NGDATA Acquires Eccella to Fuel International Growth and Expansion

NGDATA, the customer experience management solutions company has announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Eccella, a data management and analytics consultancy based in New York City, with offices in London, UK and Mumbai, India. Eccella is a leader in the field of data-driven consulting and systems construction, and its team will join NGDATA as the company continues to execute its strategy for aggressive North American and global growth.

Eccella works with organizations across the world to help them develop, deploy and execute data-driven strategies. The acquisition allows NGDATA to rapidly grow its presence in the UK and North America, and NGDATA and Eccella customers will benefit from access to top data-focused talent and expanded industry expertise. Partners of NGDATA will benefit from the combined global infrastructure of two leading data companies supporting their efforts to deliver solutions, and Eccella’s world-class partner ecosystem gives NGDATA the opportunity to further build out its strategic technology partnerships.

“This is a strategic acquisition for NGDATA that will help us solidify the team, the resources and the company infrastructure to accelerate the pace of our growth. The addition of Eccella will greatly enhance the value we bring to our clients and partners through the powerful combination of the functionality of Lily Enterprise and Eccella’s deep domain knowledge, partnerships and global industry expertise,” said Luc Burgelman, CEO of NGDATA.

“Expanding into the UK and bolstering its US presence is a smart move that will contribute to and accelerate NGDATA’s aggressive growth strategy worldwide,” said Michel Akkermans, Chairman of NGDATA. “Forward thinking organizations are looking for technology that can help them turn real-time insights into actionable intelligence, and this acquisition will make it easier for NGDATA to meet that increasing demand on a global scale.”

The deal to acquire Eccella comes on the heels of the October 2016 acquisition of Rednun, a Netherlands-based company specializing in creating personalized and data-driven video to optimize customer engagement. Prior to that, NGDATA acquired ENQIO, a European consultancy focused on data management, business analytics and multi-channel campaign management. Overall, NGDATA achieved 75 percent year-over-year growth in 2016, a year in which the company grew its workforce by 50 percent.

“Luc and his team at NGDATA have a vision for the company and its role in creating better data-driven customer experiences that is impressive, ambitious and highly aligned with Eccella’s mission of building data-driven companies. We are thrilled to join and play a key role in the execution of that strategy,” said Gil Rosen, founder and president of Eccella. “Making quick yet intelligent decisions based on real-time data is increasingly critical, and we are in lock step with NGDATA’s approach to helping organizations adapt by gaining actionable insights from data to drive their business.”

“Eccella works with organizations across the world to help them develop, deploy and execute their data-driven strategies by implementing end-to-end, data-based solutions,” said Meitav Harpaz, CEO of Eccella. “For our customers, NGDATA’s advanced data platform and team of data specialists complete Eccella’s offering for the entire lifecycle of the data, from strategy, through data preparation, data integration, data quality, mastering, governance and visualization, all the way to advanced analytics and insights."

Financial details of the deal will not be disclosed.

69% Top Scorers in Round 1 of India’s Biggest Coding Arena Have Less than 2 Years of Experience

Over 2 Lakh coders who tried their best to win prizes worth Rs. 3 Crores, only the top 10K+ have made it to the Semi Finals, and only the top 200 will make it to the Grand Finale Hackathon to be held in Bangalore on June 09, 2017 – That’s a pass percentage of less than 0.1%, which makes this a selection 7X tougher than the Joint Entrance Examination of the IITs!

Interestingly, while working professionals constituted 72% of the participants, but clearly youth overtook experience in the qualifying round with a whopping 69% of top scorers with less than 2 years of experience.

“We are delighted to see such massive participation and such a successful first round. These truly exceptional results prove our purpose - being able to give these young talented coders a chance to super-accelerate their career growth is an integral part of our mission. TechGig Code Gladiators is all about identifying and showcasing the new wave of tech talent that emerges every year, and revealing their coding chops to top corporates across the country.” says Ramathreya Krishnamurthi, Business Head, TechGig.com.

Top Shots are Discovering Potential Talent

Rakesh Barik, Partner, Deloitte India says “We believe in constantly creating change to stay ahead in the markets. Innovative solutions drive our strategy in everything that we do. Our depth of technology capabilities and innovation mindset provide user-centric solutions to solve some of our client’s most complex problems. TechGig Code Gladiators provide not just the right platform for us to explore and discover some of our best coders but also brings in opportunities to find potential talent that helps us succeed in our endeavors.”

Amarinder Dhaliwal, CPO, IndiaMART says “We have built a culture where our employees are provided with an opportunity to not only develop their professional skills but also the critical personal skills. We found TechGig Code Gladiators a great platform for rockstar coders to come together, compete and learn. Code Gladiators not only builds a healthy competitive culture in our organization but also boosts performance and motivation. Through this association, I expect to uncover some top tech talent which might have been hidden otherwise."

Key Takeaways from Round One –

·  Working professionals constituted 72% of the total participants

·  Almost 70% of the top scorers had less than 2 years of experience.

Bangalore Leads Participations but Delhi Tops

·  The IT Hubs of Bangalore, Delhi, Hyderabad, Pune, Chennai and Mumbai accounted for 64% of participating coders.

·  Interestingly, while Bangalore coders led the pack in terms of participations, Delhi NCR had the best results with the most top scorers from the national capital region.

  Java and C are the Languages of Choice

·  Over 42% of coders preferred coding in C, while 35% preferred coding in Java.

·  Top Scorers in round one used Java, C, C++, Python, C# and PHP as their top languages of choice.

·  Interestingly, coders from Bangalore, Mumbai and Delhi prefer coding in Java, while those in Delhi Hyderabad and Chennai prefer C Language.

With such massive participations, TechGig has once again consolidated its position as India’s Biggest Coding Arena TechGig Code Gladiators - the undisputed leader in coding contests, which won the Limca Book National Record for being India’s Largest Coding Contest in 2015 and 2016.

BEL Denies Report on EVM Hackathon by Boswana Election Commission

BEL denies the report on EVM Hackathon by Botswana Election Commission with reference to the news story published on web portal(s) stating there in that a team of Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL) would be participating in demonstration cum Hackathon of EVMs being organised by Botswana Election Commission on 18th of this month, BEL states that this news story is completely baseless and false.

BEL categorically states that it has not sold any EVMs or VVPATs to Botswana Election Commission. Botswana Election commission has invited team of BEL to show only the functionality of EVMs and VVPATs designed to meet the specific requirements of Botswana Government. These EVMs and VVPATs are different from the ones which are used by Election Commission of India.

No Hackathon event involving any EVM of BEL has been planned or scheduled by it. Therefore, Press Note issued by Botswana Election Commission is without our approval / consent and facts stated therein are completely false and incorrect.

India’s Animation, Visual Effects & Gaming Industry to Grow at 18-22% Per Annum

The many mysteries that have made Baahubali, The Fast and The Furious 8, Jungle Book and Pulimurugan, among others, visually riveting experiences will be unravelled at Bengaluru GAFX 2017. The three-day conference on gaming, 3D animation, visual effects and related topics got off to a flying start on Friday.

Thousands of enthusiasts, including students, attended the inaugural event, workshops and master classes at Hotel Lalit Ashok, Kumara Krupa Road. Experts and movie-makers leveraging advanced techniques such as VFX are among the participants. The state department of information technology and biotechnology, in association with industry body ABAI, is hosting the event.

"Bengaluru being the backyard of graphics innovation and visual effects is the ideal venue for the first conference on graphics and animation. The master classes and workshops will definitely help enthusiasts hone their skills," said information technology minister Priyank Kharge.

There are two sessions on the making of Baahubali on Saturday and Sunday; screenings of Oscar-nominated movies such as Kubo and the Two Strings, Ma vie de Courgette (My Life as a Zucchini) and The Red Turtle. Participants will also get to watch the best animation short films from across the world.

Experts such as David James, Sharon Calahan, Wesley Allsbrook, Golam Ashraf, Alejandro Garcia, Anand Baid will speak on topics as varied as story, physics of animation, cinematography, production design, high-end character creation, 3D character animation, game engine.

Ashok Leyland's Demos Intelligent Exhaust Gas Recirculation iEGR Technology for BS4 Vehicles in India

Ashok Leyland, flagship of the Hinduja Group, and the 2nd largest commercial vehicle (CV) manufacturer in India, has showcased recently its full range of future ready products, based on Intelligent Exhaust Gas Recirculation (iEGR) technology, and industry-leading services at its annual Global Conference 2017 in Bangalore on May 11, 2017.

Pioneering the indigenous development and application of the iEGR technology, Ashok Leyland will be the only domestic OEM to implement this technology successfully for its products above 130HP. Thus, Ashok Leyland has, once again, brought its technology prowess and Indian innovation to the fore for the benefit of its customers.

Intelligent Exhaust Gas Recirculation (iEGR) technology is a simple yet innovative solution to achieving the desired results in order to meet the BS4 norms. This technology is not only better suited to Indian conditions compared to Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) technology (based on European technology) but will also prove to be hugely cost effective, easy to operate and hassle-free to maintain. All of which will benefit the Ashok Leyland customer, resulting in better margins compared to products by OEMs which are based on SCR technology.

With iEGR technology as the highlight, the Company displayed a mix of over thirty innovative products and services, featuring trucks, buses, light commercial vehicles (LCVs), simulators, quick service bikes and gensets.

Sharing his views at the Global Conference 2017, Vinod K. Dasari, Managing Director, Ashok Leyland, said, “Ashok Leyland has many innovative class leading firsts to its credit through the years. This showcase of the iEGR technology across our product range bears further testimony of our capability to roll-out technology-led future ready products. More so this indigenous technology will help us deliver on our brand promise of ‘Aapki Jeet, Hamari Jeet’ in multiple ways. For our customers it will mean ease of use and better cost efficiencies. For the environment it will mean more efficient fuel combustion and improved emissions. The indigenous development of iEGR technology will also mean faster time to market and minimal cost of implementation. We will emerge as the only OEM in India to have achieved this.”

Intelligent Exhaust Gas Recirculation

Intelligent Exhaust Gas Recirculation (iEGR) technology is a simple yet innovative solution to achieving the desired results in order to meet the BS4 norms. This technology is not only better suited to Indian conditions compared to Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) technology (based on European technology) but will also prove to be hugely cost effective, easy to operate and hassle-free to maintain. All of which will benefit the Ashok Leyland customer, resulting in better margins compared to products by OEMs which are based on SCR technology.

With iEGR technology as the highlight, the company displayed a mix of over thirty innovative products and services, featuring trucks, buses, light commercial vehicles (LCVs), simulators, quick service bikes and gensets.

Taking the brand promise of ‘Aapki Jeet, Hamari Jeet’ further, the company has, in recent years, expanded its network rapidly to cater to its wide set of customers. It has 1000 touch-points with an additional 5000 outlets for Leyparts, the genuine spare parts brand. A service centre at every 75kms on all major highways, Ashok Leyland delivers its “Tatkaal” promise of reaching customers within 4 hours and getting their vehicle back on-road within 48 hours.

National Level Research Reports on Road Safety By UL and NIMHANS

To mark the Fourth United Nations Global Road Safety Week (May 8 – 14),UL, a global safety science leader and National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS) has released an exhaustive analytical study titled “Advancing Road Safety in India: Implementation is the Key”. To serve as a ready reckoner, UL and NIMHANS also released a summary study, along with a ‘facts and figures’ report.Intended as a reference document to aid multiple stakeholders in developing comprehensive mechanisms to address the road safety crisis currently afflicting the country, the pan-Indian study delves into the accident data sourced from various government and independent, national and international reports and studies. It also offers a state wise perspective to indicate differential burden of road traffic incidents.

The report examines the impact of rapid socio-economic development and motorization without accompanying prioritization to road safety. It analyzes conflicting data points and under reporting from varied sources, which occur on account of investigation by less trained personnel. The data laden study also scrutinizes the patterns of road related fatalities and injuries across a plethora of criteria – gender, type of road user, economic background of the victim and location (urban/rural). Inferring that the complexity of the road safety problem in India is an amalgamation of varied macro and micro factors, the report lays bare the challenges of addressing the country’s  alarming rate of road traffic incidents – inefficiency in implementation of relevant laws owing to divided responsibility between central and state governments across various ministries, the lack of a coherent data collection system that combines police and hospital records, inadequacy of public infrastructure like well-maintained roads and trauma centres and the absence of in-depth crash analysis that results in ineffective, ad hoc measures to curb accidents, among other reasons.  Key insights from the report are:

·  Based on a summary of available data from Indian studies, it can be concluded that pedestrians (30 – 40 %), two wheeler riders/ pillions (30 – 40 %) and cyclists (approximately10 %) account for nearly 80 % of road deaths and injuries, which is in contrast with official reports due to fallacies in reporting practices.

·  Few Indian studies indicate the number of deaths is likely to be higher by nearly 20 %, while serious injuries are underreported by more than 50 % as compared to official reports.  

·  The five southern Indian states of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra together accounted for 46.8% of accidents.

·  As per national reports, only 22.1% of accidents and 11.3% of road deaths occurred in the 50 million plus cities in India in 2015. (MoRTH, 2015). Thus, it is clear that large number of road crashes and deaths occur on rural roads (that also include most of the national and state highways) where road safety is yet to gain prominence.

·  Indian Highways (54, 72,144 kilometers) account for 4.84% of road length but contribute to half (52.4%) of road accidents and 63% of road deaths in India.

·  Very few injured and seriously affected persons receive adequate trauma care and situation is worse in rural India.

·  Irrespective of data source and nature, in more specific terms, 100% of the severely injured, 50% of the moderately injured, and 10–20% of the mildly injured will have lifelong disabilities.

The study was released by R. Ramalinga Reddy, Minister for Transport, Government of Karnataka at the national symposium ‘Advancing Road Safety in India’ jointly organized by UL and NIMHANS, where experts also deliberated on the study’s suggestions for positive safety outcomes. The comprehensive reports were developed by the WHO Collaborating Centre for Injury Prevention and Safety Promotion and Centre for Public Health at NIMHANS, Bangalore.

Commenting on the launch of the report, R.A. Venkitachalam, Vice President, Public Safety, UL, said, “It would not be an exaggeration to state that the lack of safety on Indian roads is tantamount to a public emergency. With the recent passage of the Motor Vehicles Bill in the Lok Sabha, there is a renewed vigor on part of the government to gear the country toward safer roads. However, the situation cannot be rectified by one agency alone – multiple stakeholders, from the government, corporates, auto manufacturers, law enforcement, health care professionals, educational institutions and road safety experts need to collaborate on a scientific level to evolve sustainable solution for the problem. At UL, we have always believed in the efficacy of applying science to solve any safety issue. Our association with NIMHANS is one of the most important engagements in India to further our public safety mission. Imbued with varied perspectives, this data rich report is without doubt, a crucial starting point to further advance the agenda of road safety in India”.

Dr G. Gururaj, Head of WHO CC and Centre for public Health at NIMHANS and the author of national road safety reports mentioned that “Road safety in India has been a neglected area amidst rapid developmental policies and programmes and faces multiple challenges in implementation. Essentially road safety is science and requires a scientific approach to address the problem that needs to move beyond simplistic answers. Advancing road safety   needs a framework based on good quality data that should bring multiple stake holders to implement solutions in a convergent manner with systematic monitoring and evaluation of programmes and interventions”.

Mining and Metals Cos to Increase on Digital Tech Spending to Boost Innovation

Four of five mining and metals companies expect to increase their spending on digital technologies over the next three years, with more than one-quarter (28 percent) planning significant investments and almost half (46 percent) citing digital as the biggest contributor to innovation, according to new research from Accenture.

Based on a survey of approximately 200 mining and metals executives and functional leaders worldwide,  the Digital Technology in Mining report shows that the convergence of information and operational technologies (IT/OT) and adoption of cloud computing are advancing the digital agenda, prompting the need for more-stringent cybersecurity measures.

Mining and metals executives said their companies have applied and will continue to apply digital technology over the next three to five years predominantly in mine operations, but also in exploration, mine development and other areas. Most of the investments in mining operations target robotics and automation, named by 54 percent as a top spending area, along with remote operating centers, drones and wearable technologies, each at 41 percent.

“Our research confirms that mining and metals companies are investing in digital led innovation to help them improve operational efficiency, and address issues such as rising capital as well as compliance costs,’ said Sandeep Dutta, Managing Director and Lead, Resources, Accenture in India. 

Organization-wide, the most often cited benefit from current digital technology investments was improved workforce productivity, driven most by mobile/tablet devices (32 percent), automation of mobile and/or fixed assets (30 percent) and simulating physical environments (30 percent). Cost savings across the organization ranked lower as a benefit than improved workforce productivity in general.

The relatively early stages of adoption for certain digital technologies might make it a challenge to identify all areas of bottom-line benefits of digital. However, digital transformation could actually unlock USD $190 billion in value industry wide over the next 10 years, according to an analysis by the World Economic Forum with Accenture Strategy: “Mining and Metals Digital Transformation and the industry’s ‘new normal.’”

Overall, almost all executives (97 percent) said they were satisfied with their digital investments over the past 12 months, with almost two-thirds (64 percent) ‘relatively satisfied’ and one-third (33 percent) ‘extremely satisfied.’

Growth in IT/OT Integration and Cloud Prompts Cybersecurity Measures

Asked to identify the top three barriers to gaining more business value from digital technologies, executives most often cited cybersecurity concerns (37 percent), followed by volatile commodity prices (29 percent), internal data management capability (27 percent) and lack of funding (27 percent).

However, executives cited cybersecurity as the most-widely adopted technology across the organization-wide (32 percent). In addition, 25 percent said they are testing pilot programs for cyber security, and 33 percent have developed or are defining strategies for it.

“Although still in the early stages, mining and metal companies in India are starting to adopt large scale platform solutions, which is driving the growth of cloud in this segment,” said Saurabh Bhatnagar, Managing Director, Mining and Metals, Resources, Accenture in India. He added, “Even as companies evaluate their cloud strategy, they are starting to consider potential cyber security risks, creating mitigation strategies in advance.”

Regarding IT/OT integration, more than half of the respondents (56 percent) reported that their organizations are considering merging their IT and OT departments in the next 12 months, which would advance this trend.

Mining and metals companies are also continuing to adopt cloud computing technologies broadly. Four in five respondents (81 percent) said their companies have implemented some form of public, private or hybrid cloud, and another 17 percent said their company is exploring the use of cloud technology.

Methodology
Accenture conducted an online survey of 201 C-level and top management executives and functional leaders in the mining and metals industry. The survey was fielded in mid-October through mid-November 2016 and included respondents from Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China/Hong Kong, Indonesia, India, Singapore, South Africa, the United States and United Kingdom. The companies represented have annual revenues ranging from USD $500 million to more than USD $20 billion.