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SOVRA Launches New Features to Power Smarter, Faster Public Procurement

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New features help public agencies work smarter and faster, from supplier discovery to contract execution.

LATHAM, N.Y., April 8, 2025 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — SOVRA, the leading provider of public sector procurement solutions, announced a set of powerful new features as part of its latest product release, building on the momentum and vision shared at the inaugural SOVRA Summit. With a continued focus on innovation, efficiency, and transparency, this release introduces AI-powered supplier data, an enhanced unified user experience, and new tools for managing retainer contracts—providing immediate value to agencies and suppliers alike.

“We’re applying AI where it delivers real value—streamlining critical workflows and introducing automation that saves time, reduces complexity, and empowers public teams to focus on what matters most.”

This is a milestone in SOVRA’s ambitious product roadmap and reflects its long-standing commitment to helping governments modernize procurement while upholding the highest standards of security, compliance, and trust.

“At SOVRA, our product strategy is guided by a single, powerful question: how can we make public procurement simpler and more effective—for both procurement teams and the suppliers who support them?” said Mike Cook, Chief Product Officer at SOVRA. “This release is a direct response to that mission. We’re applying AI where it delivers real value—streamlining critical workflows and introducing automation that saves time, reduces complexity, and empowers public teams to focus on what matters most.”

Grounded in a Clear Vision for Government Procurement

SOVRA’s product strategy is guided by five core principles:

Security, compliance, and trustAccelerated innovationData-driven insightsSeamless supplier collaborationCustomer-centric excellence

With these values in mind, SOVRA is investing heavily in key 2025 priorities including a unified user experience, AI-powered automation, business intelligence, and an API-first approach—all of which are reflected in this April release.

Featured Product Releases

AI-Powered Supplier Data: Better Discovery, Faster Action

With new AI capabilities, supplier registration is faster and more complete than ever. Suppliers can now auto-complete their profiles using intelligent prompts, while buyers and vendors benefit from AI-generated bid overviews that appear directly in search results.

What it means:

Faster registration and improved profile accuracyClearer opportunity context at-a-glanceLess time spent clicking—more time taking action

Unified User Experience and a Smarter Homepage

A new homepage experience gives Procurement solution users immediate visibility into pending tasks, approvals, bid solicitations, and news—all from a single dashboard view. The updated layout reflects intuitive groupings by procurement process, making it easier than ever to navigate the system and stay productive.

What it means:

One click access to key workflowsStreamlined navigation tailored to procurement professionalsReal-time insights to reduce bottlenecks

Retainer Management for Smarter Contract Oversight

For Source-to-Contact agencies using retainer agreements, SOVRA now offers a purpose-built interface to manage work orders, track vendor usage, and maintain fairness and compliance. Contract owners can rotate vendors for small-scope work, monitor budget thresholds, and run mini-competitions without starting from scratch.

What it means:

Faster access to pre-vetted vendorsGreater transparency and auditabilityMore efficient use of agency resources

These releases further advance SOVRA’s mission to simplify, standardize, and strengthen public procurement for the more than 7,000 government agencies and 1 million suppliers it serves.

To learn more about these features or request a demo, visit http://www.sovra.com.

About SOVRA

SOVRA represents the culmination of over twenty years of mdf commerce’s expertise and innovation, integrating the strengths of industry-leading brands like Bidnet Direct, Periscope, and Merx. Serving over 7,000 buyers and connecting them with more than one million suppliers across North America, SOVRA delivers the most advanced public procurement solutions available. Focusing on transparency, efficiency, and effectiveness, SOVRA empowers governments to optimize every tax dollar and deliver exceptional community services. Discover how SOVRA can transform your procurement processes by visiting http://www.sovra.com.

Media Contact

Bertrand Guignat, SOVRA, 800-835-4603, bertrand.guignat@sovra.com, https://www.sovra.com/

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SOURCE SOVRA

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Axis to host industry flagship event: Axis Solution Conference 2025 in Hong Kong SAR, Taiwan region, and Korea

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Unlocking the Limitless Possibilities of AI for Security and Growth

HONG KONG, May 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Axis Communications, a global leader in network video, is excited to announce the Axis Solution Conference 2025, a premier biennial event focused on the transformative power of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the security industry. Scheduled for June 6 to October 15, 2025, this conference will take place across the Axis North Asia region, covering Hong Kong SAR, Taiwan region, and Korea.

The conference theme, “Protect and Grow Your Business – Harness the Limitless Possibilities of AI for Security and Growth”, emphasizes how AI can unlock new growth opportunities and enhance organizational resilience. Attendees will gain insights into cutting-edge solutions, including the newly introduced ARTPEC-9 system-on-chip, which significantly enhances AI-powered analytics, imaging, and cybersecurity, while reducing storage costs thanks to the AV1 video encoding standard.

Key highlights include:

Next-gen Security Empowered by Axis ARTPEC-9: Explore advancements in AI and imaging technologies that improve detection accuracy and operational efficiency.AI-powered Possibilities of Visual and Non-visual AI Sensors: Discover how AI analytics and image processing enhance video camera performance, enabling the detection of smaller objects and rapid responses. Learn about the integration of thermal imaging, radar, audio and environmental sensors to provide actionable insights while respecting privacy.Panel discussion on Cybersecurity for Business Resilience: Industry experts will discuss key strategies for safeguarding surveillance systems amidst the complexities of IoT integration, focusing on best practices to protect organizations from cyber threats.TCO – The True Cost of a Security System: an interactive session that reveals the long-term expenses associated with surveillance systems. Conference delegates will gain insights into maximizing ROI while aligning their security investments with sustainability goals.

Join us at the Axis Solution Conference 2025 to discover how AI is revolutionizing the surveillance industry. For more information and to register, visit https://tinyurl.com/axis-solution-conferenc-hk

About Axis Communications
Axis enables a smarter and safer world by improving security, safety, operational efficiency, and business intelligence. As a network technology company and industry leader, Axis offers video surveillance, access control, intercoms, and audio solutions. These are enhanced by intelligent analytics applications and supported by high-quality training.

Axis has around 5,000 dedicated employees in over 50 countries and collaborates with technology and system integration partners worldwide to deliver customer solutions. Axis was founded in 1984, and the headquarters are in Lund, Sweden.

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SOURCE Axis Communications Limited

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LONGi Joins Forces with Solar Car World Champion Innoptus Solar Team to Push the Boundaries of BC Technology

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ANTWERP, Belgium, May 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Global solar technology leader LONGi officially announced a strategic partnership with Belgium’s Innoptus Solar Team at the unveiling ceremony held in Belgium on May 5,2025. Together, the two parties unveiled their new-generation high-performance solar racing car”Infinite Apollo” featuring breakthrough back-contact (BC) cell technology and flexible photovoltaic solutions, which has attracted widespread attention. With extreme efficiency and reliability, this cutting-edge solar vehicle will compete in the prestigious Bridgestone World Solar Challenge (BWSC) in August this year to challenge for victory. This collaboration marks the first time the two parties have jointly explored new frontiers in cutting-edge photovoltaic technology applications.

“Dual-Champion” Boosts “Solar + Racing” Cross-Border Innovation

Innoptus Solar Team is known as the”king of solar car racing”. Since its establishment in 2002, the team has won numerous international titles, including the BWSC World Championship. Its racing car design is famous for “maximizing energy efficiency” and achieved an impressive range of 780 kilometers on the first day of the 2023 BWSC race. Therefore, Innoptus Solar Team represents the cutting edge of solar PV technology in the field of transportation applications.

LONGi, as a global leading solar technology company, has always been at the forefront of technology innovation. Its multiple key technological innovations have led the development of the industry and have become a benchmark for technological innovation in this sector. Over the past years, LONGi has continuously set new world records for the efficiency of mono-crystalline silicon solar cells and crystalline silicon-perovskite tandem solar cells, becoming the “dual-champion” in the two mainstream tracks of technology. It is also the holder of the world record for the efficiency of crystalline silicon solar modules. In the new wave of solar cell technology iteration, LONGi has persisted in innovation, driving continuous improvement in efficiency and leading the industrial development of BC technology.

As the exclusive designated solar partner for Innoptus Solar Team’s 2025 Bridgestone World Solar Challenge (BWSC), LONGi will provide comprehensive support to empower their 11th-generation solar race car. Through delivering high-efficiency BC cell technology and co-created vehicle-integrated photovoltaic (VIPV) flexible solutions, LONGi will assist the team in significantly enhancing core performance metrics including power generation efficiency and product reliability for their solar vehicle, even under the extreme conditions of the race.

“Solar-powered racing cars are the ultimate test for PV technology,” said Wout Rubbrecht, the team leader of Innoptus Solar Team. “Racing cars need to maintain efficient power generation under conditions of high-intensity vibration, extreme temperature differences, and curved body shapes. This poses almost stringent requirements for cell efficiency and reliability. LONGi not only has the highest cell conversion efficiency in the industry, but also its stronger reliability and flexible solution guarantee capabilities have given us the possibility of breaking through the limits.”

Advanced BC Technology Empowers Innoptus Solar Team the Efficient and Reliable Energy

The Bridgestone World Solar Challenge (BWSC), which began in 1987 and is held biennially, is the most prestigious and longest-standing solar car race globally. Participating teams are required to drive their 100% solar-powered cars from Darwin in the northernmost part of Australia to Adelaide in the southernmost part within six days, covering a total distance of over 3,000 kilometers. The extreme weather, complex road conditions, and uncertainties along the route pose stringent demands on the efficiency and reliability of the solar cells used in cars.

To address these challenges, LONGi has partnered with Innoptus Solar Team for in-depth technological collaboration, adopting the BC cell technology, which currently has the highest mass production efficiency in the crystalline silicon sector. LONGi’s BC cells with zero metal contact design seamlessly integrate with the appearance of solar racing cars. Their peak efficiency, superior low-light response, ultra-high power generation capability, and enhanced reliability not only comprehensively improve the efficiency of on-board solar modules but also ensure stable and efficient power output even during high-speed operation and extreme temperature differences. In addition, the flexible packaging process enabled by LONGi’s TaiRay silicon wafers achieves optimal application on curved car body surfaces, complementing the aerodynamic design of the racing cars and providing continuous and robust green power for Innoptus Solar Team’s “arduous journey” at the BWSC.

“Innoptus Solar Team is a highly passionate, challenge-embracing, and goal-oriented group. LONGi’s BC technology is inherently designed to break boundaries, and we firmly believe that our cooperation will bring stronger clean energy propulsion to solar racing cars,” said Zhang Haimeng, Vice President and Chief Sustainability Officer of LONGi. “LONGi is committed to empowering every driver, innovator, and explorer with the power of technological innovation. We aim to let the surging solar energy drive every journey.”

“Innovation is the soul of LONGi,” said Li Zhenguo, Founder and President of LONGi. “We respect every innovation and have the courage to keep challenging ourselves. In the past, we have been dedicated to reaching the pinnacle in the photovoltaic field, pursuing excellence in improving efficiency and reducing the cost per kilowatt-hour. Looking to the future, we hope to further extend our innovative capabilities to explore more possibilities of ‘PV +’and truly bring solar energy into the lives of every individual.”

About LONGi

Founded in 2000, LONGi is committed to being the world’s leading solar technology company, focusing on customer-driven value creation for full scenario energy transformation.

Under its mission of ‘making the best of solar energy to build a green world’, LONGi has dedicated itself to technology innovation and established five business sectors, covering mono silicon wafers cells and modules, commercial & industrial distributed solar solutions, green energy solutions and hydrogen equipment. The company has honed its capabilities to provide green energy and has more recently, also embraced green hydrogen products and solutions to support global zero carbon development. www.longi.com/

 

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Agoda unveils four must-visit festival destinations to soak up K-Culture this summer

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SEOUL, South Korea, May 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — With summer just around the corner, digital travel platform Agoda highlights four cities—Gangneung, Muju, Buyeo and Tongyeong— where local festivals are drawing increased interest from travelers eager to soak up authentic K-Culture.   

According to Agoda’s 2025 Travel Trends Survey, 34% of South Korean travelers cited cultural exploration as one of their top travel motivations. A survey by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Tourism Organization also revealed that meaningful local experiences are a top priority for South Koreans, while experiencing Korean tradition emerged as a top travel trend among international visitors.  

Travelers looking to soak up the magic of K-Culture this summer can look forward to these festival destinations:   

May: Gangneung Danoje Festival

Held May 27 to June 3, Gangneung’s UNESCO-recognized Danoje Festival features the Gwanno Mask Play and traditional activities like rinsing hair in herbal Changpomul water and tasting seasonal surichwi rice cakes. Gangneung was the seventh most-searched South Korean destination on Agoda for summer stays with a 9% increase in interest.  

June: Muju Cultural Heritage Night Festival

Taking place June 13–14, this event showcases heritage sites, art exhibits, and forest trails. Travelers can enjoy artwork by Joseon Dynasty calligrapher Han Seok-bong, traditional cuisine, and explore the Bandi Imagination Forest. Muju saw a 39% increase in interest for summer stays on Agoda.

July: Buyeo Seodong Lotus Festival

With a 57% rise in searches on Agoda for summer travel, Buyeo hosts the Seodong Lotus Festival from July 4 to 6, featuring pink and white lotus blossoms, music performances, and drone shows in a romantic atmosphere.

August: Tongyeong Hansan Battle Festival

Running August 9–14, this seaside celebration honors Admiral Yi Sun-shin with a Turtle Ship Rowing Competition, naval reenactments, and fireworks. With delicious food and coastal charm, Tongyeong has seen a 46% rise in summer travel searches on Agoda.

Joonwhan Lee, Country Director, Korea at Agoda, said: “We are seeing both inbound and domestic travelers interested in culturally motivated trips. Provincial destinations like Gangneung, Muju, Buyeo and Tongyeong offer the perfect getaway to dive into local traditions with summer festivals that promise unforgettable experiences for all ages.” 

Travelers looking to add festivals in South Korea and beyond to their summer itinerary can find over 5 million holiday properties and more than 300,000 activities on Agoda.com.    

-ENDS- 

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/agoda-unveils-four-must-visit-festival-destinations-to-soak-up-k-culture-this-summer-302437067.html

SOURCE Agoda

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