Akkodis, a leading global digital engineering company, has announced the acquisition of Barhead Solutions, a recognized Microsoft Business Applications partner based in Australia. This strategic acquisition aligns with Akkodis' expansion plans, enhancing its Microsoft capabilities and strengthening its position in the global digital transformation space.

Akkodis' Strategy for Expansion and Enhanced Capabilities

Akkodis has long focused on deepening its expertise across key markets and offering a wide range of tech practices and consulting solutions. This acquisition accelerates Akkodis' mission to enhance its Consulting Services, ICT, Project Delivery, and Managed Services offerings.

By integrating Barhead’s award-winning expertise in Microsoft solutions, Akkodis will unlock new opportunities to deliver comprehensive CRM, ERP, and Low-Code Solutions alongside its existing offerings in Digital & AI Transformation, Data & Analytics, and Cloud & Infrastructure services.

Key Benefits of the Acquisition

The combination of Akkodis’ global presence and Barhead’s specialized expertise is set to create a powerful offering for clients across industries:

1. Expanded Microsoft Expertise:
   Akkodis will now provide an extended range of Microsoft Business Applications solutions, complementing its world-leading consulting services.

2. Enhanced Digital Transformation:
   The acquisition strengthens Akkodis' ability to deliver innovative, scalable solutions across various industries, driving digital transformation for clients.

3. Accelerated Delivery of Services:
   Clients can now benefit from an expanded portfolio that includes ERP, CRM, and Low-Code Solutions, as well as continued support for their digital and AI needs.

Leadership Comments on the Acquisition

Peter Hawkins, Managing Director & SVP of Akkodis Australia, emphasized the strategic significance of the acquisition:
"Bringing Barhead into the Akkodis family creates an unparalleled powerhouse of Microsoft expertise. This is a key milestone in our journey to deliver innovative and scalable solutions to our clients, nationwide."

John Orrock, Co-founder & Head of Capability of Barhead, expressed his excitement about the partnership:
"The combination of Barhead and Akkodis offers the market a modern consulting firm servicing Microsoft business apps, data, and AI services. We recognized that expanding our capabilities through a strategic partnership was essential, and Akkodis is the ideal partner to amplify our Microsoft partnership."

Ken Struthers, CEO & Co-founder of Barhead, added:
"Joining Akkodis amplifies our expertise and broadens the outcomes we can deliver for clients, all whilst maintaining our commitment to innovation and personalized customer service."

The acquisition of Barhead Solutions by Akkodis marks a significant step in strengthening the company’s Microsoft capabilities and accelerating its efforts to deliver cutting-edge digital transformation services. With a shared commitment to excellence, the combined expertise of Akkodis and Barhead will offer clients comprehensive, innovative solutions that drive success in an increasingly digital world.

UST, a global leader in digital transformation solutions, and Experian, a prominent data and technology company, have announced a strategic, long-term partnership designed to drive innovation in the financial services sector. The collaboration will combine UST's advanced AI technologies with Experian's industry-leading products to help financial organizations quickly enhance their products and improve data quality.

Key Elements of the Partnership

The partnership will primarily focus on Experian’s Aperture Studio, an AI-driven platform designed to revolutionize data quality and business performance. UST will integrate this platform into its proprietary GenAI Sandbox, a secure and compliant environment that allows businesses to test AI solutions without the need for extensive infrastructure changes.

Key Features of the Partnership

1. AI-Driven Product Innovation:
   UST's GenAI Sandbox will enable financial organizations to rapidly develop and test AI-driven solutions, streamlining the product innovation process and enhancing speed to market.

2. Enhanced Data Quality:
   Through the integration of Experian’s Aperture Data Studio, UST will offer an enhanced platform for data quality and enrichment, enabling businesses to make more informed decisions and improve overall performance.

3. Exclusive Reseller Agreement:
   UST will act as the exclusive reseller of Experian's Aperture Data Studio, leveraging its strong client relationships and domain expertise to deliver unparalleled value in the data quality space.

4. Seamless Integration:
   The partnership allows for the seamless integration of AI technologies into businesses’ existing cloud infrastructures, ensuring a smooth and efficient transition for clients adopting these advanced tools.

Leadership Insights on the Collaboration

Andrew Abraham, Global Managing Director, Data Quality at Experian, highlighted the importance of the partnership:
"This collaboration is focused on speed, flexibility, and customer-centric innovation. Our partnership with UST will help businesses reduce time to market and swiftly adapt to changing market demands by integrating new AI-driven solutions with enhanced data quality."

Praveen Prabhakaran, Chief Delivery Officer at UST, also commented on the significance of the partnership:
"By combining Experian’s data expertise with our unique technology, we are fostering an environment that enables faster product development and delivers greater value to our clients in the financial sector."

The UST-Experian partnership marks a significant milestone in the financial services industry, offering a robust environment for businesses to experiment with and integrate AI solutions safely. With enhanced data quality capabilities and accelerated product development, this partnership sets a new benchmark for innovation, flexibility, and customer-centric solutions in the financial sector.

BRANDefenders, a leading business accelerator focused on digital marketing and strategic reputation management, has unveiled its groundbreaking AI-Defined™ Service. With the growing influence of AI in shaping public perception, this new service empowers businesses to train AI systems to understand and represent their brands accurately, ensuring their digital presence aligns with their messaging and values.

The 5D Model: A Comprehensive Approach to Brand Growth

The AI-Defined™ Service is part of BRANDefenders' broader strategy, which follows the 5D Model to manage a brand's growth journey:

1. Deploy:
   The first step in the process is setting the foundation with clear, compelling messaging that positions the brand for success in the digital marketplace.

2. Drive:
   By leveraging AI-driven insights, this phase accelerates brand growth and enhances engagement with target audiences through optimized strategies.

3. Defend:
   A key focus of the service, this step involves proactively safeguarding a brand's reputation by ensuring AI systems reflect its values and messaging accurately, avoiding any misrepresentation.

4. Defuse:
   When challenges arise—such as misinterpretations by AI or external crises—BRANDefenders quickly addresses and resolves issues to maintain a positive digital narrative.

5. Direct:
   This phase helps businesses maintain a competitive edge by strategically shaping how AI systems describe and represent their brand, adjusting narratives as needed in a rapidly changing digital landscape.

CEO Insight on the AI-Defined™ Service

Devin W. Johnson, CEO of BRANDefenders, emphasized the critical importance of AI in brand perception:
"AI is reshaping how brands are perceived, and businesses need to take control of that narrative. With AI-Defined™, we empower companies to strategically influence AI systems, ensuring their story is told the way they want it to be, in real time, with accuracy and impact."

The Future of Brand Reputation in the Age of AI

The launch of AI-Defined™ marks a significant step for BRANDefenders as it solidifies its role as a leader in strategic brand management. As AI continues to evolve, businesses can now harness the power of machine learning to proactively shape their digital identities, building stronger reputations and maintaining an authoritative presence in the marketplace.

With the introduction of AI-Defined™, BRANDefenders is offering businesses an invaluable tool to influence the digital narrative and control how AI perceives their brand. This service will not only safeguard a brand’s reputation but also accelerate its growth, ensuring it remains relevant and competitive in an AI-driven world.

ResearchAndMarkets.com has released a comprehensive report on the North American Ride-Hailing Advertising Market, covering both in-app and on-car advertising. This detailed report highlights the growing role of advertising as a significant revenue stream for ride-hailing companies, driven by advancements in digital advertising, data-driven targeting, and mobile platforms.

Transformational Shifts in the Ride-Hailing Advertising Landscape

The report explores the ongoing transformation in the ride-hailing industry and how it has adapted its business model to include advertising solutions. The shift towards digital advertising spending has given rise to opportunities in on-car advertising and in-app advertising, making vehicles an ideal platform for larger audience reach compared to traditional advertising methods.

Key Segments in Ride-Hailing Advertising

1. In-app Advertising
   The report provides in-depth insights into in-app advertising in the ride-hailing space, detailing the stages, benefits, and key performance indicators (KPIs) used to measure success. It examines successful case studies from top players like Uber, Lyft, and Grab, highlighting their strategies for leveraging user data for targeted advertising.

2. On-car Advertising
   On-car advertising is also explored, with a focus on how vehicles, branded with ads, have evolved into mobile advertising platforms. This section discusses the types of on-car ads, advantages, and the innovative companies driving growth in this segment, including Hangry Media, Firefly, and Wrapify.

Key Trends Driving Growth

1. Technological Advancements
   The report explores the technologies fueling the growth of ride-hailing advertising, including location services, data analytics, and machine learning (ML). These technologies enable more personalized, targeted ad experiences, helping businesses create dynamic and engaging content for riders and drivers alike.

2. Regulatory Landscape
   The evolving regulatory landscape for ride-hailing advertising is analyzed, with insights into how emerging laws and standards will impact the market and what companies need to do to stay compliant.

Growth Opportunities in Ride-Hailing Advertising

1. Interactive Ads
   The future of ride-hailing advertising lies in interactive ads that engage users directly. This trend presents growth opportunities for advertisers and platforms to create more immersive and engaging experiences for passengers and drivers.

2. Personalized Advertising
   Leveraging data analytics for personalized advertising will enable ride-hailing platforms to deliver highly targeted ads based on user behavior, location, and preferences.

3. Robotaxis as an Emerging Opportunity
   Robotaxis are highlighted as a major opportunity in the future of ride-hailing advertising. The introduction of autonomous vehicles will offer new ways to integrate ads and enhance the advertising experience for passengers, creating a new revenue model for the industry.

The North American Ride-Hailing Advertising Market is on the brink of significant growth, fueled by technological advancements and the increasing value of data-driven advertising. The opportunity for companies to harness mobile platforms, AI, and personalized experiences will define the future of this space. Stakeholders and market players must leverage these trends and emerging technologies to stay competitive and drive innovation.

Mitel, a global leader in business communications, has announced the appointment of Marco Landi as Group Vice President of International Sales. In this new role, Landi will lead Mitel’s international sales teams, focusing on the EMEA and APAC regions. His extensive experience in building successful sales teams and driving growth aligns with Mitel’s mission to meet the increasing global demand for hybrid communications systems.

Landi's Leadership and Expertise

Landi brings over 30 years of experience in international management, sales, marketing, and product development across diverse technology, hardware, and software sectors. His strong focus on customer success and data-driven growth strategies will be pivotal in scaling Mitel’s offerings across global markets.

“I’ve been passionate about driving transformative growth, building high-performing teams, and using data-driven strategies to uncover new market opportunities. I’m excited to bring these experiences to Mitel,” said Landi.

Previous Experience and Career Highlights

Before joining Mitel, Marco Landi served as Chief Revenue Officer at Sensormatic Solutions, where he led the company’s go-to-market strategy, driving revenue and profitability. He also held leadership roles at Poly, Motorola, and other leading technology companies. His background in driving enterprise sales and global market strategies will help Mitel expand its reach and strengthen its position in the communications industry.

Mitel’s Vision and Strategy

“Mitel’s unique approach—offering flexibility, choice, security, and practical innovation—empowers organizations to navigate complex communication needs,” said Landi. “I look forward to working with our channel partners to help Mitel scale and deliver exceptional value to our customers.”

Leadership Endorsements

David Petts, Chief Sales Officer at Mitel, expressed confidence in Landi’s leadership. “Marco brings a remarkable track record of driving growth and transforming sales programs at global organizations. His expertise will be instrumental in strengthening customer and partner relationships, expanding our go-to-market strategy, and extending global adoption of Mitel solutions.”

Educational Background

Landi holds a BA in international relations from University of Rome "La Sapienza", an MS in human resource development from the University of Manchester, and completed a business-to-business marketing curriculum at the University of Michigan.

As Group Vice President of International Sales, Marco Landi is poised to lead Mitel into its next phase of growth, capitalizing on the company’s hybrid communication solutions and expanding its global presence. His leadership, combined with Mitel's strategic vision, will help drive innovation and value for clients across the world.

Exela Technologies, a global leader in business process automation (BPA), has entered into a strategic partnership with Michael Page, a renowned recruitment firm. This partnership aims to enhance Exela’s Finance and Accounting Outsourcing (FAO) business and expand its successful Center of Excellence. With a focus on Finance Shared Services, Exela and Michael Page will jointly deploy various models to offer enterprise customers tailored, scalable financial solutions.

• Expansion of Center of Excellence:
  Michael Page plans to extend Exela’s Center of Excellence across various corporate functions, leveraging Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT), Captive, and Business Processes as a Service models.

• Focus on Financial Solutions:
  The collaboration aims to provide enterprise clients with optimized finance outsourcing, enabling streamlined operations, enhanced efficiency, and improved financial outcomes.

• Global Reach and Expertise:
  The partnership brings Exela’s financial expertise to a global audience, with a particular emphasis on the Indian market, which continues to be a hub of exceptional talent.

• Leadership Recruitment and Financial Outsourcing:
  Michael Page’s deep expertise in leadership recruitment complements Exela’s proven finance outsourcing capabilities, allowing both companies to offer tailored solutions for organizational growth and strategic success.

This partnership positions Exela Technologies and Michael Page as strong collaborators in the finance outsourcing space. It not only highlights Exela’s ability to meet the unique needs of enterprise clients but also reinforces its commitment to innovation and growth. With this strategic collaboration, Exela aims to redefine finance outsourcing and shared services for enterprises globally.

Verizon Connect has announced the launch of two new solutions aimed at improving fleet safety, driver performance, and operational efficiency. The Extended View Cameras provide near-360-degree visibility, while the customizable Driver Vehicle Inspection Report (DVIR) simplifies fleet compliance and maintenance. These innovations, integrated into Verizon Connect’s Reveal platform, offer fleet managers powerful tools to safeguard assets, drivers, and communities.

Extended View Cameras: Enhancing Visibility and Safety

• Near-360-Degree Coverage:
  The Extended View Cameras offer comprehensive visibility with additional rear, side, and cargo cameras, helping reduce blind spots and enhance driver awareness.

• Improved Driver Performance:
  With full situational awareness, drivers are able to navigate tight or high-risk areas safely, improving their performance and reducing the likelihood of collisions.

• Reduced Liability and Costs:
  Video evidence from the cameras helps protect businesses from false claims, reducing legal costs, while the cargo camera identifies potential risks to cargo, allowing managers to minimize future damage and lower expenses.

• Promoting Safer Driving Practices:
  The system encourages drivers to adhere to safety protocols by increasing their awareness of their surroundings and performance metrics.

Driver Vehicle Inspection Report (DVIR): Simplifying Compliance and Maintenance

• Customizable Reports:
  The DVIR solution allows fleet managers to tailor inspection forms to meet specific company requirements, ensuring all vehicle safety standards are covered.

• Visual Documentation:
  Drivers can upload photos to report vehicle damage or issues, improving report accuracy and transparency.

• Real-Time Alerts for Proactive Management:
  Fleet managers receive instant notifications for incomplete inspections or detected defects, enabling them to address issues early and prevent costly repairs or fines.

• Seamless Integration:
  The DVIR integrates with third-party maintenance providers to resolve vehicle issues quickly, reducing downtime and ensuring the fleet stays operational.

Verizon Connect's new Extended View Cameras and Driver Vehicle Inspection Report are designed to enhance fleet safety, reduce liabilities, and streamline compliance. By integrating these tools into the Reveal platform, Verizon Connect empowers fleet managers to operate with confidence, improve safety outcomes, and drive operational efficiency.

Rocket Software, a leader in modernization software, has introduced Rocket DataEdge, a comprehensive structured data suite designed to enhance hybrid cloud data integration. This innovative solution bridges the gap between core transactional applications, distributed systems, and cloud environments, enabling seamless data discovery, integration, and management. As the hybrid cloud market continues to expand, Rocket DataEdge empowers organizations to fully leverage their data for AI and analytics initiatives, unlocking business growth potential.

Seamless Hybrid Cloud Data Integration:

• Real-Time Synchronization:
  Rocket DataEdge enables real-time synchronization of enterprise data across mainframe, IBM® i, and on-premises systems with cloud applications, data lakes, lakehouses, and warehouses.

• Comprehensive Data Access:
  By automating metadata scanning and analysis, the platform ensures that all data, including mainframe and cloud data, is easily accessible and mapped to cloud-based initiatives.

Enhanced Data Management and Business Agility:

• Optimized Data Management:
  Rocket DataEdge enables the connection of diverse enterprise data sets into a unified, high-quality data repository, improving data management across hybrid environments and reducing operational costs.

• Agility and Speed:
  By automating data workflows, enterprises can reduce delays and errors, ensuring faster delivery and more efficient operations, ultimately boosting business agility.

Comprehensive Data Governance:

• Unified Workflow:
  The platform unifies data management across infrastructures, minimizing complexity and compatibility challenges, and improving overall workflow efficiency across the enterprise.

Rocket DataEdge is poised to revolutionize how enterprises manage and integrate data across hybrid cloud environments. By enabling real-time synchronization and access to core transactional, distributed, and cloud data, it empowers organizations to unlock the full potential of their data for AI-driven insights and business strategies. With its scalable and comprehensive approach to data management, Rocket DataEdge helps enterprises gain a competitive edge in an increasingly data-driven world.