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PR Newswire

Mastercard launches Pay Local, enabling Asia’s digital wallet providers to process card payments from more than 2 billion Mastercard cardholders

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International travelers can now pay like locals at more than 35 million merchants across Asia Pacific

SINGAPORE, Nov. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Ahead of the Singapore FinTech Festival, Mastercard today introduced Mastercard Pay Local, a global service that makes it easy for consumers to make card payments to merchants using local digital wallets. With Mastercard Pay Local, resident cardholders or international travelers can easily link their credit or debit cards to a digital wallet and immediately shop at participating merchants, without needing to set up or top up a prepaid account.  

Leading wallets in Asia Pacific, such as DANA in Indonesia, Touch ‘n Go in Malaysia, Bakong in Cambodia, and LankaPay in Sri Lanka, will use Mastercard Pay Local to facilitate payments for consumers at more than 35 million merchants in the region that accept these wallets. Beyond Asia Pacific, the service is also geared towards regions where digital wallets are widely used for everyday purchases, such as Latin America, Eastern Europe, and the Middle East and Africa.

Mastercard Pay Local benefits everyone involved:

  • Residents can pay the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) that do not accept traditional card payments, while tourists and international travelers can enjoy convenient, seamless payments across the destinations they’re visiting.
  • Hundreds of millions of MSMEs can experience increased reach with minimal infrastructure investment or disruptions to their operations.
  • Wallet operators can extend their customer base by attracting individuals who primarily use cards, providing a smooth consumer experience and achieving quicker time to market.
  • Card issuers can deliver more points of acceptance for the consumers they serve.

“With Pay Local, Mastercard is extending its global network to partner wallets and expanding acceptance by making it possible for Asia’s digital wallets to process card-based payments. This creates a low-cost, simple, stable, and secure connection between over 35 million merchants in Asia Pacific and two billion Mastercard cardholders,” said Sandeep Malhotra, executive vice president, Products & Innovation, Asia Pacific, Mastercard. “Locals benefit from new payment options while tourists can use their cards as they do at home, making travel infinitely easier, with one less thing to worry about while on the road.”

Pay Local builds upon Mastercard’s existing collaborations with leading wallet providers, including Alipay and Weixin Pay in the Chinese Mainland and Octopus in Hong Kong SAR, to offer a convenient way for international visitors to pay like locals when traveling to these locations, regardless of where in the world their Mastercard card was issued.

In addition, a range of digital wallets across the region already accept Mastercard cards for funding, enabling easy payments at merchant locations that accept these wallets, including GrabPay in Southeast Asia, Maya in the Philippines, ShopBack in Singapore, and TrueMoney in Thailand.

Businesses that would like to learn more about Mastercard Pay Local should visit the information page and fill out the form. A member of Mastercard’s team will get in contact with more details.

Hear from our partners:

DANA:
“At DANA, we are committed to enhancing the accessibility and convenience of digital payments for all users. By collaborating with Mastercard, we are excited to offer international travelers a seamless way to register and bind their cards to DANA, furthering our mission of bridging financial inclusion across borders. This collaboration reflects our dedication to improving user experience and supporting global financial mobility as we anticipate increased international travel,” said Darrick Rochili, chief innovation officer of DANA.

Touch ‘n Go:
“As Malaysia’s leading digital wallet and financial services provider, we are proud to have expanded our services beyond national borders, enabling users to travel cashless and make seamless payments internationally. Our collaboration with Mastercard underscores the strength of our open platform strategy, allowing us to extend cashless payment solutions to international travelers visiting Malaysia, contributing to the country’s tourism industry and economy. We are pleased to offer inbound tourists the convenience of cashless transactions via QR payment at over 2 million merchants, retail outlets, and service providers across Malaysia,” said Alan Ni, CEO at TNG Digital.

About Mastercard
Mastercard powers economies and empowers people in 200+ countries and territories worldwide. Together with our customers, we’re building a sustainable economy where everyone can prosper. We support a wide range of digital payments choices, making transactions safe, simple, smart and accessible. Our technology and innovation, partnerships and networks combine to deliver a unique set of products and services that help people, businesses and governments realize their greatest potential.
www.mastercard.com 

PR Newswire

SFC+, the most comprehensive digital marketplace app for global Filipinos, is now available on App Store and Google Play

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LOS ANGELES, Oct. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Seafood City, the largest Filipino grocerant in North America with 1 million weekly in-store foot traffic, over 400,000 active membership base, and the largest Filipino online and in-store collection of vendor partners, has partnered with leading Filipino brands to launch its one-stop digital marketplace app for global Filipinos in North America, SFC+.

Elewin Rebaya, SFC+ President and CEO
Elewin Rebaya, SFC+ President and CEO

A comprehensive digital marketplace app, SFC+ brings together U.S. and top Filipino brands and services, allowing its members to easily shop for authentic products, pay bills, send remittances, and even invest in the future of their loved ones in the Philippines. 

“SFC+ is a digital hub for Filipinos in North America that gives them exclusive access to U.S. and top Philippine brands, discounts, rewards, and a host of exciting benefits every time they shop, save, earn and pay with Suki Points using the app,” said SFC+ Inc. President and CEO Elewin Rebaya. “We created this app with the goal of reaching and serving more Filipinos globally, as well as to enrich and meet their ever-evolving lifestyle demands.”

Through SFC+, users can seamlessly connect with leading brands like ABS-CBN, the SM Group, Philippine Airlines, SMDC, BDO Unibank, Smart, Globe, East West Bank USA, and BayaniPay, among others, simplifying global transactions and bringing the best of the Philippines to North American shores.

“From purchasing items and services to paying bills and even investing in the future of families and relatives they support, SFC+ will make these experiences rewarding for every global Filipino through our membership program,” said Rebaya, who is also the Executive Vice President of Seafood City.

With every partner brand, SFC+ members enjoy exclusive access, curated deals, discount savings, and Suki Points. SFC+ members further enjoy the privilege of paying with Suki Points for their purchases at any Seafood City store including online.

SFC+ will add more brands to its roster to expand its service offerings to global Filipinos.

Features designed for the global Filipino

Some of the key features of SFC+ include zero-fee remittance, bills pay, and embedded banking services by BayaniPay with East West Bank USA and BDO Unibank; opening of BDO Kabayan Savings in the U.S.; digital shopping for Seafood City locations; discounted iWantTFC subscription; converting Philippine Airlines Mabuhay Miles into Suki Points and vice versa; end-to-end purchase of SMDC condominiums including access to 91 SMDC prime properties while enjoying services from experienced specialists; premium access to thousands of SM brands and outlets through the SM Gift Pass Choice; discounted balikbayan box shipping with LOGO; and direct donations to the ABS-CBN Foundation International and Gawad Kalinga USA.

SFC+ is the official marketing and service partner of SMDC in North America.

“By partnering with SFC+, we are extending our reach to global Filipinos, offering them a seamless platform to invest in the good life, no matter where they are in the world. Through this collaboration, we reaffirm our commitment to building communities that enhance lives and connect people to progress,” said Jessica Sy, SMDC AVP and Head of Corporate Planning and Development.

“We are proud to be part of SFC+ to deliver tailored banking solutions to the Filipino community in the U.S.,” said Parker Shi, Chief Operating Officer of East West Bank USA. “Through this collaboration, we aim to enhance the financial well-being of Filipinos by providing convenient access to essential banking services and exclusive rewards.”

“There’s a thriving community of global Filipinos in North America that we aim to serve strongly and vibrantly through SFC+,” said Talino Venture Studios CEO Winston Damarillo, who also helmed the creation of SFC+. “We didn’t just build an app; we built a home, and its doors will remain open to Filipinos who long to connect and celebrate their Filipino roots wherever they are in the world.”

Discounted Philippine Airlines flights

SFC+ members can now book discounted Philippine Airlines flights and earn Suki Points by using promo codes upon purchase of PAL tickets. For business class purchases, 1,000 Suki Points will be awarded, while 500 Suki Points for economy class.

“We welcome SFC as our latest partner under the Mabuhay Miles program. Our shared values of promoting Filipino culture and tradition have made our partnership truly special and memorable,” said Philippine Airlines President and COO, Stanley Ng. “Surely the Suki Points of SFC+ customers can take them to exciting destinations and even help them fly home once they start redeeming with Mabuhay Miles or convert their Mabuhay Miles into Suki Points,” he added.

Win a condo, free round-trip flights

Everyone who downloads and signs up on SFC+ will get a chance to win a grand prize of an SMDC condominium and round-trip PAL tickets to the Philippines through the Suki Condo Sweepstakes. About 20,000 people who have signed up on SFC+’s waitlist will each receive 1,500 Suki Points while non-waitlisters will each get 1,000 Suki Points. Both may also choose between 15 lbs Calrose rice and a $10 gift card while supplies last.

“Since 1989, millions of Filipinos in the U.S. and Canada have found a home away from home in Seafood City stores,” Rebaya said. “This is our way of giving back to our countrymen who keep on giving. Our ecosystem of benefits is the advantage they unlock once they download the app and become SFC+ members.”

***

About Seafood City

Seafood City Supermarket is the largest Filipino grocerant in North America. A de facto community town center or hub for Filipino-North Americans wherever it operates. It is anchored by a full service supermarket, various food service operations, including iconic Philippine brands, plus services and merchants relevant to the lifestyle of the Filipinos in the region. From its humble beginnings in San Diego, California, Seafood City now has numerous operations in the United States and Canada including those in California, Nevada, Texas, Washington, Illinois, Hawaii, Arizona, Ontario, Manitoba and Alberta. The push towards the Midwest and the East Coast is part of its expansion plans.

About Talino

Talino Venture Studios is an award-winning global venture studio for inclusive fintech. Born in the intersection of Silicon Valley and Southeast Asia, Talino Venture Studios is on a mission to bridge financial inclusion for over 1.7 billion people around the world. It uses the successful venture studio model to build repeatable, scalable, and profitable fintechs that empower underserved, underrepresented groups around the world with financial access and mobility. Talino Ventures Studios (talinolabs.com)

PR Newswire

SUSTAINABLE MARKETS INITIATIVE UNVEILS SUPPORT TO COMMONWEALTH MEMBER STATES AT CHOGM

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In support of His Majesty King Charles III’s visits to Australia and Samoa, for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), SMI launches further support for Commonwealth Member States

  • Pacific Hub launched in Australia to enhance alignment of industry, finance and country efforts to accelerate delivery on global climate and biodiversity targets.
  • Marine Mangrove Sanctuary launched in partnership with SpaceX and Rotary International in Samoa to restore mangrove ecosystems, mitigate sea level rise, increase community connectivity and preserve cultural heritage for future generations.
  • Private Sector Training Programme for government officials extended to enhance public-private partnerships and project delivery in the Commonwealth.
  • SMI’s Impact Accelerator, along with a recommendation to establish High-Level Climate Investment Authorities, launched to provide end-to-end support for governments to develop industry partnerships and investment ready projects aligned with sustainable transition. 
  • The SMI’s Nature-Risk Tool, developed by AECOM, has been made available to all Commonwealth member states to assist them in assessing Nature-risks associated with physical infrastructure and urban planning.
  • The Natural Capital on African Governments’ Balance Sheets Initiative launched to explore making natural capital assets as a core component of national balance sheets.

APIA, Samoa, Oct. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — In the presence of His Majesty King Charles III, as well as leaders from the Commonwealth as part of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting’s Business Forum, the Sustainable Markets Initiative (SMI) has launched several initiatives to further enhance its commitment and support to Commonwealth Members States.

His Majesty King Charles III, founder of the Sustainable Markets Initiative (SMI) when he was The Prince of Wales, during a roundtable organised by the SMI
His Majesty King Charles III, founder of the Sustainable Markets Initiative (SMI) when he was The Prince of Wales, during a roundtable organised by the SMI
  • Pacific Hub: Connecting SMI’s global CEOs with CEOs and climate leaders in Australia, the SMI launched its Pacific Hub to enhance alignment of industry, finance and country efforts to accelerate delivery on global climate and biodiversity targets.
  • Marine Mangrove Sanctuary: In collaboration with Rotary International and Space X, the SMI is launching a Marine Mangrove Sanctuary in Samoa to restore and maintain the mangrove ecosystem, mitigating sea level rise and preserving cultural heritage.
  • Private Sector Training Programme: SMI introduces a climate-based training programme for government officials in Commonwealth Member States. This programme will support the delivery of climate and biodiversity-related projects and the implementation of Nationally Determined Contributions.
  • Impact Accelerator:  SMI launches its Impact Accelerator for Commonwealth Member States which provides end-to-end support for Governments to develop industry partnerships and investment ready projects aligned with sustainable transition.  The SMI further recommends establishing High-level Climate Investment Authorities within governments to better coordinate and crowd-in private sector support and investment.
  • Nature Risk Tool: SMI’s Nature Risk Tool, developed by AECOM, will now be available to all Commonwealth nations to assess the impact of infrastructure on local biodiversity globally.
  • The Natural Capital on African Governments’ Balance Sheets Initiative was launched as an institutional investor-public partnership, led by the SMI Africa Council. This initiative aims to embed Nature as an investable asset class.

Jennifer Jordan-Saifi M.V.O., CEO of the Sustainable Markets Initiative, emphasised the urgency of these initiatives: “It is an honour to be in Samoa for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM). Being welcomed into the community of Nono’a Saleimoa to launch their Mangrove Sanctuary, we saw first-hand how Pacific communities are on the front lines of climate change and biodiversity loss. With future generations in mind, we also saw the passion of community members for restoring harmony with Nature.  The SMI is delighted to bring private sector CEOs together with Commonwealth governments at CHOGM, and through our new Pacific Hub, to accelerate practical, scalable actions that advance a genuinely sustainable future for all.”

Recognizing the importance of biodiversity restoration across the Commonwealth, Dr Hubert Danso, Co-Chair of the SMI Africa Council, highlighted that “Africa’s natural capital forms the backbone not only of our economies, but also of global business models and societies. To protect and expand this value, we must invest at scale in our ecosystems. Through mandate-aligned institutional investor-public partnerships with governments, we can unlock risk and Nature-adjusted returns, that drive benefits for Nature, people and planet.  Through these efforts we aim to demonstrate that what’s good for Africa and the world, can also create sustainable value for investors.”

Pacific Hub

The new SMI Pacific Hub, is the latest addition to the Sustainable Markets Initiative’s regional engagement activities, joining a cohort of five other Hubs and Councils including North America, Africa, China, India, and Greece.  As part of its regional and country approach, the Pacific Hub will provide a forum for CEOs to look more practically at sustainability efforts across industry and finance while exploring how the region’s private sector is actively working with governments to support Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and biodiversity targets in the region.

Marine Mangrove Sanctuary

The Sustainable Markets Initiative announces the Marine Mangrove Sanctuary in collaboration with Rotary International and SpaceX. The sanctuary in Nono’a Saleimoa, Samoa will restore and maintain the mangrove ecosystem to mitigate the onset of sea level rise.  Starlink will enable project leads to record, in real-time, key data points regarding the progress of the project such as: number of mangrove seedlings planted, growth of seedlings, time spent planting and maintaining the site, and general updates from site visits. The project demonstrates the value of remote access connectivity to support underserved and remote communities across the Commonwealth. The SMI’s partnership with Starlink includes a focus on rapidly scaling support for Nature-capital and post-disaster monitoring.

Government Training Programme

The Sustainable Markets Initiative will now offer Commonwealth Member States access to its highly successful Government Training Programme, which has so far had over 800 participants from over 85 countries register worldwide. The programme has convened subject matter experts from across the public and private sectors along with non-governmental organisations to develop climate-based training that can help support government officials (and others) responsible for delivering and developing climate-related projects and the implementation of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).

SMI Impact Accelerator and High-Level Climate Investment Authority

The SMI also offers support through its Impact Accelerator.  The private sector is ready to mobilize capital, however to date there is a limited pipeline of “investment-ready” projects. The Sustainable Markets Initiative strives to fill this gap by offering end-to-end support for project development, industry partnerships and capacity building.  Recognizing the urgency and complexity of public-private partnerships for transition, we strongly recommend that High-Level Climate Investment Authorities (HCIA) be established to offer an empowered and coordinated docking point that is focused on private sector partnerships and capital mobilization.  The SMI has a range of guidance available on how to best establish these HCIAs.

SMI Nature Risk Tool

The Sustainable Markets Initiative has recently launched its SMI Nature Risk Tool and is now offering it to all Commonwealth Member States.  The SMI Nature Risk Tool recognizes that infrastructure development often leads to habitat loss, biodiversity decline, pollution, and increased greenhouse gas emissions. Powered by AECOM, and using datasets from the Taskforce for Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD), the SMI Nature Risk Tool enables infrastructure investors and promoters to analyse any piece of land globally, providing expert-reviewed descriptions of the location’s habitat and biomes early in the site selection process.

About The Sustainable Markets Initiative

Founded by His Majesty King Charles III in 2020, then the Prince of Wales, the Sustainable Markets Initiative has become the world’s ‘go-to’ private sector organisation on transition.  Launched in 2021, the Terra Carta serves as the Sustainable Markets Initiative’s mandate with a focus on accelerating positive results for Nature, People and Planet through real economy action.  Complementing the Terra Carta, the Astra Carta was launched in 2023 to support a default sustainable approach to space while leveraging space resources for sustainability on Earth.  Read more: www.sustainable-markets.org

PR Newswire

NEC Indonesia and Sinar Mas Land Forge Partnership for Adaptation Finance Development to Mitigate the Impact of Climate Change

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JAKARTA, Indonesia, Oct. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — NEC Indonesia and Sinar Mas Land, through its subsidiary PT Samakta Mitra, have started a strategic partnership to mitigate the impact of climate change by leveraging Adaptation Finance and disaster mitigation visualisation technology. Adaptation Finance is an initiative developed by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), designed to assess the risks and impacts of natural disasters caused by climate change. It aims to identify risks early, plan mitigation strategies, and foster greater business resilience.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to begin a joint study on Adaptation Finance in Indonesia between Sinar Mas Land and NEC Indonesia was signed by Irvan Yasni, CEO of Technology Advisory and Business of Sinar Mas Land, and Joji Yamamoto, President Director of NEC Indonesia, at the Biomedical Campus, BSD City, last 15 October 2024. Yutaka Ukegawa, Corporate Executive Vice President of NEC Corporation, and Mulyawan Gani, Chief Transformation & Data Officer of Sinar Mas Land, were also in attendance.

Irvan Yasni, CEO of Technology Advisory & Business at Sinar Mas Land (second from the left), together with Joji Yamamoto, President Director of NEC Indonesia (second from the right), signs a Memorandum of Understanding to initiate a joint study on Adaptation Finance in Indonesia, witnessed by Mulyawan Gani, Chief Transformation & Data Officer of Sinar Mas Land (far left), and Yutaka Ukegawa, Corporate Executive Vice President of NEC Corporation (far right).
Irvan Yasni, CEO of Technology Advisory & Business at Sinar Mas Land (second from the left), together with Joji Yamamoto, President Director of NEC Indonesia (second from the right), signs a Memorandum of Understanding to initiate a joint study on Adaptation Finance in Indonesia, witnessed by Mulyawan Gani, Chief Transformation & Data Officer of Sinar Mas Land (far left), and Yutaka Ukegawa, Corporate Executive Vice President of NEC Corporation (far right).

Joji Yamamoto shares, “This collaboration marks an important first step in realising the Adaptation Finance initiative for mitigating the climate change. We believe that the technology and solutions offered by NEC can contribute to developing adaptive financial solutions that can be applied across various sectors. We look forward to this partnership with Sinar Mas Land’s subsidiary, PT Samakta Mitra. Previously, NEC implemented the same solutions in Japan, supported by major insurance companies. The success of this endeavour emphasises the significant potential of this collaboration to bring positive impacts to Indonesia’s financial services industry, particularly in addressing the growing climate challenges.”

Irvan Yasni adds, “Adaptation Finance presents a great opportunity to create a more sustainable and safer environment in the face of disaster risks resulting from climate change. Together with NEC Indonesia, we will conduct a joint study on Adaptation Finance to develop case studies that anticipate adaptation steps and solutions to climate change across various sectors. By applying technology with disaster risk and climate change mapping, insurance companies can estimate potential losses and mitigate existing risks, allowing for more effective mitigation efforts.”

Through this collaboration, Sinar Mas Land and NEC Indonesia will develop risk visualisation solutions capable of mapping the potential for natural disasters such as floods, earthquakes, and tropical cyclones. This will thereby accelerate the adoption of disaster risk mitigation solutions among insurance companies, banks, and investment firms. This initiative also supports better protection for communities and infrastructure in the future.

By utilising data-driven solutions, predictive analytics, and artificial intelligence (AI), NEC Indonesia will identify potential threats, assess environmental impacts, and provide more effective risk mitigation recommendations. This technology enables more strategic and sustainable allocation of funds, allowing Adaptation Finance to deliver positive effects on society, the business community, and the environment. (*)

About PT NEC Indonesia

NEC first established its representative office in Jakarta in 1968. To this day, PT NEC Indonesia continues to play an important role in providing innovative ICT solutions to promote safety, security, and improve the quality of life for individuals and communities. As a leading provider of information and communication technology, PT NEC Indonesia provides world-class services and technology including telecommunications networks, biometric identification, intelligent solutions for Banks and other Financial Services, Public Transportation and Logistics, Retail, Manufacturing, as well as government applications and infrastructure and business enterprises to support the digital transformation journey. For more information, visit us at http://id.nec.com/.

About Sinar Mas Land

Sinar Mas Land is a property developer in Indonesia with over 50 years of experience. Sinar Mas Land has developed more than 50 projects across Indonesia. The company’s success in property and real estate development in Indonesia has been recognized by independent and credible institutions, earning various prestigious international awards such as the MIPIM Award in France (2018), ASEAN Energy Awards (2019), Asia Pacific Property Award (2021), Cambridge IFA’s Global Good Governance Award (2021), and FIABCI World Prix d’Excellence Awards (2022).

With the support of a solid management team, Sinar Mas Land is renowned as a developer of independent townships (through the BSD City Development) and a pioneer in the development of the clustered residential concept. In addition, Sinar Mas Land is also a trailblazer in the development of innovative Strata Mall/Trade Center (ITC) projects in Indonesia. Sinar Mas Land is listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange as PT Bumi Serpong Damai Tbk, and on the Singapore Exchange. Sinar Mas Land has strong strategic partners such as Sojitz Japan, Aeon, Itochu, Mitsubishi Corporation, Hongkong Land, and local partners like Kompas Gramedia and Kalbe. For more information, please visit: www.sinarmasland.com.

Source: PT. NEC Indonesia

PR Newswire

AI Automation Company bluesheets rebrands as fileAI

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SINGAPORE, Oct. 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — bluesheets, a pioneer in financial data AI automation, is rebranding to fileAI, reflecting a significant evolution in its mission and services. This name change marks a strategic shift from a focus primarily on automating financial data to a broader commitment to automating all file types and business processes with flexible, agentic AI-driven workflows.

As businesses seek greater efficiency and innovation without expanding their workforce, fileAI is poised to lead the way. The company focuses on eliminating manual file processing, redefining business operations with AI-driven solutions. Its new name reflects a commitment to streamlining operations across sectors, helping organizations boost effectiveness and adaptability in a rapidly changing environment.

“Transitioning from bluesheets to fileAI represents more than just a name change; it embodies our dedication to revolutionizing how businesses use their data,” said Christian Schneider, CEO of fileAI. “Our advanced automation solutions streamline manual file handling and workflows, allowing teams to focus on what truly matters—building strong client relationships, empowering employees, and fostering growth and innovation. With fileAI, we lay the groundwork for effective, agent-driven business processes.”

Key Highlights:

  • Comprehensive File Automation: fileAI’s platform now supports automation for any file type, such as spreadsheets, PDF, images and more, significantly broadening its applicability across industries. The system is designed to understand, parse, index, tag, and enrich file data without the need for upfront data training.
  • Future-Ready Solutions: With a focus on agentic, AI-driven workflows, fileAI is committed to evolving its offerings to meet the dynamic needs of modern businesses.
  • Enhanced Business Workflows: The new capabilities aim to improve efficiency by integrating seamlessly into existing business processes (fileAI already integrates with over 200+ platforms!)

To learn more about how your business can leverage AI to automate your manual and repetitive business processes, visit file.ai.

About fileAI:

fileAI is a leading provider of AI automation solutions that leverage artificial intelligence to process any file end-to-end directly into any system without manual intervention. With a commitment to innovation and customer success, fileAI enables organizations across various sectors to unlock manpower stuck doing low-value tasks for higher value work.

PR Newswire

Moomoo Launches Moomoo Desktop Version

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JERSEY CITY, N.J., Oct. 19, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — The investment and trading platform moomoo has recently launched its redeisgned desktop to better serve U.S. retail investors and help unlock their trading potential.

The newly developed, client-driven platform offers customizable multi-monitor layouts with advanced features tailored for investors, including powerful charting and analytical tools. It also enables seamless symbol syncing across tabs and streamlined order placement. With built-in market insights and educational resources, the platform empowers investors to make informed decisions. Moomoo will relaunch its web version later in 2024.

Since its U.S. launch in 2018, moomoo has been bridging the gap between institutional and retail investors by offering a reliable, user-friendly trading platform designed for investors of all experience levels. With access to Level 2 data for its brokerage customers and zero-commission trading for stocks, ETFs, and equity options, moomoo helps empower both novice and seasoned investors to navigate the markets with greater confidence.

“We believe our next-gen workspace is built for the future of trading, offering pro-level tools without the pro-level pricing. At moomoo, we’ve always leveraged technological innovation to continuously evolve our platforms across various formats, ensuring we meet the unique needs of our customers,” said Neil McDonald, CEO, Moomoo US.

Nowadays, users can download the moomoo desktop version here to experience the new platform and unlock their full trading potential. 

About moomoo

Moomoo is an investment and trading platform that empowers global investors with pro-grade, easy-to-use tools, data, and insights. It provides users with the necessary information and technology to make more informed investment decisions. Investors have access to advanced charting tools, technical analytics, and in-depth data. Moomoo grows with its users, cultivating a community where investors share, learn, and grow together in one place. Moomoo provides free access to investment courses, educational materials, and interactive events that any investor, at any level, can gain from. Users can join forum discussions, trending topics, and seminars to better their investment knowledge and insights.

The moomoo app is offered by Moomoo Technologies Inc. (“MTI”) a company that is based in Jersey City, New Jersey. The app is used globally in countries including the U.S., Singapore, Australia, Japan, Malaysia and Canada. MTI is not a broker-dealer and does not provide investment advice or recommendations. In the U.S., securities products and services are offered by Moomoo Financial Inc. (“MFI”), an SEC-registered broker-dealer and member FINRA/SIPC. MTI and MFI are indirect, wholly-owned subsidiaries of Futu Holdings Limited (Nasdaq: FUTU).

For more information, please visit moomoo’s official website at www.moomoo.com/us or feel free to email: pr@us.moomoo.com.

*Investing is risky.  *Level 2 data is free for Moomoo Financial Inc. accounts with a minimum 30-day average account value of $100+. Other conditions apply, to learn more, visit moomoo.com/us/support/topic3_435.

*U.S. residents trading in U.S. securities may trade commission-free using the moomoo app through Moomoo Financial Inc. Other fees may apply. For more info, visit moomoo.com/us/pricing.

PR Newswire

Digital Domain Teams Up with AWS to Scale Autonomous Virtual Human Technology and Introduces Generative AI-Powered Features

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HONG KONG, Oct. 4, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Digital Domain Holdings Limited (“Digital Domain”, stock code: 547), a global leader in visual effects and transformative experiences, recognized for nearly two decades of pioneering work in the virtual human space, today announced its collaboration with Amazon Web Services (AWS) to migrate its Autonomous Virtual Human (AVH) technology to the cloud. This collaboration, leveraging AWS’s advanced cloud infrastructure and generative AI and machine learning (ML) services, aims to propel the evolution and global reach of Digital Domain’s AVH technology and expand its use for multiple industries, including entertainment, gaming, healthcare, hospitality, and commercial applications.

As the innovator behind Zoey, the groundbreaking virtual human introduced in 2022, this collaboration marks a significant milestone for Digital Domain. AWS’s cloud services, particularly Amazon Bedrock, provide the necessary adaptability to drive AVH’s growth. With its high-performing foundation models, Amazon Bedrock significantly enhances virtual humans’ capabilities in real-time interactions. Additionally, Digital Domain is using Amazon Polly to help enhance voice outputs, and is considering using Amazon Rekognition for facial recognition and video-based services. AWS’s robust security and compliance features will safeguard Digital Domain’s data, reinforcing the integrity and scalability of the AVH platform. Through a successful partnership with Slalom, a leading technology consulting firm, Digital Domain has efficiently transitioned all AVH workloads to AWS in just nine months, enabling the company to scale AVH technology to meet the burgeoning global demand for real-time, AI-powered customer interactions.

By leveraging AWS’s cloud infrastructure, Digital Domain will unlock the flexibility, efficiency, and performance necessary to expand AVH capabilities. This scalability not only ensures a promising future for AVH technology but also opens up a world of exciting possibilities for its growth. By moving to the cloud, Digital Domain can offer AVH technology with greater speed, reliability, and cost efficiency, allowing clients in hospitality, entertainment, healthcare, and other business sectors to integrate these advanced digital humans into their operations seamlessly. This global accessibility means businesses worldwide can harness AVH technology to deliver personalized, real-time interactions at scale, enhancing customer service, boosting engagement, and elevating brand experiences. Whether it’s offering virtual concierge services, interactive customer support, or immersive storytelling, businesses can now more easily tap into this potent technology, adapting it to their unique needs and enhancing their operations.

“This collaboration with AWS marks a significant milestone for Digital Domain and our ambitions in virtual human technology,” said Daniel Seah, CEO of Digital Domain. “By migrating our Autonomous Virtual Human technology to the cloud, we are not only enhancing its scalability and performance but also expanding its accessibility to a global audience. AWS’s involvement is instrumental in pushing the boundaries of what’s possible, enabling us to create even more immersive and interactive experiences for our clients and their audiences. This collaboration will also allow us to establish new industry standards in the hospitality and travel sectors worldwide with our partnership with Plaza Premium Group, one of the largest independently run pay-in lounge operations in airports globally.”

“We are thrilled to collaborate with Digital Domain in this transformative journey to the cloud,” said Samira Bakhtiar, General Manager of Media & Entertainment, Games, and Sports at AWS. “As virtual humans play a larger role across industries to engage directly with customers, Digital Domain is ensuring that everyone has access to its visionary AVH technology by combining it with the most secure, extensive, and reliable global cloud infrastructure, as well as AWS’s generative AI and ML services. We look forward to working with Digital Domain to further expand AVH’s capabilities and bring virtual humans to more AWS customers.”

Digital Domain’s AVH technology represents a leap forward in creating lifelike virtual humans capable of real-time interaction. Through this collaboration with AWS and the use of advanced AI and ML tools, Digital Domain is set to redefine the standards of virtual human experiences, unlocking new possibilities in storytelling, customer engagement, and interactive entertainment.

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https://wdrv.it/cf91884ad 

ABOUT DIGITAL DOMAIN

Digital Domain is a pioneer in creating transportive experiences. Over the past 30 years, Digital Domain has grown to lead the visual effects industry, expanding the arm of virtual humans and visualization globally. Digital Domain’s rich legacy comprises hundreds of feature films and episodes, thousands of advertisements, game cinematics, and experimental immersive experiences. A creative force in cutting-edge technologies, Digital Domain has brought exceptional artistry to Academy Award-winning blockbusters of Titanic, What Dreams May Come, and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. Marvel Cinematic Universe titles crushed all-time worldwide box office, such as the Avengers franchise, and Stranger Things made a splash with Season IV. 

Digital Domain stands as a trailblazer, achieving the remarkable distinction of being the first independent visual effects studio. Since 2016, the company has charted a pioneering course into the realms of virtual reality technology and artificial intelligence, revolutionizing the creation of emotionally expressive and photorealistic virtual humans in real-time.

Digital Domain is listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (Stock code: 547) and is headquartered in Hong Kong. Digital Domain maintains operations in multiple cities including Los Angeles, Vancouver, Montreal, Beijing, Shanghai, Hyderabad, and more. For more information, visit the official website – www.digitaldomain.com.

For more information about Digital Domain’s AVH technology and its collaboration with AWS, please visit www.digitaldomain.com.

PR Newswire

Forrester: Mobile Banking Innovation Gap Widens In Australia Amidst Rising Customer Expectations

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Only two of the big four Australian banks, Westpac and CommBank, offer personalized features that proactively anticipate customer needs

SYDNEY, Sept. 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — According to Forrester’s (Nasdaq: FORR) Digital Experience Review™: Australian Mobile Banking Apps report, 75% of Australian online adult banking customers have used their mobile banking app in the past month, up from 59% in 2022. Yet most customers who used their bank’s mobile app give it a Customer Experience Index (CX Index™) score of just OK, and only 63% agree that their bank offers mobile capabilities that meet their needs.

To gauge the ease and effectiveness of mobile banking experiences, Forrester evaluated the smartphone apps of the “big four” Australian banks: ANZ, Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CommBank), National Australia Bank (NAB), and Westpac.

Key findings from Forrester’s review include:

  • Westpac leads with innovative features. Westpac emerged as the leader for the second year in a row. The bank’s app excels in money movement and account management, introducing personalized features that keep customers informed about their budget usage and spending limits. CommBank stood out as a close second, offering automated savings capabilities that reduce the cognitive load on its customers.
  • Some Australian banks have made significant strides, but overall mobile banking has stalled. Only two of the four banks, Westpac and CommBank, introduced new, personalized features that anticipate customer needs over the past year. Weak spots include the use of customer context to offer actionable insights that help customers manage their money.
  • Customers’ expectations are rising. Australian banks do the basics well, but the gap between leaders and laggards is widening as customer expectations rise. Australian banks need to invest in industry best practices that are table stakes now — for example, customers’ ability to manage their accounts digitally, improving search to help customers find and make sense of their transactions, offering real-time contextual help to resolve critical issues, and leveraging emerging technologies to deliver improved experiences.

“Given the widespread use of mobile banking apps in Australia, banks should consider investing in features valued by their customers,” said Zhi-Ying Barry, principal analyst at Forrester. “While there are some bright spots, there is a huge opportunity for Australian banks to invest more in emerging technologies such as generative AI and conversational AI to anticipate their customers’ needs and offer more personalized financial advice and solutions.”

Forrester’s Digital Experience Review research, combined with results from its Banking Customer Experience Index Rankings, evaluates digital experiences delivered to consumers, helping business, marketing, and technology leaders understand the best practices and optimal digital experiences that drive growth and customer loyalty.

Resources:

  • Learn more about the findings of Forrester’s Digital Experience Review for Australian mobile banking apps as well as best practices that banks should follow to improve CX.
  • Download The Forrester Digital Experience Review™: Australian Mobile Banking Apps, Q3 2024 (client access required).

About Forrester
Forrester (Nasdaq: FORR) is one of the most influential research and advisory firms in the world. We help leaders across technology, customer experience, digital, marketing, sales, and product functions use customer obsession to accelerate growth. Through Forrester’s proprietary research, consulting, and events, leaders from around the globe are empowered to be bold at work — to navigate change and put their customers at the center of their leadership, strategy, and operations. Our unique insights are grounded in annual surveys of more than 700,000 consumers, business leaders, and technology leaders worldwide; rigorous and objective research methodologies, including Forrester Wave™ evaluations; and the shared wisdom of our clients. To learn more, visit Forrester.com.

PR Newswire

ThroughPut.AI Unveils AI-powered Inventory Management Capabilities to Free-up Working Capital, Grow Revenue, and Expand Margins

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Revolutionary AI-based Supply Chain Decision Intelligence platform launches new inventory capabilities to identify and quantify working capital savings, while predicting and recommending opportunities to accelerate revenue and profitability

PALO ALTO, Calif., Aug. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — ThroughPut Inc., the Gartner-recognized Industrial AI Supply Chain Analytics and Decision Intelligence pioneer, today announced the launch of new inventory management capabilities that empower businesses to drive higher profitability through powerful working capital spend projections, real-time inventory predictions, and dynamic rebalancing and replenishment recommendations.

The current release enables advanced visibility and actionability for businesses to manage their inventory and material movements across all their SKU’s, customers, locations, and supply chain end-points. As a result, they can increase inventory turns, ensure rapid availability of fast-moving products, and reduce safety stock and carrying costs. With these new capabilities, businesses now have the unprecedented availability to unlock capital, improve operational efficiencies, and boost margins. By leveraging ThroughPut’s patented, award-winning AI and Machine Learning supply chain decision intelligence platform on top of their existing diverse data systems, organizations of all types can rapidly pinpoint where capital allocation is insufficient, predict outcomes, and make recommendations enabling them to accelerate goods movement, revenue, and margins.

“ThroughPut.AI’s enhanced working capital management capabilities show our customers where their excess working capital lies, where their operations are underfunded, and projects how these gaps should best be optimized,” explains Seth Page, Chief Operations Officer and Head of Strategic Partnerships at ThroughPut.AI. “With advanced AI algorithms optimizing operations for financial analytics, insights, decision intelligence, and recommendations, we enable organizations to plan the best scenario for inventory spend down to the per SKU, per route, per location, per source, levels, so that they may cater to true demand at all times, whether sudden, seasonal, cyclical, or previously “unpredictable.” You can better analyze, predict and prepare for all these situations and many more by leveraging your existing diverse data systems with operational AI to achieve greater financial results.”

The new release focuses strongly on the following capabilities:

  • Projecting Working Capital Spend Optimization: Leverage powerful algorithms to identify when and where capital is unnecessarily tied-up, or where it needs to be supplemented to optimize flow of goods, cash, and profits.
  • Reducing Spend and Identifying Savings Opportunities: Identify specific SKUs on which spend can be safely reduced to enhance cost savings without compromising on product quality or service levels.
  • AI-powered Predictive Analytics: Get actionable insights, predictions and recommendations – on everything from inventory turnover rates to potential stockouts – to make proactive informed decisions that optimize inventory performance.
  • Advanced Demand Sensing: Move beyond traditional demand forecasting with stale assumptions and old data, and enable more accurate dynamic demand sensing to rapidly respond to shifts in market trends and customer priorities.

With ThroughPut’s latest release, businesses can rapidly segment their product portfolios, identify their best and worst performing products, adapt their product mix to prioritize fast-moving goods with higher contribution margins, and ensure the greater flow of goods, material, and cash.

PR Contact

Tina Jacobs

pr@throughput.ai

About ThroughPut Inc

ThroughPut.AI is a Silicon Valley-based Supply Chain AI-powered Decision Intelligence leader that puts Industrial material flow on Autopilot by leveraging existing Enterprise Data to achieve superior Business, Operations, Financial and Sustainability Results. ThroughPut improves material flow and free-cash-flow across the entire end-to-end value chain far faster than leading contemporary and legacy solutions. The founding team is led by seasoned serial entrepreneurs with real-world AI, Supply Chain, Manufacturing, Transportation and Operational experience, from the shop-floor to the top-floor, at leading Fortune 500 Industrial Companies & pioneering Enterprise Technology companies.

To learn more about ThroughPut Inc, visit our website today.

Additional Resources:

Source: ThroughPut Inc.

PR Newswire

Future FinTech Announces the Appointment of Hu Li as the New CEO

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NEW YORK, Aug. 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Future Fintech Group Inc. (NASDAQ: FTFT), (hereinafter referred to as “Future FinTech”, “FTFT” or the “Company”), a comprehensive financial and digital technology service provider, today announced that its Board of Directors (the “Board”) approved the appointment of Mr. Hu Li as Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”), President and a member of the Board of the Company, effective August 5, 2024.

Mr. Li will be fully responsible for the operation and management of the Company, helping it to expand internationally, manage its investment and financing activities, and promote the Company’s continued strategic transformation and development. Mr. Li replaces Mr. Shanchun Huang as Chief Executive Officer effective August 5, 2024. Mr. Huang resigned as CEO, President and a member of the Board for personal reasons, and not because of any disagreement with the Company, its management or its directors.

Mr. Hu Li has served as a director and Chief Executive Officer of FTFT International Securities and Futures Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company since January 2024, and as Corporate Secretary of the Company since June 2019. Since September 2021, he has served as an independent Director of Shineco Inc. (Nasdaq: SISI). Mr. Li served as the chief supervisor of Anhui Yihai Mining Equipment Co., Ltd., a public company in the China NEEQ stock market (stock symbol: 831451) from February 2018 to July 2021. From September 2015 to February 2018, Mr. Li served as the Vice General Manager of Shaanxi Huipu Financial Leasing Co., Ltd. Mr. Li obtained his master’s degree in Business Administration (MBA) from Xi’an Technology University in 2008 and bachelor’s degree from Xi’an Fanyi University in 1996.

Mr. Foyou Li, Future FinTech’s Chairman of the Board, said, “Mr. Hu Li is an excellent executive, having joined the Company five years ago, and he has made many outstanding contributions during this period. Further, Mr. Li has played an important role as the Company transitioned into a fintech company with a diversified portfolio of financial services businesses. Mr. Li has accumulated deep knowledge of our new business and rich management experience during the past five years with the Company. I am very pleased that he has agreed to assume the responsibility as the Company’s new Chief Executive Officer and believe that Mr. Li will fulfill the mission of the Company and take it to new heights of achievement and success.”

Mr. Hu Li, said, “I attach great importance to this new appointment and opportunity. First of all, I would like to thank Mr. Shanchun Huang for his great contributions to the Company over the years. Future FinTech’s success and development cannot be separated from the leadership and guidance of Mr. Huang as he effectively developed our corporate structure and current positioning in the fintech industry. I plan to continue to work shoulder to shoulder with the Future FinTech team to help the Company to achieve sustainable development and accelerate the implementation of our global strategic growth plan. As CEO of Future FinTech, my mission is to lead the organization, set its goals and market strategies, and leverage my executive experience to the benefit of our customers, employees and shareholders worldwide.”

About Future Fintech Group Inc.

Future FinTech Group Inc. (NASDAQ: FTFT) is a comprehensive financial and digital technology service provider. The Company, through its subsidiaries, conducts asset management, brokerage and investment banking services in Hong Kong, operates a cross-border payment business in the United Kingdom, and engages in supply chain trading and finance businesses in China. In addition, the Company has initiated digital asset mining farm operations in the United States. FTFT adheres to the concept of improving financial services with digital and internet technology, and provides its business and individual customers with stable, safe and efficient digital financial services. For more information, please visit www.ftft.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

Certain of the statements made in this press release are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning and protections of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act. Forward-looking statements include statements with respect to our beliefs, plans, objectives, goals, expectations, anticipations, assumptions, estimates, intentions, and future performance, and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may be beyond our control, and which may cause the actual results, performance, capital, ownership or achievements of the Company to be materially different from future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical fact are statements that could be forward-looking statements. You can identify these forward-looking statements through our use of words such as “may,” “will,” “anticipate,” “assume,” “should,” “indicate,” “would,” “believe,” “contemplate,” “expect,” “estimate,” “continue,” “plan,” “point to,” “project,” “could,” “intend,” “target” and other similar words and expressions of the future.

All written or oral forward-looking statements attributable to us are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary notice, including, without limitation, those risks and uncertainties described in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 and our other reports and filings with SEC. Such reports are available upon request from the Company, or from the Securities and Exchange Commission, including through the SEC’s Internet website at http://www.sec.gov. We have no obligation and do not undertake to update, revise or correct any of the forward-looking statements after the date hereof, or after the respective dates on which any such statements otherwise are made.

Source: Future FinTech Group Inc.