SINGAPORE, Jan. 12, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Digital travel platform Agoda has introduced the Booking Form Bot, an AI-powered chatbot designed to answer travelers’ booking-related questions at the final stage of the booking journey. The new tool aims to help travelers answer last-minute questions and complete their reservations with ease and confidence.

Internal research by Agoda found that 28% of users navigate back to the property page from the booking page to re-check trip details. Customer research revealed that the main reasons to pause or exit the booking journey are questions about promo codes, cancellation policies, and price discrepancies. The Booking Form Bot addresses this by providing instant, context-aware answers to questions such as “Can I cancel for free?” “Does this booking qualify for cashback?”, etc.

Building on the success of Agoda’s Property AMA Bot, which answers over 30,000 hotel-related questions daily, the Booking Form Bot extends this capability to the checkout experience. The bot automatically understands the user’s booking session, including the selected property, room type, rate plan, and associated terms, allowing it to deliver accurate, personalized responses without requiring users to repeat details or leave the page.

Users can access the Booking Form Bot by tapping the chat icon on the booking form page, available through the Agoda app and mobile browser.

Idan Zalzberg, Chief Technology Officer at Agoda, shared, “Helping travelers stay informed at every step of their journey is central to building trust in our platform. At the booking stage, last-minute questions often arise around cancellation options or payment terms. The Booking Form Bot provides instant answers right when travelers need them, helping them book with confidence.

With the launch of the Booking Form Bot, Agoda continues to invest in AI-powered tools that make travel planning simpler, faster, and more intuitive for millions of travelers worldwide.

Explore Agoda’s offerings, including over 6 million holiday properties, 130,000 flight routes, and 300,000 activities, all in one booking. Visit Agoda.com or download the Agoda mobile app for the best deals.

Latest product releases showcase new tiered cloud storage model paired with smarter video intelligence, security, and expanded edge hardware.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, Jan. 12, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — March Networks^®, a global leader in intelligent video surveillance, today announced the launch of Cloud Storage as part of its latest product and software release, showcased at Intersec Dubai. First introduced in December in collaboration with Amazon Web Services (AWS), the solution is now available to customers worldwide.

March Networks presents new Cloud Storage at Intersec Dubai, other product releases.

Building on its existing cloud capabilities, the new flexible cloud storage model solves one of customers’ most persistent challenges: securely retaining growing volumes of video without adding infrastructure and storage costs.

A Flexible and Scalable Cloud Storage Model Built for Cost and Control

As video retention requirements grow, traditional storage models often require frequent hardware expansion and rising operational overhead.

The latest release enhances March Networks cloud offerings with a cold storage model for long-term video archiving powered by AWS. Recent and frequently accessed video remains readily available for fast investigations, while older footage is securely archived using Amazon S3 Glacier to support low-cost, long-term video retention.

This tiered approach enables organizations to reduce long-term video storage costs by up to 80% over five years, while maintaining secure access to archived footage. Archived video is typically available within 12 to 48 hours. Once retrieved, footage can be reviewed and trimmed directly within the March Networks application, supporting higher-quality evidence handling and removing limits on the number of cameras that can be backed up.

“We have solved the number one problem businesses face today in video surveillance. Customers have been clear that long-term video retention is one of their biggest operational and cost challenges,” said Jeff Corrall, Chief Product Officer at March Networks. “This release really improves the cost of video storage by aligning cost, performance, and access with how video is actually used.”

Real-World Impact for Customers*

Traditional on-premise storage can drive video retention costs higher due to ongoing IT overhead, maintenance, and hardware life cycle replacement. One customer using on-premise storage for immediate access to recent video evaluated March Networks Cloud Storage to extend video retention without adding new hardware.

For 580 cameras generating approximately 5,600 TB of archived video, the cloud storage costs were an estimated $347,000 per year, compared to approximately $1.7 million to store the same volume of video on-premise. This hybrid solution made recent footage instantly available while significantly reducing long-term video retention costs.

Cloud & Software Enhancements

In addition to long-term cloud storage, the release introduces a broad set of software enhancements to support real-world operations, security, compliance, and safety use cases across industries. 

• Improved AI Smart Search performance delivers a faster and more intuitive way for operations teams to find what matters most with natural language queries, time-based prompts, visual matching, and smarter alerts.
• Attribute Search enhancements add zone-based precision to the feature, enabling sharper and faster investigations across more cameras, all securely on-prem.
• A new Smart Rules Wizard simplifies the creation of real-time alert logic through guided, step-by-step configuration, reducing setup time and improving consistency.
• Command Enterprise (CES) and Command Client enhancements improve usability and operational responsiveness with faster event filtering, expanded device compatibility, keyboard shortcuts, and real-time alarm monitoring.

New Cameras and Recording Hardware

The release also expands the March Networks edge portfolio with new and updated camera and recorder options, including:

• EL5 Turret camera provides a cost-effective, high-quality camera designed for general surveillance. Offering 5MP video in fixed and motorized variations, it can be applied across commercial and retail environments.
• AI12 360 camera enables immersive 360-degree coverage with fewer devices, improving situational awareness, reducing camera counts, and supporting efficient investigations.
• EL5 Nano Dome camera is a compact, discreet indoor dome delivering 5MP video with built-in audio and intelligent analytics. It is ideal for high-traffic environments like quick service restaurants, retail stores, and financial institutions.
• New EL 24- and 32-channel recorders deliver reliable, high-capacity all-IP recording for small-to-mid-sized deployments, while integrating seamlessly with March Networks cloud services for centralized management, analytics, and long-term storage.
• Expanded support for additional camera models and third-party cameras through ONVIF helps customers apply advanced analytics across existing deployments.

Together, these hardware and software updates deliver a fully integrated, end-to-end video platform from the edge to the cloud, helping organizations modernize infrastructure, reduce storage costs, and unlock greater long-term value from their video data.

Attendees at Intersec Dubai can visit March Networks at Stand SA C-25 to learn more about these solutions and enhancements. To speak with a March Networks expert or to book a demo, please contact us.

^{*Performance results may vary based on individual customer configurations and usage patterns. Cost savings are estimates and will depend on specific customer implementations and usage volumes.}

About March Networks

March Networks^® is a global leader in intelligent video solutions, helping enterprise and small to medium-sized businesses turn video into actionable intelligence. With over 25 years of experience, we serve 1,500+ financial institutions, 600+ retailers, and 900+ commercial and industrial brands. Our cloud-based technologies combine video surveillance with AI analytics, POS, IoT, and ATM integration to enhance security, efficiency, and the customer experience. Backed by a global network of certified partners, we support customers in 75+ countries with flexible, scalable, open-platform solutions. Headquartered in Ottawa, Canada, and owned by Delta, a global leader in power and thermal management, March Networks is a trusted partner and innovator in cloud-based, AI-powered video surveillance. Learn more at marchnetworks.com.  

March Networks and the March Networks logo are trademarks of March Networks Corporation. To keep up with March Networks news and updates, subscribe to our Intelligent IP Video Blog and stay connected by following March Networks on LinkedIn.

MEDIA CONTACT: Jac Haarsma, Marketing Communications Manager, March Networks, jhaarsma@marchnetworks.com

Logo – March Networks – Intelligent Video Surveillance.

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BRISBANE, Australia, Jan. 12, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Budget Direct has been awarded the prestigious and inaugural title of ‘Insurer of the Year’ in the 2026 Finder Provider of the Year Awards, firmly cementing its position as a leading insurance choice for Australians seeking exceptional value and reliable coverage.

This landmark achievement is complemented by a sweep of category awards with a total of five wins for Budget Direct, the most awards for any provider. These include the overall ‘Insurer of the Year’ title, Pet Insurance – Insurer of the Year, and Car Insurance – Insurer of the Year across New South Wales, South Australia and Western Australia.

The Finder Provider of the Year Awards showcase the providers and brands who offer top-rated products and have the most satisfied customers. Budget Direct’s wins solidify its reputation as a standout insurance industry performer and Australia’s most award-winning insurer.

These latest accolades join a formidable collection of 95 Finder Awards won since 2017, including 20 Car Insurance wins, and 49 Customer Satisfaction Awards since 2022, underscoring Budget Direct’s enduring commitment to both product quality and exceptional customer experience

Jonathan Kerr, Chief Growth Officer at Budget Direct said the awards were even more proof that Budget Direct is upholding its promise to customers to provide exceptional cover at a competitive price, having paid out more than $1.5 billion on claims in the past twelve months.

“Winning the inaugural ‘Insurer of the Year’ is a powerful testament to our unwavering commitment to providing Australians with exceptional value without compromising on quality,” said Kerr.

“In a landscape where household budgets are under increasing pressure, consumers are actively seeking the best value for their essential services. This award from Finder, a trusted voice in consumer comparison, validates our core mission: to deliver consistently low premiums backed by robust coverage and reliable service,” added Kerr.

Graham Cooke, head of consumer research at Finder, said Budget Direct is a standout performer in Finder’s Provider of the Year Awards 2026.

“Taking home five wins – the most of any brand this year – proves Budget Direct is a powerhouse in the Australian market.

“We are particularly thrilled to crown them our inaugural ‘Insurer of the Year’ award. This new flagship award is designed to identify the best of the best by combining our extensive set of product data with our customer satisfaction survey of 60,000 Aussies.

“With insurance prices increasing in most categories, Australians should look for the best deal for them. Budget Direct’s 2026 sweep makes them a great brand to consider,” Cooke said.

Winning the overall ‘Insurer of the Year’ award signifies a new level of industry recognition for Budget Direct and is the result of ongoing innovation in policy design, operational efficiencies and a relentless focus on customer satisfaction.

Budget Direct will continue to meet increasing consumer demands for great insurance products at a competitive price with an unwavering commitment to Insurance Solved® for Australians.

Read more about the 2026 Finder Awards.

Get a quote for one of Budget Direct’s award-winning insurance policies.

DISCLAIMER

Insurance (excluding Pet, Life & Travel Insurance) is issued by Auto & General Insurance Company Limited (ABN 42 111 586 353, AFSL 285571) (AGIC) and arranged by Auto & General Services Pty Ltd (ABN 61 003 617 909, AFSL 241411) (AGS) PO Box 342, Toowong QLD 4066.

Budget Direct Pet Insurance is issued by AGIC, administered by Pet Health Insurance Services Pty Ltd (ABN 59 638 910 675) as Authorised Representative (AR no. 1282153) of AGIC and promoted by AGS.

SHENZHEN, China, Jan. 12, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Yaber, a globally recognized home tech brand, today announced its expansion into the smart cleaning category. As part of its broader brand development strategy, Yaber continues to evolve its multi-category portfolio under a unified brand architecture that includes its established entertainment line, Yaber Projector, and its newly introduced home appliance line, Yaber Home.

The company revealed plans to launch its first smart cleaning product line under Yaber Home in Q1 2026, introducing two cordless vacuum cleaners and marking a key step in Yaber’s expansion into diversified smart home scenarios beyond home entertainment.

The upcoming lineup will include the L10 Entry-Level Cordless Handheld Vacuum Cleaner and the P20 High-Value Cordless Vacuum Cleaner. With clearly differentiated positioning, the two models are designed to address a wide range of household cleaning needs—from lightweight daily maintenance to high-frequency family use—reflecting Yaber’s strategic move into everyday living environments.

According to Yaber, the L10 emphasizes lightweight design and ease of use, targeting first-time cordless vacuum users and consumers seeking a simple, reliable cleaning solution. The P20, positioned around strong value, is engineered to balance performance, battery life, and practical functionality, meeting the needs of families that prioritize efficiency and affordability. Together, the two products form the foundation of the Yaber Home smart cleaning portfolio.

Since its founding, Yaber has built strong global brand recognition through Yaber Projector, delivering cost-effective and dependable entertainment projectors to users in more than 120 countries and regions worldwide. Building on its experience in product design, technology integration, and user-centric development, Yaber is now extending its capabilities into high-frequency home appliance categories through Yaber Home, with a focus on practical innovation and everyday usability.

Yaber stated that the launch of its smart cleaning line represents an important milestone in the brand’s long-term growth. Looking ahead, the company plans to continue expanding both Yaber Projector and Yaber Home around core household use cases, accelerating its evolution into a multi-category, full-scenario smart living brand.

About Yaber

Founded in 2018, Yaber pioneered the entertainment projector category and has since delivered immersive audiovisual experiences to users in over 120 countries and regions worldwide. Under its unified brand structure, Yaber operates across multiple product categories, including Yaber Projector for home entertainment and Yaber Home for smart household appliances. Committed to innovation, performance, and user-centric design, Yaber has received multiple international accolades, including the Red Dot Award, IDEA Award, VGP Award, and CES Innovation Award. Today, Yaber continues to expand its product ecosystem to enhance everyday living through smart technology.

For more information, please visit official Yaber website or follow Yaber on Facebook.