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  • Dell Technologies Boosts AI for Enterprises with Extensive Dell AI Factory Advancements – CRN

    Dell Technologies Boosts AI for Enterprises with Extensive Dell AI Factory Advancements – CRN

    Dell Technologies continues to make enterprise AI adoption easier with the Dell AI Factory, expanding the world’s broadest AI solutions portfolio.1 Powerful new infrastructure, solutions and services accelerate, simplify and streamline AI workloads and data management.

    “Getting AI up and running across a company can be a real challenge,” said Arthur Lewis, president, Infrastructure Solutions Group, Dell Technologies. “We’re making it easier for our customers with new AI infrastructure, solutions and services that simplify AI deployments, paving the way for smarter, faster ways to work and a more adaptable future.”

    New AI infrastructure offers high-density, efficient compute and eases access to data to power AI workloads
    Introduced earlier this year, the Dell Integrated Rack Scalable Systems (IRSS) program is a turnkey factory integration program that delivers fully loaded, plug-and-play rack-scale systems with Dell Smart Cooling. IRSS further simplifies deployment of energy efficient AI infrastructure with one-call service and support options for the entire rack. Once set up, Dell takes care of the packaging waste and recycling, and can help with responsible recycling of your old hardware.

    Dell has expanded the program to include the Dell PowerEdge XE9685L and Dell PowerEdge XE7740 servers in the standard 19-inch Dell Integrated Rack 5000 (IR5000). The Dell IR5000 is designed for high-density applications in a space-efficient form factor, and delivers high performance without compromising on energy efficiency.

    ⦁ The Dell PowerEdge XE9685L is a dense, 4U liquid-cooled server designed for AI, machine learning, high performance computing (HPC) and other data-intensive workloads. The dual 5th Gen AMD EPYC™ CPUs paired with the ⦁ NVIDIA HGX H200 or B200 platforms, along with up to 12 PCIe gen 5.0 slots, offer customisable configurations to meet specific compute needs, optimised storage connectivity and maximum IO throughput for demanding workloads. This platform offers industry-leading GPU-density with up to 96 NVIDIA GPUs per rack.
    ⦁ The 4U air-cooled Dell PowerEdge XE7740 uses dual Intel® Xeon® 6 with P-cores and up to 8 double-wide accelerators, including Intel Gaudi® 3 AI accelerators or ⦁ NVIDIA H200 NVL, or up to 16 single-wide accelerators, such as the ⦁ NVIDIA L4 Tensor Core GPU. This flexibility allows enterprises to right-size their server configuration for the workload at hand, from fine-tuning or inferencing generative AI models, to extracting value from large datasets.

    Dell plans to support the upcoming NVIDIA GB200 Grace Blackwell NVL4 Superchip with a new Dell PowerEdge XE server designed for the Dell IR7000, supporting up to 144 GPUs per rack in a 50OU standard rack. The IR7000 rack supports large-scale HPC and AI workloads requiring high power and liquid cooling with the ability for near 100% heat capture.

    Updates to the Dell Data Lakehouse provide enterprises with modern architectures for efficiently managing and analysing data for AI tasks. This platform is built on AI-optimised hardware and a full-stack software suite, and will expand to include Apache Spark for distributed data processing at scale. For businesses managing massive data volumes, the new Spark integration will provide significant efficiency gains, with a unified approach for data analytics, management, processing and analysis for faster, more actionable insights.

    “The continued reimagining and improvement of AI and HPC technologies is critical to accelerating discoveries across industries,” said Dan Stanzione, executive director, Texas Advanced Computing Center (TACC). “With Dell’s AI solutions we are building complex HPC systems that allow innovation to thrive in research communities. Ultimately, these advances have the potential to reshape society and drive progress that benefits everyone.”

    Leading AI partner ecosystem solutions turbocharge AI adoption
    Dell is collaborating with partners across the AI ecosystem to power and simplify AI deployments:
    ⦁ Updates to the Dell AI Factory with NVIDIA deliver accelerated performance and reduced time-to-outcomes for AI operations and use case deployment. The NVIDIA HGX H200 and H100NVL support options provide up to 1.9x higher performance over NVIDIA HGX H100.
    ⦁ Dell Agentic RAG with NVIDIA, part of the Dell AI Factory with NVIDIA, allows customers to perform complex queries and accelerate their retrieval augmented generation (RAG) operations. The design helps organisations with large data sets use AI agents to improve RAG workflow performance, handle complex queries and deliver higher quality outcomes. The solution leverages Dell PowerEdge, Dell PowerScale and NVIDIA AI Enterprise software and generative AI tools including ⦁ NeMo Retriever microservices and the NVIDIA AI Blueprint for multimodal PDF data extraction.
    ⦁ Dell Validated Designs for AI PCs are open-source guides designed to boost the development of AI applications on Dell AI PCs with NPU technology. Developers can easily customise the modular designs to integrate features like LLMs, vision, text and speech into applications. They can deploy the AI applications across multiple platforms, regardless of silicon. With this scalable approach, businesses can automate routine processes, save time, reduce costs and improve data security with on-device AI.

    Reduce complexity and ease AI adoption with Dell Services
    Finding talent to develop strategies and implement AI continues to be a challenge for organisations. Dell Professional Services help organisations reach their AI goals more efficiently with:
    ⦁ Advisory and Implementation Services for Sustainable Data Centers provide the expertise to create and implement strategies designed to improve energy efficiency which can help lower emissions in the data center with intelligent power and cooling management to help customers achieve their sustainability goals.
    ⦁ Data Management Services deliver an AI-ready catalog by discovering, classifying and refining data, giving organisations simplified access to organized, high-quality data.
    ⦁ Design Services for AI Networking provide customers with a network design optimised for AI workloads that delivers faster speeds, reduced latency and enhanced scalability.2
    ⦁ Implementation Services for ServiceNow Now Assist integrate GenAI capabilities into service management workflows via Now Assist, which streamlines content gathering through AI-driven summaries to automate outcomes and improve productivity.

    “Enterprises are pursuing AI to remain competitive in today’s digital landscape but they need to harness their proprietary data to differentiate,” said Dave Vellante, chief analyst, theCUBE Research. “We’re seeing a resurgence in interest for offerings like Dell’s AI infrastructure, solutions and services that can help customers prepare their data to extract insights, automate tasks and transform processes. As we continue into this new era of technological innovation, it will be critical for enterprises to continuously learn and invest in innovation to realise the benefits AI promises.”n

  • IBM’s State of Sustainability Readiness Report 2024 Shows India is a Leader in AI-Driven Sustainability Initiatives – CRN

    IBM, released its first-ever State of Sustainability Readiness Report 2024, revealing that 98% of Indian business leaders surveyed are planning to increase investment in IT for sustainability over the next 12 months. The research emphasises that the majority of Indian respondents view investments in IT as vital not only for environmental responsibility but also to drive long-term business resilience (61%) and brand reputation (64%).

    “As sustainability becomes central to business growth strategies, AI is proving to be a game-changer in driving responsible growth,” said Sandip Patel, Managing Director of IBM India/South Asia. “Today, India stands out as a leader in AI-driven sustainability. Business leaders across the country view sustainability as a strategic lever for transformation, and IBM is advancing AI solutions to help accelerate their sustainability goals,” added Patel.

    AI for Sustainability
    Almost universally, respondents had a positive take on AI’s potential for sustainability: 9 out of 10 surveyed executives globally agree that AI will positively influence achieving their sustainability goals. In line, most Indian executives (96%) believe that AI can positively impact their sustainability goals. Underscoring India’s commitment to sustainable innovation, most business leaders are already leveraging the power of AI, with 64% of Indian companies actively using AI in their sustainability efforts.

    Challenges and drivers
    The report also highlights water usage as one of the top challenges specific to Indian companies. Brand reputation (64%) is the top driver of IT sustainability investment at companies in India, followed by long-term business resilience (61%).

    While 81% of Indian leaders adopt a proactive approach towards Climate Resilience, 54% implement opportunity-driven sustainability investments. Further, 79% of Indian leaders report having mature systems to track sustainability goals through data.

    Actionable Recommendations
    IBM’s State of Sustainability Readiness Report provides key recommendations to business leaders and organisations eager to confront sustainability challenges. Among them:
    ⦁ Invest in the AI tools that are right for your organisation – For example, generative AI can provide insights that help identify opportunities to reduce carbon emissions and ⦁ create scenarios and algorithms for more sustainable business practices. This can provide organisations the insights needed to address climate crises and turn sustainability ambition into action.
    ⦁ Lean in on data to lessen the perception gap between C-suite and lower-level decision makers – As top challenges to sustainability continue to evolve, organisations should collect data from across their business to better understand the difference in perceptions between C-suite and lower-level decision makers. Leveraging data analysis and reporting
    ⦁ tools can uncover blind spots and maintain visibility and alignment across the organisation.

    The State of Sustainability Readiness 2024 report was conducted independently by Morning Consult and sponsored, analysed and published by IBM. Interviews were conducted between April and May of 2024 with 2,790 business leaders and decision-makers across 15 industries and 9 countries, including India.

     

  • Despite existing data protection regulations like DPDPA in India, GDPR in Europe, PDPA in Singapore, 59% of businesses still struggle with security concerns from customers during the registration process – Affinidi’s Latest Report – CRN

    Despite existing data protection regulations like DPDPA in India, GDPR in Europe, PDPA in Singapore, 59% of businesses still struggle with security concerns from customers during the registration process – Affinidi’s Latest Report – CRN

    Affinidi, has released ‘Unlocking Customer Value as an Experience-Orchestrated (X-O) Business’, an IDC InfoBrief commissioned by Affinidi that explores the challenges that digital-native businesses (DNBs) are facing when driving meaningful data value exchange with customers, and the strategies that can help overcome them. Findings within the InfoBrief are based on the latest IDC Affinidi DNB 2024 Survey, which polled businesses in five countries – Singapore, India, Australia and New Zealand (ANZ), and North America.

    Businesses worldwide are now facing even more pressure to deliver greater experiences. Commoditisation and similarity of products and services with competitors will have the most significant impact on how organisations deliver customer experiences over the next two years, according to IDC’s Future of Customer Experience Survey 2023.

    With the intensifying competitive landscape, the ability to offer hyper-personalised customer interactions has become a key differentiator and is very much expected by customers. To outpace these market disruptions, businesses must be digitally adaptive, agile, and resilient by elevating the level of customer experiences.

    Asian Businesses Face Urgent Need to Hyper-Personalise Customer Experience, Catching Up to Western Counterparts

    58% of the businesses surveyed seek to differentiate themselves by prioritising hyper-personalised products and services to deliver greater customer value. This level of personalisation goes beyond the previous field-level personalisation seen in the market, which is no longer sufficient to act on customer needs and deliver a proactive CX in real time. At present, companies in mature markets such as North America and ANZ are already prioritising hyper-personalised products and services due to heightened competition, ranking this their highest business priority. Meanwhile, Asian businesses, more specifically in Singapore and India, are placing priority on profitable growth instead, with personalisation as their lowest business priority. Nonetheless, as hyper-personalisation is becoming increasingly essential in customer acquisition and retention, serving as a key tenet of profitable growth, Asian companies will similarly be shifting more attention towards value outcomes through personalisation.

    According to IDC’s prediction, Asian companies will focus more on value outcomes in the coming years, and personalisation will become their top priority to combat the intense competition. By 2027, to differentiate and drive loyalty, 30% of Asian organisations will undergo structural and technological changes to deliver value outcomes, shifting focus from providing experiences to value parity.

    Navigating the Privacy-Personalisation Dilemma

    While more organisations are casting the spotlight on the importance of harnessing the true power of their customer data to elevate experiences, there remains a striking gap. The same survey shows that only 33% of businesses can anticipate their customers’ needs and drive value-centric, highly personalised services.

    This can be highly attributable to the hurdles in data collection, where 56% of businesses highlighted that data collection and management forms the main challenge. Such figures are set against a backdrop where cyberattacks and data breaches are on the rise and harder to prevent. End-users are becoming more cautious of the data they share with companies; only when a business has earned the customers’ trust do they then feel comfortable enough to share more data.

    Customers face a dilemma: the desire to get personalised experiences — essentially, value; while at the same time, discerning how much data they should share to achieve such a goal. Thus, businesses must navigate the fine line between delivering tailored experiences and proving they can protect customers’ personal data.

    While there are existing data protection regulations, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in Europe, Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Bill in India, and Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA) in Singapore, 59% of businesses surveyed indicated that they still struggle with security concerns from customers during the registration process.

    Embarking on the X-O Business Journey – Data is Core

    In order for businesses to effectively leverage experience as a competitive differentiator, they must transform into experience-orchestrated (X-O) businesses, with data as the linchpin for success. An X-O business can effectively leverage all aspects of its organisation, spanning processes, applications, and channels, to create a meaningful value exchange through data between its internal and external stakeholders.

    To become X-O, businesses must not only be transparent with data collection practices in order to collect data and earn customer trust, but also – upon collection of data – have the ability to share it through a high level of system integration and interoperability to unlock the power of the acquired data. Key pillars to unlocking customer value in becoming an X-O business include focusing on:

    ⦁ Connections across people, systems, applications, data, and processes. Such integration begins with a single customer view (data layer), which will power analytics and insights, and cross-functional collaboration.
    ⦁ Culture that embraces AI and focuses on outcomes, not just outputs.
    ⦁ Intelligence is data interpreted in context. Building and maintaining trust is the biggest obstacle in leveraging AI. Without trust, this intelligence pillar will crumble.
    ⦁ Actions through engaging with stakeholders – customers, suppliers, partners, and employees – via active listening and bringing together relevant data into an active portfolio of insights.

    As such, businesses need to evaluate their current maturity across these key pillars, identify gaps in the current experiences being delivered, and link their next steps to executable actions, to ensure performance is matching stakeholders’ expectations.

    The era of AI everywhere has further accelerated customers’ expectations; survey results highlight that keeping up with changing customer demands is the biggest challenge for businesses to overcome when delivering customer value. To particularly compete in today’s world, businesses must strive to adopt X-O practices to effectively outpace their competition.

    Recognising this, however, only 10% of businesses surveyed across India, Singapore, ANZ, and North America have reached the most advanced stage in their journey toward becoming an X-O business. This is primarily due to the lack of a unified customer view; to meaningfully engage customers, businesses must be able to unlock — through a unified customer view — the value of customer data sprawled across siloed data sources and applications in the enterprise. The key challenges of a unified customer view include:

    ⦁ Data Fragmentation: Many businesses struggle to unify customer data stored in disparate systems, which hinders their ability to offer truly personalised experiences.
    ⦁ Evolving Data Privacy Regulations: With countries implementing more stringent privacy laws, companies face increasing complexity in managing data across different jurisdictions.
    ⦁ Scalability: Inability to keep up with data maintenance and security demands as business scales, attributable to lack of real-time customer data as individuals may not feel comfortable to share personal information with organisations, due to minimal trust.

    Embracing Holistic Identity For X-O Business Transformation

    To address these challenges and become an X-O business, organisations must adopt holistic identity management solutions, which provide a secure, trust-based, privacy-first approach to data collection and management. This includes identity verification, seamless onboarding, secure communication, and consent management services. Affinidi’s Holistic Identity framework enables companies worldwide to manage customer data across multiple platforms, allowing for seamless integration while ensuring that privacy is protected. As data privacy regulations become more stringent, businesses need solutions that simplify compliance while maintaining customer trust and data security.

    By leveraging Affinidi’s product offerings, businesses can effectively manage customers’ consent preferences, enhance levels of personalisation, improve identity resolution and trust for transactions requiring authentication, communicate securely, and boost operational efficiency and business growth. These solutions ensure compliance with regional data protection regulations while empowering customers with greater control over their data – making it possible for businesses to deliver personalised experiences without compromising privacy, security, and trust. Affinidi’s approach enables businesses to break down data silos, integrate and translate them into greater insights from multiple sources, and deliver secure, seamless and enhanced customer experiences.

    “Turning X-O will be pivotal for businesses to stay competitive in today’s digital landscape. It is no longer about just acquiring data, but also knowing how best to utilise it to cater to customers’ needs and preferences. HI provides the scalability and flexibility businesses need to meet growing personalisation demands, while ensuring their customers feel secure, valued, and in control of their personal information –fostering long-term customer loyalty and reducing data-related risks,” said Glenn Gore, CEO of Affinidi.

    Affinidi is leading a global movement to return data ownership to individuals through its Holistic Identity concept, and in turn, enabling businesses to become X-O minded with the tools and technology they need to stay competitive.`

  • Nasscom unveils The Developer’s Playbook for Responsible AI in India – CRN

    Nasscom unveils The Developer’s Playbook for Responsible AI in India – CRN

    Recognising the challenges faced by developers in navigating the complex and rapidly evolving AI risk management landscape, the Nasscom Responsible AI Hub— with support from Anand and Anand—unveiled The Developer’s Playbook for Responsible AI in India. The playbook was launched at the inaugural edition of Confluence for Responsible Intelligence (RICON) in New Delhi.

    This milestone underscores the shared commitment of the Government of India and Nasscom to establishing a unified industry framework for AI risk identification and mitigation in India. The playbook provides a voluntary framework for developers to systematically identify and mitigate the potential risks associated with the commercial development, deployment, and use of AI in India.

    The playbook has undergone rigorous review and validation by a diverse group of Indian and international subject matter experts and stakeholders across industry, government, academia, and civil society—ensuring that it reflects a balanced and well-supported approach to responsible AI practices that firmly align with the nation’s broader interests and societal well-being.

    In his foreword for the playbook, Shri Abhishek Singh, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Government of India, and CEO, IndiaAI Mission, stated, “The playbook equips innovators with the guidance they need to identify potential risks, align with best practices, and adopt responsible AI methodologies while allowing for evolving approaches towards AI development and deployment. Aligned with the IndiaAI Mission’s Safe and Trusted AI pillar, the playbook seeks to harmonise public and private sector risk management frameworks, offering a path that integrates ethics into the fabric of AI development.”

    Sharing her views, Ms. Sangeeta Gupta, Senior Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer, Nasscom, reaffirmed Nasscom’s unwavering commitment to empowering India’s AI ecosystem. She underscored that the playbook offers a practical framework for developers to align their practices with the principles of responsible AI.

    Echoing her sentiments, Mr. Ankit Bose, Head of AI, Nasscom, stressed that the playbook builds on the ongoing efforts of the nasscom Responsible AI Hub to advance responsible AI practices among industry stakeholders. Further, Dr. Ajai Garg, Director of Digital Tech and Law Group, Anand and Anand, emphasised the strategic importance of the playbook in positioning India as a global leader in AI while ensuring safe and ethical AI development.

  • TransUnion’s GCC India Expands in Pune to Accommodate Growing Capabilities – CRN

    TransUnion’s GCC India Expands in Pune to Accommodate Growing Capabilities – CRN

    TransUnion, a global information and insights company, announced the expansion of its Global Capability Center (GCC) office in Pune, India, to accommodate growing capabilities in support of the company’s global market strategy. The state-of-the-art facility now spans 59,307 square feet across two floors and serves as an innovation hub for pioneering technology solutions and innovative developments.

    TransUnion’s GCC network spans Costa Rica, India and South Africa. The GCC in India, with offices in Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad and Pune, enables the company with robust scale and scope while strengthening operational resilience, and augmenting existing service offerings.

    Debasis Panda, Senior Vice President, Global Operations and Head of GCCs at TransUnion said: “This investment reflects our vision for the growth of our business and our ability to build operational excellence and seamless experiences for the consumers and clients we support. It allows us to create even more career opportunities for local talent across a full stack of competencies, while empowering GCC India to offer global support for product and platform solutions, data science and analytics, system architecture, intelligent automation, business process management, and shared services.”

    “Pune, known for its close-knit technology community, is home to top tier educational institutions and has a thriving business and startup ecosystem that offers a vibrant culture that attracts professionals from across the country. This ensures a steady pipeline of highly skilled technology professionals and leaders, making it an ideal location for us to advance our capabilities and deliver exceptional services to our consumers, clients and colleagues. The expanded environment and rapidly growing capabilities mark a significant chapter in our growth journey for the global business and for our GCC operations in India,” added Eric Hess, Executive Vice President, Global Operations at TransUnion.

    TransUnion GCC India’s Pune office is now located on both the 6th & 7th floor in the Panchshil Business Park, Tower B, Viman Nagar, Pune, and further strengthens the TransUnion GCCs’ growing presence in India.

  • Business Automation: Merging Technology and Skills – CRN

    Business Automation: Merging Technology and Skills – CRN

    Authored by Kewal Kishan

    In today’s fast-paced business environment, companies are continuously seeking ways to enhance their operations and maintain a competitive edge. With the rise of various tools and software, business owners have new opportunities to manage processes like data handling, team coordination, and lead generation. However, these tools often require ongoing human input to function effectively.

    As technology progresses, business owners are eager for solutions that can handle repetitive tasks, freeing up time for their teams to focus on more strategic activities. One of the most effective strategies to achieve this is through business automation—a combination of technology and human skills that streamlines processes and boosts productivity.
    Business automation is designed to complement rather than replace human efforts. It helps teams reduce repetitive tasks, allowing them to concentrate on what matters most, such as improving customer satisfaction and driving innovation.

    By implementing automation, companies can increase productivity as routine jobs—like data entry and scheduling—are managed by automated systems. This shift not only saves time but also minimises errors associated with manual processes.

    Automation also enables better resource allocation. The insights gained from automated tools empower teams to make informed decisions and direct resources where they are needed most. Furthermore, real-time reporting offers valuable data that supports timely decision-making.

    Effective team management is crucial for any business, and automation can enhance productivity and accountability. Automation tools simplify task management, enabling leaders to assign tasks, monitor progress, and maintain an organised overview of their team’s activities.

    One notable benefit is the ability to centralise task delegation. With automation, managers can assign tasks and deadlines, track progress, and manage files from a single platform. Enhanced communication is another advantage, as integrated notifications and real-time chats help keep team members informed, which is especially valuable for remote teams.
    Additionally, dashboards provide insights into team performance, assisting managers in identifying areas for improvement. When paired with strong management skills, automation fosters a more collaborative and productive work environment.

    Sales automation is another vital area for businesses looking to improve efficiency. By automating lead management and nurturing prospects, sales teams can close deals more swiftly. Automated systems help track leads from initial inquiry to conversion, ensuring timely follow-ups and preventing missed opportunities.
    Automated follow-ups, such as reminders and emails, keep prospects engaged without requiring manual effort, ultimately boosting conversion rates. Sales automation tools also provide valuable data, like win/loss ratios, which can guide teams in refining their strategies.

    To maximise the benefits of sales automation, it’s essential for team members to possess skills in understanding customer behavior and effective communication. This combination of technology and skill helps create a more efficient sales process.

    Marketing automation plays a crucial role in helping businesses engage with their customers. By automating repetitive marketing tasks, companies can deliver tailored content to the right audience at the right time, thereby enhancing customer engagement and building brand loyalty.

    Personalised campaigns are a significant advantage of marketing automation. Businesses can segment their audiences and create targeted content based on customer behavior. Additionally, automated social media scheduling helps maintain a consistent online presence, allowing marketers to focus on producing high-quality content.

    Automation also provides insights into key performance metrics, such as open rates and conversions, which are essential for refining marketing strategies. Teams can leverage these tools effectively by developing skills in data analysis and content creation, ensuring they connect meaningfully with their audience.

    While having the right automation tools is crucial, possessing the appropriate skills is equally important for creating an effective automated environment. Without skilled personnel, even the best systems may not reach their full potential.

    Understanding and documenting workflows is an essential skill for team members, as this process mapping helps identify areas where automation can reduce redundancy. Data analysis is also vital, as teams need to interpret automation metrics to inform their decisions.

    Furthermore, with automation handling repetitive tasks, employees must focus on strategic priorities that align with business goals. Basic technical proficiency in using automation tools is necessary, and this can be developed through training. Adaptability is also crucial, as technology evolves rapidly. A team that embraces learning and adapts to new tools will keep the business competitive.

    Successfully integrating automation into a business requires cultivating a supportive culture alongside implementing technology. Companies looking to embrace automation should a consider a few key areas.

    Ongoing training is essential. Providing continuous education on how to use new tools effectively helps employees understand the benefits of automation in their roles. Encouraging teams to identify areas where automation could be useful promotes a proactive mindset and fosters a culture of improvement.

    Recognising and celebrating successes also play an important role. Acknowledging teams that implement automation effectively boosts morale and encourages wider adoption throughout the organisation. Together, these elements create a positive environment for embracing automation.

    Conclusion
    In the rapidly evolving landscape of business, the fusion of technology and human skills is no longer just an option; it is a necessity for organisations aiming to thrive. As we embrace automation, it is crucial to recognise that technology alone cannot drive success. The most effective automation strategies arise from a harmonious integration of cutting-edge tools and skilled personnel who can leverage them to their fullest potential.

    Successful automation is about empowering teams to focus on what truly matters—enhancing customer experiences, driving innovation, and ultimately achieving sustainable growth. Business leaders must invest not only in the latest automation technologies but also in the development of their teams. By fostering a culture that embraces both technological advancement and continuous learning, organisations can position themselves at the forefront of industry innovation.

    The future of business lies in the ability to harness the strengths of both technology and people. Together, they can create a dynamic, agile environment that is well-equipped to navigate the challenges and opportunities ahead.

  • Nasscom Signs MoU with DIFC to Strengthen FinTech and Innovation Collaboration, Enhancing Global Opportunities for Indian Tech Companies – CRN

    Nasscom Signs MoU with DIFC to Strengthen FinTech and Innovation Collaboration, Enhancing Global Opportunities for Indian Tech Companies – CRN

    Nasscom has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Dubai International Financial Centre, the leading global financial centre in the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia (MEASA) region. The MoU was signed in the presence of Rajesh Nambiar, President of Nasscom and Arif Amiri, Chief Executive Officer of DIFC Authority.

    This strategic collaboration seeks to unlock opportunities for Nasscom member companies to actively engage in Dubai’s thriving FinTech and innovation ecosystem, fostering partnerships with cutting-edge organisations driving innovation in financial technology and related domains.

    The MoU focuses on fostering strategic cooperation between Nasscom and DIFC to facilitate the integration of Indian technology companies into DIFC’s vibrant FinTech and innovation ecosystem. Through a series of activities such as webinars, roundtables, roadshows, and networking conferences, the partnership aims to create meaningful platforms for knowledge exchange, business growth, and collaborative innovation. It offers Nasscom member companies unparalleled access to DIFC’s Innovation Hub, Dubai AI Campus and its extensive network of cutting-edge companies driving innovation in the financial sector.

    Key outcomes of the partnership include:
    ⦁ Nasscom and DIFC will actively exchange sectoral insights, development strategies, and best practices to drive mutual growth and success.
    ⦁ Nasscom member companies will gain direct access to DIFC’s AI, FinTech and innovation ecosystem, enabling them to explore opportunities for collaboration, partnerships, and innovation.
    ⦁ Through events such as webinars, roundtables, roadshows, and workshops, the MoU will drive deeper engagement and knowledge sharing between the Indian tech ecosystem and DIFC.

    Speaking at the MoU signing, Rajesh Nambiar, President, Nasscom, said, “This partnership with DIFC underscores our unwavering commitment to empowering Indian technology companies as they expand their global footprint. Through this collaboration, Nasscom member companies gain access to Dubai’s dynamic FinTech ecosystem, opening up opportunities to engage with innovative organisations and network with industry leaders at the forefront of cutting-edge advancements.”

    Commenting on the partnership, Arif Amiri, Chief Executive Officer, DIFC Authority said, “DIFC is committed to nurturing a globally connected ecosystem where innovation thrives. Through this partnership with Nasscom, we aim to attract and engage Indian technology companies in our AI, FinTech and innovation community, fostering groundbreaking advancements that benefit the wider financial services industry.

    This collaboration is set to drive innovation, foster global connections, and position Indian technology companies as key contributors to the FinTech revolution in Dubai and beyond. With DIFC’s world-class infrastructure and Nasscom’s leadership in advancing technology innovation, this partnership sets the stage for new opportunities for growth and collaboration.

  • IO-Link actuator board from STMicroelectronics delivers turnkey reference design for industrial monitoring and appliances – CRN

    IO-Link actuator board from STMicroelectronics delivers turnkey reference design for industrial monitoring and appliances – CRN

    ST has introduced an IO-Link reference design for industrial beacons and home-appliance alarms, delivered ready-to-use as a fully built board complete with protocol stack and application software.

    The EVLIOL4LSV1 board leverages ST’s L6364Q dual-channel IO-Link transceiver to handle communications and the IPS4260L intelligent low-side power switch for driving the indicator lights. The board can be directly connected to signaling systems such as smart tower lights used in factory automation, funnel material alarms for quantity-remaining or urgency-level awareness, and other system warnings. It also provides a fast way to test the IPS4260L and L6364Q ICs and has a 4-pin M12 connector for an IO-LINK master and a 5-pin SWD connector for programming.

    An STM32G071CB microcontroller, which hosts the ST proprietary IO-Link demo stack and the application software, handles system control and diagnostics, communicating with the transceiver and low-side switch.

    The L6364Q transceiver is fully protected and supports standardised IO-Link communication speeds including 38.4kbit/s COM2 and 230.4kbit/s COM3. The transceiver can operate in single or multibyte mode, as well as in transparent mode delegating control of IO-Link communications to the microcontroller by a simple URT interface. The in-built protection ensures EMC immunity up to 2.5kVpk surge pulse/500Ω coupling without additional protection elements.

    The IPS4260L low-side driver has four outputs for driving loads with one side connected to supply voltage, each individually controlled by a signal such as a digital microcontroller output. It has a wide operating-voltage range, from 8V to 50V, and the current for each output can be independently programmed from 0.5A to 3.0A. The IC integrates overload and overtemperature protection for each channel and provides open-load, overload, and overtemperature diagnostic signals to aid system management and enhance reliability. The reference design also features ST’s SMBJ30CA TVS (transient-voltage suppression) diode to withstand surge pulses with 2Ω coupling on the supply rail.

  • Digital CFO Launches Advanced AI-Driven SaaS Software for Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Financial Management – CRN

    Digital CFO Launches Advanced AI-Driven SaaS Software for Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Financial Management – CRN

    Digital CFO, announces the launch of its transformative, AI-driven cloud-based bookkeeping, accounting, and financial management software. Hosted on the highly secure and scalable Microsoft Azure platform, this next-generation SaaS solution aims to revolutionise financial management for businesses worldwide by automating processes, enhancing compliance, and providing real-time analytics for data-driven decision-making.

    The launch on November 27th, 2024, marks a significant milestone in the fintech industry. With a decade of expertise, Digital CFO is already trusted by leading global accounting firms, as well as financial institutions. This innovative software eliminates human error in transaction processing and delivers unparalleled automation by simplifying complex accounting principles and tax compliance into intuitive user experiences.

    Key Features and Differentiators:
    AI-Driven Automation: Automatically generates accurate and compliant accounting entries, tax calculations, and ledger updates.
    Real-Time Upstream Value Addition: Provides actionable insights for working capital optimisation and cost reduction.
    Secure and Scalable Infrastructure: Hosted on Microsoft Azure, ensuring top-tier data security and performance.
    Universal Accessibility: Designed for accountants, bookkeepers, MSMEs, and financial managers without requiring extensive accounting knowledge.

    Srikanth Cheruku, Founder of Digital CFO, commented, “This launch represents the culmination of years of innovation, collaboration, and dedication to simplifying financial management. Digital CFO is more than software—it’s a platform that empowers businesses to make accurate and strategic financial decisions while significantly reducing operational inefficiencies.”

  • Veeam Named a Leader in Data Resilience Solutions in Leading Global Research Report – CRN

    Veeam Named a Leader in Data Resilience Solutions in Leading Global Research Report – CRN

    Veeam Software, announced that global research firm, Forrester Research has positioned the company as a leader in The Forrester Wave: Data Resilience Solutions, Q4 2024. Veeam received the top score in the strategy category and the Customer Feedback marker indicating above-average customer feedback.

    A Forrester Wave™ is a guide for buyers considering their purchasing options in a technology marketplace. In this report, Forrester evaluated nine data resilience solutions providers against 26 criteria across two categories – current offering, and strategy. Veeam received the top score in the strategy category, and highest possible score in the innovation, product roadmap and partner ecosystem criteria. In addition, Veeam received the Customer Feedback marker indicating above-average customer feedback relative to the other evaluated vendors. Customer feedback is a new aspect of the evaluation that includes speaking with up to three customers of each vendor.

    “In a digital world, Data Resilience – ensuring data is always available no matter what happens – is critical to keeping your business running,” said Anand Eswaran, CEO at Veeam. “More than 550,000 customers and 34,000 partners around the world rely on Veeam as the #1 global leader to deliver the industry’s most innovative and trusted Data Resilience solutions. With close to 15 significant product releases in the past 12 months, including the launch of Veeam Data Cloud, and Veeam Data Cloud Vault, Veeam is pioneering the next wave of innovation to ensure data is protected and available.”

    According to the Forrester report, “Veeam Software is an excellent fit for enterprise customers that need flexible deployment options on-premises, at the edge, and in the cloud to protect an array of applications and data.”

    Veeam key offerings and capabilities evaluated in the Forrester Wave: Data Resilience Solutions include:
    Strategy: “Veeam has used its own in-house development as well as a series of targeted
    acquisitions to create a fully featured enterprise data resilience platform. The company has
    strengths in innovation, an aggressive roadmap, and a vibrant partner ecosystem. Some
    highlights on its roadmap include a web-based UX refresh, expanded SaaS support prioritising Entra ID, vault provisioning enhancements, Coveware Proactive Threat Assessment, improved security analytics integration, and enhanced incident response workflows.”
    Capabilities: “Veeam has wide support for many backup sources and restores targets with
    strengths in Kubernetes and containers, common storage types and specific vendor storage systems, hyperscale IaaS coverage, and broad backup storage target support. It also shows strength in recovery to alternate infrastructure and automated testing for backups and restores.”
    Customer feedback: “Customers enjoy Veeam’s flexible deployment options.”
    The latest version of Veeam Data Platform provides a single platform that delivers data resilience across cloud, on-premises and hybrid platforms bringing together powerful data protection, secure migration, seamless cloud integration, and the industry’s most advanced end-to-end ransomware protection.

    Veeam recently announced major updates to Veeam Data Cloud Vault, a fully managed, secure, and cloud-based storage service that leverages the power of Microsoft Azure and simplifies storing backups of mission-critical data and applications offsite for unmatched business resilience. This new release, developed in collaboration with Microsoft, introduces two new editions with low-cost, all-inclusive pricing that eliminates common forecasting and bill shock challenges for customer-managed cloud storage. Furthermore, a new enhancement to Veeam Data Vault is the integration with Veeam Data Platform, making it simpler for customers to streamline immutable, offsite backup for Veeam users.