VLCC Partners PeopleStrong for IT for Best HR Management Systems

VLCC, the leading wellness and healthcare company had partnered with the leading HR solutions and technology provider, PeopleStrong, to equip the entire organization with a dynamic and holistic technology solution for its employees.

While VLCC’s employees’ will get access to India’s first comprehensive HR mobile APP (Alt Worklife by PeopleStrong) that promises to help people to simplify their work life, the decision to bring technological solutions was taken in cognizance of the overall convenience of its agile  employees who are geographically spread in a transparent and systematic manner.

Deployed within in a span of only four weeks using PeopleStrong Alt’s pre-configured app environment, VLCC is an early adopter in the wellness and beauty sector to have implemented SaaS HR solutions to harness 360 degree HR information system encompassing, employee leaves, attendance, business related expenses, performance management and on-boarding, among other functionalities.

People engagement is core to VLCC’s journey of transformation and as they become increasingly integrated with the global economy, adoption of digitization will not only accelerate this journey but will also help VLCC make their programs more impactful. Direct connect with employees from 39 nationalities, spread across 13 countries and strengthen the culture of empowerment through information access ‘on the go’ which will improve productivity while simultaneously keeping the employees happy and reducing attrition.

Commenting on the implementation, Paramjit Singh Nayyar, Global CHRO, VLCC said “The process of digitization within the organization will keep employee experience at the core of the company. This is truly a milestone for us as we are determined to empower our people and transform the way we experience work. We have chosen PeopleStrong as an HR technology partner to automate the entire employee life cycle in the first phase and we would be soon be automating the entire gamut of HR processes and take employee experience to the next level.”

Kiran Kumar, Chief Sales Officer, PeopleStrong said, “It is exciting to see HR and HR Tech focus amongst corporates, especially from non-traditional industries like Wellness and Beauty.  VLCC is going to create an amazing success story of employee experience in the sector and we are extremely happy to partner with them. HR and the adoption mobile based app is a growing trend in mature markets like US and Europe, but the India story is still shaping up. And we are extremely happy to partner with VLCC as we rarely see focus on HR and invocative HR from non-traditional industries like Wellness and Beauty.”

New State-of-the-Art ARRIS R&D Center Now Comes Up in Bengaluru

New global R&D and Operations Center is ARRIS’s largest single-site facility outside of the US, focused on innovating and delivering the industry’s leading portfolio of broadband and video technology

ARRIS International plc has opened its largest Research and Development (R&D) and operations center outside of the US – in Ulsoor, Bengaluru. The state-of-the-art facility hosts a combination of world-class engineers from two former ARRIS and Pace sites following ARRIS’s January 2016 acquisition of Pace. The center promotes collaboration and the efficient development of advanced broadband and video solutions for the next generation of services - including Gigabit broadband, 4K TV, and Wi-Fi.

The new, multi-million dollar Bengaluru center represents a strategic investment in high-value IP creation. With cutting-edge lab infrastructure, advanced test facilities, and 24*7 support for installation activities at customer premises globally, the center provides leading design, development, and quality assurance programs across the vast majority of ARRIS global solutions.

“Our world-class Bengaluru facility is at the center of ARRIS’s global initiative to innovate and scale the technology that will transform how people around the world watch video and connect to the Internet,” said Bob Stanzione, Executive Chairman and Chairman of the Board of Directors. “This center unites two premier groups of engineers and empowers them with the resources to deliver the next era of innovation for our customers worldwide.” 

Kiran Gadi, Country Head and VP, Engineering, ARRIS India, added: “The Bengaluru RandD center represents ARRIS’s commitment to the region, to collaboration across our talented engineering teams, and to our global customers. Together, we’re positioning ARRIS and its customers for the next stage of growth.”

Samsung Innovation Awards 2016 Helps Pursue Big Ideas for Young Innovators

Samsung India conducted the 6th annual edition of Samsung Innovation Awards 2016 at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Bombay. Samsung Innovation Awards aim to recognize and reward innovations that have the potential to revolutionize everyday living and enable students to take their ideas to the next level.

The first prize went to the team comprising Shalaka Kulkarni, Umang Chhaparia and Mustafa Lokhandwala. Their work was on road quality measurement, monitoring and mapping solution.

Javed Shaikh won the second prize for proposing new materials to cool electronic equipment. The duo Ritesh Saurabh and Kumar Pratik won the third prize for designing smart trash cans to expedite and optimize garbage collection. The top three winners were given away prizes worth Rs 3.5 lakhs.

The awards were presented by Aloknath De, Chief Technology Officer, Samsung RnD Institute, India - Bangalore.

Samsung Innovation Awards 2016 saw an overwhelming response, with five teams getting an opportunity to present their ideas to the jury comprising. Aloknath De; Debjani Paul and Prof. Swaroop Ganguly, from IIT-Bombay.  The other finalists received merit prizes of INR 40,000. Samsung R&D Institute - Bangalore will engage with the award winners to further develop their innovations.

Speaking on the occasion,  Aloknath De, Chief Technology Officer, Samsung R&D Institute, India - Bangalore, said, “This platform is to encourage students to conceptualize and build innovative solutions in emerging topics of artificial intelligence, convergence, computer vision and sensor-based solutions. It is heartening to see entrepreneurial and multi-disciplinary approach adopted by young innovators. This is very much in line with Samsung India's mission to foster meaningful innovations at every level of research-to-market journey.”

Path-breaking innovations were showcased at the competition. The innovative product ideas and solutions presented were across themes including advanced materials, applications of intelligent solutions in smart spaces/cities and assistive technologies for health.

Prof. Soumyo Mukherji, Dean of Student Affairs, IIT-Bombay, said, “This collaboration between Samsung and IIT-B to identify and encourage young innovators will go a long way towards developing the critically required talent pool in India, which will be invaluable in years to come.”

The 2016 edition of the Samsung Innovation Awards was initiated at IIT-Bombay campus three months ago, through an open entry, where students submitted their innovative ideas. The shortlisting process was led by professors from IIT-Bombay and the SRI-B team, which also selected the finalists. The final teams presented their ideas to the jury at the IIT-Bombay campus. The winning project was selected based on the degree of innovation, feasibility, usability, relevance and overall impact on masses.

Conceptualised in 2011, the Samsung Innovation Awards seek to support and encourage young talent who have an innovative approach and look to improvise different systems and processes. Further, it aims to develop indigenous products and services for fulfilling mass needs thereby transforming lives and creating sustainable solutions for the benefit of the society at large.

Over the years, Samsung Innovation Awards have become one of the most eagerly awaited ideation contests at IIT’s due to enthusiastic participation from the student community. Samsung continues to provide the next generation of Indian innovators and entrepreneurs an avenue to showcase and advance their engineering skill sets.

Best Tech Startup Award at TiE-ISB Connect 2016 for Sugar Maths

Sugar Maths, a Hyderabad based Startup, announced that it has been adjudged as the Best Technology Startup at the TiE-ISB Connect 2016 held in Hyderabad.  ‘Sugar Maths’ with its innovative approach of using gamification to make Maths appealing, is an Advanced Mental Maths Program for students of classes 1 to 10. It covers complete maths topics across CBSE, ICSE, State Boards and international curricula like IB/IGCSE. ‘Sugar Maths’ is a platform designed on proprietary Variable Keystone Active Space Technique (vKast). The "Sugar Maths" Mental Maths Program is based on the latest research in Neuroscience of learning and Psychology of motivation.

Commenting on receiving the award Neeraj Jewalkar, Founder of Sugar Maths said, “We are delighted to receive this coveted award for best use of technology for Sugar Maths. We have developed a proprietary methodology called Variable Keystone Active Space Technique (vKast) to improve learning. vKast is the synthesis of the latest developments in how various regions of the brain function to help learning and memorization. This technique not only leverages the concepts of Crystallized and Fluid Intelligence but also incorporates deep insights based on the psychology of motivation. Sugar Maths aims to make students take more interest in Maths, develop mastery and have an overall positive approach to this very important subject not only in academic life but also for personal growth.”

Multi-sensory learning techniques have been incorporated for strong and lasting memory engrams. This ensures that the learning is retained for years without loss. Mnemonic techniques for instant memorization have been used as part of Maths Tricks. This aids quick internalization and recall of important mathematical concepts that provide a strong foundation for advanced Maths skills. All these exceptional features have been woven together in an extremely fun, engaging and addictive game format that has students addicted to this enriching App. Students are expected to stick to this 10 minute daily routine for the very best results.

Neeraj Jewalkar is the creator of vKast Methodology that powers ‘Sugar Maths’. He holds a degree in Aerospace Engineering from IIT Kharagpur. He has spent 7 years studying and analyzing the latest research in Neuroscience of learning and Psychology of Motivation. vKast has been developed based on the applications of this research on learning outcomes especially for school going children of classes 1 to 10.  

New Ethihad Airways Android Mobile App For Smartphones

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE, has extended its digital reach with the introduction of a new mobile application for Android smartphones, enabling guests to manage their journeys with even greater ease.

The new mobile app is simple and enjoyable to use, providing comprehensive trip management and giving guests the information they need in a way that suits them. Guests can now organise their journeys directly on the app, which includes booking flights, checking in for flights, securing a mobile boarding pass, checking flight status, or viewing their Etihad Guest miles balance. Additional key features include a simple flight search function, a credit card scanner for payments, a passport scan facility to check in, and improved flight seat maps.

Justin Warby, Vice President of Direct Sales for Etihad Airways, said: “This is a step forward in our innovation strategy to enable a convenient, more personalised digital travel experience.  Our guests are central to how we develop these services, and their feedback has been important in the creation of this latest app. Technological innovation will be vital in the development of our industry, and as a leading airline, we want to be able to provide services that make travel simple for everyone.”

The airline recently launched an iOS application for iPhones, and partnered with Abu Dhabi Airports to enable guests to navigate their way around Abu Dhabi International Airport using indoor maps. This was a first for the Middle East and there have been over 350,000 downloads from the App Store since it launched in April of this year. The app has also delivered over 25,000 bookings and 130,000 check ins.

Khawla Ali Albadi, Head of Technology and Innovation at Etihad Airways, said: “Following on from the success of the iOS app earlier in the year, we’ve been keen to ensure we’re offering a full range of services to smartphone users. As part of the ongoing investment in the fleet and the work being delivered throughout the travel group, we will continue to develop additional digital products for the benefit of our guests.”

The mobile app is one of many innovative solutions being developed across Etihad Airways as part of its Digital Guest Innovation strategy. The technology strategy is ensuring that Etihad Airways and its equity partner airlines embed world-class technologies to deliver a range of services and products that enhance the guest experience.

The new Etihad Airways app is available now to download via the Google Play Store. Etihad Airways guests will enjoy 10 per cent off flights by using promo code ‘ANDROID10’ and earn 250 miles, for every booking made through the mobile app before November 30, 2016. For full terms and conditions please visit etihad.com\mobileapp.

Call for Indo-Swiss Collaborative Research on Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation in the Himalayas

Under the Framework Agreement on Scientific and Technical Cooperation between the Government of India and the Government of Switzerland, the Department of Science and Technology (DST), in partnership with the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) is seeking joint proposals from universities and research institutions in India and Switzerland to conduct collaborative research in the field of glaciology and related areas in the Indian Himalayan Region.

The Indian Himalayan Region (IHR) suffers from a knowledge gap as a result of scarce data, limited research and monitoring networks and poor documentation. IHR can benefit and contribute to global knowledge and understanding for a comprehensive scientific consensus on climate change impacts, vulnerability and adaptation in the world’s mountain regions. The goal of this Indo-Swiss collaborative research is to enhance institutional and human capacities on climate science for adaptation to climate change in IHR and addressing major knowledge gaps in the region.

"The Himalayan ecosystem is extremely rich and diverse yet fragile. It is highly vulnerable and susceptible to the impacts and consequences of climate change on account of both natural causes and anthropogenic emissions at global and local scales. Developing scientific understanding of such changes and their impacts on Himalayan ecosystem is one of the major challenges for the Indian scientific community. The Indo-Swiss collaborative research is envisaged to focus on building human and institutional S&T capacities in the Indian Himalayan region through institutional collaboration and scientists to scientists linkages between the two countries." Akhilesh Gupta, Adviser/Scientist-G and Head SPLICE and Climate Change Programme, Department of Science and Technology.

DST is implementing the National Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem (NMSHE) as part of the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC). The Indian Himalayas Climate Adaptation Programme (IHCAP) is a project under the Global Programme Climate Change (GPCC) of SDC. IHCAP has been developed to support and facilitate implementation of NMSHE as a technical and knowledge partner.

“The overall goal of IHCAP is that the resilience of vulnerable mountain communities in the Himalayas is strengthened and knowledge and capacities of research institutions, communities and decision-makers are connected and enhanced. IHCAP in Phase 2 is proposed as an initiative to increase knowledge about climate change impacts and response in IHR through scientific research, capacity building and knowledge exchange and dissemination.” Janine Kuriger, Director of Cooperation, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation.

The ongoing changes in the climate are directly impacting glaciers and snow cover in the Himalayas, and in turn, the hydrology of the region. Glaciers provide some of the clearest evidence of climate change and constitute key variables for early-detection strategies in global climate-related observations.

The Indo-Swiss collaborative research encourages assessments in areas of glaciology, hydrology and meteorology, their interlinkages, current and future impacts of climate change and adaptation strategies. Special emphasis is on design of approaches to enhance the resilience of ecosystem and communities’ livelihoods to changing climate through appropriate adaptation measures.

For greater uptake of results, the collaborative research is expected to involve a wide range of relevant stakeholders including government, civil society organizations and communities during the course of research.

Startups Make Impact on Retail Banking: Efma Finacle Report

Retail banking globally is undergoing a thorough shake-up with innovative technologies, from startup to digitisation, finds the eighth annual study 'Innovation in retail banking' released on Wednesday by Efma and Infosys Finacle.

According to the report, almost 73% of banks consider working with innovative startups as the best approach to access disruptive technologies. "Banks have largely embraced digitisation, and are aggressively adopting new technologies in order to innovate," states the report.

It also finds that the proportion of banks with an innovation strategy has increased from 37% in 2009 to 74% in 2016. "In addition, banks are now more likely to collaborate with startups in order to stay competitive, with nearly three quarters seeing them as the best way to leverage new technologies," the report states.

Infosys Finacle, part of Infosys product subsidiary EdgeVerve Systems and Efma, a global not-for-profit organisation, launched the annual study by collating data from 158 banks in 56 countries.

The study points out that the most disruptive new technology for banks is advanced analytics and big data, with 79% of them claiming that it is having a significant impact now, or will have within in the next two years.