June 13, 2025 • By Stephen Price

Gemspring Capital Management, a middle-market private equity firm, has made a strategic investment in Residence, a creative services provider. Residence combines strategy, storytelling, and technology to help brands shape culture. The investment was made by Gemspring Growth Solutions I, a fund providing flexible capital solutions. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Residence has a global network of creative companies, including BUCK, VTProDesign, and Giant Ant, and works with Fortune 100 companies. The investment will allow Residence to scale its impact and continue empowering brands and creative talents. Gemspring will support Residence in accelerating strategic acquisitions, expanding AI-driven creative capabilities, and capitalizing on innovation and market expansion opportunities.

June 13, 2025 • By The Star Online

Experts predict that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) could become the world's fourth-largest economy in the coming decades. To achieve this, ASEAN must accelerate integration, strengthen institutions, and adapt to global shifts. The regional bloc should focus on emerging industries, such as technology and e-commerce, and prioritize high-tech sectors with greater value-added potential. ASEAN's economic integration has been progressing steadily, with a strong emphasis on consensus and free trade. However, experts note that the bloc faces institutional limitations, including a slow decision-making structure and under-resourced secretariat. To overcome these challenges, ASEAN must develop strategic options, address internal development disparities, and deepen cooperation with countries like China. By doing so, ASEAN can increase its global influence and play a more significant role in regional and international affairs.

June 13, 2025 • By DN Miner

DN Miner, a cloud mining platform, is enhancing its user interface and experience to make crypto mining more accessible and intuitive. The platform's modern design, powered by AI-driven mining infrastructure, has attracted users from competing services with outdated interfaces. Recent updates include a minimalist dashboard, effortless navigation, and features such as daily earnings accumulation. DN Miner's human-centered design philosophy handles technical complexity behind the scenes, allowing users to start cloud mining within minutes without needing physical hardware or coding skills. The platform provides a smart strategy for earning passive crypto income, reducing portfolio volatility, and unlocking the potential of idle capital. With a $100 new user bonus, DN Miner is making crypto mining more accessible, profitable, and secure.

June 13, 2025 • By Research and Markets

The "First and Last Mile Delivery Market 2025-2034" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com. The market is projected to reach $186.6 billion by 2025, growing at a CAGR of 10.2% to $446.4 billion by 2034. The report assesses factors influencing the market's supply and demand dynamics, including geopolitical, demographic, and Porter's five forces analyses. The market is driven by the growth of e-commerce, urbanization, and the surge in on-demand services. Technological innovations like AI, data analytics, and autonomous vehicles are revolutionizing delivery processes, enhancing cost-efficiency and sustainability. The adoption of electric vehicles and route optimization technology is also reducing delivery times and conserving fuel. The report predicts that the market will continue to grow, driven by technological evolution and rising consumer expectations. Advanced AI and machine learning will refine delivery management, while blockchain technology will enhance supply chain transparency and security. Sustainability will remain a key focus, with an emphasis on electric vehicles and carbon-neutral solutions. Collaborations between logistics companies and e-commerce platforms will boost innovation and refine service offerings.

June 13, 2025 • By Ed Nightingale

The US actors' union SAG-AFTRA has reached a tentative agreement with the video game industry, ending a nearly year-long strike. The agreement includes provisions to protect performers from AI abuse, such as informed consent and compensation gains. Voice actor Jennifer Hale expressed relief and appreciation for the agreement, stating that it represents a constructive effort from both sides. The contract will be submitted to SAG-AFTRA members for ratification, with details to be released on June 18. Hale hopes that the industry will move forward mindfully and proactively, prioritizing consent, control, and compensation. The strike's end is seen as a positive step, but Hale acknowledges that repair and rebuilding will take time, and the industry must work together to move forward.

June 13, 2025 • By Julian Horsey

Microsoft Dynamics 365 is a platform that combines Customer Relationship Management (CRM) and Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) to simplify business operations. It offers a cloud-based design, robust features, and seamless integration with other Microsoft tools. The platform helps businesses streamline workflows, enhance customer engagement, and make data-driven decisions. Its core modules, CRM and ERP, work together to provide a unified view of operations. Dynamics 365 is suitable for businesses of all sizes and industries, offering features such as real-time analytics, customization options, and industry-specific applications. By using Dynamics 365, businesses can improve operational efficiency, adapt to market conditions, and drive growth. The platform's intuitive design ensures a smooth onboarding experience, and its versatility makes it a valuable tool for various business scenarios. To maximize its benefits, users can implement strategies for efficient navigation and workflow customization, ultimately transforming the way their organization operates.

June 13, 2025 • By Anonymous

The Covenant of Mayors in Sub-Saharan Africa (CoM SSA) is a regional chapter of the Global Covenant of Mayors, with over 380 cities committed to climate action. The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) supports CoM SSA through its current implementation phase, aiming to enhance access to finance for climate-resilient urban infrastructure. GIZ is seeking a technical advisor to strengthen the financial and technical viability of urban energy and infrastructure projects across CoM SSA partner cities. The advisor will support project preparation, facilitate access to finance, and promote strategic collaboration with development finance institutions and the private sector. Key responsibilities include facilitating access to finance, establishing private sector partnerships, developing an investment-ready project pipeline, and advancing digital tools and data-driven infrastructure planning. The position is based in Brussels and offers a temporary contract under Belgian law, with a competitive salary and benefits package. Applicants should submit their CV, university degrees, and references, along with a one-page cover letter, to be considered for the role.

June 13, 2025 • By Anonymous

The Covenant of Mayors in Sub-Saharan Africa (CoM SSA) is a regional chapter of the Global Covenant of Mayors, with over 380 cities committed to climate action. The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) supports CoM SSA through its current implementation phase, aiming to enhance access to finance for climate-resilient urban infrastructure. GIZ is seeking a technical advisor to strengthen the financial and technical viability of urban energy and infrastructure projects across CoM SSA partner cities. The advisor will support project preparation, facilitate access to finance, and promote strategic collaboration with development finance institutions and the private sector. Key responsibilities include facilitating access to finance, establishing private sector partnerships, developing an investment-ready project pipeline, and advancing digital tools and data-driven infrastructure planning. The position is based in Brussels and offers a temporary contract under Belgian law, with a competitive salary and benefits package. Applicants should submit their CV, university degrees, and references, along with a one-page cover letter, to comssa@giz.de.

June 13, 2025 • By Hannah (BitterSweet)

A new coffee product, Mad Coffee, has been introduced, offering a unique alternative to instant coffee. Made from the same beans as Mad Tea, it uses a flash-freezing process called lyophilization to create coffee crystals that can be reanimated in cold water, resulting in a smooth and full-bodied cold brew coffee. This process eliminates bitterness and grit, producing a low-acidity cup with clean tasting notes. Mad Coffee is convenient, easy to prepare, and comes in various flavors, making it a great option for those who want a high-quality coffee experience without the hassle of traditional brewing methods.

June 13, 2025 • By Paul Taylor

Marzetti, a US-based food company, was founded in 1896 by Teresa and Joseph Marzetti. The company started as a small Italian restaurant and grew into a four-star restaurant known for its salad dressings. By 1955, the restaurant's upstairs kitchen had become a full-scale salad dressing factory, and Marzetti dressings could be found in grocery stores throughout Ohio. Today, Marzetti produces various food products, including salad dressings, dips, and baked goods. In 2018, Marzetti's CEO, Dave Ciezinski, hired Liam Durbin as the company's Chief Information Officer to replace the outdated legacy green-screen PRISM software with a modern ERP system. After a competitive bidding process, SAP was chosen as the new ERP system due to its dominance in the consumer-packaged goods industry. The transformation project, known as Project Ascent, began in April 2019, with Capgemini as the system integrator. The project was initially planned to be completed in four waves but was extended to six waves due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The project team implemented SAP S/4HANA Cloud running on Microsoft Azure and SAP Trade Promotion Management. The project is now considered complete, and the IT team has focused on standing up the product organization and building relationships between product owners and department heads. The company has also undertaken a master data project to ensure data accuracy and consistency across the organization. Marzetti has chosen Microsoft for its analytics platform, which has improved the company's ability to make data-driven decisions. The company is also exploring AI capabilities, including an accounts payable automation project using optical character recognition. Durbin highlighted the importance of having a fully-staffed organizational change management team for SAP training and change management. The team played a crucial role in ensuring the project was rolled out on time and provided training and support to employees. However, the company has faced challenges, including high turnover rates in some locations, which has made it difficult to hire hourly workers. Durbin emphasized the need to restore the appeal of manufacturing jobs in the US. Despite these challenges, Marzetti has successfully completed Project Ascent, and the company is now focused on optimizing and improving its ERP system to deliver ongoing value to the business.

June 13, 2025 • By Rajiv Kumaresan, Forbes Councils Member, Rajiv Kumaresan, Forbes Councils Member https://www.forbes.com/councils/forbestechcouncil/people/rajivkumaresan/

The article discusses the adoption of AI agents in the healthcare industry, which can perform specific tasks autonomously or assist humans in complex workflows. AI agents can interpret medical images, summarize patient data, automate scheduling and billing, and engage in natural language conversations with patients. They can reduce diagnostic errors, flag anomalies early, and help personalize treatment plans. AI agents can also streamline workflows, improve patient engagement, and offload routine tasks from clinical staff. The article highlights the benefits of AI agents in healthcare, including improved efficiency, accuracy, and responsiveness. However, it also notes the challenges of integrating AI agents into healthcare systems, such as data privacy and security, bias and fairness, clinical trust, and integration complexity. The author, Rajiv Kumaresan, shares his experience in developing AI agents for various use cases, including medical record summarization. He emphasizes the importance of designing and deploying AI agents responsibly, to augment human intelligence rather than replace it. The article concludes that the adoption of AI agents in healthcare is an essential strategy for institutions that seek efficiency, agility, and smarter care delivery. As the healthcare landscape continues to evolve, organizations that proactively adopt AI-driven solutions will be better equipped to deliver high-quality, personalized, and scalable care. AI agents will be increasingly woven into the fabric of healthcare, supporting clinicians and engaging patients at the right moments, and ensuring care is more proactive, precise, and continuous.