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Portcast Secures USD 6.5 Million Series A Funding Led by Susquehanna Asia VC to Automate Actions through Supply Chain Visibility

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Investment to advance AI technology to fortify fragile global supply chains amid rising disruptions

SINGAPORE, Nov. 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Portcast, the Singapore-based provider of real-time transportation visibility and predictive analytics, today announced it has raised USD 6.5 million in a Series A funding round. The round was led by Susquehanna Asia VC, with participation from Hearst Ventures, Signal Ventures, and existing investors including Wavemaker Partners, TMV, and Innoport. Amid increasingly fragile global supply chains and heightened disruption, Portcast’s continued investment in its artificial intelligence (AI) technology helps protect clients’ profitability. 

Portcast provides proactive exception management, with explainable reasons and recommends alternate actions to enable shippers and logistics service providers to improve productivity, operational cost and carbon emissions in transportation. Their data network integrates data from carriers, terminals, geolocation and risk data, and proprietary documents to provide accurate visibility through a single, easy-to-integrate API and portal. Utilizing machine learning and advanced large language models (LLMs), Portcast delivers actionable insights to improve operational and financial transparency in the supply chain.

Nidhi Gupta, Founder and CEO of Portcast, said: “Supply chain disruptions have become the norm, driving up costs for shippers and logistics service providers globally. It is no longer enough to monitor shipments; the priority now is to drive actions from visibility data through automated recommendations. That’s why we’re committed to building a product that uncovers risks in transport but more importantly, automatically suggests actions to reduce freight costs and/or improve customer experience.”

“In today’s challenging economic climate, the support from both existing and new investors is a testament to the customer satisfaction we’ve achieved and the confidence in our approach. Looking ahead, we’re eager to expand in Asia Pacific and Europe, strengthening partnerships to bring our solutions to even more companies,” she added. 

Richard Hsu from Susquehanna Asia VC, said: “Portcast has tapped into both public and proprietary data that brings accurate and explainable transportation visibility. But what sets them apart is their ability to turn that data into practical, actionable insights for their customers, setting a new benchmark in logistics decision-making. We’re excited not only by what Portcast has already accomplished but also by its potential to solve more challenges in global trade with its unique data approach.”

The new funding will accelerate Portcast’s product innovation, particularly in leveraging generative AI to improve risk management, transport planning, and invoice auditing capabilities. The company plans to expand deeper into key markets across Asia Pacific and Europe, and strengthen integrations with technology partners. With this investment, Portcast is well positioned to deliver on its mission of making global trade more resilient through actionable data. 

A media kit is available here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/17Ga6oq4Ze1zk-a4fWWtkmyEZ8o8REg2e?usp=sharing

About Portcast

Headquartered in Singapore, Portcast provides real-time transportation visibility and predictive analytics for global supply chains. Leveraging proprietary machine learning and generative AI, the platform processes over 5 million data points daily from over 370 carriers, 800 ports, geolocation data from satellite and terrestrial sources, voyage and risk data, as well as data from documents, invoices, and ERP systems. Portcast serves shippers, logistics service providers and TMS systems, offering a unified and reliable visibility solution. Trusted by industry leaders such as AIT Corp, Sumitomo Warehouse, MPG Group, Otentic Customs, FreshCo, and Wilo Group, Portcast is transforming supply chain efficiency on a global scale.

Website: www.portcast.io

About Susquehanna Asia VC

Susquehanna Asia VC is the Southeast Asian and Indian venture capital arm of the Susquehanna International Group of Companies, a global proprietary trading and investment firm founded in 1987. As part of SIG, we have access to flexible and patient capital to grow with our investments. We support founders from their early days through each stage of growth and, together with our China team, have achieved 70+ IPO/M&A and other exits among 350+ portfolio companies in enterprise and consumer technology over the last 18 years. These portfolio companies include Bytedance, Kumu, Wakefit, Inshorts, Lentra, Mobile Premier League, Musical.ly, PayMaya and RedDoorz.

For more information about Susquehanna Asia VC, please visit www.sig-asiavc.com.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/portcast-secures-usd-6-5-million-series-a-funding-led-by-susquehanna-asia-vc-to-automate-actions-through-supply-chain-visibility-302308361.html

SOURCE Portcast

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2024 China-ASEAN College Students’ AI Application Innovation, Recruitment is starting now!

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Free registration with generous rewards!
High winning rate, and professional project guidance throughout the entire process!

All participating contestants will receive free training opportunities, and winning projects will be granted entrepreneurial support as well as generous creative rewards! The entry requirements, competition process, and various other matters have already been prepared for you. So, come and sign up with your creative ideas !

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Jan. 14, 2025 /PRNewswire/ —

Competition Introduction

2024 China-ASEAN College Students’ AI Application Innovation, co-organized by Guangxi Tus Innovation Cross-Border E-commerce Co., Ltd & Brunsfield TusStar Sdn. Bhd. (TusStar Malaysia), aims to provide a platform for university students from China and ASEAN countries to exchange ideas and learn from each other, focusing on innovative elements such as artificial intelligence, vocational education, and the digital economy. It is dedicated to nurturing a new generation of youth who can adapt to the digital era, drive educational transformation through technology, and promote innovative cooperation and development of AI technology within the digital economy. We sincerely invite outstanding young talents to participate and jointly realize our innovative dreams from around the world!

Participants

It is face to Full-time college and undergraduate students from China and ASEAN countries (including international participating teams).

Competition Process and Schedule

Pre-registration and Preliminary Selection: November 29, 2024, 00:00 – February 14, 2025, 12:00
Online registration and submission of entry materials, preliminary screening of projects

Pre-competition Coaching: December 1, 2024February 14, 2025
Industry mentors’ sharing sessions, systematic understanding of AI applications, development of creative proposals

Project Coaching: February 19March 10, 2025
AI technology training, mentor guidance on projects

Final Road Show: Early March 2025
Onsite Final Road Show in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (combining online and offline elements)

Award Ceremony: Early March 2025
Award ceremony, expert and scholar symposium, sharing cutting-edge knowledge on the digital economy.

Award Settings

Gold Award*1  The prize of 4000 RMB/team
Silver Award*2  The prize of 3000 RMB/team
Bronze Award*3  The prize of 2000 RMB/team
And Most Creative Award 、Most Potential Award、Merit Award
You can get honor certificate, incubation support, internship opportunities, inclusion in domestic and international project databases.

Registration Channel

Competition Official Website:www.innoai-cnaseanhub.com

Contact: Teacher Luo 13263715689

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/2024-china-asean-college-students-ai-application-innovation-recruitment-is-starting-now-302350265.html

SOURCE TusStar Malaysia

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Datalogic introduces breakthrough embedded AI solutions at NRF 2025

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Test AI-driven solutions and the latest scanning technology at NRF, Booth #5639 

NEW YORK, Jan. 14, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Datalogic, a global leader of barcode scanning solutions in Retail, T&L and Manufacturing, is set to revolutionize the retail industry with the unveiling of its latest embedded AI solutions and new products at the National Retail Federation (NRF) 2025 exhibition in New York.

From the first introduction of an automated checkout in 1974 to revolutionary solutions brought to the Retail World, Datalogic remains the undisputed leader in innovation. Datalogic is exhibiting its solutions at booth #5639.

The new Datalogic AI Loss Prevention Suite, featuring advanced machine learning models, will be available on Magellan™ multi-plane scanners and Mobile computers. This suite will support retailers reduce shrinkage across store operations, from checkout to in-store, improving both efficiency and accuracy.

Innovative Solutions for Loss Prevention at Checkout
Available exclusively on the Magellan series scanners, and fully integrated, debuting at NRF and scheduled for launch in 2025:

Produce Recognition on Magellan 9900i recognizes and identifies fresh produce with unparalleled accuracy, streamlining checkout processes and reducing errors.Ticket Switching Detection on Magellan 9600i, a groundbreaking feature identifying barcode substitutions that can result in pricing discrepancies, helping retailers safeguard revenue and maintain pricing integrity.Scan Avoidance Detection on Magellan 9600i, identifies potential instances where items are intentionally or unintentionally not scanned, offering retailers a proactive tool to minimize shrinkage.

Innovative Solutions for Loss Prevention In-store
Available exclusively with our latest and most advanced self-shopping software Shopevolution™ 8, debuting at NRF and scheduled for launch in 2025:

      4. AI Audit Rules for Shopevolution 8, equipped with AI and machine learning pre-trained models, helps to trigger audits only when needed using dynamic and real-time data, map shopping behavior and analyze shrink, enabling data-driven decisions.

A Milestone in Retail Technology
Unlike other solutions reliant on third-party partnerships, Datalogic’s embedded proprietary AI technology ensures seamless integration, robust performance, and unrivalled competitiveness. These solutions highlight Datalogic’s commitment to empowering retailers with advanced tools to optimize operations and enhance customer experience.

Datalogic is excited to welcome NRF attendees to visit booth #5639, where they can experience the latest advancements in AI-powered solutions and scanning edge technologies. Our expert team will be on hand to showcase how these intelligent solutions are transforming the way businesses operate in today’s fast-paced world. Don’t miss this opportunity to see how Datalogic is shaping the future of retail and beyond.

Datalogic Group

Global technology leader in the automatic data capture and factory automation markets since 1972, specialized in the designing and production of barcode readers, mobile computers, sensors for detection, measurement and safety, machine vision and laser marking systems.
Datalogic S.p.A. is listed in the Euronext STAR Milan segment of the Italian Stock Exchange since 2001 as DAL.MI. Visit www.datalogic.com.
Datalogic and the Datalogic logo are registered trademarks of Datalogic S.p.A. in many countries, including the U.S.A. and the E.U. Other trademarks belong to their respective owners.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/datalogic-introduces-breakthrough-embedded-ai-solutions-at-nrf-2025-302350271.html

SOURCE Datalogic

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ASMO Announces First Warehouse Operations Go-Live and Strategic Partnership with Aramco

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DHAHRAN, Saudi Arabia, Jan. 14, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — ASMO, a joint venture between Saudi Aramco Development Company and DHL, yesterday announced the official launch of its operations, marking a significant milestone just one year after its incorporation. The announcement was made during the iktva Forum & Exhibition 2025 at the Dhahran Expo, held under the patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Saud bin Nayef bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, Governor of the Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia.

Coinciding with its operational launch, ASMO unveiled a landmark 15-year Procurement and Logistics Hub Services Agreement with Aramco. This strategic commercial partnership governs the relationship between Aramco as a customer and ASMO as a service provider. Under this agreement, ASMO will deliver integrated end-to-end supply chain services, including procurement, demand planning, inventory management, logistics, warehousing, establishing logistics hubs, and access to a B2B e-marketplace.

“This agreement reflects Aramco’s commitment to enhancing supply chain operations and strengthening local capabilities,” said Sulaiman M. Al Rubaian, Aramco Senior Vice President of Procurement & Supply Chain Management (A). “Our long-term agreement with ASMO demonstrates our trust and confidence in its ability to deliver integrated supply chain solutions that will optimize operations, drive cost-efficiency, and build an extensive supply chain ecosystem that is aligned with our strategic priorities.”

ASMO’s operational launch begins with the go-live of its warehousing operations in Riyadh, supporting Aramco’s central region operations.

“With the launch of our first warehouse operation in Riyadh and this strategic commercial agreement with Aramco, ASMO is taking its initial steps toward building a resilient logistics network that spans six strategically located, technology-enabled facilities across the Kingdom,” said Craig Roberts, ASMO CEO. “This milestone represents the beginning of our operational journey, as we expand our capabilities, address today’s supply chain challenges, and deliver solutions that create value for businesses across Saudi Arabia and the wider MENA region.”

As a key participant at iktva 2025, ASMO’s announcement demonstrates its commitment to advancing localization efforts, enhancing logistics infrastructure, and contributing to Vision 2030’s goal of positioning Saudi Arabia as a hub for global trade and supply chain excellence.

About ASMO

We are ASMO. Our mission is to provide reliable, world-class, procurement and end-to-end supply chain services that create value for companies in the energy, chemical, and industrial sectors across Saudi Arabia and the wider MENA region.

With a focus on efficiency, innovation, and cost optimization, we deliver streamlined and sustainable supply chain solutions. Our expertise includes materials procurement, inventory management, logistics, reverse logistics, and warehousing—all powered by cutting-edge technologies.

As a contributor to Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, ASMO supports economic diversification and resilience by advancing localization and building strategic partnerships.

To learn more about ASMO, please visit our website www.asmo.com.

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2597550/ASMO_Aramco.jpg

 

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/asmo-announces-first-warehouse-operations-go-live-and-strategic-partnership-with-aramco-302350284.html

SOURCE ASMO

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