The Prime Minister of Laos has ordered the rollout of Covid-19 vaccinations for children aged 12 to 17 years with the aim of reopening schools.
Johnson Electric & Cortica Establish New Joint Venture Lean AI to Bring Revolutionary Quality Inspection to Manufacturing
Automating quality assurance in manufacturing through Autonomous AI will drive flawless quality and production while enabling simple and fast setup on the production line
TEL AVIV, ISRAEL / HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 11 November 2021 –
Today, supervised Deep Learning-Based Quality Assurance Systems can take weeks, up to months, to deploy. The existing systems are reliant on a data scientist or AI experts and require large manually tagged training sets with thousands of defect image examples. Requiring constant maintenance and re-training for the slightest variations, the system is unable to adapt to defects, new products, and new cameras.
Lean AI‘s technology surpasses existing challenges of prevalent supervised Deep Learning-Based Quality Assurance Systems with the power of unsupervised learning to process information within a fraction of a second, utilizes unlabeled data, applies predictive quality assurance, and compiles data that increases the speed of deployment and scaling. As an open platform agnostic to camera, defect type and product, Lean AI can collaborate with any integrators, OEMs, and manufacturers of automation solutions.
“Johnson Electric is very excited to announce this new joint venture with Cortica. We are fully aware of the fundamental challenges accompanying the deployment of AI-based quality assurance software in the production environment, especially in terms of speed of deployment and reliability over time,” said Austin Wang, Senior Vice President of Johnson Electric. “Cortica’s Autonomous AI technology can address a lot of these major headaches and allow for much faster and broader adoption.”
“Cortica has developed self-learning AI that is fundamentally different from traditional deep learning systems. Autonomous AI Technology operates like a human brain – it’s not a fixed system; instead, it continuously adapts itself to various scenarios and learns online in real-time. Its technology requires far less computing power, can be deployed at a fraction of the cost, and provides far superior performance outcomes,” said Igal Raichelgauz, Founder and Chairman of Cortica. “Our technology is robust and generic and applicable within a multitude of signal domains such as visual, audio, time series and other domains; visual inspection is only the beginning. Autonomous AI technology is quickly becoming the benchmark for the industry.”
Further commenting on the formation of Lean AI, Austin Wang said: “Johnson Electric’s deep experience in a wide range of manufacturing processes offers a unique platform for developing this technology for commercial use. The joint venture is also opening a new avenue for Johnson Electric to develop and market software offerings. It is therefore both a technological as well as business model innovation for us. There are also opportunities to apply the technology in predictive quality and expert systems as well. This is the second investment of Johnson Electric in Israeli technology and we will continue to assess such relevant opportunities.”
Read more about what revolutionary technology Lean AI is bringing to the quality inspection space: https://lean-ai-tech.com/
About Johnson Electric Group
The Johnson Electric Group is a global leader in electric motors, actuators, motion subsystems and related electro-mechanical components. It serves a broad range of industries including Automotive, Smart Metering, Medical Devices, Business Equipment, Home Automation, Ventilation, White Goods, Power Tools, and Lawn & Garden Equipment. The Group is headquartered in Hong Kong and employs over 35,000 individuals in 22 countries worldwide. Johnson Electric Holdings Limited is listed on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (Stock Code: 179).
About Cortica
Workato Raises $200 Million Series E at a $5.7 Billion Valuation to Accelerate Record Growth and Capitalize on Surging Demand for Enterprise Automation
Funding will be used to further capitalize on rapidly growing automation market; accelerating global expansion and extending product leadership, as well as fuel acquisitions like application connector firm, RailsData
SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 11 November 2021 – Workato, the leader in enterprise automation, today announced $200 million in Series E funding led by Battery Ventures, with equal participation from Insight Partners, Altimeter Capital and Tiger Global. Geodesic Capital and Redpoint Ventures also participated in this round of financing. The new funding values Workato at $5.7 billion and comes just nine months after its $110 million Series D. Workato has raised over $420 million in total funding to date.
The investment arrives at a time of rapid growth for Workato and the automation market as a whole, as enterprises recognize the urgent need to increase their agility, innovation and efficiency against a backdrop of transformation and change. The pandemic has driven an even greater need for business excellence, and companies have responded by automating core workflows; seeking out low-code tools that empower employees to work quickly and autonomously.
“Businesses are still struggling to achieve true transformation because RPA and integration tools cannot scale to address the needs of enterprises today,” said Vijay Tella, Workato CEO and Co-founder. “Workato’s enterprise automation platform, a single platform for automation and integration that can be used by both Business and IT, addresses the challenges companies face when trying to automate at scale, enabling enterprises to achieve the speed and agility necessary for organizational transformation. We’re excited to put this new round of funding to work for our customers as they continue to push the boundaries of innovation.”
Historically, companies have been forced to deploy a variety of integration and automation tools to optimize their processes at the data, process, API and UX levels. This model is highly inefficient, and companies have flocked to Workato because it provides all of these capabilities in a single, low-code platform that allows business users and IT departments to collaborate on process automation.
More than 11,000 customers now use Workato’s enterprise automation platform to automate their critical business processes. In the past 12 months, Workato has:
- More than tripled its Singapore headcount with plans to double the size of the Asia Pacific team in the next year
- More than tripled new ARR in Asia Pacific, with growth accelerating every quarter
- Received accreditation by IMDA (Infocomm Media Development Authority of Singapore) as qualified contenders to government and large enterprise buyers
- More than doubled its customer base, which includes large enterprises like Grab, Cycle & Carriage and Scoot
- More than tripled the growth in business processes automated by customers and quadrupled the workload per customer
- Expanded in EMEA with new GDPR compliant data center and plans to launch Singapore data center in the first half of 2022
- Nearly doubled the customer base globally with additions like Stitch Fix, Gitlab, NYU, Nokia, Lucid Motors, joining Broadcom, Toast, and many others
- Acquired RailsData to create an application connector factory; increasing the number of application connectors by over 10x in the next few years
- More than doubled global employee headcount
- Been recognized as a leader in Gartner’s Enterprise iPaaS Magic Quadrant for the fourth year in a row – with the largest positive movement of any leader this year
- Hosted its first user conference, Workato Automate, which attracted more than 12,000 participants
- Been named to the Forbes Cloud 100, the definitive ranking of the top 100 private cloud companies in the world
- Been recognized in the Deloitte Fast 500 as one of the top 100 fastest growing companies globally
Workato’s latest funding will be used to further accelerate the company’s product roadmap and leadership in enterprise automation, in addition to continuing to drive the integration-led automation movement. Workato, already a leader in connecting and integrating applications, is launching the “10,000 Connector Initiative” with the acquisition of RailsData, which specializes in the connectivity of applications, databases, and devices using APIs. With thousands of applications used by an enterprise, connectivity is critical to achieving automation at scale.
The round will also be used to aid Workato’s further expansion in the U.S., EMEA and APAC. This global expansion includes opening additional data centers in APAC, adding support for regional languages, and accelerating the product roadmap to address the needs of local regions.
“Since leading Workato’s Series B in 2018, we’ve been excited to see the steady growth of usage among Workato’s customers—many of them leaders in their respective industries—and Workato’s solidifying position as a leader in the automation market, one of the fastest-growing sectors in technology,” said Neeraj Agrawal, a general partner at Battery Ventures. “We’ve had a front-row seat to watch Workato truly transform many of its customers’ businesses, which is one reason why we and other existing investors in the company are excited to lead this new funding round.”
“The events of the past 10 months have made operational excellence more critical than ever, and businesses understand that enterprise automation is a cornerstone to achieving the heightened agility, innovation and performance they need to succeed in any environment,” said Pauline Yang, partner, Altimeter Capital. “The market for automation products will only continue to expand, and we believe that Workato has the best technology, partnerships and leadership team in place to capitalize on this exciting opportunity.”
Workato’s customers are supported by a thriving and growing community of 100,000 users who create and share automation “recipes” for common business processes that can then be reused by other customers. As more customers join the platform, they create more recipes which increases the utility of the platform, attracting even more users in a virtuous cycle that continuously drives Workato’s growth.
“Automation exists to enable and empower end users, make organizations adaptable, and keep the lights on all the time,” said Andy Nallappan, CTO and Head of Software Business Operations at Broadcom. “Back in the day, automation was a complicated effort that required a lot of technology, infrastructure, processes, and tools. But now, it’s as simple as a recipe thanks to Workato. Everyone can use it. It can become part of the team, the basis of an automation culture. Workato makes automation much more successful and frictionless.”
Customers trust Workato as their automation platform of choice and three out four customers automate business processes across three or more business functions.
About Workato
The leader in enterprise automation, Workato helps organizations work faster and smarter without compromising security and governance. Built for Business and IT users, Workato is trusted by over 11,000 of the world’s top brands like Broadcom, Intuit, Box, Autodesk, and HubSpot. Headquartered in Mountain View, Calif., Workato is backed by Altimeter Capital, Battery Ventures, Insight Venture Partners, Tiger Global, and Redpoint Ventures. For more information, visit www.workato.com or connect with us on social media:
- Blog:
https://www.workato.com/the-connector/
- Business Systems Community:
https://systematic.workato.com/
- Twitter:
http://www.twitter.com/workato
- LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/company/workato
#Workato
Shanxi Is Coming — The Amazing Oriental Ancient Building in CIIE
SHANGHAI, CHINA – Media OutReach – 10 November 2021 – The 4th China International Import Expo (CIIE) opened in Shanghai, China, on Nov 6. The exhibits bring the traditional and ancient image of Shanxi to the public through the new LED screen design and the innovative use of photoelectric integration, with a combination of ancient and modern innovation. Among them, the deep-rooted Shanxi ancient construction culture inherits the soul of Shanxi culture, which is not only famous in the world, but also full of infinite vitality in modern times.
As the saying goes, “the Middle East has the best construction in the world, and Shanxi has the best construction in the east.” Shanxi has always enjoyed the reputation of the “Museum of Ancient Chinese architecture”. There are more than 18,000 ancient buildings and many spectacular historical relics in Shanxi, so it is not surprising that Shanxi tourism has received a strong welcome from friends around the world. Every year they come to China and they will visit Shanxi.
Shanxi ancient architecture is a treasure land that can explore the development of Chinese culture
In Shanxi, there is an ancient city that catches the world’s attention — Pingyao Ancient City, which is listed as one of the World Cultural Heritage sites. It has gone through more than 2,800 years of vicissitudes, and it is like a living textbook showing the development of Chinese history in a comprehensive way.
Shanxi ancient architecture is a perfect witness of the integration and innovation of eastern and western cultures
One of the most famous ancient structures in Shanxi is the Yungang Grottoes. Yungang Grottoes, which has a history of 1500 years, is the first royal style of Buddhist art carved by our nation after the Buddhist art spread to China. In addition, Yungang Grottoes not only embodies the characteristics of Chinese culture, but also witnesses the history of cultural exchanges between China and foreign countries. It is also a historical monument of the fusion of Chinese and Western cultures in the 5th century AD and was inscribed on the World Heritage List by the United Nations in 2001.
Shanxi ancient architecture is an artistic treasure house to study the cultural value of world architecture
In Shanxi, there is a miracle that makes the world shocking– The Yingxian Wooden Pagoda, which is the oldest and tallest wooden pagoda extant in the world. Yingxian Wooden Tower, Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy and Eiffel Tower in Paris are called “the world’s three major chitta”. The wooden pagoda of Yingxian county is the most valuable building in the development of Chinese architecture. And it is a treasure house of scientific research on seismic and lightning protection, as well as a “historical book” to research the economic and cultural development of an era.
Shanxi ancient architecture is a collection you can’t miss
The ancient construction culture of Shanxi is extensive and profound. It contains countless oriental cultures not only in terms of architectural art, but also in terms of artistic types such as colored sculptures, murals and cultural relics. The painted sculptures in Shuanglin Temple and the murals in Yongle Palace all witness the glory of Shanxi’s ancient architecture.
The Chinese culture has been inherited for nearly 5,000 years. With the change of time, it will continue to innovate and glow with new vitality in the contemporary era.
It is well known that ancient buildings in Shanxi are the best in China. From the roof to the yard, from the yard to the city, we need to experience it by ourselves. Let us cross the gap of time and space, find the changing trend of ancient Chinese culture in Shanxi, and feel the endless charm of mysterious oriental civilization.
Laos Sets Priority List of Crops for Export to China
The Government of Laos has set a list of priority agricultural produce it hopes to export to China.
Whimsical Wonderland 2021 @ Discovery Bay Embark on a Merry Adventure this Winter & Celebrate the Festive Joy with Your Loved Ones
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 10 November 2021 – It’s that time of year again — the holiday jingles are ringing in Discovery Bay! Just a ferry ride away, authentic European festive joy awaits your discovery. This Christmas, Discovery Bay join hands with local illustrator Missquai to bring vibrant, artful elements in town and recreate an extraordinary Whimsical Wonderland for you. Snap beautiful holiday photos with charming pop-up displays around the premise, featuring a towering eight-metre-tall Christmas tree at DB Plaza entrance and a five-metre-tall playful “tea party set” at DB North.
From Christmas wreath to s parkling lights, colourful garlands and more, festive decorations dot the trail from the Discovery Bay pier to DB Plaza. Romantically garnished by unique light poles and ornaments with European architecture as their backdrop, D’Deck offers you and your loved ones an other-worldly alfresco dining experience by the sea. Don’t forget to also check out the photo-worthy displays welcoming you as you approach DB Plaza, including a towering eight-metre-tall Christmas tree, gigantic mushrooms, poker cards and other larger-than live whimsical elements. At DB North sits a set of five-metre-tall playful tea ware with a Christmas tree and other inviting set-ups. More enchanting seasonal decorations embellish the coastal Love Locks Promenade, making it another not-to-be-missed spot in town for love birds.
DB x Local Designer Collaboration – “Whimsical Wonderland” Displays
Discovery Bay celebrates this winter in collaboration with Missquai , a rising illustrator and designer from Hong Kong, curating a series of iconic Christmas displays and hand-drawn illustrations, to bring you a Whimsical Wonderland adventure filled with merry and love. Surrounding her distinctive series of illustrations, Missquai maps out a vibrant and artful Christmas escapade for you, highlighting the Mediterranean vibe unique to Discovery Bay with design elements all around. Missquai believes that the pandemic has helped people forge stronger bonds and to cherish their time with friends and family. Through creating festive displays at Discovery Bay perfect for memorable snapshots, she hopes to encourage everyone to share their enchanting winter adventure and rejoice this Christmas with their loved ones.
Christmas Decorations Details:
Date: 18 November 2021 – 2 January 2022
Time: 10:00 – 22:00
Venue: DB Plaza & DB North
2021 Winter Delights : Unmissable Rewards
Enjoy an even merrier winter at Discovery Bay with fabulous dining and shopping, on us! From 18 November 2021 to 2 January 2022, upon same-day spending of HKD500 or above (maximum two receipts) at designated Discovery Bay F&B and / or retail outlet(s) by electronic transaction, customers can redeem ONE HKD50 Dining Voucher and ONE HKD50 Shopping Voucher#.
Redemption Details:
Date: 18 November 2021 – 2 January 2022
Time: 12:00 – 21:30
Venue: Concierge , DB Plaza
# Terms and conditions apply. Limited daily quota for the gifts and vouchers, once per person per day, first come first served. Available while stock lasts.
For more information on “DB Whimsical Wonderland”, find us at:
Website: |
|
Facebook: |
|
Instagram: |
|
Email: |
Christmas Sunday Market – Your Perfect Weekend Getaway
From November to December, Christmas Market will take centre stage in Discovery bay. Gathering local merchants from all corners of Hong Kong, the markets will showcase an array of Christmas delicacies, beverages, handicrafts, arts, up-cycled clothing, baby goods and more. Take a leisurely stroll, enjoy some Christmas magic, and more importantly, have fun by shopping around!
Date: 7, 21 November and 12, 19 December 20 21 (Sundays)
Time: 11:00 – 18:00
Venue: DB Plaza
DB Ice Rink Celebrates Christmas Holiday with Monchhichi
Discovery Bay’s new state-of-the-art DB Ice Rink celebrates this Christmas with Monchhichi, adorned with a variety of endearing winter decorations, guests will be able to enjoy the beauty of the season on the ice. To further enhance your holiday experience, DB Ice Rink also presents you with a series of festive events including the Christmas Figure Skating Show by skating school’s coaches and students (18 & 19 December, 16:30 to 18:00), Busking on the Ice (evening of 24 & 25 December), Ice Hockey Tournament organised by China Hockey Group (27 to 30 December), New Year’s Eve Skating Countdown Party and more.
Venue: Ground Floor, DB Plaza
Photo Download: https://bit.ly/3q0PZ9q
About Missquai
Missquai, Hong Kong-based illustrator and designer, graduated from School of Design at Hong Kong Polytechnic University and School of Visual Arts in Hong Kong Baptist University. Missquai was a DFA Hong Kong Young Design Talent Award winner and worked abroad in Denmark and the Netherlands. As a rising talent who enjoys the little things in life, Missquai believes that design can make the world a better place, and continues to shares her cheerful works to spread joy to everyone around.
About Discovery Bay
Discovery Bay is located in the northeast of Lantau Island. With a land area of approximately 650 hectares and surrounded by mountains and oceans, it is Hong Kong’s foremost premium international residential community and a unique leisure destination, boasting a quiet environment, sophisticated urban planning and a variety of waterfront facilities.
Situated next to Discovery Bay Pier, D’Deck is Hong Kong’s renowned oceanfront al fresco dining destination with numerous themed restaurants with spectacular views of the sea. The 400-metre-long Tai Pak Beach is an excellent venue for outdoor activities with related facilities. Featuring a shopping arcade, restaurants, an open piazza and Love Lock Promenade, DB North serves as the second social hub for the Discovery Bay community and visitors alike. Adjoining is Auberge Discovery Bay Hong Kong, home to 325 superbly appointed rooms and suites, a seaside Pavilion with a one-of-a-kind design, offering a unique leisure experience.
Discovery Bay is served by a comprehensive transport network that includes ferry services to Central, bus services to Tung Chung MTR Station, Sunny Bay MTR Station and Hong Kong International Airport. A Free Ride is offered to diners at designated restaurants1 at Discovery Bay. Both urban and Lantau taxis can access Auberge Discovery Bay Hong Kong through the Discovery Bay Tunnel, providing a convenient alternative for residents and visitors alike.
Remarks
1 Designated restaurants include: 22˚North, Bones and Blades, Cali-Mex, Coyote Mexican Cantina, Ebeneezer’s, Figos, First Korean Restaurant, Shanghai Breeze, Hemingways, iL Bel Paese, Island Cafe, Koh Tomyums, McSorley’s Ale House, Mirch Masala, Pascucci Italian Caffe & Fine Food, PizzaExpress, Solera Spanish Restaurant, Taste of Thai, Three Sheets Marquee Bar, The Coffee Academics, Viet Bu Tong Kitchen & Bar and Zak’s.
2 Dine ‘N Ride offer is valid for every electronic spending of HK$120 at designated restaurants on the day of redemption, for dinners from Monday to Friday between 18:00 to 23:30, and lunch/dinner on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays between 12:00 to 23:30. Redeem at the Concierge, DB Plaza.
#DiscoveryBay
DHL Express expands capacity to its Asia Pacific air network as demand surges
- New K-Mile Asia flight will add over 200 tons of capacity weekly between Hong Kong and Bangkok
- Air Hong Kong will offer over 1,200 tons of weekly total gross payload for both flights: Hong Kong-Beijing and Hong Kong-Cebu-Manila
- AeroLogic will add 610 tons of capacity with its six-times-a-week service from Hong Kong to Cincinnati
SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 10 November 2021 – DHL Express, the world’s leading international express service provider, has expanded its airfreight capacity to cater to rising intra-Asia demand and between Asia Pacific and the U.S. With over 2,000 tons in total capacity every week, the additional flight routes allow DHL Express to increase delivery speed amidst surging shipment volume in Asia Pacific.
Following the recent introduction of a newly converted B737-800 freighter that connects Hanoi, Hong Kong and Bangkok, a B737-400SF operated by K-Mile Asia that flies six times a week between Hong Kong and Bangkok, has been added. Furthermore, Air Hong Kong has added a sixth flight rotation to the two existing routes powered by the A300-600: Beijing-Hong Kong-Beijing, and Hong Kong-Cebu-Manila-Hong Kong.
To cater to the intercontinental cargo demand, an aircraft, operated by AeroLogic, the joint venture cargo airline of DHL Express and Lufthansa Cargo, will fly six times a week from DHL Express’ Central Asia Hub in Hong Kong to Cincinnati Hub in the U.S. This B777F aircraft is part of a recent delivery of the original order of 14 aircraft made in 2018.
“DHL Express remains committed to support our customers in growing their global footprint and entering new markets. We are investing close to EUR 750 million in our ground infrastructure and air network in Asia Pacific to ensure we respond nimbly to changing market needs. As economies recover from the global pandemic and income levels rise, we expect intra-Asia market to grow substantially, with a corresponding increase in demand for express logistics services propelled by the thriving e-commerce sector,” said Ken Lee, CEO, DHL Express Asia Pacific.
E-commerce shipments continue to drive air capacity demand
The pandemic and pandemic-related restrictions have further accelerated online sales growth, with Asia Pacific leading the charge. In 2020, e-commerce comprised half of the retail sales in Asia Pacific, and is expected to grow by 10 percent to 61 percent in 2025.
This growth can be attributed in part to social e-commerce – the business of selling goods online through people’s social networks – particularly in China and emerging countries in Southeast Asia such as the Philippines. The e-commerce sector in the Philippines has seen a surge in the midst of the pandemic, contributing 3.4%, or US$12 billion, to the country’s GDP in 2020, with the goal to increase e-commerce revenue to US$24 billion, or 5.5% of GDP, by 2022.
“To ensure we are ready to cater to the anticipated surge in demand during peak seasons, we consistently enhance our fleet and adjust our air network to provide our customers with the most efficient, time-definite international deliveries. Despite continued capacity crunch in the global supply chain, DHL Express’ dedicated freighters and strong network of partner airlines can continue to help companies stay resilient and responsive to their business needs,” said Sean Wall, Executive Vice President, Network Operations & Aviation, DHL Express Asia Pacific.
DHL Express’ Asia Pacific air network operates on a multi-hub strategy, supported by four main hubs – Central Asia Hub in Hong Kong, North Asia Hub in Shanghai, South Asia Hub in Singapore and Bangkok Hub, linking to 50 DHL Express gateways in the region. DHL Express operates over 280 dedicated aircraft with 15 partner airlines on over 2,200 daily flights across more than 220 countries and territories.
Note to editor:
In November 2020, DHL Express announced that it will spend close to EUR 750 million to enhance its ground infrastructure and air network. This is followed by three announcements made in April, May and August 2021:
– DHL Express adds airfreight capacity to its Asia Pacific network
– DHL Express dedicates flights to Ho Chi Minh City and Penang amidst demand surge
– DHL Express bolsters intra-Asia airfreight capacity
You may also wish to take a look at this article in our content hub, Logistics of Things, that summarizes the growth potential for intra-Asia e-commerce sector: Intra-Asia e-commerce growth potential: A silver lining for Covid-hit region.
DHL – The logistics company for the world
DHL is the leading global brand in the logistics industry. Our DHL divisions offer an unrivaled portfolio of logistics services ranging from national and international parcel delivery, e-commerce shipping and fulfillment solutions, international express, road, air, and ocean transport to industrial supply chain management. With about 400,000 employees in more than 220 countries and territories worldwide, DHL connects people and businesses securely and reliably, enabling global sustainable trade flows. With specialized solutions for growth markets and industries including technology, life sciences and healthcare, engineering, manufacturing & energy, auto-mobility, and retail, DHL is decisively positioned as “The logistics company for the world”.
DHL is part of Deutsche Post DHL Group. The Group generated revenues of more than 66 billion euros in 2020. With sustainable business practices and a commitment to society and the environment, the Group makes a positive contribution to the world. Deutsche Post DHL Group aims to achieve zero-emissions logistics by 2050.
#DHL
Laos Confirms 1,140 New Cases of Covid-19 and Two Deaths
Laos has recorded 1,140 new cases of Covid-19 across the country today, as well as two new deaths.