ManageEngine Turns 20, Announces Major Expansion Plans In India

* 1,000 Employees To Be Hired This Year; Will Ensure Bigger Teams in Customer-facing Roles

ManageEngine, the enterprise IT management division of Zoho Corporation, today announced its plans to grow its Indian workforce by 1,000 employees in 2022, a year that marks two decades of the company’s innovation, growth and success as a trusted global technology provider. Since 2002, the company has served over 2,80,000 organisations in more than 190 countries.

Speaking at the ManageEngine user conference in Bengaluru, Sridhar Vembu, CEO and co-founder of Zoho Corp., said, "We invest heavily in R&D, product design and integration, so that our customers can accelerate their own digital transformation. We invest heavily in support so that our customers have a reliable partner to navigate a fast-changing landscape. We are in IT for the long haul, so customers can trust us to be around.”

Commenting on the expansion plans for ManageEngine in India, which has emerged as one of the top three markets worldwide after the United States and the United Kingdom, Shailesh Davey, Co-Founder & Vice President of Engineering of Zoho Corp., said the company plans to boost its local workforce by 25%.

"In India, we registered a YoY revenue growth of 63.2% in 2021, while our customer count increased by 26.3%, driven by demand primarily from the BFSI and IT services and solutions sectors," Shailesh noted. He added: "With three key pillars driving growth—hybrid work, cloud adoption and the government’s digital push—ManageEngine plans to hire around 1,000 employees in the country this year for development, R&D and customer-facing roles."

Talking about his organisation's 19-year relationship with ManageEngine, COO Yatin Kantak of top value-added partner Softcell Technologies said, "Ensuring good-quality products and service for over 20 years can be challenging. But ManageEngine's biggest strength has always been its people. And the effort demonstrated by ManageEngine through its sales, leadership and tech teams has been phenomenal. I'm very proud to see an Indian tech player achieve this success and compete with international players."

ManageEngine is hosting its user conference in Bengaluru on May 19 and 20 at the ITC Gardenia. The two-day conference will offer detailed walk-throughs and live demonstrations of all major ManageEngine solutions. One-on-one sessions with solution experts will ensure customers have the opportunity to receive answers to their product questions. Participants can also take part in training sessions to increase their knowledge of ManageEngine products, and they can take a test to become a certified product associate.

About ManageEngine

ManageEngine is the enterprise IT management division of Zoho Corporation. Established and emerging enterprises—including 9 of every 10 Fortune 100 organisations—rely on ManageEngine's real-time IT management tools to ensure optimal performance of their IT infrastructure, including networks, servers, applications, desktops and more. ManageEngine has offices worldwide, including India, the United States, the United Arab Emirates, the Netherlands, Mexico, Singapore, Japan, China and Australia, as well as more than 200 global partners to help organisations tightly align their business and IT. For more information, please visit manageengine.in; follow the company blog and on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter.

Jeep India Launches Most Awaited All-New Jeep Meridian At INR 29.90 Lakhs (Ex Showroom India)

·         It delivers several best-in-class features and is a blend of refinement, sophistication, and 4x4 capabilities to disrupt the premium D- SUV segment

·         The Jeep Meridian received more than 67,000 inquiries and over 5,000 reservation interest before the official bookings begins

·         The Jeep Meridian is available in two trims - Limited and Limited (O) trims with multiple drivetrain options

·         Bookings for the Jeep Meridian are now open at Jeep dealerships and on the Jeep India website, with deliveries starting in June

The new Jeep Meridian has been launched at an introductory price of ?xxx lakh. The all-new three-row Jeep SUV is designed to disrupt the segment. The Meridian leverages its globally proven engineering prowess coupled with Indian insights to deliver an authentic SUV experience with high-level of sophistication.

The vehicle’s design is inspired by the iconic Jeep Grand Cherokee as it redefines the premium SUV segment with its many best-in-class features, including the fastest acceleration and highest power-to-weight ratio. The highly capable & agile SUV can go from 0-100 km/h in just 10.8 seconds and can attain a top speed of 198 km/h.

Commenting on the Jeep Meridian’s launch, Nipun J. Mahajan, Head of Jeep Brand India, said, "Brand Jeep believes it is time for Indian customers to kick-start a new adventure in the refined and capable Jeep Meridian. Our pricing reflects our intent to disrupt the segment and offer unmatched value for customers seeking a powerful, spacious, and sophisticated SUV.”

Jeep Meridian brings a unique blend of adventure and sophistication which has been highly appreciated by media for its class-leading attributes. Now, customers can experience the new Jeep Meridian first-hand. It aims to attract customers from all segments and serve as an excellent choice for customers who are looking to experience the JeepLife.

Jeep India is delighted with the response and interest for the new Jeep Meridian and is on track to start deliveries of the ‘Made-In-India and made-for-India’ Jeep Meridian in early June.

Engineering and Architecture

The new Jeep Meridian gets the first-in-segment completely independent front and rear suspension setup. The new Jeep Meridian comes equipped with Frequency Selective Damping (FSD) and Hydraulic Rebound Stopper (HRS) to ensure a smooth ride, top-notch comfort, and superlative driving dynamics for all kinds of roads and terrains.

The Jeep Meridian also promises the best steering control in the segment, thanks to the lowest parking torque of 2.2 Nm and a dynamic torque of 4.3 Nm. The low turning radius of 5.7 m further fortifies the new Jeep Meridian as an inspired choice for city driving.

The SUV’s credentials are further strengthened by the terrain-proven unibody SW platform which helps bring the authentic Jeep DNA to life and amplify the offering with unparalleled sophistication and performance.

Trims and Powertrains

Jeep Meridian is available across two trims, Limited and Limited (O), with various best-in-segment features to ensure occupants' convenience and comfort. Both Limited and Limited (O) are available with the 4x2 front-wheel drive and a choice between a six-speed manual transmission and a nine-speed automatic transmission. A nine-speed automatic transmission with the 4x4 all-wheel drive is also available in the Limited (O) trim.

The Jeep Meridian is powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged diesel engine that generates 125 kW (170 HP) at 3,750 rpm and a maximum torque of 350 Nm available between 1,750-2,500 rpm.

Among the most fuel-efficient SUVs in the D-segment, the Jeep Meridian delivers a fuel economy of up to 16.2 km/l (ARAI certified)

Design and Comfort

To further ensure absolute comfort for the car’s occupants, the SUV gets 840 mm between the first and second row, and 780 mm between the second and third row, making the Jeep Meridian the most spacious vehicle in the segment.

Jeep Meridian is a spacious three row SUV with 481-litres of boot space while seating five people and 170-litres of boot space when all seven seats are occupied. Beside its spacious interior, the cabin offers easy accessibility thanks to provisions such as the one-touch fold-and-tumble seats in the second row and the 80-degree door opening angle to help passengers get in and out with ease.

It also offers the best cooling performance in its class: the SUV cools up to 30 per cent faster than competitors, thanks to the multi-zone climate control system, dedicated third-row AC-evaporator unit, and the thermo-acoustic cabin insulation.

The Jeep Meridian features Emperador Brown leather seats, third-row cooling with controls, automatic headlamps, diamond cut dual-tone 18-inch alloy wheels, and several other such attractive features.

The all-new Jeep Meridian comes equipped with UConnect5 that offers a host of connectivity & class leading infotainment features.

The Jeep Meridian Limited (O) trim additionally gets a two-tone roof, a dual-pane sunroof, a 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster, a 360-degree camera, and a powered lift-gate with programmable height, obstruction detection, etc.

The all-new Jeep Meridian is now available for booking on Jeep India's website (jeep-india.com) and at Jeep dealerships across India with a small down payment of INR 50,000. Deliveries will begin in June.

South Africa Witnesses Surge In Indian Traveller Demand For Visas Post The Launch of Successful Recovery Campaigns

~Issues over 7000+ visas from Delhi and Mumbai since the start of 2022~

~On track to meeting India targets for the year, with over 4,600 visitors travelling to South Africa in January & February 2022~

~Anticipates large footfalls from MICE, post receiving enquiries from groups of 2000 to 4000 pax~

South African Tourism concluded yet another highly successful association with South Asia’s leading travel show, SATTE 2022. The tourism board showcased destination South Africa and addressed members of the press at the 29th edition of the trade show, held at India Expo Mart, Greater Noida in Delhi NCR from 18th to 20th May 2022.

South African Tourism, along with 32 prominent South African exhibitors, introduced novel and upgraded destination offerings. The delegation included 2 key South African provinces namely Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency, Gauteng Tourism Authority, unique accommodation options, luxury experiences, offbeat activities, SMMEs, advanced MICE infrastructure providers, as well as adventure, wildlife and culinary capabilities. The collective South African exhibition concluded a multitude of productive meetings and new business partnerships with the key players in the travel and tourism industry.

One of the key agendas for the tourism board during SATTE 2022 was to empower local SMMEs, along with youth and women-owned businesses. These businesses – which are the building blocks of the South African economy – are all set to receive a host of Indian visitors and deliver exclusive, customized and memorable experiences to Indian travellers.

Earlier this year, the tourism board outlined a strategic roadmap to garner 64% YoY increase in Indian visitors in 2022. With over 4,600 Indian visitors travelling to South Africa during January & February 2022 itself, the tourism board is well on track to achieve or even surpass these targets, especially with the opening up of international air routes and easing of travel restrictions.

Having successfully launched & promoted diverse, authentic destination offerings via the More & More campaign, that was immediately followed by a 4-city Roadshow in India and experiential consumer, corporate and trade activations, the tourism board is witnessing an uptick in demand for the destination. According to South African Tourism, 7000+ visas have been issued from Delhi and Mumbai until now this year.

Speaking about the association, Neliswa Nkani, Hub Head – Middle East, India and South East Asia, South African Tourism said, “We are extremely delighted and humbled with reception destination South Africa is receiving at SATTE 2022. We are also grateful to the trade fraternity for their support and conviction in the brand that enables us to roll-out offbeat and value-for-money itineraries. This year, we anticipate that MICE will be a driving force behind travel recovery and are happy to share that the tourism board is already seeing enquiries for large groups ranging from 2000 to 4000 pax from India.”

“We are also proud to have had the opportunity to host 13 SMMEs and 11 women and youth-owned businesses as part of the exhibitor delegation. One of our core objectives at South African Tourism is to support and grow the local economy. SMMEs play a major role in the travel ecosystem and it is our privilege to partner with these game-changing exhibitors who help bring unique, new, fresh and innovative experiences to the table,” she continued.

At present, several stop-over flights fly from India to South Africa, including Emirates, Air Seychelles, Qatar Airways, Etihad, RwandAir, Ethiopian Airlines and Kenya Airways. Travellers from India to South Africa will be required to produce either a complete vaccination certificate or a negative PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test, not older than 72 hours from the time of departure from the country of origin to South Africa.

Neobank Fi Launches New Feature ‘Connected Accounts’ Allowing Users To Sync Multiple Bank Accounts On A Single App

Neobanking app Fi launched its ‘Connected Accounts’ feature to become one of the first fintechs to build a product on top of the RBI’s Account Aggregator (AA) framework. The feature allows users to link multiple bank accounts with Fi to get a comprehensive view of their finances on a single platform. The neobank was also among the first fintechs to get on the AA framework when it was launched in September 2021.

Simplifying a common problem

The move marks a major step towards the three-year-old fintech firm’s mission of simplifying finances for users. The general practice is to open a new bank account with each job change, or in the case of self-employed people, have multiple bank accounts for different needs. This leads to one's finances being split between multiple accounts and financial instruments, for things ranging from tax savings to discounts. This new feature solves this problem by enabling users to track their overall balance and expenditure on the Fi app, to begin with. Over time, users will be able to track their deposits and investments too.

Accuracy, security, and consent

Users of personal finance management tools usually have to trade security and privacy for ease and convenience. Most personal finance apps gather transaction data by reading one's SMSs - a questionable practice that is not always accurate. The system of scraping SMSs is based on the last SMS received, which may not always contain the latest account balance. Additionally, if a user changes their phone, there is no historical SMS data to provide updated financial information to users.

None of these are issues with ‘Connected Accounts’, as the data is sourced directly from the Account Aggregator network that banks are connected to. Past transaction data is also available directly from the banks and can be presented to the user.

Data gathered from the AA framework is based on user consent. Banks can share a user’s financial data only if the user grants permission for it. The consent to share data is entirely in the user's hands and can be revoked at any time.

A first for iOS users

Connected Accounts will be particularly useful for iPhone users as it brings personal finance management tools like balance and expenditure tracking for the first time to iOS devices. Apple’s data privacy and security settings prohibit data collection methods like SMS scraping.

Commenting on the launch, Sumit Gwalani, co-founder of Fi, said, “After successfully launching mutual fund investments on Fi, we are glad to announce the role out of Connected Accounts. This is a huge step toward our goal of demystifying finances for our users, and towards becoming a one-stop solution for all things money. Balance and expenditure tracking across bank accounts is only the beginning. This feature will become the backbone for many features we will build on top of this to help users understand their money better.”

Fi has partnered with two RBI-licensed AAs, Finvu and Onemoney, to bring this new offering to users. The integration makes the entire process of linking multiple accounts on the Fi app a matter of minutes.

Insights and intelligence

The new feature will strengthen other innovative features that Fi already offers to its users such as its Artificial intelligence-powered digital financial assistant Ask.Fi. Users will be able to search for transactions across accounts by simply typing 'Amazon orders this month’.

The usefulness of this feature is expected to only increase as more financial institutions join the AA framework. Market regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) said that it will soon join the framework and allow customers to access information on their mutual fund and stock portfolios through financial service providers.

Earlier this month, Fi announced the launch of its Investments offering which included direct mutual fund schemes with 0% commission and ‘Fi Jump’, a peer-to-peer investment platform where users can earn up to 9% interest. Going forward, the fintech firm will venture into lending products that will be backed by data from Connected Accounts.

About Fi

Fi.money is a neobank created for working professionals. Fi's innovation lies in creating an interactive, personalised, and transparent financial platform that covers banking, investing and money management. The Fi app listens to your needs, understands your wants, and gently nudges you to achieve your money aspirations. Every aspect of Fi's design minimises friction for the digital-first generation. It's a secure digital platform built in partnership with banks.

As an integrated financial services platform, Fi's users gain access to a new-age Savings Account, an investment platform and money management tools with features that help users know their money, grow their money and organise their funds. Millennials and GenZs have a higher disposable income and a greater incentive to spend than save. The Fi app, therefore, takes on a one-of-a-kind approach, rewarding users for saving money and not just for spending.

Founded in 2019, the fintech company is funded by Sequoia India, Ribbit Capital and B Capital Group. Fi is the brainchild of ex-Googlers who pioneered GPay, Sujith Narayanan and Sumit Gwalani. Their team of experts – from Google, Netflix, PayPal, and others – distil decades of tech & banking wisdom into Fi. All of whom want to change the way people perceive and interact with their money forever.

pTron Debuts Wireless Neckband With Ultimate 60Hrs Playtime

* Tangent Urban, pTron’s newest premiere Wireless Neckband allows wearers to enjoy gaming and audio in real-time with industry-leading 50ms Low Latency

* Tangent Urban is also equipped with DSP technology for Environmental Noise Cancellation that offers super sharp calling experience.

pTron, the rapidly growing and leading maker of affordable and high-quality digital lifestyle and audio accessories brand in India, announced today the release of TANGENT URBAN, the next-generation wireless neckband earphone for gaming and entertainment.

Engineered with proprietary AptSense Technology for exceptional gaming experience and an unprecedented 60Hrs battery life on a single charge, TANGENT URBAN is made for the Urban youth, which allows wearers to enjoy pristine audio output for music, entertainment, and talk time.  

Commenting on the launch, Mr. Ameen Khwaja, Founder & CEO, pTron, said, "For every avid gamer even the smallest amount of lag between one’s device and earphones can quite literally be life and death within the game. With that in mind, we designed the TANGENT URBAN to be the ultimate neckband for Gaming, entertainment & calls. The perfect companion for young trendsetters looking for an affordable pair of great quality earphones, Tangent Urban is a break-through entry in the Wireless Audio segment that offers best-in-class 60-hours playtime, DSP ENC Tech, and AptSense 50ms gaming technology. The powerful & versatile Tangent Urban comes out on top compared to its competitors that offer Wireless Neckband with similar specs at 2x the price all at an incredible launch price of INR 799/- only."

Equipped with the most advanced Bluetooth v5.3 for fast & seamless 1-step pairing with any device, the all-new Tangent Urban is designed for those who want the best of the best for calls, and music, allowing users to experience wireless audio without limits. Packed with TrueSonic Bass Boost Technology including 10mm dynamic drivers & expertly crafted EQ, Tangent Urban offers a max performance so that you can experience every bit of your favourite bass-heavy music.

The sleek and versatile Tangent Urban with magnetic locking IPX4 rated ear-tips design is tailored for sports and active lifestyle that stays put even when you sweat & grind. Maximizing flexibility and comfort, the innovative design of Tangent Urban is made keeping in mind long hours of use without compromising on sound. With USB C Quick charging capabilities, the neckband offers 4H of play in just 10 mins of charge. The neckband features easy & durable button controls to control music & calls and activate voice assistant.

Designed in harmony with life’s hustle pTron Tangent Urban Wireless Neckband keeps you going on every occasion, be it a casual morning run or those busy workouts by the gym. Equipped with Dual Device connectivity, Tangent Urban also makes for a perfect device for online conferences, meetings, classes, and remote offices indoors or outdoor.

pTron Tangent Urban comes in three attractive colorways – Fav Black, Ocean Green, and Magic Blue to suit your daily lifestyle and will be available at a special introductory price of INR 799/- only on 18th May, 12PM onwards.

For the launch, Tangent Urban will be available at an exciting price of INR 99/- for the first 100 customers only.

V-Guard’s Q4 FY 2021-22 Revenue Grew By 23.7 Percent Y-o-Y

V-Guard Industries Ltd., leading consumer electricals and electronics Company announced its audited financial results for the quarter and year ended March 31, 2022.

Q4 FY 2021-22 highlights:

·           Consolidated Net Revenue from operations for the quarter ended March 31, 2022 was Rs. 1,058.21 crs; a growth of 23.7% compared to the corresponding period of the previous year (Rs. 855.20 crs)

·           Consolidated Profit After Tax for the quarter ended March 31, 2022 was Rs. 89.58 crs; PAT grew by 31% over corresponding period of the previous year (Rs.68.39 crs).

·           Strong growth in Consumer durables and Electrical segments.

·           Continuing volatility at a global level presents a challenging environment.  The overall business has done well, barring margin pressures in specific categories.

FY 2021-22 YTD highlights:

·           Consolidated Net Revenue from operations for the year ended March 31, 2022 was Rs. 3,498.17 crs; a growth of 28.55% compared to the Net Revenue of previous year (Rs. 2,721.24 crs)

·           Consolidated Profit After Tax for the year ended March 31, 2022 was Rs. 228.44 crs; a growth of 13.15% over the previous year (Rs.201.89 crs).

Business Outlook: 

Commenting on the company’s performance, Mr. Mithun. K. Chittilappilly, Managing Director, V-Guard Industries Ltd said “The business has shown a very good performance during the quarter, with both South and non-South regions doing well.  We were able to overcome supply chain challenges we faced in the earlier waves of Covid. Electrical and Durables categories have shown strong growth.   Summer related products recovered from a slow start to the quarter to grow well in March.  Commodity prices remain elevated in the context of on-going uncertainties at global level. We have continued to take pricing actions and some more actions will follow in the coming months”. 

About V-Guard Industries Limited:

Founded in 1977 by Mr. Kochouseph Chittilappilly, V-Guard Industries Limited is India’s leading consumer electrical and electronics major is headquartered in Kochi, South India. The firm has built a strong brand and has aggressively diversified to become a multi-product corporation with a varied range of services including Voltage stabilizers, Inverter & Inverter Batteries, Electric Water Heaters, Solar Water Heaters, Pumps & Motors, Domestic Switchgears, Wires & Cables, Induction Cooktops, Mixer Grinders, Fans, Gas Stoves, Rice Cookers, Modular Switches, Air Coolers, Breakfast Appliances, Chimneys, Water Purifiers etc. The 44-year-old company with a reputation of delivering thoughtful products and experiences to its consumers has over nine manufacturing facilities and its presence in more than 16 product categories, across 29 states with over 600+ distributors, 5,500+ direct dealers and over 25,000 retailers. V-Guard is a strong pan-India consumer brand and business that has established itself as one of the market leaders, building the foundation for the next level of growth.

For more information on V-Guard Industries, visit: https://www.vguard.in/

Inflow Technologies And CYFIRMA Announce Collaboration To Bring The Innovative External Threat Landscape Management Platforms

CYFIRMA, a Singapore-headquartered external threat landscape and cyber-intelligence platform company, having its research and operations hub in India, and business operations in APAC, the US and EMEA, today announced its appointment of Inflow Technologies as its distributor in South Asia. With this appointment, CYFIRMA has expanded its network of partner resellers and MSSPs to serve one of the largest and fastest-growing Asian countries that is leading the way in digital adoption and transformation.

Inflow Technologies is the leading distributor providing Cybersecurity, Networking, Unified Communications and Collaboration, AIDC, Server, Storage & Software and Electronic Security products & related Services in South Asia with revenue run-rate of USD 400+ Million. Headquartered in Bengaluru, Inflow Technologies is present in 18 locations and known for bringing in innovative technology that can help organizations unlock their digital potential. The selection of CYFIRMA’s external threat landscape management platform, DeCYFIR, and digital risk discovery and protection platform, DeTCT, will help businesses address the complexity of managing cyber threats in a fast-evolving environment.

“We are excited to partner with CYFIRMA as it reinforces our commitment to deliver the world’s leading IT security products to the Indian market. Traditional methods of responding to cyber incidents will no longer be sufficient to counter the highly resourceful and creative hacker. With CYFIRMA, businesses can for the first time have complete visibility into their external threat landscape while reducing the total cost of ownership and time to value of their security investments. CYFIRMA has a revolutionary approach to managing cybersecurity and we are proud to be part of this journey,” said Rajesh Kumar, Vice President, Inflow Technologies.

Businesses and channel partners globally have recognized the importance of external threat visibility and the predictive intelligence provided by CYFIRMA’s platforms to manage risk not addressed by conventional security control tools and fragmented point product security solutions. With Inflow Technologies, the company will tap into its network of 2300 partners across the country and lean on its go-to-market expertise to scale the business at an accelerated pace.

“We are honoured to work with Inflow Technologies as our distributor for the India region. Their strong channel and customer coverage in the local market paves the way for us to realize our vision of having DeCYFIR and DeTCT as the de facto external threat intelligence platforms protecting businesses from current and emerging threats,” said Kumar Ritesh, Founder and CEO, CYFIRMA.

“CYFIRMA is clearly differentiated in the industry as the only cyber-intelligence company with the capability to offer six threat views on a single pane of glass. These threat views are attack surface discovery, vulnerability intelligence, brand intelligence, digital risk discovery, situational awareness and cyber-intelligence. And together, they work to provide important insights to customers, alerting them to impending cyberattacks so they can take remedial actions before an attack is in full swing. The platform gives customers the unique view through the hacker’s lens and performs the much-needed role of predicting impending attacks. DeCYFIR and DeTCT are game-changers and help our customers turn the tables on their cyber adversaries,” adds Ritesh.

About CYFIRMA

CYFIRMA is an external threat landscape management platform company. We combine cyber intelligence with attack surface discovery and digital risk protection to deliver early warning, personalized, contextual, outside-in, and multi-layered insights. Our cloud-based AI and ML-powered analytics platform provides the hacker’s view with deep insights into the external cyber landscape, helping clients prepare for impending attacks. CYFIRMA is headquartered in Singapore with operation in APAC, EMEA and USA. The company is funded by Goldman Sachs, Zodius Capital, and Z3 Partners.

About Inflow Technologies

Inflow Technologies was founded in the year 2005 and is headquartered in Bangalore. A niche player in the IT Distribution Services market in India / South Asia. Inflow Technologies addresses the growing needs of organizations to manage and secure information more effectively and intelligently. The team at Inflow Technologies are well-versed with latest and the most powerful technologies available today for locating, organizing, managing, retrieving, analysing, protecting, and presenting information.

Being a VAD (Value Add Distributor), we cater to Cyber Security, Unified Communications and Collaboration, Networking, Automatic Identification and Data Capture & POS, Infrastructure & Application Software, Storage Management, Electronic Security products & related Services in South Asia.

We have direct relationships with 40+Global Technology vendors, have a strong channel of 2300+ partners, offering one or more solutions to 7000+ end customers.

Learn More: https://www.inflowtechnologies.com