The Record - Issue 18: Autumn 2020

21 MAR K E TWATCH Standard Chartered Bank and Microsoft have entered a three-year partnership to accelerate the bank’s digital transformation through a cloud-first strategy. Microsoft says that Standard Chartered will use Microsoft Azure to “make banking simpler, faster and more convenient”. According to Microsoft, the partnership will help Standard Chartered realise new offerings like virtual banking and next-generation payments through co-innovation, while allowing it to deliver seamless banking virtually anywhere and at any time. Standard Chartered Bank adopts cloud-first strategy with Microsoft PayiQ to simplify travel in rural areas PayiQ will offer combination tickets to make commuting and travelling easier in Southwest Finland’s rural areas. This service will cater for feeder transport to Turku, the area’s main city. Instead of obtaining several tickets or travel cards, customers can use a mobile app to buy one season ticket that includes journeys to and within Turku. This makes using public transport for getting to work and hobbies easy, flexible and more attractive. Tickets are digitally validated, and boarding data will be automatically reported to bus operators and local organisations for possible travel compensation. PayiQ’s solution provides the whole ticketing system, from account-based back end to mobile app and from topping up travel cards to extensive reporting. Bosch adds new features to Parking Lot Sensor Bosch has added new features to its Parking Lot Sensor (PLS), which was originally introduced in 2019. The innovative, intelligent sensor for parking lot monitoring provides new possibilities for implementing smart city applications (learn more on page 156). In 2020, Bosch will make the on-ground variant of the PLS available with new aesthetics. These will accommodate customer-specific branding and make the product more noticeable when installed on asphalt or paving stones. Bosch is also currently developing an in-ground variant of the sensor.