DataCenterNews Asia Pacific - Specialist news for cloud & data center decision-makers
Asia

Author profile

Karen Joy Bacudo headshot photo

Karen Joy Bacudo

Finance Editor

Karen wears two hats at TechDay, balancing her role as an editor while assisting with finance tasks. She bridges writing content and reconciling numbers to support the team, with the same level of accuracy and precision.

Email Call LinkedIn Our team

Global Stories

Written by Karen Joy

Avalara expands AWS Marketplace access for tax tools
Digital Transformation

Avalara expands AWS Marketplace access for tax tools

Avalara inks multi-year AWS deal to push its AI-driven tax tools via AWS Marketplace, promising simpler cloud procurement and billing.

By Karen Joy Bacudo • 3 min read • Wed, 28th Jan 2026
Fingular secures SGD $10m Kilde credit line for SEA push
Fintech

Fingular secures SGD $10m Kilde credit line for SEA push

Fingular taps Kilde for SGD $10m credit line to fund Southeast Asia expansion, ramping up Malaysia consumer lending under Tambadana.

By Karen Joy Bacudo • 3 min read • Wed, 28th Jan 2026
Johnson Controls names Susan Hughes Asia Pacific chief
Manufacturing

Johnson Controls names Susan Hughes Asia Pacific chief

Johnson Controls has appointed Susan Hughes to lead its Asia Pacific business, joining the executive committee as it targets growth in the region.

By Karen Joy Bacudo • 4 min read • Wed, 28th Jan 2026
HCLTech to buy Singapore wealth consultancy Finergic
Digital Transformation

HCLTech to buy Singapore wealth consultancy Finergic

HCLTech moves to deepen its wealth management push with a deal to acquire Singapore-based consultancy Finergic, pending approval by 2026.

By Karen Joy Bacudo • 3 min read • Wed, 28th Jan 2026
Shuttlerock unifies finance & HR globally with Workday
Data Analytics

Shuttlerock unifies finance & HR globally with Workday

Shuttlerock adopts Workday to unify global finance and HR, tightening controls and boosting real-time insight as its international footprint grows.

By Karen Joy Bacudo • 4 min read • Wed, 28th Jan 2026
Microsoft unveils Maia 200 AI chip to power inference
Hyperscale

Microsoft unveils Maia 200 AI chip to power inference

Microsoft has unveiled its Maia 200 AI chip, claiming up to 10 PFLOPS FP4 performance to power large-scale inference and “reasoning AI”.

By Karen Joy Bacudo • 3 min read • Wed, 28th Jan 2026
AI tools reshape accounting workflows & client work
Data Protection

AI tools reshape accounting workflows & client work

AI has shifted from hype to an everyday tool for accountants, reshaping workflows, client work and skills as agentic systems loom.

By Karen Joy Bacudo • 5 min read • Tue, 27th Jan 2026
Xero expands App Store with new global integrations
Customer Relationship Management

Xero expands App Store with new global integrations

Xero broadens its App Store with new global integrations spanning finance, automation, CRM and sector-specific tools for key markets.

By Karen Joy Bacudo • 4 min read • Tue, 27th Jan 2026
Xero revamps developer tools & unveils new API fees
Fintech

Xero revamps developer tools & unveils new API fees

Xero overhauls developer portal and readies new API fees tied to connection counts and data egress, as it tightens recertification rules.

By Karen Joy Bacudo • 4 min read • Tue, 27th Jan 2026
Xero launches rebuilt credit notes with phased rollout
Financial Systems

Xero launches rebuilt credit notes with phased rollout

Xero begins phased rollout of rebuilt credit notes, offering a switchable new interface, stricter audit controls and manual save behaviour.

By Karen Joy Bacudo • 4 min read • Mon, 26th Jan 2026
Accountants embrace AI tools as scepticism increases
Data Analytics

Accountants embrace AI tools as scepticism increases

Accountants double down on everyday AI tools, as optimism stays high but scepticism, job fears and data security worries all intensify.

By Karen Joy Bacudo • 6 min read • Fri, 23rd Jan 2026
Cohesity boosts identity resilience for hybrid AD, Entra
Data Protection

Cohesity boosts identity resilience for hybrid AD, Entra

Cohesity has expanded its Identity Resilience tools to detect, block and rapidly undo attacks on hybrid Active Directory and Entra ID.

By Karen Joy Bacudo • 4 min read • Fri, 23rd Jan 2026

Stories from Other Regions

Written by Karen Joy

Openmarkets in USD $300m SPAC merger for Nasdaq listing
Software-as-a-Service

Openmarkets in USD $300m SPAC merger for Nasdaq listing

Sydney-based Openmarkets to go public on Nasdaq via USD $300m SPAC merger with Lake Superior, targeting completion in 2026.

By Karen Joy Bacudo • 3 min read • Wed, 28th Jan 2026
Tenable debuts AI exposure tool for unified cyber risk
Digital Transformation

Tenable debuts AI exposure tool for unified cyber risk

Tenable launches Tenable One AI Exposure to map, govern and reduce AI-driven cyber risk across cloud, SaaS, APIs and on-prem estates.

By Karen Joy Bacudo • 3 min read • Wed, 28th Jan 2026
Gusto brings payroll tools & insights into ChatGPT
Data Protection

Gusto brings payroll tools & insights into ChatGPT

Gusto launches a ChatGPT app letting small firms query payroll data, with limited users also able to run pay directly from the chat.

By Karen Joy Bacudo • 4 min read • Sat, 24th Jan 2026
AI reshapes accounting firms but full automation lags
Data Protection

AI reshapes accounting firms but full automation lags

AI is transforming everyday work in accountancy firms, but messy gaps between systems and people mean full automation remains distant.

By Karen Joy Bacudo • 4 min read • Sat, 24th Jan 2026
Commonwealth Bank, OpenAI boost AI skills for SMEs
Data Protection

Commonwealth Bank, OpenAI boost AI skills for SMEs

Commonwealth Bank teams with OpenAI on AI and cyber training to close skills gaps for 1 million Australian small business customers.

By Karen Joy Bacudo • 3 min read • Fri, 23rd Jan 2026
EU rules push POS compliance to the frontline checkout
Biometrics

EU rules push POS compliance to the frontline checkout

EU rules are turning the checkout into a compliance hub, pushing retailers to rethink POS tech, processes and in-store customer journeys.

By Karen Joy Bacudo • 4 min read • Thu, 22nd Jan 2026