DEWA signs three agreements with global partners during WETEX 2026

 Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) signed three agreements with leading global entities during the 28th Water, Energy, Technology and Environment Exhibition (WETEX 2026).

In the presence of HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD&CEO of DEWA, the agreements were signed by Hussain Lootah, Executive Vice President of Transmission Power at DEWA, and concluded through Moro Hub, a subsidiary of Digital DEWA, the digital arm of DEWA.

Al Tayer said: “We are committed to strengthening our strategic partnerships with leading global organisations and leveraging the latest technologies, solutions and best practices. This enables us to enhance the efficiency, resilience and future-readiness of our critical infrastructure, while keeping pace with advancements in cyber security, digital transformation, automation, artificial intelligence and the management of assets and data. The agreements signed by DEWA will help advance our capabilities in the proactive management of assets and risks, foster knowledge exchange and build technical expertise. This, in turn, supports the security, reliability and continuity of our operations while ensuring DEWA remains well-prepared to meet the demands of Dubai’s rapid growth and future requirements.”

The agreement with Huawei covers the provision of hardware, software solutions, support and value-added services to meet DEWA’s needs across information and communication technology infrastructure, networks, data centres, digital substations and cyber security. It also covers support for existing technology assets, including routers, communications equipment, servers, switches and associated software, as well as technical support and maintenance, training, workshops, knowledge transfer and collaboration on testing emerging technologies and solutions.

The agreement with Nozomi Networks enhances collaboration in technology and sustainable digital solutions. It provides a unified framework for managing cybersecurity solution licences through the Nozomi Vantage platform, enabling centralised licence management and streamlined renewals. The platform also provides centralised visibility across assets and risks, supported by AI-driven analytics.

The agreement with Syskey Softlabs covers specialised solutions for OT system log management, asset performance monitoring, network monitoring and risk management, alongside a unified platform for managing and monitoring OT applications and assets. It also includes support and maintenance, security updates, training, workshops, technical consultancy knowledge transfer, early access to new features and updates and proof-of-value trials.

WETEX 2026 coincided with the 12th World Green Economy Summit, organised by the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy, DEWA, and the World Green Economy Organization.

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Contacts

Mosaad Abdelrahman

media@dewa.gov.ae

00971507692079

Cognite Reports $1 Billion in Verified AI Value, Confirming Impact of Industrial AI Solutions

 PHOENIX - 

One year after launching its $100B Moonshot, Cognite reaches major milestone, challenging traditional enterprise software metrics by focusing on bottom-line customer ROI

(BUSINESS WIRE) -- Cognite, the global leader in Industrial AI, today announced that companies using its Industrial AI and Data Platform have unlocked more than $1 billion in verified, realized value. The milestone comes exactly one year after the company publicly announced its 10-year Moonshot at its customer conference—a strategic commitment to deliver $100 billion in quantifiable value to Cognite customers by 2035. While no other Industrial AI vendor has made such a commitment, Cognite believes aligning its own success metrics with how customers measure real-world impact is an important distinction that builds greater trust and mutual success.

"Documenting $1 billion in verified value in just twelve months is a testament to the deep collaboration among our customers, partners, and the internal teams at Cognite that support them," said Girish Rishi, CEO of Cognite. "When we set out to couple our industry-leading Industrial AI and Data Platform with a rigorous, repeatable process for measuring real ROI, we knew the result would be meaningful, immediate, and compounding. We are deeply grateful to our global customers and partners for their trust and collaboration as they lead the way in transforming heavy industry.”

The $1 billion threshold represents more than an estimate; it’s a pivotal proof point in Cognite’s strategy to scale Industrial AI and DataOps across capital-intensive asset operations globally. As part of its implementation process, Cognite works with its customers to understand and measure the operational KPIs that are most meaningful to the customer and reflect the way they operate. A dedicated value team works with each customer to understand how those KPI improvements are impacting their business. In the 12 months since launching the Moonshot, Cognite and its customers identified billions in potential value and have now verified $1 billion ROI associated with operational metrics most often used by industrial companies, including:

Reducing Unplanned Downtime and Production Costs: Driving approximately 36% of value verified to date, customers are leveraging AI and automated workflows to prevent costly asset shutdowns across complex industrial operations, help them get back running when the unexpected happens, and lower the costs of running their operations.

Improving Frontline Productivity: Driving another 27% of value, customers are delivering instant, context-aware operational insight directly to field engineers, accelerating time-to-decision from hours to seconds. This allows frontline workers to make faster and better decisions, driving higher production yields and reducing costs.

Increasing Production: 26% of the value customers are realizing comes from increasing their overall production, via higher yields, faster cycle times, and eliminating throughput bottlenecks.

Creating Faster Time To Value: 10% of value is being derived from customers being able to deliver solutions across their complex operations faster than previous efforts. This acceleration pulls forward large amounts of value that would not have been possible while those solutions were being built.

Ignos, a strategic Cognite partner, is already working with dozens of clients to build real-time performance and uptime tracking tools. Believing it’s easier to get rid of something customers can see, Ignos launched “Mr. Off”—downtime with a face—to personify the disruption of unplanned downtime.

"At Ignos we build for the people on the shop floor, and we see the factory as a learning organization," said Rolf Thu, Co-Founder and CTO at Ignos. "With Cognite, we connected 62 machines for one client in nine months and won back around 150 hours of machine uptime every day. When operators get the right data where they work, they create more. Cognite's focus on verified value matches how we measure it: on the plant floor."

Realized value compounds and accelerates over time as each company continues to increase their use of the Cognite Industrial AI and Data Platform. In aggregate over the last 12 months, customers’ knowledge graph scale and usage skyrocketed, including exceeding 107 trillion contextualized time-series data points—up more than 39%. In addition, the number of data modeling instances has doubled, and AI token usage has grown by more than 1000%. Since launching Cognite Flows Custom Apps earlier this year in May, customers have also built more than 1200 production-grade apps to scale AI workflows and unlock more value in their operations. All of these metrics serve as leading indicators toward achieving the $100 Billion Moonshot.

“Industrial AI only delivers true value when it helps industrial companies solve high-stakes operational decisions and drive tangible impact,” said Noriko Rzonca, Chief Digital Officer at COSMO Energy Holdings. “Together with Cognite, we are helping our teams use complex data to optimize asset performance and streamline operational decisions. Cognite’s $1 billion in realized customer value is proof that an outcome-first approach works at scale, and we are proud to partner in shaping this new standard for industry.”

A New Model for Industrial Collaboration and Measurement of Success

The $100 Billion Moonshot marks a fundamental shift from legacy enterprise software metrics, such as license seats, consumption curves, and pilots, towards a transparent model of measured, bottom-line business impact. Beyond software vendors measuring their own adoption rather than their customers' operational success, Cognite believes technology providers must also be held accountable for real-world performance, which is only possible when vendors and operators work side-by-side to co-validate material outcomes. To learn more about how Cognite partners with its customers to measure and verify realized value, read the latest blog.

“Crossing $1 billion isn't just a victory for Cognite, it’s a testament to the vision, discipline, and industrial industry leadership of our customers," said Justin Hester, Vice President of Customer Value at Cognite. "This milestone belongs to the plant managers, engineers, operational teams, and industrial leaders who use Cognite every day to prevent downtime, reduce energy usage, and run safer operations. We are incredibly grateful for their partnership in validating the impact AI is having on their businesses, and we remain committed to expanding our impact as we look forward to 2027 and beyond.”

About Cognite

Cognite makes AI work for industry. Leading energy, manufacturing, life sciences, and power & renewables enterprises choose Cognite to deliver secure, trustworthy, and real-time data to transform their heavy-asset operations to be safer, more sustainable, and profitable. Cognite provides a user-friendly, secure, and scalable industrial AI and data platform that makes it easy for all decision-makers, from the field to remote operations centers, to access and understand complex industrial data, collaborate in real time, and build a better tomorrow. Visit us at www.cognite.com, and follow us on LinkedIn.

 

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Contacts

Media Contact:

Robin Rees

Corporate Communications

media@cognite.com

 

PayNet Enables Malaysian Mobile Banking App Users to Make Overseas DuitNow QR Payments via Alipay+

 KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia - 

Malaysians can now pay using supported local banking apps in five destinations: Chinese Mainland, Hong Kong SAR, South Korea, the Philippines and Laos. More markets will be added progressively.

 

(BUSINESS WIRE)--Payments Network Malaysia Sdn Bhd (PayNet) today announced the launch of outbound DuitNow QR payment connectivity through Alipay+, the unified wallet gateway of Ant International. Malaysians can now use supported local mobile banking apps to pay at participating Alipay+-supported merchants in five destinations: Chinese Mainland, Hong Kong SAR, South Korea, the Philippines and Laos. The initial three launch banks are Maybank, CIMB and Hong Leong Bank, with Bank Islam set to join soon.

The launch forms part of PayNet’s long-term roadmap to extend secure and interoperable payment connectivity beyond Malaysia. It aligns with Bank Negara Malaysia’s vision for faster, more efficient and inclusive cross-border payments.

At participating merchants in the five supported destinations, customers can open the DuitNow QR payment function in their Malaysian banking app and scan the merchant’s QR code displaying the Alipay+ logo. They can then review and confirm the transaction within the same application, without downloading another app or creating an Alipay+ account.

“Cross-border payments should feel as familiar as paying at home. This connectivity gives Malaysians an easier way to pay abroad. It also shows how collaboration between financial institutions and global payment partners expands the reach of Malaysia’s national payment infrastructure beyond our borders. More broadly, stronger payment connectivity can help spending flow more easily across borders and strengthen Malaysia’s economic links with the region,” said Praveen Rajan, Chief Executive Officer of PayNet.

The launch builds on PayNet’s existing collaboration with Ant International through Alipay+. Since November 2023, travellers using supported Alipay+ partner wallets have been able to pay at DuitNow QR merchants across Malaysia. This has enabled local businesses, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises, to tap into international visitor spending through DuitNow QR, Malaysia’s national QR standard. In turn, this strengthens the country’s tourism economy during Visit Malaysia 2026-2027.

The new outbound capability extends this connectivity in the other direction, allowing customers of participating Malaysian banks to pay at Alipay+ merchants abroad. The five destinations are the first to be supported, with more to be added progressively. PayNet is among the first national payment systems to expand global acceptance at scale through Alipay+.

The Alipay+ ecosystem connects more than two billion user accounts across over 50 international payment partners, with more than 150 million merchants in over 210 markets, including more than 10 national payment schemes such as PayNet.

“Our growing partnership with PayNet reflects a shared commitment to taking Malaysia’s national payment infrastructure beyond its borders, connecting it more deeply with the global digital economy. At Alipay+, we empower national payment systems to strengthen two-way interoperable connectivity, so they can play a much greater role in enabling cross-border travel and commerce, expanding opportunities for businesses and consumers, and driving more inclusive digital economic growth,” said Danny Chung, General Manager of Alipay+ Global Growth Center, Ant International.

The expansion comes amid growing cross-border payment activity. PayNet recorded nearly 30 million cross-border transactions in 2025, approximately 150% more than in 2024. Transactions linked to the Chinese Mainland accounted for much of the growth.

The Alipay+ outbound QR capability is available for adoption by other PayNet-participating banks and e-wallets, enabling more customers to access overseas QR payments through their existing apps. PayNet will continue working with financial institutions and regional partners to expand the service to more apps and markets.

About PayNet

Payments Network Malaysia (PayNet) is Malaysia's national payments network with a mission to accelerate the country's payment flows by making the digital payment infrastructure more accessible, widespread, and secure. Our comprehensive retail payments suite - including DuitNow (QR and Transfer), JomPAY (Bill Payments), FPX (Online), MyDebit (Domestic Debit), MEPS, and IBG (Interbank GIRO) - provides extensive coverage across the nation, forming a core part of daily life in Malaysia.

Additionally, PayNet's real-time retail QR payments network, DuitNow, is interoperable with domestic schemes in Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, and Cambodia, facilitating seamless cross-border transactions with these countries. PayNet is committed to promoting a secure, efficient, and innovative payments ecosystem in Malaysia and works closely with its stakeholders to develop new products and services that meet the evolving needs of consumers and businesses.

For further details, please visit our website: www.paynet.my.

About Ant International

Ant International helps businesses to thrive through a full stack of AI-native payment, account, foreign exchange, treasury and growth solutions, underpinned by our trusted foundation models, security architecture, blockchain RTP platform and a world-leading mobile payment ecosystem. We drive relentless innovation to bring inclusive growth for merchants and communities of all sizes, today and tomorrow. To learn more, visit https://www.ant-intl.com/.

 

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20261028063575/en/

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Contacts

Media Contact:

Ant International PR

pr@ant-intl.com

Media Release: Further Up – Allianz Reaches Highest-Ever Brand Value of $30.7 Billion

 MUNICH - 

Interbrand’s Best Global Brands 2026 ranking: For the eighth consecutive year, Allianz is the world’s most valuable insurance brand and now ranks No. 26 among all brands.

Financial performance and continuous brand management underpin brand strength, reflected in a record first-half 2026 operating profit.

In 2026 Allianz helped deliver safe Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games in Milano Cortina, established a partnership with tennis player Jannik Sinner and founded the Allianz School for Life to foster financial literacy.

 

(BUSINESS WIRE) -- A steady climb to a new high: For the eighth consecutive year, Allianz is the world’s most valuable insurance brand and has reached a record $30.7 billion in brand value, lifting it one place to No. 26 in Interbrand’s Best Global Brands 2026 ranking.

This 9% increase on 2025 further narrows the gap to the world’s most valuable consumer and tech brands, among them Coca-Cola, Disney and Adobe. The upward trajectory is backed by strong business growth and financial performance as well as a global brand strategy that is built on trust and distinguished with customer relevance and care.

Oliver Bäte, Chief Executive Officer of Allianz SE, said:

"In a highly competitive brand landscape, we have maintained our momentum by focusing on what matters most to our customers: their health and personal finances. Our strong business fundamentals and continued investment in addressing people’s most pressing protection needs underpin this year’s Interbrand recognition. At the same time, our community-building initiatives and global sports partnerships bring people together and create valued spaces for connection."

Allianz invests in bringing human connection to products and services that help people succeed in an increasingly complex and fragmented world:

The Allianz 3am Report identifies the worries shaping people's daily lives. Health and finances are the most pressing concerns.

The Allianz School for Life equips individuals with practical financial and risk knowledge to build resilience.

The Power of Unity and Sense of Community initiatives foster stronger social connections and dialogue in an increasingly polarized world where people often feel disconnected.

Bringing people together through sport

Sport visibly builds belonging. As Worldwide Insurance Partner of the Olympic and Paralympic Movements, Allianz helped deliver safe and secure Winter Games at Milano Cortina 2026. The Games reached more than 5.4 million spectators and about 2.6 billion viewers globally. The Allianz Safety Sled helped raise safety standards in bobsleigh sport. The Games also marked 20 years of Allianz’s partnership with the Paralympic Movement. In 2026, Allianz also entered a multiyear global partnership with one of the world’s top tennis players, Jannik Sinner.

These 2026 milestones build on decades of sports engagement. This includes more than 25 years alongside FC Bayern München and support for hundreds of local sports clubs and associations across national markets. Allianz’s family of eight stadiums, with a beach volleyball arena for LA28 as its latest addition, welcomes millions of fans every year.

Strengthening the brand for what comes next

As AI reshapes how people search, compare and decide, the rules for brands are changing.

"In an AI-driven world, trust is what turns brand strength into meaningful and lasting customer relationships. We earn that trust not only through reliable information, but through experiences people can count on – being present where they make decisions and offering a seamless journey, digitally and in person. As AI changes how people find information, we are evolving our brand and distribution strategy so that Allianz stays visible, relevant and trusted, and delivers the best human experience wherever customers prefer it," said Bernd Heinemann, Group Head of Strategy, Brand and Customer Experience at Allianz SE.

About the Interbrand Ranking

The Interbrand Best Global Brands Ranking is a renowned annual report that ranks the 100 most valuable global brands based on financial performance, the brand's role in customer purchase decisions and its brand strength.

 

Further links

Allianz affirms its status as the world’s most valuable insurance brand

Allianz 3am report

About Allianz

The Allianz Group is one of the world’s leading insurers and asset managers, active in almost 70 countries and serving around 97 million private and corporate customers*. Our customers benefit from a broad range of personal and corporate insurance services, including property, life and health insurance, as well as assistance services, credit and global business insurance. Recognized for the eighth consecutive year as the No. 1 global insurance brand in Interbrand’s Best Global Brands 2026 ranking, Allianz’s success is built on technology-enabled customer centricity – providing peace of mind, protection and prevention for our customers and strengthening the resilience of individuals, communities and societies. We are one of the world’s largest investors, managing around 791 billion euros** on behalf of our insurance customers. Furthermore, our asset managers PIMCO and Allianz Global Investors manage about 2.2 trillion euros** of third-party assets. Thanks to our systematic integration of environmental and social criteria in our business processes and investment decisions, Allianz received an MSCI ESG Rating of AAA (as of March 2026). In 2025, our 156,000 dedicated employees achieved a total business volume of 186.9 billion euros and an operating profit of 17.4 billion euros for our shareholders.

* As of Dec. 31, 2025. Customer count reflects Allianz customers in consolidated entities that are part of the customer reporting scope only.

** As of June 30, 2026.

Mandatory corporate information: Corporate disclosures

These assessments are, as always, subject to the disclaimer provided below.

Cautionary note regarding forward-looking statements

This document includes forward-looking statements, such as prospects or expectations, that are based on management's current views and assumptions and subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Actual results, performance figures, or events may differ significantly from those expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements.

Deviations may arise due to changes in factors including, but not limited to, the following: (i) the general economic and competitive situation in Allianz’s core business and core markets, (ii) the performance of financial markets (in particular market volatility, liquidity, and credit events), (iii) adverse publicity, regulatory actions or litigation with respect to the Allianz Group, other well-known companies and the financial services industry generally, (iv) the frequency and severity of insured loss events, including those resulting from natural catastrophes, and the development of loss expenses, (v) mortality and morbidity levels and trends, (vi) persistency levels, (vii) the extent of credit defaults, (viii) interest rate levels, (ix) currency exchange rates, most notably the EUR/USD exchange rate, (x) changes in laws and regulations, including tax regulations, (xi) the impact of acquisitions including related integration issues and reorganization measures, and (xii) the general competitive conditions that, in each individual case, apply at a local, regional, national, and/or global level. Many of these changes can be exacerbated by terrorist activities.

No duty to update

Allianz assumes no obligation to update any information or forward-looking statement contained herein, save for any information we are required to disclose by law.

Privacy Note Allianz SE is committed to protecting your personal data. Find out more in our privacy statement.

 

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Contacts

For further information, please contact:

Florian Amberg Tel. +49 89 3800 15924 E-Mail: florian.amberg@allianz.com

Heidi Polke Tel. +49 89 3800 90777 E-Mail: heidi.polke@allianz.com

Patricia Segovia Tel. +49 89 3800 67589 E-Mail: patricia.segovia@allianz.com

Hitachi Unveils a New Global Digital Services Company Turning Cloud, Data and AI Into Measurable Business Outcomes: Hitachi Digital

 SANTA CLARA, Calif. & TOKYO - Wednesday, 28. October 2026 AETOSWire Print 

Uniting GlobalLogic and Hitachi Digital Services under a single global brand, Hitachi Digital will deliver end-to-end capabilities that help organizations in complex, mission-critical industries drive business transformation

 

(BUSINESS WIRE)--Hitachi, Ltd. (TSE:6501, “Hitachi”) today announced plans to launch Hitachi Digital Inc. (“Hitachi Digital”), a new global digital services company, on April 1, 2027, in accordance with the integration plan announced in January 20261. Hitachi Digital will unite Hitachi’s U.S. subsidiaries, GlobalLogic Inc. (“GlobalLogic”) and Hitachi Digital Services LLC (“Hitachi Digital Services”) under a single company using the Hitachi brand, with a brand campaign launching today. Hitachi Digital will steadily guide enterprise digital transformation at the convergence of cloud, data and AI toward concrete business results.

With approximately 35,000 professionals in 27 countries and more than 880 active clients, Hitachi Digital combines product and software engineering with enterprise systems and operational expertise, backed by more than 100 years of Hitachi experience building and operating mission-critical infrastructure.

Hitachi Digital delivers sustainable solutions across both the physical and digital tech stack, engineering new digital products and AI capabilities for its clients, modernizing the enterprise core behind them, and running them reliably at scale. The success of this differentiated combination will be driven by the dedicated Hitachi Digital teams centered on Forward Deployed Engineers (FDEs) supporting clients around the world.

“Our clients need one partner who understands how an industry works, maintains deep technology ecosystem relationships, while engineering what’s new, modernizing what’s underneath and keeping it all running across the enterprise,” said Anand Birje, CEO and Chairman, Hitachi Digital. “Hitachi Digital brings digital engineering and operations together as one company, at global scale, with the industrial depth of Hitachi behind us. We can be our clients’ one trusted partner from strategy through operations, engineering what the world depends on.”

Driving Digital Transformation at Scale

Hitachi Digital will serve as a strategic partner across the full transformation lifecycle, bringing deep domain expertise in key vertical industries and AI-era focused service lines including Physical AI, Data and Intelligence, Cloud and Site Reliability Engineering (SRE), and Enterprise Applications. The insights and technical expertise gained through delivering these comprehensive services will continue to fuel our IP differentiation, including HMAX by Hitachi (“HMAX”), a next-generation suite of solutions that brings the power of AI to social infrastructure. Furthermore, our strategic alliance partnerships across the full tech stack, from the data layer to frontier AI labs, will be multiplied and amplified.

The two companies coming together as Hitachi Digital have been recognized by leading industry analysts for their differentiated capabilities, resulting in rankings from ISG Research as a Leader in Intelligent Robotics and Physical AI Services, Digital Engineering Services, and Generative AI Services.

“Hitachi Digital Services has been recognized for connecting edge intelligence, robotics and AI-driven decision layers into secure, mission-critical environments. GlobalLogic has demonstrated differentiated strength across augmented design, R&D Services, intelligent operations and connected experience, and integrated platform and application services by leading with consulting, AI-first engineering and deep domain expertise. These outcomes are the result of what is now Hitachi Digital’s differentiation — a fusion of deep industrial heritage with enterprise-grade AI orchestration,” said Gowtham Sampath, Assistant Director and Principal Analyst, ISG Research.

Accelerating Physical AI

What further sets Hitachi Digital apart is the Hitachi Group’s long-standing operational technology (OT) and domain knowledge in industrial businesses. Backed by that knowledge, Hitachi Digital will accelerate the implementation of both enterprise AI and Physical AI in industries including manufacturing, mobility and energy, as well as across the Hitachi Group through its “customer zero” initiatives. Hitachi Digital’s synergy revenue with the Hitachi Group grew 46 percent year-on-year in the first half.

Central to the work at the Hitachi Group and beyond are the company’s FDEs, who work directly in clients’ operational environments to put these AI capabilities into practice. These teams of AI specialists, data scientists and engineers work alongside clients and technology partners to apply new AI and digital capabilities inside complex enterprise and operational environments.

Hitachi Digital will continue to scale through investment in AI, data and cloud talent, including FDEs, along with expanded alliances and acquisitions across the technology ecosystem. Hitachi Digital will also drive adoption of Lumada 3.0, empowering co-creation for client innovation and continue to expand its business.

“With the launch of Hitachi Digital, Hitachi will evolve into a global digital services company capable of providing end-to-end solutions ranging from enterprise AI to Physical AI,” said Jun Abe, Executive Vice President and Head of the Digital Systems & Services Sector, Hitachi. “By uniting GlobalLogic’s digital engineering with Hitachi Digital Services’ enterprise and operational expertise, and leveraging the FDE team as a driving force, together with Hitachi’s OT and domain knowledge in social infrastructure, we will work alongside clients throughout their business transformation and help maximize value creation. Through these efforts, we will strongly advance our clients’ digital transformation globally, drive the growth of Lumada 3.0 and contribute to the harmonized society envisioned in Hitachi’s management plan, ‘Inspire 2027.’”

Related links

Backgrounder: Hitachi Digital Inc.

About Hitachi Digital Inc.

Hitachi Digital, a wholly owned subsidiary of Hitachi, Ltd., is a global digital services company that helps organizations in complex, mission-critical industries turn cloud, data and AI into measurable business outcomes. Formed by uniting GlobalLogic and Hitachi Digital Services, the company brings digital engineering and operations together, from enterprise AI to Physical AI, with approximately 35,000 professionals in 27 countries. Hitachi Digital engineers what the world depends on. Visit us at www.hitachidigital.com.

About Hitachi, Ltd.

Through its Social Innovation Business (SIB) that brings together IT, OT (Operational Technology) and products, Hitachi aims to be a global leader in continuously transforming social infrastructure through digital, contributing to a harmonized society where the environment, well-being and economic growth are in balance. Hitachi operates worldwide across four sectors – Digital Systems & Services, Energy, Mobility and Connective Industries – as well as a Strategic SIB Business Unit focused on new growth areas. With Lumada at its core, Hitachi creates value by combining data, technology and domain knowledge to solve customer and social challenges. Revenues for FY2025 (ended March 31, 2026) totaled 10,586.7 billion yen, with 606 consolidated subsidiaries and approximately 290,000 employees worldwide. Visit us at www.hitachi.com.

Trademark notice

All trademarks and product names are the property of their respective owners.

   

1 January 29, 2026 press release: Hitachi Announces Plans to Integrate GlobalLogic and Hitachi Digital Services to Accelerate Global Growth of Lumada 3.0

 

 

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Contacts

Media contact

Amanda Naiman

Head of Communications, Hitachi Digital

amanda.naiman@globallogic.com

Hightouch Partners with Independent Media to Activate Reader and Commercial Data

 The partnership will help Independent Media deliver more relevant reader engagement, build premium advertising audiences, and support affiliate and e-commerce growth.

 

(BUSINESS WIRE)--Hightouch, the leading agentic marketing platform, today announced a partnership with Independent Media, publisher of The Independent. Independent Media will use Hightouch to connect its customer data to marketing tools.

With Hightouch, the company will send readers more relevant membership and subscription offers, build stronger audiences for its advertising partners, and grow its affiliate and e-commerce business.

“Deepening customer relationships and delivering real value to our commercial partners requires moving seamlessly from insight to action,” said Krishan Gandhi, Director of Data Intelligence and Monetisation at Independent Media. “Partnering with Hightouch allows us to utilise our warehouse data directly into our engagement tools, powering real-time, omnichannel journey orchestration, while enabling us to build premium audience segments with far greater speed and agility.”

“Independent Media has a large, loyal readership and strong relationships with advertisers,” said Matthew Lubeck, General Manager, EMEA at Hightouch. “We’re pleased to help its teams use their data to reach both audiences more effectively.”

About Hightouch

Hightouch is the leading agentic marketing and customer data platform that empowers companies to power personalized marketing and business operations from their very best data. Trusted by leading brands like Domino’s, Autotrader, Cars.com, Aritzia, and PetSmart, Hightouch enables anyone to deliver personalized customer experiences, optimize performance marketing, and move faster by leveraging data and AI across their organization.

About Independent Media

Independent Media comprises The Independent, The Standard, Bulletin, BuzzFeed UK, HuffPost UK, Tasty UK, Seasoned, IndyBest and indy100.

Harnessing market-leading innovation and excellence across its portfolio of pioneering brands, Independent Media has unrivalled scale, integrity and authority via its sites, apps, video, audio, experiential, newsletters and social media.

While each Independent Media brand speaks in an authentic, unique voice to a loyal and distinct audience, they stand together in their commitment to positivity, inclusivity, and quality journalism and content.

Independent Media’s network reaches 650 million users each month, with 1.1 billion content views across its brands and platforms.

 

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20261027608205/en/

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Contacts

Patrick Lenihan

hightouch@gravitystrat.com

Gravity Strategic Partners

IFF Identifies Ten Consumer Moments Reshaping Food and Beverage Innovation in the GLP-1 Era

 New research reveals how smaller, more intentional eating occasions are creating new opportunities for nutrition, flavor and renewed enjoyment.

(BUSINESS WIRE) -- IFF (NYSE: IFF)—a global leader in flavors, fragrances and health and biosciences, today launched its latest report, “GLP-1 Consumer Moments of Opportunity.” The report uncovers ten emerging consumer moments that reflect the changing needs of consumers using GLP-1 medications.

“What GLP-1 users need from food and beverage products depends on the moment, and those needs can change many times throughout the day,” said Yuvraj Arora, president of IFF Taste. “The most successful innovations will be designed around the occasions that matter most to consumers, delivering the right balance of nutrition, enjoyment and functionality for each one. Understanding these moments can unlock entirely new avenues for innovation."

While much of the industry conversation has focused on reduced food intake, IFF's research points to a broader shift in consumer behavior. Consumers are re-evaluating their food and beverage choices throughout the day to meet different needs. These moments range from protein-focused morning routines and post-workout recovery to planned indulgence, hydration, social occasions and end-of-day comfort.

IFF’s report provides a formulation roadmap to help manufacturers design products that appeal to the rapidly growing number of GLP-1 users, highlighting ten consumer moments:

Protein-First Wake-Up: Consumers seek an easy, appealing way to start the day and make progress toward their nutrition goals.

Midday Bridge: Late morning through to early afternoon, consumers look for satisfying nourishment between meals without feeling overly full.

Post-Dose Recovery Window: Many GLP-1 users report discomfort or heightened sensory sensitivity around dosing. They may prefer mild flavors and easy-to-consume formats.

On-the-Go Fuel Stop: Busy schedules create demand for convenient, portable options with flexible portions.

End-of-Day Emotional Reset: After a stressful day of work or study, GLP-1 users often seek comfort through familiar flavors and appealing textures.

Planned Indulgence: This moment centers on a deliberate choice to enjoy food. Consumers intentionally choose small, enjoyable treats that deliver on flavor and satisfaction.

Nutritional Insurance Check: At the end of the day, some consumers assess whether their intake has met their nutritional goals.

Post-Workout Reward: After physical activity, consumers may want a reward. This moment offers opportunities to combine a refreshing sensory experience with relevant nutrition.

Social Table Moment: When consumers want to enjoy food in a social setting, flexible servings, shareable formats and culturally familiar flavors can make their participation easier.

Compliance Snack: Consumers seek confidence that their choices align with their nutrition and wellness objectives.

The report also identifies Hydration Plus, bringing the Consumer Moments approach into beverage design. This is a growing area of opportunity for beverage developers. Rather than viewing hydration as a single necessity, the research identifies five hydration need states: Replenish, Maintain, Revitalize, Perform and Connect, providing a framework for designing beverages that better align with consumers' evolving routines and expectations.

"One of the clearest findings is that nutrition isn't the only thing consumers are thinking about," said Mark Haupt, chief medical officer and vice president of Health Sciences R&D for IFF Health & Biosciences. "What remains constant is the desire for foods and beverages that help them meet their health goals while still enjoying the experience."

IFF’s report, “GLP-1 Consumer Moments of Opportunity,” follows its breakthrough 2025 GLP-1 Consumer Opportunity Outlook. To develop this new report, IFF partnered with InsightsNow, an AI-powered market research service, combining proprietary consumer research with GLP-1 users, analysis on snacking behaviors, review of more than 25,000 social media posts related to GLP-1 use and snacking, and secondary industry data. The project also leveraged InsightsNow’s trademarked AI-powered behavioral intelligence platform, Claira™1, to uncover the relationships between consumer context, internal needs and external motivators.

Download the full report here.

Welcome to IFF

At IFF (NYSE: IFF), we make joy through science, creativity and heart. As the global leader in taste, scent and biosciences, we’re innovating for the future. Every day, we deliver groundbreaking, sustainable solutions that elevate products people love—advancing wellness, delighting the senses and enhancing the human experience. Learn more at iff.com, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.

© 2026 by International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. IFF is a Registered Trademark. All Rights Reserved.

This is business-to-business information intended for food and supplement producers and is not intended for the final consumer. This information is based on our own research and development work and is, to the best of our knowledge, reliable. However, nothing herein shall constitute a guarantee or warranty with respect to products of IFF or its affiliates or information contained herein and IFF does not assume any liability or risk involved in the use of its products or the information contained herein, as conditions of use are beyond our control. Statements concerning possible use of products of IFF or its affiliates are not to be construed as recommendations for any use which would violate any patent rights, regulations or statutory restrictions. Manufacturers should check local regulatory status of any claims according to the intended use of their product.

   

1 Claira™ is a trademark of InsightsNow Inc.

 

 

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Media Relations:

Lynette Wong

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Lynette.wong@iff.com

+65 8093 0122