Category Archives: Business

Hotelogix and Profitroom Partner to Enable Hotels to Increase Direct Sales via Their Websites

Bangaluru, 05/February/2025: Hotelogix, a globally leading cloud-based hospitality technology provider, announced the integration of its comprehensive Hotel Property Management System (Hotel PMS) with Profitroom’s Booking Engine platform. As a significant development in the hospitality industry, this partnership aims to improve direct booking capabilities for hospitality businesses across the globe, leading to enhanced revenue.

With this integration, Hotelogix’s hotel partners looking for a reliable solution to improve their direct sales can now easily access Profitroom’s guest-centric 360° Booking Engine solution. Similarly, it will also enable hotels using the Profitroom solution to gain access to Hotelogix’s widely-used and highly-trusted cloud-based Hotel Property Management System (Hotel PMS), further elevating their operational efficiency and guest experience.

“We’re thrilled about this integration with Profitroom, a widely used solution that would empower Hotelogix users to drive direct bookings via their websites. This partnership reflects our dedication to providing outstanding value, improving guest experiences, and boosting revenue in a highly competitive market,” stated Aditya Sanghi, CEO of Hotelogix.

Based in Poland, Profitroom stands out as a premier provider of booking solutions, enhancing direct booking performances for more than 3,500 hotels and resorts globally—some have seen direct bookings soar by as much as 96%. Their platform effortlessly unifies direct reservations on hotel websites with various distribution channels while automating marketing efforts, optimizing SEO and SEM strategies, and offering opportunities for cross-selling and upselling, among other features.

“Our partnership with a leading global hotel property management system like Hotelogix is poised to revolutionize the hospitality industry. This collaboration offers a cutting-edge technology stack that will enable hotels to improve operational efficiency and increase direct booking capabilities,” said Marcin Dragan, CEO of Profitroom.

Cloudflare and Adobe Introduce Powerful New Tool to Track and Detect Image Manipulations at Scale

India, February 4, 2025 – Cloudflare, Inc., the leading connectivity cloud company, today announced a new, one-click solution for content creators and publishers to seamlessly preserve the digital history of an image–from how an image was created, and by whom, to edits and resizes–across the Cloudflare network. By attaching this digital ‘nutrition label,’ or Content Credentials, directly to an image, creators can be credited for their work and consumers can easily verify the origin and alterations of digital content. Content Credentials is based on standards from the Coalition for Content Provenance and Authenticity (C2PA), an open technical standard providing publishers, creators, and consumers the ability to trace the origin of different types of media. In addition, Cloudflare has also joined the Content Authenticity Initiative (CAI), an Adobe-led community of over 4,000 members globally committed to driving mainstream support and adoption for Content Credentials as the global standard for content provenance and authenticity.

 The ability to instantly share photos globally on the Internet comes with a potential drawback: once uploaded, it becomes difficult to verify an image’s authenticity. The rise of generative artificial intelligence (AI) has accelerated this challenge by lowering the barriers to image manipulation. It is easier than ever to create highly convincing fake photos, which can make it difficult for consumers to understand what is trustworthy. If a photo of a celebrity endorsing a product or a video of UFOs goes viral, the ability to confirm if it was taken with a smartphone or camera, or wholly created using an AI tool, can provide critical context to help consumers make informed decisions.

 “The future of the Internet depends on trust and authenticity,” said Matthew Prince, co-founder and CEO, Cloudflare. “By integrating Content Credentials across our global network, we can help media and news organizations to verify authenticity and maintain ownership of their work, wherever it moves online. This isn’t just about securing individual images—it’s about giving publishers the tools they need to preserve trust and remain relevant in the age of AI.”

 “Cloudflare’s implementation of Content Credentials is a major win for Content Credentials, particularly at the final stages of the content creation and management lifecycle” said Andy Parsons, Senior Director Content Authenticity at Adobe. “Ensuring these credentials are always available at the edge provides valuable ‘trust signals,’ ensuring those who interact with content online have confidence in what they engage with, especially with the rise of generative AI and deepfakes. Cloudflare helps strengthen the integrity of digital content, supporting content authenticity for news organizations and journalists, while also enabling creators to maintain proper attribution.”

Kartik Aaryan Lights Up Fanta’s ‘Fanta Mangta’, Capturing the Essence of Cravings

New Delhi, 4th February 2025: Fanta, the flavourful beverage brand of Coca-Cola India, is back with an all-new campaign, ‘Fanta Mangta,’ featuring the ever-charming Brand Ambassador Kartik Aaryan. This campaign celebrates Gen Z’s pursuit of what they love—because when you crave something this delicious, nothing else will do.

For decades, Fanta has been more than just a beverage— Bright, fun, delicious and bursting with flavour, it has always been the go-to choice for those who embrace joy without hesitation. With this campaign, the brand dives deeper into the thrill of cravings, encouraging everyone to not let anything come in the way of their cravings, and the biggest craving of them all – is Fanta.

Bringing the idea of “Aur Kuch Nahi Mangta, Sirf Fanta Mangta” to life, the campaign film flips the script on indulgence – that one moment when the only answer is Fanta’s lip-smacking deliciousness. With his signature spontaneity and charm, Kartik Aaryan makes Fanta the ultimate companion—perfect for every mood, moment, and impulse.

Sumeli Chatterjee, Senior Category Director, Sparkling Flavours, Coca-Cola India and South-West Asia, shared, “A youngster’s life is very busy, but they always find time to attend to their daily cravings. The lip-smacking deliciousness of Fanta is a perfect solution to all cravings. The new campaign Fanta-Mangta is a fun and playful twist to urge teens to take some time out to indulge their cravings. With Kartik Aryan’s charisma and the reimagined 1980’s music, the campaign lives on the nostalgia trend, blending the nostalgia with a touch of modern interpretation.”

Mukund Olety – Creative Head of StudioX, INSWA and Chief Creative Officer of VML, India – “When you crave for something delicious, no amount of money, gold or fame can satiate you. You need a Fanta. To bring this thought to life, we have a quirky storyline and a very memorable track that ties it all together. I can’t stop humming!”

“Being part of the Fanta Mangta campaign has been a Fun experience! Fanta makes every moment lively, and exciting. It’s all about enjoying life and embracing what you crave, without a second thought,” said Kartik Aaryan, the face of the campaign.

Wardwizard Innovations Partners with SpeedforcEV to Revolutionize Fleet Operations with Electric Mobility

Vadodara, February 4, 2025: Wardwizard Innovations & Mobility Limited, a leading manufacturer of electric vehicles under the brands ‘Joy e-bike’ and ‘Joy e-rik’, has announced its entry into fleet operations and last-mile delivery mobility under its flagship brand, Joy e-bike. In collaboration with SpeedforcEV under the banner of Optimotion, the company deployed its first batch of 100 electric two-wheelers in Hyderabad today. This strategic move marks a significant step toward providing sustainable, technology-driven solutions for delivery partners and fleet operators.

Unlike traditional fleet operations that focus solely on vehicle deployment, Wardwizard Innovations & Mobility Limited is introducing a first-of-its-kind holistic approach in India to ensure seamless operations for delivery partners. The initiative encompasses vehicle supply, 24/7 maintenance, spare parts availability, charging infrastructure, financing solutions, and insurance support—all provided through strategic partnerships. This integrated approach ensures zero downtime for fleet operators, maximizing vehicle uptime and optimizing revenue potential. Cashless Insurance services will be managed by Bluebells, financing by Mangalam Industrial Finance Limited, charging stations by Ampvolts Limited, and spare parts and maintenance by SpeedforcEV.

With an initial deployment for Zomato, Swiggy, Flipkart, Amazon, and BigBasket, the company plans to expand rapidly across major metropolitan cities beyond Hyderabad, including Chennai, Mumbai, Pune, Vadodara, Ahmedabad, Kolkata, Bangalore and Surat.

Speaking on the initiative, Mr. Yatin Gupte, Chairman & Managing Director of Wardwizard Innovations & Mobility Limited, said: “This is a landmark moment for the Indian EV industry, as we are building endeavouring a complete end-to-end ecosystem to support fleet operations. Our partnership with SpeedforcEV for fleet operations, Mangalam Industrial Finance Limited, Mufin Green Finance, Bluebells Insurance Broking Pvt. Ltd., Ampvolts Limited and other key industry players ensures a hassle-free experience for businesses, maximizing uptime and revenue potential. We are targeting the deployment of 8,000 vehicles by March 2025, and scaling up to 50,000 vehicles by March 2026, reinforcing our commitment to driving EV adoption in the country. We are dedicated to revolutionizing last-mile mobility and fleet operations with innovative and sustainable solutions.”

This initiative represents a first-of-its-kind fully integrated smart mobility solution for fleet and logistics operations. Looking ahead, Wardwizard plans to extend its partnerships to B2B, B2C, and retail players, further strengthening its presence in the rapidly growing electric mobility sector.

Focus on Urban Development, Agriculture & Food Security

Sudhindra Holla, Director of India & SAARC at Axis Communications

“The Union Budget 2025 sets a transformative agenda that aligns with our vision for secure and smart urban environments. With a focus on urban development and agriculture, the budget’s initiatives, such as the PM Dhan Dhyan Krishi Yojana aimed at enhancing crop yields, are crucial for fostering resilience in our food supply chains. This directly supports the security of critical infrastructure by ensuring stability in essential services.

The focus on youth empowerment and women’s welfare through targeted programs opens avenues for integrating advanced surveillance technologies. As we transition to a more digital economy, Axis Communications is dedicated to utilizing cutting-edge surveillance systems that enhance public safety and ensure robust data protection.

The proposed regulatory reforms will also play a vital role in creating a conducive environment for innovation in security technologies. As we look forward, we believe that these budgetary measures will not only strengthen India’s security landscape but also pave the way for sustainable growth in smart city projects across the nation.”

GMDC Ltd. and J K Cement Ltd. Sign Strategic Long-Term Supply Agreement for Limestone from Kutch Mine

New Delhi: 04 February 2025: Gujarat Mineral Development Corporation Ltd. (GMDC) has signed a Long-Term Supply Agreement (LSA) with JK Cement Ltd. for the supply of 250 million tons of limestone over a period of 40 years from its upcoming Lakhpat Punrajpur Mine in Lakhpat Taluka of Kutch District in Gujarat. The signing event was chaired by the Chairman of GMDC Ltd. Dr. Hasmukh Adhia, IAS (Retd.) on January 29, 2025 (Wednesday) and the agreement was officially formalized by Shri Roopwant Singh, IAS, Managing Director of GMDC Ltd., and Shri Anuj Khandelwal, Business Head – Grey Cement of JK Cement Ltd., representing their respective organizations.

This agreement marks a strategic partnership towards monetizing the large limestone asset of GMDC Ltd. and benefiting both the partners. It will support J K Cement Ltd. in setting up a greenfield integrated mega-capacity cement plant, fostering industrial growth in the region. The collaboration will stimulate investment, enhance industrial development, and generate thousands of direct and indirect employment opportunities in Kutch, contributing significantly to the socio-economic progress of Gujarat. Kutch’s coastal proximity, improved access to domestic and international markets, and cost-efficient logistics position it as an ideal hub for cement production. Furthermore, this initiative will contribute substantially to the State Exchequer through revenue generation in the form of Royalty, National Mineral Exploration Trust (NMET) contributions, District Mineral Foundation (DMF) funds, and Goods & Services Tax (GST) on both limestone and cement production.

Gopal Vittal appointed as Acting Chair of the GSMA Board

Bangalore, February 3, 2025: Gopal Vittal, Vice Chairman & MD, Bharti Airtel and Deputy Chair GSMA has been appointed as the Acting Chair of the GSMA board following the resignation of José Maria Álvares-Pallete, Chairman & CEO, Telefónica from the company. By virtue of this resignation, he is no longer able to continue in the position of the Chair of the GSMA.

Gopal was recently re-elected as the Deputy Chair of the GSMA board. He has also served the board as a key member for the term 2019-2020.

GSMA represents the global telecommunications industry with over 1100 companies from the telecom ecosystem across the world including telecom service providers, handset and device makers, software companies, equipment providers and internet companies, as well as organizations in adjacent industry sectors.

Beacon, Bharat Connect, and YES BANK Launch Indian Bill Pay Service for Canadian NRI

New Delhi, India (February 4, 2025) – Beacon, a company redefining financial services for immigrants in Canada has launched a groundbreaking feature allowing direct bill payments to India in Canadian dollars from their Beacon Money account. India Bill Pay is the newest addition to the Beacon super app, a platform designed specifically for immigrants to Canada and now available for download on Google and iOS. The first of its kind, Beacon’s India Bill Pay is a pioneering cross-border bill payment solution launched in collaboration with Bharat Connect (BBPS) and YES BANK in India.

With approximately 60% of remittances to India used for family maintenance, many Indians face the delicate balance of building their lives in Canada while fulfilling their home obligations. Non-resident Indians (NRIs) are restricted in their ability to access India’s banking and payment systems from abroad.

This creates major pain points for NRIs around the world looking to pay bills in India either for themselves or for their family. Currently, people must rely on maintaining NRI bank accounts or family and friends to pay Indian bills, both of which are inconvenient. Managing multiple accounts is costly, and culturally, asking for help often leaves NRIs feeling guilty about not meeting their obligations independently. With the launch of India Bill Pay, Beacon expands its financial services for immigrants, providing a seamless way for Indians to pay bills across borders.

“As an NRI in Canada, I faced challenges paying bills in India for my family. That’s why we partnered with YES Bank and Bharat Connect to build Beacon India Bill Pay, a product designed to provide seamless experience to NRIs like me.” said Aditya Mhatre, Co-Founder and Chief Product and Technology Officer of Beacon. “With Beacon India Bill Pay, we’ve recreated the same simplicity of paying bills while in India, but tailored it for NRIs using foreign currency. So stop sending money—just pay the bill directly. We are already planning to bring Beacon India Bill Pay’s revolutionary service to more countries.”

Powered by YES BANK, the service ensures smooth payment processing for Indian billers under the Rupee Drawing Arrangement (RDA), a framework regulated by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). This system facilitates structured and compliant fund transfers from overseas to India, efficiently converting foreign currency payments into Indian rupees and settling them with Indian beneficiaries, including billers on the Bharat Connect network.

Beacon India Bill Pay also leveraged India’s national bill payment infrastructure known as Bharat Connect, previously known as Bharat Bill Payment System (BBPS), to enable these payments. Conceptualized by the RBI, Bharat Connect provides technology solutions that simplify collections and settlements of bill payments for millions of customers and businesses across India. It ensures convenience, end-to-end encryption for security, and strict adherence to RBI regulations, connecting billers, payment providers, and customers seamlessly.

The unique benefits of Beacon’s India Bill Pay are:

• 100% digital KYC and onboarding process that can be completed within 10 minutes to start paying Indian bills
• Users can pay over 21,000 Indian billers such as utilities, student and home loans, school fees, and hospital charges and more directly using Canadian dollars
• Beacon India Bill Pay can auto-fetch bill due amount and send bill reminders for hassle-free payments.
• 100% secure and compliant with Reserve Bank of India policies, Beacon’s integration with Bharat Connect and YES BANK’s robust infrastructure ensures efficient and secure payment settlements, delivering an enhanced user experience.

Ms. Noopur Chaturvedi, CEO of NBBL, said, “We are pleased to partner with Beacon to extend the convenience of Bharat Connect (BBPS) to users in Canada. This collaboration reflects our commitment to offering a seamless, convenient and reliable platform for bill payments, ensuring Indians abroad can easily manage essential services back home.”

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Ajay Rajan, Country Head – Government, Multinational and International Business, Transaction Banking and Knowledge Units, YES BANK said, “YES BANK is proud to partner with Beacon to introduce this transformative cross-border payment solution. Leveraging the Bharat Connect model and the RDA framework, we are bridging the gap between Indian and international financial ecosystems, simplifying the process for NRIs to manage their obligations back home.”

DOMS Industries Limited Strategic Initiatives Propelling Consistent Growth

Umbergaon, Gujarat, February 04, 2025: DOMS Industries Limited (‘DOMS’), a Company focused on manufacturing and marketing a diversified product offering associated with the growing years of kids, children, and young adults, announced its Financial Results for the Q3 & 9M FY2025.

ConsolidatedPerformanceHighlights–Q3(Y-o-Y)

•  RevenuefromOperationsforQ3’FY25grewby34.9%to₹501.1crascomparedto₹371.6cr in Q3’FY24.
•  EBITDA for Q3’FY25 grew by 26.7% to ₹ 87.9 cr as compared to ₹ 69.3 cr in Q3’FY24. EBITDA margin for Q3’FY25 stood at 17.5% as compared to 18.7% in Q3’FY24.
•  PATforQ3’FY25grewby39.8%to₹54.3crascomparedto ₹38.8crinQ3’FY24.PATmargin
  forQ3’FY25roseto10.8%ascomparedto10.4%inQ3’FY24.

ConsolidatedPerformanceHighlights–9M(Y-o-Y)

•  RevenuefromOperationsfor9M’FY25grewby23.9%to₹1,403.9crascomparedto ₹1,133.4crin9M’FY24.
•  EBITDAfor9M’FY25grewby32.2%to₹260.2crascomparedto₹196.8crin9M’FY24.
• EBIDTAmarginfor9M’FY25roseto18.5%ascomparedto17.4%in9M’FY24.
•  PAT for 9M’FY25 grew by 43.9% to ₹ 162.3 cr as compared to ₹ 112.7 cr in 9M’FY24. PAT margin for 9M’FY25 rose to 11.6% as compared to 9.9% in 9M’FY24.

OperationalHighlights

•  Rewarded for Export Excellence: Awarded third time consecutively Top Exporter Award for being No. 1 Exporter for the Year 2023-24 by the Pen & Stationery Association of India, underscoring Company’s role as a frontrunner in the Indian Export market
•  RecognizingEmployeeExcellenceandGrowingTogether:Torewardhardworkandtoretain &motivatetalent,Companyapprovedgrantof117,045stockoptionsunderEmployeeStock Option Plan 2023 to eligible employees during Q3’FY25
•  Empowering Sustainable Future: Successful installation of 1 MW Solar Plant at Umergaon Manufacturing Facility
•  OngoingCapacityExpansiononTrack:44+acresgreenfieldexpansioninfullswingand

possessionoffirstbuildingformachineryinstallationinQ3’FY26

•  UniclanHealthcareacceleratingGrowthInitiatives
•  LaunchofDOMSCo-brandedDiapers:CommerciallaunchofDOMSWowper–co- branded range of diapers by Uniclan Healthcare
• Successful installation of third diaper production lineat the existing facility wideningcapacity to 65 crore diapers per annum
• Mostofrequisitepre-approvalsfromauthoritiesinplaceenablingin-house

manufacturingofwetwipesbyendof Q4’FY25

 CultivatingandNurturingCreativeExcellence:AMARIZ–Company’sFineArtRange,partners withPlazaArtistAssociationattheiconicArtPlazaGallery,KalaGhoda,Mumbaitoempower emerging artist and provide them platform to showcase their work

Commenting on the results and performance, Mr. Santosh Raveshia, Managing Director, DOMS Industries Limited said:

“Despite the tepid market conditions and festive season in India as well as globally, we continued on ourconsistentgrowthtrajectoryduringQ3’FY2025.Ourstrategicinitiativeshaveplayedapivotalrole infuellingthisgrowth.ThesuccessfulacquisitionofUniclanHealthcare,whichleadourentryintoBaby Hygiene products, coupled with our timely expansion of capacities across various product categories, have all contributed positively to our quarterly performance.

Company’smanufacturingcoststructurebroadlyremainedstableinQ3FY’25,withinputpricesholding steady,resultinginconsistentgrossmarginsonasequentialbasis.ConsolidatedEBITDAforthequarter grew 26.7% Y-o-Y and 2.2% sequentially. However, there was a slight margin compression of approximately120 bps Q-o-Q which was primarily driven by increased employeeexpenses,stemming fromadditionalhiringtosupportproductioncapacityexpansionandimpactofESOPgrantstoreward employees. Furthermore, we witnessed an increase in selling and distribution expenses primarily on account of consolidation of Uniclan Healthcare. As a result of these factors, Company’s consolidated EBITDA margin stood at 17.5%, as on expected lines, but higher than our targeted range of 16-17%.

Going forward, we remain cautiously optimistic in the near term, on improvement in demand conditions with tailwinds from the upcoming back to school season, growing emphasis on education and increased Governments’ spending in this sector, contributing to the growth momentum. Our strategicprioritiesremainunchangedwithfocusondeliveringconsistentandprofitablevolumegrowth through expanding our production capacities, investing in our brands and strengthening our supply chain, positioning ourselves for sustainable long-term growth.

Lastly, I would like to appreciate the unwavering dedication and relentless efforts of our entire team and channel partners, who have worked tirelessly to drive this growth and excellence. Further, we extendourheartfeltgratitudetoourvaluedconsumersforembracingourproducts.Theirunwavering support fuelsourpassionand inspires ourteamtoinnovate, design,anddeliver high-qualityproducts to meet the evolving needs of our consumers.”

Moxy Mumbai, Andheri West Appoints Mr. Inder Yadav as Director of Finance

Mumbai, January 2025 – Moxy Mumbai, Andheri West – Marriott International’s vibrant lifestyle brand – is delighted to announce the appointment of Mr. Inder Yadav as the Director of Finance. With over 18 years of extensive experience in financial management within the hospitality industry, Inder brings a proven track record of excellence and innovation to this key leadership role.

Inder Yadav’s impressive career spans leading global hotel brands, including Marriott International, Hilton Hotels & Resorts, and The Westin Hotels & Resorts, where he has honed his expertise in financial strategy, budgeting, forecasting, compliance, and operational excellence. His commitment to driving financial efficiency and implementing robust internal controls has earned him recognition for enhancing profitability and aligning business goals with long-term organizational vision.

In his most recent role as Assistant Director of Finance at Courtyard by Marriott Mumbai International Airport, Inder played a pivotal role in streamlining financial operations, ensuring compliance with local regulations, and introducing efficient systems that significantly improved financial discipline and performance. He also collaborated closely with senior management to deliver strategic insights through financial analysis and forecasting, contributing to the hotel’s sustained success.

Inder’s previous experience includes serving as Assistant Financial Controller at The Westin Hyderabad and Hilton Bangalore Embassy Golf Links, where he led multi-disciplinary teams to achieve excellence in financial reporting, cost control, and statutory compliance. His ability to navigate complex financial landscapes and deliver innovative solutions has been instrumental in driving growth and optimizing performance at every stage of his career.

Inder is well-versed in advanced financial tools, including SAP, Oracle, and Cognos, and holds a Master’s degree in Financial Management (MFM) from Mumbai University. His technical expertise, coupled with his ability to foster cross-functional collaboration, aligns seamlessly with Moxy Mumbai’s dynamic and forward-thinking ethos.

As Director of Finance at Moxy Mumbai, Inder will oversee the hotel’s financial strategy, ensuring operational efficiency while driving profitability. His strategic vision and hands-on approach will play a crucial role in positioning Moxy Mumbai as a leading destination for modern travelers while maintaining the brand’s commitment to exceptional guest experiences. Inder Yadav’s leadership marks an exciting chapter for Moxy Mumbai, as the hotel continues to set new benchmarks in style, service, and operational excellence.