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01732 759725 06 A Siri for big data AskR.ai describes its voice-activated data assistant as a ‘Siri’ for big data. Claimed to be Europe’s first AI-powered data assistant, it responds to users’ requests for information by finding relevant data and presenting it in an accessible way within seconds, with no training or configuration needed. Users can submit requests by voice, text or email, 24/7. AskR.ai can be added to any web app, enabling users to interact with data inside enterprise tools, such as Slack or Microsoft Teams. https://en.askr.ai/ INNOVATIONS What’s New IoT tracking Mobile and IoT solutions provider Workz Group has launched a device management platform to help service providers, including device manufacturers, mobile network operators and government bodies, to optimise operational efficiencies and maximise the revenue potential of their devices and data. Available on a usage- based pricing model, Z-IoT offers real-time tracking and remote management of devices deployed in areas like smart cities, energy, transportation, agriculture, factories and robotics. www.workz.com Fresh start for FreshBooks FreshBooks, the number two small business accounting software in America, has officially launched in the UK. It has been active over here for 10 years, but last year decided to ramp up its investment in the UK with a number of initiatives, notably a partnership with Three UK, which offered free subscriptions to FreshBooks as part of its Three Means Business bundle. Now, to mark its official UK launch, FreshBooks has announced new features optimised for UK customers, including HMRC-approved Making Tax Digital for VAT; the ability to connect FreshBooks to UK bank accounts, so that users can automatically import bank account transactions and gain an up-to-date picture of their financial health; access to a UK ecosystem of 90+ apps and integrations; and extended support. In May, #imakealiving, the FreshBooks event for the self-employed, will be coming to the UK. www.FreshBooks.com Free to experiment Secure remote access and control specialist TeamViewer is hoping to kick- start businesses’ IoT journeys by offering its Internet of Things (IoT) solution free of charge for use with up to two endpoint devices. Executive Vice President Business Development, Alfredo Patron, said: “We are convinced that users learn about possible application scenarios and the advantages of IoT by experimenting. To support them, TeamViewer IoT offers a user-friendly experience with simple step-by-step instructions and onboarding wizards.” As well as providing remote access to IoT devices, TeamViewer IoT can monitor parameters, such as temperature, and send alerts when they are exceeded. www.teamviewer.com A Teams call Qunifi, operator of the Call2Teams cloud service for connecting Microsoft Teams to an existing phone system, has entered into a partnership with Vonage to connect Vonage Business Communications (formerly Vonage Business Cloud) with Microsoft’s collaboration solution. Qunifi CEO Mark Herbert said: “Customers are excited about using Microsoft Teams as a unified collaboration environment, but up to now adding the Teams phone calling feature has been perceived as disruptive or costly. We have worked with Vonage to create a simple per-user add-on to the Vonage Business Communications service that gives customers all the benefits of Microsoft Teams using the Vonage service, numbers and call features they already have.” Vonage customers do not need to install any hardware or software; the Call2Teams dial pad simply appears in Teams. www.call2teams.com/vonage Handy printer Panduit has announced two new handheld label printers for the industrial, construction and network infrastructure markets. Jointly developed with Epson, its printer technology partner, the MP100 and MP300 portable label printers feature a 1.4in per second print speed, support for a wide variety media up to 1.5in wide, USB connectivity, direct printing from Easy-Mark Plus software and an integrated automatic cutter with full and half cutting. Both devices have an operational temperature range of -40°C to 66°C. Emotional intelligence Business communications specialist Avoira claims that its AI-powered real-time voice and text analytics solution, Xdroid Agent Assist, can increase client retention by 30% and sales by 14%. It does this by picking up keywords in texts and conversations and by monitoring callers’ sentiment. If a call sentiment changes from negative or neutral to positive, for example, the agent may be prompted to upsell. Avoira is demonstrating Xdroid Agent Assist at DTX EXPO Manchester on March 25-26. BT SD-WAN BT is expanding its portfolio of Cisco- based managed services with the launch of two new SD-WAN products – Cisco SD-WAN powered by Viptela and Cisco SD-WAN powered by Meraki. The new products provide medium and large businesses with secure, high bandwidth connections across multiple sites using fixed line connectivity and mobile networks, underpinned by BT’s dedicated security expertise and proactive managed service with a single point of contact. www.btplc.com EDITOR’S CHOICE AWARD WORKZ GROUP: Z-IoT 0