Russian Helicopters Mi-171A2 Civilian Helicopter Now Certified in India and Colombia

Mi-171A2 helicopter was certified in India and Colombia. It allows Russian Helicopters (part of Rostec State Corporation) to start exporting the latest modification of the multirole civilian helicopter.

The Civil Aviation Department of India confirmed that the standard design of Mi-171A2 complied with Indian civilian aviation requirements (CAR). The Indian Directorate General of Civil Aviation had previously approved a type certificate for VK-2500PS-03 helicopter turboshaft engine installed in Mi-171A2 helicopters for JSC “UEC-Klimov”.

The validated Mi-171A2 type certificate was also issued by the Special Administrative Unit of Civil Aeronautics of Colombia (UAEAC). The decision of the Colombian authorities gives Russian Helicopters an opportunity to supply machines of this type to Colombia.

"Mi-171A2 is the latest modification of Mi-8/17, the most common twin-engine helicopter in the world. Companies from Rostec's Aviation Cluster made a great effort to receive an opportunity to operate the machines in India and Colombia: the type certificates were confirmed for the helicopter itself and for UEC's VK-2500PS-03 engines that the helicopters were equipped with. Mi-171A2 has the A type certificate of the Federal Air Transport Agency of Russia. It means that the highest flight safety requirements for civilian helicopters are met," said Director General of Russian Helicopters holding company Andrey Boginsky.

The first Mi-171A2 for an Indian customer has already been produced by Ulan-Ude Aviation Plant. It was demonstrated to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Eastern Economic Forum. It is planned to validate the Mi-171A2 type certificate in China, South Korea, Brazil, Mexico, Peru and other countries.

With the most advanced modification of the improved engine, the helicopters have absolutely new capabilities for operation in high-mountain and high-temperature areas. Due to its more efficient X-shaped tail rotor, the new main rotor with all-composite blades, and improved aerodynamic profile, the cruising and maximum speed of Mi-171A2 helicopter are 10 percent higher and the load capacity is 25 percent greater than those of serial Mi-8/17 helicopters.

The digital onboard equipment set KBO-17-1 ("glass cabin"), including the navigation instrumentation and the system of general helicopter equipment with display data indication, allowed the company to reduce the crew to only two people. Video cameras provide a better view during external load operations. Modern terrain awareness and warning systems, airborne and obstacle collision avoidance systems improved safety.

The helicopter can carry passengers and is available in the transport, passenger and VIP versions.

JSC “Russian Helicopters”, a part of Rostec State Corporation, is a leading player in the global helicopter industry, the sole Russian designer and manufacturer of helicopters. The Holding Company was established in 2007 and is headquartered in Moscow. We operate five helicopter assembly plants, two design bureaus, component production and maintenance enterprises, aircraft repair plants and one helicopter service company providing after-sales support in Russia and abroad. The customers of the Holding Company are the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Home Affairs, EMERCOM of Russia, and other state customers, Gazpromavia, UTair Aviation company, large Russian and foreign companies.

State Corporation Rostec is one of the largest industrial companies in Russia. It unites more than 800 scientific and industrial organizations in 60 regions of the country. Its key areas of activity are transport engineering, electronics, medical technology, chemistry and innovative materials. Rostec holdings form three clusters: electronics, weapons and aviation. The corporation’s portfolio includes such well-known brands as AvtoVAZ, KAMAZ, Kalashnikov, Russian Helicopters, Uralvagonzavod and others. Rostec is active in the implementation of all 12 national projects. The company is a key provider of Smart City technology, it is engaged in the digitalization of public administration, industry and social sectors, and it is developing plans for the development of 5G wireless technologies, an Industrial Internet of Things, big data and blockchain systems. Rostec partners with leading world manufacturers such as Boeing, Airbus, Daimler, Pirelli and Renault. The corporation’s products are delivered to more than 100 countries worldwide. Almost a third of the company's revenue comes from the export of high-tech products.

Austrian Designed Bikes CFMoto Vrooms into Bengaluru; Inaugurates First Showroom in Bangalore

Highlights

* 4 models with engines ranging from 300 – 650cc will be available at Bengaluru showroom
* The Austrian designed bikes are assembled in Bengaluru, India
* CFMoto India received over 720 bookings since launch in India
* Bookings can can be made online with Rs.5000 or at the showroom with Rs.50,000

The newest entrant in the two-wheeler market, CFMoto India opened its first showroom in Bengaluru at KH Road. The showroom was inaugurated by Shri LA Ravi Subramanya, MLA Basavanagudi Member of Legislature Assembly, Government of Karnataka. The new showroom offers sales, service, spares and test rides to motoring enthusiasts in Bengaluru. The company plans to expand its dealer network with showrooms across the country over the next 12 months.

CFMoto joined hands with Bengaluru based Anvita AutoTech (formerly AMW Motorcycles) to launch the globally popular brand in India earlier this year. The four CFMoto motorcycle models will be available at KH Road showroom are - 300NK, 650NK, 650MT and the 650GT. The models range from INR 2,29,000/- INR 3,99,000/- INR 4,99,000/- INR 5,49,000/- (ex-showroom prices all India) respectively.

These motorcycles sport contemporary designs and boast of latest technology and features. These next-gen bikes are the distinctive silhouette in motorcycling world with technologically superior and youthful designs.

The company has received over 720 bookings since August 2019 and customers have begun receiving deliveries earlier this month. Customers can book the bike with Rs. 50,000 by walk-in to the showroom or can book online on AAT CFMoto India website (http://www.cfmotoindia.com)  by paying Rs. 5000. AAT CFMoto is planning to launch 50 dealership showrooms across India by 2021. 

Speaking at the inauguration, Mr. Vamsi Krishna Jagini – CEO - Anvita AutoTech Works said “we are extremely delighted to launch our first showroom in Bengaluru. CFMoto has established itself as an iconic brand among youth and bike lovers and the customer response so far has been positive. We are also ramping up the production to enable faster deliveries and meeting customer demand. We see high potential in tier 2 markets and are working aggressively to expand to those key markets along with metro cities.”

Mr. Hudson Liu - Head Indian operations, CFMoto said, “I am excited to be a part of this launch, it’s a major step ahead in bringing the CFMoto brand closer to autophiles of Bengaluru city. India is a key market for our brand and we are happy to partner with AAT to make our entry in the country. We will continue to bring products with latest technology and features at prices that are sure to please.”

CFMoto 300NK is a street fighter and features dual riding modes, TFT Color Display, LED Lighting and Rear mudguard. It will have full LED headlamps with LED turn indicators and will be powered by a 299cc, single cylinder engine.

CFMoto 650NK is also a street fighter and boasts of a muscular fuel tank and sharp tail section.

CFMoto 650MT is an adventure tourer powered by a 649.3cc liquid cooled engine. The tourer gets a tall windscreen and comfortable riding position. It sports a large fuel tank with 18 litres capacity.

CFMoto 650GT is a sports tourer powered by a 649.3cc, liquid-cooled, parallel-twin engine that makes 70PS of power at 8,750rpm and 62Nm of torque at 7000rpm. The 650GT comes with a 6-speed gearbox.

The models currently will be available through AAT CFMoto dealer network based in Mumbai and Bangalore. Other cities like Hyderabad, Mumbai, Chennai, Cochin, Kolkata and Guwahati will follow shortly.

Five Online Gaming Platforms that Help You Make Money on Smartphone

So, you’ve started playing online games on your smartphone and are simply loving it! Who doesn’t like on-the-go entertainment, after all? But do you know that you can also earn money while doing the same? Yes, a number of digital gaming platform enables you to mint money while killing boredom over them. Here are some of them!

Gamezop: If you love games like cricket, basketball, and even snake, Gamezop is the platform that you got to be on! The best part about the platform is that you can start playing in it in three quick and easy steps. Log on to www.Gamezop.com in your mobile browser, enter your mobile number, enter OTP, and you are good to go. And this is without any app installation on the device! So, wham sixes in ‘Cricket Gunda’, score baskets in ‘Basket Champs’, play ‘Flexi Snake’, or, rather, pick any of those 250 games over it.

Dream11: This one is especially for those peeps who love live sports like Cricket, Kabaddi, and Football. Gone are the days when you simply used to sit behind TV screen (or even your smartphone) and discuss player strategy. Now is the time for you to actively participate in the process. On Dream11, you can chip in upcoming live sports matches by picking a team of your own. So, the sports trivia that you actively check online and over TV will no longer go in vain. You will get to win money using it.

WinZO Games: WinZO is a digital gaming platform that offers over 30 games like Bubble Shooter, Space Warrior, Carrom, and more to ardent players. The icing on the cake is that all of these games are available in 10 vernacular languages including Bangla, Tamil, Telugu, Punjabi, Bhojpuri, and so on.

BaaziNow: From the house of Times Internet Limited, BaaziNow is a platform where you can put your general knowledge to good use and win money. The platform features interesting games like trivia quiz game show, opinion-based quiz, and live bingo games and extends prize money in the form of instant cash rewards.

Adda52: Love poker? Don’t waste your skills by playing it for free. Rather, log onto Adda52 and join lakhs of other players who are on the platform and are winning money over it daily. The platform has a number of variants of poker games where you can test your luck, skills, and wisdom – and earn money in the process. You wouldn’t be needing to download any app either and can also sign up for free.

Brand Factory Announces the 4th Season of ‘Free Shopping Weekend’ from December 4-8, 2019

Brand Factory, the lifestyle discount store by Future Lifestyle Fashion is back with the country’s annual shopping pilgrimage, ‘Free Shopping Weekend’ from December 4 to 8. After creating a significant impact with its previous seasons, the country will witness yet another edition of an exciting weekend with FREE shopping on 200 plus ORIGINAL brands. Providing impeccable offers, Brand Factory is giving customers a chance to shop worth Rs. 5000 and pay only Rs. 2000 and even get that back through gift vouchers worth Rs. 1200, apparel worth Rs. 500 and Rs. 300 cashback in Future Pay wallet, making shopping FREE!

Customers can shop from over 200 plus original National and International brands like Jack & Jones, Lee Cooper, Levis, Imara, ONLY, PEPE, Iktara, Adidas, Reebok, Skechers, Fila, American Tourister, V.I.P, Lino Perros, Lavie, Caprese and much more. Giving each customer a chance to shop with ease, customers can pre-book their Premium Passes at a minimal cost of Rs.250 (for two) for an entry to the store before 11am. Additionally, customer walking in post 11am can skip the queue by purchasing Rs.250 Premium Pass (for two) and get a fast lane entry to the store.

Speaking about Free Shopping Weekend, Suresh Sadhwani, CEO, Brand Factory says, “We are delighted with the fan following Free Shopping Weekend has been receiving for the past three years. Making it bigger and better in the fourth season, we have enhanced our offerings with best of fashion across International and National brands for FREE. Not only this, our stores will be open extra hours in the morning to give customers additional time to enjoy hassle free shopping. We invite customers to walk in with their families and shop to their hearts content as there is something instore for all age groups.”

Customers can book their tickets on insider.in or through brandfactoryonline.com or visit the nearest Brand Factory store and enjoy FREE shopping.

Book your tickets to get a direct entry to the country’s mega shopping event!

Niki Marks 750x Growth in Hindi Volumes in a Year, Targets to Hit an Annual Run Rate of $100 Million

With an impressive 30% month on month growth, India’s only regional language B2C commerce app Niki, is consistently growing its presence among the first time internet users of the country. Currently, Niki is operational in 4 Indian languages and it has fulfilled over 1 million transactions across Hindi, Bengali and Tamil with gross merchandise value (GMV) on track to hit an annualised run rate of $100mn by March 2020.

It will also go deeper in smaller towns and cities by adding 25,000 more Tier 2-4 localitie, to build on the 18,000 localities in its current footprint across the Hindi belt of India.

While 90% of the current apps cater to the English speaking population, Niki is digitising household expenses for Indian regional language-first users through its unique voice and local language enabled commerce app. It provides handholding and assurance on all online transactions.

“Niki is on a mission to turn India’s 500 million new Internet users into transacting consumers. With an aim to make technology more inclusive and accessible, Niki introduced Hindi in October 2018 and since then GMV contribution by the Hindi users has seen 750x growth.” said Niki’s CEO and Co- founder Sachin Jaiswal.
He further said,” We are on a mission to build the most trusted app to avail services online for new Internet users, and we aim to grow this to $1 billion GMV by 2021.” 

Backed by, US-based venture fund EMVC, Mr. Ratan Tata, Ronnie Screwwala’s Unilazer ventures and Japan’s Recruit Strategic Partners, Niki has built Internet commerce in the style that’s most natural to these users: A local agent, whereby a user can replicate talking to a neighbourhood human agent in their own language to access hundreds of services.
With deep technology mirrors and enhances the offline experience leveraging machine learning and Natural Language Processing Niki empowering the Indian first time internet user with their first language.
Here are a few statistics that tell us why Niki is the market leader for online transaction for new internet users in India.

1. While 90% of current digital voice-assistants in India communicate in English, Niki’s Hindi voice feature is empowering 44% Hindi-speaking Indians, to use technology in their first language.
2. 80% of Niki’s users is coming from India’s Tier 2 and beyond localities. The 500 million new Internet users that India is expected to have in the next few years, are all emerging from these tier 2, tier 3 towns and Niki aim to turn these users into transacting consumers. 
3. While 28% of search queries in India are done by voice and Hindi voice search queries are growing at over 400% year on year, every 2 out of 3 Niki users engage with voice.
4. Niki recently added Bengali and Tamil to its list of languages and will soon launch language support in other Indian languages such as Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and Marathi.

Tata Tea Chakra Gold Celebrates True Tamil Culture with a TN Exclusive Campaign Conceived by Mullen Lintas

Tamilians are proud of their rich culture that has many claims to fame; that of a rich literary legacy, iconic architecture, of Tamil being the longest surviving language, a vibrant cinematic culture and most importantly their contributions across all spheres such as art, science and corporate world  . The driving principle of all such achievements of both, individuals and a collective, have been the principles of great discipline and a deep respect to tried and tested processes. Driven by quest for perfection, Tamilians take great pride in their methodical approach to all things in life and an eye for great detail.  The new Chakra Gold campaign for Tamil Nadu is a celebration of this very uniquely Tamilian code of life that is evident even in day to day situations.

The film, conceptualized by Mullen Lintas, opens in a traditional meal area of a Tamil function where server, who is placing banana leaf in a certain direction, is stopped by his supervisor who shows the ‘right way’ of placing it. More such life illustrations follow, all showcasing the Tamil penchant for doing every little thing in a certain methodical way and the right manner. The film ends with a scene where we see the same penchant for process being demonstrated by a young boy who copies his father in tying a veshti around his waist, diligently. In all these situations, the most interesting character is played by the VO of an uncle, obsessed with Tamil processes and corrects people whenever they make a mistake. He is the uncle in every Tamil household whose perception in the family is like a custodian of Tamilian code of life and someone who doesn’t hesitate in calling out the mistake even in most harmless situations. When it comes to the process of making good cup of tea, the ‘Uncle’ recommends Tata Tea Chakra Gold as the tea for Tamilians. Film ends with showcasing all protagonists enjoying the perfect cup of Tata Tea Chakra Gold.

Commenting on the campaign in Tamil Nadu, Puneet Das, Vice President-India, Tata Global Beverages says, “Tata Tea Chakra Gold is a blend specially crafted for Tamilians and celebrates the Tamil way of life. Its new campaign is about evoking regional pride of Tamil Nadu that is rooted in understanding the importance of discipline and processes in the life of a Tamilian. Similarly, Tata Tea Chakra Gold made from a rigorous process enables consumers to make the perfect cup of tea”.

Highlighting the insight behind this campaign, Chief Creative Officers at Mullen Lintas, Garima Khandelwal & Azazul Haque, said “Regional insight and truth of inherent everyday behaviour that evokes pride and empathy as a reason to consume Tata Tea Chakra Gold. It positions the brand as a ‘go to’ tea by keeping the consumer at the center using the analogy of the process followed for making it. Similar to the people of Tamil Nadu who drink it, making it the ‘tea of the state’. Simply and beautifully told through the voice and visual grammar that is natively Tamil Nadu.”

The brand’s new campaign combines the logic of 'processes' and the emotion of ‘regional pride' with a touch of witty storytelling and relatable instances for every Tamilian.

Duration: 40 Seconds

Tata Tea Chakra Gold : The Tea of Tamilians

Credits:

Creative Agency: Mullen Lintas
Creative Team: Garima Khandelwal, Azazul Haque, Arvind Murali, Prasad Venkatraman
Account Management: Siddhartha Roy, Lopamudra Bhattacharya, Gayathri Tadepally, Lekshmi Narayanan
Films: Satyajit Ganu
Account Planning: Ekta Relan, Sushma R Rao
Production house: Nirvana films
Director: Kishore Iyyar

About the brand- TATA Tea Chakra Gold:

Tata Tea Chakra Gold is the second largest tea brand in South India and ninth largest across India, in terms of market share. Originally launched in 1985 as Chakra Premium Dust Tea, the product was renamed Chakra Gold in 1989. Over the last 30 years, it has built a strong equity in the markets of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. Tata Tea Chakra Gold is one of the leading packaged dust tea brands in South India with a strong heritage of 34 years. It is predominantly sold in states of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh.  Made from the choicest Assam teas, known for their strongest flavour, Chakra Gold is loved for its strong and lingering taste. With the restage of mother brand and launch of Tata Tea Chakra Gold variants - Activ+ & Elaichi, Tata Global Beverages Ltd. intends to strengthen its portfolio play and build equity in the fast growing premium tea segment in South India.

About Tata Global Beverages

Tata Global Beverages is a global beverage business; its brands have presence in over 40 countries. The Company has significant interests in tea, coffee and water and is the world’s second largest tea company. 330+ million servings of its brands are consumed everyday around the world. Tata Global Beverages Group has an annual turnover of approximately US$1.4bn including from its JV’s and associates; it employs around 3,000 people across the world. The company focuses on natural beverages and has a stable of innovative regional and global beverage brands, including: Tata Tea, Tetley, Himalayan natural mineral water, Tata Water Plus and Tata Gluco+, Good Earth tea, Grand Coffee and Eight O’clock coffee. 

Xtep Unveils the Spirit of Boxing Legend Muhammad Ali Sportwear in Indian Market

Highlights

* S. Suresh Kumar, Minister of Primary and Secondary Education and Sakala of Karnataka inspires youth to adopt sports as a part of their lives and boost ‘Fit India' mission through his message
* Hong Kong based Xtep shares global best practices to make sports a people’s movement in India
* Xtep India plans to expand from one to seven cities by end of 2020

Hong Kong headquartered global sportswear brand Xtep International Holdings Limited launched Sports-Life movement for people in Bengaluru. The move is a first step towards making sports-fitness an integral part of people’s lives in Karnataka. The movement was dedicated to legendary boxer Muhammad Ali whose principles inspire the ordinary masses to reach extraordinary heights in sports and life.

Chief Guest, Shri S. Suresh Kumar and special guests Olympic boxers and coaches Mr. Ganapathy Manoharan, Mr. I. Amaladass, Mr. M. Venu and Director, Xtep India, Vijay Chowdhary were the key dignitaries for the event titled – ‘Remembering all-time boxing legend Muhammad Ali’. True to the theme the Indian boxing titans reminisced their bout with the legend in New Delhi in 1980. The event also sought to inspire youth to adopt sports as an essential life skill and presented Xtep learning from global markets to fuel sports uptake in India.   

In a message to the audience, Shri S. Suresh Kumar said,  “Sports-Life will empower citizens to be active participants in community sporting activities than being passive consumers of sports products. As Minister for Education in Karnataka I have always been very keen to promote a sporting culture amongst our children. I have been making every effort to inculcate a sporting spirit in our young girls and boys in all the schools. I welcome the effort of Xtep in this direction that will lend an impetus to Fit-India movement launched by Indian Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi,” he added.

Revealing Xtep plans and global best practices to introduce Sports-Life culture in India, Vijay Chowdhary said, “Xtep has influenced mass uptake of sports through technology/R&D and targeted community activations aimed at youth.”

“In the area of technology, Xtep Sports Science innovation lab researches runners’ data to produce functionally superior sports shoes for consumers. Xtep has introduced consumer sports-technology such as BMI and 3D printers to help the public select the right pair of shoes scientifically in community run clubs across China.

“In aspects of training and activation/alliances, Xtep has conducted over 200 marathons since 2011 in China and Vietnam and several football matches in Saudi Arabia. We have even partnered with Government of Vietnam to launch a people’s running event. Xtep has also collaborated with professional marathon runners to train the public.”

“For India market, in phase 1, we have introduced mass affordable and functional sports shoes for different fitness needs and consumer categories. We plan to expand to seven cities by end of 2020 to reach a wider consumer base. In phase 2, we’ll bring high-tech consumer sports technology to India. We’ll also partner with run clubs, Govt., private stakeholders, emerging sports aspirants, role models and trainers to nurture sports-life through community events. In phase 3, we’ll invest in sports infrastructure based on market demand,” he adds.

Commenting on the event, Vijay said, “Xtep draws its inspiration from Muhammad Ali’s principles of confidence, conviction, dedication, respect, giving and spirituality. These principles resonate with each of the Indian boxing champions who shared a moment in time with the legend. We hope they will continue to inspire more people to join the Sports-Life movement in India.” 

HGS Sells India Domestic CRM Biz to Altruist Technologies

Hinduja Global Solutions Limited (HGS) has announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to sell its India Domestic Customer Relationship Management (CRM) business to leading BPM services provider Altruist Technologies Private Limited. This is an all-cash transaction for Rs. 40 crore, subject to adjustments. In addition, the proceeds from working capital will accrue to HGS. The transaction, subject to approvals, is expected to close by January 31, 2020.

HGS’ Domestic CRM business comprises primarily voice services and some non-voice processes. Post completion of the transaction, HGS will transfer client contracts and assets at 10 delivery centers across Bangalore, Mysore, Hyderabad, Pune, Mumbai, Noida, Indore and Raipur. Over 7,300 employees will move to Altruist as part of the agreement. For the six months ended September 2019, revenue from HGS Domestic CRM business was around Rs. 145 crore.

HGS will continue to focus on strengthening its international business that supports global clients out of India, HGS Business Services (comprising HRO, Compliance, Payroll and F&A Services) and HGS Interactive businesses.

Edelweiss Financial Services Limited acted as the sole financial advisor to HGS on the transaction.

About Hinduja Global Solutions (HGS):

A global leader in business process management (BPM) and optimizing the customer experience lifecycle, HGS is helping make its clients more competitive every day. HGS combines technology-powered services in automation, analytics and digital with domain expertise focusing on back office processing, contact centers and HRO solutions to deliver transformational impact to clients. Part of the multi-billion dollar conglomerate Hinduja Group, HGS takes a true “globally local” approach, with over 44,218 employees across 71 delivery centers in seven countries making a difference to some of the world’s leading brands across nine key verticals. For the year ended March 31, 2019, HGS had revenues of Rs. 48,167 million (US$ 689 million).

Sarovar Hotels and Resorts Expands Footprint in Bengaluru with “Shravanthi Sarovar Portico” in J P Nagar

Highlights

* 6th property of Sarovar in Bengaluru
* Sarovar Hotels & Resorts has over 6400 keys under its management

Sarovar Hotels and Resorts expands its footprint with the launch of “Shravanthi Sarovar Portico” in South Bangalore.  This is Sarovar’s sixth hotel after Davanam Sarovar Portico Suites, La Marvella Sarovar Premiere, Radha Hometel, Radisson Blu and RBD Sarovar Portico.

Shravanthi Sarovar Portico is a midscale hotel located in JP Nagar, one of Bangalore’s oldest planned suburbs.  The hotel offers easy access to the Central Business District and electronic city and is in close proximity to major tech parks and entertainment hubs. It offers 80 newly renovated guest rooms, an all-day dining restaurant, club bar, fitness center and conferencing facilities. The redecorated lobby is spacious and comprises of a coffee lounge, just the perfect setting for relaxation or business networking.

Shravanthi Sarovar Portico has different decorative themes on each of the four floors. From Scandinavian to Spanish county to Manhattan to the Royal, the hotel’s theme floors and rooms will leave the traveler with a signature experience akin to none.

On the launch, Mr. Ajay Bakaya, Managing Director, Sarovar Hotels & Resorts, said, “We are happy to associate with Shravanthi Group for our new property in South Bangalore. We found great synergies with the group and are excited about our association. With an apt location and serene atmosphere, our new property will be a home away from home for both business and leisure travelers.”

Sarovar Hotels & Resorts is a leading hotel management company and one of the fastest growing chains of hotels in India managing 80 hotels in 50 destinations in India and overseas. “We are delighted to associate with Sarovar Hotels and Resorts. This is our maiden foray into hospitality and with Shravathi Sarovar Portico, we aim to cater to both corporate and leisure travelers. The property is optimally located and is serene yet easily accessible.  We recognized the demand of a business hotel in the locality and are confident our offering will enthrall our clientele”, said L Balakrishnama Naidu, Chairman & Managing Director of Shravanthi Group.

TECNO Brings 6000 mAh Battery Beast & AMOLED Display Priced at Rs 8499 and Available on Flipkart

TECNO, the global premier smartphone brand known for its ahead of the curve approach, is launching today yet another future-ready device ‘TECNO SPARK POWER at just INR 8499. Bolstered by the success of SPARK Go, TECNO SPARK POWER will be a game changer in the INR 9K smartphone segment owing to its monstrous 6000mAh battery. The product will be available for sale on one of the leading e-commerce platforms – Flipkart starting 1st December 2019, 12 noon onwards.

TECNO SPARK POWER is the latest addition to the brand’s popular and globally acclaimed SPARK series that made its India debut during this year’s festive season. The new smartphone is designed for the most discerning tech savvy millennials in India for whom their mobile is the primary screen for all daily needs and entertainment on the go. TECNO SPARK POWER boasts of a ‘category defining’ 6000 mAh battery with AI power saving & safe charging, addressing the need of youth to enjoy uninterrupted non-stop entertainment. TECNO SPARK POWER’s battery back-up can last up to 5 days giving users 29 hours of video playback, 35 hours of calling, 17 hours of gaming or 200 hours of music – all in a single charge!

Commenting on the launch, Mr. Arijeet Talapatra, CEO, TRANSSION India said, “We are a consumer-centric brand and we believe in offering consumers with more options and future ready budget smartphones by staying ahead of the curve in the segment. TECNO SPARK POWER adds another dimension to our product portfolio and this time we are focused on providing Indian consumers with long lasting battery life in under 10K segment, which is far ahead of what other smartphones offer in this segment.  The new smartphone comes loaded with meaningful innovations such as everlasting battery, 6.35” Dot notch AMOLED screen, Intelligent Triple rear camera kit with Quad flash, and advance localized HiOS features, which makes it one of the best ‘All-rounder champion’ phone in the sub 10k category. We can’t wait for our consumers to enjoy this ultimate powerhouse which stands out in every dimension of design, performance, and user experience.”

TECNO SPARK Power is a perfect amalgamation of performance and aesthetics with 6.35” HD+ AMOLED screen that sets a new benchmark for an uninterrupted video viewing experience. It comes with Full vision + Full Horizon (19.5:9) Aspect Ratio with category-defining 600 Nits brightness.  Despite of the massive 6000mAH battery, TECNO Spark Power is sleek and boasts curved glossy unibody for a stylish finish. The smartphone is available in two contemporary color hues - Dawn Blue and Alpenglow Gold.

Making the photography more intuitive, the new TECNO SPARK Power boasts an integration of advance triple rear camera set-up with Quad Flash, that comprises of 13MP primary rear camera with F1.85 apertures, 2MP depth-sensing lens perfectly suited for real portraits and an additional 8MP 120° Ultra-Wide Lens, which has a special feature of microspur that supports focus on objects within 2.5 cm. It also come equipped with Google Lens features, for smart identification of objects automatically popping up all the relevant information for your easiest reach.  That’s not all, SPARK Power also sports a 13 MP selfie camera with innovative dual flash and advance AI technology that offers 6 levels of beauty mode for providing best-in-class photography experience to Indian consumers.

The new smartphone is powered by a 2.0Ghz octa-core Helio P22 chipset paired with up to 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage. Unlike hybrid SIM slots, TECNO SPARK Power supports triple card slot whereby a consumer can use dual SIM cards and memory card at the same time which is expandable up to 256GB. As smartphone privacy and security is key these days, SPARK POWER comes with advance AI face recognition technology which captures 170 facial points to unlock the device. Additionally, it also incorporates TECNO’s unique localised anti-oil fingerprint sensor that provides hassle free access to the phone under all Indian lifestyle and weather conditions.  Another unique feature is Smart Key placed in left side of TECNO SPARK Power which allows user to open Google Assistant for performing multiple functions.

In addition, the brand is giving its consumers inaugural offer of 3 months Gaana Plus Subscription worth INR 297 for free on every TECNO Spark Power unit. 

Emirates Appoints Jabr Al-Azeeby As New Vice President in India, Nepal

Emirates has appointed Jabr Al-Azeeby as the new Vice President India and Nepal. This is part of the airline’s management rotation and positions it to better serve customer needs and respond with agility to market dynamics.

Al-Azeeby began his career with Emirates in October 2005 as a commercial graduate trainee, and quickly moved up the ranks to the role of Manager Uganda in 2008. He held this position for three years, gaining significant expertise in managing commercial operations and teams, enhancing the customer experience, looking for opportunities to better serve the local community, and working with internal stakeholders across Emirates’ wide network and span.

 This was followed by stints in several countries, including Cyprus, Thailand and Indochina. Jabr has more than 14 years of experience spearheading the airline’s commercial operations across countries and regions.

 Jabr Al-Azeeby, the new Vice President India and Nepal said: “I’ve always admired the different facets of India, its people and its culture, and am awed by the country’s progress and fast-paced development. This is an interesting time, as the UAE and India have recently forged even closer bilateral ties. I’m excited to lead the Emirates team in India and look forward to building a strong relationship with our customers, the trade and all our key stakeholders. India continues to lead as one of our most important markets and we’re committed to offering our customers convenience, comfort, innovative products and personalised services. Our growing base of Indian travellers are seeking quality travel experiences worldwide, and we aim to give our customers world class travel services and value for money.”

With a successful track record of boosting the airline’s operations in challenging markets, Al-Azeeby commences his new role from October, after replacing Essa Sulaiman Ahmad who has now been promoted as Divisional Vice President USA and Canada.

Young Kannadigas are Tking Marriage Decisions into Their Own Hands: Report by KannadaMatrimony.com

KannadaMatrimony, the leading matchmaking service for Kannadigas, from BharatMatrimony, studied the demographic patterns of lakhs of registered users. The data revealed fascinating insights on Kannada speaking people and their life partner preferences.

Highlights from the research report:

The user base comprised of 31% women and 69% men with the average age of male registrants being 28 years and that of women being 27 years
NRI registrants were mostly from United States of America, United Arab Emirates, Canada, United Kingdom and Germany
57% of Women and 55% of Men were open to seeking life partners living overseas, of which USA, Canada and Australia were among the most preferred countries
Indicating the progressive nature of the Kannadiga community was the fact that 25% men and 20% women were open to a life partner outside their own caste
The top cities within Karnataka that witnessed maximum number of registrations included Bangalore, Mysore and Tumkur
The top professions of men were Business owners/ Entrepreneurs, followed by software professionals, whereas for women, it was Software Professionals and teachers
Individuals are increasingly taking marriage decisions into their own hands as is evident from the fact that 70% of the total profiles were created by the individuals themselves.

52% women seeking a life partner are 23-27 years, while 45% men are in the age group of 26-30 years.

In terms of educational qualification, the most popular stream of education amongst registrants was technology and arts degrees.

31% women and 14% men preferred life partners whose education qualification is Masters degree or above.

In tune with the mobile and internet trends, 90% of KannadaMatrimony members did their life partner search using their mobile.

Commenting on the interesting trends, Murugavel Janakiraman, Founder and CEO, Matrimony.com said, "Over the last 19 years, KannadaMatrimony has become the No. 1 choice for lakhs of Kannada speaking people when it comes to finding a life partner. Lakhs of Kannadigas have successfully found their life partner here and we continue to grow our user base amongst the vibrant Kannadiga community in India and across the globe. Karnataka is a large and priority market for us, and we continue to step up our efforts to help more Kannadigas find their life partner.”

JK Tyre Unveils its Most Fuel Efficient Radial Tyres - XF Series

Highlights

* The lower rolling resistance technology in the tyres leads to up to 8% fuel saving and improved mileage
* Created using the JETOCT technology that results in greater durability and resilience

Indian Tyre Industry major & the market leader in Truck Bus Radial segment, JK Tyre & Industries Ltd today launched the next generation of fuel-efficient tyres - the XF Series, delivering unprecedented savings to customers in terms of cost per kilometer (CPKM) while also improving mileage. The XF fuel-efficient tyre series comes in two variants - front axle JETWAY JUH XF and rear axle JETSTEEL JDH XF, ideal for long and regional haul applications.

The XF tyre series is built on the cutting edge advanced technology – ‘lower rolling resistance’ (RRC). This technology helps improve tyre efficiency by saving up to 8% fuel in comparison to normal radial tyres.

Mr. Vikram Malhotra, Marketing Director, JK Tyre & Industries Ltd, said, “At JK Tyre & Industries, it’s our constant endeavor to cater to the needs and requirements of our customers to enhance their driving experience. With our game-changing XF series, we want to give our customers the next generation of fuel-efficient tyres. This further underscores our promise to deliver to the evolving needs of the market and introduce tyres that help maintain pace with the changing market requirements.”

The XF tyre series is created using the innovative JETOCT technology that helps in the reduction of heat buildup in the carcass, resulting in improved durability. In addition, aided by the new tetra beam belt, this series also maintains a higher tread stiffness, allowing for greater number of retreads. The technology used to create the XF series has been tested and validated at the Raghupati Singhania Centre of Excellence- RPSCOE.

The XF Series tyres are now available across JK Tyre authorized dealers in the country.

About JK Tyre and Industries Limited:

Part of the JK Organisation, JK Tyre & Industries Ltd is a leading tyre manufacturer in India and amongst the top 25 manufacturers in the world with a wide range of products catering to diverse business segments in the automobile industry. JK Tyre is the only tyre manufacturer in India to be included in the list of Superbrand in 2019, the seventh time the honour has been conferred upon the company.

JK Tyre has global presence in 100 countries across six continents, backed by production support from 12 plants - 9 in India and 3 in Mexico. Currently, the capacity across all its plants is about 35 million tyres per annum. In April 2016, JK Tyre acquired Cavendish India Limited from Birla Tyres. While acquisition added three modern plants to its portfolio taking the total count to 12, it helped the tyre major foray into the two/three wheeler segment as well. In 2018, the company inaugurated its state-of-the-art Raghupati Singhania Centre of Excellence (RPSCOE) at Mysore.

Pioneers of radial technology, JK Tyre produced the first radial tyre in 1977 and is currently the market leader in Truck Bus Radial segment. With over three decades of technological innovation, JK Tyre offers tyre for entire range of passenger and commercial vehicles, starting from a 3 kg two-wheeler tyre to a 3.5-ton OTR tyre.

Goodness is Now the Headline Act in Bangalore with Seagram’s 100 Pipers ‘Play for a Cause’ on Nov 29, 2019

After positively impacting the society through previous editions of ‘Play for a Cause’, Seagram’s 100 Pipers expands the impact of the platform with 100 musical events spread across 27 cities on 1 Day; Nov 29, 2019. The 100 events will witness renowned musicians and bands like Parikrama, Delhi Indie Project, Indus Creed, The Local Train, Usha Uthup, Hari Sukhmani and Ankur Tewari amongst others uniting to play on 29th November, 2019; to create awareness for concerns related to polluted air and water; dying hills, art, oceans, plantation and wild life, and other issues such as meals for underprivileged and one time plastic use, rain water harvesting amongst others. 109 bands performed across 100 locations simultaneously.

Expressing his excitement towards the initiative, Kartik Mohindra, Chief Marketing Officer, Pernod Ricard India said, “Seagram’s 100 Pipers believes in leadership with purpose. It has always worked on initiatives that lead a positive change in the society. The fact that our whole country would resonate with the sound of goodness with over 100 gigs on one single day, brings alive our proposition ‘Be remembered for good.”

100 Pipers Play for a Cause has been contributing to the society in more than one way over the years, the brand 100 Pipers is positioned on the platform of ‘TRUE LEGENDS’, personified by successful people who rise above materialistic markers of success and work towards leading a positive change for the society. And hence, the brand’s expression of ‘Be Remembered for Good’. Over the years, 100 Pipers has consistently translated this positioning into actual consumer experiences via the ‘Play For A Cause’ music events wherein the brand brings together celebrated musicians & organizes performances to generate awareness & contribution for various causes that impact our society like Clean Drinking Water, Meals for the underprivileged, Kerala floods, to name a few.

GoAir Participates at Global Expo of Services 2019 Attracts Global Attention in B'luru

GoAir, India’s most trusted, punctual and fastest growing airline, participates at Global Exhibition of Services (GES) that’s being held at the Palace Grounds, Bengaluru. GoAir’s stand has been attracting huge global attention, along with individuals attending the exhibition. Officials from GoAir exchanged notes and ideas with the global contingent on possible skills in aviation, and GoAir’s role in empowering its employees in varied skill sets and the training process it has adopted across its departments, which has resulted in GoAir being one of the most efficient airlines in the country.

On this occasion, GoAir spokesperson said: “GoAir is happy to be a part of GES 2019, one of India’s finest platforms for showcasing Indian services, skill sets and capabilities. We’re sure the initiative will help bring more synergies between India and other nations to help the common cause of giving a boost to trade and service-related industries across sectors. GoAir has always endeavored to train its employees to achieve the unthinkable and the result can be seen in the form of GoAir receiving highest FOUR-STAR rating, voted by 1.4 million passengers, making it the only airline in its category to receive such an accolade in the entire Central Asia Region. GoAir has also received an award for ‘Best Cabin Service’ by the highly coveted APEX Passenger Choice Awards.”

The fifth year of the three-day event was kicked off on 26 November 2019 and has been witnessing huge footfalls. The exhibition houses more than 500 participants from 100 countries. What the exhibition also showcased was varied Indian culture and cuisine, among other things and is the second largest ecosystem of startups in the world.

With an aim to engage industry and governments across the world to promote greater exchange of trade in services between India and the rest of the world, the Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India, in association with Services Export Promotion Council (SEPC) and Confederation of Indian Industry (Cll) created a dedicated platform, the Global Exhibition on Services (GES), with an attempt to give the multifaceted Indian services the global visibility they deserve and to simultaneously encourage trade in services at a global level.

GoAir currently operates 325+ daily flights flies to 25 domestic destinations including Ahmedabad, Aizawl, Bagdogra, Bengaluru, Bhubaneswar, Chandigarh, Chennai, Delhi, Goa, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Jammu, Kochi, Kolkata, Kannur, Leh, Lucknow, Mumbai, Nagpur, Patna, Port Blair, Pune, Ranchi and Srinagar. GoAir flies to 8 international destinations, including Phuket, Malé, Muscat, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Bangkok, Kuwait and Singapore.

Bentley Institute Press Announces Availability of “STAAD.Pro CONNECT Edition

Bentley Institute Press, publisher of cutting-edge textbooks and professional reference works for the advancement of the engineering, architectural, construction, operations, geospatial, and educational communities, has announced the availability of a new publication titled STAAD.Pro CONNECT Edition - Seismic Analysis using IS 1893 (Part-1)-2016  now available in print at www.bentley.com/books, as an e-book at www.ebook.bentley.com and on Amazon Kindle. The iTunes version will also be available soon.

Vinayak Trivedi, vice president, and global head for Bentley Institute said, “We are pleased to offer this much-needed title from Bentley Institute Press authored by Sanjib Das, who was the technical lead for the implementation of IS 1893 (Part 1):2016 in STAAD.Pro CONNECT Edition. Needless to mention this title will help our users improve their productivity and take full advantage of the Seismic Analysis feature in STAAD.Pro CONNECT Edition”

With the recent release of IS 1893 (Part-1):2016 standard, seismic analysis procedure has not only streamlined the analysis procedure to be used for general structures and buildings but has promulgated some special checks to be performed.

As the most popular and widely used structural analysis and design software, STAAD.Pro CONNECT Edition, is packed with cutting-edge seismic analysis features which enables users to perform detailed calculations effortlessly.

STAAD.Pro CONNECT Edition - Seismic Analysis using IS 1893 (Part-1)-2016 follows a step-by-step approach to using IS 1893 (Part-1):2016 in STAAD.Pro CONNECT Edition. The understanding required by structural engineers to use Indian Standard for seismic analysis has also been covered in this publication. The publication also includes examples for understanding different parameters used in STAAD.Pro CONNECT Edition for static and dynamic analysis as per the requirement of Indian Standard.

Rewards-Based Payments Platform TWID Enters into Strategic Alliance with Ola Money

TWID, the Reward based Payment Network app that seamlessly pools multiple loyalty/reward points of banks, retail, entertainment, F&B, travel, etc and makes them redeemable for consumers, has partnered with Ola Money to offer its wallet balance on twid network and seamless checkout option. Through this association, customers will be able to make purchases at any of the TWID’s partner brands with their Reward Pool, Ola Money wallet and post-paid balance in a single click checkout. They can settle the payment made from their Ola postpaid once in 15 days.

A mobile-first platform, TWID empowers its users to track all the rewards and loyalty points at one place, and spend them just like cash across many online and offline retail stores, making their existing and future reward points valuable.  By teaming up with Ola Money, one of the largest digital wallets in the country, TWID endeavours to leverage the convenience of easy payment checkout and ensure a simple and seamless payment experience for consumers shopping through its platform.

Speaking on the launch of this revolutionary product, Rishi Batra, Co-Founder & COO of TWID said, “Through this strategic tie-up, we are introducing single-click checkout where the existing balance of Ola Money Wallet gets clubbed with TWID’s partner reward pool and users get more buying power. Further, Ola Postpaid allows extra credit to the users to make seamless checkout across the TWID network. ”

Speaking on the association, Prateek Jindal, Business Head, Ola Financial Services said “This association is a significant step towards creating a holistic digital payments ecosystem that enables effortless purchases at TWID’s partner brands through both Ola Money wallet and OlaMoney Postpaid balance. Ola Money users can have extensive options to use Ola Money along with the consolidated rewards the consumer has, thus ensuring consumer delight.”

Within the first year of operation, TWID has been aggressively aiming to on-board additional 50+ brands and banks with their rewards pool, over 3 Lakh+ merchant base to accept TWID as a mode of payment and over 3 million active users to transact atleast 5 times a month using TWID. As the company built a Global Payment Network using Rewards as a base, it brings in additional currency for usage in the economy. It will introduce new products for users to engage with and merchants along with banks to better communicate with the consumers. At present, the platform is working towards digitizing the transactions in the country and bringing innovative solutions and offering for its consumers and partners.

Diesel Announces its First Celebrity Ambassador for Watches in India

In today’s fast moving world, Diesel has long established itself as an innovative international lifestyle brand through a storied history of strong, ironic and playful campaigns. Diesel does not follow trends; it creates them.

The brand has always influenced the lifestyle of people who wear it through bold and never-shy designs that reflect Diesel’s assertive nature and unique voice. Kick starting the Holiday 2019 campaign, Diesel now announces millennial heartthrob and rising Bollywood star – Aditya Roy Kapur, as its latest celebrity ambassador for watches.

Aditya’s young, energetic and vibrant persona resonates with the brand’s individualism and authentic attitude. While he is known for his work in the movies, he is also a music and sports enthusiast. By bringing him on-board, this collaboration will aim to further amplify the brand’s proficiency in creating distinctive timepieces that take inspiration from military, denim and rock and roll.

Talking about the association, Aditya Roy Kapur said, “Diesel is not just a brand, it’s an attitude. It creates designs that are bound to make a statement. In line with the brand’s DNA “For Successful Living,” – their watches and the new range of smart watches focus on individuality and self-expression.

I’m really excited to associate with Diesel watches and look forward to accentuating the brand’s energy and fearless style that is aligned with mine.”

The Bollywood star will be seen in an upcoming holiday campaign by Diesel, which will feature bolder-than ever, 90’s inspired, unique styles designed to stand out. The new collection will be available in November on diesel.com as well as in select department stores and at Diesel stores in India.

Tata Motors Rolls Out the 1st ALTROZ from its Pune Plant

Tata Motors has rolled out the 1st unit of ALTROZ from its plant in Pune. With this, the company is all set for the launch of the highly anticipated, premium hatchback in Jan 2020. The ALTROZ is the second vehicle designed under the Impact design 2.0 language and first one to be developed on the new ALFA architecture. The ALTROZ promises to redefine the category and set the GOLD Standard of hatchbacks with its futuristic design, advanced platform, thrilling performance and smart technology.

Commenting on the roll-out, Mr. Mayank Pareek, President, Passenger Vehicle Business Unit (PVBU), Tata Motors said, “We are thrilled to roll-out  yet another class defining product from the plant today. The ALTROZ is our first product that will be launched on the all-new ALFA platform and we believe that it will raise the bar for vehicles across the premium hatchback segment, come 2020. Since the unveiling of the concept in 2018, the anticipation for ALTROZ has always been high. We hope that customers will appreciate the new futuristic design with host of smart features, many of which are one segment above.”

Tata Motors first showcased the 45X concept at the Auto Expo in February 2018, followed by a display at the Geneva International Motor Show (GIMS) in March 2018. The 45X concept stunned the audience with its futuristic design and stunning profile at both the shows. Bringing concept to reality, Tata Motors unveiled the ALTROZ to the world at GIMS in March 2019. The excitement around the product is overwhelming and grows by the day.

Exclusive Deals @ Brigade Year End Bonanza Expo – till December, 15

The Brigade Year End Bonanza is back. This month long bonanza ends on 15 December 2019. Customers can avail exciting offers on the  widest choices of homes. The offer includes 0% Interest on Ready homes, No Pre- EMI on Ongoing homes and Complimentary stay at Star hotels for new launches.

The offers are applicable on more than 30 projects across different cities including Bengaluru, Mysuru, Chennai, Hyderabad & Mangaluru.

With the choice of Apartments, Integrated Townships, Penthouses, Senior Living, Townhouses & Villas, Brigade has a home to suit everyone’s need. Now, there is no reason to delay owning your dream home.

Helpmesee Gets $25,000 Grant from Goldmamn Sachs to Help Address Cataract Blindness in India

HelpMeSee, an international nonprofit focused on eliminating cataract-caused blindness and vision impairment, will receive a India-targeted $25,000 grant from Goldman Sachs, a leading global investment bank and active investor in India.  The funding comes as a result of the Goldman Sachs India team securing a grant through the annual, global Goldman Sachs Gives Analyst Impact Fund competition.  Goldman Sachs Gives is a donor-advised fund through which Goldman Sachs and its current and retired senior employees provide grants to qualifying non-profit organizations globally. The grant will be used to provide cost-effective cataract surgery training for eye surgeons in India.

According to World Health Organisation, approximately 2.2 billion people globally are visually impaired or are affected by blindness worldwide. The leading cause of this global health crisis are uncorrected refractive errors and cataracts, which are treatable 80 percent of the time.  This holds true in India too, which has the largest population of blind people in the world and over 20 million people who are blind due to cataracts.  According to the National Blindness and Visual Impairment Survey India from 2015 - 2019, cataracts are the leading cause of blindness in people above 50 years of age. In that age group, cataracts are the cause of 66 percent cases of blindness, 81 percent severe visual impairment cases and 70 percent moderate visual impairment.  Today, the majority of cataract-afflicted Indians live in low-income settings and poverty that lack of access to healthcare services, which leads to low awareness about eye health and increased susceptibility to eye diseases. 

HelpMeSee focuses on this problem by providing training to eye surgeons to treat cataracts.  Through a cost-effective surgical training simulator, specialist are taught manual small incision cataract surgery (MSICS). The simulations teach specialists to handle diverse cases of cataracts, including hundreds of pre-existing conditions and complications, that may be experienced during a live surgery.  This replaces traditional MSICS training which previously was performed on live patients with associated risks and higher economic cost, which are drastically reduced through this process.

James T. Ueltschi, Chairman and Treasurer of HelpMeSee, said: “The bright, young professionals of Goldman Sachs have brought this important cause to the forefront of their firm’s global leadership and secured funding to help eradicate a national crisis in our country which is suffered by the poorest among us.  Today, throughout our communities, cataract blindness is a burden on families, reduces life expectancy and is a cause for loss in economic productivity.  This grant will ultimately allow us to provide greater access to affordable, high-quality surgery and restore the life and dignity of each person this initiative touches and cures.”

The funding for this cause was made possible by the efforts of a five-person analyst team in India that qualified to become one of six teams to advance to the finals of the global Goldman Sachs Gives Analyst Impact Fund competition.  An analyst is the entry level position at Goldman Sachs. The annual Analyst Impact Fund is an initiative that provides Goldman Sachs employees with the opportunity to collaborate with peers across global offices to win a grant for a non-profit organization of their choice and impact the communities where they live and work.

This month the finalists addressed their pitches and presentations to Goldman Sachs Chairman and Chief Executive Officer David Solomon and the firm’s Partnership Committee in New York where the India team was able to secure a $25,000 grant for HelpMeSee India with a fourth place finish.  Overall, the India team competed against 975 other analysts from around the world, who participated on behalf of 360 nonprofits globally. These projects were assessed on the impact, scalability and uniqueness of the proposed project; the team’s analysis of the project goals and financials; and the strength of the organization’s leadership and partnerships. The first-place grant of $250,000 was awarded to a London-based analyst team representing Days for Girls, an organization that aims to increase access to menstrual care and education for girls and women.

Commenting on the annual initiative, Sonjoy Chatterjee, Chairman and Co-Chief Executive Officer of Goldman Sachs in India, said: “The Analyst Impact Fund brings the very best of Goldman Sachs to our communities. This platform builds on our firm’s commitment to philanthropy and longstanding culture of teamwork.  For our analysts the Fund presents a unique opportunity to make a tangible impact on issues they are passionate about at an early stage of their career.  We are proud that year after year, we receive innovative and inspiring ideas from our talented analysts in our efforts to give back to society.”

In the previous years of the global Goldman Sachs Gives Analyst Impact Fund competition, India employees also successfully secured grants for Educate Girls, a non-profit organization that improves enrolment, retention and learning outcomes for girls in the most remote and marginalized communities in India and for Digital Green Foundation, a non-profit integrating technology to improve knowledge sharing for improved agricultural practices, health and nutrition.

E-commerce Enterprise - Buyandship Brings Black Friday to India Shoppers

‘Tis the season to go shopping and Indian shoppers can now do their window shopping online – with the window stretched across borders! Buyandship, the Hong Kong-based cross-border e-commerce service provider that raised US$2.2 million in a pre-series B round earlier this year, offers parcel forwarding services so that customers can shop from overseas while paying a minimum on shipping costs. Buyandship has now extended its services to India – and the timing could never be better! With Xmas shopping and the coveted Black Friday just around the corner, Buyandship will now allow Indian shoppers to steal deals straight from the US.

To make sure that shoppers from India don’t miss out on deals that they might be looking for, they can visit www.buyandship.in for Black Friday shopping tips. Founded in November 2014, Buyandship is offering special promo codes and free shipping credits from 14 October 2019 to 30 November 2019 thus celebrating its 5th anniversary.

Black Friday is the day that comes right after Thanksgiving Day in the US. Marking the beginning of the Xmas shopping season in the US, Black Friday is, without a doubt, the best day in the whole of the US to go on a shopping spree. It was reported that shoppers spent a total of $58.3 billion during Black Friday sale last year in the US alone. Thanksgiving being one of the biggest festive and shopping seasons in the US, now online stores all over the world including the UK, Japan, Australia, and the European Union offer Black Friday sales.

With retail chains and e-commerce stores across these countries offering huge discounts on a wide range of products, Black Friday is widely regarded as the best time to grab deals on products ranging from electronic gadgets to lifestyle and designer goods from a number of countries.

According to Buyandship, 80 percent of its Indian users are male. Indian shoppers buy products mainly from the US (78.4%), followed by the UK (10%) and Australia (8.6%). Supplements, clothes and accessories, stationery, and consumer electronics are the top categories that Indian users buy from.

With Buyandship, Indian shoppers can freely hunt for bargains and Black Friday deals on sites across all these countries, and enjoy international shipping on their orders for only $6 per pound in shipping fees, and leave high shipping costs behind. Moreover, with Buyandship Indian shoppers can access deals from overseas online shops that usually offer only domestic shipping. 

InfrasoftTech introduces Mixed Reality for Customer Authentication at Indian Banks

Customer authentication process is all set to get reduced drastically with the launch of Infrasoft Technologies’ (InfrasoftTech) Mixed Reality (MR) technology for banks. The extensive process of performing thorough background checks on customers which earlier used to take over 4-5 days can now be done in just three minutes. Intermingling technology with banking, this first-of-its-kind solution aims to revolutionize banking thereby improving security, curbing frauds and enhancing the digital customer experience.

The MR-enabled eye gears will simulate the bank branch experience wherein banking executives will be able to scan the face of a customer and after authentication, get access to their banking portfolio in one sight.

InfrasoftTech has also introduced a host of other solutions with the launch of its Mixed Reality Channel within its Kiya.ai Omnichannel & Open Banking solution which enables a user to access information in 3D view with the use of touch, speech, or hand gestures, anytime and anywhere. These latest tech-solutions from the company will act as a game-changer for banks and financial institutions to deliver enhanced customer experience by leveraging Artificial Intelligence, IoT and analytics.

Rajesh Mirjankar Managing Director & CEO, InfrasoftTech said, “We are extremely thrilled to introduce our ‘Made in India’ futuristic Mixed Reality channel for banks and financial institutions worldwide. The world of Omnichannel will move beyond mobiles, tablets and desktops to wearables where one wouldn’t need to carry devices to click and browse. Our journey of Omnichannel with Kiya.ai does not stop at mobiles and tablets. It extends to IoT, Immersive UX, Open APIs and Voice Commerce. With the launch of our new Mixed Reality Channel, we aim to offer the blend of the real world and digital objects such as data and workflows in a UX that renders a different experience. Over the last few years, we have truly embraced the wave of these futuristic technologies and tried to weave in them the daily chores of banking.”

In this ever-evolving and fast-changing fintech world, customer expectations and demands are continuously growing and creating challenges for traditional banks and financial institutions. InfrasoftTech’s Mixed Reality channel within its Kiya.ai Omnichannel & Open Banking solution can be deployed across various functions of banks such as Customer Contact Management & Reporting, Compliance & Risk Management, CRM Analytics and much more. It also provides gamification of processes thus eliminating the need for specific training on new products.

L&T Technology Services Recognized as a ‘Leader’ Among IoT Services Providers in Zinnov Zones 2019

L&T Technology Services, a leading global pure play engineering services company, has been recognized among the top service providers in innovation and capability for Internet of Things (IoT) Technology and Services in the Zinnov Zones IoT Services Rating for 2019. Zinnov has also positioned LTTS as ‘Leader’ across 7 other unique expertise areas.

The areas of expertise for which LTTS has been ranked as Leader include IoT Engineering, Industry 4.0, Connected Worker, Connected Logistics, Connected Assets, Energy and Utilities and Telecom.

Over 3,800 engineers from LTTS’ IoT engineering and managed services provide application and services platform that caters to asset management, energy management, digital factory, smart homes, connected products, connected transportation and smart healthcare.

LTTS’ IoT platform allows holistic end-to-end integration of the best products and solutions that assist in product engineering, sensor engineering, narrow band IoT framework for communication IPs, Edge analytics at sensor level, system integration and managed services. The platform also supports services such as advisory & consulting, cyber security, integrated analytics, gateways and controllers and end-to-end application development involving mobility applications, image processing and data analytics. These services have grown 48% year-over-year.

Zinnov rated LTTS’ advanced capabilities in offering IoT services to a global clientele of over 150 clients across its five verticals, with its offerings having been deployed in 1,067 projects across the globe.

Mr. Shashidhara Dongre, Global Head, Smart Products and Services at L&T Technology Services commented: “LTTS’ positioning as a ‘Leader’ in Zinnov Zones for IoT Technology Services for the third time in succession, is a reaffirmation of LTTS’ technological capabilities and expertise across the spectrum of IoT services. This important industry recognition inspires us to further push the digital transformation envelope for our customers. With our proprietary IoT platforms and solutions we enable enterprises to tap newer revenue streams by creating the next generation of smart products and services”.

Mr. Sidhant Rastogi, Partner & Practice Head, Zinnov said: LTTS has been rated ‘Leader’ in the Zinnov Zones IoT Services Rating 2019. The company has witnessed high growth in the last couple of years. It’s investments towards building horizontal platform capabilities (UBIQWeise and AiKno™) and vertical specific IoT solutions (i-BEMS, mCARE, WAGES, etc.) and new wins across multiple areas such as connected assets, autonomous vehicles, and industry 4.0 led engagements have helped fortify its positioning. LTTS’ deep-rooted domain capabilities and expertise in the space of industrial automation has helped build connected factories for its global clientele. Its framework-driven approach to identify use-cases and enhance RoI from client investments has helped LTTS take industry 4.0 initiatives and establish a successful track record across multiple geographies.

SBI Card and Vistara Come Together to Launch “Premium Co-Branded Credit Cards”

SBI Card and Vistara, India’s finest full-service carrier, have joined hands to launch a one-of-its-kind premium credit card for travel savvy urban Indians. Launched in two variants, Club Vistara SBI Card PRIME and Club Vistara SBI Card, the new card has been designed to offer a rewarding travel experience to cardholders, through unique benefits and unmatched value proposition, on domestic and international travel spends.

The newly launched Club Vistara SBI Card PRIME will further address the evolving needs of the Indian travellers who aspire to travel in style and luxury. The card offers benefits such as, one-way Premium Economy tickets on joining and achieving spends-based milestone(s), complimentary Club Vistara Silver tier membership, up to six free cancellation of flight tickets booked on Vistara channels viz. website, app and helpline, and also complimentary lounge access- up to four international and eight domestic, among host of other benefits.

Speaking at the launch, Mr Hardayal Prasad, MD & CEO, SBI Card, said, “SBI Card has always strived to bring products for its customers that are customised as per their diverse lifestyle and preferences, offering maximum value and enhanced experience. Travel is one of the key spend categories for our cardholders. Through our partnership with Vistara, India’s best airline, we aim to address unique requirements of our customers, especially urban millennials, whose spend on travel has increased over a period of time and are looking for related privileged benefits. This launch, has increased our travel credit card portfolio that we have built over the years, targeted at fulfilling varied needs of our customers.”

Mr. Leslie Thng, Chief Executive Officer, Vistara, said, “Our endeavour is to enhance the value proposition of Club Vistara and elevate its position from a frequent flyer program to a more attractive, comprehensive lifestyle program that makes an essential part of everyday lives of our customers. As travel spends continue to significantly rise among today’s urban consumers, we wish to provide more options to the ever-increasing number of our loyal customers to join Club Vistara and enjoy the privileges of their Club Vistara membership.”

The two variants of the Club Vistara SBI Card come with several benefits and privileges, such as complimentary Club Vistara Silver/Base tier membership, welcome tickets on Vistara’s domestic network, One-Class Upgrade voucher, free cancellation on Vistara bookings, travel insurance protection, lounge access vouchers, complimentary membership to Priority Pass Program, and attractive rewards on reaching milestone spends.

Club Vistara SBI Card PRIME holders earn nine Club Vistara (CV) Points for every INR 100 spent on flight ticket bookings with Vistara.

Club Vistara SBI Card holders earn up to four CV Points for every INR 200 on eligible spends on the card. These CV Points can be redeemed for domestic and international flights on Vistara and its partner airlines.

The joining fees for Club Vistara SBI Card and Club Vistara SBI Card PRIME are INR 1499 plus GST and INR 2999 plus GST, respectively, renewed annually at the same charges.

Highlights of Club Vistara SBI Card PRIME:

Complimentary Club Vistara Silver tier membership every year
9 CV Points for every INR 100 spent on Vistara flight ticket bookings
1 Lounge Access voucher & 1 One-Class Upgrade voucher
Priority waitlist clearance
Priority airport check-in at Premium Economy Counter
Increased check-in baggage allowance (+ 5kgs)
Increased check-in baggage allowance for Economy Lite fares (+1 Piece)
A one-way Premium Economy class ticket on Vistara’s domestic network as welcome benefit and on renewal each year
Up to 4 additional one-way Premium Economy class tickets on Vistara’s domestic network upon reaching key milestones in spends
Hotel gift voucher of worth INR 10,000 upon reaching key milestones in spends
Up to 6 free cancellation of flight tickets booked on Vistara channels viz. website, app and helpline through the card
Up to 8 complimentary visits to domestic lounges per year (subject to maximum 2 per quarter)
Complimentary membership to Priority Pass program (worth USD 99) for the entire duration of the product; Up to 4 complimentary international lounge visits per year (subject to maximum 2 per quarter)
3000 bonus CV Points on spending INR 75,000 within 90 days of card issuance
4 CV Points per eligible spend of INR 200 on the card
Comprehensive travel insurance cover
Air accident cover of up to INR 1 crore, lost baggage and personal documents, baggage delay, loss of passport, baggage damage, flight cancellation
Fraud liability cover of up to INR 1 lakh
Joining and annual renewal fee is INR 2999 plus GST

Highlights of Club Vistara SBI Card:

Complimentary Club Vistara Base membership
8 CV Points for every INR 100 spent on Vistara flight ticket bookings
A one-way Economy Class ticket on Vistara’s domestic network as welcome benefit and on renewal each year
Up to 3 additional one-way Economy Class tickets on Vistara’s domestic network upon reaching key milestones in spends
Hotel gift voucher of worth INR 5,000 upon reaching key milestones in spends
Up to 4 free cancellation of flight tickets booked on Vistara channels viz. website, app and helpline through the card
Complimentary membership to Priority Pass program (worth USD 99) for the entire duration of the product
Up to 4 complimentary visits to domestic lounges per year (maximum 1 per quarter)
1000 bonus CV Points on spending INR 50,000 within 90 days of card issuance
3 CV Points per eligible spend of INR 200 on the card
Comprehensive travel insurance cover
Air accident cover of up to INR 50 lakh, lost baggage and personal documents, baggage delay, loss of passport, baggage damage, flight cancellation
Fraud liability cover of up to INR 1 lakh
Joining and annual renewal fee is INR 1499 plus GST

Tata Motors Christens its Upcoming flagship SUV- Tata Gravitas, Set for Launch in February 2020

Tata Motors is all set to strengthen its SUV portfolio further. The Company today christens its upcoming flagship SUV- Tata GRAVITAS.

Being the second vehicle built on the OMEGA (Optimal Modular Efficient Global Advanced) Architecture- , which is derived from Land Rover’s legendary D8 platform, the GRAVITAS will set international level benchmarks in terms of performance, driveability and luxury.

Announcing the name of this new SUV, Mr. Mayank Pareek - President, Passenger Vehicle Business Unit, Tata Motors said, “We are elated to reveal the name of our latest SUV offering– the Tata GRAVITAS. With this, we are excited to offer to our customers, yet another state-of-the-art product. The GRAVITAS will up the ante in terms of luxury and performance and we are excited to launch this product to customers in February 2020. We are confident that the GRAVITAS will inspire and lead as a product among customers and industry alike.”

Kirloskar Motor Encourages Young Masterminds to Develop Digital Solutions for Road Safety Mission

Highlights

* Received more than 600 entries from 1200 students, 50 + schools of Grades 9th - 12th from schools across Bangalore
* For the second year in a row, TKM conducts the Road Safety Hackathon in association with Indian Road Safety Campaign [IRSC – a Trust, formed by alumni of IIT Delhi]
* With an intent to nurture the ideas of young minds, Toyota invites students to ‘Code for Safer India’ driving the mission of road safety with an ultimate goal of achieving “Zero Fatality”
* The first edition of the Toyota Hackathon took place in New Delhi last year and witnessed participation from over 300 teams

Aligning with Toyota’s global commitment to offer innovative Safety solutions, Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) conceptualized and organized Toyota Hackathon on Road Safety at RV College of Engineering. Students from Grade 9th to 12thparticipated in this intense challenge to develop brainstorming solutions in support of the National Mission “Zero Fatality”. Through this initiative, TKM aims to provide a platform to encourage, motivate and engage young talents to be more aware of road safety challenges and be responsible safety ambassadors by developing effective digital road safety solutions. While this is the second edition of the Hackathon, the first edition took place in New Delhi in December 2018.

The event witnessed the presence of Mr. C Mallikarjun, Joint Transport Commissioner, Bangalore, Mr. Amit Kumar Saroha, Paralympian, Asian Para Games medalist & Arjun Awardee, Mr. Naveen Soni, Vice President, Toyota Kirloskar Motor, Government officials and senior members from TKM. The top performers of the Hackathon were selected by eminent jury members comprising of Media, Academicians, Corporates, Government Representatives, Enforcement Agencies (Police) and Toyota experts. The top ten and the best three were awarded trophies and cash prizes. Consolation prizes were also given out to motivate the participants for their great participation spirit and churning such smart solutions for road safety challenges.

The event was organized in prestigious RV College, Bangalore. The college has extended dedicated support to Toyota providing volunteers, mentors and campus facility for conducting the Hackathon.

In the initial stage of the Hackathon program, a basic online test was conducted for the 600 teams. A three-phase screening process were undertaken to shortlist the best 50 teams for the onsite hackathon. These top 50 teams were trained on key technical skills coupled with mentoring from industry experts. Further, each team was allotted 36 hours to work on their ideas and develop a prototype on road safety solution, which were put on display as part of an Exhibition. TKM will build this further by incubating and nurturing these implementable solutions in support of the road safety cause.

Sharing his thoughts on this unique program, Mr. Bhaskar Rao, IPS, Commissioner of Police, Bangalore, said, “Around 149,000 people lost their lives on Indian roads in 2018 alone. India accounts for about 2% of motor vehicles globally, yet it’s responsible for more than 11% of road traffic deaths.  Road accidents not only cause loss of lives but also deeply impact socio-economic condition of the country. The dangers on the road impacts everyone and hence is a vital topic of discussion everywhere. Children are one of the worst victims of road accidents and it is important we educate school children to prioritize road safety to ensure responsible future generation. It gives me immense pleasure to witness these young budding talents participate in this competitive platform to be the real change agent in addressing the national drive on road safety.  It is really great that safety leaders like Toyota have come forward to create such a brilliant platform for young minds to develop innovative solutions to make Indian roads more safe. We would request more corporates to collaborate with Government to make mobility more safer and reliable”

Commenting on the initiative, Guest of Honor for the event, Mr. Amit Kumar Saroha, Paralympian, Asian Para Games medalist & Arjun Awardee, said, “Road traffic injuries have been the eighth leading cause of deaths in India in 2018. Minors involved in road crash deaths were at 6.6% of the total deaths. Road Traffic Accidents have a significant social and economic impact on the individual, family and the society. It is very important that we promote Road Safety Education in school curriculum to educate the children on right road safety habits and the importance of following correct road practices at an early age.  It is a privilege to associate with Toyota for the Start Your Impossible campaign, an organization known for its safety leadership globally. I am delighted to be present in this unique platform to motivate these young change makers who are developing such out of the box solutions to enhance road safety in India.  We have to be serious about the critical situation of road safety now to ensure safer roads for the young generation tomorrow. This Road Safety Hackathon is an effective and fun way to engage children in making a change.”

Congratulating all the participants, Mr. Naveen Soni, Vice President - Toyota Kirloskar Motor said, “Road Safety is not one person responsibility. It has an impact on every age group. As Safety crusaders, we believe it is our responsibility to ensure that we create a safety ecosystem integrating people, vehicles & traffic environment. Children play a vital role in spreading the message of road safety in the society.  Toyota has been working closely with its dealer partners, suppliers, schools to spread safety culture amongst children, The Safety Hackathon is continuation of similar initiatives to make children the change agents for tomorrow.  We are delighted to see the enthusiasm that the young talents have shown in being a part of this unique platform to design innovative solutions for improving road safety in India.

Toyota aims to create an ever-better society making mobility more enjoyable, safe, energy efficient and congestion free. To take this commitment to safety a step further, Toyota launched its global corporate initiative, Start Your Impossible (SYI), to achieve the ultimate goal of zero traffic fatality. It is through these initiatives that Toyota is committed to achieving a safer, more sustainable and mobile world for everyone.”

“Start Your Impossible” marks Toyota’s commitment to support the creation of a more inclusive and sustainable society in which everyone can challenge their impossible. SYI is also inspired by Toyota’s Worldwide partnership with the International Olympic Committee and the International Paralympic Committee to highlight the fighting spirit of Olympic and Paralympic athletes who are constantly challenging their “impossible”.

Start Your Impossible (SYI) champion & Guest of Honor for the event Arjuna Awardee Paralympian Amit Saroha also enlightened the participants on the importance of road safety and the need for the right safety behavior.

The road safety hackathon session for digital solutions to the road safety problem appear to stem from three different conceptual approaches:

* Driver Behavior (Education): Improving driver skills and building applications and/or simplistic devices that can be integrated to make driving much easier and efficient targeting both domestic as well as commercial drivers. Such improved and assistive technologies can prove to be highly beneficial in bringing down the number of accidents.

* Road Conditions (Infrastructure): Bad road conditions are one of the most difficult problems to tackle with on-ground implementation because of the cost, labor and logistics needed. The objective is to look for some feasible digital solutions which could monitor and handle such problems more efficiently.

* Fraud Detection (Enforcement): A majority of the accidents are caused by rookies and unauthorized drivers with violations such as underage drivers, drunken driving, drivers without appropriate licenses, etc. The aim is to arrive at such applications that could be employed to make the task of analyzing and detecting frauds on the roads easier.

TKM has been championing the cause of road safety and driving behavioral change since 2007 with the launch of various road safety awareness programs. Some of the key safety initiatives in pursuance of its safety mission, “Safest Car with Safest Driver” are:

* Toyota Driving School (TDS): TKM in association with its dealer partners launched Toyota Driving School in a phased manner across India. The training module integrates technical expertise along with enhancing behavioral skills to create awareness about safety nationwide. Till date, it has enrolled 8,500 plus students and aims to open 50 Toyota Driving Schools in the next five years.
* Toyota Safety Education Programme (TSEP): TKM pioneers in implementing the road safety program and since its launch in 2007, TSEP has covered more than 740,000 school children across India bringing about a positive change in the behavior as road users. Toyota is also working with various stakeholders including – schools, business partners and police to take this initiative to a larger audience.
* Team Toyota Activity (TTA): TTA educates and sensitizes school children, teachers, parents and school bus drivers on responsible safety habits to enable a safer traffic environment for the next generation. It is implemented in collaboration with Toyota’s Business partners specially focusing on road safety. With seven Safety Model Schools across the country, over 6000 students have benefited from this initiative.

As part of its CSR interventions, TKM also encourages its employees to voluntarily contribute to the cause of Road Safety by building basic road safety requirements and installing: Sign Boards, Solar Blinkers, Cat Eye Reflectors, Convex Mirrors at turns etc. at prime locations to avoid road-related risks as a preventive measure and enable good road infrastructure.

Toyota remains committed as a safety leader and will continue its safety journey to become the most admired company by offerings best-in-class safety technology through its products and further promote safety culture in the society via varied road safety campaigns in the nation.