Category technology

Bengaluru 4, September 2024: Suzuki Motorcycle India Pvt. Ltd. (SMIPL), the two-wheeler subsidiary of Suzuki Motor Corporation, Japan, today announced its sales for August 2024.

The company recorded a total sale of 1,04,800 units in August 2024, marking a year-on-year growth of 1% compared to 103,336 units sold in August 2023. Maintaining the growth momentum, the domestic sales grew 5% to 87,480 units in the month from 83,045 units sold in the same period last year. Parallelly, SMIPL exported 17,320 units in August 2024 against 20,291 units exported in the same month a year ago.

Commenting on the sales performance of August’24, Mr. Devashish Handa, Executive Vice President – Sales, Marketing and After Sales, Suzuki Motorcycle India Pvt. Ltd. said, “August has been yet another month of the continual YOY monthly growth trend that we have been experiencing in our domestic sale for which we would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to our customers for their continuous patronage and to our dealerships for their consistent effort to provide customer experience in line with expectations. As we approach the festive season, we are ready to meet the increasing demand and continue delivering excellence in both products and services.”

New Delhi, September 04, 2024 – BOULT, India’s No 1 Rated Audio brand, a pioneer in audio technology, proudly announces the launch of three groundbreaking soundbars, the Bassbox X60, Bassbox X250, and Bassbox X500. These soundbars promise to deliver a powerful yet balanced audio experience, seamlessly blending timeless design with cutting-edge technology for unparalleled performance and refined elegance.

All speakers in the series share a commitment to superior audio quality, featuring BoomXTM technology for deep, studio-quality bass and advanced Bluetooth connectivity for seamless pairing. They are equipped with multiple input modes, including Bluetooth, AUX, USB, and HDMI(ARC), ensuring compatibility with a wide range of devices. The Bassbox speakers also include a DSP chip for enhanced audio processing, along with EQ modes tailored for different listening experiences such as music, movies, and news in different environments.

The Bassbox X60 takes your audio experience to the next level with its 60W rated output and integrated DSP for enhanced sound quality. This 2.1 channel speaker is compatible with a wide range of devices, offering multiple input options, including Bluetooth V5.4, AUX, USB, and HDMI(ARC). With EQ modes tailored for music, movies, and news, and a master remote control, the Bassbox X60 is designed for seamless integration into your home entertainment setup.

The Bassbox X250 delivers powerful sound with a 250W rated output, Dolby Digital sound, and a dedicated DSP. This 2.1 channel speaker, with its subwoofer, offers an immersive audio experience with BoomXTM technology for deep bass. With Bluetooth V5.3, AUX, USB, Optical, and HDMI(ARC) connectivity, the Bassbox X250 is perfect for elevating your home audio system, whether you’re watching movies, listening to music, or gaming.

The Bassbox X500 is the ultimate sound system, offering a staggering 500W rated output with Dolby Digital sound and a 5.1 channel setup. Equipped with a DSP chip and dedicated IOP core, this speaker system ensures high-fidelity audio processing up to 96KHz. With five full-range drivers and multiple connectivity options, including Bluetooth V5.3 and HDMI(ARC), the Bassbox X500 is designed for those who demand the best in surround sound and bass performance. Along with this, the Bassbox X500 also comes with two additional rear satellites to enhance the overall audio experience.

By –  Srivatsan Santhanam, Vice President, Spend Engineering, Head of Concur R&D, SAP Labs India

3rd September 2024: In today’s competitive business landscape, managing expenses efficiently is crucial for companies operating on thin margins. Every purchase poses a risk, and poorly managed invoices and expense reports can lead to a loss of insight and control over spending. Fortunately, innovations in the payment space are transforming expense management, making processes more integrated, automated, and secure.

Here are some key innovations that are revolutionizing spend management through the use of advanced expense management APIs.

1. Benefits of Automated Expense Management

Expense reports are often a dreaded task for both employees and finance teams. A past SAP survey revealed that nearly one in four business travellers would rather endure a cavity filling than complete expense reports. Traditionally tedious and time-consuming, this process can be vastly improved through automation.

Modern expense management allow employees to take pictures of the receipts for automatic entry, itemization, and categorization. Business AI enables accurate capture of details such as the transaction amount, date, vendor, expense type, and location, then match them to the corresponding entries. Intelligent notifications flag missing receipts or alert users when reports are ready for submission, streamlining the entire process.

Manual expense management methods are error-prone and inefficient. APIs leverage AI to capture spending at the source, providing real-time visibility into each transaction. By tracking relevant metrics, these APIs offer a comprehensive view of spending, enabling stakeholders to make informed decisions and positively impact the bottom line.

2. Integration of Corporate Cards and Virtual Payment Solutions with Enhanced Compliance

Integrating corporate cards and virtual payment solutions with expense management brings simplicity, efficiency, and security to the expense management process. Purchases made on corporate cards are automatically captured and populated in the system, with users notified immediately if additional information is needed to ensure compliance and accuracy in processing expense reports. The pandemic has accelerated the adoption of digital payments, and the trend is expected to continue, with the global virtual card market projected to triple by 2030, according to Vantage Market Research.

Virtual payment methods eliminate the need to share sensitive credit card details with vendors and provide greater control and visibility into spending. Expense management can integrate with leading virtual card platforms, embedding virtual card functionality into workflows. This integration allows businesses to pay easily, quickly, and securely without needing new cards, contracts, or settlement processes. Finance teams can focus on exceptions rather than examining every charge, cutting valuable hours off end-of-month reporting.

Implementing AI in these payment methods further enhances compliance and security. AI can automatically trigger exceptions for review, perform audits to ensure compliance, and validate payments quickly, resulting in near-immediate reimbursement and addressing one of the most universal pain points of the expense process. Businesses can trust that their financial operations are secure and compliant, reducing the risk of fraud and errors. This comprehensive integration reduces the burden on employees and organizations, allowing them to focus on more critical tasks while ensuring efficiency, security, and compliance in their financial operations.

3. Generative AI for Collaborative Intelligence

Looking ahead, generative AI has the potential to further streamline expense management processes. By analyzing patterns that might go unnoticed by humans, generative AI can provide data-backed recommendations, such as the ideal time to book travel or the optimal dates to minimize costs. These insights enable companies to use their resources more effectively, enhancing financial planning and decision-making.

Conclusion: Transforming Expense Management

Innovations in the Expense Management space, such as Business AI, automation, and virtual payments, are transforming and reimaging the way expenses are managed. Advanced expense management solutions like SAP Concur offer a more integrated, intelligent, automated, and secure process, providing finance teams with better visibility and control over spending. Employees benefit from faster reimbursements and a streamlined expense reporting process, creating a more efficient and satisfying experience.
These advancements help businesses operating on thin margins mitigate risks associated with purchases and improve overall spend management. By adopting these innovative tools, organizations can navigate the complexities of travel and expense management more effectively, ensuring financial stability and growth.

03rd September 2024: AET Displays, a renowned industry expert in fine-pitch LED displays, has announced its participation in InfoComm India 2024, taking place from September 3-5 at the Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai. As one of the most anticipated events in the AV and technology calendar, InfoComm India 2024 will bring together over 12,000 industry professionals, providing a vibrant platform to explore the latest advancements in audiovisual and tech solutions.

This year’s InfoComm India promises to be a dynamic convergence of innovation and expertise, connecting senior decision-makers with groundbreaking technologies and offering a unique opportunity to engage with global professionals. Attendees will benefit from immersive experiences, cutting-edge technology showcases, and insightful discussions designed to foster networking and business growth. AET Displays Limited, a prominent player in the LED display industry, will take centre stage at this prestigious event, presenting its latest advancements in LED technology. With a reputation for pushing the boundaries of visual excellence, AET will showcase its flagship fine-pitch LED displays, alongside its innovative MiniLED and MicroLED solutions.

Mr. Su Piow Ko, CEO, India of AET Displays (India), expressed enthusiasm about their participation, saying, “We are thrilled to be a part of InfoComm India 2024, a premier event that embodies the spirit of innovation in the AV industry. Our presence at the event highlights our dedication to advancing LED display technology and pushing the boundaries of visual excellence. Our fine-pitch, MiniLED, and MicroLED solutions exemplify the highest standards of clarity and performance, setting new benchmarks in the industry. We are eager to showcase how these cutting-edge technologies can revolutionize business environments and elevate audience experiences. Notably, InfoComm India offers us a unique platform to engage with key industry stakeholders, build meaningful connections, and collaborate on transformative projects. It is an invaluable opportunity to exchange insights and explore new avenues for growth and innovation in visual communication.”

Founded in 2015, AET Displays Limited has swiftly emerged as a dominant force in the LED display industry. The company’s strategic integration into the Guangda Group in 2019 bolstered its market position and enhanced its technological prowess. Since its official entry into the Indian market on October 26, 2023, AET Displays has rapidly expanded its presence, deploying over 25,000 square meters of LED displays across a wide array of sectors. These sectors include government institutions, media, retail, education, healthcare, transportation hubs, advertising, NOC rooms, surveillance facilities, and the cinema industry, where AET’s innovative solutions have made a significant impact.

AET’s extensive reach in India is supported by a robust network of over 80 partners and distributors, along with an assembly plant, three offices, three customer experience centres, and five service centres strategically located across the country. This infrastructure ensures that AET can provide comprehensive support and unparalleled accessibility to its customers.

At InfoComm India 2024, visitors will have the unique opportunity to experience AET’s cutting-edge technologies firsthand. The company will be showcasing its industry-leading fine-pitch LED displays, which continue to set new benchmarks in visual technology, offering unmatched clarity and performance that redefine the possibilities of digital displays.

New Delhi, 03 September 2024: Mayuri e-Rickshaws, Saera’s flagship brand and one of India’s largest and leading EV manufacturers, reveals its plan to ramp up and expand its dealership network across the country to further strengthen its presence while offering a deeper & wider service area for its range of electric rickshaws. With over 700 dealerships currently operational, the company plans on closing this fiscal with over 1200 showrooms, adding 500 new dealerships. The expansion is a strategic initiative to meet the growing market demand for the category and for the brand by its customers across India.

This aggressive expansion plan comes into play to assist Saera’s ambitious target to achieve 50,000 retail units by the end of the fiscal year. This comes as a significant leap from its retail volumes in the last fiscal which amounted to over 33,000 units (source: Vahan Data). Mayuri aims at capturing a market share of 10%, a healthy growth from its share in FY 23-24 which accounted for a 6% market share in its category. The company says it’s well on track to achieve stated targets as this year’s Q1 results grew by 50% at over 10,500 units vis-à-vis 7,000 units sold in Q1 FY 23-24.

Announcing the plan, Mr. Nitin Kapoor, MD, Saera Electric Auto Limited, said, “As the Indian EV market grows, the demand for Electric 3-wheelers grows with it. The applications of E3Ws today are far more diverse, and cater to a wider range of consumers, and with the ever-evolving technology advancements, the value for money derived from these vehicles is at an all-time high. The expansion is part of our growth strategy, but the core of it remains the growing need of consumers and businesses and our efforts to offer them the best in the market. Mayuri is India’s 1st e-rickshaw company and since its inception, it has offered industry-leading technology solutions, several industry-first features, superior quality and performance, and aided in providing livelihood opportunities to millions of Indians. Our focus on innovation and sustainability has positioned us as a market leader and we have taken measures right from our R&D cell to our Supply Chain, our Service Network to our Assembly line to ensure continuity delivering on our promise to all partners and customers.”

Saera’s continued innovation and strategic growth plans are well aligned with the Government of India’s vision of promoting electric mobility and sustainability across the nation. By expanding its reach and doubling down on quality & customer satisfaction, the company is rightly positioned to maintain its leadership in the Electric 3-wheeler segment.

Bengaluru, September 2, 2024: Nippon Paint, Asia Pacific’s No. 1 paint and coating company by revenue, participated in Prawaas 2024, India’s flagship multimodal transport show which was held between 29th to 31st August in Bengaluru. The fourth edition of the event was organized by the Bus & Car Operators Confederation of India (BOCI). The event was attended by more than 100 expert speakers, 200 leading exhibitors, 10000 business visitors.

During the event, Nippon Paint showcased its extensive range of innovative and futuristic paint solutions designed specifically for the commercial vehicle industry. These include functional coatings to reduce emissions, heat and dust as well as product systems to optimize productivity including certain patented product lines. The company also combined its high-tech products with world leading AI technologies for colour correction and development, VR software for painting simulation and automated robotic paint applications. The key intention of the company through this event was to demonstrate how its paint systems can leverage its global technology base and play a pivotal role in shaping the future of transportation in India.

According to Rakesh Handoo, General Manager, Marketing & New Business Development, Nippon Paint India, “Prawaas 2024 highlighted the crucial role of efficient public transport in alignment with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of Viksit Bharat 2047. During the event we showcased our cutting-edge paint technologies that are revolutionizing the commercial vehicle industry. Our participation reflects our commitment towards delivering innovative solutions that enhance the safety, efficiency, and sustainability of public transport in India.”

Navin Chawla, General Manager, Commercial Vehicle Coatings, Nippon Paint India said, “Prawaas 2024 was resounding success and a step forward in the right direction towards a new era of transportation. Nippon Paint equipped over 70% of the displayed buses with our paint systems at Prawaas. In addition to our product strength, we also showcased our brand’s commitment to expanding possibilities in the commercial vehicle industry.”

New Delhi, 2nd September 2024: The Appliances business of Godrej & Boyce, part of Godrej Enterprises Group, has further expanded its manufacturing capabilities by adding production facility for its new range of fully automatic front-load washing machines powered by AI Technology. Spread over 1 Lakh sq.ft. at Shirwal near Pune, this new facility marks a strategic investment of close to INR 100 crores in capital expenditure dedicated to machinery, tools, infrastructure and backward integration.

The fully automated facility at Shirwal will strengthen Godrej Appliances’ market presence by adding a capacity of 3 Lakh units of front-load washing machines per annum, that will almost double the production of automatic washing machine portfolio for the brand. This Greenco Platinum Plus certified factory also manufactures other appliances like refrigerators, air conditioners, semi and top-load washing machines, medical refrigerators, InsuliCool and Qube.

Commenting on the new assembly line, Kamal Nandi, Business Head & Executive Vice President of Godrej Appliances, said, “The new AI enabled product range underscores our commitment to innovation to meet the unique needs of Indian consumers. Currently, we are one of the fastest-growing brands in the washing machine category, and with this new investment of INR 100 cr., we’re poised to further strengthen our position and achieve our target of 2X growth in the Washing Machines segment this year.”

Speaking on the new product range, Shashank Sinha, Product Group Head- Washing Machines, Godrej Appliances, added, “Our new range of fully automatic front load washing machines have been conceptualised and designed especially for Indian consumers keeping in mind their preferences based on various geographic and climatic conditions, family sizes and washing habits. Along with superior aesthetics, these advanced machines of 7-10 kg capacities are powered by AI Technology that intelligently optimizes the wash and rinse, delivers optimal clothes care by smart load detection and water level adjustment, also saves precious water and energy, thereby redefining the washing experience for consumers.”

As a part of the brands commitment to things made thoughtfully, several advanced features make the front load washing machine range stand out. For example, the Steam wash program deep cleanses clothes and washes off 100+ different kinds of stains up to 2 days old*, Refresh program deodorizes them, and FabriSafe™ Drum helps to maintain the quality of varied fabrics. Further, these machines can also dry clothes 30 minutes faster**. The entire range of front load washing machines offer convenience with auto drum clean reminders, come with an anti-rust cabinet, overflow protection, 2-years comprehensive and 10-year motor warranty.

Bangalore, India – September 2, 2024: International Institute of Information Technology, Bangalore (IIIT-B), a premier research and development institution, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Greendzine Technologies Pvt. Ltd., a leading company specializing in Electric mobility solutions for the Industrial and Warehouse market. Greendzine is building solutions to connect Warehouse to Home (W2H) through its MOPTro EV platform. This MoU marks the beginning of a strategic partnership focused on the development and implementation of the innovative Robotic Picker technology on Greendzine’s MOPTro WASP, a product for warehouse picking.

The collaboration aims to leverage IIIT-B’s cutting-edge research capabilities and Greendzine’s expertise in electric mobility solutions to create a groundbreaking Robotic Picker that can significantly enhance automation in warehouses and industries. The project will involve advanced research in vision systems, multi-agent path planning algorithms and universal grippers, with IIIT-B providing the necessary lab facilities, product demonstration platforms and funding for the research.

IIIT-Bangalore will offer its expertise in the areas of vision systems, path planning algorithms and universal grippers while providing lab facilities for research and product demonstration. IIIT-B will also fund the project, including resources, hardware, software and IP filing.

Greendzine Technologies will be responsible for the execution and management of the project, including overseeing program management, prototyping, testing and vendor management. The company will also handle the demonstration of the solution to potential customers and execute proof of concept at customer premises.

The project, which is set to run for one year with an option for an additional two-year extension represents a significant step forward in the field of robotic automation. Both parties are committed to ensuring the highest standards of research and development throughout the collaboration. The project is under aegis of MINRO, which is Center of Excellence (CoE) funded by the Government of Karnataka.

Commenting on the partnership, Commodore SR Sridhar (Retd), Registrar of IIIT-Bangalore, said, “This collaboration with Greendzine Technologies aligns with IIIT-Bangalore’s mission to encourage innovation and create impactful technological solutions. The Robotic Picker project holds immense potential to revolutionize the automation landscape in industries and warehouses.”

Mr. Karthikeyan Sundaram, Co-Founder & CTO, Greendzine Technologies, added, “We are pleased to enter into an MoU to advance our Robotic Picking Project to the next level. This 12-month research collaboration focuses on developing a universal gripper for warehouse environments, capable of handling diverse volumetric and textured items. Our research will dive into vision systems, multi-agent path planning, and gripper technology, with the goal of filing intellectual properties (IPs) and eventually bringing the product to market. This strategic partnership also emphasizes the importance of our philosophy “Manomation”, which is Human-Robot collaboration, particularly through the development of cobots (collaborative robots) that assist rather than replace human workers. This approach aligns with our broader mission to enhance workforce productivity, reduce fatigue, and encourage greater participation of women in the workforce. Our ultimate aim is to take cutting-edge technology from the lab to real-world applications, with interest already shown by customers across various sectors, including automotive and third-party logistics.

September 2, 2024: Airtel, MediaTek and Nokia today announced the successful completion of trials that efficiently combine TDD and FDD mid-band spectrum on a time basis utilising the latest generation chipset. The trial aimed at maximising the uplink performance was conducted at Airtel’s tech lab and achieved uplink speeds of 300 Mbps, setting a new benchmark in 5G network performance. It underscores Airtel’s commitment to providing innovative solutions that meet the ever-growing demands of a connected world.

The trial enhanced UL speeds by aggregating frequency bands of 3.5 Ghz (n78) and 2.1 Ghz (n1), a groundbreaking innovation that significantly improves the uplink performance for demanding use cases by dynamically switching the uplink transmission across two carriers in TDD and FDD spectrum more efficiently. The innovative UL Tx switching promises faster connectivity, enhanced user experience, and improved network efficiency, catering to high-demand use cases such as video conferencing, live streaming and large file uploads.

Randeep Sekhon, Chief Technology Officer, Bharti Airtel said, “At Airtel, continuous innovation remains the bedrock of all our product and service offerings. This trial not only stands testament to our philosophy of enhancing our state-of-the-art network infrastructure and delivering an unmatched 5G user experience but will also greatly enhance our network’s uplink performance, resulting in faster data speeds and improved connectivity.”

Dr. Ho-Chi Hwang, General Manager of Wireless Communication Systems and Partnerships at MediaTek, said: “We are thrilled to collaborate with Bharti Airtel and Nokia on this groundbreaking trial in India where our Dimensity 5G mobile platform played a crucial role in achieving the highest uplink speeds on Airtel’s 5G network. This partnership underscores our commitment to delivering cutting-edge technology that enhances the connectivity experience for users”

Tarun Chhabra, Country Manager and Head of Mobile Networks Business at Nokia, India, said: “We are proud to partner with our long-term partner Airtel on this ground-breaking project. Uplink Tx switching will pave the way for superior 5G networks, enabling seamless data transfer in mobile devices and driving demand for data-intensive applications like XR. We congratulate Bharti Airtel for achieving this milestone and pushing the boundaries of connectivity to new realms.”

For this advanced trial, Airtel used equipment from Nokia’s next-generation 5G AirScale radio portfolio while MediaTek provided its Dimensity 5G mobile platform as the user equipment.

By – Ms. Mandy Andress, Chief Information Security Officer at Elastic

In the face of a rising tide of new threats and tactics, the industry needs different perspectives for a varied, yet nuanced approach to cybersecurity. Malicious actors work tirelessly to explore new tactics, find new vulnerabilities, and identify novel ways to bypass controls. A more diverse IT security team is better equipped to adopt the resourcefulness and the spontaneity of the ‘hacker mindset’ needed to counter these attacks.

To mark International Women in Cyber Day, I’d like to suggest that our industry takes two crucial steps to include more women in our teams.

To encourage more diverse candidates and women to join cybersecurity roles, we need to broaden the scope of the qualifications we seek in candidates. Looking beyond traditional schooling and career paths, we must consider other skills and personality traits that might enhance the way we protect IT systems.

Second, we need to work harder to encourage more women to join us. That might mean reviewing how and where we advertise roles so that news of open positions reaches more women.

In a multidisciplinary field like cybersecurity (or data science, for that matter), the routine exclusion of female viewpoints isn’t just a barrier to good work – it’s a vulnerability. And in my view, from my day-to-day experience as a CISO, a more diverse cybersecurity team is definitely a better cybersecurity team.