Global Business Archives

April 26, 2024

Furthering Dubai’s commitment to accessible travel and to raise awareness of autism, Emirates invited 30 UAE families with neurodiverse children to have a real check in experience and familiarisation flight on the 24 April, in Terminal 3 Dubai International Airport (DXB). The initiative was designed to help the children practice and alleviate anxieties before travelling, as well as providing a unique opportunity for Emirates to collaborate with key partners, and garner insights for improving accessible travel.

Emirates hosted Her Excellency Hessa BuHumaid, Director General of the Community Development Authority of Dubai, as well as 30 neurodiverse children aged between 8 and 12 years old from Dubai Autism Centre, Safe Centre for Autism, Rashid Centre for People of Determination and the New England Centre Children Clinic to attend the flight, including their caregivers. Emirates also invited a neurodiverse child with Angelman Syndrome to join the experience, a condition which can cause delayed development, problems with speech and balance, intellectual disability and seizures. The group were joined by Adil Al Ghaith – SVP Emirates Commercial Operations in the Gulf, Middle East & Central Asia, and Mostafa Karam – SVP – Emirates Customer Affairs & Service Audit.

The group used the Autism Friendly Route through Dubai International Airport which includes access to priority lanes for check-in, passport control, security and boarding. Specially trained Emirates check in staff and cabin crew were on hand to support throughout the journey. EK2605 departed DXB at 11:20am and landed again at 12:20pm, giving children a real-life experience of a flight including inflight service, announcements from the cabin crew and Captain, and the sounds and sights of a real take-off and landing.

According to a study by the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES) only 13% of families with neurodiverse children surveyed take family vacations because they cite the experience of the airport and flight as too stressful and triggering for the children’s sensory sensitivities. However, 93% of families surveyed said they would take more trips if there were more autism-certified options available and support in place. The aim of the Emirates travel rehearsal initiative is to help customers with autism and sensory disorders and their families to prepare for travel, through a guided tour of the airport and aircraft cabin environment, as well as providing comprehensive training and understanding of neurodiversity to all Emirates team members. More Emirates initiatives are planned in the future, with a view to supporting neurodiverse needs and Dubai’s commitment to People of Determination.

At the event, members of IBCCES were tasked to provide insights and notes on the inflight experience for neurodiverse customers. Emirates and IBCCES are working together to develop an official Autism-friendly inflight certification, which could be eventually used by other airlines. This certification will complement Emirates’ recent achievements, where all Dubai Check In facilities – Emirates City Check-In & Travel Store in DIFC, Emirates Cruise Check In – Port Rashid, Emirates Cruise Check In – Dubai Harbour and Emirates City Check-In Ajman and Emirates’ dedicated hub in Terminal 3 DXB were awarded the Certified Autism Center™ Designation. This also builds on the recent recognition of Dubai International Airport as the first international airport to earn the designation from IBCCES, as well as aligning with the Department of Economy and Tourism’s vision of becoming the first Certified Autism Destination™ in the Middle East.

By working together – Emirates, Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism, and Dubai Airports in collaboration with the General Directorate of Residency and Foreign Affairs, Dubai Police and Dubai Customs, are making travel more inclusive and accessible for all, reflecting Dubai’s commitment to becoming a leading destination for travellers with diverse needs and aligning with Dubai’s Social Agenda 33, under the theme ‘Family: The Foundation of Our Nation’.

Emirates and partners support neurodivergent passengers and People of Determination in many ways:

Emirates Employee Training

More than 29,000 cabin crew and ground staff globally have completed Emirates ‘Introduction to Autism and Hidden Disabilities’ training. The online course was first launched in 2022 and covers a range of topics from the UAE National Policy for People of Determination, recognising autism, practical tips on how to assist passengers with hidden disabilities, responding with empathy, and information on the official support systems to help passengers in the airport.

Before Travel

Information in advance

Emirates supports passengers with hidden disabilities by providing as much information in advance as possible, so that families can plan, rehearse, and be reassured about their upcoming travel. Passengers can check the Accessible Travel page on Emirates.com for information and contact their Emirates local office with queries.

Free Seat Selection and Bulkhead Seat for autistic passengers and companions

Passengers who declare a hidden disability will be facilitated as much as possible in the complimentary selection of suitable seats, for example the bulkhead seats at the front and middle of the aircraft for both the autistic passenger and their companion. This can be requested via Emirates local office.

Book with ‘DPNA code’ for extra support

A DPNA is an airline industry code for special service request (SSR) for a ‘passenger with intellectual or developmental disability.’ The DPNA code can be applied to a booking made in person, via telephone or travel agent and is applied once the hidden disability is declared, so that the passenger will be supported throughout their journey with assistance from trained staff.

Study the ‘Autism Friendly Guide’ to Dubai International Airport

Emirates has collaborated with Dubai International Airport on a comprehensive pre-travel planning tool for passengers with hidden disabilities. The Autism Friendly Guide to Dubai International Airport provides a step-by-step explanation and images of every part of the journey through the airport to boarding, and details what services are available.

Pre-order meals

Some passengers may need a special meal onboard if they have a sensory sensitivity. This can be ordered a minimum of 24 hours in advance on www.Emirates.com or on the Emirates app. There are options to order gluten free meals, bland meals, vegetarian and diabetic meals. For Kids Meals, families who are travelling with an autistic passenger may contact the Emirates local office with their request in advance.

Pre plan what to watch on ice via Emirates app

Download the Emirates app, and before a flight passengers can spend time planning and pre-selecting their favourite movies, TV shows or music playlists. Once the passenger has boarded, their personally curated playlist can be synced immediately to ice, saving time and enabling them to settle into the flight quicker with the comfort of their familiar content.

Arrival to airport

Complimentary parking for 2 hours

People of Determination receive complimentary parking in all terminals in Dubai International Airport for 2 hours. People of Determination taxis can also be booked via Dubai Taxi on their toll-free number 80088088.

Collect the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Lanyard

The Hidden Disabilities Sunflower is a globally recognised symbol for hidden disabilities. Emirates and Dubai International Airport staff with Sunflower pins are easily identifiable and specially trained to assist travellers with hidden disabilities. Passengers are encouraged to declare their hidden disability to these staff and collect a Sunflower Lanyard to wear, allowing for support throughout the airport journey. The sunflower lanyard can be collected from the information desk in Departures, Terminal 3 and from easily identifiable collection points in Terminals 1 and 2.

Autism Friendly Route

The Autism Friendly Route through Dubai International Airport ensures that People of Determination journey through the airport with a dedicated route. It includes access to priority lanes for check-in, passport control, security and boarding; and can be availed when wearing the sunflower lanyard. Specially trained staff equipped to support People of Determination will be easily identifiable wearing sunflower pins, allowing for increased visibility, communication and support throughout the airport journey.

Priority boarding or board last if preferred

People who have declared their hidden disabilities to Emirates staff will be facilitated in boarding the aircraft first if they choose, or last if this more convenient.

Emirates Inflight Experience

Families with children are seated together

Emirates makes every effort to seat families with children together, and passengers who have declared their hidden disability will be seated beside their companion or guardian.

Noise cancelling earphones

Passengers with an aural sensory need in First and Business Class will have access to noise‑cancelling headphones to block out ambient cabin sounds.

Light Sensitivity

If the customer, child or family member informs Emirates cabin crew about a light sensitivity, cabin crew can turn off the passenger’s individual light, close the window blind after take-off, and explain that the cabin lights will be dimmed as soon as the meal services are completed.

Get busy with puzzles in Fly with Me magazine

Young children onboard who need a screen break or distraction can request a copy of the Emirates ‘Fly with Me’ activity pack, with its own pack of non-toxic colouring pencils, featuring kid-friendly world maps, puzzles, drawing tutorials, colouring pages, educational activities about Dubai and protecting the environment.

Choose preferred entertainment on ice

Passengers enjoying an Emirates flight can pass the time in a world class entertainment library with more than 6,500 channels of on demand entertainment, over 1,900 movies and 1,500 hours of TV, as well as music, podcasts and audiobooks across 40 languages. Ice also has up to 100 video games, which can be played by two players in different seats if the game is a multiplayer game.

Video Link: https://content.presspage.com/uploads/2431/bc56d202-1f37-4ff3-a445-1deaa09f664f/worldautismawarenesss02english.mp4?76606

April 26, 2024

In the “OPPO Innovation and Intellectual Property White Paper”, OPPO reaffirms its long-term commitment to innovation and its proactive defense intellectual property strategy.
OPPO is investing significantly in AI innovation and is committed to advancing and popularizing AI Phones.

SHENZHEN, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 26 April 2024 – Today, OPPO, a Leading global technology company, released its “OPPO Innovation and Intellectual Property White Paper” on World Intellectual Property (IP) Day, reaffirming its steadfast commitment to innovation and intellectual property protection. According to the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), OPPO ranked ninth globally in patents filed under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) in 2023, making its fifth consecutive year in the global top ten. As of March 31, 2024, OPPO has filed over 101,000 patent applications globally, with more than 55,000 patents granted, and 91% of all patent applications are utility patents.

“At OPPO, we believe that technological innovation and intellectual property protection are fundamental to our company’s past, present, and future success,” said Feng Ying, Chief Intellectual Property Officer of OPPO. “Through our proactive defense IP strategy and commitment to fostering a healthy long-term IP ecosystem, we are fully committed to supporting the future of innovation as envisioned in the ‘OPPO Innovation and Intellectual Property White Paper’.”

OPPO’s Commitment to Advancing and Popularizing AI Phones

Through extensive R&D investment in areas such as image processing, computer vision, speech technology, natural language processing, and machine learning, OPPO is pioneering AI technology development and widespread application in its smartphone products. As of March 31, 2024, OPPO has filed a total of 5,399 AI-related patents globally, including 3,796 utility patents in AI imaging. According to the “Artificial Intelligence Patent Ranking” published by intellectual property media outlet IPRdaily on April 22, 2024, OPPO ranked ninth in China with a total of 3,743 AI-related utility patents granted.

As part of its efforts to enhance smart life experiences for its users, OPPO is focused on transforming the latest technical innovations into practical, consumer-centric applications. This includes the introduction of over one hundred AI-driven features on the latest OPPO Find X7 series, while future plans involve integrating generative AI features such as AI Eraser and AI Magic Studio into more OPPO products.

Advanced Key Technologies through Open Innovation

OPPO’s commitment to open innovation is driving the company’s efforts to build an intellectual property ecosystem based on key technological breakthroughs in high-value areas such as 5G/6G, AI, flash charge, and imaging.

To date, OPPO has deployed 5G essential standard patents in over 40 countries and regions globally. It has also filed over 6,100 families of global patent applications, declared over 3,300 families of 5G standard patents to the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI), and submitted more than 11,000 5G standard-related proposals to the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP). In other areas, OPPO has applied for over 12,306 global imaging-related patents and has licensed its VOOC flash charge technology to more than 50 companies, enabling more electronic devices with fast charging capabilities.

Proactive Defense IP Strategy for Sustainable IP Ecosystem Development

Over the years, OPPO has signed licensing or cross-license agreements with dozens of patent owners globally, resolving numerous intellectual property licensing issues through negotiations and cross-licenses that fully reflect the value of intellectual property rights from all parties. These steps echo the company’s wider belief in charging reasonable licensing fees and avoiding coercive patent litigation while defending its legitimate legal rights and interests where applicable.

Driven by its mission of “Technology for Mankind, Kindness for the World”, OPPO will continue to invest in innovation to create more industry-leading products and services while contributing to the development of the global intellectual property ecosystem through practical actions.

April 26, 2024

Inqbaytor Technologies, a leading travel technology company, recently announced a groundbreaking achievement as the first travel platform in the country to be certified for Emirates Gateway Direct NDC API. This landmark collaboration empowers Inqbaytor to directly connect its B2C platform, crazyjets.com, and B2B platform, Ticket Gadget, to Emirates through the IATA NDC standard, eliminating intermediaries and unlocking a world of benefits for both the airline and travelers.

Dr. Harshani Perera, CEO of Inqbaytor, expressed her excitement about the partnership, “This certification marks a significant milestone for Inqbaytor, solidifying our commitment to innovation and providing next-generation travel solutions. By connecting directly to Emirates through NDC API, we empower our platforms to offer more value-added, differentiated, and competitive Emirates products, surpassing the limitations of legacy systems.”

The New Distribution Capability (NDC) program, spearheaded by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), represents a paradigm shift in the travel industry. By leveraging the innovative XML-based NDC Standard, Inqbaytor and Emirates can now establish a more dynamic and direct connection enabling; Enhanced product offerings: Emirates gains the ability to showcase its full range of fares, products, and exclusive offers directly to Inqbaytor’s platforms, Personalized travel experiences: Travelers can enjoy tailored offerings catering to their specific needs and preferences, leading to a more seamless and fulfilling booking journey, and Cost-effective distribution: Both Inqbaytor and Emirates benefit from streamlined communication, reducing overall distribution costs.

Inqbaytor’s achievement positions Sri Lanka at the forefront of travel technology advancements. By pioneering the adoption of NDC standards, Inqbaytor paves the way for a more dynamic and personalized travel experience for all Sri Lankan travelers. This collaboration with Emirates sets a new benchmark for the industry, offering a glimpse into the future of travel distribution and retail.

Inqbaytor’s outstanding performance was also recently recognized at the prestigious Emirates Awards Night, held at Shangri-La Colombo, and this recognition is a testament to Inqbaytor’s dedication to providing exceptional service through technology.

April 26, 2024

Kaspersky, the global cybersecurity and digital privacy company, announced its expansion into new territories in Asia Pacific (APAC), including Sri Lanka, Cambodia, and Bangladesh. This strategic move marks a significant milestone in the company’s mission to fortify digital infrastructure across the developing economies in the region, particularly on the enterprise cybersecurity market.

As cyber threats continue to evolve and proliferate worldwide, Kaspersky recognizes the imperative of extending its holistic suite of cybersecurity solutions services to emerging markets in APAC. With its proven track record of delivering innovative solutions and expertise, the company is poised to address the escalating cybersecurity challenges faced by individuals, governments, and private organizations in Cambodia, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh.

“Our expansion into Sri Lanka, Cambodia and Bangladesh reflects our solid dedication to safeguarding the wider cybersphere of Asia Pacific against the increasingly complex landscape of cyber threats,” says Adrian Hia, Managing Director for Asia Pacific at Kaspersky. “By leveraging our advanced technologies and industry-leading practices, we are committed to helping private and public entities in these territories build a Cyber Immune approach to securing their personal, business, and even critical and national data.”

Kaspersky’s move to extend its market footprint into these new territories will enable organizations across various sectors, including government, finance, healthcare, and telecommunications to access proactive cybersecurity solutions tailored to their specific needs. The company’s comprehensive portfolio encompasses cybersecurity solutions for individuals, small and medium businesses (SMBs), midrange and large enterprises, and critical infrastructure companies.

To ensure that the global cybersecurity company is ready to address the local demand in Sri Lanka, Cambodia and Bangladesh, Kaspersky has appointed Sam Yan as its Head of Sales as well as Pre-sales Managers Pheakday Chun and Md. Musfiqur Rahman.

“I am excited to take on this role and committed to provide not just our comprehensive cybersecurity solutions and services to the local businesses and organizations in these territories but also to foster collaboration and knowledge-sharing within the local cybersecurity ecosystems of Sri Lanka, Cambodia and Bangladesh. Through partnerships with industry stakeholders, banking and financial institutions, manufacturing, educational institutions, and government agencies, we aim to promote cybersecurity awareness, skills development, and best practices adoption to mitigate cyber risks effectively,” comments Yan.

The team will report directly to Yeo Siang Tiong, General Manager for Southeast Asia at Kaspersky.

The expansion into Sri Lanka, Cambodia and Bangladesh underscores Kaspersky’s global and regional growth strategy and strengthens its position as a trusted cybersecurity partner for organizations worldwide.

Find out more about Kaspersky here www.kaspersky.com.

April 25, 2024

During the ongoing NAP Expo at the Bangabandhu International Conference Center, Environment Secretary Dr. Farhina Ahmed revealed the government’s commitment to combat climate change by increasing the renewable energy target to 40 percent. Dr. Ahmed emphasized Bangladesh’s leadership in adaptation capacity and highlighted the importance of public and mental health amidst climate challenges.

Addressing the technical session titled ‘Implementation National Guidelines in Urban Local Government Context with Effective Participation: Learning from Practices, The session held on Wednesday 24 April 2024, Dhaka, Dr. Ahmed stressed the necessity of extensive tree plantation in urban areas to mitigate rising temperatures. The government is actively involved in tree plantation initiatives and encourages public participation in this endeavor. Furthermore, Dr. Ahmed underscored the need to augment water reservoirs in Dhaka to cope with climate-induced changes.

Regarding the updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC), Dr. Ahmed outlined the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 6.73 percent by 2030, with a potential additional reduction of 15.12 percent with international assistance. He emphasized the critical role of international financial support in realizing Bangladesh’s climate action plans.

The panel discussion featured insights from various stakeholders including Sarwar Bari, Director General of Local Government Department (Planning), Dana de la Fontaine, Cluster Coordinator of GI Lloyd’s Climate Change and Sustainable Urban Development Cluster, and M. Mehdi Ahsan, the country representative of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in Bangladesh

April 25, 2024

Dr.-Mahathir-Mohamad-and-Adil-Cader-LBN.jpg

Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, Malaysia’s longest serving Prime Minister, was a guest today on Talking Foreign Affairs with Adil Cader. The episode will be broadcasted shortly.

Talking Foreign Affairs is an international start-up initiative focused on educating young people to play an active role in foreign affairs and diplomacy.

The program achieves this by engaging world leaders to share their insights and perspectives on foreign affairs and diplomacy. Talking Foreign Affairs has interviewed several World Leaders, from a UN Secretary-General to heads of state, and from Nobel laureates to leaders of mission-critical organisations such as the WTO, World Bank, and NASA. Please visit talkingforeignaffairs.org for more information

April 24, 2024

Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Saber Hossain Chowdhury said Bangladesh needs 543 billion dollar to tackle climate change by 2050. So international financial support is essential for implementation of climate plans. He also said Bangladesh is committed to working collaboratively with international partners to build climate resilience. As Bangladesh continues to face the impacts of climate change, Minister Chowdhury reaffirmed the government’s dedication to advancing climate adaptation efforts and ensuring a sustainable future for all citizens.

Environment Minister delivered a compelling address at the National Adaptation Plan Expo 2024, focusing on the advancement of Bangladesh’s National Climate Plans. The session, held on Tuesday 23 April 2024 in BICC, Dhaka, marked a pivotal moment in Bangladesh’s commitment to addressing climate change and enhancing its resilience.

Minister Chowdhury emphasized the importance of proactive measures, collaborative efforts, and innovative solutions in adapting to the challenges posed by climate change. During his address, Minister Chowdhury highlighted Bangladesh’s significant progress in developing and implementing national climate plans, showcasing the country’s leadership in climate adaptation on a global scale.

Dr. Farhina Ahmed, Secretary, Environment, Forest and Climate Change chaired the session. Malik Fida A Khan, Executive Director, CEGIS; A K M Sohel, Additional Secretary, ERD, and Chair, International Climate Finance Cell; Kenel DELUSCA, Ph.D., ITAP Member, Green Climate Fund; Dr. M. Asaduzaman a Climate Specialist spoke as panelist on challenges, opportunities, and lessons learned in NAP formulation and implementation in Bangladesh. Dharitri Kumar Sarkar, Deputy Secretary, MoEFCC and Mirza Shawkat Ali, Director, Climate Change & International Convention, DoE Presented Bangladesh’s National Adaptation Plan 2023- 2050.

April 24, 2024

Environment, Forest, and Climate Change Minister Saber Hossain Chowdhury underscored the pressing need for coordinated endeavors to preserve and oversee the Ganges River Dolphin within the Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna (GBM) river basin. Acknowledging the global importance of the Ganges River Dolphin, Minister Chowdhury urged collective action and increased collaboration among all stakeholders to tackle the diverse challenges confronting the species.

The Minister made these remarks during the inaugural session of the First International Conference on Management and Conservation of the Ganges River Dolphin, held Tuesday 23 April 2024 at Hotel Intercontinental, Dhaka.

Addressing the gathering as the chief guest, Saber Hossain emphasized that the dolphin serves as a vital indicator of river health, stressing that understanding the dolphin population’s status reflects the overall ecological well-being of the river. He warned that the inability of dolphins to thrive in river waters signals a perilous state of water pollution, endangering the river ecosystem and aquatic life.

Minister Chowdhury highlighted the importance of fostering collaborative partnerships, facilitating interdisciplinary exchanges, and leveraging collective expertise to ensure the sustained survival of the Ganges River Dolphin. He emphasized the significance of robust knowledge dissemination, innovative policy dialogues, and community engagement initiatives to drive conservation efforts and promote sustainable management practices within the GBM river basin.

Chaired by Chief Conservator of Forest Md. Amir Hosain Chowdhury, the session was addressed, among others, by Environment Secretary Dr. Farhina Ahmed, World Bank Acting Country Director for Bangladesh and Bhutan Syud Amer Ahmed, BWDB Director General Muhammad Amirul Haq Bhuiya and BIWTA Chief Engineer (Dredging) Rokibul Islam Talukder.

Divisional Forest Officer of Chittagong North Rezaul Karim Chowdhury, Ramesh Kumar Yadav of Koshi Tappa Wildlife Reserve of Nepal and Lead Environment Specialist and Regional Standards Coordinator at the World Bank Josefo Tuyor made separate power-point presentations on the Ganges dolphins.

The conference brought together a diverse array of stakeholders, including government agencies, the World Bank, international organizations, academia, NGOs, community leaders, and species experts. Participants engaged in insightful discussions, knowledge sharing sessions, and policy dialogues aimed at formulating effective strategies for the preservation of this iconic species.

April 19, 2024

The Future of Measurement 2024, part of WARC’s Evolution of Marketing programme, explores major trends and emerging best practices in measurement

18 April 2024 – As cookies are phased out and new measurement techniques come to the fore, 2024 will be a year defined by disruption, uncertainty and experimentation.

According to WARC data, only a small fraction of marketers (2%) are using the following measurement techniques in combination – marketing mix modelling (MMM), experiments, attribution – to assess the full impact of their marketing.

As measurement continues to evolve, WARC, the global authority on marketing effectiveness, has today released The Future of Measurement, a report examining the latest trends and emerging best practices of marketing measurement. The report focuses on four key areas: AI and the growth of synthetic data, the demise of third-party cookies, hurdles in holistic measurement and closing the sustainability gap.

Paul Stringer, Managing Editor Research and Insights, WARC, says: “Amidst the swirl of excitement around Gen AI, another significant inflection point is fast approaching. In Q3 of this year, Google is finally due to phase out third-party cookies. While the threat of cookie deprecation has loomed for some time now, evidence suggests that advertisers are neither fully prepared or aware of the different solutions available.

“With measurement continuing to evolve in several directions at once, marketers find themselves battling multiple headwinds: not only the demise of third-party cookies, but new regulations around sustainability reporting, and, of course, the growing influence and impact of AI. All of which we address in this report.”

Key challenges and trends outlined in The Future of Measurement report, and what marketers can do to keep pace with emerging best practices in measurement are:

Hurdles in holistic measurement: only 2% of marketers are using attribution, experiments and marketing mix modelling (MMM) in combination to measure marketing impact

Most marketers are failing to use the full range of techniques that enable them to measure the full impact of their marketing activities. Data from WARC’s Marketer’s Toolkit survey shows only 2% of marketers are using attribution, experiments and marketing mix modelling (MMM) in combination for measurement, whilst a further 22% say they don’t use any modelling at all.

Guidance highlights three techniques that are critical to holistic measurement. Each technique brings strengths that can offset the weaknesses of the other.

Attribution: The process of assigning credit to the different touchpoints that are found on a user’s path to a conversion. Fast and easy to scale, it gives real-time insight into drivers of performance. But, it is limited to digital channels and is best for measuring short-term impact.
Experiments: Uses randomised controlled experiments to compare the change in consumer behaviour between groups that are exposed or withheld from marketing activity while keeping all other factors constant. It is the gold standard to measure causality but can be difficult to scale.
Marketing mix modelling (MMM): Utilises advanced statistics to give a holistic overview of all channels, sales, and external factors. Can provide a longer-term view of media impact, but can be expensive and requires at least two years of historical data.

AI and the growth of synthetic data: 60% of data used to develop AI and analytics applications will be synthetically generated

Unlike ‘real’ data, which is based on observations from the real world, synthetic data is produced artificially to emulate it using purpose-built mathematical models or algorithms.

Synthetic data has a variety of applications in marketing, including pricing, customer journey planning, competitor analysis and new product development. It also negates customer privacy issues, as it has no personal information attached to it, and can conduct market research quicker and cheaper.

By this year, Gartner has estimated that 60% of the data used in AI and analytics projects will be synthetically generated, and according to Straits Research, the global market for synthetic data generation is projected to grow by 37% between 2023 and 2031.

However, AI-based insights bring new risks to marketing research. Generative AI tools can amplify bias, trigger privacy breaches and deliver inaccurate results. Marketers should develop clear ethics and best practices when working with these tools.

Tim Geenen, CEO and co-founder, Rayn HQ, says: “There are many benefits to [producing synthetic data], from achieving more accurate results, to building new data sets that reflect our diverse society and opening the door to advanced ways of understanding audiences.”

The third-party cookie countdown: Only half (51%) of marketers are prepared for the deprecation of third-party cookies

The phasing out of cookies is due to take place in Q3 of 2024, severely limiting the ability of companies to track individuals online. Yet many marketers are still not prepared. According to a recent survey by IAB Europe, only half are prepared for the deprecation of third-party cookies.

A lack of education and awareness of post-cookie alternatives are a barrier to progress.

As advertisers look to combat signal loss, they will have to get comfortable testing a broad range of targeting and measurement solutions to discover what works best for their business.

Proposed solutions include: contextual advertising, identity solutions, first party data, attention measurement, Google’s ‘Privacy Sandbox’, and predictive audiences using AI.

Closing the sustainability gap: only a quarter (24%) of advertisers are measuring digital advertising emissions

Over the last five years, sustainability has ranked as a top issue by respondents to WARC’s annual Marketer’s Toolkit survey. However, recent research by Scope3 concludes that there has been ‘no evidence of systemic behaviour change’ in the advertising industry to reduce carbon emissions, and according to IAB Europe, only a quarter (24%) of marketers said they are measuring emissions from digital advertising.

The compound effect of these trends is that many marketers are failing to act on sustainability – in objective setting, asset development, supply chain management, consumer messaging, and the measurement of emissions from digital ads.

New regulations and directives in both Europe and the United States coming in 2024 mean companies will need to provide more granular data on their carbon emissions – including those generated by advertising.

Lack of standards is a major barrier to accurate and comparable carbon measurement, although work is underway by the Global Alliance for Responsible Media (GARM) and Ad Net Zero to create a common currency and methodology.

Research by Magna, Lumen and Adelaide suggest that advertising in high quality media environments with higher engagement generate lower carbon emissions.

April 19, 2024

Celebrating the city’s achievement and reaffirming its commitment to contributing to its home hub’s continued success

Cathay Cargo congratulates Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) for once again being named the world’s busiest cargo airport in 2023, according to the latest data from Airports Council International (ACI). As the city’s home carrier for 77 years and the largest cargo operator at HKIA, Cathay Cargo is proud to be part of this success story.

Older Posts

Emirates arranges Autism Familiarisation Flight and Travel Rehearsal for 30 families

World Intellectual Property Day: OPPO Maintains Top 10 Global IP Ranking for Fifth Consecutive Year

Inqbaytor Takes Flight with Emirates Gateway Direct NDC API Certification Leading Sri Lanka’s Travel Industry into the Future

Kaspersky extends business footprint to Sri Lanka

Govt. to fight climate change by raising the renewable energy goal to 40 percent

Dr. Mahathir Mohamad appears on ‘Talking Foreign Affairs’ with Adil Cader

NAP Expo Technical Sessions Advancement of National Climate Plans Bangladesh

Environment Minister Calls for Unified Action to Safeguard Ganges River Dolphin

Marketers are leaving value on the table by failing to measure the full impact of their marketing investments

Cathay Cargo congratulates Hong Kong International Airport on being named world’s busiest cargo airport for the 13th time in 14 years