Escaro Royale Redefines Men’s Footwear with the launch of AirFlexLite

New Delhi: 6th October 2023: Escaro Royale, a premium men’s footwear brand, has unveiled its latest AirFlexLite collection for men with a focus on comfort. The newly launched collection seamlessly blends formal elegance with sneaker-like comfort, offering the ultimate solution for men seeking lightweight, comfortable, and stylish footwear that can be worn from dawn to dusk.

Say goodbye to clunky footwear weighing you down. Crafted in Italy, and made in India, the AirFlexLite collection comes with a wide range of shoes with each shoe weighing less than 300 grams making them amongst the lightest leather shoes on earth. Priced from INR 9999 up to INR 20,000, the collection has memory foam insoles that help eliminate the discomfort and foot pain associated with formal footwear.

Crafted from high-quality brushed leather, each shoe from the collection requires minimal daily maintenance, ensuring a hassle-free ownership experience. The European handcrafting methods and the application of a special epoxy finish make AirFlexLite shoes stylish and durable, ensuring they can be a part of the wardrobe for years to come. The shoes are versatile and ensure an effortless transition from office to leisure.

Mr. Ambud Sharma, who serves as the Global CEO and General Manager of Business Development at Escaro Royale, said, the launch of AirFlexLite represents a monumental milestone in the brand’s journey. This achievement is the result of an intensive collaboration with young urban professionals, wherein we’ve discerned the precise attributes they demand in footwear to cater to their bustling lives. These inclinations encompass a design that feels nearly weightless, exceptional cushioning, adaptability in style, and a contemporary interpretation of age-old craftsmanship. Each shoe, weighing less than 300 grams, utilizes a specially engineered composite sole to ensure an exquisite user experience. These attributes have been seamlessly woven into the AirFlexLite, an exceptional shoe that harmoniously fuses the qualities of a formal shoe, a sneaker, and laid-back footwear, presenting the epitome of adaptability and comfort for the modern, fast-paced lifestyle.

Sustainability is at the core of Escaro Royale as the collection is designed keeping the environment in mind. Lightweight footwear with 30% recycled materials, not only reduces the shipping cost but also lowers the carbon footprint. The use of sustainable, non-toxic vegetable paints further emphasizes the brand’s commitment to a greener planet. That’s not it, the orders are shipped in 100% recycled packaging.

Ancestry to showcase its exquisite festive collection at Soho House, Mumbai

Mumbai, October 2023: Ancestry, the revered name in fashion, is set to unveil its highly-anticipated festive collection, promising a day of unparalleled elegance and craftsmanship. The event is scheduled for Saturday, October 7th, 2023, from 12:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and will take place at the iconic Soho House in Juhu, Mumbai. Renowned personalities Malini Agarwal, Jasleen Sabharwal, Aiana Jain, and Anandita De will grace the event with their presence, adding to the excitement.

Ancestry’s fresh launch is about the contemporary ode to timeless craftsmanship. From graceful lehengas, floral printed kurtas, exceptional co-ords, to the best of statement pieces, this collection caters to the discerning tastes of every fashion connoisseur. Ancestry’s commitment to excellence shines through in every piece, making it the perfect choice for fashion enthusiasts seeking timeless elegance.

The festive collection seamlessly blends elegance with versatility, designed to complement the idea of Live, Work, Play. Each garment in the collection reflects Ancestry’s dedication to creating fashion that is not just beautiful but also functional, ensuring you look and feel your best, no matter the occasion.

The intricate textures of brocade, the vibrant hues of Himalayan flowers, and the beauty of miniature paintings inspire Ancestry’s designers. This event promises an exclusive preview of Ancestry’s latest creations, with the opportunity to witness the intricate craftsmanship that goes into each piece.

Tulsi Tea launches Drive Safe Awareness campaign

Tulsi Tea, one of Gujarat’s most beloved tea brands, has launched a new campaign with the aim of promoting safe driving. The initiative comes in the wake of vehicle drivers, passengers and pedestrians continuing to suffer injuries and losing their lives in road accidents in Gujarat and elsewhere on an almost daily basis.

The “Drive Safe Awareness” campaign with the powerful tagline “Ungh Udavo, Gaadi Nahin” (Let drowsiness fly, not your vehicle) strategically displayed on auto hoods seeks to spread the important message of safe driving and encourages people to follow traffic rules. The campaign is active in Mehsana, Patan, and Veraval in Somnath.

Haresh Kathrotiya, Managing Director of Tulsi Tea, said, “Our Drive Safe Awareness campaign aims to convey the crucial message of responsible and alert driving. There is ample evidence to show that a majority of road accidents and the resultant loss of lives can be prevented through safe driving and adherence to traffic rules. We believe that beyond the branding impressions, our campaign has the potential to positively influence behaviour. By raising awareness about the dangers of drowsy and rash driving, we hope to contribute to safer roads and reduced accidents with this campaign.”

The campaign’s message “Ungh Udavo, Gaadi Nahin” emphasises the importance of safe driving, and encourages drivers to prioritise alertness and drowsiness-free driving by sipping Tulsi Tea for energising themselves. The campaign has been very well-received by the people.

Tulsi Tea opted for auto hood branding for the campaign to ensure the message travels across the cities and makes a strong visual impact. Simultaneously, Tulsi Team aims to leverage digital platforms to expand the campaign’s reach using engaging social media content, visuals, and videos to reinforce the message of safe and responsible driving.

Reserve Bank of India decided to keep the repo rate unchanged before the festive season

Today, the Reserve Bank of India, under the leadership of RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das, has made a significant decision to maintain the stability of the repo rate in anticipation of the upcoming festive season. RBI declared that there will be no alterations to the repo rate, and it will continue to stand at 6.5 percent. It is worth noting that experts had previously anticipated that in light of factors such as inflation and global conditions, there might be a choice to keep the repo rate unchanged. This decision has been welcomed by the real estate sector, which is now optimistic about achieving favorable outcomes during the festive season.

Manoj Gaur, CMD Gaurs Group and President CREDAI NCR

Even though the real estate sector would have wished for a rollback, RBI maintaining the status quo on the repo rate is a laudable step. With festival season around the corner and consumer sentiment high, the sector will continue performing well. However, the current figure is still at an all-time high. Therefore, we hope that RBI succeeds in its intention to curb inflation, and we may witness the low-rate regime again.

Amit Modi, Director, County Group

RBI’s move to keep the repo rate unchanged is an appreciable move as this would bring a boost to the already growing real estate industry. With the festive season around the corner and buyers showing keen interest in real estate investments, the stable interest rates would further encourage their participation in the transactions. This would foster considerable investment in both residential and commercial segments of the real estate.

Nayan Raheja, Raheja Developers

RBI’s commitment to maintain the repo rates has been in resonance with the hope of buyers. This will encourage the real estate market, with buyers from every walk of life approaching to make an investment in the auspicious festive season. The rates have been stable at 6.50% for the past few months, showcasing RBI’s measure to balance inflation without burning a hole in buyers’ pockets. This move is profitable for both developers and buyers.

Kushagr Ansal, Director, Ansal Housing

With the festive season approaching, the Reserve Bank of India’s praiseworthy choice to retain repo rates at their current levels brings significant advantages to the real estate sector. This decision ensures stability and a foreseeable climate, which in turn appeals to investors and fosters enduring investment initiatives. The decision to maintain repo rates at their current level means that borrowing expenses for both homebuyers and developers will stay consistent, establishing a favourable atmosphere for real estate investments.

Ashwinder R Singh, CEO of Residential Bhartiya Urban

In the backdrop of steadfast repo rates, controlled EMIs, and robust developer funding, the Indian housing and real estate sector stands on solid ground. With healthy economic indicators and anticipated strong corporate earnings, our future is bright. As crude prices cool, the Indian economy benefits. We foresee a promising era for the sector, driven by stability and optimism.

Rajesh K Saraf, MD, Axiom Landbase

The decision by the Reserve Bank of India to keep the current interest rates unchanged represents a positive move aimed at alleviating the financial burden on prospective homebuyers. In recent months, the notable increase in monthly EMIs has placed significant constraints on the budgets of individuals from middle and lower-income groups who aspire to become homeowners. By maintaining a stable interest rate environment, there is an optimistic outlook that these potential buyers will feel encouraged to proceed with their plans to buy a home.

Uddhav Poddar, MD, Bhumika Group

The unchanged repo rates will further encourage more customer engagement in commercial real estate. With the festive season set to begin, buyers are already prepared to book their spaces to mark an auspicious beginning. Stable repo rates have strengthened their decision as the interest rates would remain the same without putting a burden on them. RBI has made a smart move to balance inflation as well as encourage investments through this announcement.

Tejpreet Singh Gill, MD, Gillco Group

“The unchanging repo rates, a policy that greatly benefits the markets by ensuring a stable rate and a supportive posture, persist. However, there are specific challenges within the real estate market that require addressing. With the festive season on the horizon, this decision will serve as a blessing for the real estate sector.

Mr. Sanjeev Arora, Director- 360 Realtors

RBI has kept the repo rate unaltered; however, it could have thought otherwise. The Indian economy is showing resilience and there is a visible growth in the manufacturing and service sectors. Inflation has eased out in September despite turmoil in the global economy. India is poised to become the growth engine of the global economy. In such a conducive environment, the central agency could have thought to increase liquidity in the market by lowering the repo rate. It should have helped in the long run.

Mohit Goel, MD Omaxe Group

One year ago, the repo rate was 5.9% (September 2022). Despite RBI maintaining the status quo in the last few MPC meets, including the current quarter, the Repo Rate at 6.5% is still high. Even though the real estate sector has remained unaffected and continues performing well, we hope RBI meets its objective of reining inflation. On a positive note, the RBI’s stance imparts the sector with the hope that the chances of a rate increase in the future are slim.

Salil Kumar, Director CRC Group

RBI’s decision to maintain the repo rates at 6.5% will bring positive developments in the real estate sector. Less volatility in the loan interest rates would increase buyer and developer confidence, fostering long-term growth. The development of both residential and commercial real estate developments is accelerated by lower financing rates, which also boost employment in the construction industry. Interest rate stability will boost investment across a range of markets, from first-time buyers to middle-class strata.

Radheecka Rakesh Garg, Director, Rajdarbar Realty

The decision by RBI not to increase the repo rate will catalyse the housing sale in Diwali. Since the festival season is considered an auspicious time in the country to buy a home, it will boost the festive spirit and the realty sector, and we expect massive traction in housing sale in the coming months.

Prateek Mittal, Executive Director of Sushma Group

RBI has decided to maintain the repo rate for the fourth consecutive time and kept it unchanged at 6.5%. This reflects RBI’s confidence in the economic outlook. Potential home buyers will directly benefit from this move as there will be no increase in loan interest rates. This step will ensure that the real estate sector is able to reach new heights without facing any financial challenges. It is a step to provide relief to the common man and home buyers.

Pankaj Kumar Jain, Director, KW Group

RBI has kept the repo rate unchanged at 6.5 bps only, which was highly anticipated. However, a cut would have been an ideal scenario for buyers and the sector, considering the festival season is around the corner and lowering of interest rate would have bolstered the already high demand but the RBI targets to keep the Inflation 4 per cent only hence a cut was not done.

EaseMyTrip Teams Up with Cover Genius to Offer Convenient and Flexible Embedded Protection to Global Travelers

India, Oct 6th, 2023: EaseMyTrip.com, one of India’s largest online travel platforms, today announced its strategic partnership with Cover Genius, the insurtech for embedded protection. By integrating with XCover, Cover Genius’ award-winning global distribution platform, EaseMyTrip customers can add Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) travel protection along with the embedded comprehensive travel protection when they book their tickets. Customers will benefit from XCover’s end-to-end customer experience that handles all of the customers’ needs – from the initial sale to administration and claims. Its award-winning service design has shown to reduce support tickets by 7x.‡

CFAR is becoming increasingly popular, with both consumers and online travel agencies (OTAs), because it provides a seamless experience that eliminates paperwork when making any refund request. Additionally, for OTAs, it removes the need for insurance licensing.

Purchasing travel protection is no longer a luxury but a necessity and traditional insurers are not keeping up with the change. A recent survey conducted by Momentive.ai, commissioned by Cover Genius, revealed that 13% of Indian travelers who made a claim for pandemic-related reasons were not covered despite purchasing travel insurance for pandemic protection. Furthermore, 32% of Indian travelers would prefer to buy protection from embedded sources like their travel provider, agent or airline ‒ rather than traditional insurance sources such as credit cards, which deliver a significantly lower post-claim NPS (Net Promoter Score).

Speaking about the partnership, Rikant Pittie, Co-Founder, EaseMyTrip, said, “With an increase in demand for domestic and international travel, Cover Genius has the global expertise we needed to curate tailor-made protection, backed by AI, that offers customers seamless experiences and flexibility. CFAR is a one-of-a-kind solution that will assure our customers in unforeseen circumstances.”

Barney Pierce, SVP, Strategic Partnerships, APAC for Cover Genius said, “Travel protection is no longer an after-thought but a must-have, and not only that, it must now be fit-for-purpose, ready to serve and encourage travelers with protection that covers all manner of uncertainties and ‘what-ifs’. We are excited to partner with EaseMyTrip and offer its customers innovative and bespoke products that are dynamically priced and easily accessible.”

Smarties India 2023 Honours Winners Shaping The Future Of Marketing

Mumbai, October 06, 2023 – The 12th edition of MMA Smarties India Awards 2023, one of the most prestigious events in the marketing industry, concluded with great acclaim, recognizing outstanding achievements in the realm of modern marketing. The awards ceremony, which took place on October 5th, 2023 at Taj Santacruz, Mumbai brought together the finest minds and innovators in the field of marketing.

Sunil Kataria, Smarties India – Jury Chair & Chief Executive Officer, Raymond, commented, “The 12th edition of SMARTIES™ India 2023 Awards has been an extraordinary celebration of marketing innovation and excellence. This year’s shortlisted nominees showcased the ever-evolving landscape of marketing, with campaigns that have redefined the boundaries of innovation and left an indelible mark on our industry. SMARTIES continues to push the envelope by introducing fresh categories and celebrating campaigns that not only drive business impact but also excel in various aspects of modern marketing. As we celebrate the winners at the gala event, I’m inspired by the ingenuity and creativity that have been showcased, and I look forward to how these campaigns will shape the future of marketing excellence in India.”

The evening’s most prestigious accolade, the ‘Brand of the Year,’ was deservedly conferred upon Google Search, a testament to their unmatched innovation and substantial impact. Equally deserving, the ‘Advertiser of the Year’ title found its rightful place in the hands of Mondelez India Foods Private Limited, honouring their outstanding contributions and industry leadership.

Further industry recognition saw Cadbury Silk and Google Search awarded as ‘Grand Prix/Best in Show’; Glance awarded as ‘Enabling Technology Company of the Year,’, alongside notable wins in categories such as ‘Media Agency of the Year’ and ‘Creative Agency of the Year’, by Wavemaker India and Leo Burnett India respectively.

Amazon Ads was celebrated as the ‘Publisher of the Year’ while the esteemed ‘Most Resilient Brand of the Year’ title was claimed by Lay’s, Pepsico India and Leo Burnett India. Notably, the newly introduced categories also saw Schbang and WPP India excel, with wins in ‘Digital Agency of the Year’ and ‘Holding Agency Company of the Year’ respectively, firmly establishing their positions as trailblazers in their respective domains.

In an impressive showcase of marketing excellence, a diverse array of brands emerged triumphant at the SMARTIES India 2023 Awards. The category of Personalisation, often regarded as the vanguard of modern marketing, bore witness to the Gold, Silver, and Bronze Awards being secured by Luminous Power Technologies Pvt. Ltd. and Wavemaker; Mondelez India Foods Pvt. Ltd. and Wavemaker and Mondelez India Foods Pvt. Ltd. and Wavemaker respectively. This impressive feat further solidifies their reputation as pioneers in this dynamic field.

Prabha Narasimhan, Smarties India – Jury Chair & Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer, Colgate-Palmolive (India) Limited, added, “SMARTIES™ India 2023 Awards continue to celebrate creativity, innovation and the strategic acumen behind impactful marketing campaigns. I’m excited to see how these campaigns will continue to inspire and shape the future of marketing excellence in India.”

All SMARTIES winners are listed and ranked in the MMA Business Impact Index, which uses a proprietary methodology developed in partnership with WARC to recognize the best of the best in the Advertising and Marketing industry. It is the first and only global modern marketing index that identifies, ranks and awards top agencies, advertisers, brands and solution providers driving significant business impact.

The MMA Smarties India Awards 2023 spotlighted the categories that garnered the highest number of entries, namely Creator/Influencer/Celebrity Marketing, Data Insights/Contextual Marketing, and Brand Experience within the dynamic realm of modern marketing. The awards were presented in various categories, each showcasing remarkable achievements and ground-breaking strategies that have reshaped the industry.

Moneka Khurana, Smarties India – Jury & Country Head and Board Member of MMA India, expressed her excitement about the 12th edition of SMARTIES™ India 2023 Awards by saying, “The SMARTIES India Awards have consistently showcased the ever-evolving landscape of marketing in India. As we embrace digital transformation and witness innovative approaches in marketing, it’s inspiring to see the diverse and impactful campaigns that have made it to the shortlist this year. These campaigns reflect the spirit of innovation that drives our industry forward and sets the bar higher for future marketers. I’m thrilled to be a part of this celebration of excellence, and I can’t wait to see which campaigns emerge as the champions of innovation in marketing.”

Out of 150 shortlisted entries, representing diverse sectors such as FMCG, OTT, retail, BFSI, technology, and more, a total of 94 metals were handed over at the gala. The winners will also be given digital awards or NFTs which they can claim or prove their contribution to the award and campaign with the information available on the blockchain at any time. The NFT holder will also be eligible to avail of gratifications and access to exclusive assets from MMA Global like events, case studies, seminars, workshops, and more.

Rohit Dadwal, Smarties India – Jury & MMA Board Member and Managing Director APAC- commented, “The SMARTIES™ India 2023 Awards once again underline the pivotal role of modern marketing in shaping the future of our industry. It’s truly inspiring to witness how brands are continuously pushing the boundaries of creativity and harnessing the power of technology to drive innovation and engagement.”

In a ground-breaking move, SMARTIES™ India 2023 introduced the inaugural edition of “Smarties Unplugged.”- a unique pre-gala event that brought together marketing thought leaders who shared innovative and creative work designed to benefit tomorrow’s marketers and cater to the changing mindset of consumers.

Kick-starting the event with a warm welcome by Moneka Khurana, Country Head and Board Member of MMA Global – India, with Tanya Saihgal as the host. The event featured several informative sessions. In the first segment, top SMARTIES India shortlisters engaged in a gamified conversation on Creativity, Content and partnerships and the second part explored Channels, Data and analytics, with nominees discussing marketing strategies in an insightful and enjoyable manner, facilitated by Saurabh Parmar. Saurabh Parmar, an eminent figure in the marketing landscape, hosted two insightful sessions at “Smarties Unplugged.” Key sessions included “Intelligent Effectiveness: Measuring the ROI of AI on Optimization & Personalization” by Rohit Dadwal, MMA Board Member and Managing Director APAC, MMA APAC. Rajeev Raja, Founder and Soundsmith of BrandMusiq, delved into “#TheFutureIsSound” and the role of sonic identities in today’s digital world. The event culminated in “Marketing Excellence Unplugged – Navigating New-Age Trends & Tech,” featuring industry leaders like Vikram Pandey, National Creative Director, Leo Burnett India Devika Sharma, VP and GM – India, InMobi; Sidharth Singh, Lead – Countline & Gifting Marketing, Mondelez India and Rohit Dadwal, MMA Board Member and Managing Director APAC, MMA APAC and other speakers, providing actionable insights for adapting and innovating in the dynamic marketing landscape.

The MMA Smarties India Awards 2023 was a resounding success, celebrating the best and brightest in the world of modern marketing. The innovative campaigns and strategies recognized at this event are a testament to the industry’s ability to adapt and thrive in an ever-changing digital landscape.

Portronics Launches My Buddy Spinlight A Highly Ergonomic Laptop Stand

New Delhi, October 6, 2023: Treat yourself to a brand-new, cutting-edge laptop stand that features a sturdy aluminum frame with 360-degree rotation and an integrated RGB cooling fan. Portronics, a major player in India’s digital and portable consumer electronics market, introduces My Buddy Spinlight, a fantastic portable laptop accessory that will ergonomically improve your body posture by allowing you to use it in different heights and angles while keeping your laptop cool. Enjoy extra hours of intense gaming sessions and tournaments with this superb laptop stand that provides rapid cooling and fast heat dissipation, preventing it from overheating.

What makes My Buddy Spinlight stand out of its category is its fantastic features, superior design, and strong construction. You can ergonomically adjust the height and viewing angles based on your comfortable posture — thanks to the frame’s twin high-quality, long-lasting aluminum alloy arms that move up to 180 degrees. My Buddy Spinlight is foldable and has a sturdy design making it easy to take with you anywhere to work, office, or even on the move. It can easily support up to 8Kg in weight and is extremely compatible with laptops (and tablets) up to 17″.

The Z-shape design of My Buddy Spinlight is perfect for height customization and silicone pads to prevent your laptop (or tablet) from slipping. The laptop stand also features a powerful 1200 RPM cooling fan with RGB Lights and 10 programmable modes that will make your workstation simply stand out, drawing attention from everyone, whether they are friends, co-workers, or clients. Moreover, thanks to its 360° rotating base, your laptop can easily rotate around to face any direction so you may work on it or present your work as needed.

inDrive’s Set Your Price Feature is Simplifying Car Rides in Mumbai

6th October 2023: With more than two billion rides completed across the world, inDrive, a global mobility, urban services and community development platform, is disrupting the ride-sharing industry in India by allowing passengers and drivers to negotiate fairer fares among themselves. Available in Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Chandigarh, Pune, Ahmedabad, Surat, Lucknow, Ludhiana, Jaipur and Bhopal inDrive has been giving customers the liberty to set the price for their rides.

Challenging injustice by creating fairer solutions to address the existing gaps in underserved markets has become a crucial part of inDrive’s global expansion strategy.

“Our focus is on creating a secure and user-friendly environment for all participants. Safety is paramount, and we actively encourage feedback to maintain the highest standards of safety throughout all journeys facilitated by our platform. To uphold our commitment to safety, we have introduced the Safety Pact – an initiative empowering users with dedicated features, tips, and a code of conduct for drivers and passengers. We promote mutual respect and have a zero-tolerance policy for discrimination. By pursuing expansion, growth, customer satisfaction, and safety, we are well-positioned to continue delivering great results and making a positive impact in the communities we serve,” added Pavit Nanda Anand, PR Manager – South Asia, inDrive.

inDrive is a “people-driven” app, which means that it was created with both passengers and drivers in mind. It is a platform that enables a fair fee and links passengers and drivers in real-time.

“We did a Driver of the Month Campaign in Q2 this year exclusively for our valuable drivers, to encourage them to take more rides, earn rewards, and earn the prestige of being crowned as the Ultimate Champion Driver. We received a very good response from our driver partners, which encouraged us to come up with more campaigns and driver engagement activities. We have planned some marketing campaigns in Q4 which aim to inspire and motivate our driver community to go the extra mile, setting new standards of excellence in ride-hailing service,” added Avik Karmakar – GTM Manager – South Asia, inDrive.

Evolving over the years, inDriver (Independent Drivers) has transformed to become inDrive (Inner Drive), a marketplace of urban services. InDrive is a people-driven company that believes that there is no technology in the world that can replace human empathy. inDrive exists to prove that ride-hailing apps can and should be more human – because a fair price is something people can agree on, not hope for. The decision on whether to proceed with a ride can be made by considering the fare amount, car type, estimated arrival time, and driver ratings. Drivers can select profitable and convenient requests.

“Our business model is different – we put greater control, transparency, and choice back in the hands of our users. This effectively challenges many injustices that characterise mobility providers, including impersonal algorithms, unfair conditions for drivers, and price manipulation” said Mohan Pradhan – Business Development Manager, inDrive India and Bangladesh.

The global technology company inDrive, known for its innovative peer-to-peer pricing model, announced that it will be expanding its mission of advancing global equity by launching Alternativa Film Project: a global non-profit film initiative dedicated to supporting emerging filmmakers from the Asian region. The programme encompasses three strands: an innovative awards ceremony which recognizes the impact of local feature films, animated films, documentaries, and short films; funding via cash prizes awarded to winners; and training to uplift and upskill the next generation of filmmakers.

Today, inDrive is the second most downloaded mobility app in the world and serves more than 100 million users worldwide in over 700 cities across 48 countries on five continents.

Schneider Electric launches 60 cities Innovation Yatra

New Delhi, October 6, 2023: Schneider Electric, the global leader in the digital transformation of energy management and next-gen automation solutions, today launched the Schneider Electric Innovation Yatra to mark the 60th anniversary of company’s operations in India.

This carbon neutral yatra will travel to 60+ cities in India, aiming to highlight Schneider Electric’s 60-year journey in the country and the continued commitment to support nation building by imparting knowledge around advancements in IoT, Electricity 4.0, Digitization & Sustainability within the Energy management and NextGen automation space. It aims to spread the message of sustainability and digitization by connecting with over 20Mn+ citizens, corporates, industry experts, policymakers, partners, customers, farmers, electricians, institutes, government, and more. The eco-friendly mobile hub is powered by recyclable materials & renewable energy including Luminous solar panels and showcases IOT enabled solutions, connected product offers, journey of the group in India, contribution & commitment to India’s growth and a special ‘Green Yodha’ Sustainability Zone.

Speaking at the launch event, Deepak Sharma, Zone President – Greater India and MD & CEO, Schneider Electric India said, “Our 60 years of presence in India is a testament to our enduring commitment to the nation’s progress. Schneider Electric now has 37000+ employees, 30 manufacturing sites in India, making it the 3rd largest market & one of the 4 global hubs for the group. The Schneider Electric Innovation Yatra is a unique platform to connect & engage with our stakeholders, celebrate our achievements, and showcase our commitment to driving sustainable innovations and digitization. We believe, the vision of building resilient and sustainable India during Amrit Kaal, can be achieved through collaborative actions. I am deeply indebted to our customers, partners and employees for their continued trust and support”

Highlighting the company’s focus on responsible marketing, Rajat Abbi, Vice-President- Global Marketing, Chief Marketing Officer, Schneider Electric India, said, “I am elated to see the launch of the Schneider Electric Innovation Yatra. This carbon neutral Yatra will cover the length and breadth of the country to create awareness around sustainable, digital and NextGen automation solutions. This unique campaign is an extension of our flagship Green Yodha initiative aiming to reach a wider and diverse audience, and have more stakeholders join the good fight against climate change. Our marketing playbook has 4P’s purpose, partnerships, planet and performance and this initiative will have a unique blend of digital, physical, social and omni-channel presence reaching millions of Indians”

Schneider Electric is present in the Indian market with multiple popular brands including Schneider Electric, L&T Electrical & Automation, Luminous, AVEVA, to name a few.

Schneider Electric is a leader in Energy management, NextGen automation and Sustainability solutions for diverse industry segments. L&T Electrical & Automation (E&A) offers a wide range of products, solutions and turnkey services for electricity distribution, automation, and control, across various sectors. Luminous Power Technologies is a trustworthy brand with a wide range of innovative products in the power backup, and residential solar space. AVEVA is a global leader in industrial software, driving digital transformation and sustainability – offering partnership for our customers from Grid to Plug, Equipment to enterprise, component to cloud.

The Schneider Electric Innovation Yatra will connect with India’s diverse ecosystem, from citizens to corporates, from farmers to institutions and more. It aspires to simplify climate change for the masses by showcasing innovative solutions and create Green Yodhas, the climate warriors of tomorrow.

Godrej Storage Solutions Leads the Way in Transforming Indian Warehouses through Automation and Technology

Bangalore, 06 October 2023: Consumerism is rapidly evolving, leading to need for innovation in supply chain strategies and practices and, automation technology is the enabler everyone is looking at to deliver challenging milestones. Godrej Storage Solutions, a business unit of Godrej & Boyce, the flagship company of the Godrej Group, is a market leader in storage systems with 50% of its revenue coming from consumer-driven industries like Retail/ E-com/ FMCG/F&B and consumer durables.

Having recognized this need, the business is proactively aligning to these expectations by creating cutting edge solutions for end-to-end warehousing processes starting from receiving goods to dispatch. Godrej Storage Solutions has made significant investments in human capital for solutions and execution, technologies, and relevant integrating systems through an ecology of supply chain partners. The objective is to deliver higher returns for their customers by enhancing operational efficiency/ productivity through superior standards.

Commenting on these advancements, Vikas Choudaha, Senior Vice President & Business Head, Godrej Storage Solutions, stated, “The potential and possibilities of automation in intralogistics are enormous. Its adoption could vary from simple conveyors systems to cobots to AI/ML driven technologies. Intralogistics space will see an increase in companies adopting and investing in these systems/ technologies as they realize the advantages of it, including increased efficiencies, productivity, accuracy, and cost savings in long run. This will help in bringing down our country’s logistics cost from current 13%-14% of GDP. Godrej Storage Solutions is committed to enable our customers in their endeavor towards efficient warehouse operations at optimal cost.”

With warehouses getting larger and taller for large-scale operations, seamless integration of operations becomes a necessity. Repetitive activities like point-to-point transfer, loading and unloading of standardized packs necessitate deployment of automation as a concept where the likes of automated battery- operated pallet trucks (ABOPTs), AMRs, robotic palletizers and packing machines are becoming critical to operations. Human interventions are avoided by integrating bar code scanner & readers for material identification. Complete visibility and traceability of every SKU is made possible by WMS and ERP systems, while real-time data gathering, analysis, and decision-making are made possible by IoT and cloud computing. Such automation and digitization enable jobs to be done with accuracy and speed thereby enhancing throughput and productivity.

While using technologies to automate intralogistics activities has many advantages, integrating them with existing warehouse/existing workflow needs to be taken care of. Godrej Storage Solutions ensures this through a meticulous process of understanding customers’ current & future warehousing requirements and creating an adaptable solution design. This is possible because of the in-depth knowledge of warehousing operations across sectors, advancements in the technologies involved, and the ability to synthesize all these effectively.