Crash Detection: Why False Positive Suppression is Critical  June 22nd 2023

Aite-Novarica Group and RBR are now Datos Insights

Today, Aite-Novarica Group and RBR announce their rebranding as Datos Insights.

The companies, both global leaders in financial services technology research and data, merged in February 2022. The new brand represents an expanded vision for the combined company, which builds on their collective reach and resources. Together under the Datos Insights name, they will continue their journey with a new web presence and product enhancements to help clients achieve the greatest possible business impact.

“We are excited about the continued growth and evolution of the company,” said Kurt Reisenberg, CEO. “Our three heritage brands (Aite Group, Novarica, and RBR) each had a mission to help clients anticipate and respond to technology, market, and strategic changes.

Combined as Datos Insights, we are even closer to our goal of becoming the leading global provider of insights, data, and advisory services to the financial services, insurance, and retail technology industries. We believe our market knowledge, experience, and data, combined with a level of personal client engagement we don’t see elsewhere, make the Datos Insights proposition unbelievably compelling.”

Robotics in the Workplace Improves Safety: White Paper

Adding technology in the workplace can help injuries and deaths, especially in manufacturing, says a new white paper released by the National Safety Council.

“Robotics have long been deployed by organizations to improve operational efficiencies, but as companies increasingly look toward a more automated future, the many benefits this technology brings to workplace safety programs cannot be overlooked,” said Katherine Mendoza, senior director, workplace programs, NSC.

“Recent advancements in data science and artificial intelligence mean that robotic vehicles and arms aren’t just capable of augmenting complex, precise tasks alongside human workers, but in many instances can eliminate employees’ exposure to dangerous machinery and workplace hazards altogether,” she added.

In conjunction with its Work to Zero initiative, the new report identifies the five most common robot configurations available to employers — AMRs, Automated Guided Vehicles or AGVs, Articulated Robots, Humanoid Robots and Cobots — to assess their key benefits and applications.

The report highlighted several examples where the use of robots in the workplace can lead to safety improvements for workers. These include:

• Inspecting confined spaces and industrial facilities. Organizations in the construction, mining and logging industries may especially benefit from using wheeled AMRs to remove human workers from on-site hazards.
• Transporting parts, goods and materials. Used alongside sensors and computer vision, AMRs and AGVs can minimize the risk of human-machine collisions.
• Using robotic arms for precision cutting and welding, as well as the safe handling of toxic, high-temperature or explosive materials.
• Machine tending and parts repositioning by using robotic arms and AMRs to reduce risks associated with manual machine handling.
• Adopting robotic technology can also help employers mitigate the risk of workplace musculoskeletal disorders, prevent falls from heights and reduce worker muscle fatigue, the report found.

Despite the many benefits of robotics, several barriers to widespread adoption exist.

According to the report, “while recent advancements have reduced the price and increased the viability of robotics for common industrial applications, costs of implementation and ongoing maintenance may still be prohibitive for smaller industrial operations.”

Root has struggled since going public, with shares down more than 90%

Shares of Columbus-based Root more than doubled Wednesday on a report that the auto insurance company has received a takeover offer.

Root shares jumped 60% on Wednesday during the regular trading session and added another 36% in after-hours trading on a report in The Wall Street Journal that Embedded Insurance wants to buy the young auto insurance company.

Shares were trading below $6 when the story broke around 3 p.m. They closed at $9.62 during the regular session, then rose another $3.73 to $13.35 in after-hours trading.

Embedded Insurance has offered $19.34 a share for Root, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing people familiar with the situation. Such a deal would peg the value of the company at around $280 million.

When the company went public in October 2020, various reports estimated Root's value at around $6 billion.

The company sent Root's board a proposal on June 9 after trying to engage in talks since last July, the newspaper reported.

Root did not immediately return a call Wednesday from The Dispatch seeking comment.