Electhon'23 Hackathon Successfully Tackles Critical Challenges In India's Electoral System

* The 30-hour offline hackathon organized by ECI and IIIT-Bangalore witnessed idea submissions from 2936 teams across the country. 

The Election Commission of India (ECI) and the International Institute of Information Technology Bangalore (IIIT-Bangalore) successfully hosted Electhon’23, a 30-hour offline hackathon designed to reinforce the electoral future, on the 15th & 16th of April 2023. The hackathon focused on tackling crucial challenges in the electoral system, with a special emphasis on boosting voter registration among the youth and urban population. The event succeeded with brainstorming solutions from the young and innovative minds in the country for the critical issues in the electoral process. 

The winners of the first challenge were Future Force, who received a cash prize of INR 1 lakh. The second challenge was won by Wasuli, who was awarded a cash prize of INR 1 lakh. Hackoverflow and Brainvoltzz were named runners-up and awarded INR 50,000 thousand. Noob Smacher received a special mention and a cash prize of INR 25,000 thousand.

Tech Millennials emerged as winners of the third challenge, receiving a cash prize of INR 1 lakh. We High Tea were declared runners-up, receiving a cash prize of INR 50,000. The Psephologists received a special mention and a cash prize of INR 25,000 thousand.

The event organized by ECI & Bangalore’s IIIT saw some trailblazing ideas and innovative solutions to enhance the democratic process. With a focus on practical and effective solutions, the hackathon aimed to create a positive impact on the electoral system and increase youth engagement. The event was attended by 2936 teams and 4399 individuals from across India.

Prof. Debabrata Das, Director of IIIT-Bangalore, commented on the success of the event, saying:

“We are extremely pleased with the outcome of Electhon’23. The hackathon amassed some of the brightest minds in the country to ideate innovative solutions for some of the most pressing challenges grappling with our electoral system. The level of participation and the quality of the ideas submitted were phenomenal. We firmly believe the solutions proposed by the participants will go a long way in transforming the electoral process in India.”

The hackathon included three main activities, each with a specific focus, which participants worked on during the 30-hour event. The first activity was about ideation and brainstorming, followed by idea submission & presentation while the last activity involved the final idea submission and presentation. These activities were designed to help participants build their ideas, get feedback from mentors, and eventually present their work to a panel of judges.

Dr Manjunath Daler, Deputy General Manager of the Karnataka State Election Commission, and Electhon'23 in charge commented on the success of the event, quoting:

“We are thrilled to see the fervent level of enthusiasm and dedication demonstrated by the participants of Electhon’23. The mission of the event was to address some of the stumbling blocks in the Indian electoral system. We were impressed by the quality of the ideas and solutions proposed by the participants. The country can expect the solutions developed during the hackathon will be instrumental in improving the electoral process in India and ensuring that every citizen's voice is heard.”

Sify Technologies To Announce Financial Results For FY 2022-23 On April 24, 2023

Sify Technologies Limited (NASDAQ: SIFY), India’s leading Digital ICT solutions provider with global service capabilities spanning Data Center, Cloud, Networks, Security and Digital services, today announced that it will report its unaudited IFRS financial results for the full year ended March 31, 2023 on Monday, April 24, 2023 before the market opens. 

In conjunction with the announcement, Sify will host a conference call at 8:30 AM ET with Mr. Raju Vegesna, Chairman of the Board, Mr. M P Vijay Kumar, Executive Director and Group CFO and Mr. Kamal Nath, Chief Executive Officer. Interested parties may participate by dialling +1-888-506-0062 (Toll Free in the U.S. or Canada) or +1-973-528-0011 (International) with access code: 394436, which will also be simultaneously broadcast live over the Internet at www.sifytechnologies.com/investors or https://www.webcaster4.com/Webcast/Page/2184/48191.

Please allow extra time prior to the call to visit the site and download the streaming media software required to listen to the Internet broadcast.

The online archive of the Webcast will be available shortly after the conference call, or investors can listen to the replay by dialling +1-877-481-4010 (Toll Free in the U.S. or Canada) or +1-919-882-2331 (International) and entering the replay passcode 48191. Please allow for some time post conference call to access the archive of the Webcast. The replay is available until May 01, 2023.

About Sify Technologies

A Fortune India 500 company, Sify Technologies is India’s most comprehensive ICT service & solution provider. With Cloud at the core of our solutions portfolio, Sify is focussed on the changing ICT requirements of the emerging Digital economy and the resultant demands from large, mid and small-sized businesses. 

Sify’s infrastructure comprising state-of-the-art Data Centers, the largest MPLS network, partnership with global technology majors and deep expertise in business transformation solutions modelled on the cloud, make it the first choice of start-ups, SMEs and even large Enterprises on the verge of a revamp.

More than 10000 businesses across multiple verticals have taken advantage of our unassailable trinity of Data Centers, Networks and Security services and conduct their business seamlessly from more than 1600 cities in India. Internationally, Sify has presence across North America, the United Kingdom and Singapore.

Sify, www.sify.com, Sify Technologies and www.sifytechnologies.com are registered trademarks of Sify Technologies Limited.

AU SFB Launches Industry First Hassle-Free “Bill Payments With Video Banking On BBPS Platform”

AU Small Finance Bank, India’s largest small finance bank, has become to the first commercial bank in India to integrate with the Bharat Bill Payment System (BBPS), to launch the bill payment services through video banking. The primary aim of this initiative is to promote digital accessibility and enhance economic capability leading to greater financial inclusion.  

AU Small Finance Bank’s video banking service underscores its commitment to providing innovative solutions to its customers. This platform enables customers to pay bills without the need to visit a branch, which is particularly beneficial for those with mobility issues or residing in remote areas and senior citizens.  

With the aid of expert banking representatives, customers can make payments to 20K+ billers across 20+ categories, right from their AU account. People can now make payments like FASTag, loan repayment, insurance, investments, education fees, municipal taxes, utility payments include gas, electricity, mobile, landline, water, DTH bills, and other payments through AU SFB’s video banking service. 

“As AU Small Finance Bank remains on its digital-led-growth track, we are extremely delighted to play a strategic role in digitizing banking services through this initiative. For our bank customers, we have already been catering to over 400+ services through video banking. Now, with the introduction of bill payment services on video banking, we aim to offer our customers the comfort of a face-to-face interaction while paying their bills at their convenience. We thank National Payments Corporation of India and other dignitaries for supporting this innovation," said Mr. Ankur Tripathi, CIO, AU Small Finance Bank.  

To access the newly launched bill payment service on video banking, customers of AU Small Finance Bank can conveniently connect with the bank's video banker through the link (https://www.aubank.in), or AU 0101 app. The customers can then request bill payment support from the video banker, who will verify the relevant information and facilitate the payment process. Once the payment is completed, the video banker will share the receipt with the customer on call or on chat, based on their preferred mode of communication. The process is completely secure, reliable, human-centric and customers need not worry about payment information security as they can get guidance and resolve queries with the assistance of the video banker on real-time basis. 

Tata Motors Introduces The New Nexon EV MAX #DARK In India

* Made feature rich with a Larger 26.03 cm (10.25 inch) Infotainment Screen, TFT High Resolution HD Display, 180+ voice commands, HD Rear View Camera and Wireless Android Auto & Apple Carplay

Combining the best of two worlds, Tata Motors today, India’s leading automobile manufacturer and the pioneer of the EV evolution in India brings #DARK TO THE MAX - launches India’s favourite EV in its #DARK avatar.

Extending the uber chic #DARK range, the new Nexon EV MAX #DARK will be available in two trims: XZ+ LUX (priced at INR 19.04 lakhs, ex-showroom, All India) and XZ+ LUX with a 7.2 kW AC fast charger for the customers across the country (priced at INR 19.54 lakhs, ex-showroom, All India).

Enhanced with a superior high tech infotainment upgrade, the Nexon EV MAX #DARK will be the first in the Nexon line up to boast the 26.03 cm (10.25 inch) Touchscreen Infotainment system by HARMAN, high resolution (1920X720) High Definition (HD) display with slick response, Android Auto™ & Apple Carplay™ over WiFi, High Definition Rear View Camera, Enhanced audio performance with sharp notes & extended Bass performance, Voice assistant in 6 regional languages, 180+ voice commands in six languages (English, Hindi, Bengali Tamil, Telugu, Marathi) and a new User Interface (UI).

This new launch will also adorn the exterior and interior highlights of the #DARK range. The signature Midnight Black coloured body will be accentuated with the stylish Charcoal Grey alloy wheels, Satin Black Humanity Line, Projector Headlamps with Tri-Arrow DRLs, Tri-arrow signature LED tail lamps, Exclusive #DARK mascot on fender, Shark Fin Antenna and Roof Rails on the exterior, enhancing the overall bold stance of the car. The Interior will complement the #DARK ethos with its Dark-themed interior pack, Jewelled Control Knob, Glossy Piano Black dashboard with signature tri-arrow pattern, Dark-themed leatherette door trims with tri-arrow perforations, Dark-themed leatherette seat upholstery with tri-arrow perforations & EV blue highlight stitches and the Leatherette-wrapped steering wheel with EV blue stitches

Commenting on the launch, Mr. Vivek Srivatsa, Head, Marketing, Sales and Service Strategy, Tata Passenger Electric Mobility Ltd., said, “The Nexon EV is India’s #1 EV and in a short span has been loved and trusted by over 50,000 customers, making it the flagbearer of India’s EV evolution. The #DARK range on the other hand has made a mark for itself too by becoming a popular choice of customers. With the success of the #DARK and the popularity of the Nexon EV MAX, we felt it was the right time to marry the two and present to our customers this new avatar that moves #DARK to MAX.

The Nexon EV MAX #DARK will not only boast of features that are there on the top of the line product but will also be the first to get some of the most anticipated upgrades ever seen on the entire Nexon line up. Equipped with a highly responsive 26.03 cm infotainment, High Resolution HD Display, 180+ voice commands, High Definition Rear View Camera and Wireless Android Auto & Apple Carplay amongst others, the Nexon EV MAX #DARK is more than what everyone has been waiting for – a wholesome, stylish electric SUV offering high range, safety, performance and luxury for our customers to Go.ev.”

Furthermore, the Nexon EV MAX #DARK comes with a host of desirable features. Additions like Electronic Parking Brake with Auto hold, Front Leatherette Ventilated Seats, Air purifier with AQI Display, Wireless Smartphone Charger, Cruise Control, Auto Dimming IRVM, Electric Sunroof, Auto Headlamps, Rain Sensing Wiper, Fully Automatic Temperature Control, Cooled Glovebox, Rear AC Vents, Smart Key with Push button Start/Stop (PEPS), Electrically Operated ORVMS with Auto fold, Rear Wiper Washer & Defogger, 4 Speaker+ 4 Tweeters, Steering Mounted Controls and 17.78 cm (7”)TFT digital instrument cluster with full graphic display are just some of the enhancements that have this car rated high on the Comfort and Convenience scale. It also flaunts of all the safety and connected features along with the specifications of the top end model, making it an irresistible offering.

For more detailed information on the product, visit – https://nexonev.tatamotors.com/nexon-ev-max/

Ambuja Cements & ACC Wins The Digital Customer Experience Award 2023 For ‘Best Customer & Influencer Engagement Initiatives’

·         Ambuja Cements & ACC honoured with "Best Customer & Influencer Engagement Initiatives" at the Digital Customer Experience Confex & Awards 2023 organized by Gainskills Media

Ambuja Cements and ACC, the cement and building material companies of Adani Cement and part of Adani Group, wins the Digital Customer Experience Award 2023 for ‘Best Customer & Influencer Engagement Initiatives’ organized by Gainskills Media.

Esteemed corporate brands spanning across sectors such as Banking, Retail, Manufacturing, Logistics & Supply Chain, Pharma, Automobile, and Insurance, among others, attended the event to showcase their customer experience initiatives. Ambuja and ACC, companies of Adani Cement, presented their Customer & Influencer engagement initiatives relating to customer ownership & tracking, onsite services, and influencer loyalty among others. Ambuja’s and ACC’s initiatives were recognized and awarded after a thorough scrutiny by the jury.

Mr. Ajay Kapur, CEO, Cement Business, said, “We believe that this recognition is a result of our relentless pursuit of providing the best customer experience in the cement industry. It is a great honor for us to be acknowledged for our efforts in enhancing customer engagement initiatives. We are grateful to the jury and Gainskills Media for organizing this event, providing a platform to showcase our initiatives.”

Adani Cement's commitment to providing exceptional customer service and experience is unwavering. The team is grateful for the recognition and strives to continue innovating and improving customer engagement initiatives. The Digital Customer Experience Confex & Awards 2023 event was a phenomenal opportunity to stay informed on the latest trends and advancements in customer experience through engaging keynotes, enterprise use-cases, exhibitors' showcase, panel discussions, and tech talks. This platform provided an exceptional opportunity to revamp customer service & experience strategies to drive better business outcomes.

About Ambuja Cements Limited

Ambuja Cements Limited, part of the diversified Adani Group, is among India's leading cement companies. Ambuja has a capacity of 31.5 million tonnes with six integrated cement manufacturing plants and eight cement grinding units across the country. Ambuja has been recognized as India’s Most Trusted Cement Brand by TRA Research in its Brand Trust Report, 2022. Ambuja has provided hassle-free, home-building solutions with its unique sustainable development projects and environment-friendly practices since it started operations. The Company has many firsts to its credit – a captive port with four terminals that has facilitated timely, cost-effective, cleaner shipments of bulk cement to its customers. To further add value to customers, the Company has launched innovative products like Ambuja Plus, Ambuja Cool Walls, Ambuja Compocem and Ambuja Kawach under the umbrella of Ambuja Certified Technology. These products not only fulfil important customer needs but also help in significantly reducing carbon footprints. Being an employee friendly workplace, Ambuja Cements has been ranked No. 1 in ‘Best Companies to Work For’ survey in 2022 by Business Today in the Construction and Infrastructure sector.

About ACC Limited

ACC Limited is a part of Adani Cement and one of India’s leading producers of cement and ready-mix concrete. It is a member of the Adani Group - the largest and fastest-growing portfolio of diversified sustainable businesses. ACC has 17 cement manufacturing sites, over 84 concrete plants and a nationwide network of channel partners to serve its customers.  With a world-class R&D centre in Mumbai, the quality of ACC’s products and services, as well as its commitment to technological development, make it a preferred brand in building materials. Established in 1936, ACC is counted among the country’s 'Most Sustainable Companies' and is recognised for its best practices in environment management and corporate citizenship. With sustainability at the core of its strategy, ACC is the first Indian Cement Company to sign the Net Zero Pledge with Science Based Targets. 

Setting New Benchmarks - The Services Sector Surpasses The $300 Billion Target

* Services Export Promotion Council Is Glad To Report That The Services Sector Surpassed The $300 Billion Target 

Services Export Promotion Council is thrilled to announce that the India Services sector has had a record-breaking financial year. Delivering above and beyond the $300 Billion target this fiscal, the services sector delivered  $322.72 Billion.

The services sector accounts for 54% of the GDP and this fiscal year we have broken all records with annual value of USD 322.72 billion with growth rate at 26.79 percent during FY 2022-23 over FY 2021-22.

With the sector’s health in mind in India, SEPC has been working tirelessly in collaboration with the government to catapult services sector growth with business delegations, B2B meets, Market Specific Initiatives - MAI etc. These collaborative steps by the government and SEPC are ensuring that the services sector aces its strive towards a 5 trillion economy. The current numbers support this wonderful feat.

Having surpassed the set targets, the sector is thinking long-term and growing beyond the 5 trillion economy mark to position India as the ‘Services Hub’ in the global market. The focus is to help all the sectors in the Services industry grow. The target is $1 Trillion by 2030 and the sector is positive that it will achieve the same before time and position India as India Serves.

“We are glad that what Hon'ble Minister of Commerce and Industry,  Mr Piyush Goyal foretold about the services and merchandise sector has come true! The sectors are growing and India’s overall exports are projected to scale new heights, growing at 13.84 percent during FY 2022-23 over FY 2021-22 to achieve USD 770.18 billion worth of exports. The government, SEPC and the industries are working  actively to not only achieve targets but to do better. The economy is growing and it has been a successful year  for the services sector. We are aiming to improve and grow further in FY24.” said Sunil H Talalti, Chairman SEPC set up by the ministry of commerce and industry in 2006.

There is monumental scope in the services sector and we are witnessing a scenario where the services sector will dominate the 5 trillion economy mark. This is a new plunge, a new perspective rendered by SEPC and the council will be at the forefront pushing for the ideal conditions to sprout exponential growth for all the verticals of the services sector”, shared Karan Rathore, Vice Chairman, SEPC set up by the ministry of commerce and industry in 2006.

“The government and the country was looking at a substantial contribution from the services sector and SEPC is glad to announce that we have not only achieved the target but delivered beyond it! Overcoming the pandemic situation, the Tourism and Hospitality sector has really picked up. Medical Value Tourism is also finding a strong foothold and gaining momentum in the global market. We are now looking into aiding the growth of the logistics sector as well. The aim is to ensure that all the silos under the services sector get opportunities to grow”, shared Dr Abhay Sinha, Director General, Services Export Promotion Council set up by the ministry of commerce and industry in 2006.

About SEPC:

Services Export Promotion Council, set up by Ministry of Commerce and Industry has been mandated to facilitate global business opportunities for India’s services sector. The Council since its inception in 2006 has been instrumental in facilitating exports of services through Trade Intelligence, Export Development, Export Promotion, Enabling Business Environment.

PaySprint Launches SprintVerify, The Most Comprehensive Document Verification Solution In The Market

* Empowering Digital Onboarding through AI-Driven Verification.

PaySprint Private Limited has launched SprintVerify, a revolutionary document verification solution. SprintVerify is a complete Verification APIs stack with 100+ APIs covering every major Indian document that both individuals & entities hold, making it the most comprehensive document verification solution in the market. SprintVerify’s suite of products are crafted such that they simplify the onboarding process for enterprises by providing real-time ID verification through A.I-driven APIs, Digital KYC, Document OCR, and other APIs that can reduce turnaround time & customer drop-offs, resulting in low onboarding costs & increased sales productivity.

“SprintVerify is designed to democratise verification & make it accessible to the masses.”, says S Anand, Founder & CEO at PaySprint Private Limited. “I believe we will experience significantly smoother onboarding operations of enterprises across myriad industries.”

SprintVerify's user-friendly interface and seamless integration make it easy for businesses of all sizes to incorporate it into their existing systems. The solution is highly scalable, adaptable, and can be customised to meet the specific needs of any business.

PaySprint's commitment to innovation & excellence is reflected in SprintVerify's comprehensive feature set and unparalleled ease of use. Whether you're a small business or a large enterprise, SprintVerify provides a reliable, cost-effective, and secure way to verify the identity of your customers, users, employees & partners.

Features & benefits of SprintVerify include:

·      First-of-its-kind, A.I-Powered Document Verification experience that is Fast, Secure & Reliable.

·      Free-to-use, self signup, Sandbox environment for users to test all the Verification APIs on the platform.

·      “Click2Verify”, the No-Code Document Verification Platform, has 50+ verification APIs integrated along with a comprehensive analytical dashboard & reports.

·      Option of fully customisable WhiteLabel solution tailored to users’ exact requirements.

·      Notable SprintVerify APIs are Aadhaar Verification API, PAN Verification API, GST Verification API, Passport Verification API & RC Verification API among many more.

For more information on SprintVerify, visit https://www.sprintverify.in/.

About PaySprint Private Limited:

PaySprint is a NexGen B2B FinTech Company, solidifying an API infrastructure in the Banking, Financial & Verification ecosystems. We're building one of the world's largest Financial & Verification API stacks. Additionally, we have created a Unified Open API Platform to seamlessly bring all API solutions together on a single, comprehensive dashboard.

We boast a product list of over 80 APIs across a multitude of segments such as Banking, Finance, Verification, Lending, Investment & Travel. With 1000+ partners onboard, we have solidified our place in the market and are poised to continue growing.