Simple Energy Designs Its First Electric Scooter, Simple Mark 2 On Dassault Systèmes’ 3DEXPERIENCE Platform On The Cloud

* Simple Energy is an Electric Vehicle (EV) startup that focuses mainly on three aspects: range anxiety, charging time and affordability

* 3DEXPERIENCE platform on the cloud helped Simple Energy to create a digital mockup of the vehicle exterior and develop the electric two-wheeler

* Simple Energy started their association with Dassault Systèmes through the SOLIDWORKS for Entrepreneurs Program

Dassault Systèmes (Euronext Paris: #13065, DSY.PA), announced that Bangalore based Simple Energy, an electric vehicle (EV) startup, has deployed the 3DEXPERIENCE platform on the cloud through value added partner, EDS Technologies. Simple Energy was part of the SOLIDWORKS for Entrepreneurs program before migrating to SOLIDWORKS applications for designing the electric scooter through value added partner, Best Engineering Aids & Consultancies. Simple Energy regulated project management for designing and manufacturing their first electric scooter, Simple Mark 2, through design and governance applications based on the 3DEXPERIENCE platform. Globally Dassault Systèmes has the expertise of working with leading EV makers such as NIO, EVUM MOTORS, QEV Technologies, XYT, Canoo and several others. 

Simple Energy focuses on R&D and works closely with stakeholders to launch new affordable EV scooters catering to students, professionals and in tier 2&3 cities in India. The company adopted the 3DEXPERIENCE platform on the cloud to address the current challenges about insights in all disciplines, improve collaboration, and visualize 3D design with real-time simulation. The 3DEXPERIENCE platform helped Simple Energy to collaborate and streamline the design process as per production and manufacturing requirements, thereby reducing costs. The company designed Simple Mark 2, the vehicle exteriors, and developed a digital mock-up of the electric two-wheelers leveraging SOLIDWORKS and CATIA applications with the aim of starting production from June 2021 and deliveries starting September 2021.

“We at Simple Energy aim to provide eco-friendly two-wheelers in the budget segment for college students and IT professionals without compromising on the features. Therefore every aspect of design of components, chassis and battery development et al, has to be done in-house and made in India to manage costs. Our team with the technical knowhow needed a platform to integrate a comprehensive and real-time collaborative view on product engineering, simulation and manufacturing,” said Suhas Rajkumar, Founder & CEO, Simple Energy. “Dassault Systèmes’ 3DEXPERIENCE platform on the cloud and brand applications like SOLIDWORKS and CATIA enabled us to work remotely and collaboratively developing a digital mock-up of the complete vehicle with real-time simulation and real-time engagement with the suppliers and manufacturing teams. Furthermore, the community helps us connect with innovative global companies in EV technology to understand, adopt and customise the best practices of EV development.”

“Globally we see successful startups are integrating mechanical engineering, systems engineering, electronics engineering and creating EV platforms for mobility of the future. This is an interesting shift in India too as more and more companies are emerging in traditional industries integrating technology and business experience platforms. The future business leaders are today’s startups and we have a complete program for startups to conceptualise, design, engineer, manufacture, produce and assemble and even digitize sales and marketing activities,” said Deepak NG, Managing Director, India, Dassault Systèmes. “We want to be a preferred business transformation partner for companies like Simple Energy in domains that will define the consumer experience in mobility of the future.”

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Snapdeal Rolls Out Fast-Track Payments For Sellers Across India

* Sellers will receive payment within 3 days under “Jaldi Payments” program 

* Better cash flow to help small businesses grow online sales ~

Snapdeal, India’s leading value e-commerce platform, today rolled out fast-track payment options for sellers on its platform.  Under the “Jaldi Payments”, sellers will be able to receive payment within 3 days of the delivery of their shipment. This will slash their payment receipt time by 76% and will enable them to redeploy the capital to expand their business, build inventory and manage other business needs. 

While the pandemic has led to accelerated growth opportunities for online sellers, easy availability of working capital has been a constraint, especially for small sellers. In a survey conducted by Snapdeal in February 2021, quick and flexible access to finance was identified by many sellers as an important lever of growth.

Based on the inputs received, Snapdeal has rolled out a simple and flexible plan that allows sellers to opt-in for fast-track payments choosing to receive payments within 3 / 7 days of the delivery of their shipments.  Speaking on the launch of the program, Snapdeal spokesperson said, “100% of our sellers are small & medium sellers. Fast and predictable access to funds acts as a force multiplier for them. It enables them to serve more orders with limited working capital as they are able to achieve fast turnover of their inventories. Direct shipments by sellers allows them to manage their inventories more efficiently. Faster payments will enable them now to manage their capital for greater productivity. We are pleased to roll out the “Jaldi Payments” program as part of our continuing efforts to empower small sellers to connect with the online opportunity.”

The sellers will be charged a nominal fee towards the facility. This fee will be a fraction of the cost that they would incur in accessing funds from a bank, NBFCs or other sources.

Snapdeal’s “Jaldi Payments” program was launched earlier this month and has been widely welcomed by sellers. It is in the process of being extended to more sellers on Snapdeal. 

One important reason for sellers to choose Snapdeal is the efficient utilization of their inventory. On Snapdeal, sellers ship directly to the buyers  bypassing the traditional structure of selling through wholesalers and retailers, which means that their stocks are not stuck in the warehouses of online platforms. Combined with the faster payments, small sellers will be able  tap the online opportunity in a larger way by churning their inventories faster and accessing  liquidity to plan their operations. 

As part of its efforts to deepen the availability of value merchandise online, Snapdeal has in the last year added more than 5,000 manufacturer-sellers on its platform. Most of these manufacturer-sellers are from hubs like Meerut, Ludhiana, Tirupur, Jaipur, Panipat, Surat, Rajkot and cover popular products like juicers & food processors, steel & copper utensils, crockery items, bed linen, fashion accessories, kidswear, sarees & suits, casual apparel and fitness equipment.  

Last year, Snapdeal also expanded its decentralized logistics netwok by opening new centres in Ahmedabad, Surat, Jaipur, Indore, Hyderabad, Panipat, Gurugram, Mumbai, Bengaluru, New Delhi, Bahadurgarh, Yamuna Nagar, Rajkot, Bhiwandi, Agra, Noida, and Mathura. 

About Snapdeal

Snapdeal is India’s leading value-focused marketplace with more than 500,000 registered sellers and 213 million-plus listings on the marketplace. Snapdeal plays a significant role in the development of India’s e-commerce sector, especially in tier 2 and tier 3 cities. Snapdeal’s focus is on providing a deep assortment of value-priced merchandise that has enabled e-commerce to grow beyond branded products and urban consumers. 

OPPO Find X3 Series Wins Prestigious Red Dot Award For Its Futuristic, Industry-Leading Product Design

OPPO, the leading global smart device brand, today announced that it has won the much coveted Red Dot: Product Design Award for 2021, recognising the pioneering, human-centric and creative thinking behind the futuristic, high-end flagship, OPPO Find X3 Series.

Speaking on the win, Lie Liu, President of Global Marketing, OPPO, said “At OPPO, we create technology to enrich humankind. Channelling the spirit of exploration, we crafted Find X3 Series — an exquisite work of art designed to add more beauty to every moment. We are honoured to have our efforts recognised by the Red Dot Design Award jury, international champions of design-excellence.”

Red Dot Award Winner with Space Age Design and Futuristic Aesthetics

Amongst the most prestigious of all professional design competitions globally, the Red Dot Design Awards body receives entries from over 60 countries, with thousands of submissions for its jury’s consideration. Combining classical space-age elegance with futuristic flourishes, OPPO Find X3 Series impressed the panel to win the Red Dot Award: Product Design 2021.

World-class across the board, pioneering engineering was required to achieve Find X3 Series’ unique visual identity. The striking back panel is crafted from a single sheet of glass that flows elegantly, creating a continuous, edgeless look. Meanwhile, the slender frame belies the flagship power, camera, and battery within.

About OPPO

OPPO is a leading global smart device brand. Since the launch of its first smartphone - “Smiley Face” - in 2008, OPPO has been in relentless pursuit of the perfect synergy of aesthetic satisfaction and innovative technology. Today, OPPO provides a wide range of smart devices spearheaded by the Find and Reno series. Beyond devices, OPPO provides its users with ColorOS and internet services like OPPO Cloud and OPPO+. OPPO operates in more than 40 countries and regions, with 6 Research Institutes and 4 R&D Centers worldwide, as well as an International Design Center in London. The recently opened, first-ever R&D center outside of China, in Hyderabad, is playing a pivotal role in the development of 5G technologies. In line with OPPO's commitment to Make in India, the manufacturing at the Greater Noida plant has been increased to 50 million smartphones per year. According to IDC, OPPO has ranked 4th among the top 5 smartphone brands in India with an 88.4% year on year growth in Q4 2019.

Niyo Partners With Equitas Small Finance Bank To Launch NiyoX

 
* Introduces '007 Banking' - 0 maintenance charges, 0 commission mutual funds and 7%* interest on account balance 

Niyo, India's premier digital banking fintech, today announced the launch of Niyo X— a state-of-the-art mobile banking solution for millennials — in partnership with Equitas Small Finance Bank and Visa. With this launch, the company aims to on-board 2M customers by calendar year end 2021.

Ahead of the launch, Niyo conducted a nationwide survey among 8000 millennials residing in metro and non-metro cities to understand millennial’s banking needs post Covid-19 pandemic. The study revealed that 70% of Indian millennials are now inclined towards digital banks, especially for convenient customer support.

Interestingly, 55% respondents said that they would switch banks for rewards & offers and 45% would switch banks for better interest rates. Addressing these needs, the NiyoX comes with industry-best ‘007 banking’ features such as 0% commission on mutual funds investment, ‘0’ account maintenance charges, and upto 7% interest on account balances.

Niyo’s Co-founder and CEO Vinay Bagri said, “As India's leading digital banking fintech startup, our primary focus is on easing and enhancing customer experience, and the launch of the Niyo X is a testament to our commitment to the digital transformation of the banking space. We are delighted to launch our most ambitious product through our strategic partnership with Equitas SFB where we will provide the best possible savings account combined with a best-in-class investment account, all tied together with Niyo’s usual thought-through and delightful user interface. We are confident that this will become the most sought-after banking product very soon."

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, millennials have become more cautious with their spends. Niyo’s study also notes that 60% of millennials track their expenses manually and 84% of millennials would like know how they can track their expenses with convenience. To meet their requirements, the Niyo app comes with a unique spend and savings analyzer, thus encouraging customers to be prudent with their expenses and inculcate better savings habits.

Vaibhav Joshi, Chief Digital Officer (CDO), Equitas Small Finance Bank said, “Neobanking is the next big thing in Banking. We are happy to partner with Niyo on this path breaking initiative. The need today is to create use case driven digital banking products and we aim to do just that with our Neobank & Fintech programs. We have developed an extensive API Banking suite that helps partners like Niyo develop a highly specialized and custom developed solution for its target audience. We are sure this program will break the shackles of the traditional banking mindset and establish a true Open Banking model.”

Besides the state-of-the-art mobile app, this account comes with a VISA Platinum Debit Card, an industry-high 7%* p.a. interest rate on account balance and a promise of “zero non-maintenance fee”, making it ideal for the fast-paced lifestyle of today’s aspirational millennial Indian.

NiyoX is also a 2-in-1 account that provides its users access to a full wealth management suite besides the savings account. The comprehensive wealth management suite powered by Niyo Money provides 0 commission mutual funds, facility to track all your investments at one place, robo advisory and a feature that rounds up your expenses and invests the change. Niyo will soon launch domestic and internationals stocks on the platform.

Besides NiyoX will bring in a multilayer reward system comprising referral incentive, rewards points and scratch card-based cashback. This is topped up with some exclusive offers for the users curated by the team.

Tushar Verma, Business Head - NiyoX adds, “We are not only excited to launch this mobile first banking in partnership with Equitas Small Finance Bank, but also eager to see how millennials receive and interact with the product. We've curated this product keeping Millennials in mind and will be bringing in a lot of amazing features in the future versions.”

About Equitas Small Finance Bank:

Equitas Small Finance Bank Limited is the largest SFB in India in terms of number of banking outlets, and the second largest SFB in India in terms of assets under management and total deposits in Fiscal 2019. (Source: CRISIL report). As of September 30, 2019, its distribution channels comprised 853 Banking Outlets and 322 ATMs across 15 states and union territories in India. Its focus customer segments include individuals with limited access to formal financing channels on account of their informal, variable and cash-based income profile. It offers a range of financial products and services that address the specific requirements of these customer segments by taking into account their income profile, nature of business and type of security available. Its asset products are suited to a range of customers with varying profiles. These include provision of small business loans comprising loan against property, housing loans, and agriculture loans to micro-entrepreneurs, microfinance to joint liability groups predominantly comprising women, used and new commercial vehicle loans to drivers and micro-entrepreneurs typically engaged in logistics, MSE loans to proprietorships, and corporate loans. On the liability side, its target customers comprise mass and mass-affluent individuals to whom the Bank offers current accounts, salary accounts, savings accounts, and a variety of deposit accounts. In addition, it also provides non-credit offerings comprising ATM-cum-debit cards, third party insurance, mutual fund products, and issuance of FASTags.

About Niyo:

Niyo is a digital banking Fintech conceptualized in 2015, it currently operates in 4 major business lines: NiyoX is a next gen savings account for millennials, Niyo Money is a power packed of suite of wealth products, Niyo Global Card provides the best banking experience and value for international travelers, and Niyo Bharat Payroll solutions provides modern salary accounts for India’s large blue-collar workforce.

Niyo operates out of corporate offices in Bangalore, Mumbai and Delhi, and has sales presence in more than 20 states and union territories, currently serving a customer base of around 2 Million and over 7,000 corporates. Niyo currently has around 500 employees, over 250 of which are dedicated to Tech, Product and Design. Niyo’s team includes individuals from a variety of backgrounds and leading universities including IITs, IIMs, ISB, and Ivy league institutions.

Enjoy Your favorite Munch With Crunch Of Almonds And Yummy Pomegranate!

* This launch will be supported by a high impact campaign which includes a TV commercial featuring Samantha Akkineni

Nestlé MUNCH, one of India’s most popular brands in the chocolate and confectionery category sets another innovation benchmark with the launch of Nestlé MUNCH FRUIT O Nuts – which offers a fully loaded experience with crunch of real almonds along with yummy fruity taste of pomegranate bits, all of this wrapped around a crunchy wafer center.

In times when consumers are looking for “good for me” ingredients in their food, this latest offering from Nestlé India provides a crunchy treat with a delightful winning combination of fruits and nuts.

Commenting on the launch, Mr. Nikhil Chand, Director – Foods and Confectionery, Nestlé India said, “Nestlé MUNCH NUTS has delighted young Indian consumers with a range of delicious, light, Munch treats with a fully loaded experience of added crunchy Nuts. With the shift in consumer preference towards “better for me” ingredients, the new MUNCH FRUIT O Nuts is a category first innovation, that brings multiple inclusions of real almonds and fruity pomegranate to India’s favorite crunchy MUNCH. MUNCH FRUIT O Nuts has been developed leveraging our strong R&D capabilities after extensive consumer research which gave us insights on the taste preferences in different parts of India.  It delivers a unique combination of flavor and texture to our consumers. We are extremely excited to launch MUNCH FRUIT O Nuts and are confident that our consumers will enjoy this first of its kind ‘Fully Loaded’ experience.”

Talking about her association with the brand, actress Samantha Akkineni said, “Every bite of MUNCH FRUIT O Nuts is packed with richness of Almonds, followed by an aftertaste of Pomegranate. The novelty of this product is unmatched. More and more millennials are looking for diverse snacking options, moving away from the regular age-old offerings, MUNCH FRUIT O Nuts is a perfect answer to that. I am delighted to be a part of this journey with Munch and hope to see more innovative products in the future from the brand.”

Priced at INR 30, Nestlé MUNCH FRUIT O Nuts will be available at supermarkets, large, format grocery stores. This launch will be supported by a high impact campaign which includes a TV commercial featuring Samantha Akkineni.

New Original Series “Phone Swap India” Launches On Snapchat

Snap Inc. today announced the launch of “Phone Swap India,” its first Snap Original series in India premiering Saturday, 27 March. “Phone Swap” is one of the most popular and long-standing Snap Originals, now in its 12th season and reaching over 69 million unique viewers on Snapchat in the U.S. Produced and filmed in the heart of Mumbai by Colosceum Media, this new series was created in partnership with Team Whistle. Each episode follows two people on a blind date, who are unexpectedly forced to trade phones and then afterwards decide if they want to go on a second date. The 12-episode series is in Hinglish and has English and Hindi subtitles, available only on Snapchat’s Discover. 

Snap Originals are Shows made exclusively for Snapchat by some of the world's greatest storytellers and made for the unique behaviours of mobile. Like all Shows on Snapchat, they are vertical, full screen and created to reflect and celebrate the diverse voices, experiences and passions of the global community of Snapchatters. Last year, more than 70 million people in India watched Shows on Snapchat, and Snap’s daily active user base grew by over 150%. 

“Phone Swap India” marks the first launch from a slate of new original content Snap announced in October 2020, including an upcoming Snap Original with rapper and lyricist Raftaar, and exclusive Creator Shows with the likes of Anushka Sen, Ruhi Singh and Vir Das.

“We have always believed in the importance of investing in a local content experience, working closely with local production partners, and are thrilled to launch Phone Swap India,” said Vanessa Guthrie, Head of Snap Originals. “This is our first Snap Original made for our Indian community and we have so much more in store - we can't wait for Snapchatters to tune in.”

AICTE Collaborates With IBM To Bridge Students’ Skills Gap Through The NEAT 2.0 Platform

* IBM will provide job-relevant courses and certification on emerging technologies such as Cloud, AI & Quantum

IBM (NYSE: IBM) today announced a collaboration with the All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE) and Ministry of Education (MoE) to provide skills-based training courses on the recently launched National Educational Alliance for Technology (NEAT) 2.0 platform. The courses on Cloud, Artificial Intelligence (AI), IoT, Quantum Computing, and Data Science will provide industry-relevant, technical job-role-based training for students and faculty.

The NEAT 2.0 is a joint initiative from AICTE and the Ministry of Education to provide the best technology courses that will upskill the youth and enhance their employability. As part of the collaboration, IBM will provide six courses on the NEAT platform from IBM’s Skills Academy – a world-class training and certification program designed to bridge the skills gap of learners in colleges and universities worldwide. Students and faculty will receive hands-on training for a more enriched learning experience, and students will also earn an IBM Digital Certification upon course completion.

Prof. Anil Dattatraya Sahasrabudhe, Chairperson, AICTE said, “The NEAT 2.0 portal leverages technology to offer the best industry courses that give students adaptive and personalized learning, better learning outcomes, and skill development in niche areas under a common platform. There’s a need to make pedagogical systems more learner-centric and we are bringing in industry experts like IBM, with their Skills Academy Courses, to deliver high-quality content directly to colleges and students. This initiative is a big step towards developing high employability & entrepreneurship, leading to Aatmanirbhar Bharat and will bring revolutionary changes to online learning in India.”

Mona Bharadwaj, Global University Programs Leader, IBM India said, “With technology being the unifier and disruptor of business in the past decade, there has been an accelerated adoption of new-age technologies like Hybrid Cloud, AI, Analytics, quantum computing & IoT even as the demand-supply gap for technology skills continues to widen in India. Universities and colleges need to equip their students with 21st-century skillsets that will build career paths for a young workforce. Our engagement with AICTE is a key step forward in industry-academia collaboration that aims to improve the training and technical education opportunities of students across India and enhance employability.”

The International Labour Organization estimates India’s skill deficit at 29 million by 2030. A recent IBM Institute for Business Value (IBV) study found that approximately 30% of Gen Z and millennial working professionals plan to enroll in a formal degree, certification, or badging program in 2021. IBM is working with multiple government bodies across sectors to incorporate technical and professional skills training as part of curriculums and to provide free digital education through various initiatives.