David Ray Joins BigID as new Chief Privacy Officer

BigID, the category-leading data security and compliance vendor for the cloud and hybrid cloud, welcomes David Ray as its new Chief Privacy Officer (CPO) and bolsters BigID's expertise in privacy and compliance. David will advise and oversee BigID's privacy programs, privacy-aware development, contribute to BigID's industry-leading privacy automation solutions, and drive the company's privacy-by-design strategy.

Privacy continues to be a pivotal point of concern for many organizations. With David's leadership appointment, BigID continues to raise the bar in data privacy innovation by not only offering cutting edge solutions to automate risk-aware data privacy management, but integrating privacy-by-design across their portfolio including within data security posture management, data access governance, and AI data management capabilities.

Before joining BigID, he spent six years as a director in PwC's Data Risk and Privacy practice, designing and delivering privacy solutions for multiple Fortune 100 clients. He is also a Fellow of Information Privacy with the International Association of Privacy Professionals. With over 15 years of experience in the legal technology space, David has an extensive history of implementing and guiding top companies on data privacy and protection regulations.

"Data privacy continues to be a game changer for enterprise companies as they build trust, achieve compliance, and stay ahead of the evolving landscape of data privacy and protection regulations.," said Dimitri Sirota, CEO and co-founder of BigID. "We're excited to have David join the team and help BigID customers take charge of their data ."

"I'm excited to join BigID and build upon my expertise to help organizations grow their privacy strategy," said David Ray, CPO of BigID. "BigID continues to innovate on privacy solutions to meet changing industry needs, and I look forward to being part of that journey."

David's appointment adds to BigID's momentum of delivering breakthrough industry leading privacy solutions. Recently, BigID was named as a leader in privacy management software in The Forrester Wave™: Privacy Management Software, Q4 2023.

Birdeye, the leading digital customer experience and marketing platform for local businesses and brands, has once again earned leading positions across multiple categories on the G2's 2024 annual Best Software Awards. The company was recognized across eight categories, including Best Artificial Intelligence Software, Best Customer Service Products, and Highest Satisfaction Products. G2's Annual Best Software Awards rank the world's best software companies and products based on authentic, timely reviews from real users.

Leading the AI Revolution: Birdeye Takes #4 Spot for Best AI Software

Birdeye was awarded the #4 spot in the Best Artificial Intelligence Software list, a testament to its excellence in integrating AI into the platform to redefine how businesses engage with customers. This accolade reflects Birdeye's commitment to pushing the boundaries of AI technology to create impactful, efficient, customer-centric solutions.

Wins Across the Board

Exemplifying Birdeye's comprehensive impact on multi-location marketing and customer service innovations, G2 recognized it across multiple other categories:

• Best Customer Service Products
• Best Software for Small Business
• Best Software for Mid-Market Business
• Highest Satisfaction Products
• Best Software Companies
• Best Software Products
• Marketing and Digital Advertising

The impact of our platform on redefining customer experience is evident in these quotes taken from G2 reviews -

"Birdeye has helped us bring in thousands (yes, thousands) of reviews for our physicians and mid-levels at our local community hospital. Before Birdeye, we would average about 10-15 reviews a month on ALL of medical providers. With the implementation of Birdeye, we are seeing over 1,400 reviews a MONTH on the platform." - Ashley Clayton, CFO, Froedtert Kenosha Hospital

"I absolutely love and adore the Birdeye product/platform, as well as every single person I have ever interacted with on their team! They provide an incredibly-robust solution for marketing and customer interactions/social media review maintenance. Their product is highly user-friendly, with an accomplished team of employees ready to assist with anything their customers need." - Scott Moore, People Specialist, RED RHINO, The Pool Leak Experts

Reflecting on these accomplishments, Dave Lehman, President and COO of Birdeye, stated: "Our achievements in G2's Best Software of 2024 awards underscore the strength and versatility of our AI-powered platform in enhancing digital customer experiences and marketing strategies. Being recognized across such a wide array of categories highlights our passion for innovation and ability to deliver comprehensive solutions that drive real value for our clients."

Pioneering the Future of Customer Engagement

These accolades serve as a testament to Birdeye's capacity to drive meaningful change for multi-location businesses and their customers globally.

The achievements were recently recognized on the NASDAQ board, a notable acknowledgement that underscores Birdeye's leadership and innovation in the technology and software industry.

The platform boosts productivity by 20% and reduces overall procurement cost by 10-15%

LTIMindtree, a global technology consulting and digital solutions company, today announced the launch of Navisource.AI, a GenAI powered autonomous sourcing platform. Using the power of AI-driven pricing and negotiation engine, the platform aims to reduce overall procurement cost by 10-15 percent.

Navisource.AI revolutionizes procurement with AI, streamlining processes from requisition to risk management. It integrates with LLM and Model Catalogs via Canvas.AI, enhancing enterprise workflows. Compatible with Ariba and SAP S/4HANA, it provides comprehensive navigational and decision-making support.

“We believe that GenAI will drive transformation in three dimensions: functional reimagination, paving new ways of working, and intelligent automation. Enabling business transformation using GenAI is core to our strategy. With the reliability and trust in AI increasing, we foresee more autonomous AI-driven business processes being orchestrated. Navisource.AI will simplify indirect procurement processes, bring predictability, and free up a lot of time spent on manual activities so that procurement functions can focus more on strategic initiatives," stated Vineet Moroney, Senior Vice President, and Global Head of Enterprise Apps, LTIMindtree.

Procurement teams can use Navisource.AI for market research, pricing intelligence and recommendations with cost efficiencies at its core. The analysis engine powered by GenAI understands the requirements and arrives at the best fit sourcing strategy. It also eliminates manual touchpoints and enhances collaboration across supplier, procurement function and requestor.

New platform enables automotive OEMs to conduct regulatory compliant security testing and share integrated results for vehicle type approval

Automotive cybersecurity company AUTOCRYPT announced the launch of AutoCrypt CSTP, a comprehensive cybersecurity testing platform that enables integrated cybersecurity testing for vehicle type approval, in compliance with UNECE's Regulations 155/156 and SAC's GB and GB/T standards. 

As UN R155 and R156 take full effect on all vehicles beginning July 2024, automotive OEMs and vehicle inspection centers will be obligated to conduct cybersecurity testing and validations based on the required criteria. AutoCrypt CSTP provides a comprehensive platform that runs a variety of vulnerability testing techniques using test cases mapped out for UN R155/156 and GB (GB/T).

With customizable hardware adaptable to PC and test bench environments, AutoCrypt CSTP offers test case licenses for three types of tests:

1. Penetration testing: Users can select penetration testing scenarios crafted by AUTOCRYPT's offensive security testing team.
2. Engineering Specification Testing: AUTOCRYPT offers test cases based on a vehicle's engineering specifications, enabling the accurate validation of vehicle functions.
3. Fuzz Testing: Utilizing technology from AUTOCRYPT's proprietary vehicle fuzzing tools, AutoCrypt CSTP provides compact test cases generated by AI-based algorithms.

From test case selection and configuration to real-time logging and report generation, the entire testing process can be managed on an intuitive GUI, which can be securely linked to all inspection centers and authorities in different countries, consequently empowering faster and more precise decision-making.

"We developed AutoCrypt CSTP to give automotive OEMs the freedom to customize their test cases and select only the licenses they need for their environment, while obtaining testing results ready for vehicle type approval," AUTOCRYPT's CEO, Daniel ES Kim remarked. "Furthermore, the platform enables multi-ECU testing grouped by projects, requiring less manual intervention. The goal of making this platform is to help manufacturers allocate their resources efficiently and reduce unnecessary spending."

Besides the testing platform, AUTOCRYPT also offers fuzz testing and penetration testing services customized for the OEM's environments and needs, along with CSMS and TARA consulting services for UN R155/156 compliance.

OpenWay, a top-rated global vendor and developer of the Way4 digital payments software platform, has been recognized by Juniper Research as a market leader in digital wallet solutions. Built on Way4, the Way4 Digital Wallet solution empowers banks, processors, and ambitious fintechs worldwide to build comprehensive, PCI-compliant payment ecosystems offering both card and wallet services with extensive functionality. This aligns with Juniper Research's prediction that the global number of digital wallet users will exceed 5.4 billion by 2028, from 3.7 billion in 2023. 

Juniper Research has ranked Way4 Digital Wallet in the top 5 of 15 digital wallet platforms. Vendor evaluation was based on over 10 criteria groups, including the supported range of payment and transfer types, scale of innovation, and future business prospects.

Way4 Digital Wallet embraces all the latest innovations from the Way4 platform. This includes wallet and card management, multiple e-money roles – individuals, merchants, businesses, and agents. It covers credit, loan, and BNPL, fast customer onboarding, tokenization, and a variety of payments and transfers. Financial institutions benefit from dispute and risk management, collections, omnichannel management, AML and fraud prevention, integration with fiat and CBDC/digital currency platforms, flexible integration with third-party services, clearing and settlement, data analytics and reporting. Way4 is known for its rich functionality, rule-driven flexibility, data-driven personalization and APIs, innovation, high availability and scalability. The platform is PA-DSS and PCI SSF compliant. It offers various deployment models, including on-premise, cloud-based, dedicated SaaS, and hybrid mode.

OpenWay serves clients on every continent. With over 20 technology hubs, the company ensures both global and regional expertise with a commitment to local support. Its extensive network allows for quick adaptation to regional service specifics and compliance, adding to Way4 Digital Wallet's global appeal.

Hans Van Buylaere, Managing Director of OpenWay Middle East, remarks: "Digital wallet solutions have evolved dramatically from niche payment products to globally predominant payment tools. The current market demands integrated ecosystems offering diverse services based on accounts, cards, wallets, and now also fiat and digital currencies. Through Way4, OpenWay is at the forefront of delivering such comprehensive solutions. Our legacy of leading the digital wallet wave continues, exemplified by clients like SmartPay in Asia, who have skyrocketed to 40 million customers in four years using Way4 Digital Wallet."

Allurity, a European group of leading tech-enabled cybersecurity companies, completes the strategic acquisition of Security Research Labs (SRLabs), a globally recognized cyber consultancy based in Berlin and Hong Kong. This marks an important milestone, as SRLabs brings unique expertise that enhances Allurity's market position and strengthens its capabilities to deliver a holistic cybersecurity offering.

 With SRLabs, Allurity takes a significant step in its journey of building a pure-play leader in tech-enabled cybersecurity services in Europe, meeting the needs of organizations worldwide in search of advanced and comprehensive cybersecurity solutions. Together, Allurity and SRLabs set the stage for a safer digital world.

"By joining forces with SRLabs, Allurity is enhancing its offering with premium strategic cybersecurity consulting, unique cyber insights, and industry-leading solutions," stated Frida Westerberg, CEO at Allurity. "This strategic acquisition perfectly aligns with our vision of becoming the preferred partner of tech-enabled cybersecurity services in Europe, amplifying our global impact, and enabling a safe digital world".

 "SRLabs was founded to make the world a more secure place, one small step at a time. Today, we join Allurity to walk further than ever before in reaching hacking resilience for individuals and organizations globally," remarks Dr. Karsten Nohl, Founder of SRLabs. "Our mission of building and challenging robust hacking defenses continues. Together with Allurity, we are gaining the scale and diversity necessary to match the well-organized cybercrime ecosystem. Our clients continue to receive advice from a hacker perspective on how to balance innovation and protection - just more of it."

The Allurity group currently comprises seven best-in-class cybersecurity companies across Europe, including Spanish Aiuken, Swedish Arctic Group and ID North, Portuguese CloudComputing, Danish CSIS, Swiss SECURIX and German SRLabs. With the addition of SRLabs, Allurity accelerates its strategy of becoming a leading European powerhouse in cybersecurity. Currently, the group generates approximately EUR 100 million in revenue, serving customers globally.

Veritonic, the industry’s comprehensive audio analytics and research platform, announced today the Veritonic Audio Attention Report, a new gold-standard tool enabling advertisers to create more effective audio advertising. The report was created in partnership with Realeyes, the leading computer vision and attention AI company.

The audio attention report provides data-backed insight into the importance of creative efficacy programs for audio and podcast advertising. As noted in the report, audio is one of the most immersive, affective, and effective media channels available to brands and advertisers today, yet it’s still not getting the focus and investment it deserves. Consequently, those advertisers who seize the opportunity to invest in impactful audio advertising stand to gain remarkably outsized returns. This potential is further magnified when advertisers embrace innovative creative measurement tools, ensuring that their audio ads are finely tuned and optimized for their discerning listening audiences.

Hundreds of loyal podcast listeners opted-in to listening to a handful of podcast ads for a vitamin subscription service with their webcams enabled. Realeyes provided its award-winning PreView technology to capture and overlay their self-reported reactions to the ads with the passive attention and reaction metrics captured via webcam.

"We are dedicated to collaborating with forward-thinking leaders to deliver unparalleled data and insights to advertisers, brands, agencies, and platforms around the world,” stated Scott Simonelli, Founder and CEO of Veritonic. “Realeyes' expertise in measuring and categorizing human responses to sound, leveraging the largest culturally sensitive AI training set, perfectly complements our decade-long refinement of AI-powered audio measurement and optimization solutions. This unique combination allows us to provide advertisers and brands with unprecedented insights into audience reactions to audio and podcast ads—cognitive, emotional, and physical. We take pride in offering a level of insight for audio advertising optimization that has never been available before, contributing to the success of podcast and audio advertising globally."

“We are excited to partner with Veritonic, a pioneer in audio measurement to the world’s largest advertisers, agencies, and platforms,” said Alex Browne, Head of Partner Strategy at Realeyes. “Our work with the Audio Attention Report will provide advertisers with granular and unparalleled performance data that allows them to optimize their audio and podcast ads, and increase their ROI.”

Key findings from the report include:

• The proportion of the ad where people had sustained attention (did not look away or get distracted) was the weakest for audio ads with voiceovers that were low in volume, at 10% below the benchmark
• The proportion of the ad where people had sustained attention was similarly weak for audio ads that contained many competing sonic elements (lengthier messaging, 3+ sound effects + music), at 7% below the benchmark
• Attention quality was highest for the audio ad that had the highest voiceover volume (36%) as opposed to the ad that had the lowest voiceover volume (27%) and the ad that had too many competing elements within the creative (25%)
• 75% of participants reported a good quality audio ad positively influences their consideration to purchase a product

Accenture has agreed to acquire GemSeekhttps://gemseek.com/, a leading customer experience analytics provider helping global businesses understand customers through insights, analytics and AI-powered predictive models. The acquisition underscores ongoing investment by Accenture Song—the world’s largest tech-powered creative group—in data and AI capabilities to help clients grow their business and sustain relevance with customers.

Founded in 2011, GemSeek offers expertise in advanced analytics and customer experience program management, along with proprietary technologies. GemSeek helps clients across several industries—including telecommunications, healthcare, consumer goods, and financial services—realize the full potential of their customer experience programs, cultivate enduring customer relationships, and improve revenues and operational efficiencies.

Globally, 78% of business leaders say people are changing faster than they can change their business¹ and with more than half of global consumers wishing companies would respond faster to their changing needs, greater understanding of these expectations is required to close the relevance gap. The global customer experience analytics market is expected to grow from $9.5 billion in 2022 up to $37 billion in 2032. Accenture Song and GemSeek are both committed to helping clients realize these opportunities through understanding the customer’s perspective of brand and making customer-centric, data-driven decisions.

“The rapid pace of change the world is facing is felt by customers and businesses alike,” said Max Morielli, president for Europe, the Middle East and Africa, for Accenture Song. “Within GemSeek we found a team of like-minded thinkers, aligned with our purpose to provide clients with means to understand their customers’ needs better, and define new ways of engagement that will drive growth during these times of change.”

“We are thrilled at the opportunity to join Accenture and offer innovative and award-winning solutions to clients seeking to prioritise the customer agenda,” said Petko Tinchev, CEO, GemSeek. “Our extensive background in customer experience analytics complements Accenture’s deep expertise in data and AI. We are confident that our combined passion will empower us to deliver a truly integrated customer perspective and cutting-edge solutions, driving greater value for enterprises globally."

Headquartered in Sofia, Bulgaria, GemSeek’s more than 170 employees working across Bulgaria and the UK will join Accenture Song, growing its footprint and expanding offerings for clients across Europe, the Middle East and Africa. GemSeek employees will be the founding team for Accenture Song in Bulgaria, alongside the existing cohort of over 1,100 people from Accenture’s Advanced Technology and Intelligent Operations Centers.

GemSeek is the latest in a series of acquisitions that Accenture Song has made to enhance customer offerings for clients, including Work & Co, Rabbit’s Tale, ConcentricLife, Fiftyfive5 and The Stable and supports Accenture’s global strategy to invest $3 billion in AI to help organizations across all industries reinvent their operations at every level.

Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Completion of the acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions.