Connect with us

Technology

Silicom Reports Q2 2024 Results & Update of Strategic Plan

Published

5 months ago

on

KFAR SAVA, Israel, July 29, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Silicom Ltd. (NASDAQ: SILC), a leading provider of high-performance networking and data infrastructure solutions, today reported its financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2024, and provided an update regarding the Strategic Plan announced on February 1st.  

Financial Results

Second quarter: Silicom’s revenues for the second quarter of 2024 were $14.5 million compared with $38.1 million for the second quarter of 2023.

On a GAAP basis, the company’s net loss for the quarter totalled $(1.5) million, or $(0.25) per ordinary share (basic and diluted), compared with net income of $3.8 million, or $0.56 per ordinary share (basic and diluted), for the second quarter of 2023.

On a non-GAAP basis (as described and reconciled below), net loss for the quarter totalled $(0.9) million, or $(0.14) per ordinary share (basic and diluted), compared with net income of $4.5 million, or $0.66 per ordinary share (basic and diluted), for the second quarter of 2023.

First Six Months: Silicom’s revenues for the first half of 2024 were $28.9 million compared with $75.3 million for the first half of 2023.

On a GAAP basis, net loss for the period totalled $(4.9) million, or $(0.80) per ordinary share (basic and diluted), compared with net income of $7.3 million, or $1.07 per diluted share ($1.09 per basic share), for the first half of 2023.

On a non-GAAP basis (as described and reconciled below), net loss for the period totalled $(3.2) million, or $(0.52) per ordinary share (basic and diluted), compared with net income of $8.6 million, or $1.27 per diluted share ($1.28 per basic share), for the first half of 2023.

During the first half of 2024, the Company generated more than $13 million in cash, and invested approximately half of that, about $6.6 million, in repurchasing Silicom shares. 

Guidance

In light of longer-than-expected sales cycles, the prolonged excess inventory digestion periods of several large customers and the global economic slowdown, Management projects that revenues for the third quarter of 2024 will range from $14 million to $15 million, and expects that revenues for the second half of 2024 as a whole to be similar to those of the first half.

Share Repurchase Plan

During the first half of the year, the Company repurchased approximately 410,000 of its ordinary shares at an investment of approximately $6.6 million. This was in line with the Strategic Plan, which calls for the acquisition in total of 1.6 million shares. The timing and actual number of shares repurchased in the future will depend upon a variety of factors, including share market price and general business and market conditions.

Comments of Management  

Liron Eizenman, Silicom’s President and CEO, commented, “The second quarter was another period of focused execution in line with our Strategic Plan, which has stabilized our expenses and brought a clear focus to our sales and R&D activities. As a result, we now have an exceptionally broad and deep pipeline of high-potential sales opportunities, making us even more optimistic about our long-term prospects. In parallel, however, we continue to be impacted by the market’s slowed sales cycles, which have significantly lengthened the timeframes of our Design Win processes and sales ramp-ups. This is having a negative impact on our revenues that is likely to persist for several more quarters through 2024 and 2025. As such, we have now extended our Strategic Plan by one year, with strong annual growth rates of 20%-30% expected to materialize from 2026 and to lead to over $3 Earnings Per Share (EPS) on annual revenues of $150 – $160 million.”

Mr. Eizenman continued, “While our guidance is conservative, we are excited by the upside potential of our pipeline, whose many opportunities could each generate annual revenues of $5 – $20 million. These range from low/mid-range networking solution customers evolving towards our higher-end offerings, to greenfield customers expressing interest in our latest FPGAs and Smart NICs, to existing Smart NIC customers migrating towards our full systems, and more. Promising talks are underway regarding large energy, retail, restaurant chains and connected vehicle operators evaluating our new line of ruggedized systems, and with SASE customers who already look to Silicom as a critical supplier.”

Mr. Eizenman concluded, “As we pursue these opportunities, we continue with the strict discipline, focus and control that has enabled us to remain cash positive throughout this challenging period. We have ‘right-sized’ our workforce, continue to optimize our inventory, and currently hold $78 million in cash. These assets, coupled with our superb products, a bursting pipeline of opportunities and the industry’s best minds, are the raw materials that we will utilize to rebuild Silicom and to achieve our full potential.”

Conference Call Details

Silicom’s Management will host an interactive conference today, July 29th, at 9am Eastern Time (6am Pacific Time, 4pm Israel Time) to review and discuss the results.

To participate, investors may either listen via a webcast link hosted on Silicom’s website or via the dial-in. The link is under the investor relations’ webcast section of Silicom’s website at https://www.silicom-usa.com/webcasts/ 

For those that wish to dial in via telephone, one of the following teleconferencing numbers may be used:

US: 1 866 860 9642
ISRAEL: 03 918 0609
INTERNATIONAL:  +972 3 918 0609
At: 9:00am Eastern Time, 6:00am Pacific Time, 4:00pm Israel Time

It is advised to connect to the conference call a few minutes before the start.

For those unable to listen to the live call, a replay of the call will be available for three months from the day after the call under the above-mentioned webcast section of Silicom’s website.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This release, including the financial tables below, presents other financial information that may be considered “non-GAAP financial measures” under Regulation G and related reporting requirements promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) as they apply to our company. These non-GAAP financial measures exclude compensation expenses in respect of options and RSUs granted to directors, officers and employees, impairment of goodwill, taxes on amortization and impairment of acquired intangible assets, impairment of intangible assets and related write-offs, as well as lease liabilities – financial expenses (income). Non-GAAP financial measures should be evaluated in conjunction with, and are not a substitute for, GAAP financial measures. The tables also present the GAAP financial measures, which are most comparable to the non-GAAP financial measures as well as reconciliation between the non-GAAP financial measures and the most comparable GAAP financial measures. The non-GAAP financial information presented herein should not be considered in isolation from or as a substitute for operating income (loss), net income (loss) or per share data prepared in accordance with GAAP.

About Silicom

Silicom Ltd. is an industry-leading provider of high-performance networking and data infrastructure solutions. Designed primarily to improve performance and efficiency in Cloud and Data Center environments, Silicom’s solutions increase throughput, decrease latency and boost the performance of servers and networking appliances, the infrastructure backbone that enables advanced Cloud architectures and leading technologies like NFV, SD-WAN and Cyber Security. Our innovative solutions for high-density networking, high-speed fabric switching, offloading and acceleration, which utilize a range of cutting-edge silicon technologies as well as FPGA-based solutions, are ideal for scaling-up and scaling-out cloud infrastructures.

Silicom products are used by major Cloud players, service providers, telcos and OEMs as components of their infrastructure offerings, including both add-on adapters in the Data Center and stand-alone virtualized/universal CPE devices at the edge.

Silicom’s long-term, trusted relationships with more than 200 customers throughout the world, its more than 400 active Design Wins and more than 300 product SKUs have made Silicom a “go-to” connectivity/performance partner of choice for technology leaders around the globe.

For more information, please visit: www.silicom.co.il

Statements in this press Statements in this press release which are not historical data are forward-looking statements which involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, or other factors not under the company’s control, which may cause actual results, performance, or achievements of the company to be materially different from the results, performance, or other expectations implied by these forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to, Silicom’s increasing dependence for substantial revenue growth on a limited number of customers, the speed and extent to which Silicom’s solutions are adopted by the relevant markets, difficulty in commercializing and marketing of Silicom’s products and services, maintaining and protecting brand recognition, protection of intellectual property, competition, disruptions to its manufacturing, sales & marketing, development and customer support activities, the impact of the wars in Gaza and in the Ukraine, attacks on shipping by Huthis in the Red Sea, rising inflation, rising interest rates and volatile exchange rates, as well as any continuing or new effects resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, and  the global economic uncertainty, which may impact customer demand by encouraging them to exercise greater caution and selectivity with their short-term IT investment plans. The factors noted above are not exhaustive.

Further information about the company’s businesses, including information about factors that could materially affect Silicom’s results of operations and financial condition, are discussed in our Annual Report on Form 20-F and other documents filed by the Company and that may be subsequently filed by the company from time to time with the SEC. These forward-looking statements can generally be identified as such because the context of the statement will include words such as “expect,” “should,” “believe,” “anticipate” or words of similar import. Similarly, statements that describe future plans, objectives or goals are also forward-looking statements. In light of significant risks and uncertainties inherent in forward-looking statements, the inclusion of such statements should not be regarded as a representation by the company that it will achieve such forward-looking statements. The company disclaims any duty to update such statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

Company Contact:

Eran Gilad, CFO

Silicom Ltd.        

Tel: +972-9-764-4555      

E-mail: erang@silicom.co.il

Investor Relations Contact:

Ehud Helft

EK Global Investor Relations

Tel: +1 212 378 8040

E-mail: silicom@ekgir.com 

— FINANCIAL TABLES FOLLOW –

Silicom Ltd. Consolidated Balance Sheets

(US$ thousands)

June 30,

December 31,

2024

2023

Assets

Current assets

Cash and cash equivalents

$

60,680

$

46,972

Marketable securities

8,628

7,957

Accounts receivables: Trade, net

12,988

25,004

Accounts receivables: Other

6,795

3,688

Inventories

44,652

51,507

Total current assets

133,743

135,128

Marketable securities

8,989

16,619

Assets held for employees’ severance benefits

1,257

1,357

Deferred tax assets

2,617

2,359

Property, plant and equipment, net

3,169

3,552

Intangible assets, net

2,285

2,253

Right of Use

5,847

6,466

Total assets

$

157,907

$

167,734

Liabilities and shareholders’ equity

Current liabilities

Trade accounts payable

$

5,667

$

4,139

Other accounts payable and accrued expenses

6,353

6,668

Lease Liabilities

1,711

2,070

Total current liabilities

13,731

12,877

Lease Liabilities

3,397

3,877

Liability for employees’ severance benefits

2,546

2,672

Deferred tax liabilities

81

46

Total liabilities

19,755

19,472

Shareholders’ equity

Ordinary shares and additional paid-in capital

72,140

70,693

Treasury shares

(50,240)

(43,631)

Retained earnings

116,252

121,200

Total shareholders’ equity

138,152

148,262

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

$

157,907

$

167,734

 

 

Silicom Ltd. Consolidated Statements of Operations

(US$ thousands, except for share and per share data)

Three-month period

Six-month period

ended June 30,

ended June 30,

2024

2023

2024

2023

Sales

$

14,502

$

38,130

$

28,867

$

75,311

Cost of sales

10,239

25,968

20,565

51,364

Gross profit

4,263

12,162

8,302

23,947

Research and development expenses

4,948

5,253

9,869

10,391

Selling and marketing expenses

1,474

1,894

2,994

3,397

General and administrative expenses

965

1,013

2,026

2,106

Total operating expenses

7,387

8,160

14,889

15,894

Operating income (loss)

(3,124)

4,002

(6,587)

8,053

Financial income (expenses), net

687

468

1,086

767

Income (loss) before income taxes

(2,437)

4,470

(5,501)

8,820

Income taxes

(921)

664

(553)

1,477

Net income (loss)

$

(1,516)

$

3,806

$

(4,948)

$

7,343

Basic income (loss) per ordinary share (US$)

$

(0.25)

$

0.56

$

(0.80)

$

1.09

Weighted average number of ordinary shares used to
compute basic income (loss) per share (in thousands)

6,079

6,772

6,176

6,760

Diluted income (loss) per ordinary share (US$)

$

(0.25)

$

0.56

$

(0.80)

$

1.07

Weighted average number of ordinary shares used to
compute diluted income (loss) per share (in thousands)

6,079

6,827

6,176

6,837

 

 

Silicom Ltd. Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Results

(US$ thousands, except for share and per share data)

Three-month period

Six-month period

ended June 30,

ended June 30,

2024

2023

2024

2023

GAAP gross profit

$

4,263

$

12,162

$

8,302

$

23,947

(1) Share-based compensation (*)

50

104

111

218

Non-GAAP gross profit

$

4,313

$

12,266

$

8,413

$

24,165

GAAP operating income (loss)

$

(3,124)

$

4,002

$

(6,587)

$

8,053

Gross profit adjustments

50

104

111

218

(1) Share-based compensation (*)

647

647

1,336

1,257

Non-GAAP operating income (loss)

$

(2,427)

$

4,753

$

(5,140)

$

9,528

GAAP net income (loss)

$

(1,516)

$

3,806

$

(4,948)

$

7,343

Operating income (loss) adjustments

697

751

1,447

1,475

(2) Lease liabilities – Financial expenses (income)

(64)

(136)

(107)

(304)

(3) Taxes on amortization and impairment of acquired intangible assets

22

67

375

135

Non-GAAP net income (loss)

$

(861)

$

4,488

$

(3,233)

$

8,649

GAAP net income (loss)

$

(1,516)

$

3,806

$

(4,948)

$

7,343

Adjustments for Non-GAAP Cost of sales

50

104

111

218

Adjustments for Non-GAAP Research and development expenses

287

292

600

598

Adjustments for Non-GAAP Selling and marketing expenses

170

196

346

349

Adjustments for Non-GAAP General and administrative expenses

190

159

390

310

Adjustments for Non-GAAP Financial income (loss), net

(64)

(136)

(107)

(304)

Adjustments for Non-GAAP Income taxes

22

67

375

135

Non-GAAP net income (loss)

$

(861)

$

4,488

$

(3,233)

$

8,649

GAAP basic income (loss) per ordinary share (US$)

$

(0.25)

$

0.56

$

(0.80)

$

1.09

(1) Share-based compensation (*)

0.12

0.11

0.24

0.21

(2) Lease liabilities – Financial expenses (income)

(0.01)

(0.02)

(0.02)

(0.04)

(3) Taxes on amortization and impairment of acquired intangible assets

–

0.01

0.06

0.02

Non-GAAP basic income (loss) per ordinary share (US$)

$

(0.14)

$

0.66

$

(0.52)

$

1.28

GAAP diluted income (loss) per ordinary share (US$)

$

(0.25)

$

0.56

$

(0.80)

$

1.07

(1) Share-based compensation (*)

0.12

0.11

0.24

0.22

(2) Lease liabilities – Financial expenses (income)

(0.01)

(0.02)

(0.02)

(0.04)

(3) Taxes on amortization and impairment of acquired intangible assets

–

0.01

0.06

0.02

Non-GAAP diluted income (loss) per ordinary share (US$)

$

(0.14)

$

0.66

$

(0.52)

$

1.27

(*) Adjustments related to share-based compensation expenses according to ASC topic 718 (SFAS 123 (R))

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/733229/Silicom_Ltd_Logo.jpg

 

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/silicom-reports-q2-2024-results–update-of-strategic-plan-302208464.html

SOURCE Silicom Ltd.

Related Topics:
Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Technology

IMTEX, Tooltech & Digital Manufacturing 2025: An exhibition of India’s manufacturing prowess

Published

41 minutes ago

on

December 26, 2024

By

Indian Machine Tool Manufacturers’ Association (IMTMA) to Organise the 22nd Edition of IMTEX

Over 1,100 Exhibitors from 23 Countries Set to Showcase Cutting-Edge Manufacturing Technologies Across 90,000 Square Metres

BENGALURU, India, Dec. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — India’s manufacturing ecosystem is undergoing rapid changes with the onset of new and emerging technologies to meet domestic and global needs. A technology enthusiast’s quench gets satisfied when he sees and experiences an innovative and revolutionary technology. IMTEX is where every technology enthusiast will have something to see, experience, and carry. 

Being a part of IMTEX is an amazing experience, as the exhibition creates a welcoming atmosphere for its visitors, showcasing the machine tool industry in a grand light. Every business visitor who attends IMTEX considers it a privilege to do business, and importantly, it is one of those top-notch exhibitions that showcases a new and confident India.

Organized by Indian Machine Tool Manufacturers’ Association (IMTMA), IMTEX, Tooltech & Digital Manufacturing 2025 will be held at Bangalore International Exhibition Centre (BIEC) in Bengaluru, Karnataka, from 23 to 29 January 2025.

IMTEX 2025 is very special as it is set to surpass all its previous editions, occupying 90,000 square meters of space in eight halls. Over 1,100 exhibitors from 23 countries showcasing new products and technologies in the form of live machines are expected to participate. Countries like Germany, Italy, Japan, Korea, Spain, Taiwan, and the United States of America have separate pavilions. IMTMA anticipates participation from around 2,000 trade delegations representing various user industries.

Tooltech, focusing on tools and dies, and Digital Manufacturing, showcasing Industry 4.0 and additive manufacturing advancements, will be held as concurrent shows. International Seminar on Machining Technologies, to be held on 24 and 25 January, will throw light on the emerging technologies in metal cutting technologies. International experts from various countries will deliberate upon the innovations and global best practices. 

The exhibition will have interesting parallel events, such as i2 Academia Square comprising Academia Pavilion with institutions presenting innovative projects undertaken by students, helping bridge the gap between academic and industrial circles. Manufacturing Technology Quiz Contest along with TechTalk will be added attractions.  

IMTMA will be holding the ‘Engagement with Overseas Buyers’ on 25 and 26 January, as part of the buyer-seller meet promoting exports of the Indian machine tool industry. Further, the Jagruti-IMTMA Youth Programme, an initiative to raise awareness about the latest advancements in the manufacturing industry, would help students stay updated with technological developments.

Two new seminars will be organized in IMTEX 2025 for the first time.

IMTMA, along with ACMA (Automotive Component Manufacturers Association of India), will be holding an Auto Components Industry Transformation Summit on 26 January. The seminar is expected to further buttress machine tool and auto component industry relations.

JMTBA Seminar on Export Controls for Japanese Machine Tools will be held at IMTMA Technology Centre in Bengaluru on 27 January 2025. The seminar will help strengthen business relations between India and Japan.

Engineering at its best

The kind of innovation that exists in industry at every level, small, medium, or large, finds its place in IMTEX. The exhibition has consistently showcased advancements in technologies, from traditional machines to cutting-edge CNC and digital manufacturing solutions, giving a first-hand view of the capabilities and potentials of technologies that are on display.

This results in facilitating technology transfer and collaborations and encourages foreign investments, driving innovation and development in the Indian and Asian machine tool and manufacturing industries.

“In this edition, exhibitors are expected to display cutting-edge technologies that are vital in addressing the need for quality and precision manufacturing in every industry sector,“ according to Mr. Jibak Dasgupta, Director General & CEO, IMTMA. “There is renewed enthusiasm among exhibitors and visitors to forge relations, enhance opportunities, and advance manufacturing to new levels,“ he adds.

For more information about IMTMA, please visit: https://www.imtma.in/

About IMTEX, Tooltech & Digital Manufacturing 2025

IMTEX, Tooltech & Digital Manufacturing 2025, organized by the Indian Machine Tool Manufacturers’ Association (IMTMA), is one of India’s premier exhibitions showcasing the country’s manufacturing prowess. Scheduled from 23–29 January 2025 at the Bangalore International Exhibition Centre (BIEC), Bengaluru, the event will feature over 1,100 exhibitors from 23 countries, across 90,000 square meters in eight halls. The exhibition will highlight cutting-edge technologies in machine tools, automation, and digital manufacturing, alongside concurrent events such as the Tooltech and Digital Manufacturing shows, international seminars, and buyer-seller meet programs. IMTEX serves as a global platform for technology exchange, fostering business collaborations, innovation, and export opportunities within the machine tool and manufacturing sectors.

For more information about IMTEX, please visit: https://www.imtex.in/

 

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/in/news-releases/imtex-tooltech–digital-manufacturing-2025-an-exhibition-of-indias-manufacturing-prowess-302339242.html

Continue Reading

Technology

World’s Largest Modular Student Residence Opens in Hong Kong CIMC Sets Benchmark for Construction Efficiency and Sustainability

Published

41 minutes ago

on

December 26, 2024

By

News Lead: The opening of the world’s largest modular student residence has attracted widespread attention from public. The project was completed two years ahead of schedule, showcasing groundbreaking efficiency and advanced construction technology in educational infrastructure.

SHENZHEN, China, Dec. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — A Benchmark in Global Educational Infrastructure

Recently, the City University of Hong Kong (CityU) held an opening and naming ceremony for the Lee Shau Kee Student Residence Village (hereinafter referred to as “the Residence Village”).

Recognized as the world’s largest modular student residence (calculated by the number of bed spaces), the Residential Village was built in partnership with main contractor Gammon Construction Limited and module supplier CIMC Modular Building Systems (CIMC MBS), a subsidiary of CIMC Group.

The Residential Village was opened in the third quarter of 2024 after commencing the construction work in 2022. Utilizing CIMC volumetric modular construction technology, completion was achieved two years ahead of the original schedule, setting a new benchmark for efficient construction speed and advanced technology in the field of global educational infrastructure.

The Residence Village covers a total construction area of approximately 48,000 square meters, consisting of six buildings ranging from 13 to 18 stories. The overall building complex involves over 1,300 modules and provides more than 2,000 bed-spaces for CityU’s undergraduate and graduate students.

In addition to hostel rooms, there are communal rooms, corridors, rest rooms and plant rooms constructed using the CIMC modular construction technology.

During the construction process, innovative MiMEP (Multi-trade Integrated Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing) technology was adopted. The pre-assembled MEP cassettes were integrated and installed in the CIMC factory within the modules before being transported to the site for installation. This approach reduced overall installation time by 50%.

Up to 90% of the aluminum cladding system was also prefabricated and installed in the factory, including the projecting horizontal and vertical fins. The aluminum feature fins were designed to conceal all the external pipe works providing an attractive appearance whilst also providing access for future maintenance.

In addition, CIMC Modular utilizes its self-developed digital systems, such as project management cockpit and quality digital monitoring systems, to provide a “smart brain” for project construction. Through these systems, multiple production processes are monitored, achieving full digital management and process traceability for module production, transportation, and installation, thereby providing strong support for quality project delivery.

Modular Construction Technology Is Addressing Hong Kong’s Urban Development Challenges

For a long time, Hong Kong has faced multiple challenges, including restricted land resources, diversified construction demands, and an urgent desire for efficient and environmentally friendly building methods. Traditional construction methods have gradually revealed issues such as long construction periods, significant noise pollution, and excessive construction waste, making it difficult to meet Hong Kong’s rapidly evolving needs. The emergence of volumetric modular construction technology has brought new hope to address these challenges.

Off-site volumetric modular construction technology adopts the concept of ” factory assembly followed by on-site installation,” transfers 90% of on-site construction processes to a controlled factory environment. In this method, free-standing integrated modules (completed with finishes, fixtures, and fittings) are manufactured and assembled in a factory, buildings can be substantially completed off-site.

This significantly reduces construction time and minimizes the impact of weather conditions and site constraints, while also providing a great degree of production quality control, and can improve construction productivity, cost-effectiveness, safety, and sustainability.

In the construction of the Residence Village, this on-site installation method resulted in a 75% reduction in construction noise and a 68% decrease in construction waste. By using low-carbon concrete and rebar as building materials and replacing diesel generators on-site with grid-powered facilities, the project also significantly reduced the carbon footprint generated during its construction period. These figures clearly reflect the substantial environmental benefits of this technology, effectively minimizing its impact on the surrounding environment and residents’ lives and providing a successful example of green construction for global building projects.

It is worth noting that the successful implementation of the Residence Village project is an important milestone in promoting the development of volumetric modular construction technology in Hong Kong, offering valuable experiences for construction projects in Hong Kong and the worldwide, guiding the industry toward a more efficient, environmentally friendly, and intelligent future.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/worlds-largest-modular-student-residence-opens-in-hong-kong–cimc-sets-benchmark-for-construction-efficiency-and-sustainability-302339243.html

SOURCE CIMC

Continue Reading

Technology

India’s Thriving Tech Hub Fuels Kimberly-Clark’s Digital Transformation

Published

41 minutes ago

on

December 26, 2024

By

Kimberly-Clark Expanding Investments in India

BENGALURU, India, Dec. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Kimberly-Clark, a global leader in essential personal and family care products, continues to increase its commitment to India through its Global Digital Technology Center (GDTC) in Bengaluru.

Established in 2018 with an initial investment of $2.5 million, the Bengaluru GDTC has seen remarkable growth, expanding its size by eight times in just five years. The center focuses on key areas and digital capabilities such as Data and Analytics, Artificial Intelligence (AI) including Generative AI, Machine Learning (ML), Cloud Transformation, Global Digital Operations & Automation, Digital Sales and Marketing, and Digital Supply Chain – all of which help drive efficiencies and improve customer experiences. Over the next three years, the GDTC plans to continue its expansion, focusing on advancing AI/ML capabilities and developing innovative digital solutions to boost operational efficiency and customer engagement. These capabilities further enhance Kimberly-Clark’s ability to deliver on its global Powering Care strategy – shared earlier this year – and, in turn, strengthen its longstanding commitment to consumer-centricity.

While the Bengaluru GDTC is driving Kimberly-Clark’s technological advancements, it’s also contributing to India’s broader tech and innovation ecosystem. By collaborating with local startups, academic institutions, and industry partners, the center aims to foster cutting-edge solutions.

“Our Bengaluru GDTC is a testament to Kimberly-Clark’s deep-rooted commitment to innovation and the immense breadth of Indian talent,” said Zack Hicks, Chief Digital and Technology Officer, Kimberly-Clark. “In just five years, the center has evolved into a key growth engine for our digital strategies, delivering AI-powered commercial and supply chain solutions, and pioneering advancements in modern manufacturing. Looking ahead, we remain focused on further investing in India, leveraging the country’s outstanding talent and technological expertise to shape the future of Kimberly-Clark and pioneer industry-leading innovation in our core categories.”

The integration of data and advanced analytics is at the core of the Bengaluru GDTC’s success. By leveraging AI/ML algorithms built on their enterprise data lake, the team is also optimizing sales predictions, refining pricing strategies for e-commerce, and automating routine tasks such as order entry and invoice processing. In 2024, efforts in Gen AI platforms originating from the GDTC improved the employee productivity by up to 25%, and the development of AI-powered sales and revenue analytics drove a 10% improvement in sales execution across regions like Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. These innovations not only streamline operations and reduce costs but also boost accuracy and efficiency.

One of the center’s major achievements is the development of Maestro, an AI-powered supply chain orchestration platform that has delivered more than $20 million in global savings for Kimberly-Clark. Another transformative innovation is the Warehouse Automation Platform, which seamlessly integrates warehouse robotics with supply chain systems, reducing new solution deployment timelines from 18 months to 4 months, and generating savings exceeding $50 million. The GDTC’s collaborative efforts have also resulted in the creation of Procuree 3.0, an inhouse Source-to-Pay chatbot powered by Generative AI that enhances Kimberly-Clark’s procurement processes across 42 countries and 14 languages.

Recently, the GDTC held its third Digital Hackathon under the theme ‘UNLOKC 2024,’ bringing together Kimberly-Clark employees and technology partners to develop digital solutions that contribute to business opportunities in areas such as supply chain, marketing, and finance. Over 130 innovative ideas were submitted within four weeks, and the 7 project finalists were awarded by the Digital Technology global leadership team during the Hackathon’s final event in Bangalore. These finalists will receive support to develop their projects in the near future.

As Kimberly-Clark’s largest technology hub, the Bengaluru GDTC is positioned to remain a critical driver of growth and innovation on a global scale. With plans to continue attracting top-tier talent and expanding its technological capabilities, the center is set to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of the company and its global tech ecosystem.

About Kimberly-Clark:

Kimberly-Clark (NYSE: KMB) and its trusted brands are an indispensable part of life for people in more than 175 countries. Fueled by ingenuity, creativity, and an understanding of people’s most essential needs, we create products that help individuals experience more of what’s important to them. Our portfolio of brands, including Huggies, Kleenex, Scott, Kotex, Cottonelle, Poise, Depend, Andrex, Pull-Ups, GoodNites, Intimus, Plenitud, Sweety, Softex, Viva and WypAll, hold No. 1 or No. 2 share positions in approximately 70 countries. We use sustainable practices that support a healthy planet, build strong communities, and ensure our business thrives for decades to come. We are proud to be recognized as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies(R) by Ethisphere for the sixth year in a row and one of Fortune’s Most Innovative Companies in America in 2024. To keep up with the latest news and to learn more about the company’s 150-year history of innovation, visit the Kimberly-Clark website.

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2587797/Kimberly_Clark.jpg

 

 

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/indias-thriving-tech-hub-fuels-kimberly-clarks-digital-transformation-302339247.html

Continue Reading

Trending