collaboration, formalized at the Customs Building on the Bund in Shanghai, signifies a commitment to jointly deliver swift and convenient standardized export ESG compliance services to foreign trade enterprises. This initiative aims to empower businesses to achieve export compliance with low costs, high efficiency, and heightened certainty.

Customs Building on the Bund in Shanghai

Participants of the signing ceremony included: GU Weidong, Vice President of COSCO Shipping Specialized Carriers Co., Ltd., and Chairman of Nanhua Logistics; ZHANG Wei, Deputy General Manager of COSCO Shipping Logistics Supply Chain Co., Ltd., Shanghai Branch; LIU Yi, General Manager and Director, and MENG Daguan, Vice General Manager of Nanhua Logistics; ZHU Shaokang, CEO of Bravowhale Technology; CHEN Chao, Deputy General Manager of CITIC Consulting of State Development & Investment Corporation; and LI Jian, Director of Deloitte China’s Climate Change and Sustainable Development Business Group. Nanhua Logistics, a joint venture between COSCO Shipping Specialized Carriers Co., Ltd. and COSCO Shipping Logistics Supply Chain Co., Ltd., operates as an international logistics supply chain service company.

Liu Yi (left) and Zhu Shaokang (right) Captured in a Signing Photo

COSCO Shipping affirms its commitment to leveraging the leading role of state-owned enterprises in facilitating trade. With its extensive customer base, experience in serving export enterprises, and Bravowhale Technology’s expertise in technology systems and intelligent solutions, the company aims to penetrate the secondary freight forwarding market through intelligent terminals. By providing a streamlined pathway for ESG compliance processes, COSCO Shipping aims to offer standardized compliance services to Chinese foreign trade enterprises. This initiative will effectively address challenges such as high export costs and inefficiencies faced by businesses.

Bravowhale Technology has always been at the forefront of ESG compliance services. With the support of the “Going Global” navigation network, we have partnered with local governments and business service agencies to establish offline service centers in key foreign trade export and multinational supply chain hubs. This initiative has already assisted hundreds of supply chain enterprises in industries such as chemicals, textiles, and automobiles in achieving export ESG compliance. The collaboration with COSCO Shipping represents a significant step forward for Bravowhale Technology in expanding its online ESG compliance services. By leveraging technological advancements, it aims to simplify the complex ESG compliance process through standardized online products and automated solutions, providing the shipping industry with convenient and effective export compliance solutions.

COSCO Shipping has stated that, with the support of Bravowhale Technology in the future, it will leverage its port network advantages and stabilize shipping logistics supply chain services. This initiative is geared towards enhancing the efficiency and transparency of multinational supply chains. Through standardized services, they aim to reduce customer export costs, enabling efficient and compliant international operations.

SAP Introduces Financial Incentives to Encourage Hong Kong Companies to Move to the Cloud

HONG KONG, Feb 26, 2024 – (ACN Newswire) – SAP has announced a comprehensive set of financial incentives, services and resources to help customers move to the cloud and maintain the pace and level of innovation that cloud enables.

The RISE with SAP Migration and Modernization program addresses two primary issues businesses face when moving to the cloud – cost and scope. The program offers credits to SAP S/4HANA and SAP ERP Central Component (SAP ECC) customers that can be applied to offset the cost of maintenance, cloud services or cloud subscription when moving to the RISE with SAP solution. This limited-time offer may reduce these costs by up to 50% and shorten the time to value.

This incentive will include SAP S/4HANA Cloud and line-of-business solutions such as supply chain, human resources, spend management, CRM, business transformation tools and the business technology platform for extensibility.

Esmond Tong, Managing Director, SAP Hong Kong, said, “SAP understands that many companies envision to upgrade their ERP systems to the cloud. To support companies in this journey, SAP has introduced the RISE with SAP Migration and Modernization program, which includes a range of financial incentives, services, and support to help kickstart their cloud transformation. Upon completion, companies will be well-positioned to leverage SAP’s Business AI, Digital Co-pilot and line-of-business solutions to drive tangible business outcomes, optimize operations, improve cost management and propel their business forward.”

He added, “In addition, we have also launched the SAP Hong Kong Cloud ERP Experience Center in November last year to provide total support for companies to take advantage of the latest cloud innovations, such as AI and sustainability solutions, and to future-proof their business.”

The RISE with SAP Migration and Modernization program helps customers become and remain innovation-ready to benefit from ongoing updates and new innovations. Once customers are operating in the cloud, SAP takes the burden of management to build reliability, strengthen security and compliance and unlock the power of business data. Regardless of whether businesses today run on SAP ECC or SAP S/4HANA, the program’s self-guided digital experience and assisted services offer a path from preparation through go-live. The program also introduces a set of new services and incentives to help customers in their move to the RISE with SAP solution.

In addition to financial incentives, the RISE with SAP Migration and Modernization program also includes:

— RISE with SAP Methodology support: To drive predictable timelines for projects, all implementations – both through SAP and our partner ecosystem – will follow the RISE with SAP Methodology. It will provide project progress transparency, with key milestone checks. It is supported by SAP services and specialists who confirm the methodology is applied from discovery through go-live to get customers innovation ready. SAP is training and validating partners to use the RISE with SAP Methodology and will collaborate closely with these partners to provide consistency and quality.

— SAP S/4HANA Cloud Safekeeper service: For customers who need more time to complete their full migration, we are introducing the SAP S/4HANA Cloud Safekeeper service. It is designed for customers using RISE with SAP that enter customer-specific maintenance for older releases of SAP S/4HANA. With SAP S/4HANA Cloud Safekeeper, customers may get their systems ready to upgrade to the latest version of SAP S/4HANA. It includes upgrade services and infrastructure optimization while providing business continuity for the customers’ current system with updates and patches for two more years.

For more information details about the RISE with SAP Migration and Modernization program, please go to this page or call 2150 2799. In addition, SAP will hold a customer webinar event on Feb 28, 2024 to help customers understand more about the program. Please go to this link to register.

About SAP

SAP’s strategy is to help every business run as an intelligent sustainable enterprise. As a market leader in enterprise application software, we help companies of all sizes and in all industries run at their best: SAP customers generate 87% of total global commerce. Our machine learning, Internet of Things (IoT), and advanced analytics technologies help turn customers’ businesses into intelligent enterprises. SAP helps give people and organizations deep business insight and fosters collaboration that helps them stay ahead of their competition. We simplify technology for companies so they can consume our software the way they want – without disruption. Our end-to-end suite of applications and services enables business and public customers across 26 industries globally to operate profitably, adapt continuously, and make a difference. With a global network of customers, partners, employees, and thought leaders, SAP helps the world run better and improve people’s lives. For more information, visit www.sap.com/hk.

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Five tips for small business owners to help grow their business online

SINGAPORE, Feb 19, 2024 – (ACN Newswire) – Small businesses are embracing digitalization and catering to their customer needs through a variety of online channels. With new technologies emerging such as artificial intelligence, there is no time like the present to help your small business grow by taking advantage of the online world.

A GoDaddy 2023 global survey examined the status of small businesses including their ways to reach customers and survive in highly competitive markets. APAC countries surveyed, including Philippines, Singapore and Thailand, showed use of a business website, online store, ecommerce or a combination of them ranking at 57% of survey respondents. These results support having a strong online presence with multiple complementary channels can be vital for businesses to thrive and grow in today’s competitive digital environments.

With this in mind, GoDaddy shares five tips to help your small business grow with an online presence.

It starts with a domain name

When getting started, check availability of domain names for the desired name. A domain name can be considered a business’ piece of real estate and identity on the internet. It is a way for customers to easily find a business online.

Choosing and registering a domain name for your business that’s memorable is increasingly important in an expanding digital marketplace, as it helps to shape your online business identity. If the .com extension is not available, there are many new extensions available, such as: .shop; .co.; .photography; .tech, to name a few, for you to consider which can help define your business. After choosing a domain name register it with a reliable hosting provider right away.

Build a website

Websites help create visibility for small businesses and acts as a home base for your business on the internet, even if you have a brick-and-mortar store. A website can help consumers easily find your business, learn about your product offerings and services, and contact you for more information.

A well-designed professional looking website can offer an engaging customer experience with the use of text along with photo images and video. Having a website gives you control over the messaging about your business and can serve as a hub by linking with your social media channels.

Listen to your customers

The growth of your business is directly related to customer satisfaction. Listen to your customers and pay attention to the needs of your target market. Identify their problems and pain points. How can your offerings act as a solution? Is it possible to develop new products to help solve these problems? Engage for customer feedback and keep an eye on customer behaviour changes and audience interests.

Develop a business support system

By developing a strong business support system, entrepreneurs can benefit from new ideas on ways to address a particular issue or ideas for growth. In addition to close family and friends, consider mentors and business coaches who can provide relevant insights into your business.

Review your business plan

Many entrepreneurs make a business plan at the beginning of their business journey, but do not take the time to revisit it from time-to-time. So, analysing aspects of that business plan like target audience and competitors, examining cash flows and what can make the business profitable, while also checking timelines to reach business goals is all equally essential to help ensure continued growth of your business.

For more information on how GoDaddy can help your small business: Domain Names, Websites, Hosting & Online Marketing Tools – GoDaddy PH

About GoDaddy

GoDaddy helps millions of entrepreneurs globally start, grow, and scale their businesses. People come to GoDaddy to name their idea, build a professional website, attract customers, sell their products and services, and accept payments online. GoDaddy’s easy-to-use tools help microbusiness owners manage everything in one place and its expert guides are available to provide assistance 24/7. To learn more about the company, visit www.godaddy.com .

Smart IMS Inc. Expands APAC Presence Through ITCS Group Acquisition

SINGAPORE, Feb 15, 2024 – (ACN Newswire) – Smart IMS Inc., leader in Managed Services and Unified Communications, announced today that it has completed the acquisition of Hong Kong-based global IT service provider IT Consulting Solutions (ITCS Group). Smart IMS has acquired ITCS operations in Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan and Australia to strengthen its position in provisioning infrastructure management, virtualization, digital transformation services, and IT-managed services to a large client base in the Asia Pacific region.

Smart IMS Acquires ITCS Operations in Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore & Australia

“We are excited to welcome ITCS Group to the Smart IMS family,” said Nagesh Gouravaram, COO of Smart IMS. “This was a thoughtful strategic move for our organization not only to expand its horizons and deepen its industry expertise but also to go further to connect with a larger customer base in the Asia Pacific region.”

With its wide and strong customer base in the Asia Pacific region, ITCS Group has acquired deep industry experience by catering to clients in the areas of virtualization, data center management, consulting and professional services.

“By integrating ITCS expertise and market presence, we are expanding our portfolio and solidifying our commitment to enable enterprise efficiency with assured outcomes,” said Drushti Modukuru, Vice President, Smart IMS Inc. Asia Pacific.

The acquisition of ITCS Group is a significant milestone in Smart IMS’s digital transformation and infrastructure managed service operation growth. With the expertise and resources of both companies, Smart IMS is poised to provide comprehensive and innovative technology solutions to its banking, financial services, insurance, life sciences, government, non-profit and healthcare customers. With its globally distributed teams, 24×7 control and command centers, Smart IMS provides a “Follow the Sun” managed service model and localized services to its clients.

The acquisition was supported by the Financial Services Advisory team of Mazars in Singapore. “Among the numerous parties from all over the world who expressed interest in ITCS, Smart IMS was the most suitable buyer and we are confident that Smart IMS will take ITCS to new heights with its global presence and diverse suite of services,” said Gavyn Ng and Ellyn Tan, partners of the Financial Services Advisory team at Mazars, Singapore.

About Smart IMS Inc.

Headquartered in Plainsboro, New Jersey, Smart IMS Inc. provides Application & Infrastructure Management Services, Unified Communications, Digital & Cloud technology solutions, Life Sciences and Insurance services to its customers in the Americas, Europe, Middle East, and Asia-Pacific. Smart IMS, a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner, Oracle Platinum Partner, AWS MSP Partner, and Salesforce Partner, is a trusted technology and business partner delivering technology-enabled solutions to help companies grow their businesses and compete globally.

Visit Us – www.SmartIMS.com

Stay Connected – https://in.linkedin.com/company/smart-ims

Contact Information
Shailya Varma
General Manager Marketing
shailya.varma@smartims.com
Contact us at: +1 609-955-3030

SOURCE: Smart IMS