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Agile Strategies in Banking Key to Enhancing Customer-Centric Services and Market Responsiveness, Says Info-Tech Research Group in New Resource

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Info-Tech Research Group’s latest blueprint highlights the transformative power of Agile practices in addressing industry challenges and explores how it can improve customer experiences, foster innovation, and optimize operational efficiency. The firm suggests in the new resource that by emphasizing customer centricity, coordination with suppliers, built-in quality, innovation culture, and a learning organization mindset, banks can adapt, innovate, and excel in the fast-paced digital landscape.

TORONTO, July 16, 2024 /PRNewswire/ – A new industry resource from global research and advisory firm Info-Tech Research Group highlights the challenges faced by the banking sector in adapting to the fast-paced digital landscape, including rigid traditional processes, slow innovation cycles, and fragmented communication between IT and business units. The firm’s research findings on the topic, published in its latest blueprint, Consider Agile for Banking, provides insights on how Agile practices can address the current obstacles in the banking industry to foster a more responsive and customer-centric approach. Info-Tech advises that Agile methodologies can streamline operations, enhance collaboration, and drive continuous improvement, which is essential for maintaining competitiveness in the modern banking sector.

“Agile has been around for over 20 years and has transformed software development and business models,” says David Tomljenovic, principal research director at Info-Tech Research Group. “It has become an important methodology to help businesses within rapidly changing markets respond quickly with competitive products and services.”

Info-Tech’s research highlights the banking industry’s constant pressure to deliver new products and services to remain competitive with a growing number of market participants. The industry’s current processes are rigid and often based on outdated Waterfall development methodologies requiring extensive upfront design. Additionally, many banks have complex, hierarchical structures with a culture that does not promote ongoing communication, collaboration, or openness to change. This underscores the need for a shift to Agile methodologies to enhance flexibility and responsiveness.

“Despite the overwhelming adoption of Agile across many industries, it has not been fully embraced in the retail banking industry,” explains Tomljenovic. “As Agile was adopted, industries that were highly regulated began to recognize that its principles did not always align with high levels of regulation. With its roots as a software development methodology, Agile has also struggled in environments where there are significant amounts of legacy technology and high complexity.”

The firm identifies numerous opportunities for banks to implement Agile and realize significant benefits. While broad-based adoption may be impractical, many banks are finding success by combining traditional Waterfall methods with Agile to enhance customer centricity.

To thrive in a rapidly evolving environment, the banking sector must overcome several critical challenges. These challenges include addressing real-time data demands for dynamic market shifts, managing rising operating costs due to stringent regulatory requirements, and investing in robust cybersecurity measures to protect against increasingly sophisticated threats. Furthermore, organizations must attract and retain skilled talent in a highly competitive market. By strategically aligning IT initiatives with organizational goals and fostering a culture of adaptability and innovation, banks can effectively tackle these challenges, leading to enhanced and sustainable growth.

In its latest blueprint, Info-Tech highlights five common Agile elements best suited for the banking industry:

Customer Centricity and Design Thinking: Almost every bank now prioritizes customer centricity, contrasting with past practices where products centered on the bank itself. The rise of neobanks and non-financial competitors underscored the necessity for customer-focused strategies. Agile methodologies drive this shift, directing banks to allocate resources toward enhancing customer experiences, reflecting a fundamental transition from internal to outward-focused operations.Coordinating Trains and Suppliers: Modern banking requires comprehensive system reviews before implementation due to complexity. Suppliers are crucial for integrating AI and machine learning, as most banks cannot do this alone. Upgrading infrastructure to include composable systems, AI, and fintech is essential for banks to stay competitive and integrate advanced capabilities.Built-in Quality: In banking, strict regulatory, legal, security, and privacy requirements necessitate compliance from product inception. Banks emphasize upfront planning, built-in quality concepts, and extending these principles to non-essential areas like customer engagement to ensure compliance, mitigate reputational risks, and deliver customer-centric products from the start.Innovation Culture: Traditional banking methods risk business decline, making innovation crucial. Encouraging employees to innovate, as they interact directly with customers and processes, should be a priority. This internal innovation can lead to new products, reduced costs, and higher customer satisfaction. By tying innovation to specific business outcomes, banks can enhance automation, adopt new technologies, and increase market agility. However, innovation should be purposeful and not pursued merely for its own sake.Learning Organization: The banking sector is undergoing a significant transformation, requiring new skills and a learning mindset to navigate changing market conditions. T-shaped employees, with broad and deep expertise, are key assets for banks in flux. Info-Tech advises that by embracing team-based work, especially through cross-functional teams, banks can swiftly adapt by promoting knowledge sharing, developing versatile talent, and fostering a culture of continuous learning.

Info-Tech’s comprehensive blueprint explains how a strategic shift can enable banks to overcome traditional barriers, respond more swiftly to market changes, and deliver superior customer experiences. According to the firm’s insights, embracing Agile is not just about adopting a new methodology; it’s about fostering a culture of adaptability and resilience. This approach is crucial for staying competitive and achieving long-term success in an increasingly dynamic and demanding industry.

For exclusive and timely commentary from David Tomljenovic, an expert in the banking industry, and access to the complete Consider Agile for Banking blueprint, please contact pr@infotech.com.

Info-Tech LIVE 2024
Registration is now open for Info-Tech Research Group’s annual IT conference, Info-Tech LIVE 2024, taking place September 17 to 19, 2024, at the iconic Bellagio in Las Vegas. This premier event offers journalists, podcasters, and media influencers access to exclusive content, the latest IT research and trends, and the opportunity to interview industry experts, analysts, and speakers. To apply for media passes to attend the event or gain access to research and expert insights on trending topics, please contact pr@infotech.com.

About Info-Tech Research Group
Info-Tech Research Group is one of the world’s leading research and advisory firms, proudly serving over 30,000 IT and HR professionals. The company produces unbiased, highly relevant research and provides advisory services to help leaders make strategic, timely, and well-informed decisions. For nearly 30 years, Info-Tech has partnered closely with teams to provide them with everything they need, from actionable tools to analyst guidance, ensuring they deliver measurable results for their organizations.

To learn more about Info-Tech’s divisions, visit McLean & Company for HR research and advisory services and SoftwareReviews for software buying insights.

Media professionals can register for unrestricted access to research across IT, HR, and software and hundreds of industry analysts through the firm’s Media Insiders program. To gain access, contact pr@infotech.com.

For information about Info-Tech Research Group or to access the latest research, visit infotech.com and connect via LinkedIn and X.

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SOURCE Info-Tech Research Group

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TELUS announces election of directors

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VANCOUVER, BC, May 8, 2026 /CNW/ – TELUS Corporation (TELUS) (TSX: T) (NYSE: TU) announced today that the nominees listed in TELUS’ 2026 information circular were elected as directors of TELUS. The detailed results of the vote for the election of directors held at TELUS’ annual meeting on May 8, 2026 (the Meeting) are set out below.

Each of the following 14 nominees proposed by management was elected as a director of TELUS:

Nominee

Votes For  

% Votes For  

Votes Withheld  

% Votes Withheld 

Raymond T. Chan

592,322,965

97.91

12,667,245

2.09

Hazel Claxton

599,400,953

99.08

5,589,256

0.92

Lisa De Wilde

583,361,107

96.42

21,629,103

3.58

Victor Dodig

593,352,117

98.08

11,638,092

1.92

Darren Entwistle

586,791,970

96.99

18,198,239

3.01

Thomas Flynn

596,684,564

98.63

8,305,646

1.37

Mary Jo Haddad

577,841,419

95.51

27,148,791

4.49

Martha Hall Findlay     

595,075,545

98.36

9,914,665

1.64

Christine Magee

597,282,615

98.73

7,707,595

1.27

John Manley

579,845,538

95.84

25,144,672

4.16

David Mowat

592,867,380

98.00

12,122,830

2.00

Marc Parent

577,961,748

95.53

27,028,461

4.47

Denise Pickett

596,211,746

98.55

8,778,464

1.45

W. Sean Willy

595,898,668

98.50

9,091,541

1.50

Final voting results on all matters voted on at the Meeting will be published shortly on telus.com/agm, and filed with the Canadian and U.S. securities regulators.

About TELUS

TELUS (TSX: T, NYSE: TU) is a world-leading communications technology company operating in more than 45 countries and generating over $20 billion in annual revenue with more than 21 million customer connections through our advanced suite of broadband services for consumers, businesses and the public sector. We are committed to leveraging our technology to enable remarkable human outcomes. TELUS is passionate about putting our customers and communities first, leading the way globally in client service excellence and social capitalism. TELUS Health is enhancing approximately 170 million lives across 200 countries and territories through innovative preventive medicine and well-being technologies. TELUS Agriculture & Consumer Goods utilizes digital technologies and data insights to optimize the connection between producers and consumers. TELUS Digital specializes in digital customer experiences and future-focused digital transformations that deliver value for their global clients. Guided by our enduring ‘give where we live’ philosophy, TELUS continues to invest in initiatives that support education, health and community well-being. In 2023, we launched the TELUS Student Bursary, which strives to ensure that every young person in Canada who wants a postsecondary education has the opportunity to pursue one. To date, the program has distributed over $6 million in bursaries to 2,000 students and counting. Since 2000, TELUS, our team members and retirees have contributed $1.85 billion in cash, in-kind contributions, time and programs, including 2.5 million days of service–earning TELUS the distinction of the world’s most giving company.

For more information, visit telus.com or follow @Darren_Entwistle on Instagram.

For more information, please contact:

Jacinthe Beaulieu
TELUS Media Relations
Jacinthe.Beaulieu@telus.com

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/telus-announces-election-of-directors-302767404.html

SOURCE TELUS Communications Inc.

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CTK BIO SELECTED TO PARTICIPATE IN NGEN’S $62.7M ADVANCED MANUFACTURING INITIATIVE

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VANCOUVER, BC, May 8, 2026 /CNW/ – CTK Bio Canada today announced its selection as a participant in a Next Generation Manufacturing Canada (NGen)-supported advanced manufacturing project, part of a $62.7 million national initiative backing 14 high-impact projects across Canada.

The initiative, recently announced by NGen, represents one of Canada’s most significant investments in advanced manufacturing, supporting collaborations between leading industry and technology partners to accelerate commercialization and strengthen global competitiveness. NGen’s project selection process is highly competitive, prioritizing initiatives with strong technical innovation, commercialization potential, and industry impact.

CTK Bio will contribute to the project titled “Streamlining Cosmetics Packaging with AI Powered Materials Informatics,” which uses artificial intelligence to guide the formulation and validation of packaging materials, ensuring compatibility with cosmetic products while meeting performance and regulatory requirements.

ADVANCING AI-DRIVEN MATERIALS INNOVATION
Through this project, CTK Bio is advancing an AI-powered materials informatics approach that improves how packaging materials are formulated, validated, and scaled for cosmetic applications.

By shifting from traditional trial-and-error methods to predictive, data-driven formulation, CTK Bio aims to:

Increase the success rate of new material developmentReduce formulation and validation timelinesLower development costsAccelerate commercialization of innovative and sustainable packaging solutions

EXECUTIVE COMMENTARY
JK Park, CEO
“This project unlocks synergies between CTK Bio and CTK Clip, where we already have an established global presence in the cosmetics market. By combining advanced materials innovation with existing market access, we can accelerate the commercialization of next-generation packaging solutions.”

ABOUT CTK BIO
CTK Bio Canada is focused on advancing next-generation biomaterials and manufacturing technologies, developing innovative solutions that enable more efficient, sustainable, and scalable production across global industries.

ABOUT NGEN
Next Generation Manufacturing Canada (NGen) is the industry-led organization spearheading Canada’s Global Innovation Cluster for Advanced Manufacturing. NGen brings together industry, academia, and technology partners to drive innovation, accelerate commercialization, and enhance Canada’s global competitiveness.

SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ctkbiocanada
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ctkbiocanada
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ctk-bio-canada

For more information, visit www.ctkbio.com or call (604) 372-4200.

SOURCE CTK Bio

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During Small Business Month, Reform CIPA Coalition Says Best Way to Support Small Businesses Is to Reform CIPA

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Coalition now includes more than 30 small businesses and nearly 40 organizations representing small business interests statewide

SACRAMENTO, Calif., May 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — One of the best ways to celebrate and support small businesses this May is to protect them from abusive litigation tied to outdated interpretations of a 1960s law. In recognition of Small Business Month, the Reform CIPA Coalition today called on California policymakers  to modernize the California Invasion of Privacy Act (CIPA), by passing SB 690. The Reform CIPA Coalition continues to grow. Among its 146 coalition members, more than 30 individual small businesses and over 40 organizations representing small business interests across California have joined the movement. Coalition members say momentum is building around the need to clarify that commonplace online tools already regulated under California’s consumer privacy laws should not trigger predatory lawsuits.

“An outdated 1960s law should not be weaponized against businesses using everyday technologies like chat features, appointment scheduling, or analytics tools. These lawsuits drive up costs, discourage investment, and make it harder for small businesses to grow. Senate Bill 690 offers a commonsense fix, and that’s why support for reform continues to expand,” said Michael Hedges, President of the California Small Business Association.

Coalition leaders said reform is not only about legal clarity, but affordability.

“This is an affordability issue caused by a legal issue. When small businesses, like many here in Los Angeles, are forced to spend money defending meritless lawsuits, those costs ripple through the economy. They affect jobs, prices, and local communities. A growing coalition of business leaders is coming together because California needs clear, modern rules that protect privacy without punishing responsible businesses,” said Mitchell Vieyra, Executive Vice President of the Los Angeles County Business Federation (BizFed).

A coalition small business member added:

“California’s small businesses are already navigating rising costs, labor pressures, and economic uncertainty. Being hit with lawsuits over routine website tools that help us communicate with customers and stay competitive is deeply unfair. Reforming CIPA is about protecting small businesses from abusive litigation while preserving strong privacy protections. That’s why more business owners are joining the Reform CIPA Coalition.” — Michelle Leopold, Owner/CMO, Stan’s Ace Hardware

Supporters say the best way to celebrate Small Business Month is to enact reforms that help small businesses survive and grow, not leave them vulnerable to costly lawsuits over routine technologies used every day to serve customers.

Senate Bill 690 would clarify that activities already governed under the California Consumer Privacy Act are not grounds for opportunistic CIPA claims, while maintaining strong privacy protections for consumers.

As Small Business Month continues, Reform CIPA Coalition members urged lawmakers to stand with local employers, entrepreneurs and job creators by advancing common sense reform.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/during-small-business-month-reform-cipa-coalition-says-best-way-to-support-small-businesses-is-to-reform-cipa-302766330.html

SOURCE Reform CIPA

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