Marc Llistosella Announced As The New CEO & MD Of Tata Motors Ltd. Effective July 2011

Tata Motors Limited would like to announce that Mr Marc Llistosella has been appointed to the role of Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of the company effective 1st July 2021.

Mr N Chandrasekaran, Chairman, Tata Motors Limited said: “I am delighted to welcome Marc to Tata Motors. Marc is an experienced automotive business leader with deep knowledge and expertise in Commercial Vehicles over his illustrious career and has extensive operational experience in India. Marc will bring this experience to take the Tata Motors Indian business to even greater heights.”

Mr Llistosella was most recently the President and CEO of Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation and Head of Daimler Trucks in Asia. He was earlier the MD and CEO of Daimler India Commercial Vehicles Pvt Ltd.

Commenting on his appointment Mr Llistosella said, “I am delighted to become a part of the unique Tata family. Having been bonded to India for so many years, a new exciting chapter is now opened. We would jointly awaken the potential of Tata Motors.”

Mr Guenter Butschek has informed his desire to relocate to Germany at the end of the contract for personal reasons. He has kindly accepted the request of the Board of Tata Motors to continue as the MD & CEO till 30th June 2021.

Mr Chandrasekaran added: “I would like to thank Guenter for leading Tata Motors successfully over the last 5 years.”

Profile:

Mr Marc Llistosella is an experienced automotive executive with a long track record in greenfield projects, turnaround management and leading organizations as CEO and managing director.

Marc passionately believes in mobility by data analytics, the importance of electrification and renewable energies.

He is currently the Board Member of Einride and prior to that he was associated for a long time with Daimler Trucks. Most recently he was the President and CEO of Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation between 2015-2018 where he worked on improving the profitability and sales potential of the business.

Prior to that, between 2008-2014 for an extended period he was based out of India as the Managing Director and CEO of Daimler Commercial Vehicles India where he built a greenfield organization and business unit to develop, produce and sell trucks and launched BharatBenz in 2012 and made it a successful brand in a short period of time.

Mr Llistosella has extensive experience in leading business and running sales, marketing and network management as well as strategic planning

He finished his university education from the University of Cologne and is an accomplished automotive executive.

Aegon Life Insurance Appoints Satishwar Balakrishnan As MD & CEO

Aegon Life Insurance, India’s first digital-only life insurance company, elevated Satishwar Balakrishnan to be the Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer (‘MD & CEO’). Satishwar, who joined the company in July 2019 as Chief Financial Officer, will spearhead Aegon Life’s transformation into a digital-only life insurance company.   

Under Satishwar’s leadership, the company has defined a new vision to be at the forefront of the digital insurance wave and use technology to redefine its strategy. By simplifying the customer experience and digitizing all processes, the company is set to become entirely contactless, from policy issuance, to claims, settlement and renewal.  

Satishwar Balakrishnan, on his appointment, commented, “I am pleased to lead a company that is well positioned to continue to invest in its long-term growth plan. We are pivoting our strategy towards the digital future, taking forward our focus on digitization which started in 2016. We are transforming to become India’s first and leading digital-only life insurance provider and I am glad to be a part of this exciting phase of the company.”  

“Our pioneering foray into digital has been validated over the years and especially in the current scenario where the rest of the industry is now shifting its focus on digital processes. My focus will be on advancing our ‘Do-it-yourself’ insurance solutions and make them available at affordable costs and to make our entire insurance portfolio a one-click solution for our customers,” added Balakrishnan on his new role.  

Satishwar brings with him a rich experience of close to two decades in the Insurance and Finance Industry. Prior to joining Aegon Life, he has worked with IndiaFirst Life, Reliance Life and ICICI Prudential Life. He is a Chartered Accountant by qualification.  

About Aegon Life Insurance: 

Aegon Life, one of the leading digital life insurance companies in India, was the first life insurance company to launch Online Term Insurance Plans in the country. Being the online protection specialists, Aegon Life has a dedicated customer service team that is geared to provide superior customer experience.  

By focusing on innovative digital-first solutions, its vision is to enable customers to lead tension free lives and be the most recommended new age Life Insurance Company. The company’s Direct to Customer focus establishes a direct dialogue with the customers to make for greater clarity and transparency. 

Ather Energy Sets Up Its 123,000 Sq. Ft. EV Manufacturing Facility In Hosur, Tamil Nadu

 

EV maker Ather Energy has commenced production at its Hosur facility and deliveries in six cities, the firm said on February 12, 2021.

The firm has begun deliveries in Mumbai, Pune, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, and Hyderabad.

The 1.23-lakh sq. ft facility has a capacity to produce 1.1 lakh scooters annually and serve as the national manufacturing hub catering to demand from across the country.

It can also produce 1.2 lakh battery packs per annum. Ather is the only EV OEM in the country to make its own battery packs and has filed 13 patents on design and manufacturing of the li-ion batteries, it claimed.

The company would invest ₹635 crore in the facility over the next five years and train more than 4,000 employees in requisite EV skills.

Commenting on the growing acceptance for EVs, Tarun Mehta, CEO & Co-founder Ather Energy said, ``The consumer demand has increased by multiple folds and we are expanding to meet the requirements.’’

TECNO Unstoppable Days Sale On Flipkart: Avail Amazing Discounts & Offers On TECNO Smartphones

 ·  Avail great discount & offers on TECNO POVA, TECNO CAMON 16, TECNO SPARK 6 Go, and TECNO SPARK Power 2 Air

·  Sale starts today from 12th to 15th February 2021 on Flipkart (https://rb.gy/s1fnjx)  

TECNO, the global premium smartphone brand, today announced the rollout of ‘TECNO Unstoppable Days’ sale to celebrate the spirit of Valentine’s Day week across India. This new initiative from the brand TECNO is a first of its kind that offers exciting deals to its fans on TECNO’s popular product range spanning across SPARK, CAMON and POVA on Flipkart from 12th to 15th February. In a bid to strengthen its online presence, the brand intends to make this a regular property for its e-commerce channel.

Since the brand’s inception in India a little over four years ago, TECNO witnessed a robust growth and successfully secured its position among the top 6 offline smartphone players in India in the sub-10K segment. The brand recently celebrated the milestone of achieving 8 million+ customer base in India that firmly validate TECNO’s brand philosophy of staying ‘ahead of the curve’ approach and a product philosophy that rests on ‘segment-first’ features. These philosophies have enabled TECNO to consistently push the envelope in the budget and mid-high smartphone segments in India with disruptive prices. 

TECNO Unstoppable Days gives consumers a unique opportunity to celebrate love and gift their loved ones their favourite smartphones like TECNO POVA, TECNO CAMON 16, TECNO SPARK 6 Go, and TECNO SPARK Power 2 Air, made available at discounted price points.

TECNO smartphones that make you Stand Out:

* Priced at 11,499, the TECNO CAMON 16 pioneers the most affordable ‘64MP Quad cam with Eye Autofocus feature and premium AI-enabled Ultra Night lens powered by TAIVOS™ in the under-12K segment. The device features a 6.8 HD+ Dot-in-display that seemly integrates the 16MP AI front camera, & light sensor. The smartphone is powered by MediaTek Helio G70 processor which is a Hyper Engine Fast AI performer that is great for gaming and daily robust usage. It also comes with a heavy-duty 5,000 mAh battery and 4GB RAM + 64GB Storage.

* TECNO POVA is currently holding the crown of bringing together the most competitive smartphone offering Helio G80 processor with 6000 mAh battery, 18W Dual IC Fast Charger, 6.8 Dot-in-display & 4GB LPDDR4x RAM at just INR 10499. It is equipped with an AI Quad Rear Camera (16 MP + 2MP + 2MP + AI Lens) complemented with 8MP Selfie camera.

* The TECNO SPARK 6 Go boasts of its first most affordable 4GB + 64GB storage smartphone in India from its popular SPARK series. It features 6.52 HD+ Dot-Notch display, massive 5000 mAh battery and is equipped with a 13MP Dual rear camera with Dual Flashlight, to capture crisp and clear photos even in low light.  It also features of an 8 MP AI selfie camera with a micro slit front flash.

* Consumers can add SPARK to their Valentine’s Day celebrations with TECNO’s SPARK Power 2 Air flaunting various category defining features such as 6000 mAh battery with AI power charging & safe charging, Big 6.95- inch Dot-notch display and 13MP AI powered Quad camera with category defining dual speakers with stereo sound at just INR 7999. It is available in the storage capacity of 3GB RAM and 32GB Internal Storage.

About TECNO

TECNO Mobile is a premium global smartphone brand from TRANSSION Holdings. TECNO is committed to giving the masses access to latest technology, allowing the consumers to reach beyond their current limitations and uncover a world of possibilities. TECNO understands the needs of consumers from different markets and provides them with localized innovations across a product portfolio featuring smartphones, tablets, smart AIoT products covering smart audio, smart wearables, smart home gadgets. TECNO is a major global player with presence in more than 60 emerging markets across the world. It is also the global Official Handset Partner of Manchester City Football Club. 

Sporty Classic New Jawa 2.1 Arrives In Style In The Indian Market

To announce the arrival of Jawa 2.1, the Jawa forty two family gets three gorgeous new members. Classic Legends is proud to announce that the latest additions to its model line-up in the country will be available across its dealerships.  

The Jawa 42 carries forward the ‘retro cool’ revolution, that it started when launched in 2018 and adds a classic sports touch to it. The motorcycle is priced at INR 1,83,942, ex-showroom Delhi. 

Introducing the new arrivals, Ashish Singh Joshi, CEO – Classic Legends said, “Last year saw us coming up with the BS6 versions. We didn’t stop at that and outdid ourselves with even bettering the performance and feel of our motorcycles, calling it the 2.1. We have made the exhaust note throatier and even more alluring, enhanced the seat and fine-tuned the cross port engine for added punch.  

Our customers have always used the 42 as a canvass to express their creativity. Inspired by that, we have added three new colour schemes with ‘classic sports’ stripes, alloy wheels, tubeless tyres and trip meter as standard fitment & fly-screen and headlamp grille as accessories. The technological updates will be available throughout the Jawa and forty two range and the customers will have the option of choosing the new accessories as well.” 

ABOUT THE MOTORCYCLE 

To match the performance gains, the motorcycle has also adorned a ‘Sporty Classic’ persona on the outside. What catches the eye first is the new colour scheme - three striking new colours coupled with an all-black theme that runs across the mechanical parts of the motorcycle. Customers will be able to take their pick from Orion Red, Sirius White and AllStar Black. A grey classic sports stripe runs across the length of the motorcycle to add to the sporty demeanour that the 42 embodies in its DNA.  

The new 42 rides on 13-spoke alloy wheels, developed specifically for the motorcycle, shod with tubeless tyres. The Classic Sports persona is further accentuated by the bar-end mirrors, all finished in black. The motorcycle also comes equipped with a trip meter now.  

What is also remarkable here is the further enhanced seat that further elevates the rider comfort over, with a redesigned seat pan and cushioning that translates to enjoyable rides. The suspension & frame set-up has been re-tuned to result in better ground clearance and also contribute to the already superlative ride and handling characteristics of the forty two. 

To add to the thrill of riding, the exhaust note coming out of the signature twin exhausts has been deepened and tuned for a more engaging riding experience. 

The braking retains its best in class capabilities and all the Jawa motorcycles are equipped ABS developed by Continental to add to the confidence that the motorcycle’s handling prowess inspires.  

All these enhancements will be horizontally deployed in the existing range of Jawa motorcycles – Jawa and forty two.  

ENGINE 

The entire range will feature changes that start from within: 

The 293cc liquid cooled and fuel injected engine gets further enhancements to deliver 27.33 PS of power and 27.02 Nm of torque. 

It’s the first single cylinder engine to utilize cross port technology which increases the volumetric efficiency of the engine, enables a better flow of charge and exhaust gases and results in better power and torque output.    

The engine now features a repositioned lambda sensor that monitors internal and external variables even more efficiently to give a consistent performance and cleaner emissions regardless of any road condition. 

The throttle response has been made crisper to respond to even the slightest inputs with precision through improved fuelling. 

The overall result is a more linear performance across the rev range, with a noticeable punch in the mid-range resulting in stronger acceleration.  

CUSTOMISATION  

To further enhance the custom quotient of the motorcycle, Classic Legends has also come up with a flyscreen and headlamp grille that will be separately sold across its dealerships. The range of accessories has further been expanded with custom made saddlebags and stays to ensure a great fit for the wanderers at heart and on the road.  

The alloy wheels that come standard on the 42 will also be sold separately at all dealerships for customers to put them on their existing motorcycles. 

About Classic Legends Pvt. Ltd. 

Classic Legends Pvt. Ltd. is an Indian company established to re-introduce iconic marquee motorcycle brands in the market. Classic Legends aims to become India’s first true lifestyle company and provide opportunities to consumers to relive the heritage of classic brands by co-creating exciting product and service offerings along with the motorcycling ecosystem.  

Jawa is a motorcycle brand from Czech Republic, erstwhile Czechoslovakia, with a 90-year legacy, which in its heydays exported classic, well-engineered and rugged motorcycles to more than 120 countries. It entered the Indian markets in the early 1960’s. The twin aspects of Jawa motorcycles - its beautiful design and strong performance character helped it not only to win hearts but also win many world titles.  

From its marquee brands portfolio, Classic Legends is currently bringing alive the Jawa, not simply as a brand but a way of life. Classic Legends has leveraged the best of its partner capabilities in design and engineering along with the global expertise, to launch products that capture the DNA and ethos, of the original Jawa. 

Recykal Becomes 1st Indian Startup To Be A Member Of World Economic Forum’s ‘The Circulars Accelerator’ Program

Recykal, an end-to-end digital ‘waste-commerce’ solutions provider, has been selected as the first member from India for The Circulars Accelerator Program 2021. The Circulars Accelerator. Led by Accenture, in partnership with Anglo American, Ecolab and Schneider Electric, and in collaboration with UpLink and the World Economic Forum, will connect industry leaders with 17 ground-breaking circular economy entrepreneurs to scale up disruptive, cross-sector value chain innovation at an unprecedented pace.

Recykal’s unique, integrated approach marks India’s first digital waste-commerce (w-commerce) company that connects waste generators with waste processors and recyclers, and brand owners to solve some of the biggest challenges faced by the industry. The company’s digital solutions are ensuring higher rates of waste collection, recycling and unlocking value for stakeholders across the waste value chain thereby paving a way for a circular economy by ensuring more materials are entering the recycling streams and less to landfills. In doing so, Recykal has saved  12.86 million-kWh energy, 57.71 million - litres oil, 18.23 million  cubic feet landfill space, 44.44 million litres water and 28,047 trees.

Speaking on the selection, Abhay Deshpande, founder, Recykal, said, “We are proud to become a member of this prestigious cohort that will be important in the next decade to India. As India becomes one of the world's biggest waste generators, it is crucial that business leaders recognize waste management and recycling as an industry. Effective management of waste will not only bring 650 billion plus GDP savings to our economy by 2030, it will create two million jobs by 2025. Collaborating with The Circulars Accelerator will get us a broader recognition, connectivity and right guidance on further scaling up sustainable solutions to amplify the impact we are creating with our work”.

Embracing a more circular economy is crucial in determining our response to the problem of waste management that we are currently facing. Through its digital platforms namely Marketplace, Smart Centre Solutions and EPR LOOP, Recykal is channeling over 10,000 metric tons of recyclables every month, with plans to scale and influence upwards of 2 million metric tons of plastic annually by 2025. Waste collected from various segments like consumers, businesses, aggregators, informal sector are channelized to recyclers, coprocessors, cement kilns. We have changed the status quo of doing offline transactions and converted them into platform based online transactions for better transparency.

The Circulars Accelerator, an initiative of Accenture in partnership with Ecolab, is the world’s premier platform that recognizes individuals and organizations, which are making an effort and notable contribution to the circular economy in collaboration with the World Economic Forum. The first edition of this program is supported by an esteemed panel of global experts and an extensive network of public, private and civil society sector organizations and aims to catalyze circular innovation.

Recykal in the last year has received several recognitions including Grant Thornton Responsible Business Award, NASSCOM EMERGE 50 Awards, FICCI Indian Circular Economy Awards and ASSOCHAM Best Waste Management Digital Technology Player.

About Recykal

Recykal is an end-to-end digital solutions provider, facilitating transactions for all stakeholders across India’s waste management and recycling value chain. Recykal’s unique, integrated approach connects waste generators, processors, recyclers and brand owners to solve some of the biggest challenges faced by the industry including demand-supply mismatch and lack of transparency and traceability. As India’s first digital waste-commerce (w-commerce) company, it enables more efficient and effective dry waste management as well as transparent and traceable material flows and transactions through its digital marketplace, Smart Centre Solutions and EPR Loop solutions. Since 2016, Recykal has responsibly channelled supply and demand for dry waste and recyclable materials, with the aim of having a positive environmental and social impact in India.

BharatPe Raises US$ 108 Mn In Series D At Valuation Of US$ 900 Mn

 ·   Coatue Management’ leads the round with all 7 existing investors participating

·   Total US$ 233 mn raised as equity till date

BharatPe, India’s leading financial services company for merchants, today announced that it has raised US$ 108 mn in Series D equity round, at a valuation of US$ 900 mn. The company further shared that it has raised US$ 90 mn in primary fund raise and also ensured secondary exit for its angel investors and employees for a total amount of US$ 18 mn. The round was led by the company’s existing investor Coatue Management. All 7 existing institutional investors participated in the round - Coatue Management, Ribbit Capital, Insight Partners, Steadview Capital, Beenext, Amplo and Sequoia Capital. With this round, the company has raised a total of US$ 268 mn in equity and debt till date.

This was one of the fastest round closures for any startup in India. The Series D round got oversubscribed within last 2 weeks of December 2020. In the Series D round, existing institutional investors of the Company showed their intent to consolidate the cap table and hence, BharatPe gave the opportunity to all angels and ESOP holders to liquidate.

Speaking on this announcement, Ashneer Grover, Co-Founder and CEO, BharatPe, said “We, at BharatPe, do not celebrate fund raises – it is akin to procuring raw material. We are super excited though to have returned INR 125 crores of capital to angels and all ESOP holders, earning them one of the highest returns on investment. The team is committed to make money for all stakeholders – investors, lenders, borrowers, employees and banks. With the balance sheet well capitalized (more than US$ 200M in bank), we are now going to keep our heads down and deliver US$30B TPV and build a loan book of US$ 700mn with small merchants by March 2023.”

Added Ashneer, “2020 has been an unprecedented year for all. However, we at BharatPe have grown exponentially - our payments business has grown 5x and our lending business has grown 10x in the last 12 months. This growth reiterates the trust that the small merchants and kirana store owners have showed in us. This is just the beginning of our journey and we are committed to build India’s largest B2B financial services company that can serve as one-stop destination for small merchants. For BharatPe, merchants will always be at the core of everything we build.”

Last month, the company announced that it had raised Rs. 249 crores (US$ 35 mn) in debt from all 3 renowned venture debt providers – Alteria Capital, InnoVen Capital and Trifecta Capital - in the largest single raise. BharatPe raised Rs. 50 crores in debt from Trifecta Capital, Rs. 90 crores in debt from Alteria Capital, Rs. 60 crores from InnoVen Capital, and Rs. 49 crores from ICICI Bank.

BharatPe is one of the largest B2B fintech lenders in the country, facilitating over Rs. 200 crores of loans to its merchant partners every month through its NBFC partners. It has been outgrowing the market in the payments space. In November 2020, BharatPe toppled GooglePay to take No. 3 position in the UPI P2M category. Additionally, BharatPe has deployed more than 50,000 PoS machines and enables transactions of more than Rs. 900 crores/ month on our PoS machines. Also, the company has been on an expansion spree and currently has presence in 75 cities in the country.

About BharatPe

BharatPe was co-founded by Ashneer Grover and Shashvat Nakrani in 2018 with the vision to make financial inclusion a reality for Indian merchants. BharatPe launched India’s first UPI interoperable QR code, first ZERO MDR payment acceptance service, and first UPI payment backed merchant cash advance service. In 2020, post-Covid, BharatPe also launched India’s only ZERO MDR card acceptance terminals – BharatSwipe. Currently serving over 60 lakh merchants across 75 cities, the company is a leader in UPI offline transactions, having processed 8 crore+ UPI transactions a month (annualized Transaction Processed Value of US$ 7+ Bn). The company has already facilitated disbursement of over Rs. 800 crores to its merchants since launch. BharatPe’s POS business grew to US$ 2bn annualized transaction value in just 5 months post the launch. BharatPe has raised close to US$ 268 million in equity and debt, till date. The company’s list of marquee investors includes Coatue Management, Ribbit Capital, Insight Partners, Steadview Capital, Beenext, Amplo and Sequoia Capital.

Believe India Partners With Dream Warrior Pictures For Exclusive Worldwide Music Distribution

Leading independent digital music distribution and artist services company Believecontinues to make in-roads with the business of music distribution in India announced a recent sign up with Dream Warrior Pictures, a leading Indian Film Production company based in Chennai. 

Dream Warrior Pictures is one of the leading media production houses in the South Indian Film fraternity. The National Award-winning production house, which produced Joker (2016) was founded by the brothers, Mr. S.R. Prakash Babu and Mr. S.R. Prabhu banking on their versatile experience in the film industry. While keeping the goal of providing promising, critically acclaimed, and meaningful content, Dream Warrior Pictures so far have produced and distributed 9 films and 1 web-series worldwide, out of which 4 films are stated to release this year. 

For its part, Believe is a world leading digital music company, helping artists and labels to build their audiences and careers, at all stages of their development across all local markets around the world. It is a best-in-class technology organization, providing global distribution and digital marketing services to its partners. Believe has more than 1500 employees in 50 countries. 

Believe India did a recent sign up with South Bay, a digital platform owned by actor, producer, and entrepreneur Rana Daggubati being the exclusive distribution partners, supporting upcoming music labels and taking it to global scale with a mix of best technology and well-trained music experts. 

Mr. S.R. Prabhu – Founder and Partner – Dream Warrior Pictures commented, “Believe’s extensive network of distribution instantly instilled in us the excitement to not just present and distribute our audio content digitally through them, but also to take it across the international markets with ease. We are eagerly looking forward to making the most out of this collaboration.”

Commenting on the partnership, KGV Kiran Kumar – Director – Believe Distribution Services India says, “We are very excited to partner with Dream Warrior Pictures considering it is the first time we have been able to establish working relationship with film production house in Southern market. Believe will not only distribute the audio video content globally but will leverage its innovative marketing and audience growth opportunities with our digital partners worldwide.”

About Believe:

Believe is a world leading digital music company, helping artists and labels to build their audiences and careers, at all stages of their development. It is a best-in-class technology organization, providing global distribution and digital marketing services to its partners, with more than 1,500 professionals and offices in 50 countries. Believe owns several brands, labels and companies including Believe Distribution, TuneCore, Nuclear Blast, Naïve, All Points. Believe established in India in 2013 and counts more than 180 employees working in offices in Mumbai, New Delhi, and Chennai.

Bosch Limited Registers 12.1 Percent Profit Before Tax (Before EI) In Q3 FY 2020-21

 * Total revenue from operations has increased by 19.4 percent in Q3 of FY 2020-21 over the same period of previous year.

* Profit after Tax (PAT) stood at 6.1 percent of total revenue from operations. 

* Bosch stays invested in future with strategic investments in e-mobility and connected services.

* At the peak of its transformational journey, Bosch Limited has been recognized as a Great Place to Work-Certified™ company for 2021, an accolade that more than 1,000 organizations in India aspire to every year.

Bosch Limited, a leading supplier of technology and services, posted total revenue from operations of INR 3,030 crores in Q3 of FY 2020-21, registering an increase of 19.4 percent over the same period of previous year. The Profit before Tax (PBT) before exceptional item stood at INR 365.7 crores which is an increase of 5.2 percent over the same period of previous year.

Bosch Limited has continued investment in its 3R strategy of restructuring, reskilling, redeployment and other transformational projects. To support this, an additional amount of INR 146.6 crores has been provided and disclosed as an exceptional item for the quarter ended December 31, 2020. This is the last tranche extended under the current 3R strategy. 

After allowing for the exceptional item, profit before tax stood at INR 219 crores and profit after tax at INR 185.7 crores. PAT before exceptional items stood at 9.8 percent of total revenue from operations.

For the nine months period that ended on December 31, 2020, Bosch Limited posted a total revenue from operations of INR 6,500 crores, a decline of 14.5 percent over the same period of previous year. There has been a decrease of 47.4 percent in PBT before exceptional item at INR 670.9 crores and after allowing exceptional item, loss before tax for the nine months period ended December 31, 2020 stood at INR 72.9 crores. PAT stands at INR 0.49 crores.

“The sales figure for the festive season in the last quarter was better than anticipated, especially in the tractor and passenger automotive segments. However, the volatilities in the supply chain continued to disrupt growth. Since late last year, the industry has been hit by a shortage in the supply of semiconductors, which has impacted the company’s imports and automotive production in India. Bosch is currently focusing on maintaining supply chains to the extent possible despite a tense market situation, while discussing the issues directly with its customers and suppliers,” said Soumitra Bhattacharya, the managing director of Bosch Limited and president of the Bosch India Group.

Snapshot of business divisions’ performance in Quarter 3

There was an increase in the sales of the Powertrain Solutions business division in Quarter 3 of FY 2020-21 by 46 percent. The Two-Wheeler and Powersports business continued to witness growth during the quarter. On the other hand, the company’s business in beyond mobility segment posted a decline of 7.7 percent due to lower revenues in solar energy and building technologies. 

The implementation of the approved scrappage policy will undoubtedly improve sales that will benefit the industry and environment.

“The last three years have been tough for the automotive industry. Bosch Limited embarked on a journey to become fit for future with our 3R strategy – Reskilling, Restructuring and Redeployment. At the peak of its transformational journey, Bosch Limited has been recognized as a Great Place to Work-Certified™ company for 2021, an accolade that more than 1,000 organizations in India aspire to every year. This is testimony to Bosch Limited’s commitment to creating a credible and fair organization by retaining competence for the future,” Mr. Bhattacharya added.

For the period of nine months that ended on December 31, 2020, the company’s total turnover declined by 15 percent. Sales of Mobility Solutions sector decreased by 13.3 percent whereas business beyond mobility solutions sector witnessed a reduction of 24.4 percent. With the current deployment of COVID-19 vaccinations and the array of reforms announced by the Government of India, the company maintains a cautiously optimistic outlook for the auto sector.

ŠKODA AUTO India Further Expands Its Footprint In Karnataka With PPS Motors

› ŠKODA AUTO’s second state of the art facility with PPS Motors in Bengaluru boasts of a 5,000 sq. ft. modern showroom and 30,000 sq. ft. of premium service space with 60 plus technicians and staff members

› The new facility is the fifth outlet of the Czech marque, in Bengaluru, and aims to enhance the overall purchase and ownership experience for ŠKODA AUTO customers in the region

› Under the ‘INDIA 2.0’ project, ŠKODA AUTO India will double its network penetration, and expand to 50 new cities over the next three years

With the inauguration of the second PPS Motors facility in Bengaluru, ŠKODA AUTO India aims to further strengthen its position in Karnataka and push forward its campaign of establishing a strong foothold in the southern markets of India. The new state of the art dealership facility sports the new Corporate Identity and Design as a part of ŠKODA AUTO’s global redesigning process. The Czech auto manufacturer, under the purview of the ‘INDIA 2.0’ project, will have at least twice as many sales and service touchpoints, as it does today, by 2022. With the presence of 39 facilities in South India, ŠKODA AUTO India has planned to have a total of 7 dealership facilities in Bengaluru under the ‘INDIA 2.0’ project.

The new PPS Motors dealership facility is strategically located in a prime location at Sy No 1 A, Block 20, Jakkur Plantation Village, Yelahanka Hobli, New Airport Road, Bengaluru North 560064 and offers utmost ease and convenience across the region. The Showroom boasts of the latest CI & design language of ŠKODA AUTO and can display 6 cars in an overall area of 5000 Sq. Feet. Also, the new workshop facility is located at Sy No 44, Geddahalli Village, Opposite to Mantri Splendor Apartments, Hennur Road, Bengaluru East – 560077. The workshop is spread across 30,000 Sq Feet with a capacity to service approximately 800 – 1000 cars per month. The State-of-the-art facility is equipped with 23 bays, latest infrastructure & equipment as per ŠKODA Standards for serving the customers. Both the Showroom and Workshop facilities are well located to serve customers of North Bangalore.

Commenting on the inauguration of the new facility, Mr. Zac Hollis, Brand Director, ŠKODA AUTO India said, “To ensure preparedness for INDIA 2.0 launches, we at ŠKODA AUTO India are continually striving to expand our network reach, across the nation, so that more and more customers can experience our products and also enjoy easy access to our customer centric aftersales solutions. Bengaluru is a key market for us in South India, and we are confident that our partnership with PPS Motors will be pivotal for the brand and will further strengthen our foothold in Karnataka.”

Mr. Rajiv Sanghvi, Dealer Principal, PPS Motors Private Limited said, “We are delighted to strengthen our partnership with ŠKODA AUTO India and introduce a new dealership facility in Bengaluru, Karnataka. With the global best practices and processes of ŠKODA AUTO coupled with our understanding of the customer preferences and adapting to them we endeavour to provide Best in Class customer experience..”

MODERN DEALERSHIP FACILITIES WITH STREAMLINED BUSINESS PROCESSES

In line with the ‘INDIA 2.0’ project, the corporate architecture, functional interiors, and rationalized business processes, aim to enhance the overall customer experience. The new architectural concept of the dealership design reflects ŠKODA AUTO’s philosophy expressed in the slogan: “Simply Clever with a Human Touch”.

The new architecture of the dealership facility is characterized by clear and simple shapes, a harmonious colour concept, modular design features, and a modern lighting concept. The new exteriors of the ŠKODA AUTO dealerships will be the brand’s powerful statement during both day and night - clear, transparent, modern, and open.

In addition to sustaining ŠKODA AUTO’s proven strengths, the company is placing an increasing emphasis on enhancing the emotional appeal of the brand. It is conveyed by the sophisticated and logical arrangement of all the key elements, business areas, customer zones, and the use of cutting-edge technology.

The high-quality materials, new design features, effective lighting solutions, architectural graphic elements, and warm wooden tones create an inviting atmosphere. Fresh hues, clarity, openness, and transparency are the highlights of the new interiors of ŠKODA AUTO showrooms.

Singapore Airlines, Scoot And Silkair Operate First Flight With Full Set Of Vaccinated Pilots And Cabin Crew

All three passenger airlines within the SIA Group - Singapore Airlines (SIA), SilkAir and Scoot - will today be among the first carriers in the world to operate flights with a full complement of vaccinated pilots and cabin crew. 

The first services with a full set of vaccinated crew are SIA flight SQ956, which departed Singapore for Jakarta, Indonesia on 11 February 2021 at 0930hrs local time (GMT+8), Scoot’s TR606 which departed for Bangkok, Thailand at 0930hrs, and SilkAir’s MI608 which will depart for Phnom Penh, Cambodia at 1630hrs.  

The Singapore government has prioritised the aviation sector in the country’s vaccination exercise. This reflects the sector’s importance, as well as the SIA Group’s crucial role in Singapore’s economic recovery and the fight against Covid-19. 

Operating crew within the SIA Group have responded very positively to the exercise, with more than 90% of cabin crew and pilots signing up for the vaccine to date.  

Mr Goh Choon Phong, Chief Executive Officer, Singapore Airlines, said, “We are very encouraged by the strong take-up rate for the vaccine from our colleagues. Vaccinations will be key to the reopening of borders and to enhancing travel confidence, in tandem with robust testing regimes and the wide-ranging safe management measures that are in place on the ground and in the air. They offer greater protection for our people and provide an added layer of assurance to our customers.”  

India’s Biggest Fundraising Event Helps NGOs Raise Crores Of Funds

India’s biggest fundraising event, which brings together hundreds of NGOs and their donors competing for rewards and recognition, launched earlier this month.

The 7th edition of the GiveIndia Fundraising Challenge 2021 kicked off on February 1 and nearly 200 nonprofits have already raised over ₹2 crores. This one-of-a-kind online event continues till March 28 and is expected to raise more than ₹15 crores by the time it ends. Nonprofit organisations typically leverage the tax saving made on donations at the end of the financial year to appeal to their donors and compete in the challenge.

Several NGOs use GFC as an opportunity to maximise their fundraising, often raising a significant part of their annual budget. For instance, last year the NGO Team Everest who has so far won every edition of GFC raised ₹2.29 crore which is more than half their yearly spend and a little over a fifth of the ₹10 crores raised by a total of 367 NGOs who participated.  

Team Everest is one of India’s largest youth-run organizations with 8,500+ volunteers, many of who help with the fundraising during GFC. Their flagship program 'I am the Change Scholarship' supports parentless or single-parented students from financially weaker backgrounds to do their undergraduate degree.

GiveIndia, a Bengaluru-based nonprofit organisation, runs the annual challenge to encourage NGOs to learn and adapt newer ways to raise funds and end the financial year with high collections. It comes with incentives in the form of ‘success slabs’ and ‘mega rewards’ to inspire all NGOs more.

This year organisations who raise ₹50+ lakh and ₹1+ crore will get mega rewards of ₹9.5 lakh and ₹20 lakh respectively, and success slab awards start from ₹5.25 lakh to NGOs who raise ₹30+ lakh to ₹7,000 to those to raise ₹50,000 or more. Some of the participating NGOs include ISHA Foundation, Goonj, Vidya Poshak and Cuddles Foundation to name a few.

Over the years, the fundraising challenge has seen a 60% YoY growth in terms of amount raised, 80% increase in participating NGOs, and 40% YoY growth in the number of retail donors, with last year seeing contributions from over 21,000 everyday givers.

“At GiveIndia, we are committed to supporting our NGOs in their fundraising efforts and bridging the gap between donors and trusted nonprofits. We are also committed to building a robust everyday philanthropy ecosystem and the year on year amplification we have seen with GiveIndia Fundraising Challenge tells us we are on the right path! It is a very exciting time on our calendar with all of us at GiveIndia glued to the GFC leaderboard to see how well our partner NGOs are doing,” said Priyanka Prakash, Director, Head of Online Giving, Marketing and Partnerships at GiveIndia.  

Apart from the rewards, through the challenge, GiveIndia brings a range of benefits for NGOs, including the skills to expand and engage with donor networks, communication kits to appeal for donations on social media, emails and messages, webinars to take them through the platform, matching grants, best practices, and the ability to raise Indian and foreign donations.

About GiveIndia

GiveIndia is India’s most trusted giving platform. It exists to alleviate poverty by enabling the world to give. It’s a suite of products & solutions enables all givers - individuals and organisations - to donate conveniently to any cause directly on the platform, at their workplace, or through one of GiveIndia’s partners. Its community of 1.5M+ donors and 150+ partners have supported 1,800+ verified nonprofits, impacting 10M+ lives across India.

Celebrate The Season Of Love With The ‘Valentine’s Day Store’ On Amazon.in

* From chocolates, fresh flowers & gifts sets, electronics, home décor, fashion & beauty essentials, accessories and more – a one stop destination for all your Valentine’s Day shopping and gifting needs

As the season of love of sets in, express your love and care with thoughtful gifting options from Amazon.in’s ‘Valentine’s Day Store’. The specially curated store brings a wide selection of products ranging from fresh flowers, gifting essentials, electronics, home décor, kitchen appliances, fashion and beauty essentials, large appliances, smartphones, accessories, Amazon Devices and much more.

Whether shopping for  traditional gift options like fresh flowers, cards and chocolates or planning to setup the perfect date night at home, the ‘Valentine’s Day Store’  on Amazon.in is designed to address all your unique gifting needs to make your celebrations extra special. Customers can choose products from a host of leading brands such as Bombay Shaving Company, Cadbury, Floralbay, Xiaomi, Fossil, Raymond, Vero Moda, Lavie, Max Fashion, RIVER, HP, OnePlus, Samsung, Kama Ayurveda, Forest Essentials, Maybelline, Lakme, Plum Goodness, Revlon, Lenovo, Sony, TCL, LG, Amazfit, Fujifilm, boAt, JBL, eCraft, Home Centre, Yonex and more.

As Valentine’s Day celebrations may be different this year, there are still many great options to surprise your loved ones this season from the comfort of your home, especially with Prime’s fast delivery options. 18 to 24 year old customers can get 50% off on their Prime membership through choice of two plans this Valentine’s Day. Customers can avail this offer by signing up for Prime and verify their age to instantly receive 50% cashback. To avail the Youth Offer on Prime memberships, visit www.amazon.in/youthoffer to know more.

Look your best this Valentine’s Day and celebrate ‘Super Valentines’ by shopping from a range of gift boxes featuring personal care products for men & women from Bombay Shaving Company on Amazon.in. Choose from a variety of products that are non-toxic, dermatologically tested, made with premium Indian superfoods & super beneficial ingredients. Enjoy up to 35% off on the amazing range of gifts for him & her from the Bombay Shaving Company here.

Here are some products customers can choose from on Amazon.in’s Valentine’s Day Store with offers and deals from sellers.

Make that first impression with these great gift ideas

· Cadbury Dairy Milk Silk Valentines Heart Shaped Gift Box: Surprise your valentine with smooth and creamy silk treats packed in a beautifully designed pack. The classic taste of tiny silk treats offers you a reason to express your love. Indulge in the premium chocolate delicacy, available for INR 617.

· Floralbay Special Basket Arrangement Mix Roses Fresh Flowers: You can never go wrong with a bouquet of fresh flowers to gift to your partner. The basket arrangement comes with 15 Mix Fresh Roses, get it for INR 588.

· Crack of Dawn Crafts 3 Layered Loving Explosion Box with Couples Truth or Dare: A romantic explosion box is the perfect way to spend Valentine’s with your loved one. Get to know your partner better with the explosion box. It is available for INR 399.

· EMUTZ Polyester Very Soft Lovable/Huggable Teddy Bear with Neck Bow: Gift this soft, smooth and cuddly teddy bear to your loved one. It is made of non-toxic polyester and fur fabrics and you can never go wrong with soft toy as gifting option. It is available for INR 399.

Choose these amazing gifts to celebrate being in love

· Chocozone Couple Hug Resin Showpiece Couple Miniatures Romantic Gifts for Girlfriend: Gift these couple miniatures to your partner to express your love more affectionately. It comes in super quality and is made of resin, get it for INR 349.

· Decor Production Valentine Theme Printed Coffee Mug 330 ml: Enjoy your beverages together with this smooth glossy finish quality mug. These Mugs are specially designed to make a perfect gift for your loved one and will add special element to your décor as well. It is available for INR 249.

· Indigifts Valentine Day Gift I Love You Forever Quote Red Cushion Filler 12x12 inches with Cover: The cute valentine themed designed cushion filler with cover is a great gift to give and will surely bring a wide smile to your lover's face. It is compact, convenient and easy to use, get it for INR 299.

Stay connected and capture your favorite memories with these latest Smartphones

· Redmi 9 Power: The Redmi Note 9 comes with an Octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 662 processor. It hosts a 6000mAH battery and 18W charging support that will allow you to consume your favorite content for hours. It comes with 48 MP Quad Rear camera setup along with 8 MP front camera. Gift your loved ones the Redmi 9 Power from Amazon.in available at INR 10,999.

· OnePlus 8T 5G: OnePlus 8T 5G comes loaded with 2.86GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 Octa-core processor with Adreno 650GPU, 5G connectivity, 120Hz fluid AMOLED display and much more. With the popular Oxygen OS based Android v11 operating system, the 4500 mAH lithium-polymer battery is designed to go all day. 8GB and 12GB RAM variants makes sure the smartphones never compromise on anything. Get this beast on Amazon.in for INR 45,999.

· Samsung Galaxy M02s: Samsung Galaxy M02s Infinity display provides truly immersive viewing experience by maximized screen size. It is ideal for gaming, watching videos, multi-tasking/browsing and more as it comes with massive 5000 mAh battery to conquer all activities non-stop. It is available for INR 9,999.

Gift your loved ones these amazing gadgets

·  HP Pavilion Gaming DK0268TX 15.6-inch Laptop: With up to 4 cores of pure processing power, the intel i5 - 9300H processor coupled with 8GB DDR4 RAM, the HP Pavilion gaming is pure power which brings you the ultimate gaming experience. Get an amazon gaming experience for INR 59,990.

· New Apple Watch SE (GPS, 44mm) - Space Grey Aluminium Case with Black Sport Band: Get the premium experience with Apple Watch that comes with an expansive Retina display. It will help you remain connected with your partner when you are on the go and will track your daily activities to help you stay fit. Gift this watch to make your partner feel good and is available for INR 32,900.

· Samsung Galaxy Tab A7: Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 comes with Immersive Display and with symmetric bezel for an uninterrupted visual experience for gaming, watching videos, multi-tasking and more. Engineered for long-lasting performance with 7,040 mAh battery, the Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 delivers, powerful, smooth processing in a stylish, light design. Get this beauty for INR 17,999.

· Fujifilm Instax Mini 11 Instant Camera: Capture all your precious memories with your special person on Fujifilm Instax Mini 11. The high-performance flash automatically calculates surrounding brightness and adjusts the shutter and provides more clear, compact and stylish images. It is available for INR 5,733.

· OnePlus Y Series 108 cm (43 inches) Full HD LED Smart Android TV: Enjoy realistic images on the OnePlus Y TV. Get this full HD TV for INR 24,999 and experience crisp visuals with its QLED display.

Dazzle up your wardrobe with Amazon Fashion

· Fossil Stella Analog Rose Gold Dial Women's Watch: This analog rose gold dial watch by Fossil is a stylish and elegant timepiece for everyday use. Add a touch of elegance to your everyday wear with this accessory for INR 7,995 available on Amazon Fashion.

· Sukkhi Crystals Drop Down Gold Plated Heart Earrings: This Sukkhi Exquisite Valentine Heart Crystal Gold Plated Earring for women made of alloy is the right gift – romantic, meaningful and pretty. These beautiful earrings are available on Amazon Fashion for INR 2,545.

· Miss Olive Women's Bodycon Maxi Dress: A black bodycon maxi dress will surely accentuate your formal dinner look during the season of love. This elegant dress is priced at INR 749 available on Amazon Fashion. Get your hands on this must-have black body con maxi dress for your perfect dinner scenes.

· Raymond Men's Notch Lapel Regular Blazer: Enjoy a stylish look without compromising on comfort by wearing this blazer by Raymond. Wear it over a shirt with chinos and moccasins to flaunt this avid style. This classic blazer is available on Amazon Fashion for INR 4,339.

Must have Make-up and Beauty essentials

· Bombay Shaving Company 5-in-1 Skincare Valentine's Day Gift Pack: Get the best of all-round grooming with the Bombay Shaving grooming combo. The activated charcoal is enhanced by ingredients like papaya, pomegranate, tea tree & aloe vera to give you a wholesome, deep cleansing experience. Use our face wash, face scrub, face pack, peel-off mask & face sheet mask for the ideal festival of lights glow. It is available for INR 549.

· Forest Essentials Gift Box: For the season of love, get your hands on this elegantly packed Forest Essentials gift box for your partner. This box contains a honey lemon rosewater facial cleanser, aloe vera and sandalwood sunscreen lotion, Kashmiri walnut gel facial scrub, narangi glaze luscious lip balm. It is available for INR 1,625 on Amazon Beauty.

· Kama Ayurveda Round The CLOCK Skincare Gift Box: Grab this luxury gift box by Kama Ayurveda for your special one. The box contains pure rosewater, rose jasmine face cleanser, eladi hydrating ayurvedic face cream, rejuvenating and brightening night cream and suvarna haldi chandan brightening face pack. This box is available on Amazon Beauty for INR 1,050.

· SERY Makeup Pouch: Get your hands on this easy to carry makeup essentials kit from SERY, it is perfect for your last moment make-up fixes while you are on the go. The pouch consists of an intense black kajal, a voluminous mascara and a golden eyeshadow stick. This kit is available on Amazon Beauty for INR 987.

· Maybelline New York Super Stay Matte Ink Liquid Lipstick: The Maybelline SuperStay matte ink liquid lipstick gives you a flawless matte finish and stays on for up to 16 hours. The formula is intensely pigmented and does not dry your lips. It is available on Amazon Beauty for INR 455.

Express your love with these Amazon Devices

·  Echo Dot (4th Gen): Our most popular smart speaker now comes in a refreshed, spherical compact design that fits perfectly into any room. You can stream millions of songs, get news, trivia, weather, kids stories and more by just asking Alexa. You can also get started with smart home- just use your voice to control lights, ACs, TVs, geysers, and more. Get this smart speaker with improved bass and Alexa from Amazon.in for INR 4,499.

·  All-new Fire TV Stick Lite: Spend quality time together by watching tens of thousands of movies and shows on the All-new Fire TV Stick Lite which is available for INR 2,999. With our most affordable Fire TV Stick, enjoy fast streaming in Full HD and Alexa Voice Remote Lite. 

·  Kindle (10th Gen): Perfect gift for all the bookworms, the All-new Kindle comes with a built-in adjustable front light so you can read indoors and outdoors and at more times of the day. With a glare-free touchscreen display that reads like real paper, even in direct sunlight, you can now discover great reads and Kindle exclusives at just INR 7,999.

Perfect Gifts for Him & Her

·  IKONIC BLAZE BLACK HAIR DRYER: A girl is always in need of a hairdryer. Get the IKONIC Blaze hair dryer as it comes with a comfortable long lengthened cord. It provides the hair with daily shine and luster, you cannot go wrong in gifting this to your partner. It is available for INR 1,950.

·  Philips BT3211/15 corded & cordless Beard Trimmer with Fast Charge: The Philips trimmer captures low lying hair for efficient, even trimming results, so you can easily achieve the 3-day stubble, short beard or long beard look you want, making it the perfect look for date night. Easy to use and built to last and with its innovative Lift and Trim system, the new trimmers last longer. It is available for INR 1,705. 

Make the perfect date night at the comfort of your home with these party essentials

·  Pop the Party Heart Hanging Garland Party Decoration 4 Pack: Red color Heart garland banners are the perfect way to decorate any Valentine’s party. They add the romantic essence to your intimidate dinner with your loved ones. Get it for INR 499.

·  SOI ® (Pack of 31) Love Letter Red Foil with HD Metallic Balloons: The love balloons are a must for your valentine’s day décor. They add fun element to the décor and is available for INR 275.

· Borosil - Glass Mixing Bowl with lid - Set of 2, 500 ML, Oven and Microwave Safe: These Borosil Mixing Bowl with Lid set is an ideal solution for storing food items in a clean and hygienic way. It adds the right amount of style to your kitchen and dining table, whether used as a storage container or for serving your favourite recipes. Use it for mixing salads, stirring batter and countless other tasks.

·  Philips HD6975/00 25-Litre Digital Oven Toaster Grill: Bake the perfect cake for your partner this Valentine’s Day. With its Optic Temp Technology for healthy homemade cooking, Philips OTG is enabled with 10 customized one touch present menus and programmed with Optic Temp technology for healthy and joyful cooking. It is available for INR 7,650.

Buy unique products from Indian Small Businesses

·  age I Love You to The Moon Signature Chocolate Bar, 0.90 Grams: Made from the finest imported ingredients this bar is sure to appease. This delicious bar is sure to guarantee happiness and the premium luxury chocolate is ideal for gifting. It is available for INR 299.

·  MC SID RAZZ Harry Potter Hogwarts 9 3/4 Daily Planner, Schedule Your Day: Help your partner achieve his goals and visisons with this daily planner that features a gratitude list column that lets you write gratitude’s for the day to help elevate your state of mind and promote a positive mood. It is available for INR 299.

Absyz Appraised To CMMI Level 3 (V 2.0) Quality Standards

ABSYZ Software Consulting Services Pvt Ltd announced that its IT Services Unit had been appraised at Level 3 (V2.0) of CMMI®. CMMI is an enhanced version of the Capability Maturity Model adopted worldwide by leading Information Technology organizations as a benchmark quality standard. It provides organizations with essential elements of effective processes that ultimately improve their performance.

ABSYZ was initially appraised to CMMI Level 3 in 2017 and renewed it in 2020 per benchmark V2.0.  An appraisal at maturity level 3 means that the organization is performing at a “defined” level. At this level, processes are well characterized and understood and are described in standards, procedures, tools, and methods. The organization’s set of standard processes, which is the basis for maturity level 3, is established and improved over time. The overall focus of CMMI V2.0 has been to make the model performance-oriented. These appraisals highlight ABSYZ's commitment to quality and customer satisfaction, delivering on their specialties in Salesforce based IT consulting services and Digital transformation. The successful appraisal was performed in December 2020 by QualityWaves Benchmark LLP.

The Causal Analysis and Review (CAR), Enabling Virtual Solution Delivery (EVSD), Governance (GOV), and Peer Review (PR) are relatively new practices in CMMI level 3 V 2.0, benchmark appraisal. However, all these practices were already incorporated and further streamlined within the Organization.  This ensured seamless business continuity and on-time delivery with quality.

ABSYZ is committed to building further on best practices, remaining aligned to business objectives, and building solid strategies for continual improvements.  It reflects in the Customer Satisfaction scores.

CEO of ABSYZ, Mr. Anshul Jain, said, "We are extremely proud of this achievement as there are very few companies of our size who have achieved CMMI Level 3 for Services."

SEPG champions at ABSYZ said, “Zeal to adopt to process enhancements and deliver high-quality output has been the driving force.”

"The CMMI V2.0 appraisal underscores ABSYZ's process maturity at scale and highlights our strong services capabilities for the digital era. This accolade is a testament to our structured approach to driving innovation, efficiency, and best practices. We would like to take this opportunity to thank our customers, appraisers, and employees who made this happen despite constraints like a remote working environment,” said Balesh Lakshminarayanan, Co-founder, ABSYZ.

ABOUT ABSYZ

ABSYZ Software Consulting Pvt Ltd is a majority-owned subsidiary of Youngsoft Inc, Michigan. Started in 2011, ABSYZ became Platinum Partner with Salesforce in 2019. The team ABSYZ boasts of 200+ strong Salesforce experts and consultants spread across the world. As a Salesforce boutique partner and system integration, ABSYZ caters to a wide range of solutions from Sales Cloud, Service Cloud, Marketing Cloud, Commerce Cloud, Analytics, Integrations, and Custom development. A separate mobile application, UI/UX, and the digital team also cater to various complimentary services. A CMMI Level 3 company, ABSYZ adheres to strict process controls to enable an amazing and customer experience: technology, people, and process-oriented. We have numerous projects of experience in Salesforce Implementation and integration.

Microsoft Launches Azure Stack HCI In India To Empower Organizations With Advanced Hybrid Cloud Capabilities

Microsoft India has announced the general availability of Azure Stack HCI, a new hyperconverged infrastructure (HCI) solution, that combines the flexibility, scalability, and price-performance advantages of hyperconverged infrastructure with native Azure hybrid capabilities.

Part of the Azure Stack portfolio, it provides organizations seamless access to Microsoft Azure for hybrid cloud scenarios across datacenters, remote offices, cloud and edge locations Compatible with both Windows and Linux virtual machines, Azure Stack HCI solutions will be available from 20 partners offering Microsoft-validated hardware systems to ensure optimal performance and reliability. 

As organizations rebuild their businesses, an effective multi-cloud, multi-edge hybrid approach will be vital. It provides them the much-required agility, efficiency and resilience, while staying compliant.  For most large enterprises or highly regulated industries, a hybrid approach makes the most sense, keeping in mind latency, regulations, data sovereignty, or complexity in moving large volumes of legacy data to cloud. Moreover, it helps organizations to scale existing infrastructure, maximizing value from on-premise investments, seamlessly maintain business continuity, secure resources, and unlock new business scenarios.

Azure Stack HCI aims to empower businesses by enabling them to build and run cloud-native applications with seamless access to cloud services on-premises with existing tool, processes, and skillsets. It combines infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS) and platform-as-a-service (PaaS) services in a software stack that spans on-premises datacenters and Microsoft’s Azure cloud, providing the latest and up to date security, performance, and feature updates. With Azure Stack HCI, organizations can:

·  Modernize and secure datacenters: Update foundation infrastructure; gain better efficiency and lower costs; and simplify governance and operations.

·  Affordably modernize branch offices: Azure HCI Stack provides cost-efficient IT infrastructure resources including to remote locations, improves storage availability & resilience, and streamlines distributed workloads.

·  Experience industry-best performance for high-end workload: The solution supports multiple database transactions with very low latency.

·  Use Virtual Desktops infrastructure with edge computing: Brings desktops on-prem for low latency and data sovereignty enabling remote work in a secure and compliant manner.

It can be scaled according to workload of enterprises and provides access to familiar tools from Microsoft as well as popular third-party tools.  A Microsoft pay-as-you-go subscription model promises to deliver flexibility and lower total cost of ownership (TCO).

According to Rajiv Sodhi, COO, Microsoft India, “The role of hybrid cloud has transformed from being integrator of datacenters with the public cloud to enabler of day-to-day business functions. Consistent hybrid tools and experiences have never been more important and Azure Stack HCI brings together the familiarity and flexibility of on-premises virtualization with powerful new hybrid capabilities. With our cloud-native approach, we aim to help customers realize higher value HCI through quick deployment and integration that leverages familiar management and tools with flexible Azure subscription pricing. This will enable organizations to be adaptive, agile, efficient, and responsive across locations, optimizing operations and IT cost efficiency in an increasingly remote work environment today.”

“Modern Indian enterprises consider the cloud to be an essential investment that lies at the heart of their digital transformation efforts, creating the scale and cost efficiencies they need. Enterprises are increasingly turning to hybrid cloud models to modernize their infrastructure for flexibility in workload placement without compromising on performance and security. Azure Stack HCI simplifies how IT can access Azure services based on what makes sense for their business, whether that is on premises or in the cloud. Intel Select Solutions combine Intel-based hardware with Microsoft Azure Stack HCI to form the basis for simplified, low-cost, hyperconverged infrastructure by enabling scalable storage, compute and memory.” - Prakash Mallya, VP and MD – Sales, Marketing and Communications Group, Intel India.

Microsoft is collaborating with Intel on taking Azure Stack HCI to the market. Intel supports Azure Stack HCI through a broad set of technologies foundational to scaling, processing, and moving workloads. Intel Select Solutions for Microsoft Azure Stack HCI combine innovative software with cutting-edge hardware to deliver an intelligent cloud for all.  At the heart of these advancements is the collective partner ecosystem of the two companies, collaborating on innovation that brings the benefits of Azure Stack HCI on Intel architecture to customers faster.

Adopting hybrid cloud is a journey and it is important to have a strategy that considers different workloads, skillsets, and tools. Microsoft is the only leading cloud vendor that delivers a comprehensive set of hybrid cloud solutions, so customers can use the right tool for the job without compromise. Azure has been designed to be hybrid from the beginning and the latest innovations from the portfolio include Azure Stack, Azure Arc, and Azure IoT capabilities. Microsoft offers cloud services locally from three datacenters in India, which are part of a global network of over 60 Azure regions.

About Microsoft India:

Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT” @microsoft) enables digital transformation for the era of an intelligent cloud and an intelligent edge. Its mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. Microsoft set up its India operations in 1990. Today, Microsoft entities in India have over 13,000 employees, engaged in sales and marketing, research, development and customer services and support, across 11 Indian cities – Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, New Delhi, Gurugram, Noida, Hyderabad, Kochi, Kolkata, Mumbai and Pune. Microsoft offers its global cloud services from local data centers to accelerate digital transformation across Indian startups, businesses, and government organizations.

Honeywell And IDEMIA Announce Strategic Alliance To Develop Intelligent Building Offering

 

· Integrates Honeywell security and building management systems with IDEMIA’s biometric-based access control systems to create a more seamless experience for buildings of the future

Honeywell (NYSE: HON), a global leader in connected buildings, and IDEMIA, the global leader in Augmented Identity, today announced a strategic alliance to create and cultivate an intelligent building ecosystem that provides a more seamless and enhanced experience for operators and occupants alike. The alliance will integrate Honeywell’s security and building management systems with IDEMIA’s biometric-based access control systems to create frictionless, safer and more efficient buildings.

The Honeywell and IDEMIA alliance is intended to design solutions that will allow occupants to easily and securely have contactless engagement with a building – from vehicle recognition at the car park and automatic elevator calls to biometric-based access and personalized conference room settings. With a focus on security and data privacy, these next-generation solutions will provide occupants with a safer, more efficient and more enjoyable experience that will help building owners attract tenants.

“We recognize that our customers need to deliver business outcomes like managing complex security requirements and providing healthier, more productive environments,” said Manish Sharma, vice president, chief technology and chief product officer for Honeywell Building Technologies. “By working with IDEMIA we will create an intelligent building ecosystem that better addresses our customers’ key challenges and drives their desired outcomes. Whether it’s a commercial office building, a hospital or an airport, we have the ability to change the way people experience and interact with buildings for the better.”

“We look forward to expanding our long-standing relationship with Honeywell to bring greater value to our customers with more integrated solutions that make for a more seamless building experience,” said Matt Cole, CEO, Secure Enterprise Transactions Division, IDEMIA. “The ability for our technology to easily integrate with Honeywell safety and security systems will provide building owners and operators more insight and control into creating more efficient buildings, while putting the occupant experience first.”

IDEMIA’s field-proven AI-based products and solutions -- like MorphoWaveTM, a contactless fingerprint device that scans four fingerprints in less than one second; VisionPass, the most advanced facial recognition terminal; or Augmented Vision, a biometric video analytics platform -- integrate with Honeywell security and building management systems. Honeywell’s systems include Pro-Watch Integrated Security Suite, MAXPRO Cloud and Enterprise Buildings Integrator.

Honeywell and IDEMIA will work together to deliver more powerful integrations through aligned product creation and joint product roadmaps. The integrated offerings will allow building operators to respond rapidly and effectively to alarms or incidents by providing an incident workflow package that allows Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to be configured, reducing compliance exceptions, security risks and response times.

IDEMIA products also support Honeywell’s Healthy Buildings solutions that help building owners improve building environments, operate more cleanly and safely and encourage sustained compliance with changing building standards, safety guidelines, government-issued regulations and a company's risk management policies. Honeywell's Healthy Buildings solutions provide a holistic view of a building's health based on key factors such as indoor air quality, occupant flow, personal protection equipment (PPE) analytics, contactless access, thermal screening, social distancing and sanitation efficacy.

About Honeywell Building Technologies

Honeywell Building Technologies (HBT) is a global business with more than 18,000 employees. HBT creates products, software and technologies found in more than 10 million buildings worldwide. Commercial building owners and operators use our technologies to help create safe, energy efficient, sustainable and productive facilities. For more news and information on Honeywell Building Technologies, visit http://www.honeywell.com/newsroom.

Honeywell (www.honeywell.com) is a Fortune 100 technology company that delivers industry-specific solutions that include aerospace products and services; control technologies for buildings and industry; and performance materials globally. Our technologies help everything from aircraft, buildings, manufacturing plants, supply chains, and workers become more connected to make our world smarter, safer, and more sustainable. All of Honeywell’s global businesses have a strong legacy in India, built over the last eight decades. Honeywell’s India commitment is evident in three state-of-the-art manufacturing and engineering operations, and four global centers of excellence for technology development and innovation. Honeywell employs ~13,000 people across different locations including Bengaluru, Chennai, Dehradun, Gurugram, Hyderabad, Madurai, and Pune.  

HP, NSDC Collaborate To Support Learning And Early Childhood Skill Development With Free Content

-    Free to download, scientifically designed worksheets from HP’s Print Learn Centre

-    Learners and Educators get access to content in 8 languages for age group 3-12

HP India and National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) have announced a collaboration to provide scientifically designed worksheets and content to support home learning and early childhood skill development for students across India. As part of this partnership, NSDC will host content from HP’s Print Learn Center on its digital skilling platform - eSkill India and make it available for millions of potential users free of cost. Print Learn Center (HP-PLC) is an initiative by HP which provides printable learning modules, created by education and skilling experts.

The HP’s Print Learn Center content will be made available in English and seven Indian languages (Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, Bengali, Hindi, Gujarati, and Marathi). The HP-PLC content is designed to promote universal learning and will supplement regular school curriculum. It will enable the development of modern skills in kids like problem solving, analytical ability, computing and leadership abilities. Through this collaboration, HP and NSDC aim to ensure holistic skill development for kids from the early age.

Announcing the collaboration, Dr. Manish Kumar, MD & CEO, NSDC said, “Wider adoption of technology-based skill delivery will enhance learning outcome and experience of the students.  The HP-PLC content and its delivery through eskill India platform are designed to grab the attention of young children and provide them interactive and simplified learning environment.”

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Ketan Patel – Managing Director, HP India Market said, “Following the pandemic, students across the country have had to adopt e-learning as a primary mode of learning. The absence of regular teaching methods put increased pressure on parents and educators to promote early learning concepts. The HP Print Learn Center is an effort by HP to help overcome this gap, and through our collaboration with NSDC, we hope to provide this content to millions of students and educators across India and play a part developing essential skills for our country’s future generations.”

eSkill India is a digital skilling initiative from NSDC that aggregates e-learning resources through various Indian and global knowledge partnerships to enable provision of best-in-class content for the India youth. Currently, over 28,000 minutes of digital courses and content is available across various sectors in multiple languages.  The platform is aimed at providing learners with the technology and skills needed to prosper in a rapidly transforming digital world. 

The Print Learn Center modules bring innovation into learning via structured modules that aid home learning and encourage development in areas such as physical health and motor development, language & cognitive skills, STEM skills, critical thinking, social and emotional development, sensory and perceptual development, development of creative and aesthetic appreciation, among others.

The content can be accessed via the NSDC’s eSkill India or HP’s Print Learn Center via a free subscription. Registered users will get access to 100 learning worksheets every month. The content will be available for multiple categories of learners.

About National Skill Development Corporation

National Skill Development Corporation, working under the aegis of Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, is a unique public-private-partnership which aims to catalyze creation of quality vocational training ecosystem in India. Since inception in 2010, NSDC has trained more than 2.5 crore people through its partnership with 600+ training partners, 11,000+ training centres spread over 600+ districts across the country. NSDC has established 37 Sector Skill Councils and is implementing Government’s flagship skill development schemes such as Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY), Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Kendra (PMKK), National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS), among others. 

About eSkill India

NSDC’s eSkill India portal provides learners a platform to explore online skill-courses anytime, anywhere. The portal leverages technology to enable skill seekers accelerate their learning through methods like virtual learning and remote classroom. eSkill India offers 825+ e-learning courses in multiple Indian languages through leading knowledge providers. 

About HP

HP Inc. (NYSE: HPQ) creates technology that makes life better for everyone, everywhere. Through our portfolio of printers, PCs, mobile devices, solutions, and services, we engineer experiences that amaze. 

Happiest Minds Continues Growth Momentum; Revenues Grow 6.0% Sequentially In Dollar Terms. EBITDA Margin Rises To 29.7%

Happiest Minds Technologies Limited (NSE:HAPPSTMNDS), a ‘Born Digital. Born Agile’, digital transformation and IT solutions company, today announced its consolidated results today for the third quarter ended December 31, 2020 as approved by its Board of Directors.

Joseph Anantharaju, Exec. Vice Chairman and CEO – Product Engineering Services, Happiest Minds Technologies said, “We have a strong deal pipeline on the back of increasing market demand and are thankful to all our customers for the trust they have reposed in us. Our people are our key strength and they continue to play a critical role in our growth and ensuring customer delight “.

Venkatraman Narayanan, Managing Director & CFO, Happiest Minds Technologies said, “We are indeed happy to deliver another successful quarter showing good growth in revenue and profits. Revenues in US dollar terms grew YoY by 8.8% and QoQ by 6.0% while our profits after tax have grown YoY by 97.1% and QoQ by 23.7%. We continue to maintain and improve on key capital return ratios which are key to increasing our shareholder and stakeholder value”.

Financial highlights:

Quarter ended December 31, 2020

·  Operating Revenues stood at $26.2 million (growth of 6.0% q-o-q ; 8.8% y-o-y)

·  Total Income stood at ₹ 20,129 lakhs (growth of 7.1% q-o-q ; 14.6% y-o-y)

·  EBITDA stood at ₹ 5,969 lakhs, 29.7% of Total Income (growth of 20.9 % q-o-q ; 112.3% y-o-y)

·  PAT at ₹ 4,215 lakhs (growth of 23.7 % q-o-q; 97.1% y-o-y)

·  Diluted EPS for 9 months stood at ₹ 8.95

·  Free cash flows of ₹ 5,920 lakhs for the quarter

·  RoCE & RoE (annualized) for the nine months stood at 36.2% and 33.2% respectively

Others:

Clients:

·  155 as of December 31, 2020;

·  6 additions during the quarter

Our People- Happiest Minds

·  2,885 Happiest Minds as of December 31, 2020 (net addition during the quarter of 164);

·  Trailing 12 months attrition of 13.1%

·  Utilization of 81.6%, up from 78.7% in Q2 FY21.

Key Project Wins:

·  For a US Fortune 500 Engineering Giant on an Industry 4.0 transformation, Happiest Minds leveraged virtual voice assistants to converse and retrieve asset monitoring and performance metrics of various IoT devices at customer sites

·  For US K12 EduTech company, Happiest Minds is leveraging augmented reality to enrich curriculum contents and provide new age learning experience to students; also providing engineering services to enhance their adaptive remediation platform

·  For an APAC based sports-tech startup, Happiest Minds was selected to build a sensor-enabled device that captures player movements, analyze, and provide insights for better performance

·  For a retail-tech company in ANZ, Happiest Minds has been chosen to implement automated service desk for its order orchestration platform which is used by leading retailers of the world

·  For a global leader in construction and infrastructure services and monitoring company in Europe, this multi-year deal entails Happiest Minds to provide end-to-end cloud based IoT, Edge Digital Platform for asset monitoring and tracking performance for infrastructure assets globally including laying the foundations for Automation, Analytics & Digital Twins

·  For a large professional services company in Europe, this multi-year deal entails Happiest Minds to deliver a

‘customized to process’ service desk chat-bot commercially ‘as-a-Service’ which reduces human intervention and

becoming the primary channel for user assistance

Awards:

·  Recognized by Intel’s Winners’ Circle Program as a Solution Plus partner for contributing towards the acceleration of

5G and virtual network transformation

·  Awarded ‘Diversity & Inclusion Company of the Year by Women Leadership Forum of Asia. Also recognized for best

D&I Awareness Campaign and best D&I Talent Management Practice

·  Awarded Jalarushi Puraskar by Bangalore’s Water Authority for implementing environment friendly initiatives towards water conservation.

For further details please refer to the Investors presentation hosted on the company website – Investors section

About Happiest Minds Technologies:

Happiest Minds Technologies Limited (NSE: HAPPSTMNDS), a Mindful IT Company, enables digital transformation for enterprises and technology providers by delivering seamless customer experiences, business

efficiency and actionable insights. We do this by leveraging a spectrum of disruptive technologies such as: artificial intelligence, blockchain, cloud, digital process automation, internet of things, robotics/drones, security, virtual/augmented reality, etc. Positioned as ‘Born Digital . Born Agile’, our capabilities span digital solutions, infrastructure, product engineering and security. We deliver these services across industry sectors such as automotive, BFSI, consumer packaged goods, e-commerce, eduTech, engineering R&D, hi-tech, manufacturing, retail and travel/transportation/hospitality.

A Great Place to Work-Certified™ company, Happiest Minds is headquartered in Bangalore, India with operations in the U.S., UK, Canada, Australia and Middle East.

Vestige Launches A Water-Based Multi-Purpose Disinfectant Spray With Neem Extracts

• Hyvest Ultra Shield is powered by Neem extracts which have anti-viral, anti-bacterial, and anti-fungal properties

• Provides 99.99% protection from micro-organisms for up to 15 days

The global pandemic has highlighted the need for comprehensive hygiene solutions in households and consumers are looking for safe, effective and innovative products to fortify their defence against germs, including viruses. Neem, the traditional Indian natural ingredient provides the answer. Neem is an acknowledged germ fighter and is recognised in Ayurveda centuries for its disinfecting properties. Inspired by the call for an AatmaNirbhar Bharat, Vestige is leveraging this powerful Indian herb to help people guard against dangerous infections.

Following the path of combining wellness with ancient Indianmedical tradition, Vestige Marketing Pvt. Ltd., one of India’s leading home-grown direct selling companies and the only Indian company in the world’s top 30 direct selling companies (as per the 2020 DSN Global 100 ranking), re-introduces one of its popular home hygiene products under the sub-brand Hyvest in a new avatar. Hyvest Ultra Shield is fortified with the power of Neem that has anti-viral, anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties. Hyvest Ultra Shield, powered by Neem is a water-based multipurpose, non-harmful disinfectant spray with Neem extracts that gives long-lasting protection for up to 15 days. It works on all solid and soft surfaces, including fabrics, upholstery, and is safe for all equipment, electronics and cars.

Hyvest Ultra Shield is registered with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and it has been classified as non-toxic and non-hazardous. This helps to keep the surroundings clean without harming the environment. Hyvest Ultra Shield’s USP is a Micro-biostatic Antimicrobial Coating, which is created on the surface when applied and this coating inhibits the growth of bacteria, mould, and mildew. 

Commenting on the launch, Mr Gautam Bali, MD, Vestige Marketing Pvt Ltd said, “As a responsible brand, Vestige is committed to bring out relevant and practical solutions for our consumers. Vestige offers a strong portfolio of home care and hygiene products, which have witnessed a surge in demand owing to the pandemic.”

Hygiene has gained unprecedented importance in our lives. While basic hygiene practices such as washing our hands after returning home from work or before sitting down for a meal have always been a part of our routine, an entire global conversation has emerged around it, overnight. For instance, hand hygiene is now a critical part of the World Health Organization (WHO), along with an increased emphasis on disinfection and sanitation of all spaces to safeguard everyone from falling prey to any infectious diseases. 

According to a report by 6W Research, the Indian surface disinfectant market is expected to register high growth during 2020-2026 owing to the COVID-19 outbreak, which has increased the demand for surface disinfection. The government is also stepping up its efforts to provide quality health and sanitation facilities across the country. 

Hyvest Ultra Shield with Neem Extracts 

The Hyvest Ultra Shield is a water-based multipurpose and non –poisonous disinfectant spray with Neem extracts. The Neem extracts contain antioxidants that give long-lasting anti-germ protection for up to 15 days. 

It prevents up to 99.99% protection from micro-organisms. Hyvest Ultra Shield is registered with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and is classified as non-toxic and non-hazardous. It works on all solid surfaces and soft surface, including fabrics, upholstery and is safe for all equipment, electronics, cars. It also neutralises offensive odours and prevents the growth of mould and mildew. It can be used on surfaces like:

• Curtains

• Furniture 

• Mattresses 

• Restrooms

• Floor, Walls & Ceilings 

• Carpets

• Kitchen slabs

• Door handles

• Footwear 

• Toys

• Mobile phones

HYVEST Ultra Shield comes in a 500 ml pack and is priced at MRP ₹665.00, inclusive of all taxes.