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Databarracks acquires business continuity consultancy Acumen

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Acquisition of specialist consultancy strengthens Databarracks’ Business Resilience offering

LONDON, July 7, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Databarracks has acquired the assets of Acumen Business Services Ltd. The transaction follows Databarracks’ acquisition of PlanB Consulting and continues the company’s investment in its Business Resilience Managed Services and unified approach to business and technology resilience.

Acumen was founded by Andy Osborne, who has spent more than 20 years delivering award-winning business continuity consulting. Acumen counts more than 100 clients across financial services, healthcare and manufacturing.

Chris Butler, Resilience Director at Databarracks, said:

“Acumen has delivered business continuity and resilience services to some of the largest organisations in the UK and around the world. We share a common vision of embedding resilience and making BC practical and simple, while adding real value for our customers. We will be adding further value to Acumen’s customers through our Recovery Confidence assurance concepts and Business Resilience Managed Service approach.”

Andy Osborne said:

“Technology and cyber risk are absolutely central to business continuity, and Databarracks is leading the industry in an approach that brings them together. This is the right next step for Acumen and our clients, combining our business continuity expertise with Databarracks’ strength in business and technology resilience and recovery solutions.”

Mike Osborne, Chairman at Databarracks, said:

“I’ve known Acumen for a very long time. In addition to the great work the team has been delivering for decades, Andy has been prolific in contributing to the progress of the industry, authoring books and generally sharing his expertise. Databarracks’ Business Resilience function is growing rapidly following our previous acquisition of PlanB Consulting in 2024. Given the sheer pace of change in risk, there has been a fantastic response to our approach of delivering resilience as a managed service. Whilst we already have some of the leading experts in the industry, we’re hiring to keep up with demand. So for any practitioners who are interested in getting exposure to the next generation of resilience solutions and some of the best customers in the world, our message is to get in touch!”

About Databarracks

Databarracks is the business and technology resilience expert.

In 2003, we launched one of the world’s first managed Backup services to bring indestructible resilience to mission critical data.

Today, we deliver award-winning Data Protection, Public Cloud and Business Resilience services, backed by 24/7 expert support.

The world’s most resilient organisations trust us to protect their data, optimise their clouds and keep their operations running. When the worst happens, we guarantee their business continues.

We help our customers build resilience into every layer of their organisations, aligning people, processes and technology and proving recovery through regular testing. With prepared leadership, rehearsed plans and resilient technology, they’re ready to respond to every modern business threat – from cyber attacks to system failures – and have full confidence in their continuity.

About Acumen

Formed in 1997, Acumen Business Services Ltd specialises in the provision of independent business continuity management, crisis management, risk management and information security management consultancy services.

 

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/databarracks-acquires-business-continuity-consultancy-acumen-302819206.html

SOURCE Databarracks

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Mouser’s Rise of the Robots Program Explores Humanoid Design Considerations

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SHANGHAI, July 7, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Mouser Electronics, Inc., the authorized global distributor with the newest electronic components and industrial automation products, today announced the latest installment of its Empowering Innovation Together (EIT) technology series, Rise of the Robots, which explores key technologies behind humanoid robots and their potential for transformation. The series shares how these robots have progressed from simple machinery to critical tools used in caregiving, industrial automation, education, and even in the harshest environments.

While science fiction has long envisioned robots resembling humans, recent advances in sensing, actuation, AI, embedded computing, and power systems have enabled practical, real-world robotic deployments across industrial, healthcare, and high-risk environments. Engineers are now integrating multimodal perception, real-time control, and simulation-driven training using physical AI approaches to accelerate development and improve performance. Although many systems still require supervision, they serve as the foundation for collaborative robotic platforms capable of complex, human-like interaction. The latest EIT installment explores the engineering design process, system integration challenges, and the role of legacy infrastructure, safety, and ROI in shaping scalable humanoid robot deployment.

“Humanoid robotics represents a convergence of sensing, control, and embedded intelligence that is reshaping how engineers approach system design,” said Jeff Newell, President of Mouser Electronics. “Through this latest installment of Empowering Innovation Together, we’re providing engineers with the insights and resources they need to better understand and navigate that shift.”

In The Tech Between Us podcast, Raymond Yin, Director of Technical Content at Mouser Electronics, and Leo Chen, Head of US Operations at robotics manufacturer Engineered Arts, discuss the role of robotics in industrial settings and the engineering approach to creating human-like facial features and expressions. Chen also explains how the Engineered Arts’ humanoid, Ameca, came to fruition with careful design considerations.

“Developing humanoid robots requires solving complex, system-level challenges across perception, actuation, and real-time control,” said Yin. “In this episode, we break down how engineers approach those challenges and what it takes to build systems that can operate reliably in real-world environments.”

In addition to the podcast, the EIT series includes an in-depth video, technical articles, a topic-related infographic, as well as subscriber-exclusive content, exploring practical applications of AI in engineering workflows. By examining the range of cases where AI can enhance technical expertise, engineers can develop tools to help reshape how people think, decide, and create while protecting privacy and control.

Established in 2015, Mouser’s Empowering Innovation Together program is one of the electronic component industry’s most recognized educational programs. To learn more, visit https://www.mouser.com/empowering-innovation/humanoid-robotics-systems/ and follow Mouser on Facebook, LinkedIn, X, and YouTube.

For more Mouser news and our latest new product introductions, visit https://www.mouser.com/newsroom/.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/mousers-rise-of-the-robots-program-explores-humanoid-design-considerations-302819263.html

SOURCE Mouser Electronics

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HCLTech achieves ISO/IEC 42001:2023 Certification demonstrating leadership in Responsible AI

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Certification covers HCLTech’s Enterprise Artificial Intelligence Management System; supporting its AI Force platform, software engineering, IT operations and business process services

NOIDA, India, July 7, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — HCLTech (NSE: HCLTECH) (BSE: HCLTECH), a leading global technology company, today announced that it has achieved ISO/IEC 42001:2023 certification. The certification affirms HCLTech’s readiness to support enterprises in scaling AI adoption with strong governance, risk management and operational rigor.

Issued by Schellman Compliance, LLC, an accredited certification body recognized by the ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB) and a member of the International Accreditation Forum (IAF), the certification validates HCLTech’s enterprise-wide framework for the responsible development, deployment and governance of AI within the defined scope of its Enterprise Artificial Intelligence Management System (AIMS).

The certification covers HCLTech’s AIMS across AI lifecycle processes, including support for AI-enabled services and platforms such as the flagship AI Force platform, software engineering, IT operations and business process services. This enables HCLTech to support enterprises not only to adopt AI, but govern it consistently across systems, functions and geographies. The AIMS framework aligns with evolving global regulatory requirements, including the EU AI Act.

ISO/IEC 42001:2023 is the world’s first international standard for AI management systems, published by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). It establishes a comprehensive framework for managing AI across the full system lifecycle, covering risk management, transparency, fairness, accountability and continuous improvement.

“ISO 42001 certification takes on a different level of significance at an organization the size and complexity of HCLTech,” said Avani Desai, Chief Executive Officer of Schellman. “This isn’t simply about documenting policies; it’s about embedding Responsible AI governance into how the business operates every day. As organizations move from AI experimentation to enterprise adoption, the ability to demonstrate disciplined governance will become a key differentiator. HCLTech has set a strong example of what that looks like.”

“Achieving ISO/IEC 42001:2023 certification reflects HCLTech’s commitment to building and delivering AI responsibly at scale,” said Vijay Guntur, Chief Technology Officer and Head of Ecosystems, HCLTech. “As enterprises accelerate their AI journeys, they are looking for partners who can combine innovation with rigor and trust. This certification provides independent assurance that AI is governed responsibly through our certified AI Management System across our delivery model and reinforces our ability to support clients in deploying AI with confidence.”

With this milestone, HCLTech joins a select group of organizations with independently validated capabilities in managing AI at scale, differentiated by the depth and breadth of its certified scope across the enterprise AI value chain.

About HCLTech

HCLTech is a global technology company, home to more than 227,000 people across 60 countries, delivering industry-leading capabilities centered around AI, digital, engineering, cloud and software, powered by a broad portfolio of technology services and products. We work with clients across all major verticals, providing industry solutions for Financial Services, Manufacturing, Life Sciences and Healthcare, Technology and Services, Semiconductor, Telecom and Media, Retail and CPG, Mobility and Public Services. Consolidated revenues as of 12 months ending March 2026 totaled $14.7 billion.

To learn how we can supercharge progress for you, visit hcltech.com.

For further details, please contact:

Meredith Bucaro, Americas
meredith-bucaro@hcltech.com

Elka Ghudial, Europe 
elka.ghudial@hcltech.com

James Galvin, APAC
james.galvin@hcltech.com

Nitin Shukla, India, Middle East & Africa 
nitin-shukla@hcltech.com

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2648325/HCLTech_Logo.jpg

 

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/hcltech-achieves-isoiec-420012023-certification-demonstrating-leadership-in-responsible-ai-302819273.html

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Symend Launches SymendConverse, the First Conversational AI for Collections Built on Behavioral Science

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Agentic voice AI personalizes every inbound and outbound call to each customer’s situation — lifting recovery and cutting cost-per-contact without adding headcount

CALGARY, AB, July 7, 2026 /CNW/ – Symend, the behavioral-science engagement platform that has cured more than 250 million delinquencies and recovered over $50 billion for the world’s largest enterprises, today launched SymendConverse, the first conversational, agentic AI for collections grounded in behavioral science.

Every enterprise scaling collections hits the same wall: hire more agents, or leave unresponsive customers untreated. Generic voice bots were supposed to break that trade-off. They haven’t. They read one script to every customer, miss the signals a person gives mid-call, and run in a silo from the email and SMS reaching that same customer.

SymendConverse closes the gap. It holds natural, personalized conversations that adapt in real time to each customer’s situation, feeds every outcome back into that customer’s digital journey, and pulls digital engagement data forward to sharpen the next call — so voice and digital finally operate as one system.

What makes it different is the science underneath. Unlike general-purpose virtual agents retrofitted for collections, SymendConverse is purpose-built for delinquency engagement and grounded in Symend’s Delinquency Archetypes, which classify customers by their capacity to pay and readiness to act. A high-capacity, high-readiness customer hears respectful urgency and loss-aversion framing to help them avoid a late fee. A customer facing hardship hears empathy, reassurance, and a clear walk-through of their options. The system negotiates against real payment capacity instead of a fixed script, leaves personalized voicemails when no one picks up, and hands off to live agents with full context — the conversation, the customer’s archetype, and the recommended next move — so customers never repeat themselves and agents resolve faster.

“When we founded Symend, the goal was to make a hard, often dehumanizing process more human — to help people clear a past-due bill before it ever reaches a third-party collector,” said Hanif Joshaghani, Co-Founder and CEO of Symend. “For years the industry treated voice and digital as separate worlds, and treated every customer on the phone like a file number. SymendConverse listens, adapts to the person on the other end of the line, and works as one system with every other channel. Behavioral science is what separates a script from a conversation — it’s how you recover more revenue while actually keeping the customer.”

Key capabilities

Archetype-driven personalization — every call’s tone, approach, and tactics are shaped by the customer’s Delinquency Archetype, not a one-size-fits-all flow.Real-time negotiation — the AI adjusts to each customer’s responses and actual payment capacity, offering flexible options instead of rigid, pre-set replies.Natural, localized conversations — adapts voice, tone, and accent to each customer and region, with empathy that responds to real-time behavioral signals.A closed loop with digital channels — call outcomes automatically update Symend Scores and refine email and SMS journeys, while digital data sharpens call timing and approach — one source of truth across voice and digital.Warm agent handoffs — transfers carry full conversation context and customer psychology, not just basic call history.Continuous optimization at scale — every interaction trains the engine over time, laying the foundation for expanding autonomous agent capabilities.

Built to fit the stack enterprises already run. SymendConverse works with the conversational voice technology enterprises already use. Rather than locking customers into a single engine, it’s built to be compatible with leading voice and contact-center platforms and to evolve as voice technology and large language models advance. Symend supplies the collections strategy, behavioral science, and orchestration; the underlying voice can be swapped or upgraded over time, so enterprises adopt new capabilities without re-platforming.

SymendConverse joins Symend’s portfolio alongside SymendCure for behavioral-science–driven debt recovery and SymendPrevent for bill protection and churn reduction. It is available now to enterprise telecommunications, financial services, utilities, auto financing, and credit union organizations. Symend is SOC 2 Type II, ISO 27001, GDPR, PCI DSS, and CCPA compliant.

To request a demo, visit www.symend.com.

About Symend
Symend is the AI-driven behavioral science engagement platform that helps the world’s largest enterprises resolve past-due accounts while preserving the customer relationship. By pairing behavioral science with AI across voice, email, and SMS, Symend has cured more than 250 million delinquencies and recovered over $50 billion for leading telecom, financial services, and utility organizations. Learn more at www.symend.com.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/symend-launches-symendconverse-the-first-conversational-ai-for-collections-built-on-behavioral-science-302818522.html

SOURCE Symend Inc.

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