German state ditches Microsoft for open-source software
At a time of growing concern over the power of the world's mighty tech companies, one German state is turning its back on US giant Microsoft.
In less than three months' time, almost no civil servant, police officer or judge in Schleswig-Holstein will be using any of Microsoft's ubiquitous programs
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Otago Daily Times
a day ago
- Otago Daily Times
Emerging theological emergency for churches, with global ramifications
The faithful cannot be silent in the face of distortion Graham Redding writes. In moments of deep national and spiritual crisis, churches have sometimes found the courage to speak with clarity and conviction. Not with platitudes or party dogma, but with public confessions — declarations that reclaim the Gospel from the grip of ideology and idolatry. In 1934, in the shadow of Nazi Germany, a group of German pastors and theologians crafted the Barmen Declaration. It was a bold theological stand against the co-opting of the German Church by Adolf Hitler's regime. While many churches willingly aligned themselves with the state — some even blending the cross with the swastika — Barmen drew a line. It rejected the false gospel of nationalism and racial superiority. It reasserted the lordship of Christ and the authority of Scripture against a corrupted and politicised church. Fifty years later, in apartheid-era South Africa, the Belhar Confession emerged. Under a system of brutal racial segregation and violence — one that was theologically defended by the powerful Dutch Reformed Church — Belhar became both a protest and a promise. It condemned injustice in the name of Christ and called the Church back to its foundation in unity, reconciliation and justice. It insisted that these are not optional ideals but core expressions of the Gospel. What Barmen and Belhar shared was a willingness to speak truth into situations of injustice, where the name of Jesus was being used to bless what the Gospel condemns. They did not pretend to be universally true for all times and places. They were contextual, prophetic responses to specific crises — resisting theological distortion and political manipulation. Is it time for churches in the United States to unite to do something similar? Many are sounding the alarm that a major crisis is unfolding in the United States today. Political platforms are draped in religious language. Christian politicians are among the most vocal defenders of exclusionary policies. Christian vocabulary is used to justify everything from white nationalism to the erosion of human rights. In some quarters, the Church has not merely been silent in the face of these distortions — it has become complicit. This is more than a political problem. It is a theological emergency with global ramifications. When faith is harnessed to serve partisan power, when the name of Jesus is used to endorse ideological and political agendas, the Church must speak — not to defend its reputation, but to defend the Gospel itself. What is needed is not a philosophical treatise but a courageous declaration that says: this is who we are, this is what we believe, this is what we reject. A confession that names the idolatries of our time — Christian nationalism, systemic racism, xenophobia, political authoritarianism — and says clearly: this is not the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Such a confession would begin with repentance. It would acknowledge where churches have failed to be faithful: where they have preferred influence over integrity and confused discipleship with dominance. It would reaffirm Christ's lordship over every other loyalty, and declare that justice, mercy and humility are not liberal or conservative values — they are Gospel imperatives. It would not speak for every Christian. It would not demand uniformity. Like Barmen and Belhar, it would arise from communities of conscience — those who can no longer be silent in the face of distortion. It would face opposition and criticism. Barmen and Belhar both drew backlash. But both also offered the Church something priceless: integrity. A way to be faithful in the public square without surrendering the soul of the Gospel. The danger today for churches is not one of persecution but seduction. The seductive pull of power and cultural dominance is nothing new. But the longer churches confuse proximity to power with spiritual authority, the more urgently they need to confess what the Gospel actually is — and what it is not. A confession of faith would not fix everything, but it would be a clarion call, an act of clarity in a time of confusion, an act of courage in a time of compromise. And it would be an invitation — to return to the source, to rediscover the deep well of God's justice, grace and love. Because at the heart of the Christian faith is not a political ideology or a cultural identity. It is a crucified and risen saviour who calls his followers not to rule, but to serve. Not to dominate, but to love. Not to blend in, but to bear witness. Maybe it's time to say that again. Loudly and clearly. If American churches were to come together for that purpose, there would be strong global support — for a Gospel no longer bound by empire, but set free again for justice, mercy and truth, and for a nation that is less preoccupied with its own greatness and more dedicated to the flourishing of all nations, the healing of creation and the ways of peace. ■Graham Redding is a lecturer in chaplaincy studies at the University of Otago.
Otago Daily Times
a day ago
- Otago Daily Times
City firm giving global sports teams the edge
What do the All Blacks, the Springboks and the British and Irish Lions have in common — aside from all being rugby teams? The answer is Dunedin tech business Axon Perform, which is providing literally game-changing insights to give global sports teams the edge. The company has seen a rapid uptake of its integrated intelligence platform and, as the international rugby season approaches, there has been a flurry of new signings. Chief executive and founder Jon Foote started specialist data and analytics consultancy Flock Consulting more than six years ago. He always had a vision of building something that helped smaller organisations that could not build big data platforms, and making it easier for them to access. He was doing that in the health space and also supporting New Zealand Rugby, which is where he got to know Andy Watts, then an analyst with the Highlanders who has also held roles at the Japan Rugby Football Union and Cardiff Rugby. Mr Watts joined the business and that was the impetus to start building a platform for professional sports teams that was both scaleable and easy for teams to use. They have gone from looking solely after New Zealand Rugby to turning it into a global solution. Mr Watts, who is product lead, said high-performance teams had access to a multitude of high-performance insights, across numerous streams, and everyone was looking for improvements. "By analysing the performance information recorded during team training and games, we can provide performance staff with the link between what's happening on the field and what a team does next, all in one platform," he said. Mr Foote is now stepping away from the Flock Consulting leadership team to focus fully on its sister company, Axon Perform, while Mr Watts — who is originally from the United Kingdom — is heading back there to launch a UK office from next month. Mr Foote acknowledged growth of the business had happened quickly. He started building a platform five years ago that morphed into Reportabl., which is a health and sport platform. At the end of last year, the decision was made to focus on sport and a rebrand to Axon Perform was launched about two months ago. Clients now include teams from across New Zealand, Australia, Japan, South Africa and Europe and include the Sydney Roosters, British and Irish Lions, Springboks and English men's and women's rugby teams. There was interest from a German field hockey team as any sports team could use parts of the solution, Mr Foote said. Axon was working hard on a solution specific to football, a sport which made up quarter of the global spend on data and analytics in the global sport market. Basketball was not far behind at just under a quarter. The company started with game analytics and then started expanding into performance analytics and its platform was way more advanced, usable and customisable than its competitors, Mr Foote said. Asked what it was like to be involved in global sport, Mr Foote said the "little kid" in him got excited when it was decided to focus solely on sport. He had always been sporty and he loved watching sport. Data had been his world for the past 20 years and now there was an opportunity to bring the two interests together. He acknowledged the potential of Axon was "pretty significant". ' "We are chasing a big number — that's why we are here. There's a lot of work in front of us but it's working pretty good at the start."
Techday NZ
2 days ago
- Techday NZ
Thyssenkrupp boosts supply chain with Celonis AI technology
Thyssenkrupp Rasselstein has adopted process mining technology from Celonis to enhance transparency and efficiency across its global supply chain operations. Thyssenkrupp Rasselstein, one of Europe's largest packaging steel manufacturers, supplies 400 customers in over 80 countries from its German production facility, the largest of its kind worldwide. The site relies on more than 300 interconnected systems, creating significant operational complexity. In response to rising demands within the steel industry and to maintain a competitive edge, thyssenkrupp Rasselstein has prioritised digitalisation and process optimisation, with a specific focus on driving supply chain performance. Over the past three years, the company has partnered with Celonis to optimise its supply chain processes through artificial intelligence (AI) and process intelligence solutions. As a result, thyssenkrupp Rasselstein has built a data-driven, connected supply chain, which enables proactive risk management, enhanced delivery reliability, and optimisation of critical operations. "Before Celonis we had limited visibility into our supply chain which made it difficult to react quickly to supply disruptions. Now, we have a real-time overview of our processes, allowing us to manage risks proactively, reduce excess inventory, and improve our delivery reliability. This enables us to make better strategic decisions and ensures seamless production planning," said Dr Michael Pullen, CFO of thyssenkrupp Rasselstein. The implementation of Celonis technology highlights the complexity of the company's operations and its efforts to leverage process visibility for tangible business benefits. Celonis' Managing Director DACH, Florian Schewior, commented on the partnership's impact for customers managing large-scale supply chains. "Our partnership with thyssenkrupp Rasselstein highlights how Celonis helps companies turn complex, fragmented supply chains into intelligent, connected ecosystems," said Florian Schewior. "By embedding AI and process intelligence into the fabric of supply operations, our customers stay agile, can better master disruptions and run more resilient, efficient value chains." Celonis' APAC Lead, Pascal Coubard, noted the broader applicability of the approach, particularly in resource-rich regions. "Digitisation helps companies make their processes more efficient and in today's dynamic environment that is vitally important," said Pascal Coubard. Using Celonis, thyssenkrupp Rasselstein has constructed a digital twin of its supply chain, integrating data from thyssenkrupp Steel Europe with its own production planning systems. This approach provides all stakeholders with a single data source for actionable insights. The solution is currently operational across more than ten processes and supports over 50 use cases, including procure-to-pay, order-to-cash, inventory management, warehouse operations, and accounts receivable activities. The company has achieved several measurable improvements since deployment, such as proactive prevention of material shortages, improved delivery accuracy, optimal safety stock levels, and a substantial savings potential in working capital through effective inventory and financial management. A key feature of the new system is the use of Celonis Action Flows to automate routine supply chain tasks, such as purchase order creation, increasing efficiency and allowing staff to focus on strategic priorities. AI integration and daily operations Artificial intelligence now plays a significant role in thyssenkrupp Rasselstein's optimisation efforts. Employees use an AI-powered Celonis Copilot to access and interpret data using natural-language queries, supporting faster, more accessible decision-making without reliance on advanced analytical expertise. On the production floor, a Celonis Process Copilot provides near-real-time visibility into the status of production materials, further supporting operational agility. The application of AI extends to minimising waste from unsold materials. The Celonis AI Annotation Builder identifies optimal customers for potentially excess materials, incorporates human-in-the-loop validation, and uses the Orchestration Engine to generate structured email offers to customers. Customer responses are tracked and analysed for continuous improvement. This combined use of AI and process orchestration has established systems that support prompt responses to market changes and data-driven decision-making throughout the organisation.
