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Britain’s banker’s are worried, and they are not alone. In the UK half of all UK business leaders fear that their industries will face significant digital disruption within just the next two years, with Finance executives the most concerned. But still, bosses are failing to act. (Before you get too cocky other research we’v see suggests local leaders are just as bad.)
The findings about UK businesses are drawn from new research published by Microsoft today.
- Download the CMO of Tomorrow report produced by the Which-50 Intelligence Unit
“The dawn of the fourth industrial revolution is a massive opportunity for British businesses but many are still living in an age of innocence or inertia when they need to be innovating,” says Nicola Hodson, General Manager, Marketing & Operations, Microsoft UK. “Whilst this research indicates that business models are breaking, many business leaders appear unwilling to address them.”
The financial services sector, which employs 2.2 million people and contributes £66bn in taxes to the UK economy, is demonstrating the highest level of anxiety. Two-thirds (65 per cent) of respondents fear the impact of disruption on their markets over the course of the next 24 months.
The report, which Microsoft claims is the most extensive of its kind to date, finds that whilst disruption is imminent for a wide range of industries,.
The authors also reveal that the shelf life of current business models is also extremely limited – nearly half of UK business leaders (44 per cent) say their existing business models will cease to exist within the next five years.
BUt despite the findings many leaders remain resolute in their inaction. many organisations seem unwilling to face the coming changes. Leaders are failing, says the respondents to the study.
“Almost half (46 per cent) of business decision makers say senior leaders in their organisations are unwilling to disrupt their existing businesses to grow and compete,” say the authors.
The study called Digital Transformation: The Age of Innocence, Inertia or Innovation?, examines how organisations across vertical sectors plan to compete and ‘survive’ in response to this unprecedented pace of change.
The research consolidates the views of more than 1,000 UK business and IT leaders from large UK organisations and represents the most extensive research into the state of digital transformation in the UK.
According to Hodson added, “New challengers, many who are digitally savvy start-ups, are disrupting established markets by deploying new technologies quickly, and luring expectant customers away from established competitors. For many larger organisations, the challenge is how to react to this market disruption in a considered way and how they maintain competitiveness in a rapidly shifting landscape.”
Financial Services – a battleground for digital disruption
The financial services sector, which represents a huge contribution to UK jobs and growth, fears that the biggest disruption will come from entirely new market entrants (33 per cent) – significantly higher than other sectors including retail (10 per cent) and manufacturing (10 per cent). As a result, financial organisations are more focused on the future, with two-thirds (64 per cent) stating that they have a formal digital strategy in place.
Public Sector Challenges
Meanwhile, the public sector faces an even bigger hurdle and has been the slowest to apply digital technologies to business challenges, with only a third (35 per cent) saying they have a formal strategy in place and one quarter (26 per cent) actively stating that no such strategy exists at all. Fear of cultural change and leadership are driving this uncertainty – only a little more than a third of public sector respondents believe they have a digitally literate leadership team, despite their belief it is a critical element to implementing a successful digital strategy.
A brave new world
The authors says that UK business leaders remain cautious of the long term societal impact of rapid digital transformation – 51% say they are anxious it will raise more concerns about privacy and security.
Among the key findings;
Those in the public sector are most worried (56% per cent),
compared to those in financial services (48 per cent) and retail (47 per cent), yet the figures are relatively high across industries.
In addition, a third (33 per cent) think that older generations of workers will get left behind in some ways, rising to over 40 per cent from those in retail, pointing to cultural change as a potential barrier.
Microsoft claims this points to a need for government and business to work together to address privacy and security concerns for the benefit of all, putting people first. Education on how data is used and empowering citizens to take ownership of their data is also fundamental if society is to truly benefit from the promise of digital transformation.
A full copy of the findings can be found on Microsoft’s website here.


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3D printing company Ultimaker said that it is stepping up its software by bundling its printers with Ultimaker Essentials and launching two subscription services.
The move highlights how 3D printing is becoming more about software platforms as additive manufacturing and the on-demand supply chain develops.
- Best 3D printers in 2021: Expert reviews of top brands
- Best 3D printer for beginners (under $500) in 2021
Ultimaker laid out its software strategy at its Ultimaker Transformation Summit. According to Ultimaker CEO Jürgen von Hollen the company's plan is to grow the ecosystem and deliver an integrated hardware and software stack that will include its partner network and target small, medium and large enterprises.
Specifically, Ultimaker is doing the following to build out its software strategy.
- All new 3D printers from Ultimaker will include Ultimaker Essentials.
- Launching Ultimaker Professional, a subscription service that includes collaboration and advanced applications.
- Launching Ultimaker Excellence, a subscription software offering that can be customized.
- The software plans include e-learning modules, a global application library, reporting and analytics on 3D printers and fleets, CAD integration and full API access with Ultimaker Excellence.
Here's a look at the software and plans available.

domain: news


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More than 1,400 companies from 43 countries converged in Las Vegas this July for Cosmoprof North America where more than a few beauty trends emerged. Cosmoprof released a trend report by global beauty industry reference Beautystreams that listed blue-green algae, smart adaptogens, vegan products and zero-waste packaging as four trends to watch, so let’s unpack those first.
Not surprisingly, eco-conscious products were huge, from a shampoo shaped like a bar of soap (talk about zero-waste packaging) to moisturizers using blue-green algae and spirulina to treat signs of aging. Vegan beauty products are also having a moment. The trend is being driven by millennials, a quarter of whom identify as vegan or vegetarian according to the Economist. So to qualify as vegan, a product must be cruelty-free (no testing on animals allowed), non-toxic and contain no animal products like lanolin, honey, beeswax or gelatin.
Always on the cutting edge of technology, Elchim introduced RUN, the latest innovation in the 8th Sense line of digital tools to dry and style all types of hair, from the thickest to the most delicate. The ultra-light and whisper-quiet dryer with ionic and ceramic technology has a brushless digital motor that features BLDC technology and was tested for more than 5,000 hours of use. The removable laser-cut filter also keeps hair from getting sucked into the dryer, which significantly extends motor life.
Elchim has created outstanding tools for beauty professionals since 1945, and RUN is the latest product innovation introduced by the company this year, joining the 8th Sense Digital Styler with 11 adjustable temperatures for every hair type and the Elchim Mini, a professional-grade, effective dryer in a lightweight, travel-friendly size.
An emerging trend at the show was also products with CBD oil (cannabidiol), which is being touted for its anti-inflammatory properties, vitamins A, D and E, and essential fatty acids and is showing up in skin care and hair care products. The target market includes Gen Xers, who are most willing to try CBD-infused products, followed by millennials and finally baby boomers.
The Coresight Research team was in Las Vegas for Cosmoprof North America this July. One of their findings was that brands are offering “farm-to-shelf transparency by placing QR codes on packaging and more detailed information on ingredients” since consumers are demanding validation and certification that ingredients are legitimate.
Other trends spotted on the show floor include dipped nails, treatment shields to prevent harmful UVA and UVB exposure after cosmetic treatments or during gel manicures, and biodegradable glitter, which eliminates the harmful environmental side effects of traditional glitter. Sustainability has finally gone mainstream. Meanwhile, one innovative approach to hair loss (a helmet that features laser technology that claims to stimulate hair growth) bears mentioning.
David Stanko and Sue Pemberton, two of the industry’s top colorists, walked the show floor for us and reported their findings. Stanko noticed that there didn’t seem to be much of a barbering presence this year, which might herald a sea change. The entrepreneurial and indie spirit, however, was alive and well. “I saw a lot of new coloring widgets and accessories at the show,” he says. “One company had a coloring board with a removable ring so you can adjust it to be more comfortable in your hand when you’re doing balayage or foils.”
Pemberton was keen on a new line of hair color from Italy that included 80 shades and processed in just 10 minutes. “What makes this brand unique is that they have a developer than can make all 80 shades demi-permanent,” she says. “I think this product could be a game changer.”
As always, Elchim is on the cutting-edge with the best-in-class tools and technologies for our customers!


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It’s time for Jomtien beach to take rely on host the 4-weekend long ‘Pattaya Music Celebration’.
Food and products stalls will once again line up along the walkway for music lovers to go shopping and dine.
Mayor Poramet stated about 20,000 individuals are anticipated to go to the musical occasion on Friday and Saturday (March 10-11).
The phase will be established on Jomtien beach in between Soi 7-8.
On the 3rd and 4th weekends (March 17-18 and 24-25) there will just be on phase near the Dusit Hotel.
The shows begin at 5 p.m. till midnight and the entry is complimentary.
Poramet stated this year the city included broader range of music and efficiencies for all groups and ages varying from EDM and 90’s artists to modern-day entertainers.
Poramet likewise stated the town hall ready complimentary buses for individuals to get in and out of the occasion zones and adequate portable toilets in the locations.
The mayor stated this year smart phone operators assured to supply much better web signals in all zones.
For the March 10-11 shows on Jomtien Beach, the roadway will not be closed at all, however parking in the location will be prohibited.


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Amazon’s Alexa Device IS Listening To Your Most Intimate Moments — Their Explanation Is Absurd
A team of Amazon analysts is listening to 1,000 or more voice recordings made in private homes daily, and the company says there’s virtually nothing you can do about it.
The company, owned by multi-billionaire Jeff Bezos, who also owns the Washington Post, says that having workers listening to private voice recordings is simply to improve the voice-assistant Echo’s ability to understand human speech.
“Full-time workers and contractors at the online retail giant reportedly sift through as many as 1,000 recordings per shift – and even share ‘amusing’ clips between themselves,” The Sun reports.
Seven former employees who worked in Amazon’s voice review programme came forward with the startling revelations, reported by Bloomberg.
They said the recordings – made through Amazon devices like the Echo speaker – are linked to the customer’s first name, their device’s serial number and even their personal account number.Listened to by voice review employees worldwide, some of the clips feature intimate private moments in customers’ lives – and even record harrowing crimes.
Among the clips listened to by the former employees was a recording of a woman singing in the shower.
Another recorded the sound of a child screaming – while a third recorded a sexual assault taking place, the employees said.
The company has admitted to its customers that thousands of recordings are being analysed by staff and transcribed before feeding them back into the software.
As many as 1,000 clips are reviewed by workers in buildings all over the world, many of which do not bear any obvious indication that they are run by Amazon.
Among more sinister content the workers have heard, have been a child screaming for help and two instances were they believed they heard a sexual assault taking place.
We got in touch with Amazon through its website chat, and here’s what one staffer sent us.
“We take the security and privacy of our customers’ personal information seriously. We only annotate an extremely small number of interactions from a random set of customers in order to improve the customer experience. For example, this information helps us train our speech recognition and natural language understanding systems, so Alexa can better understand your requests, and ensure the service works well for everyone,” the worker wrote.
“We have strict technical and operational safeguards, and have a zero tolerance policy for the abuse of our system. Employees do not have direct access to information that can identify the person or account as part of this workflow. While all information is treated with high confidentiality and we use multi-factor authentication to restrict access, service encryption, and audits of our control environment to protect it, customers can delete their voice recordings associated with their account at any time.”
Deleting recordings means going into settings and clicking on each one individually, then selecting delete. While that deletes the message from your app, it’s unclear if another copy of it exits on the cloud or elsewhere.
And if anyone who own an Echo, which uses the voice assistant “Alexa,” wants to return their product, they might be out of luck. If the unit is out of the “return window,” there’s no recourse, a staffer there said.


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By Eun-Young Jeong
SEOUL -- South Korea's economy expanded quarter-on-quarter, as
Asian economies shake off the pandemic's worst effects and return
South Korea, during the July-to-September period, reported its
gross domestic product rose 1.9% from the previous quarter, aided
by a strong recovery in the country's exports of cars and memory
chips. Asia's fourth-largest economy, South Korea had fallen into a
recession earlier this year after two straight quarters of negative
South Korea's better-than-expected performance comes after China
reported this month that its third-quarter GDP had expanded 4.9%
from the prior year. Vietnam, which has kept cases low throughout
the pandemic and never reported an economic dip, experienced 2.6%
growth over last year's third-quarter. Taiwan, another Covid-19
success, is expected to post year-over-year GDP expansion of 2.2%
later this week after declines the previous quarter.
The strong economic numbers underpin how swaths of Asia have
allowed citizens to regain some normalcy during the pandemic,
dining at restaurants, watching musicals and marching into the
office -- albeit with a face mask. It contrasts with intensifying
restrictions applied across Europe and record-level daily cases in
the U.S., where businesses wonder how lockdowns and pandemic
paranoia may dull commerce.
South Korea, which dealt with a resurgence of Covid-19 cases
during its third quarter, had slumped into its first recession in
more than 15 years. The economy grew quarter-on-quarter. But on a
yearly basis, the country's GDP contracted at 1.3% -- though it
handily topped a median forecast of a 2% decline, according to
seven economists polled by The Wall Street Journal. South Korea's
quarter-to-quarter results also bested consensus expectations by
two-tenths of a percentage point.
The country's rebound has been backed by resilient global trade.
In the third quarter, South Korea's net exports jumped 15.6% from
the previous quarter and contributed 0.4% percentage point to its
overall GDP. In September, South Korea recorded a yearly growth in
exports for the first time since February as shipments to the U.S.
and Europe rose.
Export demand has continued to improve this month, rising 5.9%
for the first 20 days of October from the previous year after
adjusting for the number of working days. Exports in the third
quarter showed their biggest rise in decades.
At a Tuesday policy meeting, Finance Minister Hong Nam-ki said
South Korea's economy had "entered a recovery path for
normalization." Mr. Hong added he expects the economy to expand in
the fourth quarter, too.
Remote working and schooling have also driven up demand for
electronic gadgets and data servers that comprise the internet's
plumbing, a win for South Korea's chip makers like Samsung
Electronics Co. and SK Hynix Inc.
"Korea has benefited a lot from the global demand for
electronics," said Alex Holmes, a Singapore-based economist at
Capital Economics, adding slumps in petrochemicals and oil refining
have been drags on exports.
South Korea's economy is expected to decline by around 1% this
year, the best-performing major country apart from China, according
to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development's
latest forecasts. By contrast, the U.S., Germany and Japan are
forecast to contract by 3.8%, 5.4% and 5.8%, respectively, the OECD
China's economy, which grew for the second straight quarter, has
helped lift some neighboring countries and major trade
Japan, which has yet to report third-quarter figures, has seen
its economy rebound more quickly than expected thanks to strong
demand for cars and high-tech goods such as
semiconductor-manufacturing machines, with exports to China rising
14% in September from the prior year. On a quarter-to-quarter
basis, Singapore's economy grew by nearly 8% for the third quarter,
though it declined 7% year-over-year.
South Korea's economic growth came as it dealt with a second
wave of virus cases that began in early August. During that month,
the country reported more cases in three weeks than it had in the
prior three months combined. But the raw numbers were a fraction of
larger outbreaks elsewhere: cases peaked at 441 on Aug. 27.
One positive surprise, economists say, is the relatively modest
fall in private consumption, which dropped 0.1% from the previous
quarter, or by 4.5% when compared with the previous year.
Some economists had expected South Korea to be hit harder, as
the country kept elevated social distancing measures in place
nationally for much of August and September. Those restrictions
limited gatherings to 50 indoors and closed venues like museums.
But restaurants, bars and other stores largely stayed open,
although at reduced operation hours.
South Korea's fast response dealing with its second wave helped
small-business owners like Bae Jin-sung get back on their feet. His
"Cuisine La Clé" restaurant in Seoul, which opened last year, had
seen sales nosedive as tourism all but disappeared and locals
stayed indoors. One day, he recalled, the restaurant had sales of
just 60,000 South Korean won, or $53.
But on a recent evening, days after South Korea relaxed social
distancing to its lowest levels, Mr. Bae had to turn away diners
who had shown up without reservations. "I'm so thankful," he
Park Jeong-woo, a Seoul-based economist at Nomura, says South
Korea's export-led growth doesn't have the same pull on the
domestic economy as it used to have. The gains in exports aren't
leading to investments in South Korea because of automation and
offshore production, Mr. Park said. "That's going to lead to
reduced jobs and ultimately, less consumption," he said.
For now, Lim Byoung-jin's "Bar Cham" is back to being busy. It
was packed on a recent weekend, even asking latecomers to get on a
When the government rolled out its strictest measures for the
Seoul area in August, the bar for two weeks opened during the
afternoon and closed at 9 p.m. -- a divergence from its usual
operations of 7 p.m. to 3 a.m. The bar's frequent customers still
showed up, but Mr. Lim, the owner, said he had to go into debt to
handle the costs.
"We managed to survive," he said. "I hope this can continue, but
you never know when things will quickly change again."
Kwanwoo Jun in Singapore and Peter Landers in Tokyo contributed
to this article.
Write to Eun-Young Jeong at Eun-Young.Jeong@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
October 27, 2020 08:31 ET (12:31 GMT)
Copyright (c) 2020 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.


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Pizza Hut Restaurants has confirmed plans to shut about 29 of its 244 websites throughout Britain with the lack of as much as 450 jobs.
The closures, fewer than initially feared, will likely be achieved by an organization voluntary association (CVA), an insolvency course of that permits companies to shed uneconomic shops and lower rents.
The chain is known to have resorted to a CVA in a bid to cut back its annual hire obligations of greater than £20 million, which it could actually not afford within the gentle of rising prices and the influence of Covid-19 on the enterprise.
It stated that it was eager to maintain as lots of its eating places open as potential and job losses to a minimal.
Under the phrases of the proposed CVA, the group is believed to be asking its landlords to stroll away from as much as 29 websites, write off hire owed on a few of its marginal websites and lower rents on some others for 2 years.
The restructuring, which is being overseen by Alvarez & Marsal, doesn’t have an effect on the Pizza Hut Delivery enterprise, which is individually owned. Pizza Hut Restaurants, the model’s dine-in enterprise, is backed by Pricoa Capital and franchised from Yum! Brands.
A spokeswoman for the chain stated: “Pizza Hut Restaurants is one of many hospitality brands that have faced significant disruption and despite a quick, Covid-safe reopening sales are not expected to fully bounce back until well into 2021.”
She stated that the group was “committed to doing the right thing”, including: “While we are likely to see 29 Hut closures and 450 job losses, any measures we take aim to protect about 5,000 jobs at our remaining 215 restaurants, as well as the longevity of the business.”
Pizza Hut is the most recent in a protracted line of restaurant corporations utilizing CVAs to restructure, together with Pizza Express, Itsu, Azzurri Group, Yo! Sushi and Wasabi.


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Ace economist David Rosenberg of Canadian wealth managers Gluskin Sheff + Associates, colorfully opines (sorry, no links) on the March report from the U.S. National Federation of Independent Businesses:
The NFIB survey fell 1.8 points in March to 86.8 - all the way back to the pre-green shoot days of April/09. The lowest this metric ever got in the 2001-02 tech-wreck recession was 96.3; in the 1990-91 recession it hit a trough of 91.4; and in the 1981-82 recession it got as low as 94.4.
And today it sits at 86.8 which is below the worst points of the each of the past three recessions. Talk about a new paradigm when it comes to recoveries - ostensibly they can occur with two-thirds of the economy otherwise known as the small-business sector in complete disarray.
Capex and employment plans both receded by a point and the job openings subindex was down 2 points. Sales fell 3 points and earnings fell 4 points. And the credit conditions measure fell 2 points as well. On the inflation side, for every company raising their prices, three are cutting. A broadly-based decline but don't expect this to make the front pages as much as the ISM did.Sheesh. The Ceridian-UCLA Pulse of Commerce Index, based on fuel purchases by long-haul truckers getting their goods to market, showed a report today that is better:
The new PCI data also suggests that the economic growth in the first quarter was stronger than the consensus GDP forecast of 2.9 percent. Based on the PCI alone, expected GDP growth for the first quarter of 2010 is 4 percent, putting the economic indicator at the high end of forecasts (fewer than 10 percent of forecasters see GDP growth at 4 percent or greater). The PCI also suggests Industrial Production will grow at a healthy 0.5 percent when the Federal Reserve releases that number on April 15.But it's not good enough:
"The good news in March is that the economy is still recovering at a pace that should support job growth, although unfortunately not at a pace that will drive rapid improvement in the unemployment rate. GDP needs to grow at a 5 to 6 percent rate to drive meaningful change in unemployment," said Ed Leamer, chief economist for the PCI.
... "In other words, we fell into the recession much more rapidly than we are climbing out of it," Leamer said.Last, I didn't like what I heard from my neighbor Larry, who owns a high-end greeting card, gift and tchatchke store on Third Avenue, in the 20s, in Manhattan, the center of the universe. While walking the dogs the other morning he said his business was terrible, that he had seen none of the upturn suggested in the report last week of splashy U.S. retail sales. He owes the bank more than he ever has before and can't sleep at night.
"My customers have switched from an after-work spending hour to happy hour. Instead of coming to buy things from me, they are going to a bar, having a drink and texting," he said.I didn't press him on how he knew this.
But his report is corroborated by the sudden closing of two restaurants a couple of blocks from his store, and another upscale restaurant on 14th Street. I live in pretty fancy neighborhood, and a lot of the established places are just now going out of business. Where's the upturn for the little guy?


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Google’s parent company, Alphabet, has overtaken Apple as the company with the most cash on hand.
Alphabet had $117 billion in financial reserves at the end of the most recent quarter, while Apple had $102 billion.
Is Google or Apple bigger?
Google’s parent company Alphabet has overtaken Apple to become the most cash-rich company in the world. The Financial Times reports that as of the second quarter of this year, Alphabet holds $117 billion in liquid reserves, compared to $102 billion, net of debt, for Apple.
Who is richer Disney or Apple?
Disney makes the Marvel and Star Wars movies and owns all those theme parks, but its market capitalization is just $113 billion. In order to get to Apple’s $1 trillion value, you’d have to add the rest of the U.S. media industry, including Comcast and Netflix, to reach $956 billion, according to The New York Times.
What is Apple’s net worth 2019?
The World’s Most Valuable Brands 2019: Apple On Top At $206 Billion.
Is Amazon richer than Apple?
At $970 billion, Amazon is valued at 4.66 times sales, 14.70 times gross earnings, and 35.92 times cash–Table 1. And valuations would look even more hefty if Apple’s valuation of $1.09 trillion was applied to calculations. This means that Apple is a better investment than Amazon.
Can Apple buy Google?
The answer is simple: Apple does not buy Google because it does not have the means.
How much is YouTube worth today?
YouTube is estimated to be worth up to $160 billion
This is dozens of time more than what it was worth in 2006 when Google bought it.
Which is the No 1 company in world?
The Top 100 Best-Performing Companies In The World, 2019
59 more rows
Why is Apple worth so much?
As long as Apple continues to innovate, there will be heightened demand for its products and services. This leads to pricing power, expanding profit margins and improved cash flow, which help drive the stock price higher while also allowing Apple to return capital to shareholders.
What is Apple’s net worth 2020?
Apple Net Worth 2020. As at January 2020, Apple Net Worth would be around $1.4 Trillion. This is a huge sum of money, but Apple Inc is a very large company. Therefore, this net worth is feasible.


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Since the PlayStation 4 Pro was revealed, tech fans have raised their concerns that the upgraded console is primarily the PlayStation 5. Killing Floor 2 is scheduled to arrive on November 18, eight days after PlayStation 4 Pro hits the market on November 10. But of course, Killing Floor 2 still has that animatic look to it so we can't be sure on how good a properly detailed model will appear like on the PS4 Pro.
"Killing Floor 2" is still obviously playable on an ordinary PS4. Tripwire Interactive had just released multiple teasers for the PS4 Pro version of Killing Floor 2 and it this can give us a rough idea on how good the graphics will be. But thanks to the PS4 Pro's more superior hardware, playing it on that console will result in a better visual experience, whether your TV is 4K or not.
The game will run at a resolution of 3200×1800, and will utilise checkerboard rendering to reach a 4K resolution on 4K TVs. Sony Interactive President Andrew House stated that the console is meant to sit alongside and complement the standard PS4, and with that, the company will be selling both versions through the life cycle, according to PC Advisor.
Gronk, Bennett forming unique tight end tandem for Patriots
They have a good front. "I have to take full responsibility on that personal foul; can't be letting that happen", Gronkowski said. The Patriots marched 78 plays over the next six plays and scored on a 15-yard pass from Brady to James White .
Unlike what was rumored, not all upcoming games on the PS4 will need to support the PS4 Pro on a mandatory basis.
We are doing something has never been done before in the industry, and even if we view it from a logical point of view, will it be successful?, we are still two months following the launch away to know whether we will actually be successful.


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Things are going to get legally tense for chip makers. Samsung Electronics, Elpida Memory, Infineon Technologies and Hynix Semiconductor have already been fined $730 million after a long-running U.S. Justice Department investigation found the companies guilty of price fixing. Micron Technology was given immunity in return for providing information to the investigation.
Now the Attorney General of New York has sued those companies, along with Mosel-Vitelic, Nanya Technology and NEC Electronics America, claiming that their price-fixing led to artificially higher prices for computers and devices between 1998 and 2002. The higher chip prices caused makers to raise prices or decrease the amount of memory in systems, according to the lawsuit. Samsung is not named in the suit because they have shown a willingness to settle.
This is just the first step in what could be a long process. Today, more than 30 other states are joining together to file a separate suit in a federal court in San Francisco. The goals of the two lawsuits are to have consumers compensated for higher prices in the past and to ensure that collusion does not happen again in the future.


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The COVID-19 pandemic has definitely forced all of us to adjust to a new way of living. During this crisis, it has also led to a surge in demand for goods across the country, from medical supplies to food to personal items. Fortunately, for all of us, professional truck drivers never stopped delivering.
Drivers at Veltri, Inc. and those across the country are deemed essential, and have been on the front lines of the pandemic delivering supplies to homes, businesses, hospitals, manufacturers, stores and communities.
Driver Health and Safety
One of the biggest issues during COVID-19 has been the health and safety of truck drivers. Early on, as the pandemic continued to spread across the country, states reported illnesses among truckers were on the rise. An increase in infection rates in several states took their toll and resulted in the suspension of some trucking operations.
In an effort to curtail the rise in cases, the American Trucking Associations (ATA), in partnership with Protective Insurance Company, distributed 55-gallon drums of hand sanitizer to various locations along major freight corridors. Drivers used these drums, at no cost, to refill their own personal supply bottles. The ATA also distributed 100,000 face coverings to drivers and fleets.
In addition to providing hazardous pay to its drivers, Veltri, Inc. ensured drivers had the supplies they needed, including:
- Cotton washable masks (we have a seamstress producing them)
- Cotton washable gloves
- Providing cleaning products to all our drivers
- Disinfectant/hand sanitizer
- Providing regular coaching on how to stay safe
- Practicing social distancing
- Practicing safe hygiene practices
Another negative effect as a result of the pandemic has been a shortage of drivers and fewer trucks. In an effort to get more truckers onto the roads, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration waived specific licensing regulations for three months, allowing those with a commercial learner’s permit to drive which reduced staffing shortages faced by a lot of trucking companies.
“It’s been a very big problem for us. A lot of carriers have gone out of business and the drivers are not re-entering the market,” said Michael Shaw, vice president at Veltri, Inc.
According to the ATA, 97 percent of trucking companies in the U.S. operate fewer than 20 trucks, and 91 percent have six or fewer.
“Fortunately, our business has grown with our current customer base. Some business models suffered, but ours is closely linked to on-line ordering. The ecommerce business has grown tremendously,” adds Shaw.
Advancements in Technology
Not all of the effects of COVID-19 on the trucking industry have been negative. Some have been positive effects, including technological advancements to limit physical contact.
“At Veltri, Inc. we adopted new onboarding and contactless technologies. We are also looking to adopt more technology to facilitate remote training,” adds Shaw.
Contactless and paperless technologies such as electronic payments and virtual communication between sales representatives and vendors have protected truckers and end users from the potential spread of infection. It also has helped streamline operations, making companies more efficient.
Office management within the trucking industry also has benefited from remote-work technologies such as video conferencing and virtual communications systems. It is a much easier and efficient way to communicate with vendors, employees and contractors.
“Our administrative teams, including operations, are mostly remote. While we are doing a good job with the day-to-day operations, it is more difficult to be more strategic,” adds Shaw.
Remote working has been proven to improve the work/life balance too. New driver onboarding and orientation procedures are being streamlined too, with portions of these sessions held online.
About Veltri, Inc.
Family-owned and operated for more than 40 years, Veltri, Inc. is proud to provide regional trucking services in southeastern Pennsylvania, central and southern New Jersey and Delaware. Our mission is to provide superior service to our customers and a safe, fulfilling work environment for our employees while adhering to the highest safety and ecological standards in the industry.
Our dedicated truck drivers are seasoned and well-trained, and we are proud of our driver retention rate (six-year average). We offer competitive pay, a comprehensive benefit package and our drivers are home every night.
Do you want to join one of the best trucking companies in the country? Apply here today.


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Kraft Heinz Co said it will cut 2,500 jobs in the United States and Canada as part of its cost cutting initiatives following the creation of the company through the $46-billion merger of ketchup maker HJ Heinz with Kraft Foods.
Activist investor Bill Ackman is paying approximately $5.5 billion for a 7.5 percent stake in Mondelez International Inc.
Bill Ackman's Pershing Square said it was paying about $5.5 billion and taking a 7.5 per cent stake in snack maker Mondelez International Inc.
Shares have slumped 5.2 per cent since December 31 and are headed for their first annual decline since 2011.
Centerview Partners co-founder Blair Effron highlighted similarities between the current market environment and that of 2007.
Hassia Packaging offers high speed automation for packaging food, dairy, agro-chemical, washing powder, shampoo, hair oil, nutraceuticals.
Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Inc said on Friday its second-quarter profit fell 37%, reflecting a significant decline in investment gains.
Mondi completed capital projects including a bleached kraft paper machine in the Czech Republic and a pulp dryer in Russia.


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VALUE addition to various products, especially agro products, has the potential to contribute significantly to national development and the creation of employment.
Worldwide countries that have reached the mark of development are those that have exploited value addition to products.
The US, Japan, China, UK and many other developed countries are distinguished by their capacity in manufacturing goods and value addition.
These are countries that import raw materials and export refined products.
This is certainly the major contributing factor to their development status.
This is because value addition makes products more attractive and competitive.
For instance, it has been established that a refined product is 16 times more valuable than the raw one.
It therefore goes without saying, the real benefit of any product comes after value addition.
This is why we support the call by President Lungu for Zambian companies to add value to all local products to earn the country the much needed foreign exchange in line with Government’s diversification programme.
The President rightly noted that the local economy can only record significant growth when companies add value to natural resources.
“The Zambian economy will only grow once there is value addition to all important natural resources. Time has come for Zambia to reduce the export of raw natural resources,” President Lungu said.
True, Zambia will only experience significant development if more companies come on board to add value to various products.
As it is now, Zambia exports more raw materials such as copper, gemstones, cotton, maize and other agro products.
As the head of State has stated, it is now time to reduce the export of raw natural resources.
It is time to add value to guarantee the country’s economic growth and spur wealth and job creation.
In line with the Patriotic Front Government’s vision for diversification, there is need to strengthen our manufacturing and agricultural sectors.
It is time to manufacture goods for both local and foreign consumption as opposed to importing.
For instance, Zambia is a major importer of cars, which makes them extremely expensive for citizens because of Freight and duty obligations.
It is time the private sector ventured into motor assembling.
We are happy that Gonow Zambia Limited, a Chinese brand, is in the process of constructing a US$175 million motor vehicle-assembling plant at the Lusaka South Multi-facility Economic Zone.
It is anticipated that the company will assemble 20 vehicles a day for distribution within the Southern African Development Community (SADC). This is what we need.
As the country looks to agriculture as an alternative economic mainstay away from copper, value addition is certainly the way to go.
Instead of exporting maize, agro firms will do well to add value by making mealie-meal, cornflakes, stock feed and many other finished products. These will definitely earn the country more revenue as compared to maize in its raw form.
Cotton is also among Zambia’s major exports. To derive more value, Zambian companies need to export finished products such as clothing and linen.
It does not make sense to export cotton at a very low price and later on import clothing and other cotton by-products at exorbitant prices – just like it does not make any economic sense to export groundnuts and later on import peanut butter and cooking oil at a price 10 times more.
While Zambia still has a long way to go in terms of value addition to products, we are aware that there are some Zambian companies that have already set themselves on the path.
Trade Kings is one such company. Trade Kings has indeed set a good example that Zambian companies have much more to offer beyond raw materials.
Trade Kings, which manufactures a variety of groceries, is one success story in manufacturing and value addition.
In the mining sector we know of Zamefa, which also is doing a commendable job by adding value to copper.
Zamefa, which produces cables, is also exporting to other countries within the region and beyond.
We also know that at small-scale level, we have entrepreneurs who are adding value to various raw natural resources. For instance, some entrepreneurs are making accessories such as necklaces and bracelets from gemstones.
These need to be supported financially and through skills development.
As companies embrace value addition, it is our hope that they will uphold quality of products and packaging to compete favourably not only locally but internationally as well.


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Google has now made it possible to search within apps on Android phones. In Apps search allows Android users to look for content within their installed apps using the Google app.
Currently, the new In Apps search mode is fairly limited in what it’s able to search for. You can search for contacts and messages in GMail, find a favorite song in Spotify, or look up a video in YouTube. In the coming months, integration with the following apps will be added: Facebook Messenger, LinkedIn, Evernote, Glide, Todoist and Google Keep. You will also have the option in the Settings menu to choose which apps appear in In Apps search.
Since In Apps search is performed entirely on one’s phone, it is said to work even without a WiFi or cellular connection. The first handset to get the new In Apps search mode is LG V20, which is also the first phone to ship with Google’s latest mobile operating system, Android 7.0 Nougat. The LG V20 will sport a home screen shortcut to allow access to In Apps search with a single tap.
Not many more details are known about the LG V20 at this point; more information is scheduled to be announced on Tuesday, September 6th, at an event in San Francisco. In Apps search is a feature that’s exclusive to Nougat, so presumably other handsets that have been able to upgrade to the latest Android OS will be getting the new search mode as well.
We will be following the LG V20 event next week and will report back with more details about In Apps search if more become available.


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Beyond the Footsie: Friday close
The FTSE Smaller Cap index closed 10 points up at 3,389 - its highest intra-day level. It was pushed up by news of a bid and following the release of a mixed, but fairly benign, set of US economic data.
Of small cap risers, Irish based Adare Printing remained in demand, firming 150p to 700p - over 27% in value - after confirming details of an MBO offer for the firm. NAPG is offering 715p per share in cash for Adare, valuing the firm in total at £100.6m. The bid news offset a decline in the full year pretax profits at the group.
Furniture retailer Harveys Furnishing advanced 16 1/2p to 201 1/2p after Homestyle confirmed the launch of an agreed 80p per share cash and paper offer from Homestyle. The bidder revealed that it has already secured a 12.7% stake in Harveys.
IFTE gained 20p at 150p on news it has been awarded a £5.1m contract to design and develop a fire training facility at Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport, while building company Darby Group was 2 1/4p up at 13 3/4p after the company revealed that YJL deputy chairman Peter Gyllenhammar has taken a 16.28% stake in the company, prompting speculative rumours that the company might receive a bid.
On the downside, Quarto continued to plummet, dropping 35 1/2p to 95 1/2p after issuing a profit warning, with the firm not seeing current year pretax exceeding 1999 levels. The group highlighted difficult trading in the Eurozone which has hit its co-edition publishing business.
Allied Leisure also suffered after a gloomy trading update, losing 15 1/2p at 107 1/2p, after warning profits would be hit by poor results from Megabowl, while Knutsford was 2 1/4p off at 11 3/4p after announcing that all resolutions were passed at the company's EGM, including the acquisition of, and name change to, WILink.com.
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ProgrammableWeb tracks the latest API news to keep you on top of the API economy
Searching: No Search Term , Filtered By Category: "Video", Category: "Sports", Category: "Sports"
Twitter's Vine team has released an oEmbed API endpoint designed to make it easier to embed a Vine into a website.
Facebook subsidiary Oculus VR has released an SDK for developers that is, at least in this initial version, exclusively designed for the Samsung Gear Innovator Edition on Note 4.
At AWS re:Invent Startup Launch, Temasys announced it's Skylink platform which uses WebRTC to enable enterprise-level communications solutions.
Wowza Media Systems has announced the Ninja App Challenge, a contest for developers to build innovative Wowza REST API-powered mobile applications.
Android 5.0 Lollipop provides an API that makes it possible for apps to offer native screen recording functionality without the need for users to root.


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Curtiss Motorcycles unveiled their first electric motorcycle prototype Zeus in May with the world’s first twin motors; now they say their second electric bike will have the world’s first “V8” battery.
An image of the stretched-out Hera electric motorcycle was released at Pebble Beach with the company claiming the bike will be available in 2020.
Zeus and Hera won’t be cheap, judging by the prices of their previous models. For example, their Warhawk costs $US105,000 (about $A140,000).
Curtiss Chairman and CEO Matt Chambers says Hera will be “the world’s most luxurious motorcycle”.
“Featuring the world’s first V8 battery architecture, an ultra-powerful, yet refined, E-Twin motor, and a 66-inch wheelbase, Hera will occupy a class all her own,” he says.
Curtiss Motorcycles was formerly called Confederate Motorcycles but last year the Alabama motorcycle company ditched its now-controversial name after deadly race riots in Charlottesville, Virginia.
Confederate Motors president H. Matthew Chambers said the company changed the name to honour motorcycle racer Glenn Curtiss who invented the first American V-Twin motorcycle.
Glenn set a world speed record of 136.3mph (219km/h) in 1907 on Ormond Beach, Florida, on a motorcycle he built with a 4.4-litre V8 engine he had designed and built for aircraft use.
First V8 battery
To replicate the V8 engine, Curtiss Motorcycles has created eight “cylinders” of high-density Li-ion batteries.
It is expected to use the same two Zero SR motors used in the Zeus which have 104kW of power.
A 14.4kWh lithium-ion battery pack drives the rear wheel via an E-Twin power unit which is a set of two high-output electric motors driving a common output shaft.
When the Zeus was unveiled Curtiss Design Director Jordan Cornille said the “fresh, all-new design DNA will define every Curtiss motorcycle moving forward”.
“This minimalist, pure, organic brand language has been carefully developed over the last several years, and foreshadows an entire family of Curtiss products to come,” he said.
While at the top end of the market, the announcement of a second electric bike from Curtiss Motorcycles comes shortly after Harley-Davidson announced a range of electric motorcycles and bicycles within the next four years.
They will start with the LiveWire electric sports bike in 2019, but also include smaller urban electric bikes, bicycles and even a scooter.
The fact that these two traditional American motorcycle companies are going electric clearly signals the dawn of a new age of electric motorcycles, bicycles and scooters.


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For more than a decade, chargebacks were simply part of the cost of doing business. Merchants understood that where there were sales, there would also be chargebacks. This is no longer the case, especially for merchants that hover around the 1% of sales/100 chargebacks-per-month threshold. Merchants cannot afford to brush chargebacks under the rug.
Why? These merchants risk losing their merchant account services. Without a merchant account, they will be unable to accept their customers debit and credit card transactions.
Another issue are false declines. Many merchants say that false declines are a bigger problem for their business than chargebacks. Either way, both are a serious problem for any merchant. In fact, if left unattended, they can quickly lead to a business having to close their doors.
Consider the following alarming figures on false declines:
- It is forecasted that there will be $2.8 trillion in online shopping transactions in 2019.
- 6 percent of online orders will be declined.
- 30-70 percent of those declines will actually be legitimate, resulting in $48.5 billion in lost sales. (A loss for not only merchants, but payment processors and acquiring banks).
The Truth about Damaging False Declines
When it comes to merchant account services, you …
It seems that the right to use marijuana outside the house legally will not become a reality in the near future in Massachusetts. However, legal sales of marijuana for adults remain on schedule starting July 1, although the regulations governing the industry are currently still designed.
The Cannabis Decision Making Commission of Massachusetts chose in late February to postpone the act of giving a “social consumption” license for marijuana. The idea of creating marijuana cafes where people can enter, buy marijuana and use it there – like people entering bars and ordering a beer – proved too controversial for many state leaders. Activities to establish marijuana cafes are postponed until autumn 2018, with a new proposal prepared in February 2019 at the earliest.
The concept of the cafe The idea is to give a limited license of the establishment with the right to sell and allow the use of marijuana on their property. This will give consumers a place to enjoy marijuana outside their private residence. Like every other country where marijuana is legal, public consumption of marijuana is currently prohibited. And this step will also open another avenue for entrepreneurs who want to enter the legal marijuana business. In …
The rising significance of worldwide business has implications for markets throughout your complete geographic spectrum—native, regional, nationwide and international. Hosting greater than forty major international events across 9 high growth sector themed days, the competition will offer you the knowledge, market insights and very important connections you want to take your enterprise ahead. A chance to take part in cohort programs during which college students divide their research between the Moore College and one in all a number of partner universities.
All eligibility and declaration questions relating to the new undergraduate major and minors should be referred to Fox’s Heart for Undergraduate Advising Graduate college students are inspired to talk with their program advisors for extra particulars about new curricula. Brandeis Worldwide Enterprise School (IBS) announced it has received a $2.5 million gift to ascertain the Hassenfeld Family Innovation Middle, which will build upon the college’s popularity as one of the nation’s leading analysis establishments by supporting school research while catalyzing innovation on campus.
A semester studying abroad at certainly one of greater than 30 of the world’s high business schools. Brandeis International Business College (IBS) honored 244 graduates on the college’s 21st annual Diploma Ceremony on Sunday. MBA applications …
Keep up to date with the latest information from the School of Marketing and International Business. At the LeBow College of Enterprise international business research and instructing is carried out by faculty from numerous departments in the College in addition to the School of Economics The international enterprise major explores the international business surroundings in addition to the inner workings of multinational firms and the influence of international considerations within the various useful areas of business.
A comprehensive worldwide enterprise curriculum of purposeful, regional and thematic global enterprise courses. Professor Benjamin Gomes-Casseres cites Louis Brandeis’ teachings on the “curse” of huge business in inspecting recent merger failures. Business Bash is a semi-annual event providing enterprise college students with alternatives to find out about business majors, meet scholar organizations and community.
Our free digital publication, International Business Weekly,” offers common updates on USCIB’s major actions and priorities. From 12 – 28 June 2018, the UK hosts the world’s greatest worldwide enterprise competition. Asper is the current president and CEO of Anthem Sports and Entertainment Corporation, a member of the business college’s Board of Overseers and founding father of the Asper Middle for World Entrepreneurship.
At Brandeis Worldwide Enterprise School (IBS), Amy …
The rising significance of international business has implications for markets across all the geographic spectrum—native, regional, nationwide and international. Worldwide Business majors are prepared to fulfill the rising demand for world-prepared graduates in a worldwide economy. Mendsaikhan (Mendee) Dashjil, MBA ’15 earned his undergraduate degree from the College of Economic Studies at the Nationwide University of Mongolia earlier than beginning his profession in the oil and mining industries. The undergraduate major in Statistical Science and Data Evaluation will present college students with the ability to pick, utilize and apply quantitative reasoning and knowledge analytic skills to their future fields of study, in line with program director Dr. Alexandra Carides, Associate Professor of Statistical Science.
The Raymond J. Harbert Faculty of Business’ on-line programs mix conventional instruction with trendy technology to extend educational alternatives beyond campus. The Fox College’s Danger Management and Insurance program ranks No. 5, marking three consecutive years that it has earned a high-5 rating. Associate Professor Dan Laufer, a crisis communications expert from Victoria Business College, has revealed research on the significance of companies personally figuring out with their stakeholders when managing a crisis.
Spain’s IE Business Faculty remained in fourth place, Switzerland’s IMD dropped to fifth …


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Xbox One release date announced by Microsoft
New console will be available in 13 markets from launch
Microsoft has announced that the Xbox One will launch on 22 November in 13 markets.
The news was delivered by Yusuf Mehdi, Corporate Vice President of Marketing, Strategy and Business, who confirmed that the 13 markets will be: Australia, Austria, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, New Zealand, Spain, UK, and USA.
Mehdi promised that “many more markets will follow in 2014”. The launch will be ahead of the rival PS4 in the UK but behind the US launch.
“We are humbled and gratified by the tremendous interest in Xbox One from game fans everywhere,” said Mehdi. “We have sold out of our pre-order supply in the U.S. faster than at any other time in our history and we are on path to have the biggest launch of an Xbox ever.”
It was also confirmed that in another last-minute change to the console’s hardware, Microsoft have increased the CPU’s processing power from 1.6GHz to 1.75GHz. This boost is on top of the previously announced 6 per cent increase in the performance of the GPU.
November 22 is also the day that the Xbox 360 was first launched in 2005.
Sony’s PS4 will launch in the US on 15 November and in the UK on 29 November. Sony’s console will sell for £349 whilst Microsoft’s will retail for £429.
More stories on the Xbox One and PS4 from The Independent
Jamie Merrill plays on Forza Motorsport 5 on the Xbox One, at the Violin Factory in south London, ahead of the consoles release 22 November.
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At today’s IAB Programmatic Marketplace conference in New York, Sharethrough and The Trade Desk took the stage together to announce a major new programmatic native advertising RTB integration.
Read more on this news:
MarketingLand: DSP Trade Desk adds native ad support, with Sharethrough as first integrated SSP
MediaPost: Sharethrough And The Trade Desk Team Up On Native Programmatic
The Drum: Native Programmatic Gets Boost With New Partnership
Through this new programmatic native partnership, buyers will be able to purchase in-feed ads through The Trade Desk’s Omnichannel RTB platform, accessing massive audiences with in-feed ad placements across hundreds of premium sites and apps through the Sharethrough Exchange (STX).
Why this matters
It wasn’t long ago that the common consensus was that native advertising couldn’t scale like this. It’s time for this myth to be retired. This new integration, powered by new technology and standards invented by Sharethrough, sets out a bold course for programmatic native in 2016, showing off the big possibilities in this rapidly emerging space.
There are a number of reasons why this is huge news for programmatic buyers. Most importantly, programmatic native means they can now run major, targeted campaigns while taking advantage of native’s content-first approach. Consumers spend exponentially more time processing native ads: their clickthrough rates are 10 times higher than banner advertising and drive 18 percent higher purchase intent. Programmatic native helps buyers take advantage of these benefits on a scale previously thought to be impossible.
“Programmatic advertising is about delivering an organic, personal ad experience, and Native is a natural outgrowth of that capability,” said Tim Sims VP of Inventory Partnerships at The Trade Desk.
“Sharethrough’s access to premium native inventory is a great asset for buyers’ ability to scale campaigns successfully. We’re so pleased to offer our clients the ability to buy against Sharethrough’s inventory as part of their holistic, omni-channel campaign strategy to deliver a more personalized user experience.”
It wasn’t long ago that the common consensus was that native advertising couldn’t scale like this. It’s time for this myth to be retired.
How programmatic native is possible
This new integration follows the IAB’s OpenRTB Specification Version 2.3 guidelines. Launched in February 2015, the 2.3 Spec was the first IAB standard to support native ads, providing common parameters for native advertisements to be broken down into components and traded programmatically.
An updated IAB protocol is expected to be released this year, bringing even more specificity and structure to programmatic native and driving even broader growth. Sharethrough’s VP of Product Management Curt Larson was a tech lead of the native RTB working group that developed the new Native 1.1 extension for the IAB 2.4 specifications.
“It’s time to retire the myth that native advertising is something that can only ever be custom executed,” Larson said about the new integration between Sharethrough and The Trade Desk.
“This new integration will help brands build major programmatic native campaigns into their media strategies, engaging more meaningfully with their audience while taking advantage of The Trade Desk’s independent and industry-leading suite of buy-side tools. The Trade Desk works with some of the most sophisticated buyers in ad-tech, which makes them an amazing partner.”
The opportunity programmatic native presents
The market for programmatic native is brimming with possibility. According to Business Insider, spending on native advertising is expected to reach at least $21 billion in 2018, with 15% of all online advertising budgets dedicated to native by 2020. RTB revenue is estimated to reach over $11 billion in 2016, expected to account for almost half the digital advertising market by 2020.


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Japan-based frozen food-to-seasonings manufacturer Ajinomoto has reported a fall in annual profits.
The company today (15 May) posted a 17.1% decline in net profit to JPY52.5bn (US$461.4m) for the 12 months to the end of March.
Ajinomoto’s operating income was down 6.1% at JPY90.8bn, with the business pointing to “a substantial drop” in earnings from its animal nutrition division, as well as currency exchange issues.
Net sales dropped 7.8% to JPY1.09trn. Exchange rates were again a factor, although Ajinomoto also cited the impact of the restructuring of its pharmaceutical business.
Ajinomoto said the net sales from its domestic food arm dipped 1.7% to JPY390.4m, despite growth in sales of frozen foods, as sales of seasonings and processed foods declined – partly due to the sale of a subsidiary. However, the operating income from the division was higher year-on-year.
The company said its international food products unit saw its sales fall 7.5% to JPY428.9m, hit by the negative effect of currency exchange. The operating income from the unit fell 13%.
For the current financial year, Ajinomoto is forecasting annual sales of JPY1.19trn, “business profit” of JPY102bn and net profit of JPY57bn.


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News stories featuring Ledbury:
July 10th, 2015
American Express has launched an online checkout service that works across desktop, mobile and native apps to let its US card members make payments with their existing American Express user ID and password, without having…
Feed for stories featuring Ledbury.
• Find a list of all the companies and other organisations that have been featured in NFC World in our directory.


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FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- The current state and future of mobile payments was the subject of a convenience store retailer roundtable, held here earlier this week and organized by the National Payment Card Association (NPCA), a provider of merchant-branded debit cards and mobile payments.
Led by Danilo Portal, chief information officer for NPCA, the roundtable featured chief information officers from three convenience retailers currently utilizing payment programs developed in conjunction with NPCA: David Banks of Framingham, Mass.-based Cumberland Farms Inc., Cheryl Szczesniak of Greenville, S.C.-based The Spinx Co., and Jenny Bullard of Waycross, Ga.-based Flash Foods.
Each of the retailers presented a real-world perspective on implementing a mobile payment program. A remote on-site demonstration also was held at a Cumberland Farms store in West Palm Beach, Fla.
NPCA, based in Coconut Creek, Fla., currently holds five patents related to the processing and methods for automated clearing house (ACH)-based decoupled debit and mobile payments, which offer safe and secure methods for processing payments at the pump and/or in-store through mobile phones.
“Merchants are looking for the lowest form of payment. They’re looking for decoupled mobile debit,” explained Joe Randazza, president and CEO of NPCA.
Roundtable attendees also heard presentations from several other technology companies involved in developing mobile payment solutions, including VeriFone Systems Inc., The Pinnacle Corp., Gilbarco Veeder-Root, NCR Corp., Qualcomm Retail Solutions and Zingon, a company that offers mobile point-of-sale marketing.
Smartphones had a 61-percent penetration in U.S. households as of March 2012, with a 78-percent penetration in the coveted 25- to 34-year-old demographic. Given these figures, widespread acceptance of mobile payments at the pump and in-store could give convenience stores several advantages.
According to the presenters, mobile payments eliminate the traditional credit card swipe fees and replace them with a low fixed cost per transaction. In addition, mobile payments offer a ready-made platform for targeted marketing and loyalty program enhancements. Being able to reduce costs while simultaneously maximizing customer reach is key to a successful future, the speakers said.


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Apple CEO Tim Cook sent a holiday greeting to employees over the weekend, where he looked back at 2013, spoke about some burning issues within the company and also teased us with the company's plans for the next year.
Big plans, I tell ya!
In the memo, Cook thanked Apple employees for their hard work and talked about the products that Cupertino launched in 2013 including the iPhones - 5s and 5c (see review), iOS 7, OS X Mavericks, iPads, and the revolutionary Mac Pro. He also touched upon issues of equality and diversity at the workplace, specifically talking about protection against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Cook finishes the letter in tantalising fashion when talking about what to expect in 2014. “We have a lot to look forward to in 2014, including some big plans that we think customers are going to love,” Cook wrote before wrapping up the letter. You can read the full text on 9to5Mac.
So what exactly is Cook referring to when he talks about ‘big plans’? Apple is rumoured to be involved in a number of projects that could come to fruition next year. This includes the much-anticipated iWatch, which will work as a companion to your iOS devices and an enhanced fitness tracker. Apple already made a big push towards better collection of sensor data thanks to the M7 chip in the iPhone 5s. Apple also improved Bluetooth functionality in iOS and OS X in preparation for a wearable. This could be put to better use in the iWatch.
An iWatch concept render (Image credit: Antonio De Rosa/ADR Studio)
We are also expecting a revamped Apple TV product that’s said to take a front-and-centre seat in your home entertainment setup. This would leverage Apple’s iTunes partnerships and the already-existing multimedia apps from the App Store to bring a refined TV-viewing experience.
Then there’s the bi-annual iPhone refresh and the iPhone 6 with possibly have a larger display with updated internals. A bigger iPad is also said to be in the offing - it will supposedly be called the iPad Pro and have a 12-plus-inch display.
These could easily fit the big plans that Cook teased in the letter, but considering Apple’s track record of innovation, we won’t be surprised to see something else either. What do you think Apple has in store for its fans in 2014? Let us know.
Published Date: Dec 24, 2013 14:26 PM | Updated Date: Dec 24, 2013 14:26 PM


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Christmas is past but for many business owners it was a life changing time. Read my article to find out why
Successful leaders recognise that M&A is critical to business strategy – whether acquiring, creating shareholder value, merging or selling.
Acquisitions can be a vital component of business strategy. However, for an acquisition to truly add value to a business, it must fulfil a range of requirements.
In recent years, the number of MBO deals has seen a steady rise. Last year, the number of deals rose 20%, from 76 deals in 2016 to 91 in 2017. In the same period, the total value of MBO deals grew from £2.6 billion to £2.7 billion – a 4% increase.
Britain’s SMEs are a critical driver of the economy. Now more so than ever. At a time of heightened economic and geopolitical uncertainty, it’s essential that private mid-market companies continue to innovate, grow and create jobs.
A solid understanding of the tax environment is critical when planning a merger or acquisition.
M&A activity, whether buying, selling or merging has always been a strong complement to business success and in today’s slow-growth economy, it moves centre stage.
The training sector is fast-moving and fast-changing. The increasing training needs of corporations is driving demand and increasing spending on learning resources, while e-learning is rapidly on the rise.
Buying or acquiring a business is a major milestone in any entrepreneur or business owner’s career. And it’s the one that invariably throws up the most challenges and concerns. With so many potential complexities to navigate, even ‘serial’ entrepreneurs and seasoned M&A veterans struggle to make the process of buying or selling work for them.
Undertaking your business sale is one of the most important financial decisions you will make and an M&A advisor will help enable you to achieve maximum value and an optimum deal structure.


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British men spend more on fashion and grooming than women, although many do not enjoy the experience, according to a new survey.
The research, commissioned by Barclaycard, shows that British men spend on average £154.90 a month on clothes, shoes, and new age grooming products such as beard straighteners, while women spend £124.00.
The survey found that British men are less likely to return items than women. Image: pixabay-2211354
And, yet, despite spending more on shopping for these items than they do on drinking with friends and going to sports matches (£110.80), it seems that they do not enjoy it much.
‘Would rather clean the toilet’
Among the things that they would rather do than go shopping, the men interviewed for the research said that they would: “rather mow the lawn” (21 percent said this); “go to the dentist” (9 percent); or “clean the toilet” (9 percent).
It’s as though “the idea of retail therapy is still lost on British men,” says George Allardice, Head of Strategy, Barclaycard Payment Solutions.
Could this be why the research also found that nearly half (48 percent) of British men prefer to do their shopping online, whereas women prefer do it in-store?
The research, which included interviews with retailers, also found that women are more likely than men to return items, whereas men are more likely to let them linger in the wardrobe.
Only 26 percent of items returned to store are from male shoppers. Combine this with the fact that they spend more than women, it appears that men offer a potentially more profitable retail market.
What British men find frustrating about shopping
There also seems to be a perception gap about male shoppers on the side of retailers. Most retailers (66 percent) said they thought male shoppers needed more advice. Yet, the majority of the men in the survey (82 percent) said that they preferred to be left alone while they shopped.
The things that male shoppers found most frustrating in stores were:
– Not having their size in stock (42 percent of men said this)
– Crowded stores (36 percent)
– Queuing at checkouts (35 percent)
In fact, with regard to queuing, 40 percent of male shoppers said if they had to wait more than 5 minutes they would just leave the store.
Allardice suggests that if retailers were to change just a few simple things – “such as ensuring a wide range of sizes are stocked and reducing queues at the till” – then we might indeed see British men shopping “’til they drop.”
British men spend more on clothes, shoes, and grooming products than women.
‘Buying items directly off the rack’
The survey asked both British men and women what improvements would make them happier with their shopping experience. Buying items directly from racks without having to queue to pay for them was mentioned by 20 percent of men and women.
In addition, 18 percent of male and female shoppers said that instead of trying things on, they would like to use virtual reality to help them decide if items were a good fit or looked good on them.
Atomik Research carried out the survey. They interviewed just over 2,000 male and female consumers online and also interviewed 250 owners of fashion, beauty, and other retail stores.


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The consumer prices index measure of inflation rate rose to 1.6% in the year to December 2016, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
The rate was up from a 1.2% rise in the year to November 2016.
The ONS listed rises in food prices, air fares and falls in motor fuels as the main contributors to the increased rate between November and December.
The announcement prompted a range of reaction from industry and professional bodies.
The Resolution Foundation
Responding to the figures, Conor D’Arcy, policy analyst at the Resolution Foundation, said:
“Today’s sharper than expected rise in inflation shows that the ultra-low price rises that consumers have benefitted from in recent years is well and truly over.”
“That’s still low historically, but a significant rise to which wage growth has so far failed to respond.”
British Chambers of Commerce
Suren Thiru, head of economics at the British Chambers of Commerce, said:
“A period of materially higher inflation is a significant concern for many businesses as it erodes profit margins and stifles their ability to invest and grow, particularly during this time of heightened uncertainty.”
Rising costs biggest challenge for firms
Over a fifth of small businesses say rising costs will be their biggest challenge in 2017, according to Bibby Financial Services (BFS).
The impact of inflation and fall of the sterling following the EU referendum have led many small businesses to become concerned about price rises in the last year.
Of the businesses surveyed in the Q4 SME Confidence Tracker, the average planned investment over the next 3 months is £49,237, less than half the level (£101,919) invested in Q2 2016.
Other challenges faced by businesses:
- Increased competition (18%)
- Late payments (11%).
28% are holding off on investment due to concerns of Brexit and wider EU economy.
24% said they are planning to build up on their cash reserves instead.
David Postings, global chief executive of BFS, said:
“These businesses are facing the challenge of maintaining profitability while remaining price competitive. This equation is causing a headache for many businesses and we are seeing many SMEs start to tighten their belts and pull back investment.”
“While exporters are seeing a boost in overseas sales, this benefit only goes so far, as many businesses do not look overseas for opportunities. The UK is still too reliant on a consumer driven economy that has all the signs of slowing down.”


text: Unperformed maintenance in the U.S. automotive aftermarket industry was $56 billion U.S., according to the soon-to-be-released 2005 AASA Automotive Aftermarket Status Report. High gas prices played a role in the unperformed maintenance total, according to Frank Hampshire, director of market research for MEMA’s Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association. "Consumers tended to perform maintenance when they felt it could improve their vehicle’s fuel efficiency," he said. Hampshire noted that tune-ups performed rose slightly, which is one indication of his theory. Supporting his point also was that $2.1 billion of air filters were sold in a market that is estimated at $1.5 billion. "However, there were more maintenance categories that were neglected compared to those that weren’t," Hampshire noted. "Items that have historically been neglected are still not being maintained. The most neglected products fell in the "undercar" category. These products include brakes (calipers, linings, rotors), shocks/struts, exhaust systems, catalytic converters, fuel pumps, steering components, wheel bearings, cv joints and wheel alignments. Air conditioning system maintenance was also a product that suffered because of high gas prices, according to Hampshire, who said that many consumers will not repair malfunctioning A/C systems, or turn them off, because of the mistaken impression that it will increase their vehicle’s fuel efficiency. AASA was created in 2002 by the Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA) as its aftermarket market segment association to exclusively serve manufacturers of aftermarket components, tools and equipment, and related products.


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ConAgra Foods said it would exit its struggling private label foods business and reported a 3.7 percent rise in quarterly sales.» Read More
Target warned on Wednesday its annual profit was likely to be near the low end of its forecast as it anticipated continued cautious consumer spending.
Lowe's second-quarter net income rose 26 percent, as the retailer and rival Home Depot were buoyed by the housing market's recovery.
JCP's quarterly loss was $1.17 a share, but its store sales improved from the previous quarter and its stock price jumped.
Barnes & Noble reported a deeper loss as sales of its Nook device and e-books continued to plunge, and its founder pulled the plug on his plan to buy its stores.
Home Depot reported earnings Tuesday that topped analysts' expectations, and the company raised its full-year guidance.
Applied Materials named Gary Dickerson as its new CEO. The chip-equipment maker's latest results fell short of expectations amid a drop in demand.
Dell reported earnings and revenue that beat Wall Street forecasts as growth in its enterprise solutions business offset the ongoing slump in PCs.
Wal-Mart posts disappointing quarterly sales as shoppers pinched by higher payroll taxes and gas prices made fewer purchases.
Cisco stock plunges after it announced plans to lay off 4,000 employees, or 5 percent of its work force.
Macy's reported a disappointing profit for its second quarter and cut its outlook for the year on Wednesday.
Deere reported earnings and revenue that beat market expectations on Wednesday, strengthened by the farm industry in the Americas. Shares gained.
A slowdown in emerging markets is not affecting Prudential's insurance business, the group's CEO said on Monday, remaining bullish on the region and arguing it would be the key driver of world growth over the next 20 years.
As this seasons begins to draw to a close, Michael K. Farr argues that accounting gimmickry is no substitute for real earnings growth.
Priceline reported a sharp jump in revenue as bookings spiked 38 percent. Shares rose after-hours.
Investors will be scanning retail earnings reports, due out over the next few weeks, for the lessons they hold about the back-to-school shopping season, the second-busiest retail period.
The strong showing could leave egg on the faces of skeptical analysts, some of whom had issued sharply negative reports after Tesla's previous report.
Groupon reported revenue growth that topped expectations, lending credence to the deals site's new mobile-centric strategy. Shares rose more than 18 percent after-hours.
Tesla posted a surprise profit of 20 cents a share for the second quarter on $405 million in revenue.
Mondelez delivered earnings that topped expectations and the company raised its dividend. Shares rose after-hours.
Green Mountain Coffee reported earnings that beat Wall Street forecasts on lower coffee costs and strong sales of its single serve K-Cups, but the stock is tumbling in late trading on weaker-than-forecast sales.


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For all the strains facing rural livelihoods and therefore communities, there are individuals, groups of people and businesses doing amazing things whose achievements deserve to be celebrated and held up as examples to others.
This community of people, taken as a whole, ensure our landscapes are managed in a way that supports this county’s hugely valuable food and drink and tourism industries. Their entrepreneurial spirit and ceaseless graft is ingrained in families’ DNA from the generations before them, yet they are being let down.
Political uncertainty has dogged the food and farming sectors in this country for too long. The progress of the Agriculture Bill which proposes a framework for future farming policy is making slow progress through Parliament.
The prospect of a no-deal Brexit and the implications for trade with the EU - British agriculture’s largest market - remains a possibility.
As industry leaders have warned in The Yorkshire Post, farmers are breeding livestock and making crop decisions with no clarity over what markets their produce will serve.
There is continued uncertainty over the structure of ongoing financial support for agriculture, while the long-term migration of young people from small rural communities has in many places become a crisis.
As reported in our recent Dales in Crisis series - a year on from our first special report - severe shortages of affordable homes and shrinking austerity-hit local services is forcing working age families out, leading to school closures in some spots.
Despite those circumstances, Yorkshire is blessed with an array of rural businesses and communities that is rallying. Volunteers dedicate thousands of hours every year to make rural life vibrant, uphold traditions, create new ones and lend support to others and the environment. Many rural businesses - from village high street retailers to farmers - are adding value to the rural economy in inventive and innovative ways, from diversification projects to high quality retail experiences, while boosting local employment.
For these reasons and many more, The Yorkshire Post will celebrate the stand out success stories from Yorkshire’s countryside communities in our 2019 Rural Awards, sponsored by Bishop Burton College near Beverley.
James Mitchinson, editor of The Yorkshire Post, said: “Yorkshire is undoubtedly a rural powerhouse which makes a huge contribution to our county’s economic strength. Our food and farming businesses are part of one of the UK’s largest manufacturing sectors, worth more than £100 billion to the national economy.
“Countryside industry and communities have underpinned our region’s economic might and social vibrancy for centuries, and despite the pressures of a modern world, rural Yorkshire continues to show that it is a hotbed of entrepreneurial talent and community spirit.
“It is also a community which is not content with simply standing still. In The Yorkshire Post today, we exclusively report on the launch of Grow Yorkshire, a collaboration of food, farming and rural leaders, who are pro-actively engaging with the Government to further unlock rural growth.
“There will be challenges ahead for the countryside as a period of politically driven upheaval dawns but rural Yorkshire can look ahead with confidence. Our 2019 Rural Awards will explain why, by championing the incredible feats that are being achieved by businesses, individuals and groups in the countryside right now.
“We need your help to repeatedly bring to the attention of those in power the impressive capacity of rural Yorkshire. Help us to champion your voice at the highest level by entering our third annual Rural Awards. The story of your successes is an inspiring one that deserves to be told, shared and celebrated in style.”
ENTER HEREThere are 13 award categories - 11 of which are open for both direct entries and for nominations via the awards’ dedicated website.
New categories include Rural Innovator of the Year for a progressive business that is embracing digital technology and Rural Hero which celebrates those that selflessly dedicate their time for the good of their communities.
Two of the award winners - Lifetime Achievement Award and Farm of the Year - will be chosen by The Yorkshire Post.
All the winners will be announced at a ceremony at Pavilions of Harrogate at the Great Yorkshire Showground on Thursday, October 10.
Bill Meredith, chief executive and principal of overall awards sponsor Bishop Burton College, is keen for innovative farming businesses to enter and receive the recognition they deserve.
He said: “The Rural Awards are a great opportunity for us to celebrate all that’s best in food and farming in Yorkshire so I would fully encourage those businesses that have any sort of interest in agriculture and are doing anything different that is worth shouting about to put themselves forward.
“It would be great to recognise their contribution for the marvellous range of food and agricultural activity in Yorkshire.”
The importance of highlighting success cannot be underestimated, Mr Meredith said.
“We are at a bit of a crossroads in agriculture. Regardless of where Brexit takes us, we are moving into a new era of less farm subsidy so we need to be more entrepreneurial and we need to flag up those businesses that have a record of success in innovation or have created a new business or service which is adding value to a product because that is perhaps going to be the way that the farming industry continues to thrive in the future.”
Rural Business of the Year, sponsored by Ryedale Auctioneers: A remarkable rural business from the region that is positively thriving as a productive and profitable enterprise to the benefit of local people and the economy, giving it a great story to tell.
Rural Innovator of the Year: A progressive business from the region that has adopted the latest digital technology or machinery and can demonstrate how it has taken their venture to the next level.
Farm of the Year, sponsored by Bishop Burton College: An inspiring farm operation that is excelling in its field and is an example for others to follow, as chosen by The Yorkshire Post.
Rural Hero, sponsored by The Robert Fuller Gallery: A committed individual or rural-based group that has selflessly volunteered their time within a rural setting for the benefit of their community.
Young Farmer of the Year, sponsored by Myddleton Croft Investment Managers: A farmer aged 35 or under who has demonstrated excellence in agriculture that stands him or her out from their peers.
Professional Services to the Community: Rural businesses need support from a wide range of professionals. This award celebrates excellent customer service in professional services in rural Yorkshire.
Vet of the Year: Outstanding service and a consummate professional, this is a vet that is held in high regard for his or her work and manner, whether on the farm or in the surgery.
Rural High Street or Rural Retailer: A business or collection of businesses in rural Yorkshire that is a runaway success with locals and visitors alike and makes a vital impact to the local economy.
Rural Tourist Attraction, sponsored by F G Adamson & Son: A tourism business or collection of tourism businesses in rural Yorkshire that stands out for its success with locals and visitors, and makes a key contribution to the local economy.
Farm Shop: A farm shop in Yorkshire that can demonstrate outstanding success as a local employer, sourcing local food and drink, championing Yorkshire produce, and contributing to the rural economy.
Student/Apprentice: Whether excelling as part of their studies or whilst serving an apprenticeship, this individual shows they have a bright future in a countryside career ahead of them.
Diversification, sponsored by Wilkin Chapman LLP Solicitors: A rural business that has grabbed their destiny with both hands and changed the course of their operations by embracing a diversification project that excels in its field and sustains their farming operations.
Lifetime Achievement Award, sponsored by Cundalls: An individual, chosen by us, who has dedicated decades of service to agriculture in Yorkshire and deserves extra special recognition for their outstanding achievements. We are not inviting nominations for this category.
HOW TO ENTER
The deadline for nominations for the 2019 Rural Awards is Wednesday, September 4.
Entries will then go before a panel of judges before a shortlist is published to announce those in the running for the awards.
To enter, submit your entry online at www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/ruralawards or send a detailed entry in writing to Jayne Lownsbrough, Editorial, The Yorkshire Post, No. 1 Leeds, 26 Whitehall Road, Leeds, LS12 1BE. Please include contact details in case we require further information.