Ecom Express Announced That Mr. Ajay Chitkara Will Join As The New "Managing Director And Chief Executive Officer"

* Ajay to assume responsibilities from 1st September, 2023~ 

Ecom Express Limited, a leading end-to-end technology-enabled logistics solutions provider to eCommerce industry backed by marquee private equity investors Partners Group, Warburg Pincus and British International Investment announced that Mr. Ajay Chitkara will join as the new Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Company.  

Ajay currently serves as Director & CEO of Bharti Airtel's enterprise arm, Airtel Business and will assume responsibilities at Ecom Express from 1st September, 2023. He will report to the Board of Directors of the Company. 

Ajay is a senior business leader with over two decades of proven track record. He has led and delivered significant portfolio and organization change at Airtel Business transforming it into India’s largest enterprise technology company. He also serves on the boards of Nxtra by Airtel, Hughes Communication and Network i2i. Ajay began his career in sales at Comsat Max Limited before joining Airtel in 2001. 

Announcing the appointment, Chairperson at Ecom Express, V. Anantharaman said; “We look forward to welcoming Ajay as our new CEO. Ajay comes with extensive enterprise experience from Airtel where he has demonstrated exceptional leadership and strategic capabilities. The Board wishes him well and looks forward to Ajay scaling Ecom Express further and delivering long-term value for all its stakeholders.”  

Ecom Express co-founders T. A. Krishnan, Manju Dhawan and K. Satyanarayana added; “We are excited to welcome Ajay to Ecom Express and look forward to working with him as he leads the business to the next levels. Ajay has tremendous experience and proven track record in scaling enterprise business and we look forward to his participation and contributions as the company scales to serve the growing needs of Indian e-commerce and beyond.” 

Ajay said: “I am excited to become a part of the Ecom Express family. It is a great moment to be a part of this business and to be working with its customers, the world-class team, the board and investors, with a common goal of creating India’s most trusted and respected logistics solutions provider for the e-commerce industry. I look forward to building further on the strong foundation of Ecom Express established over a decade, to achieve new milestones, and deliver customer delight.” 

For more information, visit: https://ecomexpress.in/ 

Michelin To Equip La Poste Delivery Vehicles With MICHELIN Uptis Puncture-Proof Tires

* French and European first: La Poste [The French postal service] chooses Michelin to equip its delivery vehicles with MICHELIN Uptis puncture-proof tires 

* The MICHELIN Uptis Puncture-Proof Tire Will be fitted to 40 La Poste vans in the Hauts-de-France region (North of France) by the end of 2024 

* Particularly suited to last mile delivery, the MICHELIN Uptis airless technology removes any risk of punctures and limits the premature changing of tires  

* The MICHELIN Uptis tire is currently the only airless tire in the world to travel on open roads, under real conditions  

By 2024, nearly 40 La Poste vans fitted with the MICHELIN Uptis[1] airless tire will deliver letters and parcels in the Lesquin, Valenciennes and Douai sectors, in the Hauts-de-France region (North of France). Three initial vehicles will be put into circulation as of June 27, within the framework of a two-year partnership between La Poste and Michelin, a first in France and Europe - following partnerships already formed in Asia.  

The UPTIS prototype is a puncture-proof wheel/tire assembly with no compressed air, intended for cars and light trucks. The compressed air has been replaced by a revolutionary structure capable of supporting the vehicle. This ensures the strength of the assembly and guarantees driving comfort and safety. This is an off-the-peg solution that allows users to drive with peace of mind, without worrying about road hazards.  

Thanks to the MICHELIN Uptis tire, which eliminates the problems linked to tire pressure and punctures, La Poste can reduce downtime and maintenance operations on its fleet. It can therefore ensure better continuity of its activities and services. On an environmental level, the elimination of puncture and underinflation problems will allow for reducing the number and frequency of tire replacements, thus limiting any waste.  

Michelin’s main target market for the Uptis prototype is light truck fleets intended for professional use, and particularly deliveries. 

“We are particularly happy to collaborate with Michelin, whose know-how and innovations have been serving our mobility for more than a century,” stated Philippe Dorge, Deputy Managing Director of the La Poste Group in charge of the Services-Letters-Parcels branch. “We deliver letters and parcels throughout France, 6 days a week, with postmen and women who travel the equivalent of 50 times the circumference of the earth every day. We need reliable vehicles that offer total safety on the road, while limiting our environmental footprint. We are expecting performance and total peace of mind from the revolutionary MICHELIN Uptis tires.” 

“The MICHELIN Uptis tire is a major innovation in the tire sector and is a key step in the development of a fully sustainable tire by 2050. It is the result of some fifty patents in terms of tire structure and high-tech materials. It demonstrates Michelin’s capacity to innovate in favor of a safer mobility that is kinder to the environment. We are delighted that La Poste, the biggest vehicle fleet in France with 50,000 vehicles, i.e., the biggest French company, has chosen the MICHELIN Uptis tire,” declared Bruno De Feraudy, Director of OEM activities for the Michelin Group. 

The MICHELIN Uptis tire is currently the only airless tire in the world to travel on open roads, under real conditions, on three continents, having covered almost 3 million kilometers.  

About the La Poste Group 

About La Poste group  

La Poste is a state-owned public limited company, a subsidiary of Caisse des Dépôts and the French State. La Poste group is divided into four business units: Services-Mail-Parcels, Retail Customers and Digital Services, Geopost and La Banque Postale, which, with its subsidiary CNP Assurances, is the 11th largest European banking and insurance company.    

La Poste group has four public service missions that shape its identity: universal postal service, regional development, banking accessibility, and press transport and delivery. Committed to its regional coverage, La Poste relies on a delivery network of over 35,600 retail outlets, including 17,300 contact points (post offices, local postal agencies, retail pickup points) and 18,300 points of access to postal services (Pickup, business centres, lockers and the the parcel drive-thru collection service).  La Poste group delivers over 17 billion items worldwide (letters, printed advertising media and parcels), six days a week.   

In 2022, La Poste group generated €35.4 billion in revenue (44% outside France) and had a headcount of 238,000, in more than 60 countries over 5 continents, of which 184,000 in France. As a mission-driven company since June 2021 and a leader in environmental transition and sustainable finance, La Poste group aims to achieve "zero net emissions" by 2040. Through its strategic plan “La Poste 2030, committed for you”, the company has set itself the goal of becoming the leading European platform for links and exchanges, providing digital, people-oriented, green and socially-responsible services for the benefit of its customers and the transformation of society as a whole. 

Nestlé Professional Partners With PVR-INOX To Elevate The Theatre Experience

*  Nestlé beverages, including NESCAFÉ will now be available at more than 200 PVR-Inox theatres across 29 cities in India~

Movie experiences at PVR-Inox cinema halls will now be elevated with NESCAFÉ, one of the world’s most loved coffee brand. Crafted with over 80 years of roasting and brewing expertise, NESCAFÉ, along with a range of beverage options from Nestlé including Nestea Cardamom Tea and Nesquik hot cocoa will now be available at more than 200 PVR-Inox theatres across 29 cities in India.

Talking about the association, Saurabh Makhija, Head – Nestlé Professional, Nestlé India, said “It has always been our endeavour to ensure that our consumers enjoy Nestlé’s brands, both in home and out-of-home. This partnership is a step towards building multiple, relevant consumption occasions for our range of beverages. Movie theatres have traditionally served as a popular entertainment hub and through this association we intend to elevate the experience of new age cinema goers. Consumers can now enjoy a warm and comforting beverage such as freshly brewed coffee from Nescafé, indulgent hot cocoa from Nesquik or an uplifting tea from Nestea with their friends and family, all freshly dispensed from our state-of-the-art vending machines.”

Talking about the association, Gautam Dutta, Co-CEO, PVR INOX Limited, said “Cinema moments have evolved from watching a film to a larger experience with family and friends. Much like our partners, we take great pride in helping our patrons relax, unwind, and enjoy the small pleasures of life, through cinema. We are proud to partner with Nestlé Professional towards a common goal of elevating the movie experience. Nestlé Professional offers a range of beverages so there is something for everyone. We are confident that our patrons stand to gain immensely and their movie-viewing experience would go up a notch through this association.”

Nestlé Professional is dedicated to address the unique business challenges and opportunities of Out of Home customers by providing high quality and relevant food & beverage solutions and services. Nestlé Professional offers solutions across product categories – whole roasted beans, premix based beverages, confectionary, dairy and food solutions. The company has recently launched its range of cutting-edge machines which offer fresh brewed coffee from whole roasted coffee beans, along with a range of other beverages across instant tea and cocoa.

Kotak Mahindra Bank Customers Can Now Use RuPay Credit Card On UPI Across India

* Transact across merchants with RuPay Credit Card, instantly using UPI

* Credit is now available at fingertips with convenience of not having to carry a physical Credit Card everywhere

* Continue to earn rewards on Credit Card spends

Kotak Mahindra Bank Limited (“KMBL”/”Kotak”) and National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) today announced that Kotak customers can now use their RuPay Credit Card on UPI with UPI enabled Apps.

Kotak Mahindra Bank customers can select from seven RuPay Credit Cards to use seamlessly on UPI. With the linkage of Kotak RuPay Credit Cards on UPI, customers would not need to use their physical Credit Card.

Kotak Bank customers can make payments from the UPI app at merchant outlets with QR codes and POS devices across the country. This integration offers several advantages as Kotak RuPay Credit Card on UPI transactions are not only simple but also secure given that customers are not required carry the physical credit card. Additonally, the RuPay Credit Card can also be used to make payments for e-commerce transactions as well as in-store transactions.

Frederick Dsouza, Business Head – Credit Cards, Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd. said “RuPay Credit Card on UPI is a gamechanger initiative. With Kotak’s Rupay Credit Cards going live on UPI, we offer our customers the convenience of UPI and credit card in a single platform. This also opens a wider network of merchants receiving payments on credit cards. UPI has the potential to deepen credit penetration in the country, especially in semi-urban and rural areas. This will increase purchasing power of customers as well as provide convenience of transacting from wherever they are, instantly using UPI. We are excited about our partnership with RuPay and are committed to offering more rewarding credit cards on the RuPay network in the time to come.”

Rajeeth Pillai, Chief Relationship Management and Marketing, NPCI said, “The addition of Kotak Mahindra Bank Credit Cards on UPI rails is a big milestone in the growth trajectory of both RuPay and UPI. We believe linking RuPay Credit Card on UPI will provide a seamless, digitally enabled credit card lifecycle experience to the customers and will further deepen the reach and usage of digital payments. We are confident this will bring us closer to our aim of processing a billion transactions a day on the UPI platform.”

Customers can earn rewards on their RuPay Credit Card for UPI payments as well as get an interest-free credit period of upto 50 days. Kotak RuPay Credit Cards will be linked to a Virtual Payment Address (VPA) i.e. UPI ID, thus enabling safe and secure payment transactions. Customers can directly link their credit cards with the UPI applications of their choice, such as BHIM, PhonePe, Paytm, Google Pay, Slice, MobiKwik, etc.

Kotak Mahindra Bank has been actively scaling up its Rupay portfolio in the recent times. The Bank has multiple offerings on RuPay in its proprietary product portfolio, including RuPay variants of co-branded credit cards with IndianOil as well as METRO Cash & Carry India.

A Kotak RuPay Credit Card can be availed easily in minutes. To apply, click here:

https://www.kotak.com/en/personal-banking/cards/credit-cards.html

Steps to link RuPay Credit Card on UPI:

Ø  Open PSP UPI App > Login with Passcode or Biometrics

Ø  Select profile or payment methods > Link Rupay Credit Card

Ø  Select Kotak Mahindra Bank

Ø  Select your credit card and confirm

Ø  Click to view account > Click on Set PIN option under Kotak Credit Card

Ø  Set UPI Pin and you are ready

Steps to make payment with RuPay Credit Card on UPI

Ø  Scan merchant UPI QR code

Ø  Enter amount & select credit account

Ø  Select RuPay Credit account, enter UPI Pin and confirm.

About Kotak Mahindra Bank Limited

Established in 1985, Kotak Mahindra Group is one of India's leading financial services conglomerates. In February 2003, Kotak Mahindra Finance Ltd. (KMFL), the Group's flagship company, received banking license from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), becoming the first non-banking finance company in India to convert into a bank - Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd. The Bank has four Strategic Business Units – Consumer Banking, Corporate Banking, Commercial Banking and Treasury, which cater to retail and corporate customers across urban and rural India. The premise of Kotak Mahindra Group’s business model is concentrated India, diversified financial services. The bold vision that underscores the Group’s growth is an inclusive one, with a host of products and services designed to address the needs of the unbanked and insufficiently banked. As on 31st March, 2023, Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd has a national footprint of 1,780 branches and 2,963 ATMs, and branches in GIFT City and DIFC (Dubai).

For more information visit https://www.kotak.com/.

About NPCI:

National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) was incorporated in 2008 as an umbrella organization for operating retail payments and settlement systems in India. NPCI has created a robust payment and settlement infrastructure in the country. It has changed the way payments are made in India through a bouquet of retail payment products such as RuPay card, Immediate Payment Service (IMPS), Unified Payments Interface (UPI), Bharat Interface for Money (BHIM), BHIM Aadhaar, National Electronic Toll Collection (NETC FasTag) and Bharat BillPay.

NPCI is focused on bringing innovations in the retail payment systems through the use of technology and is relentlessly working to transform India into a digital economy. It is facilitating secure payment solutions with nationwide accessibility at minimal cost in furtherance of India’s aspiration to be a fully digital society.

For more information, visit: https://www.npci.org.in/

Resilient Housing Market Defies Global Uncertainties: Sales Surge By 8% In Q2 2023, PropTiger.com Report

·         Mumbai and Pune Dominate Sales, Accounting for 61% of Overall Market Share

·         New Housing Supply Witnesses 11% Increase, Led by Mumbai's Strong Performance

Sales of residential units and new supply witnessed an 8 percent and 11 percent year-on-year (YoY) growth in the April-June quarter of 2023 across eight major cities in the country, respectively, underscoring the resilience of the housing market, reported  PropTiger.com.

A total of 80,250 units were sold in the eight cities in Q2 2023 compared to 74,320 in the year-ago quarter, showing a growth of 8 percent, said the Real Insight Residential – April-June 2023 report, a quarterly analysis of India's top eight residential markets by REA backed PropTiger.com.

The markets covered in the report include Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai Metropolitan Region, Delhi-National Capital Region, and Pune.

Mumbai and Pune continue to record the maximum traction, taking a combined share of 61 percent in overall sales in Q2 2023.

On the residential new supply front, realtors launched 113,770 units, an increase of 11 percent compared to 102,140 in the April-June quarter of 2022. Mumbai has been the frontrunner in terms of new supply, followed by Pune and Ahmedabad.

"India’s top eight residential markets continue on a growth path with sales rising by 8 percent in the June quarter. The RBI's decision to pause the hike in the key lending rate helped in sustaining strong positive sentiments for buying residential properties," said Mr. Vikas Wadhawan, group CFO, REA India & Business Head PropTiger.com.

"The driving factors behind the uptick in housing sales over the last two years are pent-up demand from the COVID-affected period, growing appetite for homeownership, revival in the economy post-pandemic, and the evolving need for more spacious homes. We anticipate that the upward trend will persist, making the 2023 calendar year even better than the previous year in terms of sales performance.," Mr. Wadhawan added.

During Q2 2023, 15 percent of the residential units sold were classified as ready-to-move-in, while the remaining 85 percent were still under construction. The majority of sales, comprising 27 percent, were concentrated in the price range of INR 45-75 lakh, closely followed by the price range of over INR 1 crore, which accounted for 25 percent of the overall sales.

In a semi-annual comparison, sales witnessed notable growth of 15 percent, while new supply experienced a substantial increase of 43 percent.

The largest portion of new residential units introduced in Q2 2023 was focused on the INR 45-75 lakh price range, accounting for the highest share of 33 percent among all launches. Notably, units priced at over INR 1 crore constituted a significant portion, representing nearly 29 percent of the total.

Ms. Ankita Sood, Head of Research, REA India (PropTiger.com, Housing.com & Makaan.com) said, The western markets sustain their property rally as Mumbai and Pune witness considerable growth in demand the second quarter. These cities take a combined share of 61 percent from the national sales tally primarily boosted by demand in localities such as Thane West and Dombivali in Mumbai and Charholi Budruk and Hadapsar in Pune. We see this surge in demand is driven by end users seeking improved amenities and an enhanced lifestyle."

NOTE: Housing markets covered in the report includes Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Delhi-NCR (Gurugram, Noida, Greater Noida, Ghaziabad and Faridabad), MMR (Mumbai, Navi Mumbai & Thane) and Pune.

About REA India Pte. Ltd.

REA India (previously known as Elara Technologies Pte. Ltd.) is a part of REA Group Ltd. of Australia (ASX: REA) (“REA Group”). It is the country’s leading full stack real estate technology platform that owns Housing.com, Makaan.com and PropTiger.com.

In December 2020, REA Group acquired a controlling stake in REA India. REA Group, headquartered in Melbourne, Australia, is a multinational digital advertising business specialising in property. It operates Australia’s leading residential and commercial property websites, realestate.com.au and realcommercial.com.au and owns leading portals in Hong Kong (squarefoot.com.hk) and China?(myfun.com). REA Group also holds a significant minority shareholding in Move, Inc., operator of?realtor.com?in the US, and the PropertyGuru Group, operator of leading property sites in Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia.

REA India is the only player in India that offers a full range of services in the real estate space, assisting consumers through their entire home seeking journey all the way from initial search and discovery to financing to the final step of transaction closure. It offers advertising and listings products to real estate developers, agents & home owners, exclusive sales and marketing solutions to builders, data and content services, and personalised search, virtual viewing, site visits, negotiations, home loans and post- sales services to consumers for both buying and renting.

REA India has a national presence with 23 offices across India with its corporate office located in Gurugram, Haryana. 

Housing.com

Founded in 2012 and acquired by REA India in 2017, Housing.com is India’s leading full stack proptech platform for homeowners / home seekers, landlords, developers, and real estate brokers. The company offers listings for new homes, resale homes, rentals, plots, commercial spaces and co-living spaces in India. Backed by strong research and analytics, the company’s experts provide comprehensive real estate services that cover advertising and marketing, sales solutions for real estate developers, personalized search, virtual viewing, AR&VR content, home loans, end-to-end transaction services and post-transaction services to consumers for both buying and renting.

PropTiger.com

PropTiger.com is among India’s leading digital real estate transaction and advisory services platform, offering a one-stop platform for buying residential real estate. Founded in 2011 with the goal to help people buy their dream homes, PropTiger.com leverages the power of information and the organisation’s deep-rooted understanding of the real estate sector to bring simplicity, transparency and trust in the home buying process. PropTiger.com helps home-buyers through the entire home-buying process through a mix of technology-enabled tools as well as on-ground support. The company offers researched information about various localities and properties and provides guidance on matters pertaining to legal paperwork and loan assistance to successfully fulfil a transaction.

Makaan.com

Makaan.com was acquired by REA India in May 2015, with a vision to establish a true "marketplace" in real estate. Makaan.com has quickly emerged as the preferred partner for consumers looking to rent, buy or sell a home. Makaan.com offers its online consumers maximum property options and has become one of the largest advertising platforms in online real estate in India.  

NEC Corporation India implements Smart Manufacturing Solutions To Boost Mitsuboshi Belting India's Operational Efficiency

NEC Corporation India, a wholly owned subsidiary of NEC Corporation, announced a collaboration with Mitsuboshi Belting India to implement IT infrastructure and SAP systems for their new manufacturing facility in Ahmednagar, Maharashtra. 

This new facility, which represents a significant investment of around 3.6 billion yen ($32.64 million), is one of the largest facilities within the Mitsuboshi Belting Group.  NEC Corporation India has been chosen as the implementation partner to set up their IT infrastructure and SAP ERP systems for this new facility. 

Commenting on the occasion, Mr. Yutaka Inoue, General manager, Smart Manufacturing Business Unit, NEC Corporation India said, "NEC through its Smart Manufacturing unit aims to provide customized solutions that are at the forefront of technology and are designed to cater to the unique requirements of each customer. We are thrilled to have worked with Mitsuboshi Belting India on this ambitious project as their implementation partner for IT infrastructure and SAP Business One ERP system. We believe this will be a significant milestone in enhancing their manufacturing capabilities and operational efficiency. We look forward to continuing our partnership with Mitsuboshi Belting India and contributing to their growth and success in the years to come."

NEC Corporation India's suite of smart manufacturing solutions is anticipated to revolutionize Mitsuboshi Belting India's recently opened facility, converting it into a state-of-the-art facility that enhances the productivity and efficiency of its workforce. 

"The successful completion of this project has transformed our facility into a state-of-the-art production hub. The new technology will enable us to streamline our financial operations efficiently and make informed decisions in real-time. We are thrilled to have partnered with NEC Corporation India for the implementation of our IT infrastructure and business application systems at our new facility. This investment is a testament to our commitment towards growth and innovation in India, and we look forward to the positive impact it will have on our business and employees."  Mr. Takao Yasuo, Managing Director, Mitsuboshi Belting India Pvt. Ltd

NEC successfully completed the installation of the entire data centre infrastructure, which included routers, switches, servers, storage, surveillance system, face recognition access control, parking system with RFID tags and attendance, and visitor management system. Furthermore, NEC also implemented the SAP Business One ERP system, which will enable Mitsuboshi Belting India to streamline financial operations with increased accuracy. The ERP system will provide users with the ability to manage inbound and outbound shipments, item master information, and price lists. The real-time decision-making capabilities of the SAP Business One ERP system will help drive profitable growth for the company.

About NEC Corporation India (NEC India):

NEC is a leader in the integration of IT and network technologies and brings nearly 125 years of expertise in technological innovation to provide solutions for empowering people, businesses, and society. Headquartered in Japan, NEC started operations in India in the 1950s, accelerating its growth through the expansion of business to global markets. NEC in India expanded its business from telecommunications to public safety, logistics, transportation, retail, finance, unified communication, and IT platforms, serving across governments, businesses as well as individuals. With its Centre of Excellence for analytics platform solutions, big data, biometrics, mobile and retail, NEC in India offers innovative new services and solutions for India and global markets. 

For further information, visit: https://in.nec.com/ 

Yulu Introduces The 'WYNN Freedom Ambassador' Programme

Yulu, India's largest shared electric mobility company, today announced the launch of its first-ever campus ambassador programme, ‘Wynn Freedom Ambassador’. The programme invites college students from across Bengaluru to embark on an exciting entrepreneurial journey with Yulu.

Selected campus ambassadors chosen for this two-month programme will be given 'Yulu Wynn' e-bikes to use over this period. The ambassadors will be among the first riders in the city to use the smart and stylish Wynn e-bikes every day, and will share their experience and deep insights with their friends, classmates and others.

The Wynn Freedom Ambassadors will regularly attend information sessions at Yulu’s office. They will thus unlock remarkable growth opportunities and enrich their understanding of electric mobility, marketing and sales strategies, and the dynamic start-up ecosystem in the country.

During the programme, participants will provide test rides to interested users and demonstrate their sales acumen by successfully selling Yulu Wynn e-bikes to their peers. By meeting their sales targets, the Wynn Freedom Ambassadors can earn exciting rewards—including the chance to get a free Yulu Wynn bike for themselves.

It doesn’t end there: Wynn Freedom Ambassadors who demonstrate excellent performance may also get a chance to work with Yulu!

Wynn is Yulu’s first personal electric two-wheeler. The intelligent vehicle is designed to facilitate easy mobility for urban users and has many industry-first features like truly-keyless access and instant family-sharing.

The ‘Wynn Freedom Ambassador’ programme is open to all college students across Bengaluru. For more details, and to sign up for the Wynn Freedom Ambassador programme, please click the below link.

Link:https://internshala.com/internship/detail/campus-ambassador-programme-at-yulu-bikes-private-limited1686835403