Saturday, September 24, 2022

Mangalam Industrial Finance Signs MOU With WardWizard Innovations & Mobility To Finance Their Low, High Speed Electric Vehicles


* Quick finance support across the country to facilitate buying a Joy E-bike easier than ever before

With the vision to promote green mobility across the country, WardWizard Innovations and Mobility Ltd. (BSE Code: 538970) – one of the leading manufacturers of electric two-wheeler brand ‘Joy E-bike’ and Mangalam Industrial Finance Ltd (BSE Code: 537800), RBI registered NBFC have joined hands to support the buyers with quick finance to make EV purchase easier.  Under this arrangement, Mangalam will provide auto loans for the high and low speed electric two-wheelers of Wardwizard.

Mangalam Industrial Finance Ltd based on the experience and market feedback has launched their vehicle finance scheme for their proposed buyers where 50+ dealers and distributors of Joy E-bike in tier 1 & tier 2 cities has shown their keen interest to avail the benefit of electric vehicle finance for their customers and they will stand as a guarantor. The company decided to extend this finance facility in order to support the distributors and ultimate buyers of Joy E bike.

Commenting on the association, Mr Venkata Ramana Revuru, Chairman and Managing Director of Mangalam Industrial Finance Ltd said, “Electric vehicle is a sun-rising industry and carries huge business potential for the finance sector as well. We need to believe in them and extend our support so that we can grow simultaneously by adding to our own top line and making presence in the market. At Mangalam, we are committed to be a part of the nation building journey and looking forward for many such alliances with other EV manufacturers.” 

Low-speed vehicles comprise huge market-share in Indian electric vehicles sector, and it mainly caters to the working segment such as delivery persons, students, or others who are in actual need of a vehicle to earn their livelihood and other needs. This initiative will play an important role in empowering the segment and decreasing carbon foot-print in the environment.

Further Elaborating, Mr Yatin Gupte, Chairman and Managing Director of WardWizard Innovations & Mobility Ltd, “Based on the feedback received from our more than 500 touchpoints across the country, we have analyzed that there is a need of quick finance support for the buyers of low speed vehicles so that they can start their livelihood without any hindrance. I am grateful to the management of Mangalam to come forward and support our customers and dealers by extending such financing. Since its inception, WardWizard has not left any stone unturned in promoting culture of electric vehicle across the nation and this initiative will change the perspective altogether.” 

This announcement is a strategic move as recently WardWizard has announced to open its first global R&D Center in Singapore in association with Sunkonnect to create world class EV products. A few months ago under an MOU signed with the state government of Gujarat, the organization has acquired more than 90 acres of land to develop an EV cluster and is inviting component manufacturers from all parts of the world.

About WardWizard Innovations & Mobility Limited

WardWizard Innovations & Mobility Ltd is a leading auto manufacturing company in the Electric Vehicle (EV) segment under the brand name Joy E-Bike. Being the first listed entity on BSE in Electric Vehicle manufacturing, it is mainly focused on the growth potential in the Indian EV segment to provide clean and greener alternatives to the existing usage of mobility, aligned with its philosophy of driving a positive change. Through Joy E-Bikes, the Company has been providing a greener alternative to traditional fuel-driven bikes. It has footprints in more than 25 major cities across India and aspires to boost this number throughout the country.

About Mangalam Industrial Finance Ltd

The company was incorporated on 8th February 1983. Currently the company is engaged into investment /trading in shares & securities etc and to carry on all types of financing business. However, the Company is solely concentrating in the NBFC segment and is registered as a Non-Banking Financial Company with the RBI, Kolkata.

HDFC ERGO Partners With HDFC Life To Launch Click2Protect Optima Secure To Offer All-Round Protection To Your Family


*  A comprehensive financial protection plan that offers the dual benefits of health and life insurance

* Health insurance will be serviced by HDFC ERGO General Insurance and life insurance by HDFC Life

* Customers can avail up to 5.5% discount on the combined premium in addition to the other discount options available

HDFC ERGO General Insurance Company Limited, one of the leading general insurers of the country, has joined hands with HDFC Life, one of India’s leading life insurers, to offer Click2Protect Optima Secure. This is a comprehensive insurance plan providing holistic protection to customers.

Click2Protect Optima Secure combines the benefits of life and health insurance solutions under one roof, thereby offering un-complicated financial planning for customers. In this plan, the term life insurance component will protect customers against uncertainties of life with a minimum sum assured of Rs. 50,000. Under the health insurance component, customers can avail a sum insured ranging from Rs. 5 Lacs to Rs. 2 cr. This plan comes with ‘Individual’ and ‘Family Floater’ options. The health insurance will be serviced by HDFC ERGO and life insurance by HDFC Life. 

Other key benefits of the plan:

Life Insurance Protection: Covers up to 85 years of age; in the floaters policy, the eldest member of the family is covered

Secure benefit: Doubles your Base Health Cover instantly upon purchase without having the need to claim it

Plus Benefit: Offers additional coverage equivalent to 100% of the Base Sum Insured in 2 years, irrespective of a claim

Protect Benefit: For the Non-Medical expenses like gloves, food charges and other consumables during hospitalization

Automatic Restore Benefit: Restores 100% of Base Health Sum Insured automatically on partial or complete utilization of Sum Insured

Attractive Premium Discounts: 2.5% Loyalty discount for existing HDFC ERGO retail Customers, Long Term Discount of 7.5% and 10% on 2 year and 3 year policies and 10% Family discount, if two or more family members are covered under the same ‘Individual’ policy  

Pre & post hospitalization medical expenses: Covers medical expenses for consultations, investigations and medicines incurred up to 60 days prior and up to 180 days post hospitalization 

Ambulance Expenses: Coverage up to Rs. 5 lacs for expenses incurred on utilizing air ambulance services and indemnification at actuals for expenses incurred on utilizing road ambulance services 

Enhancement Options:

Out of pocket expenses: Per day hospital cash benefit ranging from Rs. 500 to Rs. 10,000 for each continuous and completed 24 hours of hospitalization  

Critical Illness (add-on): Provides comprehensive coverage by offering a ‘Lumpsum’ payout on diagnosis of any of the listed 51 critical Illnesses

Speaking on the launch, Vibha Padalkar – MD & CEO, HDFC Life, said “Financial protection is the primary need of every individual with responsibilities. The recent pandemic has emphasized the criticality of life and health insurance products. Through Click2Protect Optima Secure we are offering our flagship products which will enable customers get a one-stop-solution for their insurance needs – both life and health.”

Speaking about the launch of the new product, Ritesh Kumar, MD & CEO, HDFC ERGO General Insurance Company, said, “Combined products are ultimate customer friendly solutions, where a customer can enjoy benefits of two products under a single plan without any hassles. Click2Protect Optima Secure empowers our customers to opt for a single solution to address both their critical protection needs. With launch of this plan, we have simplified and streamlined the process of buying health and life insurance and eliminating the hassle for our customers to buy and manage two different products. It eases the burden of financial planning on our customers and gets everything they require under one offering.” 

Friday, September 23, 2022

India’s Own Electric SUV, Tata Nexon EV MAX Makes A Landmark Entry To India Book of Records


* Becomes the 1st ever electric car to reach World’s highest motorable road - Umling La

Tata Motors, India’s leading automotive brand, today announced that its electric SUV - Nexon EV MAX has made a landmark entry into the India Book of Records. The Nexon EV MAX successfully scaled the World’s highest motorable road at Umling La pass, located in Ladakh at 19,024 Ft., above the sea level. It is the 1st ever electric car to achieve this feat and demonstrates the inherent capabilities of Tata EVs even in high altitude conditions.  A team of expert drivers started the journey from Leh and completed this record on September 18, 2022.

Powered by high voltage state-of-the-art Ziptron technology, the Nexon EV MAX is built on pillars of comfort, reliability, performance, technology, charging. The Ziptron EV architecture is driven and proven over 450 million kms across diverse and challenging Indian terrain and this achievement is a testament to the thrilling performance it offers, substantiating its ‘Made for India’ credentials.

Commenting on this achievement, Mr. Vivek Srivatsa, Head, Marketing, Sales and Service Strategy, Tata Passenger Electric Mobility Ltd. said “We are thrilled to witness the Nexon EV MAX achieving this remarkable milestone which further demonstrates its capabilities. All Nexon EV MAX users have the freedom to undertake regular and uninterrupted long-distance travel with superior ride & handling. Not only it offers more range and power, but also supports faster charging while improving the overall driving efficiency and further providing an uncompromised EV ownership experience. Besides, it has an inherent advantage of high altitude, thinner air, lower pressure having no impact on its performance. This has been well established with this milestone and such achievements will further encourage the Indian customer to #EvolveToElectric.”

Since its entry into the personal EV space in 2020, Tata Motors has been the pioneer in the EV segment with more than 40,000 EVs on the Indian road, out of which over 30,000 are Nexon EVs. The Nexon EV is the largest selling 4-wheeler EV in India with a commanding market share of 63% (FY22).

The feature and spec advantages of Nexon EV MAX such as: Certified ARAI range of 437 km, Instantaneous torque, ESP with i-VBAC, Hill Descent Control, IP 67 rated battery pack and motor, Auto-dimming IRVM, High ground clearance, high-water wading capability, Electronic Parking Brake and Auto Vehicle hold makes its capable of being driven in any terrain conditions – even through world’s highest motorable road. The Multi-mode regen feature especially helps in high altitude adding range to the vehicle when coming downhill. It is also compatible with multiple charging options such as, DC fast charging, AC fast charging or regular charging from any 15 A plug point, allowing the user to operate in remote areas as well.

Equipped with a 40.5 kWh Lithium-ion battery pack, the Nexon EV MAX produces 105 kW (143 PS) of power and delivers an instant torque of 250 Nm available at push of the pedal, resulting in 0 to 100 sprint times in under 9 secs. Available in two trim options – the Nexon EV MAX XZ+ and Nexon EV MAX XZ+ Lux, it offers 33% higher battery capacity, which ensures uninterrupted inter-city travel. It comes in 3 exciting colours – Intensi-Teal (exclusive to the Nexon EV MAX), Daytona Grey and Pristine White. It’s luxurious interiors such as ventilated leatherette seats, rear AC vents, jewelled control knob with active display and rear AC vents make any challenging drive – smooth and comfortable.

To know more, call your nearest dealership or visit https://nexonev.tatamotors.com.

Imagine Marketing (Parent Company of boAt) Continues To Rank As Top 5 Global Wearable Companies For Last 7 Quarters


 ·         Among the top 5 global wearable companies, Imagine Marketing is the fastest growing company in 2Q22 with a positive Y-O-Y growth of + 76.6%

·         Imagine Marketing has also solidified its leadership position in the Indian wearables market by capturing 31% market share in Jul-22

Imagine Marketing, the parent company of boAt has been ranked 5th in the world as per the leading market research and advisory firm International Data Corporation (IDC) Worldwide Quarterly Wearable Device Tracker Q2CY2022. In addition, Imagine Marketing continues to retain pole position in the overall wearables category in India for the third consecutive year (CY20, CY21, CY22 YTD) as per IDC India Monthly Wearable Device Tracker, August 2022. The brand has a wide portfolio of well-designed, indigenized, and distinctive lifestyle-oriented products offered at attractive prices.

Imagine Marketing leads the TWS category with 40% plus market share in July 2022. The phenomenal growth is due to the reasons such as availability, affordability, better features and functionalities like ANC, innovative designs, and low-latency mode for gaming. Watch-based wearables also tend to be the fastest-growing category for Imagine Marketing showing strong momentum with >145% growth over the last year (H12021 v/s H12022). In addition to the affordability, features such as Bluetooth calling, bigger screen sizes, and AMOLED displays are attracting both first-time users and upgraders.

Imagine Marketing (parent company of boAt) is buoyant about the festive sales season and is forecasting increased demand for its expansive product portfolio which is drawn on positive consumer sentiment, affordability, and a better feature set in its devices. Besides, during the festive period, people are also seeing boAt smartwatches and TWS devices as good options for gifting purposes. As ‘Make in India’ continues to scale up, it is enabling the brand to launch products faster and at lower prices. The brand plans on manufacturing 6 million units in H1FY23 under its Make in India strategy.

The company has a strong omnichannel strategy, and its products are available across marketplaces including Amazon India, Flipkart, Myntra, Paytm, and more. The brand is available in more than 20,000 stores including Vijay Sales, Croma, Reliance Digital, and more. Consumers can also experience the brand’s extensive portfolio on its website https://www.boat-lifestyle.com/.

On the global recognition, Aman Gupta, Co-founder & CMO, boAt said, “Design, innovation, and customer centricity are core to our business. The success of our brand can be credited to our agility, fast innovation cycle, and constant listening to our boAtheads. We are humbled, overwhelmed with the confidence and support entrusted by customers over the years. It is a moment of pride for all Indians as it validates the growing acceptance of home-grown brands globally. With the support of our Govt., we will aim to become a global lifestyle brand. We at boAt understand the requirement of millennials and will continue doing what we do best to serve the community of boAtheads. "

Since the first quarter of the Financial Year 2022, many boAt products within the Rockerz, Bassheads, and Airdopes product ranges, as well as within the accessories (including cables and power banks) are being manufactured in India. boAt Bassheads 100, Bassheads 192, Bassheads 225, Rockerz 255 Pro, Rockerz 235v2, Airdopes 131, Airdopes 101, Airdopes 441, power banks, charging cables, and power bricks are among the current products available under boAt's "Make in India" initiative.

Definitions as per IDC India

·         Wearable - Wearable computing devices include any wearable device designed for the human body with a microprocessor. "Wearable computing" implies that the device operates in a hands-free fashion, and the user can readily put it on and take it off. This precludes implanted objects that are permanently affixed to the user. Moreover, we include only those devices that are designed to be worn and used on the body and exclude those that can be used when removed from the body

·         Earwear - This includes any pieces that hang on or plug into the ear. The device must operate wirelessly and provide stereo sound while also including at least one of the following features:

o   Track health/fitness

o   Modify audio, and not just noise reduction

o   Provide language translation on the device

o   Enable smart assistants at the touch of a button or through hot word detection even if the assistant is running on another device such as a smartphone

About Imagine Marketing Limited (Parent company of boAt):

Established in 2013 by Aman Gupta & Sameer Mehta, Imagine Marketing Ltd. offers a product portfolio ranging from audio gear, smart wearables, personal grooming, mobile accessories, and much more. Under the Imagine umbrella, boAt came to life and was able to disrupt the audio industry to become the #1 Audio brand in the country (In terms of shipments per the latest IDC data). boAt's portfolio offers well-designed, innovative, and distinctive fashionable lifestyle-oriented products at attractive price points targeted at a young and widely addressable audience within India. Furthermore, with a massive cultural shift towards DIY post covid, Imagine Marketing Ltd. forayed into personal care appliances and introduced MISFIT, a self-care and grooming brand with the motto ‘Never Fit In’, the brand is aimed at addressing gender stigma through a colorful brand vision and bold conversations. In 2020, Imagine Marketing also acquired RedGear, a gaming accessory brand that deals in gaming keyboards, mice, gamepads, and headphones. RedGear aims to bring gaming to the masses and support the ones who wish to turn their passion into their profession. Imagine Marketing has associated itself with global names such as Qualcomm and Dolby to innovate their products and is backed by Warburg Pincus, a global private equity fund. The company currently has offices across Delhi, Mumbai & Bengaluru.

TECNO Launches Feature-Packed POVA Neo 5G With Mediatek Dimensity 810 5G Processor At INR 15,499

 


·         POVA Neo 5G offers MediaTek Dimensity 810 6nm 5G processor coupled with 6000mAh battery and 50MP dual-rear camera

·         The pre-booking of POVA Neo 5G starts today and first sale would begin on 26th September 2022 across 50K+ retail touch-points

TECNO Mobile, the premium smartphone brand from TRANSSION India, today strengthened its POVA series, a performance-oriented product line of TECNO that offers more powerful smartphone experience, with launch of its latest 5G-enabled  TECNO POVA Neo 5G. As the digitally savvy Gen Z consumers use numerous applications on their smartphones generating large volumes of data, they are always on the lookout for a smartphone that offers stronger performance and larger memory. Augmented with MediaTek Dimensity 810 6nm 5G processor and octa-core Arm Cortex-A76 CPU with 13 5G bands support and carrier aggregation, technology support gives a seamless 5G connectivity experience. 

Addressing such consumer needs, the newly launched POVA NEO 5G boasts of ground-breaking features. With the presence of segment-leading features such as a 6000mAh battery, a 50MP dual-rear camera with spiral texture and a 120Hz refresh rate and a 6.8"FHD+Dot-in display, the smartphone offers the best in terms of design, power, camera and display. The battery assures maximum safety as it is backed with STS safe technology and is optimized by the inputs of TECNO AI battery Lab for unconditional power backup, even during excessive smartphone usage. The 120Hz, extremely smooth 6.8"FHD+Dot-in display, enables stutter-free graphics and true-to-life visuals. The smartphone comes in two elegant colours- Sprint Blue and Sapphire Black.

Commenting on the new 5G addition to the POVA series, Arijeet Talapatra, CEO, TECNO Mobile India, said, “As 5G technology continues to dominate the smartphones segment, the year 2022 has witnessed highest growth in the 5G devices. As per the findings of industry analysts, 5G Industry has grown by 198% in H1 2022 as compared to H1 2021 with 5G devices claiming a major chunk of the segment. Catering to the demands of the Zillennial consumers, the POVA Neo 5G smartphone is infused with the best-in-class hardware specifications with astounding software capabilities, an in-built Partner Game Engine Technology, bringing forth the ultimate mobile gaming and multi-media entertainment experiences. India is the third largest 5G smartphone market globally and there’s a lot of pent-up demand for 5G.To meet this we are in the process of creating a complete 5G portfolio in the POVA product line.”

Priced at INR 15, 499 the pre-booking for POVA Neo 5G starts today at a retail store near you. The sale starts on 26th September 2022.

Key USPs of TECNO POVA Neo 5G:

·         Bigger and better performance upgrade

Speed up to 2.4GHz, octa-core Arm Cortex-A76 CPU of POVA Neo 5G provides Flagship level experience with 13 bands 5G supports. Experience the true upgrade of next generation 5G in terms of speed, power, Camera, display and connectivity. Dimensity 810 5G SoC supports dual carrier aggregation for better coverage and its HyperEngine 2.0 intelligently provides smoother performance in heavy games with the help of Arm Mali-G57 GPU

·         With you for a long time; 6000mAh powerful battery

Get more than a month standby backup with high capacity battery of POVA Neo 5G. Its powerful battery promises maximum safety by using STS safe Technology and is optimized with Tecno AI battery Lab for unconditional backup in each scenario. Equipped with 18W in-box Type C Charger for quick charging which provides a huge 4.5 hours of YouTube playback with just 19minutes of charge

·         Great imaging with 50MP high-res camera for smarter and brighter you

Capture various types of photos and videos with high-res 50MP dual Camera of POVA Neo 5G. Its large F1.6 aperture of 50MP incorporated with PDAF and excellent image processing provide candid shots in each modes. Its low light Super Night Mode, blur specific Portrait Mode, Professional Videos like Video Bokeh, 2K Video mode and other modes amazes you by the perfect quality

·          Smooth smartphone experience

Truly enjoy visuals on 6.8" Full HD+ dazzling display and experience surprisingly smooth touch with 120Hz refresh rate and 240Hz Touch Sampling rate. Additionally, highest level of security for media streaming Widevine L1 allow you to stream 1080P content on POVA Neo 5G. Equipped with Panther Game Engine, which comprises of many gaming features like Frame rate, Image Quality optimization and many more

·          Bigger Storage, Better Performance

Experience speed fluidity with its large 7GB customizable RAM which increases up to 43% average app startup speed. POVA Neo 5G contains comprehensive storage options and is equipped with eMCP 128GB Internal storage with a dedicated slot to expand further up to 1TB. The new POVA Neo 5G offers the memory storage that is needed in 5G era that is large RAM and ROM.

Blume Global Launches Women In Technology Forum To Empower Its Women Employees


* Upskilling women in the workforce is key to transforming the digital economy

Blume Global, one of the leading supply chain technology providers, recently launched the Women in Technology forum for its women employees to bring in a change in the technology space.  The forum will act as a dedicated networking group to guide its women employees to a focused career path and provide a common platform to share ideas, mentor each other and encourage free flow of communication across all levels.

According to statistical data, only 25% of technical leadership roles are held by women in key tech companies.  This is due to a lack of exposure and mentorship. This initiative will act as a unique networking and learning platform for the employees to connect, engage, and educate themselves

Yamini Vellore, CIO and Head of Customer Success, Blume Global was the Chief Guest at the forum. She commented she has seen a change in the technology space over the years for women. She has grown from being the only woman working in a warehouse facility to leading her own team. Even though the workforce has transformed over the years, women still face workplace biases and are often hesitant to pursue technology as a career option, especially in a domain like supply chain.

Supply chain is still considered to be a male-dominated sector, and when it comes to supply chain technology, women need to be equally represented. This forum strives to achieve inclusive growth by giving equal opportunities to all our employees. The forum aims at creating an increased women technology talent pool not only in India but globally as well.

Under the forum, employees will have an opportunity to learn about Blume culture and seek advice on key leadership skills from industry veterans. Recently, the company organized an event celebrating the launch of the program with its women employees across India and Hong Kong.

Blume is dedicated to the professional and educational development of its employees. Blume has an existing partnership with Coursera and the Stanford Graduate School of Business offering free access to skill development courses for all employees.

Vi Business Partners With Trilliant To Provide Integrated IoT (IIoT) Solutions For Smart Metering Projects In India

 
·         Partnership provides one stop solution strengthening the Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) in the country, helping DISCOMs succeed in delivering superior citizen services

·         Vi Business is the leader in Smart Utility powering 2 in every 3 smart meters in India

Vi Business, the enterprise arm of leading telecom operator Vodafone Idea Limited (VIL), has announced its partnership with Trilliant®, a leading global provider of utility solutions for Advanced Metering and Smart Grid systems. The partnership will help Vi Business and Trilliant leverage joint domain expertise to create and implement integrated IoT solutions for Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) projects in India.

The partnership also seeks to strengthen the Government’s Digital India mission and transforms the country’s power distribution sector by converting the targeted 250 Mn electricity meters into Smart Meters, across the country.

Synergy between both parties creates a bundled offering of connectivity, cloud and HES with managed services to help Master System Integrators (MSI)/Advanced Metering Infrastructure Service Providers (AMISPs) deliver and sustain critical SLAs for AMI projects in India. Collaboration with Trilliant will allow Vi Business to leverage its global experience of Unity Suite Head End System (HES) that complies with IS 15959, enabling both daily meter reads and interval data. The partnership offers Discoms complete network visibility, transparency of operations and SLA management of complex AMI projects.

According to Arvind Nevatia, Chief Enterprise Business Officer, Vodafone Idea Limited “As a market leader in Integrated IoT and with extensive experience in Smart Metering, Vi Business remains focused on empowering DISCOMs, Citizens  and Service Providers to grow and reinvent in a smart and sustainable way. We strongly believe that our partnership with Trilliant will allow us to leverage their capability to deploy large scale AMI projects and help us deliver advanced IoT solutions for the utility providers of tomorrow, driving faster implementation of AMI in India. This collaboration also demonstrates our strong commitment in the energy and utility space in the country and will help DISCOMs reap the benefits of AMI solutions in a secure and integrated way.”

Over the years, Vi Business has built an unparalleled track record in powering India’s energy infrastructure by providing innovative IoT solutions and becoming a partner of choice for AMI projects by various Power distribution companies. Currently working with over 25 DISCOMs, Vi Business has the unique distinction of having successfully connected approx. 3 Million meters in the country - with 2 out of every 3 smart meters across India being powered by Vi.

“We are delighted to be partnering with a leading communications provider like Vi Business, and the significant opportunities it presents to both parties, and most importantly to India.” said Dan Lambert, Chief Solutions Officer, Trilliant. “To date, Trilliant has deployed more than 1.5 Mn smart meters from six different meter vendors in India, for seven utilities in Uttar Pradesh and Haryana states.  We’re looking forward to better supporting utilities in India with the combination of Trilliant’s depth of global experience in the AMI and IoT space, and Vi’s brand, its best-in-class solutions and stellar track record.”

The current Smart Meter National Programme aims to replace 250 Mn conventional meters with smart meters in India. Smart meters are connected through a web-based monitoring system (i.e., HES) which helps reduce losses of utilities, increases efficiency, enhances revenues and serves as a key enabler in power sector reforms. IoT adoption has become crucial for the digital transformation goals of large Enterprises, especially power distribution companies that are facing challenges and suffering enormous AT&C losses year after year. Most AMI stakeholders continue to work in silos, preventing DISCOMs from reaping the scale benefits of AMI. Vi Business and Trilliant will work jointly to create a bundled offering of connectivity, cloud and HES with managed services for current and future opportunities of AMI projects in the country. Vi Business provides a one stop shop for the AMI players enabling DISCOMs or SPs deliver superior customer experience and ensure the success of long tenure projects. 

About Vodafone Idea Limited:

Vodafone Idea Limited is an Aditya Birla Group and Vodafone Group partnership. It is India’s leading telecom service provider. The Company provides pan India Voice and Data services across 2G, 3G, 4G and has a 5G ready platform. With the large spectrum portfolio to support the growing demand for data and voice, the company is committed to deliver delightful customer experiences and contribute towards creating a truly ‘Digital India’ by enabling millions of citizens to connect and build a better tomorrow. The Company is developing infrastructure to introduce newer and smarter technologies, making both retail and enterprise customers future ready with innovative offerings, conveniently accessible through an ecosystem of digital channels as well as extensive on-ground presence. The Company is listed on National Stock Exchange (NSE) and Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) in India. The company offers products and services to its customers in India under the TM Brand name “Vi”.

For more information, visit: www.MyVi.in | Twitter: @VodaIdea_NEWS

About Trilliant:

Trilliant® empowers the energy industry with the only purpose-built communications platform that enables utilities and cities to securely and reliably deploy any application – on one powerful network. With the most field-proven, globally compliant solution in the market, Trilliant empowers you by connecting the world of things®

For more information,  visit: www.trilliant.com

WALLIX Appoints Osiglobal IT Distribution As A Value-Added Distributor (VAD) In India


WALLIX, a leader in the Privileged Access Management (PAM) market and the first European cybersecurity software vendor to be publicly traded, today announced that it has appointed Osiglobal IT Distribution as its business partner for India market.

OSI GLOBAL IT DISTRIBUTION is part of OSI INFOTECH LLC(Dubai) group of companies, a leading Security specialized Value-Added Distributor in the Middle East & India region.

Talking about the partnership, Afi Hashim, Regional Manager- Middle East & INDIA, WALLIX said, ‘’Over the last few years, Privileged Access Management Solution has grown rapidly in INDIA. We are excited to collaborate with OSI Global IT Distribution which brings on board immense experience, wide partner network and regional expertise to provide continuous and excellent value-added services to our channel partners and customers. Our aim is to have a good penetration across different verticals and across different market segments in India.”

Mr. Keerthi Kumar, Sales Director- INDIA - OSI Global IT Distribution shares “At OSIGLOBAL ITD, we are keen to create the best products for our channel partners & end-customers. To do this, we count on reliable OEMs with innovative solutions; and that is exactly what WALLIX brings to the table. This partnership allows us to extend the European Leader in Privileged Access Management solutions available to all our Channel Partners & Enterprise End-Customers in INDIA.”

As a leader in the Privileged Access Management (PAM) market and with a strategy based on innovation, agility and the capability to respond to emerging market needs, WALLIX offers a unified solution tailored to meet the specific needs of its customers: WALLIX PAM4ALL.

WALLIX PAM4ALL ensures compliance with the latest IT security standards and protect against cyber-attacks, theft and data leaks linked to stolen credentials and elevated privileges to sensitive company assets.

WALLIX is named a Leader in the 2022 Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ for Privileged Access Management https://www.gartner.com/doc/reprints?id=1-2AN99H9P&ct=220722&st=sb

About WALLIX

A software company providing cybersecurity solutions, WALLIX is the European specialist in digital Identity and Access Security Solutions. WALLIX PAM4ALL, the unified privilege management solution, enables companies to respond to today's data protection challenges. It guarantees detection of and resilience to cyberattacks, which enables business continuity. The solution also ensures compliance with regulatory requirements regarding access to IT infrastructures and critical data. WALLIX PAM4ALL is distributed through a network of more than 300 resellers and integrators worldwide. Listed on the Euronext (ALLIX), WALLIX supports more than 1900 organizations in securing their digital transformation. WALLIX is a founding member of the HEXATRUST group and has been included in the Futur40, the first ranking of growth companies on the stock exchange published by Forbes France and is part of the Tech 40 index.

WALLIX affirms its digital responsibility and is committed to contributing to the construction of a trusted European digital space, guaranteeing the security and confidentiality of data for organizations as well as for individuals concerned about the protection of their digital identity and privacy. Digital technology, whether for professional or personal use, must be ethical and responsible in order to pursue a secure societal digital transformation that respects individual freedoms.

www.wallix.com | info@wallix.com

“It Is About Time That We Celebrate Our Skill Champions” : Rajeev Chandrasekhar, MoS, MSDE


* Team India gets a big send-off for 46th WorldSkills Competition: 58 candidates to compete in 52 skills across 15 countries 

A strong 58-member Indian contingent was given a grand ‘Vijayi Bhava’ send-off ceremony in the capital today as they gear up to compete against the best in the world at WorldSkills Competition 2022, the biggest skills competition in the world. The competitors will be showcasing their skills in 52 trades across 15 countries in Europe, Korea, Japan, and the USA.

In the current edition of the competition, Team India will compete in six new-age skills, including Industry 4.0, Robot System Integration, Additive Manufacturing, and Renewable Energy. The 58-member team has 19% women representation, indicating the rise in the stature of women including in skills that were earlier the preserve of men. All Indian competitors have undergone robust training to polish their skills with support of industries and academia like Toyota, Maruti, NIFT, Mahindra & Mahindra and more.

Addressing the candidates, Shri Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Hon’ble Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Electronics and Information Technology, said, “I congratulate all competitors, representing states, parents and other supporters for setting new benchmarks in skilling. What we are witnessing today is true Yuva Shakti and we are all spectators of this great phenomenon called skilling that is propelling the economic wheels of our country. I am certain, that with the power of skills, we will soon witness India’s techade. Guided by the vision of our Hon’ble Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, we have been able to create a globally competitive youth that is prepared to make India the Skill Hub of the World. The huge spectrum of skills on display today gives me reason to believe that we will have many skilling champions who we must celebrate.”

Lauding the hard work of students and trainers, Shri Atul Kumar Tiwari, Secretary, MSDE, said, “I wish all candidates the very best. The fact that we embraced big challenges including the pandemic is testimony to our resilience and grit. What we have seen in the national competitions strengthens our belief that we will get more glories for our nation in WorldSkills Competition 2022.”

Displaying extraordinary talent, Likith Kumar YP, candidate in the current Team WorldSkills India has already won a bronze medal in prototype modeling in the first leg of the WorldSkills Competition 2022 (WSC2022), held in Bern, Switzerland.

Various winners of past WorldSkills Competitions also addressed the India team, sharing their experiences of the largest skill competition and inspiring aspiring members to perform to the best of their abilities on the global stage. The 46th WorldSkills Competition will bring together more than 1,400 young professionals, representing over 60 countries. In 2019, from India, 48 candidates took part in WorldSkills International at Kazan, Russia. The team won one gold (Water Technology), one silver (Web technology), two bronze (Jewellery and Graphic Design Technology) and 15 medallions for excellence. 

Aditya Birla Sun Life Insurance Launches ABSLI Akshaya Plan

 


~ Provides a regular income from the end of 1st policy year ~

Aditya Birla Sun Life Insurance (ABSLI), the life insurance subsidiary of Aditya Birla Capital Limited (ABCL), announces the launch of a new-age savings solution ABSLI Akshaya Plan, a non-linked participating individual savings life insurance plan offering immediate liquidity option through Cash Bonus (if declared) facility. This plan provides the benefit of a comprehensive life insurance cover and a regular source of income to ensure the fulfilment of your family’s growing needs.

Key Features of ABSLI Akshaya Plan:

Immediate Liquidity: Receive Cash Bonus (if declared) from the end of first policy year or as per the cash Bonus pay-out frequency chosen

Choice of 2 Benefit Options - Flexibility to choose amongst Long Term Income and Whole-Life Income options.

Flexible bonus pay-outs - Complete flexibility to receive Cash Bonus (if declared) or to accumulate it 

Agility: Choice of varied premium payment terms and policy terms, to suit one’s requirements

Customizable Benefits - Option to enhance the insurance cover through riders, which are available at a nominal extra cost

Financial Security for your loved ones - Comprehensive life cover available for up to 100 years.

ABSLI Akshaya Plan enables the policyholder to draw cash bonus from the end of 1st policy year, providing a regular source of income. Furthermore, policyholders have the option to receive Cash Bonus (if declared) in annual, semi-annual, quarterly or monthly frequency and the same shall be payable at the end of the year, half-year, quarter or month, as the case may be.

Commenting on the launch of ABSLI Akshaya Plan, Mr Kamlesh Rao, MD & CEO, Aditya Birla Sun Life Insurance, said, “ABSLI Akshaya Plan will enable our policyholders to enjoy liquidity from the end of 1st policy year thereby providing them with necessary financial assurance, as well as covering them suitably in the advent of any eventuality. It gives the required cushion of a constant source of income, aiding the policyholder's goal of creating a secure future and a comfortable lifestyle for themselves and their loved ones. It is our constant endeavour at Aditya Birla Sun Life Insurance to help our customers with a life cover while addressing their savings needs as well.”

ABSLI Akshaya plan provides competitive returns with high flexibility. The plan comes with flexible premium payment terms and allows the policyholders to choose from a wide range of policy terms to fit individual needs. Also, they can avail the benefits of this plan on a long-term basis (25, 30, 35, 40 years) or whole life basis (till the age of 85 or 100).  Policyholders will have the flexibility to defer the declared Cash Bonus (if declared) and accrue them in the form of Accumulated Cash Bonus and can withdraw the same partly or fully at any point during the policy term. The policyholders can also switch between the bonus options, as per their convenience.

The maximum entry age to avail ABSLI Akshaya Plan is 55 years, while the minimum age is 30 days. Furthermore, the minimum annualized premium is Rs. 24,000 Policyholders can choose from multiple premium payment term options ranging from 6, 8, 10, 12 & 15 years.

Along with Cash bonus (if declared), a terminal bonus (if declared) may be payable on the death of the Life Insured or surrender or maturity, whichever is earlier.

Bring Home Your Favourite Acer Television At Attractive Prices This Festive Season


* Avail Great Prices On The Premium Range Of Acer Television With An In-Built Soundbar

Setting the mood for the festive season, Indkal Technologies has announced never seen -before prices on the entire range of Acer televisions. This includes the recently launched premium H and S Series with exceptional display features and unparalleled sound and out of the box Android 11 operating system. The new range of products are packed with next-generation features like Dolby Atmos and Vision ensuring customers an unparalleled visual experience with MEMC technology for smoother picture quality. The televisions are also equipped with Hi-Fi Pro audio system with a 60-watt sound output in the H series and a 50-watt soundbar on the 65-inch model that delivers an exceptional audio experience to consumers.  All of this is topped with an industry-leading comprehensive 3-year warranty on all the 4K-UHD models. The products are available through Amazon.in and through a large set of retail stores.  Also, a never seen before price was announced on the brand’s bestselling I Series.

During the sale period that starts from September 23, 2022, consumers can bring home the premium range of Acer televisions available in 32” HD, 43” UHD, 50” UHD, 55” UHD, and 65” UHD options, at a great price. The offer will continue till September 30, 2022, or until stocks last which the brand informed is limited.

Acer Television S-Series 

The Acer television S-Series Android 11 Smart LED TV is the latest generation of Acer televisions that come with an in-built soundbar providing users with an unparallel audio experience. Powered by Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos, the smart television comes with an extraordinary 4K ultra high-definition display. The premium S-Series is packed with a plethora of segment-first features and connectivity options including Dual-band Wi-Fi, 2-way Bluetooth, 2 HDMI ports 2.1 (HDMI 1 supports eARC), and 2 USB ports 2.0 to connect hard drives or other USB devices.

Available in two screen size options – 32” HD and 65” UHD, the S-Series will be available at a starting price of Rs. 12,999 during the sale period. Consumers can also avail of additional bank discounts on select debit and credit cards.

Acer television H-Series 4K Ultra HD Android Smart LED TV

The H-Series is one of the most advanced Acer televisions, powered by Android 11. Available in a frameless design, the television comes in a premium metal finish shell body with matt finish metal stands offering consumers great value at a great price. Powered by Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos, the H-Series is also packed with MEMC to create an immersive television viewing experience. Further, complemented by powerful 60W HiFi Pro speakers, H-Series has a gamut of features that allows customers to experience world-class television from the comfort of their homes.

The H-Series Android 11 Smart LED TV is available in 3 size options - 43”, 50”, and 55”. The 43” which is priced at ? 29,999 will be available at an attractive price of ? 25,999. The 50” variant is available for ? 28,999 and the 55” for ? 33,999. Consumers can also avail of additional bank discounts on select debit and credit cards during the sale period.

ABOUT THE ACER BRAND  

Established in 1987, the Acer brand empowers people with the technology to make their mark and the freedom to live their desired lifestyle. Acer-branded products strive to make technology accessible to everyone.  

ABOUT INDKAL  

Indkal Technologies Private Limited is a technology and innovation company based out of Bengaluru. Indkal excels in delivering, high-quality and revolutionary products across a wide spectrum of consumer electronics appliances and products. Founded in the year 2020, the company’s mission is to provide prudent, high-quality, and contemporary alternatives to the growing Indian consumer market.  

Accenture’s Q4 Results Read-Through: In-Line Q4; FY23 Revenue Growth Guidance Remains Healthy Amidst Macro Backdrop


* In-line revenue; Record order booking in the outsourcing business: Accenture's (ACN) revenue rose by 15% YoY to USD15.4bn (22.4% in local currency or LC) in Q4, closer to mid-point of management's guidance in LC. For FY22, revenue grew by 22% YoY to USD61.6bn (26% in LC) and was at the mid-point of the guided range of 25.5% to 26.5% growth. ACN continued to see healthy, broad-based demand across industries, services, and markets and gained market share (2x growth compared to the market), resulting in healthy overall operating performance and strong order booking. ACN posted double-digit growth in Song and very strong double-digit growth in Cloud, Industry X, and Security in Q4. Strategy and Consulting reported double-digit growth, while Technology and Operations reported very strong and strong double-digit growth, respectively, in Q4. Consulting revenue grew 14% YoY to USD8.3bn, while Outsourcing revenue grew 16% YoY to USD7.1bn. New bookings in Q4 were the second highest ever at USD18.4bn (22% YoY, book-to-bill 1.2x). Order booking was at record high in outsourcing, while it was relatively soft in consulting. Consulting bookings stood at USD8.4bn (6% YoY, book-to-bill 1.0x) and outsourcing bookings stood at USD9.9bn (41% YoY, book-to-bill 1.4x). The operating margin increased by 10 bps YoY to 14.7% in Q4. Quarterly annualized voluntary attrition was stable at 20% QoQ. The company added 10,947 employees in Q4, taking the headcount to 721,379 (1.5% QoQ/15.6% YoY).

* Broad-based growth across verticals: Growth in Q4 was driven by Products (25% in LC), CMT (23% in LC), Financial Services (22% in LC), Resources (21% in LC), and Health and Public Services (19% in LC). ACN continues to see healthy demand across its verticals and expects to sustain broad-based growth momentum in the coming quarters.

* FY23 revenue growth guidance of 8-11%: ACN has guided for revenue growth of 8-11% in LC in FY23 (organic 5.5-8.5%). The guidance assumes a negative 6% foreign exchange impact on USD revenue. The operating margin is expected to expand by 10-30bps to 15.3-15.5%. ACN expects Q1FY23 revenue to be USD15.2-15.75bn, assuming negative 8.5% foreign exchange impact (10-14% YoY in LC). The company expects OCF and FCF to be USD8.5-9bn and USD7.7-8.2bn, respectively.

* Earnings call takeaways: 1) ACN expects consulting to grow in high single digit to double digit and outsourcing to grow in double digit in FY23; 2) ACN has highlighted five forces of change, which will drive demand for the next decade - a) total enterprise reinvention, b) talent management, c) sustainability, d) metaverse continuum, and e) ongoing tech revolutions; 3) Clients are seeking compressed transformation amid uncertainties and, thus, managed services have become increasingly important as companies are looking to move faster to leverage digital platforms and talent; 4) ACN continues to gain market share and is currently growing at 2x market growth; 5) ACN has spent ~USD3.4bn on 38 acquisitions, USD1.1bn on R&D, platforms and industry solutions, and USD1.1bn on training and development in FY22; 6) FY23 revenue growth guidance assumes ~2.5% contribution from M&As; 7) ACN has signed deals worth over USD100mn with 26 clients in Q4 (100 clients in FY22 vs. 72 in FY21); 8) Management indicated that order pipeline remains strong even after the second best record bookings in Q4. The company expects seasonally soft bookings in Q1.

* Read-through for Indian IT peers: ACN's Q4 operating performance was in line with management's guidance, although it missed the level of outperformance witnessed in the past few quarters. The company has indicated broad-based demand and guided 8-11% LC (organic 5.5-8.5%) growth for FY23. Outsourcing order booking was at record high in Q4 at USD9.9bn (1.4x book-to-bill in Q4; grew 18% YoY in FY22). Strong order booking and double-digit LC growth outlook for the outsourcing business augur well for Indian IT peers. ACN saw attrition stabilizing sequentially in Q4 but expects tight labor situation and wage inflation to persist in FY23. Clients have become more amenable to price increases amid strong demand for tech skills and tight labor markets, which should support margins. Demand momentum has moderated a bit due to macro weakness but remains resilient, which should alleviate any concerns of sharp fall in demand. Our pecking order is INFO, HCLT, WPRO, TECHM, and TCS among Tier-1 companies, and MTCL, LTI, PSYS, MPHL, FSOL, ECLX, and BSOFT in mid-cap companies.

Ageas Federal Becomes The “First Life Insurance Company” In India To Have 74% Stake Held By A Foreign Shareholder


* Belgium-based, Ageas Insurance International NV completes the acquisition of remaining 25% stake from IDBI Bank taking its overall stake to 74% 

Leading Indian life insurer, Ageas Federal Life Insurance announced that it has become the first life insurance company in India to have 74% stake held by a foreign partner. Its Belgium-based shareholder, Ageas Insurance International NV has completed the acquisition of the remaining 25% stake from IDBI Bank, taking its overall stake to 74% from the earlier-held 49%. Federal Bank continues to hold 26% stake in the joint venture. IDBI Bank exits as a shareholder but remains as a distribution partner. 

Speaking on the shareholding change, Mr. Vighnesh Shahane, MD & CEO, Ageas Federal Life Insurance said, “Further to the announcement by our Hon’ble Finance Minister in the Union Budget 2021 to increase the permissible FDI limit from 49% to 74% in insurance companies, we are proud to become the first life insurance company in the country to have 74% stake held by our foreign shareholder, Ageas.” 

“Despite the various challenges due to the pandemic, as well as the prior uncertainty around the stake sale, we have consistently delivered superior results, achieved new milestones, and declared profit for ten consecutive years. With the continuing support of our shareholders – Ageas and Federal Bank, we are confident that the next chapter of our transformative journey will bring even more success and growth for the organisation,” Mr. Shahane added. 

Founded in 2007, Ageas Federal is one of India’s most trusted life insurance companies, recording ten consecutive years of profit since it first declared profit in FY2012-13. Ageas Federal’s total premium rose by 13% to INR 2,207 crore in FY 2021-22 driven by a 27% rise in Individual New Business Premium and 5% rise in renewal premium. It declared a net profit of INR 94 crore in FY 2022.  

Renowned cricketer, Sachin Tendulkar has been the organisation’s brand ambassador since 2018. With a commitment to creating an exceptional employee experience, Ageas Federal has been recognised as a Great Place to Work® for the fourth consecutive time and has also featured among ‘India’s Best Workplaces in the Insurance sector’ by Great Place to Work® Institute (India) in 2021. Additionally, the organisation was recognised as one of ‘India’s Top 15 Best Employers’ in 2021 by Kincentric.  

NueGo Announces Expansion Of Its Services Across 6 Cities Of South India


* Coaches to ply on the Hyderabad – Suryapet – Vijayawada and Bengaluru – Chittor – Tirupati routes  

* Offering the experience of a ‘Premium Electric AC Coach’ with Safety, Punctuality, and convenience  

NueGo, India’s first premium electric inter-city coach services brand, has announced the expansion of its services to the southern region of India, starting with Karnataka and Telangana. The coaches will soon be plying on the Hyderabad-Suryapet-Vijayawada and on the Bengaluru-Chittor-Tirupati routes. Aimed at the new age traveler, NueGo, the flagship inter-city pan Indian electric mobility coach brand of GreenCell Mobility, will deliver an easy booking experience, exceptional ride quality and in-cabin experience for the inter-city travellers while ensuring a safer and greener ride.    

On the Hyderabad- Suryapet-Vijayawada route the boarding points for the coaches would be BHEL Crossroads, Miyapur Crossroads, KPHB, Kukatpally, S R Nagar, Ameerpet, Lakdikapool, LB Nagar, Hotel Sai Krishna (Suryapet) and at Patamata, NTR Circle, Benz Circle, Hanumanpet and Ibrahimpatnam stops in Vijayawada. While on the Bengaluru-Chittor-Tirupati route the major boarding points are Majestic, Anand Rao Circle, HSR layout, K R Puram Railway Station, Hoskote, Kolar, Palamner and Tirupati.  

A customer centric brand, NueGo coaches go through 25 stringent safety checks including mechanical and electrical inspections. The coaches are sanitized before every trip and coach pilots go through breath analyzer tests. NueGo services feature live coach tracking, drop point geo-location, and monitored in-coach CCTV surveillance. These electric coaches can run 250 kilometers in a single charge, with the air conditioners on, in traffic conditions.  

NueGo has well trained & courteous staff, offers premium lounges in selective cities, and will offer customer assist & luggage management services. In addition, the services will offer curated F&B menu at the lounges and on board with on-time performance.  

Speaking on the occasion, Satish Mandhana, Director, GreenCell Mobility said,  

“NueGo aims to promote usage of sustainable public transportation with zero tail pipe emission on the inter-city routes throughout the country. With the launch of our services in the southern cities we aim to provide our guests a holistic travel experience.” 

NueGo coaches are fitted with innovative technology and offer end to end convenience for inter-city travellers with focus on Safety, Punctuality, and seamless customer experience.  

About NueGo:  

NueGo is the flagship inter-city pan Indian electric mobility coach brand of GreenCell Mobility. NueGo has a service planned roll out across 30 cities wherein 350 state of art buses will redefine the mass transport sector by developing green routes offering world class travel experience for Indian customers. As a trailblazer for sustainable traffic, NueGo is the first pan Indian electric coach brand offering end to end journey experience for travellers. A customer centric brand, NueGo buses are a climate-friendly alternative offering holistic travel solutions through customer assist services like lounges, feature rich mobile app, exhaustive bouquet of VAS services, building towards a seamless travel experience. While NueGo handles technology development, network planning, operations control, marketing and sales, quality management and continuous product expansion, trusted NueGo-partners maintain the daily route operations.  

About GreenCell Mobility Pvt. Ltd: 

GreenCell Mobility (GreenCell) has been set up to become a leading pan-India shared electric mobility player by leveraging proven global experience, developments in e-mobility technology, and the Government of India’s strong push for electrification of transportation in India. GreenCell has been promoted by EverSource (www.eversourcecapital.com), the fund manager of India’s pioneering climate impact fund. EverSource is an equal joint venture between Everstone Group (www.everstonegroup.com), one of Asia’s premier investments manager with assets in excess of US$7 billion across private equity, sustainability and climate change, logistics, digital and venture capital; and Lightsource bp, a global leader in development and management of solar energy projects. 

GreenCell is building a platform to provide Electric Mobility-as-a-Service (eMaaS), initially using electric buses and delivering the core value proposition of cheaper non-polluting on-demand shared transportation, charging infrastructure, and enabling products for the e-mobility value chain. For more information, please visit www.greencellmobility.com  

Jaguar Land Rover Invites Suppliers To Align To 2030 Sustainability Commitments

 


Jaguar Land Rover is committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions across its operations and entire value chain by 2030, approved by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi)

This forms part of the company’s goal to achieve carbon net zero emissions across supply chain, products and operations by 2039

Company’s network of suppliers invited to align with Jaguar Land Rover’s sustainability targets

Achieving carbon net zero across entire value chain will benefit people, clients, and the planet

Jaguar Land Rover is inviting its global supply network to commit to sustainability targets approved by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and help reach carbon net zero emissions across Jaguar Land Rover’s supply chain, products, and operations by 2039.

Achieving net zero across entire value chain will benefit people, clients, and the planet. Jaguar Land Rover’s commitments can only be achieved by working closely with suppliers who share the same vision for change so Jaguar Land Rover has therefore invited its global Tier 1 supplier network – products, services and logistics – to align with its 2030 goals, while maintaining the same quality.

Jaguar Land Rover will ask Tier 1 suppliers to set their decarbonisation pathway, report transparently and demonstrate progress towards their targets. This would involve disclosing their carbon reporting and collaborating with their own supply chain to deliver the same reductions. This requirement has been shared with Jaguar Land Rover’s supply network, totalling more than 5 000 companies around the globe.

Through its Reimagine strategy, Jaguar Land Rover is undergoing a deep transformation to deliver sustainability-rich modern luxury vehicles by decarbonising its entire value chain, adopting circular economy principles, and transitioning to fully electric product ranges by the end of the decade.

Barbara Bergmeier, Executive Director of Industrial Operations, Jaguar Land Rover, said: “Fulfilling our SBTi commitments and achieving carbon net zero emissions across our entire supply chain by 2039 are the driving forces in Jaguar Land Rover’s industrial strategy. We can only meet these ambitious targets together, which is why we’re inviting suppliers to join us on this challenging but exciting journey, strengthening existing relationships to enable all parties to achieve significant, quantifiable goals.”

Wilhelm Steger, CEO of the ZKW Group, which supplies premium lighting systems to Jaguar Land Rover, said: “Our vision is pioneering, premium lighting and electronic systems for all mobility concepts in the global automotive industry. Together with Jaguar Land Rover, ZKW is taking the journey towards a more sustainable future. We are committed to protecting the environment and reducing environmental impact. As a consequence, we are taking responsibility, we are developing towards the Science Based Target Initiative (SBTi) within our business and converting our production sites to CO2-neutral by the end of 2025.”

Jaguar Land Rover’s business partner targets are the latest demonstration of its commitment to improving supply chain sustainability.

For more information about Jaguar Land Rover’s carbon net zero emissions target,  visit: https://www.jaguarlandrover.com/environment

Thursday, September 22, 2022

MAXHUB To Showcase Its E-learning Interactive Solutions At DIDAC INDIA 2022


~ MAXHUB is participating in the Asia’s largest and India’s only education marketing conference and exhibition – DIDAC India 2022, Bangalore ~

MAXHUB, the world’s leading interactive and collaboration solutions brand, will be present at DIDAC INDIA 2022, India’s largest B2B exhibition offering a unique platform to showcase latest trends in the education industry from September 21 to September 23, 2022  at Bangalore International Exhibition Centre. With its focus on introducing more diverse EdTech products and solutions and dedication to growth and progress, the yearly exhibition is positioned to consistently set new standards in the Indian education and training industries. MAXHUB will be showcasing its latest Digital Classroom Solution which provides a complete E- learning hybrid classroom setup at the event. The integrated technologies in these solutions make SMART Classroom SMARTER and are suitable for use in sectors like education, hospitality, corporate, retail etc.

MAXHUB will present India's first disruptive and one-of-a-kind solutions for the educational system, which will support the crafting of futuristic classrooms for a better future. New range of Interactive Flat Panel with Android 11, Omni-Directional Bluetooth Speakerphones, Video conferencing Cameras and a complete set-up of an integrated advanced digital classroom with lecture recording facility will be on display. Customers will get a chance to test out the entire MAXHUB solutions range at the event.

Talking about the event, Mr Avinash Johri, Executive Director (CVTE India and & SAARC Region), said, “We are excited to participate in DIDAC India 2022, Bangalore . The exhibition will serve as the industry's main gathering place on a global scale. Products and services for all levels and sectors of education and training will be on display at the exhibition by exhibitors from different nations across the world. We aim to make it easier for educators to teach students in a high-quality manner by assisting educators and students in exploring and comprehending new technologies. Students will also benefit from learning about technologies they can apply in the workplace. We are confident that the richness of the solution will enable companies to run their operations more successfully.”

MAXHUB is a world-famous Solution Provider of all-in-one Education and Corporate products. We are part of CVTE Group, a 6 BUSD group with 4500+ Patents and more than 5,000 Global Employees. We are operational in 120+ Countries across the globe. MAXHUB entered the Indian Market in 2018 and in the span of just 4 years, has already made its mark in the industry.

EKA Mobility Collaborates With goEgoNetwork For Setting Up EV Charging Infrastructure


* goEgoNetwork will be the official electric charging solution provider for EKA’s 9-meter buses to set up ARAI & OCPP certified stations of 30kW, 60kW & 120kW 

EKA Mobility, an electric vehicles & technology company, and a subsidiary of Pinnacle Industries Limited, has announced entering a collaboration, through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), with goEgoNetwork, India’s leading charging infrastructure provider, to provide a robust, efficient, compliant, and well-connected EV charging infrastructure and advanced charging stations to its customers for public transportation. 

As per the mutual agreement, goEgoNetwork will now be the official electric charging solution provider for EKA’s 9-meter buses, to set up ARAI & OCPP certified stations of 30kW, 60kW, and 120kW for the institutional customers across the country. The MoU was signed between EKA Mobility and goEgoNetwork in the esteemed presence of Dr. Sudhir Mehta, Chairman, EKA Mobility & Pinnacle Industries Limited, Mr. Hirdesh Thakur, Executive Director, EKA Mobility, and   Mr. Rishi Bagla, Director, goEgoNetwork, Mr. Sayantan Chakraborti, Mr. Pravin Kumar, and Mr. Dheeman Kadam, Co-Founders at goEgoNetwork. 

Speaking on the collaboration, Dr. Sudhir Mehta, Chairman, EKA & Pinnacle Industries Limited, highlighted, "With EKA, we've been striving to set up a robust, efficient & reliable EV ecosystem to achieve India’s aspirational net-zero emissions goal. Our collaboration with goEgoNetwork, one of India’s leading charging infrastructure providers, ensures a fast-charging network for institutional customers of our 9-meter e-buses across the nation. We look forward to bringing sustainable, profitable, and efficient EV solutions to accelerate the mass adoption of new-energy vehicles in India, and we are elated to have joined hands with goEgoNetwork to ensure the fast charging of our 9-meter e-buses. We firmly believe that building a more accessible electric vehicle charging infrastructure will drive the rapid transformation of electrifying public transportation in our country and achieve net-zero emissions goals.” 

Speaking on the partnership, Mr. Rishi Bagla, Director, goEgoNetwork, said, "It excites us a lot at goEgoNetwork about our recent partnership with EKA Mobility. While our passenger EV charging network has been growing quickly with our presence in housing societies, public car parks, educational institutes, charging parks, hospitals, and many more, our recent tie-up with EKA Mobility is a testimony to the fact that our charging solutions are universal and can be used by all types and sizes of EVs currently available in the market. As omnipresent and compliant charging ecosystems lack across the country, our partnership with EKA Mobility will guarantee EKA Mobility’s customers a seamless charging ecosystem for their e-buses across India." 

EKA’s 9-meter electric bus provides a solid platform for sustainable and efficient public transport in cities around the world, along with reliable and profitable operations for customers. The product, completely designed & manufactured in India, recently received the Central Motor Vehicle Rules (CMVR) certification from ARAI, and the first batch will be soon deployed on roads. With a capacity to seat 31 passengers and a driver, along with a standing capacity, EKA’s electric bus offers a 200-kilometer range on a single charge. 

About EKA: 

EKA is an automotive & technology company creating a new global CV electric mobility paradigm. With an industry-leading team, cutting-edge technology, modular designs, and lean manufacturing processes, EKA’s vision is to bring reliable and efficient mobility solutions to the masses. EKA’s sharable technologies and low investment production processes will enable the lowest TCO and democratize electric vehicles for mass adaptation.  

Fly Emirates To Dubai And Enjoy Free Tickets To The Museum Of The Future, one Of Dubai’s Most Famous Landmarks


* Journey through possible futures at one of the city’s biggest new attractions with this incredible offer on all bookings made until 2 October 2022

Emirates, the world’s largest international airline, has launched an exciting new offer for holidaymakers planning a trip to Dubai between 22 September and 8 December 2022. All Emirates customers can now enjoy a complimentary ticket to the Museum of the Future – one of the city’s most famous landmarks. 

Starting now, this special offer is valid for all tickets to Dubai purchased using code MFUTURE until 2 October 2022. The offer is available on bookings made on emirates.com, Emirates Call centre or via participating travel agents, for travel from 22 September 2022 until 8 December 2022 in any cabin class.* 

The complimentary ticket to The Museum of the Future entitles travellers to one admission during the working hours of the museum and must be booked on museumofthefuture.ae against a redemption code sent by Emirates prior to the planned visit and used latest by 15 December 2022. * 

The Museum of the Future is the star attraction everyone’s talking about in Dubai, and are welcoming all ages to see, touch and shape our shared future. Inside an incredible building that’s been dubbed one of the most beautiful in the world, you can explore the future 50 years from now in an incredibly immersive and sensory experience. 

Fly into space, explore the wonders of nature, and get closer to the technology that will change the way we live. Kids will love being Future Heroes and taking on challenge missions to create a brighter tomorrow. 

Explore more of Dubai with Emirates

Emirates has safely restarted operations to more than 130 destinations, across six continents and currently operates 170 flights per week from India to Dubai.

Whether seeking a city break, a beach getaway, a relaxing retreat, a unique desert experience, or a stopover, there is something for every traveller when visiting Dubai. From sun-soaked beaches and heritage activities to world class hospitality and leisure facilities, Dubai offers a variety of world-class experiences.

Emirates Holidays: Customers can book their holiday to Dubai through Emirates Holidays. All Emirates Holidays include flexible booking options. Whilst for even more peace of mind, Emirates Holidays’ dedicated 24/7 On Holiday Service team will be there to support holidaymakers for every moment that they’re away. 

Skywards partners: Members of Emirates’ award-winning loyalty programme, Skywards, can earn Miles on everyday spends at retail outlets in the UAE, and redeem these Miles for reward tickets, upgrades, as well as tickets for concerts and sports events. Learn more about Emirates Skywards here: https://www.emirates.com/in/english/skywards/. 

For more information, visit emirates.com. Tickets can be purchased on emirates.com, Emirates Sales Office, via travel agents or through online travel agents.

*Terms and conditions applied. For the full list of conditions, please visit: https://www.emirates.com/in/english/special-offers/your-free-tickets-to-museum-of-the-future

Requests for this special offer must be made at least 96 hours prior to arrival.

Within 96 hours of purchasing an Eligible Flight, you will receive directly from Emirates for Eligible flights purchased on emirates.com or via a travel agent an email confirmation containing unique redemption code(s) for Museum of the Future. 

Complimentary Museum of the Future tickets must be booked on museumofthefuture.ae against a redemption code sent by Emirates prior to the planned visit and used latest by 15 December 2022. The redemption code(s) is valid for one time use on museumofthefuture.ae and once booked/redeemed against the code no changes are possible.  

Single use codes provided are valid for all dates and timings until the 15th of December 2022 and subject to availability at the time of booking.

There’s one free ticket for every passenger in your booking. 

There are no codes for children under the age of three as they can already enter the museum for free. Just book their tickets on the website together with the complimentary adult tickets. 

Children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult. 

About Emirates

Emirates’ 36 years in India have been defined by progressive investment, partnership and growth. In October 1985, Emirates launched flights from Dubai to Delhi and Mumbai which formed the base of its initial route network. Since then, Emirates has grown its India operations to serve a total of nine destinations across India – Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kochi, Kolkata, Mumbai, and Thiruvananthapuram. For more information on Emirates’ current operations, network, travel support, guidance, customer and employee safety, visit www.emirates.com

There Is No Deficit Of Talent In The Country But An Increased Demand For Talented & Skilled Indians: MoS Rajeev Chandrasekhar


* Skill India through its Electronics Sector Skill Council partners with Samsung to empower young Indians in emerging technologies like AI, IoT, BigData & Coding

As part of the Government’s Skill India initiative, the Electronics Sector Skill Council of India (ESSCI) today signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Samsung India for a skilling initiative that aims to empower the youth with industry relevant skills in emerging technology domains to enhance their employability.

The programme, ‘Samsung Innovation Campus’ aims to upskill over 3,000 unemployed youth from 18-25 years of age in future technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, Internet of Things, Big Data and Coding & Programming.

ESSCI which is a National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) approved entity, will execute the program through its nationwide network of approved training and education partners.

Union Minister of State for Electronics, Information Technology and Skill Development Rajeev Chandrasekhar, who was present on the occasion, said, “Skilling should not be just about equipping the youth with employable skills but should act as gateways to employability and employment--- as their Passports to Prosperity. The more employment-oriented skilling is, the more aspirational it will be for the students and young Indians.”

He said the Government’s emphasis on skilling has been to harness the opportunities in an increasingly digitized world and to make India a talent pool. “There is no deficit of talent in the country but an increased demand for talented and skilled Indians across the globe,” he added.

he Minister urged the National Skills Development Corporation and the Ministry to work out plans to evolve closer partnerships between the industry and the skilling ecosystem for sustainable solutions.

Stating that it is the vision of Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi that Digital Opportunities should be equitably available to every Indian, Mr. Chandrasekhar said that efforts should be taken up not just with premier educational institutions but also with Universities and Institutes in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities.

Welcoming Samsung’s initiative with ESSCI to empower young Indians with skills, he said that it was “a true hallmark of being a good partner to India and the Indians” and urged them to headquarter their programmes in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities to ensure skilling opportunities for the hundreds of thousands of students from these places.

The MoU was exchanged by Mr. Ken Kang, President and CEO, Samsung Southwest Asia and Dr. Abhilasha Gaur, COO, ESSCI.

Other dignitaries present at the ceremony included Mr. Atul Kumar Tiwari, Secretary, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Mr Ved Mani Tiwari, COO, National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) and Mr Amrit Manwani, Chairman, ESSCI, Mr Peter Rhee, Deputy Managing Director, Samsung India and Mr Partha Ghosh, Head, CSR, Samsung India.

About ESSCI

Electronics Sector Skills Council of India (ESSCI) is a Not-for-Profit Organization, registered under the Indian Companies Act, 1956.The Council has been promoted by Five Associations i.e., CEAMA, ELCINA, IESA (formerly ISA), IPCA & MAIT, ELCOMA, supported by National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC). ESSCI's focus is on establishing an effective and efficient ecosystem for developing and imparting of outcome-oriented skills for the Electronics Systems, Design and Manufacturing Industry (ESDM). ESSCI's mandate comprises plethora of deliverables including development of curriculum, courses, information database, delivery system. ESSCI is responsible for standardization, accreditation and certification processes to enhance the employability of the Indian workforce globally.

Unisys Opens Registration For The 14th Annual Unisys Innovation Program


* Formerly known as Cloud 20/20™, the annual event in India serves as a platform for students, faculty and Unisys mentors to collaborate on and conceptualize innovative solutions

Unisys Corporation (NYSE: UIS) today announced that registrations are open for the 14th annual Unisys Innovation Program (UIP), the company’s annual flagship technical project competition for engineering students across India. The 2023 event is scheduled to be held in April.

Using theoretical knowledge of the latest technologies to solve real-world problems, the program enables participants – research, pre-final, final-year and post-graduate students – to hone technical and soft skills for career success. The program aims to draw participants from computer science, information technology and other related fields to bring together technology stakeholders to share rich experiential learning.

The program is segmented into two primary tracks:

The Student Innovation Program encourages students to use emerging technologies to solve defined problems creatively and originally.

The Targeted Innovation Program provides students with opportunities to solve specific real-world business problems from Unisys, its clients and its partners.

These tracks enable students to collaborate with peers, faculty and Unisys mentors, all of whom provide guidance and expertise in the run-up to the competition’s grand finale. Topics will range from cloud computing to quantum computing, IoT, multimodal biometrics, AI/ML, blockchain and more.

"The Unisys Innovation Program aims to leverage India’s strong talent pool and create a touchstone for bringing innovation to life,” said Sumed Marwaha, managing director, Unisys in India. “It is our responsibility to enable and equip young minds with the mentorship and skillset to ace tech-driven innovation while also addressing the challenges faced by our clients.”

Since the program’s launch in 2009, more than 62,000 students have registered for the program, making it one of the most anticipated technical contests in the country. This past year, Unisys conducted the program virtually, with more than 6,000 student participants from nearly 200 colleges participating.

About the Unisys Innovation Program (UIP)

Established in 2009 and formerly known as Cloud 20/20™, the Unisys Innovation Program is Unisys’ annual flagship technical project competition for engineering students across India. The program enables research, pre-final, final-year and post-graduate students to develop career-ready technical and soft skills by applying theoretical knowledge of the latest technologies to solve real-world problems. The program brings in industry perspectives via interactive sessions and provides learning and networking opportunities to participants.

About Unisys

Unisys is a technology solutions company that delivers successful outcomes for the most demanding organizations around the world. Unisys offerings include digital workplace solutions, cloud, applications and infrastructure solutions, enterprise computing solutions and business process solutions. For more information on how Unisys delivers for its clients across the commercial, financial services and government sectors, visit unisys.com.

CATAPULT’ India’s Largest Logistics Incubator Program By Mahindra Logistics, Signs MoU With Successful Cohorts


~ 10 start-ups will work with the company on innovative solutions~

~Day-long premiere event attracts logistics start-ups & supply chain heads of leading companies~

Mahindra Logistics Ltd. (MLL), one of India’s largest Third-Party Logistics (3PL) solution providers announced the strategic collaborations with ten innovative technology start-ups during the CATAPULT Premier day at Bangalore today.

The CATAPULT incubator program is one of the most ambitious technology-based initiative of Mahindra Logistics. Six cohorts of CATAPULT 2.0 have been collaborating with MLL over the last nine months and technology MVPs (pilots) were successfully piloted during this period. MVPs were focused towards developing sustainable solutions and enhancing operational efficiencies in the logistics and mobility space.

CATAPULT Cohort 2.0 covered wide technology domains like Vision tech, Advanced analytics, AI based optimizer, location-based monitoring tech and sustainable last mile delivery solutions. Six startups that were part of Cohort 2.0 were Accio Robotics, Linkeddots, Constems – AI, SenseGiz, Jidoka Technologies and Aurita Bikes.

At the premiere day expo, ten startups (cohort 1 & 2) showcased their technology innovations that were validated. During the award ceremony, “Strategic Collaboration Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs)” were signed with eight start-ups – HiPer, Enmovil, KoiReader, Accio Robotics, Aurita Bikes, Constem – AI, Linkeddots, and Sensegiz. The technology start-ups will be integrated as part of MLL’s ‘Smart Automation Program’. These collaborations will aid in enhancing operational efficiencies through real time deployment and strengthen this platform for future innovators in the logistics industry.

Mr. Anand Mahindra, Chairman, Mahindra Group, said, “I have enormous hope for the outcome of this incubation program. It is an initiative that has come along at the right time and the right place - because the logistics sector is propelled forward by tailwinds of policy and demand from the growing manufacturing sector. This program will help all unseen gems shine by enabling innovators to bring their creations to implementation, commercialisation and scale. For us in the Mahindra group, it enables us to partner with the most agile and inventive start-up culture and direct its energies to areas that will benefit us, other companies and the Nation. It’s a great symbiotic relationship.”

Mr. Rampraveen Swaminathan, Managing Director and CEO, Mahindra Logistics Limited, said, “True to our Purpose of ‘Accelerating commerce and empowering communities to Rise’, we are excited to partner with the startup eco-system through this program. We have come a long way since last year for this second edition of Catapult. Majority of this cohort will be embedded to our eco-system to co-create future-ready tech-powered solutions for the Indian Supply Chain & Mobility sector. I am eager to work with the winners of this second edition and look forward for an equally exciting season, towards the end of this year.”

The Catapult Incubator focused on identifying technology solutions in the Logistics, Supply Chain and Mobility space. The technological areas of focus included: Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), Blockchain, Internet of Things (IoT), Robotics & Automation, Virtual reality (VR) & Augmented Reality (AR), Drones, Big Data & Analytics, Low-Cost Hardware/ Connectivity/ GPS Based Solutions and E-Mobility Solutions. A total of 1000 start-ups registered for CATAPULT thus far.