Connect with us

Technology

Baylin Reports Strong Q2 2024 Financial Results

Published

on

Adjusted EBITDA(2) grew sequentially by almost 400%.Revenue and gross profit grew by 10% and 20%, respectively.Baylin completed the sale of its Korean subsidiary.

Investor Conference Call on August 8, 2024 at 8:00 a.m. ET

TORONTO, Aug. 7, 2024 /CNW/ – Baylin Technologies Inc. (TSX: BYL) (the “Company” or “Baylin”), a diversified global wireless technology company focused on the research, design, development, manufacture, and sale of passive and active radio frequency products, satellite communications products, and supporting services, today announced its financial results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024. All amounts are stated in Canadian dollars unless otherwise indicated.

“Three years ago, we started the journey to turnaround Baylin from substantial losses to profitability,” said Leighton Carroll, Baylin’s Chief Executive Officer. “We operate in intensely competitive markets and despite negative macroeconomic challenges, Baylin has been growing quarter over quarter. By building competitive advantage based on unique intellectual property, by engaging the talents of our entire team, and by delivering on a specific go to market strategy, we have seen our business had a very solid quarter. I cannot thank the employees of our business enough for the dedication and hard work.”

SECOND QUARTER SUMMARY

Continuing Operations

Revenue of $22.0 million in the second quarter of 2024, an increase of $0.7 million or 3.4% compared to the second quarter of 2023. This also represents an increase of $1.9 million or 9.9% compared to the first quarter of 2024. Compared to the same prior year period, the increase in revenue was primarily due to sales volume increase in the Wireless Infrastructure business line.Gross profit of $9.2 million in the second quarter of 2024, an increase of $0.7 million or 8.8% compared to the second quarter of 2023. This also represents an increase of $1.5 million or 19.6% compared to the first quarter of 2024. Gross margin of 41.9% in the second quarter of 2024 compared to 39.9% in the second quarter of 2023 and compared to 38.5% in the first quarter of 2024. Compared to the same prior year period, the higher gross margin in the second quarter of 2024 was mainly due to improved product mix. Wireless Infrastructure revenue as a percentage of total revenue was higher in the second quarter of 2024 and most of its products generate higher gross margins than the other product lines.Adjusted EBITDA of $2.3 million in the second quarter of 2024, an increase of $1.2 million or 116% compared to the second quarter of 2023. This also represents an increase of $1.8 million or 394% compared to the first quarter of 2024. Compared to the same prior year period, the increase in the second quarter of 2024 was mainly due to combination of higher revenue, higher gross margins and lower operating expenses. The second quarter of 2023 had the benefit of specific one-time government incentives which were recorded as an offset to operating expenses in that quarter.Net loss of $0.1 million in the second quarter of 2024 compared to a net income of $0.2 million in the second quarter of 2023. This also represents an increase of $1.9 million compared to a net loss of $2.0 million in the first quarter of 2024. The net loss in the second quarter of 2024 was primarily the net result of an operating income of $0.8 million offset by interest and other finance expenses as well as income tax expenses. The net income in the second quarter of 2023 was due in part to a gain on lease termination and sale of non-current assets in Vietnam as well as a favourable adjustment based on the fair market value of the convertible debentures. On a per share basis, a net loss of $nil per share in the second quarter of 2024 compared to a net income of $nil per share in the second quarter of 2023.Net debt(3) of $16.6 million at June 30, 2024, an increase of $3.9 million from December 31, 2023, primarily due to an increase in working capital investment as a result of increasing sales and order backlog during the six months ended June 30, 2024.Backlog(4) of $32.6 million as at June 30, 2024 compared to $31.2 million as at December 31, 2023. The increase was mainly due to a higher level of backlog in the Wireless Infrastructure business line as a result of an increase in demand from wireless carriers and third-party operators. Backlog increased to $33.1 million as at July 29, 2024 as a result of an increase in new order intake across all business lines at the start of the third quarter of 2024.

Discontinued Operations (representing the Mobile and Network business line)

Adjusted EBITDA from discontinued operations of –$0.6 million in the second quarter of 2024 compared to –$1.0 million in the second quarter of 2023. The reduced loss in Adjusted EBITDA from discontinued operations in the second quarter of 2024 was primarily due to an increase in gross profit as a result of higher revenue as well as a decrease in operating expenses in the M&N business line compared to the prior year period.Net loss from discontinued operations of $1.5 million in the second quarter of 2024, which was largely consistent with the prior year period. The net loss from discontinued operations in the second quarter of 2024 was mainly due to an operating loss of $1.0 million in the M&N business line. On a per share basis, a net loss of $0.01 per share in the second quarter of 2024 compared to a net loss of $0.02 per share in the second quarter of 2023.

RECENT DEVELOPMENTS

Products

In May 2024, Advantech Wireless Technologies Inc. (“Advantech”) received an $8.2 million order for its ultra-high power Summit II Solid State Power Amplifier System. The order was placed by a major US defence contractor for use in a NATO government specific application. The Summit systems, produced by Advantech in its Kirkland, Quebec facility, feature a soft-fail redundant architecture based on our proprietary CAN Bus operating system.

In July 2024, the Company’s Embedded Antenna business line received a multi-year, multi-million dollar award for a 4G/5G antenna solution. It was selected by a US computer networking company to provide this solution for the networking company’s mobile customer premise equipment product, which will be available to consumers through multiple US Tier 1 carriers as well as a Tier 1 carrier outside the United States.

Sale of the Mobile and Network Business

On July 9, 2024, the Company announced that it had entered into an agreement (the “Transfer Agreement”) with a Korean strategic acquirer, under which the Company agreed to sell Galtronics Korea Co., Ltd. (“GTK”) and Galtronics Vietnam Company Limited (“GTV”). The Company has completed the sale of GTK to the strategic acquirer. Subject to receipt of required regulatory approvals, the Company expects to complete the sale of GTV during the third quarter of 2024. Upon the sale of GTV, the Company will no longer be in the Mobile and Network business.

SELECTED FINANCIAL INFORMATION

The table below discloses selected financial information for the periods indicated.

(in $000’s except per share amounts)

Three Months Ended June 30,

Six Months Ended June 30,

2024

2023

Change

Change

2024

2023

Change

Change

$

$

$

%

$

$

$

%

Profit and Loss

Revenue

22,035

21,307

728

3.4 %

42,088

40,052

2,036

5.1 %

Gross profit

9,238

8,492

746

8.8 %

16,960

16,110

850

5.3 %

Gross margin

41.9 %

39.9 %

2.0 %

N/A

40.3 %

40.2 %

0.1 %

N/A

Net income (loss) from continuing operations

(132)

218

(350)

N/A

(2,104)

1,082

(3,186)

N/A

Net loss from discontinued operations

(1,457)

(1,461)

4

(0.3 %)

(2,243)

(3,491)

1,248

(35.7 %)

Net loss

(1,589)

(1,243)

(346)

27.8 %

(4,347)

(2,409)

(1,938)

80.4 %

Basic and diluted net income (loss) per share from continuing operations

($0.00)

$0.00

($0.00)

N/A

($0.02)

$0.02

($0.04)

N/A

Basic and diluted net loss per share from discontinued operations

($0.01)

($0.02)

$0.01

(50.0 %)

($0.01)

($0.05)

$0.04

(80.0 %)

Basic and diluted net loss per share

($0.01)

($0.02)

$0.01

(50.0 %)

($0.03)

($0.03)

$0.00

0.0 %

EBITDA from continuing operations

1,514

1,094

420

38.4 %

843

4,421

(3,578)

(80.9 %)

EBITDA from discontinued operations

(580)

(684)

104

(15.2 %)

(299)

(1,690)

1,391

(82.3 %)

EBITDA(1)

934

410

524

> 100.0%

544

2,731

(2,187)

(80.1 %)

Adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations

2,273

1,050

1,223

> 100.0%

2,733

2,635

98

3.7 %

Adjusted EBITDA from discontinued operations

(580)

(968)

388

(40.1 %)

(623)

(1,676)

1,053

(62.8 %)

Adjusted EBITDA(2)

1,693

82

1,611

> 100.0%

2,110

959

1,151

> 100.0%

As at

As at

As at

As at

June 30,
2024

June 30,
2023

Change

Change

June 30,
2024

December

31, 2023

Change

Change

$

$

$

%

$

$

$

%

Balance Sheet and Other**

Current assets – Continuing operations

37,044

49,267

N/A

N/A

37,044

35,346

1,698

4.8 %

Current assets – Assets held for sale

8,581

400

N/A

N/A

8,581

7,885

696

8.8 %

Total current assets

45,625

49,667

N/A

N/A

45,625

43,231

2,394

5.5 %

Total assets

60,993

70,643

(9,650)

(13.7 %)

60,993

59,710

1,283

2.1 %

Current liabilities – Continuing operations

41,296

63,522

N/A

N/A

41,296

38,955

2,341

6.0 %

Current liabilities – Liabilities related to assets held for sale

10,547

N/A

N/A

10,547

8,854

1,693

19.1 %

Total current liabilities

51,843

63,522

N/A

N/A

51,843

47,809

4,034

8.4 %

Total liabilities

64,728

72,940

(8,212)

(11.3 %)

64,728

59,746

4,982

8.3 %

Net debt(3) from continuing operations

16,641

23,725

(7,084)

(29.9 %)

16,641

12,787

3,854

30.1 %

Backlog(4) from continuing operations

32,603

32,275

328

1.0 %

32,603

31,156

1,447

4.6 %

Notes:

(1)

See “Non-IFRS Measures”. EBITDA refers to operating income (loss) plus depreciation and amortization.

(2)

See “Non-IFRS Measures”. Adjusted EBITDA refers to EBITDA plus the sum of: a) post business acquisition expenses; b) fair value step-up of inventory acquired as part of an acquisition; c) expenses for litigation relating to acquisition agreements; d) expenses relating to planned restructuring following acquisition; e) impairment of fixed and intangible assets (including goodwill) following acquisition; f) expenses to permanently close or relocate a facility, shut down a line of business, eliminate positions; g) expenses related to corporate re-organization; h) M&A expenses; and, i) non-cash compensation.

(3)

See “Non-IFRS Measures”. Net debt refers to total bank indebtedness less cash and cash equivalents.

(4)

See “Non-IFRS Measures”. Backlog refers to the value of unfulfilled purchase orders placed by customers.

 **

Balance Sheet as at June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023 reflects the reclassification of all assets and liabilities of the M&N business line into “Assets held for sale” and “Liabilities related to assets held for sale”, respectively. Such assets and liabilities are classified as current. Balance Sheet as at June 30, 2023 does not reflect such reclassification, which makes the comparison against the current quarter-end results not applicable (except for “Total assets” and “Total liabilities”).

A copy of the Company’s unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 and corresponding management’s discussion and analysis (the “MD&A”) are available under the Company’s profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

OUTLOOK

A number of the Company’s financial measures from continuing operations in the second quarter of 2024 continued to improve, quarter over quarter, compared to the first quarter of 2024. Revenue increased by 9.9% ($22.0 million compared to $20.1 million) and gross profit increased by 19.6% ($9.2 million compared to $7.7 million). Gross margin improved by 3.4 percentage points (41.9% compared to 38.5%). This led to a stronger positive Adjusted EBITDA of $2.3 million from continuing operations in the second quarter of 2024 compared to $0.5 million in the first quarter of 2024. The improvement was mainly driven by the Wireless Infrastructure business line, which showed increased strength across all financial metrics, including revenue, gross profit and Adjusted EBITDA. The Embedded Antenna and Satcom business lines maintained their strong performance from the first quarter of 2024.

We continue to prioritize product mix, emphasizing products that generate higher margins and gross profit, with a view to maintaining and growing Adjusted EBITDA. The macroeconomic environment and the continuing effect of high interest rates remain an issue for our business, which, in the short-term could continue to affect our volume of orders and revenue, as well as causing pushouts of orders from customers. Nevertheless, we expect the results from our continuing operations to remain positive during the third quarter and for the rest of 2024.

Embedded Antenna Business Line

The Embedded Antenna business line again had a strong second quarter of 2024, substantially in-line with its performance in the first quarter. The unfavourable macroeconomic conditions, principally due to an oversupply of finished goods, that led to lower sales volumes at the end of 2023 have not occurred this year. Moreover, demand for a new public safety product launched in the fourth quarter of 2023 has exceeded expectations in 2024. We expect the Embedded Antenna business line will continue to perform strongly for the remainder of 2024, despite expected seasonally affected lower sales in the third quarter. Results are dependent on the home networking, public safety and automotive markets remaining resilient in the face of economic pressures. The number of active bids for 2024 projects remains at a very strong level for the business.

Wireless Infrastructure Business Line

The Wireless Infrastructure business line had a very strong second quarter of 2024, building on its success in the first quarter, with a continuing high volume of sales of its higher margin multibeam and innovative small cell antennas and further stadium and airport deployments. We are leveraging the competitive advantages that these products afford to open up new global opportunities to drive sales with wireless carriers and third-party operators who operate wireless mobile networks for their customers. We are continuing to expand into new markets, particularly in areas in Europe, where we have not previously had sales. Although there remains a risk of spending cutbacks by carriers, we expect to see further spending on small cells in 2024, which will drive further sales volumes for the business. Based on our current assessment, we expect the full-year results to reflect a marked improvement over 2023, despite likely lower revenue in the second half of 2024 compared to the first six months.

Satcom Business Line

The Satcom business line continues to see consistent demand for its products, supported by strong capital spending by its customers, particularly for high powered amplifiers used in military, government, and broadcast applications.

Major programmatic opportunities continue to be resilient, particularly for high powered amplifiers, although awards remain lumpy. We continue to see softness in the commercial lower power market, particularly in the maritime and airplane sectors, but broadcast applications remain solid. Given our focus on higher power opportunities, we expect the business to continue to demonstrate resiliency in 2024. Our Genesis and Summit lines of solid-state power amplifiers are generating sales from clients due to the improvements in performance, monitoring, and failover they provide over our older technology and products of our competitors. Importantly, these new amplifiers are consistent in architecture, meaning they will allow the business to simplify supply chain requirements over time and thereby improve efficiencies in manufacturing.

We continue to see opportunities for growth in sales for military and other government-related uses as many western countries continue to maintain high levels of defense and scientific spending. Given the technology upgrades within our product portfolio, we expect to continue our strong sales volumes while we work to improve our overall margin attainment.

Overall, we expect revenue and gross profit in 2024 will be stronger than 2023. The Satcom business line continues to demonstrate a strong order book with improving margins. Improving production efficiencies in our facilities in order to address the backlog and improve overall revenue attainment remains an important priority, particularly in our Kirkland, Quebec facility.

Mobile and Network (formerly, Asia Pacific) Business Line

The M&N business line continues to face significant challenges. The second quarter saw a further reduction in revenue over the first quarter, as a result of lower sales volumes in two of its principal customer’s mobile phones for which M&N supplies the antennas. In addition, M&N was unable to benefit from another program opportunity for its customer due to issues related to the ultimate finished goods producer on the project.

Management has been taking steps to limit the adverse effect this has had on the M&N business. We continue to focus on reducing or eliminating operating and other costs while work is done to diversify the revenue base until the divestiture is complete.

In July 2024, the Company announced that it had reached agreement to sell the M&N business (see “Recent Developments – Sale of the Mobile and Network Business”).

INVESTOR CONFERENCE CALL

Baylin will hold a conference call on Thursday, August 8, 2024 at 8:00 a.m. (ET) to discuss its financial results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024. The conference call will be hosted by Leighton Carroll, Chief Executive Officer, and Dan Nohdomi, Chief Financial Officer. All interested parties are invited to participate using the dial-in details provided below.

Date:                            August 8, 2024
Time:                           8:00 a.m. (ET)
Dial-in Number:            (+1) 800-836-8184 or (+1) 289-819-1350
Conference ID#:            81373
Rapid Connect:    To join the conference call by phone, please use the following URL to easily register and be connected into the conference call automatically: https://emportal.ink/4cNGhgf
Webcast:               This call is also on webcast and can be accessed at: https://app.webinar.net/4ZlXmaEmAeO

FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION AND STATEMENTS

This press release includes forward-looking information and forward-looking statements (together, “forward-looking statements”) within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements are not statements of historical fact. Rather, forward-looking statements are disclosure regarding conditions, developments, events or financial performance that we expect or anticipate may or will occur in the future including, among other things, information or statements concerning our objectives and strategies to achieve those objectives, statements with respect to management’s beliefs, estimates, intentions and plans, and statements concerning anticipated future circumstances, events, expectations, operations, performance or results. Forward-looking statements can be identified generally by the use of forward-looking terminology, such as “anticipate”, “believe”, “could”, “should”, “would”, “estimate”, “expect”, “forecast”, “indicate”, “intend”, “likely”, “may”, “outlook”, “plan”, “potential”, “project”, “seek”, “target”, “trend” or “will” or the negative or other variations of these words or other comparable words or phrases and is intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words.

The forward-looking statements in this press release include statements concerning the outlook for our business and the expected completion of the sale of GTV. Forward-looking statements are based on certain assumptions and estimates made by us in light of the experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments, including projected growth in the sales of passive and active radio frequency and satellite communications products, and supporting services, and other factors we believe are appropriate and reasonable in the circumstances, but there can be no assurance that such assumptions and estimates will prove to be correct.

Many factors could cause our actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements or future events or developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including the risk factors discussed in the Company’s most recent Annual Information Form, which is available under the Company’s profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. All the forward-looking statements made in this press release are qualified by these cautionary statements and other cautionary statements or factors in this press release. There can be no assurance that the actual results or developments will be realized or, even if substantially realized, will have the expected consequences to, or effects on, the Company. Unless required by applicable securities law, the Company does not intend and does not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statement.

NON-IFRS MEASURES

This press release includes a number of measures that are not prescribed by International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”) and as such may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. We believe these measures are commonly employed to measure performance in our industry and are used by analysts, investors, lenders and interested parties to evaluate financial performance and our ability to incur and service debt to support business activities. While management of the Company believes that non-IFRS measures provide helpful supplemental information, they should not be considered in isolation as an alternative to net income, cash flows generated by operating, investing or financing activities, or other financial statement data presented in accordance with IFRS. For further information, see “Non-IFRS Measures” on page 3 of the MD&A.

ABOUT BAYLIN

Baylin Technologies Inc. is a diversified global wireless technology company focused on the research, design, development, manufacture, and sale of passive and active radio frequency products, satellite communications products, and supporting services.

For further information, please visit www.baylintech.com.

SOURCE Baylin Technologies Inc.

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

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

Technology

REWARD ACQUIRES UK’S LEADING HOSPITALITY DATA INSIGHTS COMPANY (HDI) TO ENHANCE COMMERCE MEDIA OFFERING, DELIVERING DEEPER CONSUMER INSIGHTS FOR THE RETAIL SECTOR

Published

on

By

Reward completes acquisition of Hospitality Data Insights (HDI), a UK market-leading data insights company and longtime partnerThe acquisition will strengthen Reward’s Commerce Media proposition, enhancing consumer insights capabilities that unlock growth opportunities for global retail partnersThis acquisition follows a period of strong growth for Reward, further bolstered by recent strategic investment from Experian PLC, A FTSE 25 company, solidifying Reward’s position as a leader in Customer Engagement and Commerce Media

LONDON, Nov. 14, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Reward, a global leader in Customer Engagement and Commerce Media, today announces the acquisition of Hospitality Data Insights (HDI), a prominent UK-based data insights company and trusted partner. This acquisition is set to further elevate Reward’s Commerce Media capabilities, driving enriched consumer insights for retail and bank partners worldwide.

HDI is known for delivering high-quality, independent data solutions to over 100 global and national brands in the hospitality and convenience sectors, including industry leaders McDonald’s, Pizza Express, and Deliveroo. With a focus on high-spend, high-frequency sectors representing over 20% of household spending, HDI strengthens Reward’s capability to deliver significant consumer value, supporting Reward’s commitment to deliver over £2 billion in rewards by 2025.

By combining HDI’s SKU-level data, product range, pricing insights, and consumer sentiment analysis with Reward’s transactional and behavioural insights, the acquisition enhances Reward’s suite of products for retail marketing, performance optimisation, and operational insights. HDI’s extensive sector expertise and talented team of data analysts add further depth to Reward’s offerings, positioning the company for growth as it establishes itself as the preferred marketing and insights partner. This strategic focus aims to help banks and retailers better understand customers while securing a larger share of marketing budgets.

The all cash acquisition reflects Reward’s period of significant growth. The recent strategic investment from Experian PLC has further enhanced Reward’s consumer insights capabilities, integrating new assets like its Mosaic product. Reward has also expanded its international footprint, with new investment directed at scaling operations in key regions such as Europe, the Middle East and Asia.

Effective immediately, Darroch Bagshaw, Managing Director of HDI, will join Reward’s Leadership Team, reporting to CEO Jamie Samaha. While HDI has been primarily servicing its global brands in the UK, Reward and HDI are well-positioned to scale their enhanced capabilities internationally. The combined efforts will start in the hospitality and convenience sectors and move into other high priority spend categories including convenience and grocery.

Jamie Samaha, CEO of Reward, commented: “In today’s fast-evolving Commerce Media landscape, expanding consumer insights capabilities is more critical than ever. This acquisition of HDI marks a transformative step in our journey to deepen our understanding of consumer behaviour and amplify the value we deliver to our customers, banking partners, and retailers. HDI’s diverse portfolio of leading hospitality brands and innovative insight products opens significant opportunities for us to strengthen our retailer relationships in this key sector, all while driving toward our goal of delivering $2 billion in rewards by 2025.”

Darroch Bagshaw, Managing Director of HDI, added: “HDI’s mission has always been to provide market-leading insights to businesses across the hospitality sector using accurate and actionable data. Reward’s endorsement of our services is testament to our aligned commitment to high quality data analytics that drive investment decisions for the world’s largest retailers. We look forward to combining insights capabilities to provide enriched products and services to retailers and greater value to customers.”

ABOUT REWARD

Reward is a global leader in Customer Engagement and Commerce Media, operating in more than 15 markets across the UK, Europe, the Middle East and Asia. Uniquely positioned at the intersection of banking and retail, Reward’s platform combines technology, data insights and digital marketing to deliver personalised products and services that help brands deepen connections with customers.

As businesses strive to better understand and influence customer behaviour, Reward is poised to lead in the fast-growing commerce media space, offering consumer insights that enhance omnichannel experiences, boost sales and build customer loyalty.

Beyond unifying consumer insight and commerce, Reward is on a mission to make everyday spending more rewarding and every interaction count, delivering billions in rewards to customers.

For more information, please visit www.rewardinsight.com.

ABOUT HDI

Hospitality Data Insights (HDI) is a leading UK insights business, providing independent data insight to global and national brands operating in the UK hospitality sector since 2017, supporting over 100 different clients spanning Pubs & Bars, Restaurants & Casual Dining, QSR, Coffee Shops, Delivery, Convenience, Drinks Suppliers & Manufacturers, Investors and Consulting Firms.

HDI turns vast amounts of high-quality data into meaningful products and services that help operators improve their investment decisions, offer development and customer marketing; and help manufacturers sell and support their brands more effectively

Since late 2022, HDI have extended their capabilities into the UK grocery sector, tracking online pricing for 10 national grocers and monitoring customer spending patterns within over 40,000 individual convenience & grocery stores.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/reward-acquires-uks-leading-hospitality-data-insights-company-hdi-to-enhance-commerce-media-offering-delivering-deeper-consumer-insights-for-the-retail-sector-302304659.html

Continue Reading

Technology

From Pollution to Restoration: The Art of Living’s Powerful Partnerships to Heal Karnataka

Published

on

By

BENGALURU, India, Nov. 14, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — On November 11, 2024, The Art of Living Social Projects signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Bangalore University, the Environmental Management and Policy Research Institute (EMPRI), and the Department of Forest Ecology and Environment, Government of Karnataka. This marks a powerful new chapter in advancing environmental sustainability and climate action through rigorous research, community-driven initiatives, and participatory governance. Rooted in Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s vision, The Art of Living Social Projects’ methodology is holistic, nature-centred and emphasises hands-on community involvement to create tangible and lasting change.

The organisation brings extensive expertise in programme management and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) engagement to the partnership, which aims to address some of Karnataka’s most pressing environmental challenges. At the top of the agenda is an ambitious plan to clean and restore the heavily polluted Vrishabhavathi River, which flows through Bangalore University’s campus. 

Reviving the Vrishabhavathi River Through Nature-Based Solutions (NBS)

Traditional approaches to river restoration often fall short when faced with severe pollution, requiring more innovative strategies. This is precisely where the Art of Living Social Projects’ Nature-Based Solutions come into play. Leveraging natural elements like microorganisms, plants, and algae; NBS techniques use bioremediation and phytoremediation to detoxify the water. Microbial communities work to break down pollutants, while specially chosen plants absorb harmful substances. 

In addition to these natural detoxifiers, aeration plays a crucial role by oxygenating the water, which helps revitalise aquatic habitats and promotes the overall health of the ecosystem. These initiatives demonstrate the organisation’s dedication to lasting environmental interventions and will be utilised in the restoration of the Vrishabhavathi River.

Tackling Broader Environmental Challenges in Karnataka

The MoU extends far beyond river restoration to addressing other urgent environmental issues such as deforestation, air and water pollution, waste management, and ecosystem conservation. The alliance plans to drive change through joint research projects, workshops, and seminars, offering hands-on training and creating educational opportunities that empower the next generation of environmental leaders.

Bridging Academic Research and Practical Implementation

The MoU draws on the unique strengths of each partner. Bangalore University brings academic depth, while EMPRI contributes expertise in policy research. The Art of Living Social Projects’ extensive experience with large-scale projects  and community engagement rounds out this powerful team. The synergy facilitates the implementation of evidence-based plans that are not only effective but also engage the community in enduring practices.

Empowering Communities for Lasting Change

The MoU also reflects a commitment to participatory governance, a principle close to The Art of Living’s ethos. Shared Sri Prasana Prabhu, Chairman of The Art of Living Social Projects, “We believe that sustainability must be rooted in the participatory governance framework. This MoU allows us to deepen our engagement and leverage our resources to empower academia and civil society organisations towards sustainable practices.”

A Model for Environmental Protection

A new standard in environmental governance and action will be set by this collaboration. By bridging academic research with practical, community-driven game plans, it presents a model that could inspire similar initiatives in other regions. As this collaborative effort unfolds, The Art of Living Social Projects, Bangalore University, EMPRI, and the Department of Forest, Ecology, and Environment are poised to make significant strides in tackling Karnataka’s environmental challenges, from cleaner rivers to thriving ecosystems.

Through this landmark MoU, The Art of Living Social Projects, under the inspiration of Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, reaffirms its commitment to nature-driven solutions, working towards a future of cleaner water, healthier ecosystems, and stronger communities.

About The Art of Living Social Projects 

Inspired by the world-renowned humanitarian and spiritual leader Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar; The Art of Living is a global non-profit organisation dedicated to peace, well-being, and humanitarian service. Committed to holistic development, The Art of Living champions various initiatives, including water conservation, sustainable agriculture, afforestation, free education, skill development, women empowerment, integrated village development, renewable energy and waste management. Through these multifaceted efforts, The Art of Living strives to create positive social and environmental impact, fostering a more sustainable and harmonious future for all.

Follow: https://www.instagram.com/artofliving.sp/
Post: https://x.com/artofliving_sp
Message: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/artofliving-sp

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2556631/MoU_Environmental_Sustainability_AOL.jpg
Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1979631/AOLSP_Logo.jpg

 

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/in/news-releases/from-pollution-to-restoration-the-art-of-livings-powerful-partnerships-to-heal-karnataka-302304263.html

Continue Reading

Technology

CIOs Struggle to Define AI Value For Their Business as They Continue to Invest in New Projects

Published

on

By

Tech leaders are divided on whether AI investments should boost productivity, revenue, or worker satisfaction

SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 14, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — New research from revenue intelligence leader Gong reveals widely varying viewpoints among CIOs and other tech leaders over how to evaluate the success of AI projects. Surveying over 500 CIOs and heads of IT across the UK and US, the findings illustrate the challenge many businesses face when it comes to strategically implementing AI and the uncertainty in measuring whether those AI investments are paying off.

While over half of CIOs (53 percent) prioritize productivity gains, an equal proportion focus on revenue growth as their key success metrics, with worker satisfaction trailing closely behind (46 percent). This divergence underscores a broader challenge: confusion about where AI can deliver the most business value and a well-defined approach for evaluation.

Key insights from the study include:

Revenue Growth vs. Time Savings: 61 percent of global CIOs believe increased revenue alone justifies AI costs, while 60 percent say that time savings alone will justify costs. Yet, only 32 percent actively measure both, suggesting that many companies still don’t have systems in place to measure and assess the impact on the variables they say matter most.A Growing Interest in Predictive AI: While generative AI attracts much of the buzz around the technology, it is not the clear leader among CIOs in terms of driving value. Fifty-four percent of tech leaders prioritize generative AI, 51 percent prioritize automation, and 31 percent prioritize predictive AI. To capitalize on this discord and deliver value across a broad spectrum, AI models must be tuned to support workflow automation and predictive analytics.Adoption of Domain-Specific Solutions: While nearly three-quarters of tech leaders rely on off-the-shelf large language models (LLMs) as part of their AI investments, 58 percent are utilizing domain-specific solutions. These AI tools are trained on industry- and function-specific data to deliver more precise and measurable results.Security is a Key Obstacle…: Security remains a top priority for 68 percent of tech leaders, but 28 percent admit this is where their AI projects most often fall short.…As is Data Integration: Data integration challenges also threaten project success, with 36 percent of CIOs likely to pause initiatives if implementation complexities arise. Without the right underlying data, AI outputs risk delivering little value or, worse, biased or inaccurate results.AI’s Long-Term Value Persists: Despite mixed measurement strategies, only a small fraction (under 20 percent) cited a lack of provable ROI as a reason to abandon AI initiatives, indicating that most companies continue to explore its potential and long-term value.Smaller companies are more eager to prove ROI: Smaller US firms (250-500 employees) are more ROI-focused, with 40 percent willing to halt projects lacking clear ROI, compared to just 19 percent of larger companies. This suggests that while smaller US firms see the value in investing in AI, they need to focus on initiatives that deliver measurable and immediate returns and have less budget for experimentation. In contrast, larger companies might have more capacity to invest in long-term projects without immediate ROI.

“Over the last two years, the AI hype and pace of innovation has created incredible excitement and confusion for CIOs and tech leaders about its potential and where to focus,” said Eilon Reshef, co-founder and Chief Product Officer, Gong. “But one thing is clear: leaders are pursuing value and exploring different areas across the business where AI can have a transformative impact.”

To learn more about the survey’s findings, read the blog.

Methodology
The research was conducted by Censuswide with 573 CIOs/Heads of IT (aged 25+) in medium and large companies who have purchased an off-the-shelf AI application in the last 2 years across the UK and US (250 and 323 respondents respectively) between October 9 -October 16, 2024. Censuswide abide by and employ members of the Market Research Society which is based on the ESOMAR principles. Censuswide are also members of the British Polling Council.

About Gong
Gong transforms revenue organizations by driving business efficiency, revenue growth, and improved decision-making. The Revenue Intelligence Platform uses proprietary artificial intelligence technology to enable teams to capture, understand, and act on all customer interactions in a single, integrated platform. Thousands of companies around the world rely on Gong to support their go-to-market strategies and grow revenue efficiently. For more information, visit www.gong.io.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cios-struggle-to-define-ai-value-for-their-business-as-they-continue-to-invest-in-new-projects-302305064.html

SOURCE Gong

Continue Reading

Trending