IDnow unveils VideoIdent Flex, a pioneering advancement in identity verification, blending AI technology with human expertise to address the evolving challenges of fraud prevention, compliance, and inclusivity in digital identity verification. Designed for the UK market, VideoIdent Flex offers a high-quality, human-led video verification solution tailored to meet stringent regulatory requirements while delivering a seamless customer experience.

1. Human-AI Collaboration: VideoIdent Flex combines live video verification with trained verification experts, providing a hybrid approach that enhances accuracy, reliability, and fraud prevention capabilities. This collaboration ensures genuine customers gain access to digital services while deterring fraudsters effectively.

2. Tailored Compliance Solutions: Customisable configurations enable businesses to meet specific industry regulations and regional compliance standards, ensuring adherence to KYC and AML requirements across various sectors such as financial services, telecommunications, and gaming.

3. Real-Time Fraud Prevention: Advanced fraud detection mechanisms, including AI-driven analysis and manual checks, offer real-time protection against evolving fraud tactics such as social engineering, document tampering, and deepfakes. This proactive approach enhances security for high-risk use cases and individuals.

4. Inclusivity and Accessibility: VideoIdent Flex promotes inclusivity by accommodating diverse customer needs, regardless of age, disability, or neurodiversity. By maintaining a human relationship between businesses and customers, it ensures equitable access to digital services for all.

Industry Impact and Commentary:

Bertrand Bouteloup, Chief Commercial Officer at IDnow, emphasizes the significance of VideoIdent Flex in addressing the complex landscape of identity verification: "Our solution draws on our decade's worth of video verification experience and fraud insights, empowering UK businesses to maintain a competitive edge by offering a white glove service for VIP onboarding."

Bouteloup highlights the importance of adopting a hybrid approach to identity verification, leveraging both advanced technology and human expertise: "This really compounds the importance of adopting a hybrid approach to identity – capitalising on the dual benefits of advanced technology when combined with human knowledge and awareness of social cues."

VideoIdent Flex represents a paradigm shift in identity verification, leveraging the synergy between AI-driven technology and human intuition to deliver unparalleled security, compliance, and inclusivity in digital verification processes. With its tailored solutions and real-time fraud prevention capabilities, VideoIdent Flex is poised to redefine the standards of identity verification in the UK market and beyond.

• Automated and malicious traffic rises for a fifth consecutive year

• Bad bots account for 32% of all internet traffic

• 44% of all account takeover attacks target API endpoints

Thales, in partnership with Imperva, presents the 2024 Bad Bot Report, offering valuable insights into the escalating challenges posed by automated bot traffic on the internet. With bad bots comprising a significant portion of online activity, organizations face mounting risks to their digital assets and operations. This report sheds light on emerging trends and key areas of concern for businesses worldwide.

1. Increase in Bad Bot Traffic:

   • In 2023, bad bot traffic accounted for 32% of all internet traffic, representing a persistent and escalating threat to online platforms.
   • Notable regions with high levels of bad bot traffic include Ireland, Germany, and Mexico, underscoring the global nature of this phenomenon.

2. Emergence of Generative AI:

   • The adoption of generative AI and large language models (LLMs) has led to a surge in simple bot activity, reaching 39.6% in 2023.
   • This technology facilitates web scraping and automated crawling, enabling non-technical users to create automated scripts for various purposes.

3. Rise in Account Takeover Attacks:

   • Account takeover (ATO) attacks increased by 10% in 2023, with 44% of such attacks targeting API endpoints, up from 35% in the previous year.
   • Financial services, travel, and business services sectors were among the most targeted industries.

4. API Vulnerabilities and Exploitation:

   • APIs serve as a popular vector for automated attacks, with 30% of API attacks originating from automated threats.
   • Business logic vulnerabilities within APIs make them susceptible to exploitation, allowing cybercriminals to gain unauthorized access to sensitive data.

5. Industry-Specific Bot Challenges:

   • Gaming continues to face the largest proportion of bad bot traffic, followed by retail, travel, and financial services sectors.
   • Advanced bad bots, capable of mimicking human behavior, pose a significant threat to industries such as law & government, entertainment, and financial services.

6. Evasion Techniques and Residential Proxies:

   • Bad bots increasingly utilize residential ISPs and mobile user agents to evade detection, with residential proxies accounting for 25.8% of bad bot traffic.
   • The combination of mobile user agents and residential IPs enables sophisticated actors to camouflage malicious activity more effectively.

The 2024 Bad Bot Report underscores the growing prevalence and sophistication of automated bot traffic, posing multifaceted challenges to organizations worldwide. As bad bots continue to evolve and proliferate, businesses must prioritize investment in bot management and API security solutions to mitigate risks and safeguard their digital assets effectively. By adopting proactive measures and leveraging advanced technologies, organizations can defend against the escalating threat landscape posed by malicious automated traffic.

Reimagined partner program will better enable SIs to drive growth and profitability, while helping customers realize their full potential with data streaming

Confluent unveils "Accelerate with Confluent," a strategic initiative designed to elevate the role of systems integrators (SIs) in delivering robust data streaming solutions. By prioritizing excellence in Confluent Professional Services, the program aims to empower partners to drive innovation, enhance customer experiences, and capitalize on the growing demand for real-time data processing capabilities.

1. Co-Delivery Approach:

   • Facilitates collaborative engagements between Confluent and certified partners to deliver holistic solutions.
   • Integrates complementary skills to ensure the successful implementation of data streaming projects.

2. Strategic Staffing Enhancement:

   • Incorporates subject matter experts from Confluent partners into ongoing engagements to enhance project velocity.
   • Expands delivery teams and accelerates project timelines to meet customer expectations.

3. Long-Term Data Strategy Development:

   • Empowers Confluent partners to assist businesses in devising comprehensive data streaming strategies.
   • Focuses on establishing a robust framework for sustained success in navigating the evolving data landscape.

Benefits for Systems Integrators:

1. Access to Partner-Focused Opportunities:

   • SIs joining "Accelerate with Confluent" gain access to various opportunities to showcase their expertise.
   • Recent initiatives include the Confluent Migration Accelerator and Confluent Cloud for Apache Flink.

2. Enhanced Collaboration Tools:

   • The updated Confluent Partner Portal facilitates improved collaboration, sales, marketing, and technical activities.
   • Empowers partners with sales and enablement tools to drive joint go-to-market strategies effectively.

3. Early Engagement in Sales Cycle:

   • Partners benefit from Confluent's commitment to facilitating early-stage involvement in customer engagements.
   • Technical resources are made available to ensure readiness in building and delivering tailored solutions.

Testimonials from Confluent Partners:

• Doyle Leabch, North America Head of Integration, EY, highlights the growth opportunities enabled by Confluent's partner program.
• Stefanos Katsios, Division Manager Big Data & Analytics, System Vertrieb Alexander GmbH, emphasizes the value proposition and competitive edge gained through the partnership.
• Siriwat Vongjaukorn, CEO, MFEC Public Company Limited, expresses readiness to scale Confluent practice and drive customer adoption with a differentiated value proposition.

"Accelerate with Confluent" signifies a strategic commitment to empower systems integrators with the expertise and resources needed to drive innovation and deliver exceptional data streaming solutions. By fostering collaboration, enhancing capabilities, and prioritizing customer success, Confluent aims to accelerate the adoption of real-time data processing technologies and empower businesses to thrive in the digital age.

Lumar announces the launch of new site speed metrics in its website intelligence platform, aimed at helping businesses address speed-related issues and enhance overall website performance. By offering actionable insights into page load times, interactivity, and user experience indicators, Lumar empowers digital teams to streamline workflows and improve online engagement, conversion rates, and search engine visibility.

1. Comprehensive Speed Metrics:

   • Includes key indicators such as page load times, cumulative layout shift (CLS), largest contentful paint (LCP), and total blocking time (TBT).
   • Provides detailed insights and actionable data to prioritize and resolve speed-related issues effectively.

2. Integration Across Core Applications:

   • Available in Lumar's Analyze, Monitor, and Protect applications, enabling users to scan, monitor, and prevent speed issues across their websites.

3. Customizable Dashboards and Alerts:

   • Users can create customizable dashboards and receive alerts to track site speed issues over time and ensure proactive resolution.

Use Cases by Team:

1. C-suite and Marketing Leadership:

   • Improving website speed enhances user satisfaction and increases sales, driving business growth and customer loyalty.

2. SEO Teams:

   • Helps improve Core Web Vitals, contributing to better organic search rankings and faster implementation of fixes.

3. UX and Engineering Teams:

   • Alerts team members of slow-loading pages and negative user experiences, facilitating faster issue resolution and improved website performance.

Expansion of Lumar Platform:

1. Unified Website Optimization Solution:

   • Lumar's expansion into site speed metrics complements its existing technical SEO and website accessibility tools, offering a centralized resource for multi-functional digital teams.

2. Customizable Metrics:

   • Provides flexibility to capture specific information from HTML pages, allowing customers to create bespoke metrics tailored to their needs.

CEO Statement:

• Panos Savopoulos emphasizes the importance of website technical health and the goal of Lumar's new site speed metrics to drive real business results by providing actionable insights across technical issues.

Future Plans:

• Lumar plans to incorporate Chrome User Experience Report (CrUX) data, industry benchmarks, and conversion data to further enhance its site speed offering.

• With the introduction of new site speed metrics, Lumar strengthens its position as a leading provider of website intelligence solutions, offering enterprise brands actionable insights to optimize their online experiences and drive business growth.

The partnership expands Agora's focus on media and entertainment with digital rights management (DRM) solutions that safeguard live content

Agora, Inc., a leading platform for real-time engagement APIs, has teamed up with EZDRM, a premier provider of Digital Rights Management as a Service (DRMaaS), to elevate interactive live streaming experiences with enhanced content protection. As the demand for secure digital assets grows in the media and entertainment industry, this partnership aims to provide creators and broadcasters with the tools they need to engage audiences while safeguarding valuable content.

Empowering Secure Real-Time Engagement:

With interactive live streaming gaining prominence, protecting digital assets from unauthorized access, copying, and alteration is crucial. Agora's partnership with EZDRM integrates real-time engagement capabilities with robust content protection solutions, ensuring end-to-end security for live media streaming. This collaboration addresses the growing need for exceptional user experiences while offering creators and broadcasters peace of mind regarding their content's integrity.

Seamless Integration for Exceptional User Experiences:

EZDRM's WebRTC-DRM solution seamlessly integrates with Agora's real-time engagement technology, simplifying the implementation of secure, interactive live streaming content. This integration enables Agora customers to deliver smooth and uninterrupted broadcasts across various applications, including sports broadcasting, real-time karaoke, and more. By combining cutting-edge DRM technology with real-time engagement platforms, Agora and EZDRM are setting new standards for secure live streaming experiences.

Collaborative Innovation for Customer Success:

As part of the partnership, EZDRM will collaborate closely with Agora to define and develop the integration, create reference implementations and documentation, and provide support for customer engagements. This collaborative approach ensures that customers receive comprehensive resources and support to leverage the full potential of secure, interactive live streaming solutions.

Empowering Content Creators and Broadcasters:

The partnership between Agora and EZDRM empowers content creators and broadcasters to deliver captivating interactive experiences while safeguarding their revenue streams and intellectual property. By combining real-time engagement capabilities with robust content protection solutions, this collaboration unlocks new possibilities for live streaming experiences across devices and applications.

Agora and EZDRM's partnership represents a significant step forward in revolutionizing real-time engagement with secure content protection. By integrating cutting-edge DRM technology with real-time engagement platforms, they are enabling creators and broadcasters to deliver seamless and secure interactive live streaming experiences, setting new standards for user engagement and content security in the digital age.

Report reveals 32% of marketers are using AI and 31% plan to use the technology to support print marketing

A recent study by R.R. Donnelley & Sons Company (RRD) sheds light on the evolving landscape of marketing technology (martech). In 2024, 91% of marketers with print programs are strategically integrating print and digital channels, with over half describing their integration as closely coordinated.

1. Embracing Technological Advancements:

   -  AI Integration: 31% planning, 32% already implemented.

   - Web-to-Print Adoption: 39% leveraging advantages such as reduced costs, personalization, and enhanced brand consistency.

   - QR Codes Utilization: 50% of marketers incorporating QR codes for enhanced engagement.

2. Print's Role in Omnichannel Strategies:

   -  Complementary Relationship: Marketers view print as reinforcing digital messaging and driving online traffic.

   -  Effective Strategies: Personalization, cross-channel integration, and brand storytelling are key tactics.

3. Personalization with First-Party Data:

   -  Marketers' Priorities: Over two-thirds (68%) personalize print communications.

   -  Data Sources: Customer feedback, demographics, email engagement, buying history, and location data fuel personalized campaigns.

Marketers are actively innovating to uphold print's relevance alongside digital channels. The evolving print-digital connection, powered by first-party data and technological advancements, promises highly impactful results.

Cross Screen Media, a CTV activation managed service provider, joins forces with LiveRamp, a leading data collaboration platform, to revolutionize targeting and measurement capabilities, preparing for the cookieless future.

1. Enhanced Targeting and Measurement:

   - Strategic Partnership: Cross Screen Media integrates LiveRamp's identity resolution and transcoding app, Powered by Snowflake, ensuring market-leading audience utilization amidst evolving privacy measures.

   - Snowflake Native App: Marketers gain control over customer data in Snowflake, augmenting identity capabilities for various use cases and downstream applications.

2. Privacy-Centric Solutions:

   - Incorporating RampID: Cross Screen Media adopts LiveRamp's privacy-centric identifier for planning, activation, and measurement, facilitating audience-based strategies across channels.

   - People-Based Identity: RampID enables connection and activation of data, empowering marketers with authenticated audience reach at scale.

3. Future-Proofing Advertising Strategies:

   - CEO's Perspective: Michael Beach emphasizes the partnership's significance in ensuring addressable audience reach and effective measurement.

   - Product Innovation: LiveRamp's VP of Product, Erin Boelkens, highlights the native integration of marketing capabilities in Snowflake, minimizing data movement and navigating signal loss.

The collaboration between Cross Screen Media and LiveRamp marks a pivotal moment in advertising, fostering audience activation and measurement while prioritizing privacy compliance. As marketers navigate the evolving landscape, this partnership promises to deliver impactful outcomes across linear and digital channels.

During VTEX DAY, one of the biggest digital commerce events in the world, VTEX is announcing products to help its customer’s maximize sales and increase operational margins.

VTEX, renowned for its composable and complete commerce platform, reveals its cutting-edge product suite at VTEX DAY 2024, promising to redefine the future of commerce with groundbreaking innovations.

1. Revolutionizing Store Creation with FastStore:

   - FastStore Framework: Commerce-optimized UI components, code libraries, and integrations for unparalleled performance.

   - FastStore WebOps: Comprehensive front-end platform with automated checks and a robust serving layer.

   - Headless CMS: User-friendly content management system empowering content teams for independent updates.

   - Expansion to B2B:Unlocking features like custom catalogs and contract pricing for enhanced adaptability.

2. Enhancing Conversion with Innovative Solutions:

   - FastCheckout: Seamlessly integrates with VTEX Headless CMS, reducing cart abandonment rates and improving conversion.

   - VTEX Ad Network: AI-driven targeting and auctions connect customers with ideal advertising partners, optimizing revenue.

   - VTEX Data Pipeline: Empowers enterprises with effective AI utilization and comprehensive commerce data insights.

   - VTEX Shield: Ensures security of sensitive data, preserving revenue and upholding customer trust.

3. Leveraging AI for Business Success:

   - VTEX Intelligent Search: Detects user behavior patterns and optimizes search results for increased conversion rates.

   - Live Shopping: Interactive shopping experiences powered by AI Chat functionality, enhancing customer satisfaction.

   - VTEX Pick and Pack Operations: Streamlines fulfillment processes, reducing errors and enhancing efficiency.

   - Shipping Insights: Provides real-time visibility into shipping processes, optimizing logistics and improving customer experience.

4. Marketplace Enhancements and Sales Management:

   - Streamlined Management: Enhancements to Marketplace features reduce operational burdens and accelerate time-to-revenue.

   - Advanced Sales App: Efficiently manages new product arrivals, recover abandoned carts, and check inventory.

   - VTEX Personal Shopper: Integrates support channels and extra sales directly into the platform, driving conversion rates.

VTEX's transformative product suite reflects its commitment to revolutionizing commerce, empowering enterprises with advanced functionalities and user-friendly interfaces to drive conversion rates and maximize ROI.