The blockchain industry has been developing more rapidly than the boldest forecasts predicted. Having become an integral part of the financial and banking spheres, it has already occupying its niche in medicine, insurance, document circulation, energy, retail and other economy spheres. Today, the blockchain is blooming. However, it is worth knowing what we may expect from the technology in the next 6-9 months.

From nation to nation and through century to century, one thing humankind has always had in common is its ability to tell – and be enraptured by – stories. From the hieroglyphics found on the wall of the tomb of Tutankhamun or the Oscar-winning best picture Moonlight, we evolved the power of storytelling to not only entertain, but, crucially, to share our experiences and our learnings. But, while storytelling is something we all do, doing it well is truly an art form – and a skill that needs to be grown and nurtured.

Alipay, the world's largest online and mobile payment platform, operated by Ant Financial Services Group ("Ant Financial", "Ant"), recently announced an upgraded smart outbound tourist service platform at a meeting of ecosystem partners from over 20 countries and territories in Beijing.

The platform connects Chinese tourists with merchants, airports, travel agencies and other Alipay partners, giving users access to intuitive local offers and services, and merchants the ability to target potential clients.

Around the world, IT professionals, lawyers, and business owners have been highlighting concerns about the potential business risks and challenges they face around the implementation of the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). With less than a year to go until the legislation is enforced, most of the press surrounding compliance has been negative.

Prevero, a leader in corporate performance management software, has been selected as the Best Office of Finance solution in the 2017 Ventana Research Digital Innovation Awards.

The Digital Innovation Awards recognize technology providers that have introduced noteworthy innovations in technology that advance business and IT. They showcase advances in the productivity and potential of business applications as well as technology that contributes significantly to improved efficiency, productivity, and the performance of an organization.

BOND.AI, a conversational artificial intelligence financial platform, is helping bridge the gap between consumers who want to overcome their financial needs and banks who want to effectively engage with those consumers.