Month: July 2020

TCL Electronics Holdings Limited on the acquisition of TCL Communication and the disposal of Moka International and other related matters. According to the announcement, an overwhelming majority of the shareholders casting votes at the EGM supported for the Company’s business transformation moves.

Share price of TCL Electronics had surged from the next day after the Company issued an announcement in relation to its business transformation on 29 June, rising 36.6% cumulatively by the close of trading on 28 July. Its share price rallied to HK$4.88 (€4.12) on 21 July, a record high in the past five years, with its market cap rising to HK$11.573 billion (€9.7); the highest daily gain reached 13.8%. Obviously, the Company’s acquisition of high-quality asset TCL Communication is long anticipated, which was further proved by the majority vote approving the proposal by the Company’s shareholders.

Kevin Wang, CEO of TCL Electronics, said that after the EGM, the business transformation is expected to be completed by the end of August and consolidation into financial statements will begin in September. After the completion of the transactions, TCL Electronics will add new business segments including TCL smart phones, smart tablets, smart wearables and smart connectivity, to further develop the Internet service business, and spin off the ODM business for TVs. TCL Electronics will focus on TV and mobile communication business, and enter the market segments of smart home, Internet services and smart commercial displays with a market size of more than RMB 1 trillion.

Essence Securities recently issued an updated report and remained a Buy rating on TCL Electronics, saying that after the full integration of TCL Communication, TCL Electronics is able to fully leverage on the synergies of its communication business and traditional TV business in market coverage, distribution channels, customers, products and technologies, and financial performance.

It will focus on the global promotion of the TCL brand, thereby further enhancing the growth potential of TCL brand TVs and mobile communication devices in the global market. TCL Electronics has stepped out of the traditional manufacturing positioning and will gradually grow into a consumer electronics company with the “TCL brand” as its core in the future. The Company has the potential to benchmark with Xiaomi Corporation, which has a complete Internet product ecosystem.

TCL Communication merged into TCL Electronics, accelerating the implementation of smart home strategy in 5G era

AI × IoT is undoubtedly a strategic opportunity for the industry. The trillion-level market is like a big apple pie. Home appliance manufacturers, mobile phone manufacturers, Internet giants are all competing for deployment in this field. Ultimately, they will be competing with products and services and suitability of products and excellence of services are the key to success. The integration of TCL communication business will further enhance TCL Electronics’ deployment of AI × IoT strategy in offering all-scenario smart living experiences for its users.

TCL Communication has established multiple research and development centers and an extensive sales network worldwide, with existing business covering three major business segments: smart phones, smart tablets and smart connectivity. As one of the leading communications companies in the global market, TCL Communication has always been dedicated to developing smart phone and 5G technology. As early as 2015, TCL Communication has been fully engaged in 5G R&D, and actively participated in standard setting.

It is one of the very few communications companies in the world that possesses core patented technologies ranging from 2G to 5G. In 2019, TCL Communication became the first company to implement 5G end-to-end solution demonstration at MWC (Mobile World Congress), and became one of the first manufacturers to launch 5G smart terminals.

TCL Communication has extensive experience and robust technological capability in providing customised services for carriers. It leverages CSOT’s technical advantages in display technology and with the integration of vertical supply chains, it is able to satisfy carriers by providing display customisation services. In 2020, TCL Communication’s 5G products have been awarded tenders by various carriers in North America and Europe.

Meanwhile, it is also expanding to other Tier 2 carriers and open channels with carrier-customised models. Demand for its smart phones in the mid-to-high price range is increasing year on year. TCL Communication will seize the opportunity of the carrier-centered market at the initial stage of 5G activation to enter the mid-to-high-end market through TCL brand 5G mobile phones, so as to build up advantages and make breakthroughs.

Back in 2008, TCL Communication started the smart connectivity business, which mainly includes mobile MIFI, indoor CPE, Mesh, WIFI routers, as well as smart wearables and trackers. It is currently engaged in mobile device business under two major brands Alcatel and TCL, in the worldwide. In September 2018, TCL Communication officially set up the Smart Connectivity Division (SCD) as a strategic move with AI × IoT in top priority.

At the beginning of 2019, TCL Electronics formulated its new AI × IoT and set up a Eagle Lab at the end of September in that year, focusing on R&D and product innovation applications of AI, IoT and cloud services. However, the Company’s strategic deployment of AI × IoT used to have TV only as the main screen with mobile phone absent in the picture. TCL Electronics had filled this gap with the acquisition of TCL Communication and TCL mobilephones will become an indispensable core part in the TCL smart home ecosystem.

With the support of its mobile phone and TV businesses, it will continue to increase customer loyalty and bring better experience to its users. The merger of TCL Electronics and TCL Communication will strengthen the synergies of all-scenario smart display ecosystem among different smart terminals, including large-screen products, small-screen gadgets, and wearable sub-screens, and further deepen the Company’s ecosystem deployment.

Business transformation comes at the right time; integration of high-quality asset to improve Company’s operational efficiency and revenue scale expectations

TCL Electronics’ acquisition of TCL Communication took place at the right time. TCL Communication has completed its internal business transformation from 2017 to 2019. Over the past three years, TCL Communication has shown year-over-year gross profit margin improvement and continuous increase in net profit after its downscale of business. TCL Communication turned loss to profit in 2019. The acquisition of TCL Communication, which is a high-quality asset at the time, is conducive to improving the gross profit margin of TCL Electronics. TCL Communication and TCL Electronics can share and supplement in supply chain and global sales distribution of each other, and therefore the business transformation is conducive to the optimisation of the logistics structure, capital flow and information flow, further enhancing the Company’s profit growth potential.

A series of positive news of the Company, such as a growth in sales of core products the second quarter against the background of the sluggish market, the continuous increase in global market share, and the investment of its industrial chain ecosystem, are also helpful to the resolutions with regards to the business transformation being duly passed at the EGM. Under the COVID-19 pandemic, TCL Electronics still maintained a continuous growth trend in the second quarter, with its rankings in terms of sales volume in Europe, America and emerging markets rising. On 20 July, TCL Electronics announced the acquisition of Danbay Technology, which will further strengthen the Company’s core capabilities in AI × IoT smart home software and hardware integrated solution services, improve the layout of the smart software platform, and help explore large-scale 2B customers such as apartments, real estate, and accommodation.

At the same time, the Danbay intelligent software platform and TCL Eagle Lab cloud platform technology will be collaboratively built to integrate TCL’s all-category smart home appliances and smart home products and to enhance TCL Electronics’ “all-scenario smart living solutions service capabilities of AI × IoT”.

This business transformation is not only a major move of the Company’s “AI x IoT” strategy, but also will push forward its business globalisation and diversification, in order to build a significant layout on all-scenario smart products + services. Besides taking a leading position in large screens, picture quality, and sound-quality in globewide, the Company is going all out to develop “AI x IoT”, smart cameras, connections between 5G and edge intelligence, proprietary smart TV OS and smart interaction capabilities, striving to become a global leading intelligent technology enterprise.

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The post TCL Electronics’ AI x IoT strategy enters new era as acquisition of TCL Communication appeared first on IoT global network.

Software AG and Cotham Technologies have partnered to make native mobile app development for the Internet of Things (IoT) quicker and more cost-effective for any business. Customers of this partnership will cut mobile app development time by up to 90% and costs by up to 70%, thanks to a unique no-code platform approach. The speed and agility that businesses can gain in launching new services will help them win on the battleground of customer experience.

Software AG’s Cumulocity IoT enables anyone who can use everyday office productivity apps to create their own IoT solution in minutes. Cotham Technologies’ FloFrame development platform reinvents the ‘no-code’ approach to developing apps to manage networks of IoT devices. The combination of the two gives businesses fast and easy digital answers to their most pressing challenges.

Yasir Qureshi, vice president, IoT GTM at Software AG commented: “Customer experience is fast becoming the differentiator for enterprises. As a result, our customers are asking more and more for mobile apps. Businesses are changing at an unprecedented pace because of the effects of the pandemic.

To satisfy the need for digital and mobile, we’ve partnered with a company that’s recognised by analysts as one of the best mobile app development platforms. We can now help companies cut app development time from 6 months to 3 weeks. Recently we’ve seen 10 years of digital transformation in 2 months – so speed matters.”

Raman Mistry

Raman Mistry, chief executive officer, Cotham Technologies, said: “Our strategic intent is to shape the evolution of mobile application development platforms. FloFrame creates a new frontier as the only no-code and native app creation platform, as a result our partners and customers can deliver superior mobile experiences.

Our collaboration with Software AG rapidly created interoperability with WebMethods and the Cumulocity IoT platform by utilising our ground-breaking intelligent connection framework. Our partnership will enable us to help enterprises in their IoT transformation journey and adapting to the changing business paradigm, to maximise productivity, minimise cost and risk with a scalable integrated native mobile app solution.”

Cumulocity IoT is a carrier-grade device agnostic IoT platform. It is used to provide the online services for enterprise connected products like industrial vehicles, air compressors and demolition shears. Pre-integrating FloFrame allows enterprises to build mobile apps for their products which combine locally connected device and sensor data with that from Cumulocity IoT.

The partnership will help businesses to create IoT solutions more efficiently, easily and quickly. The benefits are not only in set up, however. Updates and refinements can be made quickly thanks to the no-code platform approach. This means that whether a business is looking to update its operations, or deliver new services to customers, it can be done exactly when it needs to be done. Individuals can even build and update their IoT apps, on their phones.

The Cumulocity IoT solution is immediately available for enterprise deployments. You can find out more here.

Comment on this article below or via Twitter @IoTGN

The post Software AG and Cotham Technologies partner to boost mobile app development for IoT appeared first on IoT global network.

Software AG and Cotham Technologies have partnered to make native mobile app development for the Internet of Things (IoT) quicker and more cost-effective for any business. Customers of this partnership will cut mobile app development time by up to 90% and costs by up to 70%, thanks to a unique no-code platform approach. The speed and agility that businesses can gain in launching new services will help them win on the battleground of customer experience.

Software AG’s Cumulocity IoT enables anyone who can use everyday office productivity apps to create their own IoT solution in minutes. Cotham Technologies’ FloFrame development platform reinvents the ‘no-code’ approach to developing apps to manage networks of IoT devices. The combination of the two gives businesses fast and easy digital answers to their most pressing challenges.

Yasir Qureshi, vice president, IoT GTM at Software AG commented: “Customer experience is fast becoming the differentiator for enterprises. As a result, our customers are asking more and more for mobile apps. Businesses are changing at an unprecedented pace because of the effects of the pandemic.

To satisfy the need for digital and mobile, we’ve partnered with a company that’s recognised by analysts as one of the best mobile app development platforms. We can now help companies cut app development time from 6 months to 3 weeks. Recently we’ve seen 10 years of digital transformation in 2 months – so speed matters.”

Raman Mistry

Raman Mistry, chief executive officer, Cotham Technologies, said: “Our strategic intent is to shape the evolution of mobile application development platforms. FloFrame creates a new frontier as the only no-code and native app creation platform, as a result our partners and customers can deliver superior mobile experiences.

Our collaboration with Software AG rapidly created interoperability with WebMethods and the Cumulocity IoT platform by utilising our ground-breaking intelligent connection framework. Our partnership will enable us to help enterprises in their IoT transformation journey and adapting to the changing business paradigm, to maximise productivity, minimise cost and risk with a scalable integrated native mobile app solution.”

Cumulocity IoT is a carrier-grade device agnostic IoT platform. It is used to provide the online services for enterprise connected products like industrial vehicles, air compressors and demolition shears. Pre-integrating FloFrame allows enterprises to build mobile apps for their products which combine locally connected device and sensor data with that from Cumulocity IoT.

The partnership will help businesses to create IoT solutions more efficiently, easily and quickly. The benefits are not only in set up, however. Updates and refinements can be made quickly thanks to the no-code platform approach. This means that whether a business is looking to update its operations, or deliver new services to customers, it can be done exactly when it needs to be done. Individuals can even build and update their IoT apps, on their phones.

The Cumulocity IoT solution is immediately available for enterprise deployments. You can find out more here.

Comment on this article below or via Twitter @IoTGN

The post Software AG and Cotham Technologies partner to boost mobile app development for IoT appeared first on IoT global network.

IBM announced the launch of Watson Advertising Social Targeting with Influential, a new solution that harnesses artificial intelligence (AI) to help brands identify influencers that best align with their brand values.

The new solution within the Watson Advertising suite of targeting products marks an expanded collaboration with Influential, a provider in advanced social media technology. As brands shift advertising tactics in an increasingly fluid landscape, the social targeting tool can help brands communicate with an audience.

Harnessing the power of Watson to help clients make data driven decisions that foster connections with consumers, Social Targeting with Influential:

• Leverages IBM Watson Natural Language Understanding on the IBM public cloud to process and analyse social media data to help expedite influencer identification;
• Identifies brand-safe influencers by gauging profanity ratings to recommend potential partners with shared values;
• Marries online behavior with offline purchase to help drive ROI based on real-time campaign measurement across brand perception, consumer engagement, online conversion, offline sales and foot traffic; and
• Delivers tone appropriate ads to real people at the right time to help drive engagement.

“Brand reputation matters now more than ever. Using social media to help drive purchase consideration is important as brands implement influencer marketing strategies to establish real connections with consumers, said Bob Lord, SVP of Cognitive Applications, Blockchain and Ecosystems, IBM. “Together with Influential, we’re building trust into the ecosystem by applying IBM Watson to help clients select an influencer that aligns to their brand values, exemplifying our belief that AI can and should be the backbone of the new digital economy.”

According to the 2019 Influencer Marketing Global Survey from Rakuten, an insight and analytics company, 87% consumers surveyed stated that they were inspired to make a purchase based on an influencer’s recommendation. Further illustrating the power of influencer marketing to guide purchases, 61% of responding consumers stated their intent to click on a sponsored link from an influencer to learn more about a product.

Social Targeting with Influential relies on IBM Watson to align brands with like-minded influencers that demonstrate similar values, further illustrating how brands across industries can harness AI to make more informed decisions. Solidifying the power of “belief-driven buying,” in a recent survey conducted by Salesforce Research, 92% of consumers surveyed report that trusting a brand makes them more likely to buy products and services.

According to an audience poll conducted by IBM Watson Advertising at the MMA Global CEO/CMO Summit on brand trust, 52% of respondents stated that they’re likely to pause advertising on Facebook, illustrating the power of preserving brand integrity on social media platforms.

“More than ever, brands seek to make sure every dollar spent drives a measurable return in the online and offline world” said Influential CEO Ryan Detert. “Influencer marketing has evolved into a fully trackable channel that leverages suitable voices to speak on behalf of brands. We’ve seen how powerful Watson can be and are thrilled to expand our relationship with IBM Watson Advertising to bring this offering to even more brands and influencers.”

Establishing the Influential tool’s importance as the advertising industry readies for a future without cookies, Social Targeting with Influential does not rely on third-party data, but rather anonymised first-party data generated by an influencer’s followers on social media, further developing a relationship between brand and consumer.

Acknowledging the value that the Influential tool brings to the marketplace, brands like Wells Fargo, McDonald’s and the NFL today are using the Influential platform to help drive consumer engagement and ROI.

“Influential’s IBM Watson-powered campaigns have helped us identify the right influencers and deliver at scale to help us better connect with our target audiences, added Michael Lacorazza, executive vice president, CMO, head of integrated marketing, Wells Fargo.

These brands using the Influential platform saw unprecedented 100% positive sentiment scores among users and an increase in ROAS compared to social benchmarks, further illustrating the importance of harnessing AI technology to make smarter decisions.

Comment on this article below or via Twitter @IoTGN

The post IBM and Influential launch AI-enabled social targeting solution to help brands identify suitable influencers appeared first on IoT global network.

IBM announced the launch of Watson Advertising Social Targeting with Influential, a new solution that harnesses artificial intelligence (AI) to help brands identify influencers that best align with their brand values.

The new solution within the Watson Advertising suite of targeting products marks an expanded collaboration with Influential, a provider in advanced social media technology. As brands shift advertising tactics in an increasingly fluid landscape, the social targeting tool can help brands communicate with an audience.

Harnessing the power of Watson to help clients make data driven decisions that foster connections with consumers, Social Targeting with Influential:

• Leverages IBM Watson Natural Language Understanding on the IBM public cloud to process and analyse social media data to help expedite influencer identification;
• Identifies brand-safe influencers by gauging profanity ratings to recommend potential partners with shared values;
• Marries online behavior with offline purchase to help drive ROI based on real-time campaign measurement across brand perception, consumer engagement, online conversion, offline sales and foot traffic; and
• Delivers tone appropriate ads to real people at the right time to help drive engagement.

“Brand reputation matters now more than ever. Using social media to help drive purchase consideration is important as brands implement influencer marketing strategies to establish real connections with consumers, said Bob Lord, SVP of Cognitive Applications, Blockchain and Ecosystems, IBM. “Together with Influential, we’re building trust into the ecosystem by applying IBM Watson to help clients select an influencer that aligns to their brand values, exemplifying our belief that AI can and should be the backbone of the new digital economy.”

According to the 2019 Influencer Marketing Global Survey from Rakuten, an insight and analytics company, 87% consumers surveyed stated that they were inspired to make a purchase based on an influencer’s recommendation. Further illustrating the power of influencer marketing to guide purchases, 61% of responding consumers stated their intent to click on a sponsored link from an influencer to learn more about a product.

Social Targeting with Influential relies on IBM Watson to align brands with like-minded influencers that demonstrate similar values, further illustrating how brands across industries can harness AI to make more informed decisions. Solidifying the power of “belief-driven buying,” in a recent survey conducted by Salesforce Research, 92% of consumers surveyed report that trusting a brand makes them more likely to buy products and services.

According to an audience poll conducted by IBM Watson Advertising at the MMA Global CEO/CMO Summit on brand trust, 52% of respondents stated that they’re likely to pause advertising on Facebook, illustrating the power of preserving brand integrity on social media platforms.

“More than ever, brands seek to make sure every dollar spent drives a measurable return in the online and offline world” said Influential CEO Ryan Detert. “Influencer marketing has evolved into a fully trackable channel that leverages suitable voices to speak on behalf of brands. We’ve seen how powerful Watson can be and are thrilled to expand our relationship with IBM Watson Advertising to bring this offering to even more brands and influencers.”

Establishing the Influential tool’s importance as the advertising industry readies for a future without cookies, Social Targeting with Influential does not rely on third-party data, but rather anonymised first-party data generated by an influencer’s followers on social media, further developing a relationship between brand and consumer.

Acknowledging the value that the Influential tool brings to the marketplace, brands like Wells Fargo, McDonald’s and the NFL today are using the Influential platform to help drive consumer engagement and ROI.

“Influential’s IBM Watson-powered campaigns have helped us identify the right influencers and deliver at scale to help us better connect with our target audiences, added Michael Lacorazza, executive vice president, CMO, head of integrated marketing, Wells Fargo.

These brands using the Influential platform saw unprecedented 100% positive sentiment scores among users and an increase in ROAS compared to social benchmarks, further illustrating the importance of harnessing AI technology to make smarter decisions.

Comment on this article below or via Twitter @IoTGN

The post IBM and Influential launch AI-enabled social targeting solution to help brands identify suitable influencers appeared first on IoT global network.