Cybage Embarks on a Major Expansion Drive; Acquires World-Class Facilities in Pune and Gandhinagar

In a major announcement for the year 2019 from Cybage, the expansion and hiring drive continues to be one of the top agendas for the company. A leader in technology consulting and product engineering space, Cybage started the new year on a high note with acquisition of two prime facilities in world-class special economic zones (SEZs) in Pune and Gandhinagar.

The 700-seater facility at EON IT Park, Pune, will be the third development centre of Cybage catering exclusively to the growing talent pool. Scaling up its operations in Gujarat, Cybage has acquired an additional 300-seater space in India’s first International Financial Services Centre, the Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City).

The India expansion drive is strategically aligned with the ongoing global expansion of Cybage. In the recent months, the foothold of Cybage has strengthened in the Northern and Northwestern Europe, United States, and Canada. The expansion and hiring plans are bullish for Cybage; over the next one year, the organization plans to hire around 1000 professionals.

Cybage is positive about the next phase of growth with recent consolidation of its various organic Digital offerings into a unified Digital Solutions umbrella—scientific, data-driven, digital decision-making platform called the DecisionMines™—and the leadership position in the product engineering landscape.

Arun Nathani, CEO & MD, Cybage said, “India is the biggest market for us for talent acquisition; we are aggressive about our hiring plans which is a by-product of our ‘glocal’ expansion. Through this two-way expansion drive, the organization strives to bolster its growth and channelize its operational efficiency simultaneously to provide optimal digital solutions and facilitate the transformation of our enterprise’s vision into concrete achievements. With successful and positive results in the past quarters, we are capping for 16% to 17% organic growth for the current financial year”.

Headquartered in Pune, India, Cybage is spread over three development centres in India, namely Pune, Hyderabad, and Gandhinagar. Besides India, Cybage is represented in the US market by a development centre in Seattle and its near-shore centre in Toronto. The sales and marketing offices are situated in New Jersey, California, and Atlanta. Among the fastest-growing regions, the APAC, comprises Cybage’s presence in Singapore, Japan, and Sydney. By far, North America remains the largest market for Cybage, whereas other markets include UK, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand.

Subex Wins Five-Year Multi-Million-Dollar Contract with BTC

Subex, a leading telecom analytics solution provider, today announced that it has signed a five-year multi-million-dollar deal with Botswana Telecommunications Corporation Limited (BTC), a leading telecommunications services provider in Botswana. As part of the deal, Subex will be implementing its integrated ROC Revenue Assurance and ROC Fraud Management Platform (iRAFM), along with its ROC Partner Settlement and ROC Route Optimization. This deal also marks the continuation of Subex and BTC’s long-standing partnership which dates back to 2010.

BTC is a telecommunications services provider offering fixed line, mobile services (voice, SMS, data) and fixed broadband through ADSL, Fixed LTE and fiber to individual consumers, enterprises and other licensed service providers. BTC has interconnections and relationships with multiple service providers in the region making it a trusted partner for both provisioning of services to neighboring countries and as a partner for transit product and services.

Through the multi-solution deployment of iRAFM, Subex will enable BTC with an out-of-the-box solution to combat prevalent frauds such as Subscription Fraud, Internal Fraud, Premium Rate Service Fraud (PRS Fraud), and International Revenue Share Fraud (IRSF), amongst others. The solution will also prevent losses through revenue leakage by providing a solution with capabilities to investigate, diagnose and recover any lost revenues.

The ROC Partner Settlement deployment will offer BTC a 360-degree view of their interconnect agreements to help better manage revenue and margins across their partner ecosystem. Moreover, through ROC Route Optimisation, Subex will provide BTC with a solution that analyzes existing data in terms of operator tariffs and quality of service and generates forecasts to help make an informed choice of interconnect operator partners. In addition to this, Subex will also provide BTC with Managed Services expertise to help them implement the best practices and get the most out of the deployment.

“We have had a long-standing relationship with BTC, and it gives me great pleasure to successfully enter into a new 5-year contract with them. We started our engagement with BTC in 2010 where we played a pivotal role in supporting their mission-critical business operations and processes through our solutions and expertise in the areas of Revenue Assurance and Fraud management. As part of the new deal BTC will be able to take advantage of the latest versions of our product suite, along with our business and IT application support on all the platforms” said Vinod Kumar, Managing Director & CEO, Subex Limited.

Commenting on the deal, BTC Managing Director, Anthony Masunga said, “We are delighted to extend our relationship with Subex given their extensive expertise and the capabilities of their AI/ML enabled solutions towards Revenue Assurance and Fraud Management. We selected to partner with Subex once again due to their experience of executing Revenue Assurance and Fraud Management operations, their proven ability in implementing Management Services engagements across the globe, and the value that they bring in terms of savings and ROI.”

Emirates Introduces a Super Sale to Attract Travellers from India

Great news for those enthusiastic about experiencing new cultures and traversing roads less travelled, or who just have a serious case of wanderlust: Emirates today launched a Super Sale promotion that will allow more travellers to fly to select destinations across the airline’s network.

With fares starting as low as INR 17,508, Emirates is offering special prices for round-trip tickets. Book between 6 March 2019 and 31 March 2019, with travel dates between 8 March 2019 and 30 June 2019, to discover some great deals.

Economy fares to New York, London and San Francisco will start from INR 65,128, INR 47,470 and INR 70,116, whereas, business class fares for Seattle, Paris and Nairobi will start from INR 239,873, INR 138,649 and INR 122,385 respectively.

(Please note: Terms and conditions apply. The special fares include all taxes and surcharges, and are subject to point of origin, availability and fluctuations. Date and flight restrictions also apply.)

Allow Emirates’ extensive network to transport you to exciting new destinations in Europe and Africa. Travel to Spain for some delicious pintxos, capture the breathtaking views in sunny Santorini, immerse yourself in centuries-old art at the Louvre in Paris, or meander through medieval streets at Gornji Grad in Slovenia. Emirates lets you discover the hidden, the famous, the modern, and the historic that the world has to offer.

This exclusive promotion spans Emirates’ vast global network, covering destinations such as Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Hungary, Ireland, Malta, Morocco, Netherlands, Portugal, Russia, South Africa, Switzerland, Turkey, and the United Kingdom.

Emirates boasts of one of the widest network among all global airlines, traveling to 158 destinations in 86 countries, all accessed seamlessly via the Emirates’ hub in Dubai. Travel in style from India with Emirates. Your holiday begins the moment you step on board and experience our fully enclosed First Class suites and our luxurious shower spa aboard the A380 – firsts of their kind on any commercial airline

Emirates believes in making every flight experience extraordinary. By continually investing in the refreshment of the world’s biggest fleet of Airbus A380s and Boeing 777s, passengers travelling with Emirates can experience more on every single flight.

With door-to-door chauffeur services to and from the airport along with luxurious on-ground lounges and on-board enhancements, First and Business Class travelers enjoy a seamless travel experience. An on-board shower spa, fine dining, and lounge bar are some of the exclusive experiences for First Class travelers aboard the A380, while the Boeing 777 Game Changer offers uncompromising luxury and privacy with an enclosed First Class Suite, mood lighting for unprecedented comfort, and virtual windows and sleek leather inspired by the Mercedes-Benz S-Class. Prestigious Bordeaux wines more than ten years in the making, along with gourmet meals, ensure that that all palates are matched and satiated.

Economy Class travelers can also experience the comforts of flying with Emirates’ through unique offerings that are loaded with extra value. Amenity kits ensure that passengers arrive feeling refreshed. Soft, environmentally friendly fleece blankets make families traveling with children feel as cozy as at home. Inflight meal services, inspired by each destination, are served to children first, so that parents have more time to enjoy their meal. Young flyers will be nothing short of delighted with the non-stop entertainment on board, featuring the latest cartoons, animated movies, and Disney classics. Ignite the wanderlust in young travelers with Emirates’ Lonely Planet Kids packs filled with interesting facts and creative crafts.

All Emirates’ flights from India will stop over at our global hub in Dubai. The state-of-the-art Terminal 3 at the Dubai International Airport welcomes travelers to an exciting, modern city steeped in rich and historic culture. The airport offers a variety of ways to refresh and recharge during your trip. Whether it is by napping, exercising, sleeping, taking a shower, or getting a massage, the Dubai International Airport has everything you need.

Those wishing to stop over in Dubai to experience its splendor can do so in 48 hours. Dubai is a shopper’s and gourmand’s paradise – home to the Dubai Mall (one of the world’s largest) which is stocked with the latest global fashion trends, as well high-quality international cuisines from across the world. Travellers can also bring fantasy to life by eating dinner beneath the stars on a desert safari.

CSS Corp wins Silver Stevie in 2019 Sales & Customer Service Awards

CSS Corp, a new-age IT services and technology support company, today announced that it has won the Silver Stevie Award in the “Best Use of Customer Insights” category at the 2019 Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service. CSS Corp’s Active Insights platform was recognized for its innovative usage of AI and data insights to impact revenue streams and create a competitive advantage for its customers. The results were declared during the award ceremony on Friday, February 22 at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The cloud-based Active Insights platform is a multi-faceted advanced analytics platform that goes beyond traditional analytical models. It helps businesses understand their customers across their digital journeys by providing insights on customer intent, interactions, engagement, and enablement. With its extensive data ingestion, cognitive insight, simplified visualization and extensive reporting capabilities, Active Insights has been consistently ranked amongst the leading customer analytics platforms in the world.

Speaking on the occasion, Manish Tandon, Chief Executive Officer, CSS Corp said, “In today’s connected economy, consumers demand instant gratification and instant solutions for complex problems. This has changed the competitive dynamics for global brands, making them seek out actionable insights, but by sifting through tons of customer data.”

“As a new-age services company, CSS Corp understands this need deeply, and hence we are building customer centric solutions that change the way our customers create and compete, and bring about significant revenue advantage to them.”

“We are proud to see Active Insights being recognized by Stevie, and this award is a testament to our continued pursuit of customer centricity and deep tech innovation.” he further added.

More than 2,700 nominations from organizations of all sizes and in virtually every industry were evaluated in this year’s competition. Finalists were determined by the average scores of more than 150 professionals worldwide, in seven specialized judging committees. 

Astra Establishes JV with GOJEK and Invests Additional US$100 Million

PT Astra International Tbk and GOJEK announced an agreement to establish a joint venture that will enable more drivers to join the four-wheel ride-hailing sector and participate in Indonesia’s rapidly growing digital economy. Astra also announced an investment of US$ 100 million in the first closing of GOJEK’s Series F fundraise. Astra made its first investment in GOJEK through the Series E fundraise in 2018 and this additional investment brings Astra's total investment in GOJEK to US$ 250 million.

Chief Executive Officer and Founder of GOJEK Nadiem Makarim, said, “Industry players must join forces to maximise the great potential of the Southeast Asian digital economy, especially in Indonesia. The combination of Astra's strength in the automotive sector and GOJEK’s leading technology will open up more opportunities for people to grow their incomes and improve their welfare.”

Indonesia’s internet economy is the largest and fastest growing in the region. Growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 49% from 2015-2018, it is projected to reach US$ 100 billion by 2025 from US$ 27 billion in 2018. The strategic partnership between Astra and GOJEK will maximize Indonesia's potential to continue to be at the forefront of Southeast Asia’s digital transformation.

President Director of PT Astra International Tbk Prijono Sugiarto said, "The establishment of this joint venture and Astra's participation in GOJEK’s Series F fundraise demonstrate our continued confidence in GOJEK and is a tangible manifestation of our collaboration to explore the synergies between GOJEK’s technology and Astra's automotive business. We hope this collaboration can help more people generate income, as this will improve their welfare and have a positive impact on Indonesia's economic growth. This is in line with Astra's aim to prosper with the nation.”

Launched in January 2015, GOJEK is now a major player in Southeast Asia for digital and mobile consumption. GOJEK has evolved into a super-app, which acts as a transactional ecosystem connecting millions of customers on its platform to millions of drivers, merchants, and service providers.

Creation of a fleet of several thousand cars

The joint venture partnership between Astra and GOJEK will operate a fleet of several thousand cars, pre-installed with Astra’s fleet management system (FMS) and supported by ride-hailing technology in the GOJEK app, specifically for GO-CAR. This company will provide opportunities for partners to provide online door-to-door transportation services with excellent quality to customers while at the same time improving their income through GO-CAR services.

Christ University Team Shines in ‘Numero YONO’ by SBI

The team of Christ (Deemed to be University) emerged victorious at the regional rounds of India’s biggest inter-college quiz contest - ‘Numero YONO’ held in Bengaluru recently. Christ (Deemed to be University) team bagged annual scholarship of Rs. 2.16 lakh that witnessed participation of 423 teams from multiple colleges in the state. The first runner up of this competition was PES University that won annual scholarship of Rs. 1.44 lakh whereas BMS College of Engineering was the second runner up which received a onetime amount of Rs. 12000.

‘Numero YONO’ - presented by State Bank of India, is conducted across all 17 cities where SBI Local Head Offices are located. In the Grand Finale, 17 teams from 17 cities will compete with each other for the top spot to win the total scholarship of Rs. 5.76 lakh at Mumbai in March, 2019.

The 17 cities include Ahmedabad, Amravati, Bengaluru, Bhubaneshwar, Bhopal, Chandigarh, Chennai, Delhi, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai, Patna, Pune and Thiruvananthpuram.

Rajnish Kumar, Chairman, SBI said, “We would like to congratulate the winning team of Christ (Deemed to be University). Also we want to thank all the teams for their whole-hearted participation in ‘Numero YONO’ to make this a successful event. We hope that by taking part in this contest, students took away enriching experience of learning and strong team spirit.”

In the last few months SBI under its comprehensive digital service platform YONO has come up with diverse youth engagement initiatives. ‘Numero YONO’ is yet another initiative by the bank to reinforce the brand recall for YONO among its stakeholders.

Blenders Pride Magical Nights Arrives in Bengaluru; Yami Gautam Enthralls with Her Charisma

Blenders Pride Magical Nights arrived in the Silicon Valley of India, Bengaluru, showcasing Style like never before, as renowned designer Rina Dhaka and designer Ajay Kumar present their dramatic styles, tuned to the eccentric beats presented by Soundarya & band at Hotel Conrad in Bengaluru. The evening was an eclectic mélange of contemporary designs celebrating the self and the individual through its extraordinary new concept-‘Pride’ where showstopper Yami Gautam charmed everyone in a Rina Dhaka ensemble.

Far removed from the traditional confines of mere success, the evening defined ‘Pride’ as an inner sense of achievement, of uniqueness and of individuality, all the things that are, in fact, meaningful for this generation. The evening was a celebration of the authenticity and uniqueness of style delving into the idea of ‘Pride’ through one’s choices, style and legacy. It was all about rejoicing in individuals who have created their own distinct tales of style, and are instilled with a strong sense of positive pride, for their self-earned achievements.

Blenders Pride Magical Nights believes in celebrating ‘Pride’ which is a hallmark of today’s generation, as a meaningful expression of their accomplishments. While their distinct choices define their individuality, the taste of pride, which comes from this self-earned achievement, is one for these individuals.

Commenting on the occasion, Mr. Raja Banerji, Assistant Vice President, Pernod Ricard India, said, “For today’s consumer, having a unique style and expressing the same is non-negotiable. Instilled with a strong sense of positive pride, individuals today are driven by confidence and belief for attaining success. Style and Pride, hence are fundamentally democratic. It is every individual’s potential to create their unique identity and to strive for authenticity. Blenders Pride Magical Nights, brings this alive through an eclectic mix of the most stylish in fashion, music and Bollywood. It continues to deliver a never seen before and exciting experience to the consumers.”

Walking the ramp with her sparkling charisma, Yami Gautam enthralled the audience with style and flair. Arunaja thrilled everyone with an energetic performance laced with contemporary beats and soulful vocals.

On her association with Blenders Pride, Yami Gautam said, “My journey in Bollywood has been about unconventional choices and roles I really believed in. I take immense pride in making it on my own in the industry, without any support system. Therefore, I am thrilled to be associated with Blenders Pride Magical Nights to celebrate pride this year through their theme My Style My Pride.”

Talking about her collection, designer Rina Dhaka said, “My collection for Blenders Pride Magical Nights is a fusion of the seventies and diversity, where mixing and matching is the charm. With elaborate details such as big sleeves, romance, shoulders, knife pleats and a slouch, the collection is a dramatic representation of style. I take immense pride in showcasing my design sensibilities through this prestigious platform.”

Designer Ajay Kumar’s collection ‘Bhu: Svah’ – uses handcrafted fabrics in the collection which are amalgamated with the label’s signature digital prints. The designs showcase the poetics of Indian landscape with its evergreen royals styled in a smart-sartorial code with an infusion of athluxe.

Starting from November 2018, Blenders Pride Magical Nights has travelled across Pune, Goa, Nagpur and Jaipur so far.