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10 Best NFT Marketplaces

Non Fungible Tokens or NFTs have taken the digital market by storm, especially during the pandemic digital creators have found solace in NFTs and cryptocurrencies.

NFTs, help people sell or buy digital items, including music, art, photographs, and anything and everything digital. This has opened an all-new dimension for many of us. The pandemic has forced many to go digital from hand in hand with business; in that case, NFTs can be said to be boons for many. They not only protect people’s original work but also monetize them and help the collectors to purchase them too. We have curated the ten best marketplaces for NFTs.

Opensea: It is undoubtedly the largest and the most established NFT marketplace of all time. It deals in art, music, collectibles, sports, virtual worlds, photography, and much more. It is pretty easy to use; you can create your account on OpenSea for free, and it offers a user-friendly interface. So, create your account and start selling and buying. Another plus point of this site is that it is a gas-free NFT marketplace with cross-blockchain support, and since it supports polygon cryptocurrency, the user does not have to pay any fee while trading.
Nifty Gateway: It is supported by the Ethereum blockchain which is backed by Gemini. It is where the world’s two most expensive NFTs were sold, Beeple’s CROSSROAD and Pak’s The Mergein 2021’s December. It is hands-down one of the popular choices for celebrity NFTs. Still, it also attracts beginners as it allows collectors to buy NFTs using Fiat, a government-issued currency.
Rarible: It also deals in art, photography, and games. The first and foremost reason to choose this marketplace is you are getting three blockchains, the second is community-owned, and lastly, it offers low carbon and gas fees. It mainly attracts sports, gaming, and media brands and partners with big-shot brands like Adobe.
Binance NFT: It deals in any kind of thing. It is supported by BSC and ETH. It has about one percent of fees. It helps cash out using Fiat. It has its own blockchain. It also deals with using Binance tokens, which make trade easier.
SuperRare: SupeRare is the NFT platform with an art gallery impression; it deals with digital art and is supported by Ethereum. It provides curated and rare artworks. The interface offers a fine gallery feel, and it also has a great editorial blog. It’s an artistic marketplace that values art and puts credibility and artistic intent above all.
Async Art: Async Art is considered to be a leader in programmable art, no need to mention that it deals only with programmable art. The blockchain support of Async Art is Ethereum. The reason to choose this marketplace is that it offers forward-looking digital art, supports multiple creators and owners, and lastly, Blueprints, which allows artists several opportunities.
MarkersPlace: It deals in commercial and fine arts blockchain support of Ethereum. It is known for authenticity as it allows buyers to purchase from established artists; it offers a good blend of impressive art and scarce NFTS as well. Here the artists digitally sign their creation, so if somebody wrongfully downloads or copies an art form, that will not carry the original artist’s signature.
KnownOrigin: It supports high-quality art and limited run drops, art, and photography. It is Ethereum supported. It offers limited NFT drops curated NFT editions, and it is one of the easy-to-use marketplaces. It hosts timed released events called drops, where they offer rare and collectible artworks.
Foundation: It is an artist-run marketplace offering you rare and exclusive projects. It deals in fine art, digital art, photography, and 3D art. The blockchain support it has is Ethereum. Like a few other marketplaces, it offers curated and limited NFTs, and it has some of the best high-quality art and projects.

Mintable: It’s relatively newer than the other marketplaces, but it is pretty easy to use. It deals in art, music, animation, video, games, and media. It is supported by two blockchains that is Ethereum and ImmutableX. It is straightforward to use, offers various NFTs, and provides free Mintable University courses. It is considered the Etsy of the marketplaces and very easy to use.

Ethereum Merge/ETH 2.0

In September 2022, the Ethereum Merge is expected to replace Ethereum’s Mainnet with the Beacon Chain and other shared networks. With this change, Ethereum’s shift from its proof-of-work (PoW) paradigm to its proof-of-stake (PoS) model is complete.

To put it another way, see Ethereum as a racing vehicle and Beacon Chain as a new, more efficient engine that will be swapped in for the old one midway through the race. Except for how it operates, the automobile will retain its original features.

In what ways does Ethereum merge differ?

The Merge is formally defined by the Ethereum Foundation as the merging of Ethereum’s present execution layer (the Mainnet that we use today) with its new proof-of-stake consensus layer, the Beacon Chain. This definition comes from the Ethereum Foundation. Instead of the energy-intensive process of mining, the staking of Ethereum (ETH) is employed for network security.

The enhancement of the system’s energy sustainability serves as the key impetus for these efforts; yet, the increased security and scalability are very welcome side benefits.

The issue with Ethereum Merge is an important one to address. Since the introduction of dApps, smart contracts, and DeFi protocols, it has been beset by network congestion and high transaction costs, both of which began around the time its popularity among developers began to rise. Ethereum’s gas costs have increased as a result of the substantial surge in interest in DeFi; as a result, Ethereum’s transaction speeds have drastically slowed down in comparison to those of its most direct competitors.

To print the second-largest blockchain from one system to another requires a great deal of effort and time due to the complexity of the process. Every option requires considerable consideration and deliberation.

On the other hand, the Ethereum Merge Update plans to solve many of these problems, which will maintain the network one step ahead of its rivals and reward those users who have persisted with it up to this point.

But what is Proof of stake?

Proof-of-stake, often known as PoS, is a kind of consensus mechanism used to validate transactions that occur over a blockchain network. PoS is one of the ways that is used to verify that all of the transaction data that is kept on the web is genuine. Blockchain does not have any centralised authority that governs the system. Thus PoS is one of the methods that is employed.

The only significant difference between proof-of-stake and proof-of-work is that proof-of-stake uses a system to choose which members on the network are given the opportunity to undertake this job, which also comes with a profitable advantage. Individuals selected to carry out the transaction are eligible to get a freshly mined cryptocurrency reward if they successfully verify the new data and refrain from trying to game the system.

What does the Ethereum merge mean for the future of cryptocurrencies?

Due to its high market value, Ethereum is the second biggest blockchain network in the world and is scheduled for a significant update from September 10-20, 2022. As was previously noted, this update will result in Ethereum’s complete migration from the proof-of-work consensus process to the proof-of-stake mechanism.

This is one of the most significant changes in the crypto industry in a very long time, maybe even since the invention of crypto. When the Ethereum Mainnet and the Beacon Chain are combined, the blockchain will become more environmentally friendly, efficient, and enticing to investors.

When will Ethereum merge into the network?

The creator of ETH News, Evan Van Ness, has revealed that the Ethereum Merge is planned for the middle of September 2022. On a conference call broadcast on the Ethereum Foundation Youtube Channel on July 14, 2022, developer Tim Beiko highlighted the planned Merge date of September 19.

Impact of ETH 2.0

Effective for network

First, moving away from Proof-of-Work (PoW) to Proof-of-Stake (PoS) is bright for the Ethereum network since PoS is a more logically efficient consensus method.

Effective use of energy

One of the most revolutionary shifts in the cryptocurrency business, switching from PoW to PoS, would also reduce Ethereum’s current energy usage by 99.95 per cent.

Sharding

By laying the groundwork for future scaling enhancements in the Ethereum ecosystem, sharding is a crucial step in preparing for the future of the crypto industry.

The rationale for financial investment

If the Ethereum Merge is successfully implemented, it will alter the cryptocurrency’s core functionality, making it suitable for a broader range of applications and creating new opportunities for investors to get exposure to the dominant altcoin.

How will The Merge impact ether holders’ transaction times, gas costs, and staking?

Rates of Exchange

After the update, Ether users may still anticipate the exact transaction times. The ordinary user won’t even notice the little adjustments.

Gas prices

The cost of Ethereum’s “gas” won’t change for the time being. Theoretically, the Ethereum update paves the way for sharding, leading to lower gas prices in the future.

Staking

Staking ether, rather than mining, will contribute to the safety of the network. Remember that staking ETH will not allow withdrawals for six to twelve months following The Merge. To counter this, once Ethereum’s Shanghai Upgrade is life, users can withdraw up to 40,000 staked ETH daily.

How much of a rise in ETH price is expected in the merger?

A longer-term increase in the number of people using Ethereum Merge would eventually cause the price of ETH to go up, but getting there would take some time. Those who are already on the Ethereum chain will have access to an expanded pool of opportunities if Ethereum Merge is implemented. As a direct consequence of this, generating profits in the near term would be very difficult.

However, these estimates are just that: projections; actual events might turn out to be very different from what is being predicted. Some experts have even projected that this could trigger a further spike in the price of Ethereum of between 200 and 500 percent. And bear in mind that this is only the beginning of the enhancements that will be implemented.

It is interesting to reflect on the events that transpired a year ago when Cardano initially offered the feature of intelligent contracts on its blockchain. Speculation around such news may, for a short period, push the price of ETH to levels of tokens that are unsustainable until the market corrects itself. Even while not all of the problems that Ethereum is now facing will be fixed, at least some will be. It’s possible that the actual integration won’t live up to the hype, much as Cardano’s smart contracts have in the past.

What does it mean for cryptocurrency investments?

There is a widespread consensus among professionals in this field that Ethereum’s fast progress will be jumpstarted if the Merge protocol can be effectively implemented on the leading network. This release places Ethereum in direct competition with all of the other PoS-based blockchain networks; considering Ethereum’s head start in TVL and the number of developers working on the blockchain, this puts Ethereum in an advantageous position.

Another cryptocurrency industry professional asserts that the Ethereum Merge will result in an increase in the value of Ethereum by cutting the platform’s consumption of energy by more than 99.95 percent while simultaneously improving its processing speed, security, and scalability.

It is projected that the success of Ethereum will have a ripple effect on other cryptocurrencies that are built on the ETH blockchain, such as Polygon (MATIC) and Arbitron. This impact will be positive.

The impact of the Merge on the On-chain metrics of Ethereum

Before the Merge, one of the most important on-chain measures for Ethereum must be the total value of the stakes made to the ETH 2.0 smart contract. This statistic must also be seen as positive. In spite of the decline in pricing during the course of the current year, it has been on an unbroken streak of gains. Therefore, it would seem that a significant number of individuals are placing positive bets on the Ethereum Merge with the anticipation of becoming validators in the Ethereum Network once the proof-of-stake mechanism is made operational.

Despite the bear market is in full swing for the last couple of months, the number of active Ethereum addresses on the network has been on an upward trend over the past couple of months. This further affirms the statement stated in the previous paragraph.

Conclusion

If the current Merge goes well, it will begin a more sustainable, environmentally friendly period for Ethereum, one in which proof-of-work will no longer be necessary. This will pave the way for future scalability enhancements previously impossible with proof-of-work, bringing Ethereum one step closer to the full scale, security, and sustainability envisioned in the Ethereum white paper.

With the necessary infrastructure in place, these updates will reorganize Ethereum to make it more scalable, safe, and sustainable, benefiting current users and attracting new ones. And it does so without compromising the decentralization that is Ethereum’s fundamental virtue.

Kerten Hospitality’s “Pipeline with a Purpose” sees one new opening a month between now and the end of 2022

New properties in Kuwait, AlUla, and Rome follow recent openings in Tbilisi and Istanbul, as well as a pioneering gelato brand in Riyadh

DUBAI, September 14, 2022: Following on from the much-lauded opening of The House Hotel Old Tbilisi in July this year, mixed-use ESG-focused lifestyle operator Kerten Hospitality is ramping up development, with more than 40 purpose-driven projects across 12 brand concepts in Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, and the CIS region.

Between now and the end of 2022, Kerten Hospitality will open one new concept a month, a robust pipeline with a purpose that puts the brand’s strong commitment to ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) and responsible community-based business practices in the spotlight, with every opening aiming to have a long-term positive impact on the community in which it operates. Upcoming openings include hotels in Rome, Kuwait, and AlUla which will be closely followed by a new opening in Marrakech later this year.

The brand’s mixed-use developments focus on connecting travelers and residents, with collaborations and own-brand projects in the food and beverage, entertainment, art, and wellness spheres. More than simply opening a hotel or restaurant, Kerten Hospitality builds community-centric destinations and ecosystems where business and leisure combine to create vibrant mini-economies.

Marloes Knippenberg, Chief Executive Office of Kerten Hospitality, believes that the brand’s active development pipeline will bring benefits to both guests and investors.

“As we ramp up our developments, we’re creating jobs in each destination we enter, proactively hiring locally and creating opportunities for those looking for career development. We’re also supporting businesses by purchasing locally wherever possible,” she says. “More developers are seeking to connect with operators to look jointly at creating something that brings not only a long-term ROI, but that also connects to the neighborhood through mixed-use projects that drive year-round footfall. At Kerten Hospitality, we’re in the perfect position to drive forward more of these projects with a purpose.”

A collection of ESG-focused hospitality brands

Kerten Hospitality’s diverse range of brands currently includes:

The House Hotels – The House Hotel are laid-back luxury properties in prime locations that marry cultural elements with classic and contemporary styles, offering tailored destination experiences that connect to the community. Currently open are The House Hotel City Yard Jeddah, an energetic and stylishly designed lifestyle hotel connected to some of the city’s most exciting food and beverage concepts, and The House Hotel Old Tbilisi, a restored traditional merchant’s house in the Georgian capital’s historical heart, with hand-painted murals by Musya Qeburia in each of the rooms. Upcoming projects are well underway in Egypt, Kuwait, and Turkey.
Cloud 7 Hotels – A young-at-heart lifestyle brand, Cloud7 focuses on punchy, colorful design, and shakes up the concept of what it means to be a hotel. Deskless check-in, lobbies that function as social hubs, healthy grab-and-go food, and boutiques selling locally made products are all part of what makes Cloud7 much more than just another mid-scale hotel. Currently operating in Ayla Aqaba in Jordan, and StaySO by Cloud7 in Istanbul’s Bomonti neighborhood, with upcoming projects in prime locations in Egypt, Italy, Jordan, and the UAE.
The House and Cloud7 Residences – Both The House and Cloud7 brands incorporate residences and serviced apartments for short- or long-term stays, connecting guests to the local community with communal spaces, brand collaborations, and buzzing dining venues. They have plenty to offer investors too, with the combined benefits of the brands’ trademarks, full services, and facility management leading to premium selling prices.
Nakhati – Just opened in August in Riyadh, Nakhati, meaning “my flavor” in Arabic, is Kerten Hospitality’s purpose-driven premium gelato brand offering more than just deliciously unexpected flavours and local Saudi ingredients. Nakhati offers fledgling Saudi entrepreneurs the opportunity to launch their own franchises with access to initial funding, a range of options from a simple gelato cart to kiosk or fully-fledged store, and a comprehensive suite of high-quality business tools and mentorship programs to support the growth and empowerment of franchisees.
Ouspace – Ouspace brings a collaborative working space environment to each of Kerten Hospitality’s residential developments, replacing the traditional meeting rooms and business centers of the past with a future-looking solution. The spaces are blank canvases, offering flexible space for events, social scenes for those who like to be part of something bigger, and efficient, functional workplaces for when something just needs to get done. It’s the future of business. Upcoming openings are planned in Jeddah and Tbilisi.

A development pipeline with a purpose

Kerten Hospitality’s ambitious pipeline of upcoming projects spans ten openings in the next eight months, with ten additional signings in progress and a total of more than 45 projects in development. Upcoming projects include openings in Egypt, Georgia, Italy, Jordan, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, and range from urban to resort projects in locations both familiar and emerging.

Much of the brand’s purpose is built on the ESG initiative UBBU – United. Building a Better Universe. Inspired by the Butterfly Effect, based on the fact that small actions, especially when done by many, have the power to prompt global impact and change, the brand’s UBBU philosophy drives every project from the beginning to completion. From early steps, such as a commitment to hiring staff locally and using local materials, to decisions around supporting social causes, creating markets for local artists and artisans, to making simple adjustments to heat, water, and air-filtering systems, UBBU is the foundation of which every project is built.

“ESG is more than a nice-to-have for Kerten Hospitality,” says Knippenberg. “It drives everything we do, from a social to an environmental level. Our belief in UBBU is shared by every member of our team, and that drive to bring only positive impacts on the destinations in which we operate is one of the key foundations of our business.”

Top 10 Business Tycoons in the World for 2022

Business tycoons in the world have not emerged in a single day; their efforts and dedication help them to reach their position. Your passion and hard work are the fundamental ingredients in the recipe of your success story; wealth and money are outcomes of it. Billionaires are helping to shape the country’s economy and charity in society. Becoming a business tycoon is not an easy thing; it requires genuine work towards your goal. Different points of view towards solving any problem with new innovation is the unique quality seen in these business tycoons. So, let us discuss short stories of various business tycoons worldwide.

Elon Musk

Elon is the most opulent person in the world today. He is the founder of Tesla and CEO of SpaceX company which has become famous worldwide. Elon Musk is known for his mysterious thoughts about the future and space. And the dreams which ordinary people can’t imagine. He believes in things that are not possible today but will be present in the future related to space technology, the moon, and mars. He is the founder of Tesla, one of the most famous EV brands globally. Elon musk is also a successful investor and entrepreneur in the world, his investing tricks become famous on social media sometimes. He believes that the future of energy is sustainable and clean energy.

His total Net Worth is about $219B. Elon Musk is now the first richest person in the world on the Billionaires list of Forbes.

Gautam Adani

Gautam Adani is an Indian businessman and founder of the Adani group and one of the wealthiest persons in Asia. Adani group proved its identity by establishing enterprises in significant sectors like Adani transmission, ports, green energy, and Adani Total Gas. In his teenage years, Ambani worked as a diamond sorter in the Mahendra group and later worked in his brother’s plastic company. His total net worth is about $141 Billion Gautam Adani is now the second number as the richest person in the world in the Billionaires list published by Forbes.

Jeff Bezos

Jeff Bezos is the founder and CEO of the E-Commerce giant Amazon, which put forth the worldwide market in a single click. He is the richest person from 217-2021 in the world. Jeff is a well-known computer engineer and commercial astronaut in America. Jeff is a leading American investor, media proprietor, and also commercial astronaut. One thing we can acquire from Jeff Bezos is to recognize the need and wants of people in the market and work on it. He is also counted among the famous investors in the world. His net worth is about $151 Billion. Jeff Bezos is the fourth richest person in the world for 2022.

Bill Gates

Up to 2017, Bill Gates was the richest person in the world. He served as the CEO and founder of the world-famous software company Microsoft. He is incredibly passionate about software and coding at a young age. At the age of 21, he is a Billionaire with absolute intelligence and passion for his work. His net worth is $114 Billion. He is also known for his philanthropic personality in the world. Bill gates is the 5th richest person in the world in 2022 according to Forbes Magazine. His infinite love is in reading books. One thing we can learn from him is how rich we are; social awareness is the most important thing. Bill gates donate billions in charity work.

Warren Buffet

Warren Buffet is a living legend in the ocean of world-famous investors. He took his first share at the age of 14. His famous saying is to start as early as possible in the journey of investing in your life. The net worth of Warren Buffet is $101 Billion. One thing we can acquire from him is to stay consistent and disciplined in our work, whatever may it be. One of the best quotes is ‘By far the best investment you can make is in yourself.

Larry Ellison

Larry Ellison is a famous investor and business magnate in America. After completing his degree in university, he started his journey as a computer programmer and established a well-known computer programming company, Oracle corporation. His Net worth is $92.2 Billion. He is now the seventh richest person in the world according to the Forbes list.

Mukesh Ambani

Mukesh Ambani is the second richest person in Asia. He expanded his father’s company, Reliance, by establishing it in various industries like petroleum, electronics, power, energy, and many more. He acquired his degree in chemical engineering and then completed MBA at Stanford University in the U.S. He started his first petrochemical refinery in Jamnagar, Gujarat. Ambani has net worth in 2022 is about $90B. Mukesh Ambani is the 8th richest person in the world on the Forbes Real Time Billionaires List.

Sergey Brin

Sergey Brin is the Co-founder of Google with Larry Page and the founder of Alphabet company which is the parent company of google. Sergey Brin is the 10th richest person in the world. He is a famous entrepreneur and computer scientist in the United States. He entirely focused on Alphabet company in 2019. His total net worth is about $107.

Michael Bloomberg

Michael Bloomberg is a successful businessman, politician, author, and CEO of Bloomberg company which is a software and media company. Michael Bloomberg is the 12th richest person in the world according to the Forbes Billionaires list. His total net worth of about $82B. He is also known for his philanthropic nature in the United States.

Francoise Bettencourt Meyers

Francoise is the top women’s business tycoon in the world. She is the 14th richest person in the world in the list published by Forbes Magazine. She is the founder and CEO of L’Oreal, one of the largest companies in France and the world of cosmetics companies. Her net worth is $75 Billion. Other than business she also worked as a philanthropist and as a writer.

These business tycoons inspire every single person who wanted to start their journey as an entrepreneur today. There is no other way for hard work if your goals are high. Success is not achieved at once it is a prize for your steady and consistent work forwards toward your goal. So keep going on your path by taking inspiration from these successful people.

Helping Businesses Navigate Through Supply Chain Disruptions with Digitalization

The global supply chain is faced with ongoing obstacles, including labor shortages, delays, winnowing resources, and increasing consumer demands and expectations. Digitalization is a viable solution for all parties in the supply chain to create more efficient processes

Digital transformation is sweeping through industries, including logistics. Digitalizing the supply chain with technologies like robotics, IoT, data analytics, and digital thread help businesses overcome supply chain obstacles and develop more efficient and reliable processes.

What Is Supply Chain Digitalization?

Supply chain digitalization is an answer to the ongoing disruptions and delays that are continuing to impact businesses. As the industry faces increased pressure, rising consumer demand, and disruptions that create a ripple effect through the supply chain, new technologies ensure that logistics companies can keep processes streamlined and effective.

What Technologies Are Necessary for Digitalization?

Smart Technology

Smart technology refers to the use of IoT devices and applications. Industries of all types have been increasingly adopting smart technology and finding new use cases, including logistics.

In this industry, smart technology can be used for cargo tracking, automation, robotics, and more. These technologies gather vital data to give logistics companies a transparent and comprehensive view of the entire supply chain – end-to-end – to find areas for improvement.

Using automation increases the efficiency of logistics companies by relieving the burden on human workers. With robotics and other automation devices, logistics companies can complete mundane and repeatable work, giving employees the time to focus on creative processes that only humans can tackle. Automation is also useful for reducing human error, a common source of delays and lost revenue.

Business intelligence technology is another vital part of optimizing the supply chain. Using data collected from IoT devices, logistics companies can take immediate action to improve processes or navigate delays and disruptions.

Cloud-enabled GPS and RFID technologies also fall under the umbrella of smart technology. These technologies are used to improve the accuracy and transparency of supply chains, such as the products stored in a warehouse or vehicles with goods in transit.

Demand-Driven Supply Chain Management

Supply chain flexibility is necessary to adapt to the continued disruptions and delays impacting the global supply chain. Demand-driven supply chain management isn’t new, but with the power of data analytics, logistics companies can become more agile in the face of changing expectations and market shifts.

Machine learning and predictive analytics can be used to gather massive amounts of data and process it in real-time. Logistics companies then have the insights necessary for rapid action, ensuring they can serve customers effectively and address market changes that could have an impact on the business.

Cyber Security

Though not a new technology, cyber security should be included in digital transformation for supply chains. Technology can be beneficial for virtually all industries, but it also exposes them to new risks and vulnerabilities that can be disastrous.

Logistics is at heightened risk from the multiple parties involved in the process. If any party has weaknesses in their cyber security, a hacker or cyber criminal can exploit their vulnerabilities to gain access to the entire network and compromise sensitive business and client data across multiple companies.

Cyber security needs to be at the forefront of operations across manufacturers, suppliers, and other parties. Everyone needs to be on the same page with cyber security protocols and procedures across every point in the supply chain to ensure the entire network is secure. Partnerships need to be built on a shared dedication to cyber security monitoring, risk evaluation, and intervention.

Supply Chain Customization

Rising consumer demands and expectations are an ongoing challenge for supply chains. Cargo space is at a premium, compounded by disruptions in the supplychain that limit it further, but consumers still expect fast fulfillment and shipping with minimal delays or mistakes.

Because of this, consumers aren’t accepting of lengthy processing times, extensive delays, or mistakes in the delivery process that add to the shipping time frame. Consumers have a lot of choices in the current market, giving them options to turn to if one company’s shipping and fulfillment process doesn’t hold up.

Centralized distribution is a solution that includes real-time inventory management to reduce errors and expedite processes. Customization options and supply chain transparency also streamline processes and keep companies agile in the face of growing demands from consumers.

Digital Thread

The digital thread is the use of digital tools to design, evaluate, and manage the lifecycle. It’s essentially a closed loop between the digital and physical worlds. Manufacturers, suppliers, and consumers can share information openly to ensure a responsive supplychain.

Despite its many benefits, the digital thread can’t be implemented on its own. The parties involved need to collaborate to form an integrated value chain that improves transparency and communication.

Embrace Digitalization for Supply Chain Agility

Port congestion, limited cargo space, labor shortages, rising consumer demands, and other challenges are significantly impacting the logistics industry across the globe. Implementing supply chain technology like IoT, data analytics, and cloud-based GPS can keep logistics companies flexible and capable of serving consumer needs

Europe Smart Lighting Market: Top 3 trends boosting the industry growth through 2028

According to a recent study from market research firm Graphical Research, the Europe smart lighting market size is projected to reach a valuation of US$ 6.43 billion by 2028.

Europe’s smart lighting market will showcase notable growth in the future as the demand for these solutions is increasing across the commercial, residential, and government sectors. Factors, such as improvement in the overall standard of living and rising disposable income of the regional population will further amplify the product demand.

The COVID-19 pandemic has positively influenced the deployment of smart lighting products due to an appreciable rise in research activities to find sustainable solutions to conventional lighting systems. Smart lights have also gained prominence across the region’s pharmaceutical sector due to their ability to eliminate harmful bacteria through light therapy.

These lights are an innovative and cost-effective solution to mitigate the risk of infections because they are easy to install in different public settings. Since more organizations are opting for affordable yet eco-friendly lighting devices, the demand for smart lights will rise.

Here is a list of the prominent trends accelerating the industry progress:

Wireless smart lighting technology gains traction:

The wireless technology segment will capture a sizeable share of Europe smart lighting market by 2028. Advanced wireless modalities, such as Wi-Fi, IoT, and Bluetooth are being widely used in smart lighting infrastructures. Many companies are introducing cutting-edge technologies to develop internet-based lighting systems.

They are also creating state-of-the-art applications and programs that are equipped with features, such as effective control over light color and brightness. IoT-ready light fixtures are also becoming popular among customers, further enhancing the demand for wireless lighting technologies.

Indoor smart lighting systems offer energy efficiency:

Europe indoor smart lighting industry revenue is set to exceed USD 5.05 billion by 2028 as companies across the region are increasingly focusing on creating unique lighting solutions for commercial and residential interior spaces.

The demand for energy-efficient lights has grown considerably as end-users are striving to reduce their energy consumption cost. Governments across the region are preventing the installation of low energy-efficient lights, such as incandescent and halogen lamps across commercial spaces, thereby fueling the adoption of LED lights.

Demand for smart lighting hardware grows:

Europe smart lighting market value from the hardware segment will reach USD 5.29 billion by 2028. This can be attributed to the rollout of new regulatory policies in the region. For example, in September 2021, the EU enforced new rules, which resulted in a ban on fluorescent and halogen light bulbs. These regulations brought important changes for producers and consumers, while saving nearly 7 million tons of CO2 every year till 2030, thereby boosting the use of smart lighting products.

Europe smart lighting market forecast will be positively affected by concerns regarding the rising carbon emission levels across the region. With regional governments introducing stringent policies to promote the benefits of cost-effective and sustainable lighting products like LED lights, the need for smart lighting solutions will grow.

Honeywell, Digital Lumens, Acuity Brands, Philips Lighting, Bridgelux, Silver Spring Networks, Hubbell, Echelon, and Cooper Industries (Eaton), among others, are the top manufacturers of smart lighting systems across Europe.

Tropical Storm ‘Hurricane Ian’ Devastates Florida

Hurricane Ian, after destruction in the Florida storm, moves to South Carolina. More than two million people are woke up without any power supply in the early morning of Friday, taking the lives of 12 people in Florida. According to the weather service, life-threatening Storms will result in flooding rains and stormy winds, which can be an intimation alert to the people of South Carolina and Georgia. Massive destruction and the situation in Florida appear in many videos on social media by which we can imagine the threat to those people who are suffering from this disaster. At the time of reporting weather news, one reporter flies away due to wind speed. He was literally thrown away by wind speed, and fortunately, he found a branch of a tree by which he saved himself from a further dangerous situations. All these scary situations and incidents are becoming challenges for citizens and the government to get control over this natural calamity in Florida and in other states of the United States.

Weather reports regarding the United States specified that Hurricane Ian Storm is upgraded to category one storm on Thursday afternoon, which turned into the second landfall in Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina. The intensity of a cyclone is indicated in the category of that Storm. There are five categories of hurricanes through which weather forecasters conclude their speed, type of destruction, and damage in a particular area. Though category one storm’s speed is minimal, it can turn into flood rainfall and landfall, creating a high risk for people’s lives. In South Carolina, it is reported that the Storm is in its Category 1, which has a speed of 75-95 mph, and the storm surge is between 4-5 feet tall with minimal landfall damage.

As Ian storm entered into its Category 1, it spread to many states and cities of the United States, so the government is facing challenges while controlling the situation in states like Florida, South Carolina, Georgia, and. The communities located in the coastal region face more damage and destruction after calming down from the Storm in Florida. Meyer beach’s first look is full of destruction of boats and trees due to flooding and tall storm surge in the sea while storming.

Category 4 storms have about 130-156 mph of wind speed at an extreme level, and Storm surge going up to 13-18 feet in height which is highly destructive.

When Hurricane Ian hit Florida’s Gulf Coast, its category was 4, so it became one of the strongest and deadliest stormy cyclones that which the US ever faced.

Shefiq Abdulla: Helping Clients with Award-Winning ICT Solutions and Services

Meet Shefiq Abdulla, the CEO of Dubai-based Telephony Group of Companies, an ICT solutions and services leader with over two decades of experience serving the private and public sectors of UAE and the region. Currently, Telephony’s team has over 600 employees in the UAE, with over 300 employees spread across other regions, entirely committed to delivering state-of-the-art telecom technology.

Shefiq started his career in Sales as an entry-level junior sales representative selling the company’s ideas, innovations, and excellence to the customers. However, he gradually succeeded on the way up and soon became the Chief Executive Officer of the Group Businesses.

“A lot of people consider me lucky for achieving a lot at a young age and becoming a CEO for the whole group. If you look at it from my perspective, you realize that it means that I had to take a lot at a young age and mature early. Everything I do now and with every struggle I face, I feel more determined to continue the path. I hear a lot of whispers about me being a workaholic and so committed to this journey that it might consume me.“- Asserts Shefiq. “But the truth is I find pleasure in what I am currently doing, and this is what gives me power, focus, and a good sense of direction. When you do things out of pleasure, you simply immunize yourself against all the criticism and negativity that you hear now and then.“

A Diverse Portfolio

Telephony Group of Company offers a diverse portfolio for its clients, which is reflected in the number of projects it undertakes and its expansions to other countries worldwide. Telephony treats its clients as partners and offers all the possible guidance to help them choose the solutions that best serve their businesses most effectively. Instead of chasing revenues like many other companies, Telephony Group of Company wants to ensure repeat businesses and a lifetime relationship with its clients.

Shefiq believes that when a company understands its partner’s business needs and offers advice on the right solution and guidance through implementation, it can easily create a win-win situation and profitable business relationship for both.

Success and Failure

“My greatest accomplishment is getting the chance to spread what I know to the world. Knowledge is wasted when not shared. Maybe my audience is small today, but at least now I have a voice and people to read, interact and comment on my thoughts. That is by itself an accomplishment for me.“- says Shefiq.

Shefiq prefers to measure success differently as he doesn’t link it to achievement or growth. Instead, he links it to the positive influence that he leaves on people’s lives.

Around five years ago, Shefiq decided to take a different path and start to effect change, so he started with himself and went on a personal transformational journey to learn from the wise and the giver, to get enriched with knowledge. Shefiq immersed himself in readings and took a vow to spread that knowledge. One day he plans to write all that journey down for the benefit of others and to encourage people to be less selfish and more human.

Although he failed in various situations and times, every time, Shefiq chose to clear his head, review his mistakes, and start over again.

Shefiq states, “Perhaps the most important one to mention here is when I happened to expect everyone around to be of the same drive and understanding of the importance of transformation to the sustainability of any business, including my own. Now, I am more mindful of how I want to achieve my objective and will hopefully soon share that vision out loud.“

Implementing New Ideas

Shefiq believes new ideas require a welcoming attitude and an open mindset. He says, “If we don’t first start with that, we are likely to fail in our attempts or suffer to reach our goals. I am against the idea that change requires time, not when you are in technology, and you are demanded to innovate consistently.“

He wants to convince people regarding the necessity of new ideas instead of enforcing them. With everyone onboard, things mostly go efficiently and smoothly. Shefiq wants to start first by developing a work culture that helps support innovation, quality, and sustainability which are the primary growth driver for any company.

Future Plans

Telephony Group of Companies has a strong vision, with high moral values and dedication, customer-centric innovations, and business ethics. The organization is built on three core pillars- People, Purpose, and Peace. Under Shefiq’s leadership, it further intends to grow, expand, and innovate while maintaining and spreading these values to everyone it works with.

Additionally, the organization plans to offer digital services to improve efficiency, transform, and grow businesses in the future. It also wants to empower communities to pursue ultra-digital transformation and use technology and innovation to change people’s lives, especially youth and women.

To enable 3000 women entrepreneurs globally by 2025, the organization is also planning to guide and help ten women in 2022 to start their entrepreneurial journey with it.

Richard Liao: Helping with Most Sustainable Packaging Materials

Born in Springfield, Illinois., Richard Liao moved back to Hsinchu, Taiwan, at the tender age of two and again returned to the U.S. in 1999. During his second stint in the country, Richard completed his high school in C.A. and finished his college degree from Cornell University with a B.A. in ORIE and a Master of Engineering in Financial Engineering. Soon after completing his education, Richard landed a job at JP Morgan, a corporate & Investment bank on Wall Street. He worked for the investment bank for three years, but due to the subprime mortgage financial crisis, times were not good, so Richard left the organization to complete his MBA from NYU Stern.

Soon after completing his MBA in 2012, Richard got a call from his dad, as he needed some help with the family business. So, Richard returned to Taiwan and relearned his philosophy on work and what to do with the business. After identifying several critical areas of improvement, Richard could transform the company from a gross margin of 7%, doubling to 14% by 2021 while reducing the total headcount from 1200 to 650.

Presently, Richard serves as the CEO of his family business Hwa-Hsia Glass, the only glass manufacturing facility specializing in ‘small quantities with a vast variety’ strategy in Asia-Pacific. The organization annually produces nearly 400k tonnes of glass containers, including food, milk, alcoholic beverage, medical-use, light bulb, and cosmetic containers.

Besides the traditional B2B businesses, Richard helped the company to launch a B2C brand named ‘Aqua-Soul,’ targeting lifestyle-driven consumer segments in daily storage glass products, including decanters, wine, and whiskey glasses, tea sets, etc., to introduce glass in a much more elegant way.

“We also focus on B2B2C clients with our “total solution strategy”- for small retailers who want to open new restaurants, shops we can provide end-to-end solutions for any glass-related packaging needs, and we launched on our e-commerce platforms such as Alibaba or Amazon, Shoppee, etc.“- states Richard.

Reviving the Brand

Once Richard decided to help his family run H.H. Glass, he realized the company was facing three primary problems, firstly, it had no new business model; secondly, it failed to attract employees; and thirdly, the image of the industry.

Solving the old problem: The Aquasoul brand and total solution were Richard’s ideas, so the company could create a new business model and improve its gross margin. Richard demanded that the team must give H.H. glass 30% of the gross margin, which resulted in a gradual improvement of the overall gross margin to 14%, and with the new brand, the firm was able to launch as many as 200 products with cross creativities from several industry leaders and designers.
Attracting Employees: Under Richard’s leadership, H.H. Glass launched its digital transformation strategy and invested in SAP ERP to identify bottlenecks in its value chain. It also introduced 15 robotic arms to increase productivity. This eventually freed up 25% of labor times, which helped to do more high-value work and decreased headcount by 45%. With this level of digital transformation, H.H. Glass could compete in talent recruiting in the harsh environment of Hsinchu, Taiwan.
Solving the Sunset Industry Problem: Richard launched ESG initiatives, through which he was able to guide the company against GRI and SDGs set by the U.N. Although the brand was not required to do so, in August 2022, it issued its first-ever ESG sustainability report. In this report, the firm has identified several important ‘stakeholders’ with respect to shareholders, workers, clients, suppliers, etc. The firm also reduced 17425 tonnes of CO2 emission in 2021. Richard says, “We believe that making glass from recycled, reused, and reduced is sustainable, and as we keep doing this business, we are doing our earth good; that’s our mission.”

Tackling Daily Challenges

Richard finds it challenging to assess whether the level of tasks is easy or hard because each day is different. He says, “To cover all areas of the business and discuss with a meeting on important issues to look into can be challenging yet rewarding once you can identify insights of next step. Different from a department perspective, and it is more of a global perspective.”

Under Richard’s leadership, H.H. Glass aspires to provide the most sustainable packaging materials globally to avoid harmful packaging materials to the earth, such as plastics or PET. He believes the firm is following its mission and vision with its new branding strategy, digital transformation, and ESG initiatives. It is a matter of time when people will understand the usage of 100% recyclable products like glass packaging needs to be increased to reduce our waste and damage to the already fragile ecosystem.

Picture of the Future

Richard believes it’s very tough to predict the political and economic outcome of our world, and as a company leader, it isn’t easy to understand a lot of things happening across the planet, which can affect business strategy.

He says, “As the Ukraine-Russian war goes on, the oil price is skyrocketing; also, living in Taiwan, you are not sure when we will become like Ukraine! So to continue our operations, we are investigating other options such as relocating factories to other southeast countries- but I admit these days running a business, we do face more political and economic risks compared to first-generation leaders.“

Author: admin