Munchd, the disruptive online food ordering platform committed to empowering local takeaways and restaurants to save money, which launched in February 2024, has announced the launch of its highly anticipated mobile app for both iOS and Android devices.
This custom-built app, developed over the past year alongside the expert digital team in award-winning, Dundalk based marketing agency ZOMA, marks a significant milestone for Munchd, and is poised to disrupt the food ordering industry, providing a direct and compelling alternative to established giants like Just Eat and Uber Eats.
Building on Munchd’s core mission of supporting local businesses, the app offers a seamless and convenient ordering experience for customers while maintaining its groundbreaking 1% commission model for restaurants.Typically the larger competitors charge 10% – 30% commission. Munchd’s unique approach allows takeaways and restaurants maximise their profits, reinvest in their businesses, and offer more competitive prices to consumers.
The Munchd app brings a wealth of features to users, including effortless browsing of a diverse selection of local restaurants and takeaways all in one convenient location. Users can enjoy streamlined ordering, placing orders quickly and easily with an intuitive and user-friendly interface. The app also provides access to exclusive deals, a loyalty program, and promotions available only through the app.
Since its launch in early 2024, Munchd’s prototype app has achieved an impressive turnover of nearly €2 million, highlighting its rapid growth and strong market demand. One of the demo takeaways on the Munchd platform managed to save over €100,000 on fees in 2024, which highlights the cost savings that takeaways and restaurants can achieve by switching to Munchd.
“The launch of the Munchd app is a game-changer for the food industry,” said David Kieran, Managing Director of Munchd. “For over a year, we’ve been dedicated to developing a platform that truly benefits both restaurants and customers. This app represents the culmination of that hard work, offering a superior ordering experience while staying true to our commitment of 1% commission for restaurants. We believe this will level the playing field, help the already struggling hospitality sector and allow food businesses to thrive and give consumers more choice and better value.”
The Munchd app is now available for download on iOS and Android devices. Customers can download the app from the App Store and Google Play Store by searching for “Munchd”, or visiting www.munchd.io.
Restaurants and takeaways interested in joining the Munchd platform and benefiting from the 1% commission model can visit http://www.munchd.io/join for more information.
In a world where musical passion often meets the harsh realities of financial sustenance, many aspiring musicians find themselves at a crossroads. While the dream of pursuing music full-time can sometimes feel distant, turning a musical hobby into a profitable side gig is not only achievable but also immensely rewarding. With the right guidance and resources, anyone can take steps to monetize their talent and build a successful venture. This article explores key strategies and actionable steps artists can take to elevate their music careers.
Identifying Your Unique Musical Niche
One of the first steps in transforming your music hobby into a side hustle is to identify your unique musical niche. This segment is essential because it helps you differentiate yourself in a saturated market. What sets your music apart? Is it a distinctive vocal quality, a unique genre blend, or perhaps innovative lyrics? Understanding your individuality not only attracts listeners but also lays the groundwork for your branding.
Recent studies show that niches in the music industry often outperform generic offerings, allowing artists to capture a dedicated fan base. For instance, many successful musicians have carved out a space for themselves by focusing on sub-genres or blending styles, attracting listeners who appreciate their unique approach.
Building Your Brand as a Musician
Creating a compelling brand involves more than just having great music. It’s about storytelling, and connecting with your audience on an emotional level. Start by curating a cohesive visual identity, including a logo, colors, and artwork that represents your musical style and persona. Effective branding can make your profile more memorable and engaging, which is essential in a crowded space.
Social media platforms serve as powerful tools for establishing your brand. Regularly engage with your audience through posts, stories, and even live sessions, sharing insights into your creative process and personal anecdotes. This interaction adds a human touch, fostering loyalty and community among your listeners.
Leveraging Online Music Platforms
The rise of the digital age presents a myriad of platforms where musicians can share and monetize their work. Consider using platforms such as Bandcamp, SoundCloud, and Spotify to distribute your music. Each platform has its unique features, making them ideal for different goals—whether it’s reaching a broad audience or selling your music directly.
For independent artists, revenue generation often hinges on multiple streams such as merchandise sales, digital downloads, and streaming royalties. To diversify your income, engage fans by offering exclusive content. This could include early access to new songs, behind-the-scenes videos, or limited-edition merchandise. Platforms like Patreon allow fans to support you financially while receiving exclusive insider access.
Networking and Collaborations
Building relationships within the music industry is crucial for growth. Networking can lead to collaboration opportunities, gigs, and exposure. Start by attending local music events, joining online music groups, and reaching out to other artists. Building a robust network can also help you discover gigs and promotional opportunities you might not have come across otherwise.
Collaboration can lead to innovative music projects that reach wider audiences. Working with other artists not only exposes you to their fan base but allows for the fusion of ideas that spark creativity. Collaborations can take various forms—feature tracks, remix contests, or even joint projects that encompass multiple genres.
Promoting Your Music Effectively
No matter how good your music is, if no one hears it, it won’t generate income. Thus, dedicating time to marketing your music is vital. Utilize social media advertising, and platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok where trends can quickly snowball. Investing in targeted ads allows you to reach specific demographics likely to resonate with your music.
Consider employing SEO strategies when sharing content on platforms such as YouTube. Use relevant tags, compelling thumbnails, and optimizing descriptions to enhance visibility. Effectively promoting your music increases your chances of being discovered by potential fans and leads to greater opportunities down the line.
Setting Up a Merchandise Line
A merchandise line can serve as a lucrative extension of your music brand. Many musicians generate a significant percentage of their income through merch sales. Start small, focusing on high-demand items—t-shirts, caps, and stickers featuring your logo and artwork. Platforms like Teespring and Printful allow you to create products without bearing upfront costs.
As demand grows, you could explore creating limited-edition items or collaborating with artists to design exclusive merchandise. This not only provides fans with unique products but enhances your branding by associating your music with lifestyle trends.
Utilizing Live Performances
Live performances remain one of the most effective means of connecting with fans and generating income. Whether it’s local gigs, open mics, or virtual performances via platforms like Zoom and Stageit, make the most of these opportunities. They provide real-time interaction with fans, increasing engagement and loyalty.
Furthermore, live performances can showcase your personality and stage presence, helping build a loyal audience base. Consistently performing allows you to refine your craft, gather feedback, and experiment with new material in front of live audiences.
Investing in Your Music Career
Investing in your music career is critical as you transition from a hobbyist to a professional. This encompasses various aspects, from purchasing quality recording gear to enrolling in courses that enhance your music production skills. Various online platforms offer courses on songwriting, marketing, and performance techniques, equipping you with knowledge that can significantly boost your brand. Experts from indiefy.net suggest considering the use of technology to aid your growth. Discover advanced AI tools that can elevate your music career by assisting in everything from music composition to marketing analytics, ensuring you remain competitive and innovative.
Tracking Your Progress and Metrics
As with any business venture, measuring success is essential. Utilize analytics tools available through music streaming platforms or social media networks to track listener engagement and demographic insights. Understanding your audience allows you to tailor your content accordingly, improving your chances of success.
Set specific, measurable goals—whether it’s increasing monthly listeners, boosting merchandise sales, or enhancing social media engagement. Consistently review your progress to identify areas for improvement and adapt your strategies accordingly.
Protecting Your Music
As you dive into the world of monetizing your music, protecting your intellectual property becomes paramount. Copyrighting your music prevents unauthorized use and ensures you maintain control over your creations. Familiarize yourself with the necessary legal measures, including registering with performing rights organizations (PROs) that collect royalties on your behalf.
Investing time in understanding licenses and permissions can save you legal headaches down the road. Whether you’re using samples or collaborating with other artists, ensure all parties are aware of copyright laws to maintain a positive environment in the music community.
Transitioning from a musical hobby to a thriving side gig is a journey filled with opportunities and challenges. By embracing your uniqueness and establishing a strong personal brand, you lay the groundwork for future success. Remember to leverage available resources and continually network within the industry to seek out collaborations, gigs, and promotional opportunities.
Make use of innovative tools in your pursuit, from online platforms for music distribution to merchandise creation. By engaging and connecting with your audience sincerely, your music can resonate deeply, leading to a fulfilling and profitable side hustle. Enjoy the adventure of growing your music career; every step, setback, and success contributes to your ultimate growth as an artist.
In a significant milestone for the fintech industry, Paysend, the UK-based global payments platform, has announced reaching 10 million consumer customers worldwide. This achievement underscores Paysend’s remarkable growth and solidifies its position in the cross-border payments market, which is projected to reach USD$ 60 trillion by 2030. From its beginnings as a visionary startup, Paysend has evolved into the world’s largest digital payment network, embodying its mission of delivering the simplest money transfer solutions globally.
A certified processor for Mastercard, Visa, and China UnionPay, Paysend is known for its commitment to transparency and accessibility. The company’s innovative payment infrastructure facilitates seamless money transfers to cards, wallets, and accounts in over 170 countries from more than 50 sending locations. This extensive reach caters to individual consumers and enterprise clients alike, attracting partnerships with industry leaders such as Mastercard and Western Union, as well as innovative firms like Deel, underscoring Paysend’s growing influence in the global payments ecosystem.
Abdul Abdulkerimov, Founder and Executive Chairman of Paysend, commented:
“This milestone reflects the significant impact our payment technology platform has on millions of consumers and enterprises worldwide. As the largest global digital network with over 25 billion endpoints, our mission is to simplify international payments for everyone. We extend our heartfelt thanks to all our customers with great pride and gratitude.”
Paysend’s dedication is reflected in its impressive metrics: over 15 million downloads of the Paysend app on Google Play and an 85% ‘excellent’ rating from more than 34,000 Trustpilot reviews. Despite these achievements, Paysend considers them just the beginning of its journey, with an unwavering focus on continued growth and innovation.
Jairo Riveros, Group Head of Strategy and Managing Director for the Americas, added:
“Reaching over 10 million consumer customers worldwide is a testament to the strength of the extensive network we’ve built with our strategic partners. Our commitment remains steadfast: to make money transfers simple, fast, and accessible for everyone, including the unbanked. We sincerely thank our customers and partners for their trust and support.”
Paysend continues to drive innovation, highlighted by the 2024 launch of “Libre,” a groundbreaking feature that enables money transfers using just a phone number. This advancement reinforces Paysend’s position as a leader in payment technology and as the world’s largest digital payment network. Additionally, Paysend’s partnership with TelevisaUnivision, the largest Spanish-language broadcast network in the U.S., provides a unique opportunity to connect with the world’s largest remittance market, amplifying the company’s reach and impact and further solidifying it as a frontrunner in the cross-border payments market.
Collaboration is the cornerstone of growth and innovation. For growing businesses, the right collaborative platform isn’t just a tool—it’s a catalyst for success. But with countless options available, how do you identify the one that truly meets your needs? The best platforms go beyond basic functionality, offering features that enhance teamwork, streamline workflows, and adapt as your business evolves.
In this post, we’ll dive into six must-have features that make a collaborative platform ideal for scaling businesses. Whether it’s fostering real-time communication, ensuring seamless integration, or providing robust data security, these features empower teams to work smarter, not harder. Let’s get started.
Seamless Real-Time Communication for Instant Collaboration
Effective communication is the backbone of any successful business. A collaborative platform should facilitate real-time messaging, video calls, and instant feedback across teams. Features like instant notifications, chat threads, and group conversations ensure no idea gets lost, and everyone stays on the same page. Advanced platforms also support file sharing within chats, making discussions more actionable.
This instant connectivity fosters teamwork and enables faster decision-making. For instance, you can have a collaborative platform for your customers to connect with support teams, ensuring prompt resolutions and enhanced satisfaction. With real-time communication tools, growing businesses can bridge the gap between remote and in-office teams, creating a cohesive and responsive work environment.
Flexible Integration with Essential Business Tools
A great collaborative platform doesn’t operate in isolation. It integrates seamlessly with other tools and systems your business already relies on, such as project management software, CRM platforms, or cloud storage solutions. Integration minimizes disruptions and avoids switching between multiple applications, saving time and reducing errors.
For growing businesses, the ability to centralize work processes in one hub simplifies workflows and boosts productivity. Platforms with APIs for customization offer even greater flexibility, letting you tailor features to your unique needs. By streamlining access to diverse tools, integrated platforms enable businesses to focus on growth rather than tech compatibility issues.
User-Friendly Interface for Effortless Adoption
Even the most feature-rich collaborative platform is ineffective if it’s difficult to use. A user-friendly interface is essential for quick adoption across all levels of an organization. Intuitive navigation, clear layouts, and accessible tutorials can reduce the learning curve, ensuring teams can start collaborating immediately. The ideal platform empowers users without requiring extensive training or technical expertise.
For growing businesses, simplicity translates to time saved and less resistance from employees. Platforms that offer mobile-friendly designs are even more advantageous, enabling on-the-go access for busy teams. A seamless user experience fosters engagement, making it easier for businesses to drive collaboration and innovation.
Robust Security and Data Protection Features
Data security is paramount, especially for growing businesses managing sensitive information. A collaborative platform should prioritize robust encryption, secure access controls, and compliance with data protection regulations. Multi-factor authentication, role-based access permissions, and regular security updates are essential features that safeguard your business data from cyber threats.
Additionally, platforms that provide audit logs and activity tracking give businesses better visibility into how data is accessed and used. By choosing a secure platform, growing companies can collaborate with confidence, knowing their information is protected. Security measures not only build trust internally but also enhance credibility with clients and partners.
Scalability to Match Business Growth
As your business grows, so do your collaboration needs. A scalable platform ensures you can add users, features, and integrations without compromising performance or efficiency. This flexibility allows businesses to expand operations without the need to switch tools frequently. Scalable platforms often offer tiered pricing, letting you pay for only what you need as you grow.
For instance, an initially small team can expand to include contractors, clients, or additional departments without disrupting workflows. By investing in a scalable solution, businesses can future-proof their operations, avoiding costly migrations and maintaining continuity as their teams and projects evolve.
Customizable Features
Every business has unique needs, and a one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t always work. Collaborative platforms with customizable features allow businesses to adapt tools to their specific requirements. From customizable dashboards and workflows to personalized notifications and branding options, flexibility empowers teams to optimize their collaboration experience.
For growing businesses, this adaptability ensures the platform evolves alongside their changing priorities. Moreover, platforms that offer modular functionality let businesses select the tools they need without overloading users with unnecessary features. A tailored approach to collaboration drives efficiency, helping businesses stay agile in a competitive market while meeting their team’s unique preferences and goals.
Choosing the right collaborative platform is crucial for growing businesses aiming to enhance teamwork and drive success. Platforms with features like real-time communication, seamless integration, robust security, and scalability provide the foundation for efficient operations. A user-friendly interface ensures smooth adoption, while customizable tools cater to unique business needs. By investing in a platform that combines these six essential features, businesses can create a productive and collaborative environment that adapts as they grow. Remember, the right platform doesn’t just support your current needs—it becomes a strategic partner in achieving long-term goals and maintaining a competitive edge in the market.
Yanmar Holdings Co., Ltd. has introduced the YANMAR PRODUCT VISION (YPV), outlining the future of its next-generation design. Rooted in the philosophy of “Intrinsic Design,” which focuses on the core functional value and purpose of products, YPV presents Yanmar’s design goals for the future. The company plans to combine the design elements developed through YPV with its established design expertise to create a platform that will be implemented across its product range, including agricultural machinery, construction equipment, boats, and services.
Yanmar HD has been working to cultivate its brand image through designs that resonate with stakeholders, including customers, employees, and the general public, under the concept of “inclusive branding.” This effort has been achieved through co-creation with internal and external partners.
The new initiative, based on the concept of Intrinsic Design, aims to platformize the design elements included in YPV. This approach will not only standardize components and designs but also enhance intuitive operability and comfort with new interfaces designed for future tasks. Additionally, it will contribute to increased development efficiency and cost reductions.
These concepts will be applied to each product within Yanmar’s core business areas of land, sea, and city to contribute to the realization of a sustainable society.
About YANMAR PRODUCT VISION (YPV)
YPV represents Yanmar’s vision for the future, setting out the ideal direction for its business domains in 2035. Rooted in the philosophy of Intrinsic Design, which prioritizes functional value over form, Yanmar describes its design approach as “Gentleness and Toughness,” reflecting its tradition of producing machines that are both user-friendly and durable in demanding environments. By standardizing elements like new design aesthetics, cabin structures, and Human-Machine Interfaces as defined through YPV, Yanmar aims to streamline product development while enhancing functionality from a customer-centric perspective.
YPV in the Land Domain
One example of platformization is a redesign of the cabin structure to standardize components between agricultural and construction machinery. The life-sized concept agricultural machine YPV-L (Land), unveiled at the YANMAR DESIGN EXHIBITION held at YANMAR TOKYO from November 8 to 15, 2024, features a large monitor in the cockpit that functions as a command center, controlling other autonomous machines. The cabinless version, designed with full automation in mind, allows for customization based on work location and operator needs.
Unified cabin design and expansion to other business areas (YPV-C)
YPV in the City Domain
YPV-C focuses on the electrification of construction equipment to meet the anticipated increase in indoor work and renovation projects. The concept uses wheels (tires) instead of crawlers to enable swift movement to disaster sites. To address battery life and charging challenges, an autonomous battery vehicle will supply power when needed.
Image of a self-propelled battery vehicle automatically supplying power to electric construction equipment.
YPV in the Sea Domain
YPV-S (Sea) introduces a foiling sailboat that proposes a new marine lifestyle. Drawing on Yanmar’s extensive marine technology and expertise, the design leverages natural forces through foiling, which lifts the boat above the water, and sailing, maximizing the use of wind power to shape both propulsion and onboard experience.
Depowise, the Estonian-founded oversight and process automation startup for financial services firms, is expanding into the United Kingdom and Ireland. The company aims to increase its current 5% market share tenfold in the domiciled funds market of Luxembourg, Ireland, and the UK, valued at more than €16.5 trillion. Over the next five years, Depowise plans to achieve a volume of assets on the platform of €8 trillion and become a market leader.
Leading this significant expansion is Leonid Belov, the newly appointed Managing Director for the UK and Ireland. Belov has a wealth of experience across front-to-back and cross-asset-class solutions, having worked in leading financial institutions such as BlackRock, State Street, MSCI, and Bloomberg.
“Having known Leo since our Bloomberg days, I have always admired his drive and insight. During one of our chats, I brought up my ambition to develop Depowise, and this resonated strongly with Leo, who thought we could disrupt the status quo and bring about meaningful change,” says Artur Reiter, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Depowise. “We are beyond delighted to welcome Leonid Belov to our team. His exceptional talent in growth engineering, coupled with his strategic approach, sales expertise, and extensive financial technology knowledge, will undoubtedly secure our success in these new markets.”
Mr Belov shares the excitement: “Depowise has incredible growth potential that I couldn’t resist being a part of. The dedication and achievements of the team in just three years – developing a market-leading end-to-end tool for the depositary market – are truly impressive.
Market starving for automation
The global asset servicing and management industries are in dire need of technological advancement. “Despite the significant pace of automation, a meaningful proportion of the industry still relies on manual processes for critical tasks. We see this as a big market opportunity for Depowise – our modern technology can unlock scale and achieve viable efficiency for our customers,” notes Belov.
In Queen Elisabeth II’s time, asset custody and oversight were managed primarily in Excel; in King Charles’s time, we aim to move it into Depowise, and by the time Prince William picks up the reigns, it will be largely driven by AI,” says Belov.
Depowise offers a comprehensive automation solution that streamlines compliance, oversight, safekeeping, reporting, and record-keeping tasks, significantly reducing manual efforts and inherent inefficiencies.
Unicorn-size market potential
Based on discussions with Depowise clients and prospects, we note that around a third of asset servicing and management companies in the UK and Ireland currently use multiple service providers to manage different parts of operations, around another third use in-house solutions, and nearly every organisation still heavily relies on Excel. The market size for automation in this sector is projected to grow to over €7bn by 2027, and with no complete, end-to-end competitors, Depowise aims to become the market leader within five years.
Our 2022 customer survey showed that Depowise increased efficiency for our customers by up to 82%. “You don’t have to spend your mornings searching for discrepancies because Depowise does the checks for you in the background,” Sven Peekmann, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Depowise, explains the efficiency phenomenon. “Now, when nearly 90% of daily work is done automatically, Depowise allows you to focus on the issues with the most significant business impact.”
Diligent, a leading GRC SaaS company, has announced Diligent AI, a powerful set of artificial intelligence capabilities within the Diligent One Platform that enhance how organisations understand, anticipate and mitigate risks. Diligent AI will enable users to identify risks, safeguard data and democratize the decision-making processes, driving resilience and empowering organizations with certainty and clarity like never before.
“Company leaders face a dynamic and evolving risk environment. It’s imperative to turn data into strategic intelligence to anticipate and prevent risks, rather than just respond to them,” said Brian Stafford, President and CEO of Diligent. “Diligent’s AI-enhanced platform is uniquely positioned to connect all aspects of governance, risk and compliance, delivering customised insights to elevate governance and clarify risk.”
Diligent AI helps leaders amplify critical insights while working together across the organisation, using risk as a shared language. Leaders can expand resources and achieve greater results through integrated automation, enhance stakeholder communication by tailoring information to board members, chief financial officers, chief risk officers and other executives, and enhance decision making by breaking down information silos across governance, risk and compliance (GRC) functions.
Register for the first session in Diligent’s AI webinar series starting on June 13, where Diligent leaders and experts will discuss Diligent AI capabilities and how they:
Elevate governance for boards and leaders:
Creating efficient, context-aware summaries of board materials to help directors easily digest information and glean insights.
Providing AI-powered insights into a company’s ESG focus and self-disclosed risk factors, enabling peer comparison and helping to identify industry trends.
Quickly assisting with boards-related questions through a 24/7 AI-powered virtual assistant.
Clarify risk for audit, risk and compliance teams:
Simplifying the tedious process of mapping internal controls to regulatory requirements, enabling GRC professionals to efficiently demonstrate compliance.
Identifying changes between two versions of the same regulation, categorising them as significant, moderate or minor, enabling users to efficiently update related policies, risks and controls.
Empowering users to create, edit and troubleshoot data integrations and data analytics scripts using plain language. This brings Diligent’s powerful robotics capabilities (also known as ACL Analytics) to a broader audience.
Additional capabilities will be added to Diligent AI over the coming months that empower GRC professionals to better mitigate risks and stay on top of changing regulatory requirements, and help corporate directors govern more effectively amidst escalating risks and information overload.
“Diligent AI adds to the breadth of the Diligent One Platform by enabling leaders to more quickly and effectively respond to risk in a competitive environment”, said Phil Lim, Global AI Champion at Diligent. “Our thoughtful and ethical approach to AI use, guided by industry-leading principles, means customers can feel secure in knowing that AI interacts with their data safely and securely, and only with their prior consent.”
The use of Generative AI in GRC must uphold the highest standards of safety and security, and Diligent has committed to the safe, secure and ethical use of AI through its guiding principles. This ensures users’ data stays their own, generated content is clearly labelled and users must always opt-in before using AI with their data.
Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), a global leader in IT services, consulting, and business solutions, has launched TCS AI WisdomNext, a platform that aggregates multiple Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) services into a single interface and enables organizations to rapidly adopt next-gen technologies at scale, lower costs and within regulatory frameworks. The industry-leading platform is designed to remove barriers for customers to develop and launch business solutions, allowing for real-time experimentation across vendor, internal, and open-source LLM models.
AI and GenAI have far-reaching applications across the value chain for businesses. However, solution designers around the world find it difficult to select, experiment and decide on the right foundational models to use. Foundational models are constantly evolving, and each model offers different capabilities in terms of mode of usage, cost, and effectiveness. TCS’ AI for Business Study, a comprehensive survey on the impact of AI on businesses, found that while business executives are generally positive about the impact of AI, they are less certain about the path to transformation. TCS AI WisdomNext helps businesses choose the right models and simplify the design of new business solutions using GenAI tools. It also enables businesses to reuse pre-existing components to accelerate the design.
Siva Ganesan, Head, AI.Cloud Unit, TCS, said, “TCS AI WisdomNext helps our customers take advantage of GenAI to unlock the full potential of their data, drive greater business innovation and efficiency, and gain a competitive edge. Customers appreciate the newly launched platform’s ability to help navigate a diverse and quickly evolving AI marketplace and rapidly compose ‘art-of-the-possible’ solutions. We are solving business problems and helping our customers redefine what it means to harness the power of GenAI.The rapid adoption of GenAI and experiencing what it means in terms of business outcomes is something our customers find very exciting.”
In the initial testing phase, TCS has already leveraged this powerful tool for many of its largest customers to create value for them and build prototypes. Examples include fast-tracking sales for an outdoor advertising company in the US, with real-time inventory availability and quote generation with maps Integration; enhancing productivity and efficiency across the application migration and modernization lifecycle for a leading American insurance provider; and enhancing customer experience through a smart mortgage-assistant for a leading bank in the UK.
Scott Kessler, Executive Vice President, Chief Information Officer, Northeast Shared Services, said, “GenAI presents us with the chance to elevate the value of our knowledge capital across multiple dimensions. Through access to the TCS AI WisdomNextTM platform, we can amplify our enterprise knowledge, orchestrating a seamless integration of data and insights to enhance the efficiency, innovation, and customer-centric focus of our grocery organization, thereby incrementing value at every turn.”
TCS AI WisdomNext is an integrated enterprise AI orchestration platform with features including:
Preconfigured industry solution blueprints
Intelligent ‘evaluator bots’, which enable organizations to compare available GenAI models and related technology stack choices, helping them to make more informed decisions
Scenarios to optimize GenAI running costs using the platform’s native intelligence
Centralized governance with in-built guardrails to ensure compliance with local regulations and best practices
Seamless portability feature across cloud platforms and GenAI ecosystems
Build hyper-personalized experiences, paving the way for higher customer satisfaction.
R “Ray” Wang, CEO and Principal Analyst at Constellation Research, said, “Customers seek an innovative GenAI platform that has a powerful combination of prefabricated industry blueprints, cutting-edge technologies, and orchestration capability to help businesses succeed in their future adoption strategies and innovation on GenAI. The service providers that thoughtfully make investments in GenAI and help clients transform, navigate, and experience the world of GenAI with security and ethical guardrails at its core will be the technology partners that customers will trust to deliver on the promises of GenAI. These AI-first technology partners can deliver on what customers seek – a new multi-model, multi-modal and multi-cloud platform.”
The AI.Cloud unit brings together TCS’ capabilities in cloud computing and artificial intelligence to cater to the contemporary needs of customers. The comprehensive portfolio of GenAI services and solutions includes consulting and advisory, solution design and prototyping, large language model training and fine-tuning, guardrail agent design, project delivery, and ongoing maintenance as well as a responsible AI framework to help enterprises navigate the ethical and safe uses of AI. With over 300,000 associates trained on the foundational skills of AI/ ML, including GenAI, TCS is also set to build one of the largest AI-ready workforces in the world. TCS AI WisdomNext is available to customers now. For more information, please visit https://on.tcs.com/TCS-AI-WisdomNext
Emirateshas joined the International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) Turbulence Aware Platform. It will also be the first airline to integrate the IATA platform within the latest version of Lido mPilot, the mobile navigation solution from Lufthansa Systems.
Bringing these platforms together offers a wealth of data, combined with new technologies that make up-to-the-minute, highly accurate turbulence information and forecasts available for pilots, equipping them with the means to plot the best paths around affected areas for enhanced safety, efficient navigation, and optimisation of flight plans.
In conjunction with the IATA Turbulence Aware Platform, the airline has equipped more than 140 aircraft with the required onboard software to automatically share turbulence reports with all airlines contributing data to the platform. All new aircraft joining the Emirates fleet over the course of the next few years, such as the Airbus A350 and Boeing 777-9, 777-8 and B787, will be enabled to participate in the programme.
Captain Hassan Alhammadi, Divisional Senior Vice President, Flight Operations Emirates Airline said: “Actively participating in IATA’s Turbulence Aware platform and equipping our pilots with a complement of the latest industry technologies such as the mobile navigation solution Lido mPilot from Lufthansa Systems are part of our commitment to ensure operational safety, efficiency, and customer comfort on every flight. We’re also proud to contribute data around turbulence through our Middle East network and extensive links across Africa, Asia, Australia, and other regions. It will help build sophisticated industry knowledge to effectively manage turbulence and evolving weather patterns with even more precision. This is only the beginning, and we are progressing with plans to integrate more cutting-edge technologies to elevate the flying experience even further, so our customers can enjoy smoother journeys.”
“Mitigating the adverse effects of turbulence is an industry wide challenge and obtaining accurate and live data is key in this endeavour. The cooperation between IATA Turbulence Aware, Emirates and Lufthansa Systems will further improve the quality and quantity of real time data made available to the industry, allowing for smoother and safer air travel for all,” said Frederic Leger, IATA’s Senior Vice President Commercial Products and Services.
“IATA Turbulence Aware data enhances the value of Lido mPilot by providing pilots with real-time, accurate and comprehensive information on turbulence, enabling them to make informed decisions and navigate more efficiently. By integrating this data into Lido mPilot, Emirates Airline can increase safety, reduce fuel consumption and minimize passenger discomfort, ultimately improving their operational efficiency and customer satisfaction,” said Andreas Medlhammer, Product Owner Pilot Charting Apps at Lufthansa Systems.
IATA’s Turbulence Aware is a global, real-time detailed and objective information resource for pilots and aviation professionals to manage and mitigate the impact of turbulence on operations. Turbulence is the main cause of passenger and crew injuries and leads to higher fuel usage. The platform pools anonymized turbulence data from thousands of flights operated around the world. The information generated from this data enables pilots and dispatchers to choose optimal flight paths, avoiding turbulence and flying at peak levels and altitudes to maximize fuel efficiency, ultimately reducing carbon emissions. Till date, Turbulence Aware ensured a safer flight for over 700 million passengers, a number that will continue to rise as new airlines join the program.
Lido mPilot is an all-in-one mobile navigational charting application from Lufthansa Systems and has been configured based on Emirates’ specific operational requirements. Lido mPilot provides pilots with easy access to terminal charts, a dynamically generated enroute map, and an Airport Moving Map (AMM). Its data-driven, interactive maps, and the latest weather features relevant to each flight being operated ensure enhanced situational awareness and the most pertinent information for pilots.
