Yeah , yeah . We ’ ve had AI for years . I think you left a typo in . No , we haven ’ t - not in this article , anyway - but your confusion is understandable . IA stands for Intelligent Automation . It involves AI ( artificial intelligence ), but also other emerging tech like software bots and data analytics .

We already have all that stuff , do we really need yet another initialism to remember ? Sure , you already use RPA , ML , AI ( we see what you mean ). But those are just technologies . IA combines their individual strengths and puts them to work . It can provide more personal automated customer interactions , help supply chain execs make more informed decisions , and plenty of other cool stuff .

Sounds clever , but if everything is automated , what do I do ? The fun stuff : the creative projects you can only dream of while juggling spreadsheets and handling the dozen or so other tasks you weren ’ t expecting today .

In that case , I do really care about IA !

� DEUTSCHE POST DHL GROUP Record earnings and operating profit of € 4.8bn (+ 17.4 %) led the German logistics firm to raise its profit forecast for 2021 to € 5.6bn +. CEO Frank Appel said the gains are " the result of years of hard work by our entire organisation ”.

� OIL PRICES OPEC extended its production cut to at least the end of March , sending oil prices ticking upwards . The blockage of the Suez also helped stabilise price per barrel .

� GREENSILL CAPITAL The major supply chain financing firm filed for insolvency protection on 8 March . Founder Lex Greensill has been at the centre of questions over the firm ’ s links to the British government during David Cameron ’ s tenure . Cameron became an adviser to Greensill in 2018 .

� RENESAS ELECTRONICS One of the world ’ s biggest chip makers has been beset with issues this year . First an earthquake in February and now a factory fire . Output is not expected to hit full capacity until June .

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