variednews: variednews: DLT Solutions Launches Cloud Navigator...

variednews: variednews: DLT Solutions Launches Cloud Navigator...: variednews: DLT Solutions Launches Cloud Navigator Website Wit... : HERNDON, Va., Sept. 30: DLT Solutions, LLC., a wholly owned subsidiar...

variednews: DLT Solutions Launches Cloud Navigator Website Wit...

variednews: DLT Solutions Launches Cloud Navigator Website Wit...: HERNDON, Va., Sept. 30: DLT Solutions, LLC., a wholly owned subsidiary of Tech Data Corporation, and part of the TD SYNNEX™ family, annou...

DLT Solutions Launches Cloud Navigator Website With Online Assessment for Partners technology companies.

HERNDON, Va., Sept. 30: DLT Solutions, LLC., a wholly owned subsidiary of Tech Data Corporation, and part of the TD SYNNEX™ family, announced today that it has launched CloudNavigator.com, a new resource to help information technology (IT) solution providers grow their United States (U.S.) public-sector cloud business. CloudNavigator.com is another entry point for solution providers to engage with DLT and its Cloud Navigator Program. The website includes a brief online assessment which gives solution providers actionable insights into their cloud readiness and next steps to take to enhance their cloud offerings and services. "Finding the right path to cloud solutions in the U.S. public sector is complex and multifaceted," said Chris Wilkinson, president, DLT Solutions. "CloudNavigator.com offers an easy online assessment tool, which is powered by DLT's more than 30 years of experience in the U.S. public sector, to help solution providers get actionable information and a step-by-step plan to accelerate their cloud business." DLT's Cloud Navigator Program helps solution providers expand their market reach and makes it easier for their U.S. public-sector customers to migrate to the cloud. Once a solution provider takes the assessment on CloudNavigator.com, and receives their results, they can take advantage of the Cloud Navigator Program and gain access to support for their U.S. government customers. "Cloud technology in the U.S. public sector is evolving rapidly and continues to drive digital transformation efforts across U.S. government organizations," said Andre Van der Post, vice president of next-gen solutions sales, DLT Solutions. "DLT's Cloud Navigator Program and its new assessment tool at CloudNavigator.com allows small to large solution providers to enhance and grow their U.S. public-sector cloud business at any stage, while providing their U.S. government customers with the benefits and services they need to reduce costs, improve service delivery and increase productivity across their entire organization." To learn more about DLT's Cloud Navigator Program and assessment tool, please click here. .@DLTSolutions launches CloudNavigator.com which includes an online assessment that offers #IT solution providers cloud business insights, #cloudjourney valuation and an action plan to help grow their #publicsector cloud business. About DLT Solutions DLT Solutions is a wholly owned subsidiary of Tech Data and part of the TD SYNNEX family. DLT is the premier government solutions aggregator that specializes in understanding the IT needs of the U.S. federal, state, local and education markets. We help simplify the process for independent software vendors, federal systems integrators and value-added resellers doing business in the U.S. public sector. TD SYNNEX is a leading global distributor and solutions aggregator for the IT ecosystem. We're an innovative partner helping more than 150,000 customers in 100+ countries to maximize the value of technology investments, demonstrate business outcomes and unlock growth opportunities. Headquartered in Clearwater, Florida, and Fremont, California, TD SYNNEX' 22,000 co-workers are dedicated to uniting compelling IT products, services and solutions from 1,500+ best-in-class technology vendors. Our edge-to-cloud portfolio is anchored in some of the highest-growth technology segments including cloud, cybersecurity, big data/analytics, IoT, mobility and everything as a service. TD SYNNEX is committed to serving customers and communities, and we believe we can have a positive impact on our people and our planet, intentionally acting as a respected corporate citizen. We aspire to be a diverse and inclusive employer of choice for talent across the IT ecosystem. For more information, visit www.TDSYNNEX.com or follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram.

variednews: variednews: Zione Solutions Teams with RackWare to...

variednews: variednews: Zione Solutions Teams with RackWare to...: variednews: Zione Solutions Teams with RackWare to Deliver Res... : PLEASANTON, Calif., Sept. 30: Zione Solutions, an Oracle Cloud Partn...

variednews: Zione Solutions Teams with RackWare to Deliver Res...

variednews: Zione Solutions Teams with RackWare to Deliver Res...: PLEASANTON, Calif., Sept. 30: Zione Solutions, an Oracle Cloud Partner paired its database architecture, security, and application tunin...

Zione Solutions Teams with RackWare to Deliver Resilient, Turnkey Oracle Cloud Infrastructure Solutions

PLEASANTON, Calif., Sept. 30: Zione Solutions, an Oracle Cloud Partner paired its database architecture, security, and application tuning expertise with RackWare's top-of-the-line disaster recovery features to enable enterprises to move gracefully to the cloud. Many corporations are migrating mission critical applications to the cloud. The twosome's complimentary services ensure that new deployments deliver the reliability and availability that established enterprises require, drive up application Quality of Service, and drive down Total Cost of Ownership. "RackWare's state-of-the-art, cost-effective disaster recovery solutions provide peace of mind to corporations relocating mission critical applications to the cloud. Knowing that their data will be protected is key to their willingness to embrace digital technology, which provides them with a significant competitive edge," said Sanjay Varma, President, and Founder, Zione Solutions, LLC. Technology has become integral to business operations. If downtime arises, product development slows, supply chains become clogged, customers are not serviced, and sales goals are not met. Zione Solutions, an Oracle Expert with Referential Integrity that offers Services & Solutions for Oracle flagship products, and RackWare, Inc., a provider of an intelligent, highly automated, Cloud Management Platform, worked together to create cloud solutions that keep a business online as much as possible. Their services meet stringent Recovery Point Objective (RPO) and Recovery Time Objective (RTO) metrics so that vital corporate information is always protected and available in today's rapidly evolving world. Zione and RackWare offer seamless, cost effective, easily deployable, cloud migration solutions, so companies: Leverage Information Technology to solve business problems Achieve a technological and competitive advantage that translates into fiscal success Gain visibility into and control over their system infrastructure. Lower operating costs: A fully tested OCI solution that is 50% less expensive than comparable on-premises solutions Realize the best price/performance ratio for Disaster Recovery Solutions, not just for Oracle workloads, but for general-purpose Linux and Windows-based workloads, as well Deploy a solution that is 100% automated for maintaining and testing; secure; and audit compliant. "We thoroughly enjoy working with Zione Solutions. Their deep technical experience helps customers understand the value of moving existing workloads to the cloud, where they not only lower maintenance requirements but also their operating costs. Consequently, their technology infrastructure speeds up their time to value," said Todd Matters, CTO, and Founder, RackWare, Inc. Zione Solutions Experience matters. Zione Solutions' management and technical teams have been selected for experience and attributes you cannot learn in a class or read in a book. Every member of the team has a deep technical knowledge that didn't come from taking a class and getting a passing grade on a test: Our team members average over 20 years of hands-on experience with Oracle products. What distinguishes our team is our focus on using our knowledge to address business problems: Quality of Service and Total Cost of Ownership. Migration projects are often associated with downtime, data loss and the diversion of internal resources from strategic initiatives. With over 350 enterprise clients, RackWare knows that for the cloud to be effective and economical, existing applications must have easy and flexible mobility into existing private and public cloud environments.

variednews: variednews: RealTime Releases First 'Sign on the L...

variednews: variednews: RealTime Releases First 'Sign on the L...: variednews: RealTime Releases First 'Sign on the Line' Technol... : SAN ANTONIO, Sept. 30: RealTime Software Solutions, LLC now ...

variednews: RealTime Releases First 'Sign on the Line' Technol...

variednews: RealTime Releases First 'Sign on the Line' Technol...: SAN ANTONIO, Sept. 30: RealTime Software Solutions, LLC now offers 'Sign on the Line' technology integrated across all CTMS and ...

RealTime Releases First 'Sign on the Line' Technology in the Industry

SAN ANTONIO, Sept. 30: RealTime Software Solutions, LLC now offers 'Sign on the Line' technology integrated across all CTMS and eDOCS systems at no additional cost to customers to address concerns of clinical research site auditors and regulators. The new 'Sign on the Line' software feature utilizes similar technology as major signature companies such as DocuSign® and HelloSign® to place actual signature impressions throughout a document. This highly requested feature now allows clinical trial research sites, Contract Research Organizations (CROs) and trial sponsors to collect FDA Part 11 compliant electronic signatures exactly where required on a document. 'Sign on the Line' technology offers a more real-world experience for users that need to sign records such as FDA Form 1572s, Financial Disclosure Forms (FDF) and binding study agreements. Current eSignatures offered within other clinical research document management systems only allow for one general eSignature on the 'back page' of a record to indicate a signatory's approval or acknowledgement of an entire document. Additionally, current technologies do not allow for acknowledgements of specific sections, the ability to checkmark certain areas as true/false or yes/no, or include additional elements such as comment fields and date insertions. The limitations of current eSignature solutions are a concern with auditors and regulators, which is why RealTime prioritized the development of this solution and brought it to the market. Further, instead of integrating with a large eSignature vendor, RealTime fully developed this technology to make it an affordable add-on feature for no additional cost to RealTime customers. "We are very excited to announce this new technology that vastly improves the eSignature processes within RealTime for all of our customers," said Rick Greenfield, CEO and Lead Inventor, RealTime Software Solutions, LLC. "Capturing an investigator's signature on the signature line of an FDA-regulated document is important, and regulators have voiced concerns with how legacy systems handle eSignatures. RealTime is committed to improving these advanced electronic systems for all stakeholders to ensure better, more efficient and more compliant processes." About Real-Time: RealTime Software Solutions, LLC provides innovative software products for clinical trial research sites, site networks, sponsors and CROs to manage complex clinical research processes with powerful, user-friendly interfaces that are revolutionizing how research gets done. To learn more, visit the company's website at realtime-ctms.com.

variednews: variednews: Buyer Beware: MIT Sloan study shows su...

variednews: variednews: Buyer Beware: MIT Sloan study shows su...: variednews: Buyer Beware: MIT Sloan study shows surprising alg... : CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Sept. 30: Many consumers assume that online shoppin...

variednews: Buyer Beware: MIT Sloan study shows surprising alg...

variednews: Buyer Beware: MIT Sloan study shows surprising alg...: CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Sept. 30: Many consumers assume that online shopping offers the most competitive prices, as they can easily compare pri...

Buyer Beware: MIT Sloan study shows surprising algorithmic-driven price variations among online grocers

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Sept. 30: Many consumers assume that online shopping offers the most competitive prices, as they can easily compare prices across online retailers. However, a new study by MIT Sloan School of Management Prof. Roberto Rigobon and IESE Business School Prof. Diego Aparicio, reveals that online prices set by algorithms are not necessarily the lowest. Their study focused on online grocers including Amazon Fresh and Walmart Grocery, which set prices via algorithms and constantly experiment for the optimal price. As a result of this experimentation, online prices often change within a few hours and prices differ across delivery zip codes. "The old saying about buyer beware remains," says Prof. Rigobon. "Consumers have only been making online purchases for the last 10 years and are still learning about these practices. Online retailers are taking advantage of our ignorance, and it's up to consumers to stay alert if they care about getting the lowest price." Aparicio, who worked on this research as a PhD candidate at MIT Sloan, notes, "Many consumers are aware of algorithmic pricing when it comes to things like airline tickets and ride shares, but they don't necessarily expect it with products such as groceries. However, algorithmic pricing means that the price at Amazon Fresh for the same 12-pack of Coke is different in Miami than in New York. It also means that the price of Coke at Amazon Fresh and Walmart Grocery will be different, even for a 12-pack of Coke being delivered to the same zip code in Brooklyn." He further points out that neighbors purchasing the same 12-pack of Coke from different online grocers will see more price differences than if they shopped in a physical store. "This is surprising because a consumer can easily check competitors' prices, which you would think would lead to greater transparency and convergence of prices. Yet, this only happens occasionally." The study also shows that the price differences were not related to demographics. While consumers might expect higher prices in wealthier zip codes, that was not the case. Aparicio attributes this to the flexibility of algorithmic pricing to fine-tune prices. "The sensitivity of consumers to prices appears to be more important to the algorithm than the wealth of those zip codes," he says. Rigobon, Aparicio, and MIT researcher Zachary Metzman are coauthors of the paper, The pricing strategies of online grocery retailers, a National Bureau of Economic Research working paper. The MIT Sloan School of Management is where smart, independent leaders come together to solve problems, create new organizations, and improve the world. Learn more at mitsloan.mit.edu.

variednews: variednews: MicroSys Partners with Leading AI Chip...

variednews: variednews: MicroSys Partners with Leading AI Chip...: variednews: MicroSys Partners with Leading AI Chipmaker Hailo ... : MUNICH and TEL AVIV, Israel, Sept. 30: MicroSys Electronics announce...

variednews: MicroSys Partners with Leading AI Chipmaker Hailo ...

variednews: MicroSys Partners with Leading AI Chipmaker Hailo ...: MUNICH and TEL AVIV, Israel, Sept. 30: MicroSys Electronics announced today its partnership with leading AI (Artificial Intelligence) ch...

MicroSys Partners with Leading AI Chipmaker Hailo to Launch High-Performance, Embedded AI Platform

MUNICH and TEL AVIV, Israel, Sept. 30: MicroSys Electronics announced today its partnership with leading AI (Artificial Intelligence) chipmaker Hailo to launch its miriac® AIP-LX2160A embedded platform hosting up to 5 integrated Hailo-8™ AI accelerator modules. The new edge server-grade AI solution enables high-performance and scalable AI inference capabilities at the edge. The new, application-ready AI platform offers industries a high bandwidth and power-efficient solution at the edge, benefiting a wide range of applications in Industry 4.0, automotive, heavy machinery, and more. Powered by the NXP® QorIQ® Layerscape® LX2160A high-throughput processor technology, the miriac® AIP-LX2160A can integrate multiple advanced Hailo-8™ AI accelerators and offers best-in-class processing performance and deep learning capabilities of up to 130 tera-operations per second (TOPS). The combined solution delivers exceptional AI computing performance across multiple standard NN benchmarks, including over 6000 Frames Per Second (FPS) on Resnet-50, over 5000 FPS on Mobilenet-V1 SSD and close to 1000 FPS on YOLOv5m. Awarded the "Best AI and Vision Processor 2021" by the Edge AI and Vision Alliance™, the automotive grade Hailo-8™ outperforms other available AI processors for edge computing with up to 26 tera-operations per second (TOPS) at a typical power consumption of 2.5 W. The embedded platform, combining the Hailo-8™ AI processor with MicroSys's Arm® Cortex® NXP® Layerscape® platforms, give customers the benefit of highly efficient AI implemented into their connected edge appliances for situational awareness and predictive maintenance analytics. "Our strategic partnership with Hailo is an important milestone, helping our customers reap the enormous benefits of AI and neural networks," said Ina Sophia Schindler, Managing Director at MicroSys Electronics. "Hailo's AI processor allows edge devices to run full-scale deep learning applications more efficiently, effectively, and sustainably while significantly lowering costs. In combination with our NXP processor-based platforms, our customers get one of the most powerful AI solutions that can be developed for edge applications." Typical markets for this new application-ready bundle include low-power IIoT and Industry 4.0 edge servers for predictive maintenance, collaborative robotics, video surveillance servers in infrastructure s with distributed cameras, communication servers for autonomous vehicles in logistics and agriculture, and heavy equipment for construction, as well as edge servers in trains where multiple GigE Vision camera streams are analyzed with AI for increased safety and security. "We are excited to partner with MicroSys, a world-leader in embedded systems," said Orr Danon, CEO and Co-Founder of Hailo. "This collaboration strengthens our position in the edge computing sector, enabling us to further address the rapidly growing market seeking embedded edge platforms with robust AI capabilities. We look forward to continuing to work with MicroSys to bring unmatched edge processing solutions to a broad range of automotive and industrial automation applications." The new application-ready AI starter kit comes replete with everything necessary for evaluation and development, including a carrier board, cable set and cooling solution. Developers will also have access to MicroSys's comprehensive AI toolchain and developer tools offered in Hailo's developer zone. For more information about the miriac®-AIP-LX2160A, please visit: miriac®-AIP-LX2160A product page About Hailo Hailo, an AI-focused, Israel-based chipmaker, has developed a specialized AI processor that delivers the performance of a data center-class computer to edge devices. Hailo's processor is the product of a rethinking of traditional computer architecture, enabling smart devices to perform sophisticated deep learning tasks such as object detection and segmentation in real-time, with minimal power consumption, size, and cost. The processor is designed to fit into a multitude of smart machines and devices, impacting a variety of sectors including automotive, Industry 4.0, smart cities, smart homes, and retail. For more information visit https://hailo.ai/ About MicroSys Electronics MicroSys Electronics has been designing and developing embedded system solutions since 1975, is an NXP® Gold Partner and widely integrates NXP®'s S32 Automotive, Layerscape® and QorIQ® processor technology. Designs based on System-on-Modules (SoMs) are the strengths of this German company, with the portfolio ranging from application-ready SoMs and customer-specific carrier board designs to fully integrated systems. Application areas for these extremely rugged designs with long-term availability are primarily found in markets where safety standards analog to IEC 61508 are required, such as railway technology (EN 50155), aviation (DO-160), and mobile machinery (ISO 13849), as well as manufacturing robots (ISO 10218), control systems (IEC 62061), and drive systems (IEC 61800-5-2). Further application areas can be found in medical technology (60601), and in critical infrastructures, like the nuclear sector (IEC 61513) or the process industry (IEC 61511). MicroSys works closely with its customers in all these industries to ensure that the specific applicable standards are fully met. For more information, visit https://microsys.de/

variednews: variednews: New technology gives homebuilders an e...

variednews: variednews: New technology gives homebuilders an e...: variednews: New technology gives homebuilders an edge as onlin... : PACIFIC GROVE, Calif., Sept. 30:With online food delivery's worldw...

variednews: New technology gives homebuilders an edge as onlin...

variednews: New technology gives homebuilders an edge as onlin...: PACIFIC GROVE, Calif., Sept. 30:With online food delivery's worldwide revenue expected to rise to over $151 billion by the end of 2021...

New technology gives homebuilders an edge as online food delivery expected to hit $151.5 billion

PACIFIC GROVE, Calif., Sept. 30:With online food delivery's worldwide revenue expected to rise to over $151 billion by the end of 2021, products that can make delivery safer or more convenient are in significant demand. As a result, this year's CES convention, one of the world's most celebrated tech shows, is expected to be filled with food-related options. For example, Fresh Portal, a California-made delivery portal, allows people to keep deliveries safe in a built-in, temperature-controlled unit by the door of their home or office. The high-security portal can be remotely controlled via app or WiFi and even scans packages with a Far-UVC disinfection light to clean the food. "The future of homebuilding revolves around our ability to embrace cutting edge technology to meet the needs of people working and educating from home," said James Brenda, president of JKP Homes in Turlock, Calif. "Fresh Portal is at the forefront of this new arena. Having meals delivered without worrying about cold food, germs and protecting your order from porch pirates can give new home builders an edge with buyers. Thirteen percent of the U.S. restaurant market was replaced by online food delivery following covid, according to Statista. It's expected that this online food delivery will hold a market share of 21% by 2025. The new technologies benefit farm-to-table deliveries as much if not more than fast-food restaurants. For some time now, farmers have been encouraging area residents to source foods from close to home. Fresh Portal allows co-ops and other distribution systems to make deliveries in the heat of the day without anyone being home. While chest-like porch refrigerator units for food deliveries are not new, discerning homebuilders are upping the game by adding built-in adjustable units to high-end communities. Fresh Portal's patented system can store items at any temperature, including keeping meals ready to eat up to 120 degrees. Securely locked, self-closing, with a recessed interior camera to monitor food, these built-in units add an extra level of security and can integrate with a smart fridge to keep the pantry stocked. New technology is adding a new dimension to food delivery, one you may want to consider next time you buy a home.

variednews: variednews: variednews: Ericsson signs USD 2 billi...

variednews: variednews: variednews: Ericsson signs USD 2 billi...: variednews: variednews: Ericsson signs USD 2 billion sustainab... : variednews: Ericsson signs USD 2 billion sustainability-linked... : S...

variednews: variednews: Ericsson signs USD 2 billion sustainab...

variednews: variednews: Ericsson signs USD 2 billion sustainab...: variednews: Ericsson signs USD 2 billion sustainability-linked... : STOCKHOLM, Sept. 30: Ericsson (NASDAQ: ERIC) has signed a USD 2 billi...

variednews: Ericsson signs USD 2 billion sustainability-linked...

variednews: Ericsson signs USD 2 billion sustainability-linked...: STOCKHOLM, Sept. 30: Ericsson (NASDAQ: ERIC) has signed a USD 2 billion sustainability-linked revolving credit facility, renewing an undr...

Ericsson signs USD 2 billion sustainability-linked revolving credit facility

STOCKHOLM, Sept. 30: Ericsson (NASDAQ: ERIC) has signed a USD 2 billion sustainability-linked revolving credit facility, renewing an undrawn USD 2 billion credit facility signed in 2013. The successful transaction underlines the confidence in Ericsson's financial and sustainable performance and the facility is backed by a group of leading global and regional banks. The renewed facility has a clear link to Ericsson's sustainability work for a better world and its interest margin will be linked to two of Ericsson's sustainability KPIs. The first KPI is tied to carbon neutrality in Ericsson's own operations by 2030 and the second connects with suppliers setting 1.5 C° aligned climate targets. The facility has a five-year tenor with two one-year extension options and will serve as a facility for general corporate purposes. With 18 banks participating, Ericsson has a very strong and diversified bank group. All banks invited to participate in the facility accepted. Carl Mellander, CFO, says: "Sustainability is an integral part of Ericsson's strategy and has been critical for our success in recent years, not least when it comes to work within energy consumption and the energy performance of our products. Incorporating sustainability KPIs into this new credit facility is an important step in our continuous work to integrate our sustainability ambitions throughout our operations". Heather Johnson, VP of Sustainability and Corporate Responsibility, says: "With over two decades of sustainability research and lifecycle assessments, Ericsson has a long and proud history in the sustainability space. We are delighted that we now also can link our climate action targets to our Ericsson financial activities. Taking this step fully reflects our company purpose, where sustainability is fundamental to the way we do business." HSBC and SEB acted as Coordinators for the facility, whilst SEB also acted as Sustainability Coordinator. Swedbank is the Facility Agent. About Ericsson Ericsson enables communications service providers to capture the full value of connectivity. The company's portfolio spans Networks, Digital Services, Managed Services, and Emerging Business and is designed to help our customers go digital, increase efficiency and find new revenue streams. Ericsson's investments in innovation have delivered the benefits of telephony and mobile broadband to billions of people around the world. The Ericsson stock is listed on Nasdaq Stockholm and on Nasdaq New York. www.ericsson.com

variednews: variednews: variednews: The International Cricket ...

variednews: variednews: variednews: The International Cricket ...: variednews: variednews: The International Cricket Council Anno... : variednews: The International Cricket Council Announces Strate... : ...

variednews: variednews: The International Cricket Council Anno...

variednews: variednews: The International Cricket Council Anno...: variednews: The International Cricket Council Announces Strate... : DUBAI, UAE, Sept. 30:The International Cricket Council (ICC) announc...

variednews: The International Cricket Council Announces Strate...

variednews: The International Cricket Council Announces Strate...: DUBAI, UAE, Sept. 30:The International Cricket Council (ICC) announced today that it has entered a multi-year strategic partnership with...

The International Cricket Council Announces Strategic Partnership With FinTech Infrastructure Leader: Nium

DUBAI, UAE, Sept. 30:The International Cricket Council (ICC) announced today that it has entered a multi-year strategic partnership with Nium, a leading global financial technology (FinTech) infrastructure company. Nium provides banks and businesses with access to a suite of fintech infrastructure services through one API. This partnership includes involvement and integration in three global ICC events through to the end of 2023 such as the ICC Men's T20 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates and Oman, the ICC World Test Championship Final in 2023 and the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023 to be hosted in India. As an official partner of the ICC, Nium will promote its association across broadcast and digital platforms, as well as execute unique fan and client activations at these ICC events. This partnership will enable Nium to engage the global cricket-loving business fanbase with innovative campaigns that highlight the power of fintech in helping make global money movement faster, safer, and easier. Speaking on the association, Anurag Dahiya, Chief Commercial Officer, ICC, said, "We are excited to have Nium join us as an official partner, beginning with the highly anticipated ICC Men's T20 World Cup to be held here in the UAE & Oman. This relationship will allow Nium to use the backdrop of cricket to promote its role as a pioneer in fintech innovation to its clients and prospects, worldwide. We look forward to working with Nium on developing bespoke campaigns that we believe in time will have a positive impact on our game and how we engage with fans." Speaking on this strategic partnership, Prajit Nanu, Co-Founder and CEO, Nium said, "We are beyond excited to join forces with the ICC as a unique B2B commercial partner. Cricket's appeal transcends countries, currencies, and cultures. For years, Nium has been the behind-the-scenes fintech infrastructure powering some of the most recognized brands in the world. This partnership allows us to showcase our fintech innovations on a global stage, and to engage cricket-loving technologists in the development of new programs to advance the global game experience." ABOUT THE ICC The ICC is the global governing body for cricket. Representing 105 members, the ICC governs and administrates the game and is responsible for the staging of major international tournaments including the ICC Men's World Cup and Women's World Cup and the ICC Men's and Women's T20 World Cups as well as all associated qualifying events. The ICC presides over the ICC Code of Conduct which sets the professional standards of discipline for international cricket, playing conditions, bowling reviews and other ICC regulations. The Laws of the game remain under the auspices of the MCC. The ICC also appoints the umpires and referees that officiate at all sanctioned Test matches, One Day International and Twenty20 Internationals. Through the Anti-Corruption Unit it coordinates action against corruption and match fixing. The ICC Development department works with Associate Members to improve the quality of international cricket, build better cricket systems, get more people playing cricket and grow the game. ABOUT NIUM Nium is a leading embedded fintech company that provides banks, payment providers, travel companies, and businesses of any size with access to global payment services via one API. Its modular platform powers frictionless commerce, helping businesses pay and get paid across the globe with services for pay-outs, pay-ins, card issuance, and banking-as-a-service. Once connected to the Nium platform, businesses have the ability to pay out in more than 100 currencies to over 190 countries - 85 of which in real time. Funds can be received in 33 markets, including Southeast Asia, UK, Hong Kong, Singapore, Australia, India, and the US. Nium's growing card issuance business is already available in 32 countries, including Europe (SEPA), the UK, Australia and Singapore. Core to Nium is its license infrastructure, built over time in some of the fastest growing economies. Nium owns the broadest license portfolio, covering 11 of the world's jurisdictions, enabling seamless global payments and rapid integration, regardless of geography. For more information, visit: https://www.nium.com

variednews: variednews: Coinstar Holiday Survey Reports Americ...

variednews: variednews: Coinstar Holiday Survey Reports Americ...: variednews: Coinstar Holiday Survey Reports Americans will Red... : BELLEVUE, Wash., Sept. 30:The annual Coinstar® Holiday Survey fielded...

variednews: Coinstar Holiday Survey Reports Americans will Red...

variednews: Coinstar Holiday Survey Reports Americans will Red...: BELLEVUE, Wash., Sept. 30:The annual Coinstar® Holiday Survey fielded among 2,007 U.S. gift-giving adults reports that the majority (64%)...

Coinstar Holiday Survey Reports Americans will Reduce Gift Buying but Increase Activities to Enjoy the Season

BELLEVUE, Wash., Sept. 30:The annual Coinstar® Holiday Survey fielded among 2,007 U.S. gift-giving adults reports that the majority (64%) of Americans say the holidays will give them something positive to look forward to this year. Respondents also claim they plan to buy fewer gifts this holiday season and reported feeling stressed due to uncertainty related to the pandemic. Despite these negatives, the survey shows that many Americans will increase activities that create holiday joy. Top Coinstar Holiday Survey findings: Nearly two in five (39%) say they can't afford to buy as many gifts this holiday season; more than one-third (34%) of those planning to buy fewer gifts attribute to being out of work or having a lower paying job. Fewer people have holiday budgets; 59% of Americans say they have a holiday budget this year compared to 67% who reported having a holiday budget in pre-pandemic 2019. More than two-thirds (68%) say they would prefer to receive cash or a gift card rather than a physical gift from a close friend or family member. An estimated $123 in spare change at home is reported on average, and more than half (52%) of respondents indicated they are likely to cash in or use their spare change this holiday season. This is an increase from 2019 when the average reported change at home was just over $70. More than one-quarter (28%) say they are likely to regift this holiday season; of those likely to regift, over a quarter say they feel less guilty about re-gifting because of the pandemic. One in eight (13%) say they would not give a gift to a friend or family member who did not share their same views on COVID-19. Americans Plan to Create More Joy During the Holidays About one-third (31%) of Americans say they are looking forward to the holiday season more than last year, and they're not leaving holiday joy to chance. Respondents report that they plan to start or increase the following activities this holiday season: bake holiday treats (80%); drive around to enjoy holiday decorations and lights (77%); attend holiday parties (60%); decorate their workspace or office (45%); participate in caroling with others (32%). Holidays Bring Out a Giving Spirit Nearly one-third of Americans (31%) say they will start donating money or their time to charity this holiday season. The same number say they will increase their giving. Service providers such as housekeepers, childcare providers, trash collectors and mail carriers could be recipients of holiday joy with nearly three in five (57%) Americans reporting that they tip their service providers during the holidays. Survey Methodology Coinstar commissioned Atomik Research to run an online survey of 2,007 adults in the United States who give gifts to others in observance of a winter holiday. The margin of error is +/- 2 percentage points with a confidence interval of 95 percent. The fieldwork took place between September 4th and 8th of 2021. About Coinstar, LLC Coinstar® is the global leader in self-service coin counting with 23,000 kiosks in North America, Europe, and Japan. More than 800 billion coins have been processed since Coinstar's inception in the early 1990s. In the United States, consumers can convert their change to cash, a no-fee eGift card, or donate to charity at supermarket, mass merchant, drug store, and financial institution kiosk locations. Expanded cash services at Coinstar® kiosks include purchasing cryptocurrencies and adding money into digital accounts. For brand advertisers, Coinstar now offers adPlanet™, which enables lead generation on the interactive kiosk screen and a flexible digital advertising platform that sits atop Coinstar kiosks at select grocery locations. For more information on Coinstar or kiosk locations, visit www.coinstar.com.

variednews: variednews: Clarivate Global Research Report Outli...

variednews: variednews: Clarivate Global Research Report Outli...: variednews: Clarivate Global Research Report Outlines Rising I... : LONDON, Sept. 30: Clarivate Plc (NYSE:CLVT), a global leader in provi...

variednews: Clarivate Global Research Report Outlines Rising I...

variednews: Clarivate Global Research Report Outlines Rising I...: LONDON, Sept. 30: Clarivate Plc (NYSE:CLVT), a global leader in providing trusted information and insights to accelerate the pace of inno...

Clarivate Global Research Report Outlines Rising Impact in Latin America

LONDON, Sept. 30: Clarivate Plc (NYSE:CLVT), a global leader in providing trusted information and insights to accelerate the pace of innovation, today released a report which examines the research landscape of a diverse region of 34 countries, across South and Central America, Mexico and the islands of the Caribbean, over four decades since 1981. In the latest Global Research Report, Latin America: South and Central America, Mexico and the Caribbean, analysts at the Institute for Scientific Information™ at Clarivate identify a complex research landscape and refer to the potential benefit of a regional research organization to enable further research growth, training and capacity to tackle common challenges. Key findings: The number of academic research papers indexed in the Web of Science™ has grown more rapidly for the region than for most of the rest of the world. More than three-quarters of the region's research is from South America. From 2016 to 2020, five countries published more than 25,000 papers, another 12 published between 1,000 and 10,000 papers, and the other 17 countries published fewer than 200 papers per year on average. Brazil is by far the largest research producer and 10 of the 34 countries, including Cuba and Mexico, account for more than three-quarters of regional output. The analysis reveals that regional collaboration is uniformly low, approaching just 10% of collaboration in Nicaragua and Bolivia, while Brazil is the most collaborative country within the region. International research output is significant and increasing - the United States, Spain, Germany, France and the United Kingdom are collaborating with all the major economies in the region, but particular interest comes from Mainland China, where collaboration with Latin America is rising at twice that of other major countries. As output has grown, research subject diversity has risen in most of the larger countries, driven by international collaboration. Areas of particular regional strength, identified through analysis of journal use and citation topic modeling, include life and environmental sciences, tropical medicine, astronomy, education and romance literature. The report also finds that language is an important regional factor. With growing international collaboration, the benefits of enabling access of research findings to a global network of researchers is beneficial to both writer and reader. Comparison between the numbers of papers in the English, Portuguese and Spanish languages in the Web of Science and in the regional SciELO Citation Index™ produces a similar language balance, although SciELO has fewer internationally collaborative papers in English. A fall is evident in the number of papers authored in Portuguese, and English has become the dominant 'lingua americana' of science as researchers in Brazil increasingly seek to publish in English-language journals. Open access (OA) is a successful and expanding part of regional publication patterns, but citation rates of OA papers are not yet as high as in other regions. Jonathan Adams, Chief Scientist at the Institute for Scientific Information at Clarivate said: "Our report demonstrates there are many challenges, common to many countries. It is therefore most concerning that research collaboration within the region remains extremely low. There are significant potential benefits for the creation of a regional research organization to enable further research growth, training and capacity building to tackle common challenges across the region. The European research framework has undoubtedly boosted achievement and is a model that could work equally well in Latin America." Joel Haspel, SVP Strategy, Science at Clarivate said: "Latin America is a region of exceptional ecological significance and has been a source of products and innovation with economic and social impact. This report identifies the need for a trans-national research organization that can pool some part of national resources to drive shared programs and projects to mutual benefit in order to accelerate the pace of innovation across the region." The international citation data from the Web of Science used in this report was complemented by regional citation indexes from the SciELO Citaion Index, providing increased visibility and access to regional, language-specific scientific literature. SciELO is included on the Web of Science platform, to which it was linked in 2013. About Clarivate Clarivate™ is a global leader in providing solutions to accelerate the lifecycle of innovation. Our bold mission is to help customers solve some of the world's most complex problems by providing actionable information and insights that reduce the time from new ideas to life-changing inventions in the areas of science and intellectual property. We help customers discover, protect and commercialize their inventions using our trusted subscription and technology-based solutions coupled with deep domain expertise. For more information, please visit clarivate.com.

variednews: variednews: Affluent Americans Gave 48% More on Av...

variednews: variednews: Affluent Americans Gave 48% More on Av...: variednews: Affluent Americans Gave 48% More on Average Last Y... : NEW YORK, Sept. 29:Average giving to charities by affluent Americans i...

variednews: Affluent Americans Gave 48% More on Average Last Y...

variednews: Affluent Americans Gave 48% More on Average Last Y...: NEW YORK, Sept. 29:Average giving to charities by affluent Americans increased by 48% last year compared to 2017 ($43,195 vs. $29,269), ac...

Affluent Americans Gave 48% More on Average Last Year, Finds 2021 Bank of America Study of Philanthropy

NEW YORK, Sept. 29:Average giving to charities by affluent Americans increased by 48% last year compared to 2017 ($43,195 vs. $29,269), according to the 2021 Bank of America Study of Philanthropy: Charitable Giving by Affluent Households, released today. Amid pandemic challenges, nearly 90% of affluent households gave to charities in 2020, comparable to past years. At the same time, the study found notable shifts in the way donors give across different generations, representing significant implications for philanthropists and the nonprofit sector going forward. "Charitable activities last year and into this year reflect unwavering commitments by philanthropists to give in good times and bad, and to address societal issues as well as challenges faced in their local communities," said Katy Knox, President of Bank of America Private Bank. "We're also seeing a next generation of change-makers beginning to transform how giving gets done and philanthropy's role in society." The study, a collaboration between Bank of America Private Bank and the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at IUPUI, is based on a survey of 1,626 affluent U.S. households about their giving in 2020. The findings build on insights about giving patterns, priorities and attitudes from studies conducted in 2015 and 2017, as part of a research collaboration that began in 2006. Key findings show: Issues-based philanthropy is becoming increasingly important. The affluent are nearly as likely to base their giving decisions on issues (44%) as they are on organizations (45%). This is a departure from previous studies in this series in which clear majorities of affluent households indicated that organizations drove their giving decisions and/or strategies. Among donors ages 38 and younger, 55% say they are more focused on the issues or causes they consider most important than on organizations (34%). Social and racial justice issues drew interest and support. One in five (22%) affluent households supported social and racial justice causes through their giving. Eleven percent said social justice was one of their top three most important cause/issue areas, and 19% wanted to know more about this area, indicating potential room for growth. Participation in sustainable/impact investing nearly doubled. The number of affluent donors who participate in sustainable/impact investing grew to 13% in 2020 vs. 7% in 2017. Additionally, 59% of these donors said that their sustainable investing was in addition to their existing charitable giving. Just 5% of donors said that impact investing was in lieu of all other charitable giving. Direct digital giving is growing in popularity. Nearly three in five (57%) donors gave via a nonprofit's website in 2020. Almost one in five (18%) used digital tools such as GoFundMe and other crowdfunding platforms, and 17% used payment processing apps such as Zelle and Venmo. Younger and diverse donors were more likely than others to use such channels to give, for example, 74% of Asian Americans gave via a nonprofit's website, and 31% of Blacks/African Americans used a payment processing app. Younger, diverse donors embrace structured giving vehicles. In 2020, younger donors, ages 38 or younger, were more than two and a half times as likely as older donors to have made a donation to a giving vehicle (18% vs. 7%), such as donor-advised funds, charitable trusts and private foundations. Use of giving vehicles was also popular among Black/African American (21%) and Hispanic/Latino (16%) donors. Affluent individuals who volunteer give twice as much as those who don't volunteer. Although fewer people volunteered last year due to the pandemic, affluent donors who did spend time volunteering donated more than double the amount to charity on average than those who did not volunteer. Charitable giving knowledge is positively associated with other giving-related factors. Donors who report being knowledgeable (48%) or expert (5%) about giving are more likely to monitor the impact of their giving, report that it is having their intended impact, and utilize giving vehicles. Conversely, more than half of all affluent donors do not have a strategy for their giving (56%) and/or a giving budget (55%). The top challenges faced by donors include: 1. Identifying what they care about and deciding where to donate (40%) 2. Understanding how much they can afford to give (32%) 3. Monitoring their giving to ensure it has its intended impact (24%) Seventy-two percent say their charitable giving would stay the same even without income tax deductions. When asked if they received no income tax deductions for charitable giving, would their household charitable giving increase, decrease or stay the same, 72% said, "stay the same," 6% said "increase" and 22% said "decrease." "Innovative forms of giving are being embraced by a diverse donor population whose influence, expectations and priorities are expanding traditional notions of philanthropy," said Una Osili, Ph.D., Efroymson Chair in Philanthropy, Professor of Economics and Philanthropic Studies and Associate Dean for Research and International Programs at the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. "Financially empowered and technology-enabled, these affluent donors are looking to deepen their impact, using a range of tools and vehicles available to them to advance the issues they are passionate about." The top charities supported were broadly consistent with those in previous years. The types of charities most supported were those providing for basic needs (contributed to by 57% of affluent households), religious institutions (47%) and healthcare organizations (32%). The highest aggregate dollar amounts were donated to organizations focused on religion (32% of dollars donated), basic needs (20%) and education (16%, combining K-12 and higher education). Nonprofits generate the most confidence among donors to solve societal or global problems, with nearly nine in 10 placing their highest confidence in nonprofits. However, other institutions are rising. Affluent individuals' confidence broadly increased with respect to the ability of small to midsized businesses and branches of government to solve societal or global problems. Government institutions saw substantial jumps, including the president and executive branch (60%, up from 46%); the Supreme Court and federal judiciary system (60%, up from 53%); and Congress (52%, up from 40%). In a year dramatically disrupted by the pandemic, nearly half (47%) of affluent Americans donated to charitable organizations or financially supported individuals or businesses in direct response to the pandemic. Additionally, 93% of households maintained or increased their giving to frontline organizations providing basic needs, healthcare and medicine. Read more study findings specific to the pandemic. Methodology The 2021 Bank of America Study of Philanthropy: Charitable Giving by Affluent Households is the latest in a series of studies that have set the benchmark for research on the giving practices of affluent households in the United States. Bank of America and the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy partnered on the development of the survey. The survey was conducted using data obtained by Ipsos, including responses from its KnowledgePanel®, a nationally-representative, probability-based panel offering highly accurate and representative samples for online research. Ipsos engaged with the online panel, administered the survey and analyzed the responses for data validity. The Lilly Family School of Philanthropy analyzed the responses for data validity and generated the statistical output, with analysis of survey results being a joint effort between the partners. The survey was conducted in January 2021, asking about charitable giving during 2020. It is based on a nationally representative random sample of 1,626 wealthy households, and includes in-depth analysis based on age, gender, race and sexual identity. The households in the study have a net worth of $1 million or more (excluding the value of their primary home) and/or an annual household income of $200,000 or more. The average income and wealth levels of study respondents were approximately $523,472 and $31.1 million respectively, with median income and wealth levels of study respondents were approximately $350,000 and $2.0 million, respectively, and respondents' average age was 52.5 years. The Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy The Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at IUPUI is dedicated to improving philanthropy to improve the world by training and empowering students and professionals to be innovators and leaders who create positive and lasting change. The school offers a comprehensive approach to philanthropy through its undergraduate, graduate, certificate and professional development programs, its research and international programs and through The Fund Raising School, Lake Institute on Faith & Giving, the Mays Family Institute on Diverse Philanthropy and the Women's Philanthropy Institute. For more information, visit https://philanthropy.iupui.edu/. Follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, or Instagram and "Like" us on Facebook. Bank of America Bank of America is one of the world's leading financial institutions, serving individual consumers, small and middle-market businesses and large corporations with a full range of banking, investing, asset management and other financial and risk management products and services. The company provides unmatched convenience in the United States, serving approximately 66 million consumer and small business clients with approximately 4,300 retail financial centers, approximately 17,000 ATMs, and award-winning digital banking with approximately 41 million active users, including approximately 32 million mobile users. Bank of America is a global leader in wealth management, corporate and investment banking and trading across a broad range of asset classes, serving corporations, governments, institutions and individuals around the world. Bank of America offers industry-leading support to approximately 3 million small business households through a suite of innovative, easy-to-use online products and services. The company serves clients through operations across the United States, its territories and approximately 35 countries. Bank of America Corporation stock (NYSE: BAC) is listed on the New York Stock Exchange. www.bankofamerica.com

variednews: variednews: AARP Launches Skill Building Platform ...

variednews: variednews: AARP Launches Skill Building Platform ...: variednews: AARP Launches Skill Building Platform to Help Olde... : WASHINGTON, Sept. 29:Today AARP launched the AARP Skills Builder for...

variednews: AARP Launches Skill Building Platform to Help Olde...

variednews: AARP Launches Skill Building Platform to Help Olde...: WASHINGTON, Sept. 29:Today AARP launched the AARP Skills Builder for WorkSM, a new platform to help older workers gain in-demand skills ...

AARP Launches Skill Building Platform to Help Older Workers Compete in Today's Job Market; Two-Thirds of Older Workers Open to Learning New Skills, According to AARP Research

WASHINGTON, Sept. 29:Today AARP launched the AARP Skills Builder for WorkSM, a new platform to help older workers gain in-demand skills to give them an edge in today's competitive job market. According to AARP research, two-thirds of older workers are interested in additional job/skills training and the same amount have taken some type of training in the past two years. "Unemployment is tough to navigate at any age. For many older workers who need or want to work the opportunity to learn new skills to help them remain relevant in the workforce could be the boost they need," said Susan Weinstock, AARP Vice President of Financial Resilience Programming. "As many older workers look for a new job, we want to make sure they have the skills, information, and resources to stay competitive in today's job market." The Bureau of Labor Statistics August jobs report found that nearly half (49.3%) of workers ages 55+ were long-term unemployed compared with 34.7% of jobseekers ages 16 to 54. Further, a new AARP survey of midcareer and older women workers released today found nearly 7 in 10 women who were unemployed since September of last year have been out of work for six months or more. About 1 in 5 (21%) of those who are working are working fewer hours than they would like and a quarter have seen their financial situation worsen over the course of the pandemic. AARP Skills Builder for WorkSM was created in collaboration with MindEdge Learning, which provides online learning solutions to higher education, associations, and corporations. To learn more about the AARP Skills Builder for WorkSM, visit www.aarp.org/workskills. AARP Skills Builder for WorkSM Features: Self-paced online learning with courses that may help you grow your career at a speed that fits your schedule. Free class options include training in Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint as well as "Mastering Today's Remote Work" and "Personal Creativity for a Lifetime." Earn certificates to let prospective employers know that you are a lifelong learner with the skills needed to succeed. Learn marketable skills that are in-demand by employers to help you to stay competitive in today's job market and beyond. Other skill building classes in areas such as Digital Marketing, Communications and Project Management, are available for a fee. Discounts are available for all AARP.org users and AARP members get even deeper discounts. AARP helps 50+ workers thrive in the job market by providing tools, information and tips for older workers and resources for those facing age discrimination This support includes AARP's Online Career Expo on September 30, 2021, the AARP Job Board, AARP Resume Advisor and the AARP Employer Pledge. Additional resources and information are available www.aarp.org/work. About AARP AARP is the nation's largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering people 50 and older to choose how they live as they age. With a nationwide presence and nearly 38 million members, AARP strengthens communities and advocates for what matters most to families: health security, financial stability and personal fulfillment. AARP also produces the nation's largest circulation publications: AARP The Magazine and AARP Bulletin. To learn more, visit www.aarp.org, www.aarp.org/espanol or follow @AARP, @AARPenEspanol and @AARPadvocates, @AliadosAdelante on social media. About MindEdge Learning MindEdge's mission is to improve the way the world learns. Since its founding in 1988 by Harvard and MIT educators, the company has served some 2.5 million learners. With a focus on digital-first learning resources — from academic courseware to professional development courses — MindEdge's approach to best practices in online education focuses on learners' needs across the spectrum of higher education, professional development, skills training, and continuing education. MindEdge is based in Waltham, Mass.

variednews: variednews: World's First FARO-Certified Forensic ...

variednews: variednews: World's First FARO-Certified Forensic ...: variednews: World's First FARO-Certified Forensic Science Lab ... : LAKE MARY, Fla., Sept. 29: FARO® Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: FARO...

variednews: World's First FARO-Certified Forensic Science Lab ...

variednews: World's First FARO-Certified Forensic Science Lab ...: LAKE MARY, Fla., Sept. 29: FARO® Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: FARO), a global leader of 3D measurement, imaging and realization solutions ...

World's First FARO-Certified Forensic Science Lab Opens at George Mason University to Advance Hands-on Student Training and Research

LAKE MARY, Fla., Sept. 29: FARO® Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: FARO), a global leader of 3D measurement, imaging and realization solutions for the 3D Metrology, AEC (Architecture, Engineering & Construction), and Public Safety Analytics markets, today announced a partnership with George Mason University in Virginia to create the world's first FARO-certified Forensic Science Research and Training Laboratory. As a direct result of the partnership, Mason's Forensic Science Program will soon become the first in the nation to offer a 3D course in crime scene documentation. FARO has lent $300,000 of hardware and software for use by students training in state-of-the-art forensic science technology. Students will also have the opportunity to work alongside law enforcement partners such as the George Mason Police, Fairfax County Police, Fairfax City Police and others, including the U.S. Army. Much of the research will be done at Mason's new five-acre Forensic Field Lab (the Body Farm), which offers transformative outdoor scientific training using human remains. "FARO and George Mason University have a unique partnership based on the common goal of advancing the field of forensic science through innovative technology," said Alina Burroughs, FARO Senior Business Development Manager for Public Safety Analytics. "Our powerful laser scanning solutions allow investigators to document scenes, supplying more comprehensive data faster, resulting in more accurate analysis, identification of victims, and resolution of cases. We are proud to work together to build the next generation of forensic investigators through this shared vision and hope that this partnership will serve as a model to extend to other institutions in the future." Forensic science has changed considerably over the years, with technology such as 3D scanning and reality capture now playing a critical role in the preservation of crime scenes so that investigators can continue to return to the virtual crime scene to evaluate evidence. By storing that information digitally, forensic investigators can review even the most minute details and share that information before returning to the crime as many times as needed. George Mason students will immediately benefit from that real-world taste and hands-on experience with the latest technology. "This exciting FARO-Mason Forensic Science partnership is the first of its kind and the opportunities we can now give our students and develop with our external partners can only be imagined," said Mary Ellen O'Toole, a former FBI profiler who heads the Forensic Science Program within Mason's College of Science. "Whether a student is training in the new FARO Forensic Lab, learning how to process an outdoor scene at our Forensic Field Lab, measuring a murder scene inside the Crime Scene House or testifying in court as an expert witness, they will walk in the shoes of real forensic scientists and learn how to apply science and skills to get answers about how crimes are committed and how to solve them with the accuracy and precision of 21st-century technology." About FARO For 40 years, FARO has provided industry-leading technology solutions that enable customers to measure their world, and then use that data to make smarter decisions faster. FARO continues to be a pioneer in bridging the digital and physical worlds through data-driven reliable accuracy, precision, and immediacy. For more information, visit www.faro.com.

variednews: variednews: Mountain America Credit Union Launches...

variednews: variednews: Mountain America Credit Union Launches...: variednews: Mountain America Credit Union Launches MyInvest Mi... : SANDY, Utah, Sept. 29: Mountain America Credit Union is proud to anno...

variednews: Mountain America Credit Union Launches MyInvest Mi...

variednews: Mountain America Credit Union Launches MyInvest Mi...: SANDY, Utah, Sept. 29: Mountain America Credit Union is proud to announce the launch of its MyInvest platform, a new automated micro-inve...

Mountain America Credit Union Launches MyInvest Micro-investing Platform

SANDY, Utah, Sept. 29: Mountain America Credit Union is proud to announce the launch of its MyInvest platform, a new automated micro-investment manager. MyInvest makes it easy for Mountain America members to start investing with as little as $5. The platform is easy to access, has minimal fees, and can be customized to users' personal preferences and risk tolerance. Users can set up automatic deposits to their investment account or choose to make a one-time transfer. While MyInvest is an easy first step for beginning investors, even seasoned investors will enjoy the convenience of accessing the platform from the Mountain America app or online banking. "The MyInvest platform is a great tool to start investing, and it doesn't require large sums of money or expensive fees," says Kelly Albiston, senior vice president and chief technology officer at Mountain America Credit Union. "MyInvest allows any member to invest extra cash quickly and easily using online banking or our mobile app. Over time, it can really add up." MyInvest was developed in partnership with Access Softek Advisory Services, LLC and DriveWealth, LLC. "Traditionally, investing through credit unions has been limited to those with a large amount of assets," said Chris Doner, founder and CEO of Access Softek. "MyInvest opens up crucial wealth-building opportunities to all members, and it provides Mountain America Credit Union a powerful tool to engage and build strong relationships with younger members and those just beginning their wealth-building path." To get started with MyInvest, users can visit macu.com/myinvest or log into Mountain America's digital banking, navigate to MyInvest and select Get Started.

variednews: variednews: Microsoft and At-Bay partner to offer ...

variednews: variednews: Microsoft and At-Bay partner to offer ...: variednews: Microsoft and At-Bay partner to offer data-driven ... : REDMOND, Wash., Sept. 29: On Wednesday, Microsoft Corp. is announci...

variednews: Microsoft and At-Bay partner to offer data-driven ...

variednews: Microsoft and At-Bay partner to offer data-driven ...: REDMOND, Wash., Sept. 29: On Wednesday, Microsoft Corp. is announcing a new multiyear commitment to help the insurance industry create ...

Microsoft and At-Bay partner to offer data-driven cyber insurance coverage

REDMOND, Wash., Sept. 29: On Wednesday, Microsoft Corp. is announcing a new multiyear commitment to help the insurance industry create superior and data-driven cyber insurance products backed by Microsoft's security solutions. Managing risk is a critical business objective for all companies. Yet, even with the adoption of best-of-breed cybersecurity technologies and best practices, companies can face residual risk due to inconsistent management of apps and other productivity platforms exploited by a quickly evolving threat landscape. To bridge this gap, insurance providers have begun offering policies to help mitigate the impact of data breaches and ransomware attacks. This new area of insurance is growing rapidly; however, uncertainty is common as insurers struggle to acquire and use dynamic, real-time data needed to mitigate cyber-risk — while growing threats like ransomware drive urgency. Given the broad adoption of Microsoft solutions in companies of all sizes, Microsoft is working with insurers to address their customers' cybersecurity needs and reduce insurers' own risk of loss, through increased data visibility and standardized controls. Insurance carriers, agents, reinsurers and brokers are required to understand and assess cybersecurity threats for each of their insureds. With this complexity, insurers are seeking increased visibility into each company's security environment and hygiene to better underwrite new policies. To address this, Microsoft is teaming with key insurance partners to offer innovative data-driven cyber insurance products allowing customers to safely share security posture information through platforms like Microsoft 365 and Microsoft security solutions. All data and details about a covered company's technology environment will be owned and controlled entirely by that customer, but customers can opt-in to securely share them with providers to receive benefits like enhanced coverage and more competitive premiums. This model rewards customers with real savings when adopting cybersecurity best practices and gives insurers the information they need to proactively protect their customers against breaches. Partnership with At-Bay Today Microsoft announces a partnership under this initiative with groundbreaking cyber insurance company, At-Bay. Through its modern approach to risk management, At-Bay assesses the cyber-risk of every company it insures and provides actionable insights on how customers can improve their security posture. Incentivizing the implementation of security controls with improved policy terms and pricing has strengthened the overall security of At-Bay's portfolio companies. According to At-Bay, their insureds are seven times less likely to experience a ransomware incident than the industry average. Beginning Oct. 1, businesses in the United States that use Microsoft 365 are eligible for savings on their At-Bay cyber insurance policy premiums if they implement specific security controls and solutions, including multifactor authentication and Microsoft Defender for Office 365. Microsoft is also actively working with At-Bay to identify additional ways to improve the digital risk exposure of its customers and proactively address vulnerabilities. This offer will be available through At-Bay's broker community and available for customers using any version of Microsoft 365. Interested businesses can contact their insurance agent to get started. In addition to these security controls, the level of savings is dependent on the loss history and individual risk profile of each business. "An insurance policy is an effective tool to articulate the impact of cybersecurity choices on the financial risk of a company. By offering better pricing to companies that implement stronger controls, we help them understand what matters in security and how best to reduce risk," said Rotem Iram, co-founder and CEO of At-Bay. "Working with Microsoft enables us to educate customers on the powerful security controls that exist within Microsoft 365 and reward them for adopting those controls." "For cyber insurance to play a meaningful role in overall risk management, buyers and sellers need the benefit of data and clear visibility into what is covered and factors either minimizing or multiplying risk exposure," added Ann Johnson, Microsoft's Corporate Vice President of Security, Compliance & Identity (SCI) Business Development. "Microsoft's partnership with At-Bay brings important clarity and decision-making support to the market as organizations everywhere seek a comprehensive way to empower hybrid workforces with stronger, centralized visibility and control over cloud applications boosting security and productivity." Microsoft (Nasdaq "MSFT" @microsoft) enables digital transformation for the era of an intelligent cloud and an intelligent edge. Its mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more.

variednews: variednews: Over 80% of Seniors Do Not Intend to S...

variednews: variednews: Over 80% of Seniors Do Not Intend to S...: variednews: Over 80% of Seniors Do Not Intend to Sell Their Ho... : IRVINE, Calif., Sept. 29: For older Americans, a home signifies much ...

variednews: Over 80% of Seniors Do Not Intend to Sell Their Ho...

variednews: Over 80% of Seniors Do Not Intend to Sell Their Ho...: IRVINE, Calif., Sept. 29: For older Americans, a home signifies much more than just a place to live. New data from American Advisors Grou...

Over 80% of Seniors Do Not Intend to Sell Their Home According to AAG Survey

IRVINE, Calif., Sept. 29: For older Americans, a home signifies much more than just a place to live. New data from American Advisors Group (AAG), the nation's leader in home equity solutions, shows that seniors' homes not only have a great deal of monetary worth, but also significant sentimental value. To gain a deeper understanding of exactly how meaningful home is to America's seniors, AAG conducted the Importance of Home Survey with over 1,500 participants ages 60-75. "Our studies have shown that seniors in this country have a strong attachment to their home and the pandemic only strengthened that bond," said AAG Chief Marketing Officer Martin Lenoir. "It's no secret that many seniors have built substantial equity in their homes after years of ownership, but what is interesting is that very few want to sell their house to obtain that money. For seniors, the comfort, safety and independence of their home outweighs the desire to move and that's why we're seeing so many older Americans interested in reverse mortgages." The Data Shows that Seniors Plan to Stay Put: The majority of America's seniors do not intend to sell their home and have no plans of ever moving. 82% of seniors say they want to live in their home for the rest of their lives. Seniors indicated that they want to remain in the comfort of their own home. 92% of seniors said they would prefer to live their later years in their current home instead of moving to an assisted living facility. The desire to live in one's home ties closely to a feeling of safety. More than four in five seniors (83%) say they feel safer at home than anywhere else. The COVID-19 pandemic strengthened how seniors feel about living at home. Half of America's seniors (50%) say that the pandemic made their desire to live at home stronger. America's seniors see value in their homes that goes beyond finances. Nearly two in three (62%) seniors say they have an emotional attachment to their home. For many of America's seniors owning a home signifies more than just having ownership of a property. More than one-third (40%) of older Americans said their "Independence" is the most important benefit of living in their home. Family life is another substantial reason that seniors have an emotional attachment to their home. Over half of seniors (56%) say their home reminds them of their family. Seniors are communicating their desire to stay at home with their children and close relatives. More than two in three seniors (68%) have told their families where they would like to live for the rest of their life. Seniors who use a reverse mortgage loan to remain in their home long term are required to continue paying their taxes and insurance, live in the home as their primary residence and comply with all terms of the loan. AAG's Importance of Home Survey was conducted on June 2, 2021, and included 1,552 participants. Responses include numerous formats, including yes-and-no answers, ranking preferences, and multiple-choice replies. The survey was conducted on a digital platform so participants from all regions of the United States could answer from the safety of their homes. All participants were selected randomly with age and homeownership being the only qualifying factors. About AAG AAG is dedicated to helping older Americans find new ways to fund a better retirement through the responsible use of home equity. As the nation's leader in reverse mortgage lending, AAG offers a suite of home equity solutions — including Home Equity Conversion Mortgages, traditional and proprietary mortgages, and real estate services — that are designed to give seniors a better financial outcome in retirement. AAG is a proud member of the National Reverse Mortgage Lenders Association (NRMLA). To learn more about AAG and reverse mortgage loans, please visit the company's website at www.aag.com.

variednews: variednews: accessiBe Opens New Offices in New Yor...

variednews: variednews: accessiBe Opens New Offices in New Yor...: variednews: accessiBe Opens New Offices in New York, Aims to D... : NEW YORK, Sept. 29:accessiBe, the market leader in web accessibility, ...

variednews: variednews: accessiBe Opens New Offices in New Yor...

variednews: variednews: accessiBe Opens New Offices in New Yor...: variednews: accessiBe Opens New Offices in New York, Aims to D... : NEW YORK, Sept. 29:accessiBe, the market leader in web accessibility, ...

variednews: accessiBe Opens New Offices in New York, Aims to D...

variednews: accessiBe Opens New Offices in New York, Aims to D...: NEW YORK, Sept. 29:accessiBe, the market leader in web accessibility, today announced that it has opened new offices in Midtown Manhattan....

accessiBe Opens New Offices in New York, Aims to Double to 200 Employees and Hire People with Disabilities For Customer-Facing Positions

NEW YORK, Sept. 29:accessiBe, the market leader in web accessibility, today announced that it has opened new offices in Midtown Manhattan. The offices will help support accessiBe's rapid growth, having reached the significant milestone of employing more than 100 people since its launch in early 2018, with expectations to double this to about 200 employees by the end of next year. From day one, people with disabilities have been an integral part of accessiBe's solutions and technologies development. Currently employing more than a dozen people from different disability communities in various roles, accessiBe aims to more than double this number and hire for customer-facing roles such as customer service, customer success, partnership managers, and tech support. "Since accessiBe launched just over three years ago, we have been rapidly expanding to accommodate the increasing interest in our products and services," said Shir Ekerling, CEO of accessiBe. "We're excited by our continued growth and looking forward to bringing on new members to join our exceptional team. A natural extension to our existing commitment is hiring even more talent from the disability community. This is the obvious focus for us in the near future." This significant expansion is in part due to increased demand following the establishment of accessiBe's new professional services department and two new products that are coming out of beta soon - accessFlow, an accessibility testing and remediation platform, and accessCampus, an accessibility online learning and education platform. Earlier this year accessiBe announced that it secured $28 million in funding. With another funding soon to be announced, the company aims to invest in raising global awareness towards a more accessible and inclusive internet and in solving the web accessibility gap through advanced technologies, tools and services to ultimately achieve its vision of making the internet accessible for people with disabilities by 2025. For additional information, please visit accessibe.com. About accessiBe accessiBe is the market leader in web accessibility solutions and technologies, providing different AI-Powered solutions for testing and remediating web accessibility, and various professional services aimed to create an inclusive web and help businesses comply with web standards such and WCAG and regulations such as ADA. accessiBe's full suite of web accessibility solutions enable businesses of all sizes, from the solopreneur to the large corporation, to take part in the global inclusion efforts and to make their websites available to everybody, regardless of ability. accessiBe's founding team has deep domain expertise in the field of web development and accessibility services and have developed the technologies in close partnership with users who have vision impairments or blindness, epilepsy, motor impairments, cognitive dysfunctions and other disabilities. To learn more, visit: accessibe.com.

variednews: variednews: Greyline Introduces gVue The user-frie...

variednews: variednews: Greyline Introduces gVue The user-frie...: variednews: Greyline Introduces gVue The user-friendly solutio... : SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 29:Greyline Partners, LLC ("Greyline"...

variednews: Greyline Introduces gVue The user-friendly solutio...

variednews: Greyline Introduces gVue The user-friendly solutio...: SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 29:Greyline Partners, LLC ("Greyline"), a global leader in governance, risk and compliance consulting, ha...

Greyline Introduces gVue The user-friendly solution, named Best Technology Newcomer by HFM; provides financial services firms with reliable, real-time data and reporting to meet increasing regulatory compliance expectations

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 29:Greyline Partners, LLC ("Greyline"), a global leader in governance, risk and compliance consulting, has announced the launch of gVue, a comprehensive compliance technology solution for financial services firms. With increased and evolving regulatory scrutiny, as well as emerging "alternative alternatives," such as crypto and digital asset funds, robo-advisors and fintech-based investing platforms, the financial services industry remains focused on managing and monitoring compliance activities. gVue provides a robust, easy-to-use solution to oversee firms' overall compliance efforts and implementation of code of ethics policies and procedures. gVue's intuitive interface provides a seamless and reliable way to track and measure data related to employees' personal securities trading; political contributions; outside business activities; gifts and entertainment; and certifications and policies. gVue was designed by Greyline professionals who have diverse experience as former in-house compliance officers, lawyers, consultants, and regulators. It is a practical system that aligns with business operations and risk and facilitates ease of employee adoption. "Greyline's financial services compliance experts understand the regulatory, operational and governance challenges firms face. We remain committed to our mission of developing a techenabled consulting platform, which allows our clients to mitigate risk and fulfill compliance obligations without any overly burdensome administrative requirements. We seized the opportunity to create a solution that is easy-to-use, reliable and preserves the integrity of the data by providing updates in real time. We look forward to continuing to offer a seamless experience in implementing gVue," said Sean Wilke, Partner and Head of Strategic Growth at Greyline. gVue offers many user-friendly benefits, including: Privacy: Non-reportable information is filtered out (i.e., cash balances, dividends, etc.) Automation: System-generated reminders and automated tasks keep users on track. Reporting: gVue easily generates reporting on items typically requested during an SEC audit. Efficiency: gVue eliminates the need for paper statements. gVue was recently recognized as Best Technology Newcomer by HFM at its U.S. Services Awards on September 22, 2021. Learn more about gVue or schedule a demo at Greyline.co/gVue. About Greyline With offices across North America and the U.K., Greyline is a leading global provider of governance, risk and compliance consulting services. As the largest private, partner-owned and operated consultancy in the industry, Greyline focuses on providing dynamic, high-quality consulting and innovative technology designed to solve investment managers' business, regulatory and operational needs. Greyline's clients span the spectrum in terms of size and strategy, including private equity and credit, venture capital, real estate, hedge funds, registered funds and traditional investment advisers.

variednews: variednews: Ricoh and Coghlin Companies help manuf...

variednews: variednews: Ricoh and Coghlin Companies help manuf...: variednews: Ricoh and Coghlin Companies help manufacturers bri... : EXTON, Pa., Sept. 29: Ricoh USA, Inc. today announced it is teaming wi...

variednews: Ricoh and Coghlin Companies help manufacturers bri...

variednews: Ricoh and Coghlin Companies help manufacturers bri...: EXTON, Pa., Sept. 29: Ricoh USA, Inc. today announced it is teaming with Coghlin Companies, a leading product development and contract man...

Ricoh and Coghlin Companies help manufacturers bring emerging technologies to market faster

EXTON, Pa., Sept. 29: Ricoh USA, Inc. today announced it is teaming with Coghlin Companies, a leading product development and contract manufacturing services provider, to accelerate and enhance support and service of manufacturers bringing new and complex electromechanical equipment – such as industrial robotics, medical devices, additive manufacturing and other emerging technologies – to market. The collaboration leverages RICOH Service Advantage, a leading service and support offering that provides technology manufacturers with the scalability and flexibility to meet service needs and move their businesses forward. "There are many synergies with the type of technologies Ricoh supports through the RICOH Service Advantage program, such as automation, additive manufacturing and robotics," said Chris Coghlin, CEO, Coghlin Companies, Inc. "Ricoh is a tenured and proven partner that provides ongoing and valuable post-sale technical service and support expertise to our manufacturing customers. The company's commitment extends to our customer's customer who can leverage the global Ricoh service delivery infrastructure to support their offerings at scale through this unique collaboration." RICOH Service Advantage's extensive technical and customer support infrastructure – from end-user training and remote services to ongoing maintenance and onsite break/fix support – combined with Coghlin Companies' engineering, global fulfillment and contract manufacturing expertise, gives manufacturers access to the full complement of post-sale technology lifecycle services and support solutions needed to grow their businesses. "With RICOH Service Advantage, we help customers deliver scalable, comprehensive, flexible service and support offerings that provide a significant competitive advantage," said Jim Kirby, Vice President, Service Advantage, Ricoh USA, Inc. "Creating and executing superior, repeatable service strategies is a part of our foundation at Ricoh, and we're excited to team up with Coghlin Companies to deliver an end-to-end engineering, manufacturing and aftermarket solution ecosystem that enables manufacturers to deliver advanced technology to their customers." Coghlin Companies and Ricoh are currently supporting a broad range of customers, including a vast, Internet-based enterprise that sells a variety of products and delivers media directly and indirectly to millions of customers worldwide. For more information about Ricoh visit www.ricoh-usa.com or follow along and engage on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. About Coghlin Companies Coghlin Companies and its wholly owned subsidiaries, Columbia Tech and Cogmedix, are a fourth generation, privately held time to market services company providing world-class product development, manufacturing, global fulfillment and aftermarket services to a diversified group of capital equipment innovators in the medical, life sciences, energy, homeland security, robotics and automation, communications, semiconductor, LED, water treatment, and food and beverage industries. For more information, visit www.coghlincompanies.com. About Ricoh Ricoh is empowering digital workplaces using innovative technologies and services that enable individuals to work smarter from anywhere. With cultivated knowledge and organizational capabilities nurtured over its 85-years history, Ricoh is a leading provider of digital services and information management, and print and imaging solutions designed to support digital transformation and optimize business performance. Headquartered in Tokyo, Ricoh Group has major operations throughout the world and its products and services now reach customers in approximately 200 countries and regions. In the financial year ended March 2021, Ricoh Group had worldwide sales of 1,682 billion yen (approx. 15.1 billion USD). For further information, please visit www.ricoh.com

variednews: variednews: The Economist Group launches Economist...

variednews: variednews: The Economist Group launches Economist...: variednews: The Economist Group launches Economist Impact : LONDON, Sept. 29:The Economist Group has today announced the launch of Econo...

variednews: The Economist Group launches Economist Impact

variednews: The Economist Group launches Economist Impact: LONDON, Sept. 29:The Economist Group has today announced the launch of Economist Impact -- a business which will partner with leading co...

The Economist Group launches Economist Impact

LONDON, Sept. 29:The Economist Group has today announced the launch of Economist Impact -- a business which will partner with leading corporations, governments and nonprofits to deliver positive societal change. In a unique offering, Economist Impact brings together a 75-year heritage of evidence-based policy research with the creativity of a trusted media brand to engage an unrivalled global audience of influential executives. Economist Impact delivers the insight, innovation and influence decision makers need to catalyse progress in our rapidly evolving world. Together with its partners, Economist Impact drives the conversation around three key areas of systemic transformation -- sustainability, health and the changing shape of globalisation -- and is already designing multi-year partnerships for a spectrum of clients, with a global stage enabling them to play a leading role. Examples include the Back to Blue initiative with The Nippon Foundation, which aims to protect the health of oceans, and Google Jigsaw's programme to end online violence against women. Other partners of Economist Impact include Deutsche Bank, BP, Infosys and Amgen. Christoph Woermann, CMO, Deutsche Bank Corporate Bank commented, "Economist Impact leads with credibility, with five R's characterising the brand - rigour, reliability, research, reach and real-world topics. Our award-winning partnership connects an engaged audience of treasurers all over the world, underpinning Deutsche Bank's role as Global Hausbank." The launch of the new entity follows The Economist Group's strong 2021 performance -- with an operating profit of £41.8m, up £8.9m or 27% on the previous year -- which has placed The Group in a strong position to pursue long-term profitable growth. These results stem from a renewed focus on its mission of driving progress. The creation of Economist Impact as a global, evidence-led business is a key part of the Group's strategy. Lara Boro, Chief Executive of The Economist Group, said: "To overcome complexities and seize opportunities in our modern world, today's leaders must shape the conversation on topics that matter. Economist Impact is designed to provide decision makers with the deep-dive insights and a trusted platform they need to do that. Building on our heritage and far-reaching expertise, Economist Impact represents the latest step in The Economist Group's evolution. We are galvanised by its potential, and proud that so many global brands and institutions are already embracing Impact partnerships and choosing to work with us." Claudia Malley, Managing Director of Economist Impact Partnerships, said: "The world is in the midst of a major paradigm shift. To lead the way forward, we have created a new unique model for partnership. Through a powerful combination of evidence-based insights, creative innovation and unmatched global influence, we can reframe the conversation, rethink solutions to the issues facing our world, and unlock opportunities for progress - not only creating value for the organisations we work with, but also delivering world-changing impact." About Economist Impact Economist Impact combines the rigour of a think-tank with the creativity of a media brand to engage a globally influential audience. We believe that evidence-based insights can open debate, broaden perspectives and catalyse progress. The services offered by Economist Impact previously existed within The Economist Group as separate entities, including EIU Thought Leadership, EIU Public Policy, Economist Events, EBrandConnect and SignalNoise. Our track record spans 75 years across 205 countries. Along with creative storytelling, events expertise, design-thinking solutions and market-leading media products, we produce framework design, benchmarking, economic and social impact analysis, forecasting and scenario modelling, making Economist Impact's offering unique in the marketplace. Visit www.economistimpact.com for more information. About The Economist Group Dedicated to driving progress, The Economist Group is built on high-quality, in-depth global analysis which runs through all of its businesses. With 25 offices in 14 countries and serving a global influential audience and client base, the Group produces digital and print products, convenes global events, and offers a range of subscription and other services for clients and consumers. Its flagship businesses include The Economist, Economist Intelligence, Economist Education and Economist Impact.

variednews: variednews: Consumers Expected to Face Higher Pric...

variednews: variednews: Consumers Expected to Face Higher Pric...: variednews: Consumers Expected to Face Higher Prices this Holi... : SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 29: Salesforce (NYSE: CRM), the global leader in...

variednews: Consumers Expected to Face Higher Prices this Holi...

variednews: Consumers Expected to Face Higher Prices this Holi...: SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 29: Salesforce (NYSE: CRM), the global leader in CRM, today announced new consumer insights and predictions for the ...

Consumers Expected to Face Higher Prices this Holiday Season; Salesforce Digital Forecast Global online sales predicted to grow 7% year-over-year following historic 2020 holiday shopping season

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 29: Salesforce (NYSE: CRM), the global leader in CRM, today announced new consumer insights and predictions for the 2021 holiday shopping season. The company expects digital sales to once again top $1 trillion globally, but consumers, retailers, and suppliers are predicted to face rising costs and decreased inventory due to pressure on the global supply chain. While online sales growth is expected to be moderate compared to last year's historic 50% surge and more in line with pre-pandemic growth trends, digital shopping habits formed during the pandemic will persist and drive total sales to record rates for this holiday season. Salesforce forecasts: 7% year-over-year overall growth in global digital commerce for November and December (slowing down from 50% year-over-year growth in 2020) and 10% growth in the U.S. (slowing down from 43% year-over-year growth in 2020) Total digital sales are expected to reach a record high of $1.2 trillion globally and $259 billion in the U.S. Digital commerce growth will be driven by a 20% rise in consumer prices despite fewer global (-2%) and U.S. (-4%) holiday orders expected "While last holiday was defined by the last mile, this year is expected to be dominated by the first mile," said Rob Garf, VP and GM of Retail, Salesforce. "With persistent global supply chain disruptions, retailers must draw consumers to their online and physical stores early in the season to fulfill demand and capture holiday spending." As retailers and consumers grapple with the challenges of the ongoing pandemic for a second straight holiday season, Salesforce predicts: Retailers, suppliers, and consumers will bear the burden of rising costs Increased costs appear to be front and center this year for retailers, suppliers, and consumers — for a multitude of reasons. Retailers and suppliers: Three key forces that have exerted significant pressure on the global supply chain are: manufacturing capacity, logistics costs, and the labor shortage. In total, Salesforce predicts that the retail industry in the U.S. will face an extra $223 billion in the cost of goods sold this holiday season. Consumers: With inventory issues and higher costs fueling inflation and cutting into margins, expect to see higher retail prices for merchandise. In fact, Salesforce projects consumers will see a 20% rise in prices during the holiday and beyond. As consumers contend with these higher prices, global "buy now, pay later'' usage will likely account for 8% ($96B globally and $20B in the U.S.) of online orders this holiday season, up from 4% of orders during the 2020 holiday season. Product availability takes over shipping delays as this holiday's spoiler One of last year's biggest challenges was fulfillment delays to consumers' doorstep. While concerns persist this year, it is much less pervasive. Overall, Salesforce projects a 94% decrease in packages at risk of being delayed, or 40 million packages worldwide, down from 700 million last year. Just five million packages are expected to be at risk of delay in the U.S. These predictions come as consumers place larger and fewer orders. Last-mile carriers have also added year-over-year capacity, and 40% of all U.S. retailers now have a brick-and-mortar presence offering buy online, pickup in store (BOPIS) options. Bottlenecks at ports and skyrocketing container costs, two of the key pressures shaping the holidays, should cause consumers to be concerned about product availability. Retailers are responding by consolidating Stock Keeping Units (SKU) — online product catalogs are predicted to shrink by 5% over last year as supply chain challenges continue to play out. And consumers are predicted to come out early again this holiday season to avoid out-of-stocks, with pre-Cyber Week shopping growing 6% in the U.S. (to $29 billion) and 3% globally (to $129 billion). No more Christmas 'cookies': marketing departments disrupted by new change With global legislation and changing consumer preferences giving way to increased internet privacy, marketing departments are facing one of the greatest disruptions they've seen in the last five years. Tracking user activity through third-party data across the web and mobile applications is expected to become more expensive, if not impossible, and first-party data — data that organizations collect and manage on their consumers — will be king. Loyalty programs, social media engagement and personalized email marketing are expected to offer opportunities to marketers in the battle for first-party data, with Salesforce projecting 30% growth in ecommerce traffic from social referrals and an 18% rise in email marketing across November and December, compared to last holiday season. Brick-and-mortar locations become a critical part of digital strategy The combination of store associates — fulfilling online orders, offering an endless aisle of products, serving digital shoppers, and becoming social influencers — along with shoppers making purchases on mobile devices while in the store, indicates that physical locations will serve as a critical component of digital strategies this holiday. As a result, more than six in ten global online orders are predicted to be influenced by brick-and-mortar locations — either by helping to place an online order or by fulfilling it via curbside pickup options. At the same time that labor shortages are wreaking havoc in the lead up to the holidays, it's becoming more critical than ever for store associates to meet rising consumer expectations. To help retailers and brands benchmark holiday performance, Salesforce analyzes aggregated data to produce holiday insights from the activity of over a billion global shoppers across more than 40 countries powered by Commerce Cloud, in addition to Marketing Cloud and Service Cloud data from retailers. Salesforce's overall holiday data set includes 24 out of the top 30 U.S. online retailers on the 2021 Digital Commerce 360 list and utilizes publicly available third-party data sources. To qualify for inclusion in the analysis set, a digital commerce site must have transacted throughout the analysis period, in this case April 1, 2019 through August 31, 2021, and meet a monthly minimum visit threshold. Additional data hygiene factors are applied to ensure consistent metric calculation. The Salesforce holiday predictions are not indicative of the operational performance of Salesforce or its reported financial metrics including GMV growth and comparable customer GMV growth.