Global News and Digital Insights
for the Consumer Goods Industry

February 11, 2022

Abu Dhabi Terminals collaborated with Microsoft for AI container traceability

Abu Dhabi Terminals, an administrative organization of Khalifa Port Container Terminal (KPCT) has joined hands with Microsoft to reinforce digital transformation for the emirate’s flagship maritime asset. This collaboration will allow Abu Dhabi Terminals to efficiently track containers and launch automatic transport facilities by using AI services provided by Microsoft’s cloud firm, Azure. Azure would provide smart tracking solutions powered by AI to enable end-to-end traceability and autonomous transportation. Read more from Gulfbusiness

Salesforce.Com and Temasek joint ventures aim to support Swiss carbon finance consultancy, South Pole

South Pole, a climate finance expert has procured the investment arm of Salesforce.Com, an American cloud-based software company and Singapore-based global investment company, Temasek. South Pole secured the position of Minor Financial Backer in the two companies after the recent funding round. Both Temasek and Salesforce will support South Pole’s aim of bolstering the climate action in Asia and North America. South Pole, also focuses on developing projects that help reduce the carbon emission percentage. Read more from Businesstimes

Alibaba’s technological innovation: Virtual influencer replaced humans in Winter Olympics 2022

Alibaba utilized the technology of Text to Speech, Natural Language Processing (NLP), Emotional Speech Synthesis, and computer vision on the cloud to give birth to a 22-year-old virtual influencer, Dong Dong, for Winter Olympics 2022 in Beijing. Alibaba aims to promote its Olympic merchandise via Dong Dong, as the digital influencer is able to interact with the audience and address their queries. The creation of Dong Dong is the first step towards the digital transformation of the Olympic Winter Games and new possibilities are expected in e-commerce with the help of cloud technology. In the coming times, the firm plans to develop a mixed reality space, featuring virtual influencers powered by metaverse. Read more from Thedrum

RCEP, the world’s biggest trade agreement, became effective in Thailand

The Asian Regional Trade Pact or Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership RCEP came to power on 1 January 2022 in Thailand. The RCEP is the world’s biggest trade pact signed by all ASEAN countries, including Thailand, Singapore, Myanmar, Indonesia, Malaysia, Laos, Vietnam, Brunei, Philippines, and Cambodia. Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, and China are also a part of this agreement. The new provincial exchange alliance will eliminate duties on 91% of traded merchandise in the region, support integrated market and online business. Thailand’s Commerce Ministry claims that the launch of RCEP would enable the trade of 29,891 products with zero tariffs, while Japan and South Korea will also reduce taxes on multiple food items. Along with reducing taxes, RCEP will allow organizations to source raw materials and encourage foreign countries to invest in Thailand for sustainable and technological developments. Read more from Thethaiger

Cargill’s survey unveiled the influence of sustainability claim on consumers

The research report, Fatitudes, presented by Cargill reveals that 55% of the global consumers prefer to buy a packed food product that comes with sustainability guarantee. Among the 6,000 surveyed consumers from 11 countries, there were 550 US consumers. The data obtained from the US consumers unfolds that sustainability claim influences the purchase of 37% of people. The demand for ethically sourced and sustainably produced items is 63% and 57%, respectively as compared to fair trade (46%) and conversion of natural resources (49%). As consumers are now more mindful of health and sustainability claim, CPG companies are strategically thinking of eliminating the use of palm oil and cocoa, due to their association with child labour and deforestation. Read more from Fooddive

Abu Dhabi Terminals collaborated with Microsoft for AI container traceability

Abu Dhabi Terminals, an administrative organization of Khalifa Port Container Terminal (KPCT) has joined hands with Microsoft to reinforce digital transformation for the emirate’s flagship maritime asset. This collaboration will allow Abu Dhabi Terminals to efficiently track containers and launch automatic transport facilities by using AI services provided by Microsoft’s cloud firm, Azure. Azure would provide smart tracking solutions powered by AI to enable end-to-end traceability and autonomous transportation. Read more from Gulfbusiness

Salesforce.Com and Temasek joint ventures aim to support Swiss carbon finance consultancy, South Pole

South Pole, a climate finance expert has procured the investment arm of Salesforce.Com, an American cloud-based software company and Singapore-based global investment company, Temasek. South Pole secured the position of Minor Financial Backer in the two companies after the recent funding round. Both Temasek and Salesforce will support South Pole’s aim of bolstering the climate action in Asia and North America. South Pole, also focuses on developing projects that help reduce the carbon emission percentage. Read more from Businesstimes

Alibaba’s technological innovation: Virtual influencer replaced humans in Winter Olympics 2022

Alibaba utilized the technology of Text to Speech, Natural Language Processing (NLP), Emotional Speech Synthesis, and computer vision on the cloud to give birth to a 22-year-old virtual influencer, Dong Dong, for Winter Olympics 2022 in Beijing. Alibaba aims to promote its Olympic merchandise via Dong Dong, as the digital influencer is able to interact with the audience and address their queries. The creation of Dong Dong is the first step towards the digital transformation of the Olympic Winter Games and new possibilities are expected in e-commerce with the help of cloud technology. In the coming times, the firm plans to develop a mixed reality space, featuring virtual influencers powered by metaverse. Read more from Thedrum

RCEP, the world’s biggest trade agreement, became effective in Thailand

The Asian Regional Trade Pact or Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership RCEP came to power on 1 January 2022 in Thailand. The RCEP is the world’s biggest trade pact signed by all ASEAN countries, including Thailand, Singapore, Myanmar, Indonesia, Malaysia, Laos, Vietnam, Brunei, Philippines, and Cambodia. Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, and China are also a part of this agreement. The new provincial exchange alliance will eliminate duties on 91% of traded merchandise in the region, support integrated market and online business. Thailand’s Commerce Ministry claims that the launch of RCEP would enable the trade of 29,891 products with zero tariffs, while Japan and South Korea will also reduce taxes on multiple food items. Along with reducing taxes, RCEP will allow organizations to source raw materials and encourage foreign countries to invest in Thailand for sustainable and technological developments. Read more from Thethaiger

Cargill’s survey unveiled the influence of sustainability claim on consumers

The research report, Fatitudes, presented by Cargill reveals that 55% of the global consumers prefer to buy a packed food product that comes with sustainability guarantee. Among the 6,000 surveyed consumers from 11 countries, there were 550 US consumers. The data obtained from the US consumers unfolds that sustainability claim influences the purchase of 37% of people. The demand for ethically sourced and sustainably produced items is 63% and 57%, respectively as compared to fair trade (46%) and conversion of natural resources (49%). As consumers are now more mindful of health and sustainability claim, CPG companies are strategically thinking of eliminating the use of palm oil and cocoa, due to their association with child labour and deforestation. Read more from Fooddive