Acquisition expands supplier data platform

The deal strengthens Supplier.io’s new Atlas vendor master data management solution and connects supplier intelligence with enterprise data management capabilities. The company said the move will help procurement teams improve the quality and reliability of supplier data used across sourcing, finance and procurement systems.

Supplier.io said the acquisition of TealBook brings vendor master data management technology into its platform, allowing organisations to manage the full supplier data lifecycle within a single system.

The combined platform integrates Supplier.io’s supplier intelligence data with TealBook’s capabilities in vendor master data cleansing, legal entity resolution and corporate hierarchy mapping.

Supplier.io said the platform now covers 225 million global supplier profiles and verified legal registries.

Launch of Atlas vendor master data management solution

The acquisition complements the launch of Atlas, Supplier.io’s new vendor master data management solution designed to help procurement teams clean and standardise supplier data.

According to the company, fragmented and duplicated vendor data can create operational challenges including duplicate payments, missed discounts and administrative rework.

Atlas is designed to provide procurement teams with clean, accurate and standardised supplier data.

Connecting supplier intelligence with enterprise data management

Supplier.io said Atlas combines multiple data layers to create a unified supplier data foundation.

The platform integrates:

• Supplier.io’s supplier intelligence layer, including diversity certifications, sustainability attributes, risk and compliance data, and enriched firmographics
• TealBook’s vendor master data technology for entity resolution, data cleansing and corporate hierarchy mapping

The company said the result is a supplier data platform that makes supplier information more reliable and usable for enterprise procurement systems.

Addressing supplier data challenges in procurement

Neeraj Shah, CEO of Supplier.io, said accurate supplier data is critical for procurement operations.

“Clean supplier data is not a nice-to-have. It is the foundation for every sourcing decision, every spend analysis, and every procurement platform,” said Neeraj Shah, CEO of Supplier.io. “We built Supplier.io to give procurement teams the intelligence they need to act with confidence, and with TealBook’s technology now part of our platform, we can deliver that from the ground up. Atlas is the product our customers have been asking for, and it is available today.”

TealBook technology integrated into Supplier.io platform

Stephany Lapierre, Founder of TealBook, said the company’s technology focuses on solving vendor master data challenges within procurement systems.

“TealBook was built to solve one of the hardest problems in procurement data: getting the vendor master right,” said Stephany Lapierre, Founder of TealBook. “We spent years developing technical depth in entity resolution, deduplication, and hierarchy mapping because we knew that everything else in procurement runs on that foundation. Joining Supplier.io means that capability now reaches a much larger market, inside a platform that already delivers the intelligence layer our customers also need.”

Enterprise procurement benefits from improved supplier data

Supplier.io said Atlas is designed for procurement, finance and supplier diversity teams seeking improved visibility and control over supplier records.

The company said organisations using the platform can:

• Eliminate duplicate and fragmented supplier records across ERP and procurement systems
• Identify cost savings through supplier consolidation and spend visibility across corporate families
• Improve confidence in supplier selection, reporting and compliance
• Accelerate sourcing using cleaner and pre-qualified supplier data

Atlas is available now and works with existing procurement systems including SAP Ariba and Oracle systems.

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New agreement supports growing power demand from AI data centres

The agreement extends the companies’ existing collaboration to deliver stable and rapidly deployable power solutions for hyperscale AI infrastructure.

Under the agreement, ABB will provide 35 synchronous condensers with flywheel technology along with associated prefabricated eHouse units to the Texas-based microgrid power generation company . The orders are expected to be booked in the second quarter of 2026.

Power stability for next-generation AI infrastructure

The equipment will support VoltaGrid’s expanding data centre power platform, delivering the voltage stability required by high-performance AI computing systems.

Synchronous condensers act as stabilising assets within VoltaGrid’s behind-the-meter power solutions. They provide instantaneous inertia, support short-circuit events and maintain network voltage through reactive power management, helping ensure resilient operation for high-density data centre loads.

ABB’s scope also includes high-availability medium- and low-voltage distribution infrastructure and excitation systems, designed to maximise system reliability and uptime.

Expanding distributed power solutions for hyperscale computing

The collaboration aims to accelerate the deployment of power infrastructure designed specifically for the needs of AI data centres.

“VoltaGrid’s power platform is purpose-built to deliver large-scale power with exceptional dynamic performance and reliability for next-generation digital infrastructure,” said Nathan Ough, CEO of VoltaGrid.

“By integrating ABB’s advanced grid stabilization technologies with our AI-optimized power systems, we are able to meet increasingly stringent transient performance requirements while accelerating deployment at gigawatt scale.”

VoltaGrid’s systems are designed to combine performance and speed with operational efficiency, reduced noise and a compact footprint.

Integrated offering across ABB technology divisions

The partnership brings together capabilities from multiple ABB business areas, including automation, electrification and motion technologies.

“Extending our collaboration with VoltaGrid demonstrates the strength of ABB’s businesses working together combining automation, electrification and motion expertise and technologies with innovative distributed power systems to create greater value for customers,” said Per Erik Holsten, President of ABB’s Energy Industries division.

“Together, we are enabling reliable, resilient and scalable power infrastructure for data centers serving the rapidly growing AI economy.”

Rising energy demand from global data centres

The project comes as energy demand from data centres continues to grow globally. Data centres accounted for approximately 1.5 percent of the world’s electricity consumption in 2024, with the United States responsible for around 45 percent of this total.

ABB supports data centres worldwide with automation, electrification and digitalisation technologies designed to improve reliability, efficiency and scalability as demand for digital infrastructure increases.

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Expanding fan experience on digital platforms

IBM and the Masters Tournament have launched new AI-powered digital features for the 90th edition of the tournament, expanding the fan experience across the event’s digital platforms.

Powered by IBM watsonx, the new capabilities use generative AI and agentic AI technologies to help golf fans explore tournament history and gain deeper insight into gameplay during the event at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia.

The enhancements build on a 30-year collaboration between IBM and the Masters, with the goal of bringing the tournament’s history and on-course action to millions of fans worldwide.

AI-powered search unlocks 50 years of Masters history

A new feature, Masters Vault Search, transforms the tournament’s video archive into an interactive search experience.

Using conversational prompts, fans can explore more than 50 years of Masters final-round broadcasts. The system uses AI agents powered by IBM technologies including Granite small language models and watsonx Orchestrate to locate clips instantly within full-length replays.

The platform analyzes footage using optical character recognition, speech-to-text transcription of broadcast commentary and scene detection. It also uses the Masters’ historical database to provide metadata on each clip, including tournament results dating back to 1968 and individual stroke data from 2015.

Hole Insights enhanced with AI-driven shot analysis

IBM has also enhanced Hole Insights, an AI-powered feature now returning for its third year on Masters digital platforms.

The feature combines visuals with data-driven insights to explain how each shot influences outcomes during play. When a ball comes to rest, its coordinates are captured and compared with historical data for the hole location.

Using watsonx analysis, the system calculates the probabilities of outcomes such as eagle, birdie, par or bogey and generates contextual insights for fans.

Legendary caddie and commentator Jim ‘Bones’ Mackay advised the development team to help deliver more accurate and context-rich analysis of the course.

AI transforming digital fan engagement

“The Masters Tournament and IBM have continually raised the bar on unique digital experiences that blend cutting-edge technology with the timelessness of Augusta National Golf Club,” said Jonathan Adashek, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Communications at IBM.

“The introduction of Masters Vault Search and updates to Hole Insights show how generative and agentic AI can transform vast amounts of data into meaningful insights – whether you’re a golf fan who wants to understand the implications of a single shot in real time, or a financial institution using AI to analyze millions of transactions to identify patterns and inform decisions.”

The new capabilities join other AI-enabled features on Masters platforms, including AI Highlights, Round in Three Minutes, My Group and the Masters app available on devices such as Apple Vision Pro.

90th Masters Tournament

The 90th Masters Tournament will take place April 9–12, 2026, at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia.

Fans can access the AI-powered features through Masters.com and the official Masters mobile app.

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Building Skills for Advanced Manufacturing

Global manufacturing solutions provider Jabil has announced a $1.1 million, three-year donation to St. Petersburg College (SPC) to strengthen the college’s advanced manufacturing training programmes and support the development of skilled production talent in the Tampa Bay region.

The funding will expand student access to real-world manufacturing technology, laboratory equipment and raw materials, while also supporting scholarships for soldering and mechatronics certifications and workforce readiness programmes.

The initiative aims to prepare students for in-demand roles in manufacturing, including soldering and robotics or semiconductor technician positions.

Industry Collaboration on Training and Curriculum

As part of the partnership, Jabil’s engineering and manufacturing teams will work with SPC faculty to develop curriculum and certification pathways aligned with current industry needs.

The programme will focus on equipping students with the technical skills required for roles supporting the production of technologies across sectors such as automation and renewable energy.

“We’re seeing exciting momentum in U.S. manufacturing, especially here in the Tampa Bay region. But continuing that growth requires a highly skilled workforce,” said John Kraus, Vice President of Operations, North America at Jabil.

“By investing in St. Petersburg College’s soldering and mechatronics programs, we’re building a pipeline of in-demand talent equipped with training and technical knowhow that can jump into key roles at manufacturers like Jabil from day one — roles that can be the start of exciting, fulfilling careers in a fast-growing industry.”

Supporting Workforce Development in Tampa Bay

Founded in 1966, Jabil is marking its 60th anniversary this year. The company employs more than 3,000 people across three manufacturing sites and its corporate headquarters in the Tampa Bay region, making it one of the area’s largest employers.

Employees also contribute approximately 13,000 volunteer hours each year through the company’s Jabil Cares community engagement programme.

“Collaborating with industry leaders like Jabil makes a direct and lasting impact on our students and our community,” said Belinthia Berry, Dean of Workforce Development at St. Petersburg College.

“This support strengthens our ability to deliver hands-on, career-focused education and ensures our programs stay aligned with current workforce needs. Together, we are creating more opportunities for students to build skills, earn credentials, and step confidently into high-demand careers.”

About St. Petersburg College

Founded in 1927, St. Petersburg College holds the distinction of being Florida’s first two-year institution. Institutionally accredited and nationally recognized, SPC became Florida’s first state college to offer bachelor’s degrees. The College now offers more than 300 programs, including associate and bachelor’s degrees, certificates, workforce certifications, transfer pathways, and short-term training opportunities.

SPC’s career-focused curriculum is developed in close partnership with industry leaders, ensuring that our students gain real-world skills and are prepared to thrive in today’s workforce.

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Technical support and funding to strengthen farm resilience

ADM has announced a new partnership with American Farmland Trust (AFT) aimed at strengthening resilience among U.S. farmers as they navigate shifting market demands, evolving trade policy, advancing technology and ongoing uncertainty.

Backed by a $500,000 investment from ADM Cares, the initiative will engage farmers across Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky and Missouri. The programme will provide direct technical assistance, succession planning support, peer networks and grant funding to help improve productivity, market access and farmer wellbeing.

Strengthening business and farm stewardship

Through the partnership, ADM Cares and AFT will work with hundreds of farmers to deliver practical support designed to strengthen both farm businesses and land stewardship.

“The Farm Forward Initiative reflects our continued commitment to working alongside American farmers and strengthening America’s farm economy,” said Gary McGuigan, ADM Senior Vice President and President, North America Ag Services & Oilseeds and Global Trade.

“By partnering with trusted organizations like American Farmland Trust, we’re offering American farmers access to the tools, resources and support they need to strengthen their businesses, care for their land, and sustain their families.”

The partnership comes at a time when U.S. farmers are adapting rapidly to a changing agricultural landscape. According to ADM, 315 family farms filed for bankruptcy last year, up 46% from 2024.

ADM said strengthening resilience requires a balance of economic strength, environmental stewardship and farmer wellbeing, making coordinated support and practical investment increasingly important.

American Farmland Trust to lead farmer engagement

American Farmland Trust will lead on-the-ground engagement, delivering hands-on support tailored to local needs through established networks focused on farm viability and land stewardship.

“Farm resilience starts with strong planning, strong networks, and strong communities,” said John Piotti, President and CEO of American Farmland Trust.

“Through this partnership, we’re building on our work to advance soil health to further help farmers invest in their future – while attracting the next generation – by providing practical resources, direct financial assistance, peer connections, and expanding access to succession planning support.”

Farm Forward Initiative supports long-term farm sustainability

The collaboration forms part of ADM’s Farm Forward Initiative, which brings together the company’s existing investments, partnerships and on-the-ground engagement into a unified platform focused on farmer resilience in a rapidly changing agricultural landscape.

The initiative aims to help farmers expand access to markets, resources and support while strengthening farm businesses and rural communities.

“Standing beside American farmers has always been a priority for ADM,” said McGuigan.

“Our success is closely connected to the success of the farmers we work with every day. The Farm Forward Initiative brings greater focus to that commitment: building on longstanding efforts and partnerships to help ensure farmers and rural communities remain strong for the long term.”

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A global flavour powerhouse

Unilever PLC and McCormick & Company have announced an agreement to combine Unilever’s Foods business with McCormick to create a global flavour powerhouse with a portfolio of leading brands including McCormick, Knorr and Hellmann’s, alongside growth brands such as Cholula, Maille and Frank’s.

The combined company will have revenues of approximately $20 billion, based on fiscal year 2025 data, and a strong presence across retail and foodservice markets. The deal reflects an enterprise value of $44.8 billion for Unilever Foods, equivalent to an EV/Sales ratio of 3.6x and an EV/EBITDA multiple of 13.8x, based on McCormick’s one-month volume-weighted average share price of $57.84.

As part of the transaction, Unilever and its shareholders will receive shares equal to 65% of the fully diluted combined company equity, while Unilever will also receive $15.7 billion in cash. Unilever shareholders will own 55.1% of the combined company, with Unilever retaining a 9.9% stake, while McCormick shareholders will hold 35%.

The transaction is expected to close by mid-2027, subject to shareholder approval, regulatory clearances and other customary conditions.

Building a global flavour business

The combination will bring together complementary portfolios across herbs, spices, seasonings, cooking aids, sauces and condiments, supported by global R&D capabilities and a broad geographic footprint.

The merged business is expected to generate around $600 million in annual run-rate cost synergies, with full value realised by the end of year three. A further $100 million in incremental cost and revenue synergies will be reinvested to support growth.

McCormick will retain its name, global headquarters in Hunt Valley, Maryland, and its NYSE listing, while establishing an international headquarters in the Netherlands and planning a secondary listing in Europe.

Unilever’s strategic shift to home and personal care

Following the separation of its foods division, Unilever will become a €39 billion pure-play home and personal care (HPC) company, operating across Beauty, Wellbeing, Personal Care and Home Care.

Based on FY2025 revenues, Beauty, Wellbeing and Personal Care will account for around 67% of group turnover, while emerging markets will represent 62% of revenues. The company said the shift will strengthen its focus on high-growth categories and markets.

Unilever reaffirmed its medium-term financial framework, targeting mid-single digit underlying sales growth, supported by at least 2% underlying volume growth and modest operating margin expansion.

Executive comments

Fernando Fernandez, Chief Executive Officer of Unilever, commented:

“For Unilever, this transaction is another decisive step in sharpening our portfolio and accelerating our strategy towards high-growth categories as a€39 billion pureplay HPC company with a proven sector-leading growth profile.

We are unlocking trapped value through a growth-led separation of Foods, creating a scaled, global flavour powerhouse. By combining Unilever Foods’ iconic leading brands and global reach with McCormick’s exceptional portfolio, category expertise and capabilities, we are establishing a focused, high-quality business with significant top line growth and value creation potential.

This is a combination built on strong strategic and cultural alignment, providing exciting opportunities for our people and ensuring our Foods brands continue to thrive as part of a global flavour leader. Our retained ownership stake reflects our conviction in the strength of the combined company and its future prospects.”

Brendan Foley, Chief Executive Officer of McCormick, commented:

“This transformative combination accelerates McCormick’s strategy and reinforces our continued focus on flavour. The Unilever Foods business is one we have long admired, with a portfolio that complements our existing business, capabilities and long-term vision. Together, we will be better positioned to accelerate growth in attractive categories. This combination will create a diversified flavour leader with a robust growth profile that remains differentiated by its focus on flavouring calories while others compete for them.

Unilever Foods’ global portfolio of strong brands, combined with our proven expertise in insight-driven brand-building and integration, will enable us to deliver flavour in new and exciting ways for more consumers, driving significant growth across the combined portfolio and value for all stakeholders. Integrating two global organisations of this scale requires disciplined execution, and we are confident that our detailed integration roadmap, experienced teams from McCormick and Unilever, external advisors and our strong partnership will enable us to capture the full value of this opportunity. McCormick is the right partner for Unilever Foods’ brands and employees, and our shared culture and values will empower our combination. We are excited to welcome their exceptional talent and international expertise to our Power of People culture.”

Leadership and governance

Upon completion, Brendan Foley will serve as Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of McCormick, while Marcos Gabriel will be Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer.

Executives from both McCormick and Unilever Foods will take senior leadership roles, and Unilever will appoint four of the twelve members of the combined company’s board.

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A New Approach to Vulnerability Management

NinjaOne has announced the launch of NinjaOne Vulnerability Management, a new solution designed to help IT teams identify, prioritise and remediate vulnerabilities faster.

Built natively into the company’s Unified IT Operations Platform, the solution combines AI-driven real-time vulnerability assessment, patch confidence scoring and automated remediation workflows. The goal is to reduce the time organisations remain exposed to vulnerabilities while simplifying operations for IT and security teams.

Traditional vulnerability management approaches rely on periodic scans and manual processes, which can create delays between detection and remediation. NinjaOne says its new platform addresses this gap by enabling organisations to identify and remediate vulnerabilities continuously in real time.

Reducing Risk in Modern IT Environments

“The traditional vulnerability management model – scan once or twice a week, export, hand off, wait – creates gaps, delays, and unnecessary risk,” said Rahul Hirani, Chief Product Officer at NinjaOne.

“Our customers are looking for ways to reduce risk faster without slowing down their teams and organizations. By integrating real-time vulnerability assessment, which scans continuously, directly with patching and endpoint management, we help customers reduce risk faster in a way that fits their existing processes and simplifies their work.”

Real-Time Visibility and Automated Patching

The new solution uses AI to analyse millions of data points across NinjaOne’s device inventory, enabling organisations to identify vulnerabilities continuously without relying on scheduled scans.

By linking vulnerability detection directly with autonomous patching workflows, the platform allows IT teams to prioritise and deploy patches across Windows and Linux systems from the same environment.

The system is designed to operate server-side using existing device telemetry, meaning vulnerability identification occurs without intrusive scans, agent spikes or any impact on endpoint performance.

Key Capabilities

The new solution is designed to deliver benefits for IT teams and security operations, including:

• Real-time vulnerability visibility without scheduled scanning
• Integrated detection and remediation workflows in a single platform
• Autonomous patching across Windows and Linux systems
• No endpoint performance impact through server-side analysis
• Continuous vulnerability and remediation records to support compliance and auditing

Customer Experience

“Implementing NinjaOne’s real-time vulnerability assessment has transformed how we manage endpoint risk. The single pane of glass approach gives us consolidated visibility into endpoint health, detected vulnerabilities, and remediation guidance all in one place. This centralized view allows us to prioritize patching based on real risk, accelerate remediation timelines, and reduce the operational friction that often comes with coordinating across multiple tools and teams,” said Spencer Stycos, Manager, Systems Engineering – IT Infrastructure at Great Minds.

“Prior to NinjaOne, vulnerability tracking required aggregating data from different systems, which increased reporting overhead and slowed response efforts. Today, vulnerability insights are directly integrated into our patching workflows, making next steps clear and actionable. The result is a more streamlined process, improved cross-team efficiency, and a stronger overall security posture without impacting endpoint performance or user experience.”

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A NEW ERA OF PHYSICAL AI

A new strategic partnership between Wiliot, a global leader in Physical AI for supply chains, and Databricks, a major data and AI company, is set to redefine how enterprises harness real-time data, unlocking a new era of Physical AI-driven supply chain intelligence.

The collaboration will see Wiliot’s Physical AI platform and supply chain automation solutions built on Databricks’ powerful data infrastructure, enabling organizations to seamlessly ingest, manage, and analyze vast streams of real-time data from the physical world.

At the heart of this innovation lies Wiliot’s pioneering IoT Pixels – battery-free, postage-stamp-sized sensors that transform everyday products into intelligent, connected data sources.

By integrating these capabilities with Databricks’ scalable lakehouse architecture, enterprises can unify granular, item-level physical data with enterprise systems faster and more precisely than ever before.

TURNING DATA INTO DECISIONS

The partnership enables companies to operationalize billions of real-time data points, applying advanced AI analytics to derive actionable insights across their operations.

Running on Databricks’ high-performance compute and storage environment, Wiliot’s platform ingests continuous data streams from Physical AI networks, empowering organizations to predict disruptions, automate inventory processes, and optimize complex logistics functions.

From cold chain monitoring to shipment verification, businesses can now move from reactive processes to proactive, intelligence-led decision-making.

Beyond analytics, the integration also supports the development of bespoke data applications built directly on physical assets, allowing organizations to tailor solutions to specific operational needs and drive continuous innovation.

REDEFINING SUPPLY CHAIN VISIBILITY

Wiliot’s Physical AI platform underpins five core solutions designed to disrupt traditional supply chain operations:

• Inventory Intelligence – delivers continuous visibility across storage areas, backrooms, yards, and vehicles without manual intervention
• Automated Receiving – confirms inbound shipments at pallet and case level, accelerating dock-to-stock workflows
• Automated Shipment Verification – ensures outbound shipments are accurate and compliant in real time
• Reusable Asset Tracking – monitors the movement and utilization of returnable assets across the supply chain
• Temperature Monitoring – safeguards perishables and sensitive goods through continuous environmental tracking

Together, these solutions provide a comprehensive, real-time view of supply chain activity, eliminating inefficiencies and enhancing operational resilience.

By leveraging Databricks as the underlying data platform, customers also benefit from a secure, governed, and scalable environment that simplifies data management while ensuring insights are accessible across departments – from logistics and operations to merchandising and sustainability.

THE NEXT FRONTIER OF DATA INTELLIGENCE

For Databricks, the partnership signals a significant step forward in bridging the gap between physical operations and digital transformation strategies.

From warehouse floors to retail shelves, the combined platform enables real-time visibility into product location, condition, and availability, helping businesses reduce out-of-stocks, minimize shrink, and deliver more personalized customer experiences.

Databricks’ continued leadership in the data space – including recognition as a Leader in the Gartner® Magic Quadrant for Cloud Database Management Systems for five consecutive years – further reinforces the strength of the collaboration.

SCALING THE FUTURE OF PHYSICAL AI

Wiliot’s growing ecosystem of technology partners reflects its broader mission to make the physical world fully visible, intelligent, and connected.

Already trusted by major global enterprises, including Walmart and Royal Mail, the company is driving digital transformation across retail, consumer packaged goods, and logistics sectors.

With billions of sensing events processed monthly across millions of products, Wiliot’s platform provides a scalable foundation for organizations seeking to integrate AI into their physical operations.

As supply chains grow increasingly complex, the convergence of Physical AI and advanced data platforms is poised to become a defining factor in operational success – and this partnership positions Wiliot and Databricks firmly at the forefront of that transformation.

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Scaling fuel cell technology for heavy-duty applications

The collaboration will combine Daimler Truck and Volvo’s commercial vehicle expertise with Toyota’s fuel cell development, production technology and manufacturing experience. The partners aim to develop, produce and commercialise fuel cell systems for heavy-duty vehicles and other applications with comparable requirements.

Toyota and cellcentric also intend to jointly manage the development and production of fuel cell unit cells, the core component of fuel cell systems, along with related architecture and control elements.

Hydrogen as a key pathway to decarbonisation

Daimler Truck, Volvo and Toyota have positioned hydrogen as one of the key energy sources to decarbonise transport. Through cellcentric, the companies aim to advance technological innovation in fuel cell systems and contribute to the development of a hydrogen society.

The partners also plan to collaborate with industry associations and partners across the hydrogen value chain to support the development of hydrogen supply and infrastructure in its early stages.

Karin Rådström, President & CEO, Daimler Truck, said:

“We are proud that Toyota plans to join cellcentric as a shareholder. This will enable us to strengthen development and further scale hydrogen technology, which we believe complements battery-electric drives in decarbonising transport”.

Equal shareholding and joint venture structure

The three companies intend to collaborate based on an equal shareholding, with Toyota joining as the third partner in cellcentric. To achieve this structure, Toyota plans to participate in a capital increase in the joint venture.

Cellcentric will continue to operate as an independent and autonomous entity, serving customers across heavy-duty on- and off-road transport and stationary applications. Daimler Truck, Volvo and Toyota will continue to compete independently in all other areas of their respective businesses.

Collaboration across the hydrogen value chain

The agreement highlights the importance of collaboration in advancing hydrogen technologies. The companies intend to work with like-minded partners to share technological developments and address common challenges, with the aim of achieving sustainable and effective implementation of fuel cell systems for heavy-duty applications.

Martin Lundstedt, President and CEO, Volvo Group, said:

“We are thrilled to explore this collaboration with Toyota, so that we through cellcentric can accelerate and create critical mass for hydrogen applications. This is an important signal to customers, suppliers, and others in the ecosystem. Given the importance of accelerating the transformation into net-zero transportation, the need of great companies coming together and collaborating is more important than ever. Welcoming Toyota onboard will be a big leap towards realising decarbonisation of our industries.”

Leadership perspectives on fuel cell collaboration

Andreas Gorbach, Daimler Truck Board Member responsible for Truck Technology and former cellcentric CEO, said:

“Joining forces with the world’s largest automotive manufacturer and fuel cell pioneer is a privilege for us―and a game changer in making hydrogen in transportation a reality and cellcentric the go to place for fuel cell technology in commercial vehicles worldwide.”

Koji Sato, President and CEO, Toyota, said:

“We are deeply grateful for the opportunity to soon be joining Daimler Truck and Volvo Group as partners in building a hydrogen society. cellcentric which possess deep expertise in commercial fields together with Toyota’s over 30 years of fuel-cell development in the passenger car sector, can combine their strengths to deliver one of the world-leading fuel cell systems for heavy commercial vehicles. Toyota will continue to contribute to realising a hydrogen society alongside like-minded partners.”

Nicholas Loughlan, Managing Director and CTO, cellcentric, said:

“We are extremely proud that Toyota intends to join as a shareholder of cellcentric―a great sign of trust in our company from one of the world’s leading automotive companies. Together, in this new set-up, we look forward to seizing the opportunity to significantly improve our company across the entire value chain.”

Next steps for the agreement

The agreement is non-binding, and the parties will continue discussions with the aim of reaching a legally binding agreement. Any final agreement will be subject to approval by relevant boards and regulatory authorities.

The collaboration also aims to contribute to the long-term vision of the European Green Deal objectives and the hydrogen society act in Japan, supporting the wider deployment of fuel cell systems in heavy-duty transport.

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FASHION MEETS BEVERAGE BRAND POWER  

The Coca-Cola Company (Coca-Cola) has announced a new collection of unique campaigns that feature Diet Coke and smartwater as integrated beverage brands in The Devil Wears Prada 2. 

The announcement places both brands at the center of a major cultural release, with the film set to premiere on May 1^st. Supporting campaigns will target audiences across multiple markets, with Diet Coke activating globally and smartwater focusing on the US. 

“In The Devil Wears Prada 2, taste is everything,” comments Lylle Breier, EVP of Global Partnerships, Promotions, Synergy, and Events at Disney. 

“We are delighted to extend our long-standing relationship with Coca‑Cola with this epic Diet Coke and smartwater collaboration in a way that feels classic and authentic – two iconic brands that embody the kind of style and confidence our audience – and Miranda Priestly herself – expects.” 

Diet Coke’s campaign will include limited-edition slim cans and a bespoke advertisement set within the film’s fictional Runway offices, recreating one of the franchise’s signature moments. The activation will launch across multiple regions, including the US, UK, Mexico, and Chile, supported by localized campaign executions. 

“Diet Coke has long lived at the intersection of fashion and culture, and The Devil Wears Prada 2 builds on the iconic legacy of the original while capturing a fresh, modern energy that continues to inspire style ambition across generations,” says Stacy Jackson, Vice President, Coca-Cola Trademark. 

“This collaboration is a celebration of that shared legacy – bringing together two icons in a way that feels authentic, modern, and rooted in fandom.” 

ENHANCING ENGAGEMENT THROUGH STYLE AND HYDRATION  

Alongside Diet Coke’s global campaign, smartwater will deliver a digitally led activation designed to deepen consumer engagement. This includes an interactive experience, promotional rewards, and a limited-edition redesigned bottle inspired by the film. 

“The Devil Wears Prada remains a defining reference point in pop culture, resonating with the same audiences who gravitate toward smartwater’s modern, design-minded perspective,” notes Sue Lynne Cha, Vice President of the Water and Tea Category. 

“By spotlighting one of our most signature brand cues in a new way, we’re giving fans an opportunity to engage with the story through thoughtful details woven into both the packaging and digital experience.” 

The campaign builds on smartwater’s positioning within the premium hydration segment, leveraging design and cultural relevance to connect with style-conscious consumers. 

LEVERAGING ENTERTAINMENT TO DRIVE BRAND STRATEGY 

The collaboration reflects Coca-Cola’s broader strategy of aligning its brands with major entertainment moments to strengthen cultural relevance and consumer connection. 

By combining on-screen integration with immersive marketing activations, the company aims to extend the reach of The Devil Wears Prada 2 beyond cinemas and into everyday consumer experiences. Diet Coke’s established association with fashion and lifestyle culture, alongside smartwater’s premium positioning, creates a natural synergy with the film’s narrative and audience appeal. 

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HP unveils an intelligent ecosystem for connected work

The new system –  announced at HP Imagine 2026 – is designed to coordinate experiences across select HP AI PCs and workplace devices, enabling employees to move work seamlessly between tools and environments while giving IT teams centralised control.

“HP’s vision for the future of work is a connected, intelligent ecosystem that helps work flow across devices, spaces, and the moments in between,” said Tuan Tran, President of HP’s Technology & Innovation Organization. “HP IQ is how we connect those experiences, reducing digital friction for employees while fitting into the environments IT already manages, so organizations can bring these experiences to life with confidence.”

On-device AI designed for everyday work

At the core of HP IQ is a local AI model with 20 billion parameters, allowing many functions to run directly on devices rather than relying on cloud processing. The aim is to deliver fast, secure intelligence that can operate even in environments with limited connectivity.

The technology will debut on the next generation of HP EliteBook X G2 PCs, transforming everyday work devices into context-aware tools capable of assisting with routine tasks, data analysis and meeting workflows.

Initial AI features expected to launch with HP IQ

• Ask IQ – responds to text or voice inputs with contextual answers and guidance
• Analyze – helps users interact with files such as PDF, TXT, DOC and PPT to generate summaries and insights
• Notes & Knowledge – maintains a running record of interactions and searchable notes
• Meeting Agent – captures ideas and meeting notes without requiring users to switch applications

Additional AI capabilities are planned to roll out to more HP devices later in the year.

HP NearSense enables proximity-based collaboration

A second component of the platform is HP NearSense, a spatial intelligence capability designed to help nearby devices automatically discover and connect with each other.

The technology allows work to move easily between devices in shared spaces such as offices or meeting rooms.

Initial capabilities planned for HP AI PCs and select HP notebooks

• Secure PC-to-PC file sharing, enabling users to drag and drop documents to nearby colleagues
• Single-click meeting join, allowing quick access to conference room sessions

HP expects NearSense to expand across a wider device ecosystem including Poly video conferencing solutions, printers, workstations and peripherals.

Exploring potential future capabilities

• Faster device discovery in shared environments
• Automatic pairing with headsets and peripherals
• Casting from a PC to a nearby display or meeting-room screen
• Printing or scanning to nearby devices without installing drivers
• The Visor interface brings AI into the workflow

Employees interact with HP IQ through a new Visor interface, an intelligent software layer on the PC designed to surface relevant actions and controls without forcing users to switch applications.

The interface supports natural language interaction through both voice and text. According to HP, Visor adapts to the context of a user’s workday, presenting relevant information and tools as needed.

Local-first architecture prioritises security

HP IQ is designed with a local-first architecture, meaning many experiences run directly on the AI PC while only certain tasks are routed to the cloud when enterprise policies allow it.

This approach aims to keep sensitive data, proprietary information and organisational knowledge within the control of enterprise IT systems.

Integration with enterprise IT platforms

The platform is designed specifically for enterprise deployment and integrates with the HP Workforce Experience Platform, HP’s management system for workforce devices.

“As HP IQ introduces a new intelligence layer across devices and workspaces, WXP operates above it as a trusted control plane for IT, delivering unified visibility, built-in security, seamless manageability, and proactive remediation across the device fleet,” said Manoj Leelanivas, President of HP Solutions. “Together, on-device AI and WXP enable HP to deliver intuitive, high-performance user environments while giving organizations the governance and actionable insights needed to thrive in the future of work.”

HP IQ rollout and availability

HP IQ will first be introduced at HP Imagine 2026, with early access expected to begin on select HP AI PCs in Spring 2026.

A limited release is planned for Summer 2026, expanding support to additional HP notebooks, desktops and Poly Studio Video Bars. HP expects the first HP IQ-enabled devices to begin shipping in Fall 2026, with broader availability across the HP portfolio beginning in the second half of 2026.

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How Nike turns textile waste into performance fabric

Nike has unveiled its new federation football kits featuring Aero-FIT, a performance cooling technology that also marks the company’s first elite apparel made from 100% textile waste through textile-to-textile recycling.

The innovation is designed to help athletes cope with hotter playing conditions while reducing the environmental footprint of performance apparel.

Traditionally, recycled sportswear polyester has been made largely from plastic bottles. Nike’s new process instead uses advanced chemical recycling to transform discarded textiles into high-performance recycled polyester yarn comparable to virgin material.

This shift moves the industry closer to a circular textile system—where old garments become raw material for new ones—rather than relying on fossil-fuel-derived plastics.

The material will debut globally in national team kits worn by Nike-sponsored federations during the tournament.

The move could help demonstrate the viability of circular textiles in high-performance apparel, a sector where durability, breathability and moisture management have historically limited the use of recycled materials.

Designed for a hotter game

The sustainability milestone is paired with a performance innovation. Aero-FIT fabrics are engineered to move air between the skin and garment, helping athletes regulate body temperature in increasingly hot and humid conditions.

The knit fabric combines open and closed mesh zones that channel airflow across the body and slightly lift the fabric away from the skin. According to Nike, the material allows more than twice the airflow of previous fabrics, helping sweat evaporate more efficiently during play.

“Nike exists to make athletes better, and our breakthrough Aero-FIT technology delivers the future of our industry-defining apparel innovation in both elite performance and sustainability at scale,” said Janett Nichol, Vice President of Apparel and Advanced Digital Creation Studio Innovation at Nike.

Designers used heat mapping and motion data to determine where ventilation zones should be placed across the jersey, ensuring cooling benefits without compromising mobility or durability.

Climate adaptation meets circular design

The technology reflects the dual pressures facing sportswear brands: climate change and textile waste. Rising temperatures and humidity are increasingly affecting athletic performance, while the fashion industry remains one of the world’s most resource-intensive sectors.

“Our national team kits start with the athletes who wear them and the fans who stand behind them,” said Amy Montagne, President of Nike. “These kits bring the best of Nike together with an apparel innovation designed to remove climate as a variable for athletes.”

By combining circular materials with climate-adaptive design, Nike is attempting to address both challenges simultaneously.

A proving ground for circular sportswear

The 2026 tournament provides a powerful testing ground. Elite athletes will wear the kits under intense conditions, offering a real-world demonstration of whether textile-to-textile recycling can match the performance of traditional fabrics.

If successful, the approach could influence broader adoption of circular materials across the sportswear industry. High-profile sporting events often accelerate innovation cycles, turning niche technologies into mainstream standards.

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DELIVERING ON PEP+ WATER GOALS

In the lead-up to World Water Day – which took place last Sunday 22^nd March – PepsiCo, Inc. (PepsiCo) announced the successful achievement of two of its 2025 PepsiCo Positive (pep+) water goals.

The company has replenished 100 percent of the water used at all company-owned facilities located in high water-risk watersheds, restoring an equivalent amount – or more – back into natural water resources through conservation, infrastructure, and agricultural initiatives.

Alongside this, PepsiCo has fully adopted the Alliance for Water Stewardship (AWS) Standard across all its high water-risk manufacturing sites globally, providing a recognised framework to measure, manage, and improve water use and its wider impacts.

RESTORING WATERSHEDS WORLDWIDE

PepsiCo’s progress has been driven by more than 60 active, locally led, community-centred projects aimed at improving watershed health and resilience.

In 2025 alone, these initiatives helped replenish nearly 29 billion litres of water back into local environments, supporting ecosystems, strengthening communities, and advancing sustainable water management practices.

Key projects include the Windy Gap Connectivity Project in Colorado, US, which restores river flow and biodiversity, and an agroforestry initiative in the Dominican Republic that supports farmers in reducing erosion and improving groundwater conditions.

Additional efforts span Egypt’s Nile watershed, where programmes enhance agricultural resilience, Spain’s Segura River restoration, and irrigation efficiency projects across Türkiye, helping farmers transition to modern drip systems.

IMPLEMENTING THE AWS STANDARD

Since joining AWS in 2018, PepsiCo has worked to embed the AWS Standard across all high-water-risk manufacturing facilities.

This has involved cross-functional teams identifying local water challenges and implementing site-specific stewardship practices to ensure responsible and sustainable water use.

BUILDING TOWARDS 2030 AMBITIONS

These milestones represent a key step in PepsiCo’s broader pep+ strategy, supporting wider goals around climate resilience and regenerative agriculture. Both achievements have been independently assured by a third party.

Looking ahead, the company will build on this progress through its 2030 ambitions, including expanding water-replenishment efforts across its franchise bottlers, improving water-use efficiency, and providing safe water access to 100 million people. PepsiCo will report further progress against these targets in the year ahead.

The post PepsiCo Achieves Dual Water Sustainability Milestones appeared first on North America Outlook.

Rapid change affecting global economies

The Earth’s climate is becoming increasingly unstable as greenhouse gas concentrations continue to drive warming across the atmosphere and oceans, according to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). The organisation’s State of the Global Climate 2025 report shows that the past eleven years have been the warmest on record, with 2025 ranking as the second or third hottest year globally.

The report highlights rapid changes to the climate system, including rising ocean heat content, melting ice and increasing sea levels, alongside escalating extreme weather events affecting communities, economies and infrastructure worldwide.

Record temperatures and climate indicators

According to WMO, the period from 2015 to 2025 represents the eleven warmest years on record. The globally averaged temperature in 2025 was about 1.43°C above the 1850–1900 pre-industrial average.

Extreme weather events—including heatwaves, heavy rainfall and tropical cyclones—caused widespread disruption during the year, demonstrating the vulnerability of interconnected economies and societies.

“The State of the Global Climate is in a state of emergency. Planet Earth is being pushed beyond its limits. Every key climate indicator is flashing red,” said António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations.

“Humanity has just endured the eleven hottest years on record. When history repeats itself eleven times, it is no longer a coincidence. It is a call to act.”

Earth’s energy imbalance reaches record levels

For the first time, WMO’s flagship climate report includes Earth’s energy imbalance as a key climate indicator.

The measure tracks the difference between energy entering the Earth system from the sun and energy leaving the planet. Under a stable climate these levels are roughly equal, but rising greenhouse gas concentrations have disrupted this balance.

Carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide concentrations have reached their highest levels in at least 800,000 years, driving a growing imbalance that reached a new high in 2025.

“Scientific advances have improved our understanding of the Earth’s energy imbalance and of the reality facing our planet and our climate right now,” said Celeste Saulo, Secretary-General of the World Meteorological Organization.

“Human activities are increasingly disrupting the natural equilibrium and we will live with these consequences for hundreds and thousands of years.”

How oceans absorb heat

The report shows that the oceans continue to absorb the majority of the planet’s excess heat. More than 91% of excess heat is stored in the ocean, helping to buffer temperature increases on land.

Ocean heat content reached a new record in 2025, and the rate of warming has more than doubled between the periods 1960–2005 and 2005–2025.

Over the past two decades, the ocean has absorbed heat equivalent to around eighteen times the annual human energy use each year.

Despite La Niña conditions, around 90% of the ocean surface area experienced at least one marine heatwave in 2025, according to the report.

Melting ice and rising sea levels

Melting ice sheets and glaciers continue to contribute to rising sea levels.

Both Antarctica and Greenland have lost significant ice mass, while Arctic sea ice reached either the lowest or second lowest annual average extent since satellite records began in 1979.

Glacier loss also accelerated, with exceptional levels recorded in Iceland and along the Pacific coast of North America in 2025.

Global mean sea level in 2025 was comparable to the record highs recorded in 2024 and now sits around 11 cm higher than at the start of the satellite altimetry record in 1993.

Ocean warming and melting ice are expected to drive sea-level rise for centuries.

Climate impacts on economies and communities

Extreme weather events in 2025—including heatwaves, droughts, wildfires, storms and flooding—caused thousands of deaths, affected millions of people and generated billions in economic losses.

“On a day-to-day basis, our weather has become more extreme. In 2025, heatwaves, wildfires, drought, tropical cyclones, storms and flooding caused thousands of deaths, impacted millions of people and caused billions in economic losses,” adds Celeste Saulo.

The report also notes that climate stress can have cascading impacts on food security, migration and economic stability.

“In this age of war, climate stress is also exposing another truth: our addiction to fossil fuels is destabilizing both the climate and global security. Today’s report should come with a warning label: climate chaos is accelerating and delay is deadly,” continues António Guterres.

Climate data and decision-making

The report is intended to support decision-making by governments, businesses and institutions and is based on scientific contributions from national meteorological services, WMO regional climate centres, United Nations partners and dozens of experts.

“WMO’s State of the Global Climate report seeks to inform decision-making. It is in keeping with the theme of World Meteorological Day because when we observe today, we don’t just predict the weather, we protect tomorrow. Tomorrow’s people. Tomorrow’s planet,” said Celeste Saulo.

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ENABLING FASTER DELIVERY  

FedEx Corp. (FedEx) has recently announced the launch of FedEx SameDay® Local – a highly flexible and convenient delivery offering that helps businesses meet growing consumer expectations while balancing operational costs.  

Developed in collaboration with last-mile delivery solutions company OneRail, FedEx SameDay® Local allows shoppers to select two-hour or end-of-day delivery directly at checkout.  

The service connects FedEx customers to a national network of more than 1,000 delivery providers through intelligent orchestration technology, automatically matching orders with the appropriate vehicle and driver, dispatching deliveries quickly, and providing live tracking updates from pickup to delivery. 

“At FedEx, we’re supporting our customers in pushing the boundaries of their value proposition around speed and convenience.”  

“FedEx SameDay® Local will provide our customers with a scaled solution to give the delivery options customers want, without adding complexity to their operations – all backed by the confidence of working with FedEx,” comments Jason Brenner, Senior Vice President of Digital Portfolio.   

The service includes time-definite delivery windows, near real-time tracking, predictive estimated times of arrival (ETAs), proof of delivery, flexible integration through application programming interface (API) connections, artificial intelligence (AI)-driven delivery optimization, 24/7 support, and the ability to manage large or specialized deliveries. 

MEETING CONSUMER EXPECTATIONS 

Consumer expectations around delivery continue to evolve, with shoppers increasingly looking for greater choice rather than simply the fastest delivery option.  

Some purchases require immediate delivery, others must arrive within a precise time window, while some customers prefer a more economical option and are willing to wait longer. 

Research shows that 96 percent of shoppers define fast delivery as same-day, 80 percent want to see a same-day option at checkout, and nearly half are more likely to complete a purchase when same-day delivery is available. Delivery visibility is also becoming increasingly important, particularly when customers are given specific delivery windows. 

The FedEx Future of Logistics Intelligence Report found that 36 percent of consumers prioritize reliable delivery windows, yet only 59 percent of organizations use shipment data proactively to predict and prevent issues, and just 18 percent are consistently able to intervene to minimize the impact of delays.  

By providing near real-time tracking, predictive ETAs, and automated rerouting, FedEx SameDay® Local aims to help businesses reduce abandoned carts and improve customer loyalty. 

SUPPORTING END-TO-END LOGISTICS 

The launch of FedEx SameDay® Local expands the company’s capabilities across the full delivery lifecycle, from long-haul transportation to local last-mile fulfillment. Through its connected logistics ecosystem, the company aims to optimize delivery routes, reduce costs, and improve delivery reliability at scale. 

FedEx SameDay® Local forms part of the company’s broader strategy to support businesses with integrated transportation and digital logistics solutions, enabling greater efficiency and flexibility across supply chains. 

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