Top Image Systems, Ltd., a global innovator of intelligent content processing solutions, today announced its financial results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2016.

Brendan Reidy, CEO of Top Image Systems, commented, “I joined Top Image Systems with a conviction that our blue-chip customer base, the Company’s solid technology, knowhow and talented, experienced professionals will bring to market additional innovative process automation solutions.  I am committed to delivering value to our customers and shareholders by focusing on three key priorities to transform our business.  By introducing continuous efficiency improvements into our operations, protecting our core remittance and forms processing business and making prudent investments in high velocity cloud applications that target the underserved mid-market for accounts payable automation, we aim to transform our company into a high growth cloud applications and services business.” 

“To realize ongoing efficiency improvements, we continued the restructuring launched earlier in the year and initiated a consolidation of our European operations into a single, streamlined region under a single layer of management.  Additionally, we are consolidating our U.S. operations into our Plano, Texas location which will save about $1.0 million in annual expenses.  We are now focusing on making additional investments to protect our core eFLOW^® document capture business as well as on better leveraging our existing remittance business with leading financial providers and banks in the U.S.,” commented Mr. Reidy.

Mr. Reidy concluded, “With these improvements to our operations in progress, we can better focus on our investments in the cloud-based accounts payable applications software segment, aimed to compress sales cycles and generate more predictable recurring revenues, with an ambition to generate sustainable top-line revenue growth.  I am unwavering in my belief that it is of vital importance to deliver high quality products that ensure high levels of customer loyalty and drive repeat business, all of which, will over time deliver augmented value to our shareholders.” 

ICS Financial Systems Limited (ICSFS), the global leading provider of financial software solutions and services to banks and financial institutions, is pleased to announce the successful implementation of ICS BANKS Finance Lease System at Al Etihad Leasing Company, a newly formed finance company owned by Bank al Etihad.
Before selecting ICS BANKS Finance Lease System from ICSFS, Al Etihad Finance Leasing Company has evaluated other leasing solutions but decided to adopt the latest and bespoke developed application, with a partner that has a successful track record in providing and implementing finance lease system. 

The General Manager of Al Etihad Leasing Company Mr. Raed Ali stated:
“pleased to opt for the latest and best developed Finance Leasing application; ICS BANKS Finance Lease System. The implementation was completed in a record-breaking time of 45 working days, where the process was transparent, providing an unlimited work-flow and comprehensive finance lease services, working on the latest technologies, in addition to the unlimited offerings which will increase our company’s productivity and efficiency. These offerings will help us respond quickly to market changes, regulatory requirements and achieve our goals.”

ICS BANKS Finance Lease System is a web-based, end-to-end leasing system which provides comprehensive asset management functionalities that facilitate financial institutions by simplifying their business processes, and advance their proficiency. It also ensures customer acquisition, satisfaction and retention.

Mr. Robert Hazboun; Managing Director of ICSFS, said:

“By providing innovative leasing solutions and services, we will be able to support Al Etihad Finance Leasing Company’s vision and objectives. We are very pleased with the outcome, and would like to thank Al Etihad Leasing company’s team along with ICSFS’ implementation and operations team for making this possible.” Mr. Hazboun added: “We welcome Al Etihad Leasing Company to be part of our ICS BANKS Finance Lease community, and look forward to a long-lasting relationship.”

The average British worker spends as many as 120 hours per year using their smartphones in the workplace, and those working in IT are some of the worst culprits, according to research.

Research of 2,012 UK adults carried out by gadgets and technology etailer, LaptopsDirect.co.uk, has revealed almost all (96%) of IT workers admit to using their smartphones during working hours.

78% regularly respond to text messages during working hours, and 59% regularly take personal phone calls whilst working.

52% admit to answering instant messages via platforms such as Whatsapp and Facebook, whilst 9% have sent a Snapchat from their workplace.

44% of respondents said their workplace permitted reasonable use of smartphones.

More than a third (38%) regularly check their social media accounts while in the workplace.

Those working in marketing took the top spot (98%).

Mark Kelly, marketing manager at LaptopsDirect.co.uk, said: “It’s no surprise that we are addicted to our smartphones however overuse during working hours can add up, leaving a serious shortfall in productivity. Although companies monitor and prohibit the use of social media during the working day, the research shows that there is still a large amount of people continuing to use their device.

“Use of smartphones and social media in the workplace can lead to hundreds of thousands of hours in lost productivity per year, which could cost UK companies millions of pounds.”

14% have been told off for using smartphones at work, while just 4% have been disciplined for use of their own tech during work time.

Laptops Direct is the UK’s largest online laptop specialist, selling a wide range

of new and refurbished laptops from leading brands, as well as a wide range of other lifestyle gadgets.

The new version of Beta Systems DCI Software AG’s ‘Beta UX’ output management and archive suite delivers an enhanced hierarchical structure. This and added commands, granular priority print control, new note types and AES encryption make document handling in V4.4 more secure and intuitive.

The Beta UX Output Management and Archive Suite 4.4. allows you to manage and archive high volumes of documents and logs originating from all key corporate applications across a wide range of platforms including z/OS, UNIX/Linux, Windows and SAP. The modular solution comprises the Beta UX ContentMaster, Beta UX DistributionMaster and Beta UX LogMaster components. Beta UX supports several output channels, such as production printers, printer networks, digital distribution systems and applications.

The New Release Addresses Actual Customer Demands

Beta UX 4.4 visualizes multiple index fields, e.g. company, division and department, in a hierarchical structure. Users can place lists and documents into this Windows-IE-style tree view during indexing and perform searches from there. The resulting overview of records greatly facilitates case processing. Occasional users, too, benefit from the new structure as they can retrieve documents much more rapidly than before. Moreover, users can configure individual searches based on processes and persons. This applies to all Beta UX components, including log files managed in LogMaster. The new feature was implemented in direct response to customer feedback.

The new release allows users to prioritize print jobs for the various departments in a highly granular manner – both for manually triggered and batch print jobs. This makes it possible to fast-track very urgent documents and process them before normal production jobs, which have a maximum of two priority levels. Thanks to this feature, production managers can spontaneously respond to ad-hoc requests for printouts/reprints.

Five New Commands

The Beta UX V4.4 command interface offers five new commands that bring added transparency and speed to database queries and data analysis. This furthermore provides the basis for achieving increased process automation with Beta UX.

In addition, Beta UX now makes the LToken available as a unique technical document ID to speed up search queries. As a result, whenever the document ID is known, for instance because it is listed in the log file, users can access the associated document reliably and with ease.

AES Encryption Standard

Another novelty is the increased range of note types at the users’ disposal, which now includes the thumbnail and signature types. These can be used to view thumbnails and compliance-relevant information without even opening the document. So-called ‘side files’ complement documents and now allow for evaluating information when reading MS-Office documents. Users can also store an index of the main document in the side file. To top things off, Beta UX supports encryption of transferred data using the AES standard and offers document output in UTF-8 via the buxtxt2u.exe conversion tool. This is of great value to international companies, as it enables them to search for indexes using Japanese or Arabic characters.

Lincs Inspire, which helps people in North East Lincolnshire lead more active and healthy lives through sport, culture and entertainment, is creating a healthier future for itself after implementing a cloud-hosted financial solution from Advanced*. The social enterprise is using a suite of services to ensure its financial and reporting structures are fit, agile and shape a mobile workforce in keeping with its active ethos. 

Lincs Inspire manages five sporting facilities, four libraries, a live entertainment venue, arts and sports development services, and a public archive function. In 2015, it became an independent not-for-profit entity, separated from North East Lincolnshire Council (NELC), and required an affordable and fully integrated financial system that would enable it to successfully operate as an independent and self-reliant service provider. With Advanced’s solution, staff will create efficiencies through greater automation of the company’s key financial processes whilst meeting the specific financial reporting requirements that underpins its status as a registered charity.   

“We needed to gain ownership of our own financial and procurement processes, and at the same time wanted to ensure reporting adhered to SORP** requirements, as well as benefit from non-recoverable VAT functionality. It was also important to give our staff the right tools to do their jobs efficiently, and in a more instinctive and user-friendly manner,” said Ian Gooderham of Lincs Inspire. “Advanced also offered the added advantage of bringing together all elements of the integrated software solution from the one supplier.”

The integrated solution comprises OpenAccounts, Advanced’s finance and procurement system with eBIS workflow, V1’s software for automating the purchase-to-pay processes, as well as Intuitive Dashboards, used for graphical dashboard reporting.

The system is hosted in the cloud by Advanced, giving employees secure access to the right information from any device at any location. Given the multiple facilities and sites that Lincs Inspire operates, there is a need for people across all departments to handle vital data, resulting in many forms and processes that impact the financial running of the business, such as sales invoices, timesheets and expenses. The eBIS workflow, which seamlessly integrates into OpenAccounts, provides a simple interface for finance managers, and makes it easier for them to manage and access information across the wider workforce without the need to repeatedly enter information – saving time and reducing the charity’s carbon footprint. 

“Although not-for-profit organisations may have different drivers as commercial organisations, this still brings a raft of financial reporting requirements and a pressure to deliver tight control over financial resources. Our solution will positively impact the running of this social enterprise, ensuring they deliver best value to the local community as a result of greater financial control. Furthermore, being future proof, it will allow for expansion into new business opportunities,” comments Jon Wrennall, Chief Technology Officer at Advanced.

Lexmark International, Inc., a global imaging leader, today announced that it has been awarded a place on the highly competitive Crown Commercial Services (CCS) Framework Agreement. The RM3781 framework offers public sector and central government customer solutions for printer/copier, managed print and records information management services.

• Awarded in partnership with YPO and Eastern Shires Purchasing Organisation (ESPO), the milestone enables Lexmark to deliver a fully outsourced service focused on supporting centralising, securitising and standardising office outputs in the UK.
• This framework has been developed with the objective of meeting the increased customer demand for digital solutions and to provide organisations with the tools to not only increase efficiency but also to realise cost savings. 
• Specifically Lexmark will deliver customers with the capability to digitise workflows and cut carbon footprints. Through the optimisation of a more flexible print strategy, customers will have the opportunity to discover more efficient approaches to the entire printing operation across their organisation.
• The new CCS framework has been designed with the intention of becoming the principal procurement agreement across the public sector, including central and local government, police authorities, NHS bodies and universities. 

Niu Solutions, the leading provider of IT consultancy and infrastructure services, today announces a new partnership with the British Banking Association (BBA) that will strengthen the services it offers the financial services sector.

By joining the leading trade association for the UK banking sector as an Associate Member, Niu will become part of a network of more than 200 member banks operating across 180 international jurisdictions. This partnership will allow Niu to gain key market insights on a range of issues affecting the banking community, so that it can ensure its services are relevant, with particular regards to changing security and compliance measures.

Niu will also be looking to work closely with the Challenger Banks, which helps to create a level playing field for competition and reduce the barriers to growth that many challenger banks face. Membership will also offer Niu a platform to share advice and case studies with today’s newest entrants and challenger banks.

Peter Gee, Managing Director at Niu Solutions, said:

“The BBA has the largest and most comprehensive policy resources for banks in the UK, representing members both domestically and on a global stage. Joining its growing network offers Niu the opportunity to enhance our own links in the financial services sector, widen our reach and share our technical know-how and experiences to help banks solve the digital challenges they face today.

“In response to increasing international regulation, the spotlight is firmly on financial services firms. Recognising this, the BBA is dedicated to ensuring the regulatory approach supports competition and protects banking customers whilst allowing innovation to thrive. This is closely aligned to our objectives, and through our membership, we will use our own experiences of helping leading firms overcome barriers to innovation and achieve the highest security and compliance standards to support BBA members.”

Jason Cole, Commercial Director at the BBA, said:

“We are very pleased to welcome NIU as an associate member. We are looking forward to working with NIU as they seek to provide IT consultancy and infrastructure services solutions to the banking sector.

intec, major European provider of xDSL, Ethernet and IP measurement technology, is presenting its high-end ARGUS^® multifunction testers at CeBIT, the world's largest information technology and telecommunications trade show. All visitors are invited to experience the testers' performance on an actual street cabinet in live demos at intec's booth in hall 12.

The focus at CeBIT is on the successful All-IP tester ARGUS^®162. The tester has measuring solutions for VDSL2 profile 35b - the new VDSL with frequencies up to 35 MHz, also known as Super Vectoring - as well as for G.fast. The G.fast modem simulation (FTU-R) supports ITU-T G.9700/9701 with up to 106 MHz (profile 106a) and Time Division Duplexing (TDD), in which the DPU defines different downstream and upstream bandwidths. For measurements in hybrid fibre cablings (FTTB, FTTC, FTTH, FTTdp), the ARGUS^®162 is equipped with an SFP slot which can be used with the appropriate SFP module for fibre-based Ethernet circuits or GPON as required. The ARGUS^®162 also offers test functionalities for the most marketable and  rolled out  technologies, from ISDN and POTS to PRI/E1, ADSL2/2+ and VDSL2 Vectoring right up to GPON, LTE and Gigabit Ethernet. If needed, the ARGUS^®162 can also be extended for copper and triple play tests (Data, VoIP, IPTV).

In order to meet market demands any given time, the functionality of the ARGUS^® product family is constantly being expanded. For example, starting with Model ARGUS^®151, all testers are able to update via the cloud, send test results to the cloud or load and install pre-defined configurations. Additionally, the ARGUS^®165 has an SHDSL interface and can also, among other things, perform RFC2544 throughput tests.