GoDaddy Enables Indian Manufacturer To Manage Business Growth

GoDaddy,a leading technology provider dedicated to small businesses, enables Jay Khodiyar Machine Tools (JKMT), a leading manufacturer of biomass briquetting machines in India and South Asia to promote its business globally.

Located in Rajkot, Gujarat, JKMT manufactures machines that help transform agricultural, forestry and municipal waste into biomass briquettes that act as biofuel substitutes for coal and charcoal. JKMT partnered with GoDaddy for its domain name registration along with Web hosting and email, which are core to Gujarat’s sales and marketing efforts. Since moving to GoDaddy, the number of inquiries on JKMT’s website have grown dramatically from just 10 inquiries per month to 50 inquiries every day.

“Over the last few years and as our business grew, we needed a partner who could provide us with reliable customer care and a robust platform to manage increasing traffic demands of our website. GoDaddy’s competitive pricing, world-class infrastructure and outstanding customer service, sealed the deal for us”, said JKMT Managing Director Sanjay Tilala. “GoDaddy has been instrumental in helping us enhance our professional identity online and establishing JKMT as the most sought after manufacturer for biomass briquetting machines around the region.”

GoDaddy helps small businesses and entrepreneurs in India leverage the power of the Internet to build successful businesses online. GoDaddy’s suite of solutions including domain names, Web-hosting and email enable small businesses to find more customers, build their brand online and grow their overall business. GoDaddy offers easy-to-use tools and services along with 24/7 local customer care.

“JKMT is a highly sought-after manufacturer that is committed to creating a greener environment. It gives us immense pleasure to help them take advantage of the unprecedented opportunities that the Internet has to offer,” said Rajiv Sodhi, GoDaddy India Managing Director and Vice President. “As businesses in India increasingly recognize their potential, we offer our customers the fastest way to take their businesses online with superior 24/7 customer care.”

Since launching in India two years ago, GoDaddy has been relentless in its drive toward making it easy for SMBs to create a reliable and secure online presence at affordable prices.

GoDaddy is based in Scottsdale, Ariz. USA. GoDaddy operates data center facilities in North America, Europe and Asia, along with offices in India and Canada, as well as other cities throughout North America and serves more than 12 million paying customers globally.

5th Batch Of MS Ventures Accelerator Opens Applications In India

Microsoft India has announced the opening of applications for the fifth batch of Microsoft Ventures Accelerator in Bangalore, India. Starting April 1, till June 10, Microsoft will receive online (http://aka.ms/MVABangalore) applications from technology startups.

The first list of 50 shortlisted companies will be announced soon after closing of applications in June, and they will be invited for a face-to-face session with a jury panel. The final list of startups, which will make it to the winter batch of calendar year 2014, will begin the four-month acceleration process at the state-of-the-art Microsoft office in downtown Bangalore on July 23, 2014 and end with a Demo Day in November when the startups will showcase their ideas to key industry influentials, top angel investors and VCs.

Inviting applications for the new batch, Ravi Narayan, Director, Microsoft Ventures in India, said: “Our Accelerator is turning out to be one of the most competitive programs in this part of the world, with hundreds of startups wanting to be part of it.  The visibility, reach and intensity of the program drives startups to achieve tremendous progress during the four months of the program.  Startups mature the business model, acquire deeper market traction and build world-class products in an accelerated fashion.”

For the fifth batch, Microsoft Ventures is looking for a mix of Indian and international companies—Indian startups which are ready for the next stage of accelerated growth and want to have access to global markets as well as international companies that are interested in Asian markets. Young companies, which are at ideation stage and are extremely high potential, will also gain from the program.

Elaborating further, Narayan said: “We will work closely with our industry partners, mentors and panel of jury to identify exceptional technology entrepreneurs who are solving big problems at scale, both for India and global markets. We welcome all technology startups, from India and abroad, to send in applications. The process is quite simple. All you need to do is apply online (http://aka.ms/MVABangalore and if you have any doubts/ queries just read up the FAQs. We will also be conducting workshops and coffee meet-ups at various Indian cities where we will meet startups and startup aspirants and answer their questions. 

Microsoft Ventures Accelerator is a key part of Microsoft Ventures, Microsoft’s three-pronged initiative to offer startups a single point of entry to engage with Microsoft. Apart from the state-of-the-art workspace and access to Microsoft technology and technology mentors, each batch goes through a rigorous, intense and structured four-month program. Microsoft and industry mentors provides startups with hands-on expertise in key areas they need help on most—namely technology architecture, user experience/ design, product roadmap, business model development and connections with early adopters. Each startup pursues three tracks simultaneously – customer development, product development and deepening market traction. The Accelerator Program team tracks their progress every week, and shares the report with mentors who provide them valuable feedback.

Microsoft Ventures Accelerator in Bangalore hosts two batches a year, from July-November and January-May. The summer batch of 2014, which is the current batch of startups being accelerated, will graduate on May 23, 2014. The first three batches saw 36 companies graduating from our program after achieving three times customer traction on an average. Around 82% of the companies also received funding.

For Test Companies Management Strategy Very Crucial

With software testing becoming ever more complex, the role of test management has assumed great significance However many testing organisations still lack the requisite test management tools and capabilities for the right levels of co-ordination across their organisations to ensure the timely release of quality-assured software.

In an ever more complex software testing world, good test management is an imperative that cannot be ignored. The often complex outsourcing deals in today’s context can lead to equally complex management issues. Indeed, according to Gartner the leading cause of missed expectations is poor governance. When tackling these issues, test organisations are increasingly finding benefit from management tools.

Good test management delivers a range of benefits including reduced time to market, faster delivery, improved productivity through reduced rework, and better analytic results through increased visibility and control using dashboards. Such a test management function enables a centralised view across all elements of testing, both manual and automated, right from the development stage through to Quality Assurance (QA), during both the functional phase and performance. This activity can go a long way in ensuring full collaboration and control at every stage of the process.

Vijay Balasubramaniam, Global Head - Testing Practice at IT services and solutions expert ITC Infotech explains the central role that test management can play in the software testing process. “Software development companies are increasingly looking outside their own organisations for solutions to help them test their products while maintaining a high return on investment. One of the more successful models employed by these organisations is outsourcing the testing process to contractors, consultants, Testing Centres of Excellence (TCoEs) or external organisations which specialise in specific areas of testing. In such cases, the contracting organisation is still responsible for the overall quality of the products which it validates. The outsourced testers must have access to the right equipment, the right tools and the right infrastructure to get the job done effectively, within budget and within the timescales specified. To achieve these objectives a test management system has to be in place to provide a common platform for contractors, contracting organisations and other external specialists.”

A well planned test management strategy is required to ensure higher levels of organisation and control of the end-to-end testing activities and processes. Vijay Balasubramaniam adds: “At ITC Infotech, our test management approach is structured specifically to ensure effective application testing. We use a range of commercial and open-source test management and optimisation tools and techniques as well as open-source tools that store information about how the testing is to be done. This includes a detailed plan of the testing activities. We also use them to develop, execute and assess all our testing activities, gather execution data from automated tests, and report on the status of all of our quality assurance activities.”

One of the latest trends in testing is the concept of the Global cubicle where testing is carried out by a number of testers across different geographies and time zones. “It is more vital than ever to have a test management system that provides a common platform, bringing together the test process, artefacts used therein and work items from groups of testers working across geographical locations and time zones. It has become crucial than ever for organisations to implement a test management strategy that unifies and controls the entire software testing process,” states Vijay Balasubramaniam.

Flagship Centre for Smart Automation in India

One of India’s most well known smart home installation companies, Smart Automation announced today the grand opening of its new Flagship Experience Centre in the vibrant city of Gurgaon. The new centre features an innovative concept aimed at providing customers a feel of how technology can turn their homes to ‘Intelligent Homes’,  helping them do things conveniently and safely while adding a luxury quotient to their life.

An iPad-controlled Smart Experiential Centre with most advanced and state-of-the-art technology threaded through every room offers customers a digital wonderland experience. Dressed as a high-end domestic property, the Smart Experiential Centre showcases the most covetable home automation technology in the market while trading as an exclusive store. In a concept new to Indians, clients are invited to “spend time” in the Smart Centre with their family to experience the lifestyle benefits of the extraordinary array of products available to buy. The hands-on approach allows home owners to see how new products could apply to their own lives and properties with virtually every whim catered for at the touch of an iPad screen.

Customers can control and manage household services such as heating, air-conditioning, blinds, lighting, security, and data throughout the Smart Experiential Centre via the iPad. In other words, they can control every aspect of the home starting with the basic lighting to their music and digital art choices. One can watch a movie in the home theatre; listen to their favourite music on some of the world’s most sonically advanced speakers in the audio room, or simply experience the security solutions in offer. Lights, heaters and air conditioners automatically turn down when rooms are vacated and everything can be switched off with one button on leaving the premises.

“With home-owners increasingly wanting to future-proof their properties with technology, we wanted to demonstrate how life-enhancing home automation can be in 2014. Our products are capable of delivering a complete solution for homes and offices because they integrate the control of lighting, audio, video and climate into a single cohesive system offering utmost security and comfort. To get a real sense of the incredible products that are available, we believed the customer had to experience it first-hand. The idea behind Smart Experiential Centre is to provide a ‘home-away-from-home’ environment, to help integrators, architects and designers better understand Smart Automation technology and how it is integral to what they do,” said CP Singh, Founder, Smart Group.

In a bid to offer one-stop solution for all automation needs, Smart Group has got on board a roll-call of world class brands and manufacturers that would be displaying their most advanced products at the centre. The brand Smart Automation, a venture of Smart Group says it intends to make the new space an extension of the initiatives and demonstration it already provides at trade shows. This centre is all about improving customer service and connecting with the customers by providing a relaxed and engaging environment that encourages people to interact with and sample company’s products and services.

Why's India Ignoring World's 2nd Largest IT Market?

Japan is the world’s second largest IT market after the United States. India’s software export to the Japan is $500 million, representing one per cent and it was very miniscule, said D. K. Sareen, Executive Director, Electronics and Computer Software Export Promotion Council (ESC) on Monday.

Addressing the members of Indo-Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, he said, “the opportunities that Japan offered was immense, but we have not utilised it fully. If India increases its exports by 100 per cent, then we can achieve the full potential.”

While urging the Indian software firms to take part in the ‘Japan IT Week 2014’, he said it was the largest trade show wherein participants can find latest IT technologies and solutions. It would be visited by a great number of information systems manager, management executives, sales managers, system integrators and managers from IT system division.

Japan IT Week will be held for three days at Tokyo Big Sight from May 14. The participation cost is Rs. 2 lakh plus service tax. ESC would be providing a fully furnished 8.1 square meter stand.

The current slump in the economy has forced Japan to adopt new models for delivering software. More and more Japanese firms are open to the idea of using readymade software packages rather than custom built solutions, said an ESC member.

Japanese Deputy Consul General Koji Sugiyama said that Indian IT outsourcing was set to grow faster during 2014-15 than last year. He also urged the Indian firms to make good use of the Japan IT Week show that would also concurrently hold specialised shows on software development, data warehouse, embedded systems, data storage, information security, cloud computing, smart phone and mobile among other topics.

US$37b Marketing Opportunity For Indian Tech Industry, says Nasscom Chief

In the first ever assessment of opportunities for the Indian technology industry resulting from the emergence of digital technologies, National Association of Software and Service Companies (NASSCOM) and SapientNitro today announced the launch of a research report titled ‘Marketing, Disrupted: Opportunities for the Indian technology industry’. The report finds that there will be USD 37 billion of CMO opportunity for the Indian technology industry by 2020, 17% of which will be purely creative in nature. Also, the spend on digital marketing is expected to grow from current 8% to at least 35% of the total CMO spend by 2020. The rising interest in outsourcing creative marketing work and digital marketing opportunity are contributing to the huge addressable CMO market.

R. Chandrashekhar, President, NASSCOM said, “Digital technologies are creating disruption in areas beyond those under the purview of the CIO. Clearly, new opportunities for Indian technology players are opening up, opportunities that demand closer coordination with new stakeholders in businesses and modify their services to address new kinds of needs.  Technology players must review and streamline their services and offer customized solutions for modern business to make the most of the new opportunity.”

The report, the first of its kind, analyses the disruption caused by the rise of digital technologies in marketing and its implications for the Indian technology industry. It attempts to prepare this industry to leverage this opportunity by delivering value to the new stakeholder – the Chief Marketing Officer. Marketers are actively participating in decision making related to technology. A significant 34% of the marketers surveyed cited new tools/technology investment as one of the key concern areas.

“Over the past few years, SapientNitro has been at the center of the massive transformation in the brand-consumer space, caused by the emergence of the digitally empowered consumer. We are delighted to have partnered with NASSCOM in defining this new opportunity for the Indian technology industry. We believe this report will mark an inflection point in the evolution of the industry as it offers compelling insights into the current disruption in the marketplace as well as the way forward for industry participants," said Rajdeep Endow, Managing Director, Sapient, India.

The report envisages a strategic direction for Indian technology companies to streamline their services and products roadmap, in sync with the current requirements of CMOs by looking at the holistic picture, building in-house capabilities and forging seamless and symbiotic relationships with marketing agencies. Further, the report also prescribes recommendations for global brands to remain relevant, connected and competitive in the new world.

Additional Highlights from the Report:

*  Technology share in CMO budget is increasing

*  Over 50% CMOs said spend on digital marketing and brand building will grow between 5 and 10% over the next 12 months

*  Over 70% CMOs find that their role in the CIO spends is growing.

*   17% of the estimated USD 37 billion opportunity for the Indian Technology Industry will be creative in nature.

*  Creative services alone is estimated to create an impressive 1,00,000 job market by 2020

*  8% of global CMOs surveyed have ventured into outsourcing and are already engaged with Indian technology providers for creative work, while an impressive 38% respondents are currently weighing the idea of outsourcing creative work.

M-Pesa Facilitates Money Transfer & Payments Via Mobiles Also In Karnataka

Vodafone India, one of India’s leading telecommunications service providers and ICICI Bank, India’s largest private sector bank, today announced the launch of ‘M-Pesa’ - a unique mobile money transfer and payment service in Karnataka. ‘M-Pesa’ is the trademark of Vodafone. The service was formally launched today by senior officials from Vodafone India viz.  Suresh Kumar, Operations Director – South, Atanu Batabyal, Business Head – Karnataka and Suresh Sethi, Business Head –M-Pesa. 

‘M-Pesa’ empowers the unbanked and under-banked sections of the population gain access to financial services via the mobile phone. ‘M-Pesa’ effectively leverages the combined strengths of Vodafone’s global expertise in the domain of mobile payments and significant distribution reach in India plus the security of financial transactions provided by ICICI Bank. This service will now be available across 137 Tehsils, 30 Districts through 2500 specially trained authorized agents including 600 Vodafone exclusive stores in Karnataka.

The innovative use of mobile technology makes it possible for customers to enjoy a fast, simple and secure way to transfer money and make payments. Using their ‘M-Pesa’ account, customers can at their convenience:

·  Deposit and withdraw cash from designated outlets

·  Transfer money to any mobile phone in India

·  Remit money to any bank account in India

·  Make payments to recharge mobile, clear utility bills and for DTH service subscription

·  Shop at select shops

·   Deposit Money & Earn interest

·   Participate in e-commerce/m-commerce.

Highlighting the relevance of ‘M–Pesa’ for the residents of Karnataka, Atanu Batabyal, Business Head – Karnataka, Vodafone India said, “Vodafone is always at the forefront to introduce innovative products and services that enrich the lives of our customers. We are delighted to bring to Karnataka, ‘M-Pesa’, a world class mobile banking service, in partnership with ICICI Bank. ‘M-Pesa’, is a safe, secure and convenient service to transfer money and make payments beyond the reach of traditional banking channels. For households where the earning members migrate to larger cities for earning livelihood, ‘M-Pesa’ will be the best way to send money back home to their families.”

Added Suresh Sethi, Business Head - M-Pesa, Vodafone India, “Vodafone is the world’s largest and leading provider of mobile payment services through ‘M-Pesa’, which offers millions of people including the unbanked and underserviced sections of society, basic financial services. Today, less than 5 percent of villages in India have a banking outlet. Financial inclusion is a national priority and we believe that with ‘M-Pesa’, we now have the ideal offering to facilitate the same across the country in compliance with all applicable regulations.”

Apart from Karnataka, ‘M-Pesa’ has been rolled out in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, West Bengal, Punjab, UP East, UP West, Bihar, Jharkhand, Rajasthan, MP, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Assam & North East, Odisha, Haryana and Tamil Nadu & Chennai and will be made available pan India in the next few months.

How does it work?

Registering for ‘M-Pesa’ is easy and simple.

Prospects may self-register from their mobile phones followed by documentation and minimum payment at an ‘M-Pesa’ agent outlet OR visit an ‘M-Pesa’ agent outlet, fill up a form, submit identity, address proofs and deposit a minimum amount along with it, to open their ‘M-Pesa’ account. The MCSL Mobile Wallet gets activated immediately and the customer can do a variety of transactions like cash deposit, transfer money to any bank account, money transfer to any other ‘M-Pesa’ customer, recharge mobiles & DTH, pay mobile and utility bills. Once the documents are verified and approved by MCSL and ICICI Bank the customer can do other transactions viz. cash withdrawal and sending money to any mobile number.