ITC Sunfeast Baked Creations Unveils Its First Bakery Café In Bengaluru

* Inaugurated by Shreyanka Patil, an Indian Cricketer, the Café features a cozy ambiance and a curated selection of gourmet baked delights

ITC Sunfeast Baked Creations, after making a strong mark in the food-delivery space with a popular range of Croissants and Pull-Apart Bagels, today announced the launch of its first Bakery Café at the FabIndia Experience Store in Whitefield, Bangalore. This launch marks a significant milestone in the brand's journey, from a cloud-kitchen bakery to an omni-channel brand, bringing an elevated bakery café experience to Bangaloreans. 

This thoughtfully designed café brings a premium culinary experience to Bangaloreans with a curated selection of products, including Croissants & Sandwiches, Pull-Apart Bagels & Bagel Toasties, Desserts & Pastries and Celebration Cakes, each crafted by culinary experts of ITC with top-quality ingredients and tailored to the Indian palate. These baked delicacies are served with ITC’s Sunbean Gourmet Coffee, elevating the culinary experience of diners.

Shreyanka Patil, an Indian Cricketer and avid foodie graced the occasion as the Chief Guest. She expressed her delight with the association, “I am glad to be associated with a brand whose products I have tried many times and absolutely love! My favourites are Frangipane Almond Croissant, Dark Fantasy Chocofill Croissant and Trinity Ganache Pastry. I recommend everyone to definitely try these.”

Rohit Bhalla, Food-Tech Business Head at ITC Limited, expressed his enthusiasm about the launch, “This café is more than just a new location; it represents ITC Sunfeast Baked Creations' commitment to bring the ‘World of Bakery’ to Indian consumers, elevating their experience of the category to global standards. Our Croissants and Pull-Apart Bagels have already garnered great popularity through the delivery channel and the launch of this café will give a fillip to our plans to bring many more exciting innovations in the bakery category. This new café is not just another addition to the city's dining scene; it is a testament to ITC Sunfeast Baked Creations' evolving vision and dedication to offering exceptional experiences to its customers and café enthusiasts across the city.”

With a seating capacity of up to 30 guests, the café promises to be the perfect destination for both intimate gatherings and larger celebrations, offering a delightful environment for customers to indulge in ITC Sunfeast Baked Creations' exclusive range of products. 

Looking ahead, ITC Sunfeast Baked Creations plans to expand its bakery café presence in Bengaluru with future locations in MG Road and Jayanagar, as well as potential expansion into Chennai. These upcoming locations will continue to build on the brand's vision of elevating the bakery experience for its customers.

ITC Sunfeast Baked Creations | Address: Fab India Experience Store, near Corner House, Whitefield, Bengaluru. 

Dr. Devi Shetty Unveils First Of Its Kind Robotic Cardiac Center Of Excellence In Bengaluru

 

·         This center is the fastest in the country and second fastest in the world to perform 100 robotic cardiac surgeries

·         This first of its kind private robotic cardiac center in the country has four well trained surgeons to perform robotic cardiac surgeries

Dr. Devi Shetty, Chairman and Executive Director of Narayana Health, unveiled first of its kind robotic cardiac center of excellence in an event held at Mazumdar Shaw Medical Centre, Narayana Health City, Bengaluru. This is a significant step in making one of the advanced surgical technologies, robotic-assisted surgery, accessible to cardiac patients from across India. This center recently became the fastest in the country and the second fastest in the world to successfully perform 100 robotic-assisted cardiac surgeries, by completing it in 147 days.

Commenting on this occasion, Dr Devi Shetty, Chairman and Executive Director – Narayana Health, said, “We believe that the utilization of technology in the field of surgery is an important goal in advancing science. As a responsible healthcare provider, we have been at the forefront of the digital revolution in healthcare, focused on finding newer ways to offer advanced healthcare to our patients. As part of this mission, we have introduced robotic-assisted surgery at multiple Narayana Hospitals across the country and we are one of the hospitals to train most number of surgeons in robotic-assisted surgery in India. With Cardiac diseases becoming one of the fastest-growing healthcare problems globally, now we have taken a step in the right direction to consolidate the best available surgical robotics technology. This exclusive robotic cardiac center of excellence is equipped with one of the most advanced 4th generation robotic-assisted surgery systems, da Vinci to help address the growing disease burden in India through timely treatment interventions using the latest in advanced technologies. This will allow patients nationwide to get the best cardiac surgical treatment.”

Robotic cardiac surgery helps patients return to their everyday life much faster than open-heart surgeries. Surgeons use the RAS System to operate through a few small incisions. In comparison to traditional open-heart surgery, which involves opening up the chest by splitting the breastplate, the da Vinci's innovative technology allows for complex cardiovascular surgeries to be performed through smaller incisions and precise motion control. For instance, in procedures like Mitral Valve Repair, Mitral Valve Replacement and Atrial Septal Defect (ASD) surgery, the surgeon doesn’t have to cut the patient's ribs or make an incision between the ribs, to perform the surgery. 

While commenting on this collaboration, Darla Hutton, Interim General Manager, Intuitive India, said, “We are pleased to be a part of this unique robotic cardiac center of excellence by Narayana Health, marking a pivotal advancement in cardiac care. Our collaboration with Narayana Health and the inclusion of the da Vinci surgical system underscore our commitment to improving patient outcomes through state-of-the-art surgical solutions. As pioneers in robotic-assisted surgery, we have played a significant role in building the robotic-assisted surgery ecosystem in India. The da Vinci system is preferred for its enhanced precision, minimally invasive approach, 3D visualization, and reduced risk of complications. By integrating these advanced surgical solutions into cardiac treatment, we hope to set new standards in patient care and outcomes. Together, we look forward to a future where cutting-edge technology enhances the quality and effectiveness of cardiac care, ensuring the best possible results for our patients.”

The da Vinci system includes a magnified 3D high-definition vision and tiny wristed instruments that bend and rotate much more than the human hand. As a result, surgeons have better vision, precision, and control.

Dr. Raghu MG, Senior Cardiac Surgeon, Narayana Health said, “At Narayana Health, we specialize in complex cardiac surgeries & other cardiac procedures such as Pulmonary Endarterectomy for chronic pulmonary embolism, Aneurysm repairs, Electrophysiology, Endovascular interventions, Valve repairs etc. Robotic-assisted surgery comes with many advantages in surgeries like IMA harvesting in CABG (Coronary artery bypass graft) cases, surgery to close the hole in the heart, Mitral Valve Repair and Mitral Valve Replacement etc.  In the case of closing the hole in the heart, instead of doing open surgery with 6-7 cm long incisions, RAS can be done with small incisions. This leads to decreased pain, fewer post-operative wound infections, less post-operative scarring, and improved breathing. Reducing the chance of infection makes it an ideal procedure for people with co-morbidities and older patients.”

Narayana Health has been at the forefront of cardiac treatment innovations in India, to make advanced treatments accessible to all strata of our society. This super specialty flagship cardiac hospital of Narayana Health is one of the largest in the world and is equipped with 16 dedicated Cardiac Operation Theatres and 6 Digital Cath Labs of which one is a Hybrid, capable of performing both interventional cardiac procedures as well as complex heart surgeries. 

Medicover Hospitals Expands With New Multi-Speciality Hub In Whitefield, Bengaluru, Backed By Rs 120 Crore Investment

Medicover Hospitals, a leading healthcare service provider, today unveiled its latest integrated healthcare facility in Bengaluru, Karnataka, marking a significant milestone in its expansion journey. With an investment of Rs. 120 crores, this 300-bedded state-of-the-art multi-speciality hospital is poised to revolutionize healthcare in the state.

The hospital, spread over 2.50 lakh sq. ft, will provide comprehensive healthcare services, including specialized departments for Cardiac Sciences, Orthopaedics, Neurosciences, Organ Transplant, Nephrology, and Gastro Sciences. The facility will also feature advanced diagnostic facilities, including Cath Lab, 3T MRI, CT scan, and digital X-ray.

The multi-speciality hospital was inaugurated by Hon’ble Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka, Sri. D.K. Shivakumar, in the presence of Hon’ble PWD Minister, Sri. Satish Jarkiholi, Hon’ble Health & Family Welfare Minister, Sri. Dinesh Gundu Rao, MP – Haveri & former Chief Minister of Karnataka, Sri. Basavaraj Bommai, MLA – Mahadevapura, Smt. Manjula Aravind Limbavali and MLA – Shanti Nagar, Sri. N.A. Haris. 

Speaking on the inauguration, Ho'nble Deputy Chief Minister, Sri D K Shivakumar said, "Big change is happening in the healthcare sector in Karnataka and the entire country. Medicover has 24 hospitals and the management has employed 14000 employees which is a commendable job. I stand with all of you as service is your motive and the government will support you."

Commenting on the launch, Dr. Anil Krishna, Chairman and Managing Director of Medicover Group of Hospitals, said, "For Medicover Hospitals, venturing into Bengaluru has long been a cherished ambition, aimed at delivering high-quality healthcare at accessible costs to the community. Our hospital is designed as a comprehensive establishment, dedicated to patient-centric care, free from any hindrances."

The hospital will offer OPD with over 45 rooms, IPD, 100 ICU beds, including high dependency units, NICU, PICU, cardiac ICU, and transplant ICU, day-care support, and 24/7 Trauma & Emergency response services. Medicover Hospitals has embraced a forward-thinking approach by transitioning to a paperless system and integrating artificial intelligence (AI) technologies into its operations.

This innovative move not only streamlines administrative processes but also enhances efficiency and accuracy in patient care. By leveraging AI, the hospital aims to improve diagnostic accuracy, optimize treatment plans, and personalize patient experiences, ultimately elevating the standard of healthcare delivery.

The launch of the Bengaluru hospital marks Medicover's entry into Karnataka, adding to its presence in Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Maharashtra. The group currently provides employment to over 14,000 professionals, including doctors and nurses, across four states. The new hospital is expected to generate 1,000 jobs in Karnataka.

This is the first hospital in India and World to acquire Da Vinci X- The Surgical Robotic assisted surgical systems at the onset of the Bengaluru Facility. 

Key Features of the Hospital are

- 300 beds, Advanced diagnostic facilities 

- AI-powered operations

- Patient-centric care

- Comprehensive healthcare services

- Specialized departments

- 24/7 Trauma & Emergency response services

Medicover Hospitals aims to establish 4-5 new hospitals in Bengaluru within the next 3-4 years, targeting micro-markets with untapped potential. This expansion will increase the group's total bed count to over 6,000 across India.

"We intend to set-up 4-5 hospitals in the city of Bengaluru over the next 3-4 years. This latest addition will elevate our total bed count to exceed 6,000 beds throughout India," added Dr.Anil Krishna.

The Medicover Group of Hospitals network includes 24 hospitals with a presence in four states and remains committed to its promise of making quality healthcare affordable and accessible to people in India. The newest hospital in Bengaluru exemplifies the group's dedication to leading the way in a healthcare system that prioritizes inclusivity, unwavering effectiveness, and a culture of care.

About Medicover Group of Hospitals:

Medicover Group of Hospitals is a leading healthcare service provider with 24 hospitals across Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Karnataka. The group is committed to delivering high-quality healthcare at accessible costs, with a focus on patient-centric care.

For more information, log into: https://www.medicoverhospitals.in/hospitals/karnataka/bengaluru/

SatSure, JICA DXLab And BCG join Hands To Develop Proof-Of-Concept For Digital Forest Health Monitoring System For RFD

* The innovative initiative aims to enhance forest management and conservation efforts using cutting-edge satellite technologies.

SatSure Analytics India Pvt Ltd, one of the leading Earth Observation (EO) data refinery platforms, today announced that it will be collaborating with the Rajasthan Forest Department (RFD), Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) DXLab and Boston Consulting Group (BCG) on a Proof-of-Concept (PoC) to develop a forest health monitoring system in Rajasthan, as part of a larger vision to build the first-of-its-kind ‘Forest Stack’. This move marks a pivotal shift for Rajasthan towards integrating digital technology into its forest conservation efforts. By integrating SatSure’s satellite imagery and remote sensing expertise with existing data, this system will deliver actionable intelligence on forest health to RFD officials.

As a part of this development, SatSure will collaborate with JICA DXLab and BCG as a technology enabler to build the first use case of the stack, in the form of a digital forest health monitoring system. With its technological expertise, SatSure will create a comprehensive, open-source platform that integrates satellite imagery, remote sensing data, and existing forest data into an accessible and actionable dashboard. This will enable forest officials to track forest health, manage resources more efficiently, and implement conservation strategies.

RFD has been initiating several strategic steps towards the protection and management of forest resources, including the development of Forest Management and Decision Support System (FMDSS). It has several application modules, such as plantation monitoring, nursery inventory management, forest fire management, wildlife offenses tracking, among others. The digital forest health monitoring system will complement FMDSS and enable seamless data exchange.

Speaking about this development, Prateep Basu, Founder & CEO, SatSure says, “At SatSure, our vision is to deliver decision insights from space, and to positively impact society through this technology. Forests are a critical part of our sustainable future, and we are thrilled to be partnering with Rajasthan Forest Department and JICA in taking a first step towards creating the first-of-its-kind ‘Forest Stack’. Through this pioneering initiative, we will create a replicable, open-source stack that can be replicated across different geographies globally. By leveraging our advanced geospatial analytics and satellite data integration, we aim to provide a robust platform that ensures efficient forest health monitoring and promotes sustainable forestry practices.”

Dr. Venkatesh Sharma, APCCF & Project Director (RFBP-2), Rajasthan Forest Department said, "There is significant scope to leverage digital technologies and enable seamless data exchanges for enhanced monitoring of forest health. By utilizing satellite imagery, remote sensing data, existing project data, and near real-time data analytics, we can get actionable insights into forest health, overcoming the challenges of data fragmentation and physical record-keeping. This can bring about a pivotal shift for Rajasthan State towards integrating technology in its forest conservation efforts and a develop a comprehensive decision support system for the forest department. We are looking forward to leverage SatSure’s expertise in geospatial analytics to deliver significant value for us through the forest health monitoring system."

Natsumi Kobayashi, Country Officer, South Asia Department, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) said, "JICA has been supporting the state of Rajasthan in its forestry and biodiversity conservation initiatives for the last 30 years, and we are pleased to collaborate with SatSure to further strengthen RFD’s capacity through this PoC. This initiative is the first step towards building a comprehensive Forest Stack – a digital public infrastructure that will empower developing nations to safeguard forest ecosystems by leveraging the power of data and digital technology. Our commitment is to support RFD in monitoring and managing their forest and natural resources more effectively, thereby contributing to the resolution of climate change. The solution is envisioned to be made available for other state forest departments, supporting India in advancing its forest management practices and ultimately contributing to global environmental sustainability.”

Aparna Bijapurkar, Managing Director and Partner, Boston Consulting Group (BCG) said, “BCG is excited to collaborate with JICA DXLab and work with SatSure on this visionary project for building the forest health monitoring system for the Rajasthan Forest Department. By harnessing the power of digital technologies and working closely with committed RFD leadership, we intend to make Rajasthan a lighthouse state for building the comprehensive forest stack. BCG is working closely with multiple government institutions in India and will leverage this deep experience to ensure widespread adoption of the system to drive long-term business process change for RFD.”

Sushma Vasudevan, Managing Director and Partner, Boston Consulting Group (BCG) said, “At BCG, our aim is to be the most positively impactful company in the world. We have deep sectoral knowledge in forestry and significant expertise in driving large-scale technology transformations across the world. We will bring this expertise to build the digital forest stack for Rajasthan. The forest stack can cater to a diverse set of users beyond RFD, such as researchers and private players, and enable multiple other use cases such as facilitating carbon credits. This will unlock myriad benefits, improving the state’s conservation efforts and enhancing livelihoods of local communities across the state.”

This initiative underscores the importance of digitization in forest management, ensuring that India remains at the forefront of global sustainability efforts. The Forest Stack is envisioned to not only benefit forestry departments but also enhance community welfare and ecological health, paving the way for a more sustainable future.

About SatSure:

SatSure is a deep tech, decision intelligence company headquartered in Bangalore, India. Leveraging satellite imagery and AI, SatSure provides valuable insights to industries such as agriculture, insurance, and infrastructure. Their solutions empower clients to make data-driven decisions and drive sustainable development. For more information, 

About JICA DXLab:

JICA DXLab is an initiative by Japan International Cooperation Agency focused on leveraging digital technologies to enhance global development projects through Proof-of-Concept pilots. DXLab collaborates with Digital Partners to integrate data-driven solutions into JICA’s projects in areas such as environmental conservation, agriculture, health, and infrastructure development. For more information about this PoC for a digital forest health monitoring system in Rajasthan, click here. To learn more about JICA DXLab and its other PoCs, click here.

About Boston Consulting Group:

Boston Consulting Group partners with leaders in business and society to tackle their most important challenges and capture their greatest opportunities. BCG was the pioneer in business strategy when it was founded in 1963. Today, we work closely with clients to embrace a transformational approach aimed at benefiting all stakeholders—empowering organizations to grow, build sustainable competitive advantage, and drive positive societal impact.

Our diverse, global teams bring deep industry and functional expertise and a range of perspectives that question the status quo and spark change. BCG delivers solutions through leading-edge management consulting, technology and design, and corporate and digital ventures. We work in a uniquely collaborative model across the firm and throughout all levels of the client organization, fueled by the goal of helping our clients thrive and enabling them to make the world a better place. For more information, visit https://www.bcg.com.

Cummins India Kicks Off “REDEFINE 2024”, B-school Case Competition: Focusing On Digital Solutions For Sustainability

·       Engaging 18 premier B-schools, the competition explores how digital innovation can advance sustainability to reshape traditional business models 

·      Aims to equip students with skills in strategic thinking, sustainability, and practical implementation of technological solutions in business context 

Cummins India Limited (“Cummins India”), one of the leading power solutions technology providers, has launched ‘REDEFINE 2024’, its annual business

 school (B-school) case study competition. This competition challenges aspiring business leaders to use their strategic, innovative, and analytical skills to address real-world business challenges.  

Themed

“How Digital Solutions Enable Sustainability in Traditional Businesses?”, this year’s competition encourages participants to leverage digitalization to advance sustainability within traditional sectors. It focuses on how digital solutions  can strengthen Environmental Social and Governance (ESG) reporting, identify opportunities for the reduction of Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions, and improve operational efficiency.  

Sharing her views on the competition’s commencement,

Anupama Kaul, Human Resources Leader, Cummins India said, “At Cummins India, we are committed to inspiring and nurturing future leaders to navigate and shape the evolving business landscape. Since its inception, our case study competition has been

 integral to this goal. As the growing adoption of sustainability and technology reshape our world, it is crucial to harness technology to create a more sustainable environment. REDEFINE 2024 offers an exceptional platform for students to demonstrate how digitalization can drive meaningful change.” 

Subramanian Chidambaran, Director – Corporate Strategy, Cummins India added,

“Through REDEFINE, we aim to empower students to think beyond conventional approaches, encouraging them to explore how technology can transform traditional industries and create a more sustainable future. Innovation thrives on diverse perspectives and collaborative

 effort. By engaging with tomorrow’s leaders, we aim to gain fresh insights and drive innovative solutions, reflecting Cummins India’s’ commitment to progress and excellence in our industry.”    

The competition is open to first and second-year students enrolled in two-year flagship PGP/PGDM/PGDBM/MBA programs from 18 partner B-schools in India. It

 will culminate in a two-day grand finale at the Cummins India Office Campus in Pune, Maharashtra, on November 14-15, 2024. The winning team will receive a cash prize and an exclusive invitation to join Cummins India’s mentorship program, designed to nurture  the next generation of business leaders. In addition to the case study, participants will also engage with Cummins India leadership through multiple interactive sessions. 

Last year, REDEFINE attracted a staggering 3,752 students across 938 teams representing 18 of the country’s premier B-schools.  Participating partner B-schools for REDEFINE 2024 are: 

Indian Institute of Management, Indore 

Indian Institute of Management, Kozhikode 

Indian Institute of Management, Lucknow 

Indian Institute of Management, Mumbai 

Indian Institute of Management, Ranchi 

Indian Institute of Management, Shillong 

Indian Institute of Management, Tiruchirappalli 

Indian Institute of Management, Udaipur 

Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi 

Indian School of Business, Hyderabad 

KJ Somaiya Institute of Management, Mumbai 

Management Development Institute, Gurgaon 

Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies, Mumbai  

SP Jain Institute of Management and Research, Mumbai 

Symbiosis Centre for Management and Human Resource Development, Pune 

Symbiosis Institute of Business Management, Pune 

Xavier Institute of Management, Bhubaneshwar  

Xavier School of Management (XLRI), Jamshedpur  

Follow Cummins India on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube for latest updates and insights.

About Cummins India Limited: 

Established in 1962 and headquartered in Pune, Cummins India Limited (NSE: CUMMINSIND | BSE: 500480) is one of the leading power solutions providers in the country. As the oldest and the largest entity for Cummins in India, the company is involved in the power generation, aftermarket, and export businesses. The company has a strong manufacturing backbone and boasts six state-of-the-art manufacturing plants, assembly, and distribution facilities. With over 480 customer touchpoints, the company is committed to powering the success of its customers and ensuring that its services and solutions are readily accessible. The company has over 3,000 employees who contribute their expertise and commitment to ensuring Cummins India delivers on its mission of “making people’s lives better by powering a more prosperous world”.  

NDTV Profit Selects Nutanix To Run Core News Applications And Prepare For AI

* Transition from VMware by Broadcom to Nutanix reduces licensing costs, elevates newsroom production capabilities, and lays foundation for AI adoption

Nutanix (NASDAQ: NTNX), a leader in hybrid multicloud computing, today said NDTV Profit, a leading 24-hour financial news channel in India, deployed Nutanix to turn its datacenter into a private cloud that is being used to run 95 percent of its operations, including core applications for newsroom editing and production, stock data, asset management, and archiving.

NDTV Profit’s selection of Nutanix also lays the foundation for it to leverage AI for video analysis and indexing, content moderation, and viewer analytics. Additionally, NDTV Profit will be able to explore the possibilities of how AI can summarize extensive reports and transcribe audio quickly and accurately for its researchers, facilitating increased productivity and helping it be a first-mover in presenting news in a challenging market.

Furthermore, Nutanix is helping NDTV Profit use multiple clouds more easily.  After NDTV Profit creates news content on-premises using its private cloud, Nutanix enables the content to be transferred to NDTV’s Profit’s public cloud, AWS, where it is distributed digitally to viewers.

Beyond bolstering its news production capabilities with Nutanix, NDTV Profit has reduced its costs.  Moving from VMware by Broadcom to the Nutanix AHV hypervisor has enabled NDTV Profit to greatly reduce its software license costs.  Its datacenter is also operating more efficiently, which has cut its energy bills and led to a reduction in the number of hours its team spends managing it. 

Harmit Singh Malhotra, Chief Technology Officer, NDTV Profit said, “Imagine a world where every moment counts, where millions of eyes are watching, and where perfection is not just a goal, but a necessity. This is our reality, and we've embraced it with open arms. Thanks to Nutanix, we've not only accelerated our workflow, but we’ve also revolutionized it. We've broken through barriers we once thought impenetrable, and we’re handling massive amounts of data with the snap of a finger. In addition, our team can now collaborate in real time, breathing life into creativity and innovation like never before. And through it all, we can broadcast non-stop, 24/7, and be a beacon of reliability for our viewers in an ever-changing world. This isn't just about technology; it's about pushing boundaries, defying limits, and showing the world what's possible when we dare to dream big. Together, we're not just adapting to the future - we're creating it.”

Prasanna Ranade, senior director Sales, Nutanix India & SAARC, said “By using Nutanix, NDTV Profit is setting a new benchmark in operational agility and performance and is well-positioned to leverage advancements like AI. Our partnership underscores our commitment to driving innovation and resilience in the media industry, and we are excited to support NDTV Profit in their ongoing journey towards a more dynamic and future-ready media environment.”

About Nutanix

Nutanix is a global leader in cloud software, offering organizations a single platform for running applications and managing data, anywhere. With Nutanix, companies can reduce complexity and simplify operations, freeing them to focus on their business outcomes. Building on its legacy as the pioneer of hyperconverged infrastructure, Nutanix is trusted by companies worldwide to power hybrid multicloud environments consistently, simply, and cost-effectively. Learn more at www.nutanix.com or follow us on social media @nutanix.  

Zoho Announces 31% Customer Growth In India, Launches Vikra And Zoho IoT At Zoholics India

Zoho, the Chennai-headquartered global technology company, today launched Vikra, a seller app on the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) network and Zoho IoT, a user-friendly and scalable low-code platform enabling businesses to build and deploy custom IoT (Internet  of Things) solutions. The company also said that it saw a customer growth of 31% in 2023 in India. The announcements were made on the sidelines of Zoholics India, the company's annual user conference.

"We remain steadfast in our product R&D efforts, with a focus on effectively enhancing our platform through innovating and launching new products like Vikra and Zoho IoT while also integrating AI capabilities across the tech stack. We have steadily advanced on our contextual intelligence vision, applying AI technology to enhance customer experience and offer deeper insights. This commitment to continuous improvement is helping us become a preferred partner for large enterprises and government institutions across India. As businesses increasingly seek value from their software solutions and larger organisations aim to reduce bloat, we're seeing significant growth in India, which has now become our second-largest market," said Sridhar Vembu, CEO and Co-founder, Zoho Corp.

Vikra: A seller application on the ONDC network

E-commerce has immense potential to empower MSMEs in the country, yet, they make for just 7% of the overall retail market. This significant gap is mainly due to smaller businesses struggling with complexities in the use of technology, and facing various challenges in operating on marketplace platforms, including heavy commission fees. To address this, Zoho has launched Vikra, a seller app on the ONDC network that enables frictionless commerce across India.

Vikra is designed to function as the crucial bridge connecting businesses to the vast expanse of India's market through the ONDC network. This initiative not only aligns with Zoho's tradition of empowering businesses but also enhances their reach, making market accessibility frictionless. Businesses using the app can get onboarded to the ONDC network easily, set up stores, create product catalogues, and start selling quickly through popular buyer apps like Paytm, Ola, and Snapdeal. They can also receive instant order notifications on WhatsApp and SMS for speedy fulfilment. They have options to self-deliver or deliver via partners like Delhivery on the ONDC network locally and nationally. Vikra also offers personalised support for onboarding, cataloguing, managing operations, reconciling payment settlement from the ONDC network, and resolving customer disputes.

Built on Zoho's finance and operations platform, Vikra enables seamless interoperability with other applications such as Zoho Books, Zoho Inventory and Zoho Commerce. This allows businesses to manage their finances, handle taxes, streamline their inventory operations, and build an e-commerce store. Vikra is an end-to-end solution for businesses of any size, simplifying their e-commerce journey, and helping them become more visible in the market with significantly less investment and effort.           

T Koshy, MD & CEO of ONDC, said, "Vikra represents the kind of innovation that supports ONDC's mission to make e-commerce accessible to all. By integrating such advanced solutions from Zoho, we are not just simplifying technology for businesses, we are also opening doors to a vast, inclusive digital economy. This is a step forward in democratizing e-commerce in India, where even the smallest businesses can now thrive in the digital marketplace harnessing the power of Technology.”

Zoho IoT: A customisable low-code IoT platform with pre-built vertical solutions

Zoho IoT seamlessly collects and manages IoT device data in real time, offering businesses insights and streamlined operational analysis. Its intuitive features empower organisations to automate processes and make data-driven decisions effortlessly, without the need for extensive technical expertise. The platform's AI capabilities transform data into actionable insights, predict system outages, identify anomalies or forecast trends, optimize operations, and enhance customer experiences.

Zoho IoT integrates with Zoho’s existing suite of applications, providing enhanced visibility and control. Its compatibility with third-party hardware allows for quick integration into existing infrastructures, enabling businesses to scale rapidly as they grow. The platform is built with robust security measures, ensuring data privacy and compliance with global standards.

Zoho IoT offers pre-built solutions for different industries, such as Industrial IoT (users can track and manage shop floor productivity and machine uptime, while reducing maintenance and repairs of high capital assets), Smart Buildings (provides users a unified system to manage and monitor assets, tenants, energy, and facilities), Energy Management (users can control energy usage by monitoring consumption patterns and enabling efficiency measures). The platform also offers end-to-end capabilities and integrations with offerings like Point Solutions (for remote management and control, enabling operational visibility and allowing businesses to solve specific challenges such as gas monitoring, water leakage monitoring, and indoor air quality management) and Connected OEMs (businesses can boost efficiency, enable real-time data insights and remote monitoring with smart products and connected OEMs, providing it as a value-added service).  

Zoho's growth in India

Zoho's growth has been led by demand for unified, scalable, and flexible technology solutions that are easy to implement. The top products driving revenue growth in India are Zoho One, Zoho CRM, Zoho Books, and Zoho People. While in terms of customer growth, Zoho Books and Zoho Workplace are the fastest growing products. The sectors leading the growth are IT hardware and related services, financial services, manufacturing, retail, and non-IT professional services.

Furthermore, Zoho is enhancing its AI capabilities by building and deploying multiple language models—narrow, small, medium, and large—for specific use cases within various products. Zoho’s approach towards AI is to help enterprises gather actionable insights to make decisions by adding the critical element—business context. The company also has a strong privacy focus, ensuring that the AI models are not trained on consumer data.

Pricing and Availability:

Vikra is available for immediate use. As an introductory offer, a seller app fee of 1% of the total transaction amount on every sale will be charged. For more information, visit: https://www.vikraseller.com/en-in/seller/pricing   

Zoho IoT offers flexible, pay-as-you-grow plans—ranging from Rs.2,940 for up to 25 devices to Rs.29,940 for up to 500 devices, with the ability to scale into thousands of devices, billions of data points processing and storage. For more information, please visit:  https://www.zoho.com/iot/ 

Zoho Privacy Pledge  

Zoho respects user privacy and does not have an ad-revenue model in any part of its business, including its free products. The company owns and operates its data centres, ensuring complete oversight of customer data, privacy, and security. More than 100 million users around the world, across hundreds of thousands of companies, rely on Zoho everyday to run their businesses, including Zoho itself. For more information, please visit: https://www.zoho.com/privacy-commitment.html

About Zoho

With 55+ apps in nearly every major business category, Zoho Corporation is one of the world's most prolific technology companies. Headquartered in Chennai, India, Zoho is privately held and profitable with more than 15,000 employees. For more information, visit: www.zoho.com