Category Archives: Business

Cropin and Global Retailer Collaborate to Enhance Climate-Resilient Agriculture and Supply Chain Stability

Bengaluru / Delaware — March, 29, 2025 — Cropin, the world’s leading AI platform for food and agriculture, has joined forces with Walmart, one of the largest global retailers, to enhance scalable sourcing solutions across its U.S. and South American markets. Through this collaboration, Cropin’s advanced agri-intelligence platform is positioned to help optimize Walmart’s fresh produce supply chain by improving yield forecasting, monitoring crop health, and predicting seasonal transitions with greater accuracy. This collaboration aims to mitigate risks related to weather, market volatility, and supply chain disruptions. It helps ensure a steady supply of high-quality, perishable commodities, enhancing product availability, reducing waste, and delivering better quality produce to customers.

In an increasingly climate-impacted world, agri-food stakeholders are grappling with extreme weather events, supply chain disruptions, and the ripple effects of macroeconomic and geopolitical challenges. To navigate these uncertainties, industry leaders must adopt innovative, future-ready solutions. Walmart, a pioneer in tech-driven transformation, continues to set new benchmarks in the food retail sector by embracing cutting-edge technologies. In a first-of-its-kind deployment, Cropin is rolling out advanced, custom-built AI-powered solutions to help transform Walmart’s sourcing strategies, enhance supply chain resilience, and optimize operational efficiency in the food retail sector.

In the era of AI-powered neural networks, Cropin is transforming how retailers and CPG companies around the world source, assess, and secure their supply chains with proactive intelligence. By leveraging crop readiness insights, quality forecasts, and risk assessments, Cropin enables a shift from guesswork to precision, helping businesses balance cost, quality, and sustainability in a dynamic market. The platform ensures a steady supply of high-quality produce with maximized shelf life at optimized rates. Its automated tools provide granular, localized insights into crop health, pest outbreaks, and extreme weather risks, making supply chains more climate resilient. Additionally, Cropin can help predict the future of crop yields and supply stability, allowing businesses to manage pricing strategies without compromising quality. Its sustainability impact dashboard further strengthens compliance by tracking greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, water usage, and deforestation impact, offering digital validation for regulations like EUDR.

“Tech innovation is what drives real-world solutions to move forward a globally resilient supply chain.” said Kyle Carlyle, Vice President of Sourcing Innovation and Surety of Supply, Walmart, “By collaborating with Cropin, it enables Walmart to further streamline sourcing practices and better predict yields using their real-time Gen-AI technology. We are always looking for new ways to innovate and Cropin demonstrates our bold innovation goals in the agriculture space.”

Krishna Kumar, Founder and CEO of Cropin said, “I’m delighted to start 2025 on such a high note with this significant milestone in our journey. Collaborating with Walmart is both an honor and an invaluable learning for us at Cropin. We are deeply excited about delivering on our commitments to help shape a new era of agri-food sourcing. As a champion and role model in the retail sector, Walmart has consistently set the bar by evolving best practices, not just for the company but for the sector as a whole. In my 14 years of driving tech and AI-enabled transformations in the agri-food industry, the last few years have been particularly promising, as stakeholders in the agri-food space recognize that technology in upstream agriculture is no longer a luxury, but a necessity to future-proof business models. Our collaboration with Walmart reflects this ongoing shift, and we look forward to exceeding their expectations, strengthening our position as a trusted enabler of future growth.”

Lava’s 16th Anniversary: Grab Lava Agni 3 5G and ProWatch V1 at Rs. 16

New Delhi, March 29th, 2025: Lava International Limited, the leading homegrown smartphone manufacturer, is celebrating a significant milestone as it completes 16 successful years of empowering consumers with innovative, affordable, and Made-in-India tech. To mark the occasion, Lava is rolling out the first edition of its Lava anniversary sale, a one-day shopping extravaganza featuring unbeatable discounts on smartphones, smartwatches, and audio gear.

The exclusive sale will be live from March 30th, 2025, on Lava’s official e-store, Amazon, and Flipkart, offering limited-time discounts on top-selling devices.

The highlight of the sale is Lava’s exclusive flash offer, giving the first 100 buyers a chance to own the flagship AGNI 3 smartphone and Prowatch V1 smartwatch for just Rs. 16. The AGNI 3 sale kicks off at 12:00 PM, followed by the Prowatch V1 sale at 7:00 PM. Beside this, here are some blockbuster deals you cannot miss.

Lava’s 16th-anniversary sale isn’t just about offers—it’s a celebration of its journey, a testament to its commitment to innovation, and a promise to continue delivering high-quality, Made-in-India technology at unbeatable prices.

Explore Global Beauty Brands on Myntra’s M-Now for Instant Access

Bangalore, 29th March, 2025: Myntra is delighting its discerning customers by extending its premium range of international beauty brands, on M-Now, its speed proposition.

For the first time ever, beauty lovers can now quickly get their hands on their favorite international beauty and personal care products and have it delivered to their doorsteps starting in just 30 minutes in select pincodes.

Myntra is elevating the pursuit of premium beauty, making coveted international brands effortlessly accessible. Now, the indulgence of a premium skincare ritual or the allure of a signature fragrance is within reach. Myntra is not just offering beauty; it’s unlocking immediate access to some of the world’s most desired brands, seamlessly integrating premium offerings into the rhythm of modern life.

• CeraVe: Dermatologist-recommended skincare solutions, including hydrating cleansers and restorative moisturizers, are now accessible through M-Now’s expedited delivery network.
• Yves Saint Laurent (YSL): Iconic fragrances, such as Libre and MYSLF, can be efficiently delivered, catering to immediate needs for premium olfactory experiences.
• MAC Cosmetics: A comprehensive range of makeup products, including lipsticks, setting sprays, and eyeshadow palettes, is now available on M-Now.
• Dyson: The technologically advanced Dyson Airwrap, for professional hairstyling, can be delivered with exceptional speed.
• Carolina Herrera: Perfumes, including the sophisticated 212 Women fragrance, are available for delivery starting in 30 minutes.
• Estée Lauder: High-performance skincare formulations, such as the Advanced Night Repair serum, and luxurious fragrances are available for rapid delivery.
• Clinique: Clinically formulated skincare and sun protection products are offered through M-Now’s efficient delivery system.
• COSRX: Esteemed for its efficacious K-beauty formulations, COSRX provides a range of skincare solutions available for expedited delivery.
• Prada: Prada’s luxury line of fragrances including the famous Paradoxe EDP and the Luna Rossa Carbon EDT can be purchased and delivered to fragrance fanatics starting in 30 minutes in selected pincodes.

This selection showcases just a glimpse of the premium international beauty and fashion brands now at your fingertips with Myntra’s M-Now. Designed to cater to the needs of its premium customers, this service eliminates any trade-off, ensuring they no longer have to compromise on the brands they desire for the sake of immediate access – experience high-quality, coveted products delivered with unparalleled efficiency, right when you need them.

Speaking about the selection of International beauty brands to M-Now, Venu Nair, Head of Strategic Partnerships and Omnichannel, Myntra, said “Beauty is witnessing remarkable adoption on Myntra, and we’ve been dedicated to curating a selection of the finest international beauty brands for our customers. Through M-Now, we’re not just offering products; we’re delivering an experience—allowing our customers to access high-quality, coveted beauty items with unparalleled efficiency, right when they need them. This strategic expansion underscores our commitment to ensuring our customers have the best possible selection, delivered at lightning-fast speed.”

ILine Leverages Green Technology and AI to Optimize Last-Mile Delivery for Customers and Pilots

Delhi, March 2025 – Delivering the Future, Sustainably—with this vision, ILine proudly announces the launch of two groundbreaking mobile applications: the ILine Customer App and the ILine Pilot App. These apps are set to redefine the landscape of last-mile logistics by making EV-based deliveries more accessible, efficient, and eco-friendly.

The ILine Customer App enables effortless scheduling and booking of EV deliveries with just a few taps. Users have the choice of instant deliveries or pre-scheduled deliveries as per their convenience. Furthermore, ILine provides transparency through real-time tracking and AI ETA updates. Payments can be made free of irritants through credit and debit cards, digital wallets, and UPI. In addition, the app promotes safe and reliable deliveries using OTP delivery confirmation and package photo verification. Sustainability remains core to ILine mission and thus the application incorporates CO₂ Savings Tracker and Green rewards programs that promote eco-friendly decisions.

With features designed to enhance productivity and profits for EV delivery drivers, the ILine Pilot App has integrated smart ride management capabilities. Drivers are boosted through AI-powered auto-assignment and route optimization that enable maximum productivity and battery preservation. The app monitors battery levels in real-time and provides directions to charging stations, making sure service is never interrupted. Financial tools such as earnings summary, instant withdrawal, and incentive tracking make managing finances effortless and transparent. Customer and driver safety are prioritized by security measures including OTP delivery completion, photo proof of package delivery, and an SOS panic button for emergencies.

“Launching an app isn’t our focus. At ILine, we strive to change last-mile delivery through the use of AI and sustainable technology. It is our mission to provide a smarter, greener, and efficient EV logistics environment for customers and drivers. Our app distinguishes itself with a uniquely AI integrated security and sustainability feature that delivers unparalleled results. Technology adoption that raises the efficiency and AI integration of delivery solutions while making the world cleaner for future generations is essential during the transition to electric mobility. That is the future of logistics and ILine is excited to drive the change,” said Prakarsh Dwivedi, CEO of ILine.

The rollout of these new apps is set to change the face of the logistics sector completely by updating delivery systems and speeding up the use of electric vehicles for a greener tomorrow.

PVR INOX and DeadAnt Redefine Stand-Up Comedy by Bringing It to Cinemas

National, 29th March 2025: PVR INOX, India’s largest and most premium cinema exhibition company, is thrilled to announce its partnership with DeadAnt to introduce DeadAnt’s Night Out — an innovative live comedy series that transforms cinema halls into vibrant comedy arenas. This first-of-its-kind collaboration brings India’s top comedians to perform live on stage, offering audiences an immersive experience that blends the thrill of stand-up comedy with the comfort and ambiance of a premium movie theatre.

DeadAnt’s Night Out kicks off on April 2nd at PVR ICON, Phoenix Palladium Mall, Mumbai, at 8:30 PM, promising an exciting lineup of India’s top comedians. The series opens with Aditi Mittal on April 2nd, Anuvab Pal takes the stage on April 16th, Mandar Bhide brings his signature humor on April 23rd, and the season wraps up with Varun Thakur’s high-energy performance on April 30th. Each show promises a unique experience, blending live comedy with the comfort of a premium cinema environment.

With alternate content booming and stand-up comedy resonating strongly with Gen Z and millennials, this initiative is set to redefine how audiences engage with live entertainment. DeadAnt’s Night Out makes stand-up more accessible and enjoyable by taking it beyond traditional venues and into cinemas, offering a unique night out that combines laughter, entertainment, and comfort.

Mr. Kamal Gianchandani , Chief Business Planning & Strategy, PVR INOX Ltd expressed his enthusiasm stating:

“We at PVR INOX are committed to offering unique experiences beyond traditional cinema. With alternate content gaining popularity and stand-up comedy striking a chord with Gen Z, our partnership with DeadAnt brings live comedy to cinema spaces, blending top-tier entertainment with a premium, immersive environment. This initiative extends our entertainment portfolio beyond movies and reaffirms our dedication to delivering diverse, high-quality experiences in a comfortable and engaging setting.”

Ravina Rawal, Founder & CEO of DeadAnt added that “We’re always pushing the boundaries of how people experience comedy. This series is about giving fans a night out that’s as big and bold as the talent on stage. The energy of a live show, the comfort of a cinema, and lineups you’d actually queue for — that’s the sweet spot we’re going after.”

Exicom, IONAGE Partner to Boost Open and Accessible EV Charging Solutions in India

Gurugram, Wednesday, 29th March, 2025 – Exicom, one of India’s leading EV charging and critical power solutions manufacturer, has announced a strategic partnership with IONAGE, a leading EV charging software platform provider. This collaboration aims to build a neutral, unified and accessible EV charging ecosystem, while simplifying charger discoverability, accessibility, and management across the country. With India aspiring to reach 30% EV penetration by 2030, the country’s EV charging infrastructure is expected to scale massively. Along with this impetus, comes the need to simplify EV charger discoverability, accessibility, operations, and management. The solution lies in a neutral, unified, customer facing platform that can enable end EV users to charge effortlessly without having to track multiple applications across charging networks and CPO’s to operate and manage vast charging networks with ease and efficiency.

Exicom, with an installed base of 1.75 lakh chargers, is one of the leading EV charger manufacturers in the country. By joining forces with IONAGE, the companies will help build a solid open charger discoverability and management platform for different charging networks to converge on, enabling end EV users to effortlessly charge across networks. As part of this Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), Exicom’s extensive EV charging solutions will integrate with IONAGE’s robust CMS platform, offering a seamless CMS integration option for various charging networks in the country while helping build a more robust EV charging ecosystem.

Empowering Charge Point Operators & Fleets:

CPOs, fleet operators, OEMs, and real estate developers will now have access to an optimized charging infrastructure powered by real-time insights, remote diagnostics, and predictive maintenance. This integration will help deliver higher charger uptime, reduce operational costs, and facilitate scalable deployment—critical for building customer confidence and expanding the EV charging infrastructure.

Simplifying EV Charging for Businesses & Consumers

By merging best-in-class hardware with intelligent software, Exicom and IONAGE will make EV charging more accessible and efficient for businesses, fleets, dealerships, and individual users. Their bundled solution will enable a plug-and-play experience, minimizing setup complexities and enhancing user convenience. Whether managing a large fleet or setting up a home charger, users will benefit from a streamlined, cost-effective solution tailored to their needs.

Anshuman Divyanshu, CEO of EVSE business of Exicom, said, “We are excited to partner with IONAGE to simplify the EV charging experience in India. This collaboration will not only help address the challenges users face in accessing charging stations but also strengthen the EV charger ecosystem by creating a unified platform that supports seamless, efficient, and reliable EV charging across the country.”

Vimal Kumar V, CEO of IONAGE, said, “Our partnership with Exicom marks a key step toward transforming the EV charging landscape in India. By combining our expertise, we will create an integrated system that benefits both operators, fleets and users, making EV charging more accessible and reliable while driving the growth of sustainable mobility.”

MAHE Elevates Its Position in SCImago Rankings with Strong Gains Across All Metrics

Manipal, 29th March 2025: Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) has strengthened its position in the SCImago Institution Ranking 2025, by achieving outstanding performance and significant improvements in both global and national standings across multiple categories.

Key achievements in India (University Category):

• Overall Rank: Climbed from 7th to 4th
• Research Rank: Improved from 6th to 3rd
• Innovation Rank: Improved from 137th to 119th
• Societal Rank: Retained a strong position at 4th

MAHE has also been acknowledged in 19 broad subject categories and 41 narrow subject categories, further strengthening its leadership across diverse academic disciplines.

Lt Gen (Dr) M D Venkatesh, VSM (Retd.), Vice Chancellor, MAHE, said, “This is a remarkable feat for Manipal Academy of Higher Education the SCImago Institution Ranking 2025 not only sets an example but also proves MAHE’s commitment towards making an impact in the fields of education, research, and innovation globally.”

This milestone reflects MAHE’s dedication to academic excellence, pioneering research, and meaningful societal contributions. Through the continuous advancement of knowledge and the establishment of new benchmarks, the Manipal Academy of Higher Education has become a leader in education and innovation globally.

Times Group’s Bennett Coleman Acquires Rs. 262 Crore Worth of Commercial Spaces in Mumbai

Bennett Coleman And Company Limited (The Times of India Group) has acquiring four commercial spaces in Santacruz East, Mumbai. The total transaction value across these deals amounts to Rs. 261.9 crore, according to property registration documents reviewed by Square Yards on the website of the Inspector General of Registration (IGR) . All the four transactions were officially registered in March 2025.

Santacruz East, strategically located in Mumbai’s western suburbs, is a sought-after commercial destination due to its proximity to key business districts such as Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) and seamless connectivity via the Western Express Highway, Santacruz railway station, and the Mumbai Metro. The area is known for its commercial complexes, corporate offices, and premium residential developments.

The commercial spaces are located in Kalpatru Infinia. According to RERA, Kalpatru Infinia is a ready-to-move commercial project by the Kalpatru Group, spread across 1.5 acres of land.

According to IGR property registration documents reviewed by Square Yards, the four transactions involve a combined total built-up area of 43,622 sq. ft. (~4,052.4 sq. m) and carpet area of 39,642 sq. ft (~3,682.83 sq. m). The transaction value per space ranges from Rs. 63.87 crore to Rs. 66.75 crore, with the total transaction cost amounting to Rs. 261.9 crore. It includes a total of 56 car parking spaces. The total stamp duty paid for these transactions’ amounts to Rs. 15.71 crore, with each transaction incurring a standard registration fee of Rs. 30,000.

Bennett, Coleman & Company Limited (BCCL), commonly known as The Times Group, is India’s largest media conglomerate, with a legacy dating back to its establishment in 1838. Headquartered in Mumbai, BCCL owns several leading publications, including the world’s largest circulated English daily, The Times of India, and India’s premier business daily, The Economic Times. The group also publishes regional dailies like Navbharat Times and Maharashtra Times, alongside popular magazines such as Filmfare and Femina. Expanding beyond print media, BCCL operates the influential Times Network, which includes prominent television channels such as Times Now, and the nationwide FM radio network, Radio Mirchi. Its digital subsidiary, Times Internet, further enhances the company’s extensive presence across digital news, entertainment, and technology platforms, reinforcing BCCL’s position as a pioneering force in the Indian media industry.

Canon’s RF 20mm F1.4L VCM Redefines Ultra-Wide Photography with Stunning Brightness

NEW DELHI, 29 March 2025 – Canon today announced the RF 20mm F1.4L VCM, the fourth and widest lens in its series of still/video hybrid prime lenses featuring the new VCM (Voice Coil Motor) AF system. Delivering dramatic ultra-wide-angle perspective, appealing large f/1.4 maximum aperture, outstanding image quality, fast and precise AF drive in a compact body with user-friendly features, the lens is a must-have for creating stunning, expansive compositions that draw viewers into the scene.

Vivid Expression Within a Compact Body
At around 99.3mm long and weighing approximately 519g, the professional-grade RF 20mm F1.4L VCM defies convention by packing an ultra-wide-angle 20mm focal length and large f/1.4 maximum aperture into a compact, lightweight and durable professional-grade body. Large aperture ultra-wide-angle lenses have a reputation for being hefty, but like the other f/1.4L VCM lenses, the RF 20mm F1.4L VCM is portable and easy to handle.

Users can capitalise on the lens’ unique perspective and outstanding low light flexibility when capturing stills of architecture in their full grandeur, or detail-rich shots in dramatic low lighting. Besides its 67mm front filter thread, the RF 20mm F1.4L VCM has a rear filter holder that positions sheet-type filters close to the image sensor where there is less likelihood of distortion happening.

Designed for Video Shooting
The lens is engineered for video shooting performance down to its core with focus breathing reduction built into its optical design. Compositions will remain stable with extremely little fluctuation during focus transitions even with a camera body that has no built-in electronic focus breathing correction. The high-thrust VCM, which drives the large focus lens groups and is controlled by a high-performance microprocessor, ensures that subject tracking and focal transitions are carried out smoothly in near silence during video shooting. It also locks focus swiftly and precisely when shooting stills.

The RF 20mm F1.4L VCM’s size, weight, 67mm filter size, flat and simple exterior controls are designed to be consistent with Canon’s hybrid f/1.4L VCM prime lenses. This minimises the need for users to rebalance gimbals and other gear when swapping the lens with others in the same series. Similar to Canon’s hybrid and cinema lenses, users can make aperture adjustments seamlessly by turning the clickless iris ring during filming. The rotation direction is identical to the Cinema EOS System lenses, so users of both systems can switch between them effortlessly.

Beautiful and Clear Images at the Edges
The RF 20mm F1.4L VCM is the first VCM-series lens to feature BR (Blue Spectrum Refractive) optics, which thoroughly suppresses the chromatic aberration that might occur with ultra-wide-angle lenses. This ensures clarity and beautiful out-of-camera colours from the centre to the edges. Two optimally placed GMo (glass-moulded) aspherical lenses correct various distortions, including the sagittal coma flare. By doing so, point light sources like stars are rendered faithfully, making the lens ideal for astrophotography.

Like Canon’s other professional wide-angle lenses, the RF 20mm F1.4L VCM features ASC and SWC coatings that reduce flare and ghosting. As such, images captured remain clean and clear even when shooting at the sun or other light sources RF 20mm F1.4L VCM’s impeccable image quality is testament to Canon’s pursuit of optical excellence, and how it has been designed to be future proofed for high-resolution imaging demands like 8K resolution.

Jubilant FoodWorks Debuts ‘Elate,’ a Game-Changing Android POS for the Restaurant Industry

Hyderabad March 29, 2025: Jubilant FoodWorks Limited (JFL/Company), a leading emerging markets’ food-tech Company, today announced the launch of Elate, India’s first Android-based POS (Point of Sale) and Order Taking System designed specifically for the foodservice industry.

Elate represents a significant step forward in JFL’s digital transformation journey whose Direct-to-Consumer (D2C) apps are already amongst the largest and highest rated food-apps in India. It is cloud first and seamlessly integrates with the Company’s D2C platforms and hence is able to take advantage of sophisticated machine learning models to form a unified and personalized digital ecosystem.

Elate has been developed by JFL’s 250-member product, UX, tech and data science team, is specifically designed to improve order-taking, store operations, and customer experiences inside stores and is all set to revolutionize the restaurant operations for JFL by reducing the training times and ensuring world-class customer experiences across all JFL brands.

Commenting on the launch, Sameer Khetarpal, Managing Director & CEO of Jubilant FoodWorks Limited, stated, “Technology and digital transformation are at the centre of JFL’s strategy. With the introduction of Elate, we are taking a significant step toward creating a seamless, integrated, and efficient food-tech ecosystem. This innovation reinforces our commitment to improving the customer experience while optimizing operational capabilities.”

Vaneet Singla, Chief Product Officer, Jubilant FoodWorks Limited added, “Elate is a game changer for us. Elate is a cloud-native and android-based platform that is future ready and integrates seamlessly with our D2C apps. We have revamped the order taking UX from the first principles and that has significantly reduced the training times. Our goal is to provide our customers and store staff with a consistent, seamless, and personalized experience across all the touchpoints.”

Elate is the first step toward a never-seen-before tech-first restaurant experience, with features like kiosks, ordering screens and order status screens already in the works. Elate is already live in a select set of Domino’s stores with plans to expand to 2,100+ stores over the next three years. This marks the start of a new era in food tech innovation, underscoring Company’s commitment to tech transformation.