Monthly Archives: July 2021

Wind River, the edge software firm that is among the initial partners for Nvidias AI-on-5G platform, unveiled the latest release of its Wind River Studio cloud-native software platform for the development, deployment, operations, and servicing of intelligent systems from edge devices all the way to the cloud.

The software also addresses the need for seamless technology integration between far edge cloud computing, data analytics, security, 5G adoption, automation and AI and machine learning as companies in a variety of industries--automotive, aerospace and defense, telecommunications, medical--work with these technologies as part of broader IoT strategies and efforts to implement more intelligent and automated operations.

New features in the latest release include a customizable automation engine that integrates with commonly used automation tools, and helps teams building intelligent devices like airborne delivery drones, autonomous vehicles, and factory robots.

The release also supports digital feedback loop, which helps unlock the value of data from the operating system, application, infrastructure, system or device to increase the ability to make improvements and rapidly address problems, the company said. Digital feedback loop in turn enables real-time analysis, reporting and alerting of infrastructure and application performance, as well as integration with back-end Big Data systems.

The new release also provides enhanced security and DevSecOps pipeline capabilities enabling modern software development deployable on Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Azure.

The next generation of cloud-connected intelligent systems requires the right software infrastructure to securely capture and process real-time machine data with digital feedback from a multitude of edge systems, enabling advanced automated and autonomous scenarios, said Kevin Dallas, president and CEO, Wind River, in a statement.

A company spokesman added via email, Wind River Studio is especially relevant for companies building mission-critical intelligent systems where security, safety, and reliability are paramount. Wind River can help a variety of companies on different stages of their transformational journey (including those just starting the journey, and need help to flesh out their strategy or approach).

Notable recent customers for the companys software platform have included telecom and 5G operators Verizon and Vodafone. The new version of Wind River Studio is available now.

RELATED: Nvidia, Google Cloud to open AI-on-5G test lab

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Wind River targets automation amid AI, 5G, edge evolutions - FierceElectronics

The program management office of the Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program has automated parts of the process through which agencies may reuse FedRAMP-approved cloud products, Fedscoop reported Tuesday.

The program, which aims to standardize the security of cloud products used in the federal government, and the National Institute of Standards and Technology are using the Open Security Controls Assessment Language to automate the process where FedRAMP reuses are reviewed.

OSCAL-formatted files can deliver machine-readable assessment plans, system security plans and control baselines.

The move comes as the need for FedRAMP authorization reuse rises, with a 60 percent growth in demand for cloud products and an 85 percent growth in the reuse of security authorizations, compared to the demands during the first six months of fiscal 2020.

Cloud service providers may use machine-readable authorization packages to accelerate the development of system security plans. The FedRAMP PMO is creating tools designed to help organizations adopt OSCAL and speed up reviews.

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FedRAMP, NIST Apply Automation to Support Authorization Reuses - ExecutiveBiz

The pandemic is accelerating automation and threatening jobs, according to Massachusetts state officials. In response, the state is making plans to expand workforce training to keep up with the shift.

But that's not officials' only concern. In September, supplemental federal unemployment benefits will cease in Massachusetts and another 26 states that decided not to end the federal benefit early.

"We've got over 330,000 people falling off unemployment on September 4," said Rosalin Acosta, secretary of Labor and Workforce Development for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. "And if you ask me what keeps me up at night, it's that."

More than half of those receiving state unemployment only have a high school degree or less, she said, adding that some recipients are English language learners. State officials said they would work to help them get new skills and jobs.

"We need those folks engaged in the workforce immediately," Acosta said. Her comments were made at a press conference this week detailing the state's workforce training needs as outlined in a new report titled "Preparing for the Future of Work in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts."

The need to reskill the workforce will only become more critical. Over the next decade, Massachusetts officials warned that automation will have a major impact on employment and create new demand for workforce training.

Acosta said that in the next 10 years, "300,000 to 400,000 current jobs in the Commonwealth will disappear." She said this is "a result of accelerated adoption, automation and AI due to the pandemic."

The Massachusetts report is just a snapshot of a national problem around automation that's getting recognized at the federal level. The $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan, approved earlier this year, included funds for states to deal with the economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic. Massachusetts received $2.9 billion as its share. About $240 million will go toward workforce training.

Automation's impact "isn't some distant academic question that will need to be solved by future generations," Acosta said. Automation will affect workers in customer service, food services, office support, production work and other occupations, according to the state's report.

Automation's impact isn't some distant academic question that will need to be solved by future generations. Rosalin AcostaSecretary of Labor and Workforce Development, Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Keeping up with the increasing reliance on automation will mean workforce training for 30,000 to 40,000 people in the state annually, she said.

More immediately is the end of federal supplemental workforce benefits of $300 a week. About 4 million people nationally will be affected by the ending of these benefits, said Andrew Stettner, a senior fellow at The Century Foundation, an independent policy research group in New York. Stettner has researched the unemployment insurance program.

"It's going to be a cliff, because there will still be probably several hundred thousand workers in Massachusetts who have not found a job by then," he said.

More than two dozen states chose to end the supplemental benefits early, describing it as an incentive for residents to find and take jobs.

But the labor market recovery in those states that cut the federal benefits early "seems to be generally about the same pace as states such as Massachusetts that haven't cut off the benefits," Stettner said. "It didn't seem to be the thing that turned the economy around."

Some workers will continue to get state unemployment benefits past the September cutoff date, "but probably not for too much longer" because of the limits on state assistance, Stettner said.

The growing push to reskill workers may be a good thing for HR employees. The state's study forecasted growth for recruiters, HR analysts, coordinators and generalists, and many business roles in finance and operations.

Patrick Thibodeau covers HCM and ERP technologies. He's worked for more than two decades as an enterprise IT reporter.

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Automation, job loss fears speed workforce training in Mass. - TechTarget

echo shifts the focus to actions that impact business outcomes, while the focused, smart bots continue to work for you

Access Healthcare's proprietary robotic process automation (RPA) platform, echo, is a purpose-built suite of automation solutions that can automate processes across the revenue cycle continuum. By leveraging machine learning and artificial intelligence capabilities, echo, offers multiple use cases for automating eligibility verification, data entry, medical coding, payment posting, accounts receivable management, denial management, and appeals.

Says Vardhman Jain, Vice Chairman of Access Healthcare, "As much as 17% of US healthcare costs are on administrative processes. The time is right for us to launch echo, which we have tested in a scaled-up operation environment like ours and with some of our enterprise customers. echo shifts the focus to actions that impact business outcomes, while the unrelenting, focused, and smart bots continue to work for you."

echoutilizes future-proof microservices-based architecture, which infuses improved ability to utilize new automation frameworks as they evolve. Further, the modular architecture allows rapid configuration capability to customize bots for new use cases and manage process change. These features prevent bot obsolescence and improve the effectiveness of automation solution deployments.

Shaji Ravi, President and Managing Director of Access Healthcare states, "Times are changing in the US healthcare industry. With more integrated data flows and API-based information exchanges, our growing library of healthcare workflows focused automation tools, and services will enable us to grow our partner ecosystem."

The components of the echo suite are:

Arvind Perumbala, VP of Business Development, says "echo is now available to system integrators and automation services providers. If you have a client that needs process automation, whether, in the healthcare revenue cycle or other industries, we believe that we can solve the problems at a fraction of the cost of most of the commercially available automation solutions."

To learn more about echo, visit accesshealthcare.com.

SOURCE Access Healthcare

http://www.accesshealthcare.co

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Introducing echo - An Artificial Intelligence and Robotic Process Automation Platform - PRNewswire

Customers rate Stonebranch with the highest net promoter score (NPS) among all Leaders in the report.

ALPHARETTA, Ga., July 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Stonebranch, a provider of service orchestration and automation solutions, announced that G2 has recognized the Stonebranch Universal Automation Center platform as a Leader in the G2 Grid Workload Automation Report, Summer 2021.

The G2 Grid ranks products from the Workload Automation category algorithmically based on data sourced from product reviews shared by G2 users and data aggregated from online sources and social networks. Products in the Leader quadrant are rated highly by G2 users and have substantial Market Presence scores. The four possible categories in the G2 Grid are Leader, High Performer, Contender, and Niche.

"We are honored to receive G2's highest rating as a Leader in Workload Automation," said Giuseppe Damiani, Stonebranch CEO. "This recognition is a direct reflection of our exceptional customer satisfaction scores. Within the report, our NPS is at least 15 points higher than the other Leaders in the category."

According to the report, end-users ranked Stonebranch above average in likelihood to recommend (94%), ease of doing business with (93%), and quality of support (93%).

The Stonebranch Universal Automation Center's highest-rated features include job scheduling, workload processing, and the platform's workload automation console, which centralizes automation across an entire hybrid IT environment from a single browser-based control center.

"Stonebranch's third-party integration approach makes it possible for customers to go beyond traditional on-prem automation. End-users are empowered to centrally orchestrate automation for cloud infrastructure, DevOps toolchains, and complex data pipelines," said Damiani. "Best of all, our platform is designed to easily scale across enterprise environments that run on-premises, in the cloud, and within containerized microservices, or a mix of all three."

The latest grid report is available now on the G2 website. G2 is the world's largest tech marketplace where businesses can discover, review, and manage the technology they need to reach their potential.

About StonebranchStonebranch builds IT orchestration and automation solutions that transform business IT environments from simple IT task automation into sophisticated, real-time business service automation. No matter the degree of automation, the Stonebranch platform is simple, modern and secure. Using the Stonebranch Universal Automation Platform, enterprises can seamlessly orchestrate workloads and data across technology ecosystems and silos. Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, with points of contact and support throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia, Stonebranch serves some of the world's largest financial, manufacturing, healthcare, travel, transportation, energy and technology institutions.

Media contact:Scott Davis[emailprotected]

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stonebranch.com

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Stonebranch Named Leader in the G2 Grid Workload Automation Report, Summer 2021 - PRNewswire

Image courtesy of Innovative Technology.

The Caf Royal in Annan, Scotland is finding success with a cash automation solution called CashGenic from Innovative Technology that allows customers to pay with cash safely and hygienically, according to a press release.

Caf Royal installed the system in its in-house and take-away premises in March and has seen a rise in cash payments, a reduction in cash floats and its staff free to interact more with customers.

The solution is available from partners as an all-in-one countertop device ensuring customer access, with pay-in and pay-out managed by staff via a mobile tablet device.

"Overall, it's been a tremendous success," John Pagani, Caf Royal owner and National Federation of Fish Friers member, said in the release. "We have been looking for something like this for a long time, but suitable systems seemed only available at a very high price. The Xchekka system is affordable, so much so, we ordered two, one for our indoor caf and the other for our take-away.

"Staff love it; they no longer have to count change and the hygiene aspect has been exceptional, especially during these COVID times. They can concentrate on serving the customer to provide excellent customer service rather than worrying about change and having to wash their hands after touching the money and sanitizing again.

"Customers who install Xchekka are seeing some excellent time and cost savings efficiencies and even more importantly an uptake in cash payments," he said. "Plus, their customers are reacting positively too. At The Caf Royal customers are even bringing cash specifically to have a go at using the new machine."

For an update on how the coronavirus pandemic has affected convenience services, click here.

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Cash automation solution finds success in Scotland| Coping with COVID-19 - Kiosk Marketplace

Senate President Vicente Tito Sotto 3rd. TMT file photo

SENATE President Vicente "Tito" Sotto 3rd said the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) has assured him of the integrity of the automated elections in 2022.

Sotto on Wednesday confirmed he and Sen. Panfilo "Ping" Lacson will run in next year's polls.

"We just have to rely on the integrity of [the] Comelec (Commission on Elections) and do watch out as far as the automation is concerned," Sotto said.

The Senate chief added they will have to rely on the DICT considering that the chairman of automation is former senator now Information and Communications Technology Secretary Gregorio "Gringo" Honasan 2nd.

"He is assuring us that the DICT will be on top of whatever automation. So, we have to rely on that," Sotto stressed.

Meanwhile, Sen. Ana Theresia "Risa" Hontiveros on Tuesday said China's cyberwarfare and disinformation campaigns will be one of the biggest threats to Philippine national security and democracy.

The senator, in a statement, warned that China may heavily influence the 2022 national elections through cyberespionage campaigns against the Philippines.

"Hindi na ako magugulat kung mangingialam sa ating eleksyon ang Tsina (I will no longer be surprised should China meddle in our election [next year]," Hontiveros said.

"It is quite clear that they would do everything to eventually grab our seas and territory in the West Philippine Sea," she said. "At kasama na dito ang pagtatalaga ng lider na hindi kokontra sa utos nila (And this includes installing a leader who will not contradict their instructions)."

She issued the warning after cybersecurity firm Kaspersky unveiled there is a "rare, wide-scale advanced persistent threat" by Chinese "actors" that gather geopolitical and economic intelligence in Asia and Africa.

The firm added some 1,400 users in the Philippines, including government entities, have fallen victim to spear-phishing emails that contain malicious documents.

Hontiveros then urged the Department of National Defense (DND) and the Information Technology department to look into Kaspersky's reports immediately.

The senator said the DND and the DICT should also issue protocols that all Filipinos can follow to protect themselves from China's cyberintrusions.

"The DND and DICT should strengthen our cyberdefense framework, and at the same time, Filipino users should be made aware of how we can protect ourselves from cyberattacks," she said.

Hontiveros said one of the groups' modus operandi was to mimic meeting apps like Zoom, which was usually used in office meetings, webinars and online classes.

The user was not aware that his or her personal information was already being stolen, the senator said.

"This was not the first time that cyberespionage attacks from China were reported against the Philippines," she said in Filipino.

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DICT on top of poll automation - Sotto - The Manila Times

RICHMOND, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Harris Williams, a global investment bank specializing in M&A advisory services, announces it is advising ATI Industrial Automation (ATI) on its pending sale to Novanta Inc. (Nasdaq: NOVT; Novanta). Headquartered in Apex, North Carolina, ATI is a leading global developer and manufacturer of robot end-effector products. The transaction is being led by John Arendale, Jeff Perkins, Brandt Carr, Jenson Dunn and Caroline Inglesby of the Harris Williams Industrials Group.

We are honored to have partnered with Robert Little, president and CEO of ATI, and the ATI shareholders on this transaction, and we look forward to watching ATI continue to thrive as part of the Novanta family, said John Arendale, a managing director at Harris Williams. The sale of ATI represents another marquee robotics and automation transaction for our Industrials Group and continues our momentum in the industrial technology sector.

With over three decades of innovation, ATI has been a consistent market leader synonymous with industrial automation and robotics, delivering state-of-the-art productivity-enabling solutions across diverse and emerging robotics applications, added Jenson Dunn, a vice president at Harris Williams. We are thrilled to have found a great partner in Novanta that not only shares in managements strategic vision but can also accelerate ATIs initiatives in key growth areas like robotic surgical applications.

ATI is a leading engineering-based developer of robotic accessories and robot arm tooling including robotic tool changers, multi-axis force/torque sensing systems, material removal tools, utility couplers, manual tool changers, robotic collision sensors and compliance devices. Their robotic end-effector products are found in thousands of applications around the world. Manufactured in the U.S. and China, ATI products enable customers to achieve a high level of flexibility in robotic automation. Their flagship product is the robotic tool changer, a robotic wrist coupling that locks and unlocks automatically, allowing a single robot to perform many different tasks.

Novanta is a leading global supplier of core technology solutions that give medical and advanced industrial original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) a competitive advantage. Novanta combines deep proprietary technology expertise and competencies in photonics, vision and precision motion with a proven ability to solve complex technical challenges. This enables Novanta to engineer core components and sub-systems that deliver extreme precision and performance, tailored to its customers demanding applications. The driving force behind Novantas growth is the team of innovative professionals who share a commitment to innovation and customer success.

Harris Williams, an investment bank specializing in M&A advisory services, advocates for sellers and buyers of companies worldwide through critical milestones and provides thoughtful advice during the lives of their businesses. By collaborating as one firm across Industry Groups and geographies, the firm helps its clients achieve outcomes that support their objectives and strategically create value. Harris Williams is committed to execution excellence and to building enduring, valued relationships that are based on mutual trust. Harris Williams is a subsidiary of the PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE: PNC).

The Harris Williams Industrials Group has experience across a variety of sectors, including advanced manufacturing; building products; chemicals and specialty materials; industrial technology; and packaging. For more information on the firms Industrials Group and other recent transactions, visit the Industrials Groups section of the Harris Williams website.

Harris Williams LLC is a registered broker-dealer and member of FINRA and SIPC. Harris Williams & Co. Ltd is a private limited company incorporated under English law with its registered office at 8th Floor, 20 Farringdon Street, London EC4A 4AB, UK, registered with the Registrar of Companies for England and Wales (registration number 07078852). Harris Williams & Co. Ltd is authorized and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Harris Williams & Co. Corporate Finance Advisors GmbH is registered in the commercial register of the local court of Frankfurt am Main, Germany, under HRB 107540. The registered address is Bockenheimer Landstrasse 33-35, 60325 Frankfurt am Main, Germany (email address: hwgermany@harriswilliams.com). Geschftsfhrer/Directors: Jeffery H. Perkins, Paul Poggi. (VAT No. DE321666994). Harris Williams is a trade name under which Harris Williams LLC, Harris Williams & Co. Ltd and Harris Williams & Co. Corporate Finance Advisors GmbH conduct business.

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Harris Williams Advises ATI Industrial Automation on its Pending Sale to Novanta Inc. - Business Wire

"Many of our oilfield customers have dual fuel fleets and were looking to single source their diesel, LNG and CNG supply," said Fluid Automation Station's Founder, Chairman and Owner Sam Simon. "This is a service that very few suppliers currently offer. Today's climate demands greener forms of energy. Our team strategically executed a plan to meet the increased need."

Fluid Automation Station has seen a shift in the industry and is working diligently to bring alternative fuel solutions to market and reduce carbon emissions in oil fields. Natural gas is one of the safest and cleanest energy sources available, emitting almost half the amount of carbon dioxide than diesel when burned. It emits little to no sulfur, making it more environmentally friendly and more efficient than other fuel alternatives. Natural gas fuel is cost-effective and provides further savings in the form of carbon credits.

"We are always on the lookout for innovative solutions," says, Jesus Mejorada, Co-Founder of Alliance OGP. "Offsetting a share of diesel consumption with natural gas creates an immediate opportunity for companies to lower their operating cost and their GHG emissions. We can now offer a turnkey dual-fuel program through Fluid Automation Station's premier automated fueling technology."

For more information, including multi-media assets, please access our Digital Press Kit.

About Fluid Automation StationFluid Automation Station (FAS) is a patented automated fueling solution that is setting the standard for safety and efficiency across multiple industries worldwide. Capable of providing automated product level management and delivery to as many as 36 distinct inventories simultaneously, FAS technology boosts operational efficiency while eliminating spills, hazards, and downtime. FAS offers a smart and secure cloud-based digital platform that provides customers with real-time data insight into their day-to-day fueling operations and is part of the Simon Group Holdings energy technology portfolio. For more information on the Fluid Automation Station, visit http://www.fluidautomationstation.com.

About Alliance OGPFounded in 2018 and based in Houston, Alliance OGP is a leading mobile natural gas treatment company focused on leading the oil and gas industry's move away from diesel consumption and use natural gas to electrify oil and gas operations. Alliance OGP currently manages fuel gas solutions for over 230 megawatts of power generation assets and supports the dual-fuel and eFrac market. Alliance OGP is a portfolio company of Arroyo Energy Investment Partners, LLC. For more information on Alliance OGP, visit http://www.allianceogp.com.

SOURCE Fluid Automation Station

Fueling Automation Station

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Fluid Automation Station Announces Partnership with Alliance OGP to Bring Dual Fuel Services to the Oil & Gas Industry - PRNewswire

MILWAUKEE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Rockwell Automation, Inc. (NYSE: ROK), the worlds largest company dedicated to industrial automation and digital transformation, today announced a partnership with Kezzler AS, a cloud-based product digitization and traceability platform, to help manufacturers capture the journey of their products from raw material sources to point-of-sale or beyond using cloud-based supply chain solutions that focus on product traceability. The combined offering is ideal for customers in industries like life sciences, food and beverage, and consumer packaged goods that are focused on complying with regulatory requirements and meeting consumer expectations in areas like product quality, safety, and sustainability.

Rockwells supply chain capabilities will combine with Kezzlers traceability technologies to help customers connect suppliers, manufacturing, logistics, and consumers into one real-time traceability platform. Kezzlers cloud-based solution provides integration flexibility and ease of access to existing systems of record that incorporate a wide range of technologies from immutable ledgers (blockchain) to traditional databases. The two companies can also create unique identities that can be used to digitally identify and track products from creation to consumption. For example, Rockwell and Kezzler can provide the data needed for manufacturers to aggregate total environmental footprint per manufactured product. This data can then be used for evidence and improvement or be shared directly with consumers through the product, allowing a company to use sustainability practices as a competitive advantage.

Once the recently announced acquisition of Plex Systems closes, Rockwell anticipates integrating the cloud-native factory floor track-and-trace capabilities of Plex with the end-to-end capabilities of Kezzler, providing supply chain visibility and management capabilities that are both broad in scope and deep in functionality.

Our partnership with Kezzler will provide greater supply chain transparency to enhance safety and quality control measures, ensure regulatory compliance, and meet ESG goals with cloud-based technologies that are easy to implement and easy to use, said Matt Fordenwalt, Rockwell vice president and general manager, Systems & Solutions Business. By combining our technology and expertise with Kezzlers, we can quickly design and deliver a serialization solution customized to meet specific business requirements with advanced cloud-native software.

Rockwell and Kezzler have already created traceability solutions for customers like FrieslandCampina, one of the worlds largest dairy companies. By creating unique QR codes on each of its Friso infant formula products, the company can now track its products from farmer to consumer. Consumers can also scan the codes to check authenticity and learn more about the product and its origin.

Together, we can help manufacturers connect all points of a products journey, beginning with its inception and ending with its point of sale, consumption, or even where its recycled, said Kezzler CEO, Christine C. Akselsen. Tying upstream and downstream data together creates true end-to-end traceability, with a single data repository for each product.

Kezzler is joining the Rockwell Automation Digital Partner Program, a centralized resource for best-in-class digital solutions designed to help customers as they guide and simplify digital transformation within their manufacturing operations.

About Rockwell AutomationRockwell Automation, Inc. (NYSE: ROK), is a global leader in industrial automation and digital transformation. We connect the imaginations of people with the potential of technology to expand what is humanly possible, making the world more productive and more sustainable. Headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Rockwell Automation employs approximately 24,000 problem solvers dedicated to our customers in more than 100 countries. To learn more about how we are bringing the Connected Enterprise to life across industrial enterprises, visit http://www.rockwellautomation.com.

About KezzlerKezzler makes every single product unique, traceable and interactive. For over 19 years unique digital Kezzler identities have helped solve real-world problems in a sustainable way in multiple markets and sectors. Kezzler provides a cloud-based traceability platform that brings value to brand owners by securing supply chains and elevating the consumer experience http://www.kezzler.com.

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Rockwell Automation and Kezzler Partner to Offer End-to-End Cloud-Based Industrial Traceability Solutions - Business Wire