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Dunelm Enhances Product Discovery with Google Cloud’s Advanced Generative AI Technology

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LONDON, Oct. 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Dunelm, the UK homewares retailer, today announced a significant enhancement to its online shopping experience through a new collaboration with Google Cloud. As part of the two companies’ work together, Dunelm has implemented a new, generative AI-driven product discovery solution on Dunelm.com. This advancement will help further improve the consumer’s online journey, making it much easier to discover and engage with Dunelm products online.

Towards the end of 2023, Dunelm recognised an opportunity to modernize its website search capabilities. By transitioning from a first-generation search engine to Google Cloud’s Vertex AI Search for Retail platform, Dunelm aimed to provide a seamless and increasingly personalized shopping journey for its customers. Today, with Vertex AI Search for Retail, Dunelm can now offer Google-quality product discovery on its website, resulting in a significantly improved search experience for its customers.

John Gahagan, Chief Technology and Information Officer at Dunelm, said: “A key part of our strategy is to improve the ways we connect products to our customers. Partnering with Google Cloud brings innovative generative AI solutions to our online search capabilities, making it much easier for customers to find the products they want. This is an exciting step forward in providing a best-in-class online shopping experience. By leveraging the power of AI, we’re making it easier than ever for our customers to find inspiration, supporting our growth potential as ‘The Home of Homes.'”

Early testing of the new generative AI platform in 2024 yielded some notable improvements to key metrics, including a significant reduction in search friction, with less than 1% of search terms returning zero results. These enhancements translated to a more intuitive and efficient shopping experience, allowing customers to quickly discover the perfect products for their homes, from our extensive ranges across multiple homeware and furniture categories.

“Website search abandonment costs retailers millions of pounds annually, as consumers are unable to find the specific products they need,” said Tara Brady, President, Google Cloud EMEA. “We’re proud to collaborate on this important project to use generative AI to improve consumer experiences and shape the future of retail.”

Dunelm’s work with Google Cloud was in partnership with Kin + Carta (recently acquired by Valtech), who supported with the initial design and experimentation of the programme. The collaboration demonstrates the transformative potential of generative AI in retail. As Dunelm continues to innovate and enhance its digital offering, customers can look forward to even more personalized and engaging shopping experiences in the future.

About Dunelm

Dunelm is the UK’s market leader in homewares with a purpose ‘to help create the joy of truly feeling at home, now and for generations to come’. Its specialist customer proposition offers value, quality, choice and style across an extensive range spanning multiple homewares and furniture categories and including services such as Made to Measure window treatments.

The business was founded in 1979 by the Adderley family, beginning as a curtains stall on Leicester market before expanding its store footprint. The business has grown to 184 stores across the UK and has developed a successful online offer through dunelm.com which includes home delivery and Click & Collect options. Most stores include Pausa coffee shops, where customers can enjoy a range of hot and cold food and drinks.

From its textiles heritage in areas such as bedding, curtains, cushions, quilts and pillows, Dunelm has built a comprehensive offer as ‘The Home of Homes’ including furniture, kitchenware, dining, lighting, outdoor, decoration and DIY. The business predominantly sells specialist own-brand products sourced from long-term, committed suppliers.

Dunelm is headquartered in Leicester and employs c.11,500 colleagues.

About Google Cloud
Google Cloud accelerates every organization’s ability to digitally transform its business. We deliver enterprise-grade solutions that leverage Google’s cutting-edge technology – all on the cleanest cloud in the industry. Customers in more than 200 countries and territories turn to Google Cloud as their trusted partner to enable growth and solve their most critical business problems.

 

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/dunelm-enhances-product-discovery-with-google-clouds-advanced-generative-ai-technology-302270070.html

SOURCE Google Cloud

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FusionIQ Commences Next Stage of Growth Strategy with Appointment of Eric Noll as CEO and Successful Completion of New Fundraising Round

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Seasoned financial services leader to accelerate market penetration with additional fresh capital as lead investors recapitalize

WOBURN, Mass., Oct. 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — FusionIQ, a leader in the delivery of cloud-based wealth management solutions, today announced the launch of the next stage of its growth strategy with the appointment of Eric Noll as Chief Executive Officer and the successful completion of a significant new fundraising round. Mr. Noll’s appointment is effective today.

The leadership transition and fundraising completion position FusionIQ for accelerated growth and further success in transforming how financial advisory firms and institutions utilize the award-winning FusionIQ One platform and the suite of products it powers. Mr. Noll brings an extensive track record of financial services leadership across organic and M&A-based strategy, technology, and GRC (governance, risk, and compliance) and continues to hold various leadership roles within industry organizations.

“I am excited to take on the role of CEO at FusionIQ at a time when each of the elements necessary to fuel further success are in place,” said Mr. Noll. “The company has established an integrated wealthtech platform that provides the foundation for accelerated growth and further industry leadership, thanks to a firmwide effort led by our C-suite executives. By equipping advisors and institutions with innovative digital wealth management solutions and expertise, we are positioned to significantly expand across multiple industry channels as we deliver transformation in financial services.”

New Board Members Selected

FusionIQ also announced the selection of its new board of directors: Eric Noll as chairman, and new directors Erik Oros, Timothy Powers, and Scott Ganeles. Erik Oros is the Chief Investment Officer at Gideon Strategic Partners and a former managing partner at Actinium Capital. Timothy Powers is the CEO of OakRidge Management Group, a multi-family office, and a former executive director at JP Morgan. Scott Ganeles is the CEO at iAltA and serves on the Board of Directors at Tradeweb. He is a former Senior Partner at Westcap Group and has founded two fintech companies, the Carson Group and i-Deal, both of which had successful exits.

Positioned For Accelerated Growth

The recent fundraising marks a pivotal moment in FusionIQ’s journey, reinforcing its commitment to delivering easy-to-implement digital wealth management solutions to financial services clients. Mr. Noll’s appointment comes at a time when FusionIQ is prepared to capitalize on its successes and emerging market opportunities in a digital-first world. The company has been growing across different asset classes and supporting all key targeted channels of the wealth management space, from banks and credit unions to RIAs, asset managers, and non-financial institutions with a need for FusionIQ’s products. The leadership team will continue to prioritize both organic growth and potential acquisitions, further enhancing the firm’s capabilities.

“We see an unprecedented opportunity to accelerate growth by delivering digital transformation that opens wealth to greater numbers of people,” said Mr. Noll. “By eliminating friction in the marketplace, the FusionIQ One platform is providing efficient, effective processes that drive down costs and create growth for wealth management enterprises.”

FusionIQ’s new phase of accelerated growth will focus on democratizing access to financial services and leveraging innovative technology to expand into new markets and segments. The company’s unmatched capabilities position it as the leader in delivering comprehensive wealth management solutions for both institutional and retail clients.

About FusionIQ

FusionIQ makes it easy for financial advisors and institutions to be digital wealth leaders. The cloud-native all-in-one FusionIQ One platform has four modules – Hybrid Digital Advice, Self-Directed Investing, Digital Marketplace, and finTAMP – making digital transformation hassle-free. FusionIQ One powers a range of easy-to-implement products including FIQ Freedom, FIQ Journey, FIQ Market One, and FIQ TAMP+, making it easy for credit unions, banks, broker-dealers, family offices, RIAs, and asset managers to scale, delivering the digital experience clients and advisors want and the seamless workflows and process automations they need for organic growth. With white-label integrations complete in as little as six weeks, it’s easy to see why FusionIQ One’s integrated multi-custodian platform is quickly becoming the digital solution of choice for advisors and institutions. To learn more, please visit: https://fusioniq.io

Media Contact
Elizabeth Shim
Haven Tower Group
424 317 4861
eshim@haventower.com

 

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/fusioniq-commences-next-stage-of-growth-strategy-with-appointment-of-eric-noll-as-ceo-and-successful-completion-of-new-fundraising-round-302271018.html

SOURCE FusionIQ

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Car IQ Pay Announces Nationwide High Flow Diesel Acceptance

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Car IQ Pay Launches into Over-the-Road Trucking

SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Car IQ Inc., a leader in fleet payments, announced today their new Fuel Acceptance Partnership with Love’s, one of the largest nationwide travel stops. Marking their official expansion into over-the-road trucking, Car IQ now supports payments for both commercial and high flow diesel fuel at all 580+ Love’s travel stop locations across 42 states.

For the first time, class 6-8 vehicles can use Car IQ to automatically unlock the pump and authorize a fuel transaction – a payment experience that leverages the data within the vehicle and eliminates fuel cards, card skimming and cuts all types of misuse. Trucking customers get advanced control over their fuel spend while connecting to their My Love Rewards program. Digital receipts, which incorporate both vehicle and transaction data, are sent in real time, reducing the inefficiencies of card management and turning reconciliation into a simple process.

“This acceptance partnership marks a major milestone for Car IQ, not only increasing our coverage across the United States but also answering the demands of our customers with class 6-8 vehicles who need high flow diesel,” said Sterling Pratz, CEO of Car IQ.

About Car IQ® Inc.
Founded in 2017, Car IQ Inc. is changing the way fleets pay by connecting vehicles directly to fuel pumps and enabling direct payments. Car IQ lets fleet fleets pay for fuel, toll management, parking, EV charging and more without the hassle of managing a fleet card program.

The revolutionary payment platform uses real-time vehicle data to provide back office and administrative teams 360-degree, 100-percent accurate oversight of all payments, helping to eliminate fraud, improve efficiency, and streamline the reconciliation process. For more information, visit www.cariqpay.com.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/car-iq-pay-announces-nationwide-high-flow-diesel-acceptance-302270763.html

SOURCE Car IQ

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Aleph Acquires Controlling Equity Interest in Localpayment and Targets $1.4 Trillion Digital Payments Market

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Transformative deal combines expanded international payment processing capabilities with Aleph’s 20 years of leading digital marketing expertise, processing $3 Billion in yearly Total Payment Volume (TPV) and delivering an unrivaled offer for customers in emerging and high-growth markets.

MIAMI, Oct. 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Aleph, a leading ecosystem of global digital experts and technology-driven solutions that enables the growth of global digital marketing, today announced the acquisition of a controlling equity interest in Localpayment, a fast growing Payment Service Provider (PSP) in Latin America, transforming the digital landscape by combining first class digital advertising solutions with seamless local payment capabilities, creating a natural network effect. Aleph will be able to leverage its exclusive relationships with top-tier digital platforms such as Amazon, Google, Snapchat, Spotify, TikTok, Uber, and X among others, along with over 26,000+ advertisers, digital native companies and online retailers to rapidly grow its payments solution.

With this acquisition, Aleph is set to further enhance its offering and capabilities. Already driving significant revenue for major digital advertising platforms in 130+ emerging and high-growth markets, Aleph, through Localpayment, will now be able to process billions of dollars in payments for its clients. Aleph is now the sole player in both the digital advertising and fintech ecosystems, with the latter projected to grow to $1.4 Trillion in LATAM by 20281. 

Localpayment, now rebranded as Localpayment by Aleph, was founded in 2018 and offers integration via a single API in 17 countries across Latin America supporting pay-in and payout in +640 local payment methods including credit and debit cards, bank transfers, instant and QR code payments, digital wallets, and local Alternative Payment Methods (APMs) such as PIX in Brazil and Oxxo in Mexico. Partnering with industry leaders like PayPal (NASDAQ: PYPL) and Payoneer (NASDAQ: PAYO), Localpayment by Aleph adheres to the highest standards of KYC (Know Your Customer) and compliance protocols.

Aleph’s controlling equity interest in Localpayment unites Digital Advertising with Streamlined Payment Solutions

This acquisition strengthens Aleph’s leadership in connecting digital advertising with streamlined payment solutions across various industries, including streaming, digital media, gig economies, online retail, SaaS, hospitality, travel, financial services, and entertainment. Key figures highlight Aleph’s and Localpayment combined impact: $3+ billion Total Payment Volume (TPV), 60+ top-tier platforms and 26,000+ advertisers, a single API with 640+ payment methods, support for 70+ currencies and presence in 130+ countries.

Unmatched Advantage: Payments + Media Integration

Aleph’s acquisition of Localpayment accelerates the redefinition of how businesses in industries such as streaming, e-commerce and digital media, can operate by offering an integrated approach to payments and media. By enabling clients to manage their payment flows while leveraging digital media, this deal creates significant cost efficiencies and operational savings. Businesses can now optimize their payment processing and digital advertising or inventory in a single streamlined process.

Gaston Taratuta, CEO of Aleph, said: “For nearly two decades, we have focused on bridging the gap between leading ad-tech platforms and advertisers in emerging economies, creating an ecosystem where advertisers meet consumers. Now, we are taking a natural next step by integrating payment processing capabilities. This marks a significant evolution for Aleph, reflecting our belief in the ongoing shift from offline GDP to digital GDP, and driving even greater value creation for our partners and clients. We’re starting in Latin America and plan to roll out operations both organically and via acquisitions in Africa, the Middle East and Asia, where we already have a strong local presence.”

Ezequiel Israel, CEO of Localpayment stated: “We’re thrilled to be part of Aleph’s journey and mission. This deal accelerates our growth and gives us direct access to the global digital platforms, brands and online retailers that Aleph has long been associated with and provides them with a compelling combined offer.”

Localpayment by Aleph will be exhibiting at the leading fintech show Money 20/20 in Las Vegas from October 27-30, 2024.

Press contacts

press@alephholding.com
Adam Bezeczky, Global Communications Manager

Via Hudson Sandler
aleph@hudsonsandler.com Andrew Leach, Adam Joste-Smith, Hudson Sandler

About Aleph
Aleph is a global network of digital experts and technology driven solutions that enables the growth of the digital ecosystem by operating in +130 countries and +70 offices, connecting over 26,000+ advertisers with over 3 billion consumers.

Through sales partnerships with 60+ leading digital media platforms (including Amazon, Google, Microsoft, Pinterest, Reddit, Snap, Spotify, TikTok, Twitch, Uber, X and. EA among others) Aleph empowers businesses and communities in high potential markets by building and supplying proprietary technologies with localized solutions, offering local teams of industry and platform experts.
Our purpose is to foster economic growth and opportunity for all by making the digital world more accessible.
www.alephholding.com

About Localpayment by Aleph
Localpayment by Aleph is revolutionizing the financial landscape by providing cutting-edge technology to simplify payment services for customers, digital media and content platforms. Unburdened by legacy systems, Localpayment supports pay-in and pay-out with 640+ payment methods across 50+ currencies in over 17+ countries. Evolving with customer needs and market trends on a global scale, Localpayment by Aleph is transforming the digital landscape by combining top-notch digital advertising solutions with seamless local payment capabilities to streamline their operations with one unique partner.

Localpayment by Aleph drives financial inclusion and expands access to underserved populations, accelerating the shift from offline to online GDP on a global scale.
www.localpayment.com

1 Market opportunity represents estimated total digital payments volume in LATAM. The calculation of market opportunity is based on a report prepared by Americas Market Intelligence, LLC.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/aleph-acquires-controlling-equity-interest-in-localpayment-and-targets-1-4-trillion-digital-payments-market-302271152.html

SOURCE Aleph Group, Inc

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