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Ph fintech GCash launches country’s first AI financial coach embedded in e-wallet to strengthen financial literacy

Developed with Microsoft, “Pera Coach” converses in English and different national languages to make financial services easier to understand for all Filipinos.

MANILA, Philippines, March 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Reinforcing its role in advancing financial literacy and inclusion nationwide, finance super app GCash introduces the Philippines’ first artificial intelligence–powered financial coach to be embedded in an e-wallet.

Pera Coach brings tailored, on-demand financial education to millions of Filipinos directly within the GCash app.
Pera Coach brings tailored, on-demand financial education to millions of Filipinos directly within the GCash app.

Developed with support from Microsoft and powered by enterprise-grade AI, Pera Coach (Money Coach in Filipino) converses in English and other local national languages to make financial services easier to understand. It responds contextually to user prompts like financial goals, budget considerations, and risk appetite, delivering guidance personalized to each user’s financial journey.

Persistent gaps in financial literacy contribute to the low adoption of financial services like insurance and investments, with many Filipinos lacking access to clear and credible guidance. According to a 2021 survey by the central bank, just 2% of Filipino adults were able to correctly answer six basic financial literacy questions. Pera Coach aims to address these challenges by providing always-on access to clear and tailored financial education within a platform millions of Filipinos already use daily.

“Financial literacy should not feel intimidating or out of reach,” said Winsley Bangit, Group Head of New Business at Mynt, the parent company of GCash. “With Pera Coach integrated directly into the GCash ecosystem, Filipinos can receive real-time guidance that’s practical, contextual, and easy to understand, helping them make more confident financial decisions.”

Leveraging AI for inclusion

Beyond the launch itself, this signals a broader GCash strategy aimed at leveraging emerging technology to solve real-world financial challenges. Microsoft echoes the transformative potential of generative AI when applied to real, everyday use cases.

“Millions of Filipinos already carry a financial platform in their pockets, but only one in four is financially literate. We’ve made real progress in financial access, but access without understanding isn’t inclusion—it’s an empowerment gap. And closing that gap is nation building,” said Microsoft Philippines Country General Manager Jonathan Que.

To access Pera Coach, Filipinos need to open the GCash app, go to ‘Save’ or ‘Invest’ and tap the Pera Coach banner. For more information, visit the Help Center.

About GCash

GCash is the Philippines’ #1 Finance Super App and Largest Cashless Ecosystem. Through the GCash App, users can easily purchase prepaid airtime; pay bills via partner billers nationwide; send and receive merchants and social sellers; and get access to savings, credit, loans, insurance and invest money, and much money anywhere in the Philippines, even to other bank accounts; purchase from over 6 million partner so more, all at the convenience of their smartphones. GCash’s mobile wallet operations are handled by G-Xchange, Inc. (GXI), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mynt, the first and only $5 billion in the Philippines.

GCash is a staunch supporter of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly UN SDGs 5,8,10, and 13, which focus on safety & security, financial inclusion, diversity, equity, and inclusion as well as taking urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts, respectively.

Cohesity Enhances Cyber Resilience with Next-Generation Malware Scanning Powered by Sophos

New integrated capability helps organizations detect advanced threats in backup data and restore with confidence

SINGAPORE, March 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Cohesity, the leader in AI-powered data security, today announced the availability of next-generation malware scanning powered by Sophos, integrated natively into Cohesity Data Cloud. Cohesity Data Cloud is the first and only data security platform to embed next-generation antivirus malware detection alongside advanced threat intelligence feeds, enabling organizations to detect malware that bypasses primary defenses and validate clean recoveries after cyberattacks.

As ransomware and supply-chain attacks grow more sophisticated, malware is increasingly present in backup data, creating the risk of reinfection during recovery. Cohesity’s Sophos-powered scanning detects zero-day, polymorphic, and fileless threats that evade signature-based tools. The feature is included with Cohesity Data Cloud Enterprise Edition and does not require a separate Sophos license.

“Cyber resilience is a team sport, and our focus is on delivering the best outcomes for customers by bringing together the strongest technologies regardless of who developed them,” said Vasu Murthy, chief product officer, Cohesity. “By deeply integrating market-leading Sophos next-generation malware detection into Cohesity Data Cloud, we’re giving customers a single, seamless experience that helps them uncover hidden threats in backup data and recover with confidence.”

The Sophos-powered engine uses signature-based detection, heuristic analysis, and file emulation techniques to inspect backups in three scenarios: during routine backups, before restoration, and after indicators of compromise (IOCs) or YARA-based matches are detected.

Incremental scanning of newly ingested data minimizes operational overhead while maintaining visibility into backup integrity. Triggered and pre-restore scans validate trusted recovery points when risk is identified. The result is deep, snapshot-level inspection far beyond approaches that rely solely on metadata.

Sophos X-Ops draws on one of the industry’s most extensive threat intelligence networks, spanning tens of millions of endpoints and hundreds of thousands of firewalls globally, using AI-powered classification to continuously sharpen detection of known and emerging malware families.

“Attackers are sophisticated. They have proven time and again that no environment is off limits, including what was once considered the safe haven of backup and recovery systems,” said Simon Reed, chief security officer, Sophos. “By embedding Sophos’ deterministic and machine learning-based detection into Cohesity’s platform, Sophos is helping customers reduce reinfection risk and recover with confidence.”

Key benefits of the new Sophos-powered malware scanning include:

Advanced threat detection: Identifies known, unknown, and zero-day threats through heuristic and behavioral analysis

Operational efficiency: Always-on incremental scanning, with automated scans triggered by IOC or YARA-based detections

Clean recovery assurance: Pre-restore inspection to prevent reinfection and reduce recovery risk

SOC integration: Shares scan results with SIEM and SOAR tools for centralized visibility and response

The addition of Sophos next-generation malware scanning further differentiates Cohesity as a leader in incident response and recovery, delivering one of the industry’s most comprehensive data security platforms. Learn more about Cohesity Data Cloud threat protection capabilities.

Visit Cohesity at RSAC 2026, March 23-26, in booth #N-6271 and Sophos in booth #6477.

About Cohesity 

Cohesity protects, secures, and provides insights into the world’s data. As the leader in AI-powered data security, Cohesity helps organizations strengthen resilience, accelerate recovery, and reduce IT costs. With Zero Trust security and advanced AI/ML, Cohesity Data Cloud is trusted by customers in more than 140 countries, including 70% of the Global 500. Cohesity is also backed by industry leaders such as NVIDIA, Amazon, Google, IBM, Cisco, and HPE.

Cohesity is certified as a Great Place to Work in multiple countries. Follow Cohesity on LinkedIn and visit www.cohesity.com to learn more.

MetaOptics progresses on its strategic growth and leadership transition initiatives

SINGAPORE, March 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — MetaOptics Ltd (Catalist: 9MT) (“MetaOptics” or the “Company”, and together with its subsidiaries, the “Group”) recently announced a series of strategic growth initiatives on SGXNet, including a leadership transition process, and continued progress across its innovation and commercialisation expansion roadmap.

Leadership Transition

As part of its long-term succession planning strategy and to sharpen its geographical growth initiatives in the United States highlighted by its incorporation of MetaOptics Inc. (USA) on 27 October 2025 in Nevada to enable collaboration with world-class customers, the Company had promoted and appointed Mr. Aloysius Chua Hao Peng (“Aloysius” or “Mr. Aloysius Chua“) as Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer (“CEO“), effective 1 March 2026 to support this strategic growth.

Mr. Aloysius Chua, previously the Deputy CEO of the Company, played a pivotal role in driving and executing MetaOptics’ strategic initiatives since joining the Group in 2021. His contributions span across equipment development, metalens fabrication, and the assembly of advanced meta optics components. In his new role, Mr. Aloysius Chua will continue to lead operations, oversee the entire supply chain, manage the fulfilment of purchase orders, and supervise the 2 PhD scientists hired in August 2025, who currently report directly to him.

Following this transition, Mr. Thng Chong Kim remains as Executive Chairman, providing strategic oversight while remaining actively involved in the Company’s day-to-day operations. He will participate in conceptual discussions, advance future research and development (“R&D“) initiatives such as the tunable metalens module, foster strategic partnerships, including collaborations with Stanford Engineering’s SystemX Alliance program and spearhead the establishment of the US foundry as part of the Company’s expansion plans.

Mr. Thng Chong Kim, Executive Chairman of MetaOptics, said:

“The Board is confident in Mr. Aloysius Chua’s leadership and his deep understanding of MetaOptics’ technology and operations. His appointment reflects our commitment to strong succession planning and positions the Company well for its next phase of growth. Aloysius has been instrumental not only in shaping our strategic direction but more importantly, in driving operations, overseeing the supply chain, managing order fulfilment, and strengthening our technical capabilities. We believe he is the right leader to drive execution as we scale our business and expand our global footprint. I will continue to contribute to the continued growth and expansion of the Group, in my capacity as Executive Chairman, while I remain involved in day-to-day operations and enhancing industry networks, providing strategic oversight and guidance, and strengthening stakeholder management and engagement.”

Mr. Aloysius Chua Hao Peng, Executive Director and CEO of MetaOptics, said:

“I am honoured to take on the role of Executive Director and CEO at this important stage of MetaOptics’ journey. Over the past few years, we have built a strong foundation in metalens technology, supported by deep engineering capabilities and a clear vision for commercialisation. Looking ahead, we will be sharpening our pursuit of growth, commercial traction and expansion, and our focus will be on scaling our production capabilities, strengthening our global partnerships, and accelerating the adoption of meta optics across high-growth applications such as 3D sensing, AI-driven imaging, and next-generation consumer devices. My expanded role will require me to ensure that MetaOptics is well-positioned to capture these opportunities and deliver sustainable long-term value.”

Proposed Extraordinary General Meeting (“EGM”) and Corporate Initiatives

As recently announced on SGXNet, the Company has issued materials for an upcoming EGM to seek shareholders’ approval for, inter alia, the Company’s proposed listing on the Nasdaq Stock Market, alongside key corporate initiatives aimed at supporting its next phase of growth, and in conjunction with the issuance of the American Depositary Shares (“ADSs“) pursuant to the potential Nasdaq listing. In addition to the appointment of 2 underwriters in America, the Company has appointed JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. as the United States depositary with respect to the ADSs. This appointment will facilitate the issuance, custody, and transfer of the ADSs, providing international investors with access to MetaOptics’ shares through the U.S. capital markets.

Mr. Aloysius Chua said:

“As we scale MetaOptics into a global technology player, it is important that our capital management strategy evolves in tandem. A potential Nasdaq listing would enhance our access to international investors, increase visibility in our key markets, and support our long-term growth ambitions. We are taking a disciplined and measured approach as we evaluate this pathway, ensuring alignment with shareholder interests and market conditions.”

Strengthening Strategic Focus and Growth Platforms

MetaOptics continues to execute on its multi-pronged growth strategy, anchored across 4 core business segments:

  • Metalens Equipment – Development and commercialisation of advanced production systems such as direct laser writers and automated testers
  • Metalens Foundry – Customised 12-inch glass-wafer fabrication capabilities, including expansion into the United States market and opportunities to initiate research collaborations and developments as one of the Associate Member in Stanford Engineering’s SystemX Alliance program
  • Metalens Products – Consumer and industrial applications, including smart devices and 3D sensing solutions
  • AI Algorithm – Proprietary algorithms for imaging, biometrics, and Internet-of-Things-enabled applications

Mr. Aloysius Chua added:

“Our integrated business model — spanning equipment, foundry, and end-product solutions — gives us a unique competitive advantage. It allows us to innovate faster, control quality more effectively, and respond to customer needs with agility.”

Momentum Following Strong FY2025 Developments

The leadership transition follows a period of rapid growth and investment for the Company. MetaOptics reported a significant increase in revenue in FY2025, driven by higher sales of equipment and metalens products, alongside expanded R&D efforts to support next-generation technologies. The momentum achieved in FY2025 reflects the growing demand for its technologies and validate its strategic direction. The Company will continue to invest in R&D initiatives and talent to ensure it remain at the forefront of innovation in the meta optics space. The Company remains well-capitalised, positioning it to accelerate commercialisation, expand internationally, and strengthen its foothold in high-growth sectors such as augmented reality, 3D sensing, and AI-enabled imaging.

By Order of the Board

Thng Chong Kim
Executive Chairman
20 March 2026

About MetaOptics Ltd

MetaOptics Ltd (Catalist: 9MT) is a leading-edge semiconductor optics company pioneering glass based metalens solutions enhanced by AI-driven image processing. Using advanced optical design and a scalable 12-inch DUV lithography process, it powers next-generation applications in CPO, mobile, AR VR, automotive and other emerging markets. Headquartered in Singapore, MetaOptics aims to deliver high-performance optics with the reliability and scalability demanded by today’s most innovative technology brands. Find out more at www.metaoptics.sg.

 

APAC IT Leaders Face Rising AI and Cloud Cost Volatility, Finds Info-Tech Research Group’s Infrastructure & Operations Priorities 2026 Report

AI adoption is accelerating across the APAC region as cloud costs become increasingly unpredictable, placing IT teams under pressure to modernise operations while maintaining financial discipline, visibility, and control. Info-Tech Research Group’s Infrastructure & Operations Priorities 2026 report outlines five priorities to help organisations manage rising complexity and strengthen operational resilience at scale.

SYDNEY, March 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Infrastructure and operations teams across the Asia Pacific region are entering 2026 amid accelerating digital transformation and rising operational complexity. According to Info-Tech Research Group’s Infrastructure & Operations Priorities 2026 report, expanding hybrid and multicloud environments, combined with the rapid scaling of AI workloads, are heightening financial and operational risk as many IT functions continue to grapple with technical debt, fragmented visibility, and manual processes.

The Infrastructure and Operations Priorities 2026 report from Info-Tech Research Group identifies five key areas APAC I&O teams must address to reduce risk, regain operational control, and strengthen resilience amid accelerating change.
The Infrastructure and Operations Priorities 2026 report from Info-Tech Research Group identifies five key areas APAC I&O teams must address to reduce risk, regain operational control, and strengthen resilience amid accelerating change.

Data from Info-Tech’s Future of IT 2026 survey reinforces the scale of the challenge. 52% of organisations identified reducing technical debt as a top infrastructure priority for 2026, while 45% are prioritising cloud workload optimisation in the year ahead. Yet only 19% identified improving monitoring and observability as a priority, highlighting the risk of scaling AI and cloud investments without strengthening governance and end-to-end visibility.

The global research and advisory firm’s findings indicate that AI-driven workloads and consumption-based pricing models are introducing new cost variability for organisations operating across distributed and multicloud environments. Without clear ownership, structured cloud operating models, and stronger financial oversight through FinOps practices, rapid AI experimentation can expose IT teams to budget overruns and operational instability.

Beyond cost control, the report emphasises that resilience in 2026 will depend on stronger governance alignment, monitoring maturity, and workforce capability. As hybrid estates expand across the region, IT leaders must balance innovation with disciplined execution to ensure cloud and AI investments deliver measurable value.

“I&O teams cannot absorb the complexity of 2026 with approaches designed for a simpler era,” says Emily Sugerman, lead author of the report and senior research analyst at Info-Tech Research Group. “Leaders need to modernise cloud operations, introduce financial discipline through FinOps, and improve observability so they can see issues earlier, respond faster, and control costs. Organisations that succeed will be those that take a structured and execution-focused approach to modernisation.”

Info-Tech’s Five Infrastructure and Operations Priorities for 2026

The report emphasises that success in 2026 will depend less on new tooling and more on how effectively organisations align operating models, governance, and skills to the realities of hybrid, multicloud, and AI-driven environments across the region.

To help APAC IT leaders manage rising complexity and cost volatility, the Infrastructure & Operations Priorities 2026 report outlines five priorities for the year ahead:

  • Rethink Cloud Operations: Optimise hybrid, multicloud, and edge strategies by redesigning cloud operations around clear ownership, workflows, and governance.
  • Maximise AI ROI with FinOps: Apply financial management practices to better control the cost and risk of AI experimentation and consumption-based pricing models.
  • Regain Control Through Observability: Move beyond traditional monitoring to gain end-to-end visibility, reduce mean time to detect and respond, and support proactive operations.
  • Embrace AI-Enhanced IT Operations (AIOps): Define targeted AIOps use cases that reduce operational toil and support better decision-making without over-automation.
  • Invest in a Culture of Curiosity: Build the skills and learning capacity required to manage modern infrastructure, automation, and AI-driven operations sustainably.

“These five priorities give I&O leaders a clear path to stabilise operations while preparing for continued disruption,” adds Sugerman. “This is about eliminating wasted spend, improving visibility, and building teams that can adapt as environments change. Discipline and alignment are what turn infrastructure into a source of resilience rather than risk.”

Grounded in Info-Tech’s Future of IT research, diagnostic benchmarks, and executive interviews, the Infrastructure & Operations Priorities 2026 report delivers actionable guidance for IT leaders navigating accelerating AI adoption and multicloud complexity. The research provides a structured roadmap to strengthen governance, improve financial oversight, and build the operational maturity required to scale cloud and AI initiatives responsibly.

For exclusive and timely commentary from Info-Tech’s experts, including Emily Sugerman, and access to the complete Infrastructure & Operations Priorities 2026 report, please contact pr@infotech.com.

About Info-Tech Research Group

Info-Tech Research Group is one of the world’s leading research and advisory firms, serving over 30,000 IT and HR professionals. The company produces unbiased, highly relevant research and provides advisory services to help leaders make strategic, timely, and well-informed decisions. For nearly 30 years, Info-Tech has partnered closely with teams to provide them with everything they need, from actionable tools to analyst guidance, ensuring they deliver measurable results for their organisations.

To learn more about Info-Tech’s divisions, visit McLean & Company for HR research and advisory services and SoftwareReviews for software buying insights.

Media professionals can register for unrestricted access to research across IT, HR, and software, and hundreds of industry analysts through the firm’s Media Insiders program. To gain access, contact pr@infotech.com.

For information about Info-Tech Research Group or to access the latest research, visit infotech.com and connect via LinkedIn and X.

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Taiwan hosts APEC Workshop Highlights Innovative Technologies for Low-Carbon Food Supply Chains

TAIPEI, March 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — In response to escalating climate risks and global food security challenges, governments and industries worldwide are accelerating the green transformation of food systems. To promote the development of a low-carbon food industry and enhance regional collaboration, Food Industry Research and Development Institute (FIRDI) from Taiwan, with support from the APEC Forum of Policy Partnership on Science, Technology, and Innovation, and Taiwan’s Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA), hosted an APEC Workshop on Discovering Innovative Food Processing Technologies to Cultivate a Low-Carbon Food Supply Chain on March 18–19 in Taipei.

The two-day workshop brought together representatives from eleven APEC economies, including Chinese Taipei, Japan, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Peru, the United States, Australia, the Philippines, and Papua New Guinea. Government agencies, research institutions, and industry experts specializing in food supply chain technology and policy participated in the event. The workshop aimed to strengthen regional collaboration and accelerate the development of sustainable, low-carbon food supply chains across the Asia-Pacific region.

Dr. Ying-Chih Liao, Technology Advisor of the Department of Industrial Technology at MOEA, noted that cross-disciplinary technologies are becoming increasingly vital in supporting the development of low-carbon food supply chains worldwide. Taiwan continues to promote low-carbon and smart transformations through policy support and domestic research and development, while also strengthening international cooperation to build resilient food supply chains and foster sustainable growth in the food sector.

FIRDI Chairman Mark Hsieh emphasized that technological innovation is essential for building a sustainable and resilient food industry. FIRDI has long been dedicated to advancing food technology research and supporting Taiwan’s food industry. Through its integrated technology platforms, FIRDI has developed multiple solutions that contribute to food decarbonization, including smart low-carbon processing systems, circular processing technologies for by-product utilization, and innovative alternative food ingredients and processing applications. These technologies help food manufacturers enhance efficiency, reduce carbon emissions, and strengthen sustainability throughout the food supply chain.

The workshop featured a diverse lineup of speakers from Taiwan. Dr. Chii-Cherng Liao, Director General of FIRDI, shared the development strategy for the low-carbon food industry. The Vice President of the Chung-Hua Institution for Economic Research discussed collaborative approaches to developing a low-carbon food supply chain. Dr. Martin Lo, Professor at National Tsing Hua University, highlighted the key elements of promoting human sustainability. Several other Taiwanese speakers shared their experiences and case studies related to advancing the low-carbon food industry. Dr. Binghuei Barry Yang, Deputy Director General of FIRDI, presented innovations in food manufacturing process technology. Dr. Yi-Chung Lai, R&D Consultant at Biozyme Biotechnology, and Dr. Chin-Chu Chen, General Manager of Grape King Bio, discussed green fermentation processing and product development practices. Marcie Chan, Brewmaster of Long Sun Brewing, shared insights on circular economy practices within the brewing industry.

Several Taiwanese companies have demonstrated practical applications of low-carbon technologies. For example, GAU JIANN has implemented heat recovery and smart control systems in sterilization processes to enhance energy efficiency while maintaining product quality. Lian-Hwa Foods has introduced green products manufactured through advanced, efficient, low-carbon smart production lines. Companies such as VIGOR DONG SHIH and Jiamei are collaborating to build a whole-fruit utilization supply chain for plant-based beverages. AGV Group has developed shelf-stable oat-based beverage ingredients to support low-carbon plant-based food production. YUNG CHENG applies upcycling of wheat bran via enzymatic and microbial processes to reduce grain processing waste and emissions. Additionally, companies including Grape King Biotechnology and PREFERRTECH-BIO are developing innovative low-carbon alternative proteins derived from fungi and plant sources.

The low-carbon transformation of the food industry has become a key global trend, with increasing emphasis on innovative food processing technologies and sustainable supply chain solutions. By integrating technological innovation, economic policy, and new business models, Taiwan aims to strengthen the development of a low-carbon food industry ecosystem and deepen cooperation with APEC economies to share technological expertise, align with international standards, and promote sustainable development across the regional food industry.

Crescel Reports Positive Randomized Controlled Trial Results for Biobotanical Skin Renewal Cream in Rosacea

Study Shows Greater Clinical Improvement vs. Metronidazole-Based Standard of Care with Favorable Tolerability

MIAMI BEACH, Fla., March 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Crescel LLC, an innovative science and technology company, today announced results from a double-blind, randomized, active comparator-controlled clinical trial evaluating its biobotanical Skin Renewal Cream compared to a commonly used standard of care—topical metronidazole (Metrocream®) combined with CeraVe® moisturizer—in individuals with rosacea, a chronic inflammatory skin condition.

The study, conducted under the direction of a world-renowned dermatologist, enrolled 60 adult subjects with mild to severe rosacea and evaluated outcomes over a 12-week treatment period. Results from the trial are expected to be submitted for publication in a peer-reviewed medical journal in 2026.

Clinical Outcomes

Subjects were randomized to receive either Crescel Skin Renewal Cream or metronidazole 0.75% plus moisturizer twice daily. Dermatologist assessments were conducted at baseline and at Weeks 4, 8, and 12.

Crescel Skin Renewal Cream demonstrated statistically significant improvements from baseline across key measures:

  • Redness (Erythema):
    • Crescel: ↓54% at Week 12 (p<0.001)
    • Standard of care: ↓23% at Week 12 (p=0.004)
  • Inflammatory Lesions (Papules & Pustules):
    • Crescel: ↓74% at Week 8, maintained through Week 12 (p≤0.004)
    • Standard of care: ↓17% at Week 12 (not statistically significant)

Both groups showed reductions in redness; however, the Crescel group demonstrated greater overall improvement. For inflammatory lesions, reductions observed in the comparator group did not reach statistical significance at any time point.

Tolerability

Crescel Skin Renewal Cream was well tolerated, with no negative side effects observed during the study period. No clinically relevant issues related to irritation, dryness, or skin barrier disruption were reported.

Product Profile

Crescel Skin Renewal Cream is formulated as a biobotanical topical, combining naturally derived components with a proprietary microemulsion delivery system designed to support healthy skin function. The product has received the National Rosacea Society Seal of Acceptance and the National Psoriasis Foundation Seal of Recognition.

“These findings support the potential for a new approach in managing rosacea,” said Peter J. Passalacqua, Jr., Co-Founder, Chairman & CEO of Crescel. “In this controlled clinical trial, Crescel demonstrated greater improvement across key measures compared to a commonly used standard regimen, with a favorable tolerability profile.”

Additional Observations

Crescel Skin Renewal Cream has also been evaluated in other skin-related conditions, including psoriasis, eczema, acne, and diabetic ulcers.

“Crescel’s healing capabilities are exceptional,” said Dr. Roberta Shapiro, Department of Regenerative Medicine and Rehabilitation, Columbia University Medical Center and Senior Medical Advisor to Crescel. “I have never seen anything like this in my 30 years of practicing rehabilitation medicine.”

Crescel Skin Renewal Cream is available online at www.crescel.com.

Firstsource Introduces Intelligence That Operates

A Full-Stack, Agent-First Model That Closes the Enterprise AI Deployment Gap

NEW YORK and MUMBAI, India, March 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Firstsource Solutions Limited (NSE: FSL) (BSE: 532809), an RP-Sanjiv Goenka Group company, today launched Intelligence That Operates, a full-stack, agent-first operating model to design, build, and run AI-powered enterprise operations — with outcomes underwritten, not promised.

The announcement marks a significant evolution of the company’s UnBPO™ platform and a direct response to what has become the defining challenge of the agentic era. AI capability has never been greater — and yet for most enterprises, the operational reality on the ground has barely shifted. Pilots stall. Investments fail to translate into measurable outcomes. The gap between what AI can do and what businesses actually get from it keeps widening. The barrier, Firstsource argues, is not the technology. It is the operating model. Enterprises are trying to bolt AI onto structures built for a different era — siloed teams, linear handoffs, effort-based contracts, and vendors who design solutions they never have to live with in production.

Intelligence That Operates addresses a structural gap that has long fragmented enterprise services across separate vendors and separate accountability structures — the consultant who designs but doesn’t implement, the integrator who builds but doesn’t operate, the BPO that operates but never transforms. Firstsource unifies all three into a single, continuous engagement: Transform, Implement, Operate — with one partner accountable for the outcome end-to-end.

“UnBPO was never about tearing something down. It was about seeing clearly what was coming. It forced us to ask what this industry becomes when intelligence, not labor, is the primary input. ” said Ritesh Idnani, CEO & Managing Director of Firstsource. “Today, we are defining that for ourselves. We’re a full-stack partner to our clients. We design the operating model, build the intelligence layer, and run it in production with our name on the outcome. That is what Intelligence That Operates means. If we can’t underwrite the result, we haven’t earned the right to operate it.”

Intelligence That Operates is defined by five principles.

  • Domain Intelligence — industry complexity encoded from day one, so the intelligence knows the business context before it touches operations.
  • Full-Stack Delivery — one partner transforms, implements, and operates, eliminating the handoffs where accountability disappears.
  • Compounding Intelligence — every decision and outcome feeds back into the system, so the operational advantage widens with every engagement rather than plateauing at deployment.
  • Outcome Accountability — revenue tied to results delivered, not resources consumed, with Firstsource underwriting performance rather than managing a contract.
  • Governed Autonomy — every system earns its autonomy incrementally, through transparent auditability and proven performance, never assumed.

“The question every enterprise leader should be asking right now is not which AI vendor to pilot next,” added Ritesh Idnani. “It is: who will own the outcome when the intelligence doesn’t perform? Our answer is simple — we will. That is the standard we hold ourselves to, and the standard we believe this entire industry must be held to.”

Underpinning the model is twenty-five years of domain expertise encoded into composable, auditable AI that agents can execute, learn from, and improve upon. Every deployment generates structured decision traces that feed back into the system, compounding the operational advantage with every engagement.
Intelligence That Operates also redefines what it means to build a career in this industry. Firstsource’s Employee Value Proposition — Brilliant People. Bold Tech. Uncommon Careers. — reflects that directly. The domain expertise and creativity of its people power the intelligence behind every operation, while bold technology enables smarter systems to be designed and run at scale. Together, they create careers that are fundamentally more dynamic and impactful than traditional outsourcing ever allowed.

Industry Perspectives “The services industry is going through a real reckoning right now. The old model — where you hand off disparate parts and manage a vendor – doesn’t hold up when the technology is moving this fast. We need partners who work alongside us on the entire value chain with rewards tied to outcomes. Firstsource is a true partner that has actually made the leap, not just talked about it. They’re not advising us on AI. We are reimaging processes and co-creating new capabilities, inside our business, and owning what comes out the other side. That’s a different conversation entirely.”

– Bala Viswanathan, Founder and Group CEO, Aptia Group

“Firstsource is taking a decisive step toward what the services market has been struggling to operationalize, moving from AI experimentation to accountable execution. What stands out with Intelligence That Operates is the shift from fragmented delivery to a unified, full-stack model where one partner designs, builds, and runs AI in production with outcomes on the line.

This is where the market is heading. Enterprises are no longer buying AI capability; they are buying results. Providers that can combine domain intelligence, agentic execution, and commercial accountability into a single operating model will define the next phase of services. Firstsource is positioning itself on the right side of that transition.”

– Phil Fersht, CEO and Chief Analyst, HFS Research

“ETS operates at the intersection of high-stakes outcomes and complex, regulated processes — there is very little margin for error in what we do. What has distinguished Firstsource as a partner is that they understand that. They are not bringing us generic AI capability and asking us to figure out how to apply it. They are embedded in our operations, accountable for how the work actually performs. Intelligence That Operates reflects how we have experienced this partnership — and it is the kind of operating model that regulated, outcomes-driven organizations like ours need from a partner right now.”

– Dennis Stetzel, SVP & Head of Operations, ETS

“Every organization is at a decisive inflection point with AI; they must evolve and reinvent at the same time. This requires a fundamental rewiring of operating models across processes, data, talent, technology, and culture.

The market makers are doing this by building Systems of Execution – autonomous systems that work alongside systems of record to continuously adapt, execute, and deliver measurable outcomes. On this journey, organizations are increasingly seeking partners that can bring deep domain, functional, and process intelligence underpinned by connected data and a contextualized AI stack.” 
 – Jimit Arora, CEO, Everest

For more information on Intelligence That Operates, visit: https://unbpo.firstsource.com/

About Firstsource

Firstsource Solutions Limited, an RP-Sanjiv Goenka Group company (NSE: FSL) (BSE: 532809), is a global intelligence partner for enterprises in healthcare, banking and financial services, communications, media and technology, and retail.  With a operations across the US, UK, India, Philippines, Mexico, Romania, Turkey, Trinidad & Tobago, South Africa, and Australia, Firstsource combines twenty-five years of domain expertise with an agent-first delivery model to design, build and operate intelligence enterprise operations. Under its Intelligence That Operates model, Firstsource underwrites outcomes — not effort — turning deep domain intelligence into compounding operational advantage for the world’s most regulated industries. (www.firstsource.com)

Gastops and TKMS Sign Teaming Agreement to Establish Canadian Center of Excellence for the Canadian Patrol Submarine Project

OTTAWA, ON, March 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Gastops, an innovative Canadian provider of advanced In-Service Support solutions across marine, aerospace, energy, and industrial applications, has signed a Teaming Agreement with TKMS, a German provider of integrated system solutions in maritime defense technologies with more than 180 years of experience in naval engineering, to support the Canadian Patrol Submarine Project.

Through this collaboration, Gastops and TKMS will establish an Automation System In-Service Support (ASISS) Center of Excellence dedicated to supporting the Royal Canadian Navy’s CPSP program. The ASISS comprises the comprehensive, long-term management and execution of all activities in Canada required to operate, maintain, and sustain the installed submarine Automation/Platform Management System (PMS) and the Steering & Driving Control (S&DC)/Autopilot systems throughout their entire life cycle, ensuring maximum operational availability.

The collaboration will be enhanced by Canadian AI company, CORSphere, incorporating their AI-based machinery/system performance assessment, diagnostics, prognostics to enhance boat availability and maintenance optimization.

“Gastops is honored to work alongside TKMS on a program of such national importance,” said Shaun Horning, President and CEO of Gastops. “We are excited to leverage our rich history of supporting the RCN in partnership with TKMS’s world‑leading submarine technologies. We are building a powerful ASISS capability that will provide serviceability and readiness to the Royal Canadian Navy for decades.”

About Gastops

Gastops is the world’s leading provider of intelligent condition monitoring solutions used in Aerospace, Defence, Energy, and Industrial applications to optimize the availability, performance, and safety of critical assets. We offer peace of mind to our customers with innovative online monitoring sensors, at-line analysis, complex modeling and simulation, world class laboratory testing, engineering, design, and MRO services that predict performance to enable proactive operating decisions. Gastops has been providing powerful insights into the condition of critical equipment since 1979.

www.gastops.com 

About TKMS

TKMS is one of the world’s leading naval companies with more than 9,100 employees (including temporary workers) at three shipyards in Kiel, Wismar and Itajaí (Brazil), and with locations worldwide. The company is active as a systems supplier for submarines and naval surface vessels as well as for maritime electronics and security technologies. Around 3,300 employees work at the Kiel site, making it the largest shipyard location in Germany. 185 years of history and the constant striving for improvement allow the company to set new standards time and time again. TKMS offers its customers worldwide tailored solutions to meet the highly complex challenges of a changing world. The driving forces behind this innovative energy are the company’s employees, who shape the future of TKMS with passion and commitment every day.

www.tkmsgroup.com 

Media Contacts: media@gastops.com, +1 (613) 744-3530