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PolyU to launch three research centres under InnoHK Clusters

By
Laotian Times
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HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 12 October 2021 – In support of the Hong Kong government’s new initiative, InnoHK Clusters, which aims to develop Hong Kong as a hub for global research collaboration, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has joined forces with world-leading institutions to develop research centres under two newly established research clusters – AIR@InnoHK (focusing on artificial intelligence and robotics technologies) and Health@InnoHK (focusing on healthcare related technologies), in a bid to bring together leading researchers from around the world to conduct impactful collaborative research in Hong Kong.

Laboratory for Artificial Intelligence in Design (AiDLab)

 

Centre for Advances in Reliability and Safety (CAiRS)

Centre for Eye and Vision Research (CEVR)

PolyU is pleased to establish three world-class research centres at the Hong Kong Science Park under the government-funded InnoHK initiative. These three centres, which have commenced operation, are i) the Laboratory for Artificial Intelligence in Design (AiDLab), ii) the Centre for Advances in Reliability and Safety (CAiRS), and iii) the Centre for Eye and Vision Research (CEVR).  

 

PolyU has also become the first local collaborating institution of the “Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics, Hong Kong Institute of Science & Innovation, Chinese Academy of Sciences”. Established by the Institute of Automation of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), the Centre has been admitted to AIR@InnoHK under InnoHK Clusters. With a longstanding and close collaborative relationship, PolyU and CAS, based on their existing cooperation, will further conduct in-depth research collaboration and academic exchange activities in frontier research in data science and artificial intelligence, to jointly promote the development of the AI industry.

 

Deputy President and Provost of PolyU, Professor Wing-tak Wong, is pleased with the University’s contribution to the InnoHK initiative, stating that, “Innovation and technology (I&T) has always been one of the key drivers of economic development. With the rapid development of the Nation and the Greater Bay Area bringing unprecedented opportunities for I&T, Hong Kong will play an even more important role in the ongoing process of innovation.” He added, “By partnering with world-acclaimed institutions to establish research centres in InnoHK’s two research clusters, PolyU hopes to fully leverage each institution’s academic strengths to bring about significant research breakthroughs, and thereby create impactful technology that boosts the economy and brings benefits to society.”

 

Professor Naren Barfield, Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Provost of the Royal College of Art said, “We are delighted to partner with PolyU to establish a world-class centre for research in Artificial Intelligence and Design. This strategic partnership integrates AI into the design of products and services, delivering vital research to understand the future of society and the economy, interrogating our future requirements and humanising the fourth industrial revolution. As the world’s leading art and design university, the Royal College of Art brings to AiDLab its expertise in cross-disciplinary research, human-centred design and creative innovation, to shape the industrial and social futures of the 21st century.”

 

Professor Michael G. Pecht, Director of the Center for Advanced Life Cycle Engineering (CALCE) of the University of Maryland, College Park, USA said, “CAiRS is a collaboration between PolyU and CALCE, that aims to conduct research and development to enable advanced design and manufacturing, and to test the next generation of reliable and safe electronics and components for transportation, consumer products, telecommunication systems, public utilities and other applications in Hong Kong. Together, we hope to create a new paradigm for reliability science and promote customised product health management for different industry sectors, using real-time, in-situ, artificial intelligence-based reliability and safety analytics.” 

 

Bob Lemieux, Dean of Science at the University of Waterloo said, “We are proud to be partnering with an exceptional institution like PolyU on this critical initiative. CEVR is already bringing the University of Waterloo’s entrepreneurial culture to Hong Kong as the research team tackles the world’s biggest questions in the field of vision science – from discovery and clinical application to commercialisation.”

 

Going forward, PolyU will continue its efforts in addressing the ever-changing needs of society by promoting high-impact research and fostering collaborations with world-leading institutes, industry partners as well as the government, in order to contribute further to the future research clusters of InnoHK.

 

Laboratory for Artificial Intelligence in Design (AiDLab)

In collaboration with the Royal College of Art, UK, PolyU established the AiDLab under the AIR@InnoHK cluster to integrate innovative AI technologies into design to address society’s needs for creativity, efficiency and customisation of products and services. AiDLab is the world’s first research laboratory specialising in interdisciplinary AI and design innovations. Its cutting-edge research will create impacts on society, industry and policy that enhance quality of life. Three research programmes at AiDLab include Ergonomic and Inclusive Design, Innovation in Product and Service Design, and Intelligent Fashion Design and Quality Control.

 

Centre for Advances in Reliability and Safety (CAiRS)

CAiRS has been initiated by PolyU under the AIR@InnoHK cluster and the key research collaborator is the University of Maryland, College Park, USA. CAiRS’ mission is to develop new approaches using AI methodologies for customised management, and to ensure the reliability and safety of products and systems used in robotics, medical devices, vehicles, telecommunication, consumer products, public utilities, transportation, microelectronics, power devices, sensors and IoT products as well as a broad range of Advanced Manufacturing applications. These research applications and deliverables will contribute significantly in Smart City development. Five research programmes at CAiRS, namely Anomaly Detection and Syndromic Surveillance, Innovative Diagnostics for Product Health Management, Prognostics for Remaining Useful Life Assessment, Safety Assurance to improve Functional Safety, and Data Analytics Platform for Reliability have commenced.  

 

Centre for Eye and Vision Research (CEVR)

Under the Health@InnoHK cluster, CEVR has been set up as a joint partnership between PolyU and the University of Waterloo, Canada. CEVR promotes eye health with clinical, basic and applied research, and develops ground-breaking technologies to prevent vision loss and preserve sight among the ageing population. CEVR runs five research programmes, namely Myopia and Eye Growth, Ocular Drug Discovery and Delivery, Vision Enhancement, Tear Film and Ocular Surface, and Advanced Optometric Technology.

For more details about InnoHK, please visit: https://www.itc.gov.hk/en/technological_infrastructure/innohk_clusters.html

#PolyU

Virtuos Bolsters European Presence with its New Lyon Studio

By
Laotian Times
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The new studio increases Virtuos’ global footprint and strengthens its ability to meet demand across key gaming centers in Europe and worldwide

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 12 October 2021 – Virtuos, a leading global video game development company, today announced the establishment of a new studio in Lyon, France’s second major video game development center after Paris. This expansion is a key part of Virtuos’ buy-and-build strategy to increase its global footprint, as well as its proximity to clients.

The studio’s founding team of 12 experienced programmers will be led by Aurélien Kerbeci and Domenico Albani.

 

Aurélien Kerbeci, Studio Director, will oversee Virtuos Lyon’s studio operations. Aurélien has over 17 years of video game industry experience, including a team lead role at ELB Games and his subsequent founding of Agharta Studio, where he developed original game franchises for mobile, desktop, and PlayStation platforms.

 

Domenico Albani, Technical Director, will lead the studio’s game development team. Domenico, who was the former co-founder of OSome Studio, brings with him close to 20 years of experience across gameplay, tech programming and engineering, as well as software architecture at leading video game development companies such as Eden Games.

 

“We’re excited to welcome Aurélien, Domenico, and the rest of the talented founding team at Lyon to the Virtuos family. Not only is the team culturally aligned with Virtuos, they are also equipped with the deep engineering and domain expertise that will play a critical role in ensuring our continued success. With this expansion, we are well-positioned to accelerate our growth to meet and exceed the demands from our clients,” said Christophe Gandon, Head of Game Division at Virtuos.

 

“As we continue to collectively chart new territories in the gaming sector, Virtuos’ keen focus on upskilling its workforce ensures that employees remain at the forefront of new techniques and technologies. We are invested in continuous talent development, and in line with our growth trajectory, are always on the lookout for people to join our teams,” said Aurélien Kerbeci, Studio Director, Virtuos Lyon.

 

“It’s an honour to join a company as esteemed as Virtuos, and together, we look forward to pushing the envelope in our industry, where cutting-edge technology is concerned. We’re excited to share our knowledge with the wider team and to closely collaborate with our colleagues in Paris and across the world to deliver the best gaming solutions to our partners,” said Domenico Albani, Technical Director, Virtuos Lyon.

 

Virtuos’ opening of its Lyon studio comes on the back of a USD150 million investment from Baring Private Equity Asia in September to finance its buy-and-build strategy in different geographies and fast track investments across its global studio network.

About Virtuos

Founded in 2004, Virtuos is a leading global video game development company headquartered in Singapore with studios across Asia, Europe, and North America. With over 2,500 full-time professionals, Virtuos specializes in game development and 3D art production for AAA consoles, PC, and mobile titles, enabling its partners to generate additional revenues and achieve greater operational efficiency.

For over a decade, Virtuos has successfully delivered high-quality content for more than 1,300 projects and its clients include 18 of the top 20 digital entertainment companies worldwide. More information at www.virtuosgames.com.

#Virtuos

Laos Confirms 549 New Cases of Covid-19 and Three New Deaths

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Laotian Times
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Xaysomboun Covid-19 Update

Laos has recorded 549 new cases of Covid-19 and three new deaths across the country today.

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Mead Johnson Nutrition Hong Kong Launches Citywide Can Recycling Incentive Scheme

By
Laotian Times
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Recycle empty formula cans at HKTVmall O2O shops to redeem e-vouchers and build green habits

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 12 October 2021 – Mead Johnson Nutrition Hong Kong (“Mead Johnson”) partners with 24-hour online shopping mall, HKTVmall under Hong Kong Technology Venture Company Limited (“HKTVmall”) and the World Green Organisation (“WGO”) again to launch the largest-scale “We CAN Protect the Future” Formula Cans Recycling Program in Hong Kong. Following the success of its pilot program launched earlier this year at the 6 collection points at HKTVmall O2O shops, Mead Johnson has upgraded and extended the program coverage to 35 collection points across Hong Kong, and team up with parents to build a cleaner and more sustainable world for our future generations, nurturing their best start in life.

From now until 24 December 2021, citizens can return cleaned formula cans from all brands to any of the 35 designated HKTVmall O2O shops across Hong Kong and redeem an e-voucher (HKTVmall HK$400 Mead Johnson selected products or HK$50 Dettol selected products) for each successful return. [1] All collected formula cans will be processed at a local recycling plant and turned into recyclable molten metal. The entire recycling process is supervised by the WGO to ensure all recycled cans will be transformed appropriately into recycled material to reduce environmental burden and promote green economy in Hong Kong.

 

To encourage active participation in the program and further enhance environmental awareness of the public, Mead Johnson and the WGO will also organise parent-child formula cans upcycling workshops at different shopping malls from October to December 2021. The workshops will bring children their first environmental protection experience. The workshops expect to cover approximately 300 participants. Further details will be announced.

 

The pilot program launched by Mead Johnson at the beginning of 2021 received overwhelming responses from the public and was successful in promoting the importance of cans recycling among over 50,000 parents. More than 1,500 formula cans were collected and recycled within a short period of time through 6 HKTVmall O2O shops.

 

“Mead Johnson has been working side by side with parents to safeguard our environment and address social issues in the city for many years, guided by its mission to nourish the best start in life for our next generation,” said Mr. Pankaj Agarwal, General Manager, Hong Kong, Taiwan & Cross-Border of Mead Johnson Nutrition (Hong Kong) Limited. “Our pilot program achieved great success by establishing a convenient and reliable one-stop recycling channel for consumers. Through our partnership with HKTVmall and the WGO, we endeavour to optimise parents’ recycling experience by enhancing the program’s accessibility through extended HKTVmall O2O network, encouraging parents to recycle and help build a sustainable future together.”

 

Ms. Jelly Zhou, Chief Executive Officer (Hong Kong) at Hong Kong Technology Venture Company Limited, added, “HKTVmall has been a strong advocate for sustainable shopping. We are pleased to team up with Mead Johnson and the WGO again to launch this meaningful recycling scheme. Through the addition of O2O shops as collection points, we encourage the public to integrate waste reduction and recycling into daily life and enhance their environmental awareness. We will continue to fulfill our social responsibility through corporate partnerships to bring positive impacts on our community.” HKTVmall encourages citizens’ participation in the recycling program by offering 35 collection points across Hong Kong under its O2O network.

 

Dr. William Yu, Founder & Chief Executive Officer of the World Green Organisation, said “Corporations have a big role to play in sustainability. We are glad to see how Mead Johnson is pioneering in formula cans recycling by promoting collaboration between retailer and green group and expanding its recycling network. This program is one of the role models for sustainability development in Hong Kong.” The WGO acts as advisor for the program, providing professional advice for improving the can recycling mechanism and environmental education.

 

“We CAN Protect the Future” Formula Cans Recycling Program runs every Monday and Wednesday from 6 October to 24 December 2021 at 35 designated HKTVmall O2O shops.

For more details, please visit: https://bit.ly/3Bzmej8


[1] The Formula Cans Recycling Program runs every Monday and Wednesday from 6 October to 24 December 2021 at 35 designated HKTVmall O2O shops. Participants can redeem an e-voucher for every successful return of a cleaned formula can, up to four e-vouchers per day. Distribution of e-vouchers may vary depending on availability at different shops. E-vouchers are available on a first-come, first-served basis while stocks last and check with the on-duty staff for details on collection day. Offers are subject to terms and conditions and can be found here: https://bit.ly/3mmvu3x

About Mead Johnson Nutrition (Hong Kong) Limited

Mead Johnson Nutrition has been established for more than a century since 1905. As world’s renowned infant and child nutrition brand, Mead Johnson Nutrition has led the way in developing science-based pediatric nutrition products, guided by the mission to nourish the world’s children for the best start in life. Currently, Mead Johnson Nutrition provides more than 70 products in over 50 countries.

With excellent quality, Mead Johnson Nutrition has earned trust by nutritionists and parents. Its dedicated and rigorous attitude, continuous innovation, tireless pursuit of excellence and caring feedback to the community have also helped it establish a good brand image.

Mead Johnson Nutrition (Hong Kong) Limited has landed for a half century, providing Hong Kong parents with high quality, science-based products, various parenting information and professional advice, gaining trust and support from parents.

Mead Johnson Nutrition’s scientists and healthcare professionals are paying efforts on the formula for children with special nutrition needs and Mead Johnson Nutrition is one of the very few brands that insists to produce the formula for metabolic disorders’ children, giving hopes to them.

For more information visit http://www.meadjohnson.com.hk/

#MeadJohnsonNutrition

About Hong Kong Technology Venture Company Limited

Hong Kong Technology Venture Company Limited is a Hong Kong-listed company (SEHK: 1137).

Established in 1992, the Group has extensive and successful experience in telecom market liberalization and popularizing advanced technology and applications.

HKTVmall is the largest 24-hour online shopping mall in Hong Kong and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hong Kong Technology Venture Company Limited. HKTVmall provides one-stop shop services including online shopping, marketing & digital advertising, big data analysis, smart logistics & fulfilment as well as physical O2O stores, and to transform all business operation, trading, retail, finance and daily life onto a single digital online platform to establish a unique digital ecosystem. For more information, visit www.hktv.com.hk.

About World Green Organisation

The World Green Organisation (WGO) is an independent non-governmental organisation concerned with environmental conservation and environmentally related livelihood and economic affairs. It provides a holistic approach to a fully integrated three-pronged solution that combines social, environmental and economic dimensions for a paradigm shift towards low-carbon and climate-resilient development pathways.

Through science-based policy research and community projects, the WGO aims to enhance the quality of the environment, promote a greener economy, and improve people’s livelihoods. In particular, it will focus on the social concerns of underprivileged groups and on the creation of a green economy, to help realise its vision of sustainable development. For more information, visit www.thewgo.org/website/eng/.

Singapore SMEs Benefit From Customized Skilling And Talent Development With Microsoft’s Let’s Skill Up Program

By
Laotian Times
-

Microsoft and SkillsFuture Singapore partner to help local small and medium enterprises close skills gap by tailoring skills paths and transforming workplace learning practices

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 12 October 2021 – Since the launch of the Let’s Skill Up program earlier this year, Microsoft Singapore has enabled more than 30 local small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in their partner ecosystem to uplift skills capabilities and strengthen workplace learning practices.

Identifying skills gap and delivering curated training for SMEs

As reported in a study by ASME-Microsoft, many SMEs find themselves facing delays in their digital transformation plans due to COVID-19, in addition to challenges in manpower and skilling. In addressing the issue, Microsoft Singapore partnered SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG) to create the Microsoft Let’s Skill Up Program as part of the SkillsFuture Queen Bee initiative to reach out to the SMEs directly, and work with them to identify skills gaps in their businesses and curate customized training programs for their employees. SMEs can also enjoy enhanced absentee payroll support funding to help them defray their manpower costs when they send employees for training courses supported by SSG. 

 

The program has seen great success to date and exceeded expectations. Since its launch, more than 30 SMEs have joined the Microsoft Let’s Skill Up program with at least 79 employees from these SMEs undergoing upskilling in IT, in areas such as Microsoft Azure, security, modern workplace, business applications.

 

“As a distributor, we feel the Let’s Skill Up Program is a meaningful and timely program for our partners as they are able to access tailored skills advisory from Microsoft and fast-track the skilling pathways for their employees. This is a great relief in the midst of our busyness and we are glad that there is finally someone who is thinking of and taking care of our skills development needs. We highly recommend this program for those looking to upskill their staff.” said Adrian Heng, Business Development Manager, Rhipe.

 

Vinc Tan, Director, VGC Technology shares how the business has benefitted from the program. “As an IT outsourcing company, we are committed to helping our clients migrate to the Microsoft Azure Cloud as they power hybrid work. Microsoft’s Let’s Skill Up program has provided us access to a pool of skilling resources such as HelpDesk/IT Support , which has been essential in helping our employees support our customers on their digital transformation journey.

 

Strengthening workplace learning practices through inculcating a culture of innovation

A hallmark of the Microsoft Let’s Skill Up Program is the introduction of workplace learning to the SMEs.  A huge amount of time is spent learning on the job, and workplace learning has been shown to be effective in optimizing work performance and improving employee engagement and retention. By applying workplace practices to learn, unlearn, relearn, and reimagine innovation, business leaders can chart a course for themselves and their employees to embrace tech intensity and foster more collaborative learning.

 

Oh Kwang Leong, Managing Director, Nanyang Tech shares, “Human resources have always been the most valuable asset in our company and Microsoft’s Let’s Skill Up Program has shown us how we could further upskill our workforce and create a structure to harness learning at the workplace.  We are very appreciative of their support”.

 

“With analytics and professional services as our core businesses, our people have always been our priority. Microsoft’s Let’s Skill Up Program has given us valuable exposure to deepen our learning and development expertise and create opportunities to accelerate a culture of innovation through people development,” said Matthew Choo, co-founder, ClayOps.

 

To further meet the SMEs’ hiring needs, Microsoft has taken on the additional role to facilitate job placements through the SGUnited Mid-Career Pathways Program, SGUnited Skills Program, SkillsFuture Work-Study Program.

Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT” @microsoft) enables digital transformation for the era of an intelligent cloud and an intelligent edge. Its mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more.

China Oil Gangran Announces Two Strategic Agreements

By
Laotian Times
-

Plans to Acquire 51% Equity Interest in Shandong Pan-Asia

To Invest in State Key Projects – Yantai Xigang LNG Projects

 

Enters into Potential Financing Agreement with Beijing Qinglu Zhongbing

 

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 12 October 2021 – China Oil Gangran Energy Group Holdings Limited (“China Oil Gangran” or the “Company”, together with its subsidiaries, the “Group”, SEHK stock code: 8132), which has received shareholder approval to be renamed “Century Energy International Holdings Limited”, announces two strategic cooperation agreements in relation to business development and financing arrangement. With respect to business development, on 10 October 2021, the Group entered into a non-legally binding strategic cooperation framework agreement (the “Framework Agreement”) with Yantai Yindu Industry Co., Ltd. (“Yantai Yindu”) and Shandong Pan-Asia International Energy Distribution Center Co., Ltd. (“Shandong Pan-Asia”) which will result in the acquisition of a 51% equity interest in Shandong Pan-Asia. Through this agreement, the Group will be able to invest in Yantai Xigang liquefied natural gas (“LNG”) receiving terminal and gas pipelines projects. Subsequently on 11 October 2021, the Group entered into a non-legally binding strategic cooperation agreement (the “Cooperation Agreement”) with Beijing Qinglu Zhongbing Asset Management Co., Ltd (“Beijing Qinglu Zhongbing”), under which the two parties may establish funds or joint venture companies to provide funding, if needed, to support the Group’s future business development needs.

 

The Framework Agreement about the Yantai Xigang LNG Project is the first major project the Group has pursued in the field of energy and environment following its appointment of a new management team comprising industry heavyweights, marking an important step on the path of business transformation.

 

According to the Framework Agreement, the Group proposes to acquire from Yantai Yindu a 51% equity interest in Shandong Pan-Asia, through which the Group will invest in the Yantai Xigang LNG receiving terminal and the LNG gas pipelines projects, as well as obtaining the access rights and operation and management rights of both projects. After the completion of the acquisition, the Group plans to develop and operate LNG import and trading business domestically and internationally where appropriate, and downstream sales and marketing of LNG in China through Shandong Pan-Asia or its subsidiaries.

 

Furthermore, in order to broaden the channels of financing and further reduce financing costs, the Group has entered into a Cooperation Agreement with Beijing Qinglu Zhongbing, under which the two parties may establish funds or joint venture companies to source funding in support of the business development and investment projects of the Group. Beijing Qinglu Zhongbing may further develop and expand its business by leveraging its expertise in the financial services business and business connections, to assist the potential acquisitions and resources integration of the Group. Beijing Qinglu Zhongbing was established in the PRC in 2017. It obtained the qualification of private equity investment fund manager as approved by the Asset Management Association of China in the same year.

 

Mr. Cheung Yip-sang, the Chief Executive Officer of the Group said, “We are pleased to announce the two strategic cooperation agreements which mark a major step in our business development and financing. It is with much excitement that we will be able to invest in the construction and operation of Yantai Xigang LNG terminal, a State key project, to capture opportunities from the “Belt and Road” initiative and the National 14th Five-Year energy strategic plan. The funding arrangement we have entered into with Beijing Qinglu will provide us access to new investors and lower cost of capital when the need arises.  These two major strides are expected to benefit our business development and accelerate our business transformation.”

About Shandong Pan-Asia International Energy Distribution Center Co., Ltd.

Shandong Pan-Asia is a company established in the People’s Republic of China in 2016, principally engaged in port terminals and warehouse management. As the major shareholder, Shandong Pan-Asia involved in the preparation, development and construction of Yantai Xigang LNG receiving terminal project and the LNG gas pipelines project. Phase I of Yantai Xigang LNG receiving terminal developed a LNG receiving berth and auxiliary storage tank facilities, with processing capability of 6 million tonnes per year in aggregate. It has commenced construction in 2020, and it is expected to put into operation by the end of 2023. LNG gas pipelines run 537 kilometers across the main natural gas consumption regions in Shandong province, with a diameter of 1,219mm. Its designed transmission capacity is 23 billion cubic kilometres per year, and it is expected to put into operation in 2023.

About China Oil Gangran Energy Group Holdings Limited (SEHK stock code: 8132)

China Oil Gangran Energy Group Holdings Limited, to be renamed “Century Energy International Holdings Limited”, is an emerging energy company with a corporate mission to “Benefit People’s Livelihood with Clean Energy and Technology and Innovation”. The Company focuses on the development of the clean energy industry chain and adeptly utilises the R&D results of frontier technology in order to explore and advance industrialisation in energy technology and to connect and integrate with quality projects and resources in China and overseas. The Company aims to create substantial synergy between capital, technology, business and operational management and strives to establish its core competitiveness in the fields of new energy materials, energy saving and environmental protection and digital technologies for energy safety, developing into a respected technological energy corporation with influence across the industry.

#ChinaOilGangran

Thailand to Reopen for Vaccinated Visitors from 10 Countries in November

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Laotian Times
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Thailand to reopen in November

Thailand has announced it will lift Covid-19 quarantine requirements for fully vaccinated tourists from ten low-risk countries this November.

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CSG Acquires DGIT Systems, Enhances Ease of Delivery and Monetization of Digital Ecosystems

By
Laotian Times
-

Enhanced quote and order capabilities enable communication service providers to quickly bring dynamic content ecosystems to market, boosting customer acquisition, loyalty and satisfaction

DENVER, US – News Direct – 11 October 2021 – CSG® (NASDAQ: CSGS) is transforming the way companies engage with their customers by arming today’s leading brands with future-ready, innovative solutions that drive extraordinary customer experiences. Today the company announced the acquisition of DGIT Systems, a provider of configure, price and quote (CPQ) and order management solutions for the telecoms industry. The acquisition brings together industry leading solutions specifically designed to streamline the complexities of commercializing the next era of multi-party digital offerings that will drive business growth for communications service providers (CSPs).

Order processing and management is often the root of frustration for CSPs when delivering complex data and digital services to B2B and multi-play B2C customers. As CSPs push to leverage the massive bandwidth and low latency of 5G and edge architectures, order processing demands will continue to rise alongside customer service expectations. By extending CSG’s solution footprint with DGIT’s CPQ and order management capabilities, CSG is primed to help operators tackle one of their greatest challenges and enable them to easily deliver multi-party digital offerings through an ecosystem of partners to all customers so that they can increase customer acquisition, loyalty and satisfaction.

“CSG’s acquisition of DGIT Systems uniquely positions us to help CSPs win in their quest to deliver next-gen, 5G digital offerings that will excite both consumers and enterprises,” said Ken Kennedy, COO and president of revenue management and digital monetization, CSG. “With consumer services at the peak of commoditization, the greatest opportunity now lies in the B2B and B2B2X sectors. This paradigm shift means operators need integrated technologies, like CSG’s monetization suite, that can ease the complexities of delivering dynamic, interoperable ecosystems across a multitude of partners. With this acquisition, CSPs can easily deploy CSG’s end-to-end solutions to seamlessly deliver multi-party digital offerings to all customer segments and, in parallel, automate onboarding, innovation and settlement with a rich network of partners.”

The combined CSG and DGIT solution provides a TM Forum Conformance Certified, modern, open and decoupled architecture that provides the flexibility for CSPs to innovate and implement new digital services. Additional capabilities include:

  • Catalog: An active, rules-driven catalog based on TM Forum’s Open APIs that visually builds offers from components in design time, including service and resource layers, then drives system behavior at run time.
  • Configure, price and quote: A powerful CPQ solution completely automates configuration, pricing and quote management for the most complex products and services, including live pricing, pricing policies, discounts and workflow driven approval processes.
  • Order management: A catalog-driven order management system with reusable processes and visual configuration provides proactive communication, transparent fulfillment, trouble-free activation and order orchestration that includes manual and third-party system hand-offs, jeopardy management and automated escalation processes.
  • Monetization: Sophisticated monetization processes simplify the management of complex rating, charging, payments and settlements.

“As the market places greater focus on B2B and B2B2x service models, robust CPQ and order management solutions can greatly reduce provisioning and billing errors, which are two of the leading causes of customer dissatisfaction for communications service providers today,” said Karl Whitelock, IDC research vice president, communications service provider operations and monetization. “CSPs are starting to invest in solutions that can help them to monetize these complex business relationships along with empowering them to manage the various parts of their digital ecosystems, especially partner resource accountability and settlement. Technology suppliers, such as CSG, who are building out comprehensive ecosystem commercialization solutions, play a pivotal role in the ongoing transformation of their CSP customers.”

“DGIT’s strategic partnership with CSG highlights the value of our combined portfolio to the communications market,” said Greg Tilton, founder and CEO, DGIT. “This acquisition brings the advantages of global scale and a world leading monetization portfolio to both DGIT and our customers. Together with CSG, we can help CSPs thrive in today’s digital-first world.”

CSG is a leader in the Gartner Magic Quadrant for Integrated Revenue and Customer Management, helping companies around the world digitally transform their business to monetize and create extraordinary customer experiences. For more information on CSG’s configure, price, quote and order management solutions, visit https://www.csgi.com/capabilities/revenue-and-customer-management/configure-price-quote-and-order/.

About DGIT Systems

DGIT Systems is a provider of software and services to digital and communications service providers, including catalog, configure, price and quote (CPQ), order capture, provisioning, and inventory management. Our cutting-edge technologies create intuitive, flexible and highly customizable solutions that can seamlessly automate and effortlessly manage the complete, end-to-end, opportunity-to-operate journey for digital and communications services. Headquartered in Melbourne, Australia, DGIT operates globally with approximately 70 service provider customers in 18 countries.

About CSG

CSG is a leader in innovative customer engagement, revenue management and payments solutions that make ordinary customer experiences extraordinary. Our cloud-first architecture and customer-obsessed mindset help companies around the world launch new digital services, expand into new markets, and create dynamic experiences that capture new customers and build brand loyalty. For nearly 40 years, CSG’s technologies and people have helped some of the world’s most recognizable brands solve their toughest business challenges and evolve to meet the demands of today’s digital economy with future-ready solutions that drive exceptional customer experiences. With 5,000 employees in over 20 countries, CSG is the trusted technology provider for leading global brands in telecommunications, retail, financial services and healthcare. Our solutions deliver real world outcomes to more than 900 customers in over 120 countries. To learn more, visit us at csgi.com and connect with us on LinkedIn and Twitter.

Copyright © 2021 CSG Systems International, Inc. and/or its affiliates (“CSG”). All rights reserved. CSG® is a registered trademark of CSG Systems International, Inc. All third-party trademarks, service marks, and/or product names which are referenced in this document are the property of their respective owners, and all rights therein are reserved.

#CSG

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