Latest news with #ESG
ME Construction
28 minutes ago
- Business
- ME Construction
Omnix announces expansion of its portfolio with integrated Digitised Construction Workflows
Technology Omnix announces expansion of its portfolio with integrated Digitised Construction Workflows By The construction sector is currently facing numerous challenges including labor shortages, cost pressures, regulatory demands, and outdated processes Omnix International has announced the expansion of its portfolio with a new suite of integrated Digitised Construction Workflow offerings. These solutions are designed to revolutionise critical workflows across the construction lifecycle by digitising them. This transformation is achieved through data intelligence, automation, and intelligent systems, ultimately leading to more efficient planning, execution, and optimisation of projects, the firm said. The strategic move to expand its portfolio in the Middle East is said to underscore its commitment to driving innovation, enhancing efficiency, and assisting clients in meeting the evolving demands of the construction industry. The Middle East is experiencing rapid urban expansion and executing significant mega projects, making the need for advanced digital solutions more pressing than ever, said a statement. The construction sector is currently facing numerous challenges, including labor shortages, cost pressures, regulatory demands, and outdated processes. Amidst these challenges, the Middle East, with its rapid urban expansion and mega projects, has highlighted the urgent need for advanced digital solutions, it added. According to RICS and McKinsey, the global construction industry continues to lag in digital adoption, particularly in areas such as ESG reporting, carbon tracking, and lifecycle management. Omnix's new offerings address these gaps by providing integrated tools that promote smarter planning, improved collaboration, and measurable outcomes. Walid Gomaa, CEO of Omnix International said, 'Our mission to digitally transform construction workflows is aimed at empowering clients to build with greater confidence, efficiency, and purpose. This marks a key milestone in our journey to deliver value-driven, future-ready solutions. Our focus on regional priorities, data interoperability, and intelligent insights will help clients reduce risk, enhance sustainability, and achieve stronger business outcomes across project lifecycles.' Alaf Abdul Latheef, Regional Business Unit Head added, 'Our offerings are built to address regional challenges with a flexible and modular framework. Leveraging cutting-edge technologies and architectural expertise, we have designed a solution that adapts to our clients' realities enhancing compliance, visibility, and collaboration without requiring a complete overhaul of existing systems.' The newly launched Digitised Construction Workflows offer centralised tendering and bid management, real time cost control and scheduling dashboards, Digital twin integration, field safety and compliance monitoring, built-in ESG and carbon analytics, AI-enhanced document and RFI management, and mobile-enabled tools for site access and task tracking, the company outlined. At the heart of the solution lies Omnix's 'interoperability first approach'. This approach is said to feature a connected layer that allows clients to retain their preferred tools while enhancing visibility, regional customisation, and cross-platform data flow. Omnix's approach prioritises plug-and-play compatibility with existing software, custom integrations that bridge data between design, construction, and operations phases, and strengthened with AI enabled data insights. Early implementations are already underway, with broader rollouts scheduled for 2025 and 2026. This phased approach enables Omnix to refine its solutions based on real-world feedback and ensure alignment with regional workflows and compliance standards, the company confirmed. Omnix's strength in the construction sector is rooted in a multidisciplinary team with expertise in BIM, project management, AI, digital twin technologies, and secure cloud infrastructure. With certified professionals in PMP, LEED, and advanced analytics, Omnix is poised to deliver scalable, future-proof solutions for the region's expanding development landscape, the statement concluded.
Daily Express
9 hours ago
- Business
- Daily Express
Digitech new avenues for graft, too: Azam
Published on: Friday, June 20, 2025 Published on: Fri, Jun 20, 2025 Text Size: Azam posing with his team and the organising committee. Kota Kinabalu: Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Chief Commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki said while digital technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) and blockchain bring notable benefits, they also create new avenues for corruption if proper controls are not in place. Speaking at the International Conference on Technology, Management and Sustainability (ICTMS 2025) at Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) Sabah branch, Azam pointed out the double-edged nature of technological advancement in sectors including taxation, e-commerce and Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) reporting. Advertisement 'Innovation brings great potential from improving audit quality to facilitating compliance, but it also opens new spaces for corruption, fraud and breach of trust if there are no controls,' he said. 'Using systems alone without applying human thinking in making decisions is important. From a governance perspective, if there are good systems but those managing them lack integrity and accountability, then those systems can be used for wrongdoing,' Azam added. Azam, who is also an Adjunct Professor at UiTM's Accounting Research Institute (ARI), said the commission has extensively adopted technology to enhance enforcement efficiency and impact. He noted that widespread technology use has significantly aided intelligence and investigation work, with some cases now resolved within three to six months compared to much longer periods previously. Advertisement Azam also drew attention to warnings from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and Interpol that Southeast Asia has become a hub for cyber fraud and digital money laundering. Criminal syndicates are exploiting fintech applications, unlicensed digital wallets and cross-border platforms to hide illegal flows using fake identities and AI-generated documents. 'In 2023 alone, more than RM330 million was lost due to fraud, representing a 25 percent increase compared to 2022, involving cryptocurrency abuse, fake investment platforms and mostly stemming from weaknesses in digital channel monitoring,' he said. He cited Operation Tropicana as an example, where MACC uncovered a cross-border investment fraud syndicate operating boiler rooms across Malaysia. The conference was organised by UiTM's Accounting Research Institute in collaboration with MACC's Financial Analysis Division, bringing together distinguished guests including Professor Emeritus Dr Normah Omar and Sabah MACC Director Datuk Karunanithy Y Subbiah. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
The Hindu
13 hours ago
- Business
- The Hindu
CII lays road map to enhance Karnataka's competitiveness in global market
The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Karnataka, on Thursday unveiled its new road map to enhance the State's competitiveness on the global stage. As part of the road map, which is named 'Accelerating Karnataka's Competitiveness: Globalisation, Inclusivity, Sustainability, Trust', the CII would focus on AI-led transformation, sunrise sectors, and capacity building for MSMEs. Other priorities will include simplifying GST and taxation, easing regulatory compliance to strengthen 'Ease of Doing Business', and improving infrastructure and connectivity for balanced industrial development, the trade body said in a press conference. According to the office-bearers, the CII's 2025–26 agenda placed a strong focus on empowering MSMEs through digitisation, ESG adoption, and cluster-based support. Key priorities include emerging sectors like semiconductors, aerospace, and electric mobility, along with energy transition and alternative fuels and Industry 4.0 skills. To drive impact across sectors, the CII plans to strengthen collaborations with the academia, startups, the government and global partners to catalyse investment, foster deep-tech capabilities, and fast-track industrial transformation. Rabindra Srikantan, chairman of CII, 'As we move towards Viksit Bharat, the State has an opportunity to shape India's industrial future through innovation, technology leadership, and sustainability.'' The trade body's focus was to create a resilient and agile ecosystem that empowered industries to lead in strategic areas like semiconductors, design-led manufacturing, AI-powered production, and clean energy. A key pillar of this journey was the expansion of Global Capability Centres (GCCs), which were rapidly evolving from support hubs to strategic innovation engines across sectors, he added. Guruprasad Mudlapur, vice-chairman of CII, said, 'We are committed to accelerating inclusive and future-ready growth by strengthening competitiveness, ease of doing business, and building trust to enable MSMEs across the State.' He said the CII's new roadmap was aligned to Viksit Bharat, and focused on infrastructure, policy simplification, and technology adoption to drive industrial resilience across the State.
Time of India
15 hours ago
- Automotive
- Time of India
Shubhranshu Singh and Sumit Virmani in Global Most Influential CMOs list: Cannes Lions 2025
India's marketers made a significant mark on the global stage at Cannes Lions 2025 . Two prominent Indian marketing leaders, Shubhranshu Singh , global CMO of Tata Motors Commercial Vehicles and Sumit Virmani of Infosys, are named in a prestigious Forbes compilation that records the 2025 list of the World's Most Influential CMOs . The announcement, made at the ongoing Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, underscores the rising impact of Indian marketing leaders in redefining the modern CMO role through innovation, data-led strategies, and cultural resonance. Singh's inclusion on this esteemed annual list highlights his significant contributions to building brand equity for Tata Motors Commercial Vehicles. He is particularly recognised for his deep cultural insights, category leadership, and an unwavering focus on national and business purpose. "Under his guidance, Tata Motors has executed transformative campaigns that have successfully positioned the company as a forward-looking and trusted name in commercial mobility," the report said. Further solidifying his influence, earlier this week, Singh also joined the inaugural board of the Effie LIONS foundation. This global marketing apex organization, incorporated as a not-for-profit in New York, aims to educate and empower the next generation of marketing talent globally, with a particular emphasis on underrepresented communities. Sumit Virmani, global chief marketing officer at Infosys, also features prominently on the Forbes list, a testament to his transformative leadership in the technology sector. Virmani is credited with significantly enhancing Infosys' global brand ambitions and helping it navigate into the league of the world's top 100 brands, evolving into one of the fastest-growing IT services brands globally. "His approach emphasises a creatively-driven, human-first strategy in B2B marketing, placing strategic priority on customer experience. Under his leadership, Infosys has made significant investments in global partnerships, notably in tennis, providing in-match analytics and insights to enhance personalized fan experiences, and more recently, expanding into Formula E Racing to illustrate mission-critical solutions to B2B customers. Virmani is also a staunch proponent of business's role in driving positive social impact, even amidst pushback on ESG and DEI efforts in some international markets," the report said. The Forbes World's Most Influential CMOs List, now in its 13th year, is a rigorous evaluation of marketing leaders based on criteria such as digital engagement, campaign effectiveness, brand and community engagement, media visibility, and overall business impact. The presence of both Singh and Virmani on this global roster places them alongside some of the most impactful marketing voices from around the world.
Extra.ie
17 hours ago
- Business
- Extra.ie
When politics hits the checkout: Why more consumers are turning against brands
More and more, social and political division is shaping the world we live in. According to the World Economic Forum's Global Risks Report 2025, polarised societies are now one of the top five long-term risks to global stability. For businesses, this isn't something happening on the sidelines, it's front and centre – and they're most certainly feeling it. There was a time when taking a stand on social issues helped brands stand out. But now, those same messages can spark major public backlash. Pic: Getty Images In today's climate, some consumers are making their opinions known with their wallets. In fact, Ipsos data shows one in four Americans have boycotted a company because of its political stance or reaction to current events. In the US, political pressure is pushing some big companies to pull back from their public commitments to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). In the US, political pressure is pushing some big companies to pull back from their public commitments to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). Pic: Shutterstock Elsewhere, companies are finding more nuanced ways to stay the course. In Europe and Asia, multinationals are still committed to DEI, but they're adapting their messaging to fit local contexts and avoid political flare-ups. The same balancing act is happening around ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance). In early 2025, the EU responded to competitiveness concerns by easing sustainability rules, a sign of how economic pressures are now weighing against long-term ESG goals. Security is also back on the agenda. In Europe, 36% now say it's the EU's top priority. Across Asia and Latin America, shifting alliances and social pressures are changing how businesses operate and engage with stakeholders. Pic: Getty This new environment means businesses need to tread carefully, with clear plans for when to speak up, when to stay silent, and how to align their actions with their values and long-term goals. Ibec's Global Compass report, Navigating Polarisation: Business Leadership in a Fragmented World, dives deeper into how businesses can lead through today's ideological divides – not by avoiding difficult issues, but by learning to navigate them with care and strategy.
