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Nokia and Google Cloud Join Forces to Deliver AI-Driven Network Automation

Nokia and Google Cloud have announced a strategic collaboration aimed at accelerating the deployment of AI-powered network automation in telecommunications. The alliance brings together Nokia’s network equipment leadership and Google Cloud’s data and AI platform to deliver smarter, more flexible and automated carrier-grade networks.

Under the new partnership, Nokia will integrate its CloudBand automation software with Google Cloud’s Vertex AI tools. This integration enables network operators to take full advantage of machine learning for real-time network management, predictive maintenance, and dynamic resource allocation. Operators will soon be able to apply intelligent models to forecast network traffic, preempt outages, and optimize performance, all using a unified cloud-based toolkit.

By offering network observability, analytics, and automation as a service on Google Cloud, the initiative allows mobile operators and internet service providers to transition away from legacy hardware-bound systems. The proposed solution provides features such as automated troubleshooting, fault detection, and performance prediction. This helps reduce operational complexity while boosting network efficiency and resilience.

A key highlight is the ability to deploy Nokia’s refined ML algorithms for tasks like anomaly detection, capacity scaling and routing optimization directly within Google Cloud. Operators will benefit from lower latency and real-time responsiveness, thanks to seamless integration between cloud-hosted AI pipelines and on-premise network control systems. The platform also enables closed-loop automation workflows where AI incidents trigger automated corrective procedures without human intervention—significantly reducing incidents and improving uptime.

The partnership extends beyond technology integration to joint offering development and ecosystem growth. Nokia and Google Cloud plan to co-market their solution through global telecom partners and encourage vendors and system integrators to build customized network applications using dedicated SDKs. Google Cloud will host Nokia ML models in its public marketplace, simplifying consumption for operators and enabling flexible consumption models.

Both companies see this collaboration as responsive to industry demands for next-generation networks that are more programmable, efficient and AI-managed. As communications providers prepare for the full promise of 5G, edge computing and IoT, having real-time intelligent orchestration becomes essential—and this alliance makes that vision achievable.

In summary, the Nokia–Google Cloud partnership is a significant milestone in telecom transformation. By delivering AI-driven, cloud-native automation solutions combined with advanced monitoring and predictive intelligence, the collaboration aims to lower total cost of ownership for operators and accelerate time-to-market of next-generation network services.

Hitachi Vantara Launches EverFlex AI Data Hub as a Service to Simplify AI Data Integration

Hitachi Vantara has unveiled its EverFlex AI Data Hub as a Service, a cloud-native solution designed to streamline AI and data workflows by providing a unified data lakehouse experience. The fully managed offering enables organizations to access, prepare, and govern data in real time—regardless of whether it resides on premises or across hybrid and public cloud environments.

In an era where fragmented data silos are hindering AI progress, the EverFlex AI Data Hub eliminates complex extract-transform-load pipelines. Instead, it delivers a virtualized lakehouse that supports in-place querying, data virtualization, and rapid analytics. The service also integrates RAG (retrieval-augmented generation), AI model inference, chatbots, avatars, and industry-specific AI models all powered by GPU-enabled infrastructure—within a secure, governed framework.

Hitachi designed the platform to address startling industry insights: nearly 98% of enterprises operate on multiple storage systems, and more than half span four or more environments. Such complexity has contributed to approximately 80% of AI initiatives failing, with over $100 billion lost annually in data preparation alone.

Built on Hitachi’s Virtual Storage Platform One and iQ software stack, and backed by Cisco-powered hybrid cloud infrastructure and Zetaris lakehouse technology, EverFlex emphasizes consolidated data control and governance at the source. Customers benefit from unified data management—across block, file, object, and software-defined storage along with AIOps monitoring, compliance enforcement, and GPU-scale compute services.

The platform is offered under Hitachi’s consumption-based EverFlex infrastructure model, allowing customers to pay only for what they consume. This flexible, service-based approach aims to significantly reduce total cost of ownership by as much as 35%—while simplifying provisioning and day-to-day operations.

Jeb Horton, Senior Vice President of Global Services at Hitachi Vantara, explained that the solution empowers organizations to access AI-ready data in real time, accelerating experimentation and insight generation. By removing traditional data movement bottlenecks, enterprises can move from delayed, batch-heavy analytics to instantaneous, AI-driven decision making.

As AI adoption continues to accelerate, the introduction of EverFlex AI Data Hub as a Service marks a major step in enabling scalable, secure, and efficient data infrastructure. Its integrated approach combining lakehouse architecture, AI workbench tools, GPU compute, and unified governance—signals a new era where data and AI operations converge under a single managed service.

This launch positions Hitachi Vantara as a pioneer in delivering turnkey AI data environments that support continuous innovation, real-time analytics, and simplified hybrid-cloud management giving enterprises a practical pathway to realizing the full potential of their AI ambitions.

Autodesk CEO Aims to Reignite Employee Confidence in AI Amid Workforce Cuts

Autodesk’s CEO, Andrew Anagnost, is doubling down on efforts to restore employee confidence in the company’s AI-led vision, after recent internal reports revealed slipping optimism about artificial intelligence and growing financial unease.

Earlier this year, Autodesk announced a workforce reduction affecting roughly 1,350 employees, or about 9% of its global staff. The layoffs were part of a company-wide reorganisation aimed at reallocating talent and resources toward AI, cloud, platform development, and vertical industry clouds. The move generated internal concerns, as employees sought assurance that the shift would not compromise company culture or job security.

Compounding the uncertainty, findings from an internal survey of design, engineering, construction, manufacturing, and media teams showed a noticeable dip in optimism about AI, coupled with rising anxiety over project budgets and tight margins. The report underscored that while confidence in digital tools remained strong, apprehensions around delivering ROI, upskilling needs, and the company’s future direction were gaining momentum.

In response, Anagnost has intensified communication efforts to clarify the strategic rationale behind the restructuring. He has emphasised that Autodesk’s AI and cloud pursuits are not an abstract ambition but a competitive imperative, positioning the company to better support customers’ evolving workflows and to lead innovation in automation, generative design, and scalable platforms.

Company town halls have been leveraged to share success stories of customer projects where AI tools have increased productivity, reduced errors, and unlocked new value—demonstrating how investments in automation are driving tangible business impact. Anagnost has also met directly with cross-functional teams to listen to frontline concerns about AI adoption, skills development, and the company’s long-term direction.

Autodesk is instituting a series of internal AI training programs, pairing employees with product teams to gain hands-on experience in emerging generative and machine-learning tools. These “AI ambassador” sessions are designed to build grassroots confidence in the technology by allowing employees to experience its benefits firsthand and bring that knowledge back to their day-to-day work.

Anagnost’s message is clear: AI should be viewed neither as a threat nor a buzzword, but as a tool to enhance design intelligence, speed up workflows, and open fresh creative opportunities. He is encouraging teams to think bigger—beyond incremental gains—to imagine how autonomous systems can revolutionise design processes and make Autodesk’s software indispensable to future markets.

Yet, challenges persist. Budget constraints continue to weigh on project plans in certain sectors, while the transition to subscription-based and cloud-delivered tools creates ongoing commercial and adoption hurdles. Autodesk is seeking to address these by tying AI initiatives to measurable outcomes, such as improved time to market, reduced rework, or better sustainability metrics in design.

Analysts and partners say the next few quarters will be pivotal. Success depends not only on AI adoption externally, but on rebuilding internal morale and aligning employees with the mission. Autodesk’s ability to balance technology ambition with cultural resilience may determine its ability to emerge stronger from this transformation phase.

As the company moves forward, the mandate is clear: accelerate with intention. Autodesk’s AI strategy, though bold, must ignite belief among its workforce, customers, and market, that generative intelligence is not just the future of design software, but the future of Autodesk.

India to Manufacture Dassault Falcon 2000 Business Jets in Nagpur

India is preparing to join an elite group of nations with indigenous business jet production following a landmark agreement between French aerospace leader Dassault Aviation and Anil Ambani’s Reliance Aerostructure. Under this deal, Nagpur’s MIHAN Special Economic Zone will house the first Falcon 2000 LXS final assembly line outside France, with the inaugural jet slated to roll out by 2028.

Production will take place at the Dassault Reliance Aerospace Limited facility, a joint venture that has been operational since 2017. Initially focused on manufacturing components such as cockpit sections and nose cones, the plant has already produced more than 100 Falcon airframe parts. It now aims to transition into full aircraft assembly for the Falcon 2000 series.

The Nagpur facility is strategically positioned for global production, with plans to produce multiple Falcon variants—including the 6X and 8X models—and cater to both corporate and defence clients. Annual assembly capacity is projected at up to 22 jets, though actual output will depend on order volumes.

The announcement, made at the Paris Air Show, is part of India’s broader defence manufacturing strategy aimed at reducing reliance on imports and strengthening indigenous capabilities. Unlike past defence production efforts, this project targets commercial business jets—a sector previously dominated by the United States, France, Canada, and Brazil. The initiative also reflects DRAL’s growing footprint in manufacturing. Currently employing around 300 skilled staff, the facility is expected to expand its workforce to approximately 1,000 as production scales up.

The market welcomed the announcement with enthusiasm, as shares of Reliance Infrastructure—the parent company of Reliance Aerostructure—rose 5% amid expectations of long-term revenue growth and elevated global positioning. Beyond its commercial impact, the collaboration enhances India’s aerospace ecosystem. DRAL’s evolution from manufacturing parts to assembling complete jets underscores a maturing industrial base capable of meeting high-precision aerospace standards. The facility is also set to become a centre of excellence, extending Dassault’s global production network beyond its French hubs.

Anticipated to begin flight tests by 2028, the first Falcon 2000 assembled in Nagpur will mark a milestone for both companies and the Indian aviation landscape. The move lays the groundwork for deeper collaboration and trust, potentially unlocking further projects such as the assembly of Falcon fighters or additional business jet variants.

In summary, the Dassault–Reliance Aerospace partnership represents a strategic leap for India’s aviation ambitions. By localising the final assembly of Falcon business jets and expanding technical capacities at Nagpur, India strengthens its place in the high-value aerospace manufacturing domain, signifying a new chapter in advanced, homegrown aviation capabilities.

Surging Interest in Generative AI Courses Reflects Widespread Upskilling Trend

Enrolment in generative AI courses has seen a dramatic surge on Coursera, highlighting a growing commitment among learners to embrace emerging technologies and future-proof their careers. Recent data shows that interest in generative AI content has grown by over 380% in the past year, significantly outpacing both regional and global averages.

This trend indicates a broader shift in workforce priorities, where individuals are actively seeking to build expertise in transformative technologies. With the rapid integration of AI tools across industries, professionals are turning to online platforms to gain the necessary skills to stay competitive. Coursera’s learner base in the region has also expanded notably, reflecting increased demand for flexible, job-relevant education.

Generative AI has emerged as the leading focus, but learners are also exploring adjacent domains such as data science, cybersecurity, digital marketing, and project management. The surge in enrolments is being driven not only by curiosity but by the tangible career advantages associated with AI literacy. Employers have begun to prioritize candidates with foundational knowledge and practical capabilities in AI, sometimes valuing these skills above traditional experience.

Courses such as “Google AI Essentials,” “Introduction to Generative AI,” and “Generative AI for Everyone” are among the most enrolled, reflecting a strong interest in both theoretical understanding and practical application. The inclusion of prompt engineering and real-world use cases in these programs has made them particularly popular with working professionals and students aiming for immediate skill deployment.

What sets this trend apart is the measurable application of newly acquired skills. A significant portion of learners—exceeding global averages—have already begun using generative AI tools in their day-to-day work. These tools range from content creation and coding assistance to automating reports and enhancing customer service operations.

However, despite the growth in participation, a gender imbalance persists. While women make up more than half of the overall online learning base, they represent only around 37–38% of generative AI course enrolments. This gap suggests the need for more targeted outreach and support to ensure balanced access to emerging tech education.

To meet this growing demand, universities, edtech companies, and industry partners are increasingly localizing and adapting course content. These efforts include offering translated materials and contextually relevant learning pathways to ensure accessibility across diverse demographics and geographies.

The surge in generative AI learning signals a broader evolution toward digital-first skill development. As industries continue to adopt AI solutions at scale, the need for a workforce equipped with not just technical know-how but also adaptability and strategic thinking becomes paramount. Online learning platforms are poised to play a critical role in this transition, helping bridge the gap between emerging technologies and everyday professionals eager to harness their power.

Zscaler Unveils Advanced Zero Trust Capabilities to Secure AI and Cloud Environments

Zscaler has introduced a comprehensive set of enhancements to its Zero Trust Exchange platform, aimed at bolstering security for enterprises operating in increasingly AI-driven and cloud-native environments. These developments reflect a rising need for robust cybersecurity solutions as businesses adopt generative AI tools and accelerate their digital transformation.

At the core of the announcement is the expansion of Zscaler’s zero trust capabilities tailored to manage the risks associated with generative AI usage. With enterprises rapidly integrating AI across functions like customer support, software development, and analytics, concerns over data exposure and policy compliance have grown. Zscaler’s platform now offers deeper visibility and control over AI interactions, including the ability to classify sensitive data and enforce access controls based on usage patterns and intent. These capabilities are designed to protect enterprise data from misuse, especially as threat actors begin employing AI-based attack methods to automate phishing, data exfiltration, and lateral movement.

To support hybrid and distributed infrastructure, Zscaler has also enhanced its network security offerings. Among the updates is a new branch security solution that eliminates the need for traditional on-site firewalls and VPNs. This edge solution ensures that users and devices in branch locations are directly connected to the internet with full protection via Zscaler’s zero trust policies. The offering simplifies branch deployments while maintaining robust segmentation and compliance.

Additionally, Zscaler has launched a workload gateway that secures communication between cloud workloads without the complexity of deploying agents. Designed for popular platforms like AWS and Microsoft Azure, this new gateway ensures that applications hosted across different cloud environments can communicate securely under strict policy controls, reducing the risk of misconfigurations or insider threats.

The company has also invested in AI-driven automation for microsegmentation, allowing enterprises to limit lateral movement within their networks by automatically identifying and isolating sensitive workloads. This capability is particularly relevant for organizations that manage a mix of on-premise and cloud-native systems and require consistent security policies across both.

Recognizing the increasing demand for secure external collaboration, Zscaler introduced a business-to-business exchange framework. This component facilitates secure and policy-driven data sharing between partners, suppliers, and customers—without relying on traditional VPN solutions, which can often create vulnerabilities and complicate user access.

These updates arrive as enterprises face exponential growth in AI-related activity. With thousands of models and applications in use, IT leaders are challenged to govern their usage effectively without hindering innovation. Zscaler’s strategy centers on embedding security at the application and user level rather than the network perimeter, allowing for continuous authentication and real-time policy enforcement.

By integrating AI capabilities directly into its threat detection and policy engine, Zscaler is providing organizations with the tools to proactively identify and respond to risks. The platform offers real-time visibility into user behavior, data flows, and application access, backed by AI-generated analytics and recommendations.

The company’s leadership emphasized that these enhancements reflect a broader vision of enabling “Zero Trust Everywhere”, securing users, data, workloads, and devices across all enterprise environments. As businesses lean further into AI and multi-cloud ecosystems, Zscaler’s latest capabilities are designed to ensure that innovation can scale safely and efficiently, with security built into the fabric of every digital interaction.

Tags: Zscaler

Adobe Launches Firefly AI Image Generator App on iOS & Android, Integrates Top Partner Models

Adobe has introduced its first AI-powered image creation app, Firefly, for iOS and Android devices. Built for mobile-first creators, the app draws on Adobe’s proprietary AI model and plans to integrate third-party models from industry leaders including OpenAI, Google, Ideogram, Luma AI, Pika, and Runway.

The mobile Firefly app lets users generate unlimited basic images using Adobe’s own models, with premium models—those by partners—available at an additional subscription tier. Pricing aligns with Adobe’s existing Firefly web plan, starting at $10 per month.

In addition to usability, Adobe is making a strong copyright-safe claim: Firefly’s AI is trained exclusively on legally permitted materials, offering protection against potential IP infringement, a point CTO Ely Greenfield describes as a key competitive advantage in the creative marketplace.

The new app also syncs seamlessly with Adobe’s Creative Cloud, enabling edits and creations to move effortlessly between mobile and desktop environments. This mirrors earlier integration of Firefly features into Photoshop’s mobile interface but marks the first stand-alone generative AI app designed specifically for handheld use.

Strategic partnerships expand the app’s creative flexibility. Third-party models aren’t yet live on mobile, but Adobe plans to add them via the Firefly web app, which now also supports emerging models such as Google’s Imagen 3 and Veo 2, OpenAI’s GPT image model, and others with access through a unified credit-based system.

Adobe anticipates that the social and creative appetite for mobile-generated visuals will grow rapidly, especially as users increasingly seek content creation tools on the go. The company is positioning Firefly’s mobile debut as a response to that demand and a way to meet creators wherever they happen to be.

Tags: Adobe

Commvault Teams Up with Kyndryl and Pure Storage to Enhance Incident Recovery and Compliance Readiness

Commvault has entered into a strategic partnership with IT services powerhouse Kyndryl and data infrastructure leader Pure Storage, marking a pivotal move to bolster incident recovery capabilities and regulatory compliance for enterprise clients worldwide.

Under the collaboration, Kyndryl will leverage its global service footprint and deep implementation expertise to integrate Commvault’s data protection and recovery platform with Pure Storage’s high-performance backup architecture. The joint offering is designed to help organisations rapidly recover from data disruptions—such as ransomware attacks, system failures, or human error—while maintaining alignment with evolving regulatory mandates.

The integrated solution combines Pure Storage’s snapshots, replication, and fast data access capabilities with Commvault’s intelligent automation, threat detection, and disaster recovery orchestration. Kyndryl will manage deployment, tuning, and ongoing lifecycle operations, ensuring seamless integration with clients’ IT environments and industry-specific requirements.

A core innovation of the partnership is the introduction of a new automated incident recovery playbook. This orchestrated workflow accelerates recovery timelines by dynamically identifying affected data, launching failover mechanisms, notifying key stakeholders, and validating full system restoration. Microsoft Active Directory, SQL databases, and virtual machine environments are among the supported assets.

To support regulatory compliance, such as GDPR, HIPAA, PCI DSS, and industry-specific mandates, the joint solution includes features like immutable backup retention, end-to-end encryption, audit logging, and tamper-proof storage. These capabilities enhance data governance and simplify the compliance certification process.

The partnership also introduces a “continuous assurance” model, where clients receive real-time health dashboards, proactive anomaly detection, and periodic compliance check reports. This approach dramatically reduces both incident response time and manual oversight while preserving adherence to service-level agreements and policy frameworks.

Target customers include financial services, healthcare providers, retailers, manufacturing firms, and public-sector organisations, sectors that face stringent recovery time objectives and heavy regulatory demands. The offering addresses common challenges such as siloed backup silos, slow data restores, and audit fatigue.

For existing customers, Kyndryl and Pure Storage will provide rollout workshops, health assessments, and integration accelerators. Commvault will offer enhanced training and certification programs to ensure implementation teams are fully equipped to manage complex recovery and compliance workflows.

This alliance builds on previous integrations among the trio, reinforcing their commitment to jointly address data resilience and governance across hybrid and multi-cloud environments. It also reflects a rising demand from enterprises for tightly integrated, full-stack data protection solutions capable of scaling under pressure.

As cyber threats evolve and regulations tighten globally, the newly launched offering promises to deliver faster recoverability, stronger audit-ready controls, and simplified operations—positioning the partners to serve large organisations grappling with critical IT continuity and compliance challenges.

AWS and Google Cloud Unveil Agentic AI Offerings to Empower Channel Partners

AWS and Google Cloud have sharply increased their investments in agentic AI, unveiling new tools and programs designed to drive channel partner innovation and adoption. These moves underscore the cloud giants’ strategy of empowering integrators, solution providers, and managed service firms to build AI agents capable of automating business tasks end to end.

Google Cloud CEO Thomas Kurian told CRN that agentic AI represents “the biggest opportunity for partners,” estimating it could generate billions in productivity gains as channel firms use AI agents within customer workflows. Google Cloud has launched several key enablers, including the Agentspace platform—integrating Gemini, search, and data services—and an open Agent2Agent protocol to enable seamless communication between agents. The company has also introduced an AI Agent Marketplace on its Cloud Marketplace, allowing partners to package, sell, and manage custom agents—with co-selling opportunities encouraged through enhanced partner incentives.

These initiatives have already gained traction. Partners such as Onix built Wingspan, an “AI platform” that unifies data and automates processes using Agent‑oriented APIs, reportedly deploying hundreds of agents per enterprise. Other systems integrators—including Accenture, Deloitte, HCLTech, and PwC — are contributing specialized agents focused on domains like healthcare, finance, and ecommerce, fueling interest and adoption.

AWS is matching this momentum with its own open-source toolkit and strategic partner engagements. In May, AWS launched Strands Agents, an SDK enabling partners to build deployable AI agents with minimal coding. The company also inked a strategic deal with ClearScale to deliver AI services to small and medium-sized businesses. ClearScale highlighted successful use cases such as an AI-powered VMware exit assessment tool designed for AWS environments.

Both cloud providers are apuesta (betting) big on partners’ roles in delivering agentic AI solutions. As Kurian stated, “We are monetarily investing a lot more in our partner ecosystem to build AI solutions on top of our platform,” while AWS’s Matt Garman underlined their commitment to open-source and interoperability in this space. Analysts note this reflects a broader pivot: partners are set to profit not just from deploying infrastructure but from delivering full “digital labor” capabilities powered by autonomous agents.

Industry research supports this surge: Gartner forecasts that by 2028, 15% of daily work decisions will be handled by agentic AI, up from virtually zero today. For channel partners, this shift redefines service models and revenue structures, ushering in new offerings like agent development, orchestration, monitoring, and outcome-based pricing.

In summary, AWS and Google Cloud are architecting an agentic AI ecosystem with partners at the center, providing platforms, tools, marketplaces, and go-to-market support. As enterprise demand for intelligent automation grows, channel partners equipped with these resources are well-positioned to deliver next‑generation AI-driven outcomes, transforming the cloud services industry in the process. 

Salesforce and Jaquar Group Forge Alliance for Comprehensive Digital Transformation

Salesforce and Jaquar Group have announced a strategic partnership aimed at accelerating the latter’s digital transformation journey. The collaboration will see Jaquar leverage Salesforce’s suite of cloud-native technologies to enhance customer engagement, streamline operations, and foster data-driven decision-making across its global business.

Under the agreement, Jaquar will adopt Salesforce’s Sales Cloud, Service Cloud, and Customer 360 platform to unify sales, marketing, and customer service data on a single platform. This integration is expected to break down organizational silos and improve cross-functional visibility, enabling sales teams to collaborate more efficiently, marketing teams to run more targeted campaigns, and service teams to resolve issues faster—all while delivering a seamless experience for end customers.

A core component of the initiative involves deploying AI-powered Einstein analytics and automation tools. Jaquar will implement Einstein Lead Scoring and Einstein Case Classification to better qualify opportunities, prioritise leads, and expedite customer service processes. Real-time AI-driven insights will help managers identify trends, forecast demand and spot bottlenecks, enabling more proactive management across sales and after-sales operations.

Another aspect of the partnership will be the rollout of a unified customer portal, built on the Salesforce Experience Cloud. This portal will allow customers to log service requests, track deliveries, access product manuals, raise warranty claims, and interact with Jaquar digitally. By offering these self-service features, Jaquar aims to elevate the post-sales experience and reduce inbound service inquiries.

To support internal adoption, Jaquar has committed to an extensive change management and training program. Roles across sales, marketing, and customer support teams will participate in workshops and certification courses to build proficiency on Salesforce systems, ensuring that the organisation gains maximum value from the platform’s functionalities.

The move is a significant milestone for Jaquar, which operates across over 85 countries in the bath fittings, sanitary ware and wellness solutions segment. By modernising its technology stack, the company aims to eliminate manual processes, deliver real-time data visibility, and cultivate a customer-centric digital culture.

Salesforce regional leaders have lauded the partnership as a demonstration of modern cloud technologies transforming traditional manufacturing businesses. They reaffirmed that integrations with digital commerce, field-service, and ERP systems are planned for later phases, paving the way for a truly integrated enterprise ecosystem.

Jaquar’s executive team emphasized that this transformation aligns with the group’s ambition to elevate operational agility and strengthen brand loyalty among its customer base. They believe that unified data, AI-assisted workflows, and enhanced digital interfaces will position the company competitively in emerging markets and streamline expansion efforts.

In summary, the Salesforce–Jaquar alliance marks a pivotal step in integrating advanced CRM, AI, and user experience platforms into Jaquar’s global operations. By deploying Sales Cloud, Service Cloud, Experience Cloud, and Einstein intelligence, supported by thorough training and change management, Jaquar aims to realise a more efficient, insightful, and customer-first digital future.

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