Technology

VFS Global, the world’s leading outsourcing and technology service specialist for governments and diplomatic missions, has reached a remarkable milestone of processing over 300 million applications.

Notably, the last 100 million applications were achieved in the past 5 years, despite the pandemic-driven travel slowdown of 2020-2022.

The company’s growth has continued to accelerate, with 24.1 million applications processed in 2023 alone, a 35% increase from 2022. This impressive performance has carried on into 2024, with VFS Global processing approximately 100,000 applications per day between January and May.

Zubin Karkaria, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the VFS Global Group, expressed the company’s pride in this milestone, attributing it to the trust of 70 governments and the reliable, secure, and innovative services provided across 152 countries.

VFS Global has continued to expand its global reach, winning several significant contracts, including becoming the exclusive overseas visa outsourcing partner for the UK and Australia, as well as renewing partnerships with Germany, Finland, Portugal, and Japan.

Innovation and technology have been at the core of VFS Global’s success, with the company pioneering digital solutions and biometric capabilities.

Now, the company is strategically focused on leveraging Generative AI to enhance the customer journey, with the establishment of AI hubs in Mumbai, Dubai, and an upcoming one in Berlin.

STEPN GO, the innovative social-lifestyle app in the Web3 space Thursday announced the next milestone in its ongoing partnership with global sportswear giant adidas: the launch of the first-ever STEPN GO x adidas co-branded physical running shoes featuring the STEPN GO logo.

The exciting development follows a successful year of collaboration between the two brands, which previously saw the release of the STEPN GO x adidas Genesis NFT Sneakers.

The launch of the STEPN GO x adidas Ultraboost 5 running shoes marks the latest phase of the year-long partnership between STEPN GO and adidas, which began in April 2024 with the introduction of the STEPN Genesis NFT collection. After building excitement with the initial NFT drops, the introduction of the physical STEPN GO x adidas Ultraboost 5 shoes highlights how the two brands are pushing the boundaries of digital and real-world fitness and fashion integration.

Starting December 13, the limited-edition collection of 1,200 STEPN GO x adidas Ultraboost 5 running shoes will be available exclusively on the MOOAR marketplace.

The initiative is reserved for holders of STEPN and STEPN GO x adidas Genesis Sneakers, reflecting adidas’ commitment to empowering physical movement and innovation.

“The launch of physical shoes is a defining moment in our partnership with adidas,” says Shiti Manghani, CEO of STEPN by FSL. “We’ve moved from digital collectibles to tangible products that people can wear, showing just how far the Web3 space has evolved. This collaboration demonstrates the potential of merging fitness, digital assets, and real-world products.”

The STEPN GO x adidas collaboration also showcases the platform’s Haus System, a standout feature that has emerged since the Public Beta Launch of STEPN GO in September 2024. The Haus System allows users to lend their Sneakers to friends, share Energy and earnings, and onboard new users into Web3 without needing a wallet, making STEPN GO more accessible to a wider audience and reinforcing its focus on community-driven innovation.

“We’re thrilled to offer a new digital experience for runners at the forefront of this exciting new era,” says Erika Wykes-Sneyd, VP and GM of adidas /// studio. “This collaboration not only brings a fresh way to engage with fitness but also introduces rewarding experiences that push the boundaries of what’s possible in both the physical and digital worlds.”

The STEPN GO x adidas Ultraboost 5 running shoe collection is a significant step in integrating an active lifestyle into everyday life, showcasing STEPN GO’s innovative approach to fitness technology and its leadership within the Web3 ecosystem.

Mastercard Academy, a leading provider of training solutions in the payments industry, has unveiled a new free online course called “Master Your Card: Finance Demystified”. Developed in partnership with the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth, the course aims to empower individuals with the financial knowledge needed to navigate personal finance tools and improve their overall financial well-being.

According to the latest S&P Global FinLit Survey, only 33% of adults worldwide are financially literate, with women lagging behind men at 30% and 35% respectively. This means that around 3.5 billion adults, mostly in developing economies, lack understanding of basic financial concepts.

Mastercard’s financial literacy program addresses this gap by removing geographical barriers and promoting greater access to financial education. It aligns with the company’s goal of connecting one billion individuals to the digital economy by 2025.

The engaging online course features interactive lessons, quizzes, and real-world examples across four key areas: electronic payments, budgeting, credit scores, and financial security. Available globally, the course underscores Mastercard’s commitment to empowering people and powering economies through education.

“At Mastercard, we are dedicated to democratizing financial literacy and ensuring everyone has access to the tools they need to achieve their financial goals,” said Driss Belemlih, Executive Vice President of Customer Delivery at Mastercard. “Our new free course removes confusing jargon and equips individuals, especially those in underserved communities and young adults, with the knowledge to manage their finances with confidence.”

Mastercard’s customers can also leverage the free course to reach unbanked, youth, and gig worker segments in their regions, helping integrate them into the digital economy and establish brand affinity early on. Studies show that financial education programs can significantly improve an individual’s financial knowledge and lead to more positive financial behaviors.

Mastercard Academy offers a comprehensive online learning platform that provides on-demand and instructor-led training from over 200 experts across the company’s global network. The platform equips Mastercard’s customers, partners, and now the public, with the professional insights, skills, and knowledge needed to succeed in the evolving payments landscape.

As part of COP29, a series of events were held to promote international partnerships and resources aimed at advancing climate action in Africa.

The Chairperson of the Innovation and Digital Development Agency (IDDA), Inara Valiyeva, delivered a speech at an event hosted at the Africa Pavilion.

Ogilvy Africa on Thursday announced the launch of OBrio, a state-of-the-art media intelligence platform that aims to enhance clarity and control over media performance across all channels.

OBrio consolidates performance metrics into an actionable dashboard, providing the most comprehensive and customizable analytics in the industry.

With its cross-channel performance tracking capabilities, businesses can now easily monitor and compare their performance metrics across traditional media, digital marketing, social networking, mobile applications, and websites, offering a complete perspective on the returns from their marketing initiatives.

“In an era that prioritizes data-driven decision-making and holds marketing budgets accountable, OBrio realigns the focus towards a consolidated ROI metric,” explained Vikas Mehta, CEO – Sub-Saharan Africa, Ogilvy.

We’ve engineered a platform that surpasses the norms of traditional reporting, presenting real-time analytics along with a powerful OBrio Score that acts as a singular truth for assessing marketing effectiveness.

The OBrio Score serves as a proprietary metric that gives businesses a quick insight into their overall marketing performance. It is derived from a sophisticated statistical model that evaluates marketing data across all channels, incorporating elements such as reach, engagement, sentiment, conversions, and more.

This calculation results in a unified metric that clarifies overall marketing success and ROI.

Additionally, the OBrio platform offers nearly real-time analytics across multiple media channels, complete with customizable reporting features.

Users can keep an eye on vital performance indicators (KPIs) that are pertinent to their business, allowing them to stay abreast of their marketing investments and adjust their strategies if needed.

“OBrio takes the ambiguity out of optimizing campaigns. It highlights our dedication to providing premier MarTech solutions for businesses in sub-Saharan Africa. Our solution is proudly developed in Africa and is designed to support businesses in making informed marketing decisions while staying competitive,” Vikas Mehta elaborated.

OBrio is currently available as a SaaS solution, welcoming marketers and businesses to start optimizing their marketing efforts. Ogilvy Africa invites potential users to register for a free trial to explore the platform fully.

The term OBrio derives from the word ‘brio,’ symbolizing energy and enthusiasm. “Our aim is to imbue data with that same energy, converting raw statistics into vibrant, actionable insights that advance our clients’ businesses,” Vikas concluded.