Technology has become central to keeping people connected during extended periods of forced social isolation. Whenever people get back to their routines in the physical world, it will merely be an effort to catch up, not be free from the virtual world.

There's a new way to borrow at the checkout counter, and it's finding favour with shoppers on a tight budget. Termed "buy now, pay later" (BNPL), these interest-free, short-term payment plans have captured a sizeable audience in credit-starved, cash-strapped millennials and Gen Zs.

COVID-19 has upended life as we know it. The potential effect of this viral disease on mortality and public health, as well as the lasting socioeconomic repercussions of the crisis, is still unfathomable.

When we look back at the Covid-19 pandemic, one of the unsung victims of the devastating virus is the touchscreen. While the virus made us wary of unhygienic surfaces, the lockdown and social isolation revived our interest in interacting with a human-sounding voice, catalysing the large-scale shift towards the voice interface.

For some years now, drone technology has been billed as the next big thing. For many, the associations that spring to mind when thinking about the technology are their uses in military defense, surveillance, awe-inspiring landscape photography, and wedding videos.

Businesses are bullish on the future of voice technology like Amazon, Apple and Google's digital assistants, with consumers relying on the contactless tools more than ever during the pandemic, according to a study by professional services company Cognizant. Exclusive local data shared with Which-50 from Cognizant’s Centre for the Future of Work shows Australian brands lead the region in voice strategy but still face privacy and skills challenges.

Nasdaq-listed Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp. is strengthening its leadership team with a mix of internal promotions and external hires in a bid to return to growth.

"We are pleased that we are entering Q4 executing increased promotions, and we are accruing bonuses at substantially higher levels than last year," said CEO Brian Humphries.

Brian Humphries took over as the CEO of Cognizant in April 2019 and announced a ‘fit for growth’ program, which involved cost-cutting initiatives and exiting non-core areas. He tells TOI that Cognizant is on its course to become industry bellwether again.

Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp. on Thursday posted a 30% year-on-year decline in net profit to $348 million for the quarter ended September on high acquisition-related costs and a one-time tax of about $140 million.

IT major Cognizant reported about 30 per cent drop in September quarter net income at USD 348 million (around Rs 2,578.3 crore), but said it is witnessing strong momentum in its digital business and bookings.

In the current reality, taking a step back and looking at the big picture can be daunting. The way we work has fundamentally changed and digital transformation efforts have been supercharged out of necessity.

Turns out COVID hasn’t just changed the way we work—it’s also thrown a wrench into the machinations of our future robot overlords.

Awareness! That’s what today’s data-driven organizations want. Whether for opportunities or threats, just knowing what’s happening can make all the difference, especially when the latency is near zero.

The first phase of the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) has wrapped up and the numbers are impressive: more than 5 million loans totaling $525 billion from nearly 5,500 lenders. Any bank that participated will attest that the data processing headaches were just as notable.

From preventative maintenance on white goods to smart mirrors in clothes stores, the IoT is ready to change customer relationships.

This spending is fuelled by high expectations since they aim to drive six per cent of their revenue through voice during this period, it added.

Many of the digital jobs of the future have suffered during the later stages of the pandemic, while in-person health care jobs are on the rise.

Indian companies plan to spend 2.6 per cent of revenues on building voice capability to drive stronger growth in the next five years. They have high expectations for returns as they are aiming to drive 6 per cent of their revenue through voice during the same period.

Indian companies plan to spend 2.6% of their revenues on building voice capabilities in the next five years, a Cognizant survey revealed on Tuesday. This investment strategy is fueled by high expectations for returns, as they are aiming to drive 6% of their revenue through voice during the same period.

With consumers prioritising safety, brands should focus on creating a diverse landscape of online and offline touchpoints.

Blockchain is being used to bring a smart city on the outskirts of Phnom Penh to life. How will its use benefit business? And what are the potential pitfalls?

Mohit Mehta, Vice President and Commercial Leader: Cloud, Infrastructure and Security – Global Growth Markets, at the digital and cloud company Cognizant discusses how IoT devices can balance security requirements with cost and complexity.

There has been a steady stream of transaction tax announcements in the last ten years. High profile Financial Transaction Taxes (FTTs) have been introduced in France and Italy and more specific dividend taxes in the US with 871(m) and 305(c), and Capital Gains Taxes (CGT) introduced globally. As a result, the market has had to wake up to a growing operational challenge on top of those caused by the tide of regulations including MiFID II and EMIR, not to mention planning for the arrival of CSDR.

Earlier on in the COVID-19 pandemic, organisations faced myriad challenges as they sought to reopen office buildings. Temperatures would need to be scanned, density monitored, personnel distances measured, and contacts tracked. In some cases, hand-washing procedures would need enforcing, too.