Treasury Minister Visits Sage To Discuss SMB Digital Transformation

Treasury Minister Visits Sage To Discuss SMB Digital Transformation

business Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, James Murray MP, visited Sage’s Newcastle headquarters to explore technological advancements in support of small businesses and accountants. The visit coincided with the launch of a government consultation on e-invoicing, aiming to promote wider adoption among UK businesses and public sector entities. During his visit, the minister observed Sage’s development of technology supporting the adoption of Making Tax Digital (MTD) for Income Tax. He also examined the integration of AI-driven solutions, such as speech-to-text technology, designed to enhance customer experience. Sage’s Newcastle headquarters functions as its engineering and innovation hub, developing solutions to simplify financial management for SMBs. The Minister engaged in a roundtable with Sage’s Accountant & Bookkeeper Advisory Board to understand how accountants are preparing clients for MTD, focusing on transitioning to digital tools to reduce administrative burdens and enhance efficiency. Starting April 2026, MTD for Income Tax will be mandatory for self-employed individuals and landlords earning over £50,000 annually. HMRC encourages voluntary participation in public beta testing to prepare for these changes. The Minister discussed with Sage and accounting professionals ways to motivate small businesses to join the test phase before the mandatory implementation. […]

Can state ownership help facilitate the digital transformation of private sector enterprises? Evidence from China

Can state ownership help facilitate the digital transformation of private sector enterprises? Evidence from China

Introduction According to the Digital China Development Report 2022, China’s digital economy surged in size to 45.5 trillion Yuan during 2021, constituting 39.8% of the country’s GDP. This transformation established the digital economy as a significant driving factor behind China’s overall economic advancement (Ma and Lin, 2023 , Zhang et al. 2024 ). The private sector enterprises (PSEs) in China have witnessed a swift expansion in recent years. They now constitute 90% of the nation’s businesses, contributing over 50% of its tax revenue, driving 60% of its GDP, fostering 70% of its technological innovation, and accounting for 80% of its employment opportunities Footnote 1 . The ability of PSEs to effectively implement digital transformation is important for the long-term development of China’s digital economy. Meanwhile, Petani et al. ( 2023 ) highlight that digital transformation is essential for ensuring organizational survival and achieving business success. However, digital transformation often entails high capital investment, technical difficulties, and a long return period (Liu et al. 2022 ; Xu and Tan, 2024 , Eller et al. 2023 , and Fan et al. 2024 ). Compared with state-owned enterprises (SOEs), PSEs in China frequently lack sufficient economic resources to assist with their digital […]

Considered Urgent, Ombudsman Reminds Digitalization Transformation In Regions

Considered Urgent, Ombudsman Reminds Digitalization Transformation In Regions

Digital transformation (Photo: Unsplash) The Ombudsman reminded that equitable digitalization transformation in the area is urgent to be carried out after the implementation of the Minister of Home Affairs Regulation (Permendagri) Number 7 of 2024. "Permendagri Number 7 of 2024 is part of the follow-up to the government’s program regarding the importance of digital transformation. This will be evenly distributed if it is not only a central government program but also followed up by the provincial government and even to districts/cities," said Ombudsman Member Hery Susanto quoting Antara. In a Public Discussion entitled Transformation of Equal Digital Public Services in the Regions: Implementation of the Strategic Regulation of Permendagri Number 7 of 2024 in Jakarta (13/2), he said digitizing public services is a necessity for the community today. Digitization demands changes and shifting ways of life as citizens. For this reason, he continued, digital transformation is important for all industrial companies and the government sector that rely heavily on systems, technology and information, strategies, and human resources. Hery said that one way to accelerate digital transformation is to realize excellent public services, namely by building integrated utility network facilities (SJUT). "Digital transformation, which is about releasing value from business […]

Expert Technology Leader Pioneers Advanced Digital Transformation Algorithms With RPA And AI For Critical Government Health And Human Services Initiatives

Expert Technology Leader Pioneers Advanced Digital Transformation Algorithms With RPA And AI For Critical Government Health And Human Services Initiatives

Hub4Business Deepika Rikhi’s pioneering advanced work in digital transformation for government health and human services. Deepika Rikhi Today, in a time when government health and human services agencies are increasingly turning to digital transformation to overcome the complex challenges they face. These challenges, ranging from fragmented systems and resource constraints to the need for faster and more accurate service delivery, require innovative solutions. Deepika Rikhi, a visionary of technology, is leading disruptive change. Her experience in using Robotic Process Automation (RPA) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) is generating new standards in the way health and human services organizations provide critical services to communities. The results are clear: enhanced service delivery and greater accessibility for vulnerable populations. One of the more contentious issues in social agencies is the dependence on a multisystem that is not integrated and hence requires the caseworkers to manually map data from platform to platform. Rikhi’s solutions, leveraging RPA, automate activity reconciliation and activity updates for use within these siloed systems. This not only alleviates the administrative burden on caseworkers but also allows them to focus their attention on providing meaningful, quality service to their clients. “I believe AI is here to aid the human services industry […]

Party chief requests priority for sci-tech development, digital transformation

Party chief requests priority for sci-tech development, digital transformation

Your browser does not support the audio element. The Party chief asked for prompt amendments to the Law on Science and Technology, followed by revisions to other laws to ensure consistency and alignment with practical requirements. Party General Secretary Tô Lâm speaks at the group debate on Saturday. — VNA/VNS Photo HÀ NỘI — Party General Secretary Tô Lâm underlined the need to give priority and encouragement to the advancement of science, technology, innovation, and national digital transformation, noting that related issues raised by legislators should be further studied and incorporated to promptly bring the Politburo’s Resolution No 57 into practice. Speaking in a group debate within the National Assembly’s 9th extraordinary session on Saturday morning, the Party chief requested the prompt implementation of the NA’s resolution on piloting certain policies to resolve obstacles in scientific and technological development, and innovation activities, stating that it is necessary to address institutional bottlenecks as soon as possible. He pointed out issues that need to be settled in the Bidding Law, stressing that if the bidding process does not encourage the purchase of high-quality equipment and instead prioritises the cheapest options, Việt Nam risks becoming a dumping ground for outdated science and […]

AI-Led IT Transformation: TCS Partners with UPM to Modernize its IT Landscape

AI-Led IT Transformation: TCS Partners with UPM to Modernize its IT Landscape

TCS to Modernize Enento Group’s IT Infrastructure, Digital Workplace TCS will maintain business continuity and deploy ignio TM platform to transform IT for UPM, to accelerate automation, drive cost savings, and implement an AI-first operating model PRESS RELEASE HELSINKI | MUMBAI, FEBRUARY 13, 2025: Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) (BSE: 532540, NSE: TCS), a leading global IT services, consulting, and business solutions company, has signed an agreement to drive end-to-end IT transformation of UPM, a global company with a business portfolio of decarbonization solutions, advanced materials, renewable fibres, and communication papers, based on sustainable, renewable feedstock. The digital transformation will help drive growth for UPM, enhance user experience, and boost adoption of an AI-first operating model. To strengthen the enterprise IT value chain of UPM, TCS will deploy its AI-powered autonomous enterprise platform ignio TM . The platform will improve operational efficiency, enable continuous improvement, and increase IT system readiness and reliability. As part of the agreement, TCS will provide digital services including service desk, workspace services, onsite support services, business and platform application services, network and connectivity services, hybrid cloud services and Service Integration and Management (SIAM). TCS will also enhance the digital experience of UPM’s 15,800 employees by […]

How Small Businesses Can Thrive in a Changing Economy

How Small Businesses Can Thrive in a Changing Economy

Small businesses operate in an economy that is constantly shifting due to inflation, supply chain disruptions, labor shortages, and evolving consumer behavior. Forbes highlights that 35% of small businesses are concerned about cash-flow forecasting (predicting when and how money comes in and goes out). At the same time, digital transformation and remote work opportunities have reshaped how businesses operate, creating both new challenges and untapped potential. This blog post explores actionable strategies to help small businesses succeed despite economic uncertainties. It covers key areas such as digital transformation, operational cost management, financial stability, and innovative growth approaches. Understanding Economic Shifts and Their Impact on Small Businesses Economic shifts influence every aspect of a business, from operating costs to consumer demand. Small businesses, in particular, face significant challenges in such situations. For instance, inflation continues to be a major concern for small business owners. Statista reports that the U.S. inflation rate averaged 4.1% in 2023, impacting material costs, rent, utilities, and wages. Around 53% of small business owners reported rising inflation as their primary challenge, according to a survey by Entrepreneur. Higher prices for goods and services put pressure on businesses to adjust pricing strategies while maintaining customer loyalty. Moreover, […]

AI and Digital Twins: The Key to Scaling Digital Transformation in Plumbing

AI and Digital Twins: The Key to Scaling Digital Transformation in Plumbing

67ae109e1ea03e8a20a35e80 Dreamstime M 329149236 Technology Feb. 13, 2025 Capitalizing on any technology starts with recognizing where it can drive value. Digital transformation is key to success in almost any sector today. Still, many organizations in more industrial sectors, like plumbing, have faced difficulty implementing and scaling their Industry 4.0 projects. One of the primary challenges in succeeding in digital transformation is a lack of focus. Prioritizing the most impactful technologies—namely, artificial intelligence (AI) and digital twins—can help plumbing contractors overcome these barriers and see greater results. How AI and Digital Twins Improve Plumbing Operations Capitalizing on any technology starts with recognizing where it can drive value. With that in mind, here’s a closer look at the role of AI and digital twins in plumbing system optimization. Predictive Maintenance One of the most significant applications of AI in plumbing is predictive maintenance (PdM). PdM monitors pipe networks in real time through Internet of Things (IoT) sensors, using machine learning to analyze conditions for early signs of failure. With enough data, machine learning models can predict repair issues before they occur, enabling timelier preventive care. While conventional, schedule-based maintenance technically does the same thing, it’s prone to error and causes a […]

Webinar | Securing Privileged Access During Business Transformation: PAM Leading Practices for M&A and Digital Evolution

Webinar | Securing Privileged Access During Business Transformation: PAM Leading Practices for M&A and Digital Evolution

Governance & Risk Management , Infrastructure as Code / Programmable Infrastructure , IT Risk Management Share Tweet Share In today’s rapidly evolving business landscape, mergers, acquisitions, and digital transformation initiatives present unique challenges for managing privileged access. This webinar explores modern Privileged Access Management (PAM) strategies essential for organizations undergoing significant structural and technological changes. Our security experts will share battle-tested approaches for maintaining robust access controls while enabling business agility during critical transition periods. Key topics include: Securing privileged accounts during IT infrastructure consolidation Implementing Just-in-Time access for temporary integration teams Establishing Zero Standing Privileges (ZSP) as the foundation for secure business transformation Automating access governance across merged technology stacks Balancing security with business velocity in cloud transformation Managing third-party vendor access during system integration Building a scalable PAM framework that adapts to organizational change Whether you’re planning an acquisition, managing a post-merger integration, or leading a digital transformation initiative, this session will provide actionable insights for modernizing your privileged access strategy. Join us to learn how leading organizations are leveraging PAM to accelerate business transformation while maintaining security and compliance. By registering to watch and providing your contact details, you acknowledge and agree to share the personal […]

The Future of Digital Transformation: Insights from Inetum UK CEO

The Future of Digital Transformation: Insights from Inetum UK CEO

stock image of a cloud | Protera AWS Azure Key Takeaways ⇨ Inetum appointed Kathy Quashie as CEO for the UKI and Growing Markets, positioning the company for further growth and innovation in digital transformation, particularly in mature markets like the UK. ⇨ The acquisition of Unifii emphasizes Inetum’s commitment to enhancing capabilities with ServiceNow, expanding its service offerings across critical sectors, and establishing itself as an agile and transformative partner for businesses. ⇨ Kathy Quashie outlines a roadmap focusing on AI readiness, emphasizing the importance of a clear data strategy, affordability in AI tools, and fostering a cultural shift towards continuous learning as essential elements for integrating AI into operations. Last year was a landmark one for Inetum . 2024 saw the European digital services leader appoint Kathy Quashie as Inetum CEO of United Kingdom & Ireland (UKI) and Growing Markets. The company also strengthened its position as a global ServiceNow Elite partner with the acquisition of London’s Unifii, one of ServiceNow’s biggest European partners. And to round it all off, Inetum bagged an award at December’s ERP Today Awards 2024 for its excellence in operational innovation. 2025 then sees Inetum start off in good stead, and Kathy […]