First Advantage Releases 2022 India Employment Screening Trends Report

* BFSI Sector Shows Major Discrepancy Trends in Q1-22

First Advantage Corporation (NASDAQ: FA), a leading global provider of technology solutions for screening, verifications, safety and compliance related to human capital, announced the publication of its India Employment Screening Trends Report, which is a compilation of anonymized data and analytics from the Company’s background screenings performed for its customers in the India market in Q1-22.

In Q1-22, such as banking, financial services, and insurance (BFSI), Retail, and Telecom showed substantially greater discrepancy percentages than the overall average of 9.6 percent.

Other notable findings include:

·         BFSI and retail industries experienced greater differences in discrepancy percentage.

·         Out of every 100 employment checks verified in the BFSI sector, 19 were discrepant in Q1-22.

·         For Employment Verifications, IT, BFSI, and Consulting sectors have shown higher inclination towards alternate modes of verification.

"With the popularity of remote work, businesses are looking beyond macro trends like the need to manage company risk and assure compliance in the recruiting process and are focusing on micro-trends like continuing criminal records check and social media screening.” Amit Singh, Head of Commercial at First Advantage said.

Further, he continued, “As we continue to plan and execute our FA strategy, our vision is to enable our customers to hire smarter and onboard faster with advanced product and technology roadmaps.”

About First Advantage:

First Advantage (NASDAQ: FA) is a leading global provider of technology solutions for screening, verifications, safety, and compliance related to human capital. The Company delivers innovative solutions and insights that help customers manage risk and hire the best talent. Enabled by its proprietary technology, First Advantage’s products and solutions help companies protect their brands and provide safer environments for their customers and their most important resources: employees, contractors, contingent workers, tenants, and drivers. Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, First Advantage performs screens in over 200 countries and territories on behalf of its more than 33,000 customers. For more information about First Advantage, visit the Company’s website at https://fadv.com/. 

Happiest Minds Purchases 2.4 Lakh Sq.ft Office Space At Electronic City, Bengaluru

Happiest Minds Technologies Limited (NSE: HAPPSTMNDS), a ‘Born Digital. Born Agile’ company, today announced that it has purchased a Grade A, fully built up ready to use commercial property with a super built area of 240,000 Sq.Ft in Bengaluru for a consideration of ?101 Crores. The facility with a seating capacity of 1,600 seats is in the technology hub of Electronics City.

Speaking on the purchase, Mr Venkatraman Narayanan, MD & CFO said “Financially, the purchase is funded substantially through borrowings from banks at very favorable terms. The transaction is positive from a P&L perspective while adding a significant asset to our balance sheet. We have structured repayments in a manner such that cash flows are neutral in the medium and positive in the long term”

The facility enhances the Company’s seating capacity in Bangalore by about 30% and is in-line with expansion plans and objective of strengthening delivery capabilities across existing and newer locations like Bhubaneshwar.

About Happiest Minds Technologies:

Happiest Minds Technologies Limited (NSE: HAPPSTMNDS), a Mindful IT Company, enables digital transformation for enterprises and technology providers by delivering seamless customer experiences, business efficiency and actionable insights. We do this by leveraging a spectrum of disruptive technologies such as: artificial intelligence, blockchain, cloud, blockchain, cloud, digital process automation, internet of things, robotics/drones, security, virtual/augmented reality, etc. Positioned as ‘Born Digital. Born Agile’, our capabilities span digital solutions, infrastructure, product engineering and security. We deliver these services across industry sectors such as automotive, BFSI, consumer packaged goods, e-commerce, edutech, engineering R&D, hi-tech, manufacturing, retail, and travel/transportation/hospitality.

A Great Place to Work-Certified™ company, Happiest Minds is headquartered in Bangalore, India with operations in the U.S., the UK, Canada, Australia, and the Middle East.

Preventive Tips To How To Beat Dehydration Throughout The Year

Many great poets have lauded the splendor of the changing seasons — the gleaming sunshine in the summer, chilly and peaceful evenings in the winter, and the pitter-patter of raindrops during monsoon. Fortunately, they were spared the kind of climate change and global warming crisis that we are currently experiencing.

While we cocoon ourselves in air-conditioned bubbles, make sorbets with overpriced limes, search for a sunscreen with the right SPF, and wait for the government to solve the coal shortage that is disrupting the electricity supply in many parts of the country, the most important thing we can do right now is taking care of our health and keeping ourselves hydrated.

According to experts, ignoring the symptoms of dehydration can lead to serious medical problems. Water makes up one-third of a person's body. The equilibrium of water and salt is disrupted in dry and humid weather due to heavy sweating. As a result, the body requires extra water to maintain a normal body temperature. When the body is dehydrated, the symptoms include: feeling thirsty, dark yellow and strong-smelling pee, feeling dizzy or lightheaded, feeling tired, having a dry mouth, lips and eyes, decreased urination - fewer than 4 times a day, according to NHS.

Tips to beat dehydration caused by the changing weather:

1.      Load your dish with hydrating fruits and vegetables:

Hydrating fruits and vegetables are ideal for combating dehydration on your plate. Water is abundant in the fruits and vegetables accessible to us throughout the year. Peaches, watermelons, strawberries, pineapples, and cantaloupe are examples of water-rich fruits. Celery, tomatoes, radishes, and cucumbers are all water-rich veggies that you should eat. Replacing oily and spicy food with water-rich fruits and vegetables throughout the day is the greatest method to avoid dehydration.

2.      Recharge with Electrolytes:

Most people go for a fruit juice or an energy drink when their bodies are dehydrated believing that it would suffice. However, they don't realize that they're losing essential body salts and fluids that no fruit drink can replace. A drink that rehydrates, recharges, and allows us to continue with ease is the need of the hour. Dehydration is treated with oral rehydration solution beverages. Fruitnik Electro+ by OTC major Amrutanjan Health Care is effective at this since it aids in the recovery of salts and fluids lost as a result of exertion or dehydration. It includes the appropriate mix of sugar, glucose, Sodium, and potassium, as well as the ability to help the body replace lost fluids. Fruitnik Electro+ is a natural apple fruit drink that enhances energy, replaces electrolytes, and delivers Vitamin C. This makes it suitable for recovering from dehydration due to exertion, heat stress and sporting activities. In rural areas, the free ORS solution or medical therapy at any government health center can be obtained to combat dehydration.

3.      Replace sodas with fruit juices:

If you think a can of soft drink or soda will quench your thirst, then you couldn’t be more wrong. When it comes to hydration, soda, coffee, booze, and tea are useless. In fact, they can deplete your body's water supply.  As a result, it is advised to avoid these beverages throughout the year. Try flavored water or fruit juices like Fruitnik from the house of Amrutanjan Health Care to make your drink exciting and refreshing. Fruitnik juice that comes in the flavours of Mango and Apple is packed with natural fruit goodness containing anti-oxidants, minerals and vitamins that are essential to staying hydrated in the scorching heat.

4.      Avoid Alcohol: Alcohol acts as a diuretic. It causes your body to remove fluids from your blood much faster than other liquids through your renal system, which includes the kidneys, ureters, and bladder. If you don't drink enough water while consuming alcohol, you can quickly become dehydrated. It is advised to avoid or reduce alcohol intake to keep yourself hydrated throughout all seasons.

5.      Stay hydrated: Water is irreplaceable. If you exercise, it is critical that you increase your water intake twofold. At least four hours before your workout, drink plenty of water. While exercising, hydrate yourself every 10-15 minutes. Drink 1.5 liters of water by 2 p.m., even if you're not thirsty. Dehydration is frequently indicated by a thirsty feeling. Carry a water bottle with you at all times so that you have easy access to water. You can also use an app to remind you to drink more water.

L&T Technology Services Reports Strong 23% Growth In Q1FY23

* Q1 Revenue of  Rs 1,874 crore, up 23% YoY

* Q1 Net profit of Rs 274 crore, up 27% YoY

L&T Technology Services Limited (BSE: 540115, NSE: LTTS), India’s leading pure-play engineering services company, announced its results for the first quarter ended June 30, 2022.

Highlights for Q1FY23 include:

·         Revenue at Rs 18,737 million; growth of 23% YoY

·         USD Revenue at $239.5 million; growth of 20% YoY in constant currency

·         EBIT margin at 18.3%; up 100 bps YoY

·         Net profit at Rs 2,742 million; growth of 27% YoY

During the quarter, LTTS won a USD 50 million plus deal, four USD 15 million deals and two deals with TCV of USD 10 million.

“We started the new fiscal on a strong note with revenue growing sequentially by 4.7% in constant currency. Growth was led by Plant Engineering and Industrial Products, benefitting from spends towards digital manufacturing, energy transition and smart & connected products. Our big bets focus has helped us to align ourselves with these strategic and multi-year customer programs.

Deal wins were very strong during the quarter and spread across segments. Our Aerospace and Rail segment is seeing a revival of large deal bookings with a USD 50 million deal in Q1 on the back of a stellar long-term deal that we won in the prior quarter. We recently opened an engineering design center in Toulouse, France to cater to new age digital requirements of Aerospace.

We see a broad-based pipeline of opportunities which gives us confidence of the growth momentum sustaining,” said Amit Chadha, CEO & Managing Director, L&T Technology Services Limited.

Awards & Recognitions:

·         Recognized as a Great Place to Work® for its best practices across India

·         LTTS has been positioned as a ‘Leader’ in all 5 quadrants for the North America market in the 2022 ISG Provider Lens™ Digital Engineering Services report.

·         LTTS wins Golden Peacock Corporate Social Responsibility Award

·         LTTS’ Chest-rAITM solution recognized as an “Innovator” by NASSCOM in their AI GameChangers Awards 2022

·         HfS Research recognized LTTS among the Top 10 Industry 4.0 Service Providers

·         LTTS recognized as a ‘Leader’ in Everest Group’s Digital Product Engineering Services PEAK Matrix® Assessment 2022

Patents

At the end of Q1FY23, the patents portfolio of L&T Technology Services stood at 913, out of which 625 are co-authored with its customers and the rest are filed by LTTS.

Human Resources

At the end of Q1FY23, LTTS’ employee strength stood at 21,433.

About L&T Technology Services Ltd

L&T Technology Services Limited (LTTS) is a listed subsidiary of Larsen & Toubro Limited focused on Engineering and R&D (ER&D) services. We offer consultancy, design, development and testing services across the product and process development life cycle. Our customer base includes 69 Fortune 500 companies and 57 of the world’s top ER&D companies, across industrial products, medical devices, transportation, telecom & hi-tech, and the process industries. Headquartered in India, we have over 21,400 employees spread across 19 global design centers, 28 global sales offices and 89 innovation labs as of June 30, 2022. For more information, visit https://www.ltts.com/

CoinSwitch, Startup Karnataka Announce Blockchain Hackathon, “Building Future Cities”

* The hackathon will be held in Bengaluru from August 5 to August 6.

* Registrations are open at https://skillenza.com/challenge/24-hr-hackathon-by-coinswitch

CoinSwitch, India’s leading Crypto investing app, in association with Startup Karnataka, a Karnataka Government initiative, and Tejasvi Surya, Member of Parliament (Bangalore South), is organizing a blockchain hackathon, Building Future Cities, to recognize and stimulate blockchain-based solutions to everyday problems faced by India’s 1.2 billion people. The hackathon is also supported by Sequoia India.

Centered around the themes of Smart City, Digital Governance, and Supply Chain, Building Future Cities aims to kickstart a Web3 innovation cycle tailored and customized for India.

The hackathon will challenge participants to envision a blockchain-powered India, with a focus on smart mobility, energy credits and trading, decentralized waste management, secure digital identity and certificate management, efficient and transparent vaccine distribution, and farm supplies and supply chain management.

The winners will be rewarded with a prize money of Rs 3 lakh, with the total prize pool of the hackathon set at Rs 6 lakh. Participants can enter the competition individually or in a team of up to 4 members.

“Karnataka is the torchbearer of Digital India. The state has an excellent track record of close collaboration between the government and entrepreneurs. This hackathon enables to Karnataka to carry this success story to the next frontier of technology—blockchain—and empowers young innovators to utilize the power of blockchain for public good,” said Dr. Ashwathnarayan C. N, Minister for Higher Education; IT & BT, Science & Technology; Skill Development, Entrepreneurship & Livelihood.

“The world is looking up to India. Under the able leadership of Honorable Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has brought about a digital revolution that has touched every corner of this country. We are now ready for the next big technological leap, to build a blockchain-powered India. I am delighted to partner with CoinSwitch for a first-of-its-kind blockchain hackathon and sow the seeds of India’s future in Bengaluru,” said Tejasvi Surya, Member of Parliament, Bangalore South.

“Blockchain is a powerful technology that will reshape every facet of our life. Building Future Cities blockchain hackathon is our effort to kickstart an innovation cycle in India for India, by equipping and enabling India’s strong pool of developers and innovators. At CoinSwitch, we have always believed that India will be the launchpad of a Web3 world. The hackathon is a step to realize this goal. I am excited to see what the young and smart minds of India bring to the table,” said Ashish Singhal, Co-Founder and CEO, CoinSwitch.

Lobb Launches Multi Lingual Call Centre Facilities For Truckers

Lobb today announced a multi-lingual call centre to facilitate their growing truckers who use their services through the application. Initially to start with this will be in  Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, Hindi & English. The challenge is that large truckers are not so literate hence they take the help of family and friends to use the application. Lobb also plans to add more languages going forward.   LOBB is a Bangalore based technology startup founded in 2015, with a mission to work with the next billion netizens & Digitally Disrupt Logistics, founded by techno-domain experts Jayarama Raju and Venu Kondur.

Making his statement on this initiative Venu Kondur CEO & Co-Founder Lobb said, “India is a diverse nation with multiple languages. To facilitate the user with an experience which makes him comfortable we have introduced this feature which works very simple. When the caller calls he will be asked to choose a language and further conversation will happen in the chosen mode”. He went on to add, “We want to make the technology to be embraced by users & it must not be a deterrent just because of a language”. 

Lobb has created a marketplace that connects transporters with truckers in a seamless way to ensure a national level supply demand matching considering the nuances of the trade. In India large fleet hubs are located in Namakkal (TN), Vijaywada (AP) & Ambala (Punjab) 

Indian logistics industry has over 10 million long haul trucks, most of them owned by small truck owners struggling to find the right loads on time. Lobb aims to empower them through its proprietary Truck Discovery Model, by creating a unique network of fleet, routes and nodes aligned to demand - supply and move to machine based matching engine. 

Lobb has AI based platform that is poised to disrupt long haul intercity logistics. Their primary focus in the near term is India which is a hugely fragmented market. India’s long-haul intercity logistics is approx. US $100B. Lobb’s proprietary platform is transforming the industry with its deep intelligence engine and is delivering substantial benefits to all the key players in the market including transporters and truckers. 

Lobb aims to increase truck utilization for truckers by way of reducing halting and through digital payments, resulting in increasing truckers’ revenue by 30%.  At present Lobb is operational in 18 major industrial hubs covering across PAN India. Today it works with 900 plus logistic companies along with more than 5000 truckers and 20,000 fleets. 

Issued by Social Amplifiers Bengaluru 

The First-Ever BMW G 310 RR Launched In Indian Market

* Get ready for the racetrack with extreme sportiness.

* Full fairing design with unmatched agility and precise handling.

* Unparalleled combination of modern technology with RR genes.

* #RevealYourRacingAttitude #NeverStopChallenging #MakeLifeARide #BMWG310RR #G310RR #BMWMotorradIndia #BMWMotorrad

BMW Motorrad India launched the first-ever BMW G 310 RR in India today. India is the first country to welcome the third and latest member of highly successful BMW 310 model series. The bike is available at BMW Motorrad India dealerships from today onwards.

The BMW G 310 RR has been jointly developed by BMW Motorrad and cooperation partner TVS Motor Company. The BMW G 310 RR is locally produced in India along with BMW G 310 R and G 310 GS by TVS Motor Company in Hosur.

Mr. Markus Mueller-Zambre, Head of Region Asia, China, Pacific & Africa at BMW Motorrad said, “In just under five years, the G 310 R and G 310 GS have become immensely popular and are in high demand all over the world. The introduction of a third member further diversifies the G 310 range with R - a roadster, GS – an adventure bike and now the first-ever BMW G 310 RR - a true road racing sports bike. The BMW G 310 RR’s performance, agility, precision and raring-to-go flair reveals racing attitude. We are glad to launch it first in India which is one of the fastest growing markets for BMW Motorrad.”

Mr. Vikram Pawah, President, BMW Group India said, “The first-ever BMW G 310 RR is the sportiest and most desirable sports bike in the sub-500 class. This bike proudly inherits the original road racing genes that have fascinated sports bike enthusiasts with unlimited adrenaline rush on tarmac. With the combination of a stunning superbike design and modern technology, it is an ultimate riding machine - your best companion on racetracks and city roads alike. With the RR, you never stop challenging.”

The first-ever BMW G 310 RR will be offered in two variants. The ex-showroom prices are as follows:

The BMW G 310 RR                              -           INR 285,000

The BMW G 310 RR Style Sport           -             INR 299,000

*Prices prevailing at the time of invoicing will be applicable. Delivery will be made ex-showroom. Ex-showroom price (inclusive of GST and compensation cess) as applicable but excludes Road Tax, RTO statutory taxes/fees, other local tax / cess levies and insurance. Prices and options are subject to change without prior notice. For further information, please contact your local authorized BMW Motorrad Dealer.

The new BMW G 310 RR has been launched in two colors – The standard Black storm metallic paintwork emphasizes the dynamic overall appearance. The other option is the Style Sport in Light White Uni, Racing Blue Metallic and Racing Red Uni colors.

The G 310 RR inherits the DNA of the S 1000 RR and will be the entrance to the BMW Motorrad sport bikes family. Nimble and agile in the city, confident and powerful on the road. 

For ease of ownership, BMW India Financial Services is offering a complete package to own the first-ever BMW 310 RR. Benefits include low down payment, monthly payment starting INR 3,999 and the option to fund insurance and accessories.

For complete peace of mind, BMW Motorrad bikes come with a standard warranty for three years, unlimited kilometres. The warranty can be extended to fourth and fifth year at an attractive cost. Road-Side Assistance, a 24x7 365 days package further ensures prompt services in case of breakdown and towing situations.

The BMW G 310 RR

The BMW G 310 RR’s aerodynamic design makes an extremely sporty appearance with its road racing DNA: full fairing and RR branding/graphics. Its uncompromising superbike design and motorsport colours make a clear classification in the road-race segment.

The aerodynamic design is optimized by the full fairing, intelligent dimensions as well as lighter materials that work together to offer agile and precise handling. Thanks to the Ram Air intake, the oncoming air flow is ideally used, and the gill vents ensure that the hot air is channelled away from the engine. The bike has an aggressive and sharp face with full-led headlights, large transparent visor and pure-black handlebars. The entire fly line is front-wheel oriented. The dynamic front, tank-hugging seating position and a pulled-up short rear visually underline closeness to the racetrack.

New high-end details such as the standard gold upside-down fork, aluminum swingarm, handlebars with controls and excellent workmanship reflect the finest within the segment and underscore the stable wheel control with sensitive and precise feedback. The standard Michelin Pilot Street radial tyres fit perfectly with the character by providing ample grip and control.

The first-ever BMW G 310 RR is fitted with a water-cooled single-cylinder four-stroke 313-cc engine with electronic fuel injection. The engine achieves a maximum power of 25kW at 9,700 rpm as well as maximum torque of 27.3 NM at 7,700 rpm. The motorcycle accelerates from 0 – 60 km/hr in just 2.9 seconds.

The 6-speed gearbox allows ease of engagement of gear and no slippage at higher speeds for precise shifts and launches. The race tuned anti-hopping clutch with self-reinforcement reduces engine braking and significantly increases riding safety - especially during braking manoeuvres with simultaneous downshifts. It also offers reduced operating force at clutch lever.

For ideal adaptation to varied conditions, the 310 RR is fitted with four modes as standard - Track, Urban, Rain and Sport. The Track mode is focussed from acceleration to braking where the ABS is adjusted for late braking into bends.  Urban mode has balanced acceleration and braking behaviour as the ABS and throttle response are geared towards urban traffic. Sport mode delivers best possible acceleration and maximum deceleration values – with sporty dynamics. Rain mode is paired with Ride by Wire and the ABS reacts highly sensitively to guarantee riding safety and stability control on wet roads.

Ride by Wire system along with E-Gas passes on the commands directly from a sensor on the twist grip to the engine control system resulting in even finer control and throttle response. Thanks to the electromotive throttle controller, automatic idle speed increase when starting also prevents a possible sudden stalling of the engine.

The suspension has a torsionally stiff, highly robust tubular steel frame in grid structure with bolt-on rear frame. The front wheel suspension is taken care of by a solid upside-down fork while at the rear there is an aluminium swinging arm in conjunction with a directly mounted spring strut. The suspension geometry is designed for easy handling, stability and a neutral cornering response, which makes for an active riding character and maximum riding fun.

The new multifunctional 5” TFT display boasts of a very good level of functionality that is synonymous with high-speed riding. Its intuitive framework, high-resolution and clear graphics provide all required information to the rider in an easy-to-understand format. It shows essentials like riding statistics, riding modes, maximum speed, deceleration, temperature etc.

The Infotainment Control Switch offers perfect operability of functions to change the desired modes or views. Depending on the riding mode, the TFT display also customizes the screen with relevant information.

The high-performance brake system with 2-channel Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) ensures efficient deceleration and short braking distances. BMW Motorrad ABS prevents the wheels from locking and rear wheel lift-off protection keeps the race bike's wheels on the track, even when braking late into corners.

Photo Caption: (L – R) - Mr. Markus Mueller-Zambre (Head of Region Asia, China, Pacific & Africa at BMW Motorrad), Mr. Stephan Reiff (Vice President - Customer, Brand, Sales, BMW Motorrad) and Mr. Vikram Pawah (President, BMW Group India).