To Strengthen e-Commerce Business, Flipkart Opens 2nd Data Centre in Hyderabad

Flipkart, the country’s largest e-commerce entity, announced the launch of a data centre in the city, besides investment in the state (Telangana) to strengthen its technology infrastructure.

This is Flipkart's second data centre in the country, the first being in Mumbai. It says the new one (built in partnershop with CtrlS) is part of one of the largest cloud deployments in the country, to strengthen its growing marketplace e-commerce business.

"In our growing e-commerce business, data centres play a critical role. We recognise the tremendous opportunity for sustained data-driven transformation in India and are pleased by the support we have received from the state government," said its chief corporate affairs officer, Rajneesh Kumar.

Flipkart had built its own data centre infrastructure much earlier, to store and manage the enormous data that gets generated from online sales, involving customers and sellers. It has developed its own technology tools, without having to depend on the cloud platforms of larger players like Micrsosoft or AWS for its data storage requirements or analytics.

Hyderabad is considered, after Mumbai, the most secure place for data storage and business continuity plans by many companies, which usually keep their data in separate locations to cope with any extreme eventuality. The BSE stock exchange's second data server, for instance, is also in Hyderabad.

Flipkart's technology prowess was publicly hailed last week by Walmart chief executive Doug McMillon (the US retailing giant bought majority control in Flipkart last year) during his visit to the company's Bengaluru headquarters. Among other things, he'd said Walmart would try to use some of Flipkart's superior technology tools across the former's facilities.

Flipkart refused to divulge details of the data centre, citing security requirements. The Hyderabad facility is expected to enhance the company's overall preparedness for large-scale operations, adding to the technology capabilities in its cloud platform software.

"Telangana was the first state to come out with a dedicated policy on data centres. To see such encouraging results come out is very satisfying for all of us. We welcome Flipkart and its team," said Jayesh Ranjan, the state government's principal secretary, information technology.

Suryoday Small Finance Bank Commences Operations in Bangalore with Launches of Jayanagar Branch

Suryoday Small Finance Bank (SSFB), one of the fastest growing small finance banks announced the commencement of its banking operations in Bangalore by launching its first bank branch today. The branch was inaugurated by Shri G. K Mahantesh , President of Cricket Association for the Blind in India ( CABI ) & World Blind Cricket ( WBC ) at SSFB, GVS Complex, No 329, 10th A Main, 3rd Block Jayanagar, Opp. To Cosmopolitan club, Bangalore: 560011 .

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Baskar Babu – MD & CEO, Suryoday Small Finance Bank said, “Suryoday Small Finance Bank is focused on ensuring financial inclusion of the un-banked and under-banked through innovative banking practices. We are happy to start our banking operations today with our first bank branch in Bangalore. With the launch of this branch we look to further strengthen our existing presence in Karnataka state which is a strong forte for the bank and we will offer one the most competitive interest rates on deposits to our customers because of our robust business model with low operating costs”.

He further added  “We have completed 2 years of operations as a Small Finance Bank and we plan to continue building a healthy book and generate wealth for our customers.  In this financial year, the focus will be to deliver not just excellent customer experience but to create delight factors for all the segments we cater to, through technological initiatives and innovations”

Suryoday Small Finance bank offers one of the most competitive deposit rates in the industry. Currently, a savings account can get an interest rate of up to 7.25%, whereas, on fixed deposits, the customer can earn up to 9% interest rate. For senior citizens, the interest rate offered is 9.5% for 950 days term. The interest on savings account is credited every month.

India’s Digital Infrastructure will Help Revive the Economy: Nandan Nilekani at FICCI NECM

The Co-founder and Chairman of Infosys Technologies, Mr Nandan Nilekani said that India’s digital infrastructure will play a major role in reviving the economy. Mr Nilekani was addressing FICCI members at the National Executive Committee Meeting on ‘Digital India and its Impact on Economy and Industry’ in Bengaluru.

He said that the country has witnessed dramatic transformation through Aadhaar-based e-KYC and online payments, adding that India’s digital data architecture will set the tone for business revival.  “Once data becomes the basis for decision-making in many sectors, you will see a big change,” said Mr Nandan Nilekani.

“World over, data is becoming central to people and government. Data empowerment architecture in India will benefit all segments of the economy,” he said.

Mr Nilekani said that Aadhaar e-KYC has been revolutionary in making life simpler for people and India now has the infrastructure to deal with direct benefits transfers (DBT) in any segment, adding that DBT can revive the power sector.

Mr Nilekani also said that Goods and Services Tax (GST) has increased the number of taxpayers. “GSTN is a great example of technology-led co-operative federalism,” he said and also added that RFID tags linked to bank accounts is another big reform.

Earlier, addressing a session on ‘India’s Growing Bio Economy’, Ms Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, Chairperson, Biocon Ltd, said that the country’s Bio-economy sector is set to reach USD 200 billion by 2030.

“Bio-economy is a crucial segment of our economy and the new government must focus on this in a big way,” she said.

Pointing out that in India, the investment in research and development is less than 1% of GDP, Ms Shaw said, “we must invest at least 2% of our GDP in science, technology and research”.

She said that our education system must embrace research culture and we must leverage the powerful tool of scientists and engineers available in the country.

Ms Shaw also said that gene sequencing cost has come down substantially, which can be utilised for diagnosis of critical disease and in other areas — Indian companies can hugely benefit from gene sequencing.

She also urged FICCI to take up the changes required in the Bio-diversity Bill with the government.

In another session, Mr Rajeev Chandrashekhar, MP and Past President, FICCI, said that industry must play an important role in the deliberations on a secure India and a responsive governance structure.

“We have to independently ensure our safety and security,” he said. Mr Chandrashekhar also said that, in another critical area, the process of reforms in governance started in 2014, and added that, “governance reforms with increased transparency will enhance efficiency of spending”.

Mr Sandip Somany, President, FICCI in his opening remarks for the three sessions, talked about the contributions of the three speakers in their respective domains and also the challenges faced by these areas. “Digital empowerment has led to greater inclusiveness, with the efforts of government as well as several private sector enterprises,” while welcoming Mr. Nandan Nilekani.

Ms. Sangita Reddy, Senior Vice-President, FICCI, and Mr. K Ullas Kamath, Chairman, FICCI Karnataka State Council, gave the vote of thanks.

Razorpay Forays Payment Pages: An Easy Way to Accept Payments for Businesses Without a Website or Mobile App

India’s first converged payment solutions company, Razorpay, announced the launch of its Payment Pages today. Convenient and cost-effective, Razorpay Payment Pages is designed to help all kinds of businesses accept online payments with zero integration and minimum set-up, without any hosting costs, maintenance charges or fixed fees.

India’s biggest business unit, SMEs, account for 30% of the country’s GDP. However, 68% of these small and mid-sized businesses do not have any web presence, especially in Tier 2 & 3 cities. Considering the fact that consumers today expect to pay for products and services online through default modes such as Cards and UPI, it is imperative for businesses to be technologically enabled to accommodate them.

Offering online payments to customers especially in the absence of a website or mobile app can be a long daunting process, requiring time and resources that many small businesses cannot afford.

Razorpay Payment Pages is designed to address this pertinent need by helping businesses create a payment page in less than five minutes and go live without any customer support. Some businesses, sometimes, seek to collect payments for a one-time campaign where a separate integration could be cumbersome and time-consuming; Razorpay Payment Pages helps launch a customised page in minutes with a shareable link for multiple use.

Shashank Kumar, CTO & Co-Founder, Razorpay says, “At Razorpay, our aim is to consistently marry intelligent technology solutions with the payment needs of businesses to deliver a sound, cohesive and comprehensive payment experience. Payment Pages is one such product. It is custom made to enable smaller businesses and underserved sectors embrace digital payments with no technical effort at all. We have been receiving some great feedback from our existing merchants who are using Payment Pages,  and we predict a 10X growth in this number by the end of 2019.”

Razorpay Payment Pages will be launched for fee collection at educational institutes, by event organisers, utility companies for bill payments, for not-for-profit organisations and campaigns, for insurance premium collections and for online donations in case of any natural calamities. In its beta version, over 700 businesses started using Razorpay Payment Pages, a few of  them are Schindler, Swiggy, Don Bosco School, BMW Financial Services, Nestaway and, Testbook and FinanceBazaar, among others.

TCL to Launch Complete Range of Home Appliances on April, 25 2019 in Indian Market

As a global top-two television brand and a leading consumer electronics company, TCL revealed its plans of unveiling a complete range of intelligent home appliances in India. Driven with a vision of making life intelligent and following an India-first approach, TCL is gearing up to unveil its latest range of smart and innovative home appliances like AC, Washing Machine, Refrigerator, Sound Bar, in addition to UHD Android TV powered by artificial intelligence. Already an established leader in the TV and home entertainment segment, TCL is expected to further strengthen its position in India with the launch of cutting-edge home appliances.

The announcement also reaffirms TCL’s strong focus and expansion plans in the Indian market. With a view of winning the ‘heart’ of the nation, the brand had recently announced its partnership with Indian Premier League’s (IPL) Delhi Capitals as a sponsor. Also, in December last year, TCL had inaugurated its panel factory - TCL Industry Park in Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, marking the brand’s first manufacturing unit outside of China. The 1st Overseas Integrated Industry Park in India will not only allow TCL to provide Indian-centric products at competitive prices but also create over 8,000 job, fuelling up the economic development of Tirupati region.

Speaking on the announcement, TCL India Country Manager Mr. Mike Chen, said, “India is home to a growing number of tech-savvy and digital users that demand more from the products that they use. Driven to make life intelligent through our products ranges, we are going to launch a range of innovative and affordable home appliances for our Indian consumers. At TCL, it has been our endeavour to follow an India-first approach, as reflected in our brand promotion strategy or the launch of our first-ever factory plant in India. We are affirmative that our latest range of products will resonate with the mature sensibilities of Indian users, providing them with smart home appliances that easily integrate the latest advancements in the field of artificial intelligence, Internet of Things, amongst others.”

TCL has unveiled industry-leading innovations through its prime focus on a customer-first approach. Instead of relying on the buzzwords, TCL studies the market requirements and innovate to offer cutting-edge technologies that daily users can easily adopt. Owing to its deep understanding of Indian consumers provided through an Indian-first approach, the brand has integrated AI-enabled Google assistance in its range of products. As part of the latest plans, TCL would be packing its competitive advantages in key areas like OLED printing technology, Quantum Dot display material and technology, and AI and IoT in the home appliances segment to make everyday life intelligent in India.

Soon after its national launch, TCL has emerged as one amongst the leading players in the Indian market. As per the Economic Times, TCL is ranked fifth in the Indian market, in terms of 2018 sales of televisions. With an envious product range that leverages industry-leading advancements in artificial intelligence and IoT, TCL is clearly a consumer favourite for various categories, such as home entertainment. Furthermore, the launch of innovative home appliances in the near future will further strengthen TCL’s position as a household brand for the Indian consumers. A Global leading Smart Technology Company, TCL is present across 160 countries and regions across the globe.

Fleetwood, Hull and Gallacher to Take on the Hero Challenge in Liverpool

Tommy Fleetwood, the host of the Betfred British Masters, will be joined by Charley Hull and Stephen Gallacher for an action-packed evening of golf at Liverpool Waters’ Princes Dock on Tuesday May 7 as the innovative Hero Challenge returns for the first edition of the 2019 season.

Taking place during the week of the Betfred British Masters at Hillside Golf Club in Southport, the fast and fun event will bring golf into the heart of Liverpool’s historic waterfront, and fans can secure FREE tickets at LostInTV.com

Hull becomes the first female player to participate in the Hero Challenge, as the Ladies European Tour and LPGA star joins Gallacher, who won his fourth European Tour event last month at the Hero Indian Open, to take on 2017 Race to Dubai Champion and local favourite Fleetwood.

Three more players will complete the line-up as they go head to head in the exciting shoot out event in Princes Dock, located on Liverpool’s incredible World Heritage Site waterfront.

Fleetwood is following in the footsteps of his fellow countrymen Ian Poulter, Luke Donald, Lee Westwood and Justin Rose when he hosts the Betfred British Masters in his native Merseyside. The man who contributed four points to Europe’s remarkable 17½ - 10½ Ryder Cup triumph at Le Golf National last September, will make his second Hero Challenge appearance when he tees it up in Liverpool.

He said: “It’s such an honour to host the Betfred British Masters in my home town, and I’m excited to start off the week in style by bringing golf right into the heart of Liverpool with the Hero Challenge.

“It’s always a really fun night, and I’m sure Charley and Stephen will be just as keen to win as I am, so there should be plenty of entertainment for the fans in Princes Dock.”

Hull, who has three professional victories worldwide and is a three-time Solheim Cup player, broke new ground when she and Georgia Hall formed the first England Women team to play on the European Tour in last season’s GolfSixes. She is looking forward to playing in another innovative golf event.

She said: “I think the Hero Challenge is a great idea to help bring golf to new fans. I really enjoyed playing against the men at GolfSixes and it will be a lot of fun to play in another innovative event.

“Teeing off in the centre of a city will definitely be something new for me and I can’t wait to give it a go.”

Scotsman Gallacher birdied three of his last four holes to produce a stunning comeback and win his first European Tour title in five years at the Hero Indian Open in March. Like Fleetwood and Hull, the Scotsman has also represented Europe, playing in The 2014 Ryder Cup at Gleneagles. He’s also a passionate supporter of junior golf, through the Stephen Gallacher Foundation.

He said: “The Hero Challenge seems like a great way of bringing golf to new fans and hopefully getting more young players excited about the game.

“Teeing it up in Princes Dock will definitely be an interesting experience, and I’m looking forward to trying to get my hands on another trophy.”

Hero MotoCorp Ltd - the world’s largest manufacturer of motorcycles and scooters – has reaffirmed its commitment to innovation on the European Tour by continuing to support the Hero Challenge, which boasts past winners including 2018 Masters Tournament champion Patrick Reed of the United States, Swedish Major Winner Henrik Stenson, and former World Number One Lee Westwood of England.

Owned by regeneration business Peel Land and Property, Liverpool Waters is a £5 billion waterfront development scheme which is transforming the city’s north docks, including development of numerous residential, commercial and leisure facilities across five distinct neighbourhoods. The stunning location takes on hosting duties as the Hero Challenge comes full circle, after a successful debut at the British Masters in 2016.

The Hero Challenge will take place on Tuesday May 7 and will be shown live across the European Tour’s digital platforms. Free tickets to be there in person are available at LostInTV.com

The Betfred British Masters takes place at Hillside Golf Club, part of the glorious stretch of terrain recognised as England’s Golf Coast, from May 9-12, and tickets are available at europeantour.com/tickets

Nutanix Unveils Returnship Programme for Women Seeking to Re-Enter Workplace in India

Enterprise cloud computing leader, Nutanix, has announced the launch of a returnship programme for women, as part of the company’s continued investment in India.

WomEncore, (women encore), will seek to open the door back into the workplace for women whose careers have been interrupted due to family or other reasons by re-skilling and re-equipping them for a continued career in the digital workplace.

The programme will initially target eighty women, comprising two intakes of forty throughout the year. Each four-month training programme will consist of both classroom training and practical workplace experience designed to help them better re-integrate into a digital workforce and open the door to full time employment.

The programme is part of a Nutanix initiative to ensure opportunity and choice for women in STEM. Potential applicants must have a college degree and have been out of the workforce for over 2 years.

Commenting on the initiative, Sankalp Saxena, Senior Vice President and Managing Director, Nutanix India, said “Personal sacrifice should not be a barrier to fulfilling dreams and potential. WomEncore is our way of saying thank you to those women who have put family before career and ensuring that we offer a way back for talented individuals as well as a commitment to help re-launch the careers of a select few.”

WomEncore is just one of a series of programmes initiated by Nutanix in India. The enterprise leader also has a long-standing successful internship programme for its engineering and product support teams.

The initial WomEncore programme will commence on April 22nd, 2019.  Interested applicants can find full details of eligibility online via the WomEncore site at www.WomEncore.in