Category: News

ADVA involved in UK’s first quantum network leap

Posted on June 22, 2018 by - News, Products

Wallpaper-quantum-leap-32404651-1280-720ADVA  is playing a key enabling role in the UK’s first quantum network. Built by the University of Cambridge and officially launched this week, the network is based on a metro transport system in the city of Cambridge.

The thing super-encrypts data using quantum key distribution (QKD) for complete and long-term cryptographic data security, it seems.

And here comes the hyperbole. The openness of the ADVA FSP 3000 platform, which can accept keys from third-party systems utilizing standard protocols, is a vital component of the ultra-secure ROADM-based network. For several years, ADVA has worked closely with Toshiba and the Quantum Communications Hub to engineer the groundbreaking data protection system. Quantum cryptography is expected to be an essential tool for securing mission-critical infrastructure as it protects against all forms of cyberattack, including future advances in quantum computing.

Tim Spiller, York University and director of the Quantum Communications Hub said: “As part of the UK National Quantum Technologies Programme in the Quantum Communications Hub, we’re bringing together a wide range of universities, public sector bodies and private companies in a unique collaboration. Our shared goal is realizing the potential of QKD technologies to deliver secure communications. Now, alongside key partners such as ADVA, we’ve reached the stage where QKD-based security is ready for live traffic.”

Here’s some more hyperbole. The ADVA FSP 3000’s open interface was developed to comply with early drafts of the new ETSI quantum-safe cryptography standard currently being developed by an ISG headed by Toshiba. This lets the platform to interoperate with external systems and is crucial to the viability of the new QKD solution as it allows the ADVA FSP 3000 to securely and robustly accept keys. What’s more, ADVA’s WDM platform is able to utilize the same fiber for sending high-speed encrypted data as well as for distributing (or generating) quantum keys. QKD is widely predicted to be fundamental to the future of transport network security, especially for finance and government network applications. Distributing encryption keys by transmitting quantum states guarantees the secrecy of data as any attempt to intercept traffic disturbs photons, introducing coding errors and alerting network operators. This makes QKD the ultimate defence against man-in-the-middle attacks.

Jörg-Peter Elbers, SVP, advanced technology, ADVA said that the launch was a genuine milestone for data protection.

“By working with Toshiba and the Quantum Communications Hub to advance QKD, we’re ushering in a new age of robust security. This technology will provide peace of mind to businesses most at risk from cyberattacks both now and in the future. They and their customers can have confidence that their data will be shielded from all threats including data harvesting for future quantum hacking.

“In recent years, our encryption technology  has earned a formidable reputation for protecting service provider and enterprise networks while ensuring highest capacity, lowest latency and maximum scalability. Our ConnectGuar suite offers the strongest protection possible at Layers 1, 2, 3 and 4. Using our FSP 3000 to enable QKD protection ensures our technology will remain at the forefront of secure data transport, even in the post-quantum era.”

Andrew Shields, assistant managing director of Toshiba Research Europe Limited, Cambridge Research Lab said: “Developing quantum cryptography in fiber optic networks has long been a focus for our team. Over the years, we’ve taken it from PoCs in the lab to real-world demonstrations and we were the first company to achieve a transfer rate of more than 1Mbit/s for quantum communication. Now, through close collaboration with ADVA and the Quantum Communications Hub, we’ve created a fully operational transport network secured by QKD and ready to carry live data..
“At a time of increasingly frequent and severe cyberattacks, this technology will prove vital to enterprises looking to fortify their data security, particularly those in the financial sector. Not only does it offer a new level of protection against intrusion on fibre optic networks, but it also safeguards against the upcoming threat of hacking in a post-quantum world.”

Ian White, van Eck Professor of Engineering, University of Cambridge added: “The development of the UK Quantum Network has already led to a much greater understanding of the potential of this technology in secure applications in a range of fields, in addition to bringing new insights into the operation of the systems in practice,” commented “I have no doubt that the network will bring much benefit in the future to researchers, developers and users.”

You can find more details on your smartphone.

Encoded software enables SMS payments

Posted on June 21, 2018 by - News, Products

Surprise Kitten Kittens Cat Money Animals PetEncoded has released its new customer engagement platform that enables contact centres to accept secure customer payments via SMS.

The new platform works with other Encoded payment services enabling a customer’s stored payment details to be accessed from any of the channels being used such as self-service IVR, agent assisted payments or online.

Encoded’s platform has been designed to be PCI DSS and GDPR compliant, ensuring mobile and online security of customer payment data. It also incorporates Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology, simulating real agents to handle routine parts of the conversation. “Bots” autonomously engage in client conversations alerting agents only when the conversation falls out of the expected flow, allowing them to pick up with the full conversation history. This enables a small number of contact centre staff to handle a large number of customers.

Businesses can also use SMS chat via Encoded’s platform to promote the use of online services, broadcast releases of their latest mobile App or invite clients to request the latest PDF download. It integrates with other messaging services including Facebook Messenger and Amazon’s Alexa virtual assistant.

Robert Crutchington, Director of Encoded said: “At Encoded our solutions are designed to reduce contact centre costs by automating processes, offering new channels for fulfilment and transaction processing and increasing ways for agents to improve customer service.

“Enabling customers to pay securely using SMS ticks all of these boxes. Widely accepted as a non-intrusive, convenient method of communication, it is often preferred to emails or voice. It makes it easier for customers to pay and they don’t have to spend time waiting on the phone. It is also a cost effective way for businesses to take payments, saving agents time chasing late or non-payments.”

The new secure customer engagement platform is already in use at one of Encoded’s big brand customers and is available immediately.

Subscription model continues to grow

Posted on June 21, 2018 by - News

Forwarders-set-to-see-growth2Checkout – formerly Avangate-  released its Q1 2018 benchmark report on Digital Commerce Trends in Software & Online Services Sales, and it is good news for the subscription-based model.

The report shows that subscription-based purchases maintain a strong upward trend. Similar to previous years, consumers and businesses continue to prioritise security product purchases.

The company’s Digital Commerce Benchmark follows trends in the global consumption of software and digital services, as reflected by purchases via 2Checkout’s Avangate digital monetisation platform, highlighting fast-growing regions and categories as well as uncovering the most popular payment methods worldwide.

The “overwhelming” shift to subscription commerce is even more evident when comparing data over time. In 2012, only about half (49 percent) of software sales were for subscription-based products and services, while a substantial 76 percent of sales in Q1 2018 have been for recurring-based purchases. The share of subscription-based products has been increasing steadily over the years, with 2017 witnessing a 75 percent level.

The global average order value (AOV) for software, SaaS and online services in the first quarter of 2018 is $50, a slight increase from $48 the previous year.

Visa and MasterCard continue to dominate regarding payment methods, accounting for 68 percent of global online sales, followed by PayPal at 19 percent and American Express at seven percent. This split emerges almost unchanged from the previous years, at a global level and mirrored closely by the United States, the largest software market.

Other countries show stronger preferences for local payment methods such as iDEAL in the Netherlands (43 percent), Alipay in China (42 percent), local credit cards in Brazil (28 percent) and Turkey (17 percent), Carte Bancaire in France (at 12 percent) and JCB and Konbini in Japan (with 19.5 and five percent, respectively).

Security and privacy products are the leading category in software products sold online, accounting for 38 percent of online sales. This represents a four-percentage-point increase compared to 2017 data. Multimedia and design software (including audio-visual tools) follows at 21 percent, and online services, including business and finance, follow at 20 percent. Other categories tracked in the report include utilities, marketing tools, web tools, office tools and development tools.

The United States continues to lead in global sales of software, SaaS and online services, accounting for half of the sales worldwide, followed distantly by the UK and France. Germany claims the fourth spot, closely followed by Canada, similar to the 2017 ranking. Non-English-speaking countries account for a bit over 20 percent of global software sales, on par with 2017 data.

Continuing to show strength as an additional sales and marketing channel for the software industry, affiliate-generated sales account for 24 percent of revenue for companies connected to 2Checkout’s Avangate affiliate network and actively using it, with promotions touching 33 percent of revenues, cross-selling 5.5 percent and upselling seven percent. Compared to 2017, promotions are used more intensively, showing this classic marketing tool still yields results.

Erich Litch, 2Checkout’s Chief Revenue Officer, said this company had been tracking these digital commerce benchmarks for years now and it’s interesting to notice clear trends – such as the proliferation of subscriptions, the continued preference for local payments in many parts of the world, and the most sought-after software products and online services.

“As companies continue to expand into international markets, they need to be prepared to sell in the ways their end-customers want to buy, support a broad range of payment methods and business models, and sell through multiple channels and touchpoints to deliver exceptional user experiences. Understanding trends and buyer preferences is an important step in this direction”, he said.

 

MHR announces strategic partnership with HFX

Posted on June 21, 2018 by - News

devil_514MHR said it will work with HFX to extend its  flexible working and staff time management.

HFX, a provider of SaaS flexitime and workforce management solutions, has signed a Partnership Agreement with MHR.  The agreement lets MHR (formerly MidlandHR) offer the entire suite of HFX’s Imperago cloud-based workforce management solutions which include Time & Attendance (T&A), Access Control and Flexitime Management.

Anton Roe, Chief Executive Officer at MHR, said: “HFX’s range of products perfectly complement those of MHR, enabling us to extend our proposition to our client base. We can now offer our customers HFX’s full Cloud solution range, from shift pattern design to T&A. This is an important addition to our fully integrated HR solutions.”

Nicola Smart Chief Operating Officer at HFX said: “We are delighted to be working with MHR to introduce the HFX range of products to their existing and future customers. Our products are a natural fit with MHR’s enterprise, commercial and public sector HR and payroll solutions and customers will have access to a powerful SaaS Cloud workforce solution for every staffing group.”

As part of the deal, MHR gets its paws on Imperago’s Time & Attendance all-in-one Service-as-a-Solution package that covers software, hardware, support and maintenance and its Flexitime Management software which is used in the public sector and local government organisations.

It also will use EveryOneCloud which logs time, supporting workforce planning and Time & Attendance solutions, enabling organisations of all sizes to monitor their staff and productivity. EveryOneCloud is a ready-to-go cloud which does not need for servers, software installation or massive up-front costs. It integrates with and sends data to T&A, Payroll, Student Attendance and Workforce Management solutions (including rostering & shift management).

 

BT partners with Comm365 on 4G project

Posted on June 20, 2018 by - News

btlogoBT  has recently partnered with  network services outfit  Comms365 to provide contingency 4G connectivity to BT Exchanges in outlying areas, such as Shetland and the Orkney Islands, so the company can resolve any connection issues remotely.

Previously, if the connection went down at a BT Exchange, the company would have to send specialist engineers out to the islands to fix the fault, which could take up to a week depending on travel logistics and potentially inclement weather. Not only did this result in unnecessary downtime, but also required engineers to be away from the Network Centre for a significant amount of time, resulting in needless expense for the business. To address the problem, BT was looking for a way to deploy 4G access services to interface to its equipment as a disaster recovery solution, in the event that the broadband connection was lost at the site.

The company turned to Comms365 to deploy its 4G solution at the outlying BT Exchanges so that in the case of a connection issue, engineers at the Network Centre in Manchester could connect remotely to the equipment in order to diagnose the fault and quickly make any necessary changes. One of the primary challenges was that the different locations vary in terms of 4G coverage levels, but with the Comms365 fixed IP Multinet service roaming across all UK networks, the solution easily overcame any issues of coverage or network outages.

BT has deployed the Comms365 solution in two remote Exchanges in Scotland, with plans to roll out into two further locations in summer 2018. The company’s long term plan is to roll out the solution to several other Exchanges across the country, such as Cambridge, Cardiff and London, but the outer regions, including Stornoway and Skye, are being considered first due to their locations and the challenge involved in resolving connection issues.

Phyl Jewkes, 20C Core Transmission Manager at BT said: “It’s imperative that all of our customers receive as reliable a connection as possible, so in the event that a connection goes down we do everything we can to ensure that the connection is restored quickly, no matter how distant the location. With the solution from Comms365 in place, we can rapidly identify and fix any issues remotely without having to send an engineer to the site. Not only does this save us valuable time, but is also a cost-saving solution too. It’s been a really successful partnership and we’re looking forward to working with the team to roll it out to further sites in the future.”

Daisy snaps up VAR Voice Mobile

Posted on June 20, 2018 by - News

DaisyIn a move to get closer to its EE network provider Daisy has written a £10 million cheque for VAR Voice Mobile.

Voice Mobile is an EE partner and will be used to create an EE centre of excellence.  The Birmingham-based VAR filed abbreviated accounts with Companies House for the full year ending 31 December 2016, but in the previous two years reported revenues of £11.3 million and £10.7 million.

This happens a month after TalkTalk revealed plans to offload its B2B business to Daisy, and comes during a time when Daisy is reportedly up for sale.

Daisy said that Voice Mobile will retain its sales and operations teams in order to continue selling EE products and services.

Daisy’s managing director of SMB services and distribution Dave McGinn said Voice Mobile was its distribution partner for more than 14 years.

“This is a brilliant example of how an indirect partner business can develop and thrive, all the time having a shared interest with us, culminating in us ultimately acquiring them.

“Our strategy remains an acquisitive one and through announcements such as this shows a blueprint for other partners who may be seeking to pursue their own exit strategy. I now look forward to serving and growing our new EE customer base.”

Voice Mobile’s managing director Ian Watson said: “Voice Mobile has been a massive part of my life and now with Daisy at the helm there is an even brighter future ahead for it under new ownership, while I take the opportunity to explore new avenues and ventures.

 

Sarah Shields promoted to Europe

Posted on June 19, 2018 by - News

sarah-shields-new-620x350Sarah Shields is to become Dell EMC’s new VP of enterprise channel, Europe, and the outfit now needs someone to fill her current UK role.

Shields will now work with partners targeting large enterprise accounts across Europe. Large deals are very much outcome orientated and she thinks they are a great opportunity for partners that want to hit that large base of enterprise customers.

Shields said she is currently in the process of putting together a team to work with her in her new role, but said she will not transition until a replacement for her current role (VP and GM of Dell EMC UKI channels) has been found. The move will see Dell EMC without a heavy weight leader in the UK.

A shortlist of potential candidates has been drawn up, but Shields encouraged people to apply for the role. She stressed that the UK will remain important to her in her new position.

In the new role Shields will report into Dell EMC’s senior VP for EMEA Michael Collins, as she does  now.

Tintri looks for a buyer to save it

Posted on June 19, 2018 by - News

tintri1Tintri is exploring the possibility of a takeover as its financial situation is “likely” to kill it off.

The storage vendor has suffered since it listed on the NASDAQ market last year. It announced a wave of job cuts in September. Things have not got much better, and Tintri is in breach of covenants relating to its credit facilities with lenders. Tintri is currently $15.4 million in debt with the banks and owes $50 million to TriplePoint Capital.

Tintri said it is not in a position to repay the money it owes if its lenders declare an event of default.

In a statement to shareholders Tintri said: “Based on the company’s current cash projections, and regardless of whether its lenders were to choose to accelerate the repayment of the company’s indebtedness under its credit facilities, the company likely does not have sufficient liquidity to continue its operations beyond 30 June 2018.

“The company continues to evaluate its strategic options, including a sale of the company.

“Even if the company is able to secure a strategic transaction, there is a significant possibility that the company may file for bankruptcy protection, which could result in a complete loss of shareholders’ investment.”

The vendor’s revenue in Q1 was $22 million, alongside a loss of $1.14 per share.

Tintri could not publish the usual depth of information seen in quarterly results because some people involved in preparing the report have left the organisation, it said.

The vendor’s share price has been at under $1 since 22 May. If a company’s share price has been under this value for 30 consecutive days the shares can be de-listed from the NASDAQ market.

 

Customers still cloudy about clouds

Posted on June 19, 2018 by - News

lightning-cloudRackspace research shows that clients have significant problems with their cloud plans and identifies the critical role that the channel can play.

Rackspace’s report “Maintaining Momentum: Cloud Migration Learnings” found that indicated that 71 percent of businesses said that they were about two years into their public cloud journey and putting more workloads into a hosted environment was seen by many as a high priority.

But lots of customers are still to get genuinely into the cloud citing all sorts of problems, including costs and complexity.

The channel can help is with helping them scope out the costs properly and provide help with migration, the report said.

The report commissioned by Rackspace and conducted by Forrester Consulting surveyed the landscape across the UK, Germany, France and the US had some words of warning for those firms looking to try and do it all on their own.

The research found that 78 percent of users did recognise the role of a service partner and many said they were looking for experienced cloud providers that could help with migration issues.

Adam Evans, director of Professional Services at Rackspace said: “Cloud is the engine of digital transformation and a critical enablement factor for innovation, cost reduction and CX initiatives. But while most organisations we meet have started on their cloud journey, I would say the majority did not expect the scale of the ongoing challenge,” said A

“As a business generation, we are getting faster at new technology adoption, but we still seem to stumble when it comes to an understanding of the requirements (and limitations) of the business consuming it. Introducing new cloud-based operating practices across an entire organisation is rarely straightforward, as with anything involving people, processes and their relationship with technology,” he added.

 

Redstoneconnect boss moves on after sell off

Posted on June 18, 2018 by - Moving People, News

markbraundredstoneceo-580x358Redstoneconnect’s CEO has decided it is time to move on after finishing off the sales of the outfit’s managed services and SI units.

Mark Braund is standing down and from Monday chairman Frank Beechinor would take over the CEO role in a move which is part of a management reshuffle.

Braund will stay around for several months to ensure there is a smooth transition and current director Guy van Zwanenberg will become chairman.

Braund has been with the firm for three years during which he had to redefine the company’s strategy and re-position and further develop the Company.

The result was the disposal of the Systems Integration and Managed Services divisions for £21.6 million, in addition to other restructuring activities.

He said that RedstoneConnect was now in an excellent position to build-upon its growing solutions offering and to further capitalise on the opportunity that exists for workspace management software.

His successor Beechinor said that the business had been left in a strong position thanks to Braund’s stewardship and it was determined to grow the firm as a software specialist.

 

Shopping is too stressful

Posted on June 18, 2018 by - News

smartphone-shoppingA fifth of US consumers find that going shopping makes them feel stressed, while more than one in 10 experience high stress levels while buying online.

That’s according to a new Stress Shopping report from experience analytics firm Clicktale, which examines the role of emotions in shaping consumer experiences both online and in-store.

The report, which incorporates analysis from Clicktale psychologists, retail experts and a survey of over 2000 US and UK consumers, found that – despite finding offline shopping the most stressful experience – many consumers still feel high levels of stress when navigating ecommerce websites and apps. While 12 percent feel stressed when buying online, 15 percent go as far as to say they have ‘lost their temper’ when shopping online or on a mobile app.

Clicktale’s research also reveals that these stress levels rise as shoppers navigate through the customer journey, reaching a peak during the checkout process. In reporting their most stressful digital shopping experiences, 88 percent of shoppers feel stressed when a voucher code fails at the checkout, while 75 percent get agitated when mobile apps freeze at the point of payment. 83 percent are also stressed by slow loading times online.

Commenting on the new research, Geoff Galat, CMO at Clicktale said: “Despite a growing focus on customer experience across the retail industry, it’s a shame to see so many consumers frustrated and stressed out by online shopping experiences. It’s long been assumed that, because consumers are able to shop from the comfort of their homes, the stressful elements of the shopping experience have been removed. Clearly this isn’t the case.

“To overcome this fact, brands need to think much more carefully about the role of customer emotions throughout the shopping experience. By using experience analytics to examine mouse-movements, taps, swipes, and ‘rage clicks’, brands can understand where the frustration occurs and where the path to purchase is being disrupted. Even seemingly insignificant stimuli can have a strong impact on customer emotions, especially when it comes to irritation over poor page layouts and slow search speeds. While previously overlooked by brands, these seemingly minor stressors can significantly impact the customer experience, digital conversion rates and, ultimately, the business’ bottom line.”

 

Rimilia signs up for Microsoft’s Scale-up

Posted on June 18, 2018 by - News

satanic pactGlobal intelligent financial automation software provider Rimilia  has teamed up with Microsoft after being accepted onto Vole’s ScaleUp programme.

For those who came in late, the ScaleUp programme is part of the Microsoft for Startups initiative and connects companies with new customers and channel partners and is underpinned by a $500 million investment to drive innovation and growth.

The Rimilia solution automates the complete account receivables process, enabling organisations to control their cash flow and cash collection in real-time, using sophisticated analytics and artificial intelligence (AI) to predict customer payment behaviour and easily match and reconcile payments, removing the uncertainty of cash collection.

Rimilia already has a number of customers on the Microsoft Azure platform including Interserve, Speedy Hire, Securitas and Rentokil. Rimilia has commenced migrating its global blue chip customer base onto Azure, and recent customer wins are being deployed onto the Microsoft Azure application service, delivering enhanced security, resilience, scalability and responsiveness.

MD Microsoft for Startups, Warwick Hill, said: “We were struck by Rimilia’s solution. We constantly look to drive value for both Microsoft Clients and the companies being supported in our ScaleUp program – Rimilia is a perfect example of that sweet spot. The ability for our clients to leverage Rimilia’s solution to automate and digitally transform their accounts receivable and audit processes will drive the co-sell partnership for years to come. The power of Microsoft Azure and Dynamics365, coupled with Rimilia’s specific industry and software expertise is a powerful combination.”

Steve Richardson, CCO and co-founder of Rimilia, said: “We are delighted to be working on the Microsoft Startups programme. Microsoft has been tremendously supportive and professional throughout the whole onboarding process. Having never lost a customer to a competitor the extra “stickiness” of working with Microsoft will consolidate that position as well as create a base to support our ambitious expansion plans.”

Eurostop heads into Saudi Arabia with IMCC

Posted on June 15, 2018 by - News

IkhwanEurostop has announced a new partnership with IMCC Group, an engineering and construction services provider in Saudi Arabia, to widen distribution of Eurostop’s Tenant Management System (TMS) in the area.

As an appointed reseller, IMCC will be licensed to provide Eurostop’s retail management solution for shopping mall landlords in the Middle East. Eurostop already has clients using the solution in Singapore and throughout Asia. IMCC Group was established to accommodate the increased demand in construction services in Saudi Arabia, with a portfolio including Sephora, Saudi Post and Pepsi. The strategic alliance will enable shopping mall enterprises and other revenue-based leased properties to deploy Eurostop’s TMS, supported by local and established expertise.

TMS  enables mall owners and landlords to collect sales data from tenants in order to calculate the rental due, based on a percentage gross turnover (GTO) model. The solution operates seamlessly for the retailer, providing instant, up-to-date information to the landlord. It is provided as a fully hosted and serviced product.

Dr Halawani, Founder and CEO of IMCC Group, said: “We are pleased to have secured this partnership with Eurostop. Our focus will be to achieve the best results for our clients, implementing this innovative technology quickly and efficiently and driving maximum return on investment for the leaseholders.”

Richard Loh, CEO of Eurostop, said: “The retail landscape in Saudi Arabia is developing at a rapid pace and is an exciting opportunity. TMS will enable landlords to maximise leased space and will be particularly useful in the retail market in Saudi Arabia, where the number of sophisticated mega malls is increasing rapidly. We wanted a partner that could help us to deliver our technology to the region with a professional and quality approach, and I am delighted to be working with Dr. Abdulatef Halawani and his team.”

Eurostop’s current clients in Singapore using TMS include Frasers Centrepoint and Tanjong Pagar Centre (GuocoLand), Katong Square and SingPost. Eurostop provides sales and support to customers across Asia from its offices in Shanghai and Xiamen in China, Kowloon, Hong Kong and Singapore.

PCM open doors in Wellingborough

Posted on June 15, 2018 by - News

1280px-Wellingborough_whitworth_fc_welcome_car_park_signagePCM has opened its first fully branded UK office in Wellingborough.

The logic behind Wellingborough’s selection was the town’s labour pool with the necessary skills.

PCM has a UK headcount of 187 and plans to recruit significantly more with the Wellingborough office, which is big enough to accommodate 30 to 40 new employees, according to Hutchinson.

Its in-house engineers and technicians installed the office’s IT infrastructure. This was to show customers the companies’ abilities to create an infrastructure from scratch, as well as using its partner network for the build-out and cosmetic features in the building, according to PCM.

The outfit might be planning on making some more UK acquisitions. So far PCM has snapped up Provista UK and Stack Holdings Technology but said the primary focus is on integrating the new businesses.

Rimilia scales up

Posted on June 15, 2018 by - News

12561291953Financial automation software provider Rimilia has announced a collaboration with Microsoft after being accepted onto the current cohort of the select Microsoft ScaleUp programme.

The Microsoft ScaleUp programme, part of the Microsoft for Startups initiative, connects companies with new customers and channel partners and is underpinned by a $500 million investment to drive innovation and growth. Through a rigorous assessment, Rimilia beat hundreds of entrants to secure a place on the programme, as one of only 12 organisations accepted.

The Rimilia solution automates the account receivables process, enabling organisations to control their cash flow and cash collection in real-time, using sophisticated analytics and artificial intelligence (AI) to predict customer payment behaviour and easily match and reconcile payments, removing the uncertainty of cash collection.

While the Rimilia solution integrates with any ERP system, Rimilia already has a number customers on the Microsoft Azure platform including Interserve, Speedy Hire, Securitas and Rentokil. Rimilia has commenced migrating its global blue chip customer base onto Azure, and recent customer wins are being deployed on the Microsoft Azure application service, delivering enhanced security, resilience, scalability and responsiveness.

MD Microsoft for Startups, Warwick Hill, said: “We were struck by Rimilia’s solution. We constantly look to drive value for both Microsoft Clients and the companies being supported in our ScaleUp program – Rimilia is a perfect example of that sweet spot. The ability for our clients to leverage Rimilia’s solution to automate and digitally transform their accounts receivable and audit processes will drive the co-sell partnership for years to come. The power of Microsoft Azure and Dynamics365, coupled with Rimilia’s specific industry and software expertise is a powerful combination.”

Steve Richardson, CCO and co-founder of Rimilia, said: “We are delighted to be working on the Microsoft Startups programme. Microsoft has been tremendously supportive and professional throughout the whole onboarding process. Having never lost a customer to a competitor the extra ‘stickiness’ of working with Microsoft will consolidate that position as well as create a base to support our ambitious expansion plans.”