Qlik Acquires CrunchBot to Augment Conversational Analytics Capabilities

AI-powered Natural Language Bot and Specialist Services Will Help Drive Analytics Adoption, Customer Success and Data Literacy

India, January 23, 2019 – Qlik today announced it has acquired the CrunchBot AI-powered analytics bot along with Crunch Data Inc.’s experienced team of AI and solution development professionals. Users can now interact with and understand their data using natural language through Qlik Sense and within leading collaboration tools such as Slack, Skype, Salesforce Chat and Microsoft Teams.

This expands Qlik’s existing augmented intelligence and cognitive capabilities by delivering additional conversational analytics leveraging Qlik’s platform and open APIs.

“Bringing CrunchBot and Crunch Data into Qlik will help users more easily inject data regularly into workflows, making analytics an essential element in daily collaboration and decision making,” said Mike Capone, Qlik CEO. “Qlik continually looks for new ways to deliver augmented intelligence to users and improve data literacy. These acquisitions help expand the ability of our customers and partners to leverage data and insights where work happens, increasing the value of both data and the organization.”

According to Gartner, “By 2020, 50% of analytical queries will be generated via search, NLP or voice, or will be automatically generated”.(1) Qlik’s customers already benefit from augmented intelligence and natural language search capabilities within Qlik, and CrunchBot expands and extends those capabilities through a conversational, natural language interface.

CrunchBot works uniquely with Qlik, bridging the gap between visual discovery and conversational analytics. As a Trusted Extension Developer (TED) accredited solution, validated by Qlik for quality and functionality and built upon Qlik’s open API framework and Associative Engine, CrunchBot enables users to:

* Ask questions in a conversational manner through the Qlik Sense UI or popular collaboration tools such as Slack, Skype, Salesforce Chat and Microsoft Teams;
* Explore and ask questions of their data through voice interaction with integration to services such as Amazon Alexa;
* Receive robust answers and insights including additional context with auto-generated charts, interpretations, key drivers, period-over-period calculations and predictions for measures;
* Seamlessly dive directly into Qlik Sense analytics apps based on the results, with the context (selection state) retained;
* Leverage unique Natural Language Processing (NLP), which automatically trains itself and tracks user inquiries over time, and Natural Language Generation (NLG) which delivers insights for not only what is happening, but also why – and where to go next.

Unlike standalone search products, this approach offers the best of both worlds – allowing users to enter an experience conversationally and then transition to visual exploration for deeper understanding and discovery. Qlik customers and partners will see increased analytics adoption and user data literacy with a faster and easier way to ask questions, generate insights, and make data-driven decisions with CrunchBot.

Crunch Data will help drive analytics adoption and customer successes, integrating immediately into Qlik’s existing customer success organization to expand Qlik’s ability to deliver value-added and managed services. The Crunch Data team, a mix of offshore development and U.S.-based

AI professionals, has a strong track record of successful project engagements with brands like Century Link and Hortonworks.

“Qlik is the analytics leader in bringing augmented intelligence and machine learning to enterprise users,” said Nish Patel, CrunchBot CEO and Crunch Data Co-Founder. “We’re thrilled to become part of the advanced capabilities that Qlik continues to bring to market, helping enterprise customers realize the bottom-line value of making it easier for their employees to converse with data.”

CrunchBot is immediately available to customers through Qlik today, and will be licensed as a value-added solution to the Qlik Sense platform. To be named the Qlik Insight Bot, this new product will be available alongside Qlik’s existing Insight Advisor capability and will be further integrated with the Qlik cognitive engine to deliver even more value to our customers.

Team Shubham Mishra Wins #Super Starters Inc. Challenge Pioneered by Fortis Memorial Research Institute

The Grand Finale of ‘Super Starter Inc. - The Healthcare Start-up Challenge’ was held today at Fortis Memorial Research Institute (FMRI), Gurgaon. FMRI is the first healthcare delivery Institution to have pioneered the start-up challenge which will act as a launch pad for new, previously untested and unimplemented healthcare technology/idea.

Close to 50 entries were received from all over the world. After a detailed scrutiny by an esteemed panel, consisting of Saurabh Srivastava, Padmashree awardee and former chairman-NASSCOM; Dr Ajit Singh, MD-Artiman Ventures; Dr Amit Varma, MD-Quadria Capital; Varun Khanna, Chief Commercial Officer- Fortis Healthcare; Col Harinder Chehal, COO-Fortis NCR and Dr Ritu Garg, Zonal Director, FMRI Gurugram; 10 finalists were selected and the final presentation of ideas was held today at Fortis Memorial Research Institute. The top three teams which made to the finale were Lyfas, Keyer and Team Shubham Mishra.

The thought behind this initiative was to provide a platform to young entrepreneurs where they could have seamless access to clinicians, patients, data, and infrastructure and hospital ecosystem. This would help them build their products keeping in mind the real time outcomes. The winners will be given four months’ time to implement, test, re- design their idea at FMRI. The idea is to gain opportunity to showcase talent, meet and woo capitalists & investors, earn credibility in association with Fortis, instant entry into the mindset of masses and product’s feedback by industry’s thought leaders.

The Winning Team Shubham Mishra said, “Winning this challenge will give us the much required launchpad. Our work is going to be a game changer, helping us bring about a massive change in the healthcare landscape. We are hoping that through our work we are able to develop a point care diagnosis equipment which can detect different kind of biological analytes within a minute, at an estimated cost of just 20-25 rupees. The #StartupInc Challenge platform gave us an opportunity to learn, interact with caregivers-patients, and get unsurpassed exposure and valuable feedback. It was an extremely good networking opportunity and most importantly it gave us the chance to refine and launch our product. We will forever be grateful to Fortis Healthcare for this fantastic opportunity that has spearheaded our work in the right direction, motivating and enabling us to continue innovating, developing and creating technologies that will help change the face of medicine in India.”

The 2nd runner up, Lyfas, had innovated a non - invasive mobile diabetic screening device which would help  address the challenges of diabetic screening, monitoring and real - time streaming of results. The 1st runner up, Keyer, had created a device which enabled contraction monitoring during the intrapartum period which will be instrumental  in saving of lives at birth (for both the mother and the baby).

Dr. Ritu Garg, Zonal Director, Fortis Memorial Research Institute said, “I would like to congratulate Team Shubham Mishra for winning the 1st ever ‘Super Starter Inc. - The Healthcare Start-up Challenge’. Ten ideas were presented that were unique and exemplary in their own way. We selected Team Shubham Mishra as the winner as their idea had the most potential for value based real time outcomes. I would also like to thank everyone who enthusiastically participated in the event and made it a huge success. We will surely be gearing up for a second edition soon.”

Col. H S Chehal, Chief Operating Office of Delhi/NCR Region said, “I would like to congratulate Fortis Memorial Research Institute for creating the first ever “Super Starter Inc.- The Healthcare Start-up Challenge”. In today’s scenario establishing a healthcare leader requires us to go hand in hand with start-ups, making healthcare affordable and accessible to all. Through this initiative, Fortis is establishing itself as a thought leader in the healthcare field, facilitating the growth and expansion of healthcare technology. Fortis will become a ‘real life experimental lab’ for these budding young enthusiastic entrepreneurs.”

A healthy start - up eco system is the need of need of the hour. Start-ups continue to remain the center of innovation with the potential to enhance employment generation and bring about the much needed change to boost up the customer satisfaction.

Wendt India Ltd Standalone Q3, 2018 Sales Up by 17 Percent & PAT Up by 51 Percent

The Board of Directors of Wendt (India) Ltd has approved the unaudited financial results for the quarter and nine months period ended 31st Dec’2018.

On a standalone basis, the Company achieved sales of Rs.3643 lakhs during the quarter ended 31st Dec’2018 which is 17% higher than the corresponding period of last year. The domestic sales have been at Rs.2463 lakhs, which is 18% higher than the corresponding period of last year. The major industry segments which attributed to the growth of the domestic business were auto ancillaries, steel, bearings, ceramics, cutting tools etc. The export was 15% higher than the corresponding period of last year at Rs.1180 lakhs. This was due to higher sales to Germany, South Korea, Indonesia, Thailand, UK, Taiwan etc.

The Profit After Tax (PAT) for the current quarter has been higher by 51% at Rs.410 lakhs.  The good results in the form of revenue and net profit growth has been primarily on account of higher volumes, operational efficiencies, and product mix.

Accordingly, for the nine months ended 31st Dec’2018, the Company achieved total sales of Rs 10803 lakhs, which is 18% higher than the corresponding period last year with PAT of Rs 1305 lakhs, higher by 98% over the corresponding period last year.

On a consolidated basis, Company’s sales stood at Rs. 4285 lakhs for the current quarter which is 19% higher than the corresponding period of last year with the PAT of Rs.544 lakhs, which is 65% higher than the corresponding period last year.

Accordingly, for the nine months ended 31st Dec’2018, the Company achieved total sales of Rs 12542 lakhs which is 19% higher than the corresponding period last year with PAT of Rs 1541 lakhs, higher by 87% over the corresponding period last year.

In line with the previous years, the Board of Directors are pleased to declare an interim dividend of Rs 15 /- per share (150% on face value of equity shares of Rs 10/- each.) to the shareholders of the company.

South African Minister of Tourism Derek Hanekom Visits India

The Minister of Tourism, South Africa, Derek Hanekom, visited India, to engage with key representatives of the travel and tourism ecosystem in an ongoing effort to strengthen tourism ties between the two nations. Accompanied by Sisa Ntshona, CEO, South African Tourism, and Maropene L Ramokgopa, Consul General, South Africa, the Minister reiterated commitment to enhance destination marketing support in India, which has consistently been among the top 10 source markets for South Africa.

The delegation shared a positive outlook for the Indian market, noting that as of June 2018, total spend by Indian travellers in South Africa had increased by 20% and that there was an upswing in the average length of stay (+7.7%) and total bednights (+4%).

“We want 2019 to be the year of the great leapfrog for tourism from India. The growth in total spend and the average length of stay signifies that Indians travelling to South Africa are staying longer, exploring more and experiencing newer activities than ever before. This certainly is a positive indicator of the potential growth in the market and gives us the confidence to continue introducing new regions and experiences,” the Minister stated.

Reinforcing India as a key source market, Sisa Ntshona, CEO, South African Tourism, added, “India has been a key source market for us and will continue to play a critical role in our long-term vision of attracting 5 million additional visitors, including 4 million international tourists by 2021. We aim to surpass 100,000 visitors from Indian in the current year of 2019. Towards this ambition, we remain committed to continue investing in our promotion and engagement efforts, both with our Indian trade partners and travellers, while bringing diversified products to the market.”

The Minister indicated that a Visa Simplification Agreement, addressing various initiatives to simplify ease of travel to South Africa from India, was expected to be signed between the two nations.

“There has been a lot of improvement in the length of time it takes between the application and issuance of South African visas for Indian travellers. We recognize the need for a more solutions-driven approach that eases visa regulation to unlock the full potential of tourist arrivals from India. We are currently running a pilot for e-visa processes and on successful completion, the intention is to begin rolling-out e-visas in other countries,” the Minister added.

Speaking about new initiatives to ease visa applications, Maropene L Ramokgopa, Consul General, South Africa, said, “The Consulate of South Africa will work closely with South African Tourism to accredit select travel agents and tour operators to allow fast-tracking visa applications from preferred partners. The efforts would seek to further to reduce the time for visa issuance, which is currently, between 5 to 7 days from time of application, while enabling faster turnaround times during peak seasons.”

The Minister acknowledged air connectivity as a key driver for outbound travel particularly MICE and business tourism from India.

Speaking about direct flights between India and South Africa, the Minister said, “There are currently serious discussions about the possibility of resumption of the direct route.”

From January to June 2018, MICE accounted for 28% of the Indian traveller visits while 23% Indians travelled for business. On the other hand, leisure travel continued to gain an increasing share of the traveller pie currently contributing to 25% of the total visits from India.

Neliswa Nkani, Hub Head, Middle East, India, South East Asia, South African Tourism, added, “With the depth of experiences and breathtaking natural beauty of South Africa, there is immense potential to diversify our promotions of innovative and unique experiences. We are focused on transforming the way we promote our destination in India and will adopt a more localized approach to selling South Africa through the lens of the Indian traveller.”

Tourism is one of the key contributors of growth to the South African economy. Travel and tourism supported 1.5 million jobs in South Africa in 2017 - 9.5% of total employment in the country. The WTTC report estimates that by 2028 almost 2.1 million jobs in South Africa will depend on travel and tourism.

The 27th Convergence India 2019 Expo to Showcase Cutting Edge Technologies and Future of ICT and IOT

The 27th edition of India’s leading communications, broadcast, IT & technology show, Convergence India 2019 expo, along with 3rd Internet of Things India 2019 and Embedded Tech India 2019 expos, will be host to some of the latest and cutting-edge technologies and innovations. The three-day exhibition and conference, to be held in New Delhi from 29-31 January, 2019, will welcome 600+ exhibitors, 20,000+ visitors and 200+ speakers from over 30 countries. The expo will see products and services from across areas such as telecom & mobile communication, broadcast & digital media, information technology & security, cloud & big data, virtual & augmented reality, artificial intelligence, robotics, drones, application development, M2M solutions, semiconductor manufacturing, smart cities, etc. as well as emerging technologies and enterprise solutions under one roof.

The expo is also an excellent platform for device and equipment manufacturers to showcase and launch their latest products to upcoming and established businesses as well as a varied segment of consumers.

Leading provider of fibre optic communication solutions, Connection Technology Systems Inc. (CTS) will be launching the new FOS-3114, a 14-port L2+ Fibre Access Switch for its domestic-use Micro Fibre Connectivity Solution. Collaborating with the FOS-3110 on confronting the emerging challenges of deploying FTTA/FTTB, FOS-3114 is a tailor-made access switch, aiming to fulfill the requirements of small and medium-sized apartments/buildings. The FOS-3114 is the best-in-class, noise-free solution for telecoms, network operators, and systems integrators to optimise the implementation of FTTA/FTTB deployments.

Koncor, a joint-venture between Indian company Corpus and China-based Konka, will launch a range of telecom and smart solutions products that will bring value to businesses and digital consumers. The product line-up includes the ATV STB solution, Hybrid ATV STB, Triple play Combo Box, Smart TV & home devices, and IoT based Smart solutions.

SWISSVOICE, provider of smart technology-driven mobile phone terminals, will also showcase its wide range of user-friendly products that simplify senior care and communication for seniors. The products come with unique features and interfaces for both seniors and care givers for monitoring, alerts and emergency assistance, thereby establishing a valuable family link. The company’s products are available in 2G, 3G and 4G LTE variants. Its premium services also include a dashboard feature on web browsers and mobile phones for care givers. In addition, features like remote configuration, burst call, burst video, health monitoring, video monitoring, etc. are also available on its 4G LTE phones.

Communication support software specialist, Primea Systems will unveil its global real time communication (RTC) and analytics solutions - uMobility, for businesses. uMobility Cloud software solutions help not only meet the global communication needs of the client, but also empower apps and websites for communication through unique API enabling analytics and artificial intelligence (AI) knowledge base. BizRTC Pay as you Go pricing combined with modular uMobility solutions allow you to pick and choose the component of the solution that fits your needs.

The solutions are supported on Android, iOS, MacOS and Windows, allowing businesses to select uMobility for multiple device/OS choice versatility, global availability and flexibility in solution components, deployment, payment and more.

HK Concept’s Zero1 Tektronics LLP will launch A11 5000 mAh power bank, the slimmest power bank to be launched in India. The device boasts of features such as 2 USB outputs and 1 micro USB input.

Prem Behl, Chairman, Exhibitions India Group, said, “Over the last three decades, India has experienced an electronic boom, and today, software development and IT-enabled services (ITeS) have made the country’s brand equity a force to reckon with. Government of India’s dedication towards ‘Digital India’ and ‘Make in India’ initiatives has immensely boosted electronic manufacturing in the country, with the demand for Indian electronics products expected to grow at a CAGR of 41 per cent during 2017-20 to touch $400 billion. In such a scenario, we expect events like Convergence India expo and the Internet of Things expo to play a big role in contributing towards the creation of a robust ecosystem of products and ancillary manufacturing. This event is envisioned as a collaborative platform for new partnerships and opportunities for global innovators to capitalise upon, and lead a tech-driven transformation on national and international level.”

Over 20,000 trade visitors are expected to attend the three-day event including key government officials, overseas representatives, and private players from the telecom sector, MSOs, cable TV & satellite operators, system integrators, information & network security etc. Event organisers expect tremendous business activity, negotiations, intellectual discussions and much more. The packed-out exhibition hall will feature both domestic as well as overseas establishments and start-ups showcasing their solutions on AR/VR, robotics, connected cars & bikes, mobility & logistics, home automation and industrial IoT solutions. The exhibitors include some of the leading names in the technology space such as SAP, Microsoft, D-Link Corporation AVL Technologies, Huawei, Acer Incorporated and Mstar Semiconductor among many others showcasing multiple products and solutions at the expo.

Tata Motors Unveils its Much-Awaited SUV - Harrier in Indian Market

Tata Motors has launched its much-awaited SUV, the Harrier, which has impressed one and all ever since its concept H5X was first showcased at the Auto Expo2018. Harrier will be on sale across Tata Motors authorized sales outlets in India at a starting price of INR. 12.69 Lakhs, ex-showroom Bengaluru, starting today.

The Harrier is truly a global SUV, offering a perfect combination of design and excellence. This thoroughbred SUV, engineered on Optimal Modular Efficient Global Advanced (OMEGA) Architecture promises to offer exemplary driving dynamics on varied terrains. The Harrier is the first vehicle to sport the IMPACT Design 2.0 design language of Tata Motors, which will appeal to customers with its stunning exteriors and luxurious interiors.

According to Rajendra Petkar – Chief Technology Officer, Tata Motors, “We are elated to launch the Tata Harrier today. With the revolutionary OMEGA architecture, the Harrier is engineered to navigate through the toughest of terrains and temperatures, bringing dynamism, strength and reliability to every drive. The vehicle offers robust built quality, reliability, refined in cabin experience, safety and exemplary driving dynamics in urban and rough road environments. With its launch, we hope to capture the imagination of the Indian market, delivering extraordinary design, future – ready connectivity and infotainment.

According to Vivek Srivatsa, Head, Marketing, Passenger Vehicle Business Unit, Tata Motors - “Tata Motors is back with yet another winner on our hands - our much awaited vehicle - the Tata Harrier. Marking our entry into the premium mid-size SUV segment, the Harrier will be the flagship 5 Seater SUV from the Company. Being the first product built on the OMEGA ARC, which is derived from Land Rover’s legendary D8 Platform, the Harrier is a testament of our continued efforts to deliver aspirational products.  I am elated to launch this stylish new vehicle which will surely make Tata Motors PVBU’s position even stronger in the Indian automobile industry.

Tata Motors promises to offer its customers a very premium ownership experience with the Harrier. Ever since the bookings opened in October, the Company has witnessed many customers booking the vehicle with a desire to own this SUV immediately after the launch. Acknowledging the trust and confidence that customers have shown in the product, all customers who have booked the vehicle prior to launch will get a limited edition collector’s item- a scale model of the Harrier, at the time of the vehicle delivery.

The SOUL program, an exclusive community of Tata SUV owners has been strengthened with the launch of Harrier. Customers will be able to embark on iconic drives to unexplored destinations across India and international locations. To make their ownership journey more rewarding, the company has launched a rewards program with which customers can accumulate SOUL points & redeem them for exciting gifts & souvenirs as they drive along in their Harrier.

Stunning IMPACT Design 2.0

A contemporary expression of Tata Motors new Impact Design 2.0 language grabs the attention of the viewer. The strong proportions and expressive surfaces provides a true SUV stance, incredible road presence and a sense of dynamism. With contemporary SUV design proportions, the Harrier flaunts a floating roof with bold chrome finisher, flared wheel arches, dual function LED DRLs accentuating its overall bold presence.

The interior design is clean, clutter free and offers a blend of a great balance of style and practicality. The use of high quality materials and colour combinations enhances the experience, lending a premium and luxurious feel to the interiors.

Harrier will be available in four variants – XE, XM, XT, XZ and five exciting colour options – Calisto Copper, Thermisto Gold, Ariel Silver, Telesto Grey & Orcus White.

Legendary Pedigree

The Harrier is built on the new-generation Optimal Modular Efficient Global Advanced Architecture (), developed in collaboration with Jaguar Land Rover. Derived from Land Rover’s legendary D8 Platform, and optimised for Indian conditions with over 2.2 million kms of testing on torturous terrains, this architecture offers exemplary driving dynamics, absolute safety and a refined in-cabin experience. The Harrier will be built on a 90% automated BIW and new assembly line, in Pune to ensure robust build quality.

Top of the line uncompromised safety features

The Harrier is packed with top-of-the-line safety features that lends greater confidence behind the wheel. An Advanced Electronic Stability Program (ESP) with 14 added functionalities ensures stability in difficult driving conditions. 6 Airbags (Driver, Co-Driver, Side Seat and Curtain Airbags) and Child Seat ISOFIX Anchor Points ensure uncompromising protection on every ride.

Engineered for performance

The Harrier is powered by the cutting-edge Kryotec 2.0 Diesel engine, which provides an optimal balance between power and fuel economy. It is seamlessly mated to a 6-speed Manual Transmission. The Kryotec engine delivers 140 PS power and 350 Nm of torque with an Advanced Electronically Controlled Variable Geometry Turbocharger (eVGT) for excellent low-end torque and linear power delivery with low carbon footprint.

The Multi-drive Mode 2.0 – the Engine Drive Modes (Eco, City, Sport) married to the ESP Terrain Response Modes (Normal, Rough, Wet) – ensures effortless handling over every kind of terrain with a steering tuned for excellent driving dynamics.

The front and rear suspensions on the Harrier are specially tuned for Indian conditions delivering a refined ride with great handling. The front suspension and hydra bush have been carried over from the D8 Platform while the rear twist blade suspension has been specially designed by Lotus Engineering UK.

Future-ready Connectivity and Infotainment

Staying true to the Tata Motors DNA, the Harrier takes the in-car experience to the next level with segment-leading features. A Floating Island Touchscreen Infotainment System with 8.8” High Resolution Display offers amazing in-car connectivity and infotainment though Android Auto & Apple Car Play*, the ConnectNext App Suite (DriveNext, Tata Smart Remote, Tata Smart Manual), Video & Image Playback, Voice Recognition & SMS Readout, Voice Alerts, and a lot more. A 320W RMS JBL Audio System with 9 speakers (4 Speakers + 4 Tweeters + 1 Subwoofer) creates an acoustically-tuned audio experience. Harrier features seamless mirroring of media, phone and navigation information between the infotainment and 7” Coloured TFT Display Instrument Cluster. 

Nutanix Reaffirms Asia Commitment with New Regional Office in Singapore

Enterprise cloud leader,  Nutanix  has officially opened the doors to its new Singapore-based Asia Regional Office, as part of its continuing investment in the region.

Located at Suntec Tower 1 in the heart of the city, the new facility is capable of housing 120 staff to meet the company’s rapidly growing workforce. Dedicated to providing the most modern workplace environment focused on employee engagement, productivity, creativity and customer experience, the Suntec office will be Nutanix’s flagship facility in the region.

The new office was officially opened by Nutanix Global Chief Financial Officer, Duston Williams. Overlooking the Singapore city skyline from the 31st floor office, Williams said: “This opening marks yet another step in our ongoing commitment to Singapore and the wider Asia Pacific - and demonstrates our confidence and aspirations for the future. Asia Pacific’s dynamism and growth matches our own, so it’s only natural that our new regional home should be in one of the region’s most successful states.”

The open floor facility includes an employee café - with free food, a common benefit in all Nutanix offices, refresh zones that include a pool table, air hockey and a library. There is also a dedicated training centre and collaboration lounge where both staff and customers can get hands on with Nutanix’s latest technologies

Designed around neighbourhood seating, the new workplace supports a flexible, agile environment, promotes collaboration and reduces costs to the organization. If that wasn’t enough, the facility will also have eco-friendly credentials: it is currently undergoing certification by LEED: the most widely used green building rating system and a globally recognized symbol of sustainability achievement.

Matt Young, Senior Vice President, Asia Pacific at Nutanix added “This workplace is designed for a high growth, fast paced, digital future and embraces all the freedom, flexibility and simplicity that we provide to our customers. We now have one the most advanced offices, in the world’s most dynamic region. We are all thrilled at the opportunities ahead.”

The Singapore office is yet another one in a series of office expansions for the enterprise cloud leader. Nutanix has recently opened a new Tokyo facility and expanded its India operations in Ahmedabad and Pune, India bringing its regional presence to 25 offices in 13 countries.

CASHe Launches BuddyTransfer; A Fast and Simple Way to Transfer Funds to Your Friends

CASHe, India’s most preferred digital lending company for young salaried millennials, promoted by serial entrepreneur and private equity investor Mr. V. Raman Kumar, today announced that it has launched a unique fund transfer facility called “BuddyTransfer” for its users. With BuddyTransfer, CASHe users can now authorize to send part of their loan to up to five contacts from their phonebook. The maximum amount that can be transferred to each contact with this facility is Rs 2,000. The company further stated that it wanted to make it easier for its users to send money to friends and family by simply choosing names from their phone contact list and authorize a money transfer directly to their bank accounts. BuddyTransfer is built on a Blockchain infrastructure which keeps the transactions safe, secure and transparent.

Here is how BuddyTransfer works -

·         To use this feature, the user has to select the desired loan amount from CASHe and request for a loan.

·         The user gets an option to transfer part of his loan by choosing ‘Transfer to your Friend’ feature where he can select up to five names from his phone contact list to whom he wishes to send the money.

·         He can choose the desired amount ( Maximum Rs 2,000) per contact and confirm the details in the following screen.

·         Once the loan is approved, CASHe will initiate the fund transfer on behalf of the user to the selected recipients.

The user can authorize a fund transfer to anybody in India through his phone contact list regardless of they being a CASHe user or not. If the fund transfer is initiated to a non-CASHe user, they will get a notification through SMS informing them on the impending fund transfer along with a link to download the CASHe app from the app stores. The fund transfer will be successful only if the recipient downloads the app, fills the necessary details along with his bank account information and submit the necessary KYC documents.

This feature will be particularly useful to people who need to transfer urgent cash to their family and friends. BuddyTransfer allows users to transfer money to any contact in their phonebook 24 hours a day, seven days a week. CASHe customers can transfer money to any person in India, once they download the app and register. The app is widely accessible as it works on Android and iOS operating systems.

Mr. V. Raman Kumar, Chairman, CASHe, said, “CASHe has always tried to be a leader in harnessing new technologies to bring cutting-edge user experience. This is the first time that a Blockchain infrastructure is being used to facilitate actual money transfer in a fin-tech application in India. This is an industry first and an outstanding achievement for Team CASHe.”   

“Customer convenience remains central to all our efforts. We are happy to be the first amongst our peers to launch this feature for our customers on our industry-leading, cutting-edge lending platform. We listen closely to what our customers say. Their ideas and feedback help us improve our current product offerings and help us launch future innovations. BuddyTransfer is launched in response to a growing need of our valued customer base and we are happy to offer this new feature to them. With BuddyTransfer, we look forward to further strengthening our leading position in the digital lending market in India.” said Mr. Ketan Patel, CEO, CASHe.

CASHe provides hassle-free loans with its app enabled documentation and loan disbursal/repayment process. Powered by its industry-first algorithm driven credit scoring platform, The Social Loan Quotient (SLQ), CASHe quickly determines a user’s credit worthiness by using multiple unique data points to arrive at a distinct credit profile of the customer. SLQ is transforming the traditional credit rating measurements thereby providing immediate loans to the under-served young professionals who are kept out by traditional credit rating and banking systems. CASHe is completely automated and requires no personal intervention and no physical documentation. The average time taken for a loan to be disbursed is about 8 minutes, subject to proper submission of all documents.

Mindtree Opens New Minneapolis Office to Support Magnet360, Its Expanding Salesforce Practice

Today, Mindtree inaugurated a larger office space to accommodate the strong growth seen by Magnet360, the Mindtree Salesforce practice. The new office is designed to help businesses accelerate their adoption of software as a service (SaaS), the trend that is redefining the way enterprises use technology. The new 30,000-square-foot space is architected to promote a flexible, dynamic work environment.   Among the design goals was to create a silo-free space where employees can balance high-collaboration and intense focus.

Magnet360’s consulting-led approach offers a unique blend of customer engagement, deep Salesforce knowledge and agile expertise to evaluate business challenges and user journeys. This mirrors Mindtree’s holistic approach to accelerating cloud transformation. It enables organizations to amplify their Salesforce opportunities and drive new cloud-borne business models. The facility offers an interactive space for multi-disciplinary teams and clients to use design thinking techniques to experiment and execute ideas utilizing the Salesforce Platform.

Mindtree’s newest office is designed as a town setting with a network of smaller ‘neighborhoods’ to encourage hyper-collaboration across small, agile teams. The interconnected wings are anchored by a large communal area for all-company ‘Rockin Rally’ meetings and cross-functional teams to work together. Embedded in the office is modern audio/visual technology to connect the global Magnet360 team and the broader team of nearly 20,000 Mindtree Minds. There are also several ad-hoc meeting lounges, interconnecting and scalable offices, a variety of workspaces, quiet pods, a library and wellness room. 

A focal point just off the lobby is the Magnet360 Garage, A Center for Salesforce Innovation. It’s a 1,300 square foot space that serves as a digital hub for Salesforce transformation and an area for organizations to re-think cloud opportunities from scratch to scale. True to its name, the studio is designed like a garage, with overhead doors and exposed stud walls, evoking the startup experiences of the world’s most brilliant technology companies. Modeled after Mindtree’s Digital Pumpkin innovation hubs in Bangalore and New Jersey, the Magnet360 Garage brings business and IT together across multiple disciplines. It is a technology-rich ideation space to co-create meaningful solutions using the power of Salesforce.

“Organizations are constantly adapting as they look for ways to better connect with customers and anchor their business in the cloud,” said Matt Meents, Senior Vice President and head of Magnet360, Mindtree’s Salesforce practice. “Magnet360 is motivated to continuously improve our Salesforce practice, stretching ourselves to re-imagine business models. This amazing new space is not only very functional, it was designed with extreme care to be a great place to work.”

“Everything about this office exemplifies the core tenets that differentiate Mindtree,” said Paul Gottsegen, Chief Marketing Officer & Head, Mindtree Americas. “An environment purpose built for continuous innovation and continuous improvement. A laboratory for taking cloud-enabled ideas and turning them into real-world solutions that scale. A culture where everyone feels engaged. It’s all here. We can’t wait to see the transformative projects that come out of this facility for our Salesforce clients.”

“Salesforce is thrilled to see Magnet360 embrace innovation with the launch of the Magnet360 Garage,” said Peter Doolan, Executive Vice President, Digital Transformation and Innovation at Salesforce. “This new space will empower Magnet360 to deliver digital transformation for customers with the Salesforce Platform.”

As part of Mindtree, with nearly 20,000 Mindtree Minds across 27 countries and 43 offices, the Magnet360 team can tap into a wealth of expertise to scale end-to-end enterprise solutions.  

Adidas and Real Kashmir FC Showcase the Magnificence of Jammu & Kashmir

Adidas in partnership with Real Kashmir FC are organising a unique photo exhibition in Bengaluru, titled #TheRealKashmir to reveal the ‘Real’ side of Jammu & Kashmir. The photo exhibit celebrates the beauty of Jammu & Kashmir through the lens of football.

Adidas and Real Kashmir FC through their partnership have brought about a positive change in the valley and have redefined the ‘Real’ Kashmir, thus, catalyzing a rapid transformation in the lives of people. The photo exhibit is a celebration of the wave of positive change brought about by Football in Jammu & Kashmir. The pictures capture not only the magnificence of the valley but also portray how young kids in Jammu & Kashmir are taking to football on the streets and following their passion for the game.

The pictures have been shot through the lens of award-winning photographer Prashant Godbole who has an innate sense of aesthetics and the art to create spaces within an image. His proficiency reveals an untold story which is bound to catch the eye of the public at large, thereby showcasing the unseen and fascinating side of Jammu & Kashmir.

Sharad Singla, Head -Activations, Adidas India, at the inauguration of the exhibition said, “#TheRealKashmir exhibition is yet another beautiful chapter of our partnership with Real Kashmir FC. The club epitomises our belief ‘through sport, we have the power to change lives.’ The exhibition brings to life the magnificence of the valley through the lens of football and unveils the ‘real’ side of J&K. We are proud to be part of this journey and are sure it will inspire the youth towards a positive change in the country.

Co-owner of the club, Sandeep Chattoo during his media interaction said, “We took this journey of change, when we started RKFC, in 2016. My friend and business partner, Shamim Mehraj & myself, spotted the thirst amongst youngsters to play football and make a difference. Along with our partners adidas, through such initiatives like this photo exhibition we hope to spread the wave of positive change and optimism in the valley.

The exhibition witnessed a display of breath-taking pictures bringing to life the “real” Kashmir. From youngsters honing their football skills in the streets of Downtown, Srinagar to the youth academy prospects of Real Kashmir FC taking a leap of faith with the beautiful game on the snow-capped peaks of Gulmarg - the pictures reinforce the wave of positivity that football has brought to Jammu & Kashmir. The photo exhibition is open for public viewing from January 24th to 27th at Rangoli Metro Art Centre, Bengaluru.

Toyota, Panasonic Announce Joint Venture for Electric Car Batteries

Toyota has announced that it was creating a joint venture with Panasonic to develop batteries for electric cars, as the Japanese auto giant ramps up its ambitions for electric-powered vehicles.

The firm will be set up by 2020 and 51% of stake will be controlled by Toyota, the Prius manufacturer said in a statement. “Toyota and Panasonic are confident that the contracts concluded today will further strengthen and accelerate their actions toward achieving competitive batteries,” the statement added.

Toyota boss Akio Toyoda has previously said he wants half of the firm’s global sales to come from electric-powered vehicles by 2030, up from around 15% now.

“The key to electrifying vehicles in the future will be batteries. In order for Japan to survive this era of profound change with no natural resources, we must develop competitive batteries and establish systems for a stable supply,” Toyoda said. Panasonic is seen as a specialist in the battery sector and has already partnered up with electric vehicle innovator Tesla to operate a huge “gigafactory” in the United States.

EV Cars in India

Japanese auto major Nissan Motor Co said it will launch its electric car Leaf in India this year as it seeks to take the lead in EV drive in the country.

The company is also looking at other eco-friendly technologies such as its e-Power vehicles and hybrids for the country. “Leaf is a proof-point (that) we want to bring in India because this is a direction of leadership in EV, we have in the world,” Nissan Motor Co Senior Vice President and Chairman of management committee for Africa, Middle East and India Peyman Kargar told reporters.

Gautam Gambhir Unveils Funngage PowerPlayer Cricket 120 Scholarship; Trials on Jan 27 in Bangalore

Former India batsman Gautam Gambhir, along with sports technology firm Funngage.com has launched a nation-wide programme for Cricket Scholarship, the first of its kind for sports in India. Named ‘FG PowerPlayer’,  through this programme, boys and girls in the age group of 12 to 24 years will get a fully paid for cricket development scholarship with a three-week of fully paid for training camp in Perth, Australia at Guildford Grammar, under the guidance of former South African Test cricketer HD Ackerman.

It is a Pan India initiative and after successfully conducting trials in Delhi, Noida, Meerut, Chandigarh, Jaipur, Mumbai, Pune, Patna, Ranchi and Kolkata, the sports platform – Funngage.com is now starting with the southern India leg with Bangalore being the first city.

The trials will be conducted in FG academy. However, with a successful collaboration, Cricket Academy of Pathans (CAP) is the preferred academy partner for the scholarship programme.

“It is a fabulous platform for all the youngsters to come and showcase their talent. They are going to select 120 and out of that 60 will go to Australia in four batches (15 each). It is a transparent platform as well. It is an initiative where you will get a lot of kids from the grassroots,” said Gambhir addressing the media at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium.

The selected students from Funngage PowerPlayer trials will get an opportunity to be trained for five years in CAP academies under the guidance of cricket experts and coaches. These scholarships will help in unearthing new talent and give young kids a platform to kick-start their budding cricketing careers.

The Bengaluru trials will begin from January 27 at Hyper Turf Cricket Ground, Yelahanka.

The cricket scholarship will be given for five Years and will cover the following:

Free of cost cricket coaching at any Indian cricket academy for 5 years

Free of cost cricketing equipment for 5 years

Free of cost medical support along with sports physiotherapy sessions at Funngage’s wellness partner and hospitals across India

Free of cost participation in matches and tournaments across India

Free of cost periodic Cricket Camps by Experts for Exposure and Training

Free of cost training in Perth, Australia (Guildford Grammar School), this includes visa fee, return air fare, accommodation, trainings, nutrition sessions, injury management, and matches with local clubs

“Through this platform, we want to ensure that anyone who wants to realise his or her dream of being a cricketer can do so. It’s an Initiative to help the cricketers develop their skills and not worry about finances. Funngage doesn’t claim to make anyone play for a state or any BCCI affiliated team or in any League. The cricketers need to follow the selection norms set by the respective cricket associations to get through there. We are here to ensure that all kids get their performance stats and none should be deprived of Good Cricket Coaching and facilities due to lack of funds,” said Karan Singh, founder & CEO, Funngage.com.

How to register for trials?
Registration for trials can be done at www.funngage.com or by downloading the Funngage mobile application from Google PlayStore for Android users and App Store for IOS users.

Registrations can also be done at Funngage counter set up at Hyper Turf Cricket Ground, Yelahanka and at 24/1, First Main, Chunchappa Block, RT Nagar from January 24 onwards from 11 am to 7 pm.

The basic and only administration fee to register into the programme is Rs 1,050 (all-inclusive) for batsmen and bowlers and Rs 1,950 (all-inclusive) for all-rounders and wicket-keepers.

Age-groups and schedule for trials
January 27 - Trials will be conducted for 12-16 years

January 28 – Trials for 16-19 years

January 29 – Trials for 20-24 years

January 30 – Trials for all groups in their respective age categories

Trials and selection process
Initial trials are held on center wicket of the ground with at least 5 High Definition (HD) cameras making ball by ball videos of each and every cricketer. These videos are shared with players on their Funngage account for their view and records. These videos are also shared with top coaches on Funngage, for them to assess and do a performance assessment for each player. The detailed report card and assessment scores highlighting their strengths and areas of improvements are given to each player.

Round 1 – Basic Skills Trial: 12-balls trials on the center wicket with each batsman facing 4 bowlers and each bowler bowling to 4 batsmen with at least 5 HD Video cameras capturing the action

Round 2 – Advanced Trial: 24 balls advance trials followed by a fitness test

Round 3 – Camp: 10 days training camp and 5 matches of 40 overs each per players

Round 4 – Awarding Scholarship: Top 120 cricketers to get 5 years of Cricket Development Scholarship and top 60 to train for three weeks at Guildford Grammar School, Perth, Australia.

With 1,400+ Certified Inspectors, Droom’s ECO Establishes Trust Through a Seamless Customer Experience

Equipped with a thorough 121+ point auto inspection by certified technicians, ECO envisions to set the industry standard for vehicle inspection

New Delhi ECO, Droom’s proprietary vehicle inspection service, has paved its way to become one of India’s largest doorstep inspection services. With 1400+ certified inspectors on its platform, this initiative by India’s first and largest pioneering online automobile transactional marketplace has an incredible geographic reach of over 500+ pin codes across the country. 

The leading online automobile marketplace has allocated INR 25 crores of funds specifically to achieve its growth objectives pertaining to ECO inspection. Through these measures and dedicated efforts, Droom strives to establish the services provided by ECO as the industry standard benchmark for inspection and certification services. Since the last two months, Droom has been successfully running a pilot for its owned and operated models in Delhi and NCR.

Acknowledging the rapid success of the application, Sandeep Aggarwal, Founder and CEO, Droom remarked, “ECO is India’s most scientific, data driven and comprehensive vehicle inspection service.  We are overwhelmed by the response ECO has been receiving and strive to continually provide our customers with seamless experiences. We see ECO as a key facilitator of establishing trust and transparency among our customers regarding the buying and selling condition of vehicles on our core marketplace and are looking to invest in the emerging technological advancements in this segment of Droom.”

With an aim to further strengthen its grip on quality control, SLA (Service Level Agreement) adherence and delivering world-class customer experience through its doorstep vehicle inspection services, Droom has setup an in-house team of ECO inspectors on owned and operated model. These trained technicians, referred to as ‘ECO Ninjas’, can read and write in English, have an educational degree in automobile servicing from any of the top ITI/Polytechnic/Vocational Training institutes in the country, and are ECO-certified after taking extensive tutorials and passing an online test. 

ECO also developed a customized Enterprise solution for Banks for loans, Insurance companies for break-in Insurance renewals and Large cab aggregators such as Uber and Ola. Droom has already signed up with some of the leading Banks to offer its inspection services around vehicle financing of Used vehicles.

Droom is also planning to venture into independent inspection services through ECO wherein people can purchase and avail the services and get their vehicles certified without listing them on Droom. Furthermore, Droom envisions to gradually scale across all major cities in the country with 500+ in-house technicians, eventually setting up a combined capacity of 1000+ inspections per day in the long run.

SHEROES Strengthens Internet Women’s Narrative Brings Health Platform Maya Into The Fold

SHEROES, the communities for women platform to acquire Bangalore-based women’s health app Maya. This helps SHEROES become the deepest women’s platform, globally, with over 14 million members, poised to reach 100 million in due course. The platform continues building its “women-only spaces on the internet” narrative – also termed as women’s internet.

Founded by John Paul, Maya enables women to keep track of their health via a mobile application. Women world over use Maya to track their cycles, monitor related symptoms, set health reminders, monitor pregnancy and connect with health experts. The platform is accessible in 14 international and vernacular languages (including Hindi and Tamil), and is actively used by women users in over 20 countries.

Commenting on the acquisition, Sairee Chahal, Founder-CEO of SHEROES, said, “The SHEROES platform is one of the safest, most constructive spaces on the Internet for women, and as our community grows, we continuously seek ways to create more value for our members. Health is one of our fastest growing communities on the SHEROES app, and adding Maya to our bouquet of products, helps us strengthen our offering in this space. SHEROES is committed to building the women’s internet – an experience which helps women find advice, community, resources and opportunity.

Safety, high trust, high empathy are core values to SHEROES and Maya, and this acquisition is a natural alignment of a collective vision – to support women sans judgement.

Maya with its feature-rich platform, has been a game-changer in health tech, offering diagnostic tests, online doctor consultations, fertility predictions and pregnancy tracking. SHEROES, as a complete ecosystem for women, stands to gain from Maya’s product and platform. The founder John will help us enhance our product leadership.”

Maya’s journey began in 2014, with the intention of leveraging consumer tech to positively influence women’s health. The app, available on iOS, Android and Windows, has a sleek, quirky user interface, and additionally, offers premium features that can be access via in-app purchases. Users actively record monthly cycles, associated symptoms, and trace out a pattern to help them manage their menstrual health.

“Approximately 70% of all reproductive issues in women are caused due to poor menstrual health. In India, women still use manual methods to track their health. Taking advantage of smartphone access in the remotest corners, Maya equips women to manage their health better using a smartphone.

I now also see the SHEROES community playing a role in evangelising a constructive narrative around women’s health. We can’t reimagine women’s internet without women’s health, and the opportunities in counselling, commerce and creativity that the SHEROES platform provides,” observes John Paul, Founder of Maya.

The SHEROES platform aims to emerge as the world’s most transformative women’s platform, with a vision to touch the lives of 100 million women in the next 36 months. 

Godrej Properties Aqua is Bangalore’s First Fully Sustainable Water Management System

The Mumbai-based real estate developer launches its project in Bellary road (NH-7), located at International Airport Road in North Bangalore. The project comprises of water secure homes which will make use of the Godrej QST System – Bangalore’s first and only fully sustainable water management system.

Godrej Properties Ltd, one of India’s leading real estate developers launches its project Godrej Aqua in Bangalore. Spread across 7.19 acres, Godrej Aqua comprises of a saleable area of approximately 72,918 square metres (784,878 square feet). The project offers 2BHK and 3BHK apartments ranging from carpet areas of 69 square metres to 116 square metres (738 square feet to 1251 square feet).

Strategically located at Bellary road - a premium residential area, Godrej Aqua is in close proximity to the commercial and industrial catchment areas of Hebbal, Yelahanka, and Devanahalli. It also offers good connectivity to Outer Ring Road, Bangalore International Airport, and the Central Business District. The Bellary road micro-market has emerged as one of the fastest growing residential areas of Bangalore with a lot of infrastructure developments and projects coming up in the area.

Godrej Properties now has 17 projects in Bangalore.

Godrej Aqua aims to revolutionize residential water management in Bangalore. With the Godrej Quad-Step Treatment Process (QSTP), the project will be able to provide pure drinking water at all times, and recycle most of the water on site. Using the Recharge, Reduce and Recycle principle, the project aims to ensure that water sufficiency in every home is a reality that's well within reach. Furthermore, to address perennial concerns regarding the water quality in residential projects, Godrej Aqua has introduced an Advanced Treatment Plant, centralized RO and water softening facility to ensure high grade quality of water.

“Businesses need high-level performance of Cloud-based applications to ensure business continuity and plan for disaster recovery. Our Evidian SafeKit technology is clearly the right solution for customers which value simplicity and flexibility – and simply cannot afford any downtime” adds Bruno Rochat, Evidian SafeKit product line manager, high availability expert at Atos.

All Atos Evidian Identity & Management applications are made highly-available via the SafeKit solution.

Atos Unveils 100% Software-Based High Availability Solution for Cloud Apps

Atos a global leader in digital transformation, today launches its new Evidian SafeKit 100% software solution to ensure high availability of enterprise business-critical services hosted in the Cloud. It is fully comprehensive and includes real-time replication, load balancing and failover all within the same one software product.

In recent years, organizations have been moving their business-critical services and infrastructure to Cloud solutions, which are cost efficient, flexible and scalable. However, for critical services, a Service Level Agreement (SLA) of 99,99%, may be not high enough.

In this context, Atos offers Evidian SafeKit, a 100% software-based solution that enables enterprises to implement business continuity for their critical services hosted in the Cloud. SafeKit provides templates for Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud Platform that enables customers to create their first application cluster on two virtual machines in less than 10 minutes. This cluster manages computer failure issues and ensures fast application recovery.

The Evidian SafeKit ‘in the Cloud’ solution is:

* Easy to use (plug & play) – does not require any particular expertise in the domain of high-availability
* Flexible and can be deployed in any Cloud

Gurgaon-Based Coloured-Lenses Startup Lensico Looking for Funding

Lensico is an innovative startup that allows customers to buy prescription or coloured lenses online. Its innovative model which is completely unique in India has allowed it to capture a significant market share. The Gurgaon based company now expects to expand pan India and is seeking additional funds to allow it to do so.

The company is dedicated to helping people see better without compromising on their physical appearance. It is for the fulfillment of this vision that Lensico is seeking funding of $500,000. The funds being sought will be used for technology led expansion to help customers get the most out of the newest technology. The company’s leadership expects to use the funds for marketing which will allow lakhs from around India to learn about Lensico’s unique offering.  Using the funds, Lensico expects to expand across India and to allow lakhs of Indians to benefit from technology that imparts them crystal clear vision.

Lensico’s founders also expect to use the funds to perform eye checkups in people’s homes. Doing so will greatly increase its reach across India and increase its base of customers. The company’s founders aspire for Lensico to be the only brand in India that aggregates contact lenses.

Speaking about the need for additional funding  Shashwat Kedia, CEO and Founder, Lensico said “We are in a business that improves people’s quality of life. Among Indians, there is a shift in preference towards wearing contact lenses as opposed to spectacles. This trend is most visible among the young and is as potent in smaller towns and cities in India as in larger metropolitan areas. We believe that we are poised to serve this market and offer the gift of good eyesight to millions without compromising on their physical appearance. Nearly 50% of Indians suffer from poor eyesight, we expect to serve this huge market and as a result to improve the lives of millions”.

Industrial Automation & AI Must to Transform India into a $1 Trillion Manufacturing Economy by 2025: RAOTM

Industry leaders gathered at India’s largest industrial automation event ‘Rockwell Automation on the Move’ 2019 (RAOTM) conference emphasized on the need for a major shift towards Industry 4.0 technologies if India aims to triple its combined factory output in gross value added (GVA) terms to $1 trillion by 2025.

Noting that the ambitious target needs a concerted effort from across the industry, Rockwell Automation is taking the lead by further expanding its Partner Network in India to allow local manufacturers access to a collaborative network of companies mutually focused on developing, implementing and supporting best-in-class manufacturing solutions across industry verticals.

The announcement was made at Rockwell Automation’s RAOTM 2019 Annual User Group Conference in which industry partners and customers are invited to showcase and discuss latest digital transformation solutions and business opportunities. This year the conference hosted over 25 exhibits and 50 technology sessions.

Dilip Sawhney, Managing Director, Rockwell Automation India said, “We want to take the lead in building India’s first industry 4.0 ecosystem of partner companies that will create solutions for The Connected Enterprise that can analyze machine conditions in advance to avoid breakdowns and enhance productivity but also improve on quality and compliance parameters.”

Rockwell Automation has in the past partnered with L&T, Cisco, Microsoft, Endress+Hauser, and Wipro Infrastructure Engineering to develop smart manufacturing solutions in India.

John Watts, Regional Marketing Director, Asia Pacific at Rockwell Automation added, “Globally, digital-induced disruption is inevitable. To maintain and improve global competitiveness, Indian manufacturers need to accelerate the adoption of Industry 4.0. While India has a lot of catching up to do in this respect, it can accelerate digital transformation by leveraging its strengths in the IT services sector and tapping the entrepreneurial spirit seen in the start-up sector.”

Throughout the event, Rockwell Automation and its partner companies showcased new products and solutions support:

The Connected Enterprise: New analytics and digital solutions that can help transform data into understandable information, empowering users to confidently make more informed decisions – from the plant floor to the enterprise.

Data Analytics and Augmented Reality: How Rockwell Automation is expanding its portfolio and tapping into its partnership with PTC to help customers increase productivity and plant efficiency, reduce operational risk and provide better system interoperability.

Innovation: Customers will get an early look at how new technologies will change manufacturing and production, including artificial intelligence, augmented reality, wearables and other disruptive technologies.

Rockwell Automation is bringing RAOTM to 3 more cities this year –

Bangkok, Thailand (Mar 5)
Tianjin, China (May 15 & 16)
Jakarta, Indonesia (Apr 30)

NetApp India Wins Coveted CIO CHOICE 2019 Honour & Recognition in Enterprise Flash Storage

NetApp India, the data management leader in the hybrid cloud domain has been conferred the CIO CHOICE 2019 Honour and Recognition as the most preferred brand in Enterprise Flash Storage. This prestigious recognition was presented at the exclusive red-carpet night, a celebration of innovation and excellence in the ICT ecosystem, produced by CORE Media.

With over 300 ICT leaders in attendance, CIO CHOICE, held at The Lalit, Mumbai, had some of the country’s most high-profile CIOs taking to the stage to confer the recognitions and applaud the brands voted as the most trusted ICT partners. Now in its 7th year, the annual CIO CHOICE recognition focuses on ICT brands who showcase a continuous demand for excellence and form the bedrock of industry success. The recognition is bestowed on the basis of pan-India independent voting by CIOs.

CIO CHOICE is the largest online voting platform, where CIOs determine and choose the products that have earned their vote of confidence. When an ICT brand wins the CIO Choice recognition, it means that their product, service or solution has been endorsed by CIOs. There is a distinguished Advisory Panel, comprising of CIOs from across verticals, that guides the entire process, with KPMG as the Knowledge Partner.

Anoop Mathur, Founder and President, CORE Media, said, “Congratulations NetApp for being honoured with the CIO CHOICE 2019 trust seal. CIO CHOICE is the ultimate testimony as it is a poll done with CIOs pan-India and that’s what finally matters as far as any brand or product goes, as it is the Voice of the Customer. The CIO CHOICE trust seal gives the assurance to enterprise CIOs to confidently engage with the recognised brand for the first time, helping both—ICT brands and CIOs.”

“We are elated to be voted as the most preferred Enterprise Flash Storage Vendor. Being recognised by a highly qualified panel including imminent CIOs and other ICT decision-makers validates our vision and recognises our ability to offer superior support to customers as they modernise their IT architecture with cloud-connected flash. NetApp will continue to empower customers with the industry’s leading flash solutions, designed to scale from edge to core to cloud,” said Anil Valluri, President, NetApp India and SAARC.

Indian Businesses Better Prepared for Industry of Future: Deloitte

Businesses in India are making better progress than others in dealing with the challenges of the fourth industrial revolution on key aspects of society, strategy, technology and talent, a survey said Monday.

In its annual ‘Readiness Report’ released on the first day of the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting in this Swiss ski resort town, global consultancy giant Deloitte said global leaders are facing the pressures of preparing their businesses and workforces for this new era, with the Fourth Industrial Revolution (Industry 4.0) re-shaping how the world lives and works.

However, Indian businesses are taking a proactive approach to training their workforces for the future and they have the most clearly defined decision-making process of all executives. The Indian executives also demonstrate the ability to generate profit from the purpose and they are most concerned about the ethical use of Industry 4.0 technologies, the Deloitte survey found.

The five-day WEF summit, being attended by over 3,000 global leaders including more than 100 from India, has the main theme of ‘Globalization 4.0: Shaping a Global Architecture in the Age of the Fourth Industrial Revolution’.

According to the Deloitte report titled ‘Leadership in the Fourth Industrial Revolution: Faces of progress’, certain geographies, especially businesses in India, have demonstrated the right aptitude for success in Industry 4.0.

Omega Healthcare, IIIT-Bangalore Sign MoU to Boost AI Research

Omega Healthcare Management Services has signed an MoU with International Institute of Information Technology Bangalore (IIIT-B) to boost research in the field of Data Science, a field of AI.

The agreement will comprise of research programmes in AI and Data Science, aiming to focus on specific business-related processes along with expected outcomes.

Gopi Natarajan, co-founder and CEO, Omega Healthcare said, “The collaboration will augment our position as an active adopter of technology and solutions in the healthcare space.”

The Bengaluru-based company is also pursuing the UAE market actively. “We can make a huge difference if they outsource work to us because the market is still very nascent,” said Natarajan.

With seven delivery locations, 12 facilities and over 100 clients, the healthcare outsourcing company employs over 13,000 people (including 1,000 people in the Philippines), and it has been growing with a CAGR of 25%.

The company recently opened its new 250-seater centre in the Philippines.

Natarajan said the company will witness over 20% growth this year.

Skill India to Train 2.82 Lakh Farmers in Maharashtra: Center and State Govt Join Hands for the Initiative

In a bid to raise farmers’ income and enhance their skills in getting best yield for their fields, the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE) has committed support to Maharashtra State Skill Development Society’s (MSSDS) project to train farmers with small landholdings to create Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) in Maharashtra. The project, being implemented by National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), under the Ministry’s flagship program, Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana’s (PMKVY), initiates Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) of farmers in the state.

To be covered in a period of 16 months, the project will target to train about 2.82 lakh farmers in a newly created job role, termed as ‘Group Farming Practitioner’.  Under PMKVY’s RPL program, the farmers with prior practical knowledge and experience, will undergo a bridge course of 68 hours in the said job role. The orientation and assessment program will help farmers with small landholdings to improve their work skills and will benefit small scale farmers, young entrepreneurs and job seekers.  Targeting 3-5 select markets, the project also includes identifying and implementing unique interventions (such as supporting skill-development and self-employment of aspiring entrepreneurs, identification and reinforcement of key agricultural value chains, and facilitation of enhanced market access to the farmers), which will foster investments and enhance the existing ecosystem.

Commenting on the initiative, Rajesh Agrawal, Joint Secretary & CVO, Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship said, “Our Ministry’s collaboration with the Maharashtra State Skill Development Society aims to fulfil the immediate need of creating Farmer Producer Organizations in Maharashtra. It is imperative that we bring convergence and coordination across all skill development initiatives ensuring common standards in training and development of our workforce. The intent of this Recognition of Prior Learning program is to increase performance potential of the farmers, thereby supporting their sustainable growth.  The program ensures high standards in training relevant for current market demand, increased efficiency and productivity, which will contribute to the growth of the most important sector of the country.”

Training in this select job role will nurture and strengthen FPOs by ensuring active participation and involvement of community members. This will be done through participatory agriculture management projects. The training will help farmers in effectively generating, allocating and using human, material and financial resources. It will also benefit those trained in attaining knowledge and skills on modern farming practices, teaching them in better yielding, output and demand for their produce.

In line with the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s vision, the Government of Maharashtra has prioritized the Skill Development Mission and has set its target on training 45 million people with employable skills by 2022. The MSSDS RPL project is a significant step towards formal certification of the farmers that will help in increasing farmers’ income and achieve Government’s ambition of inclusive growth.

Simplilearn Launches Robotic Process Automation, A New Course Category

Professional digital-skills training company Simplilearn today announced the launch of a new course category - Robotic Process Automation (RPA). Revolutionizing businesses and quickly becoming one of the quintessential technologies changing the face of IT, RPA accelerates digital transformation, automating manual, repetitive tasks, giving back time to professionals to achieve their true potential. To help professionals stay relevant in the digital age, Simplilearn will be offering three courses ranging from foundation to practitioner levels: Introduction to Robotic Process Automation (RPA), the RPA using UiPath Training Course, and the Automation Anywhere Certified Advanced RPA Professional Training Course. 

Simplilearn has partnered with Automation Anywhere, the leader in RPA, to deliver the Automation Anywhere certification course. The partnership will provide access to official Automation Anywhere content with co-created real industry projects and certifications from the market leader.   

Commenting on the launch of the new course category, Simplilearn’s Chief Product Officer, Anand Narayan, said “We see a huge opportunity as RPA is changing the future of industries. There will be an increased need for professionals who have the skillset to design, build, manage and analyze how RPA fits into their business strategies. Through our association with Automation Anywhere, we aim to a step ahead in preparing the future IT workforce with relevant skillsets.”

As per the Grand View Research, the global market for RPA is expected to grow at a CAGR of 31.1 percent and the market size is projected to reach $3.11 billion by 2025. Industries such as BFSI, retail, telecom/IT, BPO, healthcare and manufacturing have seen an increase in adoption of RPA owing to the increase in efficiencies, time-sensitivity and automation of mundane tasks. Responding to this overwhelming requirement and assessing the skill gap currently prevalent, Simplilearn collaborated with Automation Anywhere to launch the advanced curriculum in Robotic process automation.

“As more organizations adopt RPA to automate business processes, it is important to build domain expertise using the latest technology,” said Arvind Thothadri, Vice President – Global Training and Certification, Automation Anywhere. “Automation Anywhere University transfers RPA knowledge and skills to professionals worldwide to help them thrive in this new workforce. We are happy to partner with Simplilearn to offer these valuable training courses to prepare the next generation of successful business leaders for the new era of global work.”

The course caters to the upskilling needs of IT Professionals between the mid-management (program/project managers) and the CXO levels, across development, business, operations and support roles, including solution architects, software developers, business analysts, RPA infrastructure administrators, customer support specialists, sales engineers and system administrators. After completing the course, the learner would be qualified as an Automation Anywhere certified RPA professional.

Course Descriptions:

Introduction to Robotic Process Automation (RPA): This course will put the professional on the fast track in advanced intelligent applications. The course will provide an overview of RPA concepts, the value-add it brings, and train the professional on real business use-cases of RPA.

RPA using UiPath Training course: Building the professional’s RPA expertise from the ground up using the advanced UiPath RPA platform, this course will prepare the professional for the RPA Developer Advanced Certification exam, recognized as a premium certification in this space. The professional will stand to gain real hands-on exposure to creating RPA bots, designing effective RPA solutions, and automating repeated processes within the organization.

Automation Anywhere certified advanced RPA professional training course: This course will build the professional’s ability to demonstrate a good understanding of RPA, Automation Anywhere, enterprise platform, its architecture, components and various features and functionality.  Also builds Knowledge in how to create bots using different types of recorders, skills to use various recorders, editors, and commands to build bots to automate simple processes and importantly to apply RPA knowledge in real-world scenarios.

Success or Health? Asks Aditya Birla Capital’s Latest Health Insurance Campaign

Aditya Birla Health Insurance Co. Limited (ABHICL), the health insurance arm of Aditya Birla Capital Limited (ABCL), has announced the launch of its latest TVC – Game of Choice – an advertising campaign that urges people to evaluate their health goals in their quest for success. This high-octane campaign has been launched across 45+ television channels and social media platforms.

The campaign POKES, PRODS and PROVOKES people to realize how they tend to neglect their health, when faced with a choice between their life goals and fitness. It also incentivizes healthier lifestyle choices with upto 30% of health insurance premium in the form of HealthReturnsTM, as long as they put their ‘Health’ first!

Speaking about the TVC launch, Ajay Kakar, Chief Marketing Officer, Aditya Birla Capital said, “Would you rather choose health without success, or success without health? The answer isn’t that simple. Because when presented with this difficult choice, we realize that no amount of success is worthwhile without the good health needed to enjoy it. We do not want to choose one over the other and indeed, we shouldn’t have to. But we do take one for granted – our health. With this ‘Game of Choice’, we intend to provoke people into questioning their priorities and encourage them to choose health as a priority life goal, one that is equally important as their career aspirations.”

Agnello Dias, Chief Creative Officer – Taproot Dentsu said, “People are generally hazy about the link between their emotional health and physical health. Aditya Birla Health Insurance Co. Ltd’s ( ABHICL) campaigns in the past, and this one, aim to provoke hardworking professionals into asking uncomfortable questions to themselves. Answers to which, they know they have, but not too keen to confront and are therefore pushed far back into their minds. The stark, clinically real treatment chooses not to couch this reality in the delusional comfort of creative hyperbole."

Pallavi Chakravarti, Executive Creative Director – Taproot Dentsu added, “'Between being a star performer at work and being frequently or seriously ill, no one in their right mind would pick the latter. Yet, we find that in the race to choose success, health is often left behind. Trouble is, TELLING people this is preachy. But letting them DISCOVER it for themselves, is what Aditya Birla Health Insurance Co. Ltd. ( ABHICL) wanted this campaign to achieve, so that customers can use the brand to strike the right balance in their lives.”

In today’s fast-paced world, health generally tends to take a backseat, given hectic schedules and the luxury of having everything at our fingertips. With many of us finding it hard to make time for regular fitness activities, such unhealthy lifestyle and dietary choices can potentially lead to an increase in diseases such as high blood pressure, diabetes and heart ailments etc.

Creative Execution: Our TVC adopts a game show format wherein three hardworking professionals are pushed into an uncomfortable space, by getting them to choose between health and success. They find these choices extremely unfair but when pushed to choose one, all of them choose health over success. The film thus wants people to self-realize that if we want both health and success, why aren't we prioritizing our health at all.