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How to overcome structural barriers to digital transformation – Akkodis study ‘What CTOs think’ reveals insights

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The report combines insights from global CTOs on this latest era of digital transformation and recommendations for navigating the shift to an AI-powered enterprise

ZURICH, Sept. 10, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — In recent years, digital transformation has become an indispensable priority for the C-suite, with many CTOs recognizing that digitalization is an ever-evolving concept; unlike earlier phases that focused on process automation, a majority of CTOs now see “catalyzing business growth” as a top benefit. However, according to a major study published today by global digital engineering company and Smart Industry leader, Akkodis, CTOs report numerous challenges and acknowledge that there is still much progress to be made. There are still many uncertainties surrounding the introduction of AI technologies and there is also a discrepancy between the CTOs’ concepts and the corporate reality.

“What CTOs Think: Navigating the Path to the AI Enterprise” is a report that explores how CTOs are approaching this current era of digitalization and offers recommendations for a successful transformation to an AI-powered enterprise. The survey[1], conducted in collaboration with Oxford Economics, covers 2,000 C-suite leaders, including 509 CTOs, across nine countries and 18 sectors, including Aerospace, Automotive, Energy, Life Sciences, and Technology.

Uncertainty and inaction hold back digital transformation

Despite a clear imperative for CTOs to digitally transform their organizations, uncertainty paralysis poses a barrier to action. External challenges rank high, including regulation and compliance, as well as security risk concerns. Yet, with new tech rapidly evolving, the number one barrier CTOs cite across industries is selecting the right technology. AI stands out as a defining feature of this emerging new digitalization era. Although most CTOs see it as a game changer for their companies, the technology remains nascent and 60% of CTOs believe their organization’s leadership lacks sufficient AI skills and knowledge. Skills gaps within the C-suite may trickle down to impact readiness across the wider workforce.

CTOs need to collaborate to deliver the AI enterprise

There is a gap between CTOs’ ambition and implementation when it comes to their AI strategies, worsened by broader uncertainties. While 80% of CTOs are “very confident” in their AI plans compared to 67% from the rest of the C-suite, there’s still work to be done. Only about half of CTOs say their organizations offer AI usage guidance, provide a framework for ethical data use, and offer AI training (56%, 51% and 46%, respectively). To address the disruption new technologies bring across business models, CTOs must foster cross-departmental collaboration to secure enterprise-wide buy-in.

There is an urgent need for digital workforce strategies

CTOs identify critical digital skill gaps that are expected to widen as this new wave of digital transformation accelerates. They expect this will likely to drive up wages for technical staff, with strong demand for digital skills anticipated over the next five years. CTOs are bold on upskilling and reskilling existing employees and expect generative AI to positively impact workforce strategies across the organization in the coming year. To address these gaps, there’s a need to balance building, buying, and renting talent, with a focus on upskilling and reskilling existing employees.

“This research highlights the challenges and opportunities business leaders face with the new wave of digitalization and emerging technologies,” said Jan Gupta, President, Akkodis. “The Smart Industry is all about leveraging digitalization to help us connect everything, use data to inform sharper decisions, and create new business models and smarter systems. The CTO plays a crucial role in bringing this to fruition. Their collaboration across the C-suite is critical to navigating talent gaps, building AI-ready foundations, and ultimately transforming the enterprise.”

The full report is available here.

Notes to Editor

1. Akkodis’ “What CTOs think” is based on the Adecco Group’s Business Leaders research, which investigates the changing world of work from the executive perspective.

About Akkodis 

Akkodis is a global digital engineering company and Smart Industry leader. We enable clients to advance in their digital transformation with Consulting, Solutions, Talent, and Academy services. Headquartered in Switzerland and part of the Adecco Group, Akkodis is a trusted tech partner to the world’s industries. We co-create and pioneer solutions that help to solve major challenges, from accelerating the clean energy transition and green mobility, to improving user and patient centricity. Empowered by a culture of inclusion and diversity, our 50,000 tech experts across 30 countries combine best-in-class technologies and cross industry knowledge to drive purposeful innovation for a more sustainable tomorrow. We are passionate about Engineering a Smarter Future Together. akkodis.com | LinkedIn | Instagram | FacebookTwitter

About the Adecco Group

The Adecco Group is the world’s leading talent company. Our purpose is making the future work for everyone. Through our three global business units – Adecco, Akkodis and LHH – across 60 countries, we enable sustainable and lifelong employability for individuals, deliver digital and engineering solutions to power the Smart Industry transformation and empower organisations to optimise their workforces. The Adecco Group leads by example and is committed to an inclusive culture, fostering sustainable employability, and supporting resilient economies and communities. The Adecco Group AG is headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland (ISIN: CH0012138605) and listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (ADEN). www.adeccogroup.com

Media contacts: 
Anne Friedrich
SVP
Global Head of Communications
Akkodis
+4915174633470
anne.friedrich@akkodis.com

Lisa Bushka
VP
Global External Communications
Akkodis
+18604630770
lisa.bushka@adeccogroup.com

SOURCE Akkodis

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Data Center Asia 2025 Set for Ground-breaking Launch in Hong Kong

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HONG KONG, Sept. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Positioned as an essential knowledge exchange platform and a cross-continental meeting place for the industry, Data Center Asia (DCA), organized by Informa Markets Asia, is set to make its grand debut from 15 to 17 July 2025 at AsiaWorld-Expo, Hong Kong. Building on the success of the long-running, AFCOM-affiliated Data Center World event in the US, Data Center Asia will serve as the epicenter for data center technology innovations and business transformations in the fast-growing Asia-Pacific markets, with highlights to the regional hotspots such as the Greater Bay Area (GBA). Hong Kong as a prime event location allows the event to attract a diverse visitor mix across Asia-Pacific region and boost the connectivity with global markets.

By showcasing the end-to-end data center value chain, DCA 2025 promises to be a transformative moment for Asia’s data center ecosystem, offering unparalleled opportunities for education, networking and sourcing that will shape the future of digital infrastructure. The event will be co-located with Build4Asia, The Battery Show Asia and Mobility Tech Asia, bringing content and visitor synergies under a broad renewable energy theme that covers advanced battery technologies, energy storage, electric/hybrid technologies, green facilities and green building solutions, and other relevant subjects.

The Ultimate Showcase of Data Center Innovations

The three-day DCA 2025 will showcase hundreds of advanced solutions designed to help attendees refine their data center strategies. Exhibitors will span the entire data center industry ecosystem, bringing together every key element from data center infrastructure, design engineering and systems integration, intelligent products and technologies, cloud and virtualisation to telecommunications. Corporate users and industry professionals including data center operators, IT and infrastructure managers, facility managers, cloud service experts, cybersecurity specialists and sustainability advocates will have the opportunity to connect with top-tier global suppliers, explore the latest technologies, and rethink the full lifecycle of data center operations.

Held alongside the exhibition, The DCA conference will feature a series of expertly curated tracks, each focused on the latest trends and best practice in the industry. Featuring over 100 top-tier speakers across the region and from outside Asia, attendees will   engage in in-depth discussions on key topics such as the current market landscape, energy efficiency & sustainability, data center design & operations, among many others. This dynamic exchange of ideas will inject new energy into the data center communities, offering attendees invaluable insights and practical takeaways.

Hong Kong as a Springboard to China and the Wider Asian Markets

Strategically located in the heart of Asia, Hong Kong bridges between Mainland China and the rest of the world, offering unmatched access for foreign businesses to enter the burgeoning GBA and the wider China markets and meanwhile enabling China local enterprises to expand their global footprint. Situated at AsiaWorld-Expo, which is conveniently located next to the Hong Kong International Airport and near the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, DCA 2025 ensures seamless access for visitors from all directions, making it an ideal platform to foster global connections and explore trans-continental business opportunities.

Hong Kong is distinguished by its superior connectivity, deep talent pool and advanced hardware infrastructure that complement the essential needs of the data center industry. The city’s commitment to supporting this sector is evident in its significant government initiatives, including subsidies for relevant R&D projects and the redevelopment initiatives to convert industrial buildings into the state-of-the-art data centers. These efforts are also complemented by Hong Kong’s strong supply-demand dynamics within key industries such as finance, trade, insurance and logistics, which drive lasting and robust needs for data center solutions. All these offer a fertile environment for investment and growth to the data center.

Strategic Co-Location for Maximum Synergy

As a strategic move to create powerful synergies, DCA 2025 will be co-located with three other technology-focused events held across seven standard halls at AsiaWorld-Expo:

the locally acclaimed Build4Asia, which specializes in green building, smart facilities and efficient power managementthe inaugural edition of The Battery Show Asia, which showcases the advancements in advanced battery and energy storage technologiesthe newly created Mobility Tech Asia, which explores the future of new energy vehicles across land, air and water.

This co-location is set to attract a diverse audience encompassing regional professionals from Internet Data Center (IDC) experts, EPC contractors, data center infrastructure manufacturers and distributors, end users and more, which would offer a broader perspective on data applications and drive valuable cross-sector exchange.

In addition, leveraging Informa’s extensive technology media network including Data Center Knowledge, InformationWeek, Network Computing and OMdia, DCA 2025 will serve up unprecedented opportunities for networking, knowledge exchange and business collaborations. The extensive industry expertise and audience base brought by these sister brands will significantly enhance the event’s global impact and educational value.

Join Us to Shape the Future of Data Center

Data Center Asia 2025 is set to be a premier destination for business networking and knowledge exchange and an industry-leading think tank. The event will cultivate a vibrant community of researchers, business leaders, industry associations and opinion makers, all of whom will contribute ground-breaking insights that could make a lasting impact on Asia’s data center industry. Join us in Hong Kong from 15 to 17 July 2025 and be a part of the conversation that will shape the future of Asian data center industry!

About Informa Markets

Informa Markets creates platforms for industries and specialist markets to trade, innovate and grow. Our portfolio is comprised of more than 550 international B2B events and brands in markets including Healthcare & Pharmaceuticals, Infrastructure, Construction & Real Estate, Fashion & Apparel, Hospitality, Food & Beverage, and Health & Nutrition, among others. We provide customers and partners around the globe with opportunities to engage, experience and do business through face-to-face exhibitions, specialist digital content and actionable data solutions. As the world’s leading exhibitions organizer, we bring a diverse range of specialist markets to life, unlocking opportunities and helping them to thrive 365 days of the year. For more information, please visit www.informamarkets.com.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/data-center-asia-2025-set-for-ground-breaking-launch-in-hong-kong-302255014.html

SOURCE Informa Markets Asia; Data Center Asia

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On Track for A Low Carbon Future: CRRC to Unveil Passenger and Freight Rail Transit and Full Life-Cycle System Solutions at InnoTrans 2024

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BERLIN, Sept. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Under the theme of On Track for A Low Carbon Future, CRRC Corporation Limited (“CRRC”, SHA: 601766) will display its line-up of passenger and freight transportation offerings, alongside full life-cycle system solutions, at InnoTrans 2024 in Berlin, Germany. Highlighting the event, two innovative, eco-friendly, and intelligent trains will make their world premiere: the CINOVA H2 New Energy Intelligent Intercity Train and the Autonomous Rail Rapid Transit (ART) 2.0, at Stand 210, Hall 4.2 of the venue.

Green Intelligent Passenger Transport Solutions

CRRC will showcase its environmentally responsible and intelligent passenger transport solutions, which include the Intelligent EMU, Intercity/Regional EMU, Intelligent Urban Rail Transit, and New Energy Passenger Transportation. These offerings cater to every speed level and application scenario, envisioning a future of passenger transport that is faster, greener, smarter, and more cost-effective.

The exhibition will highlight standout products that are redefining passenger mobility, including the 350 km/h High-Speed Intelligent EMU, the CINOVA 2.0 New Intelligent Intercity/Regional EMU, the 160 km/h Hydrogen Full-Automatic Intelligent Regional Train, and the Autonomous Rail Rapid Transit (ART).

Diversified Freight Transport Solutions

CRRC introduce a wide range of heavy-duty, fast, and environmentally responsible solutions during the event. To address the growing demand for higher freight capacity, CRRC plans to unveil several new products, among them, the 24-axle Freight Electric Locomotive and the 45-ton Axle Load Ore Car. The 350 km/h High-Speed Freight EMU, the fastest and the most spacious in the industry, will be a focal point. In line with the global push for green transportation, CRRC will launch its serialized new energy locomotives, including the diesel-battery hybrid locomotive, the power battery locomotive, and the hydrogen-battery hybrid locomotive, with power levels from 1000KW to 2000KW. The diversified solutions offer more choices for the global railway freight industry.

Full Life-Cycle System Solutions

CRRC will showcase its expertise beyond just train units with the Train-Ground Integrated Electromechanical System (TIES), a game-changer that centers on the vehicle and incorporates all related operating scenarios. The system reconstructs, integrates, and optimizes the electromechanical system for power supply, signaling, track, depot and passenger service scenarios. It exemplifies the Train-Ground Integration concept, driving overall efficiency gains across disciplines and throughout the entire vehicle-road-station-depot lifecycle.

Focusing on user experience and the diverse needs of the global rail transit market, CRRC will give a detailed presentation on its Digital Life-Cycle System Solution (DLS) at the event. The flexible solution accommodates various city sizes and populations through tailored system designs that support diverse business models such as PPP (public-private partnership), system integration, and electro-mechanical turnkey projects.

For more information about CRRC at the exhibition, please visit https://www.crrcgc.cc/en/.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/on-track-for-a-low-carbon-future-crrc-to-unveil-passenger-and-freight-rail-transit-and-full-life-cycle-system-solutions-at-innotrans-2024-302255003.html

SOURCE CRRC Corporation Limited

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Reshaping Future Lifestyles: Markor Unveils AI Strategy at the Apsara Conference

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BEIJING, Sept. 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — On September 19, the 2024 China Apsara Conference, a major annual event for the Chinese cloud computing industry, commenced in Hangzhou. Over three days, industry representatives, media professionals, and numerous AI technology enthusiasts gathered to witness the event’s grandeur.

This year’s summit, themed “AI on Cloud: Recharging• Innovating • Transforming,” spotlighted the evolution of cloud computing across various sectors in the AI era, presenting the world’s largest showcase of generative AI applications. Industry giants including NVIDIA, Intel, Alibaba Cloud, and Tesla were in attendance. Markor distinguished itself as the sole home furnishing company represented at the summit, presenting its cutting-edge “AI Smart Home” system, which introduced a new era of AI-driven home consumption experiences, attracting significant attention.

Live at the Scene: Markor’s AI Smart Home Takes a Giant Leap Forward

From its transition to new retail in recent years to its embrace of AI, the home furnishing industry’s exploration and implementation of AI have drawn immense attention. It has been recognized as a long-term strategy that will influence the future of urban living and people’s quality of life.
In 2023, dubbed the first year of AI in China, Markor led the industry by launching its AI-powered home application, “AI Smart Home.” This program integrates cutting-edge AI model technology with a curated selection of best-selling products, offering features such as a home knowledge encyclopedia, lifestyle analysis and recommendations, design style suggestions, furniture recommendations, and one-click product replacements, providing users with 24/7 intelligent home design and easy home setup solutions.

The AI Smart Home system revolutionizes traditional home setup processes, enabling users to enjoy services conveniently via mobile devices. At the summit, Markor provided live demonstrations of the AI Smart Home system, with an interactive area for hands-on experiences. The system’s ease of use, wide range of style options, instant results, one-click sharing, and seamless purchasing capabilities ushered in a new era, allowing attendees to transition from imagining AI-powered home setups to instantly experiencing full-room services. The audience was left impressed and full of praise.

As the world’s first AI multimodal model for professional interior design, and the only AI application to incorporate a large language model in home furnishing retail, the AI Smart Home offers flexible and dynamic solutions that go beyond pre-existing layout-generated designs. It represents a groundbreaking leap in the home industry, emerging as a leading tool that reshapes service ecosystems.

Open, Shared, and Collaborative AI Business Achievements Define AI’s Sustainable Future

As a traditional home furnishing retailer closely tied to people’s daily lives, the success of AI Smart Home is no coincidence. Markor’s global strategy and presence ensure that the brand remains open and internationally competitive. Whether through prestigious awards or its global manufacturing footprint, each leap in innovation is supported by its competitive edge.
Since the beta launch of AI Smart Home by Markor Furnishings, a home furnishing brand under Markor, it has recorded over 50,000 page visits in a short time, with tens of thousands of users generating sales orders worth tens of millions of yuan. This achievement has boosted confidence in the traditional industry’s digital transformation.
A representative of Markor at the summit stated, “AI represents openness, and Markor has always embraced the times through an open ecosystem to meet users’ needs. With over 20 years of accumulated lifestyle experience, we aim to extend the reach of quality living experiences through AI interaction and expansion. The true sustainable future of AI lies in achieving shared success among users, brands, and technology platforms.”

It is evident that Markor is not simply focused on app development; it is committed to a long-term strategy that builds AI-driven lifestyles and reshapes business models. By creating personalized shopping experiences and innovating marketing models that cater to new consumer demands, Markor’s AI-based tools like “AI Xiaomei” and “AI Smart Home” serve as personalized recommendation and virtual design solutions. The company is poised to further enhance its services by leveraging AI to accurately predict market trends, optimize advertising effectiveness, and upgrade customer solutions, thus driving marketing conversion opportunities. Through disruptive shopping experiences and business models, Markor aims to become the world’s first AI-driven home furnishing brand with a fully digital and intelligent shopping experience.

Pioneering Future Living with AI: Unlocking New Opportunities

Markor is committed to leveraging technological convenience, unlocking potential, and sharing technological benefits. As a trailblazer in quality living, its development path consistently follows a “science + art” approach, which has proven to be a long-term strategy in line with current market trends. In 2024, Markor was honored with the title of “Outstanding Home Furnishing Brand Enterprise of 2024.” Its sub-brand, Markor Furnishings, reached a new brand value of over 32.2 billion yuan, securing a spot in the “Top 100 New Quality Home Brands of 2024” and winning the “Home Service Excellence Award” for the 13th consecutive year.
Backed by its national-level Industrial Design Center, robust R&D systems, and global operational capabilities, Markor continues to invigorate the ecosystem through digitalization, intelligence, and supply chain integration. With AI Smart Home as the bridge, Markor is reigniting public interest and confidence in AI’s potential and advancing the commercialization of AI technologies like natural language processing. It is building a continually open-source platform for both DTC end-users and B2B interior designers.
In July 2024, Markor hosted the “Art + AI + Life” forum in Beijing and launched a national AI painting and design competition, further embedding AI practices in the industry. In September, it signed a strategic partnership with the AI technology leader Shengshu Technology to break new ground in product design, manufacturing, marketing content innovation, and service experience. This collaboration will fuel the company’s efforts toward smart, personalized home furnishing upgrades, setting new benchmarks in the industry. These initiatives underscore Markor’s determination to use AI to enhance its future competitiveness.

Democratizing design empowers everyone to shape their dreams and take control of their future. Markor’s ongoing AI strategy not only provides opportunities for those pursuing a better life but also highlights new possibilities in the ever-evolving home living landscape.

 

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/reshaping-future-lifestyles-markor-unveils-ai-strategy-at-the-apsara-conference-302255015.html

SOURCE Markor International Home Furnishings

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