Niki Marks 750x Growth in Hindi Volumes in a Year, Targets to Hit an Annual Run Rate of $100 Million

With an impressive 30% month on month growth, India’s only regional language B2C commerce app Niki, is consistently growing its presence among the first time internet users of the country. Currently, Niki is operational in 4 Indian languages and it has fulfilled over 1 million transactions across Hindi, Bengali and Tamil with gross merchandise value (GMV) on track to hit an annualised run rate of $100mn by March 2020.

It will also go deeper in smaller towns and cities by adding 25,000 more Tier 2-4 localitie, to build on the 18,000 localities in its current footprint across the Hindi belt of India.

While 90% of the current apps cater to the English speaking population, Niki is digitising household expenses for Indian regional language-first users through its unique voice and local language enabled commerce app. It provides handholding and assurance on all online transactions.

“Niki is on a mission to turn India’s 500 million new Internet users into transacting consumers. With an aim to make technology more inclusive and accessible, Niki introduced Hindi in October 2018 and since then GMV contribution by the Hindi users has seen 750x growth.” said Niki’s CEO and Co- founder Sachin Jaiswal.
He further said,” We are on a mission to build the most trusted app to avail services online for new Internet users, and we aim to grow this to $1 billion GMV by 2021.” 

Backed by, US-based venture fund EMVC, Mr. Ratan Tata, Ronnie Screwwala’s Unilazer ventures and Japan’s Recruit Strategic Partners, Niki has built Internet commerce in the style that’s most natural to these users: A local agent, whereby a user can replicate talking to a neighbourhood human agent in their own language to access hundreds of services.
With deep technology mirrors and enhances the offline experience leveraging machine learning and Natural Language Processing Niki empowering the Indian first time internet user with their first language.
Here are a few statistics that tell us why Niki is the market leader for online transaction for new internet users in India.

1. While 90% of current digital voice-assistants in India communicate in English, Niki’s Hindi voice feature is empowering 44% Hindi-speaking Indians, to use technology in their first language.
2. 80% of Niki’s users is coming from India’s Tier 2 and beyond localities. The 500 million new Internet users that India is expected to have in the next few years, are all emerging from these tier 2, tier 3 towns and Niki aim to turn these users into transacting consumers. 
3. While 28% of search queries in India are done by voice and Hindi voice search queries are growing at over 400% year on year, every 2 out of 3 Niki users engage with voice.
4. Niki recently added Bengali and Tamil to its list of languages and will soon launch language support in other Indian languages such as Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and Marathi.

Tata Tea Chakra Gold Celebrates True Tamil Culture with a TN Exclusive Campaign Conceived by Mullen Lintas

Tamilians are proud of their rich culture that has many claims to fame; that of a rich literary legacy, iconic architecture, of Tamil being the longest surviving language, a vibrant cinematic culture and most importantly their contributions across all spheres such as art, science and corporate world  . The driving principle of all such achievements of both, individuals and a collective, have been the principles of great discipline and a deep respect to tried and tested processes. Driven by quest for perfection, Tamilians take great pride in their methodical approach to all things in life and an eye for great detail.  The new Chakra Gold campaign for Tamil Nadu is a celebration of this very uniquely Tamilian code of life that is evident even in day to day situations.

The film, conceptualized by Mullen Lintas, opens in a traditional meal area of a Tamil function where server, who is placing banana leaf in a certain direction, is stopped by his supervisor who shows the ‘right way’ of placing it. More such life illustrations follow, all showcasing the Tamil penchant for doing every little thing in a certain methodical way and the right manner. The film ends with a scene where we see the same penchant for process being demonstrated by a young boy who copies his father in tying a veshti around his waist, diligently. In all these situations, the most interesting character is played by the VO of an uncle, obsessed with Tamil processes and corrects people whenever they make a mistake. He is the uncle in every Tamil household whose perception in the family is like a custodian of Tamilian code of life and someone who doesn’t hesitate in calling out the mistake even in most harmless situations. When it comes to the process of making good cup of tea, the ‘Uncle’ recommends Tata Tea Chakra Gold as the tea for Tamilians. Film ends with showcasing all protagonists enjoying the perfect cup of Tata Tea Chakra Gold.

Commenting on the campaign in Tamil Nadu, Puneet Das, Vice President-India, Tata Global Beverages says, “Tata Tea Chakra Gold is a blend specially crafted for Tamilians and celebrates the Tamil way of life. Its new campaign is about evoking regional pride of Tamil Nadu that is rooted in understanding the importance of discipline and processes in the life of a Tamilian. Similarly, Tata Tea Chakra Gold made from a rigorous process enables consumers to make the perfect cup of tea”.

Highlighting the insight behind this campaign, Chief Creative Officers at Mullen Lintas, Garima Khandelwal & Azazul Haque, said “Regional insight and truth of inherent everyday behaviour that evokes pride and empathy as a reason to consume Tata Tea Chakra Gold. It positions the brand as a ‘go to’ tea by keeping the consumer at the center using the analogy of the process followed for making it. Similar to the people of Tamil Nadu who drink it, making it the ‘tea of the state’. Simply and beautifully told through the voice and visual grammar that is natively Tamil Nadu.”

The brand’s new campaign combines the logic of 'processes' and the emotion of ‘regional pride' with a touch of witty storytelling and relatable instances for every Tamilian.

Duration: 40 Seconds

Tata Tea Chakra Gold : The Tea of Tamilians

Credits:

Creative Agency: Mullen Lintas
Creative Team: Garima Khandelwal, Azazul Haque, Arvind Murali, Prasad Venkatraman
Account Management: Siddhartha Roy, Lopamudra Bhattacharya, Gayathri Tadepally, Lekshmi Narayanan
Films: Satyajit Ganu
Account Planning: Ekta Relan, Sushma R Rao
Production house: Nirvana films
Director: Kishore Iyyar

About the brand- TATA Tea Chakra Gold:

Tata Tea Chakra Gold is the second largest tea brand in South India and ninth largest across India, in terms of market share. Originally launched in 1985 as Chakra Premium Dust Tea, the product was renamed Chakra Gold in 1989. Over the last 30 years, it has built a strong equity in the markets of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. Tata Tea Chakra Gold is one of the leading packaged dust tea brands in South India with a strong heritage of 34 years. It is predominantly sold in states of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh.  Made from the choicest Assam teas, known for their strongest flavour, Chakra Gold is loved for its strong and lingering taste. With the restage of mother brand and launch of Tata Tea Chakra Gold variants - Activ+ & Elaichi, Tata Global Beverages Ltd. intends to strengthen its portfolio play and build equity in the fast growing premium tea segment in South India.

About Tata Global Beverages

Tata Global Beverages is a global beverage business; its brands have presence in over 40 countries. The Company has significant interests in tea, coffee and water and is the world’s second largest tea company. 330+ million servings of its brands are consumed everyday around the world. Tata Global Beverages Group has an annual turnover of approximately US$1.4bn including from its JV’s and associates; it employs around 3,000 people across the world. The company focuses on natural beverages and has a stable of innovative regional and global beverage brands, including: Tata Tea, Tetley, Himalayan natural mineral water, Tata Water Plus and Tata Gluco+, Good Earth tea, Grand Coffee and Eight O’clock coffee. 

Xtep Unveils the Spirit of Boxing Legend Muhammad Ali Sportwear in Indian Market

Highlights

* S. Suresh Kumar, Minister of Primary and Secondary Education and Sakala of Karnataka inspires youth to adopt sports as a part of their lives and boost ‘Fit India' mission through his message
* Hong Kong based Xtep shares global best practices to make sports a people’s movement in India
* Xtep India plans to expand from one to seven cities by end of 2020

Hong Kong headquartered global sportswear brand Xtep International Holdings Limited launched Sports-Life movement for people in Bengaluru. The move is a first step towards making sports-fitness an integral part of people’s lives in Karnataka. The movement was dedicated to legendary boxer Muhammad Ali whose principles inspire the ordinary masses to reach extraordinary heights in sports and life.

Chief Guest, Shri S. Suresh Kumar and special guests Olympic boxers and coaches Mr. Ganapathy Manoharan, Mr. I. Amaladass, Mr. M. Venu and Director, Xtep India, Vijay Chowdhary were the key dignitaries for the event titled – ‘Remembering all-time boxing legend Muhammad Ali’. True to the theme the Indian boxing titans reminisced their bout with the legend in New Delhi in 1980. The event also sought to inspire youth to adopt sports as an essential life skill and presented Xtep learning from global markets to fuel sports uptake in India.   

In a message to the audience, Shri S. Suresh Kumar said,  “Sports-Life will empower citizens to be active participants in community sporting activities than being passive consumers of sports products. As Minister for Education in Karnataka I have always been very keen to promote a sporting culture amongst our children. I have been making every effort to inculcate a sporting spirit in our young girls and boys in all the schools. I welcome the effort of Xtep in this direction that will lend an impetus to Fit-India movement launched by Indian Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi,” he added.

Revealing Xtep plans and global best practices to introduce Sports-Life culture in India, Vijay Chowdhary said, “Xtep has influenced mass uptake of sports through technology/R&D and targeted community activations aimed at youth.”

“In the area of technology, Xtep Sports Science innovation lab researches runners’ data to produce functionally superior sports shoes for consumers. Xtep has introduced consumer sports-technology such as BMI and 3D printers to help the public select the right pair of shoes scientifically in community run clubs across China.

“In aspects of training and activation/alliances, Xtep has conducted over 200 marathons since 2011 in China and Vietnam and several football matches in Saudi Arabia. We have even partnered with Government of Vietnam to launch a people’s running event. Xtep has also collaborated with professional marathon runners to train the public.”

“For India market, in phase 1, we have introduced mass affordable and functional sports shoes for different fitness needs and consumer categories. We plan to expand to seven cities by end of 2020 to reach a wider consumer base. In phase 2, we’ll bring high-tech consumer sports technology to India. We’ll also partner with run clubs, Govt., private stakeholders, emerging sports aspirants, role models and trainers to nurture sports-life through community events. In phase 3, we’ll invest in sports infrastructure based on market demand,” he adds.

Commenting on the event, Vijay said, “Xtep draws its inspiration from Muhammad Ali’s principles of confidence, conviction, dedication, respect, giving and spirituality. These principles resonate with each of the Indian boxing champions who shared a moment in time with the legend. We hope they will continue to inspire more people to join the Sports-Life movement in India.” 

HGS Sells India Domestic CRM Biz to Altruist Technologies

Hinduja Global Solutions Limited (HGS) has announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to sell its India Domestic Customer Relationship Management (CRM) business to leading BPM services provider Altruist Technologies Private Limited. This is an all-cash transaction for Rs. 40 crore, subject to adjustments. In addition, the proceeds from working capital will accrue to HGS. The transaction, subject to approvals, is expected to close by January 31, 2020.

HGS’ Domestic CRM business comprises primarily voice services and some non-voice processes. Post completion of the transaction, HGS will transfer client contracts and assets at 10 delivery centers across Bangalore, Mysore, Hyderabad, Pune, Mumbai, Noida, Indore and Raipur. Over 7,300 employees will move to Altruist as part of the agreement. For the six months ended September 2019, revenue from HGS Domestic CRM business was around Rs. 145 crore.

HGS will continue to focus on strengthening its international business that supports global clients out of India, HGS Business Services (comprising HRO, Compliance, Payroll and F&A Services) and HGS Interactive businesses.

Edelweiss Financial Services Limited acted as the sole financial advisor to HGS on the transaction.

About Hinduja Global Solutions (HGS):

A global leader in business process management (BPM) and optimizing the customer experience lifecycle, HGS is helping make its clients more competitive every day. HGS combines technology-powered services in automation, analytics and digital with domain expertise focusing on back office processing, contact centers and HRO solutions to deliver transformational impact to clients. Part of the multi-billion dollar conglomerate Hinduja Group, HGS takes a true “globally local” approach, with over 44,218 employees across 71 delivery centers in seven countries making a difference to some of the world’s leading brands across nine key verticals. For the year ended March 31, 2019, HGS had revenues of Rs. 48,167 million (US$ 689 million).

Sarovar Hotels and Resorts Expands Footprint in Bengaluru with “Shravanthi Sarovar Portico” in J P Nagar

Highlights

* 6th property of Sarovar in Bengaluru
* Sarovar Hotels & Resorts has over 6400 keys under its management

Sarovar Hotels and Resorts expands its footprint with the launch of “Shravanthi Sarovar Portico” in South Bangalore.  This is Sarovar’s sixth hotel after Davanam Sarovar Portico Suites, La Marvella Sarovar Premiere, Radha Hometel, Radisson Blu and RBD Sarovar Portico.

Shravanthi Sarovar Portico is a midscale hotel located in JP Nagar, one of Bangalore’s oldest planned suburbs.  The hotel offers easy access to the Central Business District and electronic city and is in close proximity to major tech parks and entertainment hubs. It offers 80 newly renovated guest rooms, an all-day dining restaurant, club bar, fitness center and conferencing facilities. The redecorated lobby is spacious and comprises of a coffee lounge, just the perfect setting for relaxation or business networking.

Shravanthi Sarovar Portico has different decorative themes on each of the four floors. From Scandinavian to Spanish county to Manhattan to the Royal, the hotel’s theme floors and rooms will leave the traveler with a signature experience akin to none.

On the launch, Mr. Ajay Bakaya, Managing Director, Sarovar Hotels & Resorts, said, “We are happy to associate with Shravanthi Group for our new property in South Bangalore. We found great synergies with the group and are excited about our association. With an apt location and serene atmosphere, our new property will be a home away from home for both business and leisure travelers.”

Sarovar Hotels & Resorts is a leading hotel management company and one of the fastest growing chains of hotels in India managing 80 hotels in 50 destinations in India and overseas. “We are delighted to associate with Sarovar Hotels and Resorts. This is our maiden foray into hospitality and with Shravathi Sarovar Portico, we aim to cater to both corporate and leisure travelers. The property is optimally located and is serene yet easily accessible.  We recognized the demand of a business hotel in the locality and are confident our offering will enthrall our clientele”, said L Balakrishnama Naidu, Chairman & Managing Director of Shravanthi Group.

TECNO Brings 6000 mAh Battery Beast & AMOLED Display Priced at Rs 8499 and Available on Flipkart

TECNO, the global premier smartphone brand known for its ahead of the curve approach, is launching today yet another future-ready device ‘TECNO SPARK POWER at just INR 8499. Bolstered by the success of SPARK Go, TECNO SPARK POWER will be a game changer in the INR 9K smartphone segment owing to its monstrous 6000mAh battery. The product will be available for sale on one of the leading e-commerce platforms – Flipkart starting 1st December 2019, 12 noon onwards.

TECNO SPARK POWER is the latest addition to the brand’s popular and globally acclaimed SPARK series that made its India debut during this year’s festive season. The new smartphone is designed for the most discerning tech savvy millennials in India for whom their mobile is the primary screen for all daily needs and entertainment on the go. TECNO SPARK POWER boasts of a ‘category defining’ 6000 mAh battery with AI power saving & safe charging, addressing the need of youth to enjoy uninterrupted non-stop entertainment. TECNO SPARK POWER’s battery back-up can last up to 5 days giving users 29 hours of video playback, 35 hours of calling, 17 hours of gaming or 200 hours of music – all in a single charge!

Commenting on the launch, Mr. Arijeet Talapatra, CEO, TRANSSION India said, “We are a consumer-centric brand and we believe in offering consumers with more options and future ready budget smartphones by staying ahead of the curve in the segment. TECNO SPARK POWER adds another dimension to our product portfolio and this time we are focused on providing Indian consumers with long lasting battery life in under 10K segment, which is far ahead of what other smartphones offer in this segment.  The new smartphone comes loaded with meaningful innovations such as everlasting battery, 6.35” Dot notch AMOLED screen, Intelligent Triple rear camera kit with Quad flash, and advance localized HiOS features, which makes it one of the best ‘All-rounder champion’ phone in the sub 10k category. We can’t wait for our consumers to enjoy this ultimate powerhouse which stands out in every dimension of design, performance, and user experience.”

TECNO SPARK Power is a perfect amalgamation of performance and aesthetics with 6.35” HD+ AMOLED screen that sets a new benchmark for an uninterrupted video viewing experience. It comes with Full vision + Full Horizon (19.5:9) Aspect Ratio with category-defining 600 Nits brightness.  Despite of the massive 6000mAH battery, TECNO Spark Power is sleek and boasts curved glossy unibody for a stylish finish. The smartphone is available in two contemporary color hues - Dawn Blue and Alpenglow Gold.

Making the photography more intuitive, the new TECNO SPARK Power boasts an integration of advance triple rear camera set-up with Quad Flash, that comprises of 13MP primary rear camera with F1.85 apertures, 2MP depth-sensing lens perfectly suited for real portraits and an additional 8MP 120° Ultra-Wide Lens, which has a special feature of microspur that supports focus on objects within 2.5 cm. It also come equipped with Google Lens features, for smart identification of objects automatically popping up all the relevant information for your easiest reach.  That’s not all, SPARK Power also sports a 13 MP selfie camera with innovative dual flash and advance AI technology that offers 6 levels of beauty mode for providing best-in-class photography experience to Indian consumers.

The new smartphone is powered by a 2.0Ghz octa-core Helio P22 chipset paired with up to 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage. Unlike hybrid SIM slots, TECNO SPARK Power supports triple card slot whereby a consumer can use dual SIM cards and memory card at the same time which is expandable up to 256GB. As smartphone privacy and security is key these days, SPARK POWER comes with advance AI face recognition technology which captures 170 facial points to unlock the device. Additionally, it also incorporates TECNO’s unique localised anti-oil fingerprint sensor that provides hassle free access to the phone under all Indian lifestyle and weather conditions.  Another unique feature is Smart Key placed in left side of TECNO SPARK Power which allows user to open Google Assistant for performing multiple functions.

In addition, the brand is giving its consumers inaugural offer of 3 months Gaana Plus Subscription worth INR 297 for free on every TECNO Spark Power unit. 

Emirates Appoints Jabr Al-Azeeby As New Vice President in India, Nepal

Emirates has appointed Jabr Al-Azeeby as the new Vice President India and Nepal. This is part of the airline’s management rotation and positions it to better serve customer needs and respond with agility to market dynamics.

Al-Azeeby began his career with Emirates in October 2005 as a commercial graduate trainee, and quickly moved up the ranks to the role of Manager Uganda in 2008. He held this position for three years, gaining significant expertise in managing commercial operations and teams, enhancing the customer experience, looking for opportunities to better serve the local community, and working with internal stakeholders across Emirates’ wide network and span.

 This was followed by stints in several countries, including Cyprus, Thailand and Indochina. Jabr has more than 14 years of experience spearheading the airline’s commercial operations across countries and regions.

 Jabr Al-Azeeby, the new Vice President India and Nepal said: “I’ve always admired the different facets of India, its people and its culture, and am awed by the country’s progress and fast-paced development. This is an interesting time, as the UAE and India have recently forged even closer bilateral ties. I’m excited to lead the Emirates team in India and look forward to building a strong relationship with our customers, the trade and all our key stakeholders. India continues to lead as one of our most important markets and we’re committed to offering our customers convenience, comfort, innovative products and personalised services. Our growing base of Indian travellers are seeking quality travel experiences worldwide, and we aim to give our customers world class travel services and value for money.”

With a successful track record of boosting the airline’s operations in challenging markets, Al-Azeeby commences his new role from October, after replacing Essa Sulaiman Ahmad who has now been promoted as Divisional Vice President USA and Canada.