Category Archives: Technology

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Our annual partner conference, Microsoft Inspire, just concluded. The conversations I had with Microsofts partner community echo those I have had recently with leaders from both established organizations and earlier-stage enterprises. Leaders across industries share a commitment to innovation as the only path forward through uncertainty in global markets, especially as they continue to strengthen their security posture, reduce their carbon footprint, inject more visibility into their supply chains, and promote more inclusive prosperity in the communities where they operate.

I see this shared commitment as part of a trend I call digital perseverance. It is the ability oforganizations to thrive despite risk when they harness and wield digital technology to achieve their business goals and do more with less. Here are examples of organizations that have embraced digital capabilities to persevere in collaboration with Microsoft.

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Last week, Oracle and Microsoft announced the availability of Oracle Database Service for Microsoft Azure. Earlier this month, we completed the acquisition of Miburo to boost threat intelligence research into new foreign cyber threats, and Netflix announced Microsoft as technology and sales partner for its new consumer subscription plan. P&G has selected Microsoft as its preferred cloud provider to enable scalable predictive maintenance, controlled release, touchless operations and manufacturing sustainability optimization from diapers to paper towels. American Airlines has chosen Microsoft Azure as its preferred cloud platform, applying AI, machine learning and data analytics to reduce time waiting on the runway, saving thousands of gallons of jet fuel per year and giving connecting customers extra time to make their next flights.

The industrial metaverse has the potential to simultaneously improve supply chain resiliency, business efficiency and sustainability.When organizations make or move goods, they leave a carbon footprint.With the industrial metaverse, they can simulate manufacturing processes and supply chain scenarios infinitely in the cloud before a product is made or moved. The result: less waste, water consumption and carbon emissions all while creating better products more efficiently and sustainably.

Manufacturers set new quality standards with digital twins and mixed realityBelgium-based AB Inbev, the worlds largest brewery, is creating a digital model of their breweries and supply chain with Azure Digital Twins, enabling brew masters to make the highest quality beer and front-line operators to remotely monitor quality and traceability data. Bosch is using an Integrated Asset Performance Management (IAPM) solution powered by a digital twin on Azure that enables rotating machines, like turbines and electric motors, to indicate when they need maintenance to run with optimal costs and maximum efficiency. Kawasaki Heavy Industries, a global leader in industrial robots, is building a digital environment for robotics, which enables collaboration in the industrial metaverse and remote operations of robots utilizing Microsoft technologies like Azure IoT and Azure Digital Twins. Hyundai Motor Group is establishing an electric vehicle battery asset management platform with Azure Digital Twins to increase battery management efficiency. Denmark-based Novo Nordisk, a leader in the global production of diabetes medicine, is using technologies like HoloLens 2 and Dynamics 365 to make production processes more efficient while maintaining the highest quality standards and complying with authority requirements and regulations.

AI and supercomputing technologies unlock mobility innovations across the value chainCroatian automotive company Rimac Technology is combining its high-performance engineering with Azure high-performance computing to build powerful electric vehicles through virtual prototyping. Automotive supplier thyssenkrupp Automotive Technology is standardizing its complex customer relationship management with Dynamics 365, reducing the time-to-quote by 75 percent. U.K.-based Wayve is scaling the development of AI-based models for autonomous vehicles with Azure supercomputing technologies. Germany-based Volocopter is working with Microsoft to develop an aerospace cloud system on Azure to address the cloud computing requirements of urban air mobility and autonomous aviation. With Azure OpenAI Service, CarMax is imagining new ways to make the process of buying a pre-owned vehicle hassle-free, bringing integrity, trust and transparency to the used car industry. With HoloLens 2, Volkswagen and Microsoft are putting augmented reality glasses in motion, unlocking new entertainment experiences for passengers.

Sustainability is todays differentiator across industries for a better futureNorway-based energy company Equinor is establishing a Microsoft Power Platform Center for Enablement to nurture greater innovation through low-code development, helping the company achieve its sustainability goals as it transitions toward renewables. Czech Republics energy supply company innogy is using Microsoft Power Apps to create detailed proposals for custom home photovoltaic systems 25 percent faster. Grupo Bimbo, the Mexico-based producer of baked goods and snack foods, is rolling out Microsoft Cloud for Sustainability to all its global operations to collect, track and analyze strategic metrics of its sustainability strategy, working toward zero waste and zero carbon emissions. French start-up Metroscope is working with Azure Kubernetes Service and Microsoft security services to develop digital twin solutions for energy production plants which improve monitoring and efficiency with the potential to reduce carbon emissions by 900,000 tons per year. With Microsoft Cloud for Sustainability capabilities, the Las Vegas Raiders, a U.S. National Football League team, can monitor energy, water and waste metrics and usage and keep track of HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) electrical usage. For example, its sustainability metrics dashboard helps analyze weather data and regulate the temperature within its stadium.

Cybersecurity solutions empower hybrid work and drive customer trustThe Food Standards Agency is overseeing food safety in England, Northern Ireland and Wales, keeping the U.K.s food supply safe and secure with Microsoft Purview. The City of Marion in Australia is also using Purview to provide residents with secure government services. Adobeis giving Acrobat users the ability to apply Purview Information Protection labels and policies to their most important documents. The global exam provider Pearson VUE aces data safety with Microsoft Sentinel across a multicloud and hybrid cloud environment. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is shaping the future of work for state employees eight years ahead of schedule, enabling its 40,000 employees to work securely from anywhere with the help of Defender for Office 365, Microsoft 365 and Surface tablets. With Azure Active Directory and Microsoft Sentinel, iHeartMedia is delivering a more streamlined user experience and lower licensing costs in the audio media world where security is non-negotiable. Tower in New Zealand is enhancing its employees remote work experience with Microsoft Endpoint Manager. With attack simulation training in Microsoft Defender for Office 365, Malaysia-based telecommunications company Celcom has reduced the time spent on creating attack simulations by 70 percent, improving awareness for its workers to recognize cyberthreats and phishing attempts.

Access to digital technology connects communities and helps people in needU.K.-based nonprofit Barnardos is connecting hundreds of thousands of families and children in need to valuable social services each year, deploying Microsoft Cloud services and Microsoft Surface devices to help employees be more effective. Part of the United Nations, Switzerland-based International Organization for Migration is moving to the Microsoft Cloud to focus on its humanitarian mission of supporting end-to-end migrant journeys, helping 30 million people every year with practical solutions to migration issues stemming from social, cultural, environmental and economic causes. The Housing and Urban Development Company of So Paulo in Brazil is working with Dynamics 365, Power Apps and Microsoft 365 to identify community needs and create housing projects through a centralized customer relationship management system. Singapore-based Nanyang Polytechnic is working with Microsoft to open the Centre for Applied AI to nurture AI talent for the workforce of the future and empower small- and medium-sized enterprises with the tools and expertise they need to embark on their digitalization journey. Thanks to broadband access provided through the Airband initiative and local broadcasting partner Telecaribe, 650 children from eight schools around Ovejas, Colombia have been able to experience internet connectivity for the first time.

With digital perseverance as an imperative, companies have continued to deliver outsize business value and outcomes, despite significant challenges in recent years. We remain incredibly inspired by what they have achieved and how they are positioned to navigate the landscape ahead. Further, we are committed to serving as their digital technology partner of choice on that journey.

Tags: AI, Azure, Digital Twins, Dynamics 365, HoloLens 2, metaverse, Microsoft 365, Microsoft Cloud, Microsoft Defender, Microsoft Teams, Security, Surface, sustainability

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From resilience to digital perseverance: How organizations are using digital technology to turn the corner in unprecedented times - The Official...

Robotaxi safety operator is an occupation that exists only in our time, the result of an evolving technology thats advanced enough to get rid of a drivermost of the time, and in controlled environmentsbut not good enough to convince authorities that they can do away with human intervention altogether. Today, self-driving companies from the US, Europe, and China are racing to bring the technology to commercial application. Most of them, including Apollo, the self-driving arm of Baidu, have started on-demand robotaxi trials on public roads but still need to operate with various constraints.

With an associate degree in human resources, Liu has no academic training related to this job, But he has always loved driving, and he acted as the driver for his boss in a previous role. When he heard about the self-driving technologies, his curiosity pushed him to look up related jobs online and apply. Today Liu, who has a buzz cut, a warm smile, and a distinctive Beijing accent, drives a robotaxi five days a week in Shougang Park, a 3.3-square-mile former power plant in Beijing that has been redeveloped into a tourist attraction after serving as a sports venue for the 2022 Winter Olympics. His car cant leave the park, which was designated as a trial area for robotaxis, so his passengers are usually employees who work there or tourists visiting on weekends.

But Liu also needs to think about his next steps, as his job will likely be eliminated within a few years. He has been through several robotaxi models and policy changes in his 19-month career as a safety operator. In April 2021, Baidu acquired the license to put the safety operator in the front passenger seat instead of the drivers seat (only within Shougang Park), and Liu subsequently switched his position and said goodbye to the steering wheel. On July 21 this year, Baidu revealed its new robotaxi model whose steering wheel can be removed. It is expected to be in operation in 2023.

MIT Technology Review talked to Liu Yang in June. We asked him about how he came to get this job, what his daily life is like, and what the future holds for an occupation designed to disappear soon.

The interview has been translated from Chinese and edited for clarity.

It was quite a coincidence. Back when I was parking the car for an old boss, I didnt know what self-driving was and saw that his car had a self-parking function. I was super, super curious. It was really interesting when we ordinary people try it for the first time. After that, I wanted to know more.

Twelve, 13 years.

I was extremely nervous when I went for the interview. We had two rounds, a face-to-face interview and a road test. I think the road test for self-driving [operators] is more difficult than the road test for getting a drivers license. When you are learning how to drive, you need to look at your left, your right, and the rearview mirror; but when we are taking the test [for Baidu], you need to pay attention to all the directions, as well as what every car in front of or behind you is doing. Maybe it will suddenly change lanes and impact you.

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A day in the life of a Chinese robotaxi driver - MIT Technology Review

FIFA 23 is on the way, and EA is not only looking to make it the most expansive title of the series to date but the most realistic as well. To do this, EA has upgraded its HyperMotion motion capture system to HyperMotion 2 and improved its machine learning algorithm. Both tools capture and put together data to make virtual football as authentic as possible. Said data even comes from actual football matches by the team in Zaragoza, Spain, shot on Xsens technology. All this works together to create the most visually authentic entry in the series thus far.

FIFA 23 utilizes Advanced 11-v-11 match capture, meaning that actual football players came together for full-on matches using Xsens suits. This years game draws from two matches featuring professional teams, including a womens match (a series first). That capture was then combined with EAs new machine learning algorithm to make players and the environments around them more lifelike.

Various visual and mechanical enhancements further amplify FIFA 23s faithfulness to the sport. Players limbs now react to the impact of the ball, and fully-3D nets even move when the ball or players make contact with them. Other extra touches like new animations and (over 500) chants for crowds liven up a matchs physical and emotional energy.

HyperMotion 2 and the new machine learning algorithm have a hand in various innovations coming to FIFA 23s gameplay. EA presented several features made possible thanks to this innovative technology. Full Team Authentic Motion ensures that no two plays are identical. Star-specific run styles, improved technical dribbling, female athlete-specific animations, and left-footed skill moves are now made possible with these advancements. Now more than ever, football matches look and feel more like they do in real life.

More detailed and more authentic animations lead to more depth and control in the game itself. For example, Power Shots are a new skill-based risk-reward mechanic that unlocks yet another layer of strategy. To use them, you must carve out the perfect space and aim precisely, pressing L1 and R1, then shoot to activate. If performed correctly, you can score goals with more power and accuracy. However, the longer animations and the need for precision introduce a higher risk.

Defensive areas of the game arent left out either. You can lie down behind the wall to block low shots. The new motion capture data also allows players to perform clearance slide, physical, and back heel tackles, which aggressively counter offensive abilities, such as added shooting types like chesting, backspins, and downward volleys. There are even more ways to pass, including the always smile-inducing bum bumping.

EA is aiming for authenticity with FIFA 23, and every piece of the game is building toward that goal. You can experience this true-to-life football title when it releases on PlayStation 4 and 5 on September 30.

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The realism of FIFA 23s new motion capture technology - PlayStation

The COVID-19 pandemic, as for many, was a struggle for small businesses. During this period our "Anchor Way of thinking was challenged. To meet the challenges in today's shifting market needs, Anchor Audio launched "Anchor Blue" a suite of modern marketing tools. With the implementation of HubSpot the Anchor Marketing team successfully launched a newly re-designed website in August of 2021. The launch of the new site gave Anchors brand a personality and a pulse. Prior marketing tools were consolidated and CMS Hub was implemented. In CMS Hub the Anchor Marketing team has been able to successfully launch effective and engaging multi-channel campaigns. The materials in these campaigns include: emails, dealer communications, videos, graphics, and social posts that are all easily crafted and accessible in HubSpot. After launching campaigns, the Marketing team has been able to track performance, generate analytical reports, and implement feedback.

"Thanks to the hard work and dedication of the Anchor Team, Anchor Audio has had the biggest financially successful year in company history! We are honored to be recognized by Business Intelligence Group for our marketing strategy initiatives and innovations in technology. At Anchor Audio we'll always do things the Anchor Way. Moving forward, our calling card is Anchor Blue," said Caitlin McLain, Marketing Strategist, Anchor Audio.

"We are proud to reward and recognize Anchor Audio for their innovation and dedication to helping both the organization using their technology and the ultimate consumer," said Maria Jimenez, Chief Nominations Officer, Business Intelligence Group. "It was clear to our judges that their efforts will improve how we all connect with the brands we love for years to come."

About Anchor Audio:Established in 1973, Anchor Audio Anchor Audio manufactures the highest quality portable sound systems in the USA. Anchor is an industry leader and innovator in all-in-one battery-powered public address systems, and offer a full complement of wireless technologies for every sound application. Products are sold through a trustworthy network of authorized dealers which currently serve over 2,000 school districts, all branches of the military, houses of worship, and more. For more information visit:www.anchoraudio.com

About Business Intelligence Group

The Business Intelligence Groupwas founded with the mission of recognizing true talent and superior performance in the business world. Unlike other industry award programs, business executivesthose with experience and knowledgejudge the programs. The organization's proprietary and unique scoring system selectively measures performance across multiple business domains and then rewards those companies whose achievements stand above those of their peers.

Contact Information:

Anchor Audio Press Contact:Caitlin McLain| Marketing Strategist | [emailprotected]| 1 760-827-7100 ext120;

Business Intelligence Group Press Contact:Maria Jimenez | Chief Nominations Officer | [emailprotected]| 1 909-529-2737

SOURCE Anchor Audio

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ANCHOR AUDIO AWARDED FOR INNOVATION IN TECHNOLOGY - PR Newswire

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla., July 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- AeroClean Technologies (AeroClean or the Company) (Nasdaq: AERC), a leading air hygiene technology company announces that it has been named the official Health & Safety Sponsor of the FLCMAA, the largest chapter worldwide, which is made up of over 700 members and over 300 country, golf, city and yacht clubs. Through the FLCMAA organization, AeroClean bridged partnerships with several organizations and recently deployed Safe Air Technology spaces at multiple clubs, including the Venice Yacht Club, The Wanderers Club, and Frenchmans Reserve.

Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) is a critically important issue to preserve business continuity and protect occupants of indoor spaces due to its direct correlation to the health and well-being of building occupants - including hospitality providers and country clubs in the FLCMAA. As the official health & safety sponsors of the FLCMAA, AeroClean will provide Prgo air hygiene technology for several FLCMAA in-person events. Prgo not only works to filter and sanitize the air in real-time, it also provides supplemental air ventilation for indoor spaces. Prgos recent 510(k) clearance and classification as a Class II medical device has not only garnered acceptance within the healthcare sector, but also within other target industries by customers who are looking to adopt technology that has been designed, tested and proven to eliminate 99.99% of harmful airborne microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi and viruses.

We are so pleased to welcome AeroClean as the official health and safety sponsor of the Florida Chapter of the Club Management Association of America (CMAA) and thank them for providing us with the technology to safely convene and reconnect with our members in-person. Through our partnership, we are able to get our extensive network acquainted with the benefits of Safe Air Technology that works to support their business continuity, overall health and wellness, and enables clubs to utilize their spaces at full potential and capacity again, said Beth Sargent, executive director of FLCMAA.

We are thrilled that our members, guests and staff can breathe easier knowing that we are providing cleaner and safer air in our indoor spaces. The Prgo units were not only easy to set-up and deploy, they also look great in our club, said Sean Lutwin, General Manager of the Wanderers Club.

Our members, guests and team can now enjoy an additional layer of protection from harmful airborne microorganisms, allergens, pollutants and odors - so we can focus on making every gathering and event at our club a most enjoyable and memorable experience, said Bruce Furman, General Manager of the Venice Yacht Club.

We are very excited to be taking an active role with the FLCMAA and to be supporting the hospitality community by helping create Safe Air Technology spaces for members and their clubs, said Jason DiBona, CEO of AeroClean. As we continue educating organizations on the importance of enhanced health, safety, and wellness through IAQ, partnerships like working with the CMAA give us the ability to drive the conversation forward and provide bespoke solutions that help our partners businesses and offer their members a safer and healthier environment.

AeroClean is committed to help businesses and organizations improve IAQ for a healthier and safer world, so work, play, and life keeps going. For more information about AeroClean technology and Prgo solutions, visit: http://www.AeroClean.com.

The FLCMAA is the largest chapter of the CMAA, and the leading professional association for club management professionals contributing to the success of more than 3,000 country, golf, athletic, city, faculty, military, town, and yacht clubs. For more information on the FLCMAA, visit: http://www.flcmaa.org.

About AeroClean TechnologiesAeroClean is a pathogen elimination technology company on a mission to keep work, play and life goingwith continuous air hygiene products called, Prgo (pure-go). We create solutions for hospitals, offices, and many shared spaces as well as elevators, transportation and more. Prgo products feature SteriDuct, a proprietary technology developed by our best-in-class aerospace engineers, medical scientists and innovators. Powered by SteriDuct, our solutions are medical grade, eradicating viral, fungal, and bacterial airborne microorganisms. Our purpose is simple: to never stop innovating solutions that keep people healthy and safe, so life never stops. Learn more at aeroclean.com.

Media Contacts:Drew Tybusdrew@oakpr.com

Investor Relations ContactRyan TylerChief Financial Officer, AeroCleanRTyler@AeroClean.com

or:Brian PinkstonMATTIO Communicationsaeroclean@mattio.com

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AeroClean Deploys Safe Air Technology at Notable Hospitality & Club Spaces through Partnership with the Florida Chapter of the Club Management...

Blockchain technology has been adapted to many use cases in varying industries and now The Elections Industry could use it to prevent doubts in voting results.

WASHINGTON, July 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- DeVOTE, the Decentralized Autonomous Organization, in close cooperation with the Government Blockchain Association, announced an agreement with the leading US Elections Industry expert WinterGreen Research, led by legendary inventor Susan Eustis. This powerhouse collaboration has been established to promote decentralized remote ballot marking and return technology running on the Everscale Network.

The move comes amid continuing work of the Congressional Committeeinvestigating the January 6th 2021 attack on the US Capitol. "Never before has there been a greater need for open source and accessible technology that would make our elections indisputable. Those systems work in parallel with paper ballots marked by the voter," says the inventor of the first vote counting machine and WinterGreen President Susan Eustis, "I am pleased to work with the team of advanced programmers and engineers at DeVOTE DAO, whose recent developments allow us to make it possible."

Eugene M. Morozov, CPA, MS, one of DeVOTE DAO leaders, commented, "The technology DeVOTE developed changes the game with its unparalleled decentralized computational power running on the fastest and most scalable blockchain in the world, Everscale. It makes mass adoption of blockchain possible, removes any need to trust intermediaries as well as any doubt in the results. We at DeVOTE believe that elections must be open to all, secure and compliant, so finally anyone can vote from their smartphone or computer and verify that their vote has been cast and tallied as intended without anyone knowing how they voted."

Blockchain technology of a decentralized, distributed ledger based on cryptography has proven itself capable of reliably securing trillions of dollars in value per day for cross border financial settlements. The technology has been adapted to many use cases in varying industries. Government agencies could and should use it to help prevent such events as the attack on US Congress.

"Lately, we've seen growth in adoption of blockchain frameworks in the private sector. Now we have DeVOTE, which offers a solution to many issues in the Voting Industry. We hope to begin conversations on how the DeVOTE technology can be applied for this purpose in public institutions next," said GBA Executive Director Gerard Dache.

To participate in the discussion, visit gbaglobal.org and/or devoteusa.com

About DeVOTE

DeVOTE is an end-to-end decentralized trustless remote ballot marking and return system utilizing groth16 technology on the leading Everscale blockchain. Built by the community, it allows for satisfaction of the legal requirement of permanent separation of voter affidavit and voter bulletin. Piloted at the GBA Blockchain and Infrastructure Conference in Washington, DC, in May 2022, the system is open source, affordable and indisputable.

About WinterGreen Research

WinterGreen Research, founded in 1985, provides strategic market assessments in technology, communications, health care, software, internet, energy generation, energy storage, renewable energy, youth sports, and advanced computer technology. WinterGreen Research produces industry analysis, predicting market growth and significant opportunities for new markets. Market research provides key insight to most efficiently grow existing markets and enter new markets.

Media Contact:

Joanne EberhardtVP Marketing and Communications[emailprotected]

SOURCE DeVOTE

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DeVOTE DAO Partners with WinterGreen Research to Promote Indisputable Elections Technology Built on Everscale Blockchain. - PR Newswire

Cement is a key component of concrete, the world's second mostconsumed material, and it is widely used in modern infrastructure.Cement production is also one of the largest single CO2emitting industries, making it subject to increasing environmentalpressure as more net-zero pledges are announced.

About half of the CO2 emissions in cement productionare due to the inevitable chemical process of calcination while theremaining comes from the energy-intensive heat needed for theprocess. A recent report by Clean Energy Technology at IHS Markitbenchmarked multiple decarbonization pathways currently availablefor the cement industry. Results show that, from all availableoptions, CCUS is by far the solution with the highest mitigationpotential since this technology significantly and directly reducesCO2 from the calcination process.

However, adding CCUS to cement production currently more thandoubles the cost of cement; hence, a wide range of capturetechnologies, with different degrees of technology readiness, arebeing tested globally with the objective to reduce capture cost.Currently, multiple CO2 capture technologies are plannedto start operations in large-scale projects, including therelatively developed post-combustion amine scrubbing, oxy-fuelcombustion, and other emerging CCUS options, such as cryogenic,solid sorbent, membranes. Despite the cost reduction the newtechnologies could bring, policy support will still be required toincentivize these projects. Thus, there is no surprise to see thatregions with defined policy support like Europe are leading thepipeline of CCUS projects in the cement industry globally.

Europe emerges as a leader for first CCUS projects inthe cement industry

The CCUS pipeline of projects for the cement industry is mainlya story of European cement manufacturers. Europe not only accountsfor 56% of the CCUS projects in the cement industry, but also twoEuropean players - LafargeHolcim and Heidelberg cement -are leading 73% of the CCUS projects for the industryglobally.

These companies are leading efforts to decarbonize the industry,anticipating the critical role that CCUS can play in the industry,and the potential costs associated with untackled emissions thatcould lie ahead if they don't decarbonize their operations. Infact, the European emissions trading system (EU-ETS) will start thephase-out of free allowances in 2026 through 2030, which willrepresent a significant cost for cement manufacturers goingforward. However, if decarbonization solutions are in place,producers could significantly reduce the emission cost of theiroperation.

An analysis from IHS Markit shows that the investment in capturetechnologies such as oxy-fuel combustion, calcium looping and aminescrubbing in Europe could offset the emission costs from EU-ETSbeyond 2035, which could be a significant incentive for cementmanufacturers to implement decarbonization technologies such asCCUS in their operations.

There is no doubt that policy support is needed to decarbonizethe cement industry, and although Europe seems to be moving in theright direction, the region only accounts for 4% of the globalcement production. If we want to see a significant change, mainlandChina - the main cement producer globally with more than 50% of theglobal cement production- will have to put the right policy inplace to accelerate the decarbonization of the Chinese cementindustry.

To learn more on this topic, request freeaccess to our Global Clean Energy Technology service on the Climateand Sustainability Hub here.

Posted 26 July 2022 by Edurne zoco, Executive Director, Clean Technology & Renewables, S&P Global Commodity Insights and

Paola Perez Pena, Principal Research Analyst, Gas Power and Climate Solutions, S&P Global Commodity Insights and

Yufei Li, Sr. Research Analyst, Global Clean Energy Technology (CET), IHS Markit

This article was published by S&P Global Commodity Insights and not by S&P Global Ratings, which is a separately managed division of S&P Global.

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Carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) is the technology with the highest mitigation potential to decarbonize the cement industry - IHS Markit

From seed to supermarket, Walter P. Rawl and Sons Inc. (WP Rawl) knows a thing or two about produce shipping.

The multigenerational family farm has grown tremendously in 97 years of operation, building out a vertically integrated production and distribution network to ensure the freshness of products throughout.

WP Rawl grows, processes and distributes vegetables from its South Carolina farm to customers across the eastern United States with a dedicated refrigerated fleet of 75 company-owned trucks.

Whats kept WP Rawl at the forefront for so many years has been a commitment to continuous improvement. Though known for family farm values, the company also thinks big when it comes to the optimization of its supply chain.

Promising freshly picked vegetables delivered in hours instead of days, WP Rawl realized the integrity of overnight deliveries would suffer if it sat idle in the face of ever-growing demand. Thats why when the company found itself losing time and money to error-prone manual processes, it acted fast in search of a solution.

WP Rawl began researching technology companies, looking for a provider that could meet its specific needs. For starters, its fleet was losing valuable time and money logging day-to-day routes manually. But management also was looking to move more loads, increase profits and cut down on communication and tracking errors.

Besides maintaining compliance with ELDs and hours-of-service mandates, fleet optimization was another top priority. Management only would consider a solution that provided minute-by-minute visibility to help manage truck and driver performance.

Thats when WP Rawl discovered PowerFleet.

Listening to WP Rawls needs, it didnt take long for PowerFleet to figure out the best course of action. The leading transportation technology provider equipped the company with ELDs, which immediately improved its logistics teams monitoring capabilities and also improved both office and fleet productivity.

This solution has more than helped cut costs and increase productivity and safety, said Tony Hoffman, driver advocate and WP Rawl manager. The data and reports we receive provide our team with more knowledge than we ever knew possible.

Reporting has been simplified across the board, according to Hoffman, who noted drivers have been able to communicate more effectively since utilizing PowerFleets simplified data-inputting capabilities. As a result, it has greatly reduced drivers reliance on cellphones.

Hours-of-service reporting has given us the ability to strategically assign more loads, increase driving time and receive delivery information in real time, said Hoffman, adding that these benefits also have made their way to the customer since his team is now able to give minute-by-minute reports on driver location and load status.

As a large-scale grower and shipper of produce, what also impressed WP Rawl was the agricultural exemption features offered. PowerFleets ELD Ag Exempt feature provides drivers with improved reporting metrics and status updates as well as the ability to provide management with tracking for all ag-exempt loads under Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration-required guidelines.

Overall, WP Rawl received valuable benefits when it selected PowerFleet as its technology partner. Not only was the integration effortless, PowerFleets impact was immediate, providing improved efficiency, supply chain visibility and communication effectiveness.

From simpler reporting and reduced data input to real-time tracking and increased productivity, the skys the limit for WP Rawl and customers have taken note.

To learn more about how PowerFleet has optimized WP Rawls operation, click to read the entire case study.

More from PowerFleet:

Weathering downturns with real-time visibility

Amid high costs, carriers can find ways to do more with less

Improving retention: Drivers seek real-time information

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Choosing right technology when sitting idle isnt an option - FreightWaves

LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Easol, the leading experience commerce technology company, is announcing the launch of a new all-in-one festival toolkit that will transform the ability of festival organisers to run profitable festivals and deliver a gold-standard customer experience. Easol will bring together festival organisers from around the world at its online Showcase event to dive into the challenges facing the industry today and how the new toolkit can help tackle these and create new opportunities to future-proof their festival business.

CHALLENGES FACING FESTIVAL ORGANISERS: Festival organisers are facing a perfect storm this season, with increasing costs within the supply chain, loss of labour due to the pandemic, a saturated market due to two years of covid postponements, low consumer confidence and a cost of living crisis affecting new sales. This extremely challenging environment is compounded for festival organisers who have been forced until now to use multiple websites and systems to manage their customer booking journey and payments leading to increased fees, loss of data and a loss of control over the customer experience.

GIVING FULL OWNERSHIP TO ORGANISERS: Following Easols successful Series A funding round of $25m in 2021, Easol is launching its new all-in-one toolkit to tackle these issues, delivering a new type of Experience Commerce for festival organisers. The new toolkit enables festivals organisers to manage everything they need for their business including:

Ben Simpson, Co-Founder and CEO of Easol said: It is amazing to see festivals up and running again but as festival organisers ourselves, we know that they are facing an uphill battle by using outdated technology that erodes the control they have over their business. A quick glance at the pages of poor customer reviews of ticketing platforms provides a perfect example of how things can go wrong when you are forced to rely on a traditional ticketing platform to manage your booking and payments journey as well as the inability to track your customers and data - critical for festival promoters selling tickets. Festival organisers need full ownership of their data, brand experience and their customers to avoid this.

Access to capital is also a critical area that needs addressing in the festival industry. With Easol we feel passionately that festival organisers should have a simpler and fairer way to access funding when they need it. This is an area we are excited to continue to develop - watch this space for more to come on this next year!

Benjamin Sasse, Co-Founder of Meadows in the Mountains commented: Prior to Easol, the processes were so fragmented, and we had little control over our brand and customer journey. It was amazing to able to bring Meadows back this year after two years of postponements and we wouldnt have been able to do it without the support of Easol.

The costs to run a festival have pretty much doubled since the pandemic so it is more important than ever that we have a partner such as Easol to help us increase revenue so we can tackle these challenges. From the support, the website building experience - just everything - the team are incredible and we trust that they are working with us as a partner to truly help us grow. We have sold more tickets, accommodation options and extra experiences, and as a result achieved significantly more revenue with Easol than any other platform in the 10 year history of our festival.

The Easol Showcase - Festivals edition event will be taking place at 5pm UTC on 22nd September and will be an opportunity for festival organisers, creators and promoters to come together and explore the new way to sell festivals. For more information on the toolkit or to demo ahead of the launch please get in touch here.

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Easol Launches Unique All-in-one Technology Toolkit to Power the Revival of the Festival Industry - Business Wire

by Ty Trumbull Jul 26, 2022

Australian managed IT company Efex has acquired hardware and IT support provider In Touch Office Technology for an undisclosed amount.

This is technology M&A deal number 675 that ChannelE2E has covered so far in 2022. See more than 1,000 technology M&A deals involving MSPs, MSSPs & IT service providers listed here.

Efex, founded in 2013, is based in Balmain, Australia. The company has 160 employees listed on LinkedIn. Efexs areas of expertise include IT services and IT consulting

In Touch, founded in approximately 2007, is based in Albury, Australia. The company has at least eight employees, according to its website. In Touchs areas of expertise include IT services, remote management and network implementation, as well as a range of PCs, laptops, software solutions and peripherals, with local support and maintenance.

The acquisition will strengthen Efexs foothold in the Albury region with all In Touch employees will join the efex team, according to the company. In Touch Manager, Nathan Dick, will continue in his management role as Albury Branch Manager, Efex said.

In 2021, private equity firm Alceon announced that it had acquired a 50 percent stake in Efex.

Nick Sheehan, CEO, Efex

Nick Sheehan, CEO, Efex, commented:

Our In Touch team will be able to support businesses with a broader range of products, services and skills that are the best fit to help teams work securely and productively in the office or remotely. The acquisition makes sense for us, combining the overlapping services and customers while expanding the product offerings for our regional clients was an organic step towards growth.

In Touchs Nathan Dick added:

This is great news for our customers. We understand the nuances of running a business in regional Australia and we know the types of services that will make life easier for them. We are looking forward to expanding our offering through efex.

Ken Dick, director of In Touch Office Technology, said:

Nothing will change for our valued customers. We will continue to be run by the same capable local team who understand local businesses best. We will continue to operate out of the same building and ensure our customers are looked after in the way they are accustomed to. We look forward to extending our offering to include voice and data capabilities, powering the growth of regional businesses.

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Australian IT Company Efex Acquires In Touch Office Technology - ChannelE2E