As a result of this convenience, coupled with the sophistication of today’s smartphones and the transition to home-working, many workers now opt to use their personal devices for work. Indeed, a Gartner survey^* taken during the pandemic found that 55 per cent of employees used a personally owned smartphone or laptop to perform their duties.

However, employees will use their consumer-grade products for both work and personal use, making them more vulnerable to cybersecurity threats. They also rarely meet the same security standards as bespoke workplace devices, creating a risk of non-compliance with cybersecurity policy. Furthermore, consumer mobiles tend to fall short of the requirements necessary for intensive use in a professional setting, and do not come with enterprise-level support when technical problems arise.

Zebra Technologies now offers a solution with its TC22 and TC27 mobile computers, which combine affordability with top-tier features that enhance productivity and workflow efficiency. Unlike typical consumer-grade smartphones, the TC22 and TC27 are purpose-built and drop tested, ensuring durability that lasts for years whether used inside the warehouse or at the mercy of the harshest outdoor elements. They come with liquid and dust resistance to IP68 and IP65 standards, and the display screen and scanner exit window are made from Corning Gorilla Glass for high durability.

Both the TC22 and TC27 are equipped with Wi-Fi 6/6E^** connectivity, with the latter boasting 5G, ensuring constant, lightning-fast data transfer and superior voice quality in different working environments. The devices run on a Qualcomm 5430 2.1GHz processor that delivers twice the performance of its predecessors, meaning seamless multitasking across applications and fast response times.

Source: Zebra Technologies

Designed for usability, the TC22 and TC27 have advanced six-inch FHD+ displays that reduce the need for constant scrolling and can be used in bright sunlight. The ergonomic design, nearly 10 per cent thinner than previous models, runs on Android, guaranteeing access to the latest features and updates as well as a familiar interface, with future upgrades to Android 16 supported.

The devices also integrate enterprise-class scanning options that can read high rise shelfing in the warehouse, first-time-every-time barcode capture and support for contactless transactions and cards stored in Apple or Google wallets; features that are quickly becoming essential for merchants. Moreover, users get a built-in advantage at no-cost with Zebra’s Mobility DNA Professional suite, that provides security updates, lifecycle management and analytics that maximise user productivity and protection from cyber threats.

Source: Zebra Technologies

Both devices offer flexible battery choices to match various work patterns. The standard 3800 mAh battery suits full-shift power needs, while the optional extended 5200 mAh battery caters to multi-shift demands. The removable batteries ensures uninterrupted operations without downtime for charging.

Beyond their core features, the TC22 and TC27 offer purpose-built accessories such as single and multi-slot cradles for various charging options, snap-on trigger handles for quicker scanning and wearable arm mounts for hands-free operation. These accessories are tailored to different work environments, from retail to field service.

Zebra has provided mobile computing solutions for all businesses and budgets for the last 50 years. Unlike consumer smartphones, the TC22 and TC27 are designed specifically for workplace use with powerful business features at an affordable price. They are rugged and durable, working to boost worker productivity. To learn more about what the TC22 and TC27 can do for your business, visit the Zebra product site or contact one of the expert team today.

^*Source: https://www.gartner.com/en/newsroom/press-releases/2021-04-26-gartner-survey-finds-1-in-5-workers-consider-themselves-digital-technology-experts-since-covid-19

^**Mobility DNA Enterprise License is required for Wi-Fi 6E

The post Zebra Technologies’ TC22 and TC27: An affordable enterprise mobile solution for businesses of every size and industry appeared first on Tech Wire Asia.

Source: Zebra Technologies

A logical solution involves replacing disparate, legacy devices with a single, multipurpose digital solution capable of adapting to different work environments and tasks. This approach simplifies IT infrastructure, reduces expense and enhances productivity. Choosing a specialist provider with significant industrial experience also helps ensure a reliable solution for long-term satisfaction in diverse use cases.

Zebra Technologies‘ recently launched the ET60 and ET65 Android rugged enterprise tablets with ten-inch displays designed to address these challenges. The most versatile in the industry, they can be used primarily as tablets, fitted on a vehicle dock or converted into a laptop for intensive data entry by snapping on an optional fiction hinge keyboard. The models’ adaptability ensures they transition between all work environments, eliminating the need for multiple digital solutions and the headaches of a fragmented hardware environment.

The ET60 and ET65 are purpose-built for challenging working conditions and have been extensively stress-tested for drops onto hard surfaces that exceed MIL-STD-810H, liquid and dust resistance to IP66 standard and extreme temperatures. Both the display screen and scanner exit window are made from Corning Gorilla Glass for high durability, and the display screen is rated at 1000 nits to be clear even in bright sunlight.

In addition to excelling in varied environmental conditions, the ET60 and ET65 go beyond conventional capabilities. The devices come equipped with front and rear cameras that can capture diverse data types like barcodes, registration plates and Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) via Zebra’s proprietary OCR Wedge to improve workforce efficiency and accuracy. The 16MP camera is ideal for occasional barcode scanning, but users can also use the integrated SE55 scan engine with IntelliFocus™ technology to capture barcodes as far as 12.2 metres away. With removable batteries allowing for full-shift or multi-shift use, hot-swap battery mode and no-battery configurations when in-vehicle, the ET60/ET65 ensures uninterrupted operations wherever it is stationed.

To support the cold chain environment, Zebra has a purpose-built ET60 Freezer model that can be mounted on a patent-pending rugged vehicle dock. This model thrives in sub-zero environments through its heated touch panel that reduces condensation, heated pogo pins to avoid loss of connection, securely covered ports that increase its longevity and adjustable warehouse keyboard for gloved operations.

Source: Zebra Technologies

Another issue with retaining fragmented, legacy devices is their lack of ongoing support. This creates vulnerabilities and hampers the devices’ ability to adapt to evolving technological landscapes. However, Zebra’s ET60 and ET65 provide a long lifecycle with four years availability for sale and up to eight years of service and support. The tablets ship with Zebra’s Mobility DNA, a suite of complimentary software that helps optimise, integrate, manage, secure and deploy devices. Optional LifeGuard™ for Android provides regular operating system and security patches, offering greater protection against security threats – there was a hack on Australian assets every six minutes[1] in the first half of 2023 – reducing risk and extending the device’s lifespan.

ET60 and ET65 are powered by fast Qualcomm 6490 octa-core 2.7 GHz processors designed to support the fastest networks, plus the AI and machine learning apps of tomorrow. The devices are compatible with the latest wireless networks, Wi-Fi 6/6E and come with Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) for maximum IIoT connectivity. The ET65 model also adds 5G connectivity for public and private networks and improved outdoor performance.

The ET60 and ET65 tablets have been purpose-built to cater to diverse work environments, from warehouses, ports and yards to manufacturing plant floors, working outdoors and in freezer units. They offer multiple uses in one device, reliability, security and longevity. To learn more about the ET60 and ET65, visit the Zebra product site or contact one of the expert team today.

The post Choosing a tablet for seamless site work: Boost productivity everywhere in the business with Zebra’s ET60 and ET65 solutions appeared first on Tech Wire Asia.

In a digital age dominated by AI, Malaysian consumers increasingly lean towards AI-assisted brand interactions, with 47% expressing a preference for such interactions over human ones, surpassing the global average of 39%. However, despite this burgeoning consumer demand, Adobe’s latest State of Digital Customer Experience report reveals a significant disparity between consumer preferences and brand readiness in Malaysia.

The report underscores a consumer appetite for AI-enabled tools and services, particularly when exploring new products and services. Yet, Malaysian brands are lagging behind their global counterparts in harnessing the latest AI innovations to enhance customer experience (CX). Only 8% of Malaysian brands utilize generative AI to bolster CX initiatives, a stark contrast to the 18% globally. Moreover, just 6% of Malaysian brands are establishing upskilling initiatives to leverage generative AI, trailing behind the global average of 11%.

Adobe: most are yet to adopt the data-driven technology tools and capabilities needed to deliver personalisation at scale and keep pace with customer preferences.

While there’s a glimmer of hope as some brands in Malaysia demonstrate awareness of the organizational implications of adopting AI, with 22% briefing senior leadership, the overall progress remains sluggish. However, there’s a silver lining as Malaysian brands are poised to elevate their generative AI capabilities in the coming year, with 33% prioritizing it as their primary CX focus.

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Consumers leading on AI in Malaysia

“Consumers are swiftly embracing generative AI-led experiences. While brands in Malaysia are lagging in terms of AI adoption, our findings indicate that this will soon evolve as Malaysia, as well as other Asian markets, are well poised for an accelerated uptake amid continued realization of the direct benefits that generative AI offers and its strong position as a technological hub,” Simon Dale, VP of Adobe Asia said. 

Dale added that when it comes to business strategies, most brands in Malaysia acknowledge that improving the CX is of top or significant priority. “This is driving brands to focus on evolving their digital experiences, underscored by a strategic emphasis on flexible and highly personalized interactions,” he added.

Nevertheless, bridging the gap between consumer expectations and brand initiatives poses a significant challenge. Malaysian consumers desire unified, seamless experiences across online and in-person interactions, yet most brands struggle to deliver personalized experiences at scale. Data-driven technology tools and capabilities necessary for personalization remain underutilized, impeding brands’ ability to keep pace with evolving consumer preferences. 

“More than two-thirds of consumers in Malaysia (77%) want brands to offer the same level of personalization online and in-person, and they want unified, seamless experiences in every interaction. However, meeting this expectation remains a top brand challenge,” the Adobe report reads. That’s not it. Privacy and security concerns loom large, with consumers wary of data misuse and lack of transparency in data practices. 

Despite 69% of Malaysian consumers expressing willingness to boycott brands that aren’t transparent about data use, only 26% of brands perceive this as impacting retention. This disconnect underscores the need for brands to prioritize transparency and establish robust data privacy policies.

“Consumers have emphasized that their most impactful brand experiences are relevant and personalized to their preferences. As brands continue to digitalize at full speed to meet expectations, it is crucial that they also strategically navigate data privacy and security concerns so as not to jeopardize their relationship with customers,” noted Dale.

After all, as brands delve into generative AI, consumer apprehensions about data privacy intensify. Many fear unauthorized data use and excessive data collection, highlighting the critical need for brands to implement stronger AI guardrails and internal usage policies. In conclusion, while Malaysian consumers embrace AI-driven brand interactions, Malaysian brands are struggling to keep pace, falling short in leveraging AI innovations to meet consumer expectations. 

As the digital landscape evolves, Malaysian brands must prioritize AI adoption, transparency in data practices, and robust internal policies to bridge the gap and foster trust with consumers in an increasingly AI-driven world.

The post Malaysia’s AI divide: consumers embrace, brands lag appeared first on Tech Wire Asia.

Modern society is driven by advancements in technology, including software, electronics, robotics, and more. Every day, we see technology developing, changing the ways we work and do business. At the forefront of current technological progress is arguably the double-act of AI technology and autonomous robots. There is little doubt that mobile, self-governing robots will play key roles in the future.

In just 50 years, the market for industrial robots has evolved significantly. Today, that evolution has delivered “cobots,” otherwise known as collaborative robots that work alongside humans. Whether autonomous robots will continue to work side-by-side with organic people, or take over their roles completely, is a debate that rages on.

Dawn of the RoboDog. (Image generated by AI).

Artificial intelligence technology has accelerated at an astounding pace over the last two years, affecting many sectors across the globe. AI has become a part of everyday life for so many, with intelligent assistants on hand to support us as we work. They are now at our beck and call, answering queries, and even performing repetitive dull tasks in various industries.

Hasn’t that always been the point of technological advancements, though? To help us complete physical tasks quicker, or even to do them instead of us, freeing human beings up to do more intellectually demanding tasks? If recent decades are anything to go by, we are relying on automation more than ever before.

Emerging as a key competitive factor for manufacturing operations worldwide, the number of industrial robots being used in the workplace has grown exponentially since the 1970s. For instance, only 200 industrial robots were being used in the US in 1970 compared to 4,000 in 1980. By 2015, that number had risen to 1.6 million. Today, there are an estimated 3 million or more autonomous robots in use.

Robots in industry through time

To understand the impact of robots on different industries, we need to go back to their origin in the 1940s and 1950s. British neurophysiologist, W. Grey Walter, was the man who started it all, developing Elmer and Elsie, two robots in the late 1940s. Inspired by biological systems, Grey Walter’s “Tortoises” (as they were also affectionately known as) exhibited fundamental autonomous actions. Using basic sensors, the robots could navigate their surroundings and even respond to stimuli, mirroring lifelike behavior.

During the 1950s, the progression of autonomous technology continued with George Devol, “the Grandfather of Robotics,” creating Unimate. Beginning with basic devices for moving objects autonomously, Devol is credited with inventing the first industrial robot as we understand the term today.

Over time, advancements in electronics, sensors, and software expanded autonomous robot capabilities to include complex tasks like painting, welding, and precision work.

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These early examples of robots began being used commercially on assembly lines by the early 1960s, primarily performing heavy lifting tasks – establishing the notion that robots were for tasks that would have been physically difficult for individual average humans to accomplish. But the robots didn’t stay locked into heavy lifting tasks for long. It soon became evident that the robots were significantly increasing manufacturing productivity.

During the late 1960s and early 1970s, demand for automation increased. So industrial robots shifted from mostly heavy lifting to more precision tasks, prompting the development of smaller, electric models equipped with advanced controls and motors that were ideal for assembly work like tightening bolts and nuts. Robots added dull, repetitive work to heavy, difficult work and broadened their repertoire significantly.

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Fast-forward to the late 1970s, and robots had expanded their capabilities even further. This included tasks like arc welding, intricate painting, and hazardous environment operations, allowing humans to work on other, less risk-intensive areas of production, while simultaneously raising safety in robot-friendly industries.

This enhancement of workplace safety allowed robots to handle dangerous conditions in environments such as steel mills, freeing skilled laborers to focus on more critical manufacturing operations and ultimately boosting productivity.

Enthusiasm for robotics continued into the mid-1980s. Engineers started to innovate with a view to progressing the industrial landscape faster than ever before. This was the era that sparked the evolution of modern industrial robots, integrating advanced sensors and basic machine vision systems.

As technology continued to advance and computer hardware costs decreased, robotic capabilities took a substantial leap. Engineers were able to install precision force sensors and lasers on robots, allowing them to detect and track components on assembly lines, providing a human-like sense of sight and touch that feels familiar when we look at Amazon’s new robotic solutions, Sequoia and Digit. Like Amazon’s “humanoid” robots, the 1980s’ engineering marvels elevated robots from repetitive task performers to machines that exhibited “limited intelligence.”

While 1980s autonomous robots, otherwise known as autonomous guided vehicles (AGVs), could transport goods and materials from one workstation to another, they still lacked the flexibility and adaptability of the autonomous mobile robots we know today. But, as we stepped into the 1990s and 2000s, there was a rejuvenated interest in the development of true autonomous mobile robots.

That resurgence of interest brought progress in the development of artificial intelligence, sensor technology, and machine learning. Piece by piece, autonomous robots were able to perceive their surroundings more attentively than ever before thanks to advanced sensors. The robots could also learn from their experiences and adapt to changes via newly updated AI algorithms. This was the genuine dawning of the age of autonomous robots.

As the 2000s rolled on, independent robotic system technology began to genuinely excel. Over the last decade or so, mobile autonomous robots have been adopted by numerous industries across the world, including software, manufacturing, retail, and healthcare. While most still work alongside a human workforce, these robots have streamlined warehouse operations and revolutionized the way products and materials are handled.

Yes, these robots have replaced human workers in many environments; something that holds many ethical conundrums for another day. It’s the fact that these robots can augment a human’s capabilities that make them a priceless commodity in various industries. Although there are a host of drawbacks associated with the use of this technology, there is little doubt that autonomous robotic systems have helped improve safety, increase productivity, and introduced new, exciting possibilities in the world of innovative machine learning technology.

Mars Rover, a space-based autonomous vehicle on a deserted planet.

The present and future of autonomous robotics

Today, mobile autonomous technology is widely used in the industrial sector, as well as sectors like agriculture, health, logistics, and property maintenance. Although adoption on a full scale may still be years away, mobile robots maintain their potential to completely change the way business is done in the future. Even in the modern age, autonomous mobile robots are evolving. That just leaves us with the question of the future of robots in industry.

Today, machine learning and AI has empowered industrial robots to make autonomous decisions without the need for human guidance. Modern robots are able to analyze extensive sets of data, improving their performance via varying mechanical motions. Engineers now prioritize instilling “real intelligence” in robots for increased complexity and efficiency, cultivating a safe collaboration with humans in manufacturing settings.

Cyber-strawberry season. (Image generated by AI).

In recent years, there has been a rise of collaborative robots (cobots). This marks a shift towards robots that are designed to operate alongside humans safely. Using force-limited joints and computer vision, cobots can interact directly with humans. But, being smaller and lighter, they are trained to complete specific tasks, freeing up human workers to focus on other jobs.

Initially passive, the development of cobots has been incredibly swift. They now have independent power sources, enabling them to add precise object manipulation and environmental awareness to their bag of capabilities. Their seamless operation alongside human workers has already resulted in mass changes in the manufacturing world, as shown by the nearly $1 billion cobot market and 40,000 operational machines worldwide.

The future of autonomous robots includes a much wider adoption of cobots, particularly ones that will drive efficiency. As costs come down, their wider adoption will make autonomous robots a fact of life across industrial sectors all around the world.

Autonomous robots will soon be in every sphere of our world.

The post The evolving robot: Past, present and future roles appeared first on Tech Wire Asia.

The production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme introduced in India in March 2020 had a tepid start, experiencing a significant shortfall. Crafted to stimulate production in 14 sectors, with an outlay of ₹1.97-lakh crore (about US$26 billion), the PLI initiative is a cornerstone of the government’s vision to bolster domestic manufacturing, positioning India as a global export hub. 

It all started with the government targeting mobile manufacturing, electric components, pharmaceuticals, and medical device manufacturing. Since then, the concept has expanded to cover multiple sectors, fostering manufacturing capabilities and export-oriented production. Ultimately, the Indian government aims to enhance local supply chain capacities, introduce new downstream operations, and attract investments into high-tech production.

The PLI scheme targeting IT hardware was only introduced in February 2021, encompassing the production of laptops, tablets, all-in-one PCs, and servers, with an allocated budget of 73.5 billion rupees (US$1.02 billion). But the program faced low participation levels due to the incentives being perceived as insufficient. So, India decided more incentives would be the best bet in luring electronics manufacturers. 

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In May 2023, Delhi unveiled a 170 billion-rupee (US$2.1 billion) financial incentive plan (PLI 2.0 scheme for IT hardware) to draw laptop, tablet, and other hardware makers to the South Asian nation, especially in the wake of the China-US trade tensions, creating an opportune moment for companies to explore alternative production options. It was only through the PLI 2.0 scheme that the Indian government began noticing better uptake. 

How successful is the uptake of the PLI 2.0 scheme?

According to an official statement on November 18, New Delhi has approved subsidy applications from 27 companies out of 40 applicants. The approved companies include Apple supplier Foxconn Technology Group, computer giant Lenovo Group, Dell, HP, and AsusTek Computer.

Ashwini Vaishnaw, the Union Cabinet Minister for Railways, Communications, Electronics and Information Technology. (Photo by TAUSEEF MUSTAFA / AFP).

“23 out of 27 approved applicants are ready to start manufacturing on day zero,” Ashwini Vaishnaw, India’s Minister for Railways, Communications, Electronics and Information Technology, said. “Four companies will start production in the next 90 days.”

During the initial year of the PLI scheme, companies are permitted to maintain their regular import practices, with a gradual reduction in the import quota commencing after September 2024, according to local reports. All companies were required to provide their import data for the past three years, specifying the source from which they import the devices.

Vaishnaw also noted that India expects the PLI-approved companies, covering domestic assembly of desktop and laptop PCs, tablets, and other tech hardware, to directly create 50,000 jobs and indirectly, around 150,000 more jobs under the scheme, based on a total investment of US$360 million. He also said the estimated value of information technology hardware production would reach US$42 billion.

Neither Apple nor Samsung applied for the scheme

It appears that Apple has chosen not to participate in India’s PLI 2.0 scheme for IT hardware, mainly because laptops and tablets covered by the scheme constitute a relatively small share of Apple’s total sales in the Indian market, as per an ET report. The report indicates that Apple has no immediate intentions for local production of these products.

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Quoting sources, the report also stated that Apple’s manufacturing strategy deviates from the traditional model, relying on global electronic contract manufacturers instead of establishing its production facilities. Apple also chose not to participate in the smartphone PLI scheme, as highlighted by the executives. Approximately 80% of Apple’s revenue in India is derived from smartphones, the cornerstone of the company’s product lineup.

As a result, Apple’s strategic emphasis is on expanding iPhone production within the country. It’s noteworthy that, even for smartphones, the tech giant did not pursue PLI benefits, although its manufacturing partners, such as Foxconn and Wistron, submitted applications for the scheme.

On the other hand, despite benefiting from the smartphone-focused PLI initiative, Samsung, the South Korean tech giant, has opted not to participate in the PLI 2.0 scheme. This decision is influenced by Samsung’s relatively limited presence in the laptop market, with the tablet sector contributing little to the company’s revenue stream.

Companies approved under PLI 2.0 Scheme for IT Hardware. Source: X.com.

The post Is the second time a charm for India’s PLI scheme for IT hardware? appeared first on Tech Wire Asia.

In today’s digital work environment, seeking focus amid incessant online noise is akin to an intense treasure hunt. Employees wade through a ceaseless flood of messages, meetings and alerts, all vying for a slice of their divided attention. This ongoing struggle often devolves into a perpetual hunt through digital folders, emails, and an abyss of browser tabs, in search of the very elements crucial for efficient job performance.

Such relentless digital disturbances do more than just consume our time; they plunder the potential within us. The cumulative effect of these distractions represents hundreds of hours lost each year, time that could have been dedicated to more impactful and rewarding endeavors.

Yet the future of productivity isn’t predetermined. Fresh research points to a hopeful trajectory, highlighting the role of AI-powered tools, flexible work setups, and asynchronous communication strategies in paving a more focused, efficient path forward.

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Empowering work productivity through AI

A recent study by Economist Impact, sponsored by Dropbox, reveals a telling snapshot: 42% of respondents confessed to rarely enjoying an uninterrupted, productive work hour. The study further estimates a staggering loss of over five hundred hours per year for the average knowledge worker due to distractions, with 157 of those hours squandered on unproductive messaging via workplace chat applications—identified as the primary culprit for broken concentration.

Simultaneously, the rise of generative AI is ushering in innovative product development possibilities tailored to modern work’s nuances. The study also indicates a positive reception to automation tools, increasingly driven by AI, with 79% of users reporting enhanced productivity and roughly 70% acknowledging better organization.

The research additionally provides insights into future expectations from AI technology. The overarching idea is clear: the more our tools can streamline daily tasks, the more we can dedicate ourselves to innovative, collaborative, and creative pursuits.

Automation of repetitive tasks emerged as a top priority for over 40% of participants. Close to 30% expressed a desire for tools capable of aiding in information retrieval, organization, and summarization, while over 20% sought solutions for query resolution.

The preferable ways to use AI-powered tools. (Source – Dropbox)

AI’s potential to transform meetings is particularly striking. Internal insights from Dropbox—sourced from comprehensive interviews and surveys with employees, (orchestrated by its People Analytics team alongside external researchers)—reveal that meetings carry hidden costs not reflected in our calendars. These include the time spent in preparation and post-meeting processing and the cognitive toll of switching between unrelated meetings.

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The prospect of AI tools shouldering some of this cognitive burden—from transcribing and summarizing discussions to compiling preparatory materials—promises a future with more room for focus and reduced administrative clutter.

The sentiment gleaned from the Economist Impact survey suggests a prevailing optimism: AI and automation are viewed not as threats to job security, but as enhancers of work quality, intelligence, and efficiency. Among respondents already relying on AI and automation tools, 86% felt their job security was either bolstered or unaffected by these technologies—a consistency observed across all age groups, from Gen Z to Baby Boomers.

AI’s battle against work distractions

Mitigating the cognitive strain caused by administrative excess is crucial for unlocking our full productivity potential. Yet, in an era punctuated by endless meetings and incessant messaging, maintaining focus is an uphill battle.

Although indispensable in remote work setups, key communication tools also double as sources of distraction and tension. Approximately 60% of people report feeling compelled to respond instantly to messages, while 63% admit to a constant pressure to remain accessible.

Economist Impact’s findings underscore the productivity pitfall: inefficient meetings and workplace chat applications account for the loss of 79 and 157 hours annually per knowledge worker, respectively.

Addressing the issue of unproductive messaging alone could unlock substantial economic benefits: potentially US$31,000 per knowledge worker in the US (US$360 billion on a national scale, representing 11% of annual economic production).

Recovering from such disruptions, including emails and meetings, devours 127 hours each year for the average American worker—a number that’s on the rise. This trend isn’t confined to the US; it’s a global phenomenon, with workers in countries like Korea, Australia, and the UK losing over 100 hours annually to distraction recovery.

Hours of lost focus per knowledge worker (left axis) and equivalent economic cost per person (right axis). (Source – Dropbox)

While eradicating every distraction remains an unattainable ideal, the potential to harness innovative tools to contain this turmoil is a realistic ambition.

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This strategy encompasses utilizing solutions such as Dropbox Dash for prompt information retrieval or automated transcriptions for more efficient meetings. AI technologies stand at the forefront of these pragmatic enhancements of our professional lives.

What is Dropbox doing to enhance work?

Now available in open beta, Dropbox Dash is a testament to enhanced search functionality, thanks to its AI infusion. It amalgamates various apps, tools, and content under one search umbrella, significantly easing the information hunt. With features like Stacks, an intelligent system for link organization, and a centralized start page, it streamlines navigation throughout the working day.

Can AI free us from meetings that should have been emails, and emails that could have waited till meetings?

Addressing the contemporary challenge of managing content sprawled across various platforms, Dash represents Dropbox’s solution to digital clutter, allowing users to concentrate on more substantial tasks. Based on user feedback, the system has evolved to accommodate keyword and semantic searches, eliminating dependence on the exact memory of extensive titles.

Additionally, Dash can respond directly to queries by using AI to parse and synthesize information from diverse sources, delivering rapid, pertinent responses. This development signifies a crucial stride toward adept digital workspace administration.

Since its launch, Dropbox AI has been pivotal in simplifying the summarization of high-volume content such as videos, audio files, and documents. The platform has evolved, enabling users to pose questions and receive summaries from content spanning their entire Dropbox account. By initiating a search, Dropbox AI swiftly finds relevant answers and file summaries, enhancing the speed of information retrieval.

What’s more, Dropbox AI is adept at interpreting natural language commands, and responding accurately to requests like “show me photos from my photoshoot yesterday.” Additionally, users are given greater autonomy over their digital experiences, with the ability to adjust AI functionalities within their account settings.

The digital workspace is undergoing a transformative phase. With the integration of advanced AI capabilities in tools like Dropbox Dash and Dropbox AI, our approach to handling information and managing tasks is becoming more streamlined and efficient.

The post How AI can restore your focus at work appeared first on Tech Wire Asia.

Since a substantial volume of sensitive data is now being stored in the cloud, the need for data sovereignty is gaining greater traction. In the Asia Pacific and Japan (APJ) region specifically, there’s a growing demand for data to be stored within national borders of the country that owns the data. VMware’s business growth in the region is proof of this demand. Today, the number of VMware Sovereign Cloud partners in the region has risen to 22.

“Countries and regions have started to create guardrails around data, and digital sovereignty to protect data,” VMware Asia Pacific & Japan’s senior VP and general manager, Sylvain Cazard told reporters during the company’s Singapore edition of its Explore event last week. The 22 VMware Sovereign Cloud partners are from key regional countries, including Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Australia, and New Zealand.

Sovereign Cloud embodies the need for national data borders.

Sovereign clouds are designed and built to deliver security and data access that meets the strict requirements of regulated industries and local laws on data privacy, access, and control. They protect critical data for both private and public sector organizations. VMware observed that countries across Asia need to intensify their efforts to develop data governance strategies and legislation to enforce laws focused on privacy, protection, and security. 

That has prompted technology providers like VMware to strengthen their offerings of sovereign cloud capabilities in the region. According to Cazard’s discussions with customers, another factor boosting the demand for sovereign clouds in the region has been the necessity to mitigate risks and ensure uninterrupted business operations in an unpredictable and unstable global environment.

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“In our region, Brunei, China, and Indonesia all have strict requirements that data must be stored on servers within the country. India and Malaysia have localization regulations that apply to certain domain names and around consent requirements before transferring personal data across borders. In Australia and New Zealand, data localization regulations apply to certain industries,” Cazard said in a media briefing at VMware Explore Singapore.

VMware’s Sovereign Cloud program was opened to partners in Asia-Pacific in October 2021. So far, regional partners include Malaysia’s Credence, AIS Business and Cloud HM in Thailand, Lintasarta in Indonesia, New Zealand and Australia’s CCL, Datacom, and Macquarie Cloud Services.

How does VMware’s Sovereign Cloud work?

Until recently, cloud providers ensured data sovereignty through contractual clauses that covered various aspects of the data lifecycle. While large enterprises have dedicated departments to handle these matters, smaller organizations may need more financial resources to manage the associated complexities or in-house expertise to comprehend the risks and benefits of data sovereignty fully.

While keeping data ‘in’ is a key concern for sovereignty, it is also necessary to
securely share data outside of its jurisdiction when warranted. Source: VMware

This is where VMware’s Sovereign Cloud initiative comes in to simplify and streamline the process of achieving cloud sovereignty. The company offers certified cloud solutions through partnerships with cloud providers. There are specific guidelines that must be adhered to for a cloud provider to attain certification. 

These VMware Sovereign Cloud providers must also meet relevant geographic-specific requirements, regulations, and standards in the regions where their sovereign cloud services are offered. There are currently 53 VMware Sovereign Cloud providers.

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Moreover, in the Worldwide Data and Content Technologies 2023 Predictions – APEJ Implications report, IDC predicts that by 2025, 30% of the 2000 Asia-based organizations (A2000) will move 10% of their workloads to a sovereign cloud provider to address data, technical, and operational requirements.

Integrating sovereign cloud into a multi-cloud strategy

The shift toward a multi-cloud approach, where businesses utilize multiple cloud service providers instead of just one, offers advantages to enterprises. However, it also raises the risk that data may inadvertently cross into regions governed by different data sovereignty regulations.

At a briefing during VMware Explore Singapore, senior VP Purnima Padmanabhan and VP Prashanth Shenoy explained how, by integrating sovereign cloud into a multi-cloud strategy, organizations could benefit from increased flexibility by avoiding vendor lock-in and future-proofing its data operations.

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Padmanabhan said organizations should also consider sovereign clouds to complement their deployments on public or hyperscale clouds. This helps them take advantage of the breadth of services on offer across clouds. For example, the data on a sovereign cloud can be transferred to a public cloud to take advantage of its sophisticated analytics services, while ensuring adequate security measures are in place to protect the analytics outcome.

Shenoy also highlighted how, since all data is different, the right data must be deployed in the right cloud in a multi-cloud environment. “Here, the sovereign cloud plays an integral role, by enabling enterprises to manage critical data in a dynamic geopolitical landscape innovatively,” he said.

The post VMware Sovereign Cloud gains momentum in APAC appeared first on Tech Wire Asia.

Not too long after India imposed — and then postponed — a licensing requirement on the import of laptops and personal computers (PCs), leading players began registering for the country’s production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme. Those 40 companies, including Asus, Dell, HP, and Foxconn, plan to start manufacturing in India. In short, the world can anticipate more Made in India laptops and PCs soon.

Last week, local reports indicated that around 30 out of 40 applicants are expected to qualify for the PLI scheme for IT hardware. Those companies committed to making PCs, laptops, tablets, servers, and other equipment worth Rs 4.65 during the scheme period. First introduced in 2020 for electronics makers, PLIs incentivize domestic and foreign companies to invest in Indian manufacturing and meet predetermined output targets.

According to a report by The Economic Times, major IT hardware companies like Dell and HP are participating directly in the program, while other significant players such as HPE, Lenovo, Acer, ASUS, and Thomson are taking part through electronic manufacturing service (EMS) companies with manufacturing facilities in India, such as Flextronics and Rising Star.

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In a Monday post on X, Alphabet chief executive Officer Sundar Pichai announced that Google will begin to make its Chromebook laptops in India through a partnership forged with HP Inc. The announcement by Google is the latest among global technology companies wiming to expand their assembly in the key growth market.

The first Indian Chromebooks – coming soon.

HP explained that the partnership will propel a joint vision: to support the digital education ecosystem in India, and to help more students enhance their learning by providing affordable, safe, and high-quality computing devices to education authorities, schools, and institutions. 

To top it off, with ChromeOS at its core, these Chromebooks include security and accessibility features, making them ideal for classroom environments.

Where will the Made in India Chromebook laptops be manufactured?

HP has a Flex Ltd facility near Chennai in southern India, where the company has been making laptops and desktops since 2020 – the Chromebooks will be built there. HP noted that the Chromebook production started on October 2, 2023. “Chromebooks are typically priced at the lower end of the market and have thin profit margins, making them sensitive to tariff measures,” Bloomberg pointed out.

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That said, local manufacturing allows HP to avoid potential curbs on Chromebook imports. Bani Dhawan, head of education for South Asia at Google, emphasized the company’s ongoing efforts to support the digital transformation of education in India. “The local production of Chromebooks with HP marks an important step in our efforts to support the digital transformation of education in India,” said Dhawan.

“We hope this collaboration will help accelerate the adoption of technology in more schools, so that every student and educator have access to the tools and skills to pursue their potential.” 

A rise in tech production in India

Lately, India has been witnessing a significant uptick in technology production. Just last month, government sources claimed that Apple Inc. has plans to scale up production in India by over five-fold to around US$40 billion in the next four to five years. The iPhone maker crossed the US$7 billion production mark in its 2022 financial year.

Apple is already manufacturing iPhones in India and plans to start manufacturing Airpods in 2024. A government official quoted by the PTI News said, “It [Apple] doesn’t have any plans to participate in the IT hardware PLI [scheme]. It may come later, but now, its focus is to scale up existing production levels.”

India is yielding results even when it comes to the country’s ambitious push for self-sufficiency in mobile phone assembling. The South Asian nation shipped two billion domestically assembled smartphones and feature phones between 2014 and 2022 as part of its Make in India initiative.

India’s export industry for telecom equipment, including smartphones, is rapidly expanding. Source: S&P Global

According to market and research firm Counterpoint, a staggering 98% of all mobile phone shipments within the Indian market in 2022 were domestically produced, and 16% of the production was exported, compared to a mere 19% of domestic phones in domestic production in 2014, the year Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration assumed office.

Modi has been courting several global players in big tech to make India a new powerhouse.

The post HP and Google will start producing Made in India Chromebook laptops appeared first on Tech Wire Asia.

When it comes to work productivity, be it at the workplace or anywhere else, invisible apps are working behind the scenes to ensure a smooth workflow process. Unknown to many, invisible apps are the solutions that make user commands work. They are integrated with existing systems and processes to automate repetitive tasks.

For example, when a person talks to a chatbot, in the background the chatbot is actually trying to find the right solution  for that query. In the past, an employee would need to manually search their way to a solution.

Even when using voice commands, be it for calling someone or getting a task done, phone assistants are examples of frictionless invisible apps that enable these processes to work.

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According to Simon Ma, director and regional manager for ASEAN at Freshworks, in the enterprise space, invisible apps integrate systems to streamline operations and enhance work productivity in an organization. Unlike normal apps that have a visible user interface, invisible apps not only automate tasks but also manage data and facilitate communication.

“The goal is to help with enhancing efficiency, automating processes, and generally improving overall operations. These apps work in the background; when they start to automate repetitive tasks, it eliminates the need for manual interventions. That means invisible apps can also perform actions and make decisions on behalf of the user,” explained Ma.

Enhancing work productivity by improving employee experience

When it comes to work productivity, employees today want convenience and intuitiveness. They don’t want to granularly undertake a business process or manually work a business application. That’s particularly true among Gen Z and millennial employees, who are often immersed in multiple apps when it comes to work. They could be using email, Teams, and WhatsApp for work chats and tasks, for example.

Simon Ma, director and regional manager for ASEAN at Freshworks

“Invisible apps allow for more value creation activities within a short timeframe, rather than long manual processes on traditional applications. It also allows an omnichannel experience, as employees today expect to be engaged in a channel of their choice, be it WhatsApp, emails, Teams or phone. The consumerization of IT has led to an increased expectation of an omnichannel experience in everything we do. And invisible apps allow us to create this experience in the workplace.

“It also allows us to have hyper-personalization because invisible apps are purpose-built to meet users’ needs. And the emergence of AI NLP (natural language processing) has made it possible to transform the employee experience. […] It’s perfect timing, because employees like us are looking for simplicity when it comes to having their requests met and getting the answers they need,” said Ma.

When it comes to integrating with other applications, invisible apps rely heavily on application programming interfaces (APIs) to establish seamless connections between various systems. The invisible apps harness the power of APIs so that they can effectively retrieve and update information from existing systems.

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Ma also pointed out that the data can be pulled from different systems into one central platform, which means organizations can also benefit from having their data and records all in one place. This also allows them to measure their processes, see how well they work and have the necessary information needed to kick off future digital transformations.

“We use the Freshworks Neo platform to connect to both first-party and third-party applications and support businesses. Our platform offers more than 1,200 apps enabling us to extend functionalities and deliver the best experience. There are some challenges of course, which are normally around adoption.

“When new technologies such as invisible apps are implemented in existing systems, employees may not fully understand the functionalities behind them. There’s always a learning curve for employees to be familiar and to use it effectively without making any mistakes. By removing the friction from the employee experience, companies can increase the adoption of their digital transformation initiatives and ultimately improve that engagement with the employee,” explained Ma.

Freshworks helps businesses deliver better customer journeys.

Generative AI, cybersecurity and work productivity

With all the hype around generative AI, naturally, it would make sense to see how invisible apps can use the technology. By leveraging generative AI in the workplace, invisible apps can automatically generate content, make predictions, and perform tasks that previously required manual effort. This in turn leads to increased efficiency and productivity, as well as freeing up time for employees to focus on more strategic and complex activities.

Ma also pointed out that generative AI also allows invisible apps to integrate with other systems intelligently. It allows the systems to adapt to changing environments and continuously improve. The AI algorithms can learn from user interactions, analyze patterns, and dynamically adjust the behavior of the apps to align with user preferences or changing business processes.

“Generative AI has a huge impact because it creates adaptability, and shows that invisible apps remain relevant and responsive to evolving requirements in the workplace. It also provides seamless integration and optimal performance,” said Ma.

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There have been concerns about the increased use of generative AI for work. Ma acknowledged that it is an area that needs to be carefully managed. With invisible apps and AI, there is a lot of data being collected to predict intention and provide a personalized experience.

“For our customers, we realize that protecting the privacy and security of data is critical. Inadequate security standards in an organization could allow malicious actors on the applications. It puts a user’s privacy at risk and potentially results in identity theft or other harmful actions. Invisible apps collect a lot of data without explicit consent, some consent sometimes, or sufficient transparency. Insufficient awareness can lead to unsuspecting users, unintentionally divulging sensitive data, therefore compromising privacy, and of course, exposing yourself to risk,” explained Ma.

For Freshworks, Ma highlighted that any threat to data can be mitigated through a multi-tier data security model, and end-to-end security through the entire product in a service platform. Providers can also give additional features to protect data on the side of the user, such as passwordless authentication.

“We always advise companies when evaluating their service providers to make sure that the service providers ensure privacy and security compliance and will always implement and practice processes that ensure that customers’ data is stored and processed in ways that are secured,” added Ma.

Gen Z and millennial employees often use multiple apps to work. (Image – Shutterstock)

Invisible apps and work productivity

In Southeast Asia, there is a strong demand for invisible apps, according to Ma. The region has the highest number of digital natives, creating a huge demand for a different type of experience at work. Ma believes that because the digital natives grew up using multiple applications, they expect the same kind of experience at work, especially when it comes to increasing work productivity.

“What we realize is that as companies try to evolve to meet the growing expectations of millennials, Gen Zs, and the younger workforce, transforming the employee experience is critical to ensure that they are able to stay competitive and retain talent. At the same time, with globalization, the markets presented to Southeast Asian companies today are no longer restricted. There’s a global workforce and a global market that companies can target,” said Ma.

For businesses to ensure the best work productivity, they need to able to scale their business to ensure employees are productive. Ma added that this is a reason why Freshworks is also seeing a lot more companies having conversations with them around this need.

Ma believes that the conversational paradigm is going to be critical for work productivity. Society and employees are moving towards the expectation of conversational programs everywhere today.

“I think everyone prefers to have their needs met through conversations. AI will have a huge impact on invisible apps because it allows these invisible apps to work in the background easier, or even in the front end. It can be interfaced with a chatbot which is definitely much more intuitive and powerful right now. I think that will be a huge focus for the whole realm of employee experience and customer experience in the future. And that is also an area that Freshworks is focusing heavily on,” he concluded.

The post ‘Invisible apps’ supercharge work productivity appeared first on Tech Wire Asia.

It is becoming more crucial than ever for organizations to establish a digital transformation strategy to ensure they are responding to the ever-changing trends of the industry. Today’s millennial customers are the largest generation in the workforce and have grown up with digital technologies.

As a result, these tech-savvy individuals are also expecting the companies they do business with to be digitally savvy in their offerings. Those who can’t meet these needs will risk falling behind.

Harnessing technology is not only about keeping up with current trends to remain “relevant.” Digital transformation can also lead to greater efficiency and revenue potential. According to PWC in its 2017 Global Digital IQ Survey,

“Organizations that focus on creating better customer experiences through technology tend to have more mature strategies for digital in a range of areas – and to realize better outcomes.”

The digital disruption of document management

Customers of today are demanding a seamless, smooth, and engaging experience from start to finish. But perhaps one of the biggest challenges in the delivery of this is having to trouble customers to provide information continuously.

While many businesses have made the shift from pen-and-paper documentation to online, this process is still a business hindrance. It is long and tedious, and often requires customers to re-input information multiple times, despite your organization already having access to it.

This very often leads to forms being left incomplete and sales lost. With this in mind, it’s time to shred the static, out-dated form and rethink your document management and customer communication systems.

Aragon Research, an independent research and advisory firm, released a report earlier this month outlining the needs for businesses to make the shift away from the human creation of documents and towards machine creation and routing. This is otherwise known as workflow and content automation (WCA).

According to the report, by 2020, 65 percent of enterprises will have shifted their document processes with a new focus on automated creation and routing.

Businesses must move to a more digital solution that also integrates with legacy systems and investments while seamlessly automating the front-end.

According to the Aragon report, enterprises must:

• Ensure that this solution is open, cooperative, easy to use, and has a product roadmap for the future
• Take a look at their customer, employee, and partner journeys to identify the critical document processes and agreements which they need to automate first.

A WCA solution which is both journey-based and epitomizes ease of use is Intelledox. The solution-ready platform has been used by many of the world’s leading companies and government organizations to transform outdated forms and processes into intelligent, customer-centric experiences.

By speeding up information flows between your company, customers, employees – as well as core business systems of record – you will be empowered to sign more clients faster, onboard them into programs, and provide an all-around better customer service.

Providing a frictionless form experience

The path to successful customer engagement is a truly digital experience. If your business is still using static paper forms, PDFs or even “smart” web forms in your everyday interactions, you’re throwing away an opportunity to engage with your customers — not to mention the time and money you’re wasting.

Today’s customers demand personalized experiences that anticipate their needs and provide a solution to what they’re looking for.

Intelledox

With the Intelledox “Adaptive Form Builder” you can do just this. Using an adaptive interview system, you can present questions dynamically to your customers. Speed up completion time by allowing customers or employees to confirm what you already know, adding only then what you need to move the interaction forward.

This intelligent solution uses existing data and user inputs to drive intuitive conversations with customers on the device of their choice. Furthermore, the solution is automated, significantly reducing or eliminating manual processes such as re-keying and optical character recognition (OCR).

A culture of connectivity

The combination of new responses you receive and the data you already hold in your core systems of record can create a personalized and meaningful conversation with your customer.

Intelledox Infiniti was built for the on-demand needs of customers and can connect next-generation forms with data in your core systems such as:

• Customer relationship management (CRM)
• Enterprise content management (ECM)
• Business process management (BPM)

Many companies leverage the centralized nature of Intelledox Infiniti to streamline their processes. Using the solution, financial advisors at AMP In Australia can pull in information from multiple CRM systems to produce their advice documents. The firm also extracts personal business graphics from their content management system to seamlessly generate branded documents.

In just the first couple of months using this automated digital solution, AMP reduced document completion time from one day to one hour.

Not only does the platform integrate with your core legacy systems, but also offers pre-built connectors to other systems including e-signatures solutions such as DocuSign. With this ability, you can deliver an end-to-end experience to customers while providing ROI in terms of both time and cost savings.

A recent third-party study found DocuSign’s enterprise customers realized an average of US$36 in incremental value per transaction with e-signatures. That included both hard dollars from paper, postage and storage savings, as well as efficiency gains

Ensure complete compliance and security

Digitalizing document management also plays a crucial role in the regulatory system that’s ingrained into most workflows today. Since the advent of the internet, compliance and regulatory requirements have become a particularly tricky territory to navigate.

Intelledox

Especially in industries which are highly regulated such as finance, it is crucial to pay high attention to how a document is created. Among other things, you must ask yourself whether you are delivering the right information for the customer’s location, if digital communications are delivered securely behind your firewall, and how fast your templates are updated based on regulatory changes.

Manual processes which involve copying and pasting from old content can introduce compliance risks. With a modern digital solution like Intelledox, each administration action is tracked and recorded to ensure any out of process changes can be identified and managed. Moreover, the entire reference database can be encrypted for protection against theft.

Perhaps the reason as to why various financial institutions, insurance companies, government agencies, and other enterprise organizations trust Intelledox can be partly attributed to the rigorous security testing its products are subject to.

If you’re tired of outdated, disconnected forms and processes and are ready to deliver the engagement consumers have come to expect, then see why a print-based approach to customer care is failing modern business.

To find out more about Intelledox and to see if your Customer Communication Management (CCM) is slowing down your business, follow the link and download the ebook.

The post Integrating modern and legacy systems for an efficient digital transformation appeared first on Tech Wire Asia.