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| January 2014 | FranTechnovation
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From the President's Desk
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elcome to the 13th issue of FranTechnovation magazine, a multi-sector magazine that showcases technologies across the globe. Technology has revolutionized not only the way we function in our daily lives, but also the way in which we perceive the rest of the global community, in uncountable ways, by very effectively shrinking the globe and making cross-border exchanges easier than ever before. FranTechnovation, featuring projects and organizations that are leading these winds of change across a number of industry sectors, focuses specifically on technological developments, which, regardless of the complexity of processes involved, share the vision of a more equitable use of resources. Be it the financial sector, the artificial intelligence industry, manufacturing or green technology, we bring to you a host of carefully selected projects that we believe are likely to positively impact human lives through the manner in which these are designed and executed. The World is changing with blockchain technology and FranTechnovation Technologes are on the front end of the revolution that has already begun. Companies and individuals collaborating at a high level of trust and transparency is at the core of globalisation. These game changing technologies of FranTechnovation will shape the future of destinations, world economy, quality of life both urban and rural are getting impacted dramatically everywhere. Thought leaders in the government, in the private sector and academia can access the FranTechnovation Technologies to understand Frantech Netural Zone and its leading edge technology and innovative financial solutions.
Our Cover story features Elon Musk’s SpaceX Mars- One of the most ambitious plans announced by the SpaceX CEO for the future of the human race on a completely different planet, Mars within the next 40 to 100 years to cutting edge digital payment solutions in the Banking Technology. The Virgin hyperloop one – World’s first full ‘Hyperloop One’ track commencing soon in India The Bitcoin development covers the Bitcoin ATM Map and BITMAIN which is the World’s leading bitcoin mining technology. DeepMind along with Google bringing AI for the well being of all. For a real world impact in health, scienceenergy and more and to use it to make the world a better place. Smart Token Chain bringd Intelligent payment technology to set new global payments standard to Themis –Providing enhanced reliability computing platforms for mission critical applications through resilient cutting edge technology and much more. These are technologies that have a profound impact on the future green cities to artificial intelligence, big data centers moving towards what really mattershumanity, quality of life, ease of doing business worldwide and the planet. All of the above and much more. We look forward to your responses and do get in touch for further assistance. Shanker Damodaran President, FranTech Asia
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| January 2014 | FranTechnovation
www.frantechasia.com
Contents
High level Licensing, Financing, Franchising and Marketing to move Technologies, Products and Services Internationally. Publishers: FranTech Asia India Office 56 BMM Society, Ellisbridge, Ahmedabad - 380006, Gujarat, India Contact Details +91(0)9265073633 frantechoffice@gmail.com
President & Editor in Chief : Shanker Damodaran Editorial Support and Production Creative Head : Mona S Bhatt Graphic Support : Mohin Kazi Disclaimer The inclusion of any article or advert does not constitute any form of endorsement or approval by FranTechnovation. Whilst we make every effort to ensure that all advertisements and articles are correct, FranTechnovation will not be held responsible for errors or omissions. © FranTech Asia All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without permission in writing from FranTech Asia except that brief passages may be quoted by a reviewer in a magazine, newspaper or broadcast review.
Cover Story
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Elon Musk has been a name on everyone’s mind for the obvious reason- his admirably audacious Space Expeditions and his plans for the future of the human race on a completely different planet. One of the most ambitious plans announced by SpaceX CEO Elon Musk is his plan to colonize Mars within the next 40 to 100 years.
World’s first full “Hyperloop One” track commencing soon in India! Hyperloop One, works on building high-speed, low-pressure, tubebased rail transportation. The company has chosen 10 routes around the world as potential locations for a Hyperloop. They have structured their route ideas as part of what is called the “Hyperloop One Global Challenge.”
This publication is designed to provide its readers with accurate and authoritative information sourced from company web sites and blogs with regards to the subject matter covered. If further detailed advice be required, the services of a competent person need to be sought.
Part of
The Global FranTech Group
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The Global Leader in Industrial Technology
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ABB is a pioneering technology leader that works closely with utility, industry, transportation and infrastructure customers to write the future of industrial digitalization and realize value.
Coop eWallet Innovating online digital payment services and revolutionizing ecommerce PyxPay is an innovative solution for Coop
eWallet is a leading digital payment services firm with a commitment to providing a wide choice of financial options and services at favorable prices, enhanced by the timeless values of honesty, integrity, respect and professionalism.their Company is fully compliance to the utmost levels of PCI-DSS security standards. The effective accomplishment of the PCI-DSS Service is provider full compliancy certificate authorises that these vital business aims are being attained and maintained by Pyx.
Accenture as a company with its advancement in diverse fields helps solve their clients’ toughest challenges by providing unmatched services in strategy, consulting, digital, technology and operations. They partner with more than three-quarters of the Fortune Global 500, driving innovation to improve the way the world works and lives.
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Autobahn Award-winning electronic products and services powered by Deutsche Bank
Deutsche Bank is Germany’s leading bank, with a strong position in Europe and a significant presence in the Americas and Asia Pacific. Deutsche Bank provides banking services to corporations, governments, institutional investors, small and medium-sized businesses, and private individuals.
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Bitcoin ATM Map The Next Generation of Currency Bitcoin ATM’s are one of the easiest and quickest ways to buy and sell bitcoins.. At some locations you can also sell bitcoins for cash. There are many companies that provide bitcoin ATM services in different countries. According to the Bitcoin ATM Map with their bitcoin ATM industry stats, there is a growing number of bitcoin ATM installations worldwide.
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Compakboard
The Eco Friendly and Sustainable Alternative Solution Compakboard stands for “Agri Fibre Board Solutions”. Our commitment to delivering environmental friendly fibreboard products and solutions that are advanced, easy to use, and designed to meet the needs of all our customers worldwide.
DBS IDEAL digital token
Experience Seamless Banking with a new feature in IDEAL Mobile that lets you log in and approve transactions without your physical token.
GlobalClear India-IDC
Providing enhanced reliability computing platforms for mission critical applications through Resilient Cutting-Edge Technology.
Leader in Infrastructure and Data Center Solutions With the modular market developing in the industry, there are remarkable innovation and engineering design initiatives underway. The modular market is maturing with even more large enterprises actively deploying the modular data center platform. To further illustrate the achievement in the modular industry, a recent Uptime Institute survey showed that 41% of the respondents are already considering modular, pre-fab data centers.GlobalClear India-IDC (Pacific Voice and Data) Modular Infrastruc
DeepMind
Using Intelligence to Make the World a Better Place Committed to AI that benefits everyone Improving the efficiency of Google’s data centres
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www.frantechasia.com
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he mission of the Global FranTech Group is to create a platform for building and sustaining a free world economy whereby developing countries can take advantage of globalization and partake in world progress in equal measure. At FranTech, our mission is to foster the development of the Global Economy by providing a Global Perspective to marketers, manufacturers, and inventors of newly-emerging technology. For this we have been providing world-class solutions for licensing and transfer of innovations to emerging economies in 220 countries. “For achieving our mission of enabling developing economies thrive,” the structure and essence of Global FranTech Group has been discreetly created by our Chairman Mr. Philip J. 8
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Nadeau who believes that “In a world of accelerating, inescapable economic and trade interdependence, business success will be won not by isolated individual enterprises or internationally disengaged companies, but by strategic alliances and marketing structures creatively assembled with a global perspective.” To accomplish our mission and move towards our goal this vision has been imbibed in every activity at FranTech. Since its inception 35 years ago, FranTech has been the most trustworthy platform where global exchange of technology or trade is concerned. Consisting of core partners surrounded by interlocking networks of consultants and affiliates in key trading countries and disciplines we play a significant role in the development of economies across 220 countries of the world.
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In a world of accelerating, inescapable economic and trade interdependence, business success will be won not by isolated individual enterprises or internationally disengaged companies, but by strategic alliances and marketing structures creatively assembled with a global perspective - Philip Nadeau Chairman Global FranTech
At FranTech we utilize our three-decade long expertise in assembling, negotiating and consummating trade, technological and financial agreements is utilized to give comprehensive services to innovators and entrepreneurs. To provide such a broad array of exhaustive services we along with our affiliates draw strength from our shared experience in international trade policy, law, marketing, investment banking and technology research. In brief, the Global FranTech Group can be defined as an organization that provides comprehensive professional services to assist companies and investors seeking to benefit from today’s fundamental restructuring of the global economy. With FranTech platform, US technologies are transferred to developing economies and newly emerging technologies from other parts of the world are developed as viable business prospect in their respective markets. At Global FranTech Group we also support large scale real estate and humanitarian projects by extending our marketing expertise and providing resources and funding. FranTech currently has more than 600 Technologies and business opportunities from every possible industry sector. April / May 2018 | FranTechnovation 9
Green Power Technologies signed an exclusive Global Marketing Agreement with Global FranTech Group and FranTech USA International Licensing (FranTech USA), of Ventura, California, USA. This development grants FranTech Asia, FranTech Mexico and FranTech USA the right to market Green Power Resource Management and Green Power's Private Label Solar Panels Air Conditioner and Solar Water Filtration Systems devises to further the renewable energy sector in developing countries. The intent here is also to utilize the medium of FranTech and the FranTechnovation magazine towards equipping innovative solar products for licensing programs through FranTech's network of 600 USA agents and partners. FranTech has licensing sales agents in 220 countries that present projects to governments and industry organizations around the world. Through the FranTech Mexico ENSENADA, B.C. Mexico Venture Development Agreement, Global FranTech Group and FranTech Asia will license FranTech Mexico, S.A. de C.V. FranTech Mexico will especially focus on special renewable energy technologis from Mexico branch offices in ENSENADA, and MORELIA , Mexico and the United Arab Emirates, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Jordan, Egypt, Libya, Africa, China, India, Caribbean and Latin American markets(Brazil).
GLOBAL FRANTECH GROUP FranTech, with partners operating in 220 countries on six continents, was chosen by FranTech Mexico Group due to its extensive geographic footprint throughout the Mexico, Brazil, 10
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Philippines, China, India, Latin American and Caribbean regions. Other factors contributing to the company's selection included FranTech Mexico's significant licensing of Mexico's branch offices with a broad operator customer base, in-depth local knowledge and a dedicated Mexico licensing technology sales team focused on selling complex renewable energy technology licensing, financial product licensing and Sovereign Indigenous Social Insurance solutions that Mexico network branch offices will require. FranTech Mexico renewable energy technology and financial product portfolios are designed to meet the network requirements of Governments in Mexico and 220 countries. Services offered by FranTech Mexico are associated with new internet based Technology, Insurance and financial products through pointto-point insurance sales providing and supporting licensed branch offices in Mexico and 220 countries. FranTech Mexico’s carbon-neutral zone solutions offer significantly improved e-Government economics and simplified infrastructure operations for Mexico. "Global FranTech is pleased to add FranTech Mexico to our worldwide network for Government infrastructure portfolio new "Sovereign Government Neutral Zones Program and Public Sector Renewable Energy Benefit Solutions under e-Government in Mexico. Our new Mexico franchised relationship will allow us to offer next generation internet online renewable energy network solutions throughout the Baja California, Mexico , UAE, Jordan, Egypt, Libya, China, Indonesia, India, Caribbean and Latin America," said Phil Nadeau, CEO of Global FranTech Franchise Network Infrastructure for FranTech Mexico.
"Our FranTech Mexico partnership will enhance both companies` positions within Mexico and these world markets." "We are delighted to be working with Global FranTech Group.'' said Jose Alfredo Avila Hernandez, FranTech Mexico S.A de C.V., President. "This will allow FranTech Mexico Technology Transfer Services to expand its market presence into this exciting Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico growth region."
ABOUT FRANTECH MEXICO Commencing operations in 2013, FranTech Mexico Technology Licensing Services will realize the collaborating organizations’ commitment to serve Mexico multicultural businesses, institutions and professionals.
FranTech Mexico Technology Services, a global technology resource that offers top quality renewable energy products and services in the most cost-effective manner possible to produce renewable energy carbon free FranTech Neutral Zone cities in Mexico and in the rest of the worldwide, commits to providing its clients with unparalleled service, integrity and professionalism. FranTech Mexico is dedicated to offering these FranTech Worldwide Solar and Wind products and BSN financial services on a timely basis and to consistently deliver a high level of service.
WHO IS FRANTECH MEXICO SERVICE'S PRIMARY TARGET MARKET? Any business, organization, institution or new technology production resource that is owned or operated by, employs, serves, and / or partners with culturally different minority groups that are traditionally under served by the building of new FranTech Neutral Zone cities and creating jobs for the economy in any industry are part of FranTech Mexico’s target market. FranTech Global Market segments range from small and medium to large commercial accounts. They can include commercial enterprises, renewable energy technologies, banking and financial institutions, professional organizations, associations, social program constituencies, nonprofit organizations, NGO's and public sector business groups, just to name a few. April / May 2018 | FranTechnovation 11
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FranTech International Licensing works with you from the beginning of the relationship through the full commercialization. In effect FranTech International Licensing is your partner to provide the most effective entry of your technology into new world markets.You can enter the FranTech International Licensing three-phase program at a stage appropriate for your needs. You can proceed through the entire three phases or utilize any one of the phases according to need.
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ow exactly does FranTech help you with making your technology ready for marketing across the globe, and then actually implementing the process of licensing your technology worldwide ? Here’s a 3-phase Plan that delineates exactly how the process works. Phase I : Preparation for Commercialization FranTech International Licensing works with you from the beginning of the relationship through the full commercialization. In effect FranTech International Licensing is your partner to provide the most effective entry of your technology into new world markets. You can enter the FranTech International Licensing three-phase program at a stage appropriate for your needs. You can proceed through the entire three phases or utilize any one of the phases according to need. In Phase I, FranTech International Licensing provides you with a Comprehensive Commercialization
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Report of the technology’s commercialization potential in the World Markets and, if necessary, files the patent application. Your cost for this phase is less than what you would usually pay for the patent alone. A. Comprehensive Commercialization Report FranTech International Licensing's Comprehensive Commercialization Report includes: • A review of the technical feasibility of the technology • An assessment of the level of competition in the intended market • An objective estimate of the market need for the technology • A review of industry trends that affect the commercial viability of the technology B. Patent Application The U.S. patent application is immediately filed based upon the priority of an already-filed foreign application. All Patent Office actions up through and including issuance of the patent are included in this service. It would not include such things as
interference proceedings, appeals, continuing applications, multiple invention applications, etc. If you have already filed a U.S. patent application, the cost of Phase I is reduced. If you want the report and more than one patent, there is a reduced fee for each additional patent. For U.S. clients desiring to enter other world markets or for clients having unusual situations which do not fit the standard Phase I contract, FranTech International Licensing will provide a fixed fee quote for the services desired.
Phase II : Comprehensive Business Plan Along with your Phase I Report, FranTech International Licensing provides a proposal to proceed with
Phase II, which offers a complete business plan including detailed market and technical analyses of your technology. It also includes specific recommendations on how to enter the target market. The cost to the client for this phase of the commercialization effort is less than half of what you would normally expect to pay. In special situations which require a more complex plan, FranTech International Licensing will provide a quote for preparation of the Business Plan before proceeding. Utilizing FranTech International Licensing broad business contacts throughout the world, the market for your technology is specified. FranTech International Licensing business research capabilities allow you to
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In conjunction with its network of marketing consultants, FranTech International Licensing assesses your technology for the specific market niche and the best channel for distribution. As developed in Phase I, this recommendation could be to license the technology to an existing company, initiate a joint venture, or start a new company to commercialize your technology in the target market.
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ranTech International Licensing will provide a quote for preparation of the Business Plan before proceeding.
Utilizing FranTech International Licensing broad business contacts throughout the world, the market for your technology is specified. FranTech International Licensing business research capabilities allow you to understand the various business sectors that would be most responsive to the technology and how best to create a relationship that is balanced and makes good business sense. In conjunction with its network of marketing consultants, FranTech International Licensing assesses your technology for the specific market niche and the best channel for distribution. As developed in Phase I, this recommendation could be to license the technology to an existing company, initiate a joint venture, or start a new company to commercialize your technology in the target market. Based upon these recommendations from Phase I and your preferences, FranTech International Licensing
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tailors the Business Plan to concentrate on one of the following approaches: • Potential joint venture/strategic alliance partners, • Potential licensees if licensing is the route chosen, • An investment document which serves as the basis for starting a new company. In each case, details concerning specific companies and individuals contacted and the rationale for approaching each is included. The final result is a Comprehensive Business Plan with specific recommendations from FranTech International Licensing on the who, why and how of commercializing the technology based upon the method chosen. When the Business Plan is complete, at least one member of FranTech International Licensing will personally present the plan to you, incorporating an audiovisual teleconference with FranTech International Licensing technical and marketing consultants in the target market. Phase III : Options for Technology Transfer
The proposal for full commercialization is presented with the Business Plan at the conclusion of Phase II. Experience has taught us that every technology is unique and has its own potential. FranTech International Licensing has the resources to help fully assess and realize this potential. The options available for commercializing the client's technology are licensing to an existing company, arranging a joint venture or strategic alliance with a major corporation in the field or creating a new startup company to commercialize the technology in the target market.
A. Licensing
Once the patent application is on file, your product can be licensed to existing companies. Licensing offers important opportunities for accelerated product introduction and broadened commercialization in the target market, as well as a long-term income stream from royalties.
hundreds of licenses covering a broad range of industrial technologies, resulting in the successful exploitation of patents and trademarks in the U.S. and in some forty-five countries around the world. The licensing process begins with identification and qualification of prospective licensees and continues with exchanges of information, proposals and negotiations. The conclusion of this effort is, hopefully, an income-producing license which usually provides for an up-front payment and on-going royalties based on sales. Such negotiations do not always result in agreements however, and the period of time between the licensing effort and the realization of royalty income is rarely under two years.
The founders of FranTech International Licensing have concluded
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The proposal for full commercialization is presented with the Business Plan at the conclusion of Phase II... FranTech International Licensing has the resources to help fully assess and realize this potential. The options available for commercializing the client's technology are licensing to an existing company, arranging a joint venture or strategic alliance with a major corporation in the field or creating a new start-up company to commercialize the technology in the target market. FranTech International Licensing may become the Master Licensee, negotiating and monitoring the licensing agreements and collecting the royalties for you.
B. Joint Venture/Strategic Alliances Joint ventures and strategic alliances will often offer a small company the best route to commercialize the technology in the target market. These alliances are as varied in form as are the technologies themselves and must be negotiated based upon both the technical and the marketing expertise of the two partners. By way of example, you can form an alliance with a firm with proven marketing ability, providing the finished product to the other company for marketing. FranTech International Licensing, through the experience of its founders, has negotiated many such alliances and may or may not act as principal in this effort.
C. New Start-Up Company In many cases, it will be appropriate to start a new company for the production and marketing of the new technology.
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Although the specifics of starting a new company are complicated and detailed, FranTech International Licensing's principals are very experienced in this area, and have started many successful companies in the past. In these instances, FranTech International Licensing secures skilled management and the appropriate investors for the start-up company. FranTech International Licensing monitors management and the new company in its initial stages, thus providing the management controls and expertise that often are lacking in high technology start-up companies. FranTech International Licensing becomes a partner with you and will be shareholder in these successful new enterprises. It is important to note that both you and we receive the greatest benefit through the success of the new company.
SpaceX : Winni Mars with
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ing the Race to Mars One
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lon Musk has been a name on everyone’s mind for the obvious reason- his admirably audacious Space Expeditions and his plans for the future of the human race on a completely different planet. One of the most ambitious plans announced by SpaceX CEO Elon Musk is his plan to colonize Mars within the next 40 to 100 years. One of the early proposed missions that set the stage for these Mars plans was the Mars Direct proposal, which was published by aerospace engineers Robert Zubrin and David Baker in 1991. According to this history, the thought behind this was to land the first crewed mission to Mars as early as 1999. Although that did not formulate into shape, but some of their ideas — like sending a return vehicle to Mars before sending a human crew and making propellant from the planet’s resources — are still considered viable options. However moving ahead in time Elon Musk made his argument for the feasibility of a “self-sustaining city on Mars,” further expanding on a vision he initially laid out in 2012 and has continued to refine since then. Of longstanding concern to Musk, as always, is his belief that humans need to become a “multi-planetary species.” The alternative, in his view, is that if we stay confined to Earth, humanity faces an inevitable extinction, which can be avoided through colonization of other worlds. At least until the heat-death of the Universe or the Big Crunch makes any kind of life impossible - but that gives us billions of extra years we wouldn’t otherwise have. Musk focus is mainly on the new types of vehicles SpaceX will build to get to Mars: a massive reusable rocket booster and a huge spaceship. So why Mars, rather than the Moon,
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which is closer and might seem more accessible as humanity’s first colony? Musk makes several arguments in favor of the Red Planet. Some of the major arguments that bring the challenge to make the dream of life on Moon come to a halt is that It is challenging to become multi-planetary on the moon because it is much smaller than a planet. . Moon does not have any atmosphere and It is not as resource-rich as Mars. The moon has got a 28-hour day, whereas the Mars day is 24.5 hours. In general, Mars is far better-suited ultimately to scale up to be a selfsustaining civilization.The gravity on Mars is 37% of the Earth, so you would be able to lift heavy things more easily. What is SpaceX? SpaceX designs, manufactures and launches advanced rockets and spacecraft. The company was founded in 2002 to revolutionize space technology, with the ultimate goal of enabling people to live on other planets. SpaceX has gained worldwide attention for a series of historic milestones. It is the only private company ever to return a spacecraft from low-Earth orbit, which it first accomplished in December 2010. The company made history again in May 2012 when its Dragon spacecraft delivered cargo to and from the International Space Station — a challenging feat previously accomplished only by governments. Since then Dragon has delivered cargo to and from the space station multiple times, providing regular cargo resupply missions for NASA. In 2017, SpaceX successfully achieved the first reflight of an orbital class rocket – a historic milestone on the road to full and rapid rocket reusability. SpaceX has the edge beyond everyone else! One of the big necessities for getting people to Mars, says Musk, is bringing
the cost down. That’s something that can’t happen, he says, with an “Apollo-style” approach, which would have an “optimistic cost” of about $10 billion per person. He strongly advocates that a plan like that cannot create a self-sustaining civilization if the ticket price is $10 billion per person. His goal for SpaceX is to bring the cost down to be roughly equivalent to a median house price in the United States, which is around $200,000. Though this was a bit tricky because they had to figure out how to improve the cost of trips to Mars Nonetheless, there are a number of factors that could rapidly decrease the cost of getting to Mars such as Full reusability of spacecraft, refueling the spacecraft in orbit and making fuel on Mars, hence avoiding the necessity to ship the fuel. Musk has revealed that SpaceX has already begun investing tens of millions of dollars into developing an interplanetary spacecraft, which could carry 100 passengers at a time to Mars. According to Musk, it would take at least one million people for a self-sustaining colony. He concedes that it would take “a lot of flights” to get there, meaning it would take “40–100 years to achieve a fully selfsustaining civilization on Mars.” SpaceX’s most feasible plan to colonising Mars. The first step on the road to a Martian colony is getting a spaceship to Mars. To that end, SpaceX is currently planning on sending one of its Dragon spacecraft to Mars in the year 2020. After that, the company intends to keep developing its interplanetary spacecraft system, which may, in turn, reap the company some Earthbound benefits.
Musk suggests that maybe there is some market for the really fast transport of things around the world, provided we can land somewhere where noise is not a super-big deal because rockets are very noisy. We could transport cargo to anywhere on Earth in 45 minutes at the most. He says, “Hence, most places on Earth would be 20–25 minutes away. If we had a floating platform off the coast of New York, 20–30 miles out, you could go from New York to Tokyo in 25 minutes and across the Atlantic in 10 minutes. Most of your time would be spent getting to the ship, and then it would be very quick after that. Therefore, there are some intriguing possibilities there, although we are not counting on that.” The future of SpaceX Mars One Project Musk has a reputation for aggressive timelines and even more absolute ambition and work methods to achieve them! According to him, if things go ahead as they were planned SpaceX should be able to adhere to the timelines. He concedes, though, that he can’t say for certainty what the timeframe would look like. Instead, he makes clear that establishing a Martian civilization is his vision for the company, regardless of how long it takes. The risk involved in this is huge and requires a lot of money. No matter the amount of time, the risk or the resources, this is a vision towards which SpaceX team has led a journey headstart to a unprecedented future.
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The Global Leader in Industrial Technology 22
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BB is a pioneering technology leader that works closely with utility, industry, transportation and infrastructure customers to write the future of industrial digitalization and realize value. For more than four decades with integrity as their core value, they have been at the forefront, innovating digitally
connected and enabled industrial equipment and systems. Every day, they successfully drive efficiency, safety and productivity in utilities, industry, transport and infrastructure globally. With a heritage spanning more than 130 years, ABB operates in more than 100 countries and employs around 136,000 people.
With more than four decades of being at the forefront of digital technologies, ABB is a leader in digitally connected and enabled industrial equipment and systems with an installed base of more than 70,000 control systems connecting 70 million devices.
Asea and BBC, not only invented or pioneered many power and automation technologies, but has retained technology and market leadership in many of these areas, often for decades.
Being a global leader in power and automation technologies each year the company dedicates around $1.5 billion to fund research and development activities driven by their 7,900 technologists in their four divisions and seven corporate research centers. ABB has a long history and a rich heritage of technology innovation. The company and its forerunners,
Maintaining this position as one of the world’s leading engineering companies requires technology leadership, global presence, application knowledge and strong local expertise. ABB creates and supports a comprehensive range of products, systems and services that increase energy efficiency, reliability and productivity for their industrial, utility and infrastructure customers. ABB Corporate Research serves the entire company and, consequently, April / May 2018 | FranTechnovation 23 19
its scientists and engineers closely collaborate with R&D within the divisions. This partnership has provided the foundation for many of their pioneering technologies. ABB Corporate Research anchors and grows the core competencies needed to conduct research and development in power and automation products, solutions and services. With locations in seven countries, their corporate research centers bring together an international team of highly skilled scientists. ABB’s operations are organized into four global divisions, Electrification Products, Robotics and Motion, Industrial Automation, Power Grids which in turn are made up of specific business units focused on particular industries and product categories. For the Electrification Products, ABB Technology across the full electrical value chain from substation to the point of consumption, enabling safer and more reliable power. A range of digital and connected innovations for low and medium-voltage, including EV infrastructure, solar inverters, modular substations, distribution automation, power protection, wiring accessories, switchgear, enclosures, cabling, sensing and control. Robotics and Motors division offers Motors, generators, drives, mechanical power transmission, robotics, wind and traction converters. Their Industrial Automation section has products, systems and services designed to optimize the productivity of industrial processes. Solutions include turnkey engineering, control systems, measurement products, life cycle services, outsourced maintenance and industry specific products. The Power Grids division offers power and automation products, systems, 24
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service and software solutions across the generation, transmission and distribution value chain. Its portfolio includes grid integration, transmission, distribution and automation solutions and a complete range of high voltage products and transformers. For ABB, sustainability is about balancing economic success, environmental stewardship and social progress to benefit all stakeholders. Sustainability is part of ABB’s corporate strategy and business success. ABB products such as Control Room Solutions, Drives, High Voltage Products, Low Voltage Products and Systems, Measurement and Analytics, Mechanical Power Transmission, Medium Voltage Products, Metallurgy Products, Motors and Generators, PLC Automation, Power Converters and Inverters, Robotics, Semiconductors, Substation Automation, Protection and Control, Transformers cater to several Industries such as Aluminium, Automotive, Buildings and Infrastructure, Cement, Channel Partners, Chemical, Data Centers, Food and Beverage, Life Sciences, Marine and Ports, Metals, Mining, Oil and Gas, Ports, Power Distribution, Power Generation, Power Transmission, Printing, Process Automation, Pulp and Paper, Railway, Solar Power, Water, Wind Power. The Systems that ABB provides are applied to Control Systems, Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure, Enterprise Software, FACTS (Flexible Alternating Current Transmission Systems) HVDC, Marine Vessels, Microgrids, Network Management, Offshore Wind Connections, Operations Management Software, Power Consulting, Power Electronics, Safety, Substation Automation, Protection and Control,
Substations and Electrification, Turbo charging, UPS and Power Conditioning. ABB also has a complete portfolio of industrial technology products for customers in utilities, industry, transport and infrastructure. The ABB Products and their application -24/7 Control room solutionsErgonomic furniture and control centers specially designed with the operators in focus drive productivity, quality and safety to new levels.
High Voltage Products
ABB offers a comprehensive range of high-voltage products up to 1200 kilovolts AC and 1100 kilovolts DC that help enhance the safety, reliability and efficiency of power networks while minimizing environmental impact. Their technology leadership continues to facilitate developments in areas such as ultra-high-voltage power transmission, enabling smart grids and enhancing eco-efficiency.
Low voltage products and systems
ABB provides a full range of low voltage solutions to connect, protect, control and measure a wide range of electrical installations, enclosures, switchboards, electronics and electromechanical devices. The business improves the reliability and efficiency of its customers’ activities across all major industries including the residential sector -ABB Measurement & Analytics -Measurement made easy Their goal is to make instrumentation and analyzer technology, selection, purchasing, installation, operation, and ownership easy - so you can focus on your business.
Mechanical power transmission
ABB offers a total power transmission solution. For well over a century, the DodgeÂŽ line of bearings, gearing and power transmission components have helped manufacturers in numerous industries increase the productivity and profitability of their operations. By focusing on each industry and concentrating on its specific needs, we have developed innovative product solutions and advanced technologies that help improve output, decrease downtime, and enhance system value.
Medium Voltage Products
ABB’s Medium Voltage Products business unit provides utility, industrial and commercial customers with safe, reliable and smart technologies for the distribution of electricity. The extensive global offering includes distribution automation products, switching, limiting, measuring and sensing devices, switchgear, modular substation packages and related services.
Metallurgy Products electromagnetic stirring solutions for steel and aluminium Their electromagnetic stirring solutions (EMS) deliver metallurgical improvements that increase productivity, end-product quality and reduce operating costs for electric arc furnace and ladle furnace operation, thick and thin slab casting, as well as aluminium furnaces.
Motors and generators
ABB offers a comprehensive range of
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reliable and high efficiency motors and generators for all applications.
PLC Automation
ABB’s automation devices deliver solutions with high performance and flexibility to be effectively deployed within diverse industries and applications including water, building infrastructure, data centers, renewable energy, machinery automation, material handling, marine and more. -Power converters and inverters ABB offers a comprehensive range of power converters and inverters for use in a wide range of applications across all industries.
ABB Robotics
ABB is a leading supplier of industrial robots and robot software, equipment and complete application solutions. They are established in 53 countries and have installed more than 300,000 robots, supported by the broadest service network and offering in the industry.
Semiconductors
A wide variety of high power semiconductors using conventional and future oriented technologies with high reliability fulfilling the demand of the traction, industry and energy transmission segments.
Substation Automation Protection & Control
Substations are the building blocks for any grid. ABB has been automating those substations ensuring highest interoperability, thanks to international standards like IEC 61850, and
providing grid operators and owners with highest efficiency and increased productivity. Without adequate protection those substations can quickly come tumbling down. ABB has been preventing that happening successfully during the last 100 years, with protective relays and breakers connected over bulletproof telecommunications.
Transformers
ABB offers a complete range of power and distribution transformers designed to grant the reliability, durability, and efficiency required in utility, industrial, and commercial applications. ABB is a major transformer manufacturer throughout the world and offers both liquid-filled and dry-type transformers as well as services for complete lifecycle support, including replacement parts and components. Their portfolio allows utilities and industrials to maximize the return on transformer assets by ensuring a high reliability, reducing life cycle costs and ensuring optimized performance while lowering environmental impact. Their wide range of services cater to the specific client requirements of rapid response, lifecycle management, performance improvement, and operational excellence.ABB with their high performance products, services and innovations are driving progress for utilities, industries, transportation and infrastructure and helping make a safer, greener, more productive, more collaborative and a more efficient world.
Coop eWallet
Innovating online digital payment services and revolutionizing ecommerce 28
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oop eWallet is a leading digital payment services firm with a commitment to providing a wide choice of financial options and services at favorable prices, enhanced by the timeless values of honesty, integrity, respect and professionalism. Coop Wallet is an innovator and developer of online digital payment services. Their main focus areas include providing global payment solutions, money transfer, card processing and prepaid cards. Through an online link you can access a number of digital currency services. Their technology is revolutionizing the way ecommerce is transacted both on and off the Internet. The key areas that Coop Wallet operates with are reliable secure Cash transfers, QR Pay, Multiple Currency Transactions at your fingertips where a member can start to transfer and receive money anytime and anywhere.
Fastest way and effortless bill payment systems, email money transfers to send money to friends and family worldwide, Remittances with theirRemit to china Top-up UnionPay Cards in 40 Seconds and secure Real Time money transactions. The Coop Wallet system provides multinational companies a gateway to Process Card Transactions and pay commissions to their members worldwide. Consumers today have embraced debit cards as a convenient and secure alternative to cash. Prepaid debit cards can withdraw cash from an ATM or make purchases (pin-based transactions) from any merchant displaying the Visa/Master/Union Pay Card network logos. One of the key areas that the Coop Wallet technology supports is Bank Deposits. Today’s web-savvy customers require self-service banking access to automate recurring bill payments with the convenience and
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flexibility of making payments anytime and anywhere. With the Coop Red Direct Debit System (DDS), members can easily and efficiently self-service all aspects of their accounts from anywhere in the world; 24/7 while remaining transparent. The DDS system is a recurring bill payment system whereby service providers and businesses, that have joined the Coop Red Network, can enhance their debt collection and payment process. DDS allows members to automatically pay bills directly from their account without writing a check or withdrawing cash. Additional, the system allows automatic payments to any business or service provider that has registered with the Coop Red Network. Members are in full control of, when their 30
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payments will be made, the amount of payments and all things related to the payment. It can be turned off at any time and then back on at the convenience of the member. DDS also works with business and service providers not registered with the Coop Red Network provided the member has the required banking information for the business or service provider. The DDS system delivers a consistent bill payment experience. DDS provides member merchants with rapid reductions in operational costs, quicker payment turnaround and enhanced customer service There are a few exclusive services that the Coop Wallet technology delivers such as, e-Mail Money. E-Money is a secure and convenient way to send
and receive money directly from one bank account to another. Another such exclusive service is Server to Server Money Transfer which is faster and cheaper than going through payment instructions via SWIFT. Their Direct Debit/Deposit exclusive service allows customers to pay bills directly from their cooperative account or fund their account from any existing bank accounts. The Mobile App module of Coop Wallet represents the next generation of digital technology allowing Member customers to conduct their banking wherever they go. This Mobile module is interoperable, comprehensive, flexible, multi-lingual and a user-friendly solution that offers secure self-directed transactions, allowing Member customers the ability to check balances, deposit funds, pay bills, transfer funds, top off air time and load cards all from their mobile phone. Mobile Banking is enabled for straight through processing and optimized for high performance; it operates across the Network Platform therefore it is a cost-effective 24 hour service and is fully customizable with Member branding.
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Another noteworthy feature of Coop Wallet is their technology for Money Transfer. Coop Wallet is designed to give members the ability to establish a money transfer account that sends and receives money from anywhere to anyone in the world from the comfort of their home or office, online, or by Mobile and can be used to shop online or in stores. Once registered on the Coop Wallet System for a money transfer account, the member accounts serve as the senders and receivers national and international identity allowing them to send and receive money worldwide. The members do not need to present their identity document each time they want to send or receive money; they do not need to find an agent to send money or to pick up their money. Sending and receiving of national and international money transfer can be done entirely from home, mobile phone or online directly from the member’s money transfer account. The system is designed for receiving money transfers irrespective of the currency. Member’s money transfer account operates across the Coop Wallet and provides a secure transaction structure for sending and receiving money 32
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worldwide to Money Service Business (MSB) companies connected to the Network. The MTS establishes instant access to a global network of payout locations saving members the head-ache of finding their own individual payout location and removing the limitation and burden of complying with the money laundering regulations and customer due diligence requirements. Coop Wallet solution offers an interactive dashboard for money transfer trans-actions management and reporting with Key features and service advantages such as exchange rates, fast, safe and convenient transfers, low Fees with benefits of no Hidden Fees Charges, transaction history, worldwide accessibility. Coop Wallet facilitates remittances from abroad to Union Pay cardholders throughout China. “Remit to china Top-up UnionPay Cards in 40 Seconds” is a Secure, quick and easy to use web based MoneyExpress portal Licensed and certified by UnionPay Real time authentication with UnionPay and the State Administration of Foreign Exchange of China (“SAFE”) which has online access to transaction, settlement reports and support services.
A
ccenture as a company with its advancement in diverse fields helps solve their clients’ toughest challenges by providing unmatched services in strategy, consulting, digital, technology and operations. They partner with more than three-quarters of the Fortune Global 500, driving innovation to improve the way the world works and lives. With expertise across more than 40 industries and all business functions, Accenture delivers transformational outcomes for a demanding new digital world.
issues related to digital disruption, competitive agility, operating and business model as well as the future workforce helps their client find future value and growth in a digital world.
To highlight their activities with the ‘NEW’ that Accenture brings in‘NEW’ PREVENTS ONLINE FRAUDUsing analytics and machine learning to prevent fraud and attract online customers.
Accenture brings the art and science of business together to help clients create a unique Symphonologie—one that inspires, connects, and makes the ordinary extraordinary. That’s high performance, delivered.
‘NEW’ LINKS TREES TO THE CLOUD- using the cloud, IOT and computer vision to help the forestry industry monitor and care for trees in real time. ‘NEW’ NEVER FORGETS A FACE -using biometrics to help secure and protect the digital identities of people in crisis worldwide. Accenture provides services in Strategy, Consulting, Digital, Technology and Operations. ACCENTURE STRATEGY Accenture Strategy helps shape the future at the intersection of business and technology. It shapes their clients’ future by combining deep business insight with the understanding of how technology will impact industry and business models. Their focus on 34
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What sets them apart is that Accenture Strategy understands the mechanics of organizational success. They have the people, skills, insights and deep industry experience needed to shape new forms of client value. They also understand the subtle orchestrations, rhythms and movements that set true high performers apart.
ACCENTURE CONSULTING
Accenture Consulting Transforms businesses through industry expertise and insights. THEY HAVE THE INSIGHTS TO KNOW HOW TO TRANSFORM YOUR COMPANY AND THE CAPABILITIES TO ACTUALLY DO IT. Accenture believes that to transform your business, you need a partner— One who brings you new and innovative ideas every day. A partner with deep industry knowledge, meaningful insights and the broadest range of capabilities. A partner who works shoulder to shoulder with you to help you reach the next level of performance. With expertise in more than 40 industries and the
best consulting talent in the world, Accenture Consulting is that partner. With their expertise Accenture has the capacity to transform every part of your company. It’s critical to start with a partner who understands the intersection of business and technology. For more than 60 years, Accenture consultants have designed and implemented profound business transformations in partnership with the world’s leading companies. Accenture Consulting delivers business outcomes at speed and with certainty, while helping you manage risk. THE ACCENTURE PHILOSOPHY IS CHANGE IS GOOD. TRANSFORMATION IS EVEN BETTER. Any organization can make do with incremental change—at least, for a while. But building for the future means making bold moves and tough decisions that will transform your business. Accenture here is proud to help shape the way the world’s leading companies’ structure and manage their business. And they are passionate about harnessing innovation to tackle even the most complex issues. No wonder they have been able to help achieve remarkable business outcomes, like $1 billion in savings for Mondelēz and 350 percent growth for Uniqlo. SOME OF THE INDUSTRIES THAT ACCENTURE SUPPORTS TO HELP TRANSFORM Automotive and Industrial Banking Capital Markets Chemicals Consumer Goods and Services Electronics and High Tech Energy Health Insurance Life Sciences Communications and Media Natural Resources Public Service Retail Software and Platforms Travel Utilities
ACCENTURE DIGITAL Accenture Digital creates value through new experiences, new intelligence and new connections THEY HELP CLIENTS PIVOT FROM THINKING DIGITAL TO BEING DIGITAL. Through interactive experiences that captivate customers, analytics that transform big data into even bigger actions and new mobile technologies that harness the power of IOT and Living Services. ACCENTURE INTERACTIVE takes care of Experience Strategy & Design, Customer Marketing & Personalization, Content, and Digital Commerce & Customer Service. Accenture Interactive offers complete, end-to-end marketing solutions that delight customers and drive superior marketing performance across the full multichannel experience. ACCENTURE ANALYTICS handles Big Data, Advanced Analytics, IOT Analytics, Data Visualization, Data Analysis, AI/Machine Learning, Data Mining, Analytics Operating Model. With the Accenture Insights Platform and a suite of custom industry apps, Accenture Analytics delivers insight-driven outcomes at scale to help organizations improve performance using big data, advanced mathematical modeling, forecasting and sophisticated statistical analysis. ACCENTURE MOBILITY supports Enterprise Mobility, Connected Devices & Products, Custom IOT Solutions, Connected Device Engineering. April / May 2018 | FranTechnovation 35
Accenture Mobility specializes in connected products and custom Internet of Things innovations that provide transformative capabilities through horizontal and industryspecific mobile and IoT solutions. ACCENTURE TECHNOLOGY The Accenture Technology Division powers businesses with cuttingedge solutions using established and emerging technologies. It helps power digital transformation through services designed to reinvent your application portfolio and a new style of IT. They combine business and industry insights with innovative technology to drive growth for your business. Powering the future with new IT Application Services Cloud Accenture Labs Our alliance ecosystem Accenture Ventures Security Artificial Intelligence On leading platforms SAP Oracle Microsoft Salesforce.com Workday Pegasystems Java Across the lifecycle Modernization Testing Architecture DevOps Application Outsourcing Capacity Services ACCENTURE OPERATIONS Accenture operations delivers outcomes through infrastructure, security, cloud and business process services. Delivering next-generation business outcomes Accenture Operations combines technology that digitizes and automates business processes, unlocks actionable insights, and 36
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delivers Everything-as-a-Service with their team’s deep industry, functional and technical expertise. So now you can confidently chart your course to consuming your core business services on demand, accelerate innovation and speed to market. Welcome to the “as-a-Service” business revolution. This offering works withBUSINESS PROCESS JOURNEY TO THE CLOUD ACCENTURE CLOUD PLATFORM HYBRID CLOUD INFRASTRUCTURE SECURITY ACCENTURE AWS BUSINESS GROUP INDUSTRIES THAT ACCENTURE SUPPORTS Automotive and Industrial Banking Capital Markets Chemicals Communications and Media Consumer Goods and Services Electronics and High Tech Energy Health Insurance Life Sciences Natural Resources Public Service Retail Software and Platforms Travel Utilities ACCENTURE WORKS WITH Artificial Intelligence Blockchain Cloud Future Workforce Internet of Things Security Accenture’s corporate program emphasizes on fostering Corporate Citizenship with a focus on inclusion and Diversity.
Autobahn Award-winning electronic products and services powered by Deutsche Bank 38
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eutsche Bank is Germany’s leading bank, with a strong position in Europe and a significant presence in the Americas and Asia Pacific. Deutsche Bank provides banking services to corporations, governments, institutional investors, small and medium-sized businesses, and private individuals. They are structured around the three types of clients they serve – private clients, fiduciaries & institutions, and corporate companies, with various business divisions such as the Private & Commercial Bank, a clear market leader in Germany as measured by number of clients. Postbank, Deutsche Bank’s international Private & Commercial Clients business and the global Wealth Management business are part of this division. Deutsche Asset Management, yet another division of the Bank should gain more operational independence through a partial IPO and be better positioned for growth. Besides a third division, The Corporate & Investment Bank of the Deutsche Bank comprising of the bank’s Corporate Finance, Global Markets and Global Transaction Banking businesses, are aimed
primarily for a corporate-client led business. Deutsche Bank’s electronic services offering is Autobahn. Autobahn is Deutsche Bank’s award-winning electronic service offering, that gives its clients simple, intuitive and consistent access to powerful Deutsche Bank research, commentary and analytics combined with seamless electronic execution and liquidity across multiple asset classes and markets as well as advanced transaction banking and post-trade services. The Autobahn App Market Integrated and adaptable to individual business needs, the Autobahn App Market is Deutsche Bank’s single-sign on, one stop shop for their clients to access electronic products and information across business divisions, asset classes and regions. Delivering a market leading user experience and built on an ‘appbased’ operating model, it offers a single point of access to more than 180 electronic solutions from Global Markets and Global Transaction Banking (GTB).
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Through its array of app solutions, their clients are able to track performance and mitigate risk while streamlining daily workflows, increasing productivity and maximising returns. The Autobahn App Market eliminates the need for multiple systems and logins and uses an integrated search engine to locate key information within seconds. Clients can browse and arrange their favourite apps, creating a personalised apps library of the services relevant to their role and work remit. Additionally, they can find seamless access to Deutsche Bank’s market intelligence and research to support strategic decision making processes. It works seamlessly for their institutional and corporate clients have access to a robust suite of transaction banking services via the Autobahn App Market’s main access point. Autobahn App Market users benefit from: Seamless user-centric experience - Deutsche Bank’s single sign-on App Market provides app access for Cash Management, Trade Finance, Investor and Issuer Services clients. Enhancements and tailored improvements are made in partnership with clients. Their clients have cutting edge cybersecurity advantage. Deutsche Bank has established best practices to mitigate internet payment fraud for clients on the Autobahn App Market, which complies with all relevant regulations and market standards. Deutsche Bank has made investments and are commited to digital innovation. The Autobahn App Market reflects Deutsche Bank’s success in the digital space. With new developments and technologies appearing every day, they are investing in their digital effort to help clients better meet their business needs. 40
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Post Trade Services - Transparent. Efficient. Intuitive. Deutsche Bank’s Autobahn App Market now offers an integrated experience and provides seamless electronic access to Deutsche Bank’s Post Trade Operations. The Apps are a cross product and cross functional automated offering designed to assist one in managing their Post Trade lifecycle events. Autobahn App Market are ahead of the game with a series of products offered under the Autobahn Product range. Whether you are looking for research, technical data or market commentaries, the Autobahn App Market provides fast and simple access to the right information to stay ahead with the Key features such as search for research and commentary from the trading floor or auto-complete by research analyst, company name, RIC and BBG ticker, or even, country, region or DB sector with filtering documents using dynamic choices on the left-hand side they have got you covered. Commentary & Research Viewer is yet another of their offerings Get the perspective on market activity from DB’s Sales and Trading experts, Save custom filters to jump straight to the ‘research and commentary’ that matters to you. And easily share information with Clients via Smart Share’s powerful distribution framework Market Data and Execution helps you Trade Fixed Income, Futures, Options and FX over their award winning execution portals Get access to global market data across all asset classes including DB’s Proprietary data only available on Autobahn. Summary / Calendar one of their unique features helps in Using the asset class Summary page to get an overview of key publications, research documents and most popular instruments.
The Calendar App provides a comprehensive overview of all event releases: You can search for company releases based on any sector. You may view upcoming auctions and releases and choose the day/week/ month views and also view single company overview for future releases. Autobahn Charting/My Charts App Leverage Deutsche Bank’s data on a cross asset class level that has the ability to chart Single security, Multi Security analysis , create Ratio/ Spread Charts, correlations and Volatility. Not only that you cancreate chart packs to send to clients or for your own analysis. With many noteworthy awards besides the Autobahn App Market, Autobahn has a range of world class products with the most cutting edge technology to serve their clients such asCredit-CDS Trading with Deutsche Bank via Bloomberg Deutsche Bank provides trading access to Index CDS products through their DBCD pages. Global Transaction Banking is easy with Autobhn -With the industrywide shift of emphasis back towards liquidity provision, client centric developments, customizable execution and technology, the Autobahn App Market allows clients to manage all their transactions across the globe electronically via one single access point. They can track performance and mitigate risk while streamlining their daily workflows, increase productivity and maximise returns. The key highlights of this product are Cash Manager. It is now globally available! You can monitor, plan, manage, and control global payment and collection flows. Its now compatible with all the latest browsers.
The User Manager help’s in upgrading of the existing Client SelfAdministration (CSA) with improved usability, simplified processes and equipped with reporting. Cash Inquiry provides instant access to EUR, USD, GBP and multi-currency high value payments, SEPA and FX4Cash. They aim to support SWIFT gpi with increased transparency in end-to-end payment flows. With the Securities Portfolio Manager you can have access comprehensive reporting capabilities across a suite of custody services as well as investment information. Autobahn provides clients with access to Deutsche Bank’s award-winning electronic Equity trading solutions and algorithms. In a world of increasingly complex and rapidly evolving electronic markets, the client needs a partner with advanced technology and global access to the best pools of liquidity. Their executions need to optimize the balance between extracting liquidity while controlling market impact and maintaining anonymity. The organization’s trading solutions are engineered by the best in the industry, connecting the client to their deep global pools of liquidity and the expertise of Deutsche Bank to help manage it. There are two main categories of products in the fixed income category of products- The Fixed Income on Autobahn and The TradeFinder on Autobahn As the Fixed Income on AutobahnAutobahn continues to evolve with new products and increased presence on the major electronic trading platforms, such as Bloomberg and TradeWeb. Deutsche Bank’s truly global reach provides customers with advanced pre-trade functionality, market insight and liquidity, 24 hours a day. In all April / May 2018 | FranTechnovation 41
regional hubs, eCommerce experts work closely with clients to provide market leading customised solutions. TradeFinder is Deutsche Bank’s flagship pre-trade, trade and posttrade platform on Autobahn. It offers clients, traders and sales people a wide range of cross market functionality ranging from time series analysis, relative value scans, asset liability management, portfolio analyses and optimisation to trade execution and clearing tools. Deutsche Bank’s award winning Foreign Exchange trading platform delivers the liquidity and services clients need in a fast moving market and evolving regulatory landscape. Accessible via Deutsche Bank’s Autobahn App Market, the first ‘App-based’ electronic client offering the financial services industry, the platform delivers the latest tools to help the continued success of our clients in the world’s largest market. Under the foreign exchange Autobahn offers Electronic Futures & Options, Proprietary Execution Trading Solution, Foreign Exchange and Maestro Deutsche Bank’s Electronic Futures & Options application on Autobahn is a fully customizable order execution management system that provides direct market access to global futures and options exchanges. Also Deutsche Bank’s award-winning, next generation Foreign Exchange trading platform is the latest milestone in delivering the liquidity and services clients need in a fast moving market and evolving regulatory landscape. Maestro on Autobahn is Deutsche Bank’s workflow platform that provides front-to-back FX solutions to streamline and automate operationally burdensome FX workflows. The platform automates procedural FX such as share-class hedging, portfolio hedging, FX funding flows, 42
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and systematic FX Spot transactions. As a general rule, if a workflow can be described as a set of logic based steps, Maestro can assist in automating the process. With various key advantages with the Autobahn products you can access and research your payment transactions in real-time, create and monitor investigation cases and benefit from compensation calculation and quality reports.
Bitcoin ATM Map The Next Generation of Currency 44
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n layman terms, Bitcoin is a digital token that can be sent electronically from one user to another, anywhere in the world.
It must be known that, Bitcoin is also the name of the payment network on which the Bitcoin digital tokens move. Some people differentiate between Bitcoin capitalized, as the token, and bitcoin lowercase, as the network. We are all aware of the traditional payment networks which follow the fixed rules and regulations of the government agencies. Unlike traditional payment networks like Visa or American Express, Bitcoin network is not run by one single person or company. Bitcoin is however, a decentralized network of computers around the world that keep track of all Bitcoin transactions, similar to the decentralized network of servers that makes the internet work. The interesting challenge and equally an opportunity here is that Bitcoin runs without any central authority. Hence there is no one to implement any rules or to force new users to reveal the identities. This is the John Doe of the modern currency. Originally, the network was designed as a way to create a currency and a financial network outside the control of any government or single company. The computers that join the network and track Bitcoin transactions are motivated to do so by the new coins that are released to the network every 10 minutes and are given to one of the computers helping to track the transactions and maintain the network. All Bitcoin transactions are recorded on the network’s public ledger, known as the blockchain. The easiest way to buy bitcoins is by using a bitcoin ATM. Some
Bitcoin machines also support sell bitcoin operations. There are many companies that produce bitcoin ATMs. Bitcoin ATMs appeared first in 2013 and since then increased their presence in many countries around the world. At the moment there are 341 bitcoin ATM installed according to our bitcoin machines map. Bitcoin ATM is one of the fastest ways to get into bitcoins and sell bitcoins for cash in case it supports twoway operations. But in parallel there are many more physical locations, where you can buy bitcoins for cash or sometimes sell. Those services are usually based on the existing infrastructure be it ATMs network, stores chain or agent offices. Here is a list of such services, usually every of them is targeting some geographical local market. The Bitcoin ATM Map Generator Coin ATM Radar uses its technology to help locate cryptocurrency. By using their map you can find bitcoin or other cryptocurrency ATM locations as well as various alternative crypto-cash exchange services. Bitcoin ATM’s are one of the easiest and quickest ways to buy and sell bitcoins.. At some locations you can also sell bitcoins for cash. There are many companies that provide bitcoin ATM services in different countries. According to the Bitcoin ATM Map with their bitcoin ATM industry stats, there is a growing number of bitcoin ATM installations worldwide. If someone wants to run his own bitcoin ATM or install a bitcoin machine at existing local business, there are a few main points to check and decisions to make beforehand. With all developments in Bitcoin area over last couple of years one thing became more prominent — regulation. Bitcoin ATM business is not an exception. In many jurisdictions you need to get special licenses like MSB or others in order to conduct such a business. For running a bitcoin April / May 2018 | FranTechnovation 45
ATM one must comply with law f that country or region. So the main point to start investigating in case you would like to run a bitcoin ATM — is the legal framework for such activities in your region. In U.S. alone besides other countries there are a total of 1243 Bitcoin ATMs While running a bitcoin ATM as in the US on your own might require a lot of investment in legal field, e.g. creating your KYC/AML compliance policy, obtaining proper legal licenses, there is still a cheaper way — find existing bitcoin ATM operator in your area, approach and suggest a collaboration, so that you work under their legal licenses umbrella. In order to find operators around you — check our bitcoin machine locations map, for majority of listings operator information is provided. In order to operate a bitcoin ATM you need to have a bank account. There were some ideas to build an “unbanked” bitcoin ATM, however, it is more of a nice to have solution, but not practical nowadays. By having a buy only bitcoin machine — you definitely will need to organize cash delivery to the bank, and make wire transfers from bank account to exchange in order to replenish bitcoin balance. The reality is that not many banks wish to have customers related to any “bitcoin business”. So it is good to check available options in advance and the best practice to have several relationships to eliminate the potential risk of closing account by one bank. If you are the owner of a brickn-mortar business — this is not a question to consider as you probably would like to place it at your location. Placing a bitcoin ATM might increase foot-traffic to your store and this is additional revenue stream for the shop. According to information from other owners who installed a bitcoin ATM, it can increase sales up to 46
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10-30% because of new customers, who come to use a bitcoin ATM. As the practice sometimes in the US if you are a local business owner who wants to have a bitcoin ATM, but doesn’t want to have all the hassle with running a machine — you can also approach operators close to you and suggest your location. From private discussions with operators — it is always hard to find a good bitcoin-friendly location, so highly probable you can find someone who will put a bitcoin ATM in your store. However, if you plan to run a bitcoin ATM yourself, you need to find a good location for it. Important factors to consider are: traffic volume, availability/accessibility (easy way to find, public location), open hours (the longer the better), business type. Here is the list of top 5 bitcoin ATM location types according to the stats we that Bitcoin ATM Map has generated through their site. Restaurant/pizzeria 12% Cafe/coffee shop/gelateria – 9% BTC embassy / company office – 7% Shopping mall – 7% Supermarket / food store / Deli – 6% So all are mostly high-traffic businesses, where people go daily. There are many bitcoin ATMs worldwide and Bitcoin ATM map using their technology helps you find the closest bitcoin ATM location to you by address with extra details such as fees, limits etc. -The Bitcoin ATM Map assists you to buy bitcoins using ATM, sell bitcoins using ATM, withdraw bitcoins from ATM receipts and also buy bitcoins directly to hardware wallet. -Their machines help you buy or sell bitcoins for cash
There are many services and locations apart from bitcoin ATMs which provide exchange of bitcoins for cash and vice versa. -Remittances via bitcoin ATMs You can send cash-to-cash payments to your relatives or friends in other countries by using two bitcoin ATMs The Bitcoin ATM Map has various services and revenue streams attached to the business. By operating a bitcoin machine you can take advantage of advertising and promoting your machines and brand via the Bitcoin ATM MAP platform. The company helps you to Install their mobile apps to have a bitcoin ATM map always with you on your smartphone. There are various producers of the Bitcoin ATMs that the company works with. The most popular ones amongst them are – Genesis Coin bitcoin ATM machine -Total number installed: 716 Genesis1 is the Bitcoin ATM produced by San Diego, CA, US based company Genesis Coin Inc. The Genesis Bitcoin machine represents a solid ATM with all AML/KYC features required. By request an optional finger print scanner could be added. SMS verification function, identification card reader, and a high-definition camera could be used in order to comply with regulations in place. This is a two-way Bitcoin ATM, so both fiat money to Bitcoin, and Bitcoin to cash transactions could be done. Interesting is the fact that this ATM supports three cryptocurrencies: Bitcoin, Litecoin and Dogecoin, which is opposite to only Bitcoin normally with other ATMs. General Bytes bitcoin ATM machine -Total number installed: 546 GENERAL BYTES s.r.o is a Czech company specializing in Android and Bitcoin as they mention on the site.
Two Bitcoin machines are provided by this company at the moment: BATMTwo and BATMThree. Both are based on Android operational system. BATMTwo is the second generation of one-way bitcoin ATM supplied by the company, it has finger print scanner for AML/KYC compliance features for the operators. With the BATMTwo customers limits may be raised by identifying clients by finger print scan and ID document scan. Also the email has to be provided. The verification of the customers is done by operators and takes about 15 mins. Since beginning of 2015 the company also supplies a new two-way bitcoin ATM called BATMThree. With this you can buy and sell bitcoins. Futuristic design with neon lights changing color will definitely attract customers’ attention. Lamassu bitcoin ATM machine Total number installed: 265 Lamassu is one of the most popular Bitcoin machines today. The company was established by Zach Harvey, Josh Harvey and Matt Whitlock in the middle of 2013 and was targeting the new growing Bitcoin market with compact Bitcoin purchase devices. Later Matt Whitlock left the company. The pre-orders for Lamassu Bitcoin machines started to be accepted since August 2013. In April 2014 it was announced that more than 220 ATMs are sold, while about 80-100 were actually delivered. Out of those sent Bitcoin machines only a fraction is installed, as the local regulation becomes a surprising obstacle to many who bought the machine. The locations of Lamassu machines could be seen on our Bitcoin ATM map. First Lamassu bitcoin ATM model Trofa had smaller screen, and was replaced by a new model Douro which has a 10’’ screen. April / May 2018 | FranTechnovation 47
Coinsource bitcoin ATM machine -Total number installed: 138 Coinsource, headquartered in Texas with bicoastal offices located in both California and New York City, is the world’s largest bitcoin ATM operator as of November 2017. Coinsource offers lower than industry-average fee rates (usually their rates varies at 7-8%), live customer support and proprietary software and technology which produces fast and secure bitcoin ATM transactions. The company initially used bitcoin ATM solution from Genesis Coin, but later developed own proprietary software, which allows to better scale and fully control user experience at their machines. Coinsource is nationally licensed and regulated by all governing bodies and follows the industry with compliance standards and enforcement. There are two types of Coinsource bitcoin ATM machines conveniently located all across the country: oneway machines which allows customers to purchase bitcoin for cash and twoway machines which allow both the buying as well as the selling of bitcoin for cash. Coinsource is privately owned and operated, and does not offer any reseller options at this time. BitAccess bitcoin ATM machine -Total number installed: 55 BitAccess Inc., a company based in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, produces Bitcoin Teller Machine aka BTM. According to description on the site the company provides three types of Bitcoin machines: basic one-way, basic two-way and two-way with high capacity. With a two-way Bitcoin ATM you can buy bitcoins with cash and also get cash for bitcoins with it. Mostly the BTMs are located in Canada. 48
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BITMAIN World’s Leading bitcoin miners technology Founded in 2013, Bitmain Technologies, now among the world’s most recognizable Bitcoin companies, was established to develop and sell the world’s leading bitcoin miners using Bitmain’s ASIC chip technology. Starting with the Antminer S1, their task continuously became more difficult as bitcoin’s “difficulty level” kept rising. The team at Bitmain followed Moore’s Law in this emerging field of ASIC chip design and pioneered it, time and again. In May of 2016 they released the Antminer S9, the world’s first consumer-grade bitcoin miner based on a 16nm process ASIC chip. This is also the world’s most power-efficient bitcoin miner, taking that title away from its predecessor, the Antminer S7. Bitmain is now among the most recognizable companies in the cryptocurrency space and the proud parent of several brands, among them Antminer, Antpool, and Hashnest, all of which are ranked number one in their respective fields. Their machines and customers are present in multiple locations in almost every country of the world. 50
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The company remains devoted to the production of high quality and efficient computing chips, high density server equipment, and large scale parallel computing software. Headquartered in Beijing, with offices in Amsterdam, Hong Kong, Tel Aviv, Qingdao, Chengdu, Shanghai and Shenzhen Bitmain is among the world’s leading producers of the technologically advanced Bitcoin miners
AntminerL3+
World’s Most Powerful Litecoin Miner The BM1485 ASIC chip Finally an ASIC chip to mine Scrypt coins The BM1485 chip, the first Litecoin Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) chip in more than two yea ompact time-tested design Antminer L3+ is the world’s most powerful Litecoin miner, yet smaller than many portable boom-boxes The Antminer L3+ follows a form factor similar to that of the hugely popular Antminer S9 and is nearly the same size.
Whether in a home or in a mining farm with several other L3+ miners, the Antminer L3+’s small footprint fits well in all locations. L3+’s control board uses Texas Instruments’ AM335x 1GHz ARM® Cortex-A8 microprocessor The Antminer L3+’s control board employs the fast AM335x 1GHz ARM® Cortex-A8 microprocessor and supports Gigabit Ethernet to ensure that mined blocks are submitted instantly. It is engineered to remain powerful yet cool, designed with a high-grade aluminum case, customized heat-sinks and two computer-controlled fans to keep it cool. The L3+ utilizes a combination of conduction and convection cooling to make the world’s most powerful Litecoin miner perform at its best while creating no more heat than the latest terahash Bitcoin miner. Every chip of the L3+ is fitted with custom-made heat sinks that are made of a high-grade Aluminum alloy. The case of the L3+ is made of the same material. Two computercontrolled high speed fans on both ends of the “tube” ensure that the hot air is rapidly replaced by cooler air at the required pace. With a tremendous ease of use Antminer’s user interface has been carefully designed keeping the needs of our users in mind. After you have accessed the Antminer’s user interface, all you need to do is to enter your wallet address and mining pool settings to start mining. The user interface also allows you to customize certain settings and to upgrade to new firmware releases from Bitmain.
pool and open for users all around the world, AntPool support mining of Bitcoin, Litecoin, Ethereum and support payment method of PPS, PPLNS and SOLO. It has a built in account security system and it supports -payment method of PPLNS, PPS, SOLO with daily settlement, quick payment, convenient management -Three levels of account, subaccount, group -Mining machine easily manage -Stable Service -Mining server deployed worldwide -Stable 24/7 service
HASHNEST
Hashnest is a cloud hashing platform. This means you can participate in bitcoin mining without maintaining the hardware yourself. Cloud Mining Start hashing immediately! Escape the noise, costly electricity bills, and warranty headaches -Stable -Mining deployment on a global scale 99.9% uptime guaranteed! -Detailed statistics provided. -Flexible -Start mining with just one gigahash. -Trade and transfer hashrate with ease. With a wide range of world class mining products combined with the best service support makes BITMAIN the preferred choice for bitcoin miners.
ANTPOOL
Advanced and Professional Crypto currency mining platform AntPool is an efficient digital currency April / May 2018 | FranTechnovation 51
Compakboard The Eco Friendly a Alternative Solutio
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and Sustainable on
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t is a dire need of the changing global environment to bring sustainable eco friendly alternatives and solutions, hence controlling the unprecedented damage that humans, as a race, have done to the atmosphere.
fiberboard to give it the appearance of conventional wood.
The forest cover on the face of earth is depleting at a very rapid rate. This has in fact abundant number of reasons, however, a very conventional and ongoing reason is the housing industry. There has and there will always be a requirement for wood panels and boards in these industries. Fibreboard is a type of engineered wood product that is made out of wood fibers. Types of fiberboard (in order of increasing density) include particle board, medium-density fiberboard (MDF), and hardboard.
“Fiberboard” is also an intermediate product, an output of a pulp mill used as input for a paper mill.
Fiberboard is sometimes used as a synonym for particle board, but particle board usually refers to lowdensity fiberboard. Plywood is not a type of fiberboard, as it is made of thin sheets of wood, not wood fibers or particles. Fiberboard, particularly medium-density fiberboard, is heavily used in the furniture industry. For pieces that will be visible, a veneer of wood is often glued onto
Compakboard stands for “Agri Fibre Board Solutions”. Our commitment to delivering environmental friendly fibreboard products and solutions that are advanced, easy to use, and designed to meet the needs of all our customers worldwide.
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In the packaging industry, the term “fiberboard” is often used to describe a tough kraft-based paperboard or corrugated fiberboard for boxes.
There is one company called Compakboard, located in Heerenveen in The Netherlands. They are specialized in providing environmental friendly agri fibre board panels, that is called “Compakboards” made out of agricultural waste or residue materials. Our Compakboards are Formaldehyde free (E0) moisture / water / fire resistant of excellent quality & recyclable.
Ideal Uses of Fibreboard
Fiberboard, classified by ASTM C208, Standard Specification for Cellulosic
Fiber Insulating Board, has many benefits and is used in residential and commercial construction. Applications include: • sound proofing/deadening, • structural sheathing, • low-slope roofing, • sound deadening flooring underlayment, Fiberboard is also used in the automotive industry to create freeform shapes such as dashboards, rear parcel shelves, and inner door shells. These pieces are usually covered with a skin, foil, or fabric such as cloth, suede, leather, or polyvinyl chloride. The Benefits of CompakBoard Compakboard provides a sustainable and cost-effective alternative to MDF, chipboard and plasterboard (now designated hazardous waste) in various densities and can be used in almost any situation where those materials would traditionally be used. Lightweight yet durable and made from agri fibre waste, Compakboard is ideal for panels and fixtures. It’s also available unfinished for manufacturers wishing to produce their own eco products. The benefits of the CompakBoard are as below: • Contributes to the protection of our environment • Helps you achieve your CSR goals • Demonstrates your commitment to corporate responsibility • Improves consumer brand loyalty
• Improves staff well being • Opens your property for business earlier • Protects the safety of building users • Reduces maintenance/ refurbishment costs • Keeps your property looking fresher for longer • Benefits the bottom line • Reduces capital outlay • Creates unique interior design features It also helps you be more green: • • • • • • • • • •
Awards/accreditations Made from agri fibre waste material Sustainable sources Recyclable Biodegradable Waste/off cuts recycled Low embodied carbon Low carbon footprint Formaldehyde free No burden on the agricultural industry • VOC Compakboard is dedicated to creating a much better environment for us all to enjoy What this means is that not only are their end products green, but the production, distribution and end-oflife processes are equally eco-friendly. Their ‘raw’ materials are far from raw: all of their products are made from agri fibre waste (otherwise used as animal bedding or simply burned). No additives or formaldehydes are
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used during the production process, and any offcuts from the panels are fed directly back into the production process. In this way, they ensure that no waste is sent to landfill. Products and panels are then delivered using recyclable packaging and protection. Again, there is no need for waste to be thrown away, and they can often take packaging away with them on delivery. Furthermore, they offer a green installation process, using their expert team and specialist products which again eliminates waste – and the associated charges for disposal. When you no longer need a Compakboard product, or want to update panels or fixtures, you can simply recycle the material once again. Compakboard team can help with this process at customer request, collecting the panels and recycling themselves or better still, refurbishing them with new colours or finishes. This commitment to continual waste management is a central part of our business, and has made us a supplier of choice for many leading retailers that are seeking to reduce waste in their business.
The Properties of a CompakBoard
All Compakboards and products undergo rigorous testing to confirm their strength and suitability for purpose. They have also ensured that they have been fully assessed under building control regulations and EU environmental standards. As a result, the company have received independent verification of
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Compakboard’s suitability to replace MDF and/or plasterboard in almost any situation, and of our industryleading green performance. Compakboards are lightweight, strong and impact-resistant – and of course, made of 100% agri fibre waste. Its integral strength means it can easily hold the weight of shelves, pictures or radiators. With moisture and impact resistance as standard, Compakboard offers new levels of protection over and above standard MDF, chipboard or plasterboard. Compakboard is inherently strong and resists impacts. It can be used as an alternative to plasterboard (now a hazardous waste) and MDF, and in fact has similar integral strength benefits to MDF. It is comfortably able to withstand the weight of shelves, radiators etc. when being fixed into the board – something that cannot be easily done with plasterboard. A Compakboard agri fiberboard is 100% recyclable and biodegradable and does not incorporate any harmful substances such as formaldehydes or sulphates.
Characteristics of CompakBoard Moisture Resistant Not afraid of high humidity! All Compakboard panels offer good moisture resistance as standard, something that is an optional & expensive extra for MDF & chipboard. Compakboards have also been tested successfully for resistance to timber destroying fungi. Compakboards limit expansion, swelling & amp; retain their mechanical strength in the most strenuous humid domestic interior conditions thanks to their MDI polyurethane resin. Light Products Innovative by weight. Heavy products place a burden on the environment and mankind. An important innovative step is reducing the weight of these products. Alongside such applications as in cars, electronics, etc., wood board material can be further developed into lighter variants, without sacrificing its excellent mechanical characteristics.
The Multiple Applications of Compakboard Generally Compakboard is used in Building Industry, The favored panel size most widely used is 2,44m x 1,22m (8′ x 4′). This size is chosen due to physical manhandling constraints.
Compakboards are a Moisture Resistant panel material and can be used in the most strenuous humid domestic interior conditions where dimensional stability and retained strength are of great importance. The attributes of Compakboards are becoming widely appreciated in the Furniture Industry and Interior Fitments industries. Moisture Resistance means the material is suitable for use in High Humidity domestic locations such as Kitchen & Bathroom furniture.
Health & Environment For a cleaner world. Made entirely from waste material, Compakboard meets the highest environmental standards. In particular, all our products are free from formaldehyde, have negligible VOC levels and a low carbon footprint. The quality of a house is also determined by the use of nature-friendly products. These products have a significant contribution as a sustainable alternative to plastics and create a pleasant living environment. Formaldehyde Free Compakboard agri fibre panels are manufactured using MDI polyurethane as a binding agent which produces a “Zero Formaldehyde” or “Formaldehyde Free” material. This means that Compakboard agri fibre panels have emissions far below the strict E1 European low formaldehyde (LF) standard and the USA (HUD 24) standard. April / May 2018 | FranTechnovation 59
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xperience Seamless Banking with a new feature in IDEAL Mobile that lets you log in and approve transactions without your physical token.
What is digital token?
Digital token is an authentication solution that allows easy and secure access to IDEAL. It eliminates the need to carry a physical token by converting your smart phone into a token. Upon the successful installation of digital token on your phone, you will be able to use it to generate codes for Login and Authorization. Using IDEAL Mobile on digital token-enabled device lets you bank seamlessly, even while you are on-the-go! There are definite benefits of this technology. Firstly it is always with you. Your digital token is in your smartphone and with you at all times, unlike your physical token. Secondly it is very secure. Using your fingerprint ensures identity confirmation and secures your online transactions. It is easy to use. You can take advantage of the larger screen size of your smartphone, which is easier to use and provides better readability. It allows instant access to your banking requirements. As soon as you receive your user ID, simply activate the digital token on your smartphone and start banking immediately. The digital token can be used in 2 modes: As a Stand-alone token: You can use the digital token as a replacement of the physical token. In other words, use it as a smartphone app to generate the login code and the response during transaction approval. Also as Integrated token: When you use the IDEAL Mobile app on a smart device on which the digital token is installed, you can enjoy a seamless experience where the token ensures security without prompting for unnecessary inputs.
Digital token is available to all IDEAL users. You can simply download the latest version of the IDEAL Mobile app and login with your credentials and login pin. If you have not logged in to IDEAL before, you are required to login on the desktop to activate your user access and set your login pin before you access IDEAL Mobile. The prerequisites for a digital token are, that the IDEAL Mobile and digital token can only be installed on nonjail broken / non-rooted phones as a system of protection. For verification purposes, it also requires the customer to furnish a valid email and mobile number registered with DBS. The digital token is a highly secure technology. Yes, the technology used here has been thoroughly tested to check for any vulnerabilities. For added security, the token is protected by Touch ID or a 6-digit PIN on devices that do not support Touch ID. The digital token is also restricted to only one device at a time. This means that if you install digital token on another device, the one on the original device gets deactivated automatically. While digital token is secure, as a good security practice it is recommended to make sure that the login credentials are maintained confidential and not disclosed with others. You can be rest assured that your IDEAL account is still fully secured as your digital token is secured by the Token PIN. In addition, your IDEAL login credentials are required before you are able to access your internet banking account. In case you forget the Token PIN for the digital token simply delete and re-install the IDEAL Mobile app. If you lose your phone, as a precaution you are advised to deactivate the existing digital token. This is done by downloading and installing IDEAL Mobile App on a new April / May 2018 | FranTechnovation 63
device and activating digital token on it. Your previous digital token will automatically be deactivated. You are now allowed to only use digital token on the new device. Digital token can only be installed on 1 device at any time. For a new device it is quite easy to acquire a digital token. Simply install IDEAL Mobile App on the new device and login with your credentials. You will be prompted to initiate a transfer of digital token from your old device to the new device. Simply follow the instructions on the screen. Your digital token on the old device will be deactivated upon the successful transfer to the new device.
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As for a company with many employees, it has features embedded that naturally protect in cases where you realize that your employee is resigning. In such a scenario his/ her IDEAL access will get terminated. The employer can submit the IDEAL Maintenance Form for the termination. You can ask for your employee’s user id to be suspended first while your maintenance request is being processed. During the interim, as an employer you are expected to ensure that your employee does the following: -Delete the IDEAL Mobile app in their device -Ensure that the employee no longer has access to both the registered email and mobile device to prevent re-installation Digital token can be used on either smartphones or tablets for the three most recent versions of both iOS and Android.
DeepMind Using Intelligence to Make the World a Better Place Committed to AI that benefits everyone
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eepMind was founded in London in 2010 and backed by some of the most successful technology entrepreneurs in the world. Having been acquired by Google in 2014, DeepMind is now part of the Alphabet group. They continue to be based in their hometown of London, alongside some of the country’s leading academic, cultural and scientific organisations in the King’s Cross Knowledge Quarter.
that benefits everyone, At DeepMind the focus has been: -Deep Science meets Start-up energy and focus. -Solve intelligence. Use it to make the world a better place. -Open research of the highest quality. Over 100 publications including three nature papers. -Applying the research for real-world impact in health, science, energy and more. DeepMind is the world leader in artificial intelligence research and its application for positive impact. The company is on a scientific mission to push the boundaries of AI, developing programs that can learn to solve any complex problem without needing to be taught how. By being successful in this, they believe this will be one of the most important and widely beneficial scientific advances ever made, increasing our capacity to understand the mysteries of the universe and to tackle some of our most pressing realworld challenges. From climate change to the need for radically improved healthcare, too many problems suffer from painfully slow progress, their complexity overwhelming our ability to find solutions. With AI as a multiplier for human ingenuity, those solutions will come into reach. As in all long-term research efforts there are many hurdles ahead, but the team of renowned scientists and engineers at DeepMind is making exciting progress.
THE FOUNDERS are Dr Demis Hassabis, Co-Founder & CEO, Deep Mind, Mustafa Suleyman, Co-Founder & Head of Applied AI, Dr Shane Legg, Co-Founder & Chief Scientist, DeepMind have a vision and commitment to AI
By implementing their research in the field of games, a useful training ground, they were able to create a single program that taught itself how to play and win at 49 completely different Atari titles, with just raw pixels as input. And in a global first, their AlphaGo program took on the world’s best player at Go - one of April / May 2018 | FranTechnovation 67
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the most complex and intuitive games ever devised, with more positions than there are atoms in the universe - and won. At the same time, our DeepMind Applied team is working with experts in different fields to make meaningful real-world breakthroughs. Their systems are having a major environmental impact by learning how to use vastly less energy in Google’s data centres, and they are collaborating with clinicians in the UK’s National Health Service on delivering better care for conditions that affect millions of people worldwide. The progress that they have made is in part down to their approach, which combines the long-term thinking and interdisciplinary collaboration of academia, the energy and focus of a technology start-up, and the social purpose of a team fervent about amazing impact. They set their own independent research agenda and roadmap as an autonomous company in the Alphabet group. They are committed to openly publishing their work, with three Nature papers in 18 months and over 100 peer-reviewed papers. Recognising that there are strong opinions on the safe and ethical use of AI, and that no one team has all the answers, they are also deeply involved in working through these issues with wider academic and research communities. Their motivation in all that they do is to maximise the positive and transformative impact of AI. At DeepMind they believe that AI should ultimately belong to the world, in order to benefit the many and not the few, and they will continue to research, publish and implement their work to that end. DeepMind Applied builds realworld applications of AI technology, working towards the second part of DeepMind’s purpose: to use intelligence to help make the
world a better place. The company collaborates with experts to build tools that support and augment their work in fields from healthcare to energy efficiency, and apply the cutting-edge research to help improve Google’s products and services. Drawing on the best available technologies, together with their own original research, DeepMind is making meaningful breakthroughs in addressing some of society’s biggest and most complex challenges. One of the great promises of AI is its potential to help us unearth new knowledge in complex domains. There has already seen exciting glimpses of this, when the DeepMind algorithms found ways to dramatically improve energy use in data centres - as well as of course with their program AlphaGo. DeepMind with its unique expertise in AI works in many sectors and has a significant contribution in Healthcare. DeepMind Health, helps clinicians get patients from test to treatment, faster DeepMind Health was set up to put the UK’s most advanced technology at the service of patients, nurses and doctors. The NHS does an amazing job under enormous pressure. Most people get truly world-class care, but every single day patients suffer avoidable life-changing conditions and even die because they don’t get the right treatment in time. Nurses and doctors in the NHS and elsewhere simply don’t have the tools to instantly analyse each test result, determine the right treatment, and make sure that every single patient who needs complex or urgent care is escalated to the right specialist immediately. Many people think that new technology could help clinicians with more accurate analyses, and ultimately get faster treatment to the patients who need it most. We’re committed to working with those on the frontline of healthcare to build technological solutions to these problems.
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DeepMind works with hospitals on mobile tools and AI research to help get patients from test to treatment as quickly and accurately as possible. Their priorities are shaped by patients and clinicians, unlike topdown IT projects that can be costly and ineffective. Apps like Streams, currently in use at the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, use mobile technology to send immediate alerts to clinicians when a patient deteriorates. It is already having positive effects - nurses have said that it is saving them over two hours each day, meaning they can spend more time with those in need. As well as the immediate potential to help clinicians provide better, faster and safer care, the company and their team is excited about the potential to one day help with some of the other challenges facing healthcare systems, including empowering patients to look after themselves and their families’ health, and supporting coordinated ongoing care around patients’ needs. Throughout all of their work, the security of patient data is, and always will be, the top priority. Patient data remains under the full control and direction of their hospital and healthcare partners. All data is stored securely, encrypted to the
highest standards, and will never be connected to Google accounts or services, or used for any commercial purposes like advertising or insurance. DeepMind has collaborations with Google. As well as supporting experts in fields like healthcare, DeepMind also collaborates with Google teams to apply their cutting-edge research to products and infrastructure used by many millions of people across the world. Their technology has led to major breakthroughs in the energy efficiency of Google’s data centres, reducing the electricity needed for cooling by 40%, and they continue to work in partnership with teams from Google Play, to Ads, to Shopping. Working at Google scale gives DeepMind the opportunity to learn how to apply their research to truly global and complex problems, to validate the impact they can have on systems that have already been highly optimised by brilliant computer scientists, and - as their data centre work shows - to achieve amazing realworld impact too.
Improving the efficiency of Google’s data centres
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Genesis Mining START BITCOIN MINING TODAY! Join over 1.000.000 people with the world’s leading hashpower provider
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itcoin is - simply put, a digital currency. The reason why we (and many others) think it is such a remarkable innovation is that this digital money is not controlled by any central authority. The Bitcoin network is completely decentralized, the currency itself is produced by a community, to which anyone can freely join. Bitcoin can be transferred almost freely and instantly in contrast to a bank transfer, where one must pay a significant amount of money and the completion might take days. Bitcoin is not like the money we know, it is produced and held digitally. It is created by a network of computers that use a certain software, solving mathematical problems. There will be only a finite number of Bitcoins that can ever be mined, so inflation is not a problem of this currency. An online payment with Bitcoin is fast, secure and as anonymous as you want it to be, and the number of goods and services for which you can pay with digital currencies is constantly growing as well. Genesis Mining is a bitcoin cloud mining service that is an easy and safe way to purchase hashpower without having to deal with complex hardware and software setup. The company offers hosted cryptocurrency mining services and a variety of mining related solutions to small and large scale investors. The combination of our algorithmic trading framework, mining infrastructure, and proprietary mining farm-management software, Genesis Hive, quickly made them an industry leader. Their team of mining experts with extensive knowledge of the digital currency sector specializes in building the most efficient and reliable mining facilities. Genesis Mining is also the founding partner of Logos Fund, the first ever Bitcoin Mining Fund, which targets professional investors looking to gain access to Bitcoin’s and various other digital assets‘ potential.
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Their service was founded by the end of 2013 and with now over 500.000 users Genesis Mining is the world‘s leading multi-algorithm cloud mining service. Mining with genesis mining is super simple - Your mining rigs are already set up and running. As soon as you’ve set-up your account with the company you can start to earn your first coins from their bitcoin cloud mining service! Genesis Mining was founded in 2013. The founders of this world-class cryptocurrency company got to know each other by using the same platform for buying and selling Bitcoins. As their cryptocurrency mining company and its user base grew, new mining farms were built up and several additional people hired, specifically programmers and engineers. The current members of their bitcoin mining team come from different scientific disciplines, but the common faith in cryptocurrencies has brought them all together. At Genesis Mining they are all strong believers in the future of digital currencies and love being part of this growing community! YOUR HARDWARE IS ALREADY RUNNING Don’t wrestle with rig assembly and hot, noisy miners at home. Genesis mining has the fastest bitcoin mining hardware running for you already! The Genesis bitcoin mining farms represent only a fraction of the farms that they own as customer protection and security are a high priority factor for the company: ENIGMA ETHEREUM MINE ICELAND The world’s largest Ethererum Mining farm, which is specifically built to support the Ethereum Project: A decentralized platform that runs smart contracts. Cryptocurrency applications that run exactly as programmed
without any possibility of downtime, censorship, fraud or third party interference. BITCOIN MINING FACILITY ICELAND This is one of the farms for the primary mining effort: Bitcoin. Most cryptocurrencies work with algorithms that need specially designed hardware for optimal mining performance. In the case of Bitcoin mining, modern technology is constantly in development. This farm is built with bitcoin farming hardware from their partners Spondoolies Tech. DASH MINING FACILITY ICELAND A bitcoin mining data center that is processing the X11 algorithm was fundamentally different from other build outs as it was primarily utilizing GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) bitcoin mining hardware rather than ASIC (Application-Specific Integrated Circuit) devices that are used today. Cryptocurrencies that are utilizing the X11 algorithm are Dash and others. These farms are managed and maintained with their vertical GENESIS HIVE They have been quietly developing this system since the early start of the business and are using it to build and maintain their own mining farms with great success. Their monitoring tool mining software is quite comprehensive. Hive is what enables Genesis Mining to run and expand their mining operation into more digital currency mining operations. The company is constantly improving Genesis Hive to prepare today’s large scale miners for tomorrow’s needs in the world of mining. With Genesis mining you can mine any cryptocurrency available in their catalogue! Switch your mining power on the fly for all the coins using the Genesis Mining bitcoin mining website You are able to mine Bitcoin and
various altcoins directly or through their “GM Advanced Autotrader”. “Genesis Mining Advanced Autotrader” (special feature) allows you to get the payouts in many different coins even if they are not mined directly by a certain algorithm. For example, you can get the payouts in BTC while mining with a X11 algorithm! This is possible by mining the most profitable X11 altcoins which are then automatically exchanged to BTC by their algorithmic trading framework. This is a very cost efficient way of mining different coins. To pay for bitcoins Genesis Mining currently accepts the following payment methods: credit card (Visa / Mastercard) - Minimum USD 50. For orders under USD 100 a fee applies. cryptocurrencies: Bitcoin, Litecoin, Dogecoin, Dash Genesis mining gives out daily payouts of your investment to your designated wallet. Payouts are generated daily, but you will receive your payouts only once they have accumulated to a certain quantity.This minimum payouts are set in order to avoid that customers pay excessive fees for receiving small payouts in their wallets. Genesis Mining offers you a smart and easy way to invest your money. Their bitcoin mining system is suitable for those who are new to the world of crypto currencies, as well as for cryptocurrency experts and largescale investors. Genesis Mining is the World’s first large scale multialgorithm cloud mining service offering an alternative to those who would like to engage in Bitcoin and altcoin mining. Their bitcoin mining algorithm is designed to provide the most efficient and reliable bitcoin mining rentals.
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The benefits of mining with Genesis Mining are unique : SMART AND UNIQUE SOLUTION The company specializes in unique, and smart Bitcoin mining techniques. They were (and still are) mining the most profitable portfolio of altcoins, which then is exchanged to Bitcoin upon need. However, due to the increasing demand on their clients’ side, they decided to enable the direct mining of Bitcoin. And in august 2014 they became the World’s first large scale multi-algorithm cloud mining service! CRYPTOCURRENCY MINING PROFITABILITY No matter which package you choose, you are renting the latest technology with Genesis Mining, which guarantees profitability for as long as possible. Also, the rigs you rent consume very cheap electricity and are cooled efficiently, thanks to the optimal locations of our farms. To top this, there is no waiting for delivery and no downtime, which means you are not wasting even a second of mining. Time is valuable, but it is more valuable on the Bitcoin market! MINING BECOMES A PLEASANT EXPERIENCE First of all when you decide for a contract with Genesis Mining you can forget about the complicated set up and maintenance of a mining rig. Secondly, you are mining online, without having loud rigs in your home that need a lot of space and intense cooling. As the cherry on top, they have a beautiful and simple to handle user Interface, praised by all their clients and the reviews that were written about us.
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REAL COMPANY WITH REAL PEOPLE WORKING FOR IT There are many other companies, even very well known ones with excessive advertisement that don’t
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disclose any information about themselves or their founders, and are offering impossibly low prices. Genesis Mining are traceable and transparent, and their clients can see their efforts in trying to be present and active on different forums and conferences. REGULAR PROMOTIONS There are regular promotions, where their dedicated customers receive automatic upgrades or promo codes to have percentages added to their hashpower, or to have percentages off of their contract price. They have an affiliate program as well, through which it is possible to get really appealing upgrades just by inviting friends. SIMPLE PRICING No pool fees. You don’t have to pay or wait around for shipping. You are not wasting even a second of mining, you start immediately. No downtime due to system crashes. You purchase hashpower that you keep for a lifetime, it’s that simple! SUPPORTING ALTCOINS At Genesis Mining they believe that Altcoins have high importance, because diversity fosters innovation. The many different coins with their strong communities are an inseparable part of the digital currency sector. From time to time the company expands the list of coins their clients can mine and announce polls on their Facebook profile, where everybody can vote on their preferred coin to be added next. MINING DIFFERENT COINS AT THE SAME TIME Their customers can decide which coins they want to mine with their purchased hashpower. The allocation of the hashpower between the coins is completely flexible, and thanks to their great user interface, very simple and fun to do, too.
MIND
Connecting Brands with Consumers
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hey are a marketing technology company for brands who specifically want to grow an engaged customer base. Their experiential marketing technology enhances brands and brand experience by creating engaging experiences. The prime objective behind the MIND initiative is to connect brands to audiences in a way that’s memorable and measurable. As Jim Hopper, CEO of marketing technology provider M-ND states‘Marketers have long relied on unpaid celebrity endorsements to get their products into the mainstream and turn in-person events into public-relations
buzz. On the product side, this has often meant blindly sending their publicists or agents free products in hopes that they’ll pass them along to their clients, who will then publicly wear or use those products. For events, the process is much the same: Track down a handler, send an invite and cross your fingers that one or two actually show up. Basically, it’s a game of chance. While paid partnerships might offer brands more control, the coveted unpaid celebrity endorsement communicates an entirely different message: “I like this. I want to be here. No one has paid me to say this.” In the age of social media, influencers are the new celebrities. With thousands to millions of engaged followers who look to them for recommendations on everything from what to buy, where to go, where to eat and stay and who to pay attention to, brands are shelling out more free products—and more invitations—than ever before in the hope that unpaid influencers will become fans and blanket social media with branded posts. Influencers are now a standard part of many marketing strategies, and they allow brands to cast a far wider, and more nuanced, net. But brands are also discovering that it’s hard to count on influencers to do what they want them to without a little influence of their own. Just like unpaid celebrities, unpaid influencers are not obligated to use, wear or recommend a brands’ product in their social media posts or show up at their events. Fortunately, there are more strategic approaches to getting influencers to influence in return for free products and/or event access. Establish in advance what you want influencers to do. Just because brands aren’t paying influencers, this doesn’t mean they April / May 2018 | FranTechnovation 79
have no control of what influencers post about them. Brands often forget that if they have a good product—or a brand that influencers want to align with to build their own social equity— influencers will be open to following their lead. So before dishing out a bunch of free products or spending lavishly on events, brands should define for themselves what they want influencers to do. Do they want to be tagged? Do they want to be directly referenced within the caption? Is there a branded event or campaign hashtag they should use? Is there a theme that should come through in photo content? Are there messages the brand is currently focused on perpetuating? At events, are there
specific backgrounds they want influencers to capture? These things might seem obvious to the brand, but influencers aren’t naturally thinking about the brand’s goals when they post; they’re thinking about presenting great content to their fans. The brand’s job is to design programs that encourage specific outcomes— and specifically, posts that work in service of its goals. Create opportunities that make influencers want to influence Influencers, like celebrities, get dozens of event invitations, so they’re unlikely to show up at just any event. They want to feel like they’ve been invited to something special—and something they want to post about. While their expectations might seem inflated, most influencers understand that there’s an unwritten contract: “I get a special experience; you get in front of my fans.” For social influencers, a special experience is often one that translates into unique, shareable social content. The challenge for brands is to create photo-friendly moments or pictureperfect vignettes throughout the event that will leave influencers—who are always on the lookout for new and interesting ways to perpetuate their own fabulous lifestyles to fans—no choice but to post.
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When Google Play hosted the oneyear anniversary celebration of Janelle Monae’s Wonderland Records, for instance, the company created an intimate dinner built around an Alice in Wonderland theme. Google Play not only designed the entire event space to create multiple unique photo opportunities for guests, but it went a step further and placed branded interactive photo displays at key locations to remind guests to snap, tag and share photos from the evening—and print their own takeaway memories.
Maximize your ROFS (return on free swag)
is capturing valuable data and motivating specific behaviors.
Offering generous gifts at events is an age-old way of getting your product in front of influencers, but if there’s no immediate reason for them to share with their fans and followers, there’s no guarantee that gifts will translate into meaningful social sharing. One way of capitalizing on free swag is by turning VIP areas or gifting suites into photo-capturing, photo-friendly influence hubs.
The method by which M-ND accomplishes this is by capturing what, until now, has been missed or ineffectively measured consumer brand interactions in any physical, branded space.
Throwback sportswear brand Mitchell & Ness knew that it would have no problem luring influencers to its gifting suite at Lollapalooza, but it wanted a defined plan for activating influencer brand fans. The brand created a dedicated hashtag for artist and influencer visitors to its backstage retail lounge. Only by sharing backstage photos—featuring their products and tagged with a designated hashtag—were influencers able to unlock access to limited-edition jerseys and headwear. Over the course of the four-day event, the company garnered more than 20 million social media impressions, creating a unified brand awareness upswell that measurably increased brand sales. In short, influencers will influence their audiences. But you’ve got to influence them.’
M-ND has a unique system, they take pride in stating that no one else does what they do. They stay ahead of the curve by exposing brands to actionable consumer insights via our experiential marketing technology. Their social form of two-way communication encourages audiences to both consume and contribute to achieve the ultimate connectivity and experience. They are Innovative in their technology and approach. The experiences That M-ND is able to deliver to their consumers and the data that they collect are made possible by their M–ND POWER software dashboard. Their flexible goal-oriented interface allows brands to capture consumer insight and turn it into measurable and actionable data. M-ND’s technology is powering experiential marketing campaigns across the globe at retail locations,
To create this engaging an experience for the customers as Mr. Jim Hopper mentions, M-ND has initiated innovative and engaging technology and products such as the Interactive Touch Displays. Their collection of interactive touch screens and custom software capture and measure real-world consumer engagement. Individual displays transform crowds—whether of browsing shoppers, game-day fans, or event guests—into social influence. Behind the scenes, their technology April / May 2018 | FranTechnovation 81
stadiums & arenas, tourist destinations, sponsored events and more making it quite extensible. The solutions that M-ND offers to create an integrated customer experience is that they understand that today there is a disconnect in the way brands reach their target audience. They believe in using tangible technology that is social, targeted and measurable to create sensory experiences that help brands make lasting impressions.
To effectively achieve this result they follow an integrated approach that effectively combines1.Audience Engagement 2.Social Amplification 3.User Data Collection 4.Actionable Data Usage M-ND with their integrated systems and technology has effectively delivered value to some of the world’s best brands such as VISA, Porsche, Dior, Colgate, American Express, Samsung, Google to name a few.
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Here is what some of their prestigious clients have to say about M-ND : AN -Alley Watch “The all in one M-ND platform fuels promotions, events, and branded memorabilia with the interactive displays that connect brands not only with customers but more importantly rich data.” Melissa Shoes “The M–ND platform enabled us to continue the communication with our customer & to gain insight into their needs. M–ND has become an indispensable tool for our brand.” -Michelle Levy CEO, Melissa Shoes
Protect your Precious Data with QRS Biometrics 84
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lobally communication has evolved in a way where our lives are more and more connected to the world of web. Everything is digital and this in turn is data and very precious data which gets to be at the risk of hacking. The instances of increased hacks and digital thefts are only an alarming reality of today. Do not take it lightly in case you see any broken link or any dubious web pages that might cause harm to your computer. However, this is not just about one computer, the struggle is real. It extends beyond the boundaries of one computer. There is tons and tons of data that is being stored online, and there is an acute threat to these large chunks of data which are mostly private and confidential. Starting from large storage of personal data, to financial data, to security related data,
there is an abundance of data online today which also needs equal amount of security. QRS Biometric is in the business of protecting your data from the consequences of hacking. QRS Biometric- Quality, Reliability and Security QRS gives you a secure proven technology to protect yourself. Your hardware defenses are practically guaranteed to FAIL against a determined attacker.
In this instance the QRS Biometric PrivateLINQ System comes to your rescue. The PrivateLINQ System™ by QRS Biometrics, will protect what counts when your hardware fails, namely the data of any kind. The PrivateLINQ System™ has been created for two distinct but related purposes:First is to protect your data regardless of the sophistication of the attack, second, by protecting your data, to remove the incentive for any bad actor’s attempt to “Grab the Brass Ring” knowing all they can get is gobbledygook instead of your data. This is not to say that there are not just plain malicious hackers out there bent on creating havoc and crashing systems for the fun of it (or for strategic foreign governmental purposes).
With their cutting edge technology QRS Biometric protects your data always. QRS Biometric system protects your data regardless of the reasons of the attack when your hardware is working or when your hardware fails. The PrivateLINQ System™ operates in real time from end to end whether your data is at rest or in transit. The PrivateLINQ System™ provides total 24/7 protection to its users. So how does the PrivateLINQ System™ work? Basically, the PrivateLINQ System™ works to protect you in two ways. April / May 2018 | FranTechnovation 85
The first is by truly encrypting your data from end to end using encryption proven to be mathematically unbreakable. The second way is by providing its own unique blend of factors – including the user’s own fingerprint biometric – to create a true Multi-Factor Authentication System that does not rely on any password or anything else that the user can give away. Even the most adept “phisher” using the most sophisticated psychological or other tricks to spoof the user’s identity will be thwarted. To accomplish this QRS Biometric uses the fingerprint biometrics data QRS Biometrics has proudly introduced the LINQ Key™ to the U.S. public. At the heart of the LINQKey™ biometric smart card is a proprietary system on a chip (“SOC”) embedded into the card that together with its own biometric fingerprint reader and matching system, acts as a microcomputer that only runs with the consent of its owner. An additional SOC runs a multiapplication operating system, a cryptoengine and various applications on the biometric smart card. In addition, each card has a large onboard secure data storage area. To maximize its usability, the LINQKey™ is EMV compliant so it can be used with virtually any smartchip card reader used by merchants anywhere in the world as well as with many ATM machines. No biometric data ever leaves the LINQKey™ and all information whether “at rest” or in “working mode” is fully encrypted providing maximum protection to its owner. When a LINQKey™ is enabled to communicate by virtue of a successful ID authentication, it can communicate over both hard wired systems or wireless systems (using either Bluetooth or “NFC”) through an encrypted, private communications connection to the user’s computer, smartphone, or tablet. The two devices must then mutually 86
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authenticate each other as being preauthorized partners. With a successful partnering, a preinstalled app on the device takes over the management of the biometric card and the device, causing them to work together as needed to perform the user’s requested task. Another onboard application (the “App”) forces all communications to use pre-qualified secure services for any communications with the user’s internet device regardless of device used. Accordingly, any process that transpires over a network uses our secure VPN (“virtual private network”). This App then guides the user to perform the function the user desires or simply works in the background, providing the protection for which it was built. The company is on a constant R&D which accomplishes to innovate and bring the most advanced security products. QRS Biometric Inc. has announced its newest security product “The Virtual Wall”. The QRS Biometrics’ “e-TrueVisa™” is a biometrically empowered computer on a card that can carry all necessary visa information needed to guarantee the owner is a legal visitor to the United States and the terms upon which the visit was granted. This is a brilliant system which can be integrated with multiple countries so as to make the visa system smoother and fast processing. Together, the two components, e-TrueVisa™ and PrivateLINQ System™ biometric card provide complete end-to-end security assuring that any information legally obtained from the e-TrueVisa™ biometric card is exactly what it was meant to be and as installed and issued by the proper authority. FranTech Asia Exclusive QRS Biometrics Licensing opportunity available in select partner countries.
Intelligent Payments Technology Setting A New Global Payments Standard 88
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ver a century ago, moving goods by rail was problematic since competing railroad networks used different gauge or sized rails.
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Today’s modern financial services systems currently face a similar issue. Smart Token Chains were developed as a unifying technology to solve payment complexities.
Railroad roundhouses were invented to exchange payloads from one railroad network to another. Over time, intermodal containers, based upon International Standards Organization (ISO) specifications, standardized payload transfers modernizing global commerce. Global shippers that didn’t adopt these new, more efficient payload interoperability standards could no longer compete.
Smart Token Chain (“STC”) technology combines the most disruptive tools in Financial Services Technology (“FinTech”) to date: smart contracts, blockchain, and tokenization. Customizable STCs solve for real-time P2P, B2C, B2B, and institutional money movement issues. In addition to increasing global payments efficiency, the core capabilities for STC powered platforms unify disparate systems April / May 2018 | FranTechnovation 89
used in other financial services applications. Each unique Smart Token includes enhanced counterpart identity, transaction, and invoice data. With this Smart Token Chain aims to become the #1 provider globally of secure token architecture solutions that facilitate the unification of disparate systems. Financial Services Technology is rapidly evolving and has applications across consumer, corporate, government, and banking use cases. As an industry leader, STC can support delivery of and access to better consumer services, more efficient enterprise systems, and create a more unified global economy. In order to demonstrate value in the cross-border payments industry, STC launched an international remittance platform, operated by its subsidiary, P2P Cash. By proving enhanced capabilities for international person-to-
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person payments, STC uses P2P Cash to validate its unique ability to change global financial services. Complex payments and other transactions become more simple, easier to manage and track, and executable at a lower cost. Their vision is to have the technology work with providers of financial services across the world to enhance the lives of over 2.5 billion underbanked individuals, while simultaneously helping their business partners to become more profitable. By increasing efficiency and security, and offering innovative technology solutions, the company will become a responsible citizen to the entire global population. Entities across the United States and abroad partner with STC to enhance their worldwide payments capabilities, improve their current financial services offerings, offer value added products, and expand their global reach.
Smart Token Chain is an investorbacked startup with offices in the payments processing capital of the world – Atlanta, Georgia, USA. Their partners are all proponents of the nascent revolution in Financial Services Technology and support the changing approach of the industry through global implementations of STC technology. The three main aspects of Smart Token Chain being TOKENIZATION, BLOCKCHAIN, SMART CONTRACTS STC leverages tokenization for secure communication of financial data including identity, transaction details, and instructions for delivery.
closed financial systems, allowing for immediate, fully encrypted financial data delivery; currently in use for global money movement. Along with creating unique encrypted financial information files It also verifies all data encrypted in a STC for the respective counterparty. Above all it is fully compliant with SWIFT and ISO settlement standards. The benefits of STC in the payment systems and trading are that it helps decrease clearing costs, offers better margins with greater efficiency. The Front and Middle-Office functions more closely merged at the time of transaction with the back office payment process virtually eliminated.
The process involves substitution of tokens in place of sensitive data elements, eliminating a fraudster’s ability to access exploitable financial information.
Has lower capital requirements, built-in compliance modules which are compatible with global network protocols and no distributed verification delay.
STC technology enables communication between disparate Private Blockchain Networks (PBNs), connects traditional payments systems to PBNs, and can operate as its own PBN. STCs execute Smart Contracts as a digital protocol that facilitates, verifies, and enforces the negotiation or performance of a contract, allowing for technology to obviate the need for a contractual clause.
STCs carry a large amount of data and can be wrapped within even larger “Master” STCs: Individual transaction data can be tagged within larger data files all the way through netting and settlement.
Among the many advantages of Smart Token Chain the main being it Standardizes financial information exchange through a proprietary method of data gathering, compression, encryption and delivery of financial assets. Securely communicates messages between closed loop network participants in real-time. STC Integrates identity for delivery over global payment systems, thereby combining pertinent sender and recipient data like personal, banking, and transaction information, bridges
Assets classes settled via legacy systems benefit from the use of STCs as larger amounts of data can accompany a transaction and be easily encased and encrypted within the STC. Transactions that fall outside of standard settlement systems can also utilize STC technology as the tokenization protocol to facilitate transactions on current or future financial platforms, within distributed payments platforms, and/or for immediate settlement, virtually eliminating margin requirements and counterparty risk. In essence, the combination of a platform that allows for immediate settlement with STCs can in time usurp the need for larger netting systems.
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With standardization of data across users STC gives immediate access to data in a single file for transaction amendment, settlement, regulatory and trade unwind depending upon asset class, ability to become a “tradeable asset� in itself (i.e. digital asset). Working on a proprietary method of encryption it securely transfers any electronic value. The company aims to proliferate STC technology on a global basis for application within FinTech platforms everywhere mainly toMICRO-FINANCE (LENDING)- New lending paradigms have changed the way consumers access credit. Peerto-Peer (P2P) and digital enablement allows for STCs to disburse, manage, track and analyze loaned funds. MICRO-FINANCE (INSURANCE)Providing insurance services to the global community drives enhanced economic success for both individuals and business. P2P and corporate models benefit from STCs unique ability to help offer services more broadly.
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BANKING SYSTEMS-Streamline interbank operational capabilities. Payments, lending, and other transactional services benefit from STC enabled infrastructure and processing. PAYMENT NETWORKS -Modernize traditional payments network schemes. STCs tie identity, payment, currency conversion and other pertinent attributes to our proprietary Smart Tokens for enhanced real-time capabilities. DATA TRANSFER STC -capabilities are not limited only to financial services and payments. Secure transactions are needed across many industries and market verticals. Contact STC to discuss how to power new use cases that meet your neds for secure transactions. DIGITAL WALLETS-Mobile and digital wallets are confined to closed loop ecosystems and lack key capabilities to drive adoption. STCs unify and enhance wallet functionality to power better user experiences.
Providing enhanced reliability computing platforms for mission critical applications through Resilient Cutting-Edge Technology. 94
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roviding enhanced reliability computing platforms for mission critical applications through Resilient Cutting-Edge Technology.
right balance between competing imperatives for COTS, reliability, and SWaP. They support their customers after the sale and help manage obsolescence at product EOL.
Trusted worldwide, Themis has a 30 year track record of providing enhanced reliability computing platforms for mission critical applications. Their robust product lines are known for their long life cycles, high performance, thermal resiliency, compatibility, and SWaP optimization. They work closely with their customers to design solutions they can rely on for years to come.
Themis is committed to quality. An ISO 9001 certified company, Themis practices total quality management (TQM) in all areas of its business, from engineering and manufacturing to customer service.
Themis specializes inCOTS Technology-State of the art enterprise technology delivered on platforms best suited to customer requirements. Enhanced Reliability-Built from the ground up to perform under stress and in extreme environments. Size, Weight, & Power (SWaP)Information technology platforms designed to meet systems engineering constraints at the edge. Located in heart of Silicon Valley, at Fremont, California, Themis builds environmentally resilient computing solutions that integrate the latest commercial technologies (COTS) and minimize size, weight and power (SWaP) for mission critical applications. Dedicated to providing reliable high performance computing platforms for military, aerospace, energy, and rugged commercial use; Their products meet or exceed industry requirements, integrate the latest key technologies, and are proven to perform reliably under stress and in extreme environments. Themis- Trusted Teammate for Enterprise Class Computing at the Edge. Themis works closely with customers to define “solutions” that achieve the
The Themis Products are trusted for performance and Reliability with an expertise in Expertise Military Standard (MIL-STD), Modular Maintainability, COTS Technology, Size, Weight, & Power (SWaP), Open Architecture, Lifecycle Management. Themis technology works on Hyper-Unity Architecture. So what is HyperConverged Infrastructure? HyperConverged Infrastructure (HCI) is a modern approach that streamlines IT infrastructure and management by alleviating traditional burdens associated with multiple independent and proprietary compute, storage and network subsystems. Inherently a “Software-Defined” approach, HCI builds and operates an enterprise datacenter with many of the efficiencies and advantages of a Public Cloud. It is an ideal and fundamental building block for companies looking to design and implement a Private Cloud solution without the old configuration, operation, and management complexities. Utilizing virtualization and other software-defined methods to provide a single, unified operational interface that can provision, deploy and manage all required IT infrastructure— HCI simplifies the delivery of enterpriseclass applications and services. At its core, this is implemented by aggregating standard x86-based servers with direct-attached storage April / May 2018 | FranTechnovation 95
into flexible pools of compute and storage resources— all interconnected with standard networking. Utilizing HCI, traditional “silos” of (often proprietary) resources can be broken down and replaced by common and standard servers and storage. This enables the user to modularly scale the infrastructure “out” simply and dynamically— as opposed to upgrading and/or replacing entire complex subsystems when limits have been reached.
Themis Hyper-Unity Components—What does it comprise of?
Rapid Deployment The Themis Hyper-Unity Platform— What does it do for HCI solutions? As HCI concepts originated from architectural tenets found in large datacenters and elastic Public Clouds, nearly all implementations have been in Enterprise Datacenter environments—using commercial hardware in controlled surroundings with ample power, cooling and rack space.
The HCI software provisions cluster resources into virtual pools that virtual machines can dynamically deploy according to individual workloads. This way the utilization of cluster resources is undeterred by workload types, variances, and numbers—creating optimal efficiency.
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A Hyper-Unity platform is a cluster comprising of two to sixteen servers with direct attached storage, interconnected with redundant high-speed, low-latency 40/56Gbps Ethernet switches. All “n” nodes are identical, modular building blocks; aggregated together to form a unified cluster of rugged, SWaP optimized, compute, storage and network resources.
Effortless Scaling Hyper-Unity HCI platforms utilize standard and configurable Themis components that allow cluster nodes to be “scaled up” in performance/CPU
cores, RAM, and storage capacity. The entire cluster can also be “scaled out” by simply adding additional nodes to the cluster. Scaling out is remarkably simple as it is handled dynamically by HCI software without disrupting running applications. Additional capacity provided by the new nodes added to the cluster become immediately available for deployment by the HCI management interface. A simple illustration highlights this capability. As Hyper-Unity HCI platforms include direct attached solid state drives and redundant high-speed, low-latency 40/56Gbps Ethernet switches, intracluster communication is optimized for maximum application performance. This includes data transfers and throughput, rapid application migration and failover operations, and cluster management functions performed by the HCI software. The Perfect Form and Fit Hyper-Unity Clusters—Start with what you need, then “grow-as-you go”. Since HCI is inherently softwaredefined and employs virtualization technology, it runs equally well on multiple Themis products and form factors— whether it’s a 19” rackmount RES-1U server, a RES High-Density (RES-HD) server, or a modular and shallow 10” deep HDversa server cluster. With Themis’ industry-leading SWaP (Size, Weight and Power) optimizations, customers can select a platform with the best form and fit for their deployment environment while defining requisite performance
and capacity according to application needs. A Hyper-Unity cluster can be configured to support computeintensive and I/O-intensive workloads equally well or lean towards one or the other. Today, Hyper-Unity is qualified and offered with standard RES-XR6-1U, eight drive nodes. These cluster nodes feature dual-socket Intel™ Xeon Scalable Gold CPUs with up to 40 CPU cores per node— resulting in 80 hyperthreaded cores, 1.5TB of RAM and 8 SSD drives with up to 8TB each. This translates to an aggregated 64TB of storage in the cluster pool. Cluster sizes begin with three nodes and two 12-port switches for fullyredundant, No-Single-Point-of-Failure (NSPF) operation. The base node size consists of dual 16-core processors, 384GB RAM and eight 1TB SSDs. This provides the base three node cluster with 96 CPU cores (192 hyperthreaded cores), 1.15TB RAM and 24TB of raw storage capacity. All of these resources are available to, and under direct control of the HCI software—which dynamically and optimally provisions them according to executed applications and virtual machine parameters. Current cluster sizes are from three to twelve nodes. Clusters of 16 to 32 nodes utilizing larger switches will be available in the near future. For detailed information and configuration options refer to our Hyper-Unity product page. Themis specializes in products for various markets and their products are trusted for their efficiency and performance such as -
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1. Hyper-Unity Rugged HyperConverged Infrastructure Platform Hyper-Unity® is the first turn-key, MIL SPEC, SWAP-optimized, hyperconverged infrastructure platform, to deliver all-flash performance for virtualized applications at less than half the cost of traditional storage. It seamlessly integrates two to twelve ruggedized Themis servers, a highspeed, 12-port Mellanox Infiniband switch, and leading Software-Defined Storage(SDS) / Hyper-Converged Infrastructure (HCI) software.It is specifically ‘Ruggedized’ for Wherever You Need to Go The Hyper-Unity infrastructure platform features industry-leading performance with enhanced reliability features that ensure survivability in the most demanding environments, and where Size, Weight, and Power (SWaP) is an important consideration. Themis RES rack-mount servers provide superior resilience to shock, vibration, and temperature extremes It has an edge with rapid, costeffective and easy deployment features Themis’ Hyper-Unity platforms deliver all-flash performance at lower cost than traditional storage or competitive hyper-converged solutions. Instead of integrating costly and complex SAN, NAS or all-flash array storage with servers, Hyper-Unity delivers an all-flash hyper-converged platform, comprising pre-integrated nodes, each with its own compute, enterprise-class SSD storage, SDS, high-performance
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networking, and virtualization. Organizations can quickly deploy a turnkey solution cluster that provides from 96 up to several hundred CPU cores, from 1 to 6 TB of RAM and 6 to 25 TB of all-flash storage to support several hundreds of server VMs with 12 to 100s of TB of effective storage capacity. Modular Scalability is yet another highlight of the product. Hyper-Unity allows you to scale both capacity and performance linearly by providing the flexibility to scale out by adding more nodes or scale up by adding more disks to each server node. Instead of buying large and expensive storage arrays with limited performance, the Hyper-Unity Infrastructure enables enterprises to scale out in small, modular units, allowing them to balance their compute and storage resources while growing. It also supports popular hypervisors, preserving prior investments in tools, time, and training. With an all-Flash Performance, HyperUnity delivers the performance of an all-flash array in multi-server clusters, enabling IT organizations to easily meet the performance requirements of demanding workloads. Hyperconverged software performs deduplication and compression before data is written to storage, leading to extremely low latencies, higher IOPS and lower storage and network traffic. The Key features of this product are Disruptive Cost Data Reduction & I/O Acceleration
Superior resilience to shock, vibration, and temperature extremes Four-node base solution cluster – for high availability and performance Four RES-XR5-1U, eight drive servers with two E5-2600 V3 Series Intel® Xeon® processors, fourteen cores per socket, and up to 512 GB DDR4 ECC DIMMs Base cluster has 6 TB of SSD raw capacity from 12 to over 30 TB effective storage capacity Easy scale-out growth, by adding additional nodes to solution cluster (4-12 nodes) Base 1.5TB per node SSD capacity is expandable up to 16 TB per node today Integral high-speed, low-latency Mellanox Infiniband data network – 56Gb IB, 56/40GbE 1GbE resource management network for node configuration and out-of-band management Removable fans Power supply options Single or redundant 110/220 VAC (50/60Hz, 400Hz) Single or redundant 18-36 VDC, 32 Amp Single or redundant 36-72 VDC, 18 Amp Hot pluggable solid state drive slots (32 per base cluster) Operating temperature range: 0°C to 50°C Operating shock: 3 axis, 35g, 25ms Operating vibration: 4.76 Grms, 5Hz to 2000Hz (SSD) Operating humidity: 8% to 95% noncondensing MIL-STD-810G, MIL-S-901D, MILSTD-167-1* 2.Rugged Enterprise Servers (RES) Resilient Cutting Edge Technology Featuring leading-edge components that include INTEL CPUs, NVIDIA Tesla GPU Accelerators, and SUPERMICRO motherboards, Themis RES servers are Size, Weight, and Power (SWaP) optimized to deliver industry-leading performance in a smaller footprint. Themis Rugged Enterprise Servers keep mission-critical applications available with enhanced reliability features and superior resilience to shock, vibration, and temperature extremes.
Configuration Versatility RES servers provide maximum configuration flexibility through a range of size and depth, and front and rear I/O models. Featuring expansion slots, extensive highspeed I/O, and multiple storage options, our rugged servers provide users with configuration versatility to meet current and future system requirements. RES servers can be mounted in standard commercial racks or mobile rugged transit cases. Performance & Reliability for Rugged Environments Themis RES rack mountable servers ensure superior performance and enhanced reliability in the most demanding environments. Combining leading-edge components that include Intel processors and SuperMicro motherboards, RES servers feature expansion slots, extensive highspeed front or rear I/O, storage, and enhanced reliability options to provide users with configuration versatility and system expansion to meet current and future system requirements. 3.RES-NT2 High Performance Computers (HPCs) Rugged Virtualization and Supercomputing Themis RES-NT2 High-Performance Computers (HPCs) combine NVIDIA® GPUs, up to 1TB of DDR4 memory, two Intel Xeon processors with up to 18 cores, and advanced thermal and kinetic management design in 1U, 2U, and 3U form factors to meet the demanding requirements of rugged environments. GPUs deliver higher performance in a smaller footprint at a lower cost and less power. Choose the right Tesla solution for you. 4.Rugged GPGPU Computing Optimized for single and double precision applications, and the broader supercomputing market, Tesla™ GPU Accelerators are ideal for the most aggressive, high-performance computing workloads. NVIDIA GRID™ cards offload graphics processing from April / May 2018 | FranTechnovation 99
-NanoSWITCH™ Level 2/3 Switch Weighing <3.6lbs, the conduction cooled 10 or 16 port NanoSWITCH™ is IP67 sealed and VICTORY compliant.
the CPU to the GPGPU in virtualized environments, enabling the data center manager the freedom to deliver graphics-rich solutions to virtual users for the first time. RES-NT2 1U RES-NT2 2U RES-NT2 3U Superior Resilience to Shock, Vibration, and Temperature Extremes 5.Small Form Factor Tactical Systems Small, Quiet, Powerful, and Rugged Themis small form factor tactical systems offer tremendous size, weight, power, and cooling (SWAP-C) advantages. As an active participant and leader in the VITA standards committee, Themis is also a member of all three Vehicular Integration for C4ISR/EW Interoperability (VICTORY) working groups, who develop and validate a more efficient and cost effective set of open standards for C4ISR equipment integration on Army platforms. Our next generation Nano technology (VITA-74) is the first standardsbased approach to small form factor conduction-cooled, rugged systems. Aside from SWaP-C advantages, our Nano product line offers multiple I/O configuration options which meet military standards. -NanoPAK™ i7 Computer Weighing only .77kg, the NanoPAK™ i7 Small Form Factor Computer is all I/O & power in a conduction cooled chassis. -NanoPAK™ Computer The 3.5″ x 3.7″ NanoPAK™ Small Form Factor Computer features an AMD® Fusion® processor with FLASH storage. 100 April / May 2018 | FranTechnovation
Footprint Performance Themis small form factor tactical systems focus on specific markets including portable computing, manwearable systems, unmanned vehicles (UVs), ground vehicles, helicopter, and military robotics. Applications include: Mission Management Robotics Embedded Training Mission Planning EW/SIGINT Digital Map Sensor Processor Payload and Sensor Processor Data Recorder The Themis product range serves key sectors such as Defense, Aerospace, Industrial, Energy. Defense Themis supports military projects and standards with rugged, highperformance computing that survives in the most demanding environments. Themis combines expert engineering and manufacturing, and a wide range of specialized product and system designs that are readily adaptable to meet the demands of new programs, applications, and emerging technologies. Themis provides leading-edge embedded computing technology, expert technical support, and longterm lifecycle capabilities to the world’s leading defense agencies and contractors. Themis rugged solutions provide thermal management, shock and vibration protection, and environmental security. Themis products are easily configurable for size, weight, power, and cooling. Themis supports legacy and emerging platform requirements that include VME, VPX, and more. Applications Themis Military and Aerospace applications include:
Next-Generation Combat Systems Missile Systems Autonomous Missile Systems Tactical Battlefield Radar Combat Management Systems Battlefield Sensor Systems UAVs Communications, Command, Control and Intelligence (C4ISR) Commercial Aerospace and Avionics Themis Computer provides reliable, quality solutions to address enhanced reliability aerospace systems requirements. Themis design expertise and flexibility enables Themis to offer both standard and custom solutions for use across a variety of demanding aerospace and avionics applications. In addition to extensive design, development and assembly experience, Themis engineering excels in thermal and kinetic management. Strengths Themis solutions provides aerospace customers with: Design expertise and flexibility Superior product reliability and quality Uncompromising post-sale service and support Deep understanding of aerospace and avionics specifications Part and component availability To ensure their solutions meet all their customerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s requirements, they work closely with a wide range of aerospace providers that include: Aircraft Manufacturers Aircraft Equipment Manufacturers Prime Defense Contractors and Integrators Aircraft System Manufacturers Avionics System Manufacturers
Aerospace Equipment Manufacturers Satellite Equipment Manufacturers Energy Exploration Whether it is temperature extremes, shock, vibration, airborne contaminants, or corrosives, Themis builds cost-effective solutions that are tested and certified to survive the rigor of demanding field environments. Our reliable ruggedized solutions are designed to meet changing environmental regulations and increased new energy requirements. Strengths Themis products provide energy exploration customers with: Superior product reliability and quality Design expertise and flexibility Uncompromising post-sale service and support Deep understanding of aerospace and avionics specifications Part and component availability General Industry Themis rugged solutions enable embedded computing in demanding environments. Our focus on quality and reliable, high-performance embedded computing solutions enables our customers to concentrate on their technology requirements without worrying about how to protect performance-critical applications in demanding environments. With system engineering expertise that include thermal management, shock and vibration, size and weight constraints, networking requirements, environmental challenges and more, Themis designs and manufactures a wide portfolio of products that use best-in-class components to support multiple technologies. April / May 2018 | FranTechnovation 101
Markets Themis products provide application support for the following markets: Communications – Themis supports performance-critical communications systems under the most demanding conditions in field environments. Applications include telecommunications and data communication. Medical – Themis extends missioncritical reliability to design and development for the medical market with a wide range of embedded computing solutions where thermal management, availability, and protection against humidity, dust, and other elements are required. OEM Manufacturing – OEMs require a strong outsourcing partner for the design, production and lifecycle management of key embedded board and system products. Themis provides customer specific design-tomanufacturing that includes project management from product definition and specification, through prototype, to high volume production. Themis manages the supply chain to provide JIT delivery of product to OEM customers. Themis diligently addresses the critical issues of sustaining engineering including revision control and longevity of supply. Themis provides its customers with 102 April / May 2018 | FranTechnovation
alternate migration paths that make technological and business sense. Themis has close supplier partnerships with top silicon and software vendors and use these to bring the best alternatives to our OEM customers. Themis supports applications that include automation, industrial control, and robotics. Transportation– Themis provides the commercial transportation market with shock and vibration protection, thermal and kinetic management to ensure the performance and reliability of embedded computing systems in high-speed transportation systems that include trucking, emergency response, rail transport, ships, and aerospace and avionics. Strengths Themis market strengths include: ISO 9001 compliance since 2007 Product lifecycle support Full integration capabilities System-level solutions Open architecture standards and products Cost-effective design and production Regulatory adherence
World’s first full “Hyperloop One” track commencing soon in India! 104 April / May 2018 | FranTechnovation
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yperloop One, works on building high-speed, lowpressure, tube-based rail transportation. The company has chosen 10 routes around the world as potential locations for a Hyperloop. They have structured their route ideas as part of what is called the “Hyperloop One Global Challenge.” One route, with a feasibility study conducted with Colorado’s Department of Transportation (CDOT) and Aecom, a multinational engineering firm, states that the route Pueblo-DenverCheyenne would span 360 miles and be accessible to about 4.8 million people. The project is noteworthy as it has the support of the state’s transportation agency. The Hyperloop One’s systems could also be used for freight rather than people moving, too. In Hyperloop One’s press release, the company noted that the publicprivate partnership with CDOT and Aecom would examine “transportation demand, economic benefits, proposed
routes and potential strategies, regulatory environments, and alignment with overall CDOT highspeed travel, rail, and freight plans.” The company is studying other routes as well. These other routes include Chicago-Columbus-Pittsburgh, a region which has a population of about 13.8 million people; Dallas-Laredo-Houston, which is populated by 18.7 million; and Miami-Orlando, home to about 8.5 million. Outside of the US, winning routes included Bengaluru-Chennai in India, connecting 17.7 million; MumbaiChennai, also in India, which has a staggering population of 43 million. Edinburgh-London and GlasgowLiverpool in the UK, Mexico CityGuadalajara in Mexico, and TorontoMontreal in Canada. The company originally simply “Hyperloop One,” is Virgin Hyperloop One after receiving significant investment from the Virgin Group. The company also announced that Virgin
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Group founder Richard Branson would become the Company’s chairman. Branson is famous for funding space planes and rockets and satellite Internet. He assumes the leadership position on Virgin Hyperloop One’s board. Virgin Hyperloop One announced a new record for its prototype pod— 387kph (or 240mph).That speed is faster than the 300kph (186mph) available on Train à Grand Vitesse (TGV) in France. But it’s still not close to the fastest speed a commercial TGV has ever logged: 515.3kph (or 320mph). It’s also slower than the world record for a magnetically levitated (and occupied) train, which was set in Japan in 2015 with a speed of 603kph (374mph). Virgin Hyperloop One aims to build a Hyperloop in the image of a system imagined by Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk—a system of pods on air bearings speeding through lowpressure tubes at 760mph. Several companies have formed to make the Hyperloop vision a reality, but Virgin Hyperloop One has come the closest. The Company has raised millions and initiated feasibility studies in the United Arab Emirates and Colorado. It has built a test track north of Las Vegas and has been running a 106 April / May 2018 | FranTechnovation
prototype pod through the 1/3-mile system. The prototype pod had logged 192mph on the test track. It is an 8.7m (28.5ft) carbon-fiber shell on a magnetically levitating chassis with an electric motor. In Virgin Hyperloop One’s most recent speed test, the company tested out a new airlock, which improves the transition between near-vacuum (200,000 feet above sea level) and atmospheric conditions regarding Pressurization and de-pressurization which was one of the biggest issues slowing down a recent test day hosted by SpaceX, as that process takes a long time. “All components of the system were successfully tested including the airlock, highly efficient electric motor, advanced controls and power electronics, custom magnetic levitation and guidance, pod suspension, and the vacuum,” the company wrote in a press release.
“A Virgin Hyperloop One pod quickly lifts above the track using magnetic levitation and glides at airline speeds for long distances due to ultra-low aerodynamic drag.” Virgin Hyperloop One has closed a $50 million Series-C funding round with help from Caspian Venture Capital and DP World. Virgin Hyperloop One signed an agreement with the Indian state of Maharashtra to conduct a feasibility study and build a demonstration track that could lead to the construction of a Hyperloop One system between two of the state’s major city centers: Mumbai and Pune. Ryan Kelly, director of marketing, stated that the pact between Virgin Hyperloop One and Maharashtra represents “the strongest language we’ve seen from a government to date.” The company, which recently received a sizable investment from the Virgin Group and counts billionaire founder Richard Branson among its board
members, intends to complete a feasibility study within the next six months and complete a demonstration track in two to three years. Mr. Kelly also stated to a news media in an email that “the plan is that this track will go from use as a demonstration to part of the live track.” He added that the track from Mumbai to Pune could be completed in three to five years. To meet their targets the company has posted regular speed milestones but has yet to break a rail speed record, at least according to the latest speed data. Virgin Hyperloop One has a 1/3mile test track outside of Las Vegas, where it can create a near-vacuum atmosphere for its 8.7m (28.5ft) carbon-fiber prototype pod. While laying a track between Mumbai and Pune might be feasible especially if it’s above ground, as the Company stated based on the feasibility studies, it will be much harder to create a Hyperloop One as creator Elon Musk envisioned it: running humans and cargo between cities at 760mph. For now, though, it’s a dazzling idea. Pune and Mumbai are about three hours apart by car, and more than 100,000 automobiles make the journey between the two cities every day. The two cities are projected to April / May 2018 | FranTechnovation 107
have continued population growth, so congestion and driving-related pollution will only get worse without a solution. “The Hyperloop One route developed would link central Pune, Navi Mumbai International Airport, and Mumbai in 25-minutes eventually enabling 150 million journeys and reducing greenhouse gases by 150,000 tons annually,” as stated by Virgin Hyperloop One in a blog post.
“The system would also have the potential for the rapid movement of palletized freight and light cargo between the Port of Mumbai and Pune, creating a robust freight backbone in the region.” The Mumbai-Pune route is a smaller version of what Virgin Hyperloop One announced earlier. At that time, the company had detailed ten routes around the world that had Hyperloop One potential, and a much longer Mumbai-Chennai route was proposed Although a Mumbai-Pune route is shorter, it still connects two cities with an aggregate population of about 25 million.
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The Techn the World
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nology that Drives d to Snap!
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e have all now used â&#x20AC;&#x153;Let me Snap this!â&#x20AC;? as a verbal phrase, or at-least we have heard people use this phrase almost every other day. What is it that makes Snapping such a hit? Why does the generation today have this constant need to Snap pictures?
Snap Inc. has been growing tremendously over the past few years. According to the latest financial report published by the company, they have witnessed a 50.22% hike in their annual assets, a remarkable growth for the company. The revenues have improved by a whooping 286%.
One of the most interesting questions to consider here is that these images and videos are only so short lived, unless of course you decide to save them remotely. The have a lifespan of 24 hours and are still a raging hit among everyone today.
Why Snapchat Matters? Initially Snapchat was introduced to a very limited target audience, the teenagers of the new millennial who had easily fallen prey to the increasing popularity of Facebook and Instagram. The CEO Evan Speigel understood that the need for more and new is what will keep the youth engaged and increase his customer base.
Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s understand what Snapchat is and the idea behind finding Snapchat. Snapchat is a mobile application registered under the Snap Inc. Snap Inc. is a camera company. They believe that reinventing the camera represents our greatest opportunity to improve the way people live and communicate. Their products empower people to express themselves, live in the moment, learn about the world, and have fun together.
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But then over the last decade of this century we were hit with this whooping phenomenon of 30 is the new 20 and YOLO -You Only Live Once. Everyone was living the life of their dreams, or at least trying to live the life of their dreams! They were all ready and set to travel, eat, wear, drink, shop and drop for everything that made their life better than the next door neighbours.
But where is the exhibit A? How often can you share with the world, constantly on your whereabouts, the amazing experiences, your amazing friend circle, the quotes that you love and places you want to visit? Snapchat learned that in this experiential world, every company needs to learn to grow with experience. Hence adapting to the growing phenomenon of You Only Live Once, they moved from a robust teenage centric image capturing mobile application to a raging hit in the world among demographics of all kinds. No Matter what your Phone is, Snaps will be of the Highest Quality! Who needs a DSLR anymore? Who will carry that what costs you 3 times that of a phone and takes umpteen manual efforts to set up? This is the generation of shop till you drop, pay with plastic and make the best of the least, and so shall Snapchat heal the worries of all the people who want to capture the moments of their life and have them in the best quality.
More so, Snapchat, like most platforms today has become more focused to the perfection focused bloggers and publishers. They understand that blogging is no more just writing, it is graphical and it includes images and motions and the talent to use multiple filters and add ons to enhance an originally banal image. Snapchat today is exploding in terms of popularity and has made a jump to get into demographics across the globe, harnessing more and more people into the pool of socially advanced digital savvy camera phone people. Understanding the Snapchat Platform and the Technology behind the scenes! Here are some quick facts about Snapchat that will give you an Insight on the platform and how the technology works: â&#x20AC;˘ Snapchat is a messaging app. You can send private messages and also post public messages â&#x20AC;˘ You first need to click the image or video, and only then can you have any editing tools available â&#x20AC;˘ After taking the picture or the video, we can make edits to the media as per the editing tools and add ons available
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• Snapchat is included in a lot of third party apps, from where you can directly share the media on the Snapchat • Ideally every snap is deleted from the Snapchat server in 24 hours after posting it, hence a smart way to utilise the server space without over exploding it with data and allowing to save the snaps remotely
According to the Business Insider in early Feb 2017, “Snap, which plans to list on the New York Stock Exchange next week, is set to be valued at up to $22 billion (£17.6 billion) and is looking to raise up to $3.2 billion (£2.5 billion). It makes Snap the biggest US tech IPO since Alibaba’s blockbuster $168 billion (£134.8 billion) float in 2014.
• You also have a discover function which will allow you to discover the the snaps from Publishers and famous celebs
While Snap’s shares are set to be priced at the lower end of initial expectations, it is still a steep price for an unprofitable business with slowing growth. Business Insider reported that prospective investors at Snap’s New York road-show event this week were “respectful but skeptical,” with questions raised about growth, revenue, its young user base, and competition from Facebook.”
• The only one statistics you can see on each snap is views and that is also private
After the IPO was live, the news from the IPO auction according to Zee Business is as follows:
What is the future like for Snapchat? Snapchat recently went for an IPO auction and here is the when, the where, the how and the what for it!
“Despite the challenges in converting “cool” into cash, Snap clinched a valuation of $24 billion, the richest valuation in a U.S. tech IPO since Facebook in 2012. It will list on the New York Stock Exchange on Thursday.
• There is a new live function which helps you send live updates without having to save them
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Snap priced 200 million shares on Wednesday night at $17 per share, above its indicated range of $14 to $16 dollars a share.” Roll the Snap and make that out of the box business a hit! Don’t wait for the tomorrow!
What’s your perspective?
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Success Strategi
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s Through ic Leadership
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amil Group is one of the leading companies in the business community in Saudi Arabia. Thanks to Saudi Arabia’s governments positive and encouraging economic condition and support to the private sector. With the aim of creating and promising new opportunities, the government has made available natural resources, other raw materials and energy at affordable prices and Zamil Group has been quick and strategic in planning, project implementation and business diversification leading them to their present global success! Established by Sheikh Abdullah Al-Zamil (1897-1961), an ambitious Saudi businessman who started off a business initially in the sale of food and textiles in the Kingdom of Bahrain in the early thirties of the last century the Zamil group subsequently expanded, successfully, in major real estate investments in Saudi Arabia. The Zamil group’s expansion is marked by the industrial boom in Saudi Arabia in the early 1970s. In addition a healthy economic condition and government support to the private sector, has contributed much to the group’s expansion while providing an ideal environment for its growth. A carefully planned strategy has helped establish the Zamil Group’s main industrial base while also launching diversified initiatives in new, promising and sustainable growth areas. Both careful planning and prudent management practices have April / May 2018 | FranTechnovation 121
placed Zamil Group Holding in the ranks of large investment companies respected at the local and global levels, known for its diverse industrial processes and commercial interests. Through more than 60 sectors in industrial, commercial, service and consumer facilities, the Group provides solutions that meet the needs of international companies operating in the industrial, commercial, petrochemical and service sectors. These include air conditioning, food, chemical and petrochemical industries, plastic products, steel products, shipbuilding, operation and maintenance. The Group also invests in banking and industrial investments and the production of various dyes, security fences and packaging systems. Their extensive network of manufacturing facilities, alliances and strategic partnerships, with more than 21,000 professional workforce in more than 60 countries, enables the company to deliver innovative and high-quality products and services, as well as investment opportunities for investors, partners and shareholders.
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Zamil Group Holding Company is a family investment company with huge interests and investments around the world. The Group offers its advanced products and services, as well as excellent opportunities for investors and partners in all its industrial, petrochemical and service sectors. Besides, the Group, backed by strategic alliances and partnerships, offers innovative and high-quality products and services at competitive prices, including air conditioning, steel, architectural glass processing, plastic product manufacturing, various dyes, insulating materials, cranes and heavy equipment. Added to this the Zamil Group also works in the construction, repair and maintenance of various vessels, port operation and investment in the petrochemical, chemical and general contracting sectors. The Group began investing in the plastic products industry nearly three decades ago and have strengthened their strategic growth through entry into capital intensive projects and chemical and petrochemical sectors in the early 1990s.
Through these investment project opportunities the Zamil and their partners has been able to accelerate its growth as a group. Zamil Group success continues with their establishment of successful projects in partnership and cooperation with leading companies and technology in its industry and competition in the global market, as well as regional private companies. Their expertise, experience and strong position ensures continued unique and promising investment opportunities to all their partners. As their chairman Abdul Aziz Abdullah Al Zamil mentions “The fundamental principle that governs Zamil Group’s business is “Strength through Diversity”, a common denominator that enables us to consistently commit ourselves to our promise to our customers, partners, shareholders, employees and other shareholders around the world.” As a family owned company with diversified global investments, their strength is a result of the everexpanding range of industrial and commercial activities, managed by more than 60 industrial and commercial establishments, supported by long-standing financial, administrative and operational expertise. Their activities include investments in major sectors such as shipbuilding and repair, port operation and maintenance, industrial investment, petrochemical and chemical industries, general contracting, as well as traditional main sectors ranging from air conditioning manufacturing to architectural glass processing, plastic products, iron and paint production, cranes and heavy industrial equipment. The rapid technical progress of Zamil Group and their multiple activities have helped enhance all their practice and improve their operational
effectiveness. Their outstanding achievements are the result of the dedication and commitment of over 10,000 individuals, including the Board of Directors, the General Administration and the staff in more than 55 countries. These competencies extend to their proprietary software solutions, which have been licensed and exported to many customers. By harnessing the power of technology in this interconnected world, the Group has developed strong relationships with their partners in e-commerce solutions and support services. Today, Zamil Group is recognized as a multi-million dollar commercial and industrial conglomerate with worldclass reputation and presence. Their success is due to the pioneering vision and leadership skills of their management, as their growth, reflects the industrial development of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Their progress and diversification is evident in the various industrial companies in diversified and important sectors that touch life and society. In sectors such as building materials, iron structures and structures, air conditioners, thermal and sound isolators, plastic products, shipbuilding and maintenance, chemicals and petrochemicals and their derivatives their efforts are consistently supported by their long-standing industrial experience and leadership that works hard and actively to elevate the group to the ranks of international companies in industry, services, real estate and investment. At Zamil Group they recognize that good corporate governance contributes to sustainable economic development by enhancing corporate performance and increasing opportunities for attracting foreign capital. They also recognize that governance issues in family businesses also April / May 2018 | FranTechnovation 123
need to be equally important, as family governance is as important as corporate governance. The Group separates family and corporate governance and has futher classifications to improve the efficiency by focusing on Family Governance and this is what distinguishes the group from other companies. Family values play a crucial role in business governance and management. They believe that a clear foundation for family governance contributes to enhancing discipline among family members to benefit from the added value of family existence, preventing potential conflicts, and ensuring sustained growth and business continuity. The key elements of the family governance are family systems and family constitution that help to enhance family harmony and strengthen relationships with family businesses. The Zamil Family Governance includes: Family Council, Competency Committee, Family Office, and Abdullah Al Zamil Community Services Center. Their corporate governance is essentially a regulatory process of the checks balances and incentives developed to manage the group as a whole. The company ensures the implementation of best practices in corporate governance. With core values of Integrity, Excellence, Community service, Innovation, Leadership Zamil Group Holding Company continues to invest in new technologies and in modern and efficient means of production in order to create a strong and reliable industry in the regional and international markets. They pay particular attention to the energy efficiency and environmental characteristics of their products. They also purchase and use components that meet the highest standards and industrial specifications in their products.
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Their worldwide customer list is constantly growing in recognition of the quality and performance of our products. Special attention and comprehensive services for their clients contribute to the integration of our various products and services. Zamil group complies to local laws and regulations of all the countries and markets in which they operate, where their brands and services are promoted and sold. The Zamil group’s reach is extensive as their industrial and commercial products and services are used in local ministries, agencies and government bodies, hospitals, medical centers and research facilities, universities and schools, banks, hotels, shopping malls and recreation centers, automobile and equipment producers, agricultural sectors, petroleum, chemical and petrochemical sectors, oil exploration companies The food and beverage sectors, the aviation and shipping sectors, the computer components manufacturing facilities, the clothing, cosmetics and detergents sectors. The group has extensive clients and customers from Iceland to South Africa and from Mexico to Japan. The Group has adopted an ambitious social responsibility policy that takes into account the needs of society and is in line with the nature of the Group’s work. One of the most important initiatives was the establishment of a community service center called “Abdullah Al-Zamil Community Service Center” to serve as the group’s active social arm, thus confirming its role towards their country.
One Belt, One Road, OBOR
INFRASTUCTURE MEGAPROJECT
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hina’s One Belt, One Road initiative (OBOR) is pegged as the most ambitious infrastructure megaproject of all time! OBOR will stretch from the very edge of East Asia to East Africa and Central Europe, connecting nearly two thirds of the world’s population, through continuous networks of highways, railways, ocean routes and ports. This scheme will open up crossborder connectivity and encourage a further integration of international markets. With $1 trillion-worth of infrastructure works planned already underway, OBOR will transform the Eurasian land mass and reshape global trade as we know it. A need for private capital involvement is certain, for China to fund the works along with co-financing with member governments along the route. Costing between $4-8 trillion and affecting 65 countries, China’s ambitious One Belt, One Road (OBOR) initiative is the granddaddy of all megaprojects. By the time of it’s estimated completion in 2049, OBOR will stretch from the edge of East Asia all the way to East Africa and Central Europe, and it will impact a lengthy list of countries that account for 62% of the world’s population and 40% of its economic output.
The tangible concept behind OBOR is to build an extensive network of infrastructure – including railways, roads, pipelines, and utility grids – that help link China to the rest of Asia, as well as Africa and Europe. This multi-trillion dollar project will fill the infrastructure gap that currently inhibits economic growth potential on the world’s largest continent, but it has other important objectives as well. By connecting all of these economies together, China is hoping to become the gatekeeper for a new platform international trade cooperation and integration. But that’s not all: if China’s economic corridor does what it’s supposed to, the countries in it will see more social and cultural links, financial cooperation, and a merger of policy goals and objectives to accomplish. ONE ROAD When billions of dollars are at play, the stakes become higher. As of now, some countries agree with the OBOR initiative in principle. Massive deep-water ports, lengthy railroads, and power plants are structured to be funded by Chinese companies. Some will be grants, but many are taking the form of loans. The Key Investors for the OBOR Mega Project are Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, China Development Bank, Bank of China and Other state owned banks. Also the Silk Road Fund (funded mainly with Chinese capital), Stateowned companies and the World Bank will actively participate in funding the project.
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Arena International Events Group
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organizations including private and public companies, inward promotional and regional development agencies and local and national governments. They ensure their clients accomplish their goals by delivering a fully tailored, professional event on time and within budget.
Each year, over 10,000 business executives from Fortune 1000 companies attend over 80 Arena International events worldwide, addressed by over 1,700 industry leaders delivering leading edge content and discussion. Arena identifies the pioneering case studies, innovative solutions and up-to-the-minute discussion topics that comprise programs of wholly unbiased integrity. All of Arena Internationalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s events are designed to help senior business people do business Arena conducts many different event types for the modern-day decision maker such as conferences, exhibitions, forums, site visits, workshops, webcasts, award ceremonies, dinners, trade missions, briefings, competitions. They have a large portfolio of established, annual events - many of them considered as the flagship events within their respective industries. Arena also continually launches new events in order to react swiftly to the research findings, and to provide of-the-moment business gatherings which address head-on the challenges of an ever changing global environment. As a Customized Event Solutions provider Arena International offers bespoke event solutions to a wide range of business-to-business 132 April / May 2018 | FranTechnovation
Additionally business-to-business events by Arena offer a myriad of opportunities for sponsors and exhibitors to drive their businesses forward. Their specially structured sponsorship packages help companies educate their target market on key industry issues and spread brand awareness throughout the industry. Arena with its in dept research on global trends announced the program on Digital Integration in Wealth management. This being the only event to focus on integration of digital capabilities with existing processes to enhance client engagement and reach new segments. Operating within an increasingly digital landscape and cross-generational trends emerging, there is still a need for the Wealth Management sector to better understand how to serve their varied clientele segments; to clarify where to strike that balance between a digital and fiscal offering. This program is designed to offer a strong focus on digital tools and process that can be implemented to meet cross-generational needs, tailored to the nature of a specific firm and their clientele. Drawing on the expertise of industry leaders including representatives from Deutsche Bank, UBS Wealth Management and BNP Paribas Fortis, it works to create a deeper understanding of the digital strategies and how they can be best implemented to attract new markets and further clientsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; engagement, in an increasingly global and connected world.
There are several key reasons to this program as being highly beneficial to a company’s understanding of digital integration: It is the ONLY event in the world to address digital and tech challenges/ the incremental growth in the digital landscape within the wealth management industry. It creates a better understanding of how to better address the resistance to adopting digital channels and establish plausible futures of what will happen in the next few years, in light global changes and future opportunities.
In late 80s’ wealth management became more “popular” term as private banks and brokers began spreading knowledge. They were offering seminars and events where the expertise and capabilities of sponsoring firms were showcased. The great recession in the late 2000s’ shaken the wealth management industry, and at that time it became obvious that individuals need to be more educated about their wealth and establish better communication with their wealth managers. Not long after, digital disruption completely changed the way that wealth is managed.
The program is structured to also address the main concern of just how digital a company should go with a brief history of Blockchain and What It Means for Wealth Management. It becomes quite imperative here to have an understanding of two key areas- Wealth Management and Blockchain and derive a connection between the two. Wealth management as it is understood stands for “a highlevel professional service that combines financial and investment advice, accounting and tax services, retirement planning and legal or estate planning for one set fee.” A unique attribute to wealth management services is that a client (customer) works with a single wealth manager. It is believed that the term “wealth management” was introduced in early 30s’ by companies like Goldman Sachs or Morgan Stanley as they wanted to distinguish mass market from wealthy private clients. At that time wealth management was a very niche service, as banks rarely focused on the accounts that were worth less than $10-$20 million.
However, client-manager relationship is not the only thing that has changed within the wealth management and private banking sectors recently. Technology has come to play a key role. It is no secret that the Blockchain technology has the ability to transform the banking industry. But how can we fully understand its implications for Wealth Management if we aren’t clear on what it actually is? The question is will the wealth management sector miss out if it doesn’t hop on the Blockchain train? The program structured by Arena addresses Blockchain’s history and its future benefits for the Wealth Management sector. The Brainchild of Satoshi Nakamoto and originally devised in 2008, after Occupy Wall Street accused banks April / May 2018 | FranTechnovation 133
of misusing borrowers’ money, duping clients and rigging the system, Sastoshi Nakamoto was the pseudonym given to the person or group of people that effectively created Blockchain. Its original purpose was to accommodate the digital currency Bitcoin, but the tech community is now finding other potential uses for the technology, for example, how can Blockchain be implemented in the banking industry and what it means for the Wealth Management sector. To take the understanding further Bitcoin is virtual currency or reference to Blockchain and transactions that can be made by check wiring or cash. It is pioneered by an exchange of digital information that allows you to buy goods or services, known as Crypto currency. After the accusation by Occupy Wall Street, Bitcoin pioneers wanted to put the seller in charge, cancel interest fees and make transactions transparent. Despite the issues of transactional delays and high volatility, many people in third world countries find Bitcoin as their most reliable channel for receiving and giving money. Its peer-to-peer computer network allows transactions to have high security and the likelihood of corruption via a hacker is almost impossible. Blockchain expert, William Mougayar, uses Google Docs as an analogy to explain Blockchain. He states that today’s databases work in such a way that two people cannot edit the same document at the same time. Similarly, banks maintain money balances and transfers by, for example, briefly blocking access while transactions take place. However, with Google Docs, two people can edit the same document at the same time, which reduces the risk of losing track 134 April / May 2018 | FranTechnovation
of changes and not being in sync with other versions. Authors of Blockchain revolution 2016, Don and Alex Tapscott, state that “Blockchain is an incorruptible digital ledger of economic transactions that can be programmed to record not just financial transactions but virtually everything of value”. Blockgeeks explain simply, that you should imagine a spreadsheet that has been duplicated thousands of times across a network of computers and that network is then designed to regularly update the spreadsheet. This peer-to-peer process means that Blockchain exists as a shared and public database. This then means that there is no centralized version for a hacker to corrupt and, because it is hosted by millions of computers simultaneously, its data is accessible to anyone on the internet. The question here as designed in the Arena program is should Wealth Management hop on the Blockchain train? Blockchain’s ability to be incorruptible means that data privacy protection, risk and finance history could become less costly and much simpler. For example, smart contracts and an encrypted single point of truth will increase efficiency in exchanging information and therefore make client interactions more reliable. In regards to next generation service offerings in Wealth Management, the need for diversification and the importance of asset allocation could be addressed by digital investment portfolios being based on baskets of crypto currencies. Portfolio Management and Client Advisory could be replaced with autonomous financial instruments and automated investment vehicles.
This would result in more efficient processes but new technologies may also threaten additional sources of income. Technology Futurist, Ian Khan, states “Blockchain truly is a mechanism to bring everyone to the highest degree of accountability… guarantee the validity of a transaction by recording it not only on a main register but a connected distributed system of registers, all of which are connected through a secure validation mechanism.” With such experts participating in the program this becomes the only event so far that focuses on the integration of digital capabilities with existing processes, Digital Integration in Wealth Management. Technology spending among wealth management companies has recently seen a significant increase and it is expected to grow further. Digital disruption, without an exception, is affecting all the industries in Europe. But how do we integrate these digital trends to mature wealth management sector? The expert study of the team at Arena looks at 3 digital trends worth considering when building your wealth management strategy in 2018 1. Robo-advice in digital age Wealth management has to be handled in a different way than it was managed even a decade ago, due to digital disruptors. Evidently, smart phones, tablets and other digital gadgets, became inseparable part of every-day life. That is why robo-advice is so important when it comes to wealth management in a digital era. It cannot be ignored, as computer-facilitated processes are more reliable as they help to avoid human error and save time.
wealth management, we need to consider upcoming GDPR regulation changes. The upcoming Digital Integration in Wealth Management program addresses the regulator over social media usage, digital trends and GDPR giving a guideline on the changes to comply with the social media regulations. 3. Transfer of wealth & “how digital should you go”? There has been few digital wealth management trends related with the transfer of wealth. They are anticipated to grow even bigger for at least next couple years. Firstly, target market itself is becoming a disruptor as more and more millennial are demanding wealth management services. On the other hand, majority of High Net Worth Clients (HNWC) and Mass Affluents (MA) are aged customers. There are two challenges with this segment – how to educate them to accept new digital changes, and, more importantly, understand that the wealth might be transferred to younger family members at any point. This raises a question – how digital your wealth management company should be. Unlike other events - Digital Integration in Wealth Management speaks about this “grey” digital area. Digital transformation in wealth management is happening now, therefore those companies that fail to adjust to these changes and implement new strategies will not have a competitive advantage that digital-friendly businesses do. Digital integration in Wealth Management is the only event so far focusing on capabilities with existing processes to become more competitive at this time.
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LIVE PORTRAIT WHERE YOUR PHOTOS COME TO LIFE ! 138 April / May 2018 | FranTechnovation
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he Live Portrait technology blends Augmented Reality (AR) with Image Recognition to create images that literally come to life through smart devices. A Live Portrait is a photograph or image that has been linked to a video. When you use the free Live Portrait App to scan the photograph, the linked video will play on your smartphone. The Live Portrait platform was created by entrepreneurs Robert Nunn and Samuel Zaribian. EXPERIENCE THE MAGIC OF LIVE PORTRAIT! IT HAS SOLUTIONS FOR YOUR BUSINESS -Live Portrait Creates a more engaging experience for your customers by bringing your adverts to life ! Even Your Wedding Photos…Your Yearbook and School pics…Your Business Cards…Every Photo In Your Home Or Office should tell the story behind the picture. With the Live Portrait app the magic happens when the software analyzes the printed image by creating a mathematical model based on shapes, lines, proportions, colors and other elements. It then matches the model against images already in Live Portrait’s database. When a match is found what you see is a 3D, mapped digital video playing on top of your print, living in the physical world. The app is supported by various mobile devices. To be specific the mobile devices that support the Live Portrait app are Apple devices running iOS 7.0 and above, including iPads. itunes.apple.com/us/app and also Android devices running 4.1 or newer. Just play.google.com/store/app The Live Portrait service can be effectively used by professional photographers, publishers, and content creators. They use Live Portrait, with their traditional printed images as a key, to ‘unlock’ a video that creates a more engaging experience. For a picture to come alive you need to know what to scan so make sure that the photo you’re trying to scan is Live Portrait enabled. The Live Portrait clients typically provide
their customers with app download instructions and some clients place the Live Portrait icon towards the bottom of the actual image. The app does not work on photos that are not in their database and does not scan any type of barcode. Make sure the photo you’re scanning is well lit and try to minimize any glare or shadows, and your Internet or wireless connection is working properly. If you’re scanning a photo and see the “loading video” pop up but no video appears, it’s typically due to a poor Internet connection. The product is currently resold by photography print labs and their charge typically varies depending on the size of the order. If a client has an order involving multiple videos then the photography lab will offer a rate that decreases on a sliding scale based on the volume of the order. To get started on Live Portrait the company currently works on a monthly membership program. Sometimes prospective clients or customers face apprehensions on the security and access to their videos in case the company goes out of business. This aspect is well taken care of in the program as the content provided by the clients is totally secure. Photos scanned and videos viewed through the Live Portrait app are 100% owned by the content creator who uploaded the content into the company’s system. Additionally they have a multi-tiered recovery plan that will be executed in the unlikely event that the company ceases to do business, to ensure that your videos will never be lost. They also encourage content creators to keep a copy of the videos they upload into the Live Portrait system. The mission of the program is for all photographers, publisher’s and content curators to benefit from the technology trends that are being set by companies such as Apple and Facebook. These companies are embracing the new “normal” that photos should move. By using the services of Live Portrait it is interesting to note that consumers enjoy getting this new technology when purchasing a traditional print. April / May 2018 | FranTechnovation 139
Port of Rotterdam A breeding ground for start-ups
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he port of Rotterdam is Europe’s largest sea port. The port owes its leading position to its outstanding accessibility for sea-going vessels and to its intermodal connections and the 180,000 people working in and for Rotterdam’s port and the industrial area. A place where unlimited ambitions can become a reality. Rotterdam has always been a pioneering port. It has a long history of embracing cutting-edge technologies and processes. From Pieter Caland’s plan to construct the Nieuwe Waterweg – seen as ‘lunacy’ by some at the time – to the hi-tech terminals at Maasvlakte 2 and the ground-breaking information platform Portbase: a true world first. Rotterdam gives innovators the room, opportunities and support they need to succeed in their ambitions. And over the past year, this breeding ground has gained a whole new dimension with the launch of four incentive programmes. The Port of Rotterdam believes in start-ups and also supports innovation. It is the result of innovation at various levels that by now, it has become the largest port in Europe, with a throughput of some 450 million tonnes per year and just under 30,000 vessels mooring at its quays every year. This is a result of their continuous efforts to arrange matters more efficiently, effectively and sustainably. Rotterdam Port aims to remain a front-runner in this area, and to keep making a difference. Rotterdam is the world’s smartest port! Since it plans to remain the smartest port for many years to come, they have set up a dedicated innovation programme. A robust, cohesive and ground-breaking programme, in which the Port works together with the private sector and knowledge institutes to facilitate, initiate, stimulate and support innovation. Start-up companies play a key role in this process. Rotterdam is a breeding ground for innovators and creative entrepreneurs. The port, urban life
and industry come together in the city. This unique junction serves as the cradle for a growing number of startups. The premier location for new and expanding businesses – one that offers them numerous opportunities to develop, test and hone their ideas before their successful market introduction. To stimulate these developments, in recent times, Rotterdam saw the launch of four ‘accelerator programmes’ which have a strong focus on the local port and are supported by the Port of Rotterdam Authority.
PortXL
PortXL is a 100-day international, open innovation programme, during which 10 pre-selected start-ups receive intensive coaching by a group of mentors to support them in the effective launch of their enterprise. The participants have access to over 150 mentors, over 200 investors, corporate partners and sponsors. The accelerator programme, within which EY, Venture Cafe, Van Oord, Erasmus Centre for Entrepreneurship, Heineken, InnovationQuarter, Rabobank, Count./First Dutch, Vopak, Damen, E.ON, Boskalis and the Port of Rotterdam Authority have joined forces, focuses specifically on portrelated industry.
SmartPort 2.0
SmartPort 2.0 is an initiative of Deltalinqs, the Port Authority, the Municipality of Rotterdam, Delft University of Technology and Erasmus University Rotterdam, in which the partners work together on the development of knowledge relating to the Rotterdam port. With an annual budget of over EUR 1.5 million, over the next five years the programme will concentrate on matters like the transition to a circular economy and Logistics Connectivity on the basis of Big Data.
Innovation Lab
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are converted into scalable business models and start-ups that can make the difference in making the Rotterdam port and its extended hinterland cleaner, smarter, safer and more efficient. RDM Rotterdam is the premier innovation showcase of the Rotterdam port area: an attractive introduction to all sorts of new technology. In the heart of the port – but still surprisingly close to the city centre – the former dockyard of the Rotterdamsche Droogdok Maatschappij (RDM) offers room for private firms, education initiatives and researchers. Together, these parties work on the development of a new production industry for the port and the city. RDM’s wide range of commercial and cultural events makes it a very dynamic and energetic location, a place that needs to be seen with your own eyes! RDM Rotterdam is given shape by the Port of Rotterdam Authority and Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences.
Rotterdam Innovation District
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what is going on in the Rotterdam Innovation District. The increasing shift of port industry to Maasvlakte 2 has created room at RDM Rotterdam and Merwe-Vierhavens for a quicklyexpanding innovation ecosystem for the production industry. RDM Rotterdam accommodates a number of leading educational institutions and knowledge institutes like Albeda College and Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences, as well as working together with Delft University of Technology and YES!Delft. In partnership with the private sector and students, these parties work to develop sustainable solutions for construction, mobility and energy. Merwe-Vierhavens (M4H) presently serves as an experimental combined living and working area for pioneers in the Medical Technology, Food and Clean-Tech clusters. You can find all sorts of appealing examples at the Rotterdam Innovation District, including incubators like SuGuClub and the Erasmus Centre for Entrepreneurship. But also unique ‘test lots’ like Lab op Straat and Aqua Dock. Ampelman, which has grown to become a world-class player in its sector, once began as a startup at RDM Innovation Dock. And entrepreneur and designer Daan Roosegaarde, who was recently
elected Artist of the Year, has realised the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first smog-free park here. The Rotterdam Innovation District provides entrepreneurs and investors with the mental and physical space they need to make a strong contribution to the development of the emerging new economy. And the tangible infrastructure in which this contribution is embedded plays a key role in this process. The key player in this tangible infrastructure that supports innovations and entrepreneurship is FranTech Netherlands. FranTech Netherlands is a noteworthy part of FranTech International Licensing that works with you from the beginning of the relationship through the full
commercialization of an innovation. In effect Frantech International Licensing through FranTech Netherlands is your partner to provide the most effective entry of your technology into new world markets. You can enter the FranTech International Licensing three-phase program at a stage appropriate for your needs. You can proceed through the entire three phases or utilize any one of the phases according to need. In effect FranTech International Licensing is your partner to provide the most effective entry of your technology into new world markets.
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Vanguard An investment company that focuses on doing whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best for investors.
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anguard is one of the world’s largest investment management companies with about 370 low-cost traditional funds and ETFs In 17 locations worldwide with about 15,000 crew members. With a remarkable history and a passion for service, Vanguard is considered a revolutionary idea that has a record of leading the way, creating a story of unparalleled success Whether you invest on your own, through your employer, for an institution, or as a financial advisor, what sets Vanguard apart is that you want an investment company that focuses on one thing—doing what’s best for its clients and Vanguard, is built to do just that and that’s because Vanguard is the only company owned by its clients. Vanguard as a company does not have outside owners to pay, as a result they have no conflicting loyalties and they do not charge high fees or costly commissions that can diminish investors’ returns. Because Vanguard is built differently from other investment companies, Vanguard funds can keep lowering costs to help investors earn more over time and reach their goals. But ofcourse doing what’s best for investors goes beyond just lowering costs. It also means putting them first at all times and protecting their longterm interests. This is the reason why millions of investors around the world trust the one company that’s built to look out for them: Vanguard To help the clients succeed is the sole purpose of the organization and this is achieved with the unique Vanguard system of ownership. Typical investment management companies are owned by outside stockholders. These companies have to charge fees to pay their owners, which can reduce investors’ returns.
At Vanguard, there are no outside owners, and therefore, no conflicting loyalties. The company is owned by its funds, which in turn are owned by their shareholders. if you’re a Vanguard fund investor their unique client-owned structure allows them to return profits to their fund shareholders in the form of lower expenses. Low costs help the clients keep more of their returns, which can help them earn more money over time. In other words, Vanguard is structured as a “mutual” mutual fund company. their interests are completely aligned with those of our clients. They never have to weigh what’s best for clients against what’s best for the company’s owners, because they are one and the same. Investors around the world can benefit from the result: stability, transparency, long-term perspective, rigorous risk management, low costs, and a bedrock commitment to their best interests. No wonder their clients have proven to be extraordinarily loyal. Vanguard is different from the rest— and here’s how our investors benefit. The typical fund management company is owned by third parties, either public or private stockholders, not by the funds it serves. These fund management companies have to charge fund investors fees that are high enough to generate profits for the companies’ owners. In contrast, the Vanguard funds own the management company known as Vanguard—a unique arrangement that eliminates conflicting loyalties. Under its agreement with the funds, Vanguard must operate “at-cost”—it can charge the funds only enough to cover its cost of operations. No wonder Vanguard’s average assetweighted fund expense ratio in 2016 was 0.12%, less than one-fifth that of the 0.62% industry average*. April / May 2018 | FranTechnovation 149
The benefits of lower costs Why cost matters No one can control the markets. But investors can control what they pay to invest. It may be eye-opening to see the difference costs can make to an investor’s long-term success. Their client-owned structure* has allowed Vanguard to offer funds at costs consistently among the lowest in the industry. In fact, in 2016 their funds’ asset-weighted average expense ratio (representing the average paid by our investors) was 0.12%. That was far lower than the industry’s corresponding average (excluding Vanguard) of 0.62%.** That’s an 81% difference in costs! As this advantage compounds year after year, it can help investors earn more over time. The long-term effects can be staggering. Although Vanguard offers many kinds of investments with different strategies, an overarching theme runs through the management and guidance they provide to clients: Vanguard investment programs focus on those things within their control. The four investment principles mentioned here have been intrinsic to the company since its inception, and they are embedded in the Vanguard culture. They represent both their past and their future—an enduring philosophy that guides the investment decisions that they help their clients make
1. Goals
Create clear, appropriate investment goals An appropriate investment goal should be measureable and attainable. Success should not depend on outsize investment returns or impractical saving or spending requirements. Defining goals clearly and being realistic about ways to achieve them can help protect investors from common mistakes that derail their progress. 150 April / May 2018 | FranTechnovation
2. Balance
Vanguard recommends to develop a suitable asset allocation using broadly diversified funds. A sound investment strategy starts with an asset allocation befitting the portfolio’s objective. The allocation should be built upon reasonable expectations for risk and returns and use diversified investments to avoid exposure to unnecessary risks. Both asset allocation and diversification are rooted in the idea of balance. Because all investments involve risk, investors must manage the balance between risk and potential reward through the choice of portfolio holdings.
3. Cost
Minimize cost Markets are unpredictable. Costs are forever. The lower your costs, the greater your share of an investment’s return. And research suggests that lower-cost investments have tended to outperform higher-cost alternatives. To hold onto even more of your return, manage for tax efficiency. You can’t control the markets, but you can control the bite of costs and taxes.
4. Discipline
Maintain perspective and long-term discipline Investing can provoke strong emotions. In the face of market turmoil, some investors may find themselves making impulsive decisions or, conversely, becoming paralyzed, unable to implement an investment strategy or rebalance a portfolio as needed. Discipline and perspective can help them remain committed to a long-term investment program through periods of market uncertainty. Vanguard firmly believes that character counts-’Do the right thing’ In fulfilling their mission to take a stand for all investors, to treat them fairly, and to give them the best chance for investment success, the company knows that words alone
won’t cut it. their clients rely on them to ensure that their interests are aligned. That’s why every Vanguard crew member knows that the firm emphasizes three core values: integrity, focus, and stewardship. Here’s how these values are translated into action:
Integrity
Vanguard was founded on the revolutionary idea that their investment management company should not have outside owners— and they hold true to that principle. Vanguard is owned by its funds, which in turn are owned by their shareholders. Vanguard’s ownership structure means they do not have conflicting loyalties. It’s in everyone’s interests—the clients’ and thus the Company’s—to uphold the highest ethical standards every day. When making decisions, the team at Vanguard is guided by a simple statement: “Do the right thing.” Focus It’s in the clients’ best interests to keep a long-term perspective in every business decision the company makes. This approach means, for example, forsaking short-term gains if they sacrifice their fund investors’ longterm interests—even if that means temporarily closing top-performing funds to better manage the volume of cash flowing in. That long-term perspective is embodied in Vanguard’s investment philosophy, which guides how they manage their clients’ assets. Their philosophy emphasizes the timetested principles of asset allocation, diversification, and low costs.
Stewardship
When the clients choose to invest their money with Vanguard, they are entrusting the company with a huge responsibility—and it’s one that the team at Vanguard takes very seriously. They consider themselves caretakers of their clients’ investments in the widest sense. This commitment
explains why they endeavor to keep costs low, prudently manage risk, and always work at making it easier for others to do business with Vanguard. They also strive to ensure that companies in which their funds are invested, are subject to the highest standards of corporate governance. Their advocacy on this front is driven by the policies and guidelines that reflect their long-standing views on best practices. These standards guide their engagement with corporate directors and management and the funds’ proxy voting.
Investment Stewardship
The four pillars of Investment Stewardship Vanguard’s core values of focus, integrity, and stewardship are reflected every day in the way that they engage with their clients, the crew, and their community. They view Investment Stewardship as a natural extension of these values and of Vanguard’s core purpose. Vanguard’s four pillars of governance frame their thinking creating great corporate governance. Board Structure Compensation Risk
Community StewardshipPartnering for impact Community stewardship is one expression of Vanguard’s core values and purpose. They view Community Stewardship as a natural extension of these values and Vanguard’s core purpose. Vanguard has a long history of contributing to the communities in which we live and work. Why is Community Stewardship such an important part of their identity as individuals and as an organization? The organization aspires to be part of something bigger than themselves Their crew want to work for a global company that serves a greater good. They take pride in their work and take April / May 2018 | FranTechnovation 151
pride in their company. Their missiondriven approach to the business and the communities attracts and engages the very best kind of people. Vanguard is one of the largest investment firms in the world, managing more than $4.9 trillion in assets across six continents. They are respected as an investment manager, as an employer, and as an organization that will take a stand. Being a global leader also means being a local leader and contributing to the well-being of their communities. As an organization they witness every day that investments of time, talent, and treasure can do great things in the long run. They strive to invest in thei communities knowing that a vibrant Vanguard and a vibrant community are interdependent on one another. In the end, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not just about the work at all. Simply put, serving the communities is the right thing to do. At Vanguard they believe that we are stronger together, connected by our belief in integrity, focus, and, of course, stewardship.
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Welcome to the Future ! Quantum Computing for the Real World Today 154 April / May 2018 | FranTechnovation
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hen you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.” - Max Planck, Father of Quantum Physics Founded in 1999, D-Wave Systems is the world’s first quantum computing company and the leader in the development and delivery of quantum computing systems and software. Our mission is to unlock the power of quantum computing to solve the world’s most challenging problems. Our systems are being used by worldclass organizations and institutions including Lockheed Martin, Google, NASA, USC, USRA and Los Alamos National Laboratory. D-Wave has been granted over 140 U.S. patents and has published over 90 peer-reviewed papers in leading scientific journals. D-Wave is a privately held company, with offices in Vancouver, British Columbia; Palo Alto, California; and Hanover, Maryland. The Vision Despite the incredible power of today’s supercomputers, there are many complex computing problems that can’t be addressed by conventional systems. Our need to better understand everything, from the universe to our own DNA, leads us to seek new approaches to answer the most difficult questions. ‘While we are only at the beginning of this journey, quantum computing has the potential to help solve some of the most complex technical, scientific, national defense, and commercial problems that organizations face. We expect that quantum computing will lead to breakthroughs in science, engineering, modeling and simulation, healthcare, financial analysis, optimization, logistics, and national defense applications.’
Quantum Computing
How D-Wave Systems Work To speed computation, quantum computers tap directly into an unimaginably vast fabric of reality— the strange and counterintuitive world of quantum mechanics.
Rather than store information using bits represented by 0s or 1s as conventional digital computers do, quantum computers use quantum bits, or qubits, to encode information as 0s, 1s, or both at the same time. This superposition of states—along with the other quantum mechanical phenomena of entanglement and tunneling—enables quantum computers to manipulate enormous combinations of states at once. In nature, physical systems tend to evolve toward their lowest energy state: objects slide down hills, hot things cool down, and so on. This behavior also applies to quantum systems. To imagine this, think of a traveler looking for the best solution by finding the lowest valley in the energy landscape that represents the problem. Classical algorithms seek the lowest valley by placing the traveler at some point in the landscape and allowing that traveler to move based on local variations. While it is generally most efficient to move downhill and avoid climbing hills that are too high, such classical algorithms are prone to leading the traveler into nearby valleys that may not be the global minimum. Numerous trials are typically required, with many travelers beginning their journeys from different points. In contrast, quantum annealing begins with the traveler simultaneously occupying many coordinates thanks to the quantum phenomenon of superposition. The probability of being at any given coordinate smoothly evolves as annealing progresses, with the probability increasing around the coordinates of deep valleys. Quantum tunneling allows the traveller to pass through hills—rather than be forced to climb them—reducing the chance of becoming trapped in valleys that are not the global minimum. Quantum entanglement further improves the outcome by allowing the traveler to discover correlations between the coordinates that lead to deep valleys. Programming a D-Wave system The D-Wave system has a web API with client libraries available for C/ C++, Python, and MATLAB. This April / May 2018 | FranTechnovation 155
allows users to access the computer easily as a cloud resource over a network. To program the system, a user maps a problem into a search for the “lowest point in a vast landscape,” corresponding to the best possible outcome. The quantum processing unit considers all the possibilities simultaneously to determine the lowest energy required to form those relationships. The solutions are values that correspond to the optimal configurations of qubits found, or the lowest points in the energy landscape. These values are returned to the user program over the network. Because a quantum computer is probabilistic rather than deterministic, the computer returns many very good answers in a short amount of time—thousands of samples in one second. This provides not only the best solution found but also other very good alternatives from which to choose. D-Wave systems are intended to be used to complement classical computers. There are many examples of problems where a quantum computer can complement an HPC (high-performance computing) system. While the quantum computer is well suited to discrete optimization, for example, the HPC system is better at large-scale numerical simulations. D-Wave was Founded in 1999 the goal of D-Wave was to make practical quantum computing a reality. For the first 5 years the company worked to gather intellectual property and ideas on how quantum computing might be accomplished. Unlike academic research projects, the focus was on how quantum computers could be designed, manufactured, and scaled. Key insights about how such a system could be built led to the decision to utilize and advance superconducting technology as the basis of the quantum computer. By 2004 it had become apparent that creating good ideas about quantum computing and looking externally for a research team to use this 156 April / May 2018 | FranTechnovation
knowledge to build such a machine wouldn’t work. So they decided to do it themselves. hey built their own fabrication facility—a superconducting electronics foundry—to produce the quantum processing units (QPUs) that harness quantum resources that are not available classically for computation. They assembled a team of scientists and engineers to design, fabricate, and test the processors and quantum computing systems in our own in-house labs. In 2010 the company released their first commercial system, the D-Wave One™ quantum computer and have doubled the number of qubits in successive generations, shipping the 512-qubit D-Wave Two™ system in 2013 and the 1000+ qubit D-Wave 2X™ system in 2015. In 2017 they released the D-Wave 2000Q™ system with 2000 qubits and advanced control features. There is great potential to be discovered in Quantum Applications. With the quantum computer in operation, there is a lot more to be done. The company is developing different layers of software and fostering a developer ecosystem to make the systems easier to use and more accessible to users. They are also focusing on putting the quantum computers to work solving industryscale classification, machine learning, and optimization problems with their customers and collaborators. These complex problems exist across many domains such as: Optimization Machine learning Sampling / Monte Carlo Pattern recognition and anomaly detection Cyber security Image analysis Financial analysis Software / hardware verification and validation Bioinformatics / cancer research The D-Wave 2000Q™ System The most advanced quantum computer in the world The Quantum Computer has many highlights such as -Exploits quantum mechanical effects
to provide an entirely new type of computational resource -Built around “qubits” rather than “bits” -Operates in an extreme environment -Enables quantum algorithms to solve very hard problems Power and Cooling -“The Fridge” is a closed cycle dilution refrigerator -The superconducting processor generates no heat -Cooled to 180x colder than interstellar space (0.015 Kelvin) A Unique Processor Environment -Shielded to 50,000× less than Earth’s magnetic field -In a high vacuum: pressure is 10 billion times lower than atmospheric pressure -200 I/O and control lines from room temperature to the chip -The system consumes less than 25 kW of power -Power demand won’t increase with successive processor generations Processing with D-Wave -A lattice of 2000 tiny superconducting devices, known as qubits, is chilled close to absolute zero to harness quantum effects -A user models a problem into a search for the “lowest energy point in a vast landscape” -The processor considers all possibilities simultaneously to determine the lowest energy and the values that produce it -Multiple solutions are returned to the user, scaled to show optimal answers Software Just as the classical computing world needed a software ecosystem to build a broad community of application developers and users, the quantum computing world does as well. D-Wave, quantum software companies, D-Wave customers, and users are starting to develop system software, higher level tools, and applications that leverage the power of the D-Wave system. The D-Wave 2000Q system provides a standard Internet API (based on RESTful services), with client libraries available for C/C++, Python, and
MATLAB. This interface allows users to access the system either as a cloud resource over a network, or integrated into their high-performance computing (HPC) environments and data centers. Access is also available through D-Wave’s hosted cloud service. Using D-Wave’s development tools and client libraries, developers can create algorithms and applications within their existing environments using industry-standard tools. While users can submit problems to the system in a number of different ways, ultimately a problem represents a set of values that correspond to the weights of the qubits and the strength of the couplers. The system takes these values along with other user-specified parameters and sends a single quantum machine instruction (QMI) to the QPU. Problem solutions correspond to the optimal configuration of qubits found; that is, the lowest points in the energy landscape. These values are returned to the user program over the network. Because quantum computers are probabilistic rather than deterministic, multiple values can be returned, providing not only the best solution found, but also other very good alternatives from which to choose. Users can specify the number of solutions they want the system to return. Users can submit problems to the D-Wave quantum computer in several ways: -Using a program in C, C++, Python, or MATLAB to create and execute QMIs -Using a D-Wave tool such as: -QSage, a translator designed for optimization problems -ToQ, a high level language translator used for constraint satisfaction problems and designed to let users “speak” in the language of their problem domain -qbsolv, an open-source, hybrid partitioning optimization solver for problems that are larger than will fit natively on the QPU. Qbsolv can be downloaded here. -dw, which executes QMIs created via a text editor -By directly programming the system via QMIs April / May 2018 | FranTechnovation 157
The company understands that success is measured in the value they create for their customers. Partnering with D-Wave gives organizations early insight and influence over a new technology that could fundamentally change the computing landscape. D-Wave offers various Professional Services. Their professional services team includes experts in quantum computing, computer science and algorithms development. Combining their expertise with the domain knowledge within the organization is the fastest, most effective way to exploit the power of D-Wave’s technology. They can tailor a professional services engagement to match the client’s needs. Education D-Wave offers standard and customized education classes on quantum computing and D-Wave technology. They bring their training materials and interactive tutorial demonstrations to user organizations, and cover everything from the physics of the computer to advanced quantum software development. The classes include: Introduction to Quantum Computing and D-Wave System (101) Introduction to Quantum Computing is a full day seminar, reviewing some of the potential approaches to quantum computing, and exploring adiabatic quantum computing in particular. The attendees will gain a high level understanding of the different types of potential quantum computers and become familiar with adiabatic quantum computing, the D-Wave architecture, and its programming model. Programming a D-Wave System (201) This is a 3-day class in a lecture / lab format. Labs have step-by-step instructions with support staff to guide attendees and answer questions as they develop their own quantum algorithms. Attendees are exposed to the types of problems and applications suitable for today’s quantum technology. Participants work through labs on a simulator then progress to programming remotely on a live D-Wave quantum computer. 158 April / May 2018 | FranTechnovation
Advanced Quantum Computing and Technical Exchange (301) This is a 2-day session designed as a technical exchange between D-Wave scientists and experienced users of D-Wave systems. Attendees should have been executing projects on a D-Wave system for a minimum of 6 months. The topics covered during an advanced session are customized depending on the attendees’ use cases, their focus, challenges and direction. Customer support It can be daunting to introduce a new technology into existing processes, but the D-Wave team works hard so that organizations exploring the potential of their technology can experience great results with the least risk possible. Whether you choose to have a system installed on site or lease time on a system at D-Wave’s location, their multidisciplinary team is there to support you. For on site installation, their team will install, test, calibrate, and boot up the D-Wave system. A typical installation process takes four weeks and the calibration process takes six weeks. At the end will have a fully functional D-Wave system ready to be used by your developers. Their support staff will be there after the install to ensure your ongoing success. Quantum Computing has its many advantages when applied to many Industries Quantum computing will move business, science, and government forward in unprecedented ways by solving problems that are too complex for today’s computational systems. By partnering with visionary industry leaders, D-Wave hopes to be the first to demonstrate how quantum computing will make an indelible mark on the world. Defense Systems validation and operational planning for national defense are incredibly complex challenges. Quantum computing could be a powerful new tool for defense contractors and governments in
support of their mission to ensure national security. Applications Mission planning and logistics Systems validation and verification Pattern recognition and anomaly detection Network science and graph theory applications Cyber security National Labs National labs are key contributors to advancing knowledge and ensuring peace and security through the development and application of cutting-edge science and technology. Quantum computing can complement the supercomputers these labs depend on, by solving complex problems that canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be solved today. Applications Optimization problems Graph theory problems Material science Electronic structure problems Theoretical and experimental physics Machine learning Web The Internet has had an enormous impact on our everyday lives. Using the Web to advance humanityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s greatest challenges requires radical new approaches like quantum computing. Applications Image and pattern recognition Machine learning Communication Advanced search Cyber security
Healthcare Advances in healthcare, including personalized medicine and cancer research, increasingly depend on technology. Quantum computers will aid in this important research by being able to find better solutions among a vast number of options. Applications Optimizing radiotherapy treatments Generating targeted cancer drug therapies Creating protein models Universities University research advances knowledge, science, and technology. In collaboration with industry, many universities will have access to D-Wave technology. Applications Climate modeling Bioinformatics Weather predictions Exploring quantum computing Energy The global need for energy continues to increase, and new cost-effective energy sources and processes must be developed. Optimizing energy delivery and usage, and exploring new energy sources depend on complex optimization, well-suited to quantum computers. Applications Energy exploration Seismic survey optimization Reserve and spot trading optimization Reservoir optimization
Finance When time is money, every microsecond counts. Quantum computing will become a significant competitive force in an industry where faster knowledge is power. Applications Risk modeling Trading strategies Detecting market instabilities Developing trading strategies Optimizing trading trajectories Optimizing asset pricing and hedging Optimizing portfolios April / May 2018 | FranTechnovation 159
GlobalClear India-IDC Leader in Infrastructure and Data Center Solutions
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ith the modular market developing in the industry, there are remarkable innovation and engineering design initiatives underway. The modular market is maturing with even more large enterprises actively deploying the modular data center platform. To further illustrate the achievement in the modular industry, a recent Uptime Institute survey showed that 41% of the respondents are already considering modular, prefab data centers. This issue of FranTech details one such Modular provider - the GlobalClear India-IDC Infrastructure and Data Centres, highlights its applications and key features.
Modular Products Many server vendors have modular data center products and are optimized to work with their hardware and standard rack supports. Vendors worldwide have engineered their own version of a module and incorporated a variety of unique capabilities into their solution. Having one vendor to supply all components and within the rack for a module, enables them to engineer it as a complete solution for modular power and cooling products to complement the IT module. Modular data center products, are available from: IO, HP, IBM, SGI, Dell, Cisco, Cirrascale, Google, Elliptical Mobile Solutions, IPSIP, Toshiba, Bull, AST, Schneider Electric, PDI (acquired by Smiths Interconnect), Emerson Network Power, Silver Linings, Telenetix and Active Power.
Modular Providers A modular provider is able to offer the entire data center as a service, by quickly adding a module of IT with all supporting power and cooling infrastructure - everything-as-aService mode provider. The idea is to deliver a data center-in-a-box solution. The data center can be made operational at a faster rate than a
standard bricks-and-mortar solution. The entire module is available as a package, integrating all aspects of the IT within and subsystems through DCIM or other management tools, such as DCOS (data center operating systems). Modular Data Center Providers include: IO, NxGen Modular, mSun Modular Data centers, IBM, COLT, Toshiba, Cannon, Pacific Voice and Data, BladeRoom, Pelio & Associates, Dock IT, Lee Technologies (acquired by Schneider Electric), Datapod and Turbine Air Systems (TAS)/ Celestica (CLS).
GlobalClear India-IDC Modular Data Centers on Demand GlobalClear India-IDC is a full service convergence organization specializing in Real-Time Critical Infrastructure Solutions and Data Center Design. GlobalClear India-IDC is a cuttingedge Infrastructure Consulting Group based in the Greater San Francisco Bay Area. GlobalClear India-IDC is focused on delivering high-value, innovative solutions, which accelerate enterprise success by driving productivity, customer service, and lower costs. The company’s objective is to increase organization’s profitability by enhancing the effectiveness and security of its information technology management environment. GlobalClear India-IDC Modular provides solutions to all information management challenges by assisting in selecting and implementing the information systems and tools that will best serve individual business. GlobalClear India-IDC offers a broad range of project experience specializing in data center, computer room and network operations center (NOC) design. GlobalClear India-IDC integrates, ‘best-of-breed’, critical infrastructure technologies resulting in continuouslyavailable, scalable, redundant, faulttolerant, manageable and maintainable mission critical environments. April / May 2018 | FranTechnovation 163
The company’s continuing goal is to be the premier provider of infrastructure services and solutions in the USA, with global reach through strategic partnerships. GlobalClear India-IDC offers a turnkey solution for all Mobile and Modular Data Center Solutions. GlobalClear India-IDC provids design, project management, and certified technical resources to take a project from conception to completion, and beyond. Its team focuses on designing and building comprehensive solutions to improve the ultimate value of your technology infrastructure. GlobalClear India-IDC evaluates specific needs of business and recommends the best solutions - often employing the latest customer centric infrastructure solutions - to help increase the success of the core business. Whether establishing a new single site location, or integrating multiple and external sites, GlobalClear India-IDC experts can create a solution that addresses particular unique requirements. In summary, GlobalClear India-IDC possesses
the credentials - professionalism, knowledge, experience, and dedication - necessary to achieve the ultimate goal: establishing an enterprise as a “client for life”.
GlobalClear India-IDC Modular Applications • Primary Data Center (OLTP appstack, High Density Server farm, VoIP) • Disaster Recovery Datacenter (failover, cold standby, mobile dispatch) • Temporary Expansion Site • Internet Archive Remote Site • Private Cellular Network Transmission Unit • Emergency Response Services Mobile Command Center • Mobile Command Center and Field Operations Support Unit
Mobile Data Center Solutions The GlobalClear India-IDC Disaster Recovery Mobile Data Center design allows the selection of standardized,
GlobalClear India-IDC Modular Key Features Modular N+1 or 2N+1 UPS System Fire Detection 42U Equipment Racks with Dual Data Troughs Fire Suppression Chilled Water Cooling System Remote Monitoring Onboard Dual Chiller Remote Access Control In Row Precision Cooling for High Density Secure Entry Supplemental Cooling System Surveillance Package Dual ATS System 250 AMP or 400 AMP Satellite 54 mbps up to 155 mbps Onboard Generator 130 KW or 200KW Dedicated Sat Transponder Low Ambient Artic Package Ground Station Construction Tempest SKIF Option Antenna Mast 40’ Expandable 164 April / May 2018 | FranTechnovation
modular components to create a customized solution in addition to features such as a Network Operations Center (NOC), Tier IV design (redundant power and cooling), Satellite Connectivity and high density capabilities – all within a fully mobile package. Thus GlobalClear India-IDC offers a turnkey solution for all Mobile and Containerized Data Center Solutions. Partnering with companies like American Power Conversion APC, LightPoint and Carrier Corporation, the GlobalClear India-IDC Mobile Data Center provides the latest in on-demand architecture for networkcritical physical infrastructure (NCPI), integrating power, cooling, rack, connectivity, management and services. The following is a general overview of a typical configuration: • Power Entry Panel Twist Lock Connector for Utility and Generator • On Board Generator 130 KW & 200KW Options; Up to 48 hrs runtime • Dual ATS configuration; 250 AMP & 400 AMP Options • Accepts up to 2 utility feeds as “normal power” • Designed to export electrical power to meet external needs Electricity is available from the powerful and prime rated generator, and/or by connecting to utility power supplies through the externally accessible utility power. Automatic transfer switches control the generator and utility power for seamless source control and the solution comes
equipped with dual transfer switches as it is configured to accept two utility feeds. GlobalClear India-IDC offers high level of Security Surveillance and Monitoring with security camera for internal and perimeter security and IP cameras for remote monitoring and archiving. In addition to access control, security is enhanced by an optional multi-camera surveillance system, with hard-wired and webbased compatibility in conjunction with on-board recording of activity occurring around the perimeter of the GlobalClear India-IDC Mobile Data Center. A Satellite Network Connectivity with 54 mbps and 155 mbps dedicated transponder on the designated spacecraft for redundancy and/or dedicated communications link with Ground Station Construction. With this features the Network Connectivity is assured, even in disaster prone areas through the GlobalClear IndiaIDC Mobile Data Center’s high-speed satellite link to provide connectivity and band-width as redundancy or Secure Dedicated Link. The Pacific Voice & Data, LLC was awarded the 2009 Best of Business Award in the Mobile & Modular Critical Infrastructure Solutions category by the Small Business Commerce Association (SBCA). The SBCA 2009 Award Program recognizes the top 5% of small businesses throughout the country. Using statistical research and consumer feedback, the SBCA identifies companies that we believe
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have demonstrated what makes small businesses a vital part of the American economy.
Modular Data Centers: Network Critical Infrastructure Solution
air temperature of the cold aisle. The VFD fans will change speed based on difference from temperature set point. The outdoor air damper, return air damper and bypass damper will be modulated to maintain air temp of cold aisle.
The GlobalClear India-IDC Modular Power and IT Enclosure Solutions designs allow the selection of standardized, modular components to create a customized solution in addition to features such as High Powered Power Back Up and High Density Server Cooling – all within a fully insulated custom modular package.
GlobalClear India-IDC Air Mover
GlobalClear India-IDC Air Mover: Riding the Wave Technology GlobalClear India-IDC announced AirMover53 is a three stage cooling application. GlobalClear India-IDC utilizes ambient air and mechanical cooling to deliver Hybrid cooling at higher temperatures to improve overall PUE scores. The AirMover by GlobalClear India-IDC is a modular data center is with a fabricated enclosure designed for high and low ambient outdoor applications. It can be deployed in about 12 weeks and provide cooling that is more cost effective, scalable, efficient, and easily maintained than other data center offerings. The AirMover control system is equipped with programmable controllers and sensors to monitor air temperature and humidity to optimize cooling efficiency and lower overall TCO (Total Cost of Ownership).
This consists of Factory Packaged Modular Solutions, dual chiller design for redundancy, low ambient package and water side economizer free cooling o.ptions
The Cooling Modes are re-circulated as the return air from the enclosure is more suitable for use than ambient air. The ambient air damper will be closed and the return air damper will be open allowing the hot aisle air to return to the AirMover cooling module for conditioning. This will be based on a temperature and humidity comparison of the outdoor and return air. The outdoor, exhaust and return air dampers and chilled water valve will modulate to maintain 166 April / May 2018 | FranTechnovation
• • • •
Up to 22 server racks Track Busway distribution Fiber and Cabling Management Chilled Water High Efficiency Cooling • Extreme Ambient Capabilities • Global Services Warranty and Support
The GlobalClear India-IDC Wave Power is a modular critical power solution designed for maximum scalability, reliability and diverse data center applications. It is delivered in the fraction of the time data center build out. To reduce the construction time it is factory built and tested. It is designed to meet a variety of configurations. Critical power infrastructure is coupled with GlobalClear India-IDC AirMover Modular IT enclosure or an existing brick and mortar data center. The WavePower which provides critical power on the fly is containerized or Mobile. It incudes a fully mobile package on a GlobalClear India-IDC specified 53 foot trailer to include an onboard power generator. For more details and to avail licensing opportunities please contact FranTechAsia at president@ frantechasia.com
FREIGHT FARMSGrow Food Anywhere with Freight Farms
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ur world is changing. More people than ever are now living in tightly populated, urban areas, and there’s an increasing demand for locally grown and sustainably produced food. People want to know the story behind the meal on their plates. And even city dwellers want their food to be fresh and full of nutrients, not pre-packaged and shipped from thousands of miles away. Our climate is also continuing to evolve. Extreme weather conditions are becoming more common, and land and water are becoming more scarce. Large-scale food production and distribution has had a significant impact on the earth’s ecosystem, and it’s continuing to affect our water levels and biodiversity. Freight Farms is addressing the needs of the world’s changing food landscape by providing physical and digital solutions for creating local produce ecosystems on a global scale. Freight Farms customers are located across North America and range from entrepreneurs and small businesses, to hotels and restaurants, to corporations and educational institutions. By decentralizing the food supply chain and bringing production closer to consumers, Freight Farms is drastically reducing the environmental impact of traditional agriculture and empowering any individual, community or organization to sustainably grow fresh produce year-round, no matter their location, background or climate. The Freight Farms platform enables you to grow food anywhere and supply local food at the scale you need today while providing the infrastructure for you to easily expand in the future. By providing the tools, infrastructure and support anyone can become a freight farmer, regardless of background experience or geographic location. Freight Farm platform with its systems and technology offers great framing opportunities to Entrepreneurs, Farmers and Institutions.
With the support of Freight Farms you can start a brand new farming business Freight farmers are incredibly diverse in their missions and markets. It also caters to small farmers that range from new food entrepreneurs, retirees, and families interested in launching brand new food and farming businesses in their communities. With the rapidly-growing demand for fresh, local produce, restaurants, grocers, and wholesalers are eagerly searching for a way to satisfy the needs of their customers. The Freight Farms platform not only acts as an eye-catching showpiece for businesses, but also gives the opportunity to craft and control what produce makes it onto the menu. With an added advantage of improving access in a continuouslyurbanizing world, as there is always a growing need for better access to fresh, healthy produce. It helps build a hyper-local food network that consistently brings locally-grown produce into urban areas, even throughout the cold winter months. Increasing localized food production not only fosters a sense of community, but boosts the local economy as well. GROW ON CAMPUS is an interesting program that Freight Farms brings for the modern school system or corporate campus of today, The Freight Farms platform provides the opportunity to integrate sustainable food production into core business models to make high-quality food a staple of the culture. Create easy access to fresh produce, enhancing student and employee wellness on and off campus. FREIGHT FARMS OFFERS SUSTAINABLE, LOCAL FOOD PRODUCTION DIRECTLY ON CAMPUS. For today’s modern university of college campus, Freight Farms provides the opportunity to seamlessly integrate sustainable food production into current operations to make highquality, local food a staple of the April / May 2018 | FranTechnovation 169
culture. Each Leafy Green Machine offers a unique flexibility to create tailored programs to meet the specific needs of each campus. The LGM becomes a powerful tool for promoting health and wellness, sustainability and innovation while fostering a culture of social responsibility 1. Demonstrate a commitment to sustainability by growing food directly on campus year-round. 2. Promote student health and wellness by serving produce harvested just hours before consumption. 3 Bring transparency to operations and educate students on the journey their food takes farm-to- table. ADVANTAGES OF GROWING WITH FREIGHT FARMS: TRANSPARENCY ON YOUR PLATES Growing from seed to harvest allows for greater control over the food supply, and provides a clear story of exactly how food is grown. Using only essential nutrients and non GMO seeds ensures clean, fresh produce. FRESH PRODUCE 365 DAYS Inside the insulated container is an advanced system for creating the perfect growing environment. Controlled climate conditions facilitate uniform growth independent of the exterior environment, allowing for the growth of a wide variety of lettuces, herbs, and small veggies. SCALE WITH MARKET DEMANDS Delivered ready-to-use and configured for immediate crop production, the modular and stackable design of each unit makes it easy to integrate into any operation. The Freight Farms platform enables you to supply local food at the scale you need today while providing the infrastructure for you to easily expand in the future. The FREIGHT FRAM Advantage for farmersFor the farmers that are already operating, Freight Farms has systems and farming solutions that help scale up their growing operation. Welcome to the Age of Smart Growing ! With the rapidly-growing demand for fresh, local produce, restaurants, 170 April / May 2018 | FranTechnovation
grocers, and wholesalers are eagerly searching for a way to satisfy the needs of their customers. Using the Leafy Green Machine, you can expand your growing operation to offer local year-round to all of your customers. Offer fresh and local produce, even in the off-season. With climate controlled agriculture, you can have the perfect growing environment for your crops 365 days a year, regardless of the season. Expand your business without needing more land. In just 320 square feet, you can add almost 2 acres to your farm. Growing vertically maximizes space by utilizing cubic footage inside the container. Worry less about extreme weather and pests. The shipping container is a durable structure that can protect your crops in hailstorms, blizzards and even droughts (it uses 90% less water than soil farming!) Freight Farms is here to ensure every farmer has all the tools and training needed to run a successful and smooth operation. Through Farm Camps, training is encouraged for all new farmers. They have the option to go through Farm Camp online or in-person. FREIGHT FARM’s online Knowledge Base has hundreds of articles and videos on best practices around farming, tech, and business. The company’s Farmer Success Team is here to provide technical support for all freight farmers via phone and email. FREIFHT FARMS has a Community platform that helps connect with freight farmers all over the world in this forum that is exclusively for their community. The Products that FREIGHT FARMS offers is The Leafy Green Machine and FARMHAND* Designed to be easily implemented and operated, The Leafy Green Machine™ is a complete farming system delivered ready-to-use for
immediate crop production. The modular and stackable design makes it easy to integrate into any operation and add farms to scale quickly. Every LGM™ comes equipped to handle every aspect of commercial production, from seed to harvest. Designated system for germination and seedling growth. A customdesigned aluminum workstation with an integrated hydroponic setup for up to 3,600 plant sites. Outfitted with our ebb and flow irrigation and LED lighting system specifically for early stage growth. Vertical towers create a high density growing environment inside the farm, providing space for over 4,500 plants in 256 towers. An overhead drip irrigation system and strip LED lighting support crop growth from transplant to harvest. The Leafy Green Machine is a powerful tool that enables our customers to grow fresh food in any climate. The LGM requires only about twenty hours of labor per week to operate, and uses about 90% less water than traditional farming. The LGM also eliminates a lot of the risk and weather variability that traditional farmers face such as having not enough, or too much water and sunlight. As its name implies, the Leafy Green Machine is optimized to grow a variety of leafy green crops from lettuces, to herbs, to heartier greens like kale and swiss chard. However, our farmers have had success with a number of other crops as well. We recommend that in order for farmers to maximize their yields (and profits), they grow one to two crops that can thrive in similar growing environments. The LGM was designed to maximize the amount of physical space inside the farm. It has a number of features that allow farmers to have enough space for every step of the farming process. The technology and automation inside the farm simplify the hydroponic growing process, allowing you to work smarter rather than harder. Sensors inside the farm balance temperature, humidity and
CO2 levels. FARMHAND * is your virtual assistant. With FARMHAND you can rest assured that your farm is running smoothly, wherever you are in the world. With farmhand® it’s possible to monitor and control all the environmental components inside the farm directly from a smart phone or web browser. You can set parameters and receive notifications about in-farm system performance. Using real-time data from sensors and in-farm cameras, Farmhand® Connect allows you to track your farm’s climate conditions, set parameters for ideal growing conditions and receive notifications should any changes occur to the environment. You can monitor and control temperature, humidity, CO2, nutrients and pH levels inside your farm -- all directly from your iOS device or web browser. The real-time status of each component inside the farm is easily accessible, so you always know how things are operating. FH Connect offers secure cloud storage of all farm data, including climate and alarm history, equipment run-times, access logs and system settings information. Using Farmhand® Track, you can plan, schedule and record various tasks like seeding, transplanting, and harvesting directly in the app. Track helps you keep a detailed record of each crop cycle by logging key metrics such as germination rate and yield numbers. Farmhand® Shop is a quick and easy way to purchase your growing supplies. You can browse through a curated collection of seeds, nutrients and farm supplies from top hydroponic and indoor gardening brands. All Farmhand© Shop purchases are shipped directly to the your door and include tracking information to ensure successful delivery.
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GCI Banking VBL Helping you make smart decisions with your money
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GCI Banking VBL specializes in supporting Indigenous People around the World in Education, Medical , Development, Food, Industry, Jobs to achieve their project funding goals and objectives through structured financial solutions. GCI Banking VBL is privately owned, independent and Sovereign Financial Co-Operative Group Non-Dominium Entity, with Over 500 (VBL) Branches. As an Aotearoa Chartered Bank, licensed by The Confederation of Tribal Leaders Te Wakaminenda O Nga Rangatira O Nga 1835, the organization focuses primarily on Project Development that betters the lives of Indigenous people around the world, through Facilitation, Enhancement and Strategic Structuring of Project Funding and Financial Relief. They truly believe that their success depends on the success of their members. Their philosophy is simple, GCI Banking puts their Members first and provides financial structures that suite their members specific needs. Their members are most important to the organization and they are not just a means to an end. As a Co-Operating, Non-Dominion Entity, their goal is the success of their members; not in promoting a specific product or services. It is a boutique firm that thrives on building long-term relationships with their members. They take pride in working as a team, both internally and with their members to offer the support and services they may need. GCI Banking is large enough to offer a wide range of services, yet small enough to provide excellent personal services to their members. With a dedicated team of experienced and successful professionals that specialize in a broad range of topics
and industries they are dedicated to the financial success of their members. The GCI Banking VBL Services : They provide a wide range of financial services tailored to the specific needs of their member clients. They work with their members to develop, implement and maintain a relevant and comprehensive financial strategy that will grow with their business. The team at GCI Banking prides itself to think outside the box to mitigate risk, grow our member’s wealth and meet lifestyle objectives. The organisation helps their members to achieve their goals, no matter how big or small they may be. They can assist to become financially secure. Their team’s goal is to assist their members achieve their financial objectives, mitigate risk and protect their member’s wealth, changing the red errors to GREEN $ Signs. The expertise of GCI Banking VBL offers financial peace of mind and structures financial solutions for their members, offers liquidity when needed through strategic planning for their project’s future accomplishment, today. They help their members achieve their project funding goals and objectives. Structured Financial Services The organization has a range of services to help their members with their project funding needs. -Digital Invoice Platform Financing Helping members leverage their accounts receivable to become financially successful. -Demand Guarantees (URDG 758) Governed by ICC rules, the URDG can be used in all types of trade, domestically and internationally. -Balance Sheet Enhancement Assisting members structure their financials for maximum leverage. April / May 2018 | FranTechnovation 175
-Proof of Funds, RWA Verification Providing members with the documents required to verify their financial ability. -BPO Facilitation Providing members a supply chain financial settlement solution used in trade. -Custodial Services SKR Complete fiduciary custody of memberâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s business safekeeping of assets. They primarily work with the top industries to serve the betterment of mankind and take a strategic approach to each transaction to better serve their members needs which sets us apart from other firms. GCI Banking VBL has an advantage of cutting edge technology with nearly a century of experience understanding the markets and capitalizing on what lies ahead. GCI Banking VBL has supported innovative projects for Children Education, Indigenous Farming, Fishing, Drinkable Water. The GCI Banking VBL Strengths 100+years Collectively their team has over 100 years of experience to serve our members Supported by 7500+ Members of the Federation of Sovereign Chiefs $Multi-Billion+ Under Management, USD, Euro, Yin, & Gold As a Member Based Service Entity, there are many reasons to choose GCI Banking VBL as your Financial Services Specialist. GCI Bank licenses are available in select countries, member banks with GCI Bank assets.
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