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MINI USA and MINI Financial Services Enable Dealers to Facilitate End-to-End Online Shopping Experience with Launch of MINI Anywhere Online Retail Platform

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WOODCLIFF LAKE, N.J., June 17, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — MINI USA announced today the launch of MINI Anywhere, a custom online retail platform that will provide dealers with the opportunity to offer MINI customers a fully digital end-to-end online shopping experience. The unique, custom solution covers all facets of the purchase process, from vehicle selection, trade-in, and monthly payment calculations, through to financing, approval, contracting and e-signatures – all done on-line in as little as 30 minutes.

The announcement of MINI Anywhere comes as online shopping has increased across several industries following the COVID19 pandemic. In fact, a recent survey commissioned by MINI USA through Engine’s CARAVAN® found that 60% of consumers surveyed were willing or very willing to go through the entire car buying journey via a digital platform. It also showed that 59% of consumers surveyed were more comfortable making big purchases online than they were two years ago.

MINI Anywhere will not only give consumers the option to purchase and finance their MINI online but will also benefit both dealers and customers by expanding the reach of the dealership over a broader geography. Now customers who live geographically further from a MINI dealership will be able to purchase a MINI from their home, with the option for the dealer to offer the customer the option to pick up or have their new MINI delivered.

“We wanted to come up with a simple, frictionless process for our dealers to facilitate a sale completely online because we know that is increasingly what consumers expect,” said Patrick McKenna, Department Head of Marketing, Product and Strategy, MINI USA. “With MINI Anywhere we’ve built an e-commerce solution that offers customers the ability to buy a MINI online in as little as 30 minutes from anywhere in the country.”

The development of MINI Anywhere started when both MINI USA and MINI Financial Services came together during the pandemic looking for an end-to-end digital contracting solution for MINI’s 115 dealers in the U.S.  After a search for an off-the-shelf solution came up empty, the two entities decided a custom platform was needed to bridge several complicated gaps in the automotive retail process. MINI USA and MINI Financial Services teamed up with Otoz, a division of NETSOL Technologies Inc. (Nasdaq: NTWK), which has helped develop the platform as a true end-to-end e-commerce experience. Active in the mobility space for several years, Otoz develops digital-first automotive retail and mobility solutions for OEMs, dealerships, and start-ups to further facilitate seamless customer and dealer engagement.

MINI Anywhere is also unique in that it represents a true one-stop solution from the OEM and captive finance company to seamlessly and transparently bring more purchase options to our MINI customers and fans.

“Partnering with MINI USA and Otoz to bring customer-centric solutions and ease of doing business with us is paramount,” said Stefan Christman, General Manager, Sales & Marketing, MINI Financial Services. “MINI Anywhere gives us the validation we need to sell cars online while also maintaining strong credit and access to the most attractive interest rates for our customers and prospects.”

Flipped Financing
The launch of MINI Anywhere comes less than 2 years after MINI USA and MINI Financial Services teamed up to create Flipped Financing, an innovative vehicle financing program that helps MINI dealers put consumers at the heart of an easier and simplified purchase experience. With Flipped Financing, all approved credit applicants receive one fully transparent interest rate – as advertised, up-font and without any surprises. At the same time the program creates a straightforward and clear-cut purchase process that eliminates the need for potentially lengthy negotiations or hassle for both the customer and the dealer.  MINI Anywhere is the perfect complement to Flipped Financing, bringing the MINI consumer purchase options and flexibility through digital tools that are secure, transparent, and simple.

The MINI Anywhere e-commerce program is currently in its pilot phase and is now being rolled out to select dealers in California.  A further expanded rollout to dealers in other markets will continue over the next few months.

The consumer survey commissioned by MINI USA additionally found that 74% of consumers surveyed plan to continue current online shopping habits/preferences post pandemic. 42% of consumers surveyed also said pricing/finance ranked most important when deciding on a vehicle purchase.

Survey methodology
The General Population survey was conducted by Engine’s CARAVAN® among a sample of 1,005 adults comprising 503 men and 502 women 18 years of age and older on behalf of MINI USA. This survey was live from June 4-6, 2021.

About MINI in the US
MINI is an independent brand of the BMW Group. In the United States, MINI USA operates as a business unit of BMW of North America, LLC, located in Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey and includes the marketing and sales organizations for the MINI brand. The MINI USA sales organization is represented in the U.S. through a network of 115 MINI passenger car dealers. MINI USA began selling vehicles in the U.S. in 2002 with the introduction of the MINI Cooper and MINI Cooper S Hardtops. Since then, the MINI Brand in the U.S. has grown to encompass a model range of five unique vehicles.

BMW Group Financial Services in the US
BMW Group Financial Services was established in the U.S. in 1992 to support the sales and marketing of BMW Group products. Since then, the Group has expanded to provide service to markets in multiple countries and continues to evolve beyond its role as a captive finance unit. BMW Group Financial Services offers a wide range of leasing, retail and commercial financing and banking products tailored to meet the needs of its retail customers. The Group also provides financing to BMW Group dealers for expanding dealership capabilities and enhancing overall operations. BMW Group Financial Services employs more than 1,000 people, including consultants and service providers, many of whom are in the Hilliard, Ohio, which serves the U.S.A., Brazilian, Canadian, and Mexican markets through its Regional Service Center. 

In 2001, the MINI Financial Services division was established to provide support for the brand’s dealers and its customers by offering financing and leasing options and branded financial services products.

About NETSOL Technologies
NETSOL Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq: NTWK) is a worldwide provider of IT and enterprise software solutions primarily serving the global leasing and finance industry. The Company’s suite of applications is backed by 40 years of domain expertise and supported by a committed team of more than 1300 professionals placed in eight strategically located support and delivery centers throughout the world. NFS, LeasePak, LeaseSoft or NFS Ascent® – help companies transform their Finance and Leasing operations, providing a fully automated asset-based finance solution covering the complete finance and leasing lifecycle.

About Otoz
Otoz, a division of NETSOL Technologies Inc. (Nasdaq: NTWK), provides business-to-business, white-label technology solutions for new mobility. The Otoz suite of agile and customizable mobility solutions ranges from car sharing and subscription products to AI-enabled chatbots, allowing businesses to engage consumers and facilitate the complete transaction lifecycle intelligently and digitally. Otoz technologies empower automotive companies and start-ups to launch digital retailing and new mobility models quickly and efficiently. The technology Otoz has developed is cloud-native and supported by artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), internet of things (IoT) and blockchain. Otoz technology drives utilization, while supporting robust and efficient operations.

Otoz Contacts:

Murad Baig
Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer
[email protected]

Faraaz Ghauri
Chief Operating Officer
[email protected]

NETSOL Investor Relations Contact:

Matt Glover and Tom Colton
Gateway Investor Relations
1-949-574-3860
[email protected]

MINI USA Press Contact:
Andrew Cutler
Head of Corporate Communications
MINI USA
201.307.3784
[email protected]

GlobeNewswire is one of the world's largest newswire distribution networks, specializing in the delivery of corporate press releases financial disclosures and multimedia content to the media, investment community, individual investors and the general public.

Artificial Intelligence

University medical centers in Germany choose Sectra’s radiology solution to streamline workflows and shorten lead times for patients

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LINKÖPING, Sweden, April 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — International medical imaging IT and cybersecurity company Sectra (STO: SECT B) has signed two contracts to provide the radiology module of its enterprise imaging solution with two university medical centers in Germany—Universitätsklinikum Tübingen and Universitätsmedizin Göttingen. By implementing Sectra’s radiology solution, the hospitals aim to improve and streamline radiology workflows with Sectra’s tools for enhanced reporting efficiency, in turn speeding up diagnostics.

“When choosing a vendor, we wanted one that could provide us with a stable and fast system. We also wanted one facilitating collaboration among our radiologists. That way we can streamline our radiology workflows and in turn shorten lead times for patients as well as reduce the ever increasing workload for radiologists,” says Dr. Babak Panahi, Managing Senior Physician and Head of CT and CT Intervention, Universitätsmedizin Göttingen.
Universitätsmedizin Göttingen and Universitätsklinikum Tübingen are two university medical centers located in the cities of Göttingen and Tübingen in Germany managing 300,000 and 600,000 radiology exams a year. The two separate contracts for Sectra’s radiology solution were both signed during the third quarter of Sectra’s 2023/2024 fiscal year.
“Radiologists are under a lot of pressure as they are challenged to handle more images and more complex cases with less resources. Having a solution designed to streamline radiology workflows, facilitating reading and reporting of images, is therefore paramount. I am happy and excited to support Universitätsmedizin Göttingen and Universitätsklinikum Tübingen on their journey towards efficient radiology diagnostics,” says Guido Bötticher, Managing Director, Sectra DACH.
The radiology module is part of Sectra’s enterprise imaging solution that provides a unified strategy for all imaging needs while lowering operational costs. The scalable and modular solution, with a VNA at its core, allows healthcare providers to grow from ology to ology and from enterprise to enterprise. Visit Sectra’s website to read more about Sectra and why it’s top-ranked in ‘Best in KLAS’.
About SectraSectra contributes to a healthier and safer society by assisting health systems throughout the world to enhance the efficiency of care, and authorities and defense forces in Europe to protect society’s most sensitive information. The company, founded in 1978, is headquartered in Linköping, Sweden, with direct sales in 19 countries, and distribution partners worldwide. Sales in the 2022/2023 fiscal year totaled SEK 2,351 million. The Sectra share is quoted on the Nasdaq Stockholm exchange. For more information, visit Sectra’s website.
For further information, please contact: Dr. Torbjörn Kronander, CEO and President Sectra  AB, 46 (0) 705 23 52 27Marie Ekström Trägårdh, Executive Vice President Sectra AB and President Sectra Imaging IT Solutions, 46 (0)708 23 56 10
This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com
https://news.cision.com/sectra/r/university-medical-centers-in-germany-choose-sectra-s-radiology-solution-to-streamline-workflows-and,c3965089
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Sectra’s radiology solution
 

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New CPS Protection Platform: TXOne Networks Unveils SageOne at GISec Global

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TAIPEI, April 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — TXOne Networks, a frontrunner in the realm of cyber-physical systems (CPS) security, is set to unveil its groundbreaking CPS security platform, SageOne, at the highly anticipated GISec Global from April 23rd to 25th, 2024. Attendees can find TXOne Networks showcasing SageOne at stand B99 in hall 5. This innovative platform consolidates all CPS security products onto a single, central management platform, promising streamlined operations and optimized threat detection capabilities.

SageOne, aptly named “Wise Man Number One,” serves as a comprehensive management console providing a holistic view of the CPS attack surface within operational technology (OT) environments. By enabling centralized control of TXOne’s three core product lines – Stellar for endpoint protection, Element for security inspection, and Edge for network defense – SageOne facilitates integrated OT security throughout the lifecycle of protected assets, ensuring robust threat detection and response mechanisms.
Key features of SageOne include:
CPS Attack Surface Management: Prioritizing operational security by offering clear visibility into the overall security posture of OT environments, SageOne identifies security focal points, illuminating asset information and security controls.Integrated Lifecycle Protection: Through centralized management, SageOne simplifies cybersecurity governance and fosters collaborative defense. It serves as an abstraction layer, facilitating contextualization and consolidation of data across multiple products, offering tailored, task-oriented consoles for executives, security personnel, and plant leaders.CPS Threat Detection & Response: SageOne aggregates security insights from various solutions to scout for potential risks, enabling early caution and response to both known and unknown threats.SageOne’s foundation rests upon advanced components, including Threat Intelligence, Behavior-Based AI Analytics Engines, Compliance Framework, Data Visualizer, and Ecosystem Integrator, ensuring comprehensive protection and seamless integration of different tools and technologies.
With its focus on analyzing unexpected behavior and unknown threats, SageOne enables the identification of suspicious events through cross-telemetry analysis within the OT-native XDR engine. This amalgamation of advanced technologies and user-friendly interface ensures the protection of critical infrastructures.
For rapid threat response, SageOne issues early warnings of suspicious behavior and orchestrates cross-telemetry analysis for CPS Threat Detection & Response. Integrated Lifecycle Protection ensures the security of devices and systems throughout their service life, contributing to great cost efficiency.
TXOne Networks reaffirms its commitment to CPS security and continuous advancement in OT security through SageOne. Visit TXOne Networks at the GISec Global from April 23rd to 25th, 2024, at stand B99 in hall 5.
For further updates and information, follow TXOne Networks on the blog, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
About TXOne Networks:
TXOne Networks provides OT security products ensuring reliability and security in industrial control systems and operational technology environments through the OT Zero Trust methodology. Collaborating with leading industrial manufacturers and critical infrastructure operators, TXOne Networks offers practical and business-friendly approaches to OT defense. Its network and endpoint-based products secure OT networks and mission-critical devices in real-time with high security depth.
Website: www.txone.com 
Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2389611/SageOne_header_3.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/new-cps-protection-platform-txone-networks-unveils-sageone-at-gisec-global-302119386.html

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Imparta Launches World’s First Sales Methodology-Aware AI

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LONDON, April 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Imparta Ltd, a global leader in performance improvement for customer-facing teams, has announced the release of i-Coach AI, the world’s first sales methodology-aware AI.

Over the past 18 months, AI has reshaped many industries and professions, with sales being no exception. Yet, generic LLMs such as ChatGPT are poor at coaching, and at selling. Even data-driven AI insights are only as good as the qualitative frameworks that underpin their observations.
i-Coach AI is the first expert Sales AI Coach that follows a proven, structured coaching process, and is fluent in all aspects of sales, account management, negotiation, customer success, commercial and business acumen, sales management and sales leadership. It is powered by Imparta’s award-winning, research-based Agile 3D methodology and complete, modular skills library.
Richard Barkey, Founder and CEO of Imparta, said “GenAI is one of the few truly transformative technologies in our lifetimes, and one that no sales organisation can ignore. We are genuinely excited to introduce i-Coach AI, an enterprise-grade coaching tool for salespeople, managers and leaders. I’m not exaggerating when I say that I’m using i-Coach AI myself, to think through strategies around specific clients, and indeed for the whole business. This tool is designed to integrate seamlessly across various sales ecosystems and tech stacks, and provides targeted, IP-aware coaching and practice simulations of customer conversations, at multiple points of need.”
As part of the launch, Imparta will host a webinar on April 23rd and May 2nd, hosted by Richard Barkey, titled ‘Leveraging Sales Methodology-Aware AI at Scale in the Enterprise’. Click here to learn more.
During this webinar, Richard will announce details of i-Coach AI and Imparta’s upcoming course for sales teams: Leveraging AI for Sales. He will also set out a range of essential use cases that we are rolling out across Imparta’s agile sales ecosystem and across the tech stack.
About Imparta
Imparta is a global leader in performance improvement for Sales, CX and Leadership. Our modular ecosystem includes three elements, developed through 25 years of research and experience with leading global organisations: Agile Sales Methodology, Agile Change Process and AI Sales Technology.
Whether you need to plug a gap in your existing training, provide self-paced learning, or build an entire Sales, CX or Leadership Academy, get in touch at [email protected].
Website: www.imparta.com
Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2392278/i_Coach_Imparta_Ltd.jpg
Contact details: Adam [email protected] Tel: +44 (0) 20 7610 8800

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/imparta-launches-worlds-first-sales-methodology-aware-ai-302123771.html

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