Bergen, Norway (November 16th, 2023) Casi, a market-leading provider of car subscription technology, has been awarded the 2023 European OEM Innovative Tech Product of the Year Award at the European Informa Tech Automotive Awards in Berlin, Germany.

The award is given together with Casi’s customer, Stellantis Financial Services Nederland, for their Drivenjoy car subscription service in the Netherlands. Drivenjoy is leading the Dutch car subscription market and has hundreds of vehicles being offered on subscription, powered by Casi technology. The award recognises an outstanding technology product made by an active OEM in the European market.

“We are extremely grateful and proud that our determined contribution has led to this recognition,” says Jordan Symonds, Head of Communication at Casi. “Casi’s tech platform and StellantisFinancial Services’s ambitions for Drivenjoy have been a perfect match, and together, we’ve been able to provide customers with easy and flexible access to a new car,” she continues.

Casi’s tech platform contains all the tools needed to track and manage the entire lifecycle of a car running on a subscription. This includes all back-end systems needed to track and manage fleet status, maintenance, and digital direct distribution sales through an automaker’s webshop. The white-label platform can also be integrated seamlessly into the existing tech landscape, including ID solutions, ERP systems, and CRM systems.

The awards ceremony was held during the AutoTech Europe event in Berlin. AutoTech: Europe is an event focused on bringing decision-makers in the auto industry together to collaborate and find new business models to stay competitive. The event explored various topics such as software-defined vehicles, consumer-focused revenue streams, connectivity, electrification, sustainability, user experience, AI, and mobility-as-a-service.

In addition to Casi and Stellantis’ award win, Casi Head of Communications Jordan Symonds was shortlisted for the European Inspirational Woman of the Year award for her work building the Join the Ride interview series, providing new insights into the future of the automotive industry and technology, from top automotive professionals.

Casi’s technology is used and trusted by over 50 car subscription providers, including market leaders like Hyundai, Toyota, Stellantis, Volkswagen, Schibsted, and AutoScout24. The company recently announced its partnership with Hyundai Motor Europe to bring Mocean car subscriptions to markets across Europe.

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Setting aside a little here, earning a bit more there, things add up exponentially over time. These methods of managing your money are in fact essential not only to grow, but even to stay on an even keel if you had to. After all, we live in a highly dynamic world, and even during the best of times, inflation will decrease the value of your money. Even saving for retirement is not possible without investment that will guarantee a growth in their value.

Whether you are just beginning to consider doing more with your money than simply keeping it in a checking account, or have already begun investing in a variety of financial instruments, it’s always a good idea to have a good savings account.

One great type of savings account to have is an Individual Savings Account, or ISA. An ISA not only makes your money grow passively with an interest rate, but also to invest up to £20,000 free of tax, which is referred to as your account allowance.

In fact, isa investments are one of the best ways to utilise your funds for investment purposes if you are a UK resident.

Why Open an ISA

As you may know, the earnings you make with a traditional savings account are considered as taxable income. The same applies to any profits you make on investment gains.

With an ISA, you can deposit up to £20,000 to use for savings and investments, without it being subject to tax, regardless of how you split this amount and how you use it. A considerable savings opportunity by any measuring stick.

You can open such an account from age 16 and over, but for younger potential customers, parents can open an account in their name as well. It cannot be overstated how important it is to start engaging in prudent financial planning early on.

How to Choose an ISA

There are many banks offering ISAs these days so you want to keep an eye on both the quality of service provided by your bank of choice, as well as their rates, fees, and current offerings. With FinecoBank for example, there are zero fees associated, as well as a high customer satisfaction rate, 24/7 customer service, and many other tools and features associated with the account itself.

A problem with any of the aforementioned details can lead to endless frustration, dissatisfaction, and a negative experience which will prevent you from growing and flourishing in regards to your personal finance.

You also want to see what the bank offers in terms of investment opportunities, and how it functions as a trading and investing platform. Stocks, shares, funds, and other financial instruments are widely offered, but not in the same manner or the same extent.

Be sure to check if the particulars that you are interested in are provided by the bank you are considering, and what their terms are.

Getting Started

When you opt for opening an ISA, you will need little time but a few essential things in hand: a valid ID, such as a passport or driver’s licence; a tax identification number, or TIN; your smartphone (with a working number, needless to say), and a UK address.

The process is quick and easy, but if you feel apprehensive in any way, and feel like you want and need to know more, be sure to check if the bank offers a live demo.

A live demo can be booked for a time which is convenient for you, during which you will receive a thorough tour of the account, its features, and platform, as well as have any and all questions answered by a live representative.

It is a great way to get quick insight, doesn’t require any commitments, and hey, if you have some time to kill, why not give it a go.

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The Etvas cloud API-based marketplace connects all providers of value-added services with customers of banks, insurance companies, online stores or mobile operators under one digital roof.

Several ecosystems present on the Etvas marketplace

The Etvas Marketplace allows for self-service integration of partners in a matter of days or use of services from the Etvas marketplace in minutes.

The unique combination of open ecosystem & self-service integration for partners allows companies to significantly accelerate digital services (or insurances) delivery to their end users.

Use cases for Etvas enterprise customers span retail, wholesale, in-branch sales, social media campaigns or card configuring; which ensure that a diverse variety of value-add services are offered to end-users through a variety of channels such as white label hosted portals or deep integration in mobile and web apps.

Etvas cooperates with top banks and insurance companies in Europe and currently has tens of service partners integrated.

Experienced founders and an international team

Hamburg-based Etvas GmbH was founded in December 2019 by financial services expert Sören Timm and IT entrepreneur Ilie Ghiciuc. The international team which counts 12 people has closed their first funding round in Mar 2021.

Also part of the team is Mr Sven Sahlberg, who has more than 20 years of experience in developing and management of VAS programs for financial institutions in the Scandinavian and DACH markets, in his capacity as Regional President at Affinion International (currently Tenerity).

The name Etvas stands for “etcetera value added service” and focuses on Customer Centricity. Etvas is a B2B2C customer engagement platform for extra-services that create new user touchpoints, optimize the UX and thus increase customer loyalty.

With just one API, banks and insurance companies have quick access to all services on the Etvas marketplace thanks to the platform technology, which creates highly personalized customer experiences through a variety of relevant services.

Sören Timm worked for the British CPP Group since 2007, where he built up the German and Austrian business as Managing Director. CPP develops service products for the financial and insurance sector. Ilie Ghiciuc has 17 years of experience as a CTO and IT entrepreneur.

SOURCE

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• – Large organizations indicated the highest initial (54 percent), current (77 percent) and forecasted (89 percent) levels of importance for preventing data exfiltration
• – Over the past 12 months,
• – 42 percent of organizations have experienced a ransomware attack with no evidence of exfiltration
• – 41 percent experienced an employee’s mistake resulting in data exfiltration
• – 33 percent experienced a credential theft resulting in data exfiltration
• – 31 percent experienced a phishing campaign resulting in data exfiltration
• – Only two in five respondents (43 percent) were very confident their organization would emerge unscathed from a ransomware attack, with no data exfiltrated.
• – 68 percent of respondents said existing data loss prevention (DLP) tools are difficult to configure, 60 percent said they are difficult to maintain and 51 percent said DLP cannot prevent data exfiltration.

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Join us as we take you through some of the basic terms, what they mean and the origin of these definitions. Read on to find out more.

Casino

Whilst the first official casino opened its doors in 1638, the term wasn’t actually coined until 1744, starting off  with a slightly different meaning. Originally taken from the Italian word casino, the Online Etymology Dictionary dictates that the term first referred to a “public room for music or dancing”, which isn’t a far cry from the definition we recognise today. By 1820, the context of the Italian word evolved and could be used to describe a “building for aristocratic gambling”. And, as we know, the word casino has retained that meaning up until today, although it has certainly become a more inclusive gaming location.

Dealer

The word dealer is derived from the Old English noun ‘deal’ which means “divider, distributor; agent, negotiator”. As the 1600s began, the word was expanded to also cover a “player who passes out the cards in a game”.

Dealer also has a counterpart word – croupier. Croupier originally comes from the German word croup which means to “ride behind another”. By 1731 it had been adapted to refer to the person “behind” the gaming table, defined as the “one who clears the winnings from the table in gambling”.

Gambling

The origin of this word can be traced back to 1726, meaning to “risk something of value on a game of chance”, simply implying the act of gambling. There are various other traces of word throughout history, but this is most likely where our version of the term begins.

Luck

The concept of luck is something that appears frequently throughout the world of casino gaming. With the likelihood of bagging a win falling down to chance – or luck – it features heavily throughout. The first trace of this term comes from the 1500s, meaning “fortune good or bad, what happens to one by chance”.

It wasn’t until 1832 that the word was associated with gambling, being used to refer to being “down on (One’s) luck”.

Players

The origin of players goes back to England in the Middle Ages, being used in the context of performance plays – “one who takes part in pastimes or amusements”. In the late 14^th century, the word was finally connected with table games, and later “contestants”.

Shuffle

Perhaps the most important part of any card-based game, the act of shuffling is essential in ensuring that all outcomes are fair. The word first appeared in 1620, being defined as “a trick”, before evolving into “a wavering or undecided course of behaviour” in 1640, taken from the verb. Fast forward to 1650, and the final connection had been made, with shuffle being used to refer to “a change in the order of playing cards” which is exactly how we use it in the casino setting now

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Your credit score measures your overall financial health. Your credit score will impact things like your ability to take out a loan, rent an apartment, and even get a job. The higher your score, the easier it is for you to get approved, demonstrating you are responsible with money and lending habits. Improving your credit score should be your top priority so you can get better interest rates and prove your ability to pay your bills. Here’s how you can raise your credit score. 

Review Your Credit Reports

Lenders, landlords, and even employers will run a credit check, so you must have the same information they do. The first step for improving your credit is knowing what’s working in your favor and what’s working against you. 

You can get a copy of your credit report from one of the major credit bureaus, which consist of:

1. Equifax
2. Experian
3. TransUnion

Factors that contribute to a higher score include:

• History of on-time payments
• Low credit card balances
• A mix of credit cards and loans
• Old credit accounts
• Minimal hard credit inquiries

The opposite of these factors, such as missed payments, high credit card balances, and multiple hard inquiries have adverse effects and reduce your credit score. 

With your credit report in hand, you can look for errors that might be hurting your score. If there are any errors in your report, such as accounts you did not open, you can dispute them so they can be corrected, which will help increase your score. 

Pay Your Bills On Time

Mortgage lenders will use your credit score to determine whether or not you’re someone who will pay their mortgage every month. Payment history is your track record for paying bills on time, and it is one of the most important factors for determining your score. If you don’t pay your bills and debts off on time or don’t pay them at all, you’ll see a low credit score on your report. Paying your debts, including student loans and credit card bills on time will help boost your score. 

A simple way to improve your credit score is to pay all of your bills on time. You can do this by: 

• Keeping track of monthly bills
• Setting notifications on your phone for due dates
• Automating bill payments

You can also choose to charge all of your bills to a credit card as long as you pay the balance in full when due. 

Another option is charging all (or as many as possible) of your monthly bill payments to a credit card. This strategy assumes you’ll pay the balance in full each month to avoid interest charges. Going this route could simplify bill payments and improve your credit score if it results in a history of on-time payments.

Keep Your Credit Utilization in Check 

Credit utilization is the amount of your credit limit you use each month. Your credit limit is determined by your loans and the limits on your credit cards. The easiest way to keep your credit utilization low is to pay off your credit cards by the due date each month. If that’s not possible for any reason, you can aim to keep your outstanding balance at 30% or less of your total limit. 

If you want to improve your credit score quickly, you should ultimately aim to keep your credit utilization at 10% or less.

Your credit card may have a high-balance alert that allows you to stop adding new charges when your credit utilization becomes too high. This will help you keep your utilization low without continuously checking your accounts. You can also keep your ratio low by calling up your credit card providers and asking for a credit limit increase, which will allow you to raise your credit limit without using your cards less. 

Limit Hard Inquiries

The two types of inquiries into your credit are hard inquiries and soft inquiries. A soft inquiry might include:

• Checking your credit score
• Allowing an employer to check your credit score
• Credit card companies determining pre-approval

Soft inquiries such as these don’t affect your credit score, but hard inquiries do. Hard inquiries can lower your score for up to two years and include checks into your credit from:

• Applications for a new credit card
• Mortgage application
• Auto loans
• Personal loans

Occasional hard inquiries won’t have any long-lasting effects, but they can damage your score for a short period. When you have multiple hard inquiries around the same time, banks may view this as you asking other lenders and financial institutions for money because you’re facing financial issues, causing you to be viewed as a bigger risk. 

If you want to improve your credit score, avoid applying for new credit. If you need more credit, contact your bank to see if you can raise your credit limits. 

Fatten Up a Thin Credit Report

A thin credit report means the credit reporting bureaus don’t have enough credit history on you to give you a credit score. This can be the case if you have never had a credit card or a bill in your name. Luckily, you can give the bureaus enough history on you to give you a score. If you don’t currently have a score, you can use this to your benefit by practicing good financial habits. 

You can also find programs that collect your financial data that wouldn’t normally be in your report, such as utility bills to calculate a FICO credit score. As long as you have a history of paying your bill on time, you may have a credit score available you don’t know about.

Keep Old Accounts Open

Your credit score is also impacted by the age of your credit accounts. This portion looks at how long you’ve had credit accounts open. The older your credit age, the higher your score will be. If you have old open accounts you don’t use, like your first credit card, don’t close it. Closing accounts, while you have balances on others, can lower your score while increasing your credit utilization.

If you have any delinquent accounts or accounts in collection, you can take action to resolve them by getting caught up on payments. Getting caught up won’t eliminate the fact that you had late payments, but it will improve your payment history in the future. 

Consolidate Your Debt

If you have outstanding debts you just can’t seem to pay off, you may want to consider debt consolidation. Debt consolidation is a type of loan from a financial institution that allows you to put all of your debt together so you can easily pay it off. 

Instead of having multiple bills to deal with, you’ll only have to make one payment. Debt consolidation may also allow you to get a lower interest rate, which can help you save money in the long run, ultimately improving your credit utilization ratio and your credit score.

Monitor Your Credit 

To help you get a handle on your credit score and how it changes over time, you can use a credit monitoring service or do it yourself. Many services are free, which can monitor changes in your credit report and send you notifications. 

You can also pay for a service that will provide you with identity theft and fraud protection and will send you a notification when a new account has been opened in your name so you can find errors faster. 

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Intamac first worked with The Big Biscuit Company in 2019, supplying an IPS-8BT pouch filling machine with multi-headed weighers and conveyors. Following increased packaging output as a result of introducing new automated processes, the size of the business has now tripled. In order to help the Bordon based company adapt to the increased demand for their products, Intamac have since installed a further three machines, along with auxiliary equipment.

Since the initial machine, a second IPS-8BT pouch filling machine, a flow wrapping machine, and a bulk bag filler have been installed, all of which are fitted with Norwix ink jet printers to allow for easy barcode and date printing. As demand increases, The Big Biscuit Company is now expecting the delivery and installation of a third pouch filling machine to increase their packaging output.

The Big Biscuit Company co-founder, Alex Baker, is excited by how the business has developed since working with Intamac.

“The first Intamac machine was basically a catalyst for our business. Two years ago, we were packing fifty thousand packs a month, now this has reached half a million and we are continually adapting and changing. Our business has tripled since that first machine.”

On working with Intamac, he said “The fast availability of Intamac equipment helped us to react to the growth in the market and demand from customers. We ended up ordering our second 8BT in January, it was installed in February and has been running for 16 hour shifts ever since, and we have another one on the way!”

As The Big Biscuit Company experienced rapid growth, Intamac’s engineers worked closely with them to devise innovative new packaging solutions to offer more options to customers. Whilst larger items such as dog chews were initially packaged using a bag in a box, Intamac suggested their flow wrapping machine as an ideal solution for less bulky packaging, cutting the quantity of packaging materials needed by 50%.

For Alex Baker, this has been a key investment.

“The flow wrapper is another machine that has revolutionised our business. We were looking at ways to pack dog chews and Intamac suggested this option.

“We have found that the machine build quality is high, particularly for what was a relatively inexpensive piece of kit. It has also allowed for further innovation and we have worked closely with Inamac’s engineers to find better ways to pack the dog chews. It’s a great alternative for our customers, who are really pleased with this solution.”

Having worked closely with The Big Biscuit Company team since the first packaging machine was installed, Intamac’s sales manager Tom Poston stressed the importance of the relationship between the two businesses.

“I really enjoy working with the Big Biscuit team. Not only are they expert operators of the machinery, but they are always looking at new ways of using the equipment to make it work even better for them.

“Whenever I visit the site, I am always waiting to see what they are doing next and how they have adapted the machinery to fill different shaped packaging or trialled new materials. It’s a constant learning curve.”

Looking forward to the future, The Big Biscuit Company’s Alex Baker reflects on how working with Intamac Packaging Systems has impacted his business.

“We are driven by delivering quality products for animals, this means we are always improving our ingredients, range and packaging. We have formed a strong partnership with Intamac, which is helping us to achieve our goals.

“They have made a big difference to the business and always offer great support.”

Based in Petersfield, Intamac Packaging Systems is a family-owned business, specialising in the supply, installation and maintenance of a range of automated and semi-automated packaging machines and auxiliary equipment. Working with clients throughout the UK, Intamac helps small businesses to expand and automate their packaging processes, save time and money, and increase their output.

For more information about Intamac Packaging Systems please contact sales@intamacmachinery.com or call 01420 593682.

SOURCE

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Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, USA

Our first vegas entry is none other than the world-famous Caesar’s, which opened in October 1937. It’s survived scandals, a world war, recessions, and not to mention covid 19. Its opulent rooms and 166,000 square feet of gaming space have become synonymous with extravagance on The Strip. The spa has Roman baths, and exquisite mosaics and ancient architecture surround the pools. Its structures and interiors are designed in Ancient Rome, which other Vegas venues have emulated since its beginning. It has elegant guest rooms and suites, a long list of interesting restaurants and cafes, the 50,000-square-foot Qua Baths & Spa, and the famed Forum Shops with its speciality stores, all located in the middle of The Strip.

The Venetian Macao, Macao

Known as the “Monte Carlo of the Orient”, which is home to many of the world’s largest casinos, in addition to Venetian Macau, the biggest casino on earth and the 6th largest structure in the world. The complex cost a mega $2.4 billion to construct and includes a sports events hall and a great 550,000-square-foot gambling area. The Venetian features the same quasi-Venetian style as its sister resort in Las Vegas it was modelled after, including replicas of the city’s canals. There are luxurious, all-suite guest rooms, multiple restaurants featuring cuisine from around the world, a play zone, garden swimming pools and extensive recreational facilities, along with 3,000 slots and 750 table games, with a total floor space of nearly 10.8 million square feet.

Resorts World Sentosa, Singapore

One of the most expensive properties ever built, Resorts World Sentosa on Sentosa Island off the southern coast of Singapore, came at the cost of almost $5 billion. This top-rated Singapore resort features a casino, several hotels, a Universal Studios theme park, Adventure Cove Water Park, and a Marine Life Park with the world’s largest oceanarium. Over 2,400 slot machines and electronic table game machines, as well as over 500 table games such as blackjack, poker, and baccarat, are available at the casino. Each hotel has its distinct theme and offers magnificent accommodations, such as beach villas with stunning views and personal butlers. Tree-top lofts, tucked in a canopy of trees approximately 40 feet above the ground, provide an idyllic hideaway for nature enthusiasts.

Bellagio, Las Vegas, USA

One of the world’s most prominent casino resorts, The Bellagio which cost a staggering £80 million to build, is best known for its fountain, featured in films such as “The Hangover” and “Ocean’s 11.” Still, it’s also recognised for its high-end poker rooms known as “The Office,” which routinely hold World Poker Tour tournaments. The high table limits attract a large number of professional players. In Bobby’s Room’s “Big Game,” bets can reach $4,000/$8,000, with pots regularly surpassing $1 million. There are 2,000 slot machines with jackpots of up to $2 million, as well as exclusive fashion stores for wealthy shoppers, in addition to poker.

Atlantis Resort & Casino, Paradise Island, Bahamas

Located in the aptly named paradise island, Bahamas, Atlantis casino can boast of being the most famous and largest casino in the Caribbean. Atlantis Resort also has some of the world’s most expensive hotel suites, including a Bridge Suite that costs about £20,000 per night. There are 78 gaming tables, including craps, blackjack, Caribbean stud poker, roulette, baccarat, and approximately 1,000 slot machines throughout the casino. The skylights and windows that run the length of the gaming floor provide stunning views of the sea.

Ibiza Gran Hotel – Ibiza, Spain

In Ibiza, which many may know for its wild parties and beautiful beaches, our first European entry is also home to the luxurious Ibiza Gran Hotel Casino. The casino, which has both gaming tables and slots, is one of the primary island attractions. It also hosts Texas Hold ‘Em events, which attract many poker pros and enthusiasts. Overlooking the marina and the Old Town also provides a spectacularly romantic setting, while the spa offers a wealth of treatments and top-of-the-line service.

MGM Grand Casino, Las Vegas, USA

In addition to being located in one of the largest hotels in the world, the MGM Grand Casino has one of the largest gaming floors in the city at 171,500 square feet. Featuring no less than 139 gaming tables and 2,500 slot machines with payouts of as much as a half-million dollars. A hidden refuge buried within the clouds may be found at Skylofts, a premium hotel at the top of the MGM Grand. Guests can relax in a bath filled with tiny champagne-like massage bubbles, watch TVs in the mirrors, and even be picked up from the airport in a $400,000 automobile. Everything from the TV and DVD player to the lights, thermostat, and draperies is controlled remotely. You’ll also have your butler available 24 hours a day to help you unpack and pack your belongings.

Foxwoods Resort Casino – Ledyard, USA

Surprisingly, the largest casino in the United States is not located in Las Vegas. Foxwoods Resort Casino in Ledyard, Connecticut, is owned and operated by the Mashantucket Pequot Indian tribe. Opened in 1968, it features 4.7 million square feet of gaming space across six casinos, with more than 7,000 gaming machines and 17 different types of table games, as well as one of the world’s largest bingo halls. It also offers a two-story arcade for families with children.

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