Author: Neel Achary

Hormazd Mistry, CEO of ROI Institute India wins the Outstanding Leadership Award 2023

27 June 2023, Mumbai – The Education 2.0 Conference today announced the winners of its much-awaited Outstanding Leadership Awards held in Dubai. Making India proud, this year’s winner featured Mr. Hormazd Mistry, CEO of ROI Institute India for his exceptional contributions to the field of education by implementing innovative learning and teaching strategies that have greatly impacted society. Hormazd is an ATD Master Trainer™ and a renowned industry expert with over two decades of experience in executive development programs.

Mr. Hormazd Mistry, CEO of ROI Institute India, commented, “I am deeply honoured to receive the Outstanding Leader award from the Education 2.0 Conference in Dubai. This recognition reaffirms my commitment to transforming and empowering learners for the future. I am grateful to the organizers for their belief in my vision. This award serves as a reminder that collaboration, innovation, and a learner-centric approach are the key to shaping the next generation. Together, let’s continue to inspire and make a difference in the lives of learners worldwide.”

Gathering the world’s most renowned educationists, EdTech innovators, policymakers, and researchers, the Education 2.0 Conference reimagines the education space and looks for innovative solutions on a global level. The conference’s proprietary methodology and technology shortlisted potential winners based on a multitude of factors, including career history, geography, publications, etc. After receiving applications, the Assessment Committee (Chair and Management) carefully graded each of them based on reputation, achievements & accolades, experience, creative thinking and decisive leadership to reach the final list of Honourees who were then formally invited and honoured at the conference.

 Mr. Imran Ali, Chair, Education 2.0 Conference, commented, “Our goal is to celebrate the champions of education, who inspire and lead by example and strive to make a positive impact on their communities. It is a recognition of their tireless efforts and their unwavering commitment to shaping the future of education.”

ROI Institute, Inc., is a service-driven, industry leader in measurement and evaluation with an experience of 50 years in assessing and evaluating various programs and initiatives such as training, human resources, technology, and quality. ROI Institute has worked with several Fortune 500 companies, government agencies, NPOs, NGOs, and the United Nations organizations.

Exploring Analytics: 4 Companies in India that Are Leading the Way

The use of data has become a crucial component in driving strategic business discussions and decision-making processes in modern times. A majority of organizations have transitioned to a data-centric business model that governs their daily operations. Data provides valuable insights into customer behaviour, needs, and habits. As customization becomes increasingly essential, reliance on big data to enhance operational efficiency has significantly escalated. This has prompted organizations to cater to customers with diverse and unique requirements. In a bid to retain them, and translate this retention into loyalty they have started making use of data in their day-to-day business decisions.

As most businesses may not always accommodate an in-house tech wing that will serve their data analytic needs, there are major tech consultancy firms bridging the gap between their clients and their data needs. Here are four such players who have stepped up and are leading the way in the Indian digital solutions market.

1. Fractal Analytics: A leader in AI development, Fractal Analytics is an amalgamation of talent, extensive industry, knowledge, accelerators, solutions, platforms, and product partnerships. It provides solutions to its clients through which data optimization leads to creative revenue streams, enhancement of operations, and an extensive customer relationship. Their evolved data estate sits on four primary premises: Decision systems, Enterprise Ops, Data Governance, and data platforms. Through data platforms, Fractal Analytics promotes experimentation and industrialization.
2. Visionet: Visionet is a leading digital solution company that harnesses a set of talented individuals to deliver disruptive innovations, leading the way in data analytics and data modernization for almost three decades. With over 350+ global clients, Visionet has constantly been supporting organizations with efficient solutions to manage massive data and rapidly provide the latest, most accurate insights about it to decision-makers. One of their leading modern data platforms, AcuitySpark provides advanced data analytics that facilitates inventory optimization and operational intelligence through AI-driven customer insights. It has helped clients navigate the complexities of digital transformation with ease, thereby empowering them to make business deliberations that suit the rapidly evolving digital landscape.
3. Absolut Data: Since 2001, the company has been a big player in the Data analytics market. They have a powerful suite of AI-based solutions that has helped its client make informed and transformative business decisions. Absolut Data provides the latest tools and technologies to get diverse insights from data and establish a data-centric business model. The NAVIK-AI platform accelerates the journey of the organization toward a transformational business model that yields an efficient revenue system.
4. Binary Semantics: The company enables businesses to communicate the hidden value of their products and services by harvesting insights from data. Through this, their clients can reduce market risks, compute consumer behaviour and make data-driven business transformations. Their advanced data analytics services make use of cutting-edge technologies, artificial intelligence (AI), and a strong data foundation to achieve long-term success. The company specializes in tailor-made and user-friendly digital solutions for a spectrum of industries that range from Automobile to Retail, Education, and Manufacturing.

Strat-O-Matic Celebrates 1933, 1983 All-Star Games With Unique Limited Edition Collectible Card Set

GLEN HEAD, N.Y, June 26, 2023—Ninety years ago, baseball debuted its All-Star Game, a novelty that quickly became an annual tradition. Babe Ruth, naturally, launched the classic’s first home run in that inaugural contest, and it was 50 years later that California’s Fred Lynn hit the game’s first grand slam. Those two memorable shots, in games replete with dozens of Hall of Famers and other favorites, have made the 1933 and 1983 games among the most memorable in history, and beginning on July 10, Strat-O-Matic fans can relive and replay them like never before with the issue of the second entry in the Strat-O-Matic Collectibles Series: Strat-O-Matic All-Stars.

This special edition card set will feature the baseball All-Star teams from the 1933 and 1983 seasons on vivid, colorful cards with all-red (for the American League) or all-blue (for the National League) backgrounds and white text on both the basic and advanced sides of the cards. The numbered sets will be offered in a unique shrink-wrapped box that will also include charts detailing the starting lineups, rosters, and a box score for each game.

All 96 player cards from these two games will be released in Super Advanced format: a first for the majority of 1983 players (the season having been previously released with advanced-only features) while the 1933 season has never been released in card form by Strat-O-Matic.

“We expect demand for Strat-O-Matic All-Stars to be at least as strong as our Strat-O-Matic Black set, which sold out in less than two days,” said Adam Richman, CEO, Strat-O-Matic, Media. “Only 600 of these All-Star sets will be offered, never to be printed in this format again, so we advise fans to reserve theirs as soon as they go on sale at noon on July 10, just in time for the All-Star Game.”

The 1933 game, and this card set, featured Hall of Famers including Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Carl Hubbell, Pie Traynor, Frankie Frisch, and more. The 1983 classic included an incredible 18 Cooperstown inductees. Both contests were played at the revered Comiskey Park in Chicago.

Vendease Awarded as 2023 Technology Pioneer by World Economic Forum

Lagos, Nigeria, 26 June 2023 – Vendease, a digital platform that allows restaurants in Africa to buy food supplies, access financial services and power their business operations, was selected among hundreds of candidates as one of the World Economic Forum’s “Technology Pioneers”.

The startup, led by Tunde Kara, Olumide Fayankin, Gatumi Aliyu and Wale Oyepeju, revolutionizes restaurant procurement, financial services and business operations in Africa.

The World Economic Forum’s Technology Pioneers are early-stage companies that are at the forefront of new technologies and innovation and are poised to have a significant impact on business and society.

“We’re excited to welcome Vendease to our 2023 cohort of Technology Pioneers,” said Verena Kuhn, Head of Innovator Communities at the World Economic Forum. “Vendease and its fellow pioneers are at the forefront of innovation and disruption needed to help us solve the world’s most pressing issues. We look forward to their contribution to the Forum’s content work that brings together public and private sector to tackle these global issues.”

As a Technology Pioneer, Vendease CEO Tunde Kara will be invited to engage with the World Economic Forum, working with global leaders to help address key industry and societal issues. Technology Pioneers will also be invited to join Forum events and discussions throughout the year, bringing together leading stakeholders from the public and private sector.

“We are honored and excited to join the prestigious World Economic Forum’s Technology Pioneer community. This recognition is a testament to our commitment to solving pressing challenges in the African food sector, particularly in the areas of food waste reduction and product innovation across the demand and supply sides of the food services ecosystem” said Kara.

“Joining the World Economic Forum’s Technology Pioneer community enables us to collaborate with like-minded pioneers, thought leaders and policymakers who share our vision of building a more resilient and equitable food ecosystem.”

This year’s Technology Pioneer cohort includes startups from 31 economies, with a third led by a woman chief executive. China has the second-highest representation with 12 Technology Pioneers, behind the US with 29 companies.

More information on this year’s Technology Pioneers can be found here. [https://initiatives.weforum.org/technology-pioneers/organizations#subcommunities=Technology%20Pioneer%202023]

More information on past winners, information on the community and the application link can be
found here. [https://initiatives.weforum.org/technology-pioneers/]

TotalEnergies receives 3 stars as part of the FIA Road Safety Index

Today 26 June 2023, the FIA has announced that TotalEnergies has become the first private sector company to receive 3 stars as part of the newly launched FIA Road Safety Index.

The 3-star recognition is the highest one as part of the methodology of the Index that provides companies and organisations with a tool to measure their safety footprint over their entire value chain and help them contribute to creating a safe and sustainable mobility network for all.

Supported by the FIA Foundation, the Road Safety Index is a tool that organisations and companies of any size in all parts of the world can use to determine their impact on road safety, report on their activities in that field, and improve their results.

Today’s announcement recognises the commitment that TotalEnergies and the FIA are sharing and that is to take action to improve the lives of road users worldwide and reduce road crashes that kill 1.3 million people worldwide and leave many others injured or otherwise affected.

FIA Secretary General for Automobile Mobility and Tourism Jacob Bangsgaard said: “If we want to reach the Sustainable Development Goal to halve road safety crashes by 2030, we need to embark everyone on the journey towards building a culture of safety. Companies and organisations have an immense role to play and with the FIA Road Safety Index we are giving them the comprehensive solution they need to assess, report and take concrete action to improve road safety. I am pleased to see that TotalEnergies has achieved the maximum result. I am convinced their achievement will encourage other companies and organisations to implement the Index.”

TotalEnergies SVP HSE Michel Charton said: “We are proud that our long-lasting commitment to road safety has been recognised through the FIA Road Safety Index. In fact, for years, we have considered safety as a daily battle that never comes for granted and that is waged with humility and vigilance. We do hope that this FIA programme will encourage other companies from the private sector to reduce their safety footprints and thus, collectively, lead the way for a safer mobility.”

The 3-star recognition was announced by FIA Secretary General for Automobile Mobility and Tourism Jacob Bangsgaard during a dedicated panel discussion gathering TotalEnergies SVP HSE Michel Charton, FIA Foundation Executive Director Saul Billingsley, World Health Organization Head of Safety and Mobility Nhan Tran and Director of Traffic Safety, Swedish Transport Administration Maria Krafft in parallel of the Vision Zero Conference 2023 in Stockholm.

Organisations and companies can learn more about how to incorporate the FIA Road Safety Index into their annual reporting by visiting the dedicated webpage.

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Promate Unveils its 10000mAh Ultra-Slim Power bank with Built-in Kickstand

Mumbai, 26th June 2023: Promate, a global mobile and IT accessories leader, unveils its newest Power bank – Torq 10. The power–packed power bank comes with 20W power delivery & Quick charge 3.0 ports, along with the Built-in kickstand, all encased in a super slim & compact design. The product with 2 years warranty is available with leading retail stores across India & Amazon.

Torq 10 Power bank sports slim look with LED display. The power-loaded 10000mAh battery capacity delivers full power to various devices and charges them faster than a regular power bank. Its adaptive charging technology ensures that the right amount of current is supplied per the connected device. With its super-Fast 20W USB-C Power Delivery Port, charge any USB-C compatible smartphone or tablet. The power bank also comes with Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0 port for super speed 18W Quick Charge for all compatible devices.

Promate Torq-10 is the ideal charging solution with a QC3.0 USB Port and USB-C Cable to charge two devices at ultra-fast speeds on the go which can deliver 3X iPhone charges, 2X Tablet charges, 3X Android charges. With an in-built kickstand and ultra-slim design, this power bank is perfectly travel-friendly and ideal for daily use.

This super-efficient, power-packed, portable charger saves time on the charging speed.

Product Link : https://www.amazon.in/Promate-Universal-Ultra-Slim-Over-Heating Protection/dp/B0BHSLWRC1/ref=sr_1_2?crid=3B706U1CZMR3K&keywords=Promate+Torq+10&qid=1687762835&sprefix=promate+torq+10%2Caps%2C190&sr=8-2

Scoot Wins ‘Best Low Cost Long Haul Airline’ Award Three Years in A Row

India – Scoot, the low-cost subsidiary of Singapore Airlines, has been named the “Best Low Cost Long Haul Airline” for the third consecutive year at the Skytrax World Airline Awards 2023 held at the Paris Air Show on Tuesday, 20 June 2023.

Scoot Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Leslie Thng, said: “We are humbled to be recognised by Skytrax once again. This award is a testament to our commitment to continually provide our customers with quality service, differentiated products, contemporary experiences and great value. It is also an encouragement to our staff, who work tirelessly day after day, not just on the frontlines but also behind the scenes, to deliver a seamless customer journey and experience. Looking ahead, we will continue to pave the way in redefining value travel in the industry and raise the bar for low-cost travel.”

Held at the iconic Musée de l’Air et de l’Espace (Air and Space Museum), the 24th edition of Skytrax’s World Airline Awards was attended by representatives from top airlines from around the world.

Since 1999, the World Airline Awards has been regarded as ‘the Oscars of the aviation industry’ and remains fully independent and impartial, with travellers of over 100 nationalities deciding on the winners via a passenger satisfaction survey. This year, the World Airline Awards returned to the Paris Air Show for the first time since the pandemic, and over 80 awards were presented.

5 Payment Gateways startups supporting digital transactions of the Healthcare Industry

With the evolution of technology, the trend toward the commercialisation of healthcare is becoming more significant. Patients seek healthcare services which are quick, efficient, and can be booked and paid for instantly using digital payment methods including UPI, digital cards, cash, payment wallets, etc. To meet this demand the healthcare industry is shifting towards electronic transactions for payments. Payment gateways play a critical role in facilitating secure and seamless financial transactions between patients, healthcare providers, and insurance companies. Here are top 5 payment gateway companies in India you can consider for healthcare transactions providing several benefits, including improved patient experience, reduced administrative burden, and increased efficiency.

1. Cashfree Payments-

Cashfree Payments is a reliable payment gateway that can manage online, mobile, and offline payments. Businesses with high transaction volumes can go for it, as it has a centralised control and an advanced dashboard.

• Payment modes- It offers 120+ payment methods to customers, including cards, 65+ net banking options, Paytm, UPI, other wallets, payment links and Pay later options like EMI or Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL).
• With Cashfree Payments, collect online payments across multiple channels, reconcile easily and do a lot more.
• Pay your vendors, do customer refunds, disburse salary and do more using Cashfree Payments’ software and APIs. Fastest and easiest way to transfer money to any bank account, UPI ID, Paytm or Amazon Pay wallet instantly 24×7, even on a bank holiday.

2. Easebuzz-

Easebuzz is a full-stack payment solutions platform with a mission to become a one-stop Financial Operating System for businesses. Easebuzz’s payment gateway is robust, easy, developer-friendly API plugins for faster integration with a powerful integrated dashboard to provide statistics and reports on fee payments.

• Payment modes: Accept payments with simple API integration and offer 100+ payment options to your customers or by conveniently using UPI QR & Payment links via mobile app. You can also instantly accept payments via links without the need of having a website or an app.
• Services: Easebuzz offers easy to integrate and developer-friendly plug-and-play APIs that comes with detailed API docs. Provides seamless checkout experience & higher success rates to your customers with integrated iFrame. Also, gives you real-time view about transaction data and reports
• Pricing-The payment gateway tool of Easebuzz comes with customised pricing suitable for every business need. Avail zero setup and maintenance fees with robust security.

3. Paytm-

Paytm Payment Gateway has enabled 8000+ educational Institutes to automate online fee collection. They manage payments end-to-end so that you can focus on your students.

• Payment modes: Paytm allows your customers to pay the way they want with support for debit and credit cards, Netbanking, UPI, Paytm Wallet & more. With Paytm’s intelligent routing & direct bank integrations, they ensure that your customers’ payments go through every time, and offers 100% online onboarding with minimum documentation to help your business go online with ease.
• On boarding: Get onboarded within 15 minutes with no paper work and start accepting payments instantly. Paytm PG offers the fastest settlements in the industry, predictably credited into your account even on bank holidays.

4. Razorpay-

Razorpay is India’s first full-stack financial solutions company. It allows a fast checkout facility by enabling customers to save their card details which can be used for subsequent payments across the Razorpay network. The payment gateway is developer friendly integration with any website/ app and provides 100+ payment modes including EMI and PayLater

• Payment modes: Accept All Payment Modes with Domestic and International Credit & Debit cards, EMIs ( Credit/Debit Cards & Cardless), PayLater, Netbanking from 58 banks, UPI and 8 mobile wallets, Razorpay provides the most extensive set of payment methods. An easy to integrate Checkout with cards saved across businesses so that your customers can pay seamlessly everywhere.
• Users get reports and detailed statistics on payments, settlements, refunds and much more for you to make better business decisions.

5. Instamojo –

Instamojo is India’s largest on-demand payments platform that empowers over 15,00,000 businesses, startups, MSMEs, to start, manage, and grow their business online across mobile and web, with just a bank account and phone number, in a few minutes. Instamojo is a free payment gateway in India with no setup and maintenance costs. It is 100% secure with integrated online payment gateway services and supports net banking, credit, and debit cards, UPI etc.

• Payment modes- Healthcare companies can create a payment link and share it with parents and patients or their family members, and get paid. Customers can pay via debit/credit card or Net banking or wallets or UPI.

Breaking Barriers: How Tech-Enabled Startups Are Empowering SME Manufacturers

In recent years, the startup ecosystem has witnessed a surge in innovative companies that are focused on enabling and empowering small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) manufacturers. These startups are leveraging technology, digital platforms, and streamlined processes to support and enhance the operations of SME manufacturers across various industries. With the assistance of all these elements, emerging enterprises are overcoming traditional barriers and creating new opportunities for SMEs.

Some key benefits such enterprises offer to SME manufacturers include access to a wider network of customers and suppliers, streamlined processes and improved efficiency, enhanced visibility and transparency in operations, data-driven insights and analytics for informed decision-making, increased competitiveness in the market, support in meeting industry standards and regulations, opportunities for growth and expansion. Aided by businesses coming up with out-of-the-box, tech-enabled solutions, SME manufacturers are presented with exciting prospects. With the right tools and platforms, they can overcome challenges, compete on a global scale, and thrive in today’s dynamic business environment.Here are three up-and-coming Indian startups which are revolutionizing the manufacturing landscape:

Agrizy

Agrizy is a startup focused on empowering SME manufacturers in the agrifood processing sector. The platform connects farmers, food processors, and buyers, creating a transparent and efficient marketplace. By digitizing the supply chain, Agrizy enables SME manufacturers to source high-quality raw materials directly from farmers, reducing costs and ensuring traceability. The platform also provides tools for food processing, packaging, and quality assurance, helping SMEs meet regulatory standards and deliver safe products to the market. Agrizy’s technology-driven approach has transformed the agrifood processing industry, enabling SME manufacturers to scale their business by improving their overall capacity utilization by 50%, and reach a broader customer both domestically and internationally.

Fashinza

Fashinza is a technology-driven platform that brings together apparel manufacturers and brands. It streamlines the manufacturing process by providing a single platform for design collaboration, production tracking, and quality control. By leveraging artificial intelligence and machine learning, Fashinza enables SME manufacturers to optimize their operations, reduce lead times, and enhance productivity. The platform also offers real-time visibility into production, inventory management, and supply chain analytics, empowering SMEs to make data-driven decisions. Fashinza’s innovative solutions have revolutionized the apparel manufacturing industry, making it more accessible and efficient for SME manufacturers.

Zetwerk

Zetwerk is an end-to-end platform that connects SME manufacturers with businesses looking for engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) services. With a wide network of pre-qualified manufacturers and a seamless bidding process, Zetwerk enables SMEs to secure projects and grow their businesses. The platform also provides project management tools, quality control, and timely delivery, ensuring that manufacturers can meet the high standards expected in the industry. Zetwerk’sinnovative approach has helped SME manufacturers overcome barriers to entry in the EPC sector and compete on a global scale.

Startups like Agrizy, Fashinza, and Zetwerk are revolutionizing the manufacturing landscape by enabling and empowering SME manufacturers. These unconventional businesses are just a few examples of the many companies that are working towards empowering SME manufacturers. Through their innovative platforms and technology-driven solutions, these growing ventures are creating new opportunities for SMEs to grow, compete, and succeed in their respective industries. With the support of these startups, SME manufacturers can embrace digital transformation, streamline their operations, and achieve greater efficiency and profitability.