IBM and Automation Anywhere Team Upto Help Businesses Streamline Operations

IBM and Automation Anywhere today announced a collaboration to help companies drive new efficiencies by delivering solutions that assist employees with routine, data-intensive tasks. The collaboration is intended to make it easier for companies to improve processes across their enterprises and free employees to focus their time on more creative and customer-facing aspects of their jobs.

As part of the agreement, the two companies plan to integrate Automation Anywhere’s Robotic Process Automation (RPA) platform, used to create software bots to handle repetitive, task-based business processes, with IBM’s portfolio of digital process automation software. The IBM software, which includes IBM Business Process Manager and Operational Decision Manager, is used by organizations to design, run and manage complex business processes.

The new joint solution, planned for the third quarter, will enable clients to use Automation Anywhere’s RPA platform to create software bots that execute tasks within larger business processes managed by IBM’s software. By integrating these technologies, the collaboration aims to provide companies with a comprehensive set of tools to create and use software bots to streamline digital tasks across more of their processes, whether running in the cloud or on-premises systems.

The new offering will be particularly relevant to companies where employees routinely have to manually complete tasks within business processes. These are especially prevalent in the banking, financial services, insurance and healthcare industries which have data-intensive, manual processes, such as filing insurance claims, processing bank loans, paying vendors for services and opening customer accounts.

For example, a bank using IBM Business Process Manager could use Automation Anywhere’s platform to build software bots to streamline the processing of new loans or accounts. The bank could create a bot that helps complete the application by automatically capturing data from different files or even emails submitted by the applicant. Or insurance companies using Automation Anywhere’s RPA solution could use IBM’s BPM solution to improve responsiveness and customer satisfaction. The result in both cases could lead to faster turnaround times for approvals and reduced errors associated with managing business processes manually.

The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc., a leading property and casualty insurance provider, uses software from both IBM and Automation Anywhere. The Automation Anywhere RPA platform helps with back-office functions, such as underwriting, billing, and claims. IBM Business Process Manager helps manage larger system-wide processes, such as new business quoting, underwriting, and policy administration.

“IBM and Automation Anywhere’s technologies already are helping The Hanover better manage processes and more quickly complete specific tasks,” said Ian Maher, vice president of strategic sourcing at The Hanover. “The integration of these technologies is another step toward streamlining more tasks across our organization. We also think combining these technologies could be a starting point for adding more advanced cognitive capabilities into our business processes.”

The collaboration brings together two companies ranked as leaders in the field of business process management and improvement. Forrester ranks IBM as a leader in The Forrester Wave: Digital Process Automation Software, Q3 2017 report and Automation Anywhere as a leader in The Forrester Wave: Robotic Process Automation, Q1 2017 report.

“The ability to smartly process and manage data is fast-becoming a competitive advantage,” said Denis Kennelly, general manager of IBM Hybrid Cloud solutions. “The combination of the Automation Anywhere and IBM process management platforms provides a powerful new way for companies to streamline business processes so employees can spend less time filling out forms and more time working with customers.”

The integration of the IBM and Automation Anywhere technologies creates a powerful new option for companies to improve processes.

“This new capability to help companies better manage almost any part of a business process with speed, efficiency and reliability is extraordinary, enabling companies to become digital enterprises,” said Mihir Shukla, CEO and Co-founder of Automation Anywhere. “The collaboration between IBM and Automation Anywhere takes business process management to a new level, liberating employees to focus on the things they do best while bots are focused on what they do best.”

IESA to Host DEFTRONICS 2017 in Hyderabad from August 31

India Electronics and Semiconductor Association (IESA), the premier trade body representing the Indian Electronics System Design and Manufacturing (ESDM) industry has yet again continued its stride to boost the success of the Make in India initiative in the Indian Aerospace & Defence sector by hosting DEFTRONICS 2017. The fourth edition of DEFTRONICS is scheduled on August 31 & September 1 at Park Hyatt in Hyderabad. The theme of DEFTRONICS 2017 is Accelerating Self-reliance in Aerospace, Defence and Internal Security.

It has been a great year for the Indian Aerospace & Defence industry (A&D), which has emerged as one of the most significant domestic industries, presenting an ocean of opportunities for manufacturing companies and foreign companies investing in the A&D space. India has been one of the leading spenders in defence for the past few years and continues to have defence imports of USD 5.9 billion, contributing 15% to the total imports of defence products in the world. IESA has recognised this as a great opportunity to continue its effort to build and support the manufacturing ecosystem in the defence space. It recently announced the launch of setting up the Hyderabad chapter with a focus to provide a stronger thrust for the Aerospace & Defence manufacturing. DEFTRONICS 2017 is focused on providing sessions on the various opportunities in the defence, defence manufacturing, skilling, major programs of defence, etc. The summit will again host the IESA DEFTRONICS Awards aiming to recognize the outstanding individuals and role models in innovation and excellence in the electronics & design services ecosystems in A&D industry.

Commenting on the occasion, MN Vidyashankar, President, India Electronics & Semiconductor Association (IESA) said, “India has reached a stage where manufacturing has been successfully established. Even the Indian Aerospace and Defence Ecosystem, which has been historically a leading net importer, has significantly strengthened the self-sustained model in the past few years.  We are motivated to invest more in the industry and bring in more innovation with an increased focus on R&D. We strongly believe that the Indian A&D industry has the full potential to have an independent ecosystem and would provide the maximum support to ensure it becomes significantly more self- sufficient as an industry.”

DEFTRONICS 2017 is expected to host over 300 delegates and over 20 marquee speakers amongst many others. The Summit will focus on Major programs and Opportunities in Aerospace & Defence (DPP, Offset business etc), Defence Manufacturing; Skilling and Capacity building in Defence and Development of new technologies in Aerospace & Defence Additionally, it will also focus on the significance of Internal Security and Cyber security and the scope of Start-ups & SMEs in the industry.

The two-day summit will see exhibits from over 20 companies including start-ups in the A&D space. The objective of the summit is to strengthen the ecosystem and help participating companies reach out to wider network; engage with peers on exchanging ideas and discovering new opportunities. DEFTRONICS 2017 will have the presence of various industry experts, government officials and leaders in the industry. Dignitaries from the Central & State Governments have been invited to grace the occasion along with participation from the Industry such as Xilinx, Moschip etc.

DEFTRONICS 2016 had created a new vision to help in drafting the country’s first Defence Electronics Policy by Ministry of Defence (MOD), India. It had focussed sessions on defence, internal security, aerospace, defence procurement policy, cyber security, design led manufacturing, opportunities arising from large deals, defence clusters, etc. Alongside the Defence Electronics and System Design report - Policy recommendations was released at the summit with the support of Roland Berger. There was participation from the Consulate General of the State Israel, DRDO, TE Connectivity, AXISCADES, Godrej Aerospace, Safran, Maxgrid Securicor, Brahmos Aerospace, Cyient, QUEST, GE Aviation, BEL, Boeing, Tonbo Imaging, Dhruva Space, Astrome Technologies, Saankhya Labs, University of Arizona, Amrita University and many more.

Home Healthcare Services a Viable Solution to Fight Shortage of Beds this Dengue Season

The much-awaited monsoon rains, while bringing immense relief from the oppressive summer heat, also heralds dreaded cases of diseases like dengue, chikungunya, typhoid and malaria. Until May 31 2017, even before the onset of monsoon, a total of 11,402 cases of dengue and 11 deaths due to the virus have been reported throughout the country. Kerala with 4,735 cases, recorded 41.5% of the total dengue cases. In the capital Delhi, while the numbers haven't gone up as much, they are certainly on the rise. The latest data released by the Municipal Corporations of Delhi (MCD) mentions a total of 61 dengue and 131 chikungunya cases in the city and neighboring areas right from January onwards, which is usually considered to be a non-transmission period. On a worrying note, there were 21 cases of dengue and 35 of chikungunya in just one week in June.

As was witnessed in the last few years, the pressure on the resources of hospitals, both private and public, is enormous during this season. The Delhi government has already issued a circular directing hospitals to increase their approved bed strength by 10–20% for a period of six months. Along with existing wards, these extra beds are to be accommodated in corridors and waiting areas as well. News about makeshift beds built using stretchers, sticks and duct tapes isn't uncommon during this period. Such is the toll the outbreak of dengue and chikungunya can take. This is when alternative health delivery services like homecare proves to be most efficient in tackling the emergency.

Dr.Gaurav Thukral, Senior Vice –President and Business Unit Director, HCAH said, “By providing requisite medical services within the patient’s home, homecare provides a viable solution for both hospitals and patients. While the former can widen their reach by freeing beds for new patients during demanding times like the upsurge in dengue cases, the latter does not have to worry about not finding adequate care, as all necessary medical set-up will be made available at their own place of residence. Homecare services cover around 70% of all healthcare requirements of a patient. This includes pathology tests, medical equipment rentals and purchases and medicine delivery. Thus, patients affected with dengue can be effectively treated within the confines of their homes where they can receive personalized care and undergo treatment and recovery in an environment they are most comfortable in”.

Dengue is caused by the bite of an infected female mosquito of the Aedesaegypti species. The mosquito gets infected with the dengue virus when it feeds on an infected person’s blood. Symptoms of denguestart manifesting about four to six days after being bitten by an infected mosquito. A drop in the platelet count is a major characteristic symptom of dengue fever. The other most common symptoms are high body temperature, headache, pain behind the eyes, joints and muscles pain, fatigue, nausea and vomiting, skin rashes and low blood pressure. In some cases, the disease can develop into a more serious form called Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever (DHF). Although the vaccination for dengue fever was approved for use in dengue endemic areas in April 2016, it is yet to be adopted for use. A suspected dengue patient should undergo a few essential lab-tests in order to confirm the disease and subsequently administer appropriate course of treatment. These tests include Dengue Serology test, Dengue NS1 Antigen test and a complete blood (platelet) count test. With home based medical services, patientsnow have the option of getting these tests done in their respective homes. Home healthcare providers like HealthCare atHOME (HCAH) offers lab sample collection facility at home for dengue patients as well as for other diseases. This facility has made it convenient for patients who are already suffering from fever or other illnesses to get the blood tests done within their comfort zone.  This is done by the team of highly trained DMLT certified phlebotomists and NABL accredited labs.

He further added, “In addition to the growing line of patients, the risks of hospital-acquired infections can further affect dengue patients while aggravating the already encumbered hospital infrastructure. Even with the very best of precautions, it isn't possible to eliminate the risk of infection. Especially during an emergency like dengue outbreaks, this can be hard to avoid when many patients are suffering from weak immunity. While dengue itself is a non-communicable disease, there are chances of contracting several other infections. Those with existing medical conditions like diabetes and very young and very old patients face highest risks. The repercussions of hospital-acquired infections are many. While causing added illness, they can result in longer recovery time and longer stay in hospitals. This can be strenuous to both the patients and the hospitals. However, with home based medical care, the risks of such infections are removed since treatment is done within the patient’s home. Therefore, homecare isn't just a convenient healthcare service for patients but is also an extension of the services provided by regular hospitals. By vacating beds, widening the reach of doctors and reducing chances of infections, homecare not only proves to be invaluable but also indispensable for the efficient treatment of dengue and chikungunya”.

Home based healthcare operates in a simple but well-regulated manner. Consulting doctors and physicians advise treatments for patients, which the professionally trained homecare health providers implement accordingly. With the help of advanced communication technology, doctors are kept in the loop about the patient’s condition all the time and real-time data can be shared with them. This allows the doctors to intervene at any point of time, giving them complete control over their patients and making the care dynamic.

Preparations and precautions for the outbreak of dengue and chikungunya need to be carried out well in advance. While the government and the hospitals are doing their part in increasing bed numbers and ensuring medical resources are up to date, homecare can be a part of this preparatory measures by being an extension of the hospital services and work as a distributed hospital itself within the precinct of the patient’s home.

Internet-Based Apps Contributed Rs 1.4 Lakh Cr to India’s GDP in 2015-16: Study

Internet-based applications have contributed Rs 1.4 lakh crore to the country's GDP in 2015-16, a report by the think-tank organisation, ICRIER. along with the Broadband India Forum said.

As per the study, a 10 per cent increase in India's total Internet traffic, delivers an average increase of 3.3 per cent to India's GDP.  Whereas a 10 per cent increase in mobile Internet traffic delivers an average increase of 1.3 per cent to the country's GDP.

A 17 per cent increase in India's Internet traffic during the period 2015-16, resulted in an absolute increase of $103.9 billion (Rs 10,390 crore) in GDP during the year. Applications contributed a minimum of $20.4 billion (Rs 2,040 crore) in the year 2015-16 to India's GDP. "The Internet economy could contribute up to $537.4 billion to India's GDP in 2020, of which a minimum of $270.9 billion (Rs 27,090 crore) could be attributed to apps," the study said.

Companies covered in the study include Makemytrip, Practo, PayTM, Urbanclap, Netflix, Wynk, Byju's, Truecaller, farMart and MP Mobile. The case studies captured different aspects of impact created, such as the potential for increased income and job creation, government services, lowering costs for buyers and sellers, creating a platform for smaller businesses, popularising the use of vernacular language and enabling women safety among others.

Apps have evolved from being offline, and locked-in to devices, to being connected online and available across different operating system platforms. This disruptive innovation resulted in what is commonly referred to as the 'app economy'.

India now tops the chart in Google Play downloads when compared to Indonesia, Russia, Brazil and USA. The top downloaded apps from Google's Playstore by Indian users are Whatsapp and Facebook Messenger. Indigenous entertainment apps such as Hotstar and Jio TV have also climbed the charts as popular apps among Indians.

The evolution of apps had regulators of legacy services such as telecommunications, cable and broadcast, commercial public transport among others scrambling to manage the disruption.

"We found that the ecosystem's contribution went beyond just economic into social areas such as mainstreaming the differently abled and enabling women safety among others," said Rajat Kathuria, Director and Chief Executive, ICRIER.

The growth of the app economy in India has been impressive. App Annie, an app-analytics company, recently ranked India as the fourth largest app economy in the world, with annual app downloads to touch 7.7 billion by the end of 2017.


"Internet apps and services are disrupting traditional industries. Regulation, globally, is evolving to strike the right balance between protecting consumer/business interests and encouraging the ecosystem to innovate further," said TV Ramachandran, President, Broadband India Forum.

India’s Future Lies in Innovation, Says RV Despande at CII Innovation Summit 2017

Large and Medium Industries Minister R V Deshpande called for more participation of the private sector companies in the Research and Development (R&D) processes. He also stressed that by encouraging startups in the country, India can look forward towards more inventions and innovations.

“Innovation and technical capability are the key drivers of economic growth. India has the potential to become an innovation and technology powerhouse. However, it needs the right environment to reap the benefits,” he said empasising on the need for R&D in the country.

The country’s overall R&D investment is less than 1% of GDP, with private sector accounting for less than 0.33% of GDP versus a desirable 1%, he added.

Speaking at the India Innovation Summit, organised by the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII), Deshpande called on the private sector to partner with the government and invest in R&D, skill development with a focus on job creation. According to him, job creation will be the biggest challenge in the country.

According to various estimates, India will have the youngest population in the world by 2025. “For India’s young generation to be industry ready there is an urgent need to change the curriculum according to the needs of the industry and invest in human capital through education, knowledge and skill development initiatives,” he added.

Terming GST as a game changer, he said it will make the industry more transparent and aid in ease of doing business. He hoped that ultimately there will be only one tax slab for GST, as prevalent in most other countries.

More than 20 companies, including the startups are participating in the two-day summit. India’s start-up ecosystem is developing at a rapid pace. The country has more than 19,000 technology startups and the sector has seen funding up to $3.5 billion in the first half of 2015 alone. According to Tracxn data, India venture capital backed companies received a total funding of $12 billion in the past two years.

Kris Gopalakrishnan, Co-founder of tech-gaint Infosys emphasised on the use of ‘innovation index’ for the futurish outlook about the economy.

RERA Notification Covers On-Going Projects in Bengaluru: GST Price Cut Only After 3-4 Months: CREDAI

This week saw the much awaited notification of RERA in the State by the Karnataka government. Contrary to the popular view that the Act would favour the developer community, the Act woks in the interest of existing as well as future home buyers. CREDAI Bengaluru clarified the Act by explaining its implementation and the impact on the existing and upcoming projects.

Asserting that RERA made a balancing act between the buyer and promoter, Ashish Puravankara, President, CREDAI Bengaluru stated that it would have been further effective if the Karnataka Government’s notification had lowered the threshold of the plot area that came under the Act to 100 -150 Sqm as against the prevailing 500 Sqm. “This would have helped check the deviations happening in this segment”, he contended.

Government has taken steps to ensure that ongoing projects are brought under the ambit of RERA. According to the Karnataka Government notification, projects that have completed 60 per cent execution of sale deeds need not make the application to the regulatory authority. “It is to be noted here that sale deeds are executed only after the projects are completed, which is in line with the Act.” stated Ashish Puravankara.

Likewise, layouts that have handed over charge of civic infrastructure to the local authorities are rightfully exempted as such handing over happens only after the full completion of the project, he added. “The same is applicable to exemption of apartments that have handed over the maintenance of the common areas to the residents’ associations as such projects are completed and mostly occupied too.”

The notification also exempts projects that have applied for occupancy certificate (OC) as the same is applied only when the project is completed. In the case of projects that have received partial OC, the exemption is accorded only to that phase which has received the OC.

Stating that all other projects that did not fall in the above categories will come under the purview of RERA, Shankar Sastri, President, CREDAI Karnataka said, “The government of Karnataka has meticulously notified the Act in letter and spirit as compared to some other States.”

While acknowledging that the RERA is stringent on several issues, bringing strict compliance on the part of developers as well as laying pressure to comply with multiple guidelines, CREDAI Bengaluru still welcomed the move “as it addresses the interests of buyers.”

GST Impact

Replying to quires on GST impact on the real estate projects, Puravankara said, “There has been no raise in costs but will actually bring down the prices in the months to come. But the actual price cut will be known only after 3-4 months and not immediately,

CREDAI Members

In Bengaluru, the real estate sector amounts to 60-65 percent and will grow to 85 percent in the years to come. CREDAI as a organization has 257 members in Bengaluru and all of them belong to the organized sector, concludes Sastri.

Google, Facebook, What’sApp in Talks with NPCI for UPI Enabled Payment on their Platform

Technology giants such as Google Inc, Facebook Inc and WhatsApp among others have approached the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) to grant licence for Unified Payments Interface (UPI)-enabled payment on their platforms.

The proposed move is likely to significantly boost digital payments in the country, a top NPCI official said. “We have sought approval for the social media platforms to venture into the payments space. So that, if these organisations come to us for approval, we will have to approve it, and not go to RBI. Then rolling it out is our responsiblity,” NPCI MD and CEO, A P Hota said on Monday.

Google is in advanced talks with NPCI to integrate its digital payment service, Android Pay, with UPI. The company has completed its discussions with NPCI, which has in turn requested the Reserve Bank of India to consider Google’s application, Hota said.

Once the apex bank grants the in-principle liscense to Google, its app would have to go through the security check by the NPCI, before rolling out. The in-principle licence is expected to come out in one or two months from the Reserve Bank. “The talks are also going on with WhatsApp and Facebook,” he added.

He also said that given the reach of these players, they will aid the government’s target on digital payments, adding “However we don’t have to be dependent on them.”

He also declined any kind of tie up between these technology giants and NPCI for enhancing latter’s reach. While NPCI’s payment interface Unified Payments Interface has 25 million downloads in India, number of Facebook users stand in excess of 213 million in India, with another 200 million WhatsApp users across India.

Google announced the launch of Android Pay in March 2015. The same month, Facebook announced that the company will enable peer-to-peer payments through Facebook Messenger.