Friday, May 27, 2022

Meta Is Rolling Out Its Updated Privacy Policy And Terms of Service


*  We’ve rewritten and re-designed our Privacy Policy to make it easier to understand and clearer about how we use your information.

*  While the text looks different, Meta is not collecting, using or sharing your data in new ways based on this policy update.

* We’ve added more detailed explanations including about how we use and share information with third parties. And we’ve paired the policy with the Privacy Center and new controls to manage your experience, like who sees your posts and the topics you want to see ads about.

Starting today, Meta is rolling out notifications letting people know that we’ve updated our Privacy Policy, formerly known as the Data Policy. Inspired by feedback from people who use our technologies and privacy experts, we rewrote our Privacy Policy to make it easier to understand and to reflect the latest products we offer. While the text looks different in many places, Meta is not collecting, using or sharing your data in new ways based on this policy update and we still do not sell your information. We’re also updating our Terms of Service.

Our goal with this update is to be more clear about our data practices; one way we’ve done this is through additional details and examples throughout. At Meta, we’ve always set out to build personalized experiences that provide value without compromising your privacy. So, it's on us to have strong protections for the data we use and be transparent about how we use it. That includes communicating more clearly about our data practices and the choices you have.

We’re also including more ways to access controls you can use to experience our products in ways that are right for you. You can continue to manage your privacy settings at any time and we’re committed to letting you know if we make important changes to how we collect, use and share your information.

In addition, we’re updating our Terms of Service to better explain what is expected from us and those who use our platforms. These expectations include the rights and obligations described in our Community Standards, for example when we may disable or terminate accounts that violate our Terms or Community Standards or others’ intellectual property rights or other laws.

Notifications that people will start to receive today on Facebook, Instagram and Messenger will direct them to information about what to expect from the relevant Privacy Policy and Terms of Service in their region. They’ll also see a summary of what’s different. These updates go into effect on July 26, and people don’t need to act on this notification by this date to continue using our products.

The updated Meta Privacy Policy covers Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, and other Meta Products. It doesn’t cover WhatsApp, Workplace, Free Basics, Messenger Kids or the use of Quest devices without a Facebook account, which have their own privacy policies.

RESPONDING TO FEEDBACK AND EVOLVING REGULATION

As privacy and data protection regulations have improved around the world in recent years, we’ve explored ideas in people-centered privacy design and have worked to make our data practices more transparent. The updates we're announcing today are inspired by feedback from privacy experts, policymakers, and people who use our services. Our aim going forward is to update our Privacy Policy more frequently as we continue to learn what areas we can improve.

We encourage everyone to read our updated Policy which will help people understand how our practices apply, including up to date information about our newer products, like Shops and Facebook View, as we continue to innovate. We’ve added more examples about the kinds of information we collect to provide the personalized services people expect, like recommended content and suggested connections. We’ve also included more details about the types of third-parties with whom we share and receive information and explained how and why people’s information is shared across our products, among other changes. Our updated policy has more details about information we collect if you use our products but don’t have an account and when we share information with law enforcement for the purposes of safety and security. For a summary of other key changes to our Privacy Policy, you can review this page.

PRIVACY CENTER

Earlier this year, we began to roll out Privacy Center as a place where people can learn more about Meta’s approach to privacy across our apps and technologies. Privacy Center is now available to everyone who uses Facebook on desktop and mobile and connects directly to our updated Privacy Policy.

You can think of Privacy Center as a hub for your privacy questions, where you can learn about how we use data, make use of some of the various privacy controls that we offer, and brush up on key account security tips and tools. We’ll also continue adding more guides and controls to it.

UPDATING CONTROLS FOR YOUR PRIVACY

New Audience Controls: Starting today, we’re also rolling out a new setting to make it easier to manage who sees your posts on Facebook. Now, when someone selects a default audience, that audience selection will apply to new posts created in Facebook that they share to their timeline unless they select a different audience for a particular post. Previously, your default audience for posts matched whichever audience you chose most recently. So if you had just made a post that was available to the public, your subsequent posts would be as well. This new setting will help make sure you’re sharing with the right people in your community.

New Ways to Manage the Ads You See: Recently, we consolidated the Ad Topics and Interest Categories controls into a single control that can be accessed on Facebook and Instagram, covering a more extensive set of ad topics. This allows people to use a single control to set preferences across ad topics that reflect the interest targeting categories advertisers may use to reach them and the content they might see in an ad.

Nuclear Deterrence Will Safeguard Japan's Interests" Japan’s Former Prime Minister: Shinzo Abe


* WION News exclusive interview at the Quad Summit with Japan’s former Prime Minister: Shinzo Abe

India’s first and only international news channel, spoke exclusively to Japan’s former Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe as part of the channel’s flagship Global Leadership Series hosted by Palki Sharma Upadhyay, Managing Editor of WION. Abe said Joe Biden's statement on defending Taiwan in the event of an invasion by China, marks a shift in America’s Taiwan policy. Mr Abe said he believes Biden meant what he said and that this statement reflects a change in America's strategic ambiguity policy on Taiwan.

Abe said "This is a comment given directly by President Biden. And he talked about the US's commitment to defend Taiwan. Even though the White House came out and denied it - saying that it is the same policy. But I think essentially what President Biden had said was the truth and it was a message to China."

He further added "On the very point that the White House came right out saying our policy has not changed - the fact that they clarified that right after President Biden's comment gives us a signal that the US is starting to look at changing the policy."

Abe stated that the White House's clarification was probably meant to downplay the significant policy change. "If the US were in a position to intervene, then China may have to give up its idea of annexing Taiwan", said Abe. He added that if China cannot militarily defeat Taiwan, it will try to destabilise the island's economy and politics.

The statement comes in the background of the Quad Summit being held in Japan. The Quad or the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue is a group made of four nations, India, Japan, the US, and Australia. It is a strategic forum that features semi-regular summits, information exchange, and military drills.

On being questioned about the possibility of Japan hosting US’ nuclear missiles, Abe responded in the affirmative. "Nuclear deterrence will safeguard Japan's interests", said Abe.

The former prime minister also spoke about his long association with India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi, calling him “a quick decision-maker, and a leader who gets things done.” He focused on Japan's relationship with India which is older than its relationship with the USA. He concluded the conversation reiterating that the partnership with India is that of "maximum potential."

Tata Motors Files A Record Number Of 125 Patents In FY22; Secures 56 Grants In FY22


* Continues to set the standard in the automotive industry

Reaffirming its commitment towards fostering innovation, research, and advanced engineering, Tata Motors Ltd (TML), India’s leading automobile company, today announced that it has accelerated its drive for engineering excellence and innovation by filing a record number of 125 patents in FY22, which is the highest ever in its history. The patents filed entail a diverse range of innovations & developments in traditional & new energy powertrain technologies, safety, connected vehicle technologies, body in white (BIW) & trims along with other vehicle systems. The company has also received a grant of 56 patents during the same period.

With a rich history of pioneering technology and engineering solutions, TML has been consistently making “ahead- of-the-curve” investments in new age technologies, with a focus on enabling future ready mobility. Its intrinsic capabilities in R&D, technology incubation and success in developing segment-defining vehicles in both commercial and passenger vehicles has resulted in the introduction of several innovations over the years in its vehicles. These innovations are cherished by the customers leading to improved market shares and have since become industry benchmarks.

TML remains committed to satisfy the rising mobility aspirations of our customers by delivering high quality, smart features at affordable costs.

Speaking about Tata Motors’ commitment towards innovation & new technology, Rajendra Petkar, President & CTO, Tata Motors, said, “We have established a legacy of setting new benchmarks with cutting-edge technologies and features in the areas of new energy solutions, safety, product performance, cost of ownership and digitalization. An enabling culture and ecosystem to foster innovation amongst our workforce and the drive to keep challenging the status quo in pursuit of excellence has been the key to delivery. We remain committed to use our engineering prowess in creating top class mobility solutions to serve the evolving aspirations of our customers.”

The R&D centres of Tata Motors have won several prestigious accolades and honors recently. These include:

Two CII GreenCo awards for the Tata Motors at the 8th Edition of CII National Award for Environment Best Practices (2021)   

The IP Excellence Award, 2021 accorded by Questel, in recognition of Tata Motors’ valuable contribution as an Innovation-Driven Organization

The “Special Appreciation Award” in “7th CII Industrial Intellectual Property Award Ceremony” in November 2021

Excellence award at the 46th International convention on Quality Circles -2021

Astral Partners With Iconic Star Allu Arjun To Strengthen Its Presence In The Southern Market


-          With this partnership, the company aims to expand and solidify Astral’s piping vertical in the southern markets

-          The move is set to leverage Allu Arjun’s massive following to strengthen its brand positioning in Southern India and drive sales

Astral Limited, one of the leading companies in building materials, has announced an association with Superstar Allu Arjun as their brand ambassador for the Pipes & Water Tank businesses.  This association will add value to the entire ecosystem of Astral pipes and boost Astral business in the market.

On the partnership, Mr. Kairav Engineer, Astral said, “This partnership signifies an important milestone for us as a brand since Mr. Allu Arjun is renowned for his distinctive acting & dancing styles and immense fan-following. We, at Astral, are delighted to associate with him with an aim to reinforce our brand equity and strengthen brand consideration in the southern states of India. The regional connect coupled with an immensely popular star will help us to create strong footholds, increased mind share and market share in these markets.”

Echoing the sentiment, Mr. Allu Arjun commented, “I am excited to get associated with Astral Pipes, a brand which is a household name and well-known for quality, innovations and forward-thinking.  I can resonate well with the brand's versatility and look forward to our association.”

Astral Limited is one of the fastest-growing companies in India with their piping business, leading the way in terms of volume and contribution to the company. South India marks a huge market for Astral Limited. Astral in addition to Pipes and building materials is diversified into various other portfolios including Adhesives, Water Tanks, Sanitaryware and Faucets.

The strategic decision of the company is in the direction of its vision of achieving significant revenue streams and contributing considerably to its overall piping business.

About Astral Limited.

Astral Limited started its operations in 1998 from Ahmedabad, Gujarat by venturing into Polymer Pipes Manufacturing. Right from introducing CPVC piping in India to introducing many innovative piping solutions, Astral Pipes today offers the widest range of pipes and fittings for various applications including specialized products for infrastructure development. Astral also manufactures a wide range of water tanks available in various storage capacities. 

Astral entered the Adhesives category in 2014 by acquiring Resinova Chemie Ltd. And the UK-based Seal It Services Ltd. Astral Adhesives manufactures a diversified range of adhesives, sealants, putties, and construction aids. Recently, Astral has forayed into the Faucets and Sanitaryware category as well as in Paints category and poised to introduce a product range to meet different consumer requirements.

Today, Astral is one of the fastest-growing companies in the category of building materials and has been a distinguished brand. Astral deploys best-in-globe technologies and fulfills the emerging needs of millions of houses and adds extra mileage to India’s developing real estate fraternity with the hallmark of unbeaten quality and innovative building materials solutions.

Karnataka Making Mangalore As A FinTech Hub Is Becoming Reality


* The synergy between KDEM, academic institution and industry is a step towards harbouring a Fintech ecosystem at the grassroots level

Continuing with its mission to contribute to India’s $1trillion digital economy with a robust innovation and start-up ecosystem, the Karnataka Digital Economy Mission (KDEM) welcomed Illumifin’s (Illumifin India LLP - Fintech Startup) new office in Mangalore. They are a fintech-based company supplementing KDEM’s objective of making the Mangalore cluster a fintech focus hub.

The Karnataka Digital Economy Mission (KDEM) has set up a fintech task force led by Harshil Mathur, the founder, and CEO of fintech unicorn start-up Razorpay. The task group works toward creating a roadmap for the growth of the industry, identifying the opportunities and challenges faced by the fintech ecosystem in the state, leverages the partnering institutions and government to solve them and attract more fintech companies. In this direction, Illumifin’s new office at Mangalore is KDEM’s prowess in intensifying its drive to build a robust Fintech ecosystem in the region while spotlighting skill development, employment generation, and overall development across Karnataka.

The BFSI and FinTech sector is a booming industry, and the engineering and management graduates can benefit from the immense opportunities it offers to the digitization of this sector. KDEM is very happy with the triparty agreement signed by Illumfin in this regard and thus thase initiatives are aimed to bring about a necessary change in the outlook of promoting niche departments at the grassroots level in cities beyond Bengaluru for the right social and economic impact to make its mark.

The Beyond Bengaluru program of KDEM is spearheading the mission of proliferating the growth of the digital economy in clusters beyond Bangalore by identifying potential clusters in the state. The program aims at building a community of key industry players, entrepreneurs, start-up owners, academia, accelerators, and the student community, the Beyond Bengaluru program of KDEM is steering towards getting investments and generating employment in the state. The Karnataka Digital Economy Mission (KDEM) has recognized the growth potential of the FinTech industry, and this MoU with FinTech Industry has enabled many such companies to get a foothold in this region.

Speaking on this important development, Mr. Sanjeev Gupta, CEO, KDEM: "Karnataka Digital Economy Mission is delighted to welcome Illumifin its Mangaluru cluster, under the Beyond Bengaluru initiative. The ecosystem of the Mangaluru cluster is dynamic and vibrant with innovation and rich entrepreneurship culture. Together with our ecosystem partners like Sahyadri, we are spearheading the objective of attracting 500+ IT companies and creating 30,000 jobs by 2026. We aim at leveraging the competitive advantage of Mangaluru being a cradle of banking & financial institutions and making it a hub of Fin-Tech-based operations. We welcome Illumifin to start its operations from Mangaluru and accelerate its development journey from #Beyond Bengaluru."

Commenting on this partnership, Chairman, Sahyadri institution, Mangalore said – “This partnership between the industry and the academia is a critical milestone for India's fintech ecosystem. As KDEM cements Karnataka’s place as a global fintech hub, it gives me immense pleasure to be a part of Karnataka Digital Economy Mission’s journey to unlock new areas of innovation and growth. With KDEM’s reach and our expertise, we are very hopeful of enabling an enriching platform to the ascending start-up environment of Karnataka. “

About the Company:

Details: Abry Partners, a leading Boston-based private equity firm and Hoplon Capital, an asset manager focusing on the digital disruption of end markets including insurance have acquired Concentrix Corporation’s stand-alone insurance third-part administration and software platform services company, Concentrix Insurance Administration Solutions.

Concurrent with the acquisition, Concentrix Insurance Administration Solutions has been rebranded as illumifin Corporation, led by newly-appointed Chief Executive Officer Phil Ratcliff, a seasoned insurance industry executive with 30 years of broad-based financial services capability, including senior roles in industry, consulting, technology and outsourcing.  illumifin is poised to be an innovative partner to the insurance industry, delivering visionary technology-enabled services and software solutions, to individual and group insurers. illumifin’s deep industry expertise, proven technology, and best-in-class administration will combine to create unrivaled value.

About illumifin

illumifin is a true partner to the insurance industry, delivering tech-enabled business processing services and essential software solutions to help transform insurers for tomorrow’s digital future.

We’re focused solely on the U.S. life and annuity market. This gives us an in-depth understanding of the industry and helps us deliver the best solutions for our customers. We want to guide insurers on their transformation journeys. Our business process servicing and technology offerings provide a comprehensive roadmap to boosting profits, maximizing growth, and providing a seamless digital customer experience. We are committed to being a true partner to insurers, forming relationships that deliver tangible value to our customers, and making a meaningful impact on the insurance industry.

About Karnataka Digital Economy Mission (KDEM)

With an objective to increase the share of the Digital economy in the state, the Government of Karnataka set up the Karnataka Digital Economy Mission (KDEM), a Section-8 organization, which acts as a knowledge bridge between the industry and the government. To meet the objectives, KDEM has been working towards the five focus areas, viz. IT Products & Services, BPM & GCC promotion; Innovations & Start-ups; ESDM; Beyond Bengaluru; and Talent Accelerator.

Thousands of Blood Cancer Patients Are In Dire Need of Matching Blood Stem Cell Donors


Blood stem cell transplant is often the only life-saving treatment option for blood cancer patients 

Only 30% patient in need of a stem cell transplant find a match in their family; the rest 70% have to find an unrelated matching donor 

Only five lakh Indians are registered as potential blood stem cell donors, which is abysmal compared to Western countries 

Blood stem cell transplant is often the only lifesaving treatment option for patients with blood cancer. Around one-year posttransplant, most patients go on to lead near normal lives. However, lack of awareness about the treatment is a big challenge in India, due to which it is a race against time for patients waiting to find a matching donor. This was stated by medical experts in Bengaluru while marking the World Blood Cancer day, in an event organized by DKMS BMST Foundation India, a non-profit organization dedicated to the fight against world blood cancer. 

Dr. Sunil Bhat, Director & Clinical Lead, Pediatric Hematology, Oncology and Blood & Marrow Transplantation, Narayana Health, Bengaluru: “If a genetically well-matched, young and healthy donor is available, the outcome of blood stem cell transplant is very good. The success rate differs with variations in patient and disease characteristics but, if done at the right time, 60-70% patients can be completely cured. In fact, the success rate has increased up to 80% with advancement in the conditioning regimen. Studies suggest that more than 70% of patients report good to excellent quality of life in 1-4 years after the transplant.” 

Over the last two decades, better diagnosis and disease awareness has led to a definite increase in incidence of blood cancer in India, especially in patients belonging to lower socio-economic strata. These patients are being diagnosed at advanced stage of the disease, leading to higher morbidity and mortality. A large number of patients from underprivileged sections and remote locations go undiagnosed and the incidences are not reported. 

Unavailability of matching blood stem cell donors is the main challenge faced by Indian patients in need of a transplant. Said Patrick Paul, CEO, DKMS BMST Foundation India, only about 30% of the patients can find a sibling match and the rest 70% depend on finding a matching unrelated donor. As per the World Marrow Donor Association, there are over 39 million donors registered across the globe. Only 0.5 million of these are from India. When someone needs a blood stem cell transplant, their odds of finding a match is much higher from among people of the same ethnicity. Hence it is very important for more Indians to step forward to register as donors so that more patients can be saved.” 

Every year, over 70,000 people die due to blood cancer in India, even as over 1lakh new patients get diagnosed. Said Dr. Sunil Bhat: “Both malignant and non-malignant conditions can be treated with a blood stem cell transplant, including Lymphoma, Leukemia, Myeloma and Hodgkin’s diseases. Knowing the type and subtype of leukemia is important in estimating life expectancy. The 5-year survival rate for children with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) has greatly increased over time and is now about 90% overall. The 5-year survival rate of Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML) has also increased over time and is now in the range of 65-70%. Early detection and initiation of treatment along with proper compliance from patient side will reduce both mortality and morbidity." 

Maheer found his lifesaver from Germany 

Maheer, hailing from Ahmedabad, was just 6 years old when he was diagnosed with acute leukemia. He got a second chance at life when he found a matching donor registered with DKMS, Dr Sita Arjune, a medical doctor from Cologne, Germany.  

It has been nine years since Maheer received the transplant. “At that time, I was very young, so I did not know what was happening, or why. There was so much anxiety, and my parents were so worried.  My father told me there was an issue with my blood but that it would all be sorted.  After the transplant, everyone felt much happier,” said Maheer.  

Dr Sita, who was elated to have helped a patient in need, said, “As soon as I found out about the plight of Maheer, I knew I had to help. Suddenly, there was someone I could give hope to through my donation. Hope is something we all deserve.” Maheer is now 14 years old. He has managed to beat leukemia and now has the gift of a bright future to look forward to. He loves to listen to music, play with friends, travel and do research, especially in the field of medicine.  

He has a very important message for people: “The only reason I am here breathing, living, speaking, is my transplant. This donation gave me my life back. What could be more beautiful than that? By donating stem cells, you could give someone a new life. So, please sign up as a potential lifesaver!  

Registration takes only 5 minutes of your time. If you’re between 18 and 50 years and in general good health, take the first step to register as a blood stem cell donor by ordering your home swab kit at www.dkms-bmst.org/register.  

About DKMS BMST Foundation India 

A non-profit organization dedicated to the fight against blood cancer and other blood disorders, such as thalassemia and aplastic anemia. Our aim is to improve the situation of patients suffering from blood cancer and other blood disorders in India and throughout the world, by raising awareness about blood stem cell transplantation and registering potential blood stem cell donors. By doing this DKMS-BMST provides patients in need of a blood stem cell transplant with a second chance at life.  

DKMS-BMST is a joint venture of two reputed non-profit organizations: BMST (Bangalore Medical Services Trust) and DKMS, one of the largest international blood stem cell donor centers in the world. For more information, please visit dkms-bmst.org 

Photo Caption:  Jithesh Kanchan, Kishor Ramji Surani, Suneel Narayan, Suresh Verma, Smita Joshi, Prapul R, Dr Latha Jagannathan, Director, DKMS-BMST,  Dr. Sunil Bhat, Director & Clinical Lead, Pediatric Hematology, Oncology and Blood & Marrow Transplantation, Narayana Health, Bengaluru Patrick Paul, CEO, DKMS BMST Foundation India.

Garware Hi-Tech Films Earns Record Revenue And Profits For The Quarter And Year Ended On March 31, 2022


Key Highlights:

FY22 CONSOLIDATED REVENUE AT RS 1,303 CRORES VIS-À-VIS RS 989 CRORES IN FY21 – UP BY 32% YoY

FY22 CONSOLIDATED EBIDTA AT RS 278 CRORES VIS-À-VIS RS 234 CRORES IN FY21 - UP BY 19% YoY

FY22 CONSOLIDATED PAT AT RS 167 CRORES VIS-À-VIS RS 126 CRORES IN FY21 - UP BY 33% YoY

Q4 FY22 CONSOLIDATED REVENUE AT RS 324 CRORES VIS-À-VIS RS 288 CRORES IN Q4 FY21 - UP BY 12% QoQ

Q4 FY22 CONSOLIDATED PAT AT RS 45 CRORES VIS-À-VIS RS 32 CRORES IN Q3 FY22 - UP BY 42% QoQ

MRS SARITA GARWARE RAMSAY REJOINS THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS BRINGING IN A WEALTH OF EXPERIENCE AND ALSO ALINGING THE OWNERSHIP INTERESTS AND BOARD LEVEL LEADERSHIP

NEW LAMINATION CAPACITY AUGMENTING WINDOW FILM BUSINESS WILL COMMENCE PRODUCTION AROUND Q2 FY23

GARWARE HI-TECH FILMS LIMITED ANNOUNCES DIVIDEND OF RS 10/- PER SHARE

Garware Hi-Tech Films Limited (GHFL) (formerly Garware Polyester Limited), a flagship company of Garware Group and a leading player in specialty Polyester Films in India and Worldwide announced its results audited financial results for the Quarter and Year ended on March 31, 2022.

Commenting on the results, Shri S B Garware, Chairperson and Managing Director, GHFL said, “Our business initiatives undertaken few years ago with a long- term and in a financially conservative outlook is bearing fruit, and our Company has earned record revenues and profits, despite challenging external environmental factors. In the coming year, we anticipate, our new lamination facility to commence production, and our paint protection film to see increased volume as it has been tested and approved by our major trading partners in USA and Europe.”

“GHFL’s record results is a testament to our commitment to the manufacturing excellence and innovation, all driven by a dedicated team with a strong commitment to sustain world-class quality standards of our products. We are excited about the opportunities ahead in continuing to build a long-term, and a sustainable value for our stakeholders" said Ms. Monika Garware, Vice-Chairperson and Jt. Managing Director, GHFL.

Highlights:

GHFL records unswerving and robust performance, while earning record revenue and profits.

The Board of Directors has recommended 100% final dividend of Rs 10 per fully paid-up equity share of Rs 10 each for financial year ended March 31, 2022. This payment of dividend is subject to approval of Members of the Company at the ensuing Annual General Meeting of the Company.

Mrs Sarita Garware Ramsay, rejoins the board as an Additional Director in the category of Whole-Time Director (Executive Director) termed as Joint Managing Director. Prior the last board meeting, Mrs Sarita Garware Ramsay had desired to step-down from the Board, to pursue her nascent entrepreneurial ventures. In view of her wealth of experience in running the human resources and other critical functions of the Company for nearly two decades, and also as she holds sizable ownership interests in the Company, it was felt necessary by the Board to have her complete alignment to the Company’s cause. Hence, the Board requested her to reconsider the earlier decision, and to rejoin the Board managing her earlier functions. Mrs Sarita Garware Ramsay agreed to the Board’s request. Consequently, in the today’s Board meeting she has been appointed for a tenure of three years subject to the shareholders’ approval.

The new Lamination facility augmenting our window film business having an estimated capacity of about 1,440 LSF p.a. is nearing completion and the Company expects to commence commercial production by Q2 FY23.

Thursday, May 26, 2022

The BMW i4. - First Electric Mid-Size Sedan With Unlimited Sheer Driving Pleasure Debuts In India


BMW Group leads with the most extensive and diverse portfolio of electric cars in India.

Outstandingly sporty and dynamic with maximum comfort.

Instant acceleration of 0-100 km/hr in 5.7 sec with an output of 340 hp.

India’s longest range electric vehicle with impressive 590 kms.

Extremely slim high-voltage lithium-ion battery with short charging time.

Introductory offer: Complimentary BMW Wallbox charger with installation.

Widest network of fast chargers in Indian luxury car segment.

#BMWi4 #Electrifying #BornElectric #UltimateElectricDrivingMachine

The first-ever BMW i4 has been launched in India today. With this launch, BMW Group is the first car manufacturer to offer the most extensive portfolio of electric cars in India.

Electrifying: The BMW i4 is BMW’s first purely electric model focused squarely on driving dynamics. It is the ultimate electric driving machine that represents the essence of NEXTGen Joy, the BMW attitude. The BMW i4 combines sporting prowess with a range that also convinces for long journeys with comfort, spaciousness and practical appeal.

The BMW i4 can be booked online at shop.bmw.in. Deliveries will start by the beginning of July 2022.

Mr. Vikram Pawah, President, BMW Group India said, “With the launch of the BMW i4, I am excited to introduce the first electric mid-size sedan in the country. BMW i4 effortlessly combines sheer driving pleasure with sustainability as never experienced before. Thanks to its unique combination of BMW eDrive technology, extremely slim and high-voltage lithium-ion battery, rear wheel drive and advanced suspension kinematics, the BMW i4 gets an outstanding sporty feel. It is India’s longest range electric vehicle. Absolute luxury with class leading ambience, generous space, and rear axle air suspension ensures maximum comfort even for longer trips. Excitingly dynamic, comfortable and powerful in equal measure, the BMW i4 provides a truly electrifying experience that exceeds all expectations – every day, every trip. BMW Group today offers the most extensive and diverse portfolio of electric cars for Indian customers”.

The first-ever BMW i4 has been launched at an introductory ex- showroom price of

BMW i4 eDrive40 Sport        -        INR 69,90,000

* Completely-built-up unit (CBU)

* Price prevailing at the time of invoicing will be applicable. Ex-showroom prices inclusive of GST (incl. compensation cess) as applicable but exclude Road Tax, Tax Collected at Source (TCS), RTO statutory taxes/fees, other local tax cess levies and insurance. Price and options are subject to change without prior notice. For further information, please contact the local authorized BMW Dealer.

The electric sedan is available in exciting metallic paintworks - Mineral White, Black Sapphire and Skyscraper Grey. Perforated Sensatec upholstery comes in Canberra Beige and Cognac color schemes.

The optional M Aerodynamic Kit with embellishments such as M aerodynamic bumpers, exclusive 18 or 19-inch M light aerodynamic alloy wheels and M elements in high-gloss black enhance the dynamic and sporty character.

The first-ever BMW i4 comes with standard two-year warranty for unlimited kilometres. Repair Inclusive can extend warranty benefits from third year of operation to maximum fifth year without any mileage limitation. The batteries are covered by a warranty valid for eight years or up to 160,000 kilometres.

BMW India Financial Services is offering a complete package for loan, insurance and vehicle services especially designed for the first-ever BMW i4. Benefits include flexible and customized ownership plans like BMW 360° which give assured buyback value up to 4 years. 100% financing of accessories is also available including additional BMW Wallbox charger. The insurance delivers maximum protection with additional options such as zero depreciation, battery cover and return to invoice. Complimentary 5-year Road-Side Assistance provides complete peace of mind while on the move with facilities like portable roadside charging. Customers will also enjoy attractive offers to trade-in / upgrade to a new BMW.

The first-ever BMW i4 eDrive40.

The BMW i4 flawlessly showcases the trailblazing union of dynamism and sustainability in a pure electric form. It has a look that will set your pulse racing. The first-ever BMW i4 wears its innovative character on its sleeve like the sporty extrovert it is.

The car’s futuristic exterior design combines athletic aesthetics with a clear surface language and progressive precision. It is the most aerodynamic electric vehicle in its class. The front is characterized by expansive closed surfaces and precise lines. The Grey inlay in the front apron and vertical side openings emphasizes the functional, modern character of the vehicle. The absolute highlights are concise reinterpretation of radiator grille and the blue ring around BMW badge. Flat, strikingly contoured headlights and Frozen Grey accents in richly detailed, slender form add to the emotional flair. Thrillingly progressive, the side view is characterised by a long wheelbase, doors with frameless windows, fluid lines of the roof and short overhangs. Expansive, gently modelled surfaces with precise character lines create a modern impression that exudes elegance of a true BMW. The rear showcases a sharp vertical rear spoiler and recessed surfaces that strengthen the sporty and wide effect. The concise L-shaped rear LED lights with slender contours and horizontal lines, highlight how the BMW i4 hugs the road. Lightweight aerodynamic wheels contribute to enhance driving range. Air Suspension on the rear axle with automatic self-levelling function ensures maximum comfort and enhances stability on sharp turns.

Open, luxurious and fascinating, the interior brings a driver-focused cockpit and an ambience with generous space. The BMW Curved Display adds a high-quality, modern touch to the cockpit. The interplay of high-quality materials, a multimodal, intuitive operating concept, with sport seats and sport steering wheel, separated areas for the driver and front passenger and acoustic glazing create an atmosphere that is delightful for long journeys as it is during short drives. The sport seat gives an especially elegant boost with high-quality decorative stitching. Up to three passengers can enjoy the back seat with generous head and leg room. Ambient Lighting with six selectable light designs creates an atmosphere for every mood. Three-zone automatic climate control with nanofiber filter optimizes air quality.

The large tailgate with automatic opening function makes loading and unloading from the 470-litre luggage compartment particularly convenient. In addition, the functional rear bench seat folds down with 40/20/40 split to provide maximum storage space and increase boot capacity up to 1290 litres.

Rear wheel drive, 50/50 weight distribution and a low center of gravity add superlative balance, responsiveness and deliver outstanding traction and directional stability in extremely dynamic driving manoeuvres.

Fifth generation BMW eDrive technology features a highly integrated drive unit within a single housing that is powered by an electric motor, single-speed transmission and power electronics. The i4 instantly accelerates from 0 to 100 kms/hr in 5.7 seconds with an output of 340 hp. 

Making its debut, the extremely slim (110 mm) and high-voltage lithium-ion battery integrated in the floor has a capacity of 80.7 kWh providing a range of up to 590 kms. The BMW i4 has longest range than any other electric vehicle in India.

The first-ever BMW i4 ensures fast and hassle-free charging. Charging time is:

205 kW DC Charger: 10%-80% in 31 min / 164 kms added range in 10 min*

50 kW DC Charger:10%-80% in 83 min / 100 kms added range in 18 min

11 kW AC Charger: 0%-100% in about 8.25 hrs

*Best-in-class charging capacity

As an introductory offer, the BMW i4 will come with a complimentary BMW Wallbox charger with installation. It can be integrated at home to enable safe and convenient charging up to 11kW.

BMW Group India aims to build one of the best charging networks in luxury segment with fast chargers at BMW dealer network in 34 cities across India. BMW dealer network across India welcomes owners of electric vehicles of all brands for fast and convenient charging at nominal rates.

A host of BMW ConnectedDrive technologies continue to break the innovation barrier. BMW Live Cockpit Professional includes the freestanding BMW Curved Display with its connection between a 12.3-inch digital information display behind the steering wheel and a 14.9-inch Control Display with Navigation. The new generation iDrive display and control / operation system with new BMW Operating System 8 extends the interaction between driver and vehicle. Occupants can operate a number of functions simply by speaking to their BMW Virtual Assistant. The smartphone holder integrated into the centre console allows inductive, Wireless Charging. Wireless Apple CarPlay® / Android Auto ensure seamless smartphone connection with the car to access several functions. Harman Kardon Surround Sound System with 17 speakers conjures an engrossing treat for the ears. Parking Assistant with reverse camera makes parking in tight spots easier. The Reversing Assistant provides unmatched support in reversing out of a parking spot or narrow driveways. It records the last 50 metres driven and assists by taking over the steering.

Sustainability is in the DNA of BMW long before Sheer Driving Pleasure begins. BMW principle of Circular Economy - ‘RE:THINK, RE:DUCE, RE:USE, RE:CYCLE’ cuts down use of primary raw materials and increases secondary materials. Reduction of carbon footprint is achieved throughout the value chain and at all stages of lifecycle by making comprehensive use of natural and recyclable materials and production with 100% green electricity. Even when the battery has reached the end of its useful life after many years, it is not the end by any means. In their second life, the battery cells on an average can be used for another ten years as an energy store. After the battery cells are shredded, raw materials can be completely recycled. The lifecycle is then complete and ready to begin again.

Top Five Engage-2-Earn Technology Platforms Trending In 2022


The notion of content creation and engagement is changing by the hour, and it's changing as per the versatile interests of netizens. Engage2Earn (E2E) is one of the most exciting variables within the ever-growing cryptocurrency space, rewarding the committed users of a community. Where the world witnessing a convergence of the internet, earning currency that has real-world value while having fun is one of the main reasons why Engage-2-Earn has become so popular. More and more social media platforms and gaming platforms are coming forward to help the user community earn more by revolutionizing the whole concept of engagement.

Let’s check out five such platforms based on the 'Engage2Earn' model.

Chingari App:

Chingari - powered by GARI – Apps on Google PlayChingari is a video-sharing mobile app. In these videos, users have options to add visual effects, lip-sync, dance, or voice-over movie scenes and comic dialogues. Users can earn value in money by uploading videos on the Chingari app. Chingari pays users based on the popularity of their uploaded content. Users get to earn points or $GARI token based on the views their videos attract. Each view earns the user a point. These points can later be exchanged for money.

Taki:

Taki, a global token-powered social network, is all set to launch the platform for users and content creators in India. Currently, there is a waitlist of more than half a million to join the platform and get early access. Taki brings a unique engagement platform for creators, users, and crypto enthusiasts. Users on the platform can earn $TAKI, a crypto token, by creating content that other users enjoy, or even by simply engaging with the content such as commenting on and liking posts. Taki also allows users to create their own $USERCOIN to build their economy on the Taki platform. Taki primarily aims to reward users who are spending their time every day on social media to get entertained and engage socially. Soon the $TAKI coin is going to be listed as a stablecoin on the Indian cryptocurrency exchanges.

BOMB Crypto:

BOMB Crypto is a play-to-earn game where players own a group of BOMB heroes represented as NFTs. These heroes are programmed to search for BCOIN, the game’s native token. During this search, heroes undergo different challenges like going on missions and fighting monsters.  The game has an economic system that allows the players to trade and auction their heroes in a marketplace using BCOIN. This token is used to play, exchange, and trade in the ecosystem, allowing players to be part of the game’s development and governance. It also lets players access special passes to in-game events.

The Brave Browser Ecosystem Could Be Worth Billions (Cryptocurrency:BAT-USD)  | Seeking AlphaBrave Browser:

Brave is a free and open-source web browser developed by Brave Software, Inc. based on the Chromium web browser. As a Brave browser user, you can earn money in the form of BAT (Basic Attention Token) by simply choosing the option to view advertisements. BAT is Brave’s native cryptocurrency, and a user can earn it when they opt to view anonymous and privacy-preserving ads. This service is entirely optional, and ads are presented to the users in the form of push notifications rather than on-page. BAT tokens earned this way are stored in a wallet built into the browser, and can be traded for other cryptocurrencies or fiat currency.

Axie Infinity:

Axie Infinity is one of the most popular 'Engage-2-Earn' or play-to-earn crypto games out there today. Axie Infinity's in-game currency, Smooth Love Potion (or SLP), can be converted into cash. The game also has another token, known as Axie Infinity Token (AXS). Gamers can also create their characters with which they can win battles (called Axies) and earn AXS by competing in the PVP (or player vs. player) leaderboard. Axies themselves can also sell for a lot of money and have their own marketplace in this sense.

Godrej Appliances Sees Brisk Business For Air Coolers – Targets More Than 10% Market Share Gain In Three Years

 


The unprecedented heat wave has led to a spurt across cooling categories like air coolers. Godrej Appliances, a business of Godrej & Boyce the flagship company of the Godrej Group, launched its Air Coolers just before the pandemic hit the country and this is the first non-pandemic summer the new category is witnessing.

Kamal Nandi, Business Head and Executive Vice President – Godrej Appliances, part of Godrej & Boyce said, “The rising summer temperature has translated into a spike in sales of cooling products but with prices rising across appliances, affordability is taking a hit. This is where the strategy of straddling premium and mass categories comes into play. With our established presence in Air Conditioners and now Air Coolers too, we are able to offer much needed cooling solutions to a wider spectrum of consumers. This is the first full-fledged summer that Godrej air coolers is witnessing, and the performance is very encouraging. This gives us the confidence to aim for 10%+ market share gain over the next 3 years.”

Amit Jain, Product Group Head- Air Coolers- Godrej Appliances added, “This summer season is witnessing a pent-up demand for Air Coolers category, because the last two summers were impacted due to the pandemic. With people across the spectrum looking for solutions to tackle the heat wave, discretionary spends are being diverted to cooling products like Air Coolers. The affordable buying and operating cost of Air Coolers is an advantage for the category. Godrej enjoys a strong sales and service network across suburban India and we are leveraging on it while also adding new sales network for our air coolers. Our portfolio spans the desert cooler segment with mechanical, electronic and the high-end inverter options and has been very well received by consumers at large.”

Godrej Air Coolers with its Inverter Technology delivers superior cooling and greater energy efficiency. The brand was the first to introduce Inverter Technology hitherto associated with ACs into Air Coolers to drive power savings and efficiency. Further, with its smartly designed Ice Drip Technology, 18” aero-dynamic blades and Auto Cool Technology, it delivers superior cooling with efficient operation. The newly introduced Eco mode function available in select models enables Air Coolers to provide optimum cooling while saving energy and water – in line with the brand’s commitment to a greener environment, while the special anti- bacterial tank fights bacterial build-up in water tank to ensure fresh and pure air – in sync with the brand’s focus on consumer health and hygiene. The coolers couple robustness with fresh aesthetics and are available in multiple vibrant colors.

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 its 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.

To learn more visit : https://www.godrej.com/godrej-appliances

Fluent Commerce Expands India Team With Senior Hires - Former Employees of Tech Majors Such As SAP, IBM, Oracle, Cognizant, TCS


Fluent Commerce, a leading provider of a cloud-native distributed Order Management System, expands its leadership team in India. The company is reinforcing its commitment to the region to keep pace with its rapid expansion plans. India will be the company's largest office in the APAC region outside of Australia, its Global Headquarters. 

Fluent Commerce has established a significant presence in India, with an expanded team specialising in Sales, Solution Engineering, Business Development, and Channel Management. It has hired team members across levels and teams from established majors such as  SAP, IBM, TCS, Oracle, Cognizant and others. FluentCommerce’s expansion into the region starts with the appointment of a group senior hires- Sandeep Mukherjee (Director); Diptendu Bhattacharya (Senior Solution Engineer); Charu Dhir (Head- Business Development) and Devender Vashist (Channel Sales leader).

Fluent Commerce have also appointed Pranatharthi Haran as the Managing Director for the APAC region who will oversee the company’s investment in India.

Pranatharthi Haran, Managing Director, APAC leads Sales and Operations for the Asia Pacific region. His experience spans 20+ years in leadership roles for organisations including SAP, IBM, Cognizant Technology Solutions and Cybernet Software Systems.

Pranatharthi Haran, said, "India’s e-commerce market is ever-changing and evolving rapidly in recent years. The prospects in this market are enormous with the recent developments in the industry and the digital India push by the government. Furthermore the pandemic has accelerated the e-commerce market to keep pace with the expectations of the customer. I am excited to work with Fluent Commerce, India and look forward to supporting Indian retailers and brands  turbo charge their order fulfilment.India.”

Sandeep Mukherjee is the Director for India at Fluent Commerce, India with over 25+ years of experience and a proven revenue track record in the IT industry along with strong capabilities in driving Product & Service Lines Business Strategy, as well as Sales & Consulting for Digital Transformation. He has formerly worked with companies such as SAP, IBM, TCS, Oracle.

Diptendu Bhattacharya, Senior Solution Engineer India, joins Fluent Commerce from SAP and has previously worked with TCS and Sopra Steria. He has over 21 years of multi-regional experience in creating commercial value propositions, selling solutions, managing accounts, business planning, and managing partners. Another addition to the team is Charu Dhir, who heads up Business Development India at Fluent Commerce, India. She holds over 17 years of experience and has worked for companies such as SAP, Usha Martin, Qualcomm etc. She is experienced in the areas of Digital Transformation, Customer Experience, Intersectional Collaborative Approach towards Business Process Management and Decision Management.

Devender Vashist joins the Fluent Commerce team as a Channel Sales leader India. He carries more than 15 years of diverse expertise in Business Development, Key Account Management, Partner Business, Strategic Alliance Management and Channel Sales. He has previously led sales at IBM, SAP and TCS through channel partners like PwC, KPMG, Accenture and specialist partners.

Fluent Commerce have also started investing in their product development capabilities in the region by hiring a team of local engineers and developers. Based out of Sydney, the company is fast expanding with teams across the United States, Europe, and Asia.

It has also partnered with the Retailers Association of India to promote innovative retail practices and develop and strengthen existing distribution networks. Their multinational software business specialises in dispersed order management for omnichannel retailers. 

About Fluent Commerce:

Fluent Commerce is a global software company focused on distributed order management for omnichannel merchants. Both B2C and B2B organisations rely on their cloud native, highly flexible and fully scalable distributed order management platform to transform fulfilment complexity into a competitive advantage. Fluent Order Management provides accurate and up to date inventory availability across multiple locations, order orchestration, fulfilment location management, in-store pick and pack, customer service, fulfilment optimization and reporting. This enables retailers, brands, and B2B organisations to fulfil orders profitably while delivering the best customer experience possible. 

Fluent Commerce works with organisations such as JD Sports, L’Oréal, Ted Baker, LVMH and Dulux. For more information visit https://fluentcommerce.com

Worldline India Partners With Bank of India To Digitise Payment Collection Services For Panvel City Municipal Corporation


Worldline, a global leader in payment services, has partnered with Bank of India (BOI) to digitise several kinds of citizen-centric services, fines and tax collections for Panvel City Municipal Corporation (PMC).

With this development, citizens of PMC can make payments via credit and debit cards towards services like birth / death registration certificates, marriage registration certificates, assessment fee, transfer fee, license fee, NOC, electricity meter license, and daily charges among others. In addition, PMC is also empowered to collect municipal tax and fines related to Covid19 regulations, sanitization, encroachment, plastic ban and solid waste management fines from citizens.

Bank of India Android POS Terminal powered by Worldline was tendered to Shri. Ganesh Deshmukh, Panvel Municipal Commissioner by Shri. Rajendra Kokate, Deputy Zonal Manager, Bank of India and Shri. Gulshan Pruthi, EVP, Worldline to mark the launch of e-collection services.

Shri. Ganesh Deshmukh, Panvel Municipal Commissioner, said, “Digitalization of payment collection services by Bank of India for PMC will not only bring convenience to the citizens but also to the PMC staff as it helps in moving to an automated process and avoid cumbersome manual challan/receipt processes. In addition, the digital collection of taxes and fines brings transparency in the ecosystem and builds confidence among citizens. We are happy to work with Bank of India and Worldline to extend digital collection services for the citizens of PMC and will continue to introduce such innovative solutions in future.” 

Shri. Rajendra Kokate, Deputy Zonal Manger, Bank of India, said, “Digitization will help Panvel Municipal Corporation (PMC) in enhancing the transparency and avoiding cash payments. Bank of India has provided end-to-end solution right from the collection to real-time dashboard which has automated the process and will ensure efficiency at each level of users. With this initiative with  PMC, we look forward to extend all kinds of banking services by leveraging our wide presence in Maharashtra”

Shri. Gulshan Pruthi, EVP, Worldline India said, “Worldline has been at the forefront of the digital revolution that is shaping new ways of making payments. In our endeavor towards building a less-cash society, we are teaming up with partner banks and government associations to drive digital payments acceptance across the country. We are thrilled to offer the convenience of making digital payments to the citizens of Panvel Municipal Corporation with our long-term trusted partner – Bank of India.”

About Worldline

Worldline [Euronext: WLN] is a global leader in the payments industry and the technology partner of choice for merchants, banks and acquirers. Powered by 20,000 employees in more than 50 countries, Worldline provides its clients with sustainable, trusted and innovative solutions fostering their growth. Services offered by Worldline include instore and online commercial acquiring, highly secure payment transaction processing and numerous digital services. In 2021, Worldline generated a proforma revenue close to 4 billion euros.

Worldline India Pvt. Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Worldline, is partner to over 40 banks and over 5000 marque clients comprising of ecommerce giants, leading insurance players, D2C players across sectors. In India, Worldline covers the whole payment value chain and end-to-end processes that facilitate services to over 1.5 million merchants across 5000 towns and cities in India, South Asia / Middle East. Services offered by Worldline in India are in the areas of Merchant Acquiring, VAS, Card Issuance, National Electronic Toll Collection, Risk Mitigation, Reconciliation, Loyalty solutions; and online solutions like NextGen Payment Gateway, Subscription Payments, Payment Orchestration Platform, Online Cross Border Solution, Tokenisation among others. Supported by over 2000 members team, Worldline India is constantly investing in its people and in the latest technologies to increase efficiencies, drive innovation and enhance digital payments adoption across the country.

INT. On Global Expansion Path; To Hire 2500 In Next 3 Years With Key Focus On Leadership Hiring


Indus Net Technologies (INT.), technology partner for leading brands across 4 continents, is eyeing aggressive global expansion. INT. will invest more than ? 100 Cr. over the next three years to grow its topline by 3X, from existing and new clients. Leading the chart is the plan to add around 2500 experts to its taskforce, across the company’s Technology, Analytics and Marketing verticals. INT. serves the BFSI and Life Sciences enterprises across India, North America and English speaking Europe. 

“So far, we have witnessed a rapidly expanding client base spanning domains in which we have a leading market position. From here on, to scale up deliveries and add new clients, we are recalibrating our energies on creating the best leadership pool in the technology, analytics, marketing, consulting, sales and people domains as part of our 3-year expansion blueprint, with a 3X growth at the heart of the agenda. We are financially stronger than ever and given our healthy cash flows, the idea is not to shy away from aggressive spending to get the right results,” said Abhishek Rungta, Founder and CEO, INT.

Founded in 1997, INT. has charted a remarkable course dotted with successful deliveries and steady YoY revenue and profit growth over the last two and a half decades – a feat few technology firms can boast of over such a long cycle. With a one-stop and full-stack delivery slate, INT. has 100+ reputed clients under its belt, serviced by its 4 global offices. The company is home to more than 850 professionals and growing.

Over the years, the company has won numerous laurels, chief amongst them being recognition at the Deloitte Technology Fast 500 and Deloitte Technology Fast 50 multiple times, along with the Great Place to Work® recognition.

Spearheaded by its dynamic founder and CEO, Abhishek Rungta, INT. has metamorphosed from an SME into an IT heavy hitter and evolved as a technology partner of global reputed brands like Ageas, Cashpoint, ICICI Bank, Tesco Bank, SBI General Insurance, AU Small Finance Bank, Axis Bank, IndusInd Bank, SBI Mutual Fund, Dr. Reddy’s Labs, Cipla, Sun Pharma, Alchem, SRL Diagnostics, and Honeywell to name a few. 

About INT.:

INT. (Indus Net Technologies) is a full stack software engineering solutions company with pioneering legacy spanning 25 years, over 500 clients and 11,000 plus client projects. Over the years it has built industry recognition as an innovation and strategic digital partner championing the cause of human-centric and   outcome-driven solution offerings. Apart from India, the company has global presence spanning India, UK, USA, Singapore and Canada. INT. has dedicated and niche focus on banking, insurance, financial services and pharmaceuticals industries. With over 750 INTians on board and growing, the company follows a unique lean structure across the organization with only three levels of hierarchy including the top management.

More Information  visit  www.indusnet.co.in

L&T Technology Services Inaugurates Engineering R&D Centre In Poland To Provide Embedded And Digital Solutions To Clients


* Krakow ER&D Centre to cater to major industries including Automotive and Hi-Tech; LTTS to ramp up the centre headcount to over 300 engineers

L&T Technology Services Limited (BSE: 540115, NSE: LTTS), a global leading pure-play engineering services company, today inaugurated its Engineering, Research and Development (ER&D) centre in Krakow, Poland, which will cater to global customers, leveraging cutting edge technologies in the Automotive, Mobility and Hi-Tech domains.

The state-of-the-art centre will mark its expansion into Eastern Europe, contributing to the growth of regional economy, delivering cutting-edge technology, expanding workforce, and support major projects through its innovative engineering processes. The ER&D centre will cater to several major customers in Europe and North America, including a U.S. based automotive Tier 1 company.

In the new Engineering R&D Centre, LTTS will work on both software and hardware development of product lines. This centre is part of LTTS’ global delivery model and is a logical extension of LTTS’ Munich, Gothenburg and Jerusalem engineering centres, allowing the new centre to bring in specialized competencies along with local talent.

The ER&D centre was officially inaugurated by the Deputy Mayor of the City of Krakow, Mr. Jerzy Muzyk and Ambassador of India to the Republic of Poland, Her Excellency Nagma Mohamed Mallick, in the presence of Mr. Abhishek Sinha, Chief Operating Officer and Member of the Board, L&T Technology Services.

Known for imparting first-class technical education, academic ecosystem and infrastructure, Poland provides a pool of talented engineers who are setting a benchmark in cutting-edge technology. LTTS plans to hire up to 300 engineers in the next three years for the centre. LTTS will also utilize its in-house Global Engineering Academy (GEA) to enable employees to reskill and upskill their domain knowledge and align it to customer requirements, while exploring collaboration opportunities with AGH University Krakow, Krakow University of Technology and UK-based Coventry University to expand the engineering talent pool in Poland.

Mr. Abhishek Sinha, Chief Operating Officer and Member of the Board, L&T Technology Services, said, “By establishing this important centre in Poland, we aim to make our customers in Europe and North America benefit from LTTS’ long-standing expertise in new age engineering and embedded technologies. We also seek to tap into the local engineering talent pool for many of our mission critical global programs, and will work with the local administration and the academia to further develop the local ecosystem. We would also like to express our gratitude for all the support we have received from government institutions and local authorities”.

Mr. Jerzy Muzyk, Deputy Mayor of the City of Krakow, commented on the inauguration, “We welcome the investments from an Engineering Services leader like LTTS. With LTTS set to contribute in important aspects like technology advancements, R&D and skill building for young engineers, I am optimistic that the local population will benefit greatly from this ER&D Hub”. 

About L&T Technology Services Ltd

L&T Technology Services Limited (LTTS) is a listed subsidiary of Larsen & Toubro Limited focused on Engineering and R&D (ER&D) services. We offer consultancy, design, development and testing services across the product and process development life cycle. Our customer base includes 69 Fortune 500 companies and 57 of the world’s top ER&D companies, across industrial products, medical devices, transportation, telecom & hi-tech, and the process industries. Headquartered in India, we have over 20,800 employees spread across 17 global design centres, 28 global sales offices and 89 innovation labs as of March 31, 2022. For more information,  visit https://www.ltts.com/

Honeywell, with Narayana Health Partner To Explore Co-Creation Of Healthcare Technologies


* Strategic partnership will develop a digital transformation roadmap and create opportunities for co-innovation in healthcare technologies  

Honeywell (NASDAQ: HON) today announced the signing of a non-binding memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Narayana Hrudayalaya Limited (Narayana Health) to identify, assess and collaborate on opportunities for the latter’s digital transformation journey. This will enable Narayana Health to offer technology-driven, affordable and accessible healthcare for all. The MoU is subject to definitive agreements to be executed between Honeywell and Narayana Health.

“These are times of great promise and even greater opportunities in healthcare innovation. At Honeywell, we recognize this and have pivoted towards the development of technologies that will shape the future of healthcare delivery. The MoU with Narayana Health – one of India’s foremost healthcare service providers – offers us an opportunity to create a strategic technology development roadmap that will eventually transform India’s healthcare industry,” said Suresh Venkatarayalu, chief technology officer, Honeywell.

"Sensors and digital technology will disrupt health care delivery. Narayana Healthcare is delighted to work with Honeywell to develop digital technologies for making health care safer, more accessible, and more affordable," said Dr. Devi Prasad Shetty, chairman and executive director, Narayana Healthcare.

Honeywell’s Advanced Sensing Technologies (AST) healthcare business builds on the company’s global leadership in sensors to offer devices and software for hospitals, clinics and elderly care facilities to improve communication, collaboration and coordination of clinical care.

“The pandemic made it abundantly clear that healthcare organizations need technology that can be seamlessly integrated into existing systems and processes to streamline error prone tasks, enhance patient experience, and improve organizational agility,” said Robert Robinson, vice president and general manager, Advanced Sensing Technologies Healthcare, Honeywell.

Based on the terms of the MoU, Honeywell and Narayana Health will work towards co-innovation and introduction of new products, establish technology development centers, co-create joint capabilities in technology development and research, and undertake the development of fire safety codecs that ensure an end-to-end life safety system to make hospitals safer. As a technology partner, Honeywell will also help enhance and optimize Narayana Health’s digital processes and offer training to its employees.

The healthcare industry is continuously evolving to keep up with increasing regulatory pressures, while maintaining an environment where patients and staff feel safe. COVID-19 highlighted the need for bringing efficiencies in healthcare delivery to enable fewer personnel to do more onsite. The growth in telemedicine also opened newer avenues for hospitals to manage patient care. Healthcare providers often struggle with developing the right approach to stay ahead of these changes.  

To help meet some of these challenges, last year Honeywell launched its Real-Time Health Monitoring System (RTHMS). This is a smart edge-to-cloud communication platform for remote and real-time patient monitoring that acts as a bridge between caregiver and patient. This offering integrates hardware and software to improve care delivery, enhance healthcare worker productivity, and enable process efficiency. By digitizing and automating critical tasks, RTHMS can reduce hospital administrative tasks by 35%.[1] 

"Narayana Healthcare has made remarkable progress in using technology to improve clinical outcomes and increase healthcare delivery efficiency. Honeywell's sensor-based applications will complement our efforts in real-time patient monitoring and fire safety, raising the bar for others to meet," said Dr. Emmanuel Rupert, managing director and group chief executive officer, Narayana Hrudayalaya Limited.

Honeywell has a robust portfolio of healthcare technologies – from a patient’s first visit, to diagnosis, and returning home from care, Honeywell has the technologies to help healthcare providers increase productivity, efficiency, and shape the future of their organizations.   

About Honeywell

Honeywell (www.honeywell.com) is a Fortune 100 technology company that delivers industry-specific solutions that include aerospace products and services; control technologies for buildings and industry; and performance materials globally. Our technologies help aircraft, buildings, manufacturing plants, supply chains, and workers become more connected to make our world smarter, safer, and more sustainable. For more news and information on Honeywell,  visit www.honeywell.com/newsroom.

Wednesday, May 25, 2022

Ramdas Baliga Appointed As Managing Director, Toshiba Software India Private Limited


Toshiba Software India Private Limited (TSIP), a wholly owned subsidiary of Toshiba Group today announced the appointment of Mr. Ramdas Baliga as its new Managing Director. Holding a Master of Technology (MTech) degree in Computer Science and Engineering from the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Mumbai, Mr. Baliga succeeds Mr. Takashi Ishikawa who was at the helm of Toshiba Software India Pvt. Ltd.  for four years.

Welcoming Mr. Baliga to his new role, Mr. Ishikawa stated “It has been a great pleasure to serve as the MD of TSIP. During my tenure, I established the slogan “Across & Beyond” to further enhance the value of TSIP. I am proud that, with this slogan, TSIP has accelerated its shift from ODC (Offshore Development Centre) to CoE (Centre of Excellence), even during the difficult period of pandemic. I am happy to pass on the baton to Mr. Ramdas Baliga, who has been leading a wide area of business with various technology domains in TSIP. I believe Mr. Baliga will lead TSIP to greater heights.”

Commenting on his appointment, Mr. Ramdas Baliga stated, “Toshiba Software India is an intrinsic part of the Toshiba Group’s digital and software transformation worldwide. As the world shifts towards digital transformation at an accelerated pace, we aim to empower digital agility across and beyond Toshiba, evolving TSIP into a Digitally Agile Centre of Excellence. TSIP’s deliveries tie very well into Toshiba’s goal of applying Digital Technologies across Physical systems, where Toshiba is already a world leader, thereby realizing leadership in Cyber Physical Systems. Grounded in the Group’s commitment of “Committed to People, Committed to the Future.”, TSIP’s expertise covers a wide range of high-technology domains including energy and infrastructure systems, smart card systems, battery management systems, solid-state memories & hard-disk storage, System-on-Chip (SoC), automotive, Multi-Function Peripheral (MFP), Point-of-Sale (PoS), bar-code systems and medical systems. We are building a robust team of engineers who will acquire and expand their skillset working on advanced Artificial Intelligence, Data Analytics, Machine Learning, Computer Vision and IoT Cloud technologies etc.”

Mr. Baliga joined TSIP in 2003. During his over 18 years of association with the company, Mr. Baliga held various leadership roles and positions, and played an instrumental role in designing and developing IT technologies and solutions for Toshiba Group companies in India and overseas.

Under his aegis, Toshiba Software’s development centres at Bengaluru and Pune have long been considered as centres of operational excellence. Currently, TSIP has a strong team of more than 1000 employees and is aspiring to increase the talent acquisition efforts to fulfil its rapidly expanding customer base. TSIP has successfully created an innovative and flexible work environment to bring out the best in the employees and make TSIP a great place to work.

Endeavouring to achieve operation excellence at all times, TSIP will contribute to DIGITAL INDIA, to turn on the promise of a new day.

About Toshiba Software India Private Limited (TSIP)

Toshiba Software India Private Limited (TSIP) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Toshiba Group. Since its inception in the year 2002, TSIP has been at the forefront of developing cutting edge technologies and providing innovative software solutions. TSIP works for software solutions at all layers of software architecture - Drivers, OS & schedulers, Multi-Core Firmware, Middleware and Applications. TSIP functions as a technology hub by leveraging technologies including AI/ML, IoT, Cloud solutions, Embedded Software & Systems Development, Application Development, Software Testing, Data Science and ERP Solutions to create state-of-art products & services across multiple domains. These domains are broadly categorized under Retail & Printing Solutions, Electronic Devices & Storage Solutions, Energy Systems & Solutions, Infrastructure Systems & Solutions, Digital Solutions and Battery Business.

CoinSwitch Plans To Double Headcount, Build India’s Web3 Ecosystem


CoinSwitch, India’s largest Crypto investing app, plans to be 1000 employees strong by the end of 2022. The company plans to hire across levels with key focus on engineering, information security, product and analytics. Founded in 2017 by Ashish Singhal, Govind Soni, and Vimal Sagar Tiwari as an aggregator, CoinSwitch launched CoinSwitch Kuber for India in June 2020 to create a simplified crypto investing ecosystem and enable users to start their crypto investing journey in a safe and secure manner.

CoinSwitch has hired 500 people since its India launch in June 2020.

“The new Internet wave is here and the future big tech companies will be built on Web3. India is a talent rich country and we would like to play an active role in hiring the best minds and preparing them to make India the largest hub of web3 specialists . Our hiring process is designed to ensure we hire the best candidates, nurture and induct them to build for the future”, said Ashish Singhal, Co-Founder and CEO of CoinSwitch.

The company grew its registered user base from 1 million to 14 million between  January 2021 to January 2022 and currently stands at 18 million. During this period, CoinSwitch also became a source of learning for crypto enthusiasts, as it ramped up its efforts to educate users on the art of investing and the world of crypto. An average user spent 27 minutes on the app to not just buy, trade, and sell crypto assets but also read informative articles on the platform, a sharp rise from 13 minutes at the beginning of the year.

The crypto-first company will be evolving into a wealth tech platform this year with non-crypto offerings soon.

About CoinSwitch

CoinSwitch is on a mission to Make Money Equal for All. India’s largest Crypto investing app and a Great Place to Work®, CoinSwitch is creating an ecosystem that simplifies Crypto and is trusted by over 15 million registered users. Founded in 2017 by Ashish Singhal, Govind Soni, and Vimal Sagar Tiwari, and backed by blue chip investors including Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), Tiger Global, Sequoia Capital, Ribbit Capital, Paradigm, and Coinbase Ventures, the company is evolving into a wealth-tech destination for every Indian. For more information, visit: www.coinswitch.co

Capillary Partners With Wazir Advisors To Promote Its Full-Stack Ecommerce Solution


Capillary Technologies Limited (a B2B SaaS company providing full-stack E-commerce solutions) today announced its partnership with Wazir Advisors, CPG and Retail consultancy firm, to accelerate growth for its full-stack e-commerce solution.

A dramatic rise in online sales since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic has undoubtedly pushed retailers to completely fortify their digital strategies. To fulfill this need, Capillary’s full-stack e-commerce model assists brands to build and execute a long-term online strategy as well as achieve substantial growth online. The B2B SaaS Company thus offers guidance in the development

and implementation of the online strategy, investment commitments, and brand’s marketing and operation teams.

Powered by Capillary’s Anywhere Commerce platform, Capillary’s full-stack model has helped its customers generate significant digital growth, and Wazir Advisors will help the company expand this offering to more brands that are looking for a holistic e-commerce solution. Said Arun Naikar (VP of Anywhere Commerce, Capillary Technologies), “The customer’s demand for digital channels is on the rise, and by incorporating a 360-degree approach, we want to help businesses not only with the varied capabilities of Anywhere Commerce+ but also with managing the platform optimally, driving both traffic and revenue. We have reaped major success with apparel brands like Indian Terrain, which has achieved a 30X online sales growth in 12 months. Together, with Wazir Advisors, we can truly empower brands to navigate the infinite world of digital channels.”

Since 2009, Wazir Advisors has been guiding brands from various industries like CPG, Fashion & Apparel, FMCG and Packaged Food to capture sustainably profitable business opportunities. Their consulting expertise also includes guiding companies into new ventures, markets and product segments as well as streamlining business strategies. As elaborated by Harminder Sahni, Founder, Wazir Advisors, “With Capillary’s partnership, Wazir can now enable its clients to rely on Capillary’s end-to-end digital ecosystem for their ecommerce needs.”

According to Pakhi Saxena, Head CPG Retail “Wazir Advisors vast experience of working with legacy as well as digital native brands will lend to evolving the ecosystem with focus on optimization levers in addition to growth.”

Zoho Corp. Invests In Genrobotics, A Home-Grown Deep-Tech Startup Using Robotics To End Manual Scavenging


* Genrobotics aims to deploy over one lakh Bandicoot robots across the country, and expand their product portfolio to the healthcare sector.

Zoho Corp., the Chennai-headquartered global technology company, announced today that it has invested ?20 crores in Genrobotics, an Indian startup building robotics and AI-powered solutions for social issues such as hazardous working conditions. Zoho's investment will assist Genrobotics in its mission to eradicate manual scavenging in India and provide safety and dignity to workers in the sanitation and oil and gas industries. This investment reflects Zoho's mission to nurture the development of a deep-tech ecosystem in the country.

Genrobotics' primary offering is the Bandicoot robot, the world's first robotic scavenger, which helps clean confined spaces such as sewers manholes, sewer wells, storm water manholes, oily water sewers (OWS) and storm water sewers (SWS) in refineries. Currently, smart cities, Urban Local Bodies (ULBs), refineries, multinational companies, townships and housing colonies across 14 states are leveraging Bandicoot robots, thereby eliminating the need for human entry into manholes. Genrobotics has recently ventured into healthcare and launched a robot-assisted gait training solution—G Gaiter—to aid the recovery of people with paraplegia through improved rehabilitation experiences. Genrobotics products, part of the Make in India initiative, are completely designed and manufactured in the country.

"Nurturing a thriving deep-tech ecosystem in India is one of Zoho's priorities, and the investment in Genrobotics is a continuation of that commitment," said Sridhar Vembu, CEO and co-founder of Zoho Corp. "Building such technological competencies and critical know-how locally can help foster sustainable growth across key sectors, like industrial manufacturing, healthcare, and energy, in turn making the country economically stronger and self-reliant. Making this a reality requires focused, long-term investments that support home-grown deep-tech startups through intensive R&D and engineering phases, and enable them to bring their ideas to the market. Looking at how far they have come already in this journey, Genrobotics' vision resonates with us at Zoho and we are happy to fast-track their efforts and support them in their mission to end manual scavenging."

"We believe in the power of robotics and AI for building a better and safer world for the future generation," said Vimal Govind MK, CEO and co-founder of Genrobotics. "Bandicoot, which combines the use of human intelligence and Artificial Intelligence, is transforming the sanitation and oil and gas industries by offering a viable alternative to the dangerous practice of manual cleaning. Meanwhile, through our #MissionRobohole, which aims to turn manholes into roboholes, we have rehabilitated hundreds of people who were working as manual scavengers by training them to be robot operators."

"In order to end manual scavenging in India, more than one lakh robots will be required," Govind added. "As we scale to fill the need gap, we estimate creation of nearly five-lakh jobs across the country. The investment from Zoho will help us to expand our advanced R&D infrastructure, build large-scale production facilities, hire more talent, increase our exports to ASEAN markets and expand our global footprints."

Bandicoot: the world's first robotic scavenger

Manual scavenging is a hazardous occupation due to unsanitary working conditions and safety risks, such as asphyxiation due to poisonous gas. Bandicoot, which was launched in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2018, provides a transformative solution that can put an end to this inhuman and archaic practice.

Bandicoot helps clean confined spaces such as sewers manholes and oil pits. The robots are designed to mimic human movements with the help of AI: they use their legs, various sensors and cameras to enter manholes, move around and gain stability in different terrains; the multipurpose robotic arm can perform actions such as shovelling, grabbing, picking and water-jet positioning necessary for various types of cleaning. It is equipped with a sensor to detect poisonous gases and specially-designed four-IP68 night vision cameras that provide visuals of the confined space through the user interface located safely above the manhole, enabling sanitation workers to do their jobs safely and efficiently.

Samsung Electronics And Red Hat Announce Collaboration In The Field Of Next-Generation Memory Software


- Far-ranging collaboration in next-generation memory software technology aimed at gaining full support throughout the Red Hat Enterprise Linux operating system

- Development and verification of software solutions at new 'Samsung Memory Research Cloud' to aid in configuring optimal hardware and software combinations in server environments

Samsung Electronics, the world leader in advanced memory technology, and Red Hat, Inc., the world’s leading provider of open source solutions, today announced a broad collaboration on software technologies for next-generation memory solutions. The partnership will focus on the development and validation of open source software for existing and emerging memory and storage products, including NVMe SSDs; CXL memory; computational memory/storage (HBM-PIM, Smart SSDs) and fabrics — in building an expansive ecosystem for closely integrated memory hardware and software.

The exponential growth of data driven by AI, AR and the fast-approaching metaverse is bringing disruptive changes to memory designs, requiring more sophisticated software technologies that better link with the latest hardware advancements.

“Samsung and Red Hat will make a concerted effort to define and standardize memory software solutions that embrace evolving server and memory hardware, while building a more robust memory ecosystem,” said Yongcheol Bae, Executive Vice President and Head of the Memory Application Engineering Team at Samsung Electronics. “We will invite partners from across the IT industry to join us in expanding the software-hardware memory ecosystem to create greater customer value.”

“In the upcoming data-centric era, the integration of memory-centric hardware and software architectures will become increasingly essential, and for this purpose, Red Hat is happy to participate in the joint undertaking with Samsung,” added Marjet Andriesse, Senior Vice President and Head of Red Hat Asia Pacific.

The new partnership marks the first time that Samsung has joined forces with an open source software company to foster engagements across the IT marketplace. As an extension to this strategic collaboration, Samsung will launch the Samsung Memory Research Cloud (SMRC), where the two companies will develop and verify software solutions on diverse server environments.

Serving as an open collaboration hub, the SMRC will enable customers and partners to evaluate new software products in configuring optimal combinations with memory hardware.

The companies will also participate in open source communities such as the Linux Foundation, to ensure that their software technology has full support in Red Hat Enterprise Linux, and with other open source software stacks.

Samsung plans to open its SMRC platform in the second half of this year and expects it to act as an ongoing catalyst for innovation in future IT systems.

Total Pageviews