Pepperfry Launch New Studio In Bangalore To Transform Furniture Retail Landscape In India

Pepperfry, the ecommerce furniture and home goods company, announced the launch of its New Studio in Bangalore, Karnataka. The offline expansion is in line with the company’s aim to penetrate into niche markets and strengthen its omnichannel consumer engagement in home and living space in India. Pepperfry’s studio footprint currently spans across 90+ cities with 174+ studios in the country.

Pepperfry Studios have transformed the furniture retail landscape in India. The company’s omnichannel strategy is driven by expansion of FOFO studios across the country and it currently works with 90 plus unique partners. The new studio launched in partnership with DREAM HOME FURNITURE, is situated at a prime location at Kannamangala- Seegehalli, in Bangalore, spanning across a carpet area of 1226 sq. ft. It offers customers a first-hand experience of an infinite catalogue of furniture and home products. Customers will get specialized design advice from the company’s interior design consultants. The studio at Bangalore aims at providing a personalized shopping experience tailored to the unique needs of home and living customers in Karnataka.

Speaking of the launch Amruta Gupta, Business Head - Franchising and Alliances, Pepperfry said, “We are delighted to launch our new Studio in Bangalore in partnership with Dream Home Furniture. Owning a Pepperfry franchise is an entrepreneurial success, and we aim to reach consumers beyond the larger catchment areas of metropolitan and tier 1 cities. Our franchise partners include a mix of successful businesses, women entrepreneurs, ex-army officials and first-time entrepreneurs. Today a large part of our Pepperfry customer interactions leverage AR and virtual product interactions. With our mission to spark a feeling called home across the world, we endeavor to consistently deliver great customer service.”

Juli Agarwal, Owner of Pepperfry Seegehalli, said, “We are extremely happy to partner with Pepperfry, India’s leading home and furniture marketplace. Pepperfry has pioneered a truly differentiated omnichannel business and we are proud to be a part of their journey in creating the largest omnichannel home and furniture business.”

Launched in 2017, Pepperfry franchise business model offers order fulfillment and after sales service by Pepperfry, support on studio design, launch & set up, operational guidance, marketing, and promotions. Pepperfry partners with local entrepreneurs who are aware of the hyperlocal demand cycles and trends. Pepperfry launches about 8-9 franchisees every month.

Pepperfry Accelerator Program was crafted in the year 2021 to expand Pepperfry’s offline footprint. The big differentiator of this program is the Capex required by franchise partners which starts with INR 15 lakhs. This model is based on 100% price parity and does not require the partner to hold product inventory, making it a mutually beneficial business association.

About Pepperfry.com

Pepperfry is an ecommerce furniture and home goods company offering customers a portfolio of home and living products and a great shopping experience. We believe that the Pepperfry managed marketplace helps thousands of entrepreneurs and merchants to sell to millions of discerning customers across India.

Bitbns Introduces Tax Shield -- ‘Zero TDS’ On SIP Investments In Cryptocurrency

·         India’s largest crypto SIP platform introduces 19 new tokens for additional flexibility and risk mitigation

·         Investors availing of Bitdroplet SIP for a minimum period of 12 months can avail TDS (Tax Deducted at Source) refund while exiting the investment

·         Applicable to all the existing and new SIP investors

·         Bitbns to add 19 new tokens to Bitdroplet, its SIP investment platform

In an industry first extending relief to crypto investors, Bitbns, one of India's leading cryptocurrency exchanges and the country's largest crypto SIP platform, has announced Zero TDS on its SIP investments in cryptocurrency. The initiative aims to remove the taxation burden from the back of the investors whilst encouraging them to undertake systematic investment plans (SIP) to leverage the benefits of rupee cost averaging to counter volatility.

Bitdroplet is a platform by Bitbns that allows investors to invest in cryptocurrencies via SIP in a simplified and secure manner. Investors availing of SIP for a minimum period of 12 months can now invest seamlessly without worrying about paying the TDS. While there is no minimum tenure for redemption, Bitbns will bear the TDS for SIP investments redeemed after 12 months. The platform pioneered crypto SIP in India is also the country's largest SIP platform, with an active folio worth over 200,000. The exchange also announced the introduction of 19 new tokens on its SIP platform, delivering investors greater flexibility in their SIP investments.

Bitdroplet platform also provides a one-of-a-kind investment calculator, wherein investors can calculate the value of their SIP investments for suitable investment tenures.

Crypto SIP is similar to regular SIP in mutual funds, allowing one to invest a fixed amount in crypto at regular intervals. Investors can avail themselves of daily, weekly, or monthly instalments based on one's investment appetite. The SIP route enables investments as low as Rs. 75 while automating and scheduling regular purchases of popular crypto-assets such as Bitcoin and Ethereum, among others.

Systematic investment in regular intervals enables users to avail of better price points, thereby benefiting from rupee-cost averaging to counter market volatility and mitigate risks over time. Thus, compounded yields would allow investors to build wealth efficiently through long-term investments. Additionally, through the SIP route, investors can diversify their capital investment instead of making a lump sum purchase, thus mitigating risks further.

As per the new taxation rule, effective July 1, all cryptocurrency transactions will attract 1% TDS. While the TDS in direct selling will be borne entirely by the seller, in the case of trading one cryptocurrency for another, TDS will be taxed upon both the parties involved.

Commenting on this development, Mr. Gaurav Dahake, Founder & CEO, Bitbns, “Bitbns strongly believes in innovating and building new lucrative product opportunities for its investors, and we are delighted to introduce TDS-free SIP plans for our customers. We believe it is a great time for investors to avail the 'Buy at Dip' strategy and thereby maximize their profits. A SIP approach would be ideal as it is one of the best and most efficient investment strategies. Regular and timely purchases enable an investor to avail a better price point for entry even amid high volatility. Our TDS-free SIP plans will encourage investors to avail the benefits of an efficient wealth creation model while evading the burden of TDS. In addition to risk mitigation, it will also aid in portfolio diversification and reinvestment of returns, to leverage the power of compounding and generate attractive yields through long-term lock-in of investments.”

To know value of your SIP Investment: https://bitdroplet.com/

About Bitbns

Bitbns is India's most versatile exchange. With over 4 million users, it is today a one-stop shop for a diverse suite of crypto-based products and services. With varied products such as Bitdroplet, SIP in bitcoin, FIP which is fixed deposit for crypto, the exchange caters to a wide variety of audiences inclusive of traders and long-term mature investors among others. The exchange also offers advanced trading capabilities like margin trading which can be leveraged by sophisticated traders and automated trading options through API for users. Bitbns has Bitbns Quick Swap which offers over 400 cryptocurrencies which can be traded - the highest in India. Founded in 2017, Bitbns is the fastest and easiest way to buy & sell Bitcoin (BTC) at the lowest trading fee.

https://bitbns.com/

UST Wins GSA’s ‘Changemaker of The Year’ Award For Its Open Talent Strategy

~Recognition from Global Sourcing Association confirms UST’s status as a leader in this dynamic space~

UST, a leading digital transformation solutions company has received the ‘Changemaker of the Year’ award from the Global Sourcing Association (GSA) for its Open Talent strategy. The GSA is the leading industry association and professional body for the global sourcing industry. GSA’s UK Awards, now in their 19th year, recognize and celebrate the efforts of companies who have exhibit the best practices in strategic sourcing.

UST was recognized for its comprehensive Open Talent strategy which allows the company and its clients to gain a significant talent advantage by leveraging the freelancer talent ecosystem. While concerns over data security, privacy, intellectual property, and confidentiality made it difficult for enterprises to leverage Open Talent at scale, UST’s unique approach solves for these issues. With over 55 million qualified freelancers worldwide, utilizing UST’s Open Talent approach opens exciting new possibilities.

There are three aspects which make the Open Talent strategy truly transformational – access to the most diverse talent globally, “just-in-time” talent availability, and assurance of service quality. In addition, the Open Talent strategy creates significant downstream opportunities with partners and finally, it serves as a guide that can help clients navigate this important transition.

“Everyone at UST is honored to receive this important recognition from GSA. As the market adjusts to the unprecedented disruption of the past several years, I am proud that we have created a solution which helps enterprises rethink how they design and execute projects, without any constraints around talent availability or access. UST Open Talent is not just about changing traditional (out)sourcing models. It’s about bringing the power of diversity of thought, gender and ethnicity to create a more inclusive and unmatched workforce that our employees and clients can benefit from. There is no other firm in our space who has taken such a wholistic approach,” said Vinod Kartha, Vice President of Strategic Initiatives, UST.

“UST’s proprietary new open talent service delivery model leverages the scalability and efficiency of the freelance economy.  High-fidelity, high-velocity resourcing through the world’s elite talent marketplaces ensures we have the right expertise, at the right time, for exactly the right outcome, for UST and UST’s clients.  The “cloud” model, clearly successful in technology applications – is equally valuable when applied to talent models,” said Manu Gopinath, Chief Operating Officer, UST.

“UST have launched a highly disruptive business model innovation - designed to orchestrate talent within and across an ecosystem of partners and provide high-precision, scalable and resilient access to expertise, capacity, and solutions.  With boundless vision, boundless talent, and boundless impact – UST are giving digital transformation a much-needed talent transformation. UST are defining the future of the technology services industry,” said Dyan Finkhousen, Chief Strategy Officer, Open Assembly, and UST’s partner in the Open Talent journey.

Open Talent is just one of the many dynamic solutions that has earned UST a reputation as a leader in its sector. UST places an emphasis on innovation and will continue to develop solutions that make the digital transformation process easier to navigate.

About UST:

For more than 22 years, UST has worked side by side with the world's best companies to make a real impact through transformation. Powered by technology, inspired by people, and led by our purpose, we partner with our clients from design to operation. Through our nimble approach, we identify their core challenges, and craft disruptive solutions that bring their vision to life. With deep domain expertise and a future-proof philosophy, we embed innovation and agility into our clients' organizations—delivering measurable value and lasting change across industries, and around the world. Together, with over 30,000 employees in 30+ countries, we build for boundless impact—touching billions of lives in the process. Visit us at www.UST.com 

UiPath Unveils Winners of The India And South Asia Partner Excellence Awards

* Recognized for their impact and innovation to strengthen the software automation ecosystem

UiPath (NYSE: PATH), a leading enterprise automation software company, today announced the winners of the second edition of UiPath India and South Asia Partner Excellence Awards. The awards celebrate the contributions of UiPath partners who went above and beyond to help customers from across different industries in their journey toward becoming a fully automated enterprise.

The winners were nominated from the UiPath extensive partner ecosystem consisting of over 700 organizations in the South Asia region, based on their innovation, ability to scale, impact, internal transformation, solution development, generation of revenue, and application of UiPath end-to-end automation platform.

Harpreet Bhatia, Regional Vice President, Partner Ecosystem, India and SAARC at UiPath said, “Our partners form the backbone of our ecosystem, and they play an essential role in providing successful business outcomes for our customers. We’re thrilled to acknowledge our Partner Excellence Award winners for their expertise and dedication they consistently bring to the market to guide customers through a successful automation journey.” “We will continue to work hand-in-glove with our partners to deliver end-to-end automation platform and look forward to achieving greater success with our partners. Congratulations to all winners.” Bhatia added.

Marcus Low, Area Vice President, Partners and Strategic Customer Engagement, APJ, at UiPath said, “It's an honor to reflect on and recognize UiPath’s Partners of the Year. We applaud this year’s Partner Awards winners for their ingenuity in delivering exceptional work that drives success and value for customers.” “Being a partner-first organization, we will continue to invest in our partners in India and across the region to enable profitability, growth, and differentiation. Empowering our partner ecosystem is critical as we continue to support enterprises to scale and democratize automation across their organizations, helping them turn the goal of digital transformation into reality.” Low added.

The UiPath Partner Excellence Awards winners are:

Impact Partner of the Year - Quality Kiosk Technologies Pvt. Ltd.

Emerging Partner of the Year – Protiviti India Member Private Limited

Innovation Partner of the Year - PWC

Value Added Distributor of the Year - EGuardian, Sri Lanka

Best Automation Project of the Year (ITES) - WNS

Impact Partner of the Year (ITES) - HCL

Automation as a Service' Partner of the Year (ITES) - TechM

To learn more about the awards, visit:

https://www.uipathindia.com/partnerexcellenceawards/

To learn more about UiPath’s Partner Network,  visit: https://www.uipath.com/partners/become-a-partner

About UiPath:

UiPath has a vision to deliver the Fully Automated Enterprise™, one where companies use automation to unlock their greatest potential. UiPath offers an end-to-end platform for automation, combining the leading Robotic Process Automation (RPA) solution with a full suite of capabilities that enable every organization to rapidly scale digital business operations.

Mohan Bhagwat To Address Convocation of Sri Sathya Sai University For Human Excellence In Karnataka On July 13

* On behalf of the varsity, eminent nuclear scientist Dr R Chidambaram, former ISRO chief Dr K Kasturirangan, and cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar will receive honorary doctorates from Dr Mohan Bhagwat.

Dr Mohan Ji Bhagwat, Sarsanghchalak of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) will deliver the first convocation address of the Sri Sathya Sai University for Human Excellence, a varsity in Karnataka that provides completely free of cost education to rural first-generation learners from economically downtrodden backgrounds, according to a statement here.

On behalf of the University, the RSS leader will also provide honorary doctorates to six eminent citizens, including nuclear physicist Dr R Chidambaram, who played a key role in India’s peaceful nuclear tests in 1974 and 1998; former ISRO chief K Kasturirangan; and cricketing legend Sunil Gavaskar at the Muddenahalli campus of the Sathya Sai University, about 40 kilometres from Karnataka’s capital Bengaluru.

"It would be an honour for us to host Dr Mohan ji Bhagwat on July 13 for the first convocation at our campus. At the ceremony, he will award honorary doctorates to six eminent Indian citizens, who have played important roles in the fields of science, space, nuclear technology, music, sports and social development”, the Founder of the varsity, Sadguru Sri Madhusudan Sai, said in a statement.

The RSS leader will visit the Veda Gurukulam, a school on the campus that provides Vedic education, the statement by Sadguru Sri Madhusudan Sai added. Dr Mohan ji Bhagwat will also visit the free super speciality hospital run by the Prashanthi Balamandira Trust (which has established the University) which is now geared up to grow in to India’s first free medical college under the University.

The varsity has chosen to honour eminent Indian nationals like Padma Vibhushan awardee Dr R Chidambaram, an eminent nuclear physicist who, among others, also held top positions at the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (1990), the National Atomic Energy Commission and the International Atomic Energy Commission.

Eminent space scientist and former ISRO chief Dr K Kasturirangan, who played a key role in the development of geosynchronous satellite launches, and eminent cricketer Sunil Gavaskar, who continues to be globally recognised as one of world’s top cricketers and commentators, would also be awarded honorary doctorates, along with eminent musicologist and Padma awardee M Venkatesh Kumar, eminent environmentalist from Assam, Purnima Devi Barman, who mobilised 10,000 rural women and made them bio-diversity ambassadors in their region, and C Sreenivas for delivering free healthcare services to millions.

Sri Sathya Sai University for Human Excellence is the higher education wing of the Sri Sathya Sai Loka Seva Gurukulam Group of Institutions that is spread across 27 Campuses in 20 districts in Karnataka, one in Telangana and one in Tamil Nadu. The main aim of the Institution is to impart high quality, values-based education, on the foundation of the ancient Indian ideals.

The most noteworthy point is that almost half of the students graduating from this University are first generation literates! In order to impart the right kind of education that will prepare students who will dedicate their lives for the cause of nation building, the University offers completely free of cost education, including boarding and lodging, to the rural youth. Thus, this convocation is a celebration of not only education, but also of service.

Visit - https://sssuhe.ac.in/

Venue: Sathya Sai Grama, Muddenahalli, Chikkaballapur, Karnataka – 562101

About Sadguru Sri Madhusudan Sai

Sadguru Sri Madhusudan Sai spearheads the mission of love and service as propounded by Sri Sathya Sai Baba. Walking in the footsteps of Baba, his Guru and God, Sri Madhusudan Sai is instrumental in establishing various humanitarian service projects across 33 Countries. Since 2011, he has been leading dedicated volunteers and passionate individuals to establish institutes of excellence in Education, Healthcare, Nutrition and Spirituality across the world.

Today, four super speciality paediatric cardiac care hospitals, a multi-disciplinary secondary care hospital, two exclusive mother and child hospitals, 27 values-based educational campuses in South India, a veda gurukulam to promote learning and research in vedic studies, and a morning nutrition programme which nourishes over 500,000 school-going children every single day, have been established to offer services absolutely free of cost to children from needy and impoverished backgrounds.

Over 170,000 little hearts have been mended at the temples of healing and 5,000 rural children have been empowered with values-based integral education at the temples of learning, and 11 Centres for Human Development in 11 countries have been established to carry out spiritual and service activities across the world. The life of Sri Madhusudan Sai is indeed a reflection of Baba’s message of love and service, as several lives are being illumined through these benevolent acts of service every single day.

Sterling Generators Announces Strategic Partnership With Moteurs Baudouin

* Tie-up expected to strengthen ‘Make in India’ campaign 

Sterling Generators Pvt Ltd (SGPL), a Sterling and Wilson Group Company, and one of India’s leading genset players, is proud to announce a strategic partnership with Moteurs Baudouin, a French manufacturer of marine and power generation diesel and gas engines, that is expected to accelerate growth for both companies in the auxiliary power category. 

The partnership will leverage Baudouin’s legacy of designing and manufacturing the highest quality diesel and gas engines and Sterling Generators’ fuel efficient, smartly designed auxiliary power solutions that is compliant with latest emission norms. 

Mr. Sanjay Jadhav, CEO, Sterling Generators (P) Limited said, “With Baudouin’s global presence, fine legacy, and engineering expertise, it is strategically beneficial for us to have them as an engine partner. We are confident that we have a superior product in hand in terms of technology compared to other players in the industry. This collaboration will personify our commitment of providing discerning power consumers a smart, eco-friendly, cost-effective product backed by a strong aftermarket support.” 

On this alliance, Gurunath Kulkarni VP India Operations Moteurs Baudouin said, “India being a strategic market, we are delighted to join hands with Sterling Generators. With a well-established distributor network and state of the art genset manufacturing facility, this partnership is the right platform for us to increase our footprint in India. He further added “We are confident that we will be able to serve our customers with latest technology products backed by robust on ground support and are fully geared to launch our next emission compliant Power packs.”  

According to reports, India's prime power diesel genset market size is predicted to grow at a 10.6% CAGR during 2022-2030. Government of India’s emphasis on Make in India, backed by sustained economic growth, continues to drive high power demand in India. The extraordinary global development in residential, commercial, and industrial sectors across regions has increased the demand for uninterrupted power. SGPL along with Baudouin is perfectly poised to meet the growing demands in the genset industry. 

About Sterling and Wilson  

Sterling and Wilson is an excellent example of how the Shapoorji Pallonji family has nurtured long-term associations with its business partners. The Mistry and Daruvala families have been partners in Sterling and Wilson for three generations. Sterling and Wilson has shown an extremely positive growth, from a turnover of USD 415 million in 2012, today the group has crossed a turnover of USD 1.7 billion. From being a predominantly India-focused company in 2010, Sterling and Wilson now operates across the Middle East, Africa, Australia, Europe and the Americas. From being mainly focused on doing MEP projects in India, the company over the past 10 years has set up global operations in MEP, Diesel Generator sets, Turnkey Data Centers, Transmission & Distribution, and Solar EPC. 

About Sterling Generators (P) Limited 

Sterling Generators (P) Limited was set up in 2005 as a single point DG power solution provider. It is one of the largest players in auxiliary power segment in 250 to 4000 KVA range. The manufacturing facility at Silvassa boasts of being Asia's largest genset integrator, at the same being a large-scale manufacture of power and control panels, motor control centers, APFC panels and provider of balance of plant equipment. The facility is ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and BS OHSAS certified by Germanischer Lloyd Gmbh, Germany. Sterling gensets are widely used in Realty, Infrastructure, Telecom, Construction, Retail Outlets, Commercial complexes, Hotels, Hospitals and Small and Medium enterprises.  

EKA E9 Successfully Completes All Certifications & Approvals

* India’s most advanced & first pure electric bus, completely designed & manufactured in India, receives CMVR certification from ARAI (Automotive Research Association of India) 

EKA, an electric vehicle manufacturing & technology company, and a subsidiary of Pinnacle Industries, received the CMVR certificationfor its 9m pure electric, zero-emission bus, EKA E9, from ARAI (Automotive Research Association of India). The Central Motor Vehicle Rules (CMVR) certification was handed over to Dr. Sudhir Mehta, Founder & Chairman, EKA, at the hands of Dr. Reji Mathai, Director, ARAI (Automotive Research Association of India).  

EKA successfully completed all the required functional and safety testing and approvals to achieve the Central Motor Vehicle Rules (CMVR) certification, which is a critical step for the company to start trials and sales of the 9m electric bus, EKA E9 to customers in the coming months.  

Speaking at the occasion, Dr. Sudhir Mehta, Founder & Chairman, EKA by Pinnacle Mobility Solutions, said, “This is another milestone achievement for EKA as we are excited to see our customers start to operate our vehicles. We started EKA with a vision to bring sustainable, reliable, and efficient mobility solutions, starting with the electrification of commercial vehicles, and public transport, especially the bus sector. Having passed all certification tests in this short time frame is a truly monumental achievement by the whole team. We now look forward to ramping up our production and delivering our electric buses to our customers.” 

The E9, EKA’s first battery-electric bus, features a new streamlined vehicle design and maximized power & range due to its monocoque steel chassis and complete composite structure. With a Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) lower than existing Internal Combustion engine-powered buses, EKA E9 promises to deliver sustainability and profitability to all stakeholders.   

EKA E9 is committed to providing a solid platform for sustainable and efficient public transport in cities around the world, along with reliable and profitable operations for customers. With a capacity to seat 31 passengers and a driver, along with a standing capacity, EKA E9 also accommodates a wheelchair with a foldable ramp. With a 200-kilometre range on a single charge, the vehicle is also fuel cell capable.  

EKA E9 runs a proprietary in-house developed operating system software which is tested for reliability and ensures application-based configuration of the vehicle. Its modular architecture makes the E9 the bus that can be configured for multiple applications such as city buses, staff carriers, and school buses. 

EKA is a subsidiary of Pinnacle Industries Limited, India’s leading automotive seating, interiors & speciality vehicles company, and is one of the only commercial vehicle manufacturers approved under the Champion OEM Scheme & EV component manufacturing scheme of the Government of India’s Auto PLI policy.  

EKA is reinventing the design philosophy and manufacturing of electric commercial vehicles by developing sharable technologies, to democratize EVs with best-in-class TCO (total cost of ownership) Solutions and a sustainable ecosystem. EKA will design, manufacture, and supply a complete range of Electric Vehicles, Fuel Cell Electric vehicles, and alternative fuel vehicles. The brand will also house components assembly and manufacturing, EV traction systems, EV energy storage systems, etc., going forward. 

About EKA: 

EKA is an automotive & technology company creating a new paradigm in global CV electric mobility. With an industry-leading team, cutting-edge technology, modular designs, and lean manufacturing processes, EKA's vision is to bring reliable and efficient mobility solutions to the masses. EKA’s sharable technologies and low investment production processes will enable the lowest TCO and democratize electric vehicles for mass adaptation.  

About Pinnacle Industries: 

Started in 1996, Pinnacle Industries Ltd. is India’s leading automotive seating, interiors and Special application vehicles company. Pinnacle Industries has continuously expanded its product range through investing in its employees, clientele and technology partners, with the group today employing over 3000 people in India, Spain & USA.