02
02 2023
Global Forecast
Analyzing the value of Integrating Insurance Software Solutions with Global Businesses
Industry Insider
Examining the CostBenefitAnalysis of Insurance Software Solutions Asha Kalidindi Co-founder and CEO Aggne Global, Inc.
Editor’s Note
Technology from the fourth industrial revolution is
changing the insurance industry as a whole, opening up new channels for communication, information sharing, and insurance. Examples of this technology include cloud computing, telematics, the Internet of Things (IoT), mobile phones, blockchain technology, artificial intelligence/cognitive computing, and predictive modeling. In this sense, academics and industry professionals refer to insurTech as a subset of fintech that deals with the application of digital technology to the insurance industry.
Although the insurance sector has been among the leisureliest to adopt digital transformation, the process is now radically changing corporate culture, products and processes, customer relations, and relationships with the sector's various competitors.
The entire insurance value chain, from product development to pricing and underwriting, sales and distribution, policy and claims management, and asset and risk management, will be significantly altered by the advent of digitalization.
The development of connections between formerly isolated sectors and new rivals has also presented insurance market
Advancements & Transformation through InsurTech
participants with a new insurance 4.0 that will allow them to join a new ecosystem.
Every participant in the insurance industry is required to deal with and function in a macroeconomic environment where InsurTech start-ups, or young businesses that pursue technology-driven business models, are growing quickly These new market entrants are now concentrating on activities that are unmistakably competitive with those of insurance companies and brokers rather than just simple software solutions.
While understanding the roots of the subject, the conclusions for such diversified provisions are through the latest edition of The 10 Best End-to-End Insurance Solutions Providers, forecasting the Industry leaders making an impact on socio-cultural communities and global businesses.
Have an enthralling read!
CO TE T
22 28
Global Forecast
Analyzing the value of Integra ng Insurance So ware Solu ons with Global Businesses
Industry Insider
Examining the Cost-Benefit
Analysis of Insurance So ware
Solu ons
1
6 CXO The Power of Cross-culture LEADERSHIP Coaching
Chris Ward
The MAD Scien st; M- making, A-a, D-difference
Interview with Insights Success
3 Articles
Gerard Ga Transi oning Energy into a Low-cost Sustainable Hydrogen
Interview with Insights Success
Managing Editor
Assisting
Art & Design Assistant Visualiser David King
Art & Design Head
Shruti Tikotkar Business Development Manager Prashik Bombarde
Co-designer Sonia Raizada Rohil Shinganapurkar
Marketing Manager Joseph D'souza
Business Development Executives
Editor-in-Chief Merry D'Souza Kelly, David
Technical Head Jacob Smile
Assistant Technical Head
Technical Consultants Prashanth, Rajeshwari
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SME-SMO Executive Gemson
Research Analyst Eric Smith
Circulation Manager Tanaji Fartade
sales@insightssuccess.com
February, 2023
Agentero Inc agentero.com
Luis Pino CEO
Agentero helps independent insurance agents grow their business by providing them with access to modern carriers and a technology pla orm to iden fy the needs of their customers, quote and bind.
AGENTSYNC INC
agentsync.io
Niranjan 'Niji' Sabharwal CEO
AgentSync builds modern insurance infrastructure that connects carriers, agencies, MGAs, and producers.
Aggne Global Inc aggne.com
Asha Kalidindi CEO and Co-founder
Aggne is focused on delivering excep onal value by developing and offering several proprietary solu ons for Insurtech organiza ons.
Alek Mirkovich CEO Pathway pathwayport.com
Pathway's founders have been on a mission to help brokerages automate and digi ze insurance so they can be er serve today's mobile policyholders.
Sakowin sakowin.com
Gérard Ga CEO
Sakowin is a French company at the forefront of the transi on to sustainable hydrogen. Sakowin manufactures equipment to produce hydrogen and solid carbon from methane with zero CO2 emissions.
SchemeServe schemeserve.com
Adam Bishop CEO
SchemeServe pla orm boasts unique flexibility, alongside game-changing features and unstoppable innova on, the so ware can be shaped to suit any need.
SimpleSolve Inc simplesolve.com
Antony Xavier CEO
Simplesolve came into existence with a vision of crea ng an affordable yet feature-rich system for P&C Insurance.
VCA So ware LLC
vcaso ware.com
John Varghese CEO
VCA So ware LLC is future-ready claims management pla orm that enables people to perform like rockstars, and equips companies with scalable, intui ve processes to fuel profitable growth.
Vertafore Inc vertafore.com
John Varghese CEO
Vertafore Inc exists to empower independent agents, carriers, and MGAs, to drive their success.
Kevin T. Reilley CEO Westhill westhillglobal.com
Westhill helps insurance companies delight property owners in their “moment of truth” blending a proprietary digital experience with excep onal human touch.
Aggne Global. Inc
Empowering the Insurance Industry with Technology Leadership
No two carriers are identical, and each requires a personalized approach to meet their specific needs. Aggne excels in this arena simply because we are nimble, focused and determined to ensure that each carrier succeeds in their goals.
Asha Kalidindi, Co-founder and CEO
Aggne Global, Inc.
TheInsuranceindustryhasbecomeanintegralpart ofeveryhome,company,andbusinesssector.Itis thesafetynetthathasbecomeanecessityfor individualstofeelsecure.Today,insuranceisanessential partofpeople’slives,thecompetitiontoacquireandservice customerswithintheinsurancemarketisalsorising.
Astheinsuranceindustryischallengedbyincreasing competition,achangingregulatorylandscape,andcomplex andunoptimizedtechnologyenvironments;thedemandfor customer-centric,customizabletechnologysolutionsis gainingmomentum.
Onamissiontoprovidesuchmodern-age,highlycustomizabletechnologysolutionstoensurethesuccessofthe insurancecompanyisAggneGlobal.Inc
Withoveradecadeofsuccess,Aggnestandsreadytobean insurancecarriers’guidetodrivingtheirbusinessforward bymaximizinggrowth,productandserviceofferings,and customersatisfactionthroughtechnology
ThedrivingforcebehindAggne’sinnovation-driven successjourneyisitsCo-founderandCEO,Asha Kalidindi.
In the following story, we will be exploring the journey of Aggne, which is on a mission to empower insurance carriers with innovative technology
EnsuringInsuranceCarriers’Success
TheheartandcoreofAggneisinnovation.Thecompanyis continuouslyadoptingnewimplementationstrategiesand newthinkingtobridgethevoidbetweeninsurancecarriers’ needsandthesoftwarethatenablestheirbusinesstobe successful.IllustratingthefactorsthatenableAggneto excelinthemarket,Ashashares,“No two carriers are identical, and each requires a personalized approach to meet their specific needs. Aggne excels in this arena simply because we are nimble, focused, and determined to ensure that each carrier succeeds in their goals.”
“Our investment to create proprietary tools sets us apart. We utilize the latest technology to significantly streamline the entire implementation process and overcome the pitfalls that typically grind the project to a halt every time there is a code review.”
Ashamentionsthat,forfartoolong,theindustryhas advancedatanalmostundeterminablepace.Becauseofthe
Our vision is lofty; we want to transform the way in which insurance carriers interact with technology. We want them to embrace the power of technology.
extensiveamountoftimeandexorbitantcost,smallto medium-sizedcarriersfinditimpossibletomakesignificant changestotheircoretechnology,changesthatwouldallow themtoadapttotheirmarketsquicklyandexcelin customerservice.
Aggne’sapproachistohelpthembridgethegapfromboth theends;atechnologyperspectiveandtheproductsthat theysell.Thecompany’sexpertiseenablescarrierstoutilize technologyratherthanfeelconstrainedbyit.Ashaadds, “We fully engage with clients to find the right solution for their needs. We are not siloed into a single approach with expectations that a single core system will meet every need.”
TheCoreInspiration
WequestionedAsha,“Whatwastheinspirationthatdrove youtoestablishAggne?”towhichsheanswered,“I saw the inadequacies and inefficiencies of the traditional way conversions to new platforms and upgrades of existing platforms were being handled. I knew that if I could overcome the delays and interruptions, I could deliver conversions or upgrades in half the time, allowing carriers to get their products to the market faster.”
Sheadds, “I recognized an opportunity and saw the potential to build something great, that would benefit not only the carriers but a staff of idealists and experts, craving to show up for work every day, wanting to push the bounds of the ‘what if ?’. I wanted to empower people, around the world, to have a place where their voices could be heard, where they could innovate and find the satisfaction that they desperately deserved.”
AFull-serviceSolutionsPartner
Aggnestartedasacoresystemsintegrationpartnerfor insurancecarriers.Ithasgrowntobeafull-service solutionspartner,offeringadviceandexpertiseinselecting coreplatformsystemsandbuildingreliableandrobust insuranceproducts.Toaccomplishitsgoals,Aggnepivoted tobecomethecreatorofproprietaryproducts,usingthe latestinmachinelearningandAItechnologiesforrequirementsgatheringtoregressiontestingtodataconversionofa carrier’sexistingbooksofbusiness.
TheDrivingVisionandMission
DiscussingthevisionstatementoftheAggne,Ashastates, “Our vision is lofty; we want to transform the way in which insurance carriers interact with technology. We want them to embrace the power of technology ”
Indoingso,Ashasays,carrierswillbeenabledtowrite businessquickerandmoreaccuratelywithdatastreamsthat givethemtheabilitytomakeimmediateunderwriting decisions.Aggne’steamwantsthemempoweredtomanage theirclientsappropriately,allwhilemakingaprofit.
ThesuccinctversionofAggne’sVisionis–“To redefine how companies incorporate technology by developing cutting-edge digital tools that reduce costs, minimize production delays, and eliminate errors.”
Aggne’smissionisthecenterpointofitsvision.It’showthe companywillachieveit,believesAsha.Furthermore,she says,“Our mission is to work smarter, faster, and more collaboratively with insurance carriers to deliver digital platforms that reduce cost and improve performance.”
“Wemeasureeveryaction,everyactivity,toexposewaysto increaseourownproductivitybecausewebelievethatthis isthegreatestwaytoovercometheobstaclestothe realizationofourvision,”addsAsha.
We stand out as a cohesive team, enabling and mentoring each other for the success of the entire organization.
UtilizingtheWealthofExperience
Knowledgeiskey,andAggnehasemployedthebestin everyaspectoftheorganization.Thecompany’sexpertise isnotonlyfromthetechnologicalperspectivebutalsofrom thebusinessperspectiveaswell.Itsexpertshavecomefrom someoftheleadingfirmsintheirrespectiveareasof responsibility.Theybringawealthofexperiencethatthe companyutilizes,notjustfortheintegrationsandimplementationsthatitdelivers,butforthedevelopmentand enrichmentofitsentireteam.“We stand out as a cohesive team, enabling and mentoring each other for the success of the entire organization,”explainsAsha.
EmbracingCutting-edgeTechnology
InAsha’sopinion,fordecades,theinsuranceindustryhas reliedondatafromlimitedsources.Shefeelsthatthings liketime-consumingphysicalinspectionsofpropertiesby anunderwriter;datalimitedtosinglesourcesforvehicle crashtestratings,orevenworse,dataprovidedbythe manufacturerareoftenbiasedfortheirownbenefit.
Shestatesthattheindustrytodayhascurrentandnow predictivedataavailableforvirtuallyeveryaspectofthe
insuranceoperation.Carriersarebeginningtounderstand thetruepowerofdataandarebeginningtorethinkhow theydobusiness.Usingtelemetricstomeasurethenumber ofmilesdrivenandthebehaviorofadriverbehindthe wheel,wasunheardofjusttenyearsagobutisnowused forunderwritingand‘pay-per-mile’premiumcalculation.
Shepointsoutthat,“Carriers, though slow to act, want to utilize new and alternative data. Aggne is building out the tools and structures necessary to bring this data into multiple applications and processes.”
“We have devoted a team of innovators to exploring new and ‘cutting edge’data streams and applications that will enable carriers to finally move quickly and confidently through these potential new frontiers,” affirmsAsha.
The Driving Force
Asha Kalidindi is the driving force behind Aggne. As it’s Co-founder and CEO, Asha saw the need to empower people with technology. Star ng her career in the financial sector, Asha learned of the constraints that technology imposed and began to devise ways and enhancements to bring people and technology closer
A er entering the world of Insurance, Asha observed the inefficiencies of the Agency systems that were hindering, rather than helping agents sell policies. Agents felt disconnected from their Carriers, and the Carriers weren’t ge ng the produc on and repor ng that they expected. A passion was kindled that con nues to grow, to bring Agents and Carriers closer.
One of her earliest ventures was with a Caribbean carrier that had grown a back-office staff of two to three hundred, manually processing a backlog of policy applica ons, crea ng a huge delay in coverage and ul mately profits for the company. Asha, with an IT team of six and AMS360, created the technology to turn the company around. Placing the focus on the technology to accomplish the ra ng and the underwri ng brought the agents closer to the carrier because they began to see their business, and ul mately their commissions, in a reasonable meframe. It was this kind of experience that brought Asha to a real understanding of the business needs of insurance carriers.
Asha’s passion for the insurance industry was ignited. She began fixa ng on fresh ways to u lize technology to overcome the inefficiencies faced by so many carriers.
A er advancing through mul ple engagements where she worked with mul ple carriers and so ware providers, Asha’s focus turned to build her own implementa on company. A company where innova on, coupled with leading tech experts, would allow her to bridge the gap between core product implementa on and enabling carriers to build and manage their unique products swi ly and correctly. This was the catalyst for Aggne.
Employees Speak
Ra ng: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Aggne values its employees and provides excellent perks and benefits to them. The suppor ve nature of the management and the team members makes Aggne a place where new ideas are welcomed and explored. For me, the best thing about Aggne is the opportunity to work on the latest technologies and enhance my personal skill sets. I am happy to be a part of an organiza on that is growing at a fast pace while not compromising on the quality of its services or on the treatment of its employees.
#valueemployess – AISHWARYA
Ra ng: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
VIDIYALA, SDE
Good business ethics, suppor ve management, trust and respect among employees – that’s what AGGNE is all about. I would say the working
environment is very conducive to the processing of transforma ve ideas.
The company focuses on a friendly and posi ve work culture along with a good HR policy. I wish my organiza on all success in its growth. Its really a blissful workplace!
#Posi veWorkCulture – RAJESH KUMAR PANDA, SOLUTION ARCHITECT
Ambi on Box Ra ngs (Based on employee ra ngs and reviews):
• CareerGrowth:4.7 ★
• CompanyCulture:4.7 ★
• JobSecurity:4.7 ★
• WorkSatisfaction:4.6 ★
Demonstrating Excellence
Ra ng: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Cumberland Mutual Insurance upgraded its Duck Creek Policy and Billing Systems from pla orm version 6.3 to 7.2. Our partner in this project, Aggne, helped make this a reality. Just like any large-scale projects, this one had its challenges. Aggne’s technical exper se, around-the-clock availability, understanding, and flexibility make this a great success.
Thank you, Aggne! -
TIM CRIST, ASSISTANT VICE PRESIDENT IT AT CUMBERLAND MUTUAL
Ra ng: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Safepoint Insurance converted their legacy system to the Duck Creek Technologies suite of applica ons. Having the right partner, who has access to the latest technology and the right skill set to interact with it, is cri cal for success. Aggne has been our partner for all of our IT engagements and ini a ves, aligned with our business needs. Aggne’s Swi QA ensured our exis ng data, for our en re book of business remained intact. Implemen ng exhaus ve regression tes ng allowed us to complete our en re conversion in weeks vs. months. The automated and visibly streamlined process, at every step, helped Safepoint navigate the complex conversion process. –
GUS FERNANDEZ, CHIEF UNDERWRITING OFFICER AT SAFEPOINT INSURANCE
RisingAbovetheChallenges
Describingthechallengesfacedbythecompanyduringits initialdays,Ashasays,“when Aggne was started, its team was forced to challenge the ‘status quo.’ No one wanted to believe that Aggne could deliver an integration of any kind, in the timeframe that the company proposed. Until we proved them wrong.”
InAsha’sassessment,thegreatestchallengesforAggne’s teamwereingettingthedecisionmakerstothinkoutsideof whattheyhadalwaysknown,andunfortunately,thisstill remainsachallenge.
“Toooften,theywanttofallbackonabadexperienceora failedattemptintheirpast.Ourchallengetodayisto overcometheemotionalresistancetochangeandsetproper expectationsforthecompletionoftheirconversionor upgradeneeds,”explainsAsha.
Exceptional Achievements
Ÿ 150% workforce growth in the last 12 months
Ÿ 95% employee reten on rate
Ÿ Built an internal learning and development pla orm
Ÿ Aggne has been featured as a leading provider in Everest Group's Duck Creek Services PEAK matrix Assessment 2022
Ÿ Presented a live session at Duck Creek Technologies premiere event, Forma on 2022, in Orlando, FL.
We
are Aggne –Lighting the Way.
Sheadds,“We overcome challenges through the presentation of realities. We have the results to substantiate that we are able to keep our promises.”
WordsofGuidance
Theopportunitiesforacareerintheinsurancesectorare risingwiththehelpoftechnology.Entrepreneursare workingtodevelopmodern-daysolutionsthatcanquickly establishthesenewtechCarriersinthemarketas innovativeprovidersofinsuranceproductsandservices. Thesenewstart-upsneedITteamstobuildandmaintain theirplatforms.It’sanopportunityforexperienced developersandfreshersaliketobuildagreatcareer.
Ashaadvisessuchaspirantstostrengthentheirbase knowledgeastheyjointheseventures.Shetellsthemto “Learnthebusiness.Knowledgeofprogrammingin multiplelanguagesisgreat,butoflittlevalueifyoucan’t buildaproducttomeettheneedsofaclient.”
Sheadds,“Having knowledge of what insurance is, how and why it was created, and the business process flows ar all critical to success.”Sheasksthemtotakeatemporary positionwithafirmintheirsalesdepartment.Learnthe ‘why’ofeveryprocess,it’sthefoundationforevery‘how’.
“Build your logical thinking skills; pay attention to the details, all the details. Learn to listen; it’s the heart of good communication,”addsAsha.
What’sNext?
Asstatedinthecompany’svision,Aggnedesirestobeat theveryforefrontofatransformationofhowinsurance companiesutilizetechnology.Inthecomingtimes, says,“Aggne will continue to innovate, to build tools that can be licensed to other service providers. W to grow and to seek out new opportunities to enhance the performance and reliability of the technology available to carriers.”
Shefurthersays,“Aggnewillcontinuetotrainandmentor Freshers,empoweringyoungpeopletobringtheir perspectiveandtheirvitalitytostrengthenandexciteusto takeonnewchallengesandnewopportunities. willcontinueandenlargeourphilanthropicendeavorsto bringhopeandlighttoourworld.”
GlobalSubscrip on
Interview with Insights Success
ChrisWd
The MAD Scientist; M- making, A-a, D-difference.
Learningsomethingneweverydayisbeneficial,and
thevalueofthecontinuouspursuitofknowledge cannotbeoveremphasised.Insteadofdoingthe samethingrepeatedly,beingopentonewexperiences,and beingintroducedtonewverticalsofknowledgeresultsin effectivelearningprocesses.Everyindividualhastheirbest formoflearning,whichcouldbethroughvisual,auditory, readingandwriting,andkinesthetic.Buttherearepeople withexceptionalabilities,tocombinealltheVARKmodels; whoaresometimescalled,Geniusandothersnickname them,MadScientist.
Theyhavedevelopedthecapacitytopicksomething positive,insightful,anddifferentfromeachday’sevent, includingincidents;inmostcases,theyendupcomingup withinventionsthatchangetheworld.Someofthese inventionsmaynotbeacceptedorappreciatedintheir initialdays,butwhentheydo,ittendstocreateapermanent impactonpeople’slives.
Buthowfarcanwegoincreatingnewknowledgepaths, inventingnewtechnologies,andignitingtheevolutionof creativity?Whilesomepeoplemaygettiredoftryingto improvethroughinnovations,formaybethefearofsocietal rejection,limitationsduetogovernment-setrules,oreven personalhealthchallenges–LifeIsTooShort;thereisChris Ward,amanwhothinksthat,indeed,anythingispossible, aslongasweareopentolearning,admittingourapex abilitiesandbeingwillingtogotheextramiletodobetter.
ChrisWard,aSeniorProgrammeratIBMhas40+yearsof experienceintheresearchindustry.Heiscurrentlyworking onsoftwaredevelopmentforthenextgenerationofthe IBMCloud,whichisthecurrentgrowthbusiness.His contributionshavebeenasadevelopmentengineerina researchlaboratoryandasaresearchscientistinadevelopmentlaboratory.Taskedwithlengthsofventurestomanage andbringgreatresults,Chrisderivesstrengthfromhispast experiencesandisdeterminedlyheads-ontoachieve successinall.
IBMhassixpatentswithChrisWard'snameasaninventor onthem.Thoughtheyareexpiredatthispoint,thatshows hisabilitytoinventnewthings.
There are many new inventions to learn about, develop and understand further having the name of Chris Ward. So, let’s get started:
Kindlybriefusaboutyouandyourprofessionaljourney sincethebeginningofyourcareer.Tellusaboutyour academicandprofessionalmilestones;themajor achievements,accolades,andrecognitionyouhave earnedinyourcareersofar.
IjoinedIBMin1982withanEngineeringdegreefrom CambridgeUniversityasadevelopmentengineer,when IBMwasdevelopingandmarketingharddisks.In1985, IwasassignedfromtheUKtoSanJose,USAtohelpwitha developmenttopicandtolearnmoreaboutthetechnology IreturnedtotheUKattheendof1986.Afewyearsafter thatIBMceaseddevelopingharddisksintheUKandI movedtosoftwaredevelopment.
In1996,orsotworesearchscientistscametoteachus aboutfingerprintmatchingandIwaspartoftheteamthat developedafingerprintmatcher.Thisledtomyassociation withIBMResearch;in2001,Iwentwithmyfamilyto YorktownHeightstodevelopanapplicationthatwould exploittheBlueGenesupercomputerthatIBMdeveloped.I returnedfromtheUSAtotheUKin2003buthave remainedpartofIBMResearchsincethen.IBMwonthe contracttodeliverasuccessortoBlueGenetotheUS Governmentbutlostthecontracttodeliverthenext successortothatmachine,soIamnowdevelopingsoftware foruseinthenextgenerationoftheIBMCloud,whichis thecurrentgrowthbusiness.
Chris Ward Senior Programmer IBM
I am now developing software for use in next generation of the IBM cloud, which is the current growth business.
Inshort,tellusaboutyourRoleasSeniorProgrammer atRedHat,andthesolutions/services/productsofthe company.Yourachievementssinceyoustartedworking inthiscompany?
IamworkingforIBMratherthanforRedHat,butwehave ajointventureforthewaySSDsareconnectedtocloud systemswhereIBMprovidestheresearchseedandRedHat providesthelargerengineeringdevelopmenteffort.
Thisgivesmetheabilitytopostopen-sourcesoftwarefor publicdownloadonhttps://people.redhat.com/chward/, whereIBMonlyallowscertaintypesofopen-source softwareinplaceslikehttps://github.com/IBM/BlueMatter (thatismyteam’scontributiontosoftwareforthe BlueGenesupercomputer).NotallsoftwarethatIBMwrites ispublishedasopensource,butasnon-open-source softwaresaturatesitsmarketmuchis.
Chris Ward and His Father.
HowwillyoudescribeyourselfinonewordorQuote?
A‘MadScientist.’
Beingaprominentleaderinaleadingcompanysuchas IBMasaSeniorProgrammer,whathasbeenyour significantcontributiontothecompany’sgrowth,the departmentyouworkedinandhowhasyourrolein IBMhelpedyourgrowth?
Mycontributionhasbeenasadevelopmentengineer workinginaresearchlaboratory,andnowworkingasa researchscientistinadevelopmentlaboratory.IBMhas6 patentswithmynameonthemasaninventor,mostsoold thattheyhaveexpiredandanyonecanusetheinventions; buttheyallshowthatIcaninventnewthings.IBM providesafantasticsetofresources,some300000people whoarewillingtofollowaleadasthebusinessissteadily reinvented.
Whatarethemajorchallengesyoufacedinyour careers;academic,andprofessional,andhowhasit helpedyoutobecomewhoyouaretoday?
AtuniversityIworkedhard,resultinginafirst-classhonors degree.ThroughoutmyIBMcareer,Ihavefoundmanagers whosupportedwhatIwantedtodo.Themajorchallenges wereprobablythetwointernationalassignmentswhich werequiteanupheavaltomypersonallife,especiallythe secondonewhichwasanupheavalformywifeandthree childrenaswell.
Theinternationalassignmentsledtopromotionsandwere financiallyworthwhile;thefirstpaidoffthemortgageon thehouseIownedatthetime,andthesecondpaidmuchof theschoolfeesfor2ofmychildrenwhowenttoprivate school.
Howdoyoukeepyourselfmotivatedandinspired duringthelonghoursofcoding,andextraworkhours inIBMandRedHat?
ItendtoburnoutifIworkextrahours,andIBMpays seniorpeopleonly10%oftheirbasehourlysalaryfor workingovertime;soextraworkhoursareonlyfor engineersinthefirstfewyearsoftheircareerswherethey arepaid150%ofsalaryforovertime. I am motivated by seeing the tasks I work on become the base for something that customer businesses can use.
Asaleadingfigureinthecomputerprogramming world,whatwouldbeyourmessagetostudentsworldwide,aspiringprogrammers,andentrepreneursinthe technologysector?
Findagrowthmarketanddeliverproductsorservicestoit. Highgrowthtendstomeanhighprices,andhighprices meanstableemploymentandhighwages.
Whatareyournextsteps,moves,orventuresin2023 andthecomingyears?
IhavebeenwithIBMfor40years,anditseemslikelythatI willbewithIBMResearchuntilIretire.Theventureof interestformypartofResearchatthemomentisimproving KubernetesfordeploymentintheIBMCloud;aswe completetheresearchonthatandittransitionstoRedHat fordevelopment,Iwillpickorbeassignedanotherproject fromthelistofbusinessimperativesthatIBMResearch keepssothatIcontinuetodovaluablework.
Pleaseprovideafewtestimonialsofyourfriends, colleagues,orclientswhoyouhavehelpedorworked withinthepastandintheorganizationswhereyouhave worked.
Ÿ Pickafewitemsfrommypatents,articles,andpapersin myportfolioat .http://tjcw.freeshell.org/
Ÿ Alsothis http://tjcw.freeshell.org/Portfolio/Testemonials/19940908 -DB-IS.pdf
Asasideproject,backin2005,Ifiguredouthowtorun LinuxasascreensaverforMicrosoftWindows.Thatwas publishedasanarticleinIBMDeveloperworksthesame weekthatIBMOS/2waswithdrawnfrommarketing;OS/2 hadsaturateditsmarketandwassoldoff(withsomeparts, suchasthejournallingfilesystemandtheREXX interpreter,beingpublishedasopensource.)
MicrosoftrecommendedswitchingtoWindowsandIBM recommendedswitchingtoLinux,anditisstillthesame today.Currently,MicrosoftWindowsdoesnotrunonany brandofIBMserver,whereasLinuxcanrunonallofthem; youwouldhavetoaskMicrosoftifyouwanttoknowwhy thisshouldbe.IBMneverpublishedthescreensavers themselves,andnooneelsetookupthemantletopublish them.
NowthatIampartofRedHatIcanpublishthemmyself;I updatedthescreensaversinrespectofdevelopments between2005and2021,thereisagetting-startedguide publishedbytheLinuxFoundationhere https://www.linux.com/featured/linux-as-a-screensaver-forwindows-the-gift-of-open-source-games-and-sboms-forthe-holidays/ andthescreensaversareavailablefromRedHatatno chargehere https://people.redhat.com/chward/QemuSaverOpen/
Analyzing the value of IntegratingInsurance Software Solutions with Global Businesses
Insurancebusinessesworldwidearereengineeringtheir companymodelstoensurequickturnaroundtime whileprovidingqualityservices,operational efficiency,andthroughput.Insurancecompanies'top prioritiesincludeaddressingregulatoryissues,cuttingcosts, anddevelopingcustomer-centricproductsandservices. Theyaretakingeverypossiblesteptowardthisgoal, includingdeployinginnovativetechnologiestoenhance businessprocessesandstreamlinelegacyapplications.
Somany(ifnotthousands)ofinsurancesoftwareoptions areavailabletoday,makingitdifficulttodeterminewhich programsbestfityourneeds.Thekeyistofindsolutions thatallowyoutoquicklyexpandthecapabilitiesofyour insurancecoresystemswhilenotdisruptingyourcurrent operations.Fortunately,therearenumerousplatforms availablethatallowforseamlessintegrationwithany carrier.Herearethetopinsurancesoftwaresolutionsfor 2023tohelpyousortthroughtheseeminglyendless possibilities.
Let us explore them and learn more about them:
AITrends
Althoughtheindustry'stectonicshiftswillbetechnological, addressingthemisnottheresponsibilityoftheITteam. Instead,boardmembersandcustomer-experienceteams shoulddevotetimeandresourcestodevelopingathorough understandingoftheseAI-relatedtechnologies.
Exploringscenarioswillberequiredtorecognizeand emphasizewhereandwhendisruptionmayoccurandwhat thismeansforspecificbusinesslines.Insurers,forexample, areunlikelytogainmuchinsightfromsmall-scaleIoTpilot projectsindiscretepartsofthebusiness.Theymustinstead proceedwithreasonandanunderstandingofhowtheir organizationcanparticipateintheIoTecosystematscale.
DataStrategy
Dataisrapidlybecomingoneof,ifnotthemostvaluable assetsforanyorganization.Theinsuranceindustryisno exceptioninhowcarriersidentify,quantify,place,and managerisk,dependingontheamountandqualityofdata theycollectthroughoutthelifecycleofapolicy.MostAI technologiesperformbestwhenfedalargeamountofdata fromvarioussources.Asaresult,carriersmustcreatea well-structuredandactionablestrategyforinternaland externaldata.Internaldatamustbeorganizedtofacilitate andsupporttherapiddevelopmentofnewanalyticsinsights andcapabilities.
Whendealingwithexternaldata,carriersmustfocuson securingdataaccessthatenrichesandcomplementstheir internaldatasets.Therealchallengewillbegaining entranceatareasonablecost.Astheexternaldata ecosystemgrows,itwilllikelyremainhighlyfragmented, makingitdifficulttofindhigh-qualitydataatanaffordable price.
Overall,datastrategymustincludeavarietyofmethodsfor obtainingandsecuringaccesstoexternaldata,aswellas methodsforcombiningthisdatawithinternalsources.
InfrastructureofTechnology
Inaugmentedchess,averageplayerswithAItendto outperformexpertplayerswiththesameAI.Theunderlying causeofthiscounterintuitiveoutcomeisdeterminedby whetherthepersoninteractingwithAIembraces,trusts,and comprehendsthesupportingtechnology.Carriersaremade measuredbutsustainedinvestmentsinpeopletoensurethat advancedanalyticsisviewedasamust-havecapability throughouttheorganization.
TogeneratevaluefromfutureAIusecases,carriersmust integrateskills,technology,andinsightsacrossthe organizationtodeliverunique,holisticcustomer experiences.Mostcarriersmustmakeaconsciouscultural shift,relyingonexecutivebuy-inandleadership.An aggressivestrategyforattracting,cultivating,andretaining adiverseworkforcewithcriticalskillsetswillberequired tokeepup.
Asanultimatestepindevelopingthenewworkforce, organizationswillseekexternalresourcesandpartnersto supplementin-housecapabilities,enablingcarriersto securetherequisitesupportforbusinessevolutionand execution.Thearchitectureofthefuturewillalsobevery differentfromtoday.Carriersshouldbeginmakingtargeted investmentstotransitiontoamoreforward-thinking technologystackabletoaccommodateatwo-speedIT architecture.
Thenexteraofsuccessfulfrontlineinsuranceworkerswill beinhighdemand.Theywouldneedtobeauniqueblend oftechnologicallyadaptable,creative,andinsteadamixof semiautomatedandmachine-supportedtasksthatwill constantlyevolve.
To sum up,
Rapidtechnologicaladvancementsinthenextdecadewill resultindisruptivechangesintheinsuranceindustry
Carriersthatusenewtechnologiestodevelopinnovative products,helpcognitivelearninginsightsfromnewdata sources,improveefficienciesandlowercosts,andmeet consumerdemandsforindividualizationanddynamic adaptationwillwinAI-basedinsurance.
- Shreyasi Shelke
Leadershipreferstotheabilityofanindividual orgrouptoinfluence,inspireandguideothers towardacommongoal.Cross-cultural leadershipinvolvesleadingpeoplefromdiverse culturalbackgroundsandconsideringtheirunique values,beliefs,andbehaviors.Effectivecross-cultural leadersareabletounderstandandappreciatecultural differences,communicateeffectively,andadapttheir leadershipstyletodifferentculturalcontexts.By doingso,theycancreateapositiveandinclusivework environment,fosterteamworkandcollaboration,and achievebetterbusinessoutcomes.
Culturalcompetencerequiresknowledgeofone’sown culture,anunderstandingofothercultures,andthe abilitytoadaptone’scommunicationandbehaviorto differentculturalnorms.Leaderswithintercultural competencecanbuildbridgesbetweencultures,raise diversityandinclusiveness,andcreateanenvironment whereallemployeesfeelvaluedandrespected.
Theglobalizationofbusinessandtheadvancementof technologyhasmadeitpossiblefororganizationsto haveemployeesandteamslocatedallovertheworld. Thishasledtoanincreasedneedforintercultural competence,asExecutivesandleadersmustnavigate andeffectivelymanagecross-culturalinteractionsand relationships.Intoday’sworkenvironment, interculturalcompetenceisessentialforbuilding strong,effectiveteams,promotingcollaborationand cooperation,anddrivingbusinesssuccess.The pandemichasfurtheremphasizedtheimportanceof interculturalcompetence,asremoteworkandvirtual collaborationhavebecomethenorm.
Leaderswhopossessinterculturalcompetenceare betterequippedtoleaddiverseteams,overcome culturaldifferences,anddrivepositiveoutcomesina globalbusinessenvironment.
Yes,culturereferstothesharedvalues,norms,beliefs, andbehaviorsofaparticulargroupofpeople,which shapetheirexperiencesandperspectives.Cultureis oftenlearnedfromchildhoodandcanbeinfluencedby avarietyoffactors,includingfamily,community, education,andmedia.Asindividualsinteractwith differentculturesthroughouttheirlives,theymay internalizeandincorporateelementsofthosecultures intotheirown.Thus,individualscanhavemultiple culturalidentities,eachshapedbytheirunique experiencesandinteractionswithdifferentcultures.
Asaglobalexecutivecoach,Ipartnerwithmyclients toenhancetheircross-culturalleadershipforcreating andmanagingsuccessfulcross-culturalteams.The leaderofacross-culturalteammustbeableto understandtheculturaldifferencesamongteam members,communicateeffectively,andbuildtrustand respectamongteammembers.
Effectivecross-culturalleadershaveastrongsense to:
Promoteculturalawarenessandunderstanding: Encourageteammemberstolearnaboutand understandeachother’scultures.
Encourageopencommunication:Ensurethatteam membersfeelcomfortablesharingtheiropinionsand ideas,regardlessoftheirculturalbackground.
Adapttheirleadershipstyle:Leadinawaythatis appropriatefortheculturalcontextandencouragesthe fullparticipationofallteammembers.
Fosterteamwork:Createapositive,inclusivework environmentthatpromotescollaborationand cooperationamongteammembers.
Manageconflictseffectively:Handleconflictsthat mayarisebetweenteammembersfromdifferent culturalbackgroundsinarespectfulandprofessional manner.
Byfollowingthesepractices,aneffectivecrossculturalleadercanleadasuccessfulcross-cultural team,achievecommongoals,anddrivebusiness success.
Duringthelastthreeyears,wehaveworkedasan exceptiveandteamcoach,workingcloselywith leadersandteamstodeveloptheirvision,cohesion, andperformancewithakeysuccessfactor:Building upastrongandwideinclusiveculturalcontext.
Notwoteamsarealike,andculturaldifferencescan greatlyimpactteamdynamicsandcommunication.
ForLeaders,Executiveswhoareexpanding globally,itisimportantto:
Ÿ Doculturalresearch-Assessment:Understandthe culturalnorms,values,andcommunicationstylesof eachteam’smembers.
Ÿ Adapttheirleadershipapproach:Adjustyourstyles andstrategiestomeettheneedsofeachteam.
Ÿ Encourageculturalunderstanding:Fosterasenseof culturalawarenessandunderstandingamongteam members.
Ÿ Beflexible:Beopentonewapproachesandbe willingtoadaptasneededtoeffectivelyleadeach team.
Ÿ Maintainopencommunication:Encourageopen, honestcommunicationbetweenteammembersand betweentheleader/Managerandtheteam.
Ÿ Bybeingculturallysensitiveandadaptable,youcan effectivelymanagediverseteams,promote teamworkandcollaboration,anddrivepositive outcomesfortheteamandtheorganization.
Jihane Labib CEO @CoachinglabAcademy
Master Cer fied Team Coach, MCC & ACTC
Global Board Director
As a global execu ve and team coach, Ms. Jihane Labib empowers corporate leaders and teams to enhance their collabora on, strategic impact, and performance, while nurturing their well-being and inspira on, since 2009.
Ms. Labib works in Europe, Africa and the Middle East and her clients list includes global and Middle Eastern companies - Interna onal banks, Hi-tech industries, FMCG and ‘big 4’ consultancies. She is fluent in Arabic, French and English.
Industry Insider EXAMINING the Cost-Benefit
A
N A L Y S I S
of
InsuranceSoftware
S O L U T I O N S
Cost-benefitanalysiscomparestheestimatedcosts
andbenefitsofaprojectdecisiontodetermineifit makesbusinesssense.Ingeneral,cost-benefit analysisentailstotalingallcostsassociatedwithaprojector decisionandsubtractingthattotalfromtheprojected benefits.
Therearesignificanteconomicbenefitstoconductingthese analysesbeforemakingmajororganizationaldecisions. Studiesallowyoutoextractcriticalinformation,suchas yourorganization'svaluechainortheROIofaproject.
Cost-benefitanalysisisatypeofdata-drivendecisionmakingcommonlyusedinbusinessatestablishedfirmsand startups.Thefundamentalprinciplesandframeworkcanbe appliedtoalmostanydecision-makingprocess,whether business-relatedornot.
Let's know more about cost-benefit and its advantages: CostBenefitAnalysis
Companiesandbusinessesfrequentlyuseacost-benefit analysistodetermineandevaluatethecostsandprofitsa projectmaygenerate.Thestudyassistsbusinessesin determiningaproject'sfinancialandotherfeasibility,such asopportunitycosts.
Therearenumerousreasonstoconductacost-benefit analysis.Thetechniqueisbasedondata-drivendecisionmaking;anyrecommendedoutcomeisbasedon quantifiableinformationexplicitlygatheredforasingle problem.
Acost-benefitanalysisnecessitatesextensiveresearchinto alltypesofcosts.Thisentailstakingintoaccount unforeseeablecostsandcomprehendingexpensetypesand characteristics.Thislevelofanalysisonlystrengthensthe findingsasmoreresearchisconductedontheproject'sstate oftheoutcome,providingbettersupportforstrategic planningendeavors.
Oncethecompanyrealizesthehighcostsofaprojector decision,itcancomparethosecoststotheproject'sbenefits. Thebenefitsofaprojectarefrequentlysimilartothe charges.Theycanincludedirectbenefits,suchasincreased profit,andintangiblebenefits,suchasincreasedcustomer oremployeesatisfaction.Afterweighingthebenefitsand costs,thebusinesscandecidewhetherthebenefits outweighthecostsandwhethertheprojectordecisionwill benefitthecompany.
Thebenefitsthecompanymayforegoiftheprojector projectdecisioniscarriedoutareconsideredinthe opportunitycosts.Oncethecompanyhasidentifieditshigh costsandbenefits,itwillbebetterabletoweighthe decision'sprosandcons.However,occasionallyitfailsto makethejudgmentcrystalclear.
Importanceofdata-drivendecision-making
Cost-benefitanalysisfrequentlyfocusesonfactsanddatato assistcompaniesandbusinessesinmakingmoreinformed decisionsthatarefreeofpersonalbiasesorpreferences. Examiningtheactualexpensesthatthebusinesswillincur andwhetherthoseexpenseswillresultinbeneficialresults canassistcompaniesindeterminingwhetherthechoiceis goodforthem.Itcanalsoprovidefact-basedevidenceto projectmanagerstosupporttheirnewprojectideasand effectivelypresentthemtocompanyexecutives.
Characterizinghiddencosts
Analyzingthetotalcostofaprojectcanhelpbusinesses identifyanyhiddenfeesorexpensestheywerepreviously unawareof.Thesecostscanincludeopportunitycosts,such asthepotentiallossofprofitfromchoosingoneproject overanother,andintangiblefees,suchasthetemporaryloss ofcustomersatisfactioncausedbydevotingmoreresources totheproject.However,thecost-benefitanalysiscanhelp businessesuncoverhiddenbenefitslikeincreasedemployee satisfaction,productivity,andworkquality.
Makingdecisionseasier
Thoughsomedecisionsbasedoncost-benefitanalysis requirecarefulconsideration,theprocessfrequently simplifiesmanychoicesforcompaniesandbusinesses becausetheycanseethecorrelationbetweenexpensesand projectresults.Ifyouknowthataprojectwillcostmore thanitwillbenefit,youcanquicklydeterminewhetheritis worthyourcompany'stimeandresources.Alternatively,if thebenefitsoutweighthecosts,youcanmoreeffectively determinehowthosebenefitswillaffectyourcompanyin thelongrun.
Providescompetitiveadvantage
Cost-benefitanalysiscanhelpbusinessesgainacompetitive advantagebyquicklygeneratinginnovativeideasand determininghowtoremainrelevantinthecurrentmarket. Continuouslydevelopingnewideasandconductingcostbenefitanalysesonthemcanassistbusinessesinremaining competitiveandcreatingproductsandservicesthatare moreappealingtopotentialcustomers.Usingcost-benefit analysiscanalsohelpthemavoidprojectsthatmaypresent themwithvariouschallengesorissues,resultinginalossof profitorcompetitiveness.
In summary,
Whenexaminingthecost-benefitanalysisofinsurance softwaresolutions,itisessentialtoconsiderthecosts associatedwithimplementation,thepotentialefficiency gains,improvedcustomerexperience,riskmanagement capabilities,andthepossibleROI.Bycarefullyevaluating thesefactors,organizationscandecidewhetherinvestingin insurancesoftwaresolutionsisworthwhile.
- Shreyasi Shelke
GérardGatt CEO Sakowin
Westayrealisticby accountingforproductioncosts andbyacknowledgingtheshort, medium,andlong-termstrategy toreachdecarbonizationgoals atalargescalewhileconsidering theinfrastructurealreadyat ourdisposal.
TransitioningEnergyintoaLow-costSustainableHydrogen
Withtheever-increasingpopulationresultedin
moreusageofnaturalresources.OurEarthis depletingitsnaturalresources,andithasbeen providinguseversincetheexistenceofhumansonearth.It hasbeenexperiencingamajorcrisis,andtheneedto developournaturalresourceshascomeforth.
Thethoughtoftransformingenergyintorenewable resourcesdoessoundlikeanenchantingtheory The conceptstruckGerardGatt,CEOofSakowinGreen Energy.ItstandsattheforefrontofSustainableHydrogen.
Initially,itbeganwithmakingH2withwaterelectrolysis andlaterprecededproducingsustainablehydrogen.The sustainablehydrogenproducedisnotonlycostcompetitive butalsoenergeticallyefficient.Allcreditsgototheuseof biomethaneornaturalgasasthefeedstock.
Thispioneeringtechnologyisaccompaniedbynumerous grantsthatareCO2emissionsandtheabilitytoH2on-site andfosteringtowardsthedemand.Sakowinproduces equipmenttoproducehydrogenandsolidcarbonwithzero CO2emissionsfromgas.
Let’s dive into the revolutionary journey of Sakowin and learn more about it:
BeginningofSakowin
WhilebeginningtotalkabouttheinceptionoftheSakowin. Gerardstatesitbeganwithelectrolysis!Hisoldcolleague, whomhemetintheUnitedStatesandwhoinvestedin hydrogen,contactedhimtokickstartanelectrolysis technologyusingwatermoleculeresonance.
Backthen,thistechnologyofferedremarkableresults.Asis commoninindustrialinnovation,hiscompanyraninto someobstaclesduringtheindustrializationoftheprocess andhadtopausethedevelopmentofthisfirstcompany. Thisishowhestartedfocusingonanotheraspectofthe
energytransitionthatothercontactshadmademediscover: theroleofgas.
Asasubstituteforcoalandoil,naturalgashasproventobe effectiveandhasbeenqualifiedasatypeofgreenenergyby theEuropeanUnion.Whilethemostmoderncoal-fired powerplantsemitaround800gramsofCO perkWh,gas- 2 firedpowerplants’emissionsrangebetween350and400 grams.
Ifonehadtochoosebetweenthesetypesoffossilfuels,gas isacleaneralternativetransitioningtogreenerenergy.Gas, therefore,offersaneffectivesolutiontoproducehydrogen whilemakinguseofexistinginfrastructureifthemethodof treatmentismodifiedanddecompositionisfavoredover combustion.
Thisishowhediscoveredplasmatechnology,whichallows themtodecomposemethaneintohydrogenandsolidcarbon withnoCO emissions.Aftermeetingwithseveral 2 specialists,hecreatedSakowin.
EnrouteJourneySoFar
Gerardhadoverthirtyyearsofexperienceinbusiness development,withmajorsuccessesindiversesectors.He hasworkedinthedigitalsectorasproductmanagerof CitrixintheUSAduringmyfirstfiveyears,wherehe launchedCitrix’sblockbusterproductlineMetaframe. Then,Gerardhadtheopportunitytodevelopandimplement theCitrixinternationalstrategyasSeniorMarketing Director,wherehecontributedtotherevenueincreaseof thecompanyoutsidetheUSA,from$1Mto$150Minfour years.
GerardmentionsworkinginessentialoilsasCEOofAlbert Vieille,purchasedin2019byGivaudan–takingpartin triplingthecompany’srevenueinfiveyears.Since2017,he hasbeenfullycommittedtothecleanenergyindustryand theproductionofdecarbonatedhydrogen,wantingtoinvest
hisexperienceinbusinessdevelopmentintotechnologythat isusefulfortheenergytransition.
PrimeProductsofSakowin
AtSakowin,theyhavedevelopedmethaneplasmolysis technologythatallowsustoproducedecarbonated hydrogenandsolidcarbon.
It’satechnologicalbrickthatcanbeintegratedintothe existingindustrialchainsofproductionattheendofgas lines.Itallowsthemtoproducehydrogenonsiteandavoid twomajorobstaclestoacompetitiveandsustainable hydrogenindustry
First,theissueoftransportingandstockinghydrogenwhen itsproductionisdecentralizeddisappearsnoneedtoliquify hydrogentotransportit,whichisaveryenergy-consuming process.
High-pressurecompressionmakestheoperationmore complexanddoesnotresolvetheissueslinkedtostock. Thetechnologiesbeingdevelopedtosolvetheseissuesare promisingbutarenotmatureenoughyet.
Thesolutionallowsclientstocapitalizeonexistinggas infrastructureandlimitthecostofhydrogenuse,bothin termsofinstallingunitsofproductionandintermsof transport.
Solidcarbon,alsogeneratedbythesolution,canalsobe usedinconstructionandagriculture,withapositiveimpact ontheenvironment.Ourtechnology,whenusing biomethane,evenallowsuserstobenegativeintermsof CO production. 2
PrinciplesofSakowin
“Commitment and excellence.”
Thefirmhaseightscientistswhoallhavetheirexpertise.At Sakowin,theyareconsciousoftheimportanceof contributingeffectivelytotheenergytransitionwithan approachthatisbothrealisticandambitious.
Gerardstates, “We stay realistic by accounting for production costs and by acknowledging the short, medium, and long-term strategy to reach decarbonization goals at a large scale while taking into account the infrastructure already at our disposal.”
Inparallel,theirdecarbonizationobjectivesareambitious, intendingtolimittheeffectsofclimatechange.
GuidingThroughtheTrailsofLeadership
“Vision is key”
Theenergytransitionrequiresmuchmorethanjust technology,andonlyabroadunderstandingofwhatisat stakeherecanhelpateamtoenvisionsuccessandmake senseofdailywork,evenwhentimesarehard.
TheEuropeanUnioncurrentlyconsumes786.432Mtoein petroleum,gas,andcoal.TheRePowerEUinitiative predictstheuseof14Mtofrenewablehydrogenby2030, ofwhich9.6MtwouldbeproducedwithintheEuropean Union.Those9.6Mtrepresent11Mtoe,whichisslightly morethan1%ofthecurrentconsumptionoffossilfuelsin Europe!
Andyet,withtheelectrolysistechnologycurrentlybeing promotedonthecontinent,this1%wouldrepresenta considerablecost.
Theproductionof1kgofgreenhydrogenbyelectrolysis requires59kWhofrenewableenergy.In2021,renewable energycapacityinEuropewas15,5Gtoe.
Therefore,thefirmneedstodevotemorethanallour capacityofrenewablestoreachourgoal!Intheshortterm, weurgentlyneedtodeploymoreefficientsolutionsto producehydrogenwhereweneeditmost:intheindustry first.
Source:BPStatisticalReviewofWorldEnergy2022 (https://www.connaissancedesenergies.org/bp-statisticalreview-world-energy-2022-les-chiffres-cles-de-lenergiedans-le-monde-220629):Primaryenergy:Consumptionby fuel(p.9)etElectricitygenerationbyfuel(p.50) +1kgH2=33kWhetconvertisseur https://www.onlineconversion.com/energy.htm
Supervisionthroughthe
Adversities
Whileaddressingthechallenges,Gerardmentions “Emergency, Capacity, Cost.”
Emergencybecauseclimatechangehasbecomeahighly pressingissue,aswecannowseealmosteveryday
Capacity,becausethechallengeisasbigastheproblem, andweneedtoactatascaleneverseenbefore.
Lastly,cost,becausehydrogenisamarket,and competitivenessiskeyinglobalcompetition.
That’swhyGerardstronglybelievesintheirmethane plasmalysisasitismuchmoreenergyefficientand, therefore,cost-effectivethanelectrolysis.
WordsofWisdom
Gerardstates, “First, know your topic: read about it and talk to people who are knowledgeable about it.”
HewouldnothavebeenabletocreateSakowinwithout numerousconversationswithpeoplefromdifferentfields andwiththesameawarenessofissuesanddifficulties linkedtotheenergytransition,exclaimedGerard.
Furthermore,headds, “Second: know why you’re doing it. Being aware of the role I can play in the energy transition is what drives me every day!”
VisiontowardstheFuture
Sakowinisaimingforanindustrialpilotby2024and commercializationby2025. Theywouldbebuildinga6kWprototypein2022,whichisalsoanactiveperiodof researchforpartnershipswithindustrialactorscommitted tothedecarbonizationoftheiractivitiesandinterestedin newusesforsolidcarbon.Numerousindustriesare involved:materialmanufacturing,construction,agriculture, automotive,etc.
Recognitions
SakowincurrentlyhaspartnershipswithPonticelli,SaintGobain,theADFgroup,andAESDana.Bpifrance(apublic investmentbankinFrance),awardedSakowinitsDeeptech labelinMarchof2022andallocatedtoSakowin€2.5M financing.
ThefirmalsobenefitsfromthesupportoftheEuropean InnovationCouncil(EICAccelerator),witha€6.5M financing(€2.5Mgrantand€4Minequity.)
