Indian IT-BPO Industry on Track to Reach US$350 Billion by 2025

The National Association of Software and Services Companies (NASSCOM) has revealed various trends that enabled the Indian IT-BPM industry to clock double-digit growth of 12.3 percent (constant currency terms) in exports and 10 percent in domestic revenues for FY2016. In a press meet addressed by BVR Mohan Reddy, Chairman, NASSCOM, C P Gurnani, Vice-Chairman, NASSCOM and R Chandrashekhar, President, NASSCOM, confluence of digital technologies (cloud, mobility, IOT, social, big data), changing business models, rapidly growing innovative start-up ecosystem, government’s vision of driving digitization, India’s consumer economy were identified as major trends that are spearheading this growth.

INDIA – STARTUP HUB AND DIGITAL SOLUTIONS PARTNER TO THE WORLD

The industry is continuously building and strengthening its digital solutions capabilities. Digital contributed approximately 13 per cent for the leading technology companies. Further, the industry employed over 250,000 digitally skilled employees. Digital M&A deals also witnessed a spike in volume and value crossing USD 2 billion in FY2016 growing 3 times over last year. Increased emphasis on design, creativity, agility and customer experience will lead India to strengthening its position further and presenting itself as the ideal digital solutions partner to the world.

India’s start-up landscape is now a global success story with young start-ups and unicorns making a difference in high impact areas. With over 4200+ start-ups, India is now the third largest start-up base with over 1200+ start-ups being created every year aided by 4.9 mn worth of funding, over 150 active VC/PEs and over 110 incubators and accelerators. 

C P Gurnani, Vice-Chairman, NASSCOM, added, “Digital is reshaping the technology sector and the industry focus is to understand the full potential of digital technologies and help customers make the best of it. Rise of India’s digital quotient is our key priority for the next few years”.

R Chandrashekhar, President, NASSCOM, added, that “The need of the hour is for industry to fundamentally transform its business models, solution offerings, organization structure and capabilities to strengthen its market leadership position. Further, going forward, revenue growth alone may not be an adequate indicator of the growing capability and capacity of India’s technology industry and factors such as investment, valuations, digital solutions portfolio, impact etc. would also need to be considered in assessing the industry performance and contribution to the economy.”

Software Experience is the Key Differentiator for Smartphones Specs

CREO, a Bangalore based fast-growing consumer Technology Company, today unveils facts on the ‘State of Mobile Operating System Adoption In India’, through a research commissioned to CyberMedia Research. In a research on OEMs in the Indian market, which was carried across 158 different smartphone brands amongst over 1476 device models, 72% of Android Phone buyers did not get the latest Android OS or its features at the time of purchase in 2015. For a more robust understanding, an end-to-end study of 400 smartphone users across major cities was also conducted, which revealed that only 38% of Android users had updated their Android OS at least once.

The OEM study clearly reveals that software updates, rather than hardware, emerges as the differentiator and is the future of Smartphones. The research further suggests that OEMs will have to adopt an experience driven approach enabled by OS features as the ‘spec-war’ reaches its peak.

The study of smartphone users on the other hand, reveals that some of the most common user expectations from an OS update  are “Performance Improvement” (77%) followed by “New Features” (57%).

Reinstating CREO’s focus on software experience, Sai Srinivas, CEO, says that  “Regular and relevant software updates ensure that the customer experience is always smooth. At CREO, we promise to release these updates every month, along with powerful and functional features, that give you an experience of A New Phone Every Month!”

The study on OEMs also goes on to reveal that most brands (95%) are only customizing the software at the UI level, which is cosmetic and affects only the OS’s appearance. Commenting on this, Sai adds that, “Most other available Android based OS’ in the market are mere skins of each other. What makes us different is that with our Operating System, we will stay true to the Stock Android UI which we all love, and instead work on building OS level features unheard of on any other Smartphone.”

Hitachi’s Hyper Scale-Out Platform for Big Date is Now Powered by Pentaho Platform

Hitachi Data Systems Corporation (HDS), a wholly owned subsidiary of Hitachi, Ltd. has unveiled the next generation Hitachi Hyper Scale-Out Platform (HSP), which now offers native integration with the Pentaho Enterprise Platform to deliver a sophisticated, software-defined, hyper-converged platform for big data deployments. Combining compute, storage and virtualization capabilities, the HSP 400 series delivers seamless infrastructure to support big data blending, embedded business analytics and simplified data management. 

Modern enterprises increasingly need to derive value from massive volumes of data being generated by information technology (IT), operational technology (OT), the Internet of Things (IoT) and machine-generated data in their environments. HSP offers a software-defined architecture to centralize and support easy storing and processing of these large datasets with high availability, simplified management and a pay-as-you-grow model. Delivered as a fully configured, turnkey appliance, HSP takes hours instead of months to install and support production workloads, and simplifies creation of an elastic data lake that helps customers easily integrate disparate datasets and run advanced analytic workloads.

HSP’s scale-out architecture provides simplified, scalable and enterprise-ready infrastructure for big data. The architecture also includes a centralized, easy-to-use user interface to automate the deployment and management of virtualized environments for leading open source big data frameworks, including Apache Hadoop, Apache Spark, and commercial open source stacks like the Hortonworks Data Platform (HDP).

“Many enterprises don’t possess the internal expertise to perform big data analytics at scale with complex data sources in production environments. Most want to avoid the pitfalls of experimentation with still-nascent technologies, seeking a clear path to deriving real value from their data without the risk and complexity,” said Nik Rouda, Senior Analyst at Enterprise Strategy Group (ESG). “Enterprise customers stand to benefit from turnkey systems like the Hitachi Hyper Scale-Out Platform, which address primary adoption barriers to big data deployments by delivering faster time to insight and value, accelerating the path to digital transformation”

The next-generation HSP system now offers native integration with Pentaho Enterprise Platform to give customers complete control of the analytic data pipeline and enterprise-grade features such as big data lineage, lifecycle management and enhanced information security. The powerful combination of technologies in the next-generation HSP appliance was designed to accelerate time to business insight and deliver rapid return on investment (ROI), while simplifying the integration of information technology (IT) and operational technology (OT)—a strategic imperative for modern, data-driven enterprises.

“Modern enterprises must merge their IT and OT environments to extend the value of their investments. HSP is a perfect solution to accelerate and simplify IT/OT integration and increase the time to insight and business value of their big data deployments,” said James Dixon, chief technology officer at Pentaho. “The HSP-Pentaho appliance gives customers an affordable, enterprise-class option to unify all their disparate datasets and workloads—including legacy applications and data warehouses—via a modern, scalable and hyper-converged platform that eliminates complexity. We’re pleased to be working with HDS to deliver a simplified, all-in-the-box solution that combines compute, analytics and data management functions in a plug-and-play, future-ready architecture. The Hitachi Hyper Scale-Out Platform 400 is a great first-step in simplifying the entire analytic process.”

With HSP, Hitachi continues to deliver on the promise of the software-defined datacenter to simplify the delivery of IT services through greater abstraction of infrastructure, and improved data access and automation. While its initial focus is on big data analytics use cases, the company’s long-term direction for HSP is to deliver best-in-class total cost of ownership (TCO) for a variety of IT workloads. Hitachi will offer HSP in two configurations to support a broad range of enterprise applications and performance requirements: Serial Attached SCSI (SAS) disk drives, generally available now, and all-flash, expected to ship in mid-2016.

“We consistently hear from our enterprise customers that data silos and complexity are major pain points—and this only gets worse in their scale-out and big data deployments. We have solved these problems for our customers for years, but we are now applying that expertise in a new architecture with Hitachi Hyper Scale-Out Platform,” said Sean Moser, senior vice president, global portfolio and product management at Hitachi Data Systems. “Our HSP appliance gives them a cloud and IoT-ready infrastructure for big data deployments, and a pay-as-you-go model that scales with business growth. Seamless integration with the Pentaho Platform will help them put their IT and OT data to work—faster. This is only the first of many synergistic solutions you can expect to see from Hitachi and Pentaho. Together, we are making it easy for our enterprise customers to maximize the value of their IT and OT investments and accelerate their path to digital transformation.”

Rugby Union Matches to Over 100 Countries Now Delivered by Tata Communications

Tata Communications, a leading provider of A New World of Communications, today announces that it will be the Official Broadcast Partner as the top rugby union teams of the Northern and Southern Hemispheres clash in three matches in France and Hong Kong. This builds on Tata Communications’ expertise in live sports broadcasting and content delivery – the company is also the Official Connectivity Provider of Formula 1.

The video feeds of the three matches will be distributed live in high-definition to broadcasters, including Setanta Sports, Eurosport Australia and l'Equipe 21, using Tata Communications’ Video Connect service. Video Connect enables broadcasters to deliver live video feeds from anywhere in the world over Tata Communications’ IP network, with connectivity to over 240 countries and territories. Underpinned by the world’s largest wholly-owned subsea fibre network, it ensures a seamless, high-quality viewing experience for sports fans.

“Up to 20 million rugby fans across 100 countries are expected to tune in for these games, featuring some of the biggest names in the sport, so there is no room for error,” says Brian Morris, Vice President & General Manager, Global Media and Entertainment services, Tata Communications. “In the same way as we harness our superfast fibre network to enable F1 to reach its fans worldwide, regardless of race location, we will use our sports broadcasting and content delivery expertise to bring these historic rugby matches to people’s living rooms.”

In the first match, taking place on February 5th in Toulon, France, the reigning European champions RC Toulon will face The Sharks from South Africa, one of the top teams in the Super Rugby, the pre-eminent professional rugby union competition in the Southern Hemisphere. 

The second match, taking place in Hong Kong on February 6th, will be a clash between five-time French champions Racing 92, and the reigning Super Rugby champions, New Zealand’s Highlanders. This match will see Dan Carter, World Rugby Player of the Year and one of the greatest fly-halfs of all time, lead his new French side against a squad that includes six All Blacks players, as they battle it out for the 2016 Natixis Cup.

In the third match, taking place on February 11th in Toulouse, France, The Sharks will face Stade Toulousain, 19-time French champions and an institution of European rugby, with the winning side taking home the Hemispheres Cup.

“There are 10,000 kilometres and several time zones between the match locations, so we need a partner with the reach and capability in both Europe and Asia to distribute these matches internationally, says Phillipe Spanghero, Director of SL Events, which organises the matches. “Working with Tata Communications will enable us to deliver a brilliant viewing experience for fans, as the best teams of the Northern and Southern Hemispheres battle it out on the pitch.”

Risks of Cancer Can Be Reduced With Very Simple Lifestyle

According to WHO, Cancers is among the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide, with approximately 14 million new cases and 8.2 million cancer related deaths in 2012. The number of new cases is expected to rise by about 70% over the next 2 decades.

Around one third of cancer deaths are due to the 5 leading behavioral and dietary risks, namely, high body mass index, low fruit and vegetable intake, lack of physical activity, tobacco use, alcohol use. Tobacco use is the most important risk factor for cancer causing around 20% of global cancer deaths and around 70% of global lung cancer deaths.

“Unhealthy lifestyle habits can play a major role in the development of cancer. Contrary to popular belief, cancer is not inevitable. A person has more control over the disease than they might think. A simple change in lifestyle can go a long way in preventing cancers,” said Dr. Neelesh Reddy, Consultant Medical Oncologist, Columbia Asia Hospitals.

While some factors are beyond our control, here are a few healthy lifestyle habits by Dr. Neelesh that can help lower cancer risk.

Avoid smoking or exposure to smoke

The most important lifestyle choice you can make to cut down your cancer risk by half is to quit smoking. Smoking is responsible for not only lung cancer, but many other types as well. Not exposing yourself to second–hand smoke is also another way to prevent cancer.

Practice sun safety

By simply using a good sunscreen throughout the day is enough to reduce your risk of skin cancer drastically. Avoid exposure to UV rays as much as possible, by avoiding the mid-day sun and wearing protective clothing when outdoors.

Include fruits and veggies into your diet

A well balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables that contain antioxidants, can help repair damaged cells. Green, orange and yellow fruits and vegetables contain the highest amount of antioxidants and are a great way to prevent cancer.

Think before you drink

Studies suggest that men who consume two alcoholic drinks per day and women who have one alcoholic drink per day significantly increase their risk factors for certain type of cancers.

Exercise for cancer prevention

It is suggested that a person must exercise for at least 30 minutes a day, for at least 5 days a week. Apart from burning away those extra calories, it also boosts a person’s morale by releasing endorphins, the feel good hormone.

Drink water

Swap sugary drinks like cola or lemonade for water or unsweetened tea or coffee to help reduce your weight, and thus your cancer risk.

Know your risk factors at your work place

There are certain chemicals that are carcinogenic in nature. Constant exposure to these chemicals can increase your risk of developing cancer. Fumes, dust, chemicals like diesel exhaust, arsenic, beryllium, vinyl chloride, nickel chromates, coal products, mustard gas, and chloromethyl ethers are all carcinogens and can be found in some work environments. If you are exposed to any of these chemicals be sure to talk to your doctor about how you can stay safe.

Get annual health check ups

Screening for cancer and getting an annual health check-up helps in not only catching the disease early but also may help in preventing various other lifestyle diseases. Screening tests like a colonoscopy and Pap smear can detect abnormal cellular changes before they turn cancerous, but they are only effective if done regularly.

Karnataka’s Natural Advantage Will Help State Grow by 2-3% Over India’s GDP, Says Arun Jaitley

A global investors meet (GIM) has kick-off in Bengaluru on Wednesday with the Congress government in the state hoping to pull in more industrial investments as against the earlier two editions of Karnataka GIMs. At the inauguration function, Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley called for Centre-State coordination for attracting global investment. FM Arun Jaitley expects Karnataka to surpass the national growth rate, saying it has the potential to grow at least 2-3 per cent ahead of India's GDP. 

Speaking after inaugurating the global investors' meet 'Invest Karnataka-2016', Jaitley said: ".Karnataka has a natural advantage, first-grade human resource and the natural technology inclination of entrepreneurs and so I would Karnataka to grow at least 2-3 per cent ahead of India's GDP." 

''India has caught the attention of investors across the World. Now it is time we respond in one voice and the Centre and State governments live up to their expectations,'' he adds.

The Siddaramaiah government is looking to garner upwards of Rs three lakh crore of investment from this Investors' meet which was organised in a very planned way by the Congress government in Karnataka.

The previous editions, in 2010 and 2012, claimed of attracting nearly Rs 4 lakh crore worth of investments through almost 400 projects while actually delivering only around 75 which were worth less than Rs 1 lakh crore. Major investment hopes, especially in the steel sector, that arose following the signing of MoUs with companies like Arcelor Mittal and South Korean steel giants Posco have fizzled out over the years due to various problems.

“We are expecting to attract double the investment received so far,’’ chief minister Siddaramaiah said. Karnataka would by 2018 achieve 12 per cent industrial growth, Rs 5 lakh crore investment and will generate 15 lakh jobs, he said. Over 100 top global and Indian business leaders are expected to take part in the meet.

The government is trying to promote small cities and towns as preferred investment destinations. It has formulated various schemes to pitch in large-scale investments in Hubballi-Dharwad and Yadgir districts, among others. To ensure a free and easy business environment, the government has introduced and amended various policies in the State. For example, it launched the Startup Policy, New Industrial Policy, amendments to the Textile Policy, amendments to the Land Reform Act and single window clearances, among others.

As per data available about the 275 projects proposed during the 2010 investors' meet, only 58 were implemented, 116 under implementation, and 101 dropped. In the 2012 meet, 209 projects were proposed, 28 implemented, 104 under implementation, and 77 dropped.

The Industries Department has already identified key areas such as infrastructure, power, information technology, agriculture, and biotechnology as potential opportunities for investors to invest. The government has also created a land bank of 26,268 acres for industries to set shops say reports.

“Over the years Invest Karnataka has come to signify successful partnerships and comprehensive and sustained developments. In this edition too we call upon visionary leaders and global corporations to explore opportunities in Karnataka. The three day event will include focused sectoral, theme and partner country seminars and will attract domestic and global stakeholders” adds Siddaramaiah.

New Campus for Wipro in Karnataka for 25,000 Employees

Wipro is planning to set up a new campus in Karnataka, which has the capacity to house 25,000 employees.

Addressing the gathering at Invest Karnataka 2016, the chairman of Wipro Azim Premji said that the company is in the midst of a major expansion, which includes expansion across all of Wipro’s businesses – from soap to software.

All of its businesses are headquartered in Karnataka, which include IT business, consumer care, aerospace and Wipro GE health care systems.” Karnataka is a very hospitable and a very progressive state to investors,” said Premji.

Premji, while lauding the availability of technical talent, strong science background, nice weather and cosmopolitan culture, expressed that the government needs to solve the infrastructural constraints, by investing more in this area.