ekincare Drives COVID Vaccination For The Indian Corporates

ekincare, one of India’s leading employee healthcare management companies, announced the initiation of COVID vaccinations for employees and their dependents from March 8th, 2021. The vaccination drive is being streamlined to address technical issues with Co-Win and is carried out with 100% compliance with government directives.

ekincare, along with its various trusted healthcare partners including NU Hospitals, Kauvery Hospitals, Sahyadri Hospitals and 1 mg, to name a few, is rolling out the vaccine at all the major metro cities, with additional locations pan-India to be added in a phased manner. The vaccination schedule began from March 8th, 2021 to start inoculating employees’ at-risk family members, including senior citizens.

ekincare has proven experience with inoculation drives, having administered over 10,000 vaccines in the past 3 months for 25 client companies. Along with this, it is the single largest POC for pan-India coverage, with more than 25 currently operational centers with plans to expand to over a 100 more locations across the country. ekincare also provides 24/7 doctor support in case of emergencies or adverse effects from the vaccine, making it one of India’s most trusted healthcare management firms. Using the ekincare app, employers can track their employees’ health and address any health-related concerns that might arise amongst the workforce and with its 24/7 doctor support and self-health tracking, the app allows employees to manage their own health needs from one unified app.

Kiran Kalakuntla, CEO of ekincare said, “Early adoption of employee vaccination can improve employee morale, alleviate risks of COVID infection and provide peace of mind, leading to easier transition to carrying out business at the workplace again. We are working closely with the hospitals, corporates and following all Government of India protocols to ensure smooth running of this exercise.”

COVID-19 Vaccination Execution Plan – Current Phase:

While ekincare has listed a few major metro locations to begin with, the list is expected to grow up to 100 in the next phase once diagnostic centers are allowed to. The vaccination can be administered at home (including dependents) or at office premises or at a partner location where ekincare takes care of cold chain logistics and stock management across defined locations altogether.

Also, they ensure availability of family doctors for remote monitoring of health in case of any adverse effects wherein employees can initiate a doctor chat in case of any health issues 24/7.

Awareness Generation & Compliance Management: ekincare extensively takes care of navigating through the government compliance management (as per GOI protocols from time to time) and also helps drive awareness of the initiative for the employees including administration of the second dose, So, whenever the second dose would be due for a customer, the ekincare team will reach out and schedule inoculation for them.

Holding a profound experience in inoculation with over 10,000 vaccines administered in the last 3 months and being the single POC for pan-India coverage along with ensuring 100% compliance with any upcoming government regulations makes ekincare the best Industry leader in employee health benefits, trusted by 250+ clients.

Successful implementation of vaccines in the past

With experience of handling vaccinations like Typhoid, Flu, etc. across multiple clients, both on-site and at home, ekincare is ready to ensure your employees are safe and have the smoothest experience with the COVID vaccine as well.

For BFSI and Agri clients with 14,000+ and 5000+ employees respectively, ekincare has set up on-site camps during flu season at 13 locations and covered over 1700+ employees in total. Additional 2500+ and 700+ employees each were vaccinated in these drives using at-home inoculation in 15 cities.

About ekincare:

Founded by Kiran Kalakuntla and Srikanth Samudrala, ekincare is a health benefits platform that helps companies administer benefits efficiently, optimize their healthcare spends and show real health outcomes. ekincare’s patent-pending AI powered health assistant reads medical data from disparate data sets to create a health graph, predicts health risks, and provides timely personalised recommendations to beat those risks.

Shapoorji Pallonji Real Estate Launches New Phase Of Parkwest In Binnypet, Central Bengaluru

After the successful launch of Phase 3, Shapoorji Pallonji Real Estate, one of India’s most trusted real estate brands, has announced the launch of a “new phase at its luxury residential project Parkwest” in Binnypet, Central Bengaluru. The new phase will have around 440 efficiently designed luxury apartments with configurations of 1 BHK, 2 BHK, 2.5 BHK and 3 BHK, ranging from 462.10 sq.ft. to 1185.07 sq.ft. 

The residences are available between the price range of Rs 72 lakh to Rs 2.06 crore onwards.   

The estimated cost of constructing this new phase will be around Rs 300 crore. 

In three phases, the company had launched over 1900 apartments which are almost sold out. It has also delivered more than 700 apartments of Phase 1 as per the timeline.  

Commenting on the launch, Mr. Venkatesh Gopalakrishnan, Chief Executive Officer at Shapoorji Pallonji Real Estate, “We have witnessed a steady demand for spacious luxury homes in the last few months which indicates a shift in the post-pandemic consumer behaviour in Bengaluru market. Leveraging this shift and latent demand, we have planned to launch new phase, believing this is the right time to bring best products to the central Bengaluru micro-market.”  

“Given the current scenario, customers look forward to assurance from trusted brands to reimpose their faith in buying a home and we are confident that Parkwest will not only deliver but exceed customers’ expectations of luxury living,” Mr. Gopalkrishnan further added.  

Spread across 46 acres of development in lively Binnypet and nestled in a serene environment amidst lush greenery, Parkwest is one of the largest luxury residential developments in Central Bengaluru. The luxury residential project offers spacious homes with large deck, ample sunlight, fresh air and breath-taking views.  

The newly launched phase, named Parkwest 2.0, will have a state-of-the-art Clubhouse, infinity-edge pool, pet park, adventure play area, BBQ deck, Zen garden, senior citizens pavilion, cricket pitch, themed gardens, sandpit, treehouse, spa, gymnasium, jogging track, tennis court, basketball court, squash court, table tennis, amphitheatre, restaurant, reading corner, multi-purpose sports arena etc.  

Parkwest’s appeal lies not just in the thoughtfully planned apartments but also in the abundant open spaces that come with the project in the city centre. It is one of the largest luxury residential gated communities in the centre of the city. It offers modern lifestyle amenities that includes Club Uno – a 5200 sq. mt. clubhouse with premium amenities like swimming pool, 2 squash courts, multipurpose court, table tennis, cards room, gym, restaurant, banquet hall, salon, spa and guest rooms. The company has already delivered the clubhouse with Phase 1.  

Located at Binnypet, in the heart of Bengaluru, the project is within easy reach from Metro Station, Majestic Bus Stand and City Railway Station. Parkwest ensures the best for residents, offering easy access to the Central Business District, shopping malls, schools, hospitals, commercial complexes, restaurants and entertainment options. 

Shapoorji Pallonji Real Estate has a development pipeline of over 80 million sq. ft and is looking to double its top line in the next 2 to 3 years. It is one of the top five real estate developers in India by sale. 

About SPRE  

Shapoorji Pallonji Real Estate is a well-regarded, reputed player in the Indian real estate sector owing to cutting-edge design innovation, construction quality and architectural excellence. It constitutes a significant segment of the Shapoorji Pallonji Group – an enormous multi-business conglomerate. The group has a 155-year legacy that bridges the earliest celebrated structures of India and the modern marvels. Shapoorji Pallonji Real Estate has made inroads into most Indian cities – Mumbai, Pune, Bangalore, Gurugram and Kolkata - with a variety of developments from luxury apartments, opulent residences to aspirational homes for mid-income homebuyers as well as one of the largest mass housing projects in India. 

METRO Cash & Carry India To Cover COVID-19 Vaccination Cost For All Its Employees Across The Country

* Plans to inoculate over 14000 direct and indirect employees based out of all its 28 stores in India

* The COVID-19 vaccination drive will cover all on-roll, contractual staff, security personnel, drivers, promoters, porters and loaders

METRO Cash & Carry, India’s leading wholesaler and food specialist, will be covering the COVID- 19 vaccination cost for its entire workforce in India. Supporting Government of India’s COVID-19 vaccination drive, the company has decided to cover the COVID-19 inoculation cost of over 14000 direct and indirect employees, including contractual staff, security personnel, porters, loaders, working across its 28 stores in India.  

As part of the ongoing vaccination drive, METRO has facilitated voluntary vaccination of employees above the age of 45 with specified comorbidities as laid out by Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. The company is partnering with industry bodies and other authorities to conduct the immunization program. The benefit will be extended to the rest of the employees as and when the government rolls out the next phase of the vaccination drive. The current initiative is in addition to the regular health insurance cover that is provided by the company to all its employees.

Speaking about the initiative, Mr. Arvind Mediratta, MD & CEO, METRO Cash& Carry India said, ‘At METRO, we prioritize the health, safety and well- being of our entire employee ecosystem. During the pandemic, our employees have braved odds and shown tremendous courage to report to work, and have been working diligently to ensure uninterrupted supplies to all our business customers, especially the kiranas. Covering their vaccination cost is a small way to express our gratitude to them for their resilience and selfless service throughout this phase. While the choice of opting for the vaccination is voluntary as per employees’ discretion, currently it is one of the effective means to fight the pandemic, and we are encouraging employees to opt for it.  

He further added, ‘The pandemic has also reiterated the true value of the presence of small shops and kiranas in our neighborhood. It is important that government of India acknowledges the contribution of the kirana community along with the retail employees during the pandemic; and recognize them as ‘frontline workers’, as they have been serving the nation tirelessly despite being vulnerable to the risk of infection. They should be prioritized in the ongoing vaccination drive.”

About METRO Cash & Carry

METRO is a leading international wholesale company with food and non-food assortments that specializes in serving the needs of hotels, restaurants and caterers (HoReCa) as well as independent traders. Around the world, METRO has some 16 million customers who can choose whether to shop in one of the large-format stores, order online and collect their purchases at the store or have them delivered. METRO in addition also supports the competitiveness of entrepreneurs and own businesses with digital solutions and thereby contributes to cultural diversity in retail and hospitality. Sustainability is a key pillar of METRO’s business. The company operates in 34 countries and employs more than 97,000 people worldwide. In financial year 2019/20, METRO generated sales of €25.6 billion.

METRO Cash & Carry entered the Indian market in 2003. The company currently operates twenty-eight wholesale distribution centres under the brand METRO Wholesale including six in Bangalore, four in Hyderabad, two each in Mumbai and Delhi, and one each in Kolkata, Jaipur, Jalandhar, Zirakpur, Amritsar, Vijayawada, Ahmedabad, Surat, Indore, Lucknow, Meerut, Nasik, Ghaziabad and Tumakuru.  For further information, log on to www.METRO.co.in  

The Circular Economy Can Help Reduce Vehicle Lifetime Emissions By Upto 75% by 2030: Accenture and the World Economic Forum

* The automotive industry must take swift action now to decarbonize and prepare for increased mobility demands

The adoption of circular economy practices combined with accelerated electrification in the automotive industry has the potential to reduce carbon emissions by up to 75% and non-circular resource consumption by up to 80% per mile by 2030, according to a report from Accenture (NYSE: ACN), the World Economic Forum, and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development.

The report, “Raising Ambitions: A new roadmap for the automotive circular economy,” is based on an Accenture analysis that finds mobility demand — in terms of both passenger miles and predicted vehicle stock — is expected to increase 70% globally by 2030. The automotive industry can prepare for this demand, while also decarbonizing to contribute to limiting global warming to less than 1.5°C, by achieving circularity through the lens of energy, water, waste, materials, vehicle lifetime and use.

“Circular economy can not only help to serve the growing mobility demands of our country but also help in reducing resource consumption to a level that is truly sustainable. As the fourth largest automotive market in the world, the recent sustainable guidelines announced by the Government of India such as voluntary vehicle scrapping policy for subsidizing scrappage of old vehicles, implementation of BS-VI emission norms and FAME II policy to incentivize and fund EV manufacturing, ushers in the next era of circular cars. To achieve circularity, automotive companies need to embrace a consistent and holistic approach leveraging best-in-class technology tools that requires collaboration with the broader ecosystem over the coming years,” said Raghu Gullapalli, Managing Director and Lead APAC and Middle East for Industrial & Mobility, Accenture.

“Circular cars will be a key building block to serve the growing mobility demand, while at the same time reducing resource consumption and carbon emissions to a level that is truly sustainable,” said Axel Schmidt, a senior managing director at Accenture who leads its Automotive industry group globally. “While many vehicle manufacturers have already set net-zero goals toward carbon neutrality, the roadmap for automotive circularity must be a core element of this transformation and ambition.”

According to the report, circularity in the automotive ecosystem can be accomplished through four key transformation pathways:

Achieve net-zero carbon emissions across the whole vehicle lifecycle (e.g., low-carbon materials and assembly, integration with energy grid.).

Enable resource recovery and close material loops (e.g., end-of-life disassembly and reverse logistics, electric vehicle battery recycling).

Increase the lifetime of the vehicle and its components (e.g., subscription-based ownership, re-use and remanufacturing at scale).

Ensure efficient vehicle use over time and occupancy (e.g., vehicle/mobility on demand).

“The circular car is now on its way to becoming a core component of the automotive future,” said Christoph Wolff, global head of mobility and member of the executive committee at the World Economic Forum. “Companies across the industry must consider how technology and business levers can maximize the resource value of the car, minimize life-cycle emissions and unlock new opportunities along the value chain.”

The primary barriers to circularity in the automotive industry are related to customers and use patterns, business models, production methods and technology, and regulatory hurdles. The report outlines key recommendations to overcome challenges along the automotive value chain:

Agree on a common framework for guiding and measuring progress.

Realign the profit motive for the automotive ecosystem away from selling products toward selling mobility and other services.

Create data standards, reporting frameworks and transparency measures that foster circularity in vehicle design development, life-cycle management and end-of-life processing.

Start piloting radical solutions now and target to leapfrog existing product development cycles.

Secure policy support for systemic transformation.

The report is the result of Accenture’s work with the World Economic Forum Circular Cars Initiative (CCI), which consists of 40-plus member companies and organizations from the automotive value chain, jointly laying out a systemic approach to automotive sustainability and circularity. The goal of the initiative is to foster collaboration and kick-start a system transformation toward a circular economy.

“The automotive industry along with the mobility sector will have to profoundly change if it is to provide for the forecasted 2.5x fold increase in road transport demand by 2050 at net-zero carbon emissions”, said Thomas Deloison, director of mobility, World Business Council for Sustainable Development. “We believe that the Circular Cars Initiative will help to find the collaborative pathways to accelerate this transformation.”

About the Research

The World Economic Forum and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development formed the Circular Cars Initiative (CCI), which takes a systemic approach to accelerate the transformation to automotive sustainability. It looks at how technology and business levers can maximize the resource value of the car, minimize life-cycle emissions and unlock new opportunities. Within the CCI, 40 companies from the automotive value chain, several research institutes, international organizations, governmental bodies and think tanks are charting the course toward a zero-emission future through new technology, materials innovation, efficient vehicle usage and full life-cycle management. The CCI represents the first organized industry effort to systematically address the opportunities and challenges of circularity, with an eye toward fundamentally remaking automotive value chains and business models.

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. About the World Economic Forum

The World Economic Forum, committed to improving the state of the world, is the International Organization for Public-Private Cooperation. The Forum engages the foremost political, business and other leaders of society to shape global, regional and industry agendas.

Paytm Payment Gateway Witnessed 61.54% Annual Merchant Growth In Karnataka, Aims To Double Growth In 2021

* Digital adoption growth backed by Paytm Payment Gateway for merchants in Karnataka is the key towards helping them build their brand online. 

* Merchants belonging to parking tolls, event services, and BFSI categories have grown significantly over the last one  

* Paytm aims to penetrate further into the payment gateway market in the state and surpass the current growth numbers.  

Rising from the continued impact of COVID-19 pandemic, local businesses in Karnataka have started witnessing the silver lining while undergoing digital shifts in their business models. Paytm All-in-One Payment Gateway, which has been the key payment enabler for merchants, has seen 61.54% growth in the total number of merchants in the state in the last twelve months. This clearly indicates the willingness of local merchants trying to take their businesses back to the pre-pandemic mode or even better by syncing them to the new normal. While they have been cautious during these troubled times, Paytm has helped them significantly with its All-In-One Payment Gateway to evolve their unviable business models.  

The digital evolution story of the country’s IT capital is not limited to its regional contribution. Bengaluru continues to record a significantly high number of digital transactions in the state, in which peer-to-merchant digital payments now play a major role. It is because of the high level of general awareness about digital payment services among the businesses. The merchants think of Paytm as a reliable payment partner, which made them use its payment gateway for adoption of digital payments. Another reason that made more merchants ‘go digital’ with Paytm payment technology is the rising trend of peer-to-merchant transactions. Most businesses feel that customers look forward to making purchases from the local brands online. They also report that a higher number of customers now ask for digital payment sources. Consequently, more merchants have built their websites and applied for Paytm Payment Gateway integration.  

Moreover, they are quite familiar with using Paytm mobile wallet, which has helped them tune into accepting payments online from their customers. This clearly indicates the need amongst businesses for selling products/services online and accepting payments seamlessly. The adoption of Paytm’s All-In-One Payment Gateway is also supported with the lowest transaction charges, which is 0% for startups and individuals in the first year.   

Within the total merchant growth in the last one year in Karnataka, several business categories have stood the test of time and shown unprecedented growth. Parking and tolls, event services, and BFSI have taken the top three spots on the growth list, with 207.14%, 138.89%, and 125.93% growth respectively. These numbers signify the upward trajectory of digital growth amongst businesses as they plan to bring all their offerings onto an online platform.   

Looking at the surge of businesses willing to partner with the largest payment service provider, a Paytm spokesperson said: “We are uniquely poised to cater to the needs of diverse businesses, big and small, with our payment solutions. The results that came up for our efforts dedicated to the state of Karnataka in terms of merchant growth shows that we are heading on the right path. Secondly, there is still enough headroom to scale up the efforts further like no other competitor. This is one reason that we are aiming to double the merchant growth in the next one year.” 

Signify Launches India’s First Tailor-Made 3D Printed Luminaires For A Circular Economy

* Company sets up 3D printing facility in Vadodara and a Design lab in Noida

* On-demand tailor-your-luminaire online service launched for consumers

* 47% lower carbon footprint than a traditionally built metal luminaire

* Innovative designs with infinite choice in colours, textures and shapes

Signify (Euronext: LIGHT), the world leader in lighting, today launched India’s first tailor-made 3D printed luminaires. This highly flexible and more sustainable form of manufacturing, using a 100% recyclable polycarbonate material, enables the company to produce luminaires that have bespoke designs or are tailored to customer’s exact needs and recycled at the end of their life, supporting a circular economy.

Currently, Signify is the only major lighting manufacturer to be producing 3D-printed lighting products on an industrial and commercial scale in India. In alignment with the Indian government’s agenda of ‘Make in India’ and ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’, the company has set up a 3D printing manufacturing facility at its existing lighting factory in Vadodara, in addition to a design lab at its R&D center in Noida where interior designers, architects and lighting designers can experience the technology first-hand and see their luminaire being printed in front of their eyes. They can also work together with Signify’s design experts to create a truly bespoke design that meets their specific requirements.

Signify’s investment in 3D printing further illustrates the company’s commitment to better serving its customers while reducing their, and its own, carbon footprint and to responsible consumption and production (SDG12) with products that can be reprinted, refurbished, reused or recycled. It is a key element of Signify’s commitment to doubling its circular revenues to 32% in 2025, as part of the Brighter Lives, Better World 2025 program launched in September 2020. 3D Printing is a Triple Bottom Line Technology – its good for the climate, consumers and companies.

Consumers can design and order their 3D printed luminaires online on the company’s website or visit their nearest Philips Smart Light Hub to place their order. The combinations of materials and textures offered by 3D printing is countless and only limited by one’s imagination. Customers can choose their colour, finish and texture for a truly unique and bespoke design. Professional customers can design their luminaire on https://www.tailored.lighting.philips.com/en/in/  and get in touch with the sales team to place their order.

A 3D printed luminaire is also good for our planet as it has a 47% lower carbon footprint than a traditionally manufactured metal luminaire, excluding electronics and optics. The final product is also two-thirds in weight compared to a conventional luminaire, which ultimately translates to a 35% carbon emission reduction during shipping. Nearly every component of these luminaires may be reused or recycled at end of life and repurposed into new designs, thereby supporting the concept of a circular economy. 

Switching to 3D printing of luminaires can also help companies meet their sustainability goals and allows them the flexibility to co-create their lighting products with endless options for customization. Moreover, customers can also refresh their lighting design by returning their luminaires to have them recycled and reprinted in newer designs, enabling them to stay current and topical. As these luminaires are printed on-demand and as per specific requirements of the customer, there are no additional costs incurred for any adjustments or ceiling modifications during installation.

Commenting on the launch, Sumit Joshi, Vice Chairman and Managing Director, Signify Innovations India Limited said, “We are proud to be the first lighting manufacturer to produce 3D printed luminaires in India on an industrial scale in alignment with the Indian government’s agenda of a self-reliant India. It also reinforces our position at the forefront of lighting and sustainable innovation. Printing luminaires provides a more flexible, fast and environmentally friendly way to manufacture as we can create new, or customize existing designs, that fulfill customer needs quickly without huge investments and long development cycles. Customers can have their ideas brought to life in a matter of days rather than months and printing requires less energy.”

Signify has also set up 3D printing facilities in other parts of the world including United States, Belgium, the Netherlands and Indonesia. The company has already secured several customers like Marks and Spencer (M&S), Albert Heijn, SAS, Total and Praxis for these products..

upGrad Strengthens Foothold In The North America With Appointment Of Karan Raturi As The General Manager

* With learners doubling in this geography, this move solidifies the edtech major’s commitment to enhance its reach in North America

upGrad, India's largest online higher education company, today announced the appointment of Karan Raturi as the General Manager for North America. Responding to the staggering growth in the international learners, all of which happened organically, upGrad saw the scope for a focused and targeted approach to bolster this growth. With the right leadership at the helm to steer the company’s growth in this region, the edtech is looking to scale their international operations and expand upGrad’s presence and penetration in the US market.

A Wharton School alumnus, Karan has held a number of leadership roles throughout his career. He joins upGrad from Wayfair (NYSE: W), where he was the Head of Business Planning. Before Wayfair, Karan has worked as a consultant and advisor in corporate strategy, operations, private equity, venture capital, corporate development, and corporate finance with companies like IBM, Kurt Salmon, Novartis Venture Funds, and GTS. Karan's appointment to grow upGrad's business in the North American market is driven by the company’s ambition to expand across geographies and put India on the global edtech map.  

On welcoming Karan to his new role, Arjun Mohan, CEO, upGrad India, said, “Excited to have Karan join us as the General Manager for North America. He will be leading the P&L and will be responsible for driving revenue, along with scaling the business operations in the region. With a doubling of learners in this area organically, we are confident about the region’s prospects and certain that Karan’s skills, intellect, and leadership will help us grow as a world–class team to achieve our vision.”

Karan Raturi, General Manager - North America, upGrad, further added, “I am thrilled to be part of such a robust and renowned team who have built a proven and trusted edtech brand in India. I look forward to deepening the brand’s presence in the region, and supporting learners across the US and Canada to build and accelerate their future careers.”

Over this fiscal year, the edtech major has noticed a remarkable spike in student enrolment from over 50 countries with the second largest chunk coming from the United States of America. The number of paid learners stood at 26% largely coming from the US and Canada markets. Additionally, the intent to know more about the various programs by international learners has grown 100% in the last one year. Collaboration with top-notch global universities like Liverpool John Moores University (UK), Deakin Business School (Australia), Duke Corporate Education (US), Michigan State University (US), Swiss School of Business Management, Geneva has been the catalyst for the international growth.

upGrad has been expanding its global presence by leaps and bounds. One can expect many other such exciting hires as company sources can confirm there is another leadership offer in the US market, this time reaffirming the edtech’s international university alliances.  It had recently announced the CEO for the APAC region followed by the country head for Indonesia and the four-member board comprising of distinguished leaders for its UK operations.