Saturday, December 31, 2022

Intimation Of Closing Date For Acquisition Of Ford India’s Sanand Plant By Tata Motors


Tata Passenger Electric Mobility Limited (“TPEML”), a subsidiary of Tata Motors Limited (“TML”), and Ford India Private Limited (“FIPL” and together with TPEML, “Parties”) had executed a Unit Transfer Agreement on August 7, 2022 for acquisition of FIPL’s manufacturing plant situated at Sanand, Gujarat, which inter-alia includes: (i) entire land & buildings; (ii) Vehicle Manufacturing Plant along with machinery and equipment situated therein; and (iii) transfer of all eligible employees of FIPL’s vehicle manufacturing operations at Sanand, for a total consideration, exclusive of taxes, of Rs 725.7 Cr (Seven Hundred Twenty Five Crores and Seventy Lakhs) (“Transaction”).

Pursuant to the fulfilment of the necessary condition precedents for the transaction, including receipt of relevant government approvals, the Parties have decided to proceed towards completion of the Transaction on 10th January 2023.

Tata Motors Passenger & Electric Vehicles business has delivered market beating growth over the last few years and has strong plans to sustain this momentum, with its robust pipeline of future ready “New Forever” products and proactive investments in electric vehicles. With existing capacities near saturation, this acquisition will unlock an additional state-of-the-art manufacturing capacity of 300,000 units per annum which is scalable to 420,000 units per annum.

As part of the transaction, all eligible employees of FIPL’s vehicle manufacturing plant have been offered employment with TPEML on terms, conditions and benefits of service similar to those that are currently availed by them. TPEML would like to take this opportunity to extend a warm welcome to all the eligible FIPL employees who have accepted its offer of employment and who shall become TPEML employees with effect from 10th January 2023.

About Tata Motors

Part of the USD 128 billion Tata group, Tata Motors Limited (NYSE: TTM; BSE: 500570 and 570001; NSE: TATAMOTORS and TATAMTRDVR), a USD 37 billion organization, is a leading global automobile manufacturer of cars, utility vehicles, pick-ups, trucks and buses, offering extensive range of integrated, smart and e-mobility solutions. With ‘Connecting Aspirations’ at the core of its brand promise, Tata Motors is India’s market leader in commercial vehicles and amongst the top three in the passenger vehicles market.

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. With a focus on engineering and tech enabled automotive solutions catering to the future of mobility, 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. The company is pioneering India's Electric Vehicle (EV) transition and driving the shift towards sustainable mobility solutions by preparing a tailor-made product strategy, leveraging the synergy between the Group companies and playing an active role liasoning with the Government in developing the policy framework.

With operations in India, the UK, South Korea, Thailand, South Africa and Indonesia, Tata Motors’ vehicles are marketed in Africa, Middle East, South & South East Asia, Australia, South America, Russia and other CIS countries. As of March 31, 2022, Tata Motors’ operations include 86 consolidated subsidiaries, two joint operations, four joint ventures and 10 equity-accounted associates, including their subsidiaries, in respect of which the company exercises significant influence.

Friday, December 30, 2022

Singatalur Drip Farmers Felicitated For Getting Higher Yields


Ten farmers of Singatalur Lift Irrigation and Drip Irrigation Package -1 (10080 Ha) were felicitated for outstanding performance in crop production by Karnataka Neeravari Nigama Limited officials in the event that was organized by Netafim India and Megha Engineering & Infrastructures Limited JV. The farmers from Dambal, Kalkeri, Harogeri, and Hirevaddatti villages have obtained higher yields using drip irrigation technology during the Kharif season of 2021-22. The event was organised at Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Hulkoti, Gadag. The felicitation program witnessed the participation of eminent guests Shri. Ramesh H, Assistant Executive Engineer, Sub Division 1 of Karnataka Neeravari Nigam Limited, Govt. of Karnataka, and Shri. Er. Basavaraja Bandivaddar, Professor, WALMI, Dharwad. Mr. Girish Deshpande, Sr. Manager Projects Management, Netafim India, Mr. Umesha M C, Sr. Manager - Agronomy, Netafim India, Mr. Parimalarangan, Project Manager – Singataluru 1 project, Netafim India, and Mr. Sanjay Shirgurkar, CGM, Megha Engineering & Infrastructures Limited participated for the felicitation ceremony.

During the ceremony Shri. Ramesh H, Assistant Executive Engineer of Karnataka Neeravari Nigam Limited, Govt. of Karnataka, stressed that “farmers should cooperate with irrigation projects and boost their crop yield through scientifically proven drip irrigation. Each farmer’s success will encourage other farmers in the neighborhood to adopt drip technology, thus helping the farmer community with their financial growth and making the project successful.

Addressing the farmers and audience at large during the felicitation ceremony, Shri. Er. Basavaraja Bandivaddar, Professor, WALMI, Dharwad, said,” Drip irrigation is very beneficial as it offers higher yield and income with less water.” Encouraging farmers to adopt drip irrigation, he emphasized that “the strengthening of water user cooperative societies and the cooperation of farmers is critical for successful projects. With this project, farmers can protect their crops through drip irrigation in case of lack of timely rain for the growing crops “.

Singataluru Lift Irrigation Project endeavors to bring the entire farming community together through Community Drip Irrigation Project – to establish systematic and sustainable irrigation practices. The ongoing phase 1 of the project plans to bring 10,080 hectares of agricultural land and thousands of farmers from 12 village under drip irrigation to offer maximum crop yield. The drip system is provided by Karnataka Neeravari Nigama Limited. Netafim India is extensively providing agronomy services to educate the farmers on sustainable agriculture practices.

2022 - The Year Of Residential Real Estate Boom According To The Sattva Group


The real estate sector performed exceptionally well in 2022, a momentum it carried forward from 2021. The residential sector in particular has done phenomenally well with developers registering good sales figures throughout the year,  including SATTVA Group. To further establish this fact, one of the top performing Indian cities, Bangalore, witnessed a steady upsurge in demand,  in many parts of the city, particularly North Bangalore. One of our recent ventures, Sattva Aeropolis met with tremendous success,  when we opened bookings in the first phase at the start of 2022. Talking about the industry at large, “Robust” would summarize the residential real estate in the past year. Despite climbing prices and loan rates, there has been a consistent demand for mid-range and premium housing in major cities. The numbers are optimistic enough in the face of a relatively steady economy: With nearly 4 lakh tier-1 units expected to be sold before the year ends, supply and absorption are rising, while the inventory overhang reduces substantially.  As ready-to-occupy inventory has expanded for most players, there is also a growing demand among active home seekers,  looking for an additional space of 100-150 sq. ft  for  workspaces in residences.

To our delight, the Bengaluru market stayed competitive the whole of 2022; unsold inventory has fallen amidst buyers lining up for houses in the central and inner parts of the city. In Hyderabad, buyers jostled for a limited number of ready units, but we expect further activity to offset the pressure on the market. The third quarter has seen nearly 17,000 new launches, and we predict similar headwinds to uplift the region in the months ahead. Taking into account the aforementioned factors, we foresee steady demand prevailing alongside resilient supply,  as we step into 2023. The post-pandemic period and increase in rental rates have also elevated home ownership beyond its aspirational definition, with more people seeking long-term investments.” – Mr. Bijay Agarwal, MD, Sattva Group

About Sattva Group

With 3 decades of expertise, the Sattva Group has grown into one of the most trusted builders in the country today. Headquartered in Bengaluru, India, it is also a well-known name in Hyderabad, Kolkata, Pune, Coimbatore, and Goa. The Group will soon be expanding its presence in Mumbai. With 66 million sq.ft spaces completed, 28 million sq.ft under construction, and 39 million sq.ft in the planning stage, the Group is one of the most premium builders in India today. The Group’s cutting-edge marquee projects in Hyderabad include Knowledge City, Knowledge Capital, Knowledge Park, and Image Towers (Innovation in Animation, Multimedia, Gaming, and Entertainment), a PPP-based model with the Telangana State Government. By further expanding into various verticals such as co-working, co-living, education, hotels, facilities management, and warehousing, the Group today stands tall as a frontrunner, shaping India’s growth story. The Group’s unwavering adherence to quality has given it the “trusted” tag among builders in the country, renowned for its “A Stable” CRISIL rating for over a decade. 

Radico Khaitan Ltd Launches ‘Festive Edition Of Morpheus Brandy With Goblet In Pack’


* This festive pack consists of a premium quality goblet glass with a 750 ml bottle of Morpheus XO Brandy

To mark the celebrations around Christmas and New Year, Radico Khaitan Ltd, India’s largest IMFL company, launches a Festive Edition pack for Morpheus Brandy, India’s largest-selling premium brandy in different parts of the country.

Presented as a year-end gift for its customers, ‘Morpheus Brandy’s Festive Edition with Goblet in Pack’ consists of a premium quality goblet with a 750 ml bottle of Morpheus XO Brandy. Radico Khaitan Ltd, planned this launch ahead of the festive season, keeping in mind the celebration spirits in people and the trend of gifting around this time of year.

Being the holiday season, this time of year brings a lot of cheer to our lives. As the tagline says, “It is time of the year to fill your goblet with cheer,” the brand wants to bring out the party spirits with festive-like packaging in the lives of its customers.

Commenting on the launch, Mr. Amar Sinha, Chief Operating Officer, Radico Khaitan Ltd, said, “Morpheus embodies the spirit of celebration, and with the festive pack edition, we have attempted to enhance the experience of celebration by giving a goblet as a gift to our customers around the festive season. As you get into the party spirits, we intend to give you another reason to rejoice with this Festive Pack. It is a gift from us to our loyal consumer base, and I am confident this combination will leave a lasting impression on them.”

He added, “Being a hallmark brand for us which has always strived to be unique with its positioning of ‘Dare to Dream,’ Morpheus’ luxurious character allows a more heightened consumer experience. One can relish this drink without any gender restrictions across all age groups. The brand enjoys immense popularity in Southern India. Morpheus Festive Edition Pack is among the slew of innovative initiatives to solidify further the brand’s popularity and position in the market.

This pack is available in Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Chandigarh, Telangana, Pondicherry, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Goa, Orissa, Meghalaya, and Sikkim.

Radico Khaitan kicked off 2022 by launching a special edition, “Celebration Pack”, for Morpheus - India’s largest-selling premium brandy. The limited-edition celebration pack was available across Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Telangana, Pondicherry and Karnataka in the first week of the year. A similar pack was also launched in Kerala at the time of Onam (in September), and the pack was available at the retail stores till Diwali 2022. The Company keeps coming up with innovative packaging ideas to bring out the festive spirit among consumers.

Thursday, December 29, 2022

Tata Power Renewable Energy Ltd Receives ‘Letter of Award’ To Set Up 255MW Hybrid Project For Tata Power Delhi Distribution Ltd


Tata Power Renewable Energy Limited (TPREL), a subsidiary of Tata Power has received the "Letter of Award" (LoA) from Tata Power Delhi Distribution Limited (Tata Power -DDL), a joint venture of Tata Power and the Govt. of NCT of Delhi, for setting up a 255 MW hybrid (wind and solar) power project in Karnataka. The project will be commissioned within 24 months from the PPA execution date. The letter was awarded through an e-reverse auction. 

The power generated from the project will be supplied to Tata Power- DDL, which supplies electricity to a populace of over 7 million in North Delhi. ?The letter indicates the current capacity bifurcation as 85MW solar and 170MW wind power with the green-shoe option of additional capacity of 85MW solar and 170MW wind. ? 

Speaking on the project win, Mr Ashish Khanna, CEO, Tata Power Renewable Energy Limited, said, "We are pleased to facilitate Tata Power-DDL's clean energy requirements with the 255 MW hybrid power project. We envision that this association will also encourage other Discoms in the country to enhance the share of sustainable energy in their overall energy mix and contribute towards the country's net zero emission target.” 

With this win, the total renewables capacity of TPREL reaches 6,048 MW with an installed capacity of 3,884 MW (Solar - 2,956 MW & Wind - 928 MW) and 2,164 MW under various stages of implementation. 

About Tata Power:

Tata Power (NSE: TATAPOWER; BSE:500400) is one of India’s largest integrated power companies and together with its subsidiaries and jointly controlled entities, has an installed / managed capacity of 14,076 MW. The Company has a presence across the entire power value chain - generation of renewable as well as conventional power including hydro and thermal energy, transmission & distribution and trading. 

The Company had developed the country’s first Ultra Mega Power Project at Mundra (Gujarat) based on super-critical technology. With 5216 MW of clean energy generation from solar, wind, hydro, and waste heat recovery accounting for 37% of the overall portfolio, the company is a leader in clean energy generation.?It has successful public-private partnerships in generation, transmission & distribution in India viz: Powerlinks Transmission Ltd. with Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd. for evacuation of Power from Tala hydro plant in Bhutan to Delhi, Maithon Power Ltd. with Damodar Valley Corporation for a 1,050 MW Mega Power Project at Jharkhand. Tata Power is currently serving more than 12 million consumers via its Discoms, under public-private partnership model viz Tata Power Delhi Distribution Ltd. with Government of Delhi in North Delhi, TP Northern Odisha Distribution Limited, TP Central Odisha Distribution Limited, TP Western Odisha Distribution Limited, and TP Southern Odisha Distribution Limited with Government of Odisha. 

With a focus on sustainable and clean energy development, Tata Power is steering the transformation as an integrated solutions providers by looking at new business growth in distributed generation through rooftop solar and microgrids, storage solutions, EV charging infrastructure, ESCO, home automation & smart meters et al. With its 107 years track record of technology advancements, project execution excellence, world-class safety processes, customer care and green initiatives, Tata Power is well poised for multi-fold growth and is committed to lighting up lives for generations to come. For more information visit us at: www.tatapower.com

About Tata Power Renewable Energy Limited: 

Tata Power Renewable Energy Limited (“TPREL”) is a subsidiary of The Tata Power Company Limited and is one of the most significant renewable energy players in the country. TPREL is a developer of renewable energy projects (including solar, wind, hybrid, round-the-clock (RTC), peak, floating solar, storage systems including battery storage) which it owns, operates and maintains. It also offers comprehensive green energy solutions for rural and urban areas like turnkey, EPC and O&M solutions for various business segments like utility scale projects, solar rooftop, and solar pump systems. Along with its extensive portfolio of renewable solutions, it has a state-of-the-art solar cell and module manufacturing plant of over 1.1 GW at Bengaluru and plans to set up a Greenfield 4 GW solar cell and 4 GW solar module plant. In addition, TPREL also provides electric vehicle (EV) charging solutions across various segments and other advisory solutions across the renewable sector. 

As on date, TPREL’s total renewable utility capacity is 6,048 MW including 2,164 MW projects under various stages of implementation and its operational capacity is 3,884MW, which includes 2,956 MW solar and 928 MW wind. Presently, the company's solar EPC portfolio is more than 10 GWp of ground-mount utility-scale, over 1.3GW of rooftop and distributed ground mounted systems and over 87,000 solar water pumps. TPREL aims to provide energy access to millions of people across the country via its integrated green energy solutions. 

Electrosteel Empowers Women In Tirupati District With Well Paying Jobs


* Enabled women can earn around Rs.15000 -18000 Per Month

Electrosteel Castings Limited (ECL), a pioneer in the production of Ductile Iron Pipes and Fittings in India has initiated a skill development training under its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme to empower women residing in villages around Srikalahasthi in Tirupati district, Andhra Pradesh with the vision of making them self-sufficient. Currently – Srikalahasthi Works, is conducting 100 days - skill development programme on “Tailoring and Fashion Designing” for women by professional trainers from Citizens Welfare Forum, Srikalahasthi. The participants, who have gained tremendous self-confidence, can now earn approximately Rs.15,000/- to Rs. 18,000/- per month from stitching of garments, thus supplementing their family income.

The skill development center with required infrastructure and sewing machines has been set up in the company’s premises in Srikalahasthi. At the skill training centre, a regular batch of 30 women from nearby villages are attending this programme. They are being imparted training on stitching and designing of ladies garments like jackets, traditional women garments, stitching saree fall, etc. While the pandemic had interrupted the programme, the centre was refurbished completely and the infrastructure was updated with new sewing machines to restart the initiative in full swing recently.

There has been an overwhelming response from the participants as well as from other women from the nearby villages to this training and many more have expressed their desire to participate in the forthcoming programme. They have also expressed their desire to learn stitching of men’s garments and kids uniforms to earn additional income. From the first batch, few successful candidates of 2022 will be provided with sewing machines for self-empowerment. This training has been planned as a continuous initiative round the year, churning out batches of skilled, empowered and confident women.

Commenting on this initiative, Mr. Suresh Khandelwal, Chief Operating Officer-Srikalahasthi works said: “Corporate Social Responsibility has a long tradition in Electrosteel. We have created a niche for ourselves, not just as a technology and innovation pioneer, but also as a Company that lives its mantra of "technology that cares". We are committed to Women empowerment which we believe will help in the development of communities around Srikalahasthi.”

Expressing gratitude to the company for its initiative, a participant at the skill development centre, said: “We are grateful to the company for taking up a skill programme that will make us self-sufficient and contribute to our family income.”

Over the years, the company has focused on many initiatives with the objective of improving the livelihood of village communities through active CSR in the areas of Health, Education, Empowerment, Infrastructure Development and Sports.

ABOUT ELECTROSTEEL CASTINGS LIMITED

Electrosteel Castings Limited (ECL) has more than five decades of experience in the water infrastructure business. The company is the largest manufacturer of Ductile Iron (DI) Pipes and fittings in the Indian sub-continent and one of the leading producers in the world.  Its manufacturing activities are spread over 5 different locations in the country. The company has a strong brand presence around the globe and its Pipes and Fittings are exported to more than 90+ countries across 5 continents. Electrosteel has maintained its technological leadership by continual product innovation and technical upgradation.

Wednesday, December 28, 2022

Toyota Kirloskar Motor Announces Prices Of The All New Innova HyCross



Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) today announced the much-awaited prices of its new Innova HyCross. The new vehicle from Toyota is available in the price range of Rs. 18,30,000 to Rs 28,97,000 (ex-showroom).

The brand-new offering from Toyota was unveiled in November 2022 along with the commencement of bookings.

Based on Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA), the latest offering celebrates Toyota’s globally recognized Quality, Durability and Reliability backed by advanced technology. The versatile Innova HyCross is a vehicle for every occasion owing to its glamor quotient,  advanced technology , comfort along with  safety and thrill to drive, thus  aptly suited for travelling solo or with friends and family. With a self-charging strong hybrid electric technology providing best in the segment fuel efficiency, makes the Innova HyCross a wise choice for a greener tomorrow.

Commenting on the announcement Mr. Atul Sood, Associate Vice President, Sales, and Strategic Marketing, TKM, said, “The launch of the Innova HyCross is a significant milestone for us in India and we are truly humbled by the overwhelming response received from across the country. This feature packed vehicle demonstrates the spaciousness of an MPV and is perfectly crafted to meet the aspirations of customers.

We are certain that the pricing of the new Innova HyCross will strengthen the legacy of brand Innova while boosting Toyota’s quest for promoting sustainable mobility. This versatile vehicle provides powerful performance, quick acceleration which along with  its comfort and safety , is sure to provide exceptional driving experience.”

The new Innova HyCross is powered by  5th Generation Self-Charging Strong Hybrid Electric System with TNGA 2.0 Litre 4-cylinder gasoline engine and a monocoque frame with an e-drive sequential shift delivering a max power output of 137 kW (183.7 HP), providing rapid acceleration and best in segment fuel economy of 23.24 kmpl^. The vehicle also comes with the option of a TNGA 2.0 Litre 4-cylinder gasoline engine mated to a direct shift CVT in select grades delivering an output of 129 kW (171.6 HP ) and offering class leading fuel economy of 16.13 kmpl^.

The new Innova HyCross is available in Super White, Platinum White Pearl, Silver Metallic, Attitude Black Mica, Sparkling Black Pearl Crystal Shine, Avant Grade Bronze Metallic and an exciting new color Blackish Ageha Glass Flake. Interiors in Black and with two new colors Chestnut & Black and Dark Chestnut, reflecting advanced and premium impression.

The new Innova HyCross offers the renowned Toyota experience through a warranty of 3 years/100,000 kilometers and an option of extended warranty of up to 5 years/220,000 kilometers, 3 years free roadside assistance, attractive financial schemes and 8 yrs/160,000 kilometers warranty on the Hybrid battery.

^ As per certification under Rule 115(18) of CMVR 1989

Experience a ‘New World Of Mobility’ With SUN Mobility At The Auto Expo 2023


* Unveiling a reimagined change to Urban Mobility, through products Made in India, for the World

SUN Mobility, a leading provider of energy infrastructure and services for Electric Vehicles, will unveil an exciting piece of innovation in the EV refueling ecosystem at the Auto Expo 2023!

The upcoming national policy to promote battery-swapping technologies has paved the way for accelerating mass EV adoption in India. An ecosystem of players who are technology providers, manufacturers, users, and enablers of this solution is mushrooming across the country.

Pioneer in the battery swapping space, SUN Mobility aims to propel the adoption of 1 million EVs by 2025 by addressing some of the key EV adoption issues - high cost, range anxiety, long charging time, and lack of infrastructure. At present, SUN Mobility has deployed 212 Swap Points™ (each with a capacity to do over 200 battery swaps per day) across 18 cities in the country and has powered over 50 million emission-free km and over 2.7 million battery swaps so far.

With both eyes on the 2025 target, SUN Mobility will not just launch one but two innovative products, one of them being their all-new next-generation battery technology!

For more information, visit: www.sunmobility.com

Birlasoft Enables Best Value Chem Pvt. Ltd. To Drive Scalability Through Successful Implementation Of RISE With SAP


Birlasoft Ltd [BSE: 532400, NSE: BSOFT], part of the USD 2.8 billion diversified CK Birla Group, and a global enterprise digital and IT services company, has strengthened its relationship with Best Value Chem Private Limited, a leading manufacturer of fragrance and flavour ingredients in India, by leveraging RISE with SAP to transform its digital landscape on the cloud.

Prior to the implementation, Best Value Chem Private Limited faced system control and audit issues forcing them to use multiple applications to handle different functions resulting in data integrity and control issues. They also faced challenges in extracting the right data for cost and margins. The timely availability of MIS reports was another hurdle. In addition, there were difficulties in inventory controls due to the non-availability of material movement, issues in tracking with batch/lot numbers, and proper inventory aging information.

With the implementation of RISE with SAP, Birlasoft streamlined and modernized the operations of Best Value Chem Private Limited to drive innovation across its business functions, including Finance, Procurement, Production Planning, Sales and Quality Management. The entire migration was completed within five months.

This helped Best Value Chem Private Limited to embrace scalability, agility, flexibility and productivity in their daily operations and business performance. It also helped create a platform for the intelligent business process by using AI /ML technologies and building robust reporting mechanisms.

Shreeranganath Kulkarni (SK), Chief Delivery Officer, Birlasoft, said, “The ever-changing IT landscape has encouraged enterprises to expedite their digital transformation journeys. Our industry-focused EDGE solutions and proven capabilities ensured the successful implementation of RISE with SAP for Best Value Chem Private Limited, leading them to be more resilient, sustainable, and competitive. We are a proud partner in Best Value Chem’s digital transformation journey.”

“BVC has achieved a major milestone with the implementation of RISE With SAP. With this, we are glad to commence our digital transformation journey. Having a legacy of 25 years, BVC needed a robust, innovative, and resilient solution to give us an edge in the coming years. We chose Birlasoft as our partner for this digital transformation owing to its strong market presence and established competitive position. This will help us drive transparency, efficiency, accountability, and business stability,” said Shaju CO, CEO, Best Value Chem Private Limited.

“Cloud technology is now mission-critical for businesses of all sizes and industries. And it is our partners like Birlasoft who are accelerating this growth trajectory for customers such as Best Value Chem. We’re extremely excited to become an integral part of this journey, that they’ve chosen towards excellence through SAP for digital transformation,” said Rajeev Singh, Vice President & Head - Midmarket, SAP Indian Subcontinent.

Cloud adoption and acceleration are an integral part of Birlasoft’s Digitalization Strategy and RISE with SAP provides customers with better operational efficiencies, including seamless multi-cloud connectivity.

Birlasoft helps enterprises increase their speed-to-market, grow their revenue and reduce the total cost of operations. It also helps benchmark business performance with best-in-class KPIs, templatized industry solutions aligned with RISE with SAP for focused industry verticals and a Proprietary Intelligent Automation Platform tailored to outcome-based support and services. In addition, it helps focus on program execution following the Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, and Control approach to stay lean and ensure fast and agile implementations.

About Birlasoft

Challenge The Norm

Birlasoft combines the power of domain, enterprise, and digital technologies to reimagine business processes for customers and their ecosystem. Its consultative and design thinking approach makes societies more productive by helping customers run businesses. As part of the multibillion dollar diversified The CK Birla Group, Birlasoft, with its 12,500+ professionals, is committed to continuing its 160-year heritage of building sustainable communities. For further information, visit www.birlasoft.com

About SAP

SAP’s strategy is to help every business run as an intelligent, sustainable enterprise. As a market leader in enterprise application software, we help companies of all sizes and in all industries run at their best: SAP customers generate 87% of total global commerce. Our machine learning, Internet of Things (IoT), and advanced analytics technologies help turn customers’ businesses into intelligent enterprises. SAP helps give people and organizations deep business insight and fosters collaboration that helps them stay ahead of their competition. We simplify technology for companies so they can consume our software the way they want – without disruption. Our end-to-end suite of applications and services enables business and public customers across 25 industries globally to operate profitably, adapt continuously, and make a difference. With a global network of customers, partners, employees, and thought leaders, SAP helps the world run better and improve people’s lives. For more information, visit www.sap.com.  

Airtel 5G Plus Now Announces Live In Jammu And Srinagar


* Promises to offer massive speeds, best voice experience, will work on all 5G smart phones and be kinder to the environment

* No SIM change needed; existing Airtel 4G SIM is 5G enabled

* Existing data plans will work on 5G until roll-out is complete

* Airtel 5G Plus now works on all Android and Apple supported 5G devices

Bharti Airtel (“Airtel”), India’s leading telecommunications services provider today announced the launch of its cutting edge 5G services in Jammu and Srinagar.

Airtel 5G Plus services will be available to customers in a phased manner as the company continues to construct its network and complete the roll out. Customers with 5G enabled devices will enjoy high speed Airtel 5G Plus network at no extra cost until the roll out is more widespread. Currently operational at Raghunath Bazar, Gandhi Nagar, Channi Himmat, Panjthirthi, Jammu secretariat, Bahu fort, Bahu plaza, Jammu railway station, Govt medical college, Canal Road in Jammu and Lal Chowk, Dal lake, Rajbagh, Kashmir University, Karan Nagar, Channpora, Sringar secretariat, Nishat Garden, Chashma shahi, Old city in Kashmir and few other select locations. Airtel will augment its network making its services available in the Union territories of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh in due course of time.

Commenting on the launch, Adarsh Verma, COO, Bharti Airtel, Jammu, Kashmir & Ladakh said, “I am thrilled to announce the launch of Airtel 5G Plus in Jammu and Srinagar. Airtel customers can now experience ultrafast network and enjoy speeds upto 20-30 times faster than the current 4G speeds. We are in the process of lighting up the Union territories of J&K and Ladakh which will allow customers to enjoy superfast access to High-definition video streaming, gaming, multiple chatting, instant uploading of photos and more.”

Airtel 5G Plus will bolster the entire portfolio of services that Airtel offers. In addition, it will allow superfast access to High Definition video streaming, gaming, multiple chatting, instant uploading of photos and more. With this launch, India will get a fillip to economic growth as Airtel 5G Plus revolutionizes education, healthcare, manufacturing, agriculture, mobility and logistics.

In the last one year, Airtel has demonstrated the power of 5G with a host of powerful use cases that will change the way we lead our lives and do business. From India’s first live 5G network in Hyderabad to India’s first 5G powered hologram to India’s first recreation of a game changing world cup match played at a time when there was no TV coverage to India’s first 5G connected ambulance to India’s first private 5G network with Bosch for boosting manufacturing productivity, Airtel has been at the forefront of 5G innovation.

About Bharti Airtel Limited

Headquartered in India, Airtel is a global communications solutions provider with over 500 Mn customers in 17 countries across South Asia and Africa. The company ranks amongst the top three mobile operators globally and its networks cover over two billion people. Airtel is India’s largest integrated communications solutions provider and the second largest mobile operator in Africa. Airtel’s retail portfolio includes high speed 4G/5G mobile broadband, Airtel Xstream Fiber that promises speeds up to 1 Gbps with convergence across linear and on-demand entertainment, streaming services spanning music and video, digital payments and financial services. For enterprise customers, Airtel offers a gamut of solutions that includes secure connectivity, cloud and data centre services, cyber security, IoT, Ad Tech and CPaaS (Airtel IQ). For more details visit www.airtel.com

Tuesday, December 27, 2022

MIT xPRO Launches Programs With Simplilearn In Executive Leadership Principles And Machine Learning


* MIT xPRO launches two new programs in Leadership and Machine learning through Simplilearn

* The programs, spanning for a period of 4 months, will be hosted using a blended format including masterclasses

MIT xPRO has announced two new upskilling programs in Executive Leadership Principles and Machine Learning for Business, Engineering, and Science. Delivered through digital skills training platform Simplilearn, these programs leverage MIT xPRO's thought leadership in engineering and management developed over years of research, teaching, and practice as well as Simplilearn’s dynamic, interactive, digital learning platform.

The Executive Leadership Principles program is designed to enable learners to understand an array of organizational and leadership aspects. Some of the focus areas include organizational strategies and capabilities, applying influence, negotiation, conflict resolution, change management, problem solving, navigating culture and networks, as well as discovering and implementing leadership strengths. This Executive Program offers masterclasses taught by MIT faculty and instructors, assessments, case studies, and tools. It is best suited for early and mid-career professionals looking to advance their leadership and capabilities while on the job. Through this program, learners can benefit from an executive certificate of completion from MIT xPRO, 5 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) from MIT xPRO, scope to connect with an international community of professionals, as well as an opportunity to work on real-world projects. Eligibility criteria requires learners to have a graduate degree; they could be working professionals with technical or non-technical backgrounds. 

The Machine Learning for Business, Engineering and Science program is designed to demystify machine learning through computational engineering principles and applications. It provides the opportunity to learn from MIT faculty, while connecting with an international community of professionals and working on projects based on real-world examples. Learners will gain the skills to apply their knowledge to various aspects of work using simulations, assessments, case studies, and tools. Learners get a chance to earn a Professional Certificate of completion and 10 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) from MIT xPRO. The program is best suited for professionals with bachelor’s degrees in engineering, business or physical science who are interested in knowing about the application of Machine Learning across various domains.

Mr. Anand Narayanan, Chief Product Officer, Simplilearn, said, “The need to upskill remains consistent and relevant for professionals across the board. In the dynamic workplace of today, it is imperative for professionals to be able to effectively complete tasks and solve problems strategically. Ensuring to map skills and constantly upgrading oneself to match industry requirements will ensure consistent professional growth. We are pleased to work with MIT xPRO to offer these programs in new-age skills enabling employees to upskill and achieve high-quality results in their workspace.”

Announcing the launch, MIT xPRO says, “Students and professionals today are keen to regularly upskill and up their game when it comes to strengthening their careers. There is a need to stay abreast with industry developments and be open and agile to change. In this regard, we are pleased to work with Simplilearn to curate programs that are sure to provide in-depth and comprehensive knowledge, relevant to the dynamic industry shifts. We are confident that they will assist learners in achieving their career objectives.”

About MIT xPRO

Technology is accelerating at an unprecedented pace causing disruption across all levels of business. Tomorrow’s leaders must demonstrate technical expertise as well as leadership acumen in order to maintain a technical edge over the competition while driving innovation in an ever-changing environment.

MIT uniquely understands this challenge and how to solve it with decades of experience developing technical professionals. MIT xPRO’s online learning programs leverage vetted content from world-renowned experts to make learning accessible anytime, anywhere. Designed using cutting-edge research in the neuroscience of learning, MIT xPRO programs are application focused, helping professionals build their skills on the job.

About Simplilearn

Founded in 2010 and based in San Francisco, California, and Bangalore, India, Simplilearn, a Blackstone company is the world's #1 online Bootcamp for digital economy skills training. Simplilearn offers access to world-class work-ready training to individuals and businesses around the world. The Bootcamps are designed and delivered with world-renowned universities, top corporations, and leading industry bodies via live online classes featuring top industry practitioners, sought-after trainers, and global leaders. From college students and early career professionals to managers, executives, small businesses, and big corporations, Simplilearn’s role-based, skill-focused, industry-recognized, and globally relevant training programs are ideal upskilling solutions for diverse career or/and business goals.

For more information, visit www.simplilearn.com/

Sattva Group Residential Sector Done Phenomenally Well During 2022


“The real estate sector performed exceptionally well in 2022, a momentum it carried forward from 2021. The residential sector in particular has done phenomenally well with developers registering good sales figures throughout the year,  including SATTVA Group. To further establish this fact, one of the top performing Indian cities, Bangalore, witnessed a steady upsurge in demand,  in many parts of the city, particularly North Bangalore. One of our recent ventures, Sattva Aeropolis met with tremendous success,  when we opened bookings in the first phase at the start of 2022. Talking about the industry at large, “Robust” would summarize the residential real estate in the past year. Despite climbing prices and loan rates, there has been a consistent demand for mid-range and premium housing in major cities. The numbers are optimistic enough in the face of a relatively steady economy: With nearly 4 lakh tier-1 units expected to be sold before the year ends, supply and absorption are rising, while the inventory overhang reduces substantially.  As ready-to-occupy inventory has expanded for most players, there is also a growing demand among active home seekers,  looking for an additional space of 100-150 sq. ft  for  workspaces in residences.

To our delight, the Bengaluru market stayed competitive the whole of 2022; unsold inventory has fallen amidst buyers lining up for houses in the central and inner parts of the city. In Hyderabad, buyers jostled for a limited number of ready units, but we expect further activity to offset the pressure on the market. The third quarter has seen nearly 17,000 new launches, and we predict similar headwinds to uplift the region in the months ahead. Taking into account the aforementioned factors, we foresee steady demand prevailing alongside resilient supply,  as we step into 2023. The post-pandemic period and increase in rental rates have also elevated home ownership beyond its aspirational definition, with more people seeking long-term investments.” – Mr. Bijay Agarwal, MD, Sattva Group

About Sattva Group

With 3 decades of expertise, the Sattva Group has grown into one of the most trusted builders in the country today. Headquartered in Bengaluru, India, it is also a well-known name in Hyderabad, Kolkata, Pune, Coimbatore, and Goa. The Group will soon be expanding its presence in Mumbai. With 66 million sq.ft spaces completed, 28 million sq.ft under construction, and 39 million sq.ft in the planning stage, the Group is one of the most premium builders in India today. The Group’s cutting-edge marquee projects in Hyderabad include Knowledge City, Knowledge Capital, Knowledge Park, and Image Towers (Innovation in Animation, Multimedia, Gaming, and Entertainment), a PPP-based model with the Telangana State Government. By further expanding into various verticals such as co-working, co-living, education, hotels, facilities management, and warehousing, the Group today stands tall as a frontrunner, shaping India’s growth story. The Group’s unwavering adherence to quality has given it the “trusted” tag among builders in the country, renowned for its “A Stable” CRISIL rating for over a decade. 

Kirloskar System Announces Appointment of Manasi Tata As Director On The Board of Kirloskar Joint Venture Companies


Kirloskar Systems Pvt. Ltd. (KSPL) today announced the appointment of Ms. Manasi Tata as Director on the board of KSPL’s joint-venture companies, including Toyota Industries Engine India Pvt. Ltd. (TIEI), Kirloskar Toyota Textile Machinery Pvt. Ltd. (KTTM), Toyota Material Handling India Pvt. Ltd. (TMHIN), and Denso Kirloskar Industries Pvt. Ltd. (DNKI).

To take effect immediately, Ms. Manasi Tata’s appointment as Director, comes after the untimely passing of her father, Late. Mr. Vikram S. Kirloskar, former Chairman & Managing Director, KSPL. His wife, Mrs. Geetanjali Kirloskar, has already taken charge as the new Chairman & Managing Director at KSPL.

Ms. Manasi Tata, a graduate from the Rhode Island School of Design in the US, is trained in Toyota manufacturing processes and the Japanese work culture.

A fifth-generation scion of the Kirloskar empire, Ms. Manasi Tata holds art very close to her heart and her NGO, “Caring with Colour” leverages this passion of hers, works with government schools in 3 districts of Karnataka.

Deeply intertwined with environmental, social, and governance (ESG) concerns, Ms. Manasi Tata is truly committed to take forward her father’s vision and dream, contributing towards accomplishing national goals and remains dedicated towards keeping up the strength of partnership with various stakeholders, and the relationships that have grown stronger over the years.

Magniflex India Plays Santa To Children Living In NGOs


- The mattress major distributes toys and other goodies to these little ones through the ‘Share the Magic This Christmas’

To capture and spread the magic of Christmas, this year Magniflex India organized a donation drive to celebrate Christmas with children at NGOs across the country. Magniflex India came up with a campaign 'Share the Magic This Christmas’ where all its franchise stores hung out a red Christmas bag, encouraging people to donate toys for the underprivileged children. Each gift had a personalized message attached to it. And on December 23rd Mr. Anand Nichani, MD, Magniflex India, donated all these toys to the NGOs named Madilu Sevashram that shelters children.

Through the campaign, Magniflex India appealed to its customers, as well as the general public, through social media and banners across its franchise stores to donate goodies for children. The collected toys were distributed to NGOs in different cities, including Bangalore, Delhi and Ahmedabad on December 23rd to make it a memorable experience for children. Magniflex India collected more than 100 toys and shared the gifts with the NGOs named Shishu Gruh in Ahmedabad and Sarbat Da Bhala Charitable Trust in Delhi that shelters above 100 children.

Mr. Anand Nichani asked each child to express their joy and share memories associated with the celebration after the gifts were distributed. To make their day more fun and joyful, they played a few Christmas-themed games, including Pictionary, and sang Christmas carols. The children unwrapped their Christmas presents and expressed gratitude to the Magniflex team as well as all those who contributed to the effort in helping bring smiles on their faces.

Speaking on the initiative, Mr. Anand Nichani, MD, Magniflex India, said, "Christmas is the festival of gifting. Every child deserves to experience the joy of receiving Christmas gifts. We hope to bring joy to every child and are dedicated to creating a more compassionate world. Magniflex is all about making people feel at ease. So, we've decided to be Santa for the kids this year. We want to thank everyone who took the time out from their daily schedule to donate and make these kids feel special this Christmas. It gave me a great sense of satisfaction on distributing the gifts to the children at the NGOs."

Mrs. Maithili, a customer who contributed to the campaign by Magniflex India, said, “Every year we celebrate Christmas within the family circle. This year, we decided to celebrate the festival a little differently by sharing the joy of Christmas with others. I am thankful to Magniflex India for coming up with this initiative, because through them I was able to bring some joy to the underprivileged children.”

Milind Soman Successfully Completes First Phase Of Green Ride 2.0 With The Lifelong Freeride Cycle


* 1000 kms from Mumbai to Bengaluru spreading the message of fight lazy and pollution free environment

India’s supermodel and fitness icon Milind Soman successfully completed the “Green Ride” – a Multi-city campaign with the Lifelong Freeride cycle today at Bengaluru. The Green Ride 2.0 was kicked off on 19th December 2022 at Mumbai. This is the second edition of the Green Ride initiative launched by leading consumer durables firm, Lifelong Online Retail Private Limited. Milind Soman solo cycled the Green Ride to Bengaluru covering a total distance of over 1000 kms across 8 cities in 8 days. The cities covered enroute are; Mumbai, Pune, Karad, Kolhapur, Belgaon, Shegaon, Hirebennur and Tumkuru.

Milind Soman is on a fitness mission spreading the message of fitness for all through his various initiatives; be it running or cycling. He has been associated with the Lifelong campaign earlier urging people to “Fight Lazy”, a movement urging everyone to fight their lazy selves and push themselves to be their fittest versions. The Green Ride is an initiative to create an awareness amongst people and to encourage them to keep our environment healthy and pollution free. Lifelong Freeride Cycle is a Shimano 21 speed geared cycle. The features include Disc Brakes and suspension for effortless Braking system built for ease of use and maintenance, and excellent braking power. Specially designed to provide proper braking control on all terrains.

Speaking on the completion of 2nd edition of Green Ride, Fitness icon Milind Soman said, “I urge everyone to choose their commuting mode very wisely as air pollution in India is on the rise causing a huge concern for anyone especially those who regularly exercise outdoors to lead a fit and healthy lifestyle. Keeping our moral duty in our mind we need to keep our environment pollution free and more such initiatives should be organized and I would love to be part of those. Moreover, it was a good motivation to fight our lazy selves.”

Bharat Kalia, Co-Founder, Lifelong Online Retail Pvt. Ltd., said. “We are so happy to announce the successful completion of the second edition of the Green ride once again with Milind Soman. He is a great inspiration for all of us to stay healthy and active every day. This green ride initiative was a small step towards encouraging everyone to be conscious about our daily choices to reduce pollution. Also, the fight lazy campaign with Milind was a small push to be a fitter version of ourselves.”

Lifelong Online along with Milind are trying to create a movement that makes fitness mainstream. The multi-city cycling trail is a seamless fit for the whole movement with a message to keep your country pollution free by opting cleaner modes of transport. Fight lazy is simply about starting in the right direction and pushing yourself to be the fitter you.

Metaverse Partnership: Interality Collaborates To Launch A Movie On Its Virtual World


Interality, an engine for Mixed Reality Worlds, has announced the release of ‘Made in Bengaluru’, a Kannada drama film, inside interality’s Metaverse Bengaluru where movie fans are meeting and taking selfies with the film cast avatars, exploring famous spots in Bengaluru, playing games and quests to win exciting real-life rewards.

Made in Bengaluru is a Kannada drama film written and directed by Pradeep Sastry starring Madhusudan Govind in the lead role with Anant Nag, Saikumar and Prakash Belawadi in pivotal roles. The story follows the journey of three dreamy-eyed middle class boys who venture into setting up their startup.

Inside Metaverse Bengaluru platform, powered by interality, fans are visiting and experiencing the movie Made in Bengaluru where you can go to the Movie Quiz Room and play to win tickets to the exclusive Film Premiere happening on 29th December in Bengaluru. You can meet the Film cast on the Metaverse stage and take selfies with the selfie drone camera. You need to complete a quest to win a chance to take real-life selfies with the film cast in person in Bengaluru. You can also go for some treasure hunting to win passes to the prelaunch event of the movie. Overall 50 people can win rewards in the Metaverse Bengaluru.

“We’re thrilled to power the launch of Made in Bengaluru film in Metaverse Bengaluru. Metaverse has massive opportunities for the Cinema and Entertainment industry as the future of content distribution. The fans can enter and explore the film themed Virtual Worlds, understand the theme and story of the film through immersive mediums, engage and interact with the movie through play games and win film collectibles, memorabilia and claim real-life rewards such as meet-&-greet with the film stars. This helps build greater fandom for the film!”, says Farheen Ahmad, CEO, interality.

Movie Teaser: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I4S6DhBXoO8

interality link of the movie: https://interality.io/UrPXpCJ/made-in-bengaluru

B S Balkrishna, Producer of Made In Bengaluru, shares, “Always was amused whenever I heard about metaverse, the way its future in community building is unpredictable. For sure Bangalore Metaverse of interality was one benchmark setting metaverse we experienced in India, we are happy and excited to have our movie promotion in Bangalore Meatverse of interality. I would thank FanStreet for making this happen.”

“First of all, I would like to thank interality and FanStreet for having Made In Bengaluru promotions in Bangalore Metaverse. Bangalore is home for thousands of startups and this metaverse for sure is throwing more impact over it, we are pleased to get placed and be a part.”, adds Pradeep Sastry, Director of Made In Bengaluru.

“Being a techie, was always taken away with the scope of 3D virtual worlds. I am pleased to have my debut film promotions in Bangalore Metaverse.”, says Madhusudan Govind, Lead of Made In Bengaluru.

In the past, interality has successfully launched  ‘Memeverse’ , a virtual world for MemeChat and ‘Tubbiverse’, an Apocalypse-themed, Token Gated platform, created & launched by a Solana NFT Community Tubbies. The startup has also launched GM BLR Cafe in Metaverse Bangalore. It is a Virtual Reality world launched by the popular Web3 community, GM BLR.

About interality:

interality is an engine for Mixed Reality Worlds. It offers an infrastructure to build and launch XR-enabled Metaverse ecosystems where users can explore, connect, shop and play.

About Metaverse Bengaluru:

Metaverse Bengaluru is a multi-player virtual world with spatial audio and chat features. The Metaverse can be entered through a link on any device such as smartphone, desktop and VR headsets like Meta Quest 2 or Quest Pro.

For more information,  visit: https://interality.io/#/

Saturday, December 24, 2022

7 Key Trends That Will Redefine SCM In 2023: Insights From o9 Solutions


o9 solutions, a leading enterprise AI software platform provider for transforming planning and decision-making, today shared key insights from its supply chain experts and leaders and highlighted 8 interesting trends that will redefine Supply Chain Management (SCM) in 2023.

Supply chains will become the strategic drivers of business

During the pandemic, companies who had been investing in their SCM were positioned to deal with change more rapidly. For example, a big-box retailer that started to build out their pickup services, their delivery services, etc.; so that when the world pivoted, stores were closed, people still wanted this retailer’s products, they already had all of that investment there. Companies that are building a future strategy would need to think of the criteria, indicators; and how this is a continued investment. The key is to not lock yourself into anything unless you are 100% sure that that is the direction you want to go.

Disruption can become a catalyst for supplier collaboration

One major impact that is being witnessed in the oil and gas industry is disruption in operations from raw material shortages and delays, and headwinds brought about by inflation increasing price of materials. Companies are getting to a point where they can’t handle additional demand and will cycle through their existing inventories. The other big area of impact is logistics, supply gets stuck at ports, and clearance and delivery take time due to a shortage of labor. There is also an increase in supplier collaboration. Service levels improve when there is a platform where suppliers can see the demand and can update their commits. In today’s constrained supply market, it’s even more critical to know what your suppliers are able and unable to support and then how best to allocate to high-priority demand.

Circularity could change business models

Circularity and supply chain transparency will be critical in the fashion industry, especially as EU regulations will mandate companies to provide details about their carbon footprint. As more consumers are becoming aware of sustainability and HR issues within the industry, purchasing trends may shift towards higher-quality products for those who can afford them or second-hand items. Retailers will also need to start shifting their business models to become more agile, increasing collaboration with their network to produce limited batches but faster to meet the ever-changing demand without compromising the product quality.

The industry challenge now is to move to more natural, environmentally sustainable fabrics. Circularity means a product needs to be more durable, as well as recyclable, reusable, recoverable, etc. In major markets such as Europe, consumers are looking for more durable, long-lasting products, because products that do have these characteristics become waste and go to landfill faster.  Brand manufacturers will likely need to engineer their business models to accommodate a lower turnover rate of higher-cost, more durable products on a year-over-year basis. This will characterize the transition to a sustainable, circular economy.

Product environmental footprinting will become more prevalent

Over the next three to five years, industries will have to incorporate true sustainability—not simply adhere to or comply with sustainability reporting standards.  Companies will have to transparently share metrics related to their decarbonization efforts or their use of non-sustainable materials in their product lines.  Historically, the product 'footprinting' exercise was both tedious and expensive. Typically, product life cycle studies included just a handful of products, and results were extrapolated to similar products. Currently, there's a lot of effort being devoted to making the product life cycle assessment process more automated and streamlined. The goal is to create templates allowing you to generate product environmental footprints efficiently, thereby increasing the throughput of the process without requiring highly specialized domain expertise.

The proliferation of data will change the scope and role of demand forecasting

The things you buy and use to the things that you say and do - all of this is going to become data. It's going to get bigger and bigger. Traditionally, companies had one stream of data, which was their sales, shipment, or invoice history. That single stream of history was used to indicate what you're likely to do next month and next year. Now you have access to 1,000 to 3,000 streams of external data. In five years, that will be 50,000 to 100,000.

Businesses know if they do not start (incorporating AI/ML) now, they are going to lose because they know that their competitors are doing it. It has become an essential activity. From a role standpoint, companies should have a demand analyst or a data scientist, an analytical resource who can work with the data and make the machine run.

Companies must understand what internal and external data drivers they need, where they come from, and, once you have the information, how to manage it so that it makes sense within the technology platform. So, it is a vast topic, but you can’t get machine learning to work without obtaining that data.

Supply sensing capabilities can help businesses navigate supply chain uncertainties

The CPG industry has experienced unprecedented disruptions since the beginning of Covid-19. Companies have been facing inflation (i.e., the Food Price Index rose 20% since 2020-21; source: BCG research), capacity constraints in logistics resulting in significant price increases (i.e., 61% cost increase for flatbed trucks since 2020-21; source: BCG research), changing consumer behavior (i.e., online shopping increased 40%; source:  NPD ), and raw material shortages never experienced before (futures prices for commodities such as wheat have reached the highest levels ever in March 2022, source: WSJ September 8th, 2022).

These challenges are not expected to improve in 2023 and beyond, and companies are facing a new normal of operating in a world of constant disruption. As a result, there is a continued need for companies to invest in new processes, organizational models, and new technologies to help manage supply chain complexities and costs, and potentially sense disruptors before they impact the supply chain. Organizations that anticipate and manage through disruptions will set themselves up as industry leaders.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) will continue to shape the workplace of the future

Speaking about how AI will continue to shape the workplace of the future, Igor Rikalo, President and COO at o9 Solutions says, “A key aspect of any technology, including AI, is that it should augment human capabilities by providing computational models, powered by relevant data, to enable fact-based and unbiased decision-making. We see increasing levels of automation permeate many jobs today, both in factories as well as in the headquarters offices of many companies. The outcome of this automation is that companies will have access to very granular data about employees, their productivity, and the ratio between value-added vs. non-value-added activities in their work patterns. At o9, we believe that creating a new technology-enabled management system is required to achieve high-performing organizations in any industry. For example, our Digital Brain platform allows enterprises not only to model their operational decision-making processes but also to model the organization and work processes necessary to run their business.

About o9 Solutions, Inc.

o9 Solutions is a leading AI-powered platform for integrated business planning and decision-making for the enterprise. Whether it is driving demand, aligning demand and supply, or optimizing commercial initiatives, any planning process can be made faster and smarter with o9’s AI-powered digital solutions. Bringing together technology innovations—such as graph-based enterprise modeling, big data analytics, advanced algorithms for scenario planning, collaborative portals, easy-to-use interfaces, and cloud-based delivery—into one platform. For more information, visit www.o9solutions.com.

Delhi Transport Corporation Signs A Definitive Agreement With Tata Motors’ Subsidiary For Operating 1500 Electric Buses


Key Highlights:

·       Largest order to date for electric buses by Delhi Transport Corporation; part of the Grand Challenge by Convergence Energy Services Limited

·       This will cover supply, operations and maintenance of 1500 low-floor, 12-metre air-conditioned electric buses

·       Tata Starbus EV offers superior design and best-in-class features for comfortable travel

Tata Motors, India’s largest commercial vehicle manufacturer, today announced that Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) has signed a definitive agreement with its fully owned subsidiary, TML CV Mobility Solutions Ltd. for operation of 1500 electric buses in the city of New Delhi. As part of the agreement, TML CV Mobility Solutions Ltd. will supply, operate and maintain 1500 units of 12-metre low-floor air-conditioned electric buses for a period 12 years. Tata Starbus EV is an indigenously developed vehicle with superior design and best-in-class features for sustainable and comfortable commute.

Commenting on the announcement, Ms. Shilpa Shinde, IAS, Managing Director, Delhi Transport Corporation said, “We are pleased to have signed an agreement for the largest order of 1500 electric buses in Delhi. This is a significant step towards embracing electric mobility in the capital city. The induction of zero-emission, noise-free buses will greatly help in improving the city’s air quality. The new buses will also immensely benefit the commuters with its ultra-modern features and comfortable seating.”

Commenting on the occasion, Mr. Asim Kumar Mukhopadhyay, Chairman, TML CV Mobility Solutions Limited said, “It is indeed a historic occasion for us as we sign a definitive agreement for the country’s largest electric bus order. Our relationship with DTC, which stands strong for over a decade, is based on the foundation of mutual trust and cooperation and this order will further strengthen it. We are confident that the electric buses will provide sustainable, safe and comfortable public transportation to the commuters of Delhi.”

Tata Motors’ state-of-the-art research and development facilities have steadily worked to engineer innovative mobility solutions powered by alternate fuel technology, including battery-electric, hybrid, CNG, LNG and Hydrogen Fuel Cell technology. Till date, Tata Motors has supplied more than 730 electric buses across multiple cities in India, which have cumulatively clocked more than 55 million kilometres, with an uptime of over 95%.

About Tata Motors

Part of the USD 128 billion Tata group, Tata Motors Limited (NYSE: TTM; BSE: 500570 and 570001; NSE: TATAMOTORS and TATAMTRDVR), a USD 37 billion organization, is a leading global automobile manufacturer of cars, utility vehicles, pick-ups, trucks and buses, offering extensive range of integrated, smart and e-mobility solutions. With ‘Connecting Aspirations’ at the core of its brand promise, Tata Motors is India’s market leader in commercial vehicles and amongst the top three in the passenger vehicles market.

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. With a focus on engineering and tech enabled automotive solutions catering to the future of mobility, 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. The company is pioneering India's Electric Vehicle (EV) transition and driving the shift towards sustainable mobility solutions by preparing a tailor-made product strategy, leveraging the synergy between the Group companies and playing an active role liasoning with the Government in developing the policy framework.

Toyota Kirloskar Motor To Showcase “Sustainable Mobility Solutions For All” At Auto Expo 2023


* Concept to convey Toyota’s vision of “The Thrill & Joy of moving together”

* Displays to include diverse range of green technologies including electrified vehicles as well as SUVs

As the country gears up for the Auto Expo 2023, Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) is all set to be a part the mega event with its advanced technology and product line-up based on the concept of “The Thrill & Joy of moving together”. The exciting and distinctive displays are divided into three zones namely the Technology Zone, Emotional Zone and Environment Zone representing the overall concept  and key sections of the stall.

On display at the Technology zone include a range of Self Charging Strong Hybrid Electric vehicles, Plug-in Hybrid Vehicle, Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle, Flexi Fuel Hybrid Electric Vehicle and Electric Vehicles representing wide range of green technology line- up. Also on display is the Hydrogen concept technology. The Emotional Zone showcases youth connect through a thrilling SUV line-up including modified vehicles to appeal to our younger customers and audience. The Environment Zone embodies TKM’s efforts to build a sustainable society through People, Process and Product thereby contributing immensely to the country’s sustainable initiatives.

Over the years, TKM has been focusing on making even better cars for the rapidly expanding Indian market. With recent launches of Urban Cruiser Hyryder and  Innova HyCross we are  redefining the paradigm and redrawing boundaries of technological and product excellence, while taking customer experience to a new high  like never before.

Confirming participation at the Auto Expo 2023, Mr. Atul Sood, Associate Vice President, Sales, and Strategic Marketing, TKM said, “At Toyota, we are working towards bringing models which are environment friendly and based on customer feedback. With over two million happy customers, our focus in India continues to be the introduction of technologically advanced products that are safer and greener. Achieving carbon neutrality has been one of our biggest challenges and the fight against carbon will require multiple technology pathways and our latest offerings are another step in that direction.

In addition, through this event, TKM aims to showcase our holistic approach to reduce carbon through an array of advanced products, technologies and sustainable plant initiatives which are exciting to all our stakeholders. We are confident that our  unique range of exhibits will further strengthen our bond with customers thus enabling the creation of lasting and valuable associations.”

Currently, Toyota is focusing on embracing the shift towards sustainable mobility by bringing practical solutions, that best meets the customer needs and energy mix of the country towards achieving the national objectives of “Aatmanirbhar Bharat”, “Mass Electrification” and “Carbon Neutrality”.

Friday, December 23, 2022

SIDBI Unveils Its First Platinum-Rated Green Building In Mysore


Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) has inaugurated its first green-rated building in Mysore, as part of its ambitious goal of achieving facility-level carbon neutrality commitment by 2024. Shri Sivasubramanian Ramann, CMD, SIDBI along with other officials inaugurated the platinum-rated Mysore Branch office awarded by Indian Green Building Council (IGBC). Mr. Ramann stated that SIDBI is taking pioneer steps in India to turn the Indian banking sector green and has also decided to reduce its carbon footprint in a phased manner and eventually become carbon neutral by December 2024 to lead by example. He further informed that SIDBI endeavors to position itself as the green bank of India attending to the green financing and non-financing needs of the MSME ecosystem. This includes direct and resources support to institutions focused on the green theme. SIDBI has already launched project GRiT for the sustainable emergence of artisan clusters. On the thought leadership front, SIDBI has set up GIFS and launched BEE Unnatee tool easing decisions by MSMEs to go green and also standardize energy audits.

IGBC is an associate of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) through its Green Interior Rating Program awards green certification based on eco-design approach, water conservation, energy efficiency, interior materials, indoor environment, and innovations in interior design. The certification is awarded under four broad categories such as (i) Certified – Best Practices, (ii) Silver – Outstanding performance, (iii) Gold – National excellence, and (iv) Platinum – Global Leadership. Out of the 4 levels of certification, the Platinum level is the top-grade rating.

Speaking on the occasion Shri K S Venkatagiri, ED, IGBC congratulated SIDBI for taking a lead in promoting the ESG goals. He also stated that they would want to have greater association going forward to ensure that together we contribute to the environment and reduction in carbon footprints.

The occasion was also graced by Shri Rajendra K V, DC, Mysuru who also appreciated the steps taken by SIDBI. He hoped that as anchor promoters of MSME ecosystem sidbi lead shall make others to follow and mainstream this greening strategy.

SIDBI has positioned itself as a Principal Financial Institution in the Green Finance Market of the country. The bank has been proactively pursuing a green investment portfolio in the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) lending in areas of energy efficiency, low carbon, and green financing projects across the MSMEs since 2005. Through its various Green Financing products and other developmental activities, SIDBI enables the manufacturers and service providers in the MSME sector to adopt green energy efficient technologies leading to a positive impact on the environment and sustainability. SIDBI has taken a number of proactive green measures recently including its commitment to achieving carbon neutrality, in line with the Government of India’s ambitious climate ambitions and actions. The Bank has also constituted a Board level committee on Sustainable Development Goals to oversee its green initiatives.

About SIDBI:

Since its formation in 1990, SIDBI has been touching lives of citizens across various strata of the society through its integrated, innovative and inclusive approach. Be it traditional, domestic small entrepreneurs, bottom-of-the-pyramid entrepreneurs, to high-end knowledge-based entrepreneurs, SIDBI has directly or indirectly impacted the lives of Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) through various credit and developmental measures.

For more information, visit:  https://www.sidbi.in/ 

ASUS Strengthens Pan India Retail Strategy With The Launch Of Exclusive Store In Hubli


As a step towards strengthening the brand’s retail footprint across the country, ASUS India, Taiwanese tech giant launched an exclusive store in Hubli. The store is set to host an extensive range of electronics and computer hardware, including the ASUS flagship products such as VivoBook, ZenBook, Zenbook-Flip, desktops, and Republic of Gamers (ROG) laptops. Located at the heart of the city, the new exclusive premium store is spread across 400 sq. ft.

Talking about the expansion, Arnold Su, Business Head, Consumer and Gaming PC, System Business Group, ASUS India, said, “We are delighted to announce the expansion of our retail footprint in India. Karnataka being an important market for us, the inauguration of the new brand store in Hubli will play a pivotal step towards empowering consumers across different regions of the country with a unique experience of our latest innovation. With a strategic retail expansion approach, we will continue to create more interaction and new touchpoints for our users.”

The new outlet takes the mark of the brand’s new retail store in Hubli and total 17 stores across state. The store features innovative demo zones to offer a premium experience and service to the consumers. They will create an interactive journey for the consumers by providing them with a first-hand feel of some of the most advanced and brand’s latest gaming and lifestyle products, ranging across PCs, desktops, and a wide range of accessories.

Address of the retail stores: F6, Urban Oasis Mall, Gokul Road, Hubli, Pin Code - 580030

About ASUS

ASUS is a multinational company known for the world’s best motherboards, PCs, monitors, graphics cards and routers. Along with an expanding range of superior gaming, content-creation and AIoT solutions, ASUS leads the industry through cutting-edge design and innovations made to create the most ubiquitous, intelligent, heartfelt and joyful smart life for everyone. With a global workforce that includes more than 5,000 R&D professionals, ASUS is driven to become the world’s most admired innovative leading technology enterprise. Inspired by the In Search of Incredible brand spirit, ASUS won more than 11 awards every day in 2019 and ranks as one of Forbes’ World’s Best Regarded Companies and Fortune’s World’s Most Admired Companies. 

Xiaomi India And YouWeCan Foundation Come Together To Fund Education For 200 Cancer Warriors


Xiaomi, India’s No.1 Smartphone and Smart TV brand, today announced its partnership with the YouWeCan Foundation to contribute towards education for 200 cancer warriors as a part of its #ShikshaHarHaath initiative. The partnership reiterates Xiaomi India’s commitment to giving back to society and empowering future generations with the life-changing gift of education.

Education has always been a facilitator of innovation and growth and with Shiksha Har Haath Xiaomi India aims to fulfil the dreams and aspirations of today's youth i.e. future of tomorrow. As part of the initiative, Xiaomi India has launched Mi Scholarship to support the dreams of these cancer warriors and help them achieve excellence in their educational journey.

Commenting on the partnership, Muralikrishnan B, President, Xiaomi India said, “The #ShikshaHarHaath initiative is aimed to bolster the nation's educational development agenda and enable the future creators and innovators. Through our partnership with YouWeCan Foundation, we are committed to equipping and nurturing the students to access the world of possibilities and charter a bright future for themselves. We are optimistic that this small step from Xiaomi India and YouWeCan foundation will encourage and help them shape their career trajectory in a positive direction.”

Yuvraj Singh, Founder at YouWeCan Foundation said, “We are thankful for Xiaomi India’s support in helping us extend this initiative to form the future of these cancer warriors. With this partnership, both organizations are committing to support the needy with a focus on providing them with access to education and empowering them to nurture their dreams.”

Video Message from Mr. Muralikrishnan B, Presindent at Xiaomi India and Yuvraj Singh, Founder at YouWeCan – Video Message

The Xiaomi #ShikshaHarHaath initiative aims to create young leaders of tomorrow by giving underprivileged students across the country access to the benefits of education. The goal is to enable the students and help them achieve their dreams.

About Xiaomi Corporation

Xiaomi Corporation was founded in April 2010 and listed on the Main Board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on July 9, 2018 (1810.HK). Xiaomi is a consumer electronics and smart manufacturing company with smartphones and smart hardware connected by an IoT platform at its core. Embracing our vision of “Make friends with users and be the coolest company in the users’ hearts”, Xiaomi continuously pursues innovations, high-quality user experience and operational efficiency. The Group relentlessly builds amazing products with honest prices to let everyone in the world enjoy a better life through innovative technology. Xiaomi is one of the world’s leading smartphone companies. According to Canalys, the Group’s market share in terms of smartphone shipments ranked No. 3 globally in the third quarter of 2022. The Group has also established the world’s leading consumer AIoT (AI+IoT) platform, with 558 million smart devices connected to its platform as of September 30, 2022, excluding smartphones, tablets and laptops. Xiaomi products are present in more than 100 countries and regions around the world. In August 2022, the Group made the Fortune Global 500 list for the fourth time, ranking #266, up 72 places compared to 2021. Xiaomi is a constituent of the Hang Seng Index, Hang Seng China Enterprises Index, Hang Seng TECH Index and Hang Seng China 50 Index.

Xiaomi India is the number 1 smartphone player since Q3 2017 IDC Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker report.

Xiaomi India is the number 1 Smart TV brand since Q2 2018 IDC Worldwide Quarterly Tracker.

For more information about the company, visit https://blog.mi.com/en/

Airtel 5G Plus Services Now Live On 5G Smartphones In Pune


* Promises to offer massive speeds, best voice experience, will work on all 5G smart phones and be kinder to the environment

* No SIM change needed; existing Airtel 4G SIM is 5G enabled

* Existing data plans will work on 5G until roll-out is complete

* Airtel 5G Plus now works on all Android and Apple supported 5G devices

Bharti Airtel (“Airtel”), India’s leading telecommunications services provider today announced the launch of its cutting edge 5G services in Pune.  

Airtel 5G Plus services will be available to customers in a phased manner as the company continues to construct its network and complete the roll out. Customers with 5G enabled devices will enjoy high speed Airtel 5G Plus network at no extra cost until the roll out is more widespread. Currently operational at Koregaon Park, Kalyani Nagar, Baner, Hinjewadi, Magarpatta, Hadapsar, Kharadi, Model Colony, Swargate, Pimpri-Chinchwad and few other select locations. Airtel will augment its network making its services available across the city in due course of time.

Commenting on the launch, George Mathen, CEO, Bharti Airtel, Maharashtra and Goa said, “I am thrilled to announce the launch of Airtel 5G Plus in Pune. Airtel customers can now experience ultrafast network and enjoy speeds upto 20-30 times faster than the current 4G speeds. We are in the process of lighting up the entire city which will allow customers to enjoy superfast access to High-definition video streaming, gaming, multiple chatting, instant uploading of photos and more.”

Airtel 5G Plus will bolster the entire portfolio of services that Airtel offers. In addition, it will allow superfast access to High Definition video streaming, gaming, multiple chatting, instant uploading of photos and more. With this launch, India will get a fillip to economic growth as Airtel 5G Plus revolutionizes education, healthcare, manufacturing, agriculture, mobility and logistics.

In the last one year, Airtel has demonstrated the power of 5G with a host of powerful use cases that will change the way we lead our lives and do business. From India’s first live 5G network in Hyderabad to India’s first 5G powered hologram to India’s first recreation of a game changing world cup match played at a time when there was no TV coverage to India’s first 5G connected ambulance to India’s first private 5G network with Bosch for boosting manufacturing productivity, Airtel has been at the forefront of 5G innovation.

About Bharti Airtel Limited

Headquartered in India, Airtel is a global communications solutions provider with over 500 Mn customers in 17 countries across South Asia and Africa. The company ranks amongst the top three mobile operators globally and its networks cover over two billion people. Airtel is India’s largest integrated communications solutions provider and the second largest mobile operator in Africa. Airtel’s retail portfolio includes high speed 4G/5G mobile broadband, Airtel Xstream Fiber that promises speeds up to 1 Gbps with convergence across linear and on-demand entertainment, streaming services spanning music and video, digital payments and financial services. For enterprise customers, Airtel offers a gamut of solutions that includes secure connectivity, cloud and data centre services, cyber security, IoT, Ad Tech and CPaaS (Airtel IQ). For more details visit www.airtel.com

Total Pageviews