Technology

Tariffs: Centric Software’s AI-Powered Solutions Provide Consumer Goods Brands, Retailers and Manufacturers with Agility to Mitigate Retail Uncertainty

Published

12 months ago

May 1, 2025

Price elasticity, cost simulation, competitive intel, demand forecasting and more are all strategies enabled by technology to combat tariff effects

CAMPBELL, Calif., May 1, 2025 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Centric Software’s product concept-to-commercialization solutions future-proof brands, retailers and manufacturers against uncertainty caused by tariffs and other market disrupting activity. Centric Software® provides the most innovative enterprise solutions to plan, design, develop, source, comply, buy, make, price, allocate, market, sell and replenish products such as fashion, luxury, footwear, outdoor, home, food & beverage and cosmetics & personal care as well as multi-category retail to achieve strategic and operational digital transformation goals.

With the recent burst of tariff activity and market volatility, fast-moving consumer goods companies and retailers are faced with widely fluctuating costs and questions about pricing strategies. Real-time access to data becomes crucial in today’s circumstances. Agility is necessary for maintaining market relevance amid shifting market conditions.

Centric Software’s wider end-to-end product lifecycle platform, Centric PLM™ integrates with Centric Planning™, Centric Pricing & Inventory™, Centric Market Intelligence™ and Centric PXM™. All Centric Software solutions, infused with AI optimization as a natural evolution of trusted rule-based methods, target the unique challenges faced by the retail sector and deliver comprehensive, data-driven decision-making for modern retail operations.

Ravi Rangan, CTO at Centric Software states, “If you’re seeing oscillations in cost of goods sold, it causes much uncertainty. You don’t know how to respond, and things are changing by the day.” He continues, “We have tools at our disposal; in addition to Centric PLM for sourcing strategies and what-iffing, Centric Market Intelligence gives us the ability to really understand competitive prices and market trends, Centric PXM gets the feedback from digital & social marketplaces and Centric Pricing & Inventory models price elasticity. With these tools, we’re able to bring some of the unknown-knowns and the known-unknowns into the known-known arena.”

Companies can revamp their offerings or develop new products that cater to evolving consumer demands to mitigate the effects of higher COGS with the right information.

Underpinning the entire platform is Centric PLM which serves as a centralized digital backbone for end-to-end product development and go-to-market execution, empowering businesses with the visibility, agility and control needed to thrive amid global disruptions. With Centric PLM, cross-functional teams can instantly access detailed product, sourcing and cost data in real time to simulate tariff scenarios, assess landed cost impacts—including fluctuating raw material prices, duties and shipping fees—and pivot sourcing strategies to protect margins and maintain supply chain resilience.

Centric Market Intelligence is a key tool in the fight against uncertainty, enabling brands and retailers to understand and adapt pricing strategies across international markets in response to tariffs, inflation and shifting consumer demand. Granular, SKU-level insights and global benchmarking capabilities give users the ability to track competitor price changes over time, evaluate global price architecture, analyze impacted categories, support SKU rationalization and identify over-assorted categories or price bands with low competitiveness, resulting in smarter portfolio decisions in markets where pricing power is challenged. These insights enable brands to respond to macroeconomic pressures and proactively optimize their global assortment and price position, realizing up to 12% increase in average initial price point.

Centric Pricing & Inventory empowers brands and retailers to confidently navigate economic headwinds such as tariffs, inflation and global market volatility. By leveraging AI-powered demand forecasting and dynamic lifecycle pricing, businesses can optimize product performance, drive margins and boost revenues by up to 18% via price and inventory optimization from pre-season to in-season to season completion by remaining responsive to changing conditions through AI-driven demand forecasting, lifecycle pricing optimization, price elasticity and scenario planning, localized and category-level pricing control, aligning pricing with assortment strategy, identifying SKUs to protect, promote or optimize for markdown.

Centric PXM – With Centric Product Experience Management (PXM), brands get an end-to-end solution that combines product information management (PIM), digital asset management (DAM), content syndication to e-comm sites, marketplaces and social media and digital shelf analytics (DSA). It captures demand signals from digital sales channels and shows in real time how consumers are reacting. Having live insights creates a continuous loop, allowing brands to quickly adjust products, pricing and inventory to personalize consumer experiences and increase sell-through.

In this world of fluctuating tariffs, shipping rates and raw material prices, Centric PLM, Centric Market Intelligence, Centric Planning, Centric Pricing & Inventory and Centric PXM support companies in making informed, smart, timely decisions—ultimately contributing to manage risk and uncertainty in the go-to-market journey. This ecosystem integration ensures that market signals, competitor pricing and data-driven insights directly inform product development—supporting more strategic, cost-aware decision-making needed to navigate evolving trade policies.

“The Centric Software approach is making the unknown actionable, so brands can respond with clarity and speed,” says Chris Groves, CEO of Centric Software. “We turn complexity into opportunity, lead with data and act fast to connect decisions across the product lifecycle. Our goal at Centric Software is to equip brands retailers and manufacturers to continuously sense market pulses, recalibrate rapidly and position themselves ahead of the competition.”

https://www..centricsoftware.com/l/35842/2025-05-01/wdylkg [Learn how to mitigate retail uncertainty with Centric Software’s resource hub on tariffs. __title__ Learn how to mitigate retail uncertainty with Centric Software’s resource hub on tariffs.]

https://www..centricsoftware.com/l/35842/2025-05-01/wdylkk [Request a demo __title__ Request a demo]

Media Contact

Celia Newhouse, Centric Software, +14385015498, cnewhouse@centricsoftware.com, www.centricsoftware.com

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SOURCE Centric Software

Technology

Neptune Robotics Invests US$12mn in New Singapore Factory to Drive Five-Fold Increase in Autonomous Ship Hull Cleanings

Published

49 minutes ago

April 20, 2026

Move to capture a larger share of Singapore’s hull cleanings at berth and anchorage
New R&D operations enhances cutting-edge robotics and AI capabilities

SINGAPORE, April 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Neptune Robotics (“Neptune”), a pioneer in AI-powered robotic hull cleaning services with a presence in 61 ports across Singapore and China, today announced a major manufacturing and R&D expansion in Singapore. This is part of the company’s continuing ambition to tackle biofouling, one of the shipping industry’s costliest issues with significant environmental impact.

On the back of a US$52 million Series B round led by Granite Asia in September 2025, the new facility will accelerate Neptune’s mission to slash maritime carbon emissions and fuel wastage through automated hull maintenance.

“Our investment in Singapore is a strategic milestone that will enhance our service provision to clients and position us to meet their current and future needs,” said Elizabeth Chan, Co-Founder and CEO of Neptune Robotics. “With operators facing mounting fuel cost and emissions pressures, we’re scaling autonomous hull cleaning to help mitigate these issues and empower our clients to run more sustainable shipping operations.”

A growing number of shipowners are realizing the benefits of Neptune’s solutions. Biofouling — the buildup of marine growth on hulls — can increase ship greenhouse gas emissions by up to 25-30%[1] depending on vessel characteristics and conditions. Neptune’s AI robots remove this growth without damaging hull coatings, providing an immediate ROI for shipowners facing volatile energy markets and evolving sustainability regulations.

The new facility will bring a number of benefits including:

Increased capacity: By the end of 2026, Neptune will increase its local autonomous cleaning capacity by 400% with plans to reach 60 daily hulls by 2027.Advancing AI and robotics: The new facilities in Singapore will house dedicated R&D operations to advance the company’s proprietary computer vision and machine learning capabilities. This will ensure robots can operate 24/7 in challenging conditions including extreme weather, strong currents and low-visibility water.

With a global network now covering 61 strategic ports across Singapore and China, Neptune is scaling AI-driven hull maintenance to the heart of global trade. The company now services 70% of Asia’s primary shipping lanes, providing standardized, robotic hull cleaning at more than half of the world’s international merchant stops.

Since entering the Singapore market in 2024, Neptune has seen significant growth even as the local competitive landscape has thinned. By automating the hull cleaning process, Neptune eliminates the need for human divers in dangerous environments while ensuring vessels remain fuel efficient at sea.

Neptune will be exhibiting at Booth D19 during Singapore Maritime Week (SMW), April 20–24, 2026.

– ENDS –

About Neptune Robotics

Neptune Robotics is a technology company specializing in robotics-driven vessel cleaning and energy efficiency optimization.

Its robotic system can clean full draft capesize vessels within 24 hours, counter 4-knot currents, and operate day and night in both clear and murky waters. With coverage across 61 ports in Singapore and China — representing around 70% of major trade routes — Neptune supports shipowners at scale.

Neptune’s services are trusted by the world’s top five bulk carrier and container ship fleets. Its approach has earned endorsement from a leading silicone paint manufacturer for protecting hull coatings. Capable of cleaning all vessel types, Neptune helps clients cut fuel use, lower emissions, and advance their 2050 net-zero goals.

In September 2025, Neptune raised US$52 million in Series B funding led by Granite Asia to drive R&D, new robotic systems, and global expansion.

Company website: Neptune Robotics | ROV Underwater Hull Cleaning

[1] https://shipandbunker.com/news/emea/266832-imo-publishes-final-biofouling-report

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SOURCE Neptune Robotics

Technology

transcosmos organizes a well-digging volunteer project in Vietnam

Published

49 minutes ago

April 20, 2026

Aiming to address community-specific, long-term challenges through continuous efforts in environmental conservation, child support, and infrastructure support projects

TOKYO, April 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — transcosmos today announced that transcosmos technology Vietnam co., ltd. (Headquarters: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; CEO: Daisuke Kamada; transcosmos Technologies Vietnam, TTV), its wholly owned subsidiary specializing in agile software development services in Vietnam, has organized a well-digging volunteer project in Kon Tu Ma Village, Mang Den, Kon Plong District, Quang Ngai Province, located in Vietnam’s Central Highlands.

In 2022, TTV initiated an employee-led TTV Volunteering Club to boost unity and foster social awareness among employees. Today, approximately 20 employees participate in volunteering activities, led by 10 club members, engaging in initiatives such as environmental conservation, child support, and infrastructure support projects.

This time, the project was carried out in Mang Den, a beautiful place known as “the second Da Lat.” Nestled amidst gently sloping mountains and abundant virgin forests, Mang Den is located on a tranquil plateau with a comfortable, cool climate throughout the year. Many ethnic minority groups sustain themselves mainly through agriculture; however, they face various challenges related to their living environment, medical care, and education. Children living in remote mountainous areas, in particular, face severe conditions.

In Mang Den, TTV has been carrying out volunteering activities for these children by providing meals and clothing, as well as recreational events and interaction programs. To further deepen these initiatives, TTV has dug a well to provide clean water to Kon Tu Ma Village and has also provided food and daily necessities.

With the Village Mayor, A Reo, and Mr. Hia, who is in charge of public safety, in attendance, TTV handed over the completed well at the grand opening ceremony. At the ceremony, Mayor A Reo commented, “This will not only help improve daily life, but also provide a secure environment even during dry seasons. We appreciate TTV’s support and thank you for your continued assistance.”

With the aim of establishing safe and sustainable water supply systems, TTV will continue to consider possibilities for supporting the development of water storage facilities and water purification systems. Guided by the belief that helping communities address community-specific, long-term challenges—going beyond temporary support—is the ideal approach, TTV is committed to continuing its volunteering activities.

*transcosmos is a trademark or registered trademark of transcosmos inc. in Japan and other countries.

*Other company names and product or service names used here are trademarks or registered trademarks of respective companies.

About transcosmos inc.

transcosmos launched its operations in 1966. Since then, we have united superior “people” with cutting-edge “technology” to enhance the competitive strength of our clients by providing them with superior and valuable services. transcosmos currently offers services that support clients’ business processes, focusing on both sales expansion and cost optimization through our 186 bases across 36 countries/regions with a focus on Asia, while continuously pursuing Operational Excellence. Furthermore, following the expansion of the e-commerce market on a global scale, transcosmos provides comprehensive One-Stop Global E-Commerce Services to deliver our clients’ excellent products and services to consumers in 46 countries/regions around the globe. transcosmos is committed to treating the challenges of its clients and society as its own—discussing and addressing their issues from planning to execution—and Make It Real, Together. Visit us here https://www.trans-cosmos.co.jp/english/

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SOURCE transcosmos inc.

Technology

Agoda Launches brand new ‘What a Save!’ campaign in India

Published

49 minutes ago

April 20, 2026

NEW DELHI, April 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Digital travel platform Agoda is ready to save the day and travelers’ wallets with its fresh “What a Save!” campaign. This lighthearted set of digital ads, including three unique videos, blends humor with creativity to highlight real savings of up to 50% off on domestic hotel bookings.

In the campaign’s videos, viewers are treated to unexpected acts of heroism. One shows a beachgoer rescuing a dolphin washed ashore, with the crowd exclaiming “What a save!” only for the hero to cheekily add, “Actual savings happen on Agoda.” Another video features a girl performing the Heimlich maneuver on a choking peacock, with a grateful mom echoing the same sentiment about Agoda’s savings.

Gaurav Malik, Country Director India at Agoda, shared, “With the new ‘What a Save!’ campaign, we’re blending humor with genuine value. Agoda aims to make travel planning as enjoyable as the journey itself. Wherever travelers venture, booking with Agoda ensures they’ll be amazed and exclaim, ‘What a Save!’.”

In addition to the videos, Agoda is rolling out digital creatives and teaming up with popular creators like Aparshakti Khurana, Raghu and Rajiv of Roadies fame, and Gajraj Rao. This dynamic content lineup is set to engage audiences and highlight Agoda’s knack for great deals and a delightful booking experience.

Agoda’s “What a Save!” campaign is now live on Meta platforms, YouTube and other digital channels. It showcases the platform’s vast offerings, including over 6 million holiday properties, more than 130,000 flight routes, and over 300,000 activities, all of which can be combined in a single booking. Travelers can explore these offerings and find the best deals on Agoda’s mobile app. For more information, visit Agoda.com or download the Agoda mobile app.

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2959229/What_a_Save_Campaign_Visual.jpg

Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2567836/Agoda.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/in/news-releases/agoda-launches-brand-new-what-a-save-campaign-in-india-302746088.html