Home Credit & MobiKwik Launch ‘Home Credit Money’ App In India

* ‘Home Credit Money’ app provides end-to-end digital experiences for Payments and Credit to users

MobiKwik Wallet powers Home Credit money app for use cases like eCommerce Payments, QR payments, Bill payments and Money Transfer 

* Home Credit enables users to avail Instant Credit up to Rs 10,000 

* The app has received almost 100,000 downloads on Google Play Store in just 3 months.

MobiKwik, India’s largest digital credit platform, today announced a strategic partnership with Home Credit India, a local arm of the international consumer finance provider Home Credit Group with operations spanning in 9 countries across Europe and Asia to launch ‘Home Credit Money’. A mobile application-based wallet, Home Credit Money provides integrated end-to-end digital experience to its customers for their daily life payments and borrowing needs. 

MobiKwik’s partnership with Home Credit Indiais purely digital and at par with the changing spending habits of the aspiring young Indian population. Built with the vision to build a Digital Credit Card for 100 Million Indians, MobiKwik believes the form factor for delivering on the India Credit opportunity is going to be Digital, and not a physical card.

The app is developed keeping in mind our users all payment use cases like eCommerce Payments, QR payments, Bill payments and Money Transfer. The app facilitates users to transact across top eCommerce brands, the 3 million+ physical retailers, and 300+ billers

Home Credit money enables users to avail instant interest-free loan ranging from Rs 1,500 to Rs 10,000 directly into their Home Credit Money wallet. This simple and easy online journey with no physical documentation is available to existing customers of Home Credit along with the benefits of a mobile wallet like instant cashback and super cash, marketplace offers and deals. In addition, the customers can also avail personal loans of upto Rs 2,40,000.

Speaking on the tie-up, Mr. Marko Carevic, Chief Marketing and Customer Experience Officer, Home Credit India said; “At Home Credit, our goal is to empower our customers by offering credit facilities that are seamlessly integrated with their purchase journeys. Built on customer-centricity, we believe that our partnership with MobiKwik is a significant step towards taking customer engagement and experience to a new level. With MobiKwik’s robust ecosystem, and capability to keep customers engaged with its large merchant network, we hope to create many more unique and customized products to address unmet financial needs of millions of customers in India.” 

Home Credit India customers will be made aware about the importance of going digital and the partnership will act as a digital support to them during these challenging times. The company is committed to drive credit penetration and broaden financial inclusion through responsible lending.

Commenting on the partnership, Upasana Taku, Co-founder & COO of MobiKwik said, Mobikwik is committed to deliver credit digitally to the next 100 Million Indians and our partnership with Home Credit helps us in doing so. We believe that a digital wallet is the most suited platform to distribute small ticket loans to the users as they can easily avail the money with zero documentation hassles. By stitching a credit line to user’s mobile wallet we create a virtuous circle of Consumers using Digital Credit and Digital Payments for their daily shopping.”

Bayer To Launch Four New Hybrid Vegetable Seeds In 2021; Hosts Annual ‘Pragati Diwas’ Event In Bengaluru

* Pragati Diwas is an annual event held by Bayer’s Vegetable Seeds business to showcase its high-yielding Seminis® hybrid seeds and good agricultural practices for vegetable cultivation

* The event is being held from January 28 to February 2 at Bayer’s 159-acre mega breeding station near Bengaluru, with all necessary health and safety precautions

* Over 300 farmers, institutional customers, channel partners, government officials, scientists and students will participate in the week-long event

Bayer’s Vegetable Seeds business is hosting its fourth, annual edition of ‘Pragati Diwas’ at its mega breeding station in Chikaballapur, near Bengaluru. The event which starts today, will showcase over 120 high-yielding hybrid seeds across 14 fruit and vegetable crops, including tomatoes, hot pepper, watermelon, cabbage, cauliflower, cucumber and beans. It will also enable knowledge transfer to farmers on good agricultural practices for vegetable cultivation.

Besides in-person visits, the event will also be open for virtual participation. Over 300 visitors, including progressive farmers, institutional customers, channel partners, government officials, scientists, students and academia from local agricultural universities will participate in the week-long event that concludes on February 2. To ensure health and safety of visitors at Pragati Diwas, the activities will be spread over a week, with each day dedicated to a specific group of stakeholders.

The inaugural day on January 28 was dedicated to farmers and showcased new hybrid seed varieties and good agricultural practices for vegetable cultivation. Four new varieties of Seminis® vegetable seeds were unveiled at the event, including ‘Anshuman’ in tomato, ‘SVHA9093’ in hot pepper, ‘Bazlet’ in cucumber and ‘Himgauri’ in cauliflower. These varieties will be commercially launched in 2021. Bayer agronomists held in-depth discussions with farmers on topics such as choosing the right hybrid seed based on local growing conditions, integrated crop management from seed to harvest, and best practices for disease & pest management.

Addressing stakeholders at Pragati Diwas, K. Muthu, Head of Bayer Vegetable Seeds, South Asia & South East Asia, said, “With increasing demand for high-quality, nutritious fruits and vegetables in India, Bayer is focusing on innovative, next-generation of Seminis® hybrids suited to changing consumer tastes and preferences. Besides seeds, we are supporting farmers with integrated crop solutions including crop protection, advisory and digital farming solutions. These are tailored to suit farmers’ individual requirements and varied growing conditions.” Adding further, K. Muthu stated, “Our overall goal is to enhance access to safe, nutritious, affordable foods, including fruits and vegetables for India’s growing population and strengthen the role of smallholder farmers in sustainable farming of vegetables.”

Visitors at Pragati Diwas got to sample fresh fruits and vegetables cultivated from Seminis® hybrids at specially set up tasting counters. Among the highlights at the event was Bayer’s new, yellow watermelon variety – ‘Yellow Gold’, which is set to refresh watermelon lovers during the upcoming hot summer months. The new variety is the result of innovative breeding and comes with a novel look, sweeter flavor, bold taste, fewer seeds and a thicker rind than the popular red variety of watermelons. The thicker rind is especially beneficial for long distance transport and helps curtail food loss.

Visitors also toured Bayer’s 159-acre mega breeding station in Chikaballapur, which integrates state-of-the art R&D laboratories, trial fields and greenhouses under one roof. Set up in 2012, the ₹ 25 crore site is strategic to Bayer’s Crop Science business. The site not only caters to research on new hybrid seed varieties of corn and vegetables for India, but also for South Asia and South East Asia.

2021 has been earmarked by the United Nations as the “International Year of Fruits & Vegetables” and Bayer is committed to support this initiative throughout the year and beyond. In December 2020, Bayer had announced its entry to the home garden segment and launched mini packs of vegetable seeds for bitter gourd, bottle gourd, okra and beans. The mini packs come in three sizes: packs of 25 seeds, 50 seeds and 100 seeds. In 2021, Bayer plans to extend its mini packs across the entire range of its Seminis® hybrid seeds and provide smallholder farmers greater choice in cultivating their own vegetables. Bayer will extend these mini packs to urban markets to cater to kitchen and hobby gardeners and encourage people to grow their own vegetables.

About Bayer

Bayer is a global enterprise with core competencies in the life science fields of health care and nutrition. Its products and services are designed to benefit people by supporting efforts to overcome the major challenges presented by a growing and aging global population. At the same time, the Group aims to increase its earning power and create value through innovation and growth. Bayer is committed to the principles of sustainable development, and the Bayer brand stands for trust, reliability and quality throughout the world. In fiscal 2019, the Group employed around 104,000 people and had sales of € 43.5 billion. Capital expenditures amounted to € 2.9 billion and R&D expenses to € 5.3 billion.

QuEST Global Launches TCMS Test Lab In Hyderabad For Train Control And Management System

QuEST Global, a global product engineering and lifecycle services company, announced today that it has launched a Train Control and Management System (TCMS) lab at its Hyderabad facility. The 5800-sq.ft. lab will facilitate the verification and validation of safety-critical TCMS software for multiple functionalities. This next-generation lab will host test racks for various product families of Bombardier Transportation. The lab was inaugurated virtually by Stéphane Navarra, Head of Engineering Technology Office (ETO) Systems, Bombardier Transportation, and Ajit Prabhu, Chairman & CEO, QuEST Global. The lab is part of the strategic partnership signed by both companies in 2019 to strengthen their cooperation and further develop engineering capabilities for the rail industry.

QuEST's TCMS lab has the capacity to house more than 100 racks and simulations for performing TCMS software testing and hardware-software integration checks. It is qualified to support validation checks submitted as evidence for assessing rail products; and will enable Bombardier Transportation to deliver safer transportation solutions to their customers globally. With the launch of this lab, QuEST also plans to hire over 200 engineers in Hyderabad with expertise across all phases of the software development lifecycle, test automation, and ethernet & internet protocol technology.

Commenting on the new lab, John Saabas, Head of Engineering Technology Office (ETO), Bombardier Transportation said, “We are pleased about the launch of TCMS lab at QuEST premises in Hyderabad. Bombardier Transportation has always endeavored to deliver excellence and help our customers enable faster and smarter commute through continuous innovation. QuEST is a strategic partner in providing world-class engineering solutions to the rail industry, and I am sure this lab will further enhance our valued collaboration in this area.”

Lauding the capabilities of QuEST, Stéphane Navarra said, “The TCMS lab provides the QuEST team with the infrastructure to manage their deliverables end to end. Bombardier will be developing and housing test racks at this lab for our projects in India and globally."

Elaborating further on the significance and value the lab will provide, Ajit Prabhu said, "As a trusted thinking partner to Bombardier Transportation, we are excited to launch the world-class TCMS testing lab in our Hyderabad Centre. We are confident that this will enable us to help Bombardier Transportation serve and create value for its customers. This lab is part of our long-standing strategic engagement with Bombardier Transportation and is a testament to our expertise in providing transformational services and solutions to our customers. We look forward to helping Bombardier Transportation to enhance their competitiveness in the rail domain."

Nutanix Named Leader Again In Market Share In Hyperconverged Infrastructure Software Market in India

 * The enterprise cloud computing leader has raked in 58.9% of the Indian sector’s total HCI SW market revenue for Q3 2020 

Nutanix, Inc. (NASDAQ: NTNX), a leader in private cloud, hybrid, and multicloud computing, has been identified as the dominant HCI SW vendor in the Indian hyperconverged infrastructure (HCI) market for the third quarter of 2020, which is also Nutanix 11th quarter in a row in the top spot in India, according to the IDC’s Worldwide Quarterly Converged Systems Tracker.

According to IDC, at USD$23.80 million, Nutanix grossed 58.9 percent of the Hyperconverged Systems market revenue for Q3 - more than double that of its closest competitor.

The report details a competitive analysis of IDC’s converged systems segments: certified reference systems and integrated infrastructure, integrated platforms, and hyperconverged systems. It is the eleventh consecutive quarter that Nutanix has retained its title as the dominant vendor in India, in terms of revenue intake and market share, within the HCI software market.

Anantharaman Balakrishnan, Vice President and Managing Director, Sales, Nutanix India, attributes the growth and continued success to the company’s focus on customer outcomes, as well as the unique features offered by its software, including freedom of choice, TCO efficiencies, and operational simplicity. These features free Nutanix HCI customers from vendor lock-ins, enabling them to build their own IT infrastructure and choose their own cloud platforms while managing their applications via a single, easy-to-operate platform. This freedom and simplicity helps reduce IT spend and increase ROI for customers.

Balakrishnan said, “The IDC result reflects our ongoing commitment to providing market-leading solutions for our customers. At Nutanix, we take significant strides to understand our clients’ biggest pain points and always look to refine our product offering accordingly. Last year, for example, we made Nutanix Clusters available on Amazon Web Services to enhance the compatibility of our hybrid cloud solution.

“We are proud of what we have achieved in India in the last four years of our operations.  As the world realigns amidst the pandemic, enterprises are accelerating their hybrid and multicloud journey, and we are in an optimal position to support them.”

About Nutanix

Nutanix is a global leader in cloud software and a pioneer in hyperconverged infrastructure solutions, making computing invisible anywhere. Organisations around the world use Nutanix software to leverage a single platform to manage any app at any location at any scale for their private, hybrid and multi-cloud environments. Learn more at www.nutanix.com or follow us on Twitter @nutanix.

© 2020 Nutanix, Inc. All rights reserved. Nutanix, the Nutanix logo and all Nutanix product and service names mentioned herein are registered trademarks or trademarks of Nutanix, Inc. in the United States and other countries. All other brand names mentioned herein are for identification purposes only and may be the trademarks of their respective holder(s). This release may contain links to external websites that are not part of Nutanix.com. Nutanix does not control these sites and disclaims all responsibility for the content or accuracy of any external site. Our decision to link to an external site should not be considered an endorsement of any content on such a site. Certain information contained in this press release may relate to or be based on studies, publications, surveys and other data obtained from third-party sources and our own internal estimates and research. While we believe these third-party studies, publications, surveys and other data are reliable as of the date of this press release, they have not independently verified, and we make no representation as to the adequacy, fairness, accuracy, or completeness of any information obtained from third-party sources.

This release may contain express and implied forward-looking statements, which are not historical facts and are instead based on our current expectations, estimates and beliefs. The accuracy of such statements involves risks and uncertainties and depends upon future events, including those that may be beyond our control, and actual results may differ materially and adversely from those anticipated or implied by such statements. Any forward-looking statements included herein speak only as of the date hereof and, except as required by law, we assume no obligation to update or otherwise revise any of such forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.

Transformation Of Kirana Stores Essential To India’s Economic Growth: Report From Accenture & TRRAIN

* Retail modernization can boost consumption and generate nearly 3.2 million new jobs

The transformation of just 10% of the 13 million traditional grocery retailers in India, known as Kirana stores, could boost retail consumption by more than 5% and generate approximately 3.2 million new jobs in India, according to a new report from Accenture (NYSE: ACN) and Trust For Retailers and Retail Associates of India (TRRAIN).

Titled “Transforming Kirana Stores to Drive Economic Growth,” the report outlines a strategic approach for unlocking value by transforming Kirana stores through a seven-stage framework that focuses on store location and layout; technology; store funding; and product placement, among other factors.

“The rapid changes in consumer behavior and acceleration of online commerce, mandate that the Indian retail ecosystem transform to meet emerging consumer needs,” said Piyush N. Singh, India Market Unit lead. “As the lifeline of the Indian retail sector, a digital-led transformation of Kirana stores can result in significant economic gains, including a nearly 1% employment growth in India. The transformation process needs to be expedited with comprehensive policy intervention, technology support, and, most importantly, collaboration between key ecosystem players.”

“The modernization of Kirana stores will not only help improve consumption and local employment but will also have a positive impact on the retail ecosystem in terms of new growth opportunities,” said Sameer Amte, a managing director in Accenture’s Strategy & Consulting business in India. “We believe with an improved, intelligent supply chain infrastructure, easier access to technology and funds, these stores can redefine the future of the Indian retail landscape.”

The report provides a framework for the modernization of Kirana stores, focusing on six key areas:

Location assessment — essential to identify the customer profiles, demographic and social parameters, income class and external drivers such as competitors.

Funding assessment — considers the in-store capital expenditures and the cost of the space; if the store is rented, the rent should not be more than 3% of sales or one-fifth of the gross profit, whichever is higher.

Store layout — influences the customer’s perception of the store; ideally, 75% of the space should be devoted to sales, 10% to office space and 15% to storage.

Technology — modernization requires a fully integrated retail enterprise resource planning software solution and a point-of-sale machine along with digital wallets registration.

Product placement practices — can be improved by classifying products inside the store into three categories: destination, convenience and impulse.

Customer engagement — can be improved with promotional activities and discount offers.

“India is a nation of shopkeepers, and Kirana stores play a crucial role in the Indian retail sector, which in turn contributes nearly 11% of the nation’s gross domestic product and 8% of its total workforce. Kirana transformation will not only help store owners improve profitability but also add value to the customers and overall ecosystem. This report puts the spotlight on the pivotal role of the Kirana stores in the community and the impact of their transformation not just on them and the industry, but also on India as a whole,” said B.S. Nagesh, founder of TRRAIN. “We believe the report will serve as a foundation as we march ahead in our journey to impact millions of Kirana store owners in India.”

The report also mentions the importance of building an enabling ecosystem for the transformation of Kirana stores and promoting inclusive development. Among the report’s recommendations:

Fast-moving consumer goods should implement innovative retailing techniques such as Kirana-specific merchandising, customized programs for product trials and assortment.

E-commerce and cash-and-carry retailers can leverage Kirana stores for last-mile delivery in remote places and in turn support them with digital technology such as digital payment solutions at the point of sale.

Intermediary players such as wholesalers and logistics providers need to modernize to fulfill the needs of the transformed retail ecosystem.

Retail associations and non-governmental organization (NGOs) should support the education and skill-building of Kirana store owners and collaborate with government bodies to facilitate the modernization process at scale.

Government can enable transformation with policy change to stimulate growth in consumption, gross domestic product (GDP), tax contribution and employment, also providing the impetus for other stakeholders to play their part.

Research Methodology

Accenture Research, in collaboration with TRRAIN, modelled the economic impact of Kirana transformation for India. To estimate the economic potential of Kirana transformation, we analyzed key macroeconomic, demographic, social development and industry indicators across India and the retail sector. We also used economic value modelling across several scenarios based on the analysis of macro-economic indicators. This was further validated by retail expert interviews, in-depth interviews of transformed Kirana store owners and analysis of consumer behavior in transformed Kirana stores.

About Accenture

Accenture is a global professional services company with leading capabilities in digital, cloud and security. Combining unmatched experience and specialized skills across more than 40 industries, we offer Strategy and Consulting, Interactive, Technology and Operations services—all powered by the world’s largest network of Advanced Technology and Intelligent Operations centers. Our 514,000 people deliver on the promise of technology and human ingenuity every day, serving clients in more than 120 countries. We embrace the power of change to create value and shared success for our clients, people, shareholders, partners and communities. Visit us at www.accenture.com. 

About TRRAIN

Trust for Retailers & Retail Associates of India (TRRAIN) is a public charitable trust formed in 2011 by B.S. Nagesh, with the vision of empowering people in retail and works to achieve immediate and lasting change in the lives of retail associates in India. TRRAIN is solely committed to upgrading the lives of people in retail, both at work and at home.

MoHFW & WHO Strengthen Fight Against Sasakawa Leprosy With Joint Launch Of Flipchart - A Training Material For ASHAs

•  To promote early detection and treatment of leprosy in Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Odisha, and West Bengal

•  WHO India to launch short online video to teach ASHAs how to effectively use the Flipchart

•  Flipchart to reach over 3 Lakh ASHAs

With Anti Leprosy Day on 30th January 2021, the WHO Goodwill Ambassador for Leprosy Elimination Mr. Yohei Sasakawa (Recipient Gandhi Peace Prize 2018), Sasakawa Leprosy (Hansen’s Disease) Initiative, National Leprosy Eradication Programme (NLEP) of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare of India (MoHFW), and WHO India today jointly launched a pictorial flipchart on leprosy for Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs).  

Produced jointly by Sasakawa Leprosy (Hansen’s Disease) Initiative, NLEP and WHO India, the flipchart printed in Hindi, Gujarati, Oriya, and Bengali languages is being delivered to 300,000 ASHAs in 6 leprosy-endemic states: Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Odisha, and West Bengal. In conjunction with this launch, WHO India will be releasing short online animation films in regional languages for ASHAs to learn how to use this flipchart effectively. This training package will strengthen ASHA’s skills in facilitating early case detection and treatment which is key for further reducing disease burden.

ASHA workers are the backbone of primary healthcare in India. Working quietly but resolutely at the grassroots level to make basic healthcare facilities accessible to those who live on the margins of the society. ASHA workers have been contributing to early leprosy case detection across India.  They visit house to house to identify people with signs and symptoms of leprosy and refer them to the nearest government health facility for confirmation. 

Lack of public awareness about leprosy is one of the major problems that India is facing in its efforts against the disease. These pictorial learning materials will assist ASHAs to develop a correct understanding of the disease and encourage community members to support their activities. It will promote self-examination and encourage people to consult an ASHA or visit a government health facility if leprosy signs and symptoms are detected. 

“The activities done by ASHAs are a key to achieve leprosy-free India, a dream of Mahatma Gandhi, and I hope this flipchart can be of help for their activities,” said Mr. Yohei Sasakawa, Chairman Nippon Foundation & WHO Goodwill Ambassador for Leprosy Elimination. 

Sharing her thoughts on the Flipchart and how it will aid ASHA workers, Ms. Rekha Shukla, Joint Secretary, Health & Family Welfare said “Government of India is committed to making India leprosy free. National Leprosy Eradication Programme is focusing on early and active detection of leprosy cases in order to ensure complete treatment, prevention of physical disabilities and to stop the community transmission. ASHAs are the main front line workers in case detection activities, and incentives have been provided for ASHAs to even carry out the regular screening rounds in the endemic areas. ASHA flipbooks are an important IEC tool not only for ASHAs, but also for the community.”

Globally 202,189 new cases of leprosy were detected in the year 2019 of which South-east Asia accounted for 143,787 new cases. This is 71 percent of global new cases. In India, 114,451 new cases were detected in the financial year 2019-2020. This represents 80 percent of total new cases found in South-East Asia and 57 percent of global new cases. 

The MoHFW has made concerted efforts to detect and treat cases early with special leprosy case detection campaigns and other activities. This has had a significant impact on controlling leprosy. In a revamped effort to further reduce leprosy cases, the Ministry recently announced an array of measures to widen population screening and make active case detection a regular activity.

Tata Nexon EV Celebrates 1st Anniversary Of Successfully Driving EMobility Revolution In India

Tata Motors today announced the first anniversary celebrations of its popular electric SUV, the Tata Nexon EV. Since its launch a year ago, the Nexon EV has consistently grown in popularity to become India’s highest-selling electric vehicle, commanding a market share of 64% (YTD FY21). Much admired for its design, zero emission technology, accessibility, performance, connected features and above all, really low operating costs, close to 3000 families are currently enjoying the pleasure of owning and driving the Nexon EV and proud of reducing CO2 emissions equivalent to planting 100,000 trees each year. 

Speaking about the one-year milestone, Shailesh Chandra – President, Passenger Vehicles Business Unit, Tata Motors said, “It has been a remarkable year for the Nexon EV in India. Since its launch, it has consistently emerged as a market leader in its segment. Conceptualised with the idea of making EVs a mainstream choice in India, the brand Nexon EV delights its customers with a balanced mix of superior performance, advanced features and adequate driving range, making it an aspirational electric car. In a short span of time, the Nexon EV has been widely accepted by the customers, enthusiasts and the industry. We are truly touched to see our customers openly sharing their experiences with family and friends, which is also helping in breaking myths and addressing barriers to EV adoption. We would like to express our sincere gratitude to all our valued customers for showing trust and strong confidence in Nexon EV, making it the most preferred electric car in the country.”

To mark the occasion of the first anniversary of its Nexon EV, Tata Motors unveiled a specially produced film that tracks the Nexon EVs journey from being one of the first aspirational electric SUVs in the country to leading the EV revolution in India. From introducing the idea of an electric future to democratizing the adoption of EVs, the film delves into interesting features and experiences with this indigenously developed vehicle and can be viewed at click here. Tata Motors is also organising several interesting engagement initiatives including EV tours and mileage rallies for customers and enthusiasts to enjoy and experience the Nexon EV even better.

Tata Motors has partnered with relevant Tata group companies to launch the ‘Tata uniEVerse’, an enabling ecosystem to catalyze the adoption of electric vehicles in India with thrust on local manufacturing of key components and development of supporting infrastructure.

With Tata Power, the company has established a robust process towards installing home charger at the residence of every Nexon EV customer. Tata Power also has the largest network of CCS2 fast chargers (compatible with Nexon EV). Till date, the company has set up more than 300 charging stations in 26 cities and on several prominent intercity routes across India. It is planning to scale this up to 700, across most major cities and highways by March 2021.  For more information, please visit https://nexonev.tatamotors.com.