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OMNIA Partners Adds 10 New Suppliers to its E-Commerce Platform and Surpasses 8 Million Products Available for Online Purchase

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Nearly 40,000 public sector employees are now using OPUS, the OMNIA Partners member portal, to find and buy goods and services instantly using industry leading cooperative contracts.

FRANKLIN, Tenn., July 7, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — OMNIA Partners, the nation’s largest and most experienced cooperative purchasing organization for the public and private sectors, today announced the latest expansion of OPUS, its free member portal, which includes the first ever e-commerce platform that allows public sector agencies and nonprofits to buy from multiple suppliers with one online shopping cart using publicly solicited and competitively bid cooperative contracts.

Ten new, nationally recognized suppliers have made their products available for purchase in OPUS, bringing total available SKUs to more than 8 million. OMNIA Partners members can now instantly purchase products across nearly 200 categories with their free member account.

New suppliers who have made online purchasing available to OMNIA Partners members include: SHI, Graybar, BradyPLUS, Fisher Scientific, Insight Public Sector, School Specialty, Johnson-Lancaster & Associates, Vari, Mediatechnologies and E-Z-GO/Cushman.

This new class of OPUS suppliers spans IT solutions, scientific and laboratory products, foodservice, facility maintenance, education, workplace furnishings, electrical infrastructure, and fleet management.

“Our continued investment in technology is centered on one goal: making it easier for public agencies and nonprofits to access the contracts, suppliers, and resources they need to serve their communities,” said Todd Abner, President and CEO of OMNIA Partners. “People expect purchasing to be fast, intuitive, and seamless in every part of their lives. We’re bringing that same level of simplicity to public procurement by combining an expanding portfolio of trusted agreements with technology that helps our members buy what they need more efficiently, stay compliant, and focus on serving their communities.”

Since launching in April 2024, OMNIA Partners’ member portal has fundamentally changed how government agencies, school systems and nonprofits take advantage of the benefits of cooperative purchasing. What once required days of manual research, supplier outreach, pricing comparison, and compliance verification now takes minutes. Every transaction on OPUS is completed using the same publicly solicited, competitively bid contracts used by every OMNIA Partners member – meeting the compliance requirements of most public sector organizations, dramatically reducing administrative burden. Today, nearly 40,000 public sector procurement professionals are using the platform to make purchases from more than 650 different suppliers in the OMNIA Partners network.

“OPUS has had a huge impact on making sure that we know we’re in compliance. It’s been one of the best decisions that we decided to take as a college in procurement,” said Mandy Hall, Procurement Accountant at Northwest Shoals Community College, highlighting the platform’s impact on day-to-day procurement operations.

The new suppliers that Hall and nearly 40,000 other OPUS users can purchase from directly include:

BradyPLUS – A leading specialized distributor of janitorial, sanitation, foodservice, industrial packaging, and facility maintenance products; BradyPLUS sells supplies OMNIA Partners members need to maintain cleaner, safer, and more efficient facilities. E-Z-GO/Cushman – Delivers globally recognized commercial and utility vehicles built for durability and versatility, offering material handling, personnel transport, and food and beverage solutions with flexible gas and lithium electric power options. E‑Z‑GO/Cushman provides reliable mobility and fleet solutions for campuses, municipalities, parks, and other public sector environments.Fisher Scientific – A premier supplier of laboratory equipment, scientific instruments, chemicals, diagnostics, and research consumables, Fisher Scientific expands online purchasing offerings for public sector laboratory, research, and educational institutions seeking trusted scientific products and solutions.Graybar – A leading distributor of electrical, industrial, automation and connectivity products, Graybar delivers critical infrastructure solutions that help organizations build, maintain, and modernize their facilities and technology networks.Insight Public Sector – A division of Insight Enterprises, a Fortune 500 Solutions Integrator, that helps federal, state, and local government agencies and educational institutions solve complex technology challenges. By combining the right hardware, software, and services, Insight delivers secure, end-to-end IT solutions at scale through its global network of over 6,000 technology partners.Johnson-Lancaster & Associates – A nationwide provider of foodservice equipment, supplies, and commercial kitchen project solutions, Johnson-Lancaster & Associates brings its product portfolio to the portal along with specialized expertise in commercial kitchen design, procurement, and operational support for schools and government organizations.Mediatechnologies – A manufacturer of educational and workplace furniture solutions, including casework, library furnishings, and collaborative learning environments, Mediatechnologies helps public sector buyers create functional, durable spaces tailored to their users’ needs.School Specialty – A trusted provider of educational supplies, classroom resources, learning environments, physical education, sensory and adapted learning materials, School Specialty broadens OMNIA Partners’ e-commerce catalog to give buyers access to comprehensive solutions designed to support student success and enhance educational environments.SHI – A leading IT solutions provider specializing in hardware, software, cloud, cybersecurity, AI, and technology lifecycle management, SHI brings OMNIA Partners members access to comprehensive technology solutions, including software licensing expertise and public sector-focused IT procurement support.Vari – A leading workplace furnishings and office solutions provider known for the original VariDesk®, height-adjustable standing desks, premium office seating, and other flexible workspace solutions. Buyers can quickly create productive, modern work environments with thoughtfully designed products that support employee well-being and collaboration.

In addition to adding new suppliers and products, the company has released a comprehensive suite of new platform capabilities to make purchasing goods and services faster, more intuitive, and easier to manage at scale. 

The latest OPUS release brings a redesigned user experience, and a powerful set of new capabilities built around how public sector buyers actually work. Feature enhancements include an improved search experience, seamless contract access, a centralized supplier W9 library, integrated chat support, shareable product lists among co-workers, and robust admin and approval tools.

“Our members, the people buying goods and services to keep government agencies, schools, universities and nonprofits running efficiently, are being asked to do more with less every single day,” said Josh Raymond, EVP of Marketing at OMNIA Partners. “We built our OPUS member portal to meet that challenge head-on. Adding 10 best-in-class suppliers and delivering new features and functionality requested by our members means the organizations that serve our communities can find what they need and move forward faster while meeting their regulatory requirements.”

About OPUS 

OPUS is OMNIA Partners’ free member portal, a first-of-its-kind e-commerce procurement platform available to all government agencies, school systems, higher education institutions, and nonprofits in the United States. The platform allows members to manage their OMNIA Partners account, search the company’s network of 1,200+ nationally trusted suppliers, and instantly purchase more than 8 million products — all backed by OMNIA Partners’ publicly solicited, competitively bid cooperative contracts that deliver preferred pricing, payment terms, and service levels while meeting the compliance requirements of most public sector organizations. There is no implementation or subscription cost. Learn more at omniapartners.com/solutions/opus.

About OMNIA Partners

OMNIA Partners is the nation’s largest and most experienced cooperative purchasing organization, serving public sector organizations and commercial businesses across the country. With more than $35 billion in purchasing managed each year, 600,000+ member buyers, and 1,200+ competitively awarded contracts, OMNIA Partners delivers unmatched purchasing power and strategic guidance to help organizations efficiently buy what they need. Learn more at omniapartners.com.

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SOURCE OMNIA Partners

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Fastest Growing Global Finance Super App Abound chooses Monad to Power its Next Phase of Growth

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Riding record growth after crossing $500 Million in remittances, the super-app built for global Indians announces its next chapter – including a brand-new wallet product, with the waitlist opening soon

SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Abound, the super-app for Indians in the US backed by Times Internet (Times of India Group), grew past $500 Million in remittance volumes served in the last year, with US and India markets accounting for the bulk of volumes. Abound is excited to announce the next phase of products being built to serve the global Indian diaspora better. The next chapter will be built on Monad, the next-generation Layer 1 blockchain enabling open access to fair financial markets. With Monad’s technology, it is the best option for Abound’s use cases.

What began as a smarter way to send money home has evolved into a comprehensive super app for NRI life spanning cross-border payments, savings, and everyday benefits designed around the needs of Indians living in the US. Abound has become one of the platforms Indians in the US trust to move and manage money across two countries, with over $500 million in volume served. Abound now plans to serve Indians across the world and expand support with newer products better suited to their changing needs.

A New Roadmap for the global Indian

Building on this momentum, Abound today unveiled the next chapter of its product vision:

A new wallet product: a single home for Indians overseas to hold, move, and manage money across both countries’ multi-currency balances, and instant transfers between US and India accounts, with support for more countries coming soon. Waitlist opens soon; the product launches in Q3 2026.New ways to earn and save: interest-bearing savings and investment accounts, giving NRIs more ways to put their money to work.AI agent-led workflows, including the agentic payment protocol x402 to power the next chapter of Abound’s upcoming product suite. Monad Foundation is a premier member of the x402 Foundation.

“Abound has become the platform Indians in the US trust to move money home; we have moved $500 million since launch” said Nishkaam Mehta, CEO, Abound. “This roadmap is about building agents to seamlessly manage the NRIs entire financial life, with the trust of our community at the center of everything we do.”

“Abound is embarking on an ambitious journey to build a full set of agentic financial services and cross border platform for NRIs along its distribution via Times of India. We’re excited to see Abound leverage Monad’s technology to help accelerate at their efforts into the next chapter,” said Raj Parekh, Head of Payments & Stablecoins.

Powered by Next-Generation Technology

Abound’s upcoming product suite will be built on Monad. Monad is a high-performance, institutional-grade Layer 1 blockchain enabling open access to rewards, AI agents, and fair financial markets on neutral ground. The integration gives Abound the technology foundation to serve the Indian diaspora at scale – with the performance and reliability a community of global earners expects. Monad’s technology underpins Abound’s expanded capabilities as the platform scales into its next chapter.

 

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/fastest-growing-global-finance-super-app-abound-chooses-monad-to-power-its-next-phase-of-growth-302859236.html

SOURCE Abound

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Xinhua Silk Road: Seven marine test “labs” put in place in offshore waters near Yuanyao port in Weihai, E China

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BEIJING, Aug. 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — In waters north of Yuanyao fishery port in east China’s Weihai City, a recent round of drone marine testings by a local marine equipment institute pooled firsthand data for references to its product R&D.

Such testings that move corporate “laboratories” into the sea are increasingly favored by businesses in Weihai as seven marine testing platforms have been completed in the port area, also the Yuanyao shallow sea sci-tech bay area.

In details, the seven platforms include an offshore self-elevating wharf, a semi-submersible platform, a testing wharf, etc., all of which provide vital support to the technological R&D of related businesses.

Currently, 44 companies have been attracted to settle in the sci-tech bay area, which serves as a key carrier for emerging marine-related industries such as marine electronic information, marine intelligent equipment, and modern maritime services to thrive there.

Near the Yuanyao fishery port now stands the semi-submersible marine test platform, which is the first one of the type in Shandong Province where Weihai sits and also a core part of the national marine comprehensive test site project in Weihai.

As a staff of the sci-tech bay area’s service center introduced, the 44-meter-long and 32.4-meter-wide platform can operate at a maximum water depth of 70 meters and is equipped with multiple supporting systems.

For instance, the power system, test facilities, marine environment observing and monitoring system, and security system of the platform are capable of catering to diverse needs of scientific researchers including short-term on-site operations, instrument lifting and retrieval, and real-time transmission of offshore data.

Apart from these marine testing platforms, the sci-tech bay area is also crafting another seven scientific research platforms to offer all-around intellectual support for the national marine comprehensive test site in Weihai.

While marine testings are ongoing on the testing platforms, onshore zones in the sci-tech bay area are busy with building more innovative infrastructure including the marine data management and application center.

In Weihai, the integrated deployment of offshore, onshore and on-island marine-related platforms is unlocking strong potential for local industries to burgeon.

Original link: https://en.imsilkroad.com/p/351893.html

 

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/xinhua-silk-road-seven-marine-test-labs-put-in-place-in-offshore-waters-near-yuanyao-port-in-weihai-e-china-302859240.html

SOURCE Xinhua Silk Road

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Antare launches AI physical security platform, transforming unwatched camera footage into intelligence

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Antare uses AI to automatically review footage from body-worn and fixed cameras to give organisations a complete picture across every shift and site

LONDON, Aug. 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Antare, a new agentic security platform for body-worn and fixed cameras, has launched. UK-based Antare uses artificial intelligence to automatically review security footage, detect incidents, alert teams and document every event, transforming everyday operations into actionable insight that helps improve performance and reduce operational risk. The platform is compatible with both Antare’s intelligent body-worn cameras and customers’ own existing fixed camera infrastructure.

Antare’s body-worn cameras capture the moments before, during and after every incident, preserving the context that helps organisations understand what really happened, protect their employees, and manage their liabilities. This matters because abuse and violence towards frontline staff is rising and incidents often do not have a defined beginning. Employees no longer have to remember to start a recording in the middle of a confrontation.

The Antare Console reviews all video and audio as it is recorded, and transcribes, indexes and scores each event automatically. Separate AI agents watch for specific signals, including physical and verbal assaults, suspicious behaviour, safety risks, medical events or weapons, and send in-the-moment alerts and live video to colleagues via the Antare App.

Antare also surfaces patterns that manual review is prone to miss, like repeat offenders, theft hotspots and recurring problems across sites. Free text search allows users to investigate further, while daily email summaries ensure key events are never missed.

Available today

Antare offers two models of body-worn cameras that work out of the box for US, UK, and EU customers. The Antare Body-worn Camera Pro is designed for frontline staff in demanding environments where extended battery life, GPS capabilities and rugged durability are important.

The Antare Body-worn Camera Compact is a lightweight alternative, intended for customer-facing teams who need discreet protection during their shifts. The Antare Dock charges four cameras at once between shifts.

Both models, including cellular connectivity and unlimited users for the Antare Console, are available through a simple, all-inclusive monthly subscription, with no minimum order quantity and no fixed term.

One platform, every camera

The Antare Cloud Gateway, coming soon, integrates the full range of Antare’s cloud capabilities with customers’ existing fixed cameras, so body-worn and fixed cameras live in a single console, with no separate systems to manage.

Customers can also choose from a range of pre-configured alarms, as well as configure their own alarms via free text description.

Antare’s own fixed camera range is set to follow in early 2027, supplied and installed by accredited partners. Partners can register interest now at www.antare.ai/partners.

Privacy and data protection

Footage is encrypted on Antare devices and in transit, then erased from the device once it reaches the secure cloud, where access is role-based. Data is stored in your local region – UK, EU or US – and deleted automatically after 30 days unless an authorized user marks it for retention. Antare is SOC 2 Type I certified and GDPR compliant, with SOC 2 Type II and ISO 27001 certifications in progress.

Mark Michaelides, CEO of Antare:

“Antare was founded on the belief that today’s physical security platforms are failing to deal effectively with emerging safety and operational risks, leaving businesses with expensive legacy investments that do not fulfil their evolving needs.

“Traditional security solutions have focused on after-the-fact review, while more modern systems have enabled live alerts. Antare has built a different type of intelligence platform to deliver both, while shortening time from alert to triage and enabling quicker post-incident investigation.

“Following strong results in trials across private security, hospitality and retail customers, Antare is available on subscription for body-worn cameras from today, with the Antare Cloud Gateway coming soon. One console that turns disparate data into action, intelligence, and insights.”

For more information, visit www.antare.ai.

Accompanying photography:

Picture 1 – Antare CEO Mark Michaelides. Credit: Antare 
Picture 2 – Credit: Antare 
Picture 3 – Credit: Antare 
Picture 4 – Credit: Antare 
Picture 5 – Credit: Antare 
Picture 6 – Credit: Antare 
Picture 7 – Credit: Antare

About Antare

Antare is the physical security intelligence platform that turns every captured event into organisational insight. It continuously detects, reviews and interprets everything that happens across every site and operation – so nothing is missed, and every incident is clearly understood.

Starting with body-worn and fixed cameras, and expanding across every capture point, Antare gives organisations the confidence to report accurately, respond effectively, and build a complete picture of risk and performance over time. Antare is headquartered in the United Kingdom. For more information, visit www.antare.ai.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/antare-launches-ai-physical-security-platform-transforming-unwatched-camera-footage-into-intelligence-302859242.html

SOURCE Antare

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