SonicWall Honours Treasured Partners, Distributors With Annual SonicWall Partner Awards

* Select global SonicWall partners and distributors honoured for cybersecurity excellence

SonicWall acknowledged distinguished partners and distributors for their sustained excellence in protecting customers in an ever-evolving, complex threat landscape with its annual SonicWall Partner Awards. The awards recognise SonicWall partner organisations worldwide that have displayed uncommon excellence on delivering cybersecurity solutions to their customers. 

“For the past three decades, SonicWall has owed its success to the dedication of its esteemed partners and distributors,” said SonicWall CEO and President Bob VanKirk. “We’re extraordinarily grateful for our growing community of 17,000 partners and distributors. But above all, we’re grateful for the opportunity to honour those SonicWall SecureFirst partners who have exemplified our values and dedicated themselves to delivering world-class SonicWall security to organisations across the globe.”

Commenting on the remarkable achievements of the APJ winners, Debasish Mukherjee, Vice President, Regional Sales, Asia Pacific Japan at SonicWall said "We are honoured to acknowledge the outstanding achievements of our partners and distributors in the Asia Pacific Japan region. Their relentless dedication to delivering top-notch cybersecurity solutions has been instrumental in safeguarding customers amidst a rapidly evolving threat landscape. The annual SonicWall Partner Awards reinforce our heartfelt gratitude for their unwavering commitment to excellence and securing organisations worldwide.”

Partners were nominated in various categories in each region for outstanding performance throughout the past year. For each of the Partner Awards, SonicWall selected from a large pool of nominees one partner per region who demonstrated consistent excellence over the past year. These partners have delivered tremendous performance, comprehensive expertise and unsurpassed service.

SonicWall takes great pride in honouring partners and distributors every year for their special contributions in protecting customers from cyber threats. To see all the winners.

About SonicWall

SonicWall is a cybersecurity forerunner with more than 30 years of expertise and is recognised as the leading partner-first company. With the ability to build, scale and manage security across the cloud, hybrid and traditional environments in real-time, SonicWall provides seamless protection against the most evasive cyberattacks across endless exposure points for increasingly remote, mobile and cloud-enabled users. With its own threat research center, SonicWall can quickly and economically provide purpose-built security solutions to enable any organization—enterprise, government agencies and SMBs—around the world. For more information, visit www.sonicwall.com

Rapido's SaaS Innovation Strengthening Earnings, Auto Captains To Take Payments Directly From Customers

Rapido, India's leading commute app renowned for its multimodal services, including bike-taxis, autos, and cabs, has launched its innovative SaaS model for Auto Captains. With this strategic move, Rapido shifts from aggregator commission-led model to introduce a lifetime Zero Commission for auto captains, reducing the burden of exorbitant commission rates and empowering them to take control of their earnings. Under this model, Rapido plays no role in deciding the price point, making the service transparent and inclusive for all stakeholders.  

Expressing his excitement about this latest milestone, Mr Pavan Guntupalli, co-founder of Rapido, said, “We are incredibly excited to integrate the SaaS model to Rapido Autos. We have seen tremendous success in every city where Rapido Autos is operational.  Nation-wide, we have enabled auto captains to earn over ?2700 crores since inception and strive to put maximum earnings to those who provide us with the commute. Our cutting-edge SaaS platform transforms the traditional commission system for auto captains. It is a groundbreaking approach which guarantees that captains bear only a nominal access fee, rather than a commission per ride. This marks a noteworthy change in the industry bringing in a more enabling revenue model for our captains.”

Cab captains have been using the SaaS model-based discovery platform which will now be accessible to the Auto captains as well. Auto Captains will experience a more efficient and reliable digital experience. The SaaS model operates on a nominal access fee, which empowers Auto Captains to maximize their earnings and take home a fair share of their hard work at the end of each day.  By directly receiving payments from customers, captains break free from commission constraints, maximizing their lifetime earnings. This fosters an inclusive platform benefiting both captains and customers alike. 

Customers also enjoy competitive fares in the Auto segment, thanks to the comprehensive Software as a Service (SaaS) platform consolidating various commuting solutions into a single, user-friendly app. By eliminating lifetime commission burdens, Rapido continues its commitment to prioritizing captain welfare and customer satisfaction.

Manipal School of Architecture Participates In Prestigious Intercultural Dialogue Through Design (iDiDe) Program In Hanoi, Vietnam

Manipal Academy of Higher Education's (MAHE) esteemed Manipal School of Architecture and Planning (MSAP) proudly participated in the Intercultural Dialogue through Design (iDiDe) program, a collaborative initiative held in Hanoi, Vietnam, from the 7th to the 28th of January 2024. The event was organised in partnership with Deakin University, Australia, and Hanoi Architectural University, marking a significant endeavour in fostering global educational experiences.

The program selected IV semester Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch) students from MSAP based on their outstanding academic credentials and keen interest in intercultural design solutions. The iDiDe-2024 studio focused on "The Story of Hanoi's Artisan Craft Village," emphasising intercultural dialogue and community-based design approaches. It aimed to explore the rich intangible heritage traditions and practices that characterise the peri-urban regions of Hanoi.

Participants had the unique opportunity to engage in lacquer workshops conducted by skilled artisans from the local community. These workshops were instrumental in developing the students' ability to articulate the intricate relationships analytically and visually between art, artisan craft, architecture, heritage, and cultural and social sustainability in contemporary Hanoi.

The iDiDe initiative strives to enrich educational experiences by immersing students in diverse cultures and encouraging collaboration among international peers. It serves as a vital platform to equip future architects and professionals in the built environment with the essential skills needed to thrive as global citizens. By transcending national and cultural boundaries, iDiDe offers a unique opportunity for students to collaborate on sustainable solutions that are culturally inclusive. The culmination of the students' diligent efforts over the three-week program was showcased in an exhibition at Hanoi University on the 26th of January 2024. The exhibition, attended by several distinguished bureaucrats from Australia, India, and Hanoi, highlighted the innovative projects developed by the students. Mr. Subhash Prasad Gupta, Deputy Chief of Mission at the Indian Embassy, graced the event, expressing admiration for the students' hard work and dedication.

Representing MSAP-MAHE at this prestigious event were Prof. (Dr.) Nandineni Rama Devi, Director of MSAP, Prof. (Dr.) Pradeep Kini, Joint Director of MSAP, Prof. Sahana Ganesh, Academics Head of MSAP, alongside fourteen dedicated MSAP students. Their participation underscores MSAP's commitment to providing its students with unparalleled global exposure and learning opportunities.

The iDiDe program represents a significant milestone for MSAP in its ongoing mission to nurture architects and built environment professionals who are not only adept in their field but also possess a deep understanding of the cultural and social dimensions that shape our world.

NSDC Launches Centre For Future Skills To Skill Youth In New-Age Technologies

To impart outcome-driven and high-quality skill training to the youth and to make them catalysts in achieving the vision of Vikshit Bharat by 2047, National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) in collaboration with Ethnotech Academic Solutions Pvt Ltd, Bengaluru, launched the Centre for Future Skills in Kalaburagi, Karnataka – a visionary platform that elevates the capabilities of the youth in future skills.

Shri. Subhas Sarkar, Hon’ble Minister of State for Higher Education, Government of India and Shri. Umesh Jadhav, Hon’ble Member of Parliament were the Chief Guest for the event. Shri. Ved Mani Tiwari, CEO, NSDC and MD, NSDC International; Dr. Pratapsinh Desai, President, Indian Society for Technical Information (ISTE); Dr Kiran K Rajanna, Chairman, Ethnotech Group of Companies; Dr Bhimashankar C Bilgundi, President, HKE Society, Kalaburagi; R. Velraj, Vice Chancellor, Anna University, Chennai; Prof (Dr) Buta Singh Sidhu, Vice Chancellor, Maharaja Ranjit Singh Punjab Technical University, Bathinda; and Dr. S.N. Singh, Director, Indian Institute of Information Technology and Management, Gwalior also addressed the event.

By combining traditional education with new-age learning, the envisioned platform bridges the skill gap and enhances internship and employability prospects in alignment with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. The platform fosters a conducive environment for acquiring new-age skills and enables individuals to gain global recognition for their skills and receive certification in their chosen field. 

Shri. Subhas Sarkar, Hon’ble Minister of State for Higher Education, Government of India said, “The inauguration of the NSDC’s Centre for Future Skills marks a significant stride in advancing skill development and education in our nation. These skill development centres, with a focus on cutting-edge technologies, are instrumental in preparing the youth for future of work that aligns seamlessly with the visionary goal of the Hon’ble Prime Minister to position India as the global hub of skilled human resources. I am confident that the comprehensive training framework, state-of-the-art infrastructure, and well-trained individuals will empower the youth, opening doors for enhanced employability in global markets. I congratulate the CEO of NSDC for effectively elevating the youth skills and providing opportunities for renowned organizations to discover the right talent. And also extending my congratulations to Dr. Kiran K Rajanna, Chairman, Ethnotech Group of Companies for the collaboration with the NSDC in establishing a State of the Art Centre for Future Skills at Kalyan Karnataka Region, and to the President of HKE Society, Dr. Bilgundi for his active participation in Centrally Sponsored Projects”.

Speaking on the launch, Ved Mani Tiwari, CEO, NSDC and MD NSDC International said, “The rapid pace of technological advancement, characterised by automation, artificial intelligence, data analytics, and the Internet of Things, is fundamentally transforming industries and job roles. The escalating demand for skills necessitates the equipping youth with capabilities and knowledge in emerging technologies like AI, ML, and Robotics that caters to evolving needs of the industry that seamlessly aligns with the vision of Hon’ble Prime Minister of making India ‘Viksit Bharat’ by 2047. I am certain, that the Centre will benefit the students immensely and bridge the gap between aspirations and industry demands, standing as a beacon of opportunity where youth can access transformative training, attain certification and brighten their future”.

Furthermore, the Centre will be instrumental in bolstering avenues for digital skilling in India by offering short term fee-based certification courses in the field of emerging technologies such as AI, ML, Robotics, etc., from global corporates like Microsoft, CISCO, AWS, Schnieder etc. It focuses on collaborating with industry experts to provide holistic learning experience to the students and imparts them the skills needed to thrive in an ever-evolving global landscape.

The education policy envisions a holistic and multidisciplinary approach to education, emphasizing the integration of academic knowledge with practical skills. This initiative is a perfect example of how an institution can take a proactive role in implementing the principles laid out in the NEP. It also places a strong emphasis on creating a flexible and dynamic education system that prepares students for the challenges of the volatile job market

NSDC has been collaborating with multiple institutions, partners, business leaders, financial intermediaries to create synergies for expanding the skill ecosystem. It is committed to introduce new and innovative products to ensure holistic and sustainable growth of the skill ecosystem.

About NSDC:

National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) is the principal architect of the skill ecosystem in the country. It is a unique Public Private Partnership (PPP) enterprise working under the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE), Government of India. NSDC was established with the objective to catalyse the skilling ecosystem for private sector participation and be the strategic implementation and knowledge partner to Skill India Mission to build efficient vocational training initiatives, empowering India’s youth. NSDC provides support to enterprises, start-ups, companies, and organizations that are creating an impact by offering a world of opportunities in futuristic skills to the potential workforce. The organization develops appropriate models to enhance, support, and coordinate private sector initiatives in skilling by offering funding support to eligible entities, concessional loans to the candidates along with other innovative financial products, and builds strategic partnerships.

Nippon Paint Launches “Color Vision Book”- Predicts Color Trends For Home And Beyond

* Heal, Bloomers, Hive, and Soulcore found to be four prominent archetypes for 2024-25

Nippon Paint India (Decorative) recently launched its Color Vision Book for 2024-2025 at Outdoor Connections, Bengaluru. Color Vision is the result of Nippon Paint’s collaboration with the renowned color expert Dr. Kaustav Sengupta from the National Institute of Fashion Technology and Color Consultant for Nippon Paint India.

The second edition of the Color Vision forecasts color palettes for the youth and divisions (regional zones) for the first time, celebrating the plurality of the nation through colors. In a ‘colorful’ yet culturally diversified country like India, color has been always a crucial element in its emotional, social, and cultural existence.

The Nippon Paint Color Vision’s foresight system is structured based on the copyrighted method of Dr. Kaustav Sengupta. The method involves a unique ‘Color Foresight Cube’ (Dr. Kaustav Sengupta, 2018) that maps color signifiers through signals and drivers to indicate the ‘shift’ and understand the pattern of plausible color directions based on emotional, bio-behavioral, cultural, and social metatags. In this method, each meta tag (social or bio-behavioral) is associated with a color and updated into the cube. The cube using its technology creates patterns across the 3 segments - north, south, and youth. These patterns are then deciphered and collated as colors representing the current overall mindset of the people across these segments.

Through research, 12 key archetypes emerged, some prominent archetypes that can be seen are:

Heal – Reflecting the need for comfort with shades like Sunken Forest, Cloud Grass, Diver’s Paradise and Circus Top

Bloomers – A desire to express through creativity with shades like Leap of Faith, Shocking Yellow, Be My Valentine, Knockout Red

Hive – The need to cohabitate and bond with shades like Orange Soda, Electricity, Young Violet and Caribbean Coast

Soulcore – An inquiry into oneself with shades like Marry Go Round, Sea of Coral, Patchwark and Darkest Hour

The unique process of forecasting for Color Vision took more than 16 months and involved approximately 30,000 meta-tags. The color cues were processed through multiple focus groups of influencers, color catalysts, domain experts, color practitioners, etc.  Over 55 catalysts were involved from Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Hyderabad, Pune, Kolkata, Pondicherry, Bangalore, Ahmedabad, etc. during various levels of research progress.

Speaking on this occasion, Dr. Kaustav Sengupta, NIFT said, “Unveiling the second edition of Nippon Paint Color Vision, spotlighting India's inaugural zonal and youth color forecast, we are extremely happy in the diverse palette that showcases the rich tapestry of our nation. I thank the Nippon Paint team for their continued partnership and hope architects and designers who possess a visionary compass to sculpt and journey through the vibrant landscapes of color benefit within their projects and research efforts."

The gathering was addressed by Mr. S Mahesh Anand, President, and Mr. Mark Titus, VP Marketing, Nippon Paint India. Other prominent industry leaders who shed light on the science behind colors were:

Dr. Kaustav Sengupta, Principal Investigator and Director Insights- VisioNxt, NIFT and Expert Futurist and Color forecaster- Nippon Color Vision Color Forecast

Husna Rahaman, Principal Creative Director, Fulcrum Studio

Shalini Chandrashekar, Principal Architect and Co-Founder Taliesyn – Design & Architecture

Arun Shekar Gowda, Artistic Director at Humming Tree

Seema Sreedharan, Editor Architecture + Design

Addressing the color forecast Nippon Paint Color Vision 24-25, Mr. Mahesh Anand, President, Nippon Paint India (Decorative) said, "India, a unique harmony of diversity and tradition, finds its colors woven intricately across its expansive canvas. Nippon Paint India Color Vision leads the way in understanding the varied resonance of hues amidst different regions and generations. We are delighted to introduce to enthusiasts - the first zonal and youth color forecast. We are proud to unveil 12 unique archetypes, finely crafted to reflect the exuberance of the North, the depth of the South, and the ever-evolving expressions of our vibrant youth."

Though this forecast is primarily developed for home colors (interior and exterior home walls, home furnishings, home décor, home accessories, tableware, lighting, etc.) they can very well be used for other product segments such as personal goods, digital and electronics, FMCG, Automobile, etc. as these color archetypes can create an impact across various domains. The brand also launched a Color Vision website for customers to look out for and download their e-book.

About Nippon Paint:

Nippon Paint, founded in Japan has over 142 years of experience and is the number one paint manufacturer in Asia, and among the leading paint manufacturers in the world. Nippon Paint produces high-quality paints and coats for decorative, industrial, and automotive sections Over the years, Nippon Paint has perfected its products using breakthrough paint technology, with an emphasis on innovation and eco-friendliness. Nippon Paint’s mission is to create advanced products that boost the quality of life while protecting the environment. Through innovative technology, Nippon Paint benefits its customers and society. The company and its subsidiaries have a presence in 31 countries including Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea, Hong Kong, China and Taiwan, China, India, Pakistan, United Kingdom, Germany, Greece, and Russia.

A Stride Towards A Sustainable Future: ASUS India Launches Its 4th Select Store For Refurbished Products In Hyderabad

Committed to driving innovation backed by sustainable efforts, ASUS India, the country’s leading PC brand today announced the launch of its 4th Select Store with refurbished products. The store being launched in Hyderabad is the city's inaugural location, providing customers with a variety of refurbished laptops at discounted rates, all backed by a 1-year ASUS warranty.

ASUS Select Store is a niche concept that was conceptualized to strengthen the brand’s contribution to building the Indian circular e-waste economy. The showcased products have undergone a rigorous, multi-check inspection that comprises an exhaustive process of testing, meticulous restoration, and ASUS certification, thereby ensuring their compliance with standards akin to those of brand-new products. 

Commenting on the launch of the store, Arnold Su, Vice President- Gaming and Consumer Segment ASUS India shared, “In our endeavor to empower the country with sustainable technology choices, we are proud to be announcing the launch of our 4th refurbished products store in the city of Hyderabad. As strong advocates of sustainability and having recorded exemplary responses from customers from our last three ASUS Select Store, we believe this is the right step to take, simultaneously fortifying our retail network. Our Select Stores represent a significant stride towards a sustainable future, offering customers access to a budget friendly price. With a growing number of individuals choosing refurbished laptops in the city, we aim to provide a platform that offers thoroughly examined products, ensuring customers access to premium-quality laptops and PCs.” 

ASUS has been diligently working towards increasing its retail network in the country. The company at present has 4 Select Stores in Kolkata, Delhi, Mumbai and now Hyderabad. The stores are present in key locations of the city that strategically caters to a large audience and enable them to experience ASUS products.

ASUS has been at the forefront of inculcating sustainable practices in its operations. The brand has committed to achieving a global recycling rate of 20% for ASUS products and the introduction of the ASUS Select Store is a feat to contribute to this brand commitment. ASUS also leverages cutting-edge technological advancements, the company proactively integrates sustainability into its operations. This encompasses a range of environmentally conscious initiatives, such as reducing carbon emissions, embracing eco-friendly packaging, and collaborating with recycling companies to ensure the responsible disposal of electronic waste. 

Store Address: Shop No:- 1,2 & 3, 1-2-61 and 62 MEZ, Siddamesetty Complex Parkline, Secunderabad Hyderabad – 50003

About ASUS

ASUS is a multinational company known for the world’s best motherboards, PCs, monitors, graphics cards, and routers. Along with an expanding range of superior gaming, content-creation, and AIoT solutions, ASUS leads the industry through cutting-edge design and innovations made to create the most ubiquitous, intelligent, heartfelt, and joyful smart life for everyone. With a global workforce that includes more than 5,000 R&D professionals, ASUS is driven to become the world’s most admired innovative leading technology enterprise. Inspired by In Search of Incredible brand spirit, ASUS won more than 11 awards every day in 2019 and ranks as one of Forbes’ World’s Best Regarded Companies and Fortune’s World’s Most Admired Companies. 

Reimagining Smartphone Experience – How ‘Surfaces’ Can Play A Key Role In Making The Phone Smarter

Smartphone already feels like an extension of our bodies; a typical smartphone user picks up the phone 70-80 times in a day.

50% of the times the consumers pick up their smartphones out of habit – they do so without any explicit intent.

Our report below unlocks the secrets of current smartphone usage habits and reimagines the interactions between humans and smartphones.

The Boston Consulting Group today released a report titled “Reimagining Smartphone Experience – how surfaces can play a key role in making the phone smarter”. The report provides interesting insights into how the smartphone is being used by today’s users – revealing the key activities with phones, frequency of those activities and some interesting nuances across demographics. 1 out of 2 times users pick up the phone they do so without knowing why they fired up their smartphone. BCG’s research reveals varying clarity of intent in three such unique journey types– Pre-Determined, Exploratory and Spontaneous. While ~50-55% times the consumer has no clarity of intent, ~45-50% of the times consumers are very clear on the task to be accomplished and 5-10% of the time consumers have partial clarity.

The findings in the report are based on actual clicks/swaps data of 1000+ users and in-depth consumer interviews conducted across India.

Below are the key findings of the report:

Over the last decade or so, use-cases enabled through smartphones have proliferated from just socializing to a spectrum of 9+ use-cases (streaming, shopping, searching, scoring/gaming, saving & payment, seeking (news), studying and storing/tracking)

Research indicates that across 3 journey types, there are multiple friction points in terms of inconvenience, irrelevant information (in form of ads / suggestions) and lack of discovery (are we building echo-chambers showing the user same information over and over again?) – even in case of a pre-determined journey where the consumer is clear about the app and intent they find toggling across apps / visiting multiple screens to check for key updates – as challenges worth solving for.

‘Surfaces’ the next frontier in human device interaction has an enormous potential to delight consumers – by providing a seamless, smart and serendipity-rich experience while showing the potential to address challenges pertaining to broken experience and much more.

Leading innovators for example Glance for Android ecosystem (circa 2019)and Apple for iOS ecosystem (circa 2022) are seeing increasing adoption for their ‘Surface’ offering – for instance Uber leveraging ’Activity kit framework’ in iOS 16 to offer users select functionalities (ride- tracking, cab/drive info/OTP) right onto the lock-screen providing convenience.

While ‘Surfaces’ do exist today in their most nascent form – they are poised to become the Al powered engine, driving interactions between users and apps, manifesting as a rich, dynamic screen right from the start of a user's phone journey. Some of the ecosystem stakeholders are building advanced use-cases already – and the results are evident with surface innovators clocking ~220+ million MAUs in India today – indicating strong engagement onto surfaces. Kanika Sanghi, Lead – Centre for Customer Insights India said that “In our research, we have seen ~50% of the times consumers do not have clarity on why they pick up the phone – they do it out of habit. Such occasions provide a great opportunity to guide consumers into relevant directions based on their interests by using Surface in a smart manner."

Nimisha Jain, Senior Partner and Managing Director said that “Smartphones are evolving – the recent spate of discussions in media and at industry events on themes like ‘AI on device’ or ‘app-less experience through Gen AI’ is a testament to that evolution. ‘Surfaces’ can serve as the conduit to deliver this new evolved experience that’s smart, seamless and often enables serendipity.” BCG’s report also includes a few crucial consumer journeys reimagined with the surfaces – for instance, live-scores and match-highlights visible onto the lock screen without going into the app.

The report also sheds light on proliferation of use-cases ranging from streaming to shopping which are enabled by smartphones today. Indian smartphone users love to stream video content (short-form / long-form) – as 50-55% of their time is spent on streaming apps, while socializing (texts/calls), shopping, searching (for information on travel, jobs, hobbies etc.) and gaming feature among the top 5 activities for consumers spend their smartphone-time on.

The key stakeholders of the smartphone ecosystem – the phone makers, the telecom players, the advertisers (brands), app developers, content publishers and gaming studios have a huge role to play in realizing the full potential of the ‘Surfaces’. The report outlines how each of the players can embrace the opportunity and deliver a great consumer experience through a few strategic imperatives. Two case - studies where in industry-leaders and innovators in the smartphone experience category have driven business results with ingenuous use of ‘Surfaces’ are also included in the report.

About The Boston Consulting Group

The Boston Consulting Group (BCG) is a global management consulting firm and the world’s leading advisor on business strategy. We partner with clients from the private, public, and not-for-profit sectors in all regions to identify their highest-value opportunities, address their most critical challenges, and transform their enterprises. Our customized approach combines deep insight into the dynamics of companies and markets with close collaboration at all levels of the client organization. This ensures that our clients achieve sustainable competitive advantage, build more capable organizations, and secure lasting results. Founded in 1963, BCG is a private company with more than 90 offices in 50 countries. For more information,  visit bcg.com.