Tag: latest

  • Tech giant Apple announces annual ‘WWDC25’ to showcase latest software advancements

    Tech giant Apple announces annual ‘WWDC25’ to showcase latest software advancements

    Apple announces annual 'WWDC25' to showcase latest software advancements

    Apple announces annual ‘WWDC25’ to showcase latest software advancementsIANS

    Tech giant Apple on Wednesday announced it will host its annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) online from June 9 to 13.

    Developers and students will also have the opportunity to celebrate in person during a special event at Apple Park on June 9, the company said in a statement.

    Available for free to all developers, WWDC25 will spotlight the latest advancements in Apple software.

    As part of Apple’s ongoing commitment to supporting developers, the conference will provide them with unique access to Apple experts, as well as insight into new tools, frameworks, and features.

    “We’re excited to mark another incredible year of WWDC with our global developer community,” said Susan Prescott, Apple’s vice president of Worldwide Developer Relations.

    “We can’t wait to share the latest tools and technologies that will empower developers and help them continue to innovate,” Prescott added.

    Developers and students will be able to discover the latest Apple software and technologies by tuning in to the Keynote.

    $1.5 billion Apple-Globalstar deal to transform direct to device satellite game

    Apple announces annual ‘WWDC25’ to showcase latest software advancementsIANS

    They can also experience WWDC25 throughout the week on the Apple Developer app, Apple Developer website, and Apple Developer YouTube channel. This year’s conference will include video sessions and opportunities to connect with Apple engineers and designers in online labs.

    “Apple is proud to support the next generation of developers through the Swift Student Challenge, one of many Apple programmes that seek to uplift the next generation of entrepreneurs, coders, and designers,” it said.

    On March 27, this year’s applicants will be notified of their status, and winners will be eligible to apply for the special event at Apple Park.

    In addition, 50 distinguished winners, who are recognised for outstanding submissions, will be invited to Cupertino, California, for a three-day experience, said the company in its statement.

    (With inputs from IANS)

  • Pensionable Age Cut: Will the age for additional pension for retired employees be reduced? know latest update


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    Pensionable Age Cut: The government has assured that the payment of additional pension is made automatically through banks and pension distribution agencies. Instructions are also issued from time to time to avoid any delay or disturbance in this.

    There has been a long standing demand to reduce the existing age limit for additional pension to retired central employees. However, the government has once again clarified its stand on this matter. The central government said that there is no plan to reduce the minimum age eligibility for additional pension to retired central employees.

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    There is no approval for reducing the minimum age limit for additional pension
    The central government has made it clear that the minimum age for additional pension will remain 80 years. In response to a question asked in the Lok Sabha, the government said that there was a proposal to increase this limit to 65 years, but it has not been approved.

    An MP asked whether the government was considering reducing the age limit to 65 years as recommended by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Pensioners’ Grievances and, if so, sought details about it.

    In response to this question, Union Minister of State for Personnel Jitendra Singh said in the Lok Sabha that on the recommendation of the Sixth Pay Commission, the government has approved 20% additional pension at the age of 80 years, 30% at the age of 85 years, 40% at the age of 90 years, 50% at the age of 95 years and 100% at the age of 100 years.

    He said that as age increases, especially health-related needs also increase, so provision for additional pension has been made. But there is no plan to reduce the minimum age eligibility for additional pension.

    Will the rules on additional pension age change for central government employees?
    The Parliamentary Standing Committee had recommended giving additional pension from the age of 65 in 2021. The government considered it and also submitted its report in 2022. After this, the committee decided not to pursue the issue further. That is, at present the government has no plans to reduce the minimum age eligibility.

    How are central government pensioners paid?

    The government has assured that the payment of additional pension is done automatically through banks and pension distribution agencies. Instructions are also issued from time to time to avoid any delay or disturbance in this.

    How will the impact of rising inflation on pension be reduced?

    Dearness Relief (DR) is given to pensioners, which applies to both their basic pension and additional pension. Its rate is the same as that of Dearness Allowance (DA).

    Possibility of change in pensionable age in future?

    At present, the government does not intend to make any changes in this rule. But in view of the rising inflation and cost of living, the government will keep an eye on this issue. It is clear from this decision of the government that one should not expect to get additional pension before the age of 80 years. At present, Dearness Allowance is the only support for retired central employees, through which they can get some relief.

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  • DA Arrear Payment: Will government employees get 18 months of DA arrears? know latest update


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    DA Arrear Payment: The central government increases the Dearness Allowance every year in January and July. But in 2020, due to the Covid pandemic, the government stopped the DA hike for 18 months.

    During this period, the employees were supposed to get DA in three installments, which is still pending.

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    Central government employees and pensioners have been demanding for a long time to pay the Dearness Allowance (DA) which was stopped during Covid-19. The Confederation of Central Government Employees and Workers has once again raised the issue of long pending demands of central government employees and pensioners.

    According to a circular issued by the Confederation, one of their various demands is to pay the arrears of Dearness Allowance (DA) withheld during the Covid pandemic. This DA arrears is from January 2020 to June 2021.

    In this circular, the government has been asked to resolve many other issues including the pending DA issue as soon as possible. Let us tell you that in the circular issued on 7 March 2025, the Confederation said that due to the lack of attention of the central government, their legitimate demands have not been met yet. Employee organizations have been agitating for their demands for a long time.

    What are the special demands of the Federation? 

    The organization’s charter of demands includes several demands, such as:

    • Demand for appointment of committee members including chairman under 8th Pay Commission.
    • The New Pension Scheme (NPS) should be abolished and the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) should be restored.
    • The three DA installments withheld during the Covid pandemic should be paid.
    • The amount deducted from the pension of employees and pensioners should be restored in 12 years (currently this period is 15 years).
    • The 5% limit on providing jobs on compassionate grounds should be abolished and all eligible applicants should be given appointment.
    • The vacant posts in all departments should be filled immediately and outsourcing and privatization in government departments should be stopped.
    • Employees’ organizations should be allowed to work democratically.

    Know what is the issue related to DA arrears?

    The central government increases the Dearness Allowance every year in January and July. But in 2020, due to the Covid pandemic, the government stopped the DA hike for 18 months. During this period, the employees were to get DA in three installments, which is still pending. The Federation says that the government should pay these pending arrears as it is the right of the employees and pensioners. But the government has not yet accepted their demand.

    Will the government pay the DA arrears?

    The government has made it clear on several occasions that it will not pay the DA arrears. The government’s argument on this is that it is not financially possible to do so. However, the Federation said in its circular that the employees will continue to raise their demands.

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  • Exploring Cryptocurrency Crime in Hungama’s Latest Thriller, Pyramid

    PUNE: Hungama, India’s leading digital entertainment platform, is set to captivate audiences with its latest original series, Pyramid, a thrilling drama that delves into the murky world of cryptocurrency and crime. Streaming exclusively on the Hungama OTT, the show promises to keep viewers on the edge of their seats with its seamless blend of mystery, suspense, and high-stakes drama, coupled with a compelling narrative and jaw-dropping twists

    Starring a talented ensemble cast featuring Helly Shah, Rohan Mehra, Harshad Arora, Karan Sharma, and Krissann Barretto, the series unravels the shocking murder of Arjun Banerjee, the visionary behind a groundbreaking cryptocurrency platform, Pyramid. As the nation grapples with his sudden death, millions are left with blocked accounts with no answers in sight. Journalist Vrinda (played by Helly Shah) embarks on a relentless investigation that uncovers a web of deceit, hidden agendas, and betrayal. Her quest for the truth leads her down a perilous path, where danger lurks at every corner, and nothing is quite as it seems.

    Neeraj Roy, Founder & Managing Director, of Hungama Digital Media, said, “Pyramid is a significant addition to Hungama’s portfolio of original content, combining a timely topic with an exhilarating narrative. As cryptocurrency reshapes the global economy, this series delves into its darker undercurrents, delivering a suspenseful experience. We’re excited to unveil Pyramid during the festive season, offering audiences an engaging story to enjoy.”

    Nitesh Singh, Director of Pyramid, shared his insights on bringing this story to life, “Directing Pyramid has been an incredible journey. The series intricately explores themes of human greed, betrayal, and resilience, set against the backdrop of a rapidly shifting digital landscape. Each character is multifaceted, adding depth to the narrative, and allowing viewers to peel back the layers of this complex and suspenseful world. I am thrilled for audiences to join us on this intriguing ride.”

    Harshad Arora, who essays the character of Arjun, shared his excitement for the launch, “Being part of Pyramid has been an incredible experience. Arjun’s character is central to the mystery, and his story is one of ambition, innovation, and the chaos that follows his untimely death. I believe viewers will be drawn into the suspense and complexities surrounding his life and legacy.”

    Krissann Barretto, reflecting on her role, stated, “Pyramid allowed me to dive into a dark and intense character who thrives in a world full of uncertainty and danger. The gripping crime thriller aspect of the show is what truly sets it apart, and I am thrilled for the audience to unravel the secrets and twists we’ve worked so hard to bring to life.”

    Karan Sharma, added, “The convergence of technology and crime in Pyramid offers a fresh narrative that is both thrilling and thought-provoking. Being part of this project has been immensely rewarding, and I’m excited for viewers to witness the gripping twists and turns that will keep them hooked till the end.”

    Hungama OTT is offering an exclusive 25% discount on its Monthly subscription, providing viewers with an opportunity to enjoy premium content at a reduced price. The series is now streaming exclusively on Hungama and partner platforms, including Tata Play Binge, Watcho, BSNL, PlayboxTV, RailWire Broadband, Alliance Broadband, Meghbela Broadband, ACT Fibernet, Airtel Xstream Play, and Dor Tv.

  • Global demand for coal to breach records in 2024, shows latest IEA report

    Data shows global coal demand has touched record high figures in 2024.
    Global coal demand touch record high in 2024. Photo Courtesy: Unsplash

    Global demand for coal use is set to touch record-high figures in 2024, as per data released by the International Energy Agency on Wednesday.

    After reaching a new high in 2024, global demand for coal is set to level off in the coming years as a surge in renewable power helps to meet soaring demand for electricity around the world, according to an IEA report out today.

    Coal 2024 – the new edition of the IEA’s annual coal market report, which analyses the latest trends and updates medium-term forecasts – shows that global coal use has rebounded strongly after plummeting at the height of the pandemic. 

    According to reports, 8.77 billion tonnes of coal was forecasted to be in use in 2024, which is a record. 

    The demand, as per the report, is set to stay close to this level through 2027 as renewable energy sources play a greater role in generating power and coal consumption levels off in China.

    China’s global coal market

    The electricity sector in China is particularly important to global coal markets, with one out of every three tonnes of coal consumed worldwide burned at a power plant in the country. 

    In 2024, China continued to diversify its power sector, advance the construction of nuclear plants and accelerate its huge expansion of solar PV and wind capacity. 

    This should help limit increases in coal consumption through 2027, according to the report, though it also highlights a number of key uncertainties in its analysis.

    Electricity use in a number of countries, including China, is growing at a strong pace due to a combination of factors, including the electrification of services like transport and heating, rising demand for cooling, and increasing consumption from emerging sectors such as data centres. 

    Additionally, weather patterns could drive fluctuations in coal consumption in the short term.

    According to the report, coal demand in China, by 2027, could be up to 140 million tonnes higher or lower than forecast due to weather-related variability in renewable generation.

    “The rapid deployment of clean energy technologies is reshaping the global electricity sector, which accounts for two-thirds of the world’s coal use. As a result, our models show global demand for coal plateauing through 2027 even as electricity consumption rises sharply,” said IEA Director of Energy Markets and Security Keisuke Sadamori. “However, weather factors – particularly in China, the world’s largest coal consumer – will have a major impact on short-term trends for coal demand. The speed at which electricity demand grows will also be very important over the medium term.”

    In most advanced economies, coal demand has already peaked and is expected to keep decreasing through 2027. The pace of decline will continue to depend on the enactment of strong policies, such as those implemented in the European Union, and the availability of alternative power sources, including cheap natural gas in the United States and Canada.

    Emerging economies

    Meanwhile, demand for coal is still increasing in some emerging economies where electricity demand is rising sharply along with economic and population growth, such as India, Indonesia and Viet Nam. 

    In emerging economies, growth is mainly driven by coal demand from the power sector, although industrial use is also going up.

    Coal prices today remain 50 percent higher than the average seen between 2017 and 2019. Coal production reached an all-time high in 2024, though growth is expected to flatten through 2027 as structural changes take hold.

    International trade of coal by volume is also set to reach a record in 2024 of 1.55 billion tonnes. However, looking ahead, global trade volumes are set to shrink, with thermal coal seeing the biggest decline. 

    According to the report, Asia remains the centre of international coal trade, with all of the largest importing countries in the region, including China, India, Japan, Korea and Viet Nam, while the largest exporters include Indonesia and Australia.

  • Avocor to Showcase Latest Innovations at Integrated Systems Europe 2025

    Avocor, a global leader in collaboration and communication solutions, is pleased to announce its product line-up for Integrated Systems Europe (ISE) 2025. On Booth 2V300 the company will showcase its comprehensive line-up of solutions designed for new ways of working and learning. Among the solutions on display will be the award-winning E92, as well as the S Series, and K Series, all of which are making their European trade show debut.

    Avocor to Showcase Latest Innovations at Integrated Systems Europe 2025

    “At Avocor our goal is to empower businesses and institutions to achieve their full potential through effective collaboration and communication,” says Dana Corey GM & SVP of Global Sales, Avocor. “At ISE 2025, we’ll showcase a range of display and software solutions that cater to the diverse needs of all types of organisation; from large corporate enterprises and SMEs, through to universities, colleges, schools and other types of public building, where our technology is already transforming the way people work and learn.”

    Products on display will include:

    • E92 Display: The Avocor E92 interactive touch screen display revolutionises meeting environments with its 92-inch ultra-wide LCD display and 21:9 aspect ratio that  offer an expanded interactive workspace It eliminates the need for dual-monitor setups. With a high resolution of 5120×2160, it ensures crystal-clear visuals and supports multi-user interaction with up to 50 touch points on Windows. Ideal for immersive presentations, video conferencing, and digital signage, the E92 delivers exceptional performance and versatility.
    • S Series Displays: The Avocor S Series has been specifically designed for educational environment to support effective teaching and learning. Built on an Android platform, the Avocor S Series enables educators to use their favourite applications straight from the display and within the built-in whiteboard platform. Combining the robust, intuitive experience you would expect from any Avocor inspire interaction and learning at an incredibly affordable price.
    • K Series Displays: The Avocor K Series is designed for non-interactive environments in corporate, educational, and government sectors. Available in sizes ranging from 55 to 98 inches and featuring QLED technology, the K Series offers exceptional display quality for any space, whether it’s delivering presentations, enhancing digital signage, or supporting large-scale visual communication.

    To experience these groundbreaking display solutions firsthand, please visit the Avocor Booth 2V 300 at ISE 2025. The team will be on hand to answer questions, carry out product demos, and discuss how the company’s innovative collaboration and communication solutions can benefit your organization.


    Neel Achary

  • Latest Aerospike Vector Search keeps data fresh for accurate GenAI and ML decisions regardless of scale – CRN

    Latest Aerospike Vector Search keeps data fresh for accurate GenAI and ML decisions regardless of scale – CRN

    Aerospike Inc. unveiled the latest version of Aerospike Vector Search featuring powerful new indexing and storage innovations that deliver real-time accuracy, scalability, and ease-of-use for developers. These advancements simplify deployment, reduce operational overhead, and enable enterprise-ready solutions for just-in-time generative AI (GenAI) and ML decisions.

    One of the three most popular vector database management systems on DBEngines, Aerospike unlocks real-time semantic search across data, delivering consistent accuracy no matter the scale. It lets enterprises easily ingest vast amounts of real-time data and search billions of vectors within milliseconds—all at a fraction of the infrastructure costs of other databases.

    Durable self-healing indexing

    The latest release of Aerospike Vector Search adds a unique self-healing hierarchical navigable small world (HNSW) index. This innovative approach allows data to be ingested immediately while asynchronously building the index for search across devices, enabling horizontal, scale-out ingestion. By scaling ingestion and index growth independently from query processing, the system ensures uninterrupted performance, fresh, accurate results, and optimal query speed for real-time decision-making.

    Flexible storage

    Aerospike’s underlying storage system also provides a range of configurations to meet customers’ needs in real time, including in-memory for small indexes or hybrid memory for vast indexes that reduces costs significantly. This unique storage flexibility eliminates data duplication across systems, management, compliance and other complexities.

    “Companies want to use all their data to fuel real-time AI decisions, but traditional data infrastructure chokes quickly, and as the data grows, costs soar,” said Subbu Iyer, CEO, Aerospike. “Aerospike is built on a foundation proven at many of the largest AI/ML applications at global enterprises. Our Vector Search provides a simple data model for extending existing data to take advantage of vector embeddings. The result is a single, developer-friendly database platform that puts all your data to work—with accuracy—while removing the cost, speed, scale and management struggles that slow AI adoption.”

    Easily start, swap, and scale AI applications

    Application developers can easily start or swap their AI stack to Aerospike Vector Search for better outcomes at a lower cost. A new simple Python client and sample apps for common vector use cases speed deployment. Developers can also add as many vectors as they want to existing records and AI applications with the Aerospike data model.

    Aerospike Vector Search makes it easy to integrate semantic search into existing AI applications through integrations with popular frameworks and provider cloud partners. A Langchain extension speeds the build of RAG applications, and an AWS Bedrock sample embedding example speeds the  build-out of your enterprise-ready data pipeline.

    Multi-model, multi-cloud database platform

    Aerospike’s multi-model database engine includes document, key-value, graph, and vector search all within one system. This significantly reduces operational complexity and cost and lets developers choose the best data model for each specific application use case. Aerospike’s graph and vector databases work independently and jointly to support AI use cases, such as retrieval augmented generation (RAG), semantic search, recommendations, fraud prevention, and ad targeting. The Aerospike multi-model database is also available on all major public clouds, giving developers the flexibility to deploy real-time applications wherever and however they like, including in hybrid environments.

  • FD rate Hike: Good news! HDFC Bank has increased interest rates on Fixed Deposit. check latest rate

    HDFC Bank : The country’s largest private sector bank HDFC Bank has given a gift to its crores of customers. HDFC Bank has increased the interest rates on Fixed Deposit. The bank is offering FDs from 7 days to 10 years.

    This increase has been done on FDs of only a few periods. However, HDFC Bank has not increased the interest on FDs up to Rs 3 crore. Rather, this time the interest rates on bulk FDs have been revised. The bank has changed the interest rates on FDs ranging from Rs 3 crore to Rs 5 crore. These new rates have come into effect from December 5, 2024.

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    HDFC Bank’s interest rates on FDs ranging from Rs 3 crore to Rs 5 crore

    • 7 days to 14 days: For general public – 4.75%; For senior citizens – 5.25%
    • 15 days to 29 days: For general public – 4.75%; For senior citizens – 5.25%
    • 30 days to 45 days: For general public – 5.50 percent; For senior citizens – 6 percent
    • 46 days to 60 days: For general public – 5.75 percent; For senior citizens – 6.25 percent
    • 61 days to 89 days: For general public – 6 per cent; For senior citizens – 6.50 per cent
    • 90 days to 6 months: For general public – 6.50 percent; For senior citizens – 7 percent
    • 6 months 1 day to less than 9 months: For general public – 6.85 per cent; For senior citizens – 7.35 per cent
    • 9 months 1 day to less than 1 year: For general public – 6.75 per cent; For senior citizens – 7.25 per cent
    • Less than 1 year to 15 months: For general public – 7.40 percent; For senior citizens – 7.90 percent
    • 15 months to less than 18 months: For general public – 7.05 per cent; For senior citizens – 7.55 per cent
    • 18 months 1 day to less than 21 months: For general public – 7.25 per cent; For senior citizens – 7.75 per cent
    • 21 months to 2 years: For general public – 7.05 percent; For senior citizens – 7.55 percent
    • 2 years 1 day and upto 3 years: For general public – 7.00%; For senior citizens – 7.50%
    • 3 years 1 day to 5 years – 7.00 percent; For senior citizens – 7.50 percent
    • 5 years 1 day to 10 years: For general public – 7.00 percent; For senior citizens – 7.50 percent

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  • Discover the Bastian Empire: Bastian Hospitality’s Latest Venture in Pune

    PUNE: Bastian Hospitality Private Limited announced the launch of Bastian Empire, its first restaurant in the city.

    After the successful launch of Bastian Garden City in Bengaluru in 2023, this marks the brand’s foray into its third city in India, with Mumbai remaining the brand’s flagship.

    Bastian Empire promises to bring Poonaites the inimitable blend of everything that the brand is known for: bold, striking interiors; glorious F&B offerings; and the distinctive Bastian vibe that feels exciting yet comfortable at the same time.

    Says Ranjit Bindra, CEO of Bastian Hospitality Private Limited, “The success of the Bastian brand in Mumbai gave us the confidence to open doors in Bengaluru, a market which has welcomed us with open arms. We are therefore delighted to be foraying into our third city in India, with the launch of Bastian Empire in Pune. Pan-India and international expansion has always been part of our plan, and we are excited to be steadily growing our footprint in key markets across the country.”

    Designed by Minal Chopra of Ineedspace, the long-time designer for the group’s restaurants, and Ranjit Bindra (CEO of Bastian Hospitality Private Limited), Bastian Empire has been created to resemble a cave on top of a high-rise. The 220-seater space is loosely divided into sections; guests will arrive in a Cappadocia-esque entrance area with soaring ceilings that are both rugged and smooth at once. Flooring in deliberately unfinished cobblestones and travertine marble further contributes to the rustic-chic feel. Every element of the restaurant has been designed with a wabi-sabi approach: one fine design element juxtaposed against one rustic one. The Main Bar area of the restaurant features relaxed, lounge seating, as well as high tables and chairs, all nestled in what feels like a suspended niche. The fine dining area offers back-to-back seating which is both intimate and private at the same time. At the opposite end of the space, a second DJ spins tunes that are more amenable to the dining audience, thus allowing for a comfortable mix of a party crowd and diners within the same space.  The entire restaurant stands out in its use of tone-on-tone, singular colors – beige, taupe, earthy shades, and neutrals punctuated by strikingly oversized wicker ceiling lamps, camouflage netting on the roof, and a chicly-distressed vibe that is signature Bastian.

    The food brings to Pune the entire range of Bastian classics that keep diners in Mumbai (and now) Bengaluru visiting the restaurants time and time again. At dinner, Salads like Burrata Salad and Avocado Poke; and Signature Cold Dishes like Crab Roll; Bastian Ceviche; and Seafood Salad set the tone for the meal. Classics offer options such as Mongolian Lamb; The Mac; Baked Brie; and Pulled Chicken Taco. From the Sea options such as Steamed Garlic Prawns; Hot Stone Soup; and Lobstaa Bomb are a perfect complement to Robata dishes like King Mushroom; Baby Potatoes; Lamb Chop; and Pork Ribs. The Market menu, offering a pick of various proteins of choice or vegetables, cooked in sauces of the guest’s choosing, retains pride of place on the dinner menu, once again.

    Instagrammable desserts that not only look good but taste great have also been a USP since Bastian first launched. Pune Empire will offer exciting and unique options like Banana Box, honey tuile, caramel banana, vanilla mousse, and caramel rocks; and Pedro Pudding, robata pineapple, fruit brioche, Pedro Ximenez sherry crème anglaise; a Best of Bastian section featuring favorites like Lotus Kunafa Cheesecake; and Baked Alaska; and the ever-popular Pull-Me-Up desserts, Hazelnut Crunch; and Mille-Feuille.

    Bastian Empire’s distinctive bar menu is divided into distinct sections, the bar menu offers Crystal Clear, clarified cocktails which are a masterful fusion of mixology and science – using innovative technology, the bar team transforms traditional ingredients into liquid jewels; and Fizzy Fusions, drinks that deliver a delightful burst of sparkling refreshment onto the palate. The Farm to Glass section of the cocktail menu offers libations crafted using locally sourced, vibrant ingredients such as herbs, fruit, zesty citrus, and savory elements that promise a unique drinking experience. Of course, the menu would not be complete without the Best of Bastian, drinks that have stood the test of time since the restaurant first opened; and an intriguing Bastian Negroni section, a series of cocktails that are a modern interpretation of the classic Negroni, artfully reimagined by the talented mixologists at Bastian.

  • 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.`