by Ferry Bayu | Aug 18, 2023 | Business
Mondelez Philippines celebrates 60th anniversary in partnership with Parañaque City
Oreo, Cadbury, Eden, Cheez Whiz, Tang, and Toblerone: As Filipinos, it’s safe to say you’ve snacked on some of these offerings from Mondelez Philippines. As the brand continues its commitment to promote mindful snacking, Mondelez looks back and expresses gratitude to everyone who has been with them for over six decades of partnership, including their home, Parañaque City, since July 31, 1963.
On August 7, Mondelez Philippines hosted a Thanksgiving dinner at Sequioa Hotel in Paranaque City, attended by the brand’s executives and Paranaque government officials, including Mayor Eric Olivarez and Vice Mayor Joan Villafuerte. “We extend our gratitude to the city of Parañaque for being our home all these many years,” said Mondelez Philippines Vice President Aleli Arcilla. “We have benefitted from the support that the city has provided us, and in turn we have done our utmost to be a responsible corporate citizen.”
Apart from being one of the city’s top taxpayers for many years, a part of the company’s sixty-year-old heritage is Mondelez Philippines’ various advocacies. In recent years, the company, along with the Parañaque City government, has launched several advocacy campaigns focusing on health, such as the company’s 11-year-long Joy Schools feeding program that has provided meals to thousands of the city’s students. Additionally, the company donated over 2,000 doses of Moderna COVID-19 vaccines to the Parañaque Local Government Unit (LGU) during the pandemic. Mondelez Philippines also collaborated with the city health office to provide a learning session for barangay health workers, highlighting its mindful snacking advocacy.
by Ferry Bayu | Aug 18, 2023 | Business
SYCARDA, CUE Group Join Forces To Revolutionize Retail Solutions in ASEAN
SYCARDA, a Malaysian leading retail data analytics platform, has joined forces with Singapore’s digital solutions giant, CUE Group. On this year, the two companies solidified their partnership by signing a Memorandum of Understanding. This collaboration is set to revolutionize retail solutions, starting in Malaysia and Singapore, with plans to expand across Asia. The primary motivation behind this alliance is to address prevalent challenges in the retail sector, notably pilferage and sweethearting issues faced by a Malaysian grocery chain. By synergizing CUE’s advanced computer vision analytics with SYCARDA’s cutting-edge retail data analytics solution, they aim to equip businesses with profound and actionable insights, enhancing both operations and customer experience.
Retail data analytics platform SYCARDA and Singapore-headquartered digital solutions provider CUE signed an MoU on February 2 to begin an era of innovative collaboration to produce more comprehensive and effective retail solutions across Malaysia, Singapore, and eventually the rest of Asia.
Both organisations have consistently prioritised their dedication to adding value to clients’ systems and ways of working towards more dynamic retail data solutions, knowledge exchange in data analytics, visual AI, and machine learning. Upon officiating this collaboration, SYCARDA and CUE will integrate their expertise and develop a bespoke retail solution to address a Malaysian grocery chain’s pilferage and sweethearting issue.
SYCARDA’s mission is to assist traditional brick-and-mortar retailers to reduce their costs and increase their revenue in a rapidly challenging retail landscape by using data analytics and business intelligence. The platform is completely independent and can be used across most Points-of-Sale (POS) without the need for integration, which enabled SYCARDA to be deployed across 2,000 retail and food and beverage outlets across Southeast Asia.
Similarly, CUE Group’s customised and flexible commerce solutions and range of practice in various industries speak to its understanding of the value of research and development. From standardising security systems to improving the customer journey with visual AI, CUE Group’s solutions result in-depth consumer tracking and seamless transactions, spelling the difference for businesses across the food and beverage, automotive, FMCG, and pharmaceutical industries. Products such as RetailX enable retailers to improve and tailor their in-store experiences to better serve their customers, as well as to develop an accurate target audience profile that will boost precision marketing strategies.
With the rest of 2023 predicted to be a time of slow economic recovery in Asia, there is some room for market confidence with declining inflation rates. Still, with many businesses suffering an average pilferage rate of 5%, solutions more intelligent and enterprising than supply chain vigilance are required. By combining CUE’s computer vision analytics and SYCARDA’s POS data points, this partnership enables businesses to obtain more accurate and actionable insights into their business operations and customer experience.
“We see that the SME retail sector tends to go disappointingly under-served, with many of its problems unaddressed,” said Vernon Chua, CEO of SYCARDA. “What we’re hoping to create together [with CUE] is a way to see these problems and solve them pretty much as they happen – more than saving money, it’s about making businesses the best they can be and at an affordable rate that allows them to multiply their ROI.”
“We see a fellow enabler in SYCARDA and we’re optimistic about where this partnership can take the Southeast Asian market,” said Zainudin Nordin, Executive Director of CUE Group, SEA. “Neither of us is a big proponent of development for development’s sake; just as our services and solutions [at CUE] are ‘smart’ in the technological sense, we strive to also fulfill that in the business sense.”
SYCARDA is a leading retail data analytics platform designed to empower brick-and-mortar retailers in navigating the modern retail environment. The platform’s strength lies in its adaptability, allowing seamless deployment across over 2,000 retail and food and beverage outlets in Southeast Asia without the need for intricate integrations. With a focus on reducing operational costs and boosting revenue, SYCARDA offers retailers real-time, actionable insights to stay agile and ahead of market trends. Committed to innovation, SYCARDA ensures that businesses, regardless of size, have the tools and insights necessary to thrive in today’s challenging retail landscape.
See Lik Weng (Bob)
+60123315099
bo*@*****da.ai
by Ferry Bayu | Aug 18, 2023 | Business
VRITIMES Unveils User-Friendly Mobile Version Design for Enhanced News Reading Experience
Singaproe, 18th Aug 2023 – VRITIMES Inc., a Tokyo-based media technology startup, is excited to announce the launch of its new mobile version design. The revamped design is aimed at providing a more user-friendly news reading experience for its mobile visitors. The company, established in August 2022, specializes in press releases and functions both as a media platform and a distributor to its media partners.
“We are thrilled to introduce our new mobile version design to our users,” said Ferry, CEO of VRITIMES. “Our previous mobile version was not as user-friendly as we would have liked, so we made it a priority to improve the design. We believe that the new design will make it easier for our mobile visitors to read our news and stay informed on the go.”
The new mobile design includes the following features:
Improved Navigation: The new design features a more intuitive navigation system, making it easier for users to find and read the news they’re interested in.
Enhanced User Interface: The updated user interface is sleek and modern, providing a more enjoyable news reading experience.
Optimized for Mobile Devices: The new design is optimized for mobile devices, ensuring that it looks great and functions smoothly on smartphones and tablets.
VRITIMES is confident that the new mobile version design will be well-received by its users and will continue to enhance its offerings to provide the best possible news reading experience.
VRITIMES (https://www.vritimes.com/sg/service) is a media technology startup company, established in Tokyo in August 2022. We specialize in press releases, functioning both as a media platform and a distributor to our media partners. Users can create and distribute press releases through VRITIMES, then use our analytics feature to review their results – all within one solution. By making it easy and affordable to distribute press releases, we aim to facilitate a more valuable flow of information in the world, serving as the infrastructure that ensures this information reaches the media and consumers.
Media Relations Team
ma*******@******es.com
by Ferry Bayu | Aug 16, 2023 | Business
Rice ‘sufficient’ but DTI, DA to monitor prices: Palace
MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday tasked the trade and agriculture departments to closely monitor rice prices and go after hoarders and “price manipulators,” Malacañang said on Wednesday.
“Rice supply is sufficient,” Marcos said, as quoted by the Presidential Communications Office.
“Prices are, however, very variable,” he added.
The President said the government is working with the private sector to keep prices stable and continue providing affordable rice in Kadiwa stalls.
“The President will go after hoarders and price manipulators who take advantage of the lean months before harvest season,” Press Secretary Cheloy Garafil said.
The Department of Agriculture had said it would not be easy to ascertain price manipulation now that the NFA has been stripped off its regulatory function.
“Sa ngayon kasi hindi basta-basta pwedeng sabihin na price control, ano basehan natin? We are not in the position of a national emergency para mag price control,” DA spokesperson Rex Estoperez had said.
Rice price has been steadily rising in the past few months, further triggered by India’s export ban.
Marcos assured the public last week that the country would have enough rice supply until the height of the El Niño phenomenon next year.
by Ferry Bayu | Aug 16, 2023 | Business
CyberDSA 2023: Forging a Resilient Digital Future Through Unprecedented Collaboration
The highly anticipated inaugural Cyber Digital Services Defence & Security Asia (CyberDSA) 2023 commenced today at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, graced by the Minister of Communications and Digital, YB Fahmi Fadzil. Embracing the theme of “Advancing Digitalisation and Security Through Collaboration,” this three-day expo, running from 15 to 17 August, seeks to create a platform for networking, idea exchange, and forging alliances that will drive the nation towards a more secure digital future.
Organised by Aerosea Exhibitions Sdn. Bhd. with robust support from CyberSecurity Malaysia and the Malaysian Armed Forces through Defence Cyber and Electromagnetic Division, CyberDSA spotlights cutting-edge cybersecurity technologies and innovations, with over 100 exhibitors demonstrating their expertise. The event encompasses keynote addresses, talks, roundtable discussions, and exhibits covering topics such as cyber defence, land & cellular network security, big data, cloud computing solutions, artificial intelligence, and blockchain technology.
“The cybersecurity landscape has witnessed a surge in increasingly sophisticated and persistent threats, and it is evident that no single entity, nor state can tackle this challenge alone,” remarked YB Fahmi Fadzil, Minister of Communications and Digital. “The theme of “Advancing Digitalisation & Security Through Collaboration” is apt, as we must unite governments, businesses, academia, and civil society to leverage collective intelligence, resources, and expertise to fortify our defences and respond effectively to cyber incidents.”
Tan Sri Asmat Kamaludin, Chairman of Aerosea Exhibitions Sdn Bhd, expressed, “We are incredibly proud to present the inaugural Cyber Digital Services Defence & Security Asia (CyberDSA) 2023. Our vision is to create a transformative platform that fosters collaboration, innovation, and knowledge exchange among cybersecurity experts, decision-makers, and industry leaders. Through CyberDSA, we aim to strengthen the cybersecurity landscape, paving the way for a more secure digital future.”
Running in parallel with CyberDSA 2023, two significant events—Siber Siaga and CSM-ACE—are underway. The annual CyberSecurity Malaysia Awards, held during gala dinner, organised by CyberSecurity Malaysia, provides a platform for cybersecurity communities to network while recognising the invaluable contributions of individuals and organisations in the field. Siber Siaga, an embodiment of the Defence Cyber & Electromagnetic Division, underscores Malaysia’s journey towards cyber sovereignty through collaboration between the Malaysia Armed Forces (ATM), industry players, universities, cyber security practitioners, and the public.
CyberDSA 2023 casts a global spotlight, facilitating high-level discussions involving over 100 international cybersecurity leaders and delegates. Prominent events include the eighth INTERPOL Digital Forensics Expert Group (DFEG) meeting 2023 and the ASEAN CYBER Defence Network committee roundtable, providing platforms for experts to exchange ideas, address challenges, and foster collaboration in digital forensics.
General Tan Sri Dato’ Sri (Dr.) Haji Zulkifeli Bin Mohd Zin (Retired), Chairman of CyberSecurity Malaysia, emphasised, “We are keenly aware of the rising cyber threats, posing significant risks to valuable information and national security. The potential economic consequences are immense, impacting both our country and the global economy. CyberDSA’s primary goal is to unite decision-makers from governments and private sectors, fostering collaboration and knowledge-sharing to create a more secure digital landscape. CyberDSA therefore plays a vital role in strengthening our cybersecurity and ensuring digital border safety.”
CyberDSA 2023 marks a pivotal step towards fortifying cybersecurity and securing our digital future. The event’s highlights include high level conferences delving into critical topics such as “Digital Transformation – Safely Full Speed Ahead” and “Winning in the Face of Financial Cybercrime”. The expo also features enlightening Flash Talks by exhibitors, notably including a key networking event, spotlight on celebrating women in digital transformation by YB Teo Nie Ching, Deputy Minister of Communications and Digital. Attendees can also engage in Technical Labs organised by Siber Siaga, offering hands-on training on topics like “Bluetooth HackMe” by Slawomir Jasek and “JupyterLab for Network Analysis” by Abd Halim Bin Mahmood.
The event also features a Hackathon Competition sponsored by Telekom Malaysia and a Special Opening Ceremony on 16 August 2023 by Siber Siaga, further amplifying the collaborative spirit of CyberDSA 2023.
Cyber DSA aspires to be the leading content-driven event, serving key stakeholders who are protecting national, public and business interests in cyberspace. It aims to connect decision makers in governments and private sectors to accelerate their cyber defence and security agenda. This event aims to impart latest knowledge and intriguing insights about cybersecurity while showcasing cutting edge technologies that would safeguard digital economies and foster global competitiveness
Cyber DSA
+603 2702 7700
in**@****************ns.com
by Ferry Bayu | Aug 16, 2023 | Business
Gripping is one of the most common and natural tasks that people perform, but for robots, it is not as intuitive. To achieve human-like gripping abilities, robots need computer vision and deep learning to detect the type of objects in front of them as well as their orientation. The dexterous and adaptive gripping solutions developed by the RoPlus team can be used universally to handle a wide range of products and can automatically decide how best to pick and place objects with the aid of computer vision to minimize the necessity of intensive human intervention.
Universal Intelligent Soft Robotic Gripping Solutions
Gripping is one of the most common and natural tasks that people perform, but for robots, it is not as intuitive. To achieve human-like gripping abilities, robots need computer vision and deep learning to detect the type of objects in front of them as well as their orientation. The dexterous and adaptive gripping solutions developed by the RoPlus team can be used universally to handle a wide range of products and can automatically decide how best to pick and place objects with the aid of computer vision to minimize the necessity of intensive human intervention.
With the aim of developing robotic grippers that are as dexterous as human hands, the RoPlus team came up with hybrid robotic grippers consisting of three or four soft fingers, which can reconfigure automatically on demand. The 3D-printed soft fingers are air-driven and equipped with a novel locking mechanism for adjustable stiffness. The 3D-printing method used to produce the soft fingers is low-cost and offers flexibility in customizing the actuator design based on actual gripping requirements.
Different types of grippers were developed for food and consumer goods manufacturing processes. The gripper bases are reconfigurable so that they can accommodate items of various sizes. The soft rotatable gripper fingers allow delicate grasping of items of various shapes, and the embedded retractable vacuum suction cup can maneuver more awkwardly positioned objects such as the corner of a tote bin.
RoPlus’ gripping solution is also fully customizable to adapt to specific client needs and space constraints. This approach offers a wide variety of gripping options that can handle objects of different shapes, sizes and packaging materials. The RoPlus team’s customizable technology has been deployed at People Bee Hoon Factory, a Singapore-based rice vermicelli manufacturer, for optimizing the packing of rice vermicelli packets into carton boxes.
Commenting on the company’s decision to adopt RoPlus’ technology, Mr Desmond Goh, Director of People Bee Hoon Factory said, “Most of our existing staff are mature workers, so we sought to tap on new technology that can ease the workload of our existing staff, while simultaneously boosting their productivity. We selected this technology because it is able to meet our purpose, and provides flexibility for different deployments that we require.”
Other than grippers, RoPlus also develops computer vision system which can be integrated into the gripping system to command and control the configurations of the grippers automatically, based on the items detected. This can minimize human interventions during the pick-and-place tasks to fully automate the whole process.
RoPlus offers commercial partners different options of deploying the robotic gripper systems – they can be bundled together with a robotic arm, or purchased individually since the grippers can be easily mounted onto commercial robot arms for companies that already have their own.
About the RoPlus Team
The reconfigurable hybrid robotics gripping systems were created based on inspirations from the natural dexterity of the human hand by a team of entrepreneurs from the National University of Singapore (NUS). This technology is expected to impact a range of industries, involving food assembly, vertical farming and fast-moving consumer goods packaging, which will progressively automate more of their operations in the coming years.
The team comprises of Associate Professor Raye Yeow from the NUS Department of Biomedical Engineering and the NUS Advanced Robotics Centre, ex-NUS researchers Low Jin Huat, Khin Phone May, Chen Chao-Yu, Benjamin Ang and NUS alumni Han Qian Qian. The hybrid robotic grippers use soft, flexible 3D-printed fingers with a reconfigurable gripper base. The robotic innovation has now been commercialized and deployed at end-users facilities to increase productivity and efficiency of the production lines.
“An object’s shape, texture, weight and size affect how we choose to grip them. This is one of the main reasons why many industries still heavily rely on human labour to package and handle delicate items,” Assoc Prof Yeow said. “Our hybrid robotic gripper technology revolutionizes traditional pick-and-place tasks by offering advanced capabilities that allow robots to safely interact with delicate items of various shapes, sizes and stiffness, just like the human hand.”
Incorporated in 2021, RoPlus aims to help local companies (food and consumer goods manufacturers) automate their production lines for more innovative and faster production processes by providing intelligent soft automated gripping solutions with computer visioning.
RoPlus is supported by the National University of Singapore which seeds startups created by the University’s staff and researchers. The relevant research for the gripper systems also received support from the National Robotics Programme and the Agency for Science, Technology and Research.
Han Qian Qian
81815142
qi******@****us.sg
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