The eighth annual report highlights key industry shifts, including AI-powered strategies, the emergence of employee influencers, and increasing expectations on comms teams

CHICAGO, Feb. 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Cision, a global leader in media intelligence and communications solutions, in partnership with PRWeek, today announced the release of the 2025 Comms Report, offering an in-depth analysis of the evolving PR and corporate communications landscape.

2025 Comms Report

Based on insights from over 300 industry professionals across the U.S. and Canada, this year’s report reveals how AI is transforming the industry, communications leaders are playing a more strategic role in the C-suite, and employee influencers are reshaping brand credibility. 

“The 2025 Comms Report offers a detailed look at the forces shaping our industry, from the growing adoption and integration of AI in communications strategies to the redefinition of influence,” said Guy Abramo, Chief Executive Officer at Cision. “These insights provide PR and comms professionals with the intelligence they need to stay ahead in an increasingly complex media and business environment.”

Key Findings from the 2025 Comms Report:

• Communications is more influential than ever – 84% of PR leaders say the C-suite is relying on their expertise more than in previous years.
• AI is revolutionizing PR – Nearly two-thirds (65%) of comms leaders report that AI is significantly enhancing their data and analytics capabilities, while 90% say it plays a role in their overall strategy.
• Employees are the new influencers – Internal advocates now surpass traditional influencers like celebrities and social media personalities in driving brand credibility.
• Do more with less – 81% of comms leaders feel greater pressure to maximize impact with fewer resources compared to last year.

“The world has changed remarkably since we first launched this report eight years ago, and the communications industry has had to evolve in lockstep,” said Gideon Fidelzeid, Vice President at PRWeek. “This year’s findings reflect a profession that is not only adapting but thriving—demonstrating its growing influence and critical role in business success and innovation.”

The 2025 Comms Report serves as an essential resource for PR and communications professionals looking to stay ahead of industry shifts, optimize their strategies, and drive meaningful business impact.

Download the full report here: 2025 Comms Report

About Cision

Cision is a global leader in consumer and media intelligence, engagement, and communication solutions. We equip PR and corporate communications, marketing, and social media professionals with the tools they need to excel in today’s data-driven world. Our deep expertise, exclusive data partnerships, and award-winning products—including CisionOne, Brandwatch, and PR Newswire—enable over 75,000 companies and organizations, including 84% of the Fortune 500, to see and be seen, understand and be understood by the audiences that matter most.

For media inquiries, please contact:
Cision Public Relations
CisionPR@cision.com

Biggest Comms Challenges 2025

DUBAI, UAE, Feb. 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — OKX, a leading crypto exchange, today released its 28th consecutive Proof of Reserves (PoR) report, demonstrating $28.1 billion in primary assets backing customer funds – a 59% increase year-on-year.

The latest PoR report, audited and verified by blockchain security firm Hacken, shows OKX maintains a 1:1 or greater reserve ratio across 22 of the most commonly traded assets on the platform, with current reserve ratios for primary assets standing at:

• BTC: 104%
• ETH: 102%
• USDT: 102%
• USDC: 100%

Breaking down the $28.1 billion in assets:

• BTC holdings: $13.2 billion
• ETH holdings: $4.9 billion
• USDT holdings: $8.7 billion
• USDC holdings: $1.3 billion

OKX’s robust security framework builds on this foundation of verifiable truth through multiple layers of protection. The platform features a multi-billion-dollar Insurance Fund*, AI-powered security tools and OKX Protect – an educational hub helping customers implement essential security features. The PoR program continues to be independently verified by third-party auditor Hacken, whose comprehensive methodology includes zk-STARK proofs and signature validation to validate reserve ownership. Its thorough audit process examines public wallet addresses and cryptographic proofs.

Over the past two years, OKX has significantly enhanced its PoR program by optimizing zk-STARK technology, reducing proof file size from 2.55GB to 598KB and expanding verifiable assets to 22 major cryptocurrencies. This combines with state-of-the-art encryption protocols and advanced wallet infrastructure to ensure both security and usability.

For OKX’s full PoR report, visit: okx.com/proof-of-reserves

*Insurance Fund available in specific markets only

For further information, please contact:
Media@okx.com

About OKX

OKX is a technology company with a mission to make blockchain-based assets more accessible. Our pursuit takes us to a decentralized future that makes our world more efficient, transparent and connected.

OKX began as a crypto exchange giving millions of people access to trading and over time became among the largest platforms in the world. In recent years, we have developed one of the most connected onchain wallets used by millions to access decentralized applications (dApps).

OKX is trusted by hundreds of large institutions seeking access to crypto markets on a reliable platform that seamlessly connects with global banking and payments.

Our most well-known products include: OKX Exchange, OKX Wallet, OKX Explorer, OKX OS, OKX Ventures and OKX Institutional. To learn more about OKX, download our app or visit: okx.com

Disclaimer

FAIRFIELD, N.J., Feb. 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Keypoint Intelligence, a leading provider of digital imaging market research, has released two new reports offering critical insights for the document scanner industry: North American Document Image Scanner Market Estimate: 2024 and Western Europe Document Image Scanner Market Estimate & Forecast: 2024. These reports explore evolving industry trends, shifting customer needs, and competitive developments to help manufacturers and resellers refine their strategies and seize new opportunities.

As businesses increasingly adopt digital workflows, the demand for smarter, faster, and more connected document scanning solutions continues to rise. These reports provide manufacturers and resellers with a clear understanding of market changes and how to position their products for success. “These reports are designed to help scanner manufacturers and resellers navigate an evolving market,” said Mark Davis, Editorial Analyst at Keypoint Intelligence. “By understanding where the industry is headed and what customers prioritize, businesses can make informed product and sales decisions.”

Key insights from the reports:

• Industry trends: The growing demand for distributed scanning, cloud connectivity, and intelligent automation is reshaping the market.
• Competitive landscape: A deep dive into key players, emerging brands, and the innovations setting certain products apart.
• Customer priorities: An analysis of what buyer’s value most, from enhanced security to seamless software integration and ease of use.
• Future outlook: How AI-driven capture, workflow automation, and remote work trends are shaping purchasing decisions.

For companies looking to fine-tune their market approach, these reports provide essential data and expert analysis to stay ahead of the competition. Covering key trends, competitive insights, and evolving customer priorities, the research offers valuable guidance for manufacturers and resellers aiming to refine their strategies and adapt to market shifts.

To explore the findings in more detail and understand how they can impact business decisions, visit here.

About Keypoint Intelligence

For over 60 years, clients in the digital imaging industry have relied on Keypoint Intelligence for independent hands-on testing, lab data, and extensive market research to drive their product and sales success. Keypoint Intelligence has been recognized as the industry’s most trusted resource for unbiased information, analysis, and awards due to decades of analyst experience.

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AUSTIN, Texas, Feb. 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Gaudio Lab, a leading innovator in AI-powered audio and spatial sound technology, will return to SXSW 2025, unveiling an immersive “audio-driven campsite” experience. This marks the company’s second consecutive year at SXSW, reinforcing its position as a global pioneer in cutting-edge AI audio solutions.

For this year’s showcase, Gaudio Lab will introduce a fully immersive spatial audio experience, demonstrating its proprietary binaural rendering technology—a solution recognized as an ISO/IEC MPEG-H international standard. The company will also present its latest advancements in AI-driven noise removal, vocal isolation, and automated background music replacement technology, which serve industries ranging from entertainment and gaming to automotive and content distribution.

SXSW: A Global Stage for Innovation

SXSW, which began as a regional music festival in Austin, Texas, in 1987, has grown into one of the most influential global platforms for technology, film, music, education, and culture. Known for showcasing breakthrough innovations, the event attracts industry leaders, investors, and media from around the world.

At SXSW 2024, Gaudio Lab was named a Finalist in the SXSW Innovation Awards, highlighting its real-time AI noise removal technology, Just Voice. The company now returns to the global stage with an even more immersive and interactive experience.

Bringing Sound to Life: The Audio-Driven Campsite

At SXSW EXPO Booth #1124, Gaudio Lab will unveil an interactive spatial audio experience, transforming its exhibition space into a campsite where sound becomes the key storytelling element. Using 360-degree binaural rendering, the company’s technology creates a hyper-realistic three-dimensional audio environment, allowing visitors to experience sound with unparalleled depth and immersion.

Designed to showcase next-generation spatial audio applications, this experience demonstrates how sound positioning and depth can enhance media consumption, gaming, and extended reality (XR) content.

AI-Driven Innovation: Beyond Spatial Audio

In addition to its spatial sound technology, Gaudio Lab is expanding its portfolio with AI-powered solutions designed to streamline audio processing across industries. The company will introduce Gaudio Music Replacement, an AI-driven tool that automatically detects and seamlessly replaces copyrighted background music in content, resolving music licensing challenges with minimal manual intervention. Already adopted by major Korean broadcasters, this solution enables fast and efficient global content localization and distribution for film, television, and streaming media.

Gaudio Lab’s expertise in real-time noise removal, audio enhancement, and AI vocal separation positions it as a key player in the evolving audio technology landscape.

Shaping the Future of Audio at SXSW

“SXSW is a hub for innovation, making it the ideal stage for Gaudio Lab to showcase our latest advancements,” said Henney Oh, CEO of Gaudio Lab. “This year, we are excited to present an experience that redefines how people interact with sound—delivering a level of immersion that goes beyond traditional audio technology.”

Gaudio Lab’s immersive experience will be open to SXSW attendees from March 9–12 at SXSW EXPO Booth #1124.

About Gaudio Lab

Gaudio Lab is a leading AI audio technology start-up that was founded in 2015 following the company’s spatial audio technology for headphones was adopted as the binaural renderer for the ISO/IEC MPEG-H Audio standard in 2014. Ever since its establishment, the company has worked to develop technologies to deliver superior audio experiences wherever there is sound, gaining the attention and support from top global strategic investors such as Softbank Ventures, Samsung Venture Investment and Naver Corp. Across and between reality and virtual reality, Gaudio Lab’s solutions will continue to provide optimized audio on a diverse range of platforms such as earbuds, smartphones, VOD, VR/AR, theaters, automotives and more. Gaudio Lab secured two consecutive CES Innovation Awards (2024/2023), finalist nominated for the SXSW Innovation Award (2024), adopted the ANSI/CTA international standard (2022), and obtained recognition through the adoption of the ISO/IEC MPEG-H international standard (2018, 2013). The company was also honored with the VR Awards for the Best VR Innovation Company in London (2017).

NEW YORK, Feb. 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — BUYING SQUARE, operator of the next-generation digital wholesale platform Catalog Shop, unveiled its experiential brand showroom, VIBE TWLV, in Brooklyn, New York. The 4,270-square-foot space on Berry Street in Williamsburg enhances the neighborhood’s vibrant artistic landscape, joining nearby luxury fashion houses such as Hermès and Chanel, and global streetwear retailers like Supreme and Kith.

Under the concept of “SUPERNORMAL UNIVERSE,” VIBE TWLV is a unique cultural complex that defies conventional retail logic by harmonizing diverse art forms. The name combines “VIBE,” symbolizing complete spiritual communion, and “TWELVE,” considered the most perfect number, to create a compelling spatial narrative. The interior design incorporates signature retail elements while serving as a platform to amplify the creativity of participating artists and designers through regular brand installations and performances.

“VIBE TWLV will be more than a retail space; it’s an authentic artistic hub where brands, artists and cult followings directly participate,” said Evan Choi, founder of VIBE TWLV.

The space features DMX lighting and modern displays that respond dynamically to the background music, creating a captivating visual experience. Movable, independent modular showcases house a curated mix of pieces from global designers, including Martine Rose, KidSuper, Hed Mayner, JUUN.J, RECTO, and Post Archive Faction, and can be reconfigured for runway shows and DJ parties. Sleek, super-mirror metal sculptures and witty furniture designs in striking colors add distinct energy to the space. A centrally located mystery box promises intriguing interactions between shoppers and the environment, ultimately focusing on facilitating brand growth while embracing designers’ aspirations for innovation and originality.

This year, VIBE TWLV plans to spotlight emerging South Korean fashion brands, designers, and artists with distinctive voices in New York, a global fashion capital. Through experiential retail strategies, the showroom aims to boost brand recognition and serve as a launchpad for international market entry, leveraging precise insights and in-depth analysis of segmented global fashion consumer demands. Beginning February 28, the space will host the ‘URBAN KAWAII: HYPER-HYBRID’ exhibition in collaboration with Gallery STAN, showcasing works by six of Korea’s leading pop art creators.

VIBE TWLV, which has redefined experiential retail by establishing a dynamic commercial and cultural hub in Williamsburg, recently received the ‘Asia Design Prize 2025‘ in recognition of its innovative spatial adaptability and forward-thinking design. Standout features of the space include a naturally lit VIP room for private shopping experiences, an infinity room encased in infinite lighting and three-sided mirrors, outdoor signage employing LED animation boxes, and interior displays showcasing immersive video art by graphic artist Deok-hyeong Lee (DHL).

VIBE TWLV SHOWROOM NEW YORK
50 BERRY STREET, BROOKLYN, NEW YORK

About BUYING SQUARE

BUYING SQUARE, an innovative South Korean startup, operates Catalog Shop, a B2B solution based on digital product catalogs that addresses inefficiencies in traditional wholesale trading. Catalog Shop is a next-generation brand wholesale platform that visualizes original wholesale product information through standardized product catalog creation and provides comprehensive brand wholesale process management. Using proprietary AI technology, it automatically generates standardized product catalogs from unstructured brand wholesale product data including Excel, PDF, and image files. Global buyers can select their preferred language and currency on Catalog Shop and immediately add desired products to their cart for ordering.

Leveraging partnerships with numerous brands and wholesalers, along with distinctive big data refinement technology, BUYING SQUARE achieved transactions worth KRW 8 billion (approximately USD 5.5M) in its first year and surpassed KRW 140 billion (approximately USD 97M) in cumulative transactions by 2024, its fifth year of operation.

In October 2024, BUYING SQUARE became the first Korean B2B distribution company to open a 4,270-square-foot experiential brand showroom, ‘VIBE TWLV,’ in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. As a total platform integrating fashion with comprehensive cultural arts, ‘VIBE TWLV’ hosts diverse regular events including exhibitions, concerts, fashion shows, parties, and order sessions. The showroom maximizes offline spatial flexibility through easily dismantled, transported, and reassembled modular furniture and fixtures. This year, BUYING SQUARE plans to expand its global brand and buyer network through brand incubation, creative content collaborations, and promising K-brand exhibitions and runways utilizing this space.

Headquartered in Seoul, the company also operates offices in New York, Shanghai, Tokyo, and Kowloon.

Website: official.buying-square.com/en

• Successfully signed an export contract with European home appliance distributor Mares… Initial shipment of thousand units, with plans to increase volume.
• Targets Europe’s high food waste disposal costs… Minix food waste compost dryer, a compact electric composter, chosen as a strategic solution.
• Participating in the Chicago Housewares Show (HIS)… Aims to elevate the status of Korean home appliances in the U.S., the heart of the industry.

SEOUL, South Korea, Feb. 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — AtHome (CEO Yang Jeong-ho) is gaining momentum both domestically and internationally with its home appliance brand Minix, which aims to maximize space efficiency. Minix’s flagship product, the food waste compost dryer, has sold 150,000 units in South Korea within just 17 months since its launch in September 2023. In light of this success, AtHome has designated the Minix food waste compost dryer as a strategic product for global expansion and has begun securing overseas distribution channels.

On February 5, AtHome officially signed an export contract with Mares, a European home appliance distributor with over 40 years of experience and headquartered in Italy. AtHome will supply an initial batch of thousand of Minix food waste compost dryer units, making the product available to European consumers.

AtHome had previously explored entry into the European market by showcasing the Minix food waste compost dryer at the IFA 2024 exhibition in Berlin last September. At the time, the product’s excellent performance, affordable pricing, and sleek, compact design attracted interest from multiple local distributors. Additionally, Europe’s high food waste disposal costs were a key factor that contributed to securing this export deal.

AtHome is also set to participate in The Inspired Home Show 2025, North America’s largest and most prestigious housewares exhibition with a 125-year history. The event will take place from March 2–4 in Chicago, where the company will operate a promotional booth showcasing Minix food waste compost dryer, along with its dishwashers and mini dryers. Given that approximately 40% of food in the U.S. goes to waste, the company anticipates significant consumer interest in its food waste compost dryer, which offers an efficient solution to the country’s ongoing food waste problem.

“AtHome’s recent Series A investment of KRW 18 billion (approximately USD 13.5 million) from major Korean venture capital firms—including Korea Investment Partners, Shinhan Venture Investment, and Hana Ventures—has played a crucial role in accelerating Minix’s global expansion, including its export contract with Mares and participation in international exhibitions,” said CEO Yang Jeong-ho. “We will continue to grow Minix as a leading K-appliance brand that is loved worldwide.”