I started working at Shell , where I ran several operations. Then I was at Elsevier. When I joined, it was still a majority print-based business in the sciences, and it moved very rapidly.This interview has been edited for length and clarity.From boardrooms to soccer sidelines (he’s an avid sports enthusiast), Jakobs brings a grounded yet global mindset shaped by his (and Philips’s) Dutch heritage. Whether it’s planning his calendar around family events or sparking innovation across continents, Jakobs exemp ...

ATLANTA, GA, Sept. 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Dinewise, Inc. (OTC PINK: DWIS) (the “Company”), a national technology conglomerate specializing in automotive, fintech, and entertainment solutions, today announced that its corporate name and trading symbol change has been processed by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). Effective today, the Company will trade under its new name SUPERSTAR PLATFORMS, INC. and new ticker symbol SPST. HIGHLIGHTS• Corporate identity refreshed — Dinewise, Inc. is ...

Group 1 - The Coca-Cola Company is recognized as a strong defensive stock, with a focus on innovation and digital transformation to enhance its competitive edge [1][2] - The company is prioritizing digital technologies and artificial intelligence to improve consumer experiences and drive sales [2][3] - Coca-Cola aims to increase its commercial beverage market share by 0.5 points in emerging markets, indicating a commitment to long-term growth in these regions [3] Group 2 - The company manufactures and sells a variety of beverages, including its flagship Coca-Cola soft drink, water, juices, coffees, teas, and alcoholic beverages [4] - Coca-Cola operates a franchise model with local bottlers that produce and distribute its products, ensuring a wide reach to consumers [4]

Core Insights - The 2025 Tomorrow.City Shanghai (TCS 2025) opened under the theme "Challenge and Solution" [2] - The event showcased China's leadership in smart city innovation and facilitated international collaboration [3] Event Overview - TCS 2025 welcomed delegations from over 110 cities across Asia, Europe, Latin America, and Africa [3] - The agenda included 20 Industry Roundtables, 32 City Shows, and more than 40 Closed-Door Meetings [3] Awards and Recognition - The Region & China Smart City Awards highlighted impactful practices in digital transformation, low-carbon transition, and public service innovation [4] - Eight winners of the Best Projects (X-SDI) Award included entities from Malaysia, Thailand, Kazakhstan, New Zealand, Oman, the UAE, and China [4] Innovation and Collaboration - International delegates emphasized innovation's role in creating resilient, sustainable cities [5] - The launch of Tomorrow.City Community Shanghai established a physical hub for collaboration and project acceleration [5] - A Collaboration List of City Challenges & Opportunities was released, focusing on smart governance, green transition, and infrastructure renewal [5]

Core Insights - The report highlights a shift in high-end consumption trends among Chinese high-net-worth individuals, emphasizing the influence of generational differences and evolving definitions of luxury and premium goods [1] Group 1: Generational Insights - The study covers four generations: Silver-haired, post-80s, post-90s, and post-00s, revealing that Generation Y and X remain the core consumers of high-end products, while Generation Z is emerging as a new driving force due to their digital literacy and strong self-awareness [1] - Generation Z's consumption behavior is characterized by personalization, emotional engagement, and social influence, moving from status-driven purchases to value-based lifestyles [1] Group 2: Changing Definitions of Luxury - High-net-worth consumers are redefining "high-end" and "luxury," focusing less on brand labels and more on identity, meaning, and connection through their purchases [1] - Brands are encouraged to rethink their definitions of "high-end" and "luxury" to align with the evolving consumer landscape and trends [1] Group 3: Economic Context - The report notes that retail sales in China increased from 16 trillion to 41 trillion yuan in 2020, indicating a significant consumption upgrade [11] - The rise of e-commerce platforms, particularly Pinduoduo, has driven consumption in lower-tier cities, with Pinduoduo's annual active users reaching 731 million in 2020 [12] Group 4: Consumption Patterns - The report identifies a shift in consumption patterns from conspicuous consumption to a focus on emotional and identity-driven purchases, with consumers prioritizing experiences and personal meaning over utility [27][32] - There is a growing emphasis on health, safety, and risk management in purchasing decisions, influenced by post-COVID anxieties [25][35]

Company Overview - Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation (CTSH) has a market cap of $34.5 billion and is a leading global professional services company providing consulting, technology, and outsourcing services with a focus on digital transformation in AI, cloud, IoT, and software engineering [1] - Cognizant serves various industries including financial services, healthcare, life sciences, products and resources, and communications, media, and technology, helping clients modernize operations and enhance customer experiences [2] Stock Performance - Cognizant's shares have fallen 23.5% from their 52-week high of $90.82 and decreased 13.6% over the past three months, underperforming the S&P 500 Index, which gained nearly 9% in the same period [3] - Year-to-date, CTSH stock is down 9.6%, lagging behind the S&P 500's nearly 12% rise, and has dropped 8.9% over the past 52 weeks compared to the S&P 500's 17.7% return [4] Financial Performance - In Q2 2025, Cognizant reported earnings of $1.31 per share and revenue of $5.25 billion, beating estimates, yet the stock fell 2.4% the following day [5] - Cash and short-term investments declined to $1.8 billion, and free cash flow dropped to $331 million, raising concerns about slowing growth in key segments [5] Competitive Landscape - Rival Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. (BR) has outperformed Cognizant, with BR stock gaining over 12% year-to-date and 20.3% over the past 52 weeks [6] - Despite the underperformance, analysts maintain a moderately optimistic outlook on CTSH, with a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a mean price target of $88.16, representing a 26.9% premium to current levels [6]

Core Insights - Walmart Inc. has maintained investor momentum with a stock increase of 21.5% over the past six months, driven by robust strategies and operational excellence, raising questions about whether its strong fundamentals can justify its high valuation moving forward [1][17]. Stock Performance - Over the last six months, Walmart's stock has outperformed the broader industry, which rose by 17.7%, the Zacks Retail – Wholesale sector's growth of 15.1%, and the S&P 500's increase of 19.8% [2]. - Walmart's stock closed at $102.65, just 2.5% below its 52-week high of $105.3, indicating strong upward momentum and price stability [4]. Competitive Positioning - Walmart has outperformed competitors like Kroger, Costco, and Target, with Kroger and Costco shares rising by 1.7% and 8.3%, respectively, while Target's shares fell by 12.4% [3]. Financial Performance - In Q2 fiscal 2026, Walmart's total revenues reached $177.4 billion, a 4.8% year-over-year increase, with comparable sales in Walmart U.S. up 4.6% [9]. - E-commerce sales surged by 25% globally, with Walmart U.S. experiencing a 26% increase, supported by delivery and marketplace gains [10]. Growth Drivers - Walmart's digital transformation has created a fast-growing e-commerce ecosystem, enhancing customer loyalty and operational efficiencies [10]. - High-margin businesses, including advertising and membership income, are contributing to Walmart's growth, with international markets like China and Mexico driving double-digit growth [11]. Future Outlook - For fiscal 2026, Walmart anticipates consolidated net sales growth of 3.75-4.75% and adjusted EPS in the range of $2.52-$2.62, indicating growth from the previous fiscal year [13]. - Analysts have recently upgraded their earnings estimates for Walmart, reflecting optimism about its prospects [15]. Valuation - Walmart is currently trading at a forward P/E ratio of 36.73, higher than the industry average of 32.87, indicating strong investor confidence but also potential risks if growth slows [17].

Core Insights - DevOps is a significant challenge for CIOs, as the transition from automated processes in development to full operational status often conflicts with executive directives that overlook the complexities of IT modernization [1] - A well-functioning DevOps can lead to substantial cost reductions, increased productivity, and streamlined workflows through new automation processes [2] Industry Challenges - Despite advancements in intelligent process automation (IPA), enterprises face difficulties in defining, creating, and managing the modernization of IT infrastructure and applications [3] - Business transformations remain costly, slow, and labor-intensive due to issues such as lack of executive support, internal expertise, and access to qualified consultants [4] - Maintaining legacy IT systems is becoming increasingly expensive and poses regulatory and operational risks, making modernization essential [5] Technological Advancements - AI agents are seen as a promising technology for enterprise developers, enhancing the capabilities of intelligent process automation [5] - IPA focuses on automating repetitive, rule-based processes, while AI agents are designed for goal-driven applications that can adapt and reason autonomously [6] - The adoption of Generative AI (GenAI) by application platform providers has made machine learning and natural language processing more accessible, facilitating the development of agentic AI [6] - Customization of GenAI-injected code and integration with development environments like GitHub enhances intelligent workflows through autonomous capabilities [7] - Agentic AI aims to automate complex tasks and improve business processes with minimal human input, learning to become more effective over time [7]

Core Insights - GlobalLogic and Flexware Innovation have deployed Flexware's LIFT intralogistics software at Hitachi Rail's new manufacturing facility in Hagerstown, Maryland, to enhance material movement and address orchestration challenges [1][3] - LIFT 3.0, introduced in May, is designed for seamless integration in complex manufacturing environments, addressing interoperability issues among various technologies [2][4] - The Hagerstown facility has seen over $30 million invested in digital enhancements, with LIFT orchestrating material movement using automated guided vehicles (AGVs) [3] Technology and Integration - LIFT 3.0 integrates with Hitachi Rail's warehouse management and AGV fleet management systems, managing material requests and dispatch missions [3][4] - The software monitors system activity and addresses operational exceptions, serving as a system-agnostic platform that connects various technologies [4] - The deployment coincides with a transformation in US manufacturing, emphasizing robotics and AI to meet reshoring demands [2] Infrastructure and Connectivity - GlobalLogic has partnered with Ericsson to deploy a private 5G network at the Hagerstown facility, providing necessary digital infrastructure for advanced automation [5] - The 5G network enables real-time data capture, digital twins for production optimization, predictive maintenance, and IoT-driven material transport [6] - High-performance connectivity is essential for making Industry 4.0 a reality, according to Ericsson's senior director [6]

Vision and Strategy - The focus has shifted from commodity-based economies to knowledge-based economies, with innovation as the driving force across sectors [2] - Saudi Arabia aims to leverage its abundance of power, energy, land, and connectivity to build a large digital infrastructure for itself and the world [11][13] - The goal is to democratize infrastructure and make connectivity a human right, addressing the digital divide [12][14] - The vision is to establish a new Silicon Valley in Riyadh, unlocking innovation through AI infrastructure [15][16] AI Development and Application - AI should be inclusive, accessible, and designed to understand local culture, values, and religion [7][8] - Saudi Arabia has developed Alam, the first Arabic large language model with Arabic-first preference, embedding local values [8][9][10] - AI is seen as a digital companion to enable sector transformation, company growth, and GDP growth [7] - The company "Humane" is redefining how society benefits from AI, emphasizing coexistence between AI and humans [18][19] Global Impact and Reach - Saudi Arabia aims to impact 44% (4.4 billion) of the world's population by providing access and advantages through its offerings [11][19] - The company is building a platform called "Humane Create" for creators in Saudi Arabia and worldwide [18] - The company emphasizes the importance of building AI to serve humanity and create abundance, especially for those without access to essential services [17]