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With the 'canal for equity' model, Atomic Ventures presents itself as the future of startup acceleration in Brazil

The Atomic Group, an innovation and technology hub aiming to generate R$ 35 million in revenue by 2025, is introducing to the market the 'canal for equity' model from Atomic Ventures, one of the seven companies that make up the group. The model offers differentiators that position Atomic Ventures as the future of startup acceleration in Brazil.

Atomic Ventures offers entrepreneurs sales channels to activate their products within the group's active customer base, at no cost. Currently, this database has over 2,500 clients from multiple economic activities. It also offers strategic mentorship for growth. The model converts part of the revenue into proportional equity (shareholding).

In this way, a fairer model is achieved, as highlighted by the founder and CEO of Atomic Group, Filipe Bento. Respect the founder's timeline as well, in a process consisting of two main stages: pre-acceleration, "an initial period of strategic mentoring and validation before signing the acceleration," and the actual acceleration program.

The pre-acceleration phase includes simplified due diligence, with initial legal and financial analysis; an investment and/or acquisition preference agreement while the startup is incubated; and mentorship with specialists, assessing key points such as business model, scalability, initial traction, and corporate structure.

Acceleration involves a legal stage (formalization of investment terms, including equity and strategic objectives); and the deliverables of Atomic Ventures. They are: the initial capital for connection with the Bitrix marketplace; a network of mentors and specialists in product, marketing, sales, and finance; and connections with investors for future funding rounds.

"We transform founders into scalable and profitable business leaders, so they can be the owners of their own destiny," emphasizes Bento.

The executive also notes that the Atomic Ventures model integrates an innovation and technology ecosystem composed of the other companies of the Atomic Group – Br24 (representative of the international platform Bitrix), Atomic Apps, Atomic Education, Atomic Partners, Atomic Capital, and Atomic Data.

From this ecosystem, Bento cites two 'cases' that illustrate its potential. One of them is the PowerZap WhatsApp API for Bitrix24, which integrates communication with the customer on WhatsApp within Bitrix24.CRM. In two years, the monthly revenue of this solution grew more than six times: it went from R$ 71,000 in July 2022 to R$ 468,000 in July 2024.

Another 'case' is that of PowerBot from Br24, a chatbot created in the Bitrix24 system. It allows the implementation of powerful solutions quickly. In the first four months of the solution's implementation, the number of clients increased sevenfold (28 in September 2024, 144 in December), with the same revenue growth (from R$ 7,000 to R$ 50,000 monthly).

"Companies that fit with Atomic Ventures' model receive well-structured investments, technology-focused solutions rather than manual services; proven MRR [monthly recurring revenue], financial potential, and validated product," emphasizes the CEO of Atomic Group.

The Era of "Self-Healing IT": Autonomous systems that fix failures without human intervention

We have definitively entered the era of Self-Healing IT. A new technological model in which digital systems and infrastructures not only identify failures but also make decisions and execute corrective actions autonomously, without waiting for human validations or relying on support teams' availability. I see this advancement as more than an innovation; it is an urgent necessity in the face of the growing complexity of modern digital environments.

Over the past few years, we have witnessed the evolution of IT management shift from a reactive model to a proactive one, with intensive use of monitoring tools and alerts. But even with this evolution, we continue to operate within a limited cycle, where failures still need to be interpreted and resolved manually. The result is response time limited by human capacity, delays in incident resolution, impact on user experience, and operational performance indicators.

The Self-Healing IT approach breaks this cycle. It represents the consolidation of a truly intelligent model, where automation is combined with analytical and predictive capabilities to anticipate problems, apply real-time corrections, and continuously learn from the incidents faced. It's not just about automating specific tasks or running correction scripts; we're talking about a model where artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and native integration with IT Service Management (ITSM) systems enable systemic and scalable self-healing.

In my experience, I have been implementing this vision through the combination of robotic process automation (RPA), AI resources, and a deep integration layer with systems. This architecture allows events triggered by failures, such as server overloads, a service that stopped responding, or an anomalous spike in memory consumption, to be handled automatically, from detection to resolution. Automation goes far beyond simply "restarting a service"; it involves contextual logic, root cause analysis, automated opening and closing of tickets, and transparent communication with the stakeholders of the business area.

I see the positive impact of this approach daily. To illustrate, let's consider a hypothetical situation of a financial sector institution that faces thousands of recurring tickets every month, such as support requests, password resets, and even more complex infrastructure issues. By adopting a platform focused on Self-Healing IT, the company's number of manual tickets can drop drastically, reducing the average resolution time and increasing operational efficiency. In addition to being able to free up technical teams to focus on strategic initiatives rather than repetitive and low-value tasks.

It is essential to understand that the concept of self-healing IT is not a futuristic luxury; it is a practical response to current demands. With the increasing adoption of distributed architectures, multicloud, microservices, and hybrid environments, the complexity of IT operations has become so high that manual oversight is no longer sufficient. The human capacity to monitor, interpret, and act is being surpassed. That's where Self-Healing IT comes in, as a layer of intelligence that ensures continuity, resilience, and performance without overloading teams.

I firmly believe that the future of IT lies in intelligent automation with self-correction. A future where platforms are proactive, resilient, and increasingly invisible because they simply work. This new era requires a change in mindset. Stop seeing automation as something isolated and start viewing it as a self-healing and integrated ecosystem. Self-Healing IT is the foundation for this. It does not replace humans, but enhances their work by redirecting the focus of operational tasks towards real innovation. I am convinced that this journey is inevitable.

Commercial data drives retail, but the technology behind sales needs to evolve

Major commercial dates, such as Easter and Mother's Day, which are approaching, as well as Black Friday, Consumer Day, and Valentine's Day, represent sales peaks that boost both digital and physical retail. However, the exponential growth of transactions can pose operational challenges for companies developing software for the sector. Stability of e-commerce platforms, integration with POS systems, and efficiency in issuing invoices are critical challenges for software houses developing solutions for retail.

According to the Brazilian Association of Electronic Commerce (ABComm), Brazilian e-commerce generated R$ 204.3 billion in 2024, a 10.5% increase compared to the previous year. In addition to positive revenue, there were 414.9 million orders recorded, representing an average ticket of R$ 492.40. In total, the number of online buyers reached 91.3 million. By 2025, Brazilian e-commerce revenue is expected to exceed R$ 234 billion, with nearly 15% growth, an average ticket of R$ 539.28, and three million new buyers, according to ABComm.

The Brazilian Association of Credit Card and Service Companies (Abecs) indicates that this year's Easter is expected to generate R$ 5.3 billion, 26.8% more than last year. In a competitive market, artificial intelligence stands out as an essential tool, being adopted by 70% of online stores for data analysis and automations that ensure more personalized and effective experiences, according to Ebit/Nielsen research.

"Commemorative dates boost retail, and technology plays an essential role in ensuring sales success. In our solutions hub, practices such as integration between management systems and marketplaces, automation of financial processes—including payments and transfers within the ERP itself—and the agile issuance of Electronic Consumer Invoice are adopted with the aim of enhancing retailers' performance. The challenge is to continuously evolve these technologies to keep up with demand peaks without compromising the consumer experience. Discussing these trends and innovations is fundamental to ensuring stability, scalability, and security in digital operations," affirmsJonathan Santos, CEO of TecnoSpeed.

Corporate Efficiency as Artificial Intelligence

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to have more agile operational processes, capable of identifying bottlenecks and providing accurate data for strategic decisions? The answer may be in Artificial Intelligence (AI). Beyond automating tasks, AI is a powerful tool for mapping and optimizing processes, allowing companies to focus on more creative and strategic activities, resulting in significant improvements in efficiency and productivity.

Bruno Castro, an expert in Artificial Intelligence, process standardization, and human development, explains how this technology can revolutionize business processes by identifying waste and providing detailed reports that enable quick and effective adjustments. "AI is not just about automation. It provides valuable insights that enable more efficient and accurate management. By freeing up employees' time for strategic activities, it enhances results and allows for sustainable growth," says Bruno.

But how exactly does AI do that?

The key lies in the Artificial Intelligence's ability to provide immediate and detailed feedback on process performance. This feature allows identifying patterns, correcting faults, and adjusting operations in real time, which is essential for an increasingly competitive market.

A recent survey by Access Partnership, in collaboration with Amazon Web Services (AWS), revealed that 68% of employees expect task automation to be the main benefit of AI. But the gains go far beyond automation. By using this technology to map processes, companies can identify operational bottlenecks, eliminate waste, and implement improvements that provide efficiency and profitability.

However, one of the biggest challenges companies face when implementing new technologies is employees' natural resistance to change. In this regard, Bruno Castro also offers training focused on developing employees' mindset, using Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) techniques to facilitate the acceptance of technological innovations and promote engagement with the company's strategic objectives. "Humans have a natural tendency to resist change. Working on employees' mindset is essential to ensure they are prepared to embrace AI as an ally in process improvement. NLP is a powerful tool to engage the team and promote a culture of continuous learning," emphasizes the specialist.

Faced with a scenario where optimization and innovation are essential, B.Castro Business Consulting, Bruno Castro's company, offers a comprehensive approach that combines efficient processes, advanced technology, and human development to ensure extraordinary results. "The AI revolution is just beginning, and the future of your company can be shaped by strategic decisions you make today," concludes Bruno.

Linx introduces new feature for efficient marketplace management

Linx, a technology specialist for retail, launches a new marketplace management feature in Microvix, its ERP solution for managing stores, chains, and franchises. Developed in partnership with Plugg.to technology, Linx's marketplace integration hub, the new feature simplifies operational processes and optimizes sales results, ensuring greater efficiency and integration in the digital environment.

With the new feature, small and medium retailers can connect their products to over 70 marketplaces in Brazil without the need for parallel systems. The solution offers seamless integration with marketplace hubs, automated ad enrichment, and unified financial management within the ERP itself, reducing complexity and increasing operational accuracy.

Among the channels integrated into the new feature is theTikTok Shop- an integrated shopping platform within the TikTok app that allows users to discover and purchase products without leaving the social network. The official launch of TikTok Shop in Brazil is scheduled for the dayMay 8, andMCX Marketing clients using Microvix will be able to participate in the platform's debut, making their products available at launch.This direct integration with TikTok is made possible by the new Marketplaces feature, reinforcing Linx's commitment to offering solutions aligned with the main trends in digital retail.

"The expansion into marketplaces is an opportunity for retailers to increase their sales and reach new consumers. The new feature aims to eliminate technological and operational barriers, ensuring that merchants can focus on growing their businesses without sacrificing efficiency and management control," Rafael Reolon, Retail vertical director at Linx.

AI and loyalty: 5 trends that further win over customers

Artificial intelligence has been playing an increasingly significant role in how companies approach customer loyalty. By leveraging sophisticated algorithms and advanced processing power, AI is transforming the way companies understand, engage, and retain their customers. In this sense, I list below five important trends that are revolutionizing customer loyalty. See:
 

Scaling customization

Personalization has always been a key element in building lasting relationships with customers. However, the effective implementation of large-scale personalization has been a challenge for many companies. AI is changing this scenario by enabling real-time analysis of large volumes of data to understand individual customer behavior. With machine learning algorithms, companies can create highly personalized experiences for each customer, from product recommendations to targeted communications, significantly increasing loyalty.

Anticipation of needs

One of the greatest advantages of AI is its ability to predict future behaviors based on patterns of historical data. By analyzing purchase history, past interactions, and other variables, AI systems can anticipate customers' needs even before they express them. This allows companies to get ahead by offering personalized solutions and offers that meet each customer's specific needs, increasing satisfaction and loyalty.
 

24/7 virtual assistance

With the advancement of chatbot and virtual assistant technology, companies are enabling their customers to access support and information at any time, without the need for direct human intervention. These AI-based virtual assistants can answer common questions, solve simple problems, and even perform transactions, providing a convenient and efficient experience for customers, which contributes to customer loyalty. However, it is important to highlight that AI does not replace human support, but rather enhances the availability of assistance, enabling almost complete service.

Feedback and sentiment analysis

AI can analyze large volumes of customer feedback, including sentiment analysis on social media, product reviews, and comments on customer service channels. With this information, companies can better understand customers' perceptions of their products and services, identify areas for improvement, and take proactive measures to resolve issues before they affect customer loyalty.

Smart recommendations

Through AI-powered recommendation algorithms, companies can offer highly relevant and personalized product suggestions for each customer. By analyzing browsing behavior, purchase history, and individual preferences, these systems can accurately predict which products are most likely to interest each customer, encouraging additional purchases and increasing loyalty.

Why do you end the day exhausted — and with the feeling of having done nothing?

Reply to WhatsApp messages, check emails, answer calls, attend meetings, and still deliver strategic tasks. For many professionals, this is their everyday reality. The problem is that, despite the intense pace, actual productivity does not seem to keep up with the volume of effort.

We live in a state of constant distraction. Technology has brought speed, but also brutal competition for our attention.", affirms Virgilio Marques dos Santos, co-founder of FM2S Educação e Consultoria, a specialist in career management and PhD from Unicamp.

According to him, the feeling of exhaustion at the end of the workday, even without major deliveries, is a clear symptom of the impact of frequent interruptions at work. "Every time we are interrupted, our brain needs to make an extra effort to resume reasoning. This cycle of breaking and resuming consumes cognitive energy and impairs decision-making," he explains.

This effect is not new. Classic studies on information overload, such as the one published in 2007 by Cheri Speier, Joseph Valacich, and Iris Vessey,Decision Sciences,They already demonstrated that frequent distractions reduce mental clarity and increase the incidence of errors. The difference is that, with current hyperconnectivity, the situation has worsened — and the cost is now also measured in mental health.

The impact of distractions on daily corporate life

In the workplace, distractions are often normalized. Successive meetings, instant messages, constant notifications, and quick interruptions from colleagues accumulate and create noise that sabotages concentration.When this becomes routine, important decisions are made based on incomplete information or without proper reasoning. And this can directly affect the results of a project or an entire area", says Santos."

He remembers that the multitasking professional, once celebrated, is now viewed with more caution. Being productive is not about doing many things at once, but about making progress on the tasks that truly matter, with depth and full attention.

Four strategies to protect focus and improve performance

In this scenario, Santos lists four simple practices that can help reduce the impacts of interruptions and increase work effectiveness:

1. Focused time blocksReserve periods of the day for strategic tasks, with notifications turned off and interruptions minimized. Inform the team about this routine to align expectations;

2. Priority managementUse tools like the Eisenhower Matrix (which divides tasks into four categories: urgent and important, important but not urgent, urgent but not important, and neither urgent nor important) to differentiate what is urgent from what is important. Thus, the risk of wasting energy on low-impact demands is avoided.

3. Communication schedulesFocus message and email checking at specific times of the day. This reduces the anxiety of always being available and improves time management;

4. Culture of respect for timeIncentive not to have clear and planned communication. Many questions can be resolved in pre-scheduled meetings or through more direct message exchanges.

"Regaining focus is more than a matter of efficiency. It is a way to take care of our mental health and the quality of the decisions we make every day," concludes the specialist.

Temu surpasses Amazon and secures third position in Brazilian e-commerce

In a meteoric rise, the Chinese platform Temu reached the third position among the largest e-commerce sites in Brazil, surpassing the American giant Amazon. The achievement was recorded in March, considered the best month in the company's history in the country, when it reached an impressive 216 million monthly accesses. The information is from Conversion.

Record growth amid a positive scenario

March was a month of recovery for Brazilian e-commerce, which grew by 9.5% compared to the challenging month of February. In this positive scenario, Temu stood out by recording approximately 19 million more visits than Amazon, which previously held third place in the national ranking.

The most impressive thing is that the overtaking occurred even with Amazon showing growth during the period, highlighting the strength of the Chinese platform's expansion in the Brazilian market, despite its recent arrival in the country.

Imported goods sector hits all-time record

The imported products segment, where Temu is positioned, also experienced its best historical moment in March, with a 26.4% increase compared to the previous month. In addition to Temu, other Asian companies such as Shein and Aliexpress, which complete the top 3 in the sector, also reported positive results.

Among the ten largest import companies operating in Brazil, only Made in China experienced a decrease in access during the month.

Consumer behavior increasingly mobile

March data also confirms a growing trend in the Brazilian market: the predominance of access via mobile devices. In the month, 78% of visits to e-commerce sites in the country were made via mobile phones.

An important milestone was reached when apps (22.3% of accesses) surpassed desktop computers (21.6%) as the second most used method to access online stores. Mobile browser navigation remains the main method, accounting for 56.1% of total visits.

Other sectors also on the rise

The month was also positive for other segments of e-commerce. The tourism sector recovered after a challenging February, showing a 9% growth, with Latam standing out, increasing its access by 22%.

The cosmetics segment grew by 8.8% during Women's Month, with Sephora recording an impressive 33.3% increase in its traffic. O Boticário took the lead in the sector ranking, followed by Natura and Beleza na Web.

Temu's rise to third place in Brazilian e-commerce reinforces the growing competitiveness of the national market and Brazilian consumers' appetite for platforms that offer imported products at competitive prices.

ClearSale predicts over R$ 47 million in fraud attempts during Easter

On the eve of Easter, e-commerce heats up with the expectation of increased sales – and, with it, the risk of fraud also grows. A study by ClearSale, a reference in fraud prevention, estimates that between April 10 and 20, 2025, scam attempts in e-commerce will total R$ 47.25 million.

According to the company, the period is expected to record approximately 50,000 fraudulent attempts, with an average ticket of R$ 920.53 per transaction.

"The convenience of online shopping has encouraged consumers to purchase typical products for commemorative dates, such as Easter, digitally. However, this movement also attracts the attention of scammers. Therefore, it is essential for retailers and customers to double their precautions to ensure a safe and smooth experience," says Rodrigo Sanchez, CSO of ClearSale.

He also highlights a specific point of concern for retailers: "Gift cards are among the favorite targets of fraudsters during this time. If your store offers this type of voucher, it is important to closely monitor unusual transactions during this period."

Data analysis, intelligence, and behavioral research drive sales in e-commerce and retail for Easter.

Easter is one of the most important dates in the first half of the year when it comes to consumption. According to a survey by theTimelenstechnology and data intelligence company for businesses, brands, andcreatorsBased on data from Google Shopping and Google Trends, the topic showed a growth of over 300% in engagement in conversations and searches. The strength of the period also directly reflected in the interest in products, of which eight out of the ten most searched items during the month were Easter eggs.

Therefore, increasingly, intelligent solutions that support small, medium, and even large companies in e-commerce and retail are becoming more valuable. This is because they optimize strategies, anticipate trends, and of course, boost sales during this and other seasonal periods of the year. See below some of them and how they operate in the market.

Online search data analysis optimizes inventory more effectively

Timelens, specialized in connecting data and generating insights about market behaviors and perceptions, can boost the Easter chocolate segment by providing detailed analyses that help companies understand consumer preferences. An example of this is the company's recent analysis, which identified an increase of over 800% in searches for 'Kinder Easter Egg'. Insights like these allow brands to adjust marketing strategies and stock levels accurately, maximizing sales opportunities during the period.

Data intelligence platform that tracks trends and consumption for e-commerce

Nubimetrics, a leading platform in providing intelligent data for sellers and brands, plays a strategic role in helping small, medium, and large sellers stand out during seasonal dates such as Easter. Through the analysis of behavior in the mainmarketplacesthe company provides information about demand and supply, that is, the most sought-after products, price variations, and underexplored opportunities. With this data in hand, retailers are able to make more accurate decisions about themixof products, positioning andtimingof campaigns, increasing their competitiveness even during peak competitive dates.

Understanding the consumer through behavioral research with neuroscience and technology

According to Accenture, 61% of companies consider trend anticipation a strategic priority. However, it is essential to incorporate them into planning and turn them into information to become increasingly accurate in business strategies – especially during busy consumption dates like Easter. In this line, theNeuraBehavioral studies and reasons consulting, delivering 360 solutions by mapping cultural dynamics, decoding research results into knowledge, and translating them into robust strategies. With a multidisciplinary team, the company uses applied neuroscience technology through human behavior to analyze information and convert it into knowledge for brands and organizations, serving as a link between neuroscience and culture by translating the unconscious into conscious experiences.

In an increasingly data-driven environment and with a deep understanding of consumer behavior, success in sales during Easter — and other strategic retail dates — is directly linked to brands' ability to anticipate market demands. Tools and platforms that combine data intelligence, technology, and neuroscience have proven to be essential for understanding desires, predicting trends, and acting with precision. The combination of analysis and sensitivity becomes the competitive edge for companies aiming to grow consistently in a constantly changing market.

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