Archive for the ‘Enterprise IT’ Category
Thursday, June 2nd, 2016
Businesses compete today in an increasingly digital marketplace, with stakeholders that expect innovative, personalised and efficient interactions with modern digital businesses via interconnected digital technologies.
Brent Michael Nulf shares how enterprises can accelerate their speed of innovation through the adoption of APIs and Microservices.
Following the two keynote presentations at the one-day thought leadership conference by IBM in Singapore, there were two concurrent one-and-a-half-hour Garage Tracks, one on accelerating the speed of innovation and the second on insights-driven IT. I followed the former to find out more about how to extend infrastructure investments to drive innovation. This is the first presentation in this Track.
Brent Michael Nulf – who is a Business Unit Executive for MobileFirst Platform & Cloud, Asia Pacific, IBM Corporation – cited Starbucks, Peugeot and CitiBank as examples of companies that had reaped huge returns by disrupting through digitisation of their businesses.
Brent Michael Nulf on how to industrialise innovation
- Use design thinking to create better user experiences
- Launch of microservices with frequent feature updates
- Adopt cloud-based delivery that make it easy to grow.
- Leverage customer insight by connecting existing systems and data
- Empower employees with real-time mobile analytics
- Build an ecosystem of partners large and small. Eg. Run hackathons with partners to generate new innovative ideas.
The world’s most successful digital enterprises – such as Google, Facebook, Netflix, Twitter, eBay, Salesforce.com – are leveraging an API-base architecture to enable innovation and power growth.
Valuable business assets are exposed as APIs that are consumed by App Developers to develop innovative apps that result in a delightful experience for customers.
However, within enterprises, a fine balance needs to be struck between the demands by the lines of business for fast speed and agility in the digital ecosystem, against the slower pace of the IT departments for integration and scaling of the core enterprise to ensure stability.
The answer to this “Multi-Speed” conundrum is Microservices, which involves the implementation of the SOA architecture to create small autonomous services that work well together.
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Tags:acebook, API, AT&T Innovation, CitiBank, cloud, disruptive, eBay, Gilt, Google, IBM, IBM API Connect, IBM Hybrid Cloud., IBM MobileFirst, IBM SolutionsConnect 2016, LinkedIn, microservices, Netflix, Node.js, PayPal, Peugeot, Salesforce.com, Singapore, SOA, SolutionsConnect, Starbucks, technology, Twitter, Wallmart
Posted in App, Business IT, Cloud, Enterprise IT, Events, events, IBM, Opinion, Reference, Seminars, Software, software, Wiki | No Comments »
Thursday, June 2nd, 2016
Disruption enables enterprises to cut costs involved in technologies whilst reducing the inefficiencies. Alan Lim shares how IBM Blockchain Labs can help you apply blockchain technology to make more efficient an application that is core to your business.
If your business is based on a network of partners, dealers, suppliers and customers; and if your success is based on a system that can be disrupted; AND if you want to become the next disruptor, you should take a serious look at Blockchain technology.
Enterprises can now leverage on the structured approach for an application or a system based on Blockchain tenets.
Blockchain technology is suitable for any enterprise that involves multi-party, multi-layered transactions.
“Blockchain is the next stage of digitisation,” said Raymond Wong – Country Manager, Software, IBM Singapore – during his welcome address for IBM’s one-day thought leadership conference (“Technology Leadership in the Cognitive Era”) in Singapore.
Blockchain entails the principle of a shared ledger with shared data, leading to visibility of not only the entire history of transactions, but also the customer’s relationship data.
Alan Lim noted that some US$1 billion has been spent on Blockchain technology, and that the investment is moving away from BitCoin specific to the underlying Blockchain technology.
Lim is a Lead Software Architect with IBM Software.
Enterprises do not work in silos, instead they thrive in business networks, generating wealth in the marketplace through the transference of goods and services.
The key then is how to engineer trust among the various parties, especially when it is a challenge to monitor asset ownership and transfers/transactions.
Blockchain technology is based on a concept of a decentralised consensus network, introducing replicated, shared, permissioned ledgers for transparency, whilst privacy is maintained by ensuring that relevant parties can only see what they need.
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Tags:Blockchain, disruptive, IBM, IBM Garage, IBM SolutionsConnect 2016, Singapore, SolutionsConnect, technology
Posted in Blockchain, Business IT, Enterprise IT, Events, events, Howtos, IBM, Opinion, Reference, Seminars, Software, Technology, Wiki | No Comments »
Thursday, June 2nd, 2016
With the blistering pace at which technology develops in this cognitive era, the mantra of the day is “disrupt or be disrupted”. IBM explores the possibilities of exploiting disruptive cutting-edge technologies through real-life case studies of how industry leaders have transformed their organisations and markets to lead the pack.
I am at a one-day thought leadership conference held by technology leader IBM at Suntec Convention and Exhibition Centre in Singapore. The conference will discuss leading-edge technologies that organisations can exploit to win. I’m looking forward to the solutions showcase that will demo the latest in cloud, Internet of Things (IoT) and analytics, amongst other technologies of the day.
Brett Michael Nulf brought delegates through various examples of how technology-driven disruptions had decimated many traditional leaders in various industries in recent years, emphasising the importance for enterprises to stay vigilant in order to avoid getting eliminated because of disruption from existing competitors and new startups.
The impetus for disruptive innovation
At the rate at which devices proliferate, their numbers will reach 75 billion by 2020. In fact, some ninety percent of data created was in the last two years because of this proliferation of devices.
Computing systems nowadays are increasingly capable of taking in unstructured data in its many forms though IoT and the rise of the API economy. This has led to the rise of cognitive computing which is transforming digital organisations into cognitive enterprises.
As a result, new business models are emerging, with many of these based on mobile strategies.
New disruptive businesses are leveraging the confluence of analytics, IoT and cloud to create new applications, putting them ahead of incumbent leaders entrenched in legacy technologies.
To succeed in this competitive race, enterprises must be nimble and creative, despite their size.
In order to do this, winners need to accelerate innovation by evolving a progressive technology mindset, mastering technologies such as hybrid clouds and integrating into the API economy.
He mused at how more than seventy percent of companies have dropped off the Fortune 500 list, with the “Unicorn Club” of privately-funded startups reaching US$1bn in value becoming increasingly crowded.
Nulf is a Business Unit Executive for MobileFirst Platform & Cloud, Asia Pacific, IBM Corporation.
He cautioned that although the Fintech arena is currently seeing the most disruptions, other industries are also prone to technology-driven disruptions, such as in manufacturing, healthcare, and even traditional sectors with a long history – such as consumer packaged goods.
An interesting phenomenon that Nulf described was what he called the “Uber syndrome – where a competitor with a completely different business model enters your industry and flattens you”.
It was an interesting example where the innovative newcomer (in this case Uber) enjoyed rapidly growing revenue and market share at the expense of traditional taxis – while the overall pie remained the same.
One key reason why these disruptive newcomers do so well is the speed with which they move and innovate.
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Tags:API, Cisco, cognitive, disruptive, Flipkart, Google, GrabTaxi, IBM, IBM SolutionsConnect 2016, Kickstarter, Netflix, SAP, Singapore, SolutionsConnect, technology, VMware, WeChat, Yes Bank
Posted in Big Data, Business IT, Cloud, Enterprise IT, Events, events, IBM, Mobile, Opinion, SAP, Seminars, Technology, Uncategorized, VMware | No Comments »
Wednesday, June 1st, 2016
Kathrein, an internationally leading specialist for reliable, high-quality communication technologies, sees APAC at the forefront of the digital revolution and is strengthening its presence in the region.
Ashwini Bakshi, a senior professional with a strong track record in communication technologies, joined Kathrein as Managing Director APAC at the beginning of this year. His mandate is to set up a new regional headquarter in Singapore and to steer business and sales activities in Asia-Pacific.
Kathrein is showcasing its expertise and capabilities in the fields of indoor and broadcast mobile communications, at CommunicAsia, Asia’s largest integrated ICT event (31 May to 3 June 2016).
“We are very excited to be in APAC. Asia-Pacific is one of the most vibrant regions in the world. We have been active in Asia-Pacific for several decades, tracing back to the 1960s when we completed first broadcast projects. More recently, with the onset of mobility, we have been supplying mobile communication antennas to leading network operators in APAC,” says Ashwini Bakshi, Managing Director of Kathrein’s regional operations.
With its passion to connect, Kathrein offers superior value to customers on three levels: technology, business and end-user.
Based on the company’s expertise across multiple segments, the privately-owned company offers the technical capability to master increasing complexity and convergence.
From a business perspective, investments into Kathrein solutions minimise Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) while maximising Total Value of Ownership (TVO).
And finally, being at the sharp edge of the network, Kathrein’s quality and reliability solutions have a strong impact on end-user experience and customer satisfaction.
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Tags:APAC, German, Kathrein, networking, Singapore
Posted in audioVisual, Brief, Business IT, Enterprise IT, Events, events, Internet, Press Release | No Comments »
Thursday, May 26th, 2016
Jimmy Fitzgerald – Vice President of Asia Pacific & Japan at ServiceNow – shares six ways to help your employees work smarter, not harder. This guest blog was contributed by Fitzgerald.
Jimmy Fitzgerald’s team at ServiceNow helps customers to eliminate reliance on email, spreadsheets and other manual processes so their employees can work smarter, not harder.
In recent years, online retail platforms such as Zalora have truly streamlined their processes of browsing, checkout and payment, wooing shoppers with their speed, efficiency and superior user experience.
Consumers in Singapore now hold speedy deliveries and seamless experiences as the standard when they shop online.
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Tags:byline, guest blog, Jimmy Fitzgerald, opinion, ServiceNow
Posted in Business IT, Enterprise IT, Howtos, Interview, Opinion, Reference, Tips | No Comments »
Friday, May 20th, 2016
Acronis aims for tenfold increase in service provider and cloud reseller partners in region to meet growing demand for backup and data protection solutions.
Service providers and cloud resellers that are interested in learning more about the Acronis Backup Cloud solution can sign up for a free trial here. Image: Acronis.
Acronis, a global leader in hybrid cloud data protection, has reported strong momentum in its global cloud data protection business as it broadens its market reach and expands its partner ecosystem across the Asia Pacific (APAC) region.
“Acronis’ goal to become a global technology leader in hybrid cloud data protection can only be achieved through close relationships with our distributors, partners, and services providers. We will continue to strive to be market leader by going the extra miles to understand our customers needs and through strong channel model scale and accelerate our reach to provide the most comprehensive Cloud Data Management solution,” said Steve Goh, Vice President APAC & Emerging Markets at Acronis.
Following the launch of its new cloud architecture and data protection platform and the roll-out of its world-class partner program in 2015, Acronis has achieved an 800 percent year-on-year growth globally in bookings for Acronis Backup Cloud, its leading backup solution for service providers and cloud resellers.
This included a tenfold growth in managed Cloud storage and a more than 800% increase in the number of devices protected compared to the previous year.
In APAC, Acronis Backup Cloud bookings grew by more than 200 percent year-on-year in 2015, and in the first quarter of 2016 the cloud business doubled comparing to the second half of 2015.
Acronis is poised to build on this strong momentum in the APAC region as it carries out aggressive efforts to sign-up new partners and continue the expansion of its product portfolio in the region.
Tapping into the huge market demand for data protection in APAC
Today’s businesses in APAC face new challenges when it comes to data protection, including huge increases in data volume, man-made and natural disasters, and cyber-threats like ransomware.
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Posted in Acronis, Announce, Business IT, Enterprise IT, Figures, News, Press Release, Security, Software, software, Utility | No Comments »
Wednesday, May 18th, 2016
The Voyager 5200 Bluetooth headset features WindSmart Technology to let users work on the go – even in at the noisiest places.
The Plantronics Voyager 5200 Bluetooth headset is designed for people on-the-go who need to sound professional, regardless of location.
The Voyager 5200 will be available at authorised Plantronics retailers for S$199. Voyager 5200 charge case (accessory) retails for S$69.
The Voyager 5200 UC will be available locally from July 2016 onwards and will retail for S$339.
Plantronics launched the Voyager 5200 Bluetooth headset in Singapore at the Red Dot Museum (together with the BackBeat GO 3 wireless Bluetooth earbuds).
More details from the press release below.
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Tags:accessories, audio, audiovisual, AV, Bluetooth, entertainment, gadgets, headsets, launch, Plantronics, Singapore, Voyager, Voyager 5200, wireless
Posted in Accessories, Audio, audioVisual, Business IT, Enterprise IT, Events, events, Gadgets, gadgets, headsets, Launch, newArrivals, Plantronics, Press Release, Prices, Specifications | No Comments »
Wednesday, May 18th, 2016
The telco collaborates with industry partners, academia and public-sector organisations to strengthen Singapore’s capabilities in cyber security. StarHub and the COE partners will jointly invest S$200 million over the next five years to support a sustainable cyber security ecosystem.
At the launch of the initiative (from left): Thien Kwee Eng, Economic Development Board assistant managing director; Tan Tong Hai, StarHub chief executive officer; S Iswaran, Minister for Trade and Industry (Industry); and Professor Yitzhak Ben-Israel, StarHub’s Cyber Security Centre of Excellence. Photo: StarHub.
StarHub has announced plans to grow the local cyber security ecosystem at the launch of its Cyber Security Centre of Excellence (COE) where S Iswaran, Minister for Trade and Industry (Industry), was the Guest-of-Honour.
“Cyber security is a top national and commercial security priority for Singapore as our Smart Nation vision takes shape, touching many aspects of our personal and business lives. StarHub is proud to work with top-notch partners to bolster the cyber security sector, which is important for a sustainable digital economy,” said Tan Tong Hai, StarHub Chief Executive Officer.
The COE established by StarHub, is supported by the Economic Development Board (EDB).
It serves as a hub for the cyber security ecosystem, bringing together the best of brains and expertise to tackle cyber threats, which are among other serious risks affecting economies globally today.
Internationally renowned security expert Professor Yitzhak Ben-Israel has been appointed as the Advisor to the COE, and he provides strategic advice and recommendations to the body.
Professor Ben-Israel is a member of Singapore’s Research, Innovation and Enterprise Council as well as the International Advisory Panel for Singapore’s S$130 million National Cybersecurity Research and Development Programme which was launched in 2015.
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Tags:A*STAR, Blue Coat, CSA, Cyberbit, cybersecurity, EDB, EY, Fortinet, Iswaran, MTI, NYP, RP, StarHub, SUTD, Tan Tong Hai, telco, TP, Wedge Networks, Yitzhak Ben-Israel
Posted in Announce, Business IT, Enterprise IT, events, Figures, Launch, News, Press Release, Security, StarHub | No Comments »
Thursday, May 5th, 2016
Motorola’s new digital radios now come with Wi-Fi to help reduce downtime, with Capacity Max system to expand networks and to increase the number of users.
The next-generation MOTOTRBO radios feature longer battery life, indoor location-tracking and integrated Wi-Fi allowing all radios in a system to be reprogrammed simultaneously without taking them out of users’ hands.
In manufacturing, government services, transportation and other industries, downtime equates to increased costs and loss of productivity.
“The next-generation MOTOTRBO radios reflect the features and functionality our customers have been asking for and help them enhance productivity, efficiency and worker safety. The ability to update via Wi-Fi keeps workers on the job, and features such as better man-down alerts and indoor location tracking are crucial for working in hazardous areas,” said Claudia Rodriguez vice president, Devices Product Management, Motorola Solutions.
Motorola Solutions is introducing next-generation MOTOTRBO, a line of digital radios with features such as Wi-Fi connectivity that can help save workers hundreds of hours in lost time while delivering secure, reliable and cost-efficient professional two-way radio communications.
Whether they are plant workers or teachers, the process of updating user’s communications equipment can be time-intensive.
For a workforce of 350, for example, this can lead to more than 400 hours of lost time.
Next-generation MOTOTRBO radios feature an integrated Wi-Fi solution that helps reduce the update process to a matter of minutes by eliminating the need for employees in the field, classroom or warehouse floor to physically drop off equipment at the office to receive software upgrades.
Coupled with 29 hours of battery life, this means workers can spend more time focusing on the task at hand.
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Tags:Capacity Max, comms, communications, Motorola, MOTOTRBO, radios, trunking, Wi-Fi
Posted in audioVisual, Brief, Business IT, Enterprise IT, Events, events, Gadgets, gadgets, Motorola, newArrivals, Phones, Press Release | No Comments »
Tuesday, April 26th, 2016
The Singtel Cyber Security Institute (CSI) aims to hone cyber skills and preparedness of businesses and governments in Asia Pacific by providing holistic training for company boards, management, technology and operations personnel to deal with cyber attacks.
Update (18 May, 2016):
Competing telco StarHub announced plans to grow the local cyber security ecosystem with the launch of its Cyber Security Centre of Excellence (COE).
* All photos in this article provided by Singtel.
Chua Sock Koong, Group CEO, Singtel Group, giving her opening remarks at the launch of the Singtel Cyber Security Institute.
The CSI is a hybrid between an advanced cyber range and an educational institute.
“Based on our engagements with companies in Singapore, more than 85% do not have robust cyber response plans nor the opportunity to conduct realistic drills to test and sharpen such plans. This lack of cyber preparedness is worsened by the severe global shortfall of trained cyber security experts, which Forbes puts at some 1 million in 2016. This is why we’ve stepped up to the plate. We know we have to help companies secure themselves against a potential slew of increasingly sophisticated cyber attacks,” said Bill Chang, Chief Executive Officer, Group Enterprise at Singtel.
Singtel boasts that the CSI is the first-of–its-kind in the region to test and train companies in dealing with sophisticated cyber threats.
Housed in a permanent space of over 10,000 sq ft, the institute provides cyber skills development and education programmes tailored to the varying needs of company boards, C-suite management, technology and operational staff.
Boards and C-suite level participants will be trained in the areas of cyber threat awareness, risk management, business continuity planning and crisis communications preparation.
The cyber operations team will be trained in defence and response capabilities to sharpen their skills.
In conjunction with the launch of the CSI, Singtel announced that it is the first company in Singapore to work with the Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore on the Cyber Security Associates and Technologists (CSAT) Programme to train infocomm professionals in cyber security.
Dr Yaacob Ibrahim, Minister for Communications and Information, delivering his speech to open the new Singtel Cyber Security Institute.
Under this programme, Singtel will train fresh infocomm technology professionals and equip them with basic cyber security skills.
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Tags:Asia Pacific, CSI, cybersecurity, security, Singapore, SingTel, training
Posted in Business IT, Enterprise IT, Events, events, Launch, News, Press Release, Security, SingTel, Technology, Visits | No Comments »
