Jaguar Land Rover India Introduces the Next Generation of its Online Buying Platforms

Jaguar Land Rover India has announced the launch of the next generation of its successful platforms, findmeacar.in for Jaguar and findmeasuv.in for Land Rover. Originally launched in 2016, the two pioneering platforms created the trend of online vehicle booking in the luxury car industry, allowing customers to book New and Approved vehicles online by paying a deposit from anywhere, at any time. It also provides options through which, customers can request for a quotation or book a test drive.

With the emergence of the new generation, the platforms now offer agile navigation, a cleaner and more dynamic homepage with a simple to swipe carousel that highlights the month’s packages and special offers. Customers can select their vehicle from a variety of filters – model, variant and engine, price, colour, availability of vehicles during a specific period and even offers. They can choose to opt for a ready delivery vehicle or order one according to their requirement for delivery at a later date. Customers can also offer their existing vehicle for trade-in and get an estimated value if it meets Jaguar Land Rover India criteria.

Customers can not only use the platform to navigate through the various options, they can also speak directly with our customer care executives through online chat or speak with them on phone should they so desire.

Rohit Suri, President & Managing Director, Jaguar Land Rover India Ltd. (JLRIL) said: “The new generation online platforms offer a seamless purchase experience that greatly enhances the convenience and ease of owning Jaguar and Land Rover vehicles in India.”

Bentley Systems Introduces Mixed Reality App for Infrastructure Construction Projects Using Microsoft HoloLens 2 at MWC

Bentley Systems, Incorporated, the leading global provider of comprehensive software solutions for advancing the design, construction, and operations of infrastructure, presented SYNCHRO XR, its app for immersively visualizing 4D construction digital twins with the new Microsoft HoloLens 2, which Microsoft announced during a press conference at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.

Selected as a Microsoft mixed reality partner representing the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry, Bentley demonstrated how with SYNCHRO XR for HoloLens 2, users can interact collaboratively with digital construction models using intuitive gestures to plan, visualize, and experience construction sequencing.

Project digital twin data is visualized with the HoloLens 2 via Bentley’s connected data environment, powered by Microsoft Azure. With the mixed reality solution, construction managers, project schedulers, owner operators, and other project stakeholders can gain insights through immersive visualization into planned work, construction progress, potential site risks, and safety requirements. Additionally, users can interact with the model together and collaboratively experience 4D objects in space and time, as opposed to traditional interaction with a 2D screen depicting 3D objects.

Noah Eckhouse, senior vice president, project delivery for Bentley Systems, said, “Our SYNCHRO XR app for HoloLens 2 provides a totally new way to interact with digital twins for infrastructure projects. Users benefit from a new perspective on the design and a deeper, more immediate understanding of the work and project schedule. Instead of using a 2D screen with a mouse and keyboard, the user can now walk around the model with their body and reach out and grab digital objects that appear to co-occupy physical reality. This is a powerful way to review work that is completed and to prepare for upcoming work at the jobsite.”

Menno de Jonge, director of digital construction for the Royal BAM Group, said, “We are currently using SYNCHRO and HoloLens 2 mixed reality solution for the construction site for a large museum project in the city of Rotterdam. The real need for a digital transformation in our industry is about avoiding rework at our construction site. Using this technology, we can easily visualize the construction schedule. Then, we can see if we are behind in schedule, we can flag any potential problems or issues, look into the problems, and get back on track.”

Alex Kipman, technical fellow, AI and mixed reality at Microsoft, said, “The newly announced Microsoft HoloLens 2 is a self-contained holographic computer that enables hands-free, heads-up interaction with digital models. It builds on the breakthrough innovation of HoloLens and is even more immersive, more comfortable and delivers industry-leading value right out of the box with partners like Bentley. We’re excited to work with Bentley, a mixed reality partner, to provide the opportunity for customers to take advantage of the HoloLens 2 and SYNCHRO XR technology to experience a new dimension of creativity and teamwork for their AEC projects.”

Microsoft’s Mixed Reality Partner Program is focused on enabling and supporting solution providers who are committed to building mixed reality solutions. Upon acceptance to the program, Microsoft provides training, technical assistance, sales and marketing enablement, and business planning. 

MAHE Announces Admissions for UG, PG and Super Specialty for Academic Year 2019-20

Admissions are invited by MAHE, one of India’s leading private education providers for various UG, PG and Super Specialty courses with over 300+ programs under 23 different streams, through 25+ institutions. Aspirants can now apply online for the academic year 2019 - 20 by logging on to https://applynow.manipal.edu 

Over 33000+ students from 65 different nations live, learn and play in the sprawling University town thus making Manipal a global cosmopolitan destination for multi-disciplinary education. With the recent prestigious Institute of Eminence (IOE) status by Ministry of Human Resource Development (HRD), Govt of India (GOI), MAHE is synonymous with excellence in higher education. It is also the only university in India that has more than 5 institutes ranked by NIRF, MHRD, GOI.

MAHE Courses offered:

·         Allied Health Sciences
·         Allied Hospitatility Studies
·         Architecture & Design
·         Arts & Humanities
·         Atomic & Molecular Physics
·         Basic & Advanced Sciences
·         Computer Applications
·         Dentistry
·         Engineering
·         European Studies & Foreign Languages
·         Geopolitics
·         Hotel Management & Culinary Arts
·         Information Science
·         Library Science
·         Life Science
·         Medicine
·         Media & Communication
·         Management
·         Natural Sciences
·         Nursing
·         Pharmacy
·         Public Health
·         Statistics

Admission Criteria and process

·         Admission to the MBBS / BDS / MD / MS / MDS / DM / MCh courses will be on the basis of rank obtained in the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) and counselling / allotment of seats by Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), New Delhi.

·         For all other courses, prospective students can apply online at https://applynow.manipal.edu. For more information, contact MAHE helpdesk at admissions@manipal.edu / +919243777700.

Merck Launches Cutting Edge Fertility Technologies in India

Merck, a leading science and technology company, launched its cutting-edge fertility technology in India today. The business launched two devices, namely Geri and Gavi, as well as Gems, a complete culture medium suite. This will be made available in partnership with Genea Biomedx, to IVF clinics and hospitals.

This new technology provides an environment that helps to reduce external stresses on the embryos of patients undergoing fertility treatment. Individually-controlled chambers allow the embryos of each patient to grow separately and real-time cameras attached to each chamber reduces the frequency of opening and closing the chambers in Geri. Not only does this allow observation of the progress of embryo growth without removing the embryo from the chamber, it also reduces the impact on the embryo of factors such as changes in gas concentration and temperature.

“Merck has a market-leading portfolio of drugs and offers an array of clinic optimization services. Fertility lab procedures involve various steps and variables which can impact the overall success rate of IVF treatment. The introduction of cutting-edge fertility technology complements our portfolio and promises to decrease manual labor, increases precision and thus optimizes IVF outcomes for patients in India. Studies say nearly 27.5 million* Indian couples are actively seeking solution for infertility and with this technology are in position to offer them better access to world class treatment” said Anandram Narasimhan, General Manager –India Cluster, Merck Biopharma.

Through the expansion of its portfolio of innovative pharmaceutical and technology products that fulfil unmet medical needs in the field of fertility treatment, Merck is aiming to provide broader range of products to help support Healthcare professionals to optimize treatment outcomes and fulfil the dream of becoming a parent.

With this latest addition to its market-leading IVF drugs and services, Merck offers a comprehensive and holistic portfolio that facilitates IVF outcomes delivered by clinicians and specialists in India.

World’s First Blockchain Enabled Commercial Communication Stack, TRUBLOQ Unvieled at MWC19, Barcelona

Tanla Solutions, one of the world’s largest Cloud Communication providers, today launched Trubloq, a first of its kind blockchain enabled commercial communication stack for the telecom sector. The solution has been developed to comply with the new TRAI regulation (TCCCPR 2018), and it empowers individual mobile users to set and manage their communication preferences and consents.

The genesis of this journey goes back to the issues of commercial communication with respect to Trust, Security, Spam, Fraud and privacy breaches which are essentially agnostic to developed and emerging markets. Globally regulators have had middling results to safeguard against Unsolicited Commercial Communication (UCC) and privacy breaches. This is due to a practice of reactive redressal mechanism on customer complaints.

The Indian telecom regulatory body (TRAI) seeks to converge technology and policy, using emerging technologies – distributed ledger, artificial intelligence and machine learning. This comprehensive regulation is built on two key facets of empowering and safeguarding mobile consumers. With a strong focus on recording customer consent and preferences, the regulation unlocks all good virtues of blockchain i.e. Trust, Security, Immutability and creating a digital audit trail.

Speaking during the launch Uday Reddy, CMD, Tanla Solutions said “Trubloq is a ground-breaking innovation for the telecom industry, powered by Tanla’s blockchain based communication stack. This initiative would perhaps be the largest use case for Blockchain in the world with potential transactional volumes of above 10 billion per month. We are confident that it will empower the billion plus mobile users. It truly is Made in India for Digital India and beyond!”

Over $ 12 Billion Investment Likely at ASEAN Summit in Bengaluru

The three-day ASEAN Chambers of Commerce and Industry Business Meet opened in Bengaluru on Monday has already lined up investment proposals worth more than US $12 billion in various sectors including infrastructure, aerospace, defence, artificial intelligence, machine intelligence and robotics.

Sudhakar S Shetty, president of Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FKCCI), which is hosting the conference for the first time in the south, said, “We have received a number of investment proposals from ASEAN, ASEAN Plus and Special Invitee countries. Two major ones on our table are: from a business council in the United States and the Indian subsidiary of a prominent Chinese construction company. The details will be announced at the conference.”

He said will sign memoranda of understanding with the Government of Karnataka during the ASEAN summit, and follow them up with letters of interest from the investors in specific sectors.

The conference was inaugurated on Monday by Governor VajubhaiVala at the banquet hall, VidhanaSoudha, in the presence of distinguished guests including Union ministers Suresh Prabhu and Sadananda Gowda, Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy and Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara.

Shetty said the next two days of the conference, February 26 and 27, is being held at Lalit Ashok, which include panel discussions on 18 different sectors, a session on ‘Look East, Act West’ with the ambassadors from ASEAN countries and a special event with a focus on investment opportunities in Karnataka.

Over 1,200 delegates, including about 300 from abroad, have confirmed their participation in the business meet. Around 30 foreign delegations, including ministers and diplomats, like Shamsul Iskandar, deputy minister of primary industries, Malaysia, Pham SanhChau, ambassador of Vietnam, Savankhone Razmountry, vice minister, information & tourism, Laos, Paduka Sidek Ali, high commissioner of Brunei, Milan Hovorka, ambassador of Czech Republic are among those attending the conference.

The FKCCI President said large business delegations from Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, Myanmar, Laos, the US and the UAE. Indian billionaire businessman BR Shetty, who is settled in the Emirates, is leading a team of 25 business leaders.

One of the highlights of the international conference is that both the days will begin with one-hour yoga and meditation session led by the Art of Living team and one more hour of cultural programme.

The founder of Art of Living, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar made a special address on Day 2.

Many interesting panel sessions have been lined up on artificial intelligence, innovation in healthcare, renewable energy, opportunities for SMEs in aerospace and defence, global trends in fin-tech, digital transformation in the supply chain and the future of mass transportation, besides delegation-level B2B, B2G and B2C meetings.

Union Defence Minister Nirmala Sitaraman will be the chief guest at the valedictory on Feb 27, along with state ministers G Parameshwara, KJ George, UT Khader and Shobha Karandlaje, MP.

A large exhibition has been planned, with around 150 exhibitors participating, to explore new business avenues and look for outsourcing collaboration with other ASEAN countries.

Accenture Launches Applied Intelligence Platform to Help Clients Use AI Without Need for Deep Data Science Expertise

Accenture has launched its Applied Intelligence Platform today at Mobile World Congress, Barcelona, to make it easier for clients to transform the enterprise through artificial intelligence (AI). The new platform allows organizations to apply pre-configured self-learning industry solutions, as well as develop new solutions, without the need for deep data science expertise – which is becoming an increasingly scarce resource.

Applied Intelligence Platform builds on the proven Accenture Insight Platform through which Accenture has been offering analytics applications using machine learning and deep learning to clients. It will integrate these capabilities with edge analytics and Internet of Things (IoT) services, as well as access to more than 350 data sources – all made accessible via an on-demand, low-code platform. As a result, clients are less dependent on specific technologies as the platform leverages solutions and tools from leading technology providers, to enable creation of the proper solutions across industries and functions.

“The Applied Intelligence Platform enables AI-powered transformation at scale as clients will be able to systematically embed AI across their operations – from the edge right through to the cloud,” said Mike Sutcliff, group chief executive, Accenture Digital. “Thanks to the platform, the power to leverage AI to drive unprecedented new growth and efficiencies and unlock new insights, business models and experiences is within reach of every organization.”

Applied Intelligence Platform can deliver numerous benefits to clients including:

Scaling impact not investment. The platforms pre-configured services won’t require clients to build and maintain costly custom infrastructure and services from scratch.

Increased speed and agility. The platform uses open, standards-based platform services, APIs, and tools, which clients can use to rapidly build and move from prototype to production.

Chance for new growth opportunities. The Applied Intelligence Platform ecosystem fosters intelligent applications that run models on continuously updated enterprise and device data, which can drive network effects and new business models.

Edge analytics and IoT integration. The platform allows businesses to run machine learning and deep learning applications at the edge, and also better source data from IoT devices to power real-time applications and automated processes – enhancing efficiency and providing more data to fuel operational insights.

Enhanced security. Recommended, end-to-end security and privacy services are enhanced through the localization of sensitive data processing at the edge.

Accenture, with its team of industry specialists and more than 3,000 data scientists, has already developed a range of use cases and more than 40 intelligent industry solutions for Applied Intelligence Platform to help bridge the gap between information technology and operational technology. Use cases include asset and fleet management solutions expected to unlock efficiencies across manufacturing, transportation & logistics and energy. Examples from the platform’s suite of intelligent industry solutions include:

Remote monitoring – a global asset monitoring solution based on device data from installed industrial equipment. It is designed to reduce warranty repair costs through diagnostics to calculate mean-time before failure, as well as enhance equipment knowledge and supply chain efficiencies for spare parts.

Fleet management – an IoT-enabled telematics solution to improve operational efficiencies and reduce cost with embedded analytics and AI. It provides fleet operators better insights including vehicle tracking, diagnostics, critical event alerts, driver behavior monitoring, reporting, and route management.

“Data science to date has largely been decoupled from operations and application development, and models are often created and deployed only to be orphaned as there is a limited feedback on their effectiveness,” said Athina Kanioura, chief analytics officer and global lead of Accenture Applied Intelligence. “Our new Applied Intelligence Platform provides non-data scientist with the tools and access to the data they need to rapidly assemble and apply applications while the platform ensures the effectiveness of the underlying advanced analytics.”