BT & CIOs Together Work to Achieve the Digital Transformation

BT has announced the launch of “The Digital Possible”, a global initiative aimed at empowering CIOs to better embrace ambitious digital transformation agendas for large services, building on insight from its most recent research, “The BT CIO report 2016 – the digital CIO”.

According to BT’s survey of 1030 senior IT decision makers based in eleven countries, CIOs around the world are embracing digital transformation to reinvent their organisations’ processes and systems. The impact of digital is such that the importance of the CIO at boardroom level continues to rise; 72 per cent of senior IT decision makers say that the CIO has become more central in the boardroom over the last two years and 43 per cent of CIOs say that they now spend more time dealing with corporate issues.

The flip side of this trend is that CIOs find themselves increasingly challenged to find the time to develop creative solutions for the business. Close to two-thirds (61 per cent) of senior IT decision makers feel that the CIO is spending more time maintaining current IT systems than searching for new solutions. That is a drop from 2014, when the figure was 74 per cent, but shows that despite ambitions for digital transformation, the CIO still has to deal with legacy systems.

The BT CIO report 2016 also shows that CIOs are clear on the most disruptive technology trends – cloud, mobility and collaboration, and data. According to the report, a fifth of global organisations are already completely cloud-centric, and a further 46 per cent have more than half their applications and infrastructure in the cloud.

With the CIO acting as a catalyst, 76 per cent of large organisations across the world have, or plan to adopt, a ‘multi-speed’ approach to technology-led initiatives. This involves more creativity, more flexibility and a more dynamic operating model. According to BT’s research, 65 per cent of CIOs are also noting rapid changes in the KPIs measuring their own performance, with a clear trend putting digital transformation at the centre of all their activities.

In 72 per cent of organisations covered by BT’s latest research, multiple teams are sourcing and commissioning core IT products and services without the involvement of the IT function. The latest research suggests that the IT function is growing more comfortable with providing an overall enablement role, with a particular focus on data security, a suitably powerful infrastructure and ensuring there are no duplications of effort across the organisation. These changing responsibilities underlie the new role of the digital CIO which operates horizontally, across the business as an enabler.

Responding to digital transformation’s remarkable acceleration, BT will announce in the coming weeks and months a new wave of innovative services, accelerating the execution of its Cloud of Clouds portfolio strategy. They will cover the technologies identified by the BT CIO report 2016 as being the most disruptive: cloud, mobility and collaboration, and data.

These new launches will cover all areas of the Global Services portfolio, and include:

·         UK and global mobility services leveraging BT’s recent acquisition of EE;

·         unique real time big data analysis capabilities put to the service of customer relationship management;

·         further expansion of cloud connectivity as well as additional software defined networks and consultancy capabilities;

·         new ways of customising cloud services to meet the needs of individual organisations and industry sectors;

·         new security and professional services capabilities will accompany those investments, empowering CIOs to make the bold decisions required on their digital journey.

“The pace of digital change is creating new opportunities for our customers and those opportunities require quick responses. The role of the digital CIO is one of the most demanding in business. They need to be strategic, creative, growth-minded and cost conscious,” says Luis Alvarez, CEO of Global Services. “They have to understand technology and people, and balance control and safety with enablement and speed. They are becoming the pioneers of change. To be successful, they now require strategic partnerships within and beyond their organisation. We are well placed to be their digital enabler. Today, we are committing to accelerate investments in our Cloud of Clouds portfolio to help them fully uncover and realise their own ‘Digital Possible’.”

73% Indians View Entrepreneurship Positively: Amway India Entrepreneurship Report 2015

Union Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (Independent Charge), Rajiv Pratap Rudy released the India Entrepreneurship Report 2015 by Amway. The reports aims to understand the latent enthusiasm for entrepreneurship in the country, as well as factors that motivate and obstruct the creation of new enterprises.

Research partner Nielsen India surveyed 250 households in each of the 21 states across 50 different cities. One male and one female member in the 21-65 age group were interviewed from each household taking the total no of respondents to 10,768 individuals (Male 5,402 and Female 5,366).

Unveiling the report, Rajiv Pratap Rudy, said, “The contribution of MSME sector (Micro, Small and medium enterprises) in India, is much less as compared to some of the developed nations. This needs to change. It is critical that there is entrepreneurship led boom at the grass root level so that India can leverage the demographic dividend to the maximum possible extent. The understanding of motivations, attitudes towards entrepreneurship, offers valuable insight to the policy makers.”

Anshu Budhraja, CEO, Amway India, said, “We are aiming to engage different stakeholders on what drives entrepreneurship in India and contribute to the on-going discussions on the role of skill development and self-employment in improving employability of the youth.

Entrepreneurship is a way for people to realise a better life for themselves and their families. Entrepreneurs also create jobs and encourage competition. They spur economic growth and bring opportunities to communities. So, it’s important that businesses like Amway know how entrepreneurs think and act in order to better support and encourage them.”

Two-Thirds of Indians view entrepreneurship positively

Entrepreneurship is valued in India. India Entrepreneurship Report 2015 reports tangible enthusiasm for entrepreneurship as being a good prospect to earn a livelihood in India, with nearly two-thirds of the respondents viewing it favourably. Kerala (78 percent), Punjab (77 percent) and Uttarakhand (76 percent) were the states with most positive attitude towards entrepreneurship.

 Access to finance (41 percent) and Family support (35 percent) emerged as the most important factors to start one’s own business. 73 percent of the respondents believe that anyone can be trained/ educated to be an entrepreneur. 62 percent of all respondents thought that the education they had right now was sufficient to start their own business.

Nearly 50% of respondents considering to start their own business

Almost one in two respondents (47 percent), said that they had either thought about starting their own business or are actively pursuing one. Overall, 19 percent of respondents said that they are “very open to starting a new business and in fact are actively pursuing one”. Jharkhand has the highest number of respondents (60 percent) who say that they are actively pursuing a new business, followed by Uttarakhand (40 percent) and Uttar Pradesh (29 percent).

Environment for entrepreneurs to start business in India has improved

Nearly half of all respondents (45 percent) said the environment to begin a business in their state has improved over the past five years. 11 percent of the respondents felt that the environment has ‘improved significantly’.

Financial institutions play a key role

83 percent respondents voted banks as their main port of call for starting a business. This insight clearly point to the role of financial institutions in fostering and facilitating entrepreneurship. Friends and family came second on this index with 78 percent.

Fear of Failure

Across gender, income and age, the fear of failure emerges as a clear obstacle to starting a business with 63 percent of the overall respondents saying so. The fear of failure is composed of different factors. 31 percent of respondents found “financial burdens up to bankruptcy” as the “most important” cause for the fear. Non-conducive market conditions (24 percent) and fear of unemployment (23 percent) were the other key causes of the fear.

LeEco Seeks FIPB Nod for Single-Brand Retail Stores in India

Chinese device maker LeEco today said it has filed an application with the FIPB for opening single-brand retail stores to sell its electronic products.

The smartphone maker said it has “filed an application with the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) for undertaking single brand retail trading of electronic products both through brick and mortar stores and ecommerce portal”.

“India is a key market for LeEco and we plan to significantly invest in setting up our business model in the country. We have received a great response from consumers so far for our superphones and now plan to strengthen our presence in the market by opening our own stores and e- commerce portal,” LeEco India Smart Electronics Business COO Atul Jain said in a statement.

The company has also sought relaxation from the 30 per cent domestic sourcing rule so that it can bring in ‘cutting edge’ technology and ‘state-of-the-art’ features to the Indian consumers, the company said in a statement.

With plans to open fully-owned exclusive retail stores in top 8-10 cities, starting with New Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, LeEco plans to display its entire ecosystem ranging from phones, TVs, VR Headsets, Bluetooth devices and power banks.

Additionally, the company will also open 500 franchise stores to ensure its consumers experience their breakthrough products and unique content integrated offerings across its device ecosystem.

LeEco, which positions itself as internet eco-system company, entered the Indian market early this year in January, with launch of smart cycle and two smartphone models – Le 1s and Le Max. It sold the two smartphones at subsidised rates.

“We at LeEco are also aligned with the government’s ‘Make in India’ initiative and also plan to start manufacturing in India very soon,” Jain said.

Earlier this month, the global player also announced setting up of in-house Content Delivery Networks (CDNs) in 10 cities across India by the end of 2016, with an investment of over US$10 million.

LeEco also has plans to set-up research centre in Bengaluru with a staff of 1,000 employees by the end of 2016.

AmazonBusiness.in is Wholesaler for Patanjali Ayurved Products in Bengaluru & Mangaluru

Amazonbusiness.in, the wholesale online business-to-business platform from Amazon has announced the availability of a wide range of products from Patanjali Ayurved to its members in Bengaluru and Mangaluru. Retailers from the two cities will now be able to order for their preferred Patanjali products at any time of the day and get door-step deliveries through Amazon’s reliable delivery service. Patanjali Ayurved currently sells a wide variety of products from Food & Beverages to Health & Personal care and all products listed on AmazonBusiness.in will be easily accessible to retailers in Bengaluru and Mangaluru.

Commenting on the association with Patanjali Ayurved, Kaveesh Chawla, General Manager, AmazonBusiness.in said, “We are happy to partner with Patanjali Ayurved for their products. We expect this partnership to benefit retailers in Bengaluru and Mangaluru tremendously. We also believe that this partnership will immensely benefit Patanjali by helping them reach out to a larger set of retailers who have seen demand for the Patanjali products but may not have been able to access these products easily through the existing distribution channels.”

 "On announcing this exclusive partnership, Adiya Pittie, CEO of Pittie Group, the modern retail distributors for Patanjali said, "We are extremely happy to partner with Amazon business. Keeping in mind Patanjali's mission of providing quality products to every consumer, this partnership will enable our products to reach a larger customer base."

In less than a year since launch, AmazonBusiness.in now carries thousands of branded products across the following categories- Office Products and Stationery, Cleaning and Housekeeping Supplies, Bed and Bath, Kitchen and Dining, Health and Personal Care, and Food and Beverages, serving businesses in Bengaluru and Mangaluru. Members can order from anywhere at any time of the day, pay via multiple payment options provided by Amazon and have the products delivered to their doorstep.

Five Unique Features Drives Tata Motors Hatchback - Tiago in India

By Manu Sharma

With the launch of the Tiago, Tata Motors has moved away from the old Indica design theme to something more functional. It has incorporated some dynamic features usually associated with high-end vehicles. Some of these features include: Multi-drive mode; Advanced Engine Management System (EMS); Advanced 9^th Generation ABS and Corner Stability Control; Rear Parking Sensors and Harman Infotainment System among others.

Tata Motors has announced the commercial launch of its cool new hatchback, the TIAGO in Bangalore on April 18, 2016. It comes with cutting edge design, technology and driving dynamics to create new segment benchmarks in the industry. Some of the unique features include:

Design and Interiors: With inputs from the Pune, UK and Italy design studios, the TIAGO’s appealing exterior design has a dynamic silhouette to emphasize the compact look and sharp design. The new 3-dimensional ‘T’ Logo is placed in a semi vertical position on the signature hexagon grill, giving it a bold, expressive face with a confident, agile stance. TIAGO’s interiors have been crafted with utmost precision for a premium feel. The geometric texture accented with chrome handles, knitted fabrics, colour harmony, layered design theme with a dual tone interior, customisable air vents, premium graphics on the fabric and body hugging seat bolsters all give it an upmarket, inviting feel.

Multi Drive Mode: The stylish design is complemented by enhanced performance and driving dynamics. The TIAGO will be available in petrol and diesel variants with two new engines - Revotron 1.2L (petrol engine) and Revotorq 1.05L (diesel engine). These have been indigenously developed by the company and globally benchmarked for a refined road performance. Both these engines have been designed and programmed to deliver superior fuel economy and a peppy driving experience with a segment-first feature, the Multi-drive mode – City and Eco – making it equivalent to offering two engines in one.

Safety and Other Features: The two drive modes are supported by an advanced Engine Management System (EMS). Tiago’s many safety features include dual front airbags, advance 9^th generation ABS with EBD and corner stability control, rear parking sensors with display on infotainment screen and energy absorbing body structure for superior safety.

Infotainment: Recognising the dynamic consumer world with increasing need for connectivity, TIAGO comes equipped with an infotainment system designed exclusively by Harman. The car comes with new segment-first applications like the Turn-by-Turn Navi app and the Juke-Car app.

Pricing: At a starting price of Rs 3.32 Lakhs, ex-showroom, Bangalore, for the Revotron 1.2L (petrol) variants to Rs 4.89 lakh and Rs 4.08 Lakhs to Rs 5.69 lakh, ex-showroom, Bangalore, for the Revotorq 1.05L (diesel) variants, the TIAGO will be available for sale, across the country in over 597 Tata Motors sales outlets, from April 18, 2016.  

Customer Services: Tata Motors will also take its customer service engagements to the next level with the launch of Tata Motors/Service Connect, a new customer application for TIAGO customers, to make the post-purchase experience easy and stay connected with them at all times for a hassle-free service experience. Besides providing free pick-up and drop service, Tata Motors Service will also offer loaner cars for repair services if it requires the car to be at workshop overnight.  

  

Variants and Colours: Available in 5 dynamic variants – XB, XE, XM, XT and XZ with optional variants in XE, XM and XT and comes in six exciting colour options - Striker Blue, Berry Red, Sunburst Orange, Espresso Brown, Pearlescent White and Platinum Silver.

Warranty: The car will come with a warranty of 2 Years / 75,000 KM (whichever is earlier) with an extended warranty option of 2 years + 1 year (3rd year extended warranty up to 75,000km) or 2 years + 2 years (3rd and 4th year extended warranty up to 1,00,000 kms).

Guenter Butschek, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Tata Motors, said, “The TIAGO reflects our passion and commitment to bring exciting, technology driven cars into the market. Class leading features, advanced driving dynamics, outstanding fuel efficiency, offers a great value for a contemporary, young car.”  

According to Mayank Pareek, President, Passenger Vehicles Business Unit, Tata Motors, said, “The TIAGO is the first car to be launched under our Made Of Great campaign and the first to embody our new IMAPCT Design language. This globally benchmarked car, represents the next big leap in our transformation journey.. We are confident that TIAGO’s strong and distinct character will make it stand out in this highly popular but immensely competitive segment.”

Infosys Finacle Bags Asia Green Development Bank in Myanmar to Provide a Next-Gen Banking Experience to Customers

Infosys Finacle, part of EdgeVerve Systems, the product subsidiary of Infosys and Asia Green Development (AGD) Bank, a leading bank in Myanmar, announced the bank’s decision to adopt the Finacle Core Banking, Internet Banking, Mobile Banking, and financial ecosystem solutions. These would provide its customers a next-generation banking experience by enabling seamless transactions, regardless of the channel, the location and the time. Powered by the Finacle suite of solutions, AGD Bank aims to expand its client base, while significantly enhancing productivity and profitability.

 Highlights:

* The Finacle platform will enable a transformational change at the bank by eliminating various manual processes, enhancing productivity, reducing errors, and ensuring 24X7 operations. This will further strengthen the bank’s position vis-à-vis its peers

* Finacle will also help the bank overcome the challenges associated with a legacy distributed system, which made it impossible to review clients’ holdings in a consolidated manner. The new implementation will provide the bank a 360-degree view of customer relationships and transactions

* The built-in analytics capability will help the bank understand customer preferences better and thereby offer personalized products and services

* Finacle’s proven scalability will allow AGD Bank to seamlessly and easily expand scale of operations with growth

Andy Dey, President - Customer and Operations, EdgeVerve says, "The banking industry in Myanmar is witnessing a renewed growth and banks are showing a strong appetite for expansion. A modern banking technology platform is critical to drive growth for Myanmar banks at this stage. With the Finacle suite of solutions, AGD Bank will be able to integrate various channels, effortlessly develop and launch new offerings, create new lines of revenue, and work with greater efficiencies, which is in line with the bank’s long-term growth.”

Htoo Htet Tay Za, Managing Director, Asia Green Development Bank said, “At Asia Green Development Bank, our endeavor is to help our clients fulfill their needs by delivering an excellent banking experience. We believe that the adoption of the Finacle family of solutions will support us in achieving our goal of delivering just that.” 

MasterCard & Singapore Tourism Board Team Up for Priceless Surprises to Indian Vacationers in Singapore

MasterCard and Singapore Tourism Board (STB) announced a new campaign recently to entice Indian visitors traveling to Singapore. The initiative was launched through a new digital campaign #FulfilAPromise featuring Indian actors’ father-daughter duo Anil Kapoor and Sonam Kapoor.

The MasterCard and STB cross-border campaign offers a chance to fulfil the promise of a holiday to your family by winning a grand prize of a trip for a family of four to Singapore.

With this collaboration, MasterCard and Singapore Tourism Board will target Indian travelers exploring international destinations for their annual vacations and promote Singapore as a preferred travel destination this Holiday season.

“With summer vacations on the anvil, consumers in India get ready for the upcoming holiday-travel season. We wanted to bring the best of experiences and delight for our cardholders that truly money cannot buy. Experiences like such can be shared and enjoyed with people who matter to you,” said Parag Bhatnagar, Vice President, Marketing, South Asia, MasterCard. “We are excited to strengthen our partnership with the Singapore Tourism Board to enhance the Priceless experience for visitors to Singapore. Through the campaign and Priceless Surprises, cardholders will stand a chance to win a grand prize vacation in Singapore to fulfil the promises they have made to their loved ones and create memories that will last a lifetime.”

The recent MasterCard Asia Pacific Destinations Index (APDI) revealed that Asia Pacific cities have increasingly dominated as the fastest growing and most visited destinations in the world. Singapore was ranked the second top destination by arrival in Asia Pacific in terms of arrivals, total night stayed and in total expenditure. With Priceless Singapore, MasterCard aims to surprise and delight its Indian cardholders with exclusive experiences and privileged access, designed to be shared and enjoyed with the people who matter to them. MasterCard’s Priceless Singapore will connect people with their passions –shopping, travel, food and entertainment – and gives select access to a collection of exceptional experiences across the city.

“India is an important growth market for us. Having seen a steady increase in tourist numbers from India over the last decade, we crossed the million mark in terms of Indian visitor arrivals in 2015. We want to continue to make every trip to Singapore a memorable one, and are excited to partner with MasterCard to provide exclusive privileges to Indian travelers to enhance the Singapore experience,” said Chang Chee Pey, Executive Director, Singapore Tourism Board.

As part of the campaign, MasterCard invited its cardholders to submit entries on the MasterCard India and/or Singapore Tourism Board Facebook page by sharing their stories on the promises they have made to their families and how they would like to fulfill these promises in Singapore. The campaign will be held till May 6, 2016. One grand prize winner of the campaign will get a curated stay experience in Singapore and 10 minor reward winners will be awarded with a three night’s getaway in Singapore. The minor rewards will be announced for every week of the campaign period and a grand prize winner will be announced in the second week of May 2016.

Echoing his thoughts, Anil Kapoor, Actor and Producer said “I am delighted to be a part of the campaign as it easily captures the struggle of working parents and their responsibilities towards their families. The campaign is a gentle reminder to all the parents who are busy with their work life and are unable to keep up their promises they make to their families.”

“As a kid, I remember how disappointed I felt when a much awaited vacation was cancelled due to my father’s busy schedule. The campaign will make the working parents realise that before it’s too late and you regret what you have missed with your family, it’s time to make each moment count and fulfil the promises you have made to the people you love.” said,  Sonam Kapoor, Actress and Anil Kapoor’s daughter.