Shyam Steel India Embarks On A Vision To Build The Nation; Launches New TVC Campaign Starring Sonu Sood

Shyam Steel India one of leading producers and manufacturers of TMT Bars launched their new TVC campaign "Maksad Toh India Ko Banana Hai". The campaign aims to send across the brand message that steel is just an offering, but the idea is to build the nation. The TVC campaign stars Sonu Sood in the lead and has been created by Mogae Media. The campaign was launched through a virtual platform in the august presence of Mr Sonu Sood,- Brand ambassador of Shyam Steel India, Mr Lalit Beriwala, Director, Shyam Steel India, Ms Megha Beriwala, Vice President, Marketing, Shyam Steel India and Mr Harish Arora, Creative Director, Mogae Media. 

Through this TVC launch, Shyam Steel India, represents strength, flexibility, and faith of the masses with the thought process that steel is just an offering, but the ultimate idea is to build the nation. Roping in Sonu Sood, who is known for his considerate personality, enhances the brand message across the target audience. The bond Sonu Sood has created with the millions of people resonates as strong as steel, unbreakable. The TVC campaign reflects on this thought process with the ultimate aim of the brand reflecting in not just selling steel but build relations and build the nation. 

The TVC Campaign showcases Sonu Sood cherishing his relationships built with people during the lockdown tenure. All the love he received from people he helped, makes him emotional and more connected. When relationships are build with strong foundation, like steel, they sustain for a long-long time. Similarly, when houses are build with Shyam Steel flexi-strong TMT rebars, such houses are more sustainable. Through this TVC Shyam Steel India drives across the message that they just don't sell steel but assist in building the nation on a long-term basis.  

Speaking on the TVC campaign launch, Mr. Lalit Beriwala, Director, Shyam Steel India, said "We at Shyam Steel India, deal in strong and flexible TMT Rebars. But more than that we aim to build the nation by assisting people in building their dreams. This is the reason why we got associated with Mr. Sonu Sood. The TVC reflects the brand's thought in connection with Sonu's exemplary work to assist people during lockdown. Sonu was helping the same target audience, with whom we connect at the last mile. When it comes to influencing Individual House Builders, people at the bottom of pyramid, remains the key focus of communication. So, we believe in building long-term relationships, just as Sonu Sood did after helping people in its most difficult situation. 

Speaking on the ideation of the campaign Mr Harish Arora, Creative Director, Mogaé Media said, "It is all about inner strength. It is something that Shyam Steel gives to the buildings & infrastructure of New India. And that’s precisely what Sonu Sood has proved during the pandemic. Both have made the thought of India First come alive very strongly. That’s what inspired us to say – STEEL TOH SIRF EK BAHANA HAI, MAKSAD TOH INDIA KO BANANA HAI." said who ideated the campaign and executed the creatives. 

Mr Vaibhav Misra, Director of the TVC, Yellow Bettle Films, said, "The emotional core of the script written by Harish Arora appealed to me instantly and the opportunity to work with the living legend Sonu Sood was an added attraction.  Showcasing emotion along with Steel at the same time keeping Sonu’s persona humble and real was the challenge which we are happy to achieve. The film is a fabulous team effort and working with Sonu Sood and team at Shyam Steel was an enriching experience." 

Sonu Sood, has become the heartthrob and role model of the nation through his humanitarian effort to help out the people in dire straits throughout the nationwide lockdown. The association between Sonu Sood and the brand reflects upon the same core value, i.e. helping people realize their dreams and build long-term relationships.  

Link to the film: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7l_b1eTRIY 

About Shyam Steel India: 

Shyam Steel India is one of the leading TMT Bar manufacturers in India. Guided by a philosophy to produce safe and sustainable steel, it is a pioneer in quality production of steel. Starting its operation with a small factory in Howrah, Shyam Steel has created a legacy of 60 years and has emerged as a large, growing, competitive and multi-product steel organization by delivering quality material through innovation, excellence, and dedication.  

Shyam Steel India has been associated with various government bodies such as National Highway Authority of India (NHAI), railways, military engineering services, Nuclear Power Corporation of India (NPCI) and various state governments. Shyam Steel believes that sustainable community development is essential for harmonious development of nation. They have always put forward and contributed towards various corporate social responsibilities for social development which have social, economic and environmental impacts. Their CSR are focused on education, poverty, gender equality, hunger and environment. 

SpringPeople To Upskill India’s IT Workforce Through SAP Education

 

With an aim to upskill the Indian IT workforce with evolving enterprise tools and technology, SpringPeople becomes an SAP Education partner to bring world-class training courses and certifications to India Inc. The focus will be on providing Indian organisation with skilled workforce through its cross-skilling and upskilling initiatives.

Enterprises will now have complete flexibility to define and drive SAP Education and certification initiatives within their organisations. SpringPeople will be bringing in a full spectrum of SAP Education offerings including:

SAP Cloud Certifications

SAP Authorized Boot Camps – for New Hires / Joinees on any technology

Exclusive Private Training Batches – for organisations looking to upskill/cross-skill their workforce with hands-on practice on live SAP Servers

Customized Training batches – SAP content and platform with hands-on practice on live SAP Servers

SAP Learning Hub subscriptions – with benefits of certification & access to live SAP Servers

Mr. Peeush Bajpai, CEO and Founder of SpringPeople said, “Businesses today need to take meaningful steps to upskill and cross-skill the current and future workforce, regardless of their size or industry. Together with SAP, SpringPeople will focus on filling the current gap in the market for flexible, enterprise focused, SAP syllabus and courses options that helps prepare future workers. This is another example where doing what’s right for learners and doing what’s right for businesses are in perfect harmony.”

Adding to that, Yugesh Jerath, Head of Partner Channel – T&E, SAP said, "SpringPeople’s quality training, delivery standards and outcome-driven approaches closely aligns with the high-standards SAP Education protocols. We are excited to onboard SpringPeople to strengthen and skill the Indian workforce through SAP tools & technologies."

In line with their tailored requirements, organizations can easily create exclusive private SAP training classes for their workforce. They will have the ability to manage the course curriculum, engage best instructors/SAP expert for training delivery, and have full control over training dates and batch size.

Raymond Launches A Refreshing New Campaign To Ring In The Wedding Season

 

·         The latest campaign, titled ‘Weddings by Raymond’, reflects the modern interpretation of weddings.

·         Is the true reflection of the soul of a wedding that transcends geographical, cultural, linguistic and other stereotypes

Welcoming the season of weddings, Raymond Ltd., India’s largest textile player, launched their latest campaign titled ‘Weddings by Raymond’. The 360 degree marketing campaign spells for its viewers the modern way of weddings. With its thought-evoking storyline, the campaign showcases couples and their families starting a new journey by embracing something new, be it a new definition of equality, a new culture, a new bond, and a beautiful new dream.

In India, weddings don't just unite two souls, they unite families as well. And when you are a nation that’s a melting pot of 1.3 billion individuals, weddings have the power to unite cultures and beliefs too. The campaign is conceptualised on this insight and emotion and takes on a unique approach by narrating the experiences and cultures that has cemented many notions of weddings in India calling it stereotypical - like Punjabi wedding rituals that go on for 3 days, while a Malayali wedding is relatively short & sweet. The ad depicts the mélange of both cultures showcasing the purity in traditional rituals during the main ceremony.

The new communication has multiple facets, including a digital film that was unveiled and went live during the IPL and a film in multiple languages on television and OTT platforms across multiple genres, targeting the eligible grooms and family members.

Speaking about the campaign, Madhu S Dutta, Head Marketing Raymond Ltd said, “Weddings are undoubtedly the most memorable part of our lives. Every couple looks forward to this special moment and desires to look their best, whether the occasion transcends across 3 elaborate days of celebrations or a shorter version. We at Raymond have always redefined conventional outlooks through fresh narratives and iconic campaigns. Weddings by Raymond is another such campaign that reiterates our modern take on existing perspectives depicting a beautiful and soulful narrative through the lens of a cross-cultural wedding ceremony. And showcases the best-in-class wedding fabric offerings translating in varied silhouettes that aptly compliments the occasion, cultural nuance and regional flavours of the weddings in India”

Ketan Desai COO Grey India said, “Weddings don't just unite two souls, they unite families as well. In India, weddings have the power to unite cultures and beliefs too. Our experiences and popular culture have cemented many notions of weddings in India that have become stereotypical - This wedding season, we wanted to reinterpret wedding ceremonies in a new modern avatar, making this uniquely Raymond.”

Weddings by Raymond is not only for the groom but for all the men in the family who want to nail an immaculate look with the most elegant, understated yet uniquely crafted and differentiated fabric offerings.

The unconventional colour palette, pastel hues combined with intricate embroidery and craftsmanship and offbeat patterns by Raymond Design Studio will make you look your best amidst a crowd for all wedding celebrations.

Link to the campaign: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6eUrotcQWYo

Campaign credits: Client

Raymond Limited

Agency

GREY India

Chief Creative Officer

Sandipan Bhattacharya

Chief Operating Officer

Ketan Desai

Executive Creative Director

Vivek Bhambhani

Creative Team

Mangesh Kavale, Mehul Prajapati

Servicing

Anand Ashar, Yash Jain

Production House

SeeOn

About Raymond

Raymond is India’s largest integrated worsted suiting manufacturer that offers end-to-end solutions for fabrics and garmenting. Over the years, Raymond has been synonymous with quality, innovation and market leadership. It has some of the leading brands within its portfolio – ‘Raymond Ready to Wear’, ‘Park Avenue’, ‘ColorPlus’, ‘Parx’, ‘Raymond Made to Measure’ amongst others. Raymond has one of the largest exclusive retail networks in the country with over 1,500 stores in more than 600 towns.

Raymond also has presence in FMCG sector through Raymond Consumer care that offers wide range of products in men’s personal grooming category and personal hygiene. The group also has presence in engineering and auto components across national and international markets. In 2019, Raymond has also forayed into the realty sector through the launch of its maiden project ‘aspirational district’ spread across 14 acres housing ~3,000 residential units.

Having enjoyed the patronage of over a billion consumers, Raymond as a brand has been consistently delivering world class quality products to its consumers over the past nine decades.

Delhi And Hyderabad Lead The Demand For Home Improvement Services

 * With the start of summer, the demand for AC related services has increased sharply

A study undertaken by Sulekha, India’s leading tech-AI platform for expert services has unveiled interesting insights about demand for home improvement services in Indian cities, especially for home cooling related repairs and services.

This study is based on visits and searches by nearly 90,000+ consumers across top 8 Indian cities that landed on Sulekha in March 2021.

Key findings of the study:

·         The Top 5 home improvement service categories that have seen a spike in online searches include Home Appliance Repair & Services, AC Rentals, Home Electronics & Appliances Dealers, AC Services and AC dealers. These services grew by 141%.

·         The top 5 cities that are leading in online searches across home interior services include: Delhi, Hyderabad and Chennai followed by Bangalore and Mumbai.

·         In Delhi, the top 3 home improvement services that are leading include AC Rentals, Home Appliances Repair & Services and Home Appliance Rentals. These services have grown by 121%.

·         In Hyderabad, the top 3 home improvement services that are leading include AC Rentals, Home Appliances Repair & Services and Home Appliance Rentals. These services have grown by 200%.

·         In Chennai, the top 3 home improvement services that are leading include AC Services, Home Appliances Repair & Services and Furniture Rentals. These services have grown by 205%.

·         In Bangalore, the top 3 home improvement services that are leading include Home Appliances Repair & Services, Furniture Rentals and Home Electronics & Appliances Dealers. These services have grown by 50%.

·         In Mumbai, the top 3 home improvement services that are leading include AC Rentals, Home Appliance Rentals and AC dealers. These services have grown by 200%.

·         In Kolkata, the top 3 home improvement services that are leading include AC Rentals, Home Appliances Repair & Services and Home Appliance Rentals. These services have grown by 157%.

·         In Pune, the top 3 home improvement services that are leading include Home Appliance Rentals, Home Electronics & Appliances Dealers and AC Services. These services have grown by 120%.

·         In Ahmedabad, the top 3 home improvement services that are leading include AC Rentals, Home Appliance Rentals and AC Dealers. These services have grown by 154%.

Satya Prabhakar, Founder & CEO, Sulekha, said, “With the temperatures rising steadily, people are increasingly searching for home improvement services such as AC rentals, Home appliance rentals and the online searches for these services have grown significantly. As people are spending most of their time at home, the demand for home cooling related services seem to be soaring.”

Sulekha will share interesting insights on multiple Home, Office and Education related services as a part of a regular Trend Tracker.

OPPO To Introduce A74 5G, Its First Phone Under INR 20,000 With 5G Accessibility

The new phone is a perfect blend of superlative technology, unmatched performance, and trendy design aesthetics

5G Poster - TwitterNew Delhi, 16th April, 2021: In line with the distinguished OPPO A series legacy of offering all superior features at a competitive price point, OPPO, the leading global smart device brand, is all set to introduce the all new OPPO A74 5G, its first 5G ready phone under INR 20,000.

The brand has been consistently working to bring in customer-centric meaningful innovations and advanced technologies across its portfolio and this new A series smartphone bears testimony towards OPPO’s continuous endeavour in democratising cutting-edge technology for one and all. This is OPPO’s first phone with 5G compatibility in the pocket friendly segment.

With 5G and other emerging technologies making their presence felt across the globe, OPPO has been bringing in several 5G ready phones over the years, armed with superior speed, connectivity and low latency, starting with OPPO Reno 5 Pro 5G and more recently with the F series – OPPO F19 Pro+ 5G. This time, OPPO is introducing its first A series phone with 5G capabilities.

Furthermore, apart from being 5G ready, the OPPO A74 5G is poised to ensure an immersive and interactive experience for everyone.  The new phone is built to accent your lifestyle by featuring a 90Hz Hyper-color Screen. With this, you can view vibrant and clear photos and videos, whether of portraits, landscapes, food or even night shots with a higher color saturation and accuracy than the previous generation of A Series. The Hyper-color will enable you to perceive a wider spectrum of colors which are more realistic and accurate.

OPPO Mobiles: indiapr@oppo.com

OPPO’s A Series smartphones, had been delighting customers since long by providing them with devices that only displays technological supremacy but also act as an extension of their attitude and personality – making technology more fun. In fact this is one of the many reasons why OPPO’s A Series smartphones have been extremely popular among users. OPPO A series phones have time and again proved expertise in delivering futuristic state-of-the art technology innovations, user-friendly design aesthetics, trendy and fashionable form factor and all this at a competitive price point. The new OPPO A74 5G promises all that and much more and is priced under INR 20,000.

Pricing and complete specification of the new A Series will be revealed on April 20th, 2021.

Bisleri Reinforces Its Communication Of Safe And Hygienic Mineral Water With All New Campaign

* Conceptualized by 82.5 communications, the new Bisleri campaign aims at educating the consumer to select only quality driven and hygienically manufactured safe mineral water

Bisleri, industry leader and India's most trusted brand of mineral water, has launched a new 360-degree integrated campaign, ‘Samajhdaar Bisleri Peete Hai’, to reinforce consumers’ trust and raise awareness on the difference between the original Bisleri and counterfeit alternatives in the market.

Today’s consumer is aware, educated and is diligent while selecting products, however the same discipline is ignored when it comes to water as they are alright to compromise and settle for unknown, unprocessed variants of mineral water. The campaign is an effort to initiate and provoke the consumer to be vigilant and choose a trusted mineral water brand like Bisleri, and not just settle for any other variant who may not follow the same quality of stringent hygiene protocols.

The TVC features Bisleri’s Baadal and his thirsty rider. At a shop, the shopkeeper hands him a local brand of bottled water despite him asking for Bisleri. As the rider is about to drink the water, Baadal quickly intervenes and points out that what he is consuming may not be safe and directs him to a shop which sells the original Bisleri. The camel then declares, ‘Samajhdaar Bisleri Peete Hai’, embarrassing his rider.

In another TVC which will go live next week, a classroom full of camels are shown mocking the teacher as he punishes a camel for misbehaving. As he leans forward to drink a glass of water from a pot, the class breaks into peals of laughter as they observe their teacher opting for an unhygienic way of drinking water. The camel, who was earlier reprimanded, then teases the professor for being unaware about Bisleri’s contactless mineral water, which is bottled in hygienic conditions.

Speaking about the new campaign, Anjana Ghosh, Director – Marketing, Bisleri International Private Limited, said, “We are extremely excited to bring back our endearing Brand Ambassadors with a new story to tell on screen. Bisleri has always centered its focus on the consumers and created various brand milestones addressing critical needs, building knowledge and ensuring safety. In the mineral water segment, all bottles seem equivalent but there is a stark difference in the production process and this is what we need to educate and trigger consumers to make the right choice. Being consumer friendly we have already introduced Bisleri@Doorstep service which will not only offer convenience to the consumers but also a reason for preference for the right choice – Bisleri Mineral Water and the campaign reiterates the same with the new theme - Samajhhdaar Bisleri Peete Hai”.

Conceptualised by 82.5 Communications, Anuraag Khandelwal, ECD and Creative Head (Mumbai), said, "While in the last campaign our samajhdaar camels knew that not every bottle of water is Bisleri, this time around the camels are set to underline that humans can sometimes be careless in choosing the correct bottled water. Besides taking good-humoured digs at humans, our camels also emphasise on the facts that make Bisleri a far superior choice." 

Each drop of Bisleri mineral water goes through a scientifically advanced, rigorous 10-step quality process at a production facility that is highly state-of-the-art. Moreover, the water goes through 114 quality tests at various stages of its production and at this stage mineral that have health benefits are been added. Bisleri mineral water goes through a thorough process of mineralisation where essential minerals like potassium and magnesium are added in the water which helps to gain health benefits. Also, it ensures that the production and packaging is completely contactless which meets the highest standard of safety and purity.

Hyundai Motor India Continues Its Leadership In Exports For 2020

* HMIL achieves fastest ‘Made-in-India’ – 3 Millionth Export Roll Out in FY 2020 

* Made in India cars exported from Chennai Plant to 88 countries across 4 continents 

* Received 7 EEPC National and 5 South Region Awards as Top Exporter of Year in Large Enterprise category

Hyundai Motor India Ltd. (HMIL), country’s First Smart Mobility Solutions provider and largest exporter since inception, bolstered its commitment of Make in India for the World by once again leading the passenger vehicle exports from India. Hyundai exported 1 04 342 units between Apr’20 to Mar’21, continuing its journey as the No.1 Automobile Brand to export from India. 

Additionally, Hyundai became the leading exporter of SUVs with over 2 Lakh units of CRETA and VENUE exported to overseas markets including Mexico, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Nepal and Chile. Further, the all-new i20 that has been well accepted in India and in global markets, is being exported to all key markets across Africa and Latin America region. 

Commenting on the remarkable achievement, Mr. S S Kim, MD & CEO, Hyundai Motor India Ltd. said, “Despite numerous challenges emerging out of the global pandemic, uncertainty in various markets, restriction on imports and disruption in supply-chain, HMIL has continued to drive operational excellence to ensure customer satisfaction. An export of 1 04 342 units in FY 20-21 stands testament to our indomitable spirit. It is a moment of great pride for Hyundai as we step forward in the journey of making world class quality cars from India. Our Smart Manufacturing Processes have led us to maintain our leadership position in passenger vehicle exports and strengthened our commitment to Make in India for the World.”  

HMI also commenced cars exports to Nepal through Railways from Walajabad Railway Hub near Irungattukkottai, Chennai. 

As country’s largest exporter of automobiles, Hyundai also surpassed the 3 Million vehicle export milestone earlier in 2020, exporting to 88 countries. Hyundai Motor India has recorded multiple export milestones over the years. 

5 00 000 in March 2008

10 00 000 in Feb 2010

20 00 000 in March 2014

30 00 000 in Jan 2020

During the successful export journey, Hyundai Motor India has won prestigious awards including - 7 EEPC National and 5 South Region Awards as Top Exporter of Year for Large Enterprise category.

Hyundai Motor India is presently exporting 10 models namely – ATOS (SANTRO), GRAND i10, XCENT, GRAND i10 (NIOS) & GRAND i10 (AURA), i20, ACCENT (VERNA), VENUE and All New CRETA. Globally, Hyundai Exports ‘Made-In-India’ cars to 88 Countries across 5 Continents:

South America (32 Countries)

North America (Mexico)

Africa (28 Countries)

Asia Pacific (26 Countries)

Europe (1 Country).

Indian Odyssey Will Traverse More Than 30,000 KM On TVS Apache RTR 200 4V

TVS Apache rider Ms. Gayatri Patel, as part of her One Dream, One Ride: Indian Odyssey ride has arrived at TVS Motor Company’s plant today.  Gayatri was greeted by Mr. K. N. Radhakrishnan, Director and CEO, TVS Motor Company. 

Gayatri, as part of her One Dream, One Ride: Indian Odyssey will traverse more than 30,000 kilometers on her TVS Apache RTR 200 4V, across 28 states, 8 Union Territories and 18 World Heritage sites.  The ride was flagged off from Kolhapur in December 2020 and she has covered more than 23,000 kilometers so far. Through her cross-country ride, she aims to spread awareness for women empowerment and safety on the roads through biking. She will conclude her ride at Kolhapur in June, 2021.

Zebra Technologies Provides Rugged Tablets To Angel Robotics For Wearable Robots

* Tablets used as intuitive controllers and data processors to help analyze wearer’s health status

Zebra Technologies Corporation (NASDAQ: ZBRA), an innovator at the front line of business with solutions and partners that deliver a performance edge, today announced it provided Angel Robotics its ET51 enterprise tablet for the controller of wearable robots.  The tablet also processes data to help analyze the wearer’s health condition.

Established in 2017, Angel Robotics researches, develops, and manufactures lightweight and sturdy wearable robots that primarily help individuals with either partial or complete paralysis walk.

Sensors mounted on the joints and shoes of each wearable robot precisely monitor the user’s movement and measure the force transmitted from the ground to detect the wearer’s intention to move. During this process, different types of data are collected from the robot including the person’s health status and rehabilitation process.

“Angel Legs M is a medical device used in hospitals for walking rehabilitation. This requires a tablet with a high level of reliability and durability that meets medical device specifications,” said Jonathan Jeong, Chief Operating Officer of Angel Robotics. “Zebra’s Android™-based ET51 met our need for a thin, lightweight rugged tablet that offered a familiar user interface, making our wearable robot easy to use and adopt with minimal training time.”

Angel Robotics worked with Zebra PartnerConnect business partner, JHyun Information and Communication, to build optimized and customized solutions.

“It is a rewarding experience to know that Zebra’s enterprise-class tablet has played a key role in helping individuals with physical disabilities walk unaided,” said John Woo, Regional Sales Director of Korea, Zebra Technologies. “At Zebra, we continuously work with our partners to better understand the needs of our customers to provide them with the right solutions that suit them best.”

KEY TAKEAWAYS 

Angel Robotics has deployed Zebra’s ET51 tablet as the controller and data processor of its wearable robots that help disabled people walk unaided.

Zebra’s ET51 was chosen for its rugged, lightweight design and familiar Android operating system (OS) which reduces training time.

Zebra works closely with its PartnerConnect partners, such as Jhyun Information and Communication, to understand the needs of its mutual customers when developing tailored solutions.

ABOUT ZEBRA TECHNOLOGIES

Zebra (NASDAQ: ZBRA) empowers the front line in retail/ecommerce, manufacturing, transportation and logistics, healthcare, public sector and other industries to achieve a performance edge. With more than 10,000 partners across 100 countries, Zebra delivers industry-tailored, end-to-end solutions to enable every asset and worker to be visible, connected and fully optimized. The company’s market-leading solutions elevate the shopping experience, track and manage inventory as well as improve supply chain efficiency and patient care. In 2020, Zebra made Forbes Global 2000 list for the second consecutive year and was listed among Fast Company’s Best Companies for Innovators. For more information, visit www.zebra.com or sign up for news alerts. Participate in Zebra’s Your Edge blog, follow the company on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook, and check out our Story Hub: Zebra Perspectives.

NSDC, Apna App Join Hands To Provide Professional Networking Platform To Blue/Grey Collared Workers

* Partnership to leverage professional networking and community learning for all trainees affiliated with NSDC

* Initiates the first-ever avenue for knowledge-sharing through vertical communities dedicated to the frontline workforce

Apna, India’s largest professional networking platform for blue and grey collar workers, has signed an MoU with the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) to provide the first-ever professional networking platform dedicated to the blue and grey collared workers. For the first time, these candidates will be able to be a part of communities based on their verticals and skillsets. The partnership aims to give access to the frontline workforce to avenues of skill development, training, and community collaboration in the language preferred by them. This association will enable candidates currently enrolled/  certified through NSDC to build a digital professional identity, network with community, upskill and prepare themselves for opportunities.

The partnership will enable the two organisations to reach out and benefit an expansive pool of blue and grey collared candidates present across India.  The candidates will be encouraged and mobilized to utilize the skill development resources available on the Apna app. The platform will also give them access to free online sessions on ‘professional networking’ and targeted interest-based courses. It will be open to all candidates undergoing training through NSDC’s fee-based programs and/or trainees enrolled under government schemes such as PMKVY, being implemented by NSDC. Likewise, the collaboration will also enable the existing users of Apna to explore courses offered by NSDC affiliated training providers.

The Apna-NSDC partnership will be facilitated through a portal that will be used to on-board NSDC affiliated candidates. The users will be able to build their digital profiles on Apna app and can these profiles as virtual Apna Visiting Cards. Basis the professional categories selected, they will gain access to Apna’s vertical-specific professional community.

Commenting on the partnership, Vandana Bhatnagar, Chief Program Officer, NSDC, said, “NSDC’s partnership with Apna.co aims to provide an inclusive networking platform to the blue and grey collared professionals. In the current digital environment, our goal is to engage with skill seekers and skilled candidates and offer them access to a large community that can help them in knowledge sharing and seeking guidance from experts."

Lauding the partnership, Nirmit Parikh, Founder, and Chief Executive Officer, Apna.co, said, “We are thrilled to be partnering with India’s largest skill development institution – NSDC and contribute to India’s growth journey by giving people access to the right platform to get trained and upskill themselves and become more employable. It is the time to invest in new ideas and approaches for skilling the youth. It is to be done in a coordinated, committed fashion, improving the potential employment outcomes. We see this partnership going a long way in contributing to the enhancement of lives of our blue and grey collared professionals.” 

About National Skill Development Corporation

National Skill Development Corporation, working under the aegis of the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, is a unique public-private-partnership that aims to catalyze the creation of a quality vocational training ecosystem in India. Since its inception in 2010, NSDC has trained more than 2.5 crore people through its partnership with 600+ training partners, 11,000+ training centers spread over 600+ districts across the country. NSDC has established 36 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 Apna.co

Founded in 2019, apna.co helps India’s burgeoning working class to unlock unique professional, networking, and skilling opportunities. Having raised capital from marquee investors like Lightspeed India and Sequoia Capital, Apna is on a mission to enable livelihoods for billions in India. With over 6MN downloads, presence in 10 cities and counting, and over 100,000 employers that trust the platform - India has a new destination to discover relevant opportunities.

Godrej Material Handling Launches The New PRO Series Reach Truck

* Higher battery capacity promises up to 20% increased run time per charge

* Industry leading lifting capacity of 1100 kg at a height of 10.6 meters

* All-wheel braking provides for enhanced warehouse safety

Godrej & Boyce, the flagship company of the Godrej Group announced today that its business Godrej Material Handling launched the new PRO Series Reach Truck with capacities ranging from 1.4 to 2 tonnes. Aligned with the company’s motto to contribute towards India’s self-reliance, the latest variant has been indigenously designed with an improved cooling system, making it much more reliable for operation in the Indian tropical climate.

The new PRO Series Reach Truck also offers higher battery capacity, delivering up to 20% additional run time per charge. Its high-efficiency motors greatly reduce energy and heat losses. The Godrej PRO Series Reach Truck also presents the customer with the option of a 30% higher battery capacity for continuous, uninterrupted operations over 12 to 14 hours. Battery changing rollers with battery changing trolley are also available to facilitate faster and safer battery change-over.

The new PRO Series Reach Truck’s fingertip control functions place all machine controls comfortably within the operator’s reach. The Smart Curve Speed Control technology detects turns and reduces speed by as much as 30% . This makes the truck stable and safe while navigating tight corners. It’s intuitively designed 6-way adjustable suspension seat makes it comfortable for long hours of operation. A display with fault code indication continuously provides vital information to the operator.

Anil Lingayat, Executive Vice President and Business Head, Godrej Material Handling, said, “We are delighted to add this cutting-edge product to our portfolio of Reach Trucks. In our endeavour to create products specifically for Indian conditions, with the new PRO Series Reach Truck we now offer the highest load lifting capacity in the industry of 1100 kg at 10.6 m height. While developing this new product, we have been very mindful of Indian anthropological data, operating conditions in warehouses, the rising need for safe, fast and reliable machines which conserve energy. We foresee this new series will contribute to improving material handling efficiency in 3PL, Ecommerce, Retail, Pharma, Chemical, and Food & Beverage sectors across the country. Given the vast geographical spread of our customers, especially across Tier 2 and 3 cities, and with most large warehouses being on the outskirts of cities, we have established an extensive customer service network across India and are confident that we can effectively satisfy all their service requirements.”

India’s largest manufacturer of lift trucks, Godrej Material Handling offers a wide range of products that include electric and diesel counterbalance forklifts up to 25-tonne capacity, warehouse trucks and special trucks for specific applications, besides attachments for addressing a wide range of handling applications.

About Godrej & Boyce 

Godrej & Boyce (‘G&B’), a Godrej Group company, was founded in 1897, and has contributed to India’s journey of self-reliance through manufacturing. G&B patented the world’s first springless lock and since then, has diversified into 14 businesses across various sectors from Security, Furniture, Aerospace to Infrastructure and Defence. Godrej is one of India’s most trusted brands serving over 1.1 bn customers worldwide daily. 

Used Car Retailing Platform Spinny Raises USD65 MN In Series C Round Led By General Catalyst

 

Spinny, a full stack used car retailing platform in India, announces the closure of USD 65 Mn Series C funding round from new and existing investors. The round was led by silicon valley based venture capital firm General Catalyst - early backers of Airbnb, Stripe, Snapchat, Vroom, Cazoo, etc. Other new investors in the round include Feroz Dewan’s Arena Holdings, and Think Investments. In addition to these, the round saw participation from existing investors Elevation Capital (the Fundamentum Partnership, and others. The additional funding takes the overall funds raised by Spinny till date to more than USD 120 Mn.

Over the last 12 months, Spinny has constantly added multiple industry-first initiatives such as Spinny360 - interactive inventory viewing, Assured Buyback program - tenure based flexible car ownership, online booking, and doorstep test drives & delivery. In Aug’20, Spinny acquired Mumbai headquartered Truebil to solidify its position in the Indian used car market.

The newly raised capital will be deployed towards improving customer experience, expanding in new markets, strengthening technology and product capabilities, launching new business categories, and building teams across functions. While the auto market saw a dip in sales volumes during the COVID’19 lockdown, the lifting of the lockdown restrictions saw a major boost in car sales due to a change in personal transport preferences. Keen to capitalize on this strong tailwind, Spinny started operations in 4 more cities - Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, and Ahmedabad - in Jan’21, taking its presence to the top 8 cities of India (including existing cities - Delhi NCR, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Pune). A portion of the proceeds from the round will also be utilized to provide exits to few seed and pre seed-stage investors of the company.

Commenting on this development, Niraj Singh, Founder & CEO, Spinny said “With the changing needs and expectations of the customer, Spinny’s full-stack capability allows us the control to set industry benchmarks in terms of a transparent and simple car buying and selling experience. We are super excited to see our existing investor General Catalyst double down on their conviction and lead this round. That's great validation and support for the work we are doing. We welcome onboard our new investors Arena Holdings and Think Investments, and thank our existing investors Elevation Capital (prev. SAIF Partners), Accel Partners, the Fundamentum Partnership, and others for their belief in our vision and tremendous support in building the platform. The proceeds from the new round of funding will enable us to further strengthen our quality and experience control capabilities and to experiment and build new product categories.”

Commenting on this development, Adam Valkin, General Partner, General Catalyst said, “At General Catalyst, we constantly seek out the best companies and the best entrepreneurs, wherever they are in the world. The used car market in India is huge and ripe for reinvention.  We believe Spinny is uniquely positioned to tap this opportunity--given their compelling leadership and their real market momentum. As long time investors, we've been impressed by how Spinny is reinventing every part of the buying process - injecting trust and safety into every aspect of the customer experience.”

Commenting on this development, Mukul Arora, Partner, Elevation Capital (prev. SAIF Partners) said, “Spinny has become India's most trusted used car brand and is on its way to becoming India's largest as well. It's heartening to hear customers describe the experience of buying a used car from Spinny being better than that of buying a new car. This has been made possible because of Niraj and the entire Spinny team's customer obsession and relentless execution. We are privileged to be their early partners and super excited to double down in this round.”

Commenting on this development Anand Daniel, Partner, Accel said “The used car market is known for its notoriety and lack of trust, often leaving a trail of highly dissatisfied customers. Using the full stack approach, Spinny has built the foundation of its business around trust and customer delight, enabling it to maintain quality consistency and deliver premium experience. The vision and rigour exemplified by Niraj and the team has made this possible, and we are certain that Spinny will emerge as a market leader in this space.”.

Commenting on this development, Ashish Kumar, Partner, The Fundamentum Partnership said: “We have been very pleased with the progress the company has made since our 1st Investment a year back and decided to re-invest along with the new investors in Series C. I have the privilege of watching very high quality execution by Niraj and the team at Spinny from close angles, and say with confidence that the combination of customer obsession and use of technology in a business which has largely remained offline is unmatched. I am very bullish on Spinny having a real chance at becoming one of India's largest consumer brands.”

About Spinny:

Founded in 2015, Spinny is a full stack used car retailing platform that aims to bring about transparency and convenience in the car buying/ selling process in India. Spinny operates across the entire value chain of pre-owned cars, embedding superior technology and processes to deliver a premium experience to customers. As a testimony of Spinny's commitment to transparency and quality, every car on the Spinny platform comes with a 200-point inspection check-list, 5-day money-back guarantee, and 1-year after-sales warranty. Currently, Spinny has 16 car hubs that operate across 8 cities - Delhi-NCR, Bangalore, Mumbai, Pune, Hyderabad, Chennai, Kolkata, and Ahmedabad cities. Visit www.spinny.com to find your dream car.

About the team:

Spinny is founded by Niraj Singh (IIT Delhi Alumni), Mohit Gupta (Ex-Director, Flipkart) and Ramanshu Mahaur (IIT Delhi Alumni, Ex-Adobe). Niraj has had 2 successful entrepreneurial exits before he started Spinny and he was also a seed/early stage investor in start-ups like Tripoto, JustRide (Now Drivezy), Little Black Book, Rapido Bike Taxi, MyHQ, Fango (Now SellTM), ShaadiSaga, etc. The core team consists of many ex-founders and IIT/IIM/INSEAD graduates with experience in Management Consulting, E-commerce, marketplaces, and supply chain industries.

RBL Bank And Mastercard Partner To Offer First-Of-Its-Kind, Payment Functionality In India

* Pay by Bank App will enable consumers to make payments, securely and directly from the Bank’s mobile banking app

RBL Bank and Mastercard today announced their partnership to launch a mobile based consumer-friendly payment solution – the Pay by Bank App, a first-of-its-kind payment functionality in India. RBL Bank account holders can now enjoy contactless transactions across the world through their mobile banking application both in-store and online. This functionality will be available at all Mastercard accepting merchants, worldwide that accept contactless and online payments.

To provide enhanced security, ‘Pay by Bank App’ ensures that bank consumer’s payment credentials are never exposed to the merchant, making the transaction completely secure. Customers will continue to receive the Mastercard consumer protection benefits that they currently enjoy on their debit cards. Additionally, the solution offers personalized transaction controls that enable bank’s customers to dictate how, where and when their payment credentials are used.

The recent momentum towards digital, triggered by new norms of health protection and social distancing have highlighted the need for more choice in making digital, contactless payments. As per a recent Mastercard survey, 49% of people in India are planning to make more purchases online. At the same time, 68% consumers in India think less in-store shopping is here to stay. A large majority – 77% – also believe the shift to contactless payments is permanent.

Through this solution, merchants benefit from increased approval rates as each transaction will be authenticated by the account holders. Additionally, merchants will benefit from increased volume of contactless transactions as more account holders leverage their mobile app for making payments.

Surinder Chawla, Head - Branch Banking at RBL Bank, said “Our customers are looking to us to provide innovative solutions for easy digital payments that they can trust and rely on. We are happy to be the first movers in this space and launch this unique payment application with Mastercard which offers simple, speedy, and secure payments, while also addressing payment challenges that merchants may face such as declines or fraud. It is aligned with our efforts in bringing contactless banking initiatives, eliminating the need for physical contact amidst these unprecedented times of COVID-19.”

“Underpinned by the security offered by Mastercard and the bank, ‘Pay by Bank App’ delivers a digital payment solution to meet the needs of consumers seeking online or touch-free payments and wanting to protect their credentials better” said Porush Singh, Division President, South Asia, Mastercard. “Contributing towards Government of India’s vision to fuel the growth of digital payments, it’s another example of how Mastercard’s technology is supporting customer banks by making transactions simpler , more seamless and safer.”

Additional capabilities supported by the payment application include bill payments and personal payments via the mobile banking application that are already widely available across South East Asian markets where it is receiving a favorable response from banks and digital players who are looking to transform their mobile apps by adding digital payment capabilities or to enable contactless acceptance for their customers.

About RBL Bank

RBL Bank is one of India's fastest growing private sector banks with an expanding presence across the country. The Bank offers specialized services under six business verticals namely: Corporate & Institutional Banking, Commercial Banking, Branch & Business Banking, Retail Assets, Development Banking and Financial Inclusion, Treasury and Financial Markets Operations. It currently services over 9.08 million customers through a network of 403 branches, 1,344 business correspondent branches (of which 259 banking outlets) and 412 ATMs spread across 28 Indian states and Union Territories.

RBL Bank is listed on both NSE and BSE (RBLBANK). Further Details: www.rblbank.com

About Mastercard (NYSE: MA), www.mastercard.com

Mastercard is a global technology company in the payments industry. Our mission is to connect and power an inclusive, digital economy that benefits everyone, everywhere by making transactions safe, simple, smart and accessible. Using secure data and networks, partnerships and passion, our innovations and solutions help individuals, financial institutions, governments and businesses realize their greatest potential. Our decency quotient, or DQ, drives our culture and everything we do inside and outside of our company. With connections across more than 210 countries and territories, we are building a sustainable world that unlocks priceless possibilities for all.

TECNO Ropes In Bollywood Superstar Ayushmann Khurrana As Its Indian Brand Ambassador For 2021

* The multifaceted superstar will be seen spearheading the new brand campaign across TECNO’s product lines SPARK, CAMON & POVA

TECNO, the global premium smartphone brand, today announced Bollywood superstar Ayushmann Khurrana as its brand ambassador. The partnership is expected to give a strong face to TECNO’s brand philosophy ‘Stop at Nothing’ to deliver innovative products of sensory excellence and bolster its position among smartphone consumers of New India in 2021.  As the youth icon of New India, Ayushmann Khurrana has trail blazed his way into Indian hearts, especially those coming from non-metros and small towns with his charismatic, uncompromising and relatable personality. His penchant to break barriers and carve a niche for himself resonate with TECNO’s brand philosophy of never stop pursuing excellence.

Speaking about the partnership, Ayushmann Khurrana, said, “I am looking forward to this association with TECNO, a smartphone brand that has been trying to break barriers since its inception to provide true value to the Indian consumers. As an actor, I understand the importance of perfection and giving the best to our audiences. TECNO, has established itself as one of the leading smartphone brand in India with its consistency towards delivering excellent products with stylish designs and innovative features at the most competitive price. Associating with such a brand that stops at nothing to provide a great smartphone experience to its consumers is quite thrilling”

Commenting on the association, Arijeet Talapatra, CEO of TECNO Mobile – India said, “TECNO is known for its ‘ahead of the curve’ approach and a product philosophy that believes in introducing ‘segment-first’ features to create greater accessibility for our consumers in the mid-budget category of New Bharat. In this journey, we felt that 'Ayushmann the personality', upholds our values the strongest. He epitomizes our intent to be uncompromising in our efforts to empower Indian citizens with feature-rich smartphones. I strongly believe this association will enable us to reach out to a wider base of consumers and further consolidate our position as a leading smartphone player in the segment.”

TECNO sees this association to complement this year’s company initiative that aim to push the envelope of technology democratisation with innovative, new-age smartphones at aggressive price points. Ayushmann will be seen spearheading the new TECNO SPARK 7 campaign launched in India on 9th April and will go on sale on 16th April. He will feature in campaigns across SPARK, POVA, CAMON smartphone series.

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.

FSS Appoints Sanjoy Bose As The Chief Revenue Officer South Asia

FSS (Financial Software and Systems), a leading global payment processor and provider of integrated payment products, today announced the appointment of Sanjoy Bose as the Chief Revenue Officer – South Asia. Sanjoy will be responsible for growing FSS Business in the region, taking a customer-centric approach and driving high-quality engagements.

Sanjoy brings in three decades of deep global business development expertise. He will be focusing on expanding and further strengthening the brand in the region with new logo acquisitions and revenue growth for the multi-faceted retail payments.

Speaking on the new appointment, Mr. Nagaraj Mylandla, Chairman and Managing Director, FSS, said: “We are happy to welcome Sanjoy to our leadership team. I am certain that Sanjoy’s expertise and business acumen will bring in the edge we need to grow exponentially in the region.

Commenting on the appointment, Mr. Krishnan Srinivasan, Chief Operating Officer – Retail Payments, FSS, said: “I am delighted and happy to welcome Sanjoy to the FSS family. He has a proven track record of leading and motivating high-performing sales and business growth teams across organizations that has helped unlock immense value for customers. We are certain his vast experience will augment our growth in the coming years.”

As the former EVP and Head of Global Sales at Wibmo, Sanjoy was instrumental in propelling Wibmo to the number one position (in on-line card payment authentication) and expanding its reach across geographies. Prior to Wibmo, Sanjoy had a 12-year successful stint in the Silicon Valley, followed by 8 years in the APAC region.

“Digital payment adoption has accelerated across the globe with the pandemic. FSS, with its huge repertoire of payment technology assets and 30 years of proven experience, is uniquely positioned to address this ever-changing world of payments.  I am honoured and thrilled to be part of a company of this stature, said Mr. Sanjoy Bose, Chief Revenue Officer – South Asia, Retail Payments, FSS.

About FSS

FSS (Financial Software and Systems) is a leader in payments technology and transaction processing. FSS offers an integrated portfolio of software products, hosted payment services and software solutions built over 30+ years of experience. FSS, end-to-end payments products suite, powers retail delivery channels including ATM, POS, Internet and Mobile as well as critical back-end functions including cards management, reconciliation, settlement, merchant management and device monitoring. Headquartered in India, FSS services leading global banks, financial institutions, processors, central regulators and governments across North America, UK/Europe, Middle East, Africa and APAC. 

Keysight Delivers Multi-Gigabit Automotive Ethernet Test Solutions To Ensure Standard Compliance

* Expands automotive Ethernet software portfolio to address multi-gigabit standards that govern automotive Ethernet for the designers and validation teams of in-vehicle networks

Keysight Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: KEYS), a leading technology company that delivers advanced design and validation solutions to help accelerate innovation to connect and secure the world, has expanded its Advanced Automotive Ethernet software portfolio to help automotive industry engineers, designers and manufacturers develop high-quality, high-performance products that improve safety in driving conditions and enable emerging advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS).

Addressing the Standards that Govern Automotive Ethernet

Next-generation ADAS systems need camera and radar systems that deliver high resolution.  This requires increased data rates and high bandwidth networking. Automotive Ethernet enables faster data communication to meet the demands of today’s vehicles and the connected vehicles of the future. Keysight is launching three new software additions for 1G and multigigabit data rates that enable Tier 1, OEM, chipset vendors and other automotive suppliers, to quickly validate and debug automotive Ethernet devices, ensuring faster time-to-market and achieving IEEE and OPEN Alliance compliance. However, higher speeds can result in data loss, interference and greater risk of missed or incorrect packets of information.

To address this growing challenge, Keysight has developed an automotive Ethernet transmit and channel test software solution for IEEE 802.3ch 2.5/5/10Gbps to quickly test, debug and easily characterize complex multi-gigabit automotive Ethernet designs. 

Keysight’s automotive Ethernet solutions provide the hardware, software, cables, and accessories needed for compliance testing. It is built on functional and multipurpose hardware - trusted and repeatable measurement results from Keysight’s popular Infiniium UXR-Series Real-Time and MXR-Series Real-Time  oscilloscope families, as well as Keysight E5080B ENA Vector Network Analyzer, Keysight PXI Vector Network Analyzers, or Keysight Streamline Series USB Vector Network Analyzers.  These instruments are also invaluable tools in the lab for design verification and validation beyond automotive Ethernet.

Keysight’s new automotive Ethernet software offers the following key features and customer benefits:

* Greater confidence with a device that is compliant to any standards: 6 standards for Transmitter, 2 standards for Receiver and 6 for Link segment.

* Includes all relevant hardware, software and accessories into one model number, saving time and money with only one compliance application to buy and use.

* Creates a test plan and automatically sets up the instrumentation for each measurement, applying the limit lines.

* Automated reporting in a comprehensive HTML or PDF format with margin analysis.

* Automated setups ensure result repeatability and enable teams to run tests without becoming experts in the required procedures.

* Accurate and repeatable results with Keysight instrumentation and specific automotive Ethernet fixtures and adapter boards.

* Enables protocol decoding for 1000BASE-T1 PHYs that quickly troubleshoots automotive Ethernet protocol problems back to its timing or signal integrity root cause

“At Keysight, we recognize that it is critical to address the growing market demands for high-speed digital interfaces within the Automotive market,” said Thomas Goetzl, vice president and general manager of Keysight’s Automotive and Energy Solutions business unit. “The new solutions announced here represent yet another way that Keysight is supporting the evolution and standardization of technologies for our automotive customers.”

One example is that, before release, the solution has been successfully verified on Broadcom’s BCM8989x, the industry’s first automotive IEEE802.3ch multigigabit PHY device. In addition, MegaChips corporation used the transmit compliance software to validate their design.

"IEEE 802.3ch is an important data rate for us and our customers, we needed a way to validate our design interpretations of the specification," said Taiji Kondo, general manager of MegaChips HIGHSPEED WIRED COMMUNICATION DIV. Analog DEV. DEPT. "Keysight's automotive Ethernet transmitter software enables us to deliver a new chipset to our customers with confidence."

Additional information

Images of Keysight’s multi-gigabit automotive Ethernet test solutions are available at www.keysight.com/find/multigig-automotive-ethernet-images

About Keysight’s automotive test solutions is available at www.keysight.com/find/automotive

About Keysight Technologies

Keysight delivers advanced design and validation solutions that help accelerate innovation to connect and secure the world. Keysight’s dedication to speed and precision extends to software-driven insights and analytics that bring tomorrow’s technology products to market faster across the development lifecycle, in design simulation, prototype validation, automated software testing, manufacturing analysis, and network performance optimization and visibility in enterprise, service provider and cloud environments.  Our customers span the worldwide communications and industrial ecosystems, aerospace and defense, automotive, energy, semiconductor and general electronics. Keysight generated revenues of $4.2B in fiscal year 2020.

Top 7 Tips For Choosing The Right Accounting Software For e-Invoicing

By Mr. Niraj Hutheesing, Founder and Managing Director, Cygnet Infotech

The Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs (CBIC) has already mandated E-invoicing since October 2020 for businesses with a turnover of 500+ crore since January 2021 for businesses with turnover 100+ crore and from April onwards for 50+ crore companies. Small businesses can now become a part of the digital process by using an accounting software required for e-invoicing. In the last few years, it has gained traction and become a common B2B practice. As the Government of India has made e-invoicing mandatory for firms with a turnover of 50 crores or more, it will get embedded in every company’s business processes and practices. E-invoicing aids in automating the authentication process for the invoices.

Having the right software in place can empower your Account Payable staff to do more than just inputting data. If your business is looking to implement an e-invoicing solution, here are seven features that you need to look out for.

1)  Identifying IRN, QR Code, and Digital Signature

Your accounting software should be able to provide all the appropriate information to the IRP (invoice registration portal) to create an IRN (Invoice Reference Number) for an invoice. The information is required for creating the IRN includes GSTIN of the supplier, financial year, document type, and number. Your system should identify this IRN on the invoice PDFs, as it is one of the required fields in the e-invoice format.

The IRP will generate QR codes for businesses with a collective turnover of 100 crores and permit the generation of B2B invoices. Your system should automatically attach these QR codes to the invoices.

You will also receive a digitally signed copy of the e-invoice from the IRP as a part of the validation process, so your software should be able to recognize and read it. This is your confirmation that the submitted invoice is valid and it can now be used as a reference document for filing returns.

2) Standard e-invoice format recommended by the GoI

Largely, the E-Invoice contains two fields: Mandatory and Optional fields.

The required fields are those columns that imperatively form a vital part of the invoices under the e-invoice standard.

Speaking of the optional fields are columns that are not mandatory to generate a valid e-invoice. The option to fill these fields is the choice of the taxpayer or the entity.

As per the most recent e-invoice format, there are 12 Sections in which five are obligatory.

The mandatory sections are:

1. Basic details

2. Supplier information

3. Recipient information

4. Invoice Item details

5. Document total

There are six annexures in which two are mandatory, which includes item details and document total details.

3)  Proper bifurcation of transactions

Your accounting software should be able to classify transactions as:

1. Business to Business (B2B)

2. Export

3. Supply through E-commerce operators

4. Supply applicable for reverse charge.

Your system should integrate capably with the e-invoicing system to categorize your invoices based on the tax category entered by the customer when an e-invoice is generated.

4) Syncing Invoices to your Accounts Payable and Receivable Module

Your accounting software should let you to link the IRP-validated invoices to your accounts payable and accounts receivable modules. This will help you make your payments on time. In case you are trying to claim Input Tax Credit (ITC) on invoices, you will have to make the payments within 180 days after the date of invoice generated. Your system should also help you track due payments so that you can send payment reminders to your debtors.

5)  Integration of Data Analytics

Built-in Analytics and customizable dashboard can help businesses to garner more insights from their data. Everyone wants to know how their business is performing. With the help of E-invoicing, E-way bill, GST, and bookkeeping data, we can generate holistic reports needed to get business insights.

6) Security of Confidential Information

Your accounting software should offer security features like multi-factor authentication, customer controls that allow you to exercise reasonable precautions while uploading information on the cloud, and appropriate notifications about threats from phishing and malware.

7) 360-degree Support Services

A dedicated technical and functional team with quick response time to solve queries and issues of customers related to E-invoicing, accounting, and software.

All the above-mentioned features in an accounting software can greatly benefit organisations and ensure smooth functioning of business, while eliminating manual errors. The larger corporates are helping the vendors and dealers with accounting software systems that will help comply with e-invoicing mandate.  Even the small ERP and accounting software providers are modifying the software to include e-invoicing.  The B2B invoices, on average for sub 100 cr. vendors, are less than a 100 per month, and using the government-provided utility also works for them.

Hero Motocorp Unveils Sales & Aftersales Services On Messaging APP

Building on its industry-leading digital initiatives for enhanced customer experience, Hero MotoCorp, the world’s largest manufacturer of motorcycles and scooters, has launched a comprehensive range of sales and aftersales services on the messaging app – WhatsApp.

Hero MotoCorp customers will now be able to avail a host of services from an easy-to-interact menu-based chatbot that can be accessed 24*7 on the messaging platform. The company is offering informative, transactional, and location services through this new initiative, with the objective of providing its new-age, digital-savvy customers a seamless and easy-access engagement. 

Commenting on the new accessibility feature, Naveen Chauhan, Head – Sales & Aftersales, Hero MotoCorp, said, “Hero MotoCorp is committed to providing the best-in-class solutions to our customers. Initiating WhatsApp support is in line with our objective to provide contactless and easily accessible sales & service options. With this new digital initiative, we hope to strengthen our connection with the customers and at the same time ensure hassle-free, timely, and effective solutions at their fingertips.”

To access the feature, customers can scan the QR code available at all Hero MotoCorp customer touch-points or by calling +918367796950 from their mobile device. Once initiated, customers may start the conversation at any time of the day and avail of a range of services offered by the feature.

Providing real-time services and offering support on a wide range of topics, the feature provides the following key facilities –

Service booking and post-service feedback

Real-time status check of the vehicle under repair

Locating nearest workshop and showroom 

Self-Job-card initiation

Vehicle enquiry and bookings

Service and maintenance schedule 

Digital Sales and service invoice copy

Information on New models, TVCs, Goodlife program, Hero app, Safety tips, and Maintenance videos

Reckitt & WhiteHat Jr Join To Inspire Young Minds To Contribute Digital Hygiene Solutions Under Dettol Banega Swasth India Campaign

* 50 Scholarships to be awarded to top performers for creating innovative mobile apps addressing hygiene and health issues

* 200 creative ideas to be mentored by experienced professionals

Leading global consumer health and hygiene company Reckitt, formerly RB, under the Dettol Banega Swasth India campaign today announced a collaboration with leading technology-based education company WhiteHat Jr to launch a unique digital scholarship program. The WhiteHat Jr Swasth Bharat Tech Champs Program aims to inspire children in the age group of 6-18 years to reimagine health and hygiene solutions that impact all human touch-points from personal to domestic and from the community to the environment.

At the helm, this scholarship program will drive young Indians to participate in a cause that is in dire need of attention, reinforcing the importance of sanitation and hygiene in our communities. The program, crafted to pique the interest of young minds, will include technology as a critical lever, entailing the creation of mobile applications to tackle hygiene-related issues in the country. An open-to-all contest vetted by E&Y will invite Indian students aged 6-18 years to reimagine solutions for age-old hygiene-related issues, which are still very much relevant amid COVID 19.

“The current generations’ association with technology is unimaginable, it has become their primary medium to connect, engage and express over critical issues,” said Mr. Gaurav Jain, Senior Vice President, Reckitt South Asia. “With the unprecedented pandemic changing the way we live, eat, behave and socialize in our everyday lives, focus on health and hygiene has become paramount. Our collaboration with WhiteHat Jr is an effort not only to find immediate solutions to pressing needs of health and hygiene but also to make this a lifetime priority for them. We are excited to see the creative solutions they come up with to help spread the messages and make hygiene a habit.”

"Children are naturally creative and empathetic and since they aren't predisposed to an existing concept or bound by the constraints of what's doable, the solutions end up being genuinely innovative,” said CEO and Founder of WhiteHat Jr Karan Bajaj. “This initiative is a real-life manifestation of the mission of WhiteHat Jr to make children creators rather than being passive consumers of technology.”

Mr. Ravi Bhatnagar, Director, External Affairs and Partnerships, Reckitt AMESA, said, “We, at Dettol Banega Swasth India, believe in education as the catalyst to social change and tool to empower children. We wanted to provide the socially conscious minds a platform to reimagine this cause and come up with solutions that will encourage more children to join the movement and make a difference. We are excited at the launch of this unique program and looking forward to improving the health quotient with these solutions.”

The top 50 shortlisted students will get an INR 50,000 scholarship from Reckitt. The six-month campaign will be executed in three phases:

●   Open to idea submissions (April 12-May 13, 2021)

●   Mentorship of top 200 submitted ideas by experts from WhiteHat Jr to help them fine-tune the idea and prepare the participants for the development of mobile applications

●   Winner selection of top 50 students

Over the last six years, Dettol Banega Swasth India has played a critical role in driving true behaviour change towards better hygiene and sanitation practices for 13 million kids. The latest agenda for the campaign is to encourage the Indian population to adhere to self-care practices as a driver of change for a safer tomorrow. The pandemic, however, has enforced the paradigm shift in the entire approach towards healthcare. Health, hygiene & sanitation have come to the center stage of people’s lives and the campaign initiatives focus on propagating better health practices, proper sanitation and adequate nutrition while protecting the environment through sustainable methods.

About Reckitt:

Reckitt* exists to protect, heal and nurture in the relentless pursuit of a cleaner, healthier world. We believe that access to the highest-quality hygiene, wellness and nourishment is a right, not a privilege.

Reckitt is the company behind some of the world’s most recognisable and trusted consumer brands in hygiene, health and nutrition, including Air Wick, Calgon, Cillit Bang, Clearasil, Dettol, Durex, Enfamil, Finish, Gaviscon, Harpic, Lysol, Mortein, Mucinex, Nurofen, Nutramigen, Strepsils, Vanish, Veet, Woolite and more.

Every day, more than 20 million Reckitt products are bought globally. We always put consumers and people first, seek out new opportunities, strive for excellence in all that we do and build shared success with all our partners. We aim to do the right thing, always.

We are a diverse global team of more than 43,000 colleagues. We draw on our collective energy to meet our ambitions of purpose-led brands, a healthier planet and a fairer society.  Find out more, or get in touch with us at www.reckitt.com

*Reckitt is the trading name of the Reckitt Benckiser group of companies

About WhiteHat Jr:

WhiteHat Jr has been launched with the singular mission of enabling kids to become creators versus consumers of technology. The company has been able to channel students’ natural creativity through an engaging curriculum and personalized live 1:1 teacher attention. WhiteHat Jr. currently has more than 175,000+ students from around the world. The company’s 11,000 strong women-only teacher workforce conducts 1:1 LIVE Coding and Math online classes every day on its proprietary platform.

Tata Motors Launches New Ad For Ramadan; Strives To Spread Joy During The Unprecedented Times

Tata Motors, one of the world’s leading automotive manufacturers, announced the launch of its new marketing campaign on the occasion of the start of the holy month of Ramadan. Titled #CelebratingGoodness with Tata Motors, the commercial endeavours to instil optimism and provide solace, especially during these challenging and tough times, during the COVID-19 pandemic. The ad encourages spreading cheerfulness and delight through #NekiHiDariya, the path of righteousness and good deeds, which is keeping with the true spirit of Ramadan.

The ad depicts a group of employees working selflessly to ensure that their employer doesn’t miss breaking his fast or better known as ‘iftar’  due to his car breakdown. Overwhelmed by their gesture, the employer heartily invites his employees to his residence for them to break the Ramadan fast together, while they celebrate over dinner table. The ad highlights the spirit of compassion, benevolence and equality within everyone, across all nationalities and race. The film has been conceptualised and developed by creative agency Ogilvy, India.

Speaking on the launch of the ad, Mr. Rudrarup Maitra, Vice President, International Business, Commercial Vehicle Business Unit, Tata Motors said "Ramadan is an important period for Tata Motors customers worldwide, and every year during this auspicious period, Tata Motors shares a beautiful message on the human spirit that binds us all together and connects us through our aspirations. This year, Tata Motors celebrates this everlasting human spirit of helping and inspiring each other through this beautiful film and shows that the spirit of Ramadan is experienced best when it is celebrated together. Wishing everyone a blessed Ramadan!”

Ad Link: Ramadan Kareem 2021 #CelebratingGoodness​​ with Tata Motors #NekiHiDariya

The ad will be promoted during the holy month of Ramadan, further cascading on to social media handles with the following hashtags: #CelebratingGoodness​​ #NekiHiDariya.

About Tata Motors

Tata Motors Limited (NYSE: TTM; BSE: 500570 and 570001; NSE: TATAMOTORS and TATAMTRDVR), a USD 35 billion organization, is a leading global automobile manufacturer of cars, utility vehicles, pick-ups, trucks and buses. Part of the USD 113 billion Tata group, Tata Motors is India’s largest and the only OEM offering extensive range of integrated, smart and e-mobility solutions. It has operations in India, the UK, South Korea, Thailand, South Africa, and Indonesia through a strong global network of 103 subsidiaries, 10 associate companies, 3 joint ventures and 2 joint operations as on March 31, 2020.

With a focus on engineering and tech enabled automotive solutions catering to the future of mobility, Tata Motors is India’s market leader in commercial vehicles and amongst the top four in the passenger vehicles market. With ‘Connecting Aspirations’ at the core of its brand promise, the company’s innovation efforts are focused to develop pioneering technologies that are sustainable as well as suited to evolving aspirations of the market and the customers. Tata Motors strives to bring new products that fire the imagination of GenNext customers, fueled by state of the art design and R&D centers located in India, UK, US, Italy and South Korea. Internationally, Tata commercial and passenger vehicles are marketed in countries, spread across Africa, the Middle East, South Asia, South East Asia, South America, Australia, CIS, and Russia.

OPPO Elevates User Experience, Launches HeyTap Health Mobile App For iOS In Indian Market

* A health and fitness app that can pair and manage OPPO smart wearable devices.

* HeyTap will now support Apple Health which will let your step count to be synchronized with Apple Health

OPPO, the leading global smart device brand, today announces the launch of OPPO HeyTap Health For Apple IOS app. The OPPO HeyTap Health is a personal fitness app that records and visualizes your workout and health statistics and allows you to manage your OPPO smart wearable devices, such as OPPO Watch and OPPO Band Style. After authorization, your steps can be synchronized to Apple Health, and calories data will be read from Apple Health.

In fact, you can also pair your OPPO Watch or OPPO Band with the OPPO Heytap Health mobile app to explore more features and manage your smart devices, such as receiving notifications on your wearable devices, choosing your favorite watch face from a collection, choosing your own style for the AI Outfit watch face, available in OPPO Watch or customizing your personal workout and health settings.

OPPO Band Style: Activate Your Health

Continuous SpO2 Monitoring: Sleep disorders are very common these days. Both the elderly and the young experience sleep disorders, owing to daily stress and chaotic schedules. The OPPO Band Style’s health monitoring function is specifically designed to detect sleep problems. It supports accurate sleep monitoring, heart rate monitoring, and continuous SpO2 monitoring—providing all-around records and analysis of its user’s sleep health.

The continuous SpO2 monitoring is made possible via a built-in optical blood oxygen sensor. This component enables the OPPO Band Style to continuously monitor blood oxygen saturation per second when the user is asleep. During an eight-hour sleep cycle, it conducts non-stop SpO2 monitoring 28,800 times—fully measuring the user’s body oxygen saturation. With its continuous SpO2 monitor and professional sleep monitor, the OPPO Band Style can help users develop healthier sleep habits, help monitor their heart health, respiratory health.

Active Life with 12 Workout Modes: Apart from sleep-related issues, another health issue that young adults are most concerned about is exercising, and the OPPO Band Style is here to make working out convenient. It has 12 built-in workout modes, including running, walking, cycling, swimming, badminton, cricket, Yoga, etc., covering most of the sports that are widespread among young people.

With the OPPO Band Style recording the exercising data, users can check their progress in the HeyTap Health app, which is key to boosting motivation for an active life.

The OPPO Watch is world’s first smart watch with a dual-curved display and is powered with Wear OS by Google. OPPO Watch is ideal for easy switching between professional and personal, seamlessly, with Google’s apps and services at a glance. Capturing a wide range of health information, including heart-rate and sleep tracking, and with wrist-based ‘5-min’ workouts, OPPO Watch is the ultimate training partner in a pinch. Not just that, it also comes with OPPO’s proprietary VOOC Flash Charging that is capable of delivering a full day’s power in just 15 mins.

If you encounter any problems when using the app or have any suggestions, you can send an email to P_Health@oppo.com

About OPPO

OPPO is a leading global smart device brand. Since the launch of its first smartphone - “Smiley Face” - in 2008, OPPO has been in relentless pursuit of the perfect synergy of aesthetic satisfaction and innovative technology. Today, OPPO provides a wide range of smart devices spearheaded by the Find and Reno series. Beyond devices, OPPO provides its users with ColorOS and internet services like OPPO Cloud and OPPO+. OPPO operates in more than 40 countries and regions, with 6 Research Institutes and 4 R&D Centers worldwide, as well as an International Design Center in London. The recently opened, first-ever R&D center outside of China, in Hyderabad, is playing a pivotal role in the development of 5G technologies. In line with OPPO's commitment to Make in India, the manufacturing at the Greater Noida plant has been increased to 50 million smartphones per year.

Godrej Air Conditioners With 99.9%+ Virus Sterilization, Supplement Heavy Duty Cooling With Health Assurance

* Godrej Appliances undertakes strategic expansion with in-house backward integrated AC manufacturing plant, in line with its self-reliance vision.

* Godrej Appliances introduces 100% Made in India ACs. Spanning more than 30 models across segments, the latest range of Air Conditioners use only the most eco-friendly refrigerants – R290 and R32 which have the lowest global warming potential.

* Godrej Appliances is the only AC manufacturer in India to use the world’s greenest R290 refrigerant which has the lowest global warming potential and zero ozone depleting potential

* The brand will invest INR 100 Cr in both manufacturing units at Shirwal and Mohali by 2025, to augment their AC production capacity to 8 lakh units.

* The brand targets a market share of 10% over the next 3 years in the AC category.

In line with its brand philosophy of ‘Soch Ke Banaya Hai’ and the brand value of Environment, Godrej Appliances, a business of Godrej & Boyce, the flagship company of the Godrej Group and one of the leading players in the Home Appliances industry, launched its range of 100% Made in India eco-friendly air conditioners with the added assurance of health. The new air conditioners come with a special ‘Nano-Coated Anti-Viral Filtration Technology’ which eliminates 99.9% viral and bacterial particles coming in contact with the Nano Coated Filter surface, safeguarding consumer health and improve the hygiene at home. Driving its commitment towards ‘Make in India’, the brand has set up a new AC manufacturing unit at its Shirwal factory. The entire new range spanning 30 models, uses only the most eco-friendly refrigerants – R290 and R32, thus offering the lowest Global Warming Potential (GWP).

The ongoing Covid pandemic has influenced purchase behaviour across categories with consumers seeking better health, hygiene and comfort at home where they are spending a lot more time. People are warming up to more sustainable, eco-friendly offerings. The other significant shift has been greater consciousness towards supporting India-Made Products.  For the economy too, the pandemic has highlighted the importance of securing supply chains and being self-reliant. This is in line with the government’s vision of AtmaNirbhar Bharat which necessitates indigenous manufacturing, developing a pool of skilled labour and an ecosystem of component manufacturing in the country.

Manufacturing is one of the core strengths of Godrej Appliances. Via backward integrations, the brand has been working steadily over the years towards upping its indigenous manufacturing capabilities, with an intention to manufacture nearly all its product categories locally. Over the last seven years, the brand has invested Rs. 1100 crore in capacity, R&D and technology expansion, demonstrating attesting its commitment to ‘Make in India’. The brand recently inaugurated its new Air Conditioner manufacturing unit at its Shirwal factory in Maharashtra, in the presence of Ms. Nyrika Holkar, Executive Director – Godrej & Boyce and Mr. Kamal Nandi – Business Head and Executive Vice President – Godrej Appliances

The new AC line in Shirwal is spread across 1.50 lakh sqft. The brand has invested INR 50 Crores in capital, dedicated to machinery, tools infrastructure and backward integration for the air conditioner category including AC heat exchanger coils & Indoor Units. This will add 4 lakh units of AC production capacity at Shirwal in 2021. Another 4 lakh units of AC production capacity will be added in Mohali by 2025 with an additional similar investment, taking the total investment to Rs. 100 Cr. The backward integrated manufacturing unit will equip the brand with greater agility and flexibility in terms of its offerings – both features and aesthetics, enabling it to respond faster to changing consumer needs.

Commenting on the new assembly line, Mr. Kamal Nandi, Business Head and Executive Vice President – Godrej Appliances, said, “We take pride in our manufacturing capabilities. Both of our manufacturing plants at Shirwal and Mohali are the first in India to be coveted with CII’s GreenCo Platinum Plus rating, for our sustainable and green manufacturing practices. We have been working towards improving our indigenous manufacturing capabilities through backward integrations, moving a step closer to being able to manufacture most of our product categories in-house. The newly set up air conditioner manufacturing unit is yet another concrete step in bringing alive our founder’s vision of a self-reliant India, while taking care of the environment. A capital of INR 100 Cr is earmarked for the venture of ~100% in-house manufacturing of eco-friendly ACs in Shirwal and Mohali by 2025, augmenting production capacity to 8 lakh units. The new ACs supplement heavy duty cooling with 99.9%+ virus sterilization thanks to Anti-Viral Nano filtration technology, in view of the need for greater hygiene at homes.”

The nano-coated anti-viral filter has a special chemical coating that eliminates 99.9%+ viral and bacterial particles coming in its contact. The filter continues to retain its efficacy even after 50 washes, during routine maintenance, ensuring that it protects you throughout the life of the air conditioner.

Godrej Air Conditioners offer a host of consumer benefits.

1.    Heavy Duty Lasting Cooling:

a.    Powerful cooling with twin rotary compressors.

b.    100% copper condenser & connecting pipes for long-term reliability and durability

c.    Heavy Duty Outdoor units with higher weight indicating better build and quality

d.    Corrosion-resistant blue fin technology in the evaporator and the condenser.

2.    Health, hygiene & comfort

a.    Anti-Viral Nano-coated filter technology for 99.9%+ virus and bacteria sterilisation

b.    Self-cleaning technology which inhibits bacterial growth and corrosion of the air conditioner.

c.    An Outdoor Unit with acoustic jacketing and an IDU with a BLDC motor for silent operation.

d.    Sleep mode that ensures comfort through the night

3.    Eco-friendly & Energy Efficient

a.    Uses only the greenest refrigerants R290 and R32 across its range.

b.    Only brand to offer world’s greenest R290 refrigerant technology, with Zero Ozone Depletion Potential and negligible Global Warming Potential

c.    Available in super efficient 5-star energy rating

The machines come with a 10-year inverter compressor warranty for added peace of mind. To further enhance its offering during the season, Godrej is providing limited period offers like subsidized installation offers along with the convenience of Same Day Installation at key cities and attractive finance offers on the entire range along with extended warranty benefits.

Santosh Salian, Product Group Head – Air Conditioners, Godrej Appliances, added, “Summers are becoming harsher every year and temperatures are already soaring in April this year. Last summer was a washout for the AC category industry wide, but we are upbeat about this summer season and expect that there will be good demand for ACs, partly influenced by the continued work and schooling from home trend also. We also offer a very strong 2 Tr Split AC portfolio, which is being positioned as a ‘living room AC’. Godrej Air Conditioners are known for heavy duty, energy efficient, and environment friendly cooling. We have retained all this but with the pandemic influencing people’s need for increased hygiene and health, our new ACs are also equipped with 99.9%+ viral and bacterial sterilisation. The wide range of eco-friendly products will be available across all channels and leading stores. With this 100% Made in India and Greenest AC range, we are confident of strengthening our position by growing our market share to 10% over the next 3 years.”

Service plays an important role in appliances as a whole, but especially so, in ACs. Godrej Smartcare, the service brand of Godrej Appliances was rated No.1 in a large-scale consumer research, two years in a row. Godrej Smartcare offers the widest service network with 680 service centres, more than 4500 Smartbuddy technicians who you can track via an app, a 24x7 call centre in 14 regional languages, WhatsApp service option and 185 Smart Mobile vans for enhanced reach and faster service.

The new range of eco-friendly and healthy Godrej ACs are available in both inverter and fixed speed technology, split ACs in 5-star and 3-star energy ratings.  

About Godrej Appliances

Godrej Appliances, a business unit of the highly diversified Godrej & Boyce Mfg. Co. Ltd. is one of the leading Home Appliances players in India. Godrej was the first Indian Company in 1958 to manufacture Refrigerators and has since then, expanded its portfolio across many other categories like Washing Machines, Air Conditioners, Microwave Ovens, futuristic Thermo-electric cooling solutions, Air Coolers, Deep Freezers, highly specialized Medical Refrigerators and more recently, UVC Technology-Based Disinfecting devices and Dishwashers, all powered by the driving philosophy of 'Things made thoughtfully’/ ‘Soch Ke Banaya Hai’. 

This thought extends from human-centric design to planet centric design. Environment is a core value at Godrej Appliances. Both manufacturing units of Godrej Appliances’ - in Maharashtra and Punjab, became the first in the country to win the coveted Platinum Plus Green Co certification for their pioneering green manufacturing practices. 

The brand takes pride in not just its carefully designed products and environment-friendly technologies, but also best in class after-sales service delivered through over 680 service centers and more than 4500 SmartBuddy service experts spread all over the country. Godrej customers can now book or track service requests on WhatsApp (9321665511), besides the toll-free 1800 209 5511.