Category Archives: Technology

From Capital Allocation to Digital Valuation… Rethinking ROI in Transformation Project

By – Rajendra Chitale,Chief Finance Officer (CFO) Crayon Software Experts India

In the relentless race to digitally reinvent enterprises, the financial management of capital demands a quantum shift from merely allocating funds to re-evaluating how we measure value. The metrics that once defined success, such as purely cost savings, ROI, and payback periods are no longer sufficient in a marketplace where competitive advantage and enterprise value are equally influenced by innovation velocity, data intelligence, and customer experience.

The Evolution of ROI Measurement

Historically, transformation investments were assessed through the narrow confines of return on invested capital (ROIC) and cash flow impacts. In recent times, 81% of companies measure ROI in digital transformation through productivity gains, while organizations adopting more holistic KPIs are 20% more likely to see medium-to-high enterprise value from these initiatives , according to a recent Deloitte study. This broader approach reflects a growing recognition that intangible benefits such as agility, customer loyalty, and brand equity directly influence market valuation.

Market Value as a Core Indicator

Delotte’s analysis of over 4,600 companies’ disclosures reveals that strategically aligned digital investments can unlock up to US$1.25 trillion in additional market capitalisation, while misaligned efforts risk destroying more than US$1.5 trillion. For capital planners, this data underscores that digital transformation is not a discretionary expense, it is an asset creation strategy.

Strategic Capital Deployment

According to a recent IDC report, Global spending on digital transformation is projected to grow from US$1.8 trillion in 2022 to US$2.8 trillion by 2025. However, between 50% and 72% of IT budgets are still allocated to maintaining existing systems, leaving limited capacity for transformative innovation. Organizations achieving higher returns are those prioritizing investments in data analytics, AI, and cloud platforms technologies that deliver measurable operational efficiency and future scalability.

Beyond Financial ROI – Measuring Strategic Impact

Modern transformation projects increasingly deliver returns that are not immediately visible on the balance sheet. These include:

• Innovation capacity accelerating product launches and improving market responsiveness.
• Customer lifetime value (CLV) driven by enhanced experiences and personalization.
• Workforce productivity and retention supported by better collaboration tools and data-driven decision-making.

These factors, while less tangible, directly influence a company’s long-term competitiveness and market confidence.

Risk-Adjusted Returns in Digital Investments

ROI calculations must evolve to account for risk-adjusted performance. Digital transformation carries inherent challenges – cybersecurity threats, regulatory changes, and integration complexity. Without factoring these into projections, organizations risk overestimating benefits. Risk-adjusted ROI models ensure that capital allocation decisions are resilient, balancing ambition with disciplined risk management.

Intangible Asset Valuation in the Digital Era

Over the past three decades, the proportion of intangible assets in corporate valuations has surged from 17% of S&P 500 market value in 1975 to nearly 90% in 2020. Data assets, proprietary algorithms, and brand equity have become critical value drivers. Digital transformation projects often enhance these assets, underscoring the need for valuation models that fully account for their contribution.

The Valuation Narrative – Communicating ROI to Stakeholders

How transformation results are communicated can have as much impact as the results themselves. Investors and boards look for clear, measurable outcomes, productivity gains, customer satisfaction scores, faster time-to-market paired with a compelling narrative. Transparent reporting through quarterly calls, investor decks, and ESG disclosures strengthens confidence and reinforces the perception of long-term value creation.

The AI-Driven ROI Shift

The perception of AI as a high-risk investment has diminished dramatically. In 2020, 70% of finance leaders were cautious about AI adoption, whereas today, only 4% remain hesitant. Budgets now allocate approximately 25% of AI funding to autonomous AI agents, with 74% of leaders expecting up to 20% improvements in both cost efficiency and revenue generation. These numbers highlight AI’s emergence as a quantifiable driver of both top- and bottom-line growth.

Why This Shift Matters Now

Investor expectations are evolving. They no longer evaluate ROI solely on immediate returns, but on the ability of transformation projects to deliver sustained value and market differentiation. Capital allocation strategies must therefore be disciplined yet forward-looking directing funds toward initiatives with clear alignment to strategic growth, customer impact, and market competitiveness.

In conclusion, ROI in transformation projects is no longer about proving that the investment “paid for itself.” It is about demonstrating how it increased the organization’s overall valuation, enhanced resilience, and positioned the business for long-term success. By redefining ROI as “Return on Innovation,” financial strategy moves beyond simple cost-benefit analysis to a holistic measure of digital competitiveness and enterprise growth.

IIT Roorkee Researchers Create HyEco, A New Tool to Predict How Floods Spread Disease in Cities

IIT Roorkee, Uttarakhand, Aug 20, 2025: Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee have developed HyEco, a first-of-its-kind integrated flood-water quality modelling platform that not only predicts how urban flood waters will spread across a city but also shows how potential disease-causing microbes can travel in floodwaters and where people are most at risk of getting affected.

This novel framework was tested on the 2023 Delhi floods, one of the worst in recent times. The results were alarming; over 60% of flooded areas were in the high to very high danger zones, and harmful bacteria (E. coli) in the water were found to be hundreds of thousands of times above safe limits. Children, in particular, faced infection risks more than double the internationally accepted safety levels when playing in floodwaters.

Floodwaters in many Indian cities mix with untreated sewage and industrial waste, creating a toxic mix that can lead to outbreaks of diarrhoea, cholera, and other dangerous water-borne diseases. HyEco can help authorities see these threats in advance, identify “health danger hotspots,” and take quick action to protect people, for example, by improving sewage treatment, cleaning drains before monsoons, warning residents through SMS alerts, and using advanced water cleaning methods.

The research supports key Government of India missions, such as the National Mission for Clean Ganga, Swachh Bharat Mission, National Disaster Management Plan, and the National Health Mission. It also helps meet several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), and SDG 13 (Climate Action).

“Floods don’t just damage buildings; they can trigger silent health crises. HyEco gives us the power to see where the danger will be highest, so action can be taken before it’s too late,” said Prof. Mohit P. Mohanty, Department of Water Resources Development and Management, IIT Roorkee.

“This research is a perfect example of science serving society. By helping cities prepare for both the visible and hidden dangers of floods, HyEco can play a vital role in building safer, healthier, and climate-resilient communities in India and around the world,” said Prof. Kamal Kishore Pant, Director, IIT Roorkee.

HyEco is designed to be used not just in India but in flood-prone cities worldwide, from Mumbai to Manila, Jakarta to New Orleans, offering an innovative, science-based solution to reduce the risk of waterborne diseases after floods.

IIT Roorkee Launches India’s First GenAI-Powered Cybersecurity Program for Modern Defenders

National, August 20th 2025: In a landmark move to future-proof India’s cybersecurity talent, the Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee (IIT Roorkee), in collaboration with Futurense, has launched the PG Certificate in AI/GenAI Powered Cybersecurity, India’s first cybersecurity program purpose-built for GenAI-powered threat landscapes.

This 9-month hybrid program, starting October 18, 2025, addresses the growing AI threat vector in cybersecurity. As deepfakes, AI-authored phishing, LLM exploits, and SOC automation redefine the industry, defenders must now fight intelligence with intelligence.

“Cybersecurity today is no longer about protecting networks; it’s more about defending algorithms, AI systems, and cloud pipelines. This program is designed to prepare professionals for exactly that,” said Dr. Gaurav Nayak, Assistant Professor at the Mehta Family School of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence, IIT Roorkee.

“As GenAI reshapes every layer of the digital stack, the need for security professionals who can govern, simulate, and secure AI-native systems is critical. We built this program to close that gap,” added Dr. Raghavendra Rohit, Assistant Professor in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at IIT Roorkee

“AI is already rewriting the rules of cybersecurity. This program is built to ensure Indian professionals aren’t just reacting; they’re leading the charge,” said Raghav Gupta, Founder & CEO of Futurense. “With IIT Roorkee’s academic rigor and Futurense Leadership Council’s industry mentorship, we’re creating defenders who can secure the future, not just chase it.”

Rashi Peripherals Expands Enterprise Portfolio with Advanced Solutions

August 13, 2025, Mumbai: Rashi Peripherals Limited , among the leading national distribution partners for global technology brands in India, has announced authorization to distribute the complete range of Dell Technologies’ solutions across metro and non-metro markets in India.

Under this new relationship, RP Tech will offer a portfolio of Dell Technology solutions including client, server, storage and networking. This collaboration is aligned with RP Tech’s vision to address the dynamic technology needs and AI demands of enterprises across segments such as enterprise, data center, government, and small and medium businesses (SMBs).

Through its robust nationwide partner network, RP Tech will streamline access to Dell Technologies’ commercial solutions and drive deeper market penetration across India. With its team of Business Development Managers (BDMs) and presales professionals, the company is focused on expanding outreach through targeted engagement with end customers and new channel partners.

Rajesh Goenka, CEO, Rashi Peripherals Limited, said, “Our collaboration with Dell Technologies is a strategic milestone in RP Tech’s continued journey of growth and diversification. Over the years, we have consistently expanded our portfolio to align with evolving enterprise needs, and this relationship strengthens our ability to deliver end-to-end commercial solutions across sectors. With our pan-India presence, deep channel engagement, and expanding customer base, we are confident in our ability to drive meaningful growth for Dell’s commercial business in India while reinforcing our position as a leading ICT distribution player.”

The addition of Dell Technologies’ solutions complements RP Tech’s existing offerings and supports its long-term roadmap of building a comprehensive technology distribution platform for Indian enterprises. RP Tech will also invest in regional enablement programs, partner training, and market development initiatives to ensure seamless access and service support.

Ambrane Launches PowerMini 20: 20,000mAh Pocket Powerbank for Phones and Laptops

New Delhi, 12th August 2025: Ambrane, a leading Made-in-India consumer electronics brand renowned for its innovative power solutions, has announced the launch of its latest addition to the powerbank portfolio, PowerMini 20, a compact yet high-capacity 20000mAh powerbank built to power both smartphones and laptops with ease.

The PowerMini 20 is available in black, blue and golden colour options and is priced at INR 1999. It can be purchased via Ambrane India’s official website, as well as on Amazon, Flipkart, and their official website.

True to its name, the PowerMini 20 combines robust battery capacity with unmatched portability, redefining on-the-go charging convenience. Equipped with Ambrane’s proprietary BoostedSpeed™ fast-charging technology, the device delivers up to 35W output via its Type-C port, making it capable of charging even USB-C laptops efficiently. It also features an 18W USB-A port and comes bundled with an in-built Type-C cable, along with a detachable cable for added ease.

The compact design makes it an ideal everyday carry, while the premium glossy finish adds a stylish edge. Whether you’re a frequent traveller, a hybrid worker, or simply always on the move, the PowerMini 20 provides a dependable power backup in a form factor that fits easily in your pocket or bag. Built with Ambrane’s trusted SafeCharge™ technology, the powerbank includes multi-layer protection against overcharging, short circuits, and overheating, ensuring safe and reliable performance at all times.

“With PowerMini 20, we’ve addressed a real user need, high-capacity charging without the bulk. People are tired of carrying heavy bricks around just to stay powered. This product is our answer: compact, lightweight, and strong enough to charge both mobiles and laptops. It’s designed keeping today’s users in mind, fast-paced, always on the move, and unwilling to compromise on style or performance.” said Mr. Ashok Rajpal, Managing Director, Ambrane India.

With the launch of PowerMini 20, Ambrane further strengthens its position as India’s largest powerbank brand, now commanding a dominant 25% share of the market and offering the widest portfolio of high-performance, Made-in-India powerbanks.

HCLTech Marks 49th Anniversary with 49,000 Saplings Planted Across India

NOIDA, India, August 12, 2025 — HCLFoundation, which drives the corporate social responsibility initiatives of global technology company HCLTech, today commemorated the 49th anniversary of HCL Group with a large-scale plantation drive, planting 49,000 saplings across India. The initiative spanned major cities including Noida, Nagpur, Pune, Bengaluru and Lucknow.

The initiative saw enthusiastic participation from HCLTech employees, their families, nonprofit partners, women’s collectives and community members. This united effort reflected the spirit of shared responsibility and inclusive action, reinforcing HCLTech’s deep-rooted commitment to sustainability and ecological responsibility.

“As we celebrate 49 years of innovation and impact, this plantation drive stands as a powerful expression of our environmental stewardship. With over 3.2 million saplings planted, 73,000 acres of land restored, and 107 billion liters of water harvested, we reaffirm our belief that technology and sustainability must go hand in hand — nurturing not just progress, but a thriving planet and resilient communities. Thanks to everyone who joined in to help us grow a greener future,” said Dr. Nidhi Pundhir, SVP, Global CSR, HCLTech and Director, HCLFoundation.

GoTo Integrates LogMeIn Resolve with SentinelOne for Enhanced Endpoint Security

India, August 12, 2025: GoTo, the leader in cloud communications and IT, today announced its latest integration for LogMeIn Resolve with the SentinelOne Singularity® Platform for endpoint detection and response (EDR). The integration provides Managed Service Providers (MSPs) and IT departments with access to unified, AI-powered security capabilities to seamlessly monitor, analyze, and respond to threats directly within the Resolve console for a seamless experience.

The average global cost of a data breach is now $4.9 million, making it more important than ever for IT teams and MSPs to utilize robust security solutions as part of their core IT infrastructure. The integration enables LogMeIn Resolve customers to get ahead of risks by layering SentinelOne EDR onto Resolve’s security-first capabilities, including a first-of-its-kind zero trust architecture and simplified patch management features.

Highlights of the new integration include:

• Accelerated Threat Detection: Further delivering on a unified management experience, uncover both known and unknown malicious activities – including ransomware, file-based threats, and zero-day vulnerabilities – with threat details in the Resolve console.
• 24/7 Intelligent Monitoring: Harness around-the-clock monitoring of endpoint activities to detect and respond to threats faster. Alerts are highlighted within a single pane of glass view alongside agents’ day-to-day endpoint management workflows.
• Real-Time Response to Incidents: Respond instantly from Resolve to remediate any detected threat, mitigating risks and minimizing impact.
• Enhanced Forensic Capabilities: Capture and analyze granular event logs, telemetry, and root cause data to facilitate comprehensive incident investigations and detailed threat postmortems.

“Security is non-negotiable in today’s IT landscape, and effective incident response relies on tools that deliver both speed and clarity,” said Joseph George, General Manager of IT Solutions Group at GoTo. “Our integration with SentinelOne’s industry-leading EDR streamlines the response process and provides businesses and MSPs with the unified, actionable insights and automation they need to stay ahead of modern threats, all within the trusted LogMeIn Resolve environment.”

Cohesity Launches New Partner Program to Accelerate Partner Success

INDIA , August 12, 2025 : Cohesity, the leader in AI-powered data security, introduced the Cohesity Aspire Partner Program, a new, unified framework built for the modern partner landscape. Aspire aims to simplify how partners across diverse business models and routes to market can engage with Cohesity to drive profitability, unlock new revenue streams, and access certifications and training.

“The Cohesity Aspire Partner Program significantly transforms how we do business with partners across India and SAARC, and enable them to succeed,” said Mayank Mishra, regional director of Sales for India and SAARC, Cohesity. “We’ve taken a future-forward approach. This empowers faster growth, profitability, and opportunities to stand out in today’s competitive market. It also provides flexibility for partners to ease into emerging technologies like AI or make future shifts in their business model to meet changing market demands. Just as important, Aspire has been purposefully designed with customers in mind to ensure they have complete confidence in knowing their solution is being delivered by a proven and trusted Cohesity partner.”

The Cohesity partner ecosystem encompasses all partner types including Resell, Manage, Integrate, Distribute, OEM Hardware, Embedded OEM, Technology Partners, and Cloud Marketplace. Aspire participants can qualify for Premier, Preferred, or Associate tier levels with corresponding benefits. The umbrella program also features an authorized distributor component geared towards bringing more value to Cohesity resellers. All facets of the program are aimed at providing a modern, integrated, built-for-scale experience, starting with a centralized, easy-to-use portal that serves as the gateway to resources and enablement tools.

Underscoring Cohesity’s commitment to accelerating partner success, the program represents an investment in partners across three dimensions:

• Profitable growth – offers competitive margins, rewards for partner-sourced deals, and performance-based incentives to support partners at every stage of the sales cycle, including joint-go-to-market execution, co-selling, co-branding, pipeline sharing, and marketing and demand generation resources.

• Technical strength – facilitates role-based partner learning opportunities and exclusive Cohesity Accreditations. Multiple certifications further allow technical professionals to demonstrate their Cohesity data management skills and mastery for real-world environments. A special Cohesity Aces program additionally recognizes top technical partner experts and brings them into the heart of Cohesity innovation with privileged access, hands-on virtual labs, and more.

• Differentiation – provides multiple paths for expanding partner services and tapping into new revenue streams through partner-delivered professional services, authorized training partner certification, or building and bringing new solutions to market with Cohesity as a Professional-level or Elite-level Cohesity Technology Partner.

“Cohesity continues to lead the way in helping organisations strengthen their cyber resiliency in the face of escalating threats,” said Atul Gosar, Director, Network Techlab (India) Limited. “Their innovative, AI-driven approach to data security and rapid recovery sets them apart in the market. We’re proud to deepen our partnership and bring these critical capabilities to our customers, empowering them to protect, detect, and recover with confidence—today and into the future.”

Deepak Jadhav, Director, VDA Infosolutions Pvt. Ltd, said, “Cohesity’s new partner program sets a new benchmark for collaboration, innovation, and mutual growth. It’s clear that Cohesity is deeply invested in the success of its partners — not just today, but for the long term. We’re proud to deepen our relationship and look forward to delivering market leading AI driven data security solutions together for years to come.”

Japan’s Terra Motors Enters MP with L5 EV Auto, Opens First Dealership in Indore

Indore, 11th August 2025: Japanese electric vehicle manufacturer Terra Motors has marked its entry into Madhya Pradesh with the launch of its first L5 high-speed electric auto dealership in Indore. The move is part of the company’s strategy to tap into the state’s growing EV adoption and strengthen its footprint in one of India’s top five three-wheeler markets.

Terra Motors has been active in India’s electric three-wheeler e-rickshaw segment for over a decade. The brand is optimistic about its prospects in Madhya Pradesh, citing strong dealer interest and competitive product offerings. In recent months, Terra Motors has witnessed prominent EV dealers switching from other OEMs to join its network, attracted by its pricing, brand trust, and support infrastructure.

The newly appointed Indore dealer — previously a top-selling partner for another leading OEM — made the switch to Terra, citing competitive pricing, in-house financing through Terra Finance, and the trust of Japanese brand as key reasons.

Terra Motors has already forged partnerships with several major three-wheeler dealers in Uttar Pradesh and plans to replicate this growth strategy in Madhya Pradesh. With on-road prices starting at ₹3.74 lakh and a range of up to 200 km on a single charge, the company aims to make high-speed electric mobility accessible and profitable for both drivers and dealers.

“Madhya Pradesh is a key market for us,” a Terra Motors spokesperson said. “With its sizeable three-wheeler base and rising EV adoption, we see significant potential to grow here. Our dealer-first approach, backed by Japanese trust and easy financing, is the foundation of our expansion plan. We are actively seeking dealer partners across Madhya Pradesh to join our network and be part of this growth story.”

The Indore dealership launch signals the beginning of Terra Motors’ larger push across central India, with more outlets planned in key MP cities in the coming months.

CrowdStrike Launches New Services to Secure AI Systems and Operationalize AI in the SOC

CrowdStrike announced two new expert-led offerings as part of its expanding AI Security Services portfolio: AI Systems Security Assessment and AI for SecOps Readiness. Expanding on CrowdStrike’s AI Red Team Services introduced in 2024, these services help organizations secure the AI systems powering modern business and safely integrate AI into security operations.

As organizations adopt LLMs, copilots, and agentic tools, they face a rapidly expanding attack surface with new risks such as shadow AI, misconfigurations, and autonomous agents acting as non-human identities operating with privileged access. At the same time, adversaries are using AI to automate reconnaissance, generate highly effective phishing content, and bypass traditional defenses. CrowdStrike’s new AI Security Services deliver expert-led guidance for operating securely in the AI era, helping organizations both secure AI and use AI to accelerate detection, response, and decision making across the SOC.

“Security teams are under pressure on both sides, to protect rapidly evolving AI systems and to bring AI into the SOC without introducing new risk,” said Tom Etheridge, chief global services officer, CrowdStrike. “These services are purpose-built to meet that dual challenge head-on, combining the power of the Falcon platform, threat intelligence, and expert guidance to help organizations reduce risk, improve resilience, and move faster with confidence.”

AI Systems Security Assessment

The AI Systems Security Assessment provides organizations with a clear understanding of how AI is being used across their environment, where risk exists, and how to strengthen governance and protections. Built on the foundation of CrowdStrike’s AI Red Team Services and Falcon® platform capabilities such as Falcon® Shield, Falcon Cloud Security AI-SPM, and AI Model Scanning, this new service brings technical depth and real-world insight into securing AI systems. Key capabilities include:

● AI Risk Discovery Powered by Falcon: Provides real-time visibility into AI usage across SaaS, cloud, and endpoint environments – surfacing shadow AI, misconfigurations, and hidden exposure, including autonomous agents with privileged access, through Falcon-native telemetry.

● Threat-informed AI Testing: Assesses model and system risk using internal benchmarking tools that emulate real-world adversary tactics.

● Actionable AI Governance and Architecture Guidance: Delivers strategic recommendations to improve governance and secure the architecture for LLMs and agent-based systems – reducing risk and complexity across AI deployments.

AI for SecOps Readiness

The AI for SecOps Readiness service helps security teams safely and effectively use AI to operate at machine speed across detection, investigation, and response workflows. As adversaries accelerate with AI, defenders must modernize their operations to keep pace. This service helps organizations assess AI readiness, prioritize use cases, and develop a secure path to AI adoption.

Key capabilities include:

● SOC Readiness Assessment: Evaluates staffing, tooling, workflows, and governance to assess AI readiness across detection, investigation, and response.

● Use Case Identification and Design: Pinpoints high-impact opportunities to apply AI – from alert triage to investigation – tailored to organizational maturity and operating environment.

● Strategic Guidance and Architecture Planning: Includes reference architectures, integration strategies, and “build vs. buy” recommendations to support responsible, scalable AI adoption.

● Actionable Roadmap for AI in the SOC: Delivers a prioritized integration plan for both Falcon-native and third-party AI tools – with clear guidance to reduce risk, streamline adoption, and drive operational outcomes.