TVS Motor Company Registers Sales of 307,106 Units in May 2019

TVS Motor Company registers sales of 307,106 units in May 2019 as against 309,865 units in the month of May 2018.

Two-Wheeler

Total two-wheelers registered sales of 294,326 units in May 2019 as against 298,135 units in May 2018.  Domestic two-wheeler sales registered sales of 236,807 units in May 2019 as against 246,231 units in May 2018.

Motorcycle sales grew by 13% with sales increasing from 126,711 units in May 2018 to 142,787 units in May 2019.  Scooter sales of the Company grew by 2% from 95,879 units in May 2018 to 98,202 units in May 2019.

Exports

The Company's total exports grew by 11% from 62,218 units registered in the month of May 2018 to 69,319 units in May 2019.  Two-wheeler exports grew by 11% increasing from 51,904 units in May 2018 to 57,519 units in April 2019.

Three-Wheeler

Three-wheeler of the Company grew by 9% increasing from 11,730 units in May 2018 to 12,780 units registered in May 2019.

Amplify.ai’s Conversational AI Platform Drives Engagement on Facebook Messenger During Poll Counting

Displaying the unparalleled capabilities of AI Chat Assistants, Amplify.ai, the industry’s first enterprise-class conversational AI platform, has driven more than 30 million engagements over the social media during the LokSabha poll counting day, i.e. 23rd of May, 2019. These engagements were conducted on behalf of the Top-4 media houses in India.

As many as 30 million news updates were delivered to 4.39 million unique users by Amplify.ai on the 23rd of May. The AI-based approach helped in the personalization of news updates, thereby driving superlative engagement during poll counting. It translated into 9 lakh comments and 5.78 lakh messages, which are 2.3 and 3.5 times the average respectively. The news channels that had deployed Amplify.ai’s conversational AI solution were able to draw traction from 3.58 lakh unique users (2.1x of the average). Similarly, 2.11 lakh unique users (3.5x of the average) had messaged during the counting period.

Kartik Walia, India Operations Head, Amplify.ai said, “The world’s largest democracy has just experienced a historic election - with the highest ever participation by women voters.

The revelry of this grand festival of democracy has well and truly been evident over the social media. They ultimately became the epicenter of all digital activities as people were able to do both, receive live updates as well as engage with others to share their thoughts and opinions. We believe that this is the true spirit of democracy and are grateful that we were able to play an integral role in this development.”

According to Amplify.ai, the people’s response to the LokSabha results has been affirmative as about 200K congratulatory interactions took place during the poll count. This includes comments, reactions, and messages sent by the users consuming the news. Similarly, female engagement on the conversational platform was also in line with the higher female voter turnout on the ground.

Amplify.ai’s Conversational AI platform supports multiple languages including English, Hindi, Marathi, Telugu, Bangla, and more. Its chat assistants have been deployed by publishing companies like Zee News Hindi, Zee News English, WION, DNA, NW18 – English, Hindi + Regional Languages,The Quint,  ABP Live, ABP News and ABP Majha alongside others.Till date, Amplify.ai has catered to more than 200 million end-users and has successfully driven over 3 billion consumer engagements.

The deployed AI assistants leverage machine learning to analyse the implicit and explicit inputs of the users. This enables them to target curated content to the users and as a result, they directly increase users’ overall engagement and the time spent on individual stories - with as much as 75% more returning users.

This LokSabha season, the user adoption has been beyond expectations and has displayed the proclivity of users to consume personalized communications. Perhaps, it has pointed towards the future potential of such AI assistants across a number of market applications including Public Relations, Corporate Communications, and so on. This development will eliminate bottlenecks – including scalability- and precision-related challenges – from the market, thereby unlocking new avenues of growth and productivity throughout the world.

DCB Bank and WWF-India Collaborate to Conserve the Endangered Indus River Dolphin

DCB Bank and WWF-India have announced a partnership to conserve the endangered Indus River Dolphin in the Beas Conservation Reserve. Working closely with the Department of Forests and Wildlife Preservation, Government of Punjab, the organizations will implement initiatives around education, awareness and community led conservation to protect the species and its habitat and ensure conservation measures for its long term survival.

The partnership between DCB Bank and WWF-India aims to strengthen multi-stakeholder leadership and community-led dolphin conservation. Local institutions will spearhead the conservation efforts for the species and work with farmers living in villages on the banks of the river to reduce input use (water, chemical fertilizers and pesticides) in their farms. As part of the partnership, WWF-India will also implement its Water School Programme which aims to build awareness among students on the need for conservation of natural resources across 30 schools in four districts along the Beas Conservation Reserve.

Dolphins are an indicator species of healthy river systems. India is one of the few countries in the world that has two fresh water dolphin species - the Gangetic River Dolphin and the Indus River Dolphin, sub-species of South Asian River Dolphin. Indus River Dolphins are found in the Indus River system and the River Beas is their only habitat in the country. The river dolphin is listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

DCB Bank Managing Director and CEO Murali Natarajan said, “DCB Bank, has partnered WWF-India to conserve the Indus River Dolphin, one of the world’s endangered species. The project will take measures to protect the dolphin’s habitat in the River Beas and create a healthy ecosystem that will enable these beautiful aquatic mammals to thrive in their natural habitat for years to come. I am confident that our ‘Beas Mitras’ initiative will help spread awareness among both local communities and students of the dire need to protect the Indus River Dolphin. This initiative will focus on protection of natural water resource for the long term sustainability of the river, communities and the environment.”

Ravi Singh, Secretary-General and CEO, WWF-India, said, “The partnership between WWF-India and DCB Bank will help strengthen existing efforts to conserve the endangered Indus River Dolphin. As we continue this journey to protect the Indus River Dolphin, we believe the partnership will make a positive impact on the species’ population and its habitat. We are also deeply appreciative of the involvement of local communities who are the stewards of our conservation effort in the state.”

WWF-India has been working towards the conservation of the Harike Wetland since 2007 in partnership with the Department of Forests and Wildlife Preservation, Government of Punjab. In 2007, a survey was conducted in certain stretches of River Beas by Department of Forests and Wildlife Preservation, Government of Punjab, which established the presence of the Indus River Dolphin in the Beas. The first organized survey of Indus River Dolphin in the Beas Conservation Reserve (185kms) was jointly conducted with the Department of Forests and Wildlife Preservation, Government of Punjab in May 2018. Taking this forward, monthly dolphin surveys will be carried out to establish occurrence and population status along with habitat conservation measures. WWF-India will also work closely with government authorities to devise an Indus River Dolphin Conservation Strategy for long-term conservation of the species.

Array Networks Conducts Relief Program for Cyclone Fani Victims in Puri, Odisha

Array Networks acted fast and came forward to help the Fani victims by handing over relief packages in Gop block of Puri district, Odisha. The regional team took up the task of reaching out to the victims who have not been attended post the cyclone tragedy. On 25th May 2019, Array members teamed up with local volunteers to identify and aid relief and recovery in Gop. A total of 100 relief packages were distributed, which could take care of the families for few days.

"Fani is one of the worst cyclones that has hit India's eastern coastline, Odisha. While many have come together to help the victims, a lot of attention is still needed from rest of India," said Ajay Mohanty, Regional Sales Head (East) at Array Networks . "I would like to thank my colleagues, local volunteers who came forward to help in packaging relief packets, distribution and managing people. They were our local guides, who helped us in identifying the real victims, easing the distribution process."

Array local team together with donor and volunteers conducted a two days relief program to deliver meals and basic amenities to the affected families. Volunteers travelled 200 kms to identify the victims who required support and help. They selected 15 villages to start with, after identifying victims, the team distributed relief packages, each carrying tarpaulin, solar lamp, basic amenities like cereals, pulses etc. at the Local LIC office.

"We at Array feel proud to be able to extend timely support to help the cyclone victims with our small contribution. It is in times like these, that the humanity comes together as a team to help restore normalcy," said Shibu Paul, VP - International Sales at Array Networks.

The government, NGOs and localities all have come together for the relief and restoration of Odisha.

Canon India Plans to Bolster Printing Industry Presence in Southern Market

Canon India, one of the leading digital imaging organizations in country, is planning to strengthen its retail presence in the southern region for its Consumer System Products Division and will reach out to 5000 retailers pan India in tier II and tier III in the next two years. Recently, Canon India introduced a unique concept store for showcasing Canon Inkjet printing technology in Chennai. This year, the company is planning to introduce 19 PIXMA Zones in South to familiarize consumers with the range of inkjet printers, cartridges and photo media according to their usage and needs. By providing a personalized demo experience with an excellent sales support, PIXMA zones are a one-stop shop solution for all printing requirements.

Currently, the company has reached out to over 1300 retail outlets (distributors, retailers and national retailers) in South India and aims to expand the retail presence for the Inkjet printers and system integrators for laser printers. In 2018, Canon India launched six new ink tank models which redefined the inkjet business with lower running cost and high capacity or ink. The cost per print is now as low as nine paisa per print with the launch of the new inkjet models. Canon grew the highest in the Inktank category in 2018 and is targeting to consolidate its leadership position in the segment. 

According to Mr. C Sukumaran, Director, Consumer Systems Products (CSP), Canon India, “We continue to be the industry leaders specializing in crafting consumer centric technological innovations in India. South is one of the most highly consumer centric markets for us. The contribution of the region in the overall growth for 2018 stands at whopping 29%. Bangalore, Chennai and Cochin are the top cities that define Canon’s business. Having reached out to 3000 retailers, Canon’s distribution stands strong in the market and we will continue to penetrate in tier III and tier IV markets by keeping Bengaluru as the base market for South India.”

Canon has more than 200 service centres across India and covers over 90% pin codes, giving the company deep reach. To further strengthen the customer service, Canon is now planning to launch 75 PIXMA Zone experience across the markets in 2019. So far, the company has launched four zones in Delhi, Chennai, Ludhiana and Hyderabad.

Tata Motors Touched Over 7 Lakh Indian Lives in the Last 12 Months

Key Highlights

Emphasizes on four pillars- Health, Education, Employability and the Environment

·         Health: 3.8 lakh people benefitted and over 90% of malnourished children treated and healthy

·         Education: 1.4 lakh students engaged, pass percentage improved from 55% in FY2015 to 80% in FY2019

·         Employability: 1 lakh youth skilled, of which over 56% found employment, led to annual increase in family income by ₹1 lakh.

·         Environment: Planted 11 lakh saplings (of indigenous varieties) and ensured 85%  survival rate

·         Volunteering: 40% of total employees invested 60,000 volunteering hours for social cause

In line with the vision of ‘all stakeholders’ wellbeing as the very purpose of our existence’, as conceived by Jamsetji Tata, the Tata Group founder, Tata Motors has been pioneering its corporate social responsibility agenda to promote Health, Education, Employability and the Environment. Community development as well as the scope and depth of its operations have grown exponentially over the years. Reinforcing its commitment towards nation building, Tata Motors has touched over 7 lakh lives of which nearly 40% belong to the SC and ST communities

Here is a snapshot of the company’s CSR interventions across four key thrust areas:

1.       Building and Strengthening Healthcare Facilities ‘AROGYA’

The focus in this programme has been on eradicating malnutrition in children under five year age and providing safe drinking water especially in drought prone tribal hamlets/habitations. The company has created a strong cadre of community health workers who provide basic health services at the doorstep. In Pune, Jamshedpur and Lucknow, the mobile medical van ferries the neighborhood on a regular basis and has arrested many health issues. As a result, the number of parents availing the services have reduced over time.

Overall Impact:

-          In FY19, over 3 Lakh people benefitted from this programme
-          Over 90% of the malnourished children brought to sustained healthy zone
-          Water security ensured across 450 habitations

2.       Augmenting Primary Education System ‘VIDYADHANAM’

This programme is engineered to improve the academic performance of secondary/college going students through targeted approach by instituting need-based financial support, special coaching classes, etc. Tata Motors is the first corporate in India to support IIT Bombay under Affirmative Action (AA) for Financial Aid Programme (FAP) program.

Overall Impact:

-          Over 1 lakh students were engaged through this programme
-          Pass % in government schools improved from 55% in FY 2015 to 80% in FY 17
-          44% of class 10th students secured first class marks

3.       Enhancing programmes on Employability ‘KAUSHALYA’

The programme focuses on training unemployed youth in three segments - auto trades, non-auto trades and agriculture & allied activities. On receiving NSDC certification, students find employment opportunities in open market (including Tata Motors' ecosystem). The company also engages with community based groups of women and farmers and helps them earn supplementary income through agriculture and allied programs. In Pune, Tata Motors ran an exclusive driver training batches of 50 women in partnership with Ambika Motors. Currently, Tata Motors in collaboration with Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) is training another batch of 50 SC women.

Overall Impact:

-          Skilled over 1 lakh youth and farmers
-          56% have found employment in selected trades post training
-          4% of the trained youth started their own enterprise
-          Increase in the annual income by ₹ 1 lakh



4.       Nurturing sustainability through environmental programmes ‘VASUNDHARA’

Concentrated efforts to increase the green cover through sapling plantation and also enhanced environmental awareness among communities.

Overall Impact

-          Over 11 lakh saplings were planted and ensured their survival rate remained significantly high (85%); 90% plants are indigenous
-          Over 89,000 people (mostly young children) were sensitize about the cause
-          27% reduction in wood demand due to adoption of fuel efficient cooking stove

5.       Inclusive, Equitable and holistic development of society through ‘AADHAR’

To promote inclusivity, Tata Motors has institutionalized Tata Affirmative Action Programme (TAAP) known as “Aadhar” that practices positive discrimination for Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) in case of Employment and & Entrepreneurship and higher coverage in CSR led programmes.

Under the concept of Integrated Village Development, which focuses on holistic development of a tribal village/hamlet, Tata Motor collaborated with Sahabhag (the CSR Cell of Government of Maharashtra). This pilot project saw improvement in the quality of 3000 tribal lives of Pathardi gram panchayat in Jawhar block of Palghar district where 70% of the resources for village development came from the government.


No. of SC/ST lives touched by 5 ‘E’s:

-          Essential Enablers: 1,88,091 Lives Touched

-          Education: 37,463 Lives Touched

-          Employability: 25,280 Lives Touched

-          Employment: 11% employees are fromSC/ST community.

-          Entrepreneurship: 26 (SC/ST) vendors have been developed

6.       Volunteering Programme:

·         10500 employees (40% of total workforce) invested 60000 volunteering hours for social development

·         95 Fast trackers under ‘Leadership One’ engaged in CSR projects for 8 weeks

·         106 managers signed up for Pro-Engage. Dedicated 6 months to address social causes

Microsoft India Aims to Drive Growth in Premium PC Market with Affordability Program

Microsoft Surface devices will now be available across premium retail stores in India for customers with EMI options. Through this initiative, Microsoft aims to make the Surface line of devices become more affordable to everyone. This affordability initiative extends to the latest Surface devices such as Surface Pro 6, Surface Laptop 2 and Surface Book 2. Additionally, the Surface Go is being launched in select premium outlets by Microsoft’s authorized Distributor HCL Infosystems Limited. Citibank will offer additional limited period cashback till June 30th, 2019 to all Citibank credit card customers in India on purchase of Surface devices shipped within India. Store details can be viewed at www.microsoft.com/en-in/retailers/surface

Apart from making the Surface line-up more affordable, Microsoft also announced offline retail availability of the recently launched Surface Go, Microsoft’s smallest and most affordable Surface device yet, to make the device more accessible to everyone. Surface Go is now available in Croma, Reliance Digital, Vijay Sales, and other select retailers in India.

Surface Pro 6: Your Device, Your Way

Surface Pro 6 features redesigned architecture under its hood that delivers astonishing power. The quad-core, 8th Generation Intel Core processor device is an instrument of versatility, portability and power. It is 1.5 times faster than its predecessor, while offering the same all-day battery life. Surface Pro 6 features a 12.3” PixelSense display that is perfect for rendering designs on a photo editing software, or for binge-watching serials on your favorite streaming apps.

For users who use Surface for ideation, they can continue to lean on the new generation to take their ideas to the next level by combining digital inking features and Surface Pen with everyday Artificial Intelligence (AI) features available on Office 365. With helpful time-saver features on Windows 10, including the password-free Windows Hello sign-in and Windows Timeline, users can get more done on their Surface Pro 6.

Surface Laptop 2: Perfect Balance, Perfect Work and Life Partner

The all-new Surface Laptop 2 continues to deliver outstanding performance for users seeking a stylish yet conventional device. Sleek and light, with improved speed and performance enabled by the latest 8th Generation Intel Quad Core processor, Surface Laptop 2 is 85 percent more powerful than its predecessor.

With up to 14.5 hours of battery life[1], Surface Laptop 2 is meticulously crafted with its premium design, PixelSense Touch Display, and best in class keyboard and trackpad. Surface Laptop 2 is more than a workhorse – it is a style statement.

The Most Powerful Surface Ever: Surface Book 2

Surface Book 2 is up to five times more powerful than the original. With a stunning PixelSense Display, Surface Book 2 gives you the power of a laptop, the versatility of a tablet and the freedom of a portable studio all in one beautifully styled device. Removing the barrier between a conventional desktop and laptop, the Surface Book 2 featuring the latest 8th Gen Intel Dual-Core or Quad-Core processors, and NVIDIA GeForce GPUs.

Every detail of the iconic Surface Book 2 design has been refined, from the dynamic fulcrum hinge for a more stable touch experience, to the improved, backlit keyboard and flexibility of both USB Type-A and USB Type-C ports. It’s designed to deliver the ultimate in performance and versatility without compromise. For those seeking flexibility in the way they use their device, the Surface Book 2 supports four different modes, including Studio Mode, Laptop Mode, View Mode, or even Tablet mode by simply detaching the screen.

Surface Go - A full laptop on the go, and a workstation at your desk

Powered by an Intel Pentium Gold Processor 4415Y, users can expect to seamlessly launch an application like OneNote, or stream videos from Netflix. The processor, which has been chosen to manage performance, battery life and thinness, provides the portable power to get stuff done. Surface Go also offers up to 9 hours of battery life[2], which brings users from their work desks to their couches – all on a single charge. Weighing at just 1.15 pounds and 8.3mm thin, the 10-inch, Surface Go offers laptop performance and tablet portability for individuals seeking a versatile form factor. Surface Go addresses what people wanted from a smaller device – lightweight, productive and accessible.

Surface Go fits snugly in most bags and is ideal for everyday tasks. Surface Go brings to consumers what is already expected from a Surface device: a productive 2-in-1 device that supports inking with the Surface Pen[3] with 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity; a 3:2 high-resolution PixelSense custom calibrated display which is designed to render the pages of most school textbooks; a built-in with full friction hinge that extends to 165 degrees helps you stay in your flow from tablet to studio mode, and support for type and mouse input with our Signature Type Cover.