Olayan Financing Company and IBM Consulting to implement next-generation SAP solutions

Cisco announced a family of data center Smart Switches, disrupting traditional data center network design by enabling networking and security services in a compact all-in-one solution. Utilizing programmable AMD Pensando data processing units, the switch functions as a high-capacity, multifunctional service-hosting device, architecturally transforming data centers to simplify their design and make them more efficient. 

Cisco’s first integrated offering, the Smart Switch with Cisco Hypershield, introduces a new approach to securing AI data centers by fusing security directly into the network fabric.

As AI workloads multiply, building and managing data centers has become much more complex. Data center operators require a simpler way to design, build, and deploy infrastructure to fully benefit from AI. AI applications must sit where they are needed, whether a massive large language model sitting in centralized hyperscale facilities or a network drone monitoring crop irrigation at the very edge of
the network. 

This shift in where data is created, accessed, and stored requires a new type of simplified data center infrastructure–one that integrates compute, storage, networking, and security in new ways, and allows for automated and predictive operations via simplified management platforms.

“Data center infrastructure needs be reimagined for both AI training and inferencing workloads that dwarf even the largest enterprise jobs of the past,” said Jeetu Patel, EVP and chief product officer, Cisco. “Simply upgrading data center infrastructure with higher ‘speeds and feeds’ switches does not address the requirements of modern data centers, which require acceleration of security and network services natively within the data center fabric.”

“Cisco’s innovative approach to data center design, leveraging leadership AMD Pensando DPUs, marks a significant milestone in transforming enterprise infrastructure to address the evolving security demands of data center networks while dealing with the fast paced AI deployments,” said Soni Jiandani, senior vice president and general manager, Networking Technology and Solutions Group, AMD. 

“Our collaboration with Cisco enables enterprises to achieve high-capacity throughput and impressive network security without compromising on workload performance on Cisco UCS servers or Hypershield enabled platforms. Together, we are paving the way for a new era of intelligent, adaptive, and secure data centers.”

Checkout.com, a leading global digital payments solutions provider, has partnered with Tabby, the financial services and shopping app, to offer flexible and high-performing payment solutions to merchants in the UAE and Saudi Arabia. This partnership integrates Tabby’s popular buy now, pay later solutions directly into Checkout.com’s platform, allowing merchants to offer consumers seamless, flexible payment methods at checkout.

As part of the agreement, Checkout.com has already integrated Tabby’s innovative BNPL solutions into its platform, offering merchants flexible, consumer-friendly payment options. This integration allows Checkout.com’s merchants to capitalize on the growing demand for alternative payment methods, boosting sales, conversion rates, and average order values. By offering greater flexibility at the point of purchase, the collaboration aims to enhance the shopping experience, foster consumer loyalty, and drive business growth.

The partnership comes as the BNPL market in the Middle East continues to experience rapid growth, with adoption rates reaching up to 62 percent over the past 12 months, according to Checkout.com’s latest Digital Commerce Report. This surge is driven by increasing consumer demand for flexible payment and credit solutions.

By combining Checkout.com’s cutting-edge payment technology with Tabby’s flexible financing solutions, this partnership creates a powerful ecosystem that enhances payment performance and enables merchants to grow their businesses by offering consumers their preferred payment methods. Together, Checkout.com and Tabby are dedicated to empowering consumers with greater choice, convenience, and flexibility, driving business growth and improving the overall shopping experience.

Abdulaziz Saja, KSA general manager, Tabby, said: “By partnering with Checkout.com, we’re bringing Tabby’s flexible payments to even more merchants. This gives Checkout.com’s businesses access to Tabby’s +15 million high-intent shoppers while offering their customers greater flexibility at checkout.”

“We are excited to partner with Tabby to empower merchants in the UAE and Saudi Arabia with more payment options for their customers,” said Remo Giovanni Abbondandolo, general manager MENA, Checkout.com. “At Checkout.com, we believe in the strategic value of payments in increasing revenue for our merchants through high performance payments, and this partnership reinforces our commitment to delivering solutions that drive business growth and enhance customer experiences.”

“In the past 12 months, popularity of BNPL remained a preferred payment method for online shoppers in the UAE and KSA with adoption rates reaching 39 percent and 42 percent respectively.”

This highlights the region’s growing demand for flexible payment options. Moreover, with an 80 percent increase in daily online shopping since 2020, consumers are eager to adopt new payment solutions,” he added.

“By integrating Tabby’s BNPL services into a single platform, we enable merchants to seamlessly offer flexible payment options with quick and efficient integration. This not only enhances the consumer experience but also drives higher conversion rates and customer satisfaction—creating real added value for everyone involved,” he concluded.