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DEKRA remains on course despite global economic and political crises

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2 years ago

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Entering the Centenary Year with Sustained Sales Growth

Core testing, inspection and certification business grows in all regions worldwideSustained high investment levels in Germany and in global growth marketsMarket position in future fields such as electromobility, sustainability, cyber security and artificial intelligence expanded furtherCommitment to targeted and fit-for-purpose regulations and standards

STUTTGART, Germany, Nov. 25, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — DEKRA could hardly be entering the year of its 100th anniversary on a more future-proof and resilient footing: after the world’s largest non-listed testing, inspection and certification company exceeded a sales threshold of €4 billion for the first time in its history in 2023, DEKRA anticipates further growth in 2024. In the first ten months of the year, turnover increases by around 5%, with the core TIC (Testing, Inspections & Certification) business growing by more than 7%.

“We are optimistic that we can close 2024 with a mid-single digit increase in sales,” says Stan Zurkiewicz, CEO and Chairman of the Board of Management of DEKRA e.V. and DEKRA SE, at the company’s annual review at its Stuttgart headquarters. Despite very challenging external conditions—e.g., recession in DEKRA’s home market of Germany and continued shortage of skilled personnel across Europe—all areas of the company’s TIC business have contributed to this success. The temporary staffing segment is the only area experiencing a decline in sales, particularly in Germany, due to the difficult framework conditions. DEKRA CEO Zurkiewicz explains: “In this area, we are feeling the effects of the current economic contraction and the crisis afflicting the European automotive industry. However, we are able to offset this with more than 7 percent increase in turnover within our core business and strong demand in new focus areas.”

In the current fiscal year, DEKRA has recorded high single- to double-digit growth in the Americas (around 14%), North-West Europe (around 9%) and the Asia-Pacific region (around 9%). In its home market of Germany, the core business has grown by around 7%. The new strategic business fields related to future mobility, sustainability, cybersecurity and artificial intelligence have also contributed to this success.

DEKRA aims for continued growth in its 2025 centenary year
DEKRA will celebrate its 100th anniversary next summer. Considering this milestone, the company anticipates maintaining its growth trajectory in 2025—despite potentially volatile geopolitical and economic conditions. DEKRA expects to see another mid-single digit turnover growth in the anniversary year. This confidence stems from DEKRA’s strong market position in its traditional business areas—supported by well-established local and globally networked locations with over 500,000 customers—and a robust service portfolio geared towards future growth areas. In recent years, DEKRA has been able to position itself in these areas through significant investments. The company remains committed to this course, even amid a challenging global economy.

Investments increase once more
To sustain growth momentum beyond its centenary year in 2025, DEKRA is increasing its investments again. A double-digit million-euro investment will fund the new battery testing and certification laboratory in Klettwitz (Brandenburg, Germany) creating approximately 40 additional highly skilled jobs. The foundation stone was laid in June 2024, with the opening scheduled for 2025. “This state-of-the-art laboratory will allow us to test battery systems for electric vehicles and high-voltage storage systems for other applications—from early development phases through validation to final acceptance and certification,” explains DEKRA’s CEO.

The company already offers a patented battery test that enables extremely precise measurement of used electric vehicle battery condition in just a few minutes for over 130 electric car models.

Another example of DEKRA’s future-focused investment in Germany is a new Wi-Fi testing laboratory that recently began operations in Stuttgart. Here, DEKRA offers its customers—particularly in the automotive industry—crucial services to test the reliability, interoperability and security of Wi-Fi components.

Sustainability: Paving the way for a hydrogen economy
Another growth area is the emerging hydrogen economy, which is vital for achieving climate targets. Although the development of the green hydrogen economy may be slower than once anticipated, DEKRA sees enormous potential in hydrogen. “Our task is to ensure that the ramp-up of hydrogen production and application is safe,” says Zurkiewicz. DEKRA draws on decades of experience in established applications, such as refineries and chemical processes. DEKRA experts understand hydrogen’s properties and the associated challenges, as well as the standards, processes and testing for its safe handling. “DEKRA is well-positioned to ensure hydrogen safety throughout its entire life cycle,” says Zurkiewicz. “In this way, we are helping to build confidence for investments in the hydrogen economy.”

Striking the right balance between innovation and regulation
In connection with new EU regulations on corporate sustainability reporting, Stan Zurkiewicz notes an imbalance between bureaucratic burdens and market dynamics, resulting in competitive disadvantages for European businesses: “DEKRA has always stood, and will always stand for high standards when they serve a purpose: protecting people’s health and safety, safeguarding innovation, and building trust. The current proliferation of regulations, however, poses a hurdle, especially for small and medium-sized companies in Germany.” With specific reference to the new Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), DEKRA is currently advocating to improve the German draft law and to ensure the involvement of technical auditors, or so-called Independent Assurance Service Providers (IASP). “Our aim is to simplify auditing for small and medium-sized enterprises while maintaining a high standard of quality.”

AI and cybersecurity: a global competitive advantage with DEKRA
Two years since the release of ChatGPT, DEKRA continues to recognize the challenge that business and society face in making AI systems safe and responsible for people and the environment. “The focus of our work is on quality management systems, risk assessments and the development of test procedures,” reports the CEO. DEKRA has already launched its first AI services on the market. In testing AI technologies and models, the company relies on both established standards and proprietary methods. For example, DEKRA has supported a leading company in the field of AI and Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) in ensuring the quality of its labeling processes. The process involves precisely labeling large datasets, such as indicating whether an image depicts a car, a person or a traffic sign. These precise labels help the AI to recognize patterns and learn to respond safely and appropriately in real-world scenarios.

DEKRA has also further expanded its cybersecurity business area, now with a global presence that includes locations in Asia, Europe and the Americas. “International corporations turn to us to quickly define reliable test scenarios in the dynamic field of cybersecurity and to implement them in a practical manner,” says Zurkiewicz. In Shanghai, for example, the company has recently awarded Lenovo the Radio Equipment Directive Delegated Act (RED/DA) certificate for a commercial notebook, the world’s first of its kind, enhancing cybersecurity, personal data protection and privacy for portable IT devices.

About DEKRA

DEKRA was originally founded in 1925 to ensure road safety through vehicle inspection. With a much wider scope today, DEKRA is the world’s largest independent non-listed expert organization in the testing, inspection, and certification sector. As a global provider of comprehensive services and solutions, we help our customers improve their safety, security and sustainability outcomes. In 2023, DEKRA generated revenue of €4.1 billion. The company currently employs around 49,000 people who offer qualified and independent expert services in approximately 60 countries across five continents. With a platinum rating from EcoVadis, DEKRA ranks among the top one percent of sustainable businesses.

 

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SOURCE DEKRA Asia Pacific

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SoftwareOne named a Leader in the 2026 Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ for SAM Managed Services

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30 minutes ago

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October 26, 2026

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Empowering clients with proven SAM excellence

MILWAUKEE, Oct. 26, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — SoftwareOne (SIX: SWON), a leading global software and cloud solutions provider, today announced that it has been named a Leader in the 2026 Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ for SAM Managed Services for the seventh consecutive year.

SoftwareOne believes this recognition reflects its commitment to helping clients achieve measurable value from their cloud, software and AI investments as licensing models continue to shift.

Software asset management (SAM) gives organizations visibility and control over their on-premises IT, cloud and SaaS estates. SoftwareOne helps customers simplify these portfolios, improving financial control and managing licensing and audit risks, so they can direct resources towards business priorities and innovation.

“Seven consecutive years as a Leader matters to us because we believe that consistency is what our customers actually buy. The technology landscape continues to grow more complex as organizations navigate an ever-expanding mix of software licensing, cloud consumption, and AI-driven business models,” says Raphael Erb, CEO, SoftwareOne. “Our customers need a partner whose judgement holds up through all of it. We see this recognition as validation of the expertise, commitment, and customer focus that our teams bring to every engagement, every day.”

Gartner delivers actionable, objective insight to executives and their teams. Its expert guidance and tools enable faster, smarter decisions and stronger performance on an organization’s mission-critical priorities.

The Gartner Magic Quadrant evaluates vendors based on their Ability to Execute and Completeness of Vision. We are honored to be included among the recognized vendors in this important report. Learn more about the Magic Quadrant.

Helping clients unlock value from IT portfolios

SoftwareOne’s ITAM and FinOps portfolio brings together software asset management, FinOps and AI optimization, SaaS management, IT sustainability advisory and vendor management. These services help clients cut waste, manage audit risks and go into publisher negotiations, with a clear picture of what technology they use and what it all costs.

With global delivery at scale, SoftwareOne helps organizations optimize and simplify AI cloud and software investments across hybrid environments. AI-enabled automation powers licensing intelligence, compliance and cost control, so clients can reduce spend and make confident decisions about where to reinvest.

Positioned alongside SoftwareOne in the Magic Quadrantii as A Leader is Anglepoint, an independent company that is majority-owned by SoftwareOne. 

About the Gartner Magic Quadrant

The Gartner Magic Quadrant evaluates providers on Completeness of Vision and Ability to Execute. Leaders execute well against their current vision and are well positioned for tomorrow. SoftwareOne views its recognition as a reflection of the consistency of its SAM managed services and the work of its delivery teams.

Source

Gartner, Magic Quadrant for Software Asset Management Managed Services, By Yolanda Harris, Jaswant Kalay, and Rob Schafer. October 2026

Gartner disclaimers and trademarks

Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in its research publications and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors with the highest ratings or other designation. Gartner research publications consist of the opinions of Gartner’s research organization and should not be construed as statements of fact. Gartner disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this research, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.

GARTNER is a registered trademark and service mark of Gartner, and Magic Quadrant is a registered trademark of Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and internationally, and are used herein with permission. All rights reserved.

About SoftwareOne

SoftwareOne is a global software and cloud solutions provider and distributor. With a presence in over 70 countries and a team of about 12,000 professionals, we combine global scale and local expertise to help partners and customers optimize costs, source, and procure, accelerate growth, and navigate complex IT environments with confidence. Leveraging deep capabilities in cloud, software, and data and AI, the company empowers organizations to modernize, innovate, and unlock the full value of their technology investments. Headquartered in Switzerland, SoftwareOne is listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange and Euronext Oslo Børs under the ticker symbol SWON. Visit us at www.softwareone.com

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SOURCE SoftwareONE

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TrueLoyal® Appoints Erica Thompson as Head of Loyalty

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October 26, 2026

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Longtime retail and loyalty expert will lead loyalty strategy and program services for TrueLoyal’s brand partners

SAN ANTONIO, Oct. 26, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — TrueLoyal®, the loyalty and advocacy platform for consumer brands, today announced the appointment of Erica Thompson as Head of Loyalty. Thompson will lead TrueLoyal’s loyalty strategy, customer retention architecture, and lifecycle engagement work as the company continues to help brands turn consumer loyalty into a dynamic growth engine.

TrueLoyal® names longtime retail and loyalty expert Erica Thompson as Head of Loyalty.

Thompson brings more than 20 years of leadership in customer relationship management (CRM), brand loyalty, and digital marketing strategy. Throughout her career, she has led data-driven loyalty programs and omnichannel customer experiences for leading consumer brands, including serving as a retail Chief Marketing Officer and as Senior Vice President at Stride Rite. She also advised retail clients as a consultant with loyalty agency Kobie Marketing, has advised brands through her firm, ACIRE Consulting Group, and held senior marketing roles at PetSmart, New York & Company, and HSN. Her background in behavioral analytics, tiered reward structures, and customer lifecycle engagement strengthens TrueLoyal’s ability to help brands design and run programs that perform.

“Brands have to earn loyalty through compelling, continuous experiences, and points and discounts alone won’t get them there,” said Jacek Materna, CEO of TrueLoyal. “Erica’s proven ability to build scalable loyalty engines and translate customer insights into genuine brand devotion makes her the perfect leader for our next chapter.”

“I’ve spent my career on the brand side of loyalty, and the programs I’m proudest of were the ones built around what customers actually cared about,” said Thompson. “That’s the work I want to keep doing. I’m here to roll up my sleeves with our brands, understand what their customers need, and help them build loyalty that’s worth something to both sides.”

At TrueLoyal, Thompson will lead the company’s enterprise loyalty frameworks, its Program Strategy and managed loyalty services, and cross-functional alignment across product and client strategy. Her appointment reflects TrueLoyal’s continued investment in loyalty expertise as the company grows with CPG and D2C hybrid brands.

About TrueLoyal

TrueLoyal® is a loyalty and advocacy platform that helps brands turn the customer experience into repeat purchases and long-term growth. Brands use Rewards to run their loyalty program and Fan Club™ to bring community and user-generated content together, all connected to the commerce systems they already use. TrueLoyal also offers services that range from Program Strategy to fully managed loyalty operations. Learn more at trueloyal.com.

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SOURCE TrueLoyal

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THE POWER HOUR™ LAUNCHED FROM TIKTOK HEADQUARTERS IN NEW YORK CITY WITH A BOLD MISSION: MOVE THE WORLD FOR ONE HOUR

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October 26, 2026

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The Power Play Impact Fund and The Power Hour™ Began a 365-Day Global Countdown to an October 2027 Guinness World Records Attempt Turning Movement Into Impact for the Next Generation

NEW YORK, Oct. 26, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — What could happen if, for one hour, the world moved together?

Recently in New York City, The Power Hour™ and Power Play Impact Fund officially launched an ambitious global movement built around a remarkably simple idea: invite people everywhere to dedicate one hour to physical movement and turn that collective action into meaningful impact for youth and communities.

The announcement was made during an exclusive gathering hosted at TikTok Headquarters in New York City on the opening day of Advertising Week New York, bringing together professional athletes, business leaders, Family Offices, health and wellness leaders, innovators, and changemakers.

October 5 was day one of a 365-day global countdown. In October 2027, The Power Hour™ will bring people across countries, communities, companies, and cultures together for 60 synchronized minutes of physical movement as part of an ambitious Guinness World Records attempt. Think walk, run, dance, yoga: move the way you want. It is being built as an inclusive global movement rather than a traditional fitness event. Participation in the global movement is FREE, removing one of the barriers to joining.

The Founder and Visionary behind The Power Hour™and Power Play Impact Fund is Angella Goran. A former professional cyclist and world-class multi-sport athlete, she has built a career spanning entrepreneurship, technology, financial innovation, sport, and social impact. Her experience as an athlete and her belief in the lifelong opportunities created through sport, wellness, and community became the foundation for The Power Hour™.

“I’ve always believed that one hour of collective action can become the starting point for something that lasts far longer,” said Goran. “When millions of people around the world move together for 60 minutes, we create more than a record. We create lasting impact for youth and communities across physical, mental, nutritional and financial wellness.”

The Power Hour™is excited to partner alongside some incredible athletes such as:

Jerome Williams, former NBA Player, founder of Shooting for PeaceAngela Ruggiero, 4x Olympic Medalist, Founder of Sports Innovation Lab & Women’s Sports Club (acquired by GENIUS in 2026)The Gasol Foundation, Founded by Pau Gasol (6x NBA All-Star, 2x NBA Championship Winner, 3x OLY and Chair of IOC Athletes’ Commission)Dr. Jen Welter (1st NFL Female Coach/Player, 2x Gold Medalist Team USA, Founder of Grrridiron Girls Foundation & “The Day in the Life Of” event series)

The vision is to harness technology, social platforms, connected fitness, and community activations to transform millions of individual actions into one extraordinary collective moment. But breaking a record isn’t the ultimate goal. Creating impact is.

At the heart of The Power Hour™ is the Power Play Impact Fund, created to help raise awareness and funding for youth and community initiatives across four interconnected areas of wellness: physical, mental, nutritional, and financial. The Power Hour™ believes that movement belongs to everyone. There is no qualifying time. No required sport. No expectation of athletic ability.

The Uptown Agency in Dallas has partnered with The Power Hour™ to provide support on communications and other projects.

Just move.
ONE WORLD. ONE HOUR. ONE MOVEMENT.
The countdown starts now.

ABOUT THE POWER HOUR™

The Power Hour™ is a global movement and social-impact initiative created to unite people through 60 minutes of physical movement. Through sport, technology, community and collective action, The Power Hour™ aims to connect individuals, athletes, businesses and communities around the world while creating meaningful impact for the next generation. The inaugural global event is planned for October 2027 and will pursue a Guinness World Records attempt through synchronized participation around the world. To learn more, please visit https://www.powerhour.world/.

ABOUT POWER PLAY IMPACT FUND

The Power Play Impact Fund is the impact engine behind The Power Hour™, supporting a mission focused on investing in and donating to youth and community initiatives for physical, mental, nutritional, and financial wellness. Through partnerships, charitable giving, fundraising, and The Power Hour™ global movement, the initiative seeks to direct attention and resources toward programs that create greater opportunity, well-being, and accessibility for youth and communities. The Power Play Impact Fund operates with LOHAS as its fiscal sponsor administrator.

ABOUT THE UPTOWN AGENCY

The Uptown Agency is an award-winning, full-service marketing and branding partner dedicated to engineering differentiation through creative excellence and data-driven strategy. Recognized as a leader in brand growth, the agency combines industry-leading expertise in brand strategy, creative development, digital marketing, web development, and PR to deliver bespoke solutions that activate audiences and drive measurable results. The Uptown Agency is a true extension of client teams, prioritizing deep business understanding over templated approaches. Their work spans strategic brand overhauls, custom-coded web experiences, and high-impact campaigns that blend cultural relevance with technical precision. Explore their work at www.theuptownagency.com.

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SOURCE The Power Hour

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