HAIKOU, China, Dec. 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- A report from Hainan International Media Center (HIMC):
This year, as Hainan's visa free policy continued to broaden easy access to the island province in south China, the number of international travelers trended upward, with a rise in travel bloggers exploring Hainan. Starting in October, four popular internet celebs from Italy, Canada, and the UK have been specially invited to check out the urban landscapes and cultural atmosphere of the free trade port.
From strolling through Haikou's ancient qilou-lined streets to appreciating the most beautiful fishing village in China on Sanya's West Island, the four vloggers documented every moment of their Hainan journeys, sharing content on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and other social media platforms that have garnered over 10 million views in total.
Italian social media celebrity Yasmin Von Roon posted her Hainan travel experiences on Instagram and TikTok, resulting in over 1.4 million views and 560 thousand likes. A global travel blogger, Yasmin has made her way across large swathes of the world, but even her extensive travel experience did not prepare her for her cultural journey through Hainan, which stunned her so completely that she decided to change her return ticket date in order to stay longer on Boundary Island.
Jared Faa, a Canadian vlogger, has been waiting for 20 years to bring his parents back to Hainan, where they once worked. His parents were totally shocked at the overwhelming transformation Hainan has undergone since they last set foot on the island's shores. In Jared's first YouTube video of his parent's return to Hainan, he showed their reactions to returning to their former workplace and apartment, showcasing the new discoveries they made along the way. The video has racked up over 200,000 views in the short time since it was released, with the number of views still on the rise, and many viewers posting their own memories of Hainan in the comment section. Several of Jared's other Hainan videos have also gotten quite a lot of attention, receiving a total of over 6.6 million views on international social media platforms.
Italian photographer Fabio Nodari enjoys turning his lens on local culture, nature scenes, and customs. His Hainan videos show over 350 thousand total views on Instagram, X, and YouTube. British social media celebrity Harvey Charles has also attracted positive comments from his video, such as "I fell in love with Hainan because of this video. I definitely want to go when I have time."
The 'An Open Future - The Power of Youth and Dreams in the Hainan FTP' internet event, jointly organized by the Hainan International Media Center and Hinews, has resulted in wide ripples of acclaim as each new video showcasing the island drops, promoting the development of the Hainan culture and tourism industries as well as enhancing the international visibility of the Hainan FTP.
** The press release content is from PR Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **
Internet celeb videos fuel Hainan travel popularity surge
Internet celeb videos fuel Hainan travel popularity surge
Kimberly-Clark Expanding Investments in India
BENGALURU, India, Dec. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Kimberly-Clark, a global leader in essential personal and family care products, continues to increase its commitment to India through its Global Digital Technology Center (GDTC) in Bengaluru.
Established in 2018 with an initial investment of $2.5 million, the Bengaluru GDTC has seen remarkable growth, expanding its size by eight times in just five years. The center focuses on key areas and digital capabilities such as Data and Analytics, Artificial Intelligence (AI) including Generative AI, Machine Learning (ML), Cloud Transformation, Global Digital Operations & Automation, Digital Sales and Marketing, and Digital Supply Chain – all of which help drive efficiencies and improve customer experiences. Over the next three years, the GDTC plans to continue its expansion, focusing on advancing AI/ML capabilities and developing innovative digital solutions to boost operational efficiency and customer engagement. These capabilities further enhance Kimberly-Clark's ability to deliver on its global Powering Care strategy – shared earlier this year – and, in turn, strengthen its longstanding commitment to consumer-centricity.
While the Bengaluru GDTC is driving Kimberly-Clark's technological advancements, it's also contributing to India's broader tech and innovation ecosystem. By collaborating with local startups, academic institutions, and industry partners, the center aims to foster cutting-edge solutions.
"Our Bengaluru GDTC is a testament to Kimberly-Clark's deep-rooted commitment to innovation and the immense breadth of Indian talent," said Zack Hicks, Chief Digital and Technology Officer, Kimberly-Clark. "In just five years, the center has evolved into a key growth engine for our digital strategies, delivering AI-powered commercial and supply chain solutions, and pioneering advancements in modern manufacturing. Looking ahead, we remain focused on further investing in India, leveraging the country's outstanding talent and technological expertise to shape the future of Kimberly-Clark and pioneer industry-leading innovation in our core categories."
The integration of data and advanced analytics is at the core of the Bengaluru GDTC's success. By leveraging AI/ML algorithms built on their enterprise data lake, the team is also optimizing sales predictions, refining pricing strategies for e-commerce, and automating routine tasks such as order entry and invoice processing. In 2024, efforts in Gen AI platforms originating from the GDTC improved the employee productivity by up to 25%, and the development of AI-powered sales and revenue analytics drove a 10% improvement in sales execution across regions like Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. These innovations not only streamline operations and reduce costs but also boost accuracy and efficiency.
One of the center's major achievements is the development of Maestro, an AI-powered supply chain orchestration platform that has delivered more than $20 million in global savings for Kimberly-Clark. Another transformative innovation is the Warehouse Automation Platform, which seamlessly integrates warehouse robotics with supply chain systems, reducing new solution deployment timelines from 18 months to 4 months, and generating savings exceeding $50 million. The GDTC's collaborative efforts have also resulted in the creation of Procuree 3.0, an inhouse Source-to-Pay chatbot powered by Generative AI that enhances Kimberly-Clark's procurement processes across 42 countries and 14 languages.
Recently, the GDTC held its third Digital Hackathon under the theme 'UNLOKC 2024,' bringing together Kimberly-Clark employees and technology partners to develop digital solutions that contribute to business opportunities in areas such as supply chain, marketing, and finance. Over 130 innovative ideas were submitted within four weeks, and the 7 project finalists were awarded by the Digital Technology global leadership team during the Hackathon's final event in Bangalore. These finalists will receive support to develop their projects in the near future.
As Kimberly-Clark's largest technology hub, the Bengaluru GDTC is positioned to remain a critical driver of growth and innovation on a global scale. With plans to continue attracting top-tier talent and expanding its technological capabilities, the center is set to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of the company and its global tech ecosystem.
About Kimberly-Clark:
Kimberly-Clark (NYSE: KMB) and its trusted brands are an indispensable part of life for people in more than 175 countries. Fueled by ingenuity, creativity, and an understanding of people's most essential needs, we create products that help individuals experience more of what's important to them. Our portfolio of brands, including Huggies, Kleenex, Scott, Kotex, Cottonelle, Poise, Depend, Andrex, Pull-Ups, GoodNites, Intimus, Plenitud, Sweety, Softex, Viva and WypAll, hold No. 1 or No. 2 share positions in approximately 70 countries. We use sustainable practices that support a healthy planet, build strong communities, and ensure our business thrives for decades to come. We are proud to be recognized as one of the World's Most Ethical Companies(R) by Ethisphere for the sixth year in a row and one of Fortune's Most Innovative Companies in America in 2024. To keep up with the latest news and to learn more about the company's 150-year history of innovation, visit the Kimberly-Clark website.
** The press release content is from PR Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **
India's Thriving Tech Hub Fuels Kimberly-Clark's Digital Transformation
