Eros Now Announces Collaboration with Microsoft to Develop Next Generation Online Video Platform

Eros Now, a South Asian entertainment OTT (over-the-top) video platform by Eros International Plc, a Global Indian Entertainment Company, the ultimate one-stop destination for the internet generation to consume captivating content announced a collaboration with Microsoft to build a next generation online video platform on Microsoft Azure targeted at its consumers across the globe. This is a unique collaboration for Microsoft in India in the online video space.

Building on its history of innovation, Eros Now will leverage Microsoft Azure on three areas of technology development:

Intuitive Online Video Platform: Using Microsoft Azure and Azure Media Services, Eros will develop a new, intuitive online video platform. The new platform will provide seamless delivery of content for its consumers across geographies and languages, supported by a robust infrastructure including Azure Content Delivery Network (CDN).

Interactive Voice Offerings: Eros will work to create new interactive voice offerings for consumers, powered by Azure AI tools, including OTT app video search experiences and voice search for video content across 10 Indian languages.

Personalized Recommendation Engine: To increase consumer satisfaction and loyalty, Eros will create an engine to deliver personalized content recommendations for consumers by leveraging its own user data, combined with Azure AI, analytics, Cloud Data Warehousing solutions and Azure Media Services

Commenting on the announcement, Rishika Lulla Singh, CEO- Eros Digital, said, “The Online Video market has brought a paradigm shift in the way technology is used and will be used to enhance the customer journey and user experience. We at Eros Now have been the earliest movers in the adoption of technology which is a core strength of the brand. The objective and the goal of this collaboration is to ensure we become the primary innovators for the video business and a gold standard for the others to follow. We have immense respect for Microsoft as a company to help us innovate and pave the path for the next generation of online video.”

Peggy Johnson, Executive Vice President, Microsoft, Corp. said, “As an innovator in on-demand video, Eros Now has been transforming the way millions of people access and consume content. By using our combined expertise across technology and media, we have an opportunity to build on that foundation and re-imagine entertainment for the rapidly growing audience of digitally-connected consumers in India."

“India is one of the fastest-growing digital entertainment and media markets worldwide, driven by the growth in online video content.  AI and intelligent cloud tools will be the next drivers of the media business and will impact everything from content creation to consumer experience.  We are very excited to work with Eros Now to redefine the online video watching experience for consumers,” said Anant Maheshwari, President, Microsoft India.

Eros’ work with Microsoft will help it transform not only how it delivers streaming services to its consumers but also to reimagine the offerings it can provide. This news today is a step forward in the age of digital transformation to enhance the online video streaming experience and better serve its users globally.

K7 Computing Hosts AVAR Cyber Conclave to Raise Awareness on Newer Cyber-Threats

K7 Computing Private Limited, a homegrown cybersecurity industry leader, hosted the prestigious AVAR Cyber Conclave 2019 in Bangalore, India.

With the attackers exploiting the vulnerabilities in the systems, globally, the massive damage wrought by the cybercriminals may be fathomed by the estimates of losses due to ransomware alone amounting to over USD 8 billion (approximately INR 56,700 crore).   The aim of the event was to generate greater awareness in the industry for having a concrete blueprint for ensuring data security at all ends.

Speaking about AVAR Cyber Conclave, J Kesavardhanan, MD & CEO, K7 Computing said, “The aim of AVAR is to bring all stakeholders, those who are helping to fend off the cyber-threats and attacks, onto a single platform to share information on the various threats that arise every now and then. AVAR shall organise such events regularly in the country so that more and more people can be part of such events.”

Highlighting about the need to have stringent data security policies being adopted by the companies, Allan Dyer, Chairman, AVAR, said, “All countries need to work together. We have to move against the cybercriminals by moving away from retribution to attribution. We have to ensure that every stakeholder in the ecosystem is educated about cyber threats and ways to protect their data from being attacked. This would need a collective approach from companies across the globe.”

Since the launch of the Digital India 2015, there has been a quantum jump in the number of attacks as more and more people and their data are now online.

In line with this, Pratap Reddy, IPS, Karnataka, said, “While India is becoming a digital hub,  there are multiple dynamics that would need a cover. There are major challenges is fighting these cyber threats. Firms are reluctant to share information on attacks. We need a seamless sharing of information and there needs to be a default agency to share information on attacks. We will need more support from the companies to share the right information with us so that we can provide them the required help.”

The event was held not only to benefit industry, but also to expand knowledge-sharing and networking in the global scenario.

11th Edition of DIDAC India Focused on Modern Educational Tech Advances & Services

India Didactics Association (IDA), the exclusive membership association in India for the education & training fraternity has organised the 11th edition of DIDAC India exhibition in Bengaluru starting from September 24 to 26, 2019. The event was inaugurated by B. S. Yediyurappa, Chief Minister, Government of Karnataka along with Aditya Gupta, CEO, India Didactics Association (IDA) and other dignitaries.

DIDAC India is global platform for innovative technology, solutions, modern educational advances & services, instruments and resources that encourage learning, teaching and skill improvement. The India Didactics Association works with 83,000+ educators from 250 cities of India for DIDAC India.

B. S. Yediyurappa, Chief Minister, Government of Karnataka said, “It is our greatest pleasure to support Asian Summit of Education & Skills (ASES) – the Asian Chapter of the Education World Forum and DIDAC India Exhibition. It is indeed a great platform of uniting global education leaders with one goal of taking education and skill sector to the next level. Trained and skilled human resource is the biggest asset to the nation and we are working towards realising this aspiration of Prime Minister, Narendra Modi ji. Karnataka is one of the leading states in the education. We are very well aware of the need and importance of the skill based education and it is imperative for us to provide quality education to a future generation that will enable them to play an effective role in the development of the nation.”

Aditya Gupta, CEO, India Didactics Association said, “DIDAC India is a unique confluence of stakeholders from education and training industry showcasing latest innovations both in resources and solutions. The platform acts as a catalyst to enable free flow of ideas and exchange of global practices in every aspect right from curriculum to technology. This year being the eleventh edition of the exhibition, we are delighted that DIDAC has grown in scale and the quality of offerings through enriching workshops and powerful panel discussions. We aim to continue this momentum and hope that we are able to significantly contribute to the dynamic growth of the education sector in India.”

The event was hosted by Department of Education, Government of Karnataka and partnered by Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD), NITI Aayog, The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE). The other partners of the event include AICTE, NCERT and National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) apart from various Indian and international partners. The event saw participation from over 300 Ministers, Policy Makers & Senior Education Leaders from India and other Asian countries.

The 3-day event showcases state-of-the-art education & training solutions that help in creating premium education institutions delivering the finest quality education, at par with any world-class institution.

DIDAC India – Event Overview

·         200+ companies from 19 countries participated
·         1800+ brands, showcased the latest and the best possible resources, solutions and services for the education & training sector.
·         Visited by thousands of educators and trade visitors from all over India
·         30+ Live Interactive Workshops for hands on experience
·         Thought provoking conferences with eminent speakers from across the globe at The International Education & Skill summit(TIESS)

The event hosted various concurrent event like conferences, workshops, round tables, talks, The International Baccalaureate India Education Forum, Cambridge All India Community Meet, Early Childhood Association National Conference, AICTE All India Institutional Meet, Amazon Web services Edtech CXO Mixer and lots more.

Oneplus Unveils the Highly-Anticipated Oneplus 7T and Oneplus TV with a Special Live Stream and Band Performance

OnePlus, one of the world’s most popular premium smartphone brands, is delighted to make India the focus of the simultaneous launches of their two highly-anticipated new products: the OnePlus 7T and the OnePlus TV. They will be launched exclusively in India and China on September 26 2019, with a global rollout to follow afterwards.

The company’s co-founders, Mr. Pete Lau and Mr. Carl Pei, will be in New Delhi to unveil the unique features of the new OnePlus 7T and OnePlus TV, with special events being held in cities across India. The Bengaluru launch will be held at Orion Mall on September 26th 2019 from 7pm onwards.

The co-founders’ presentation will be livestreamed during the launch, and fans of OnePlus who have been speculating for months on the unique features of the new products are warmly invited to join in the excitement. The livestream will be followed by a vibrant live performance by The Sylvester Trio, a “Contemporary Rock, Indie, and Funk Rock” band known for their funky, yet playful, with tongue-in-cheek lyrics and a strong stage presence.

The launch will be followed by a pop-up event at Orion Mall on September 27th, which will be the only place in Karnataka where the new products can be purchased before they become available at the OnePlus Experience Stores on September 28th.

The pop-up will feature a range of fun activities for the whole family that will be held through the day. The first 100 people to make a purchase will also receive “The Swag”, exclusive merchandise from OnePlus.

Following the pop-up and pre-release sales, the new products will be available for purchase exclusively at the OnePlus Experiences Stores from September 28th onwards, a few days prior to the general market release.

The new OnePlus TV is the brand’s first smart TV product, available in four sizes and with a range of cutting-edge features, to be revealed during the launch. The eagerly-awaited OnePlus 7T is the latest innovation in the brand’s beloved T series, known for its superior cameras and other attractive features.

NetApp Felicitates Partners at 9th Edition of Annual Partner Summit - Xcelerate 2019 at Jodhpur

NetApp, the data authority for hybrid cloud, concluded their three-day annual Partner Summit – Xcelerate 2019 held in Jodhpur. Hosted in partnership with Tech Data and Redington, the event honoured key partners in recognition of their work in delivering a fruitful partnership. In addition, the presence of NetApp’s senior leadership provided the partners an opportunity to connect with the company’s vision as well as strategies to drive data-driven business outcomes.

List of winners from India & SAARC region
* FLASH Partner of the Year - FY19- Hitachi Systems Micro Clinic
* Cloud Partner of the Year - FY19- FLASH Partner of the Year - FY19
* HCI Partner of the Year - FY19- Hitachi Systems Micro Clinic
* Systems Integrator of the Year - FY19- Inspirisys Solutions Ltd.
* Partner of the Year - SAARC - FY19- Omega Exim Ltd.
* Marketing Champion of the Year - FY19- Tech Data India
* Partner of the Year North - FY19 - Binary Global Ltd.
* Partner of the Year - West - FY19 - Softcell Technologies Ltd.
* Partner of the Year - South - FY19- Locuz Enterprise Solutions Ltd.
* Partner of the Year - FY19- Hitachi Systems Micro Clinic

The public cloud has created a new standard for IT that all industry leaders must match to provide the experience that customers enjoy in the cloud and now demand on-premises. To be successful, organizations must fuel data-driven innovation by leveraging the cloud. The event themed ‘Any Cloud, One Experience’ was curated to discuss how the partners can navigate as well as leverage new market opportunities. The conference hosted interactive discussions on enabling partners to unleash the power of data with the right cloud solutions and deliver value to customers in a dynamic world. The summit also facilitated a platform for the partners to meet the subject matter experts, industry leaders and NetApp executives to understand how to best help customers leverage the hybrid multi-cloud along with new technologies like AI, ML, DevOps and IoT.

Congratulating the winners, Anil Valluri, President, NetApp India and SAARC said, “NetApp in India is on a growth trajectory and continues to dominate the industry as the Data Authority in the hybrid cloud world. Our partners are a significant part of this growth and XCELERATE 2019 reaffirms our commitment to enable our partners to leverage the economies of data.”

“To be successful today, organizations must fuel data-driven innovation by leveraging the cloud and manage their data from the edge to core to cloud. We thereby aim to train and skill our partners to help customers better manage the data in both the infrastructures and gather better insight with the right pricing capability, agility, and flexibility. We also provide sessions to help explain right data management strategies for the newer technologies helping them deliver superior customer experience,” said Kaushal Veluri, Director, Channels, Alliances & Sales, NetApp India Marketing & Services.

The summit was held between September 18 and September 20, 2019 in Jodhpur.

OTO Unveils ‘My OMI Plan’ for Financing Two Wheeler Purchases with 30% Reduction of EMIs

OTO Capital has announced the launch of My OMI (Ownership Monthly Installment) Plan for two wheeler buyers. My OMI Plan is the most affordable and flexible financing option for consumers to purchase two-wheelers of their choice at any dealer showroom. With the My OMI Plan, customers now have an affordable and flexible option of owning a two wheeler for a fraction of the cost which is upto 30% lower than existing two-wheeler EMIs. One of the significant causes for the recent slowdown of the automotive industry is believed to be caused by challenges in financing vehicle purchases. While the government is taking measures to boost demand, options such the My OMI Plan could bring buyer interest back on track by making it easier for customers to finance automotive purchases.

With the My OMI Plan, customers can walk into any two-wheeler showroom, get an instant approval and ride home their brand new vehicle under 30 minutes with zero paperwork. Under the plan, customers pay a low down payment, as little as INR 5000 which is refundable and OMIs (Ownership Monthly Installments) that are 30% less than loan EMIs. Customers can choose the tenure of their OMIs, which ranges from 1-3 years. At the end of the chosen tenure, customers have the flexibility to walk away with no obligation, or upgrade to another brand-new vehicle, or make a simple balloon payment to retain the same vehicle.

Buyers also get a convenient, all-inclusive OMI that includes bumper to bumper insurance and maintenance. The company has partnered with more than 100 dealers in the city, including Aryan Suzuki, Sapphire Honda, Tansi Honda, Avanish Suzuki and many more to offer customers the new financing option. OTO has already financed more than 140 two wheelers in its pilot phase in the last 45 days. Currently My OMI Plan is available to customers in Bengaluru and Mumbai and in the next one year OTO will expand into 10 other Indian cities.

Every year in India, more than Two crore two wheelers are sold, out of which, more than 50% are financed. The frequency with which new auto models are being introduced and the rise in usage of connected vehicles, is rapidly changing the vehicle ownership experience. Customers are now seeking faster access to vehicles, low-cost EMIs and quicker upgrades. OTO allows just that. By partnering with dealers, corporates and automakers, OTO is gaining popularity as the fastest-growing alternate option to vehicle loans. The company has already signed up 20 corporates where employees enjoy hassle free financing along with flexible ownership and additional tax savings.

OTO partners with Banks and NBFCs to provide the capital and offers customers with an alternative option for financing vehicle purchases. OTO provides a full auto-lifecycle management, from credit underwriting to insurance, maintenance and eventual resale of the vehicle. Partnering with OTO helps traditional and large banks to offer flexible models of ownership and incentivize the new-age buyer by offering an all inclusive package. With the slowdown in the automotive sector, partnering with OTO gives vehicle loan departments of banks an opportunity to quickly move into vehicle leasing without any change in their internal processes. OTO is enabling Banks and NBFCs to serve newer and wider set of customers who were earlier shying away from vehicle loans. 

Castrol India Enrols Over 1.5 Lakh Mechanics and Retailers on a Unique Digital Incentive Platform

Key Highlights

* Castrol Fast Scan - Castrol India’s digital incentive platform is a unique solution for stakeholders including retailers and mechanics
* Castrol Fast Scan is backed by a robust reward management system offering an end to end solution
* This instant pay-out platform sees over 1 lakh incentive coupons scanned daily for reward aggregating worth INR 6 crore a month in beneficiary bank accounts
* Standard Chartered Bank is the banking partner for this industry-first solution which enables digital upskilling and financial inclusion
* Castrol Fast Scan aims to double users in the next 12 months while offering numerous possibilities to enable sustained and customised engagement programmes using Castrol Fast Scan
* Castrol Fast Scan is an avenue for collaboration for other corporates looking to reach and reward various stakeholders in a transparent and secure manner

Castrol India Limited, the leading automotive and industrial lubricant manufacturing company in the country, announced that Castrol Fast Scan - its unique digital incentive platform for key stakeholders including mechanics and retailers has already reached 1.5 lakh users. Standard Chartered Bank is the banking partner for this industry-first solution.

Castrol Fast Scan currently helps retailers and mechanics to earn, track and redeem rewards, and receive them instantly in their bank account using IMPS, leading to significant simplification and shortening of the incentive payment cycle from months to minutes.

Castrol Fast Scan has acquainted many mechanics and retailers to banking on the go, besides inculcating a savings mindset. Castrol Fast Scan has witnessed initial success and widespread acceptance with the current average daily transactions pegged at over one lakh transactions amounting to INR 6 crores being reimbursed monthly.

Commenting on the announcement, Omer Dormen, Managing Director, Castrol India Limited, said, “Castrol Fast Scan reinforces our commitment to our key stakeholders like mechanics and retailers to continue to add value to their respective businesses. Designed and developed in-house by Castrol India team and working on a robust
back-end system, Castrol Fast Scan delivers a premium customer experience along with simplification and creates a significant differentiation by helping our stakeholders in financial inclusion and digital upskilling.”   

Zarin Daruwala, CEO, Standard Chartered Bank, said, “Technology is disrupting the way our clients operate and as a bank, we endeavour to work closely with them to develop customised eco-system solutions to drive their strategic growth.This solution has not only addressed a market need, but also delivered on a larger digital agenda for India, whereby now Castrol can facilitate incentive payments to various stakeholders round the clock, in an instant and cashless manner. We truly believe that this partnership is one of its kind as it unlocks options where client-bank collaboration can provide exciting possibilities through transformation across industries.”

As next steps, Castrol Fast Scan aims to double its users in the next 12 months. It is an avenue for collaboration for other corporate partners looking to reach and reward various stakeholders in a transparent and secure manner.

Castrol Fast Scan offers numerous possibilities to enable sustained and customised engagement programmes for a variety of stakeholders. This will play a big role in enlarging their awareness and industry knowledge along with technical upskilling and capability building.