The Record - Issue 19: Winter 2020

22 www. t e c h n o l o g y r e c o r d . c om MAR K E TWATCH AVEVA and Microsoft are expanding their long-standing partnership to drive digital transformation in the manufacturing and energy industries, by focusing on the cloud and artificial intelligence. AVEVA aims to help customers maximise value from AVEVA’s integrated portfolio with Microsoft solutions such as Azure, to achieve implementations quicker, connect teams more readily and drive growth opportunities. As part of the partnership, the two companies aim to help their joint customers address sustainability issues while adjusting to a “digital-first new normal”, and help customers understand new ways to use the cloud, Azure AI, Azure Machine Learning and Big Data Analytics. AVEVA and Microsoft extend partnership with cloud focus PayiQ and FCC to digitise ticketing in Persian Gulf PayiQ and Future Communications Company (FCC) are looking for joint opportunities to digit- ise ticketing operations of transport companies in Kuwait and the Persian Gulf. “Digital payments are trending in the Middle East and markets are expected to grow,” said Tuomo Parjanen, CEO of PayiQ. “With the Covid-19 situ- ation, contactless and convenient digital payments are likely to play an even stronger role in the future.” Salah Al Awadhi, CEO of FCC, says that the com- bination of PayiQ’s and FCC’s strengths will help to provide customers in Kuwait and the wider region with local support and a one-stop shop for digital payment solutions. Crestron launches Scheduling Panels for Microsoft Teams Crestron has launched the new Crestron 70 Series Scheduling Panels integrated with Microsoft Teams, giving employees real- time data and control over their office environment. The Teams integration will bring meeting scheduling functionality to Crestron’s panel display devices, providing staff with a comprehensive overview of each room’s status in real- time, including occupancy, availability and cleanliness. The Panels are designed to be mounted outside the meeting room, where they display data from inside the room to those approaching it. Occupancy sensors notify employees when a room is full and can automatically release the space if no one shows up.