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ASMPT Announces 2021 First Quarter Results

By
Laotian Times
-

Record Bookings of US$1.01 Billion in Q1 2021 Backed By Broad-Based Demand

 

Highlights

(in HK$ million)

Q1 2021

QoQ

YoY

Bookings1

7,827.6
(US$1.01 billion )

+86.4%

+73.4%

Revenue1

4,336.9

(US$559.3 million)

+0.6%

+45.6%

Gross Margin1, 2 (%)

39.6%

+412 bps

+268 bps

Net Profit1, 2, 3

528.4

+52.9%

+1,972.2%

Net Profit Margin1, 2, 3 (%)

12.2%

+416 bps

+1,133 bps

Notes

1 excluding contribution from Materials Segment, which was deconsolidated and equity accounted since 29 December 2020

2 excluding one-off items and related tax impacts recorded in Q4 2020

3 including share of Q1 2021 results from Advanced Assembly Materials International Limited (AAMI), a joint-venture

Highlights for Q1 2021

  • ­ Revenue of HK$4.34 billion (US$559.3 million) exceeded top end of revenue guidance
  • ­ Record bookings of HK$7.83 billion (US$1.01 billion) surpassed guidance and generated:

o A strong backlog of HK$9.38 billion (US$1.21 billion), a 58.2% QoQ increase
o A book-to-bill ratio of 1.80

  • ­ Gross margin improvement of 268 bps YoY and 412 bps QoQ
  • ­ Net profit of HK$528.4 million, including share of results from AAMI
  • ­ Record cash and bank deposits of HK$4.61 billion as of 31 March 2021

Revenue Guidance for Q2 2021

­ US$600 million to US$650 million

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 21 April 2021 – ASM Pacific Technology Limited (“ASMPT” / the “Group”) (Stock code: 0522) announced its quarterly results for the three months ended 31 March 2021. ASMPT’s technologies enable its diverse range of customers to create a wide range of semiconductor and electronic products and services for the digitally-enabled world.

Amidst stronger signs of improving macro-economic conditions, and a slow and uneven global recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, the Group was able to achieve a strong financial performance. The Group reported revenue of HK$4.34 billion (US$559.3 million) for the quarter from its continuing operations (2020 Q1: HK$2.98 billion, or US$382.6 million). The Group’s consolidated profit after taxation for the period was HK$528.4 million (2020 Q1: HK$25.5 million). Basic earnings per share for the period amounted to HK$1.27 (2020 Q1: HK$0.06).

Revenue performance came from a broad range of factors. For one, customers increased investment in capacity expansion to achieve semiconductor self-sufficiency. There was also continued recovery for automotive and industrial applications, while longer term growth trends including accelerated digital transformation, automotive electrification, and the global 5G roll-out continued to exert their influence.

“Year 2020 was a tumultuous one, but we managed to close it off quite well. I am very pleased that our performance this quarter continues to achieve new heights. With the world’s appetite for silicon showing no sign of slowing down, our market position, our technologies and the fundamentals driving our business and future prospects continue to look bright,” said Mr. Robin Ng, Chief Executive Officer, ASMPT.

Of note, the Group recently received a distinguished 2020 Supplier Achievement Award from Intel Corporation for its COVID-19 response, a special recognition for ensuring uninterrupted supply to them through the pandemic period. “This Award exemplifies our unwavering commitment to customers to continue supporting them well through disruptions caused by the pandemic,” added Robin.

A strong surge of customer demand this quarter drove Group bookings to record levels, to the tune of HK$7.83 billion (US$1.01 billion), significantly exceeding its Q1 bookings guidance (‘more than US$700 million’). This strong YoY growth of 73.4% and QoQ growth of 86.4% in bookings was dominated by the Semiconductor Solutions Segment, while the SMT Solutions Segment also registered record bookings representing strong QoQ increase in demand.

The Group ended the quarter with a strong backlog amounting to HK$9.38 billion (US$1.21 billion) and book-to-bill ratio of 1.80.

SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS SEGMENT

The Semiconductor Solutions Segment delivered strong revenue of HK$2.70 billion (US$348.7 million), representing growth of 78.7% YoY and 13.8% QoQ. Revenue performance was driven by its IC/Discrete Business Unit benefitting from accelerated global digital transformation trends that drove strong demand across a broad range of applications, including mobile & personal computing devices, HPC, 5G infrastructure and devices (particularly China), and both discrete and power management applications related to general automotive, industrial and automotive electrification. Its Optoelectronics Business Unit recorded strong demand from conventional fine-pitch display and general lighting customers while its CIS Business Unit continued to register strong YoY and QoQ increase in bookings.

At the product level, the Segment’s mainstream die and wire bonders dominated deliveries, representing another consecutive quarter of strong YoY and QoQ revenue growth. This reflected intensifying efforts from customers to expand capacity amid rapidly recovering market conditions.

The Segment achieved record bookings of HK$5.31 billion (US$684.9 million) this quarter, reflecting remarkable YoY growth of 120.4% and QoQ growth of 105.3%, with all its three business units recording strong YoY and QoQ bookings growth. In particular, the IC/Discrete Business Unit experienced its highest-ever demand levels, while its CIS Business Unit’s significantly higher QoQ bookings reflected continued momentum in this space.

A notable aspect of its Optoelectronics Business Unit’s performance was the encouraging increase in Mini LED customers taking delivery for high volume manufacturing activities.

SMT SOLUTIONS SEGMENT

The SMT Solutions segment delivered Q1 2021 revenue of HK$1.63 billion (US$210.6 million), representing YoY growth of 11.4% and QoQ decline of 15.5%.

At the product level, mainstream SMT placement and printing tools were its largest revenue contributor. Its high-accuracy SMT systems for SiP applications experienced continued demand, particularly for wearables and 5G-related devices. The Segment’s equipment services and spare parts business also returned to healthy pre-pandemic levels, indicating a normalising of manufacturing activity among its European and Americas-based customers.

Segment Q1 2021 bookings of HK$2.52 billion (US$324.6 million) were at an all-time high, representing an increase of 19.5% YoY and 56.1% QoQ. Growth came from broad-based demand across major end-market applications.

LOOKING AHEAD

Today’s data-centric computing era, along with long-term trends such as 5G, automotive electrification, autonomous driving, AIoT and advanced packaging, is likely to drive significantly higher non-discretionary silicon consumption. The Group’s customers are expected to undertake new rounds of capacity and capability investments to meet these needs.

“We continue to execute well for the near term while keeping our eye on longer-term objectives like sustained profitability and growth,” said Robin. “We have begun executing on a series of strategic initiatives to streamline and improve our business over time, and have already begun to see some of their effects on metrics such as our margins. We are confident about our fundamentals, our relationships with partners and customers, and the long term growth drivers underpinning our industry. We remain focused on shaping a bright and sustainable future for our customers, employees, investors, partners and society.”

Based upon current market expectations and supported by its strong backlog, the Group expects revenue for Q2 2021 to be in the range of US$600 million to US$650 million and revenue for the second half of 2021 to remain strong.

(N.B.: Enclosed please find the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Profit or Loss and Condensed Consolidated Statement of Profit or Loss and other Comprehensive Income of ASM Pacific Technology Limited.)

ASM PACIFIC TECHNOLOGY LIMITED

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF PROFIT OR LOSS

Three months ended

31 March

31 December

31 March

2021

2020

2020

HK$’000

HK$’000

HK$’000

(unaudited)

(unaudited)

(unaudited)

(restated)

Continuing operations

Revenue

4,336,922

4,309,506

2,979,018

Cost of sales

(2,621,110)

(2,981,393)

(1,880,338)

Gross profit

1,715,812

1,328,113

1,098,680

Other income

15,204

10,904

44,354

Selling and distribution expenses

(393,709)

(408,538)

(355,237)

General and administrative expenses

(231,545)

(243,313)

(211,102)

Research and development expenses

(420,339)

(432,997)

(392,574)

Other gains and losses

10,090

(8,182)

(11,545)

Other expenses

–

(66,792)

(49,997)

Finance costs

(28,653)

(50,276)

(39,281)

Share of result of a joint venture

17,293

–

–

Profit before taxation

684,153

128,919

83,298

Income tax expense

(155,732)

(14,177)

(57,797)

Profit for the period from continuing operations

528,421

114,742

25,501

Discontinued operation

Profit (loss) for the period from discontinued operation

–

891,079

(151)

Profit for the period

528,421

1,005,821

25,350

Profit (loss) for the period attributable to owners of the Company

– from continuing operations

521,509

109,225

23,747

– from discontinued operation

–

891,079

(151)

521,509

1,000,304

23,596

Profit for the period attributable to non-controlling interests

– from continuing operations

6,912

5,517

1,754

Profit for the period

528,421

1,005,821

25,350

Earnings per share (from continuing and discontinued operations)

– Basic

HK$1.27

HK$2.45

HK$0.06

– Diluted

HK$1.27

HK$2.43

HK$0.06

Earnings per share (from continuing operations)

– Basic

HK$1.27

HK$0.27

HK$0.06

– Diluted

HK$1.27

HK$0.27

HK$0.06

ASM PACIFIC TECHNOLOGY LIMITED

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF PROFIT OR LOSS AND OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

Three months ended

31 March

31 December

31 March

2021

2020

2020

HK$’000

HK$’000

HK$’000

(unaudited)

(unaudited)

(unaudited)

Profit for the period

528,421

1,005,821

25,350

Other comprehensive (expense) income

Item that will not be reclassified to profit or loss:

– remeasurement of defined benefit retirement plans, net of tax

–

(26,100)

–

Items that may be reclassified subsequently to profit or loss:

– exchange differences on translation of foreign operations:

– subsidiaries

(180,914)

333,464

(226,264)

– a joint venture

1,039

–

–

– reclassification of cumulative translation

reserve upon deemed disposal of foreign

operations

–

(8,896)

–

– fair value gain (loss) on hedging instruments designated as cash flow hedges

15,397

(4,977)

(13,665)

(164,478)

319,591

(239,929)

Other comprehensive (expense) income for

the period

(164,478)

293,491

(239,929)

Total comprehensive income (expense) for the period

363,943

1,299,312

(214,579)

Total comprehensive income (expense) for

the period attributable to:

Owners of the Company

361,976

1,285,017

(213,558)

Non-controlling interests

1,967

14,295

(1,021)

363,943

1,299,312

(214,579)

About ASM Pacific Technology Limited

ASMPT (HKEX stock code: 0522) is a leading global supplier of hardware and software solutions for the manufacture of semiconductors and electronics. Headquartered in Singapore, ASMPT’s offerings encompass the semiconductor assembly & packaging, and SMT (surface mount technology) industries, ranging from wafer deposition, to the various solutions that organise, assemble and package delicate electronic components into a vast range of end-user devices, which include electronics, mobile communications, computing, automotive, industrial and LED (displays). ASMPT partners with customers very closely, with continuous investment in R&D helping to provide cost-effective, industry-shaping solutions that achieve higher productivity, greater reliability and enhanced quality.

ASMPT is one of the constituent stocks of the Hang Seng TECH Index, Hang Seng Composite MidCap Index under the Hang Seng Composite Size Indexes, the Hang Seng Composite Information Technology Industry Index under Hang Seng Composite Industry Indexes and the Hang Seng Hong Kong 35 Index. To learn more about ASMPT, please visit us at www.asmpacific.com.

Vientiane Enters Lockdown Following Covid-19 Outbreak

By
Laotian Times
-
Prime Minister of Laos Orders Vientiane Lockdown

The Prime Minister of Laos has ordered a 14-day lockdown for Vientiane Capital in the wake of a surge of coronavirus cases, while other provinces are urged to consider intensifying prevention measures.

Continue

SHOPFEVER – Well-Established Integrated Solution to Tap into China’s Core Ecommerce Platforms

By
Laotian Times
-

Oversea Natural Beauty Brands Shines A Spotlight in the China Market

 

JERUSEALEM, ISRAEL & WARSAW, POLAND – Media OutReach – 21 April 2021 – Mobfever, a leading service provider of one-stop China marketing solutions and on list distributor of Bytedance, announced the launch of its new e-commence solution, SHOPFEVER.

SHOPFEVER provides a comprehensive e-Commerce service for foreign internationals brands, allowing seamless integration into the Chinese market. SHOPFEVER owns and operates the most influential and popular e-commerce platforms in China, such as Taobao, Douyin, T-mall, JD.com and XiaoHongShu.

The Solution to Breaking into the China Market

SHOPFEVER is the cost-effective way to entry Chinese market, it’s 90% less than the normal. China represents a huge potential for foreign companies yet until now, the market is extremely challenging to penetrate. This is due to the stringent legal requirements, cultural barriers, complex logistical arrangements, sales and distribution management models as well as language barrier.

Our Wealth of Knowledge in China Marketing

SHOPFEVER prides itself in providing exceptional services to their clients. From content creation, to marketing and from logistical solutions to customer service satisfaction, the team of leading marketing experts have an extensive wealth of knowledge required to address and fulfil the expectations of the Chinese Market.

Innovative Marketing Solutions

SHOPFEVER provides customised solutions for the client to adopt their brand’s eCommerce design and ideology for the Chinese market, propelling the brand into the right direction for success in China.

SHOPFEVER not only increases brand awareness via KOL marketing strategies, the Company also utilises live-streaming on social media platforms to engage with customers, promote products as well as direct potential customers to official eCommerce platforms (ie T-mall, Douyin,etc). It is without a doubt that SHOPFEVER can assist its clients to boost their sales exponentially in the China market.

Our Target Customers

SHOPFEVER targets SME green cosmetic brands and brand agents that have yet to enter the China market. Recent research conducted by iiMedia revealed that the sales of fashion and cosmetic goods in the e-commerce retail sector in China is worth approximately US$303.8 Billion. It can be concluded that foreign natural beauty brands have a great potential in the China’s eCommerce market.

Please visit SHOPFEVER’s website for more details: https://www.shop-fever.com/

Cisco Webex Innovation Breaks Through Language Barriers with Real-Time Translation for More Inclusive Meeting Experiences in Vietnam

By
Laotian Times
-

News Summary:

  • Webex customers can preview real-time translations from English into 100+ languages including Vietnamese
  • Webex AI-powered, real-time translation drives more inclusive collaboration through virtual meeting experiences that are 10x better than in person interactions
  • Webex innovation paving the way for real-time translation beyond English

HO CHI MINH CITY, VIETNAM – Media OutReach – 21 April 2021 – Eliminating language barriers is a key step to enabling a truly hybrid workforce. To help, Cisco recently announced the availability (currently in preview) of its real-time translation feature while also dramatically expanding the language library from 10+ to more than 100 languages including Vietnamese. As part of the all new Webex, organizations across Vietnam can provide employees with inclusive and seamless collaboration experiences, which is essential to supporting the needs of a workforce that is more dispersed than ever before.

Users can create their own personalized Webex meeting experience by quickly and easily self-selecting the language of their choice from the most commonly used languages, such as Arabic, Dutch, French, German, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin, Russian and Spanish, as well as more localized languages such as Danish, Hindi, Malay, Turkish and Vietnamese. The personalized language experience provides a path through one of the major hurdles in global business – the language barrier. Now users can engage more fully in meetings, translating from English to 100+ other languages, enabling teams to communicate more effectively with each other, and opening new opportunities for businesses to build a more inclusive, global workforce.

For businesses, there’s a talent and cost benefit. The feature enables businesses to focus on finding the best talent regardless of wherever they call home or their native language. And a recent report from Metrigy on intelligent virtual assistants found that nearly 24% of participants have meetings that include non-English native speakers and of these, more than half have been using third-party services to translate meetings into other languages (incurring an average cost of $172 per meeting). Integrating intelligent virtual meeting assistants with language translation capabilities significantly reduces or even eliminates this cost entirely.

“The inclusive features of Webex help create a level playing field for users regardless of factors like language or geography. Enabling global Real Time Translations is another step toward powering an Inclusive Future, and an important component of driving better communication and collaboration across teams.” said Jeetu Patel, SVP and GM Security and Applications, Cisco. “AI technologies play an integral role in delivering the seamless collaboration, smart hybrid work and intelligent customer experiences that Cisco is known to deliver.”

Webex has a rich history of helping employees innovate and remain productive wherever they are. Since the pandemic, Webex has not only continued to help businesses thrive, it has also been an integral platform for governments to continue to lead remotely, doctors to meet with patients safely, and educators to teach students at a distance. It’s clear that the future of work will involve a combination of remote and on-site interactions, known as hybrid-work. Cisco has a clear vision of how technology can help customers realize that future today and create a more inclusive world for all, by enabling a Webex experience that is 10x better than in-person while at the same time making in-person interactions 10x better as well.

Availability

The expanded Real-Time Translation feature is available in Webex as a preview and will be orderable and generally available in May.

Not all dialects included in translation.

Additional Resources:

About Cisco

Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) is the worldwide leader in technology that powers the internet. Cisco inspires new possibilities by reimagining your applications, securing your data, transforming your infrastructure, and empowering your teams for a global and inclusive future. Discover more on The Network and follow us on Twitter.


Cisco and the Cisco logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Cisco and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and other countries. A listing of Cisco’s trademarks can be found at www.cisco.com/go/trademarks. Third-party trademarks mentioned are the property of their respective owners. The use of the word partner does not imply a partnership relationship between Cisco and any other company.


Check out the New-Look 7-Eleven x Carlsberg Crossover Themed Store in Discovery Bay

By
Laotian Times
-

Play a brand-new interactive game to win exclusive prizes and get limited-edition freebies when you buy selected Carlsberg beer products!

 

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 21 April 2021 – More surprises are coming your way at 7-Eleven! 7-Eleven launched the first-of-its-kind 7-Eleven x Carlsberg crossover themed store in Hong Kong in March last year. This unique store concept is decked out with Carlsberg brand imagery throughout and features a Carlsberg Wall – a breathtaking display of the brand’s iconic products and the perfect backdrop for Instaworthy selfies! Since its launch, customers have been able to be the first in town to experience a number of Carlsberg beer varieties and enjoy exclusive giveaways. And now, in 2021, more exciting promotions are on the cards with the debut of a brand-new interactive game in store where successful players can win awesome Carlsberg merchandise. During the promotion, you can also get your hands on limited-time only freebies when you buy selected Carlsberg products. So, make a trip to Discovery Bay and take part in the fun and games at the 7-Eleven x Carlsberg crossover themed store!

Challenge yourself in a new interactive game and win exclusive prizes

Carlsberg Smooth Draught is longer matured and brewed using an innovative brewing method so the foam is smoother than a regular Pilsner, giving the beer its signature smoothness and easy finish. From now until 27 April, customers can play the “How Smooth Can You Be?” game on a giant TV screen in store*. Use your smartphone to direct the ice bucket on the screen to catch the cans of Carlsberg Smooth Draught – the more you catch, the higher your score. And if you get enough points, you stand to win the following prizes.

*Participants must be aged 18 or above.

If you score 3600 points or more, you win:

A Draught Dispenser

44cm (H) x 21cm (D) x 12cm (W)

This draught dispenser uses micro bubble technology to create a creamy head on your beer so you can pull the perfect smooth-tasting pint at home. There are 4 units (1 unit per week) to be won in total. While stocks last.

If you score 1800 points or more, you win:

A Sports Bag

39cm (H) x 34cm (W)

Lightweight and easy to carry and store, this sports bag is ideal for days out and trips to the gym. There are 800 bags (200 bags per week) to be won in total. While stocks last.

How to play:

1. Connect your smartphone: Touch the TV screen to activate then click the start button. Scan the QR code on the TV screen with your smartphone. Enter your personal details (name and phone number) using your smartphone to register for prize redemption. Then tap “Confirm”.

2. Play the game: The game’s instructions and terms and conditions will be displayed on your smartphone. Please read carefully then tap “Start” to begin. The game screen will then automatically appear on both your smartphone and the TV. Use your phone to direct the ice bucket on the TV screen to catch the cans of Carlsberg Smooth Draught and rack up those points.

3. Game results and prizes: Each game has a time limit of 15 seconds. When the time’s up, the TV screen will automatically display your score and whether you managed to win yourself a prize.

  • Players who win a Draught Dispenser will be contacted by a representative within 14 working days to arrange prize collection via the phone number given during registration.
  • If you win a Carlsberg Sports Bag, just take your phone to the cashier for confirmation and redeem your prize in store.

Prizes are limited in quantity and while stocks last.

Get your hands on exclusive Carlsberg freebies when you buy selected Carlsberg products!

On top of the interactive game and the Carlsberg Wall, there’s more fun to be had with the following limited-time promotions that are exclusively available at the 7-Eleven x Carlsberg crossover themed store. So, head on down to Discovery Bay today!

– From 14 April to 27 April 2021, spend $60 or more on any Carlsberg products to get a free limited-edition Carlsberg Glass Gift Set. While stocks last.

Store address: Shop G67, G/F., Block C, DB Plaza (Block C), Discovery Bay

Prices may change without prior notice. The product price at the store shall prevail. Some items are only available at selected stores. The quantity of goods is limited and while stocks last.

Cisco Webex Innovation Breaks Through Language Barriers with Real-Time Translation for More Inclusive Meeting Experiences in Thailand

By
Laotian Times
-

News Summary:

  • Webex customers can preview real-time translations from English into 100+ languages including Thai
  • Webex AI-powered, real-time translation drives more inclusive collaboration through virtual meeting experiences that are 10x better than in person interactions
  • Webex innovation paving the way for real-time translation beyond English

BANGKOK, THAILAND – Media OutReach – 21 April 2021 – Eliminating language barriers is a key step to enabling a truly hybrid workforce. To help, Cisco recently announced the availability (currently in preview) of its real-time translation feature while also dramatically expanding the language library from 10+ to more than 100 languages, including Thai. As part of the all new Webex, organizations across Thailand can provide employees with inclusive and seamless collaboration experiences, which is essential to supporting the needs of a workforce that is more dispersed than ever before.

Users can create their own personalized Webex meeting experience by quickly and easily self-selecting the language of their choice from the most commonly used languages, such as Arabic, Dutch, French, German, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin, Russian and Spanish, as well as more localized languages such as Danish, Hindi, Malay, Turkish and Vietnamese. The personalized language experience provides a path through one of the major hurdles in global business – the language barrier. Now users can engage more fully in meetings, translating from English to 100+ other languages, enabling teams to communicate more effectively with each other, and opening new opportunities for businesses to build a more inclusive, global workforce.

For businesses, there’s a talent and cost benefit. The feature enables businesses to focus on finding the best talent regardless of wherever they call home or their native language. And a recent report from Metrigy on intelligent virtual assistants found that nearly 24% of participants have meetings that include non-English native speakers and of these, more than half have been using third-party services to translate meetings into other languages (incurring an average cost of $172 per meeting). Integrating intelligent virtual meeting assistants with language translation capabilities significantly reduces or even eliminates this cost entirely.

“The inclusive features of Webex help create a level playing field for users regardless of factors like language or geography. Enabling global Real Time Translations is another step toward powering an Inclusive Future, and an important component of driving better communication and collaboration across teams.” said Jeetu Patel, SVP and GM Security and Applications, Cisco. “AI technologies play an integral role in delivering the seamless collaboration, smart hybrid work and intelligent customer experiences that Cisco is known to deliver.”

Webex has a rich history of helping employees innovate and remain productive wherever they are. Since the pandemic, Webex has not only continued to help businesses thrive, it has also been an integral platform for governments to continue to lead remotely, doctors to meet with patients safely, and educators to teach students at a distance. It’s clear that the future of work will involve a combination of remote and on-site interactions, known as hybrid-work. Cisco has a clear vision of how technology can help customers realize that future today and create a more inclusive world for all, by enabling a Webex experience that is 10x better than in-person while at the same time making in-person interactions 10x better as well.

Availability

The expanded Real-Time Translation feature is available in Webex as a preview and will be orderable and generally available in May.

Not all dialects included in translation.

Additional Resources:

About Cisco

Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) is the worldwide leader in technology that powers the internet. Cisco inspires new possibilities by reimagining your applications, securing your data, transforming your infrastructure, and empowering your teams for a global and inclusive future. Discover more on The Network and follow us on Twitter.


Cisco and the Cisco logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Cisco and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and other countries. A listing of Cisco’s trademarks can be found at www.cisco.com/go/trademarks. Third-party trademarks mentioned are the property of their respective owners. The use of the word partner does not imply a partnership relationship between Cisco and any other company.


Cisco Webex Innovation Breaks Through Language Barriers with Real-Time Translation for More Inclusive Meeting Experiences in Indonesia

By
Laotian Times
-

News Summary:

  • Webex customers can preview real-time translations from English into 100+ languages including Bahasa Indonesia
  • Webex AI-powered, real-time translation drives more inclusive collaboration through virtual meeting experiences that are 10x better than in person interactions
  • Webex innovation paving the way for real-time translation beyond English

JAKARTA, INDONESIA – Media OutReach – 21 April 2021 – Eliminating language barriers is a key step to enabling a truly hybrid workforce. To help, Cisco recently announced the availability (currently in preview) of its real-time translation feature while also dramatically expanding the language library from 10+ to more than 100 languages, including Bahasa Indonesia. As part of the all new Webex, organizations across Indonesia can provide employees with inclusive and seamless collaboration experiences, which is essential to supporting the needs of a workforce that is more dispersed than ever before.

Users can create their own personalized Webex meeting experience by quickly and easily self-selecting the language of their choice from the most commonly used languages, such as Arabic, Dutch, French, German, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin, Russian and Spanish, as well as more localized languages such as Danish, Hindi, Malay, Turkish and Vietnamese. The personalized language experience provides a path through one of the major hurdles in global business – the language barrier. Now users can engage more fully in meetings, translating from English to 100+ other languages, enabling teams to communicate more effectively with each other, and opening new opportunities for businesses to build a more inclusive, global workforce.

For businesses, there’s a talent and cost benefit. The feature enables businesses to focus on finding the best talent regardless of wherever they call home or their native language. And a recent report from Metrigy on intelligent virtual assistants found that nearly 24% of participants have meetings that include non-English native speakers and of these, more than half have been using third-party services to translate meetings into other languages (incurring an average cost of $172 per meeting). Integrating intelligent virtual meeting assistants with language translation capabilities significantly reduces or even eliminates this cost entirely.

“The inclusive features of Webex help create a level playing field for users regardless of factors like language or geography. Enabling global Real Time Translations is another step toward powering an Inclusive Future, and an important component of driving better communication and collaboration across teams.” said Jeetu Patel, SVP and GM Security and Applications, Cisco. “AI technologies play an integral role in delivering the seamless collaboration, smart hybrid work and intelligent customer experiences that Cisco is known to deliver.”

Webex has a rich history of helping employees innovate and remain productive wherever they are. Since the pandemic, Webex has not only continued to help businesses thrive, it has also been an integral platform for governments to continue to lead remotely, doctors to meet with patients safely, and educators to teach students at a distance. It’s clear that the future of work will involve a combination of remote and on-site interactions, known as hybrid-work. Cisco has a clear vision of how technology can help customers realize that future today and create a more inclusive world for all, by enabling a Webex experience that is 10x better than in-person while at the same time making in-person interactions 10x better as well.

Availability

The expanded Real-Time Translation feature is available in Webex as a preview and will be orderable and generally available in May.

Not all dialects included in translation.

Additional Resources:

About Cisco

Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) is the worldwide leader in technology that powers the internet. Cisco inspires new possibilities by reimagining your applications, securing your data, transforming your infrastructure, and empowering your teams for a global and inclusive future. Discover more on The Network and follow us on Twitter.

Cisco and the Cisco logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Cisco and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and other countries. A listing of Cisco’s trademarks can be found at www.cisco.com/go/trademarks. Third-party trademarks mentioned are the property of their respective owners. The use of the word partner does not imply a partnership relationship between Cisco and any other company.

SUSE Appoints First Chief Technology Officer for Asia-Pacific and Japan and Greater China regions

By
Laotian Times
-

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 21 April 2021 – SUSE®, a global leader in innovative, reliable and enterprise-grade open source solutions, today announced the appointment of Vishal Ghariwala as its new Chief Technology Officer (CTO) for the Asia-Pacific and Japan (APJ), and Greater China regions. A visionary expert in the IT industry, Vishal’s appointment will underpin and strengthen SUSE’s expansion plans in these regions. He brings to SUSE a demonstrated track record and more than 20 years of experience in cloud computing, cloud native applications and middleware. He has spent half his career working in open source companies.

As the new CTO for APJ and Greater China, Vishal will focus on executive level engagement with key customers and partners and growing SUSE’s mindshare in the industry. Vishal’s vast technical experience will also see him support the global Office of the CTO’s objectives in identifying and driving innovative technologies and opportunities in Enterprise Linux, Kubernetes Management and Edge solutions to benefit SUSE and its customers. He will be based in the Singapore office.

“I am proud and thrilled to be joining SUSE,” shares Vishal. “From digitization of processes to rapid changes in consumer patterns and trends, keeping up with technology can be pressurizing on organizations. However, with the flexibility of open source, possibilities are endless. Whether businesses are starting small or enterprises that are becoming hyperscalers, open source presents a dedicated and meaningful solution for every business need and that is what intrigues and excites me. I look forward to helping SUSE to achieve greater heights and empowering more enterprises and partners in their future-proof business journey.”

Thomas Di Giacomo, Chief Product and Technology Officer, SUSE, continues, “Vishal is a passionate leader who brings with him a wealth of experience in the tech sector. He has an admirable record of success in propelling and growing enterprises under his portfolio. I am confident that he will add immense value to SUSE and our customers as we continue to innovate and evolve ahead of the times.”

Vishal joins SUSE from Red Hat where he was Director for Cloud Native Application Platforms. Before that, he also held key technical and presales roles in government and tech companies such as Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore, ILOG and IBM.

About SUSE

SUSE is a global leader in innovative, reliable and enterprise-grade open source solutions. We specialize in Enterprise Linux, Kubernetes Management, and Edge solutions, and collaborate with partners and communities to empower our customers to innovate everywhere – from the data center, to the cloud, to the edge and beyond. SUSE puts the “open” back in open source, giving customers the agility to tackle innovation challenges today and the freedom to evolve their strategy and solutions tomorrow. For more information, visit www.suse.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Any statements in this press release about future expectations, plans and prospects for the company, including statements containing the words “aims,” “targets,” “will,” “believes,” “anticipates,” “plans,” “expects,” and similar expressions, may constitute forward-looking statements and should be read with caution. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors, including competitive landscape, development of customer deals, reliance upon customer relationships, management of growth and acquisitions, the possibility of undetected software issues, the risks of impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic and economic downturns, pricing pressures and the viability of the Internet. In addition, any forward-looking statements included herein represent views as of the date of this press release and these views could change. The Company does not have any obligation to update its forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to change and should not be relied upon as representing the Company’s views as of any date other than the date of this press release.

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