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NEW YORK, July 22, 2024 — A new report from leading independent and international research company COMvergence reveals Omnicom Media Group (OMG) agencies outperformed the marketplace for billings growth across all four regions, powered by 2023 wins that included Beiersdorf, Grupo Bimbo, Jaguar Land Rover, Uber, Under Armour, Vans, and Virgin Voyages.

Released yesterday, the 2023 Global & Regional Rankings shows OMG as the number #1 global media group for absolute growth (total billings added) in LATAM and for relative growth (YOY growth rate) in EMEA.

Additionally, for the second consecutive year, OMG had the highest digital share of spend among the six global media groups; and is the only group for which digital share of billings across all its agencies is above 50%, reinforcing OMG’s position as the most future-fit media holding company.

Leading in Growth Across the Globe

At the agency level, OMD topped the billings rankings for North America with $10.18 billion, maintaining the lock it has held at the top of the billings chart since the Global & Regional Billings Rankings report was first published in 2017. OMD also earned the highest YOY growth rate (6.8%) of any North American media agency network – an impressive achievement in and of itself, but especially significant considering OMD also had the largest 2022 billings base.

OMD also has the highest YOY growth rate (8.75%) among the top five largest global media networks.

Making it an OMG clean sweep across all four regions, Hearts & Science was #1 for growth in APAC, EMEA and LATAM, a trifecta that translated to a global growth rate of 9.5% – the highest among all media holding company agency networks on the ranking.

“These results reflect how OMG’s Agency as a Platform proposition – powered by the Omni operating system – is enabling our agencies to outgrow the market,” says Omnicom Media Group CEO Florian Adamski. “As ever-increasing marketing complexity demands an ever-expanding ecosystem of talent, tools and technology, Agency as a Platform gives our agencies a competitive advantage by delivering to clients the full depth and breadth of resources from across the Omnicom network – including media, e-commerce, data-driven marketing, digital transformation, and content creation – through a single agency relationship. Activating these assets through the unique lens of their individual processes and perspectives, OMG agencies OMD, PHD, and Hearts & Science are leading, winning, and growing by delivering better business outcomes for their clients and more professional opportunities for their talent.”

Sustaining the Moment in 2024

The 2023 Global & Regional Rankings report is the latest in a run of good news for OMG, which dominated the daily headlines at last month’s Cannes Festival of Creativity by announcing partnerships with Amazon, The Trade Desk, TikTok and Instacart designed to directly connect upper funnel media investments to sales. OMG was the most honored media group at the festival, earning the highest combined total of Lions and short list placements; and OMD was named Media Network of the Year, with PHD coming in a close second.

As of this writing and based on the most recent numbers reported in the COMvergence dashboards that provide a moment-in-time snapshot of the new business landscape, OMG currently holds the best YTD total new business record (wins minus losses, inclusive of retentions) among the Big Six global media groups ($4.6 billion). The COMvergence provisional reporting also shows OMG agencies OMD and PHD topping the COMvergence North America and global total new business dashboards, respectively.

NEW YORK, July 13, 2024 — Inventory stacking, a response to the Covid-19 pandemic, drove cellular module growth in 2021 and even into 2022. However, in 2023 it was a major headwind, driving a shipment decline of over 5% relative to 2022. What has buoyed the spirits of the cellular module market has been the growth of Cat-1bis. According to a new report from global technology intelligence firm ABI Research cellular module forecasts show that Cat-1bis will replace nearly 70% of the Cat-1 market by 2029.

For years, many Cat-1 IoT devices were designed using only a single antenna which sometimes required carrier approval for use on their networks. LTE networks are ubiquitous with good coverage hence a single antenna was sufficient. But what device OEMs and chipset vendors realized is that Cat-1 module costs can be reduced even more by building a dedicated Cat-1bis chipset with send and receive functions delivered over a single antenna. Not only could power consumption be lowered but also component costs. The Cat-1bis standard in 3GPP Release 13 formalizes the common, yet informal use of single antenna Cat-1 devices. The original Cat 1 specification in 3GPP Release 8 required two antennas.

Commenting on the new data, Dan Shey, Vice President, Enabling Platforms at ABI Research, says, “Like many new developments in the cellular IoT market, China is leading with deployment of Cat-1bis. Outside of China, Cat-1bis penetration is much lower since it is typically the replacement technology for new device designs. Regardless of region, based on the benefits of Cat-1bis relative to other cellular technologies, we see Cat-1bis becoming the number two technology choice for cellular IoT applications by 2029.”

Cat-1bis benefits include lower cost – outside of China Cat-1bis modules are at least 30% cheaper with even greater reductions seen in China. Network roaming is also a benefit as 4G roaming agreements are well established unlike the challenges seen today with NB-IoT and Cat-M. Finally, the Cat-1bis standard formalizes the use of a single antenna. The only question which will vary by use case and application is connection reliability for stationary applications. For battery-powered IoT applications, fixed placement of a Cat-1bis device where cellular network coverage is poor could shorten battery life as single antenna devices struggle to connect to the cellular network.

But there is also another view of Cat-1bis in the market. According to Shey, “Presently it is unclear if the chipset vendors will invest in new Cat-1bis chipsets. At Mobile World Congress, and more recently at Asia Tech Expo, RedCap was being pushed not only by module suppliers, but also the device OEMs and the chipset community. 5G RedCap is creating an opening to drive 5G device volumes in the IoT domain. The calculus by the 5G supplier community is 5G capabilities – low latency, location granularity, and future proofing against LTE sunsets, will convince more customers to invest in these higher revenue products.”

By – Akash Pharande, Managing Director – Pharande Spaces

I travel a lot to understand how different countries address their urban sprawl because we use such insights to design integrated townships here in India. In fact, one result of these travels was our partnering with a globally acclaimed architect who helped us recreate a global residential experience in India.

However, my main takeaway from this globetrotting has been far less positive – the alarming rate at which rampant urbanization is challenging even the most glamorous world cities.

As cities’ populations overflow, traditional urban infrastructure groans and often crumbles under the strain of housing demands. Did you think that overcrowding and declining living standards are the order of the day only in India? Far from it – it is a global phenomenon.

The Global Scenario

In the thronged streets of New York, Tokyo, and Hong Kong – and even in Berlin, Hamburg, and Stockholm – urban sprawl running wild is in evidence everywhere. In India, we have accepted congestion, pollution, and stressed infrastructure, but be aware that very few countries are exempt from them anymore.

Across the world from Asia to Europe to North America, local governments and expert city planners are implementing the only viable solution. You guessed it – integrated townships.

In Singapore and the United Arab Emirates, self-sufficient, self-contained integrated projects have in fact been at the forefront of urban planning for many decades. Singapore, in particular, is famous for master-planned communities such as Punggol and Tampines, which integrate residential, commercial, and recreational facilities to create vibrant and self-sustaining neighborhoods.

In the UAE, integrated developments like Dubai Marina and Masdar City deliver comprehensive living and working environments for residents. In Europe, Sweden and the Netherlands have embraced the concept of integrated townships to promote sustainable urban development.

Stockholm and Amsterdam have pioneered eco-friendly neighbourhoods that prioritize walking, cycling, and public transportation while incorporating green spaces and mixed-use developments.

In North America, integrated townships have gained traction in response to urban sprawl and the growing trend for more walkable and inclusive communities. Vancouver in Canada and Portland in the United States have implemented policies to encourage mixed-use development and compact urban forms.

This approach has given rise to highly integrated neighborhoods that provide everything their residents will ever need – living spaces, offices to work in, as well as shopping malls and recreational amenities.

Integrated Living – No Alternatives

If this sounds like a marketing prospectus for a modern integrated township in India, it’s because while we certainly haven’t pioneered the concept, we have certainly caught on to it big time. And for good reasons.

A report by international property consultants JLL India entitled ‘Livability quotient – a paradigm shift in India’s emerging cities’ puts it very aptly – “A balanced lifestyle contributes highly to the livability quotient of a city or township,” it states. “Amenities for leisure and recreation such as sports facilities, gymnasiums, clubhouses, malls and shopping streets are considered lifestyle amenities and are much appreciated by users.”

“Townships managed by private developers have an advantage over cities managed by local governments. The high level of interaction that happens between a township developer and customers naturally enables a focused delivery of services.”

I guess there’s no better way of putting it. As our larger cities draw more and more inward migration because of their employment prospects, we certainly need better solutions to house everyone. India’s growing upper-level middle class expects to find housing that multi-tasks and delivers on their lifestyle preferences.

What better solution for this than integrated mixed-use developments where they can seamlessly transition between living, working, and leisure activities without enduring long commutes?

As the successful eco-cities of Scandinavia and the master-planned communities of Singapore and the UAE demonstrate, integrated townships are a concept whose time has come – and is, in fact, by now an imperative in India.

A Long Way to Go

As Anarock Property Consultants put it, the growing demand for integrated townships in India has risen even more in the wake of changing housing preferences post-pandemic. However, despite the increased interest, integrated townships still represent only a fraction of the total housing supply in India. Since 2010, only about 2% of all housing projects in the top seven cities fell in this category,

Clearly, we are missing something important here.

India is a nation at a crossroads in its urbanization journey. Rapid population growth, rural-urban migration, and fragmented urban planning have spawned a host of challenges, from sprawling urban sprawl to choked traffic arteries and polluted air. The need for holistic urban planning has never been more pressing.

Integrated townships offer hope amidst this urban chaos. With the government’s ambitious plans to create smart cities and revitalize urban infrastructure in a country where land scarcity, fragmented development, and outdated infrastructure are the norm, there is quite simply no other solution.

Without integrated townships, the status quo in India is frankly unsustainable. With every passing year, our trajectory of urbanization is spiraling further out of control – with far-reaching consequences on our society, our environment, and our economy.

Beyond just bricks and mortar, integrated townships also serve as catalysts for economic growth and building strong, wholesome and supportive communities. They provide local employment opportunities, reduce dependence on city centers, offer higher returns on investment, and provide a holistic solution to the many challenges we face in our cities.

About the Author:

Akash Pharande is Managing Director – Pharande Spaces, a leading real estate construction and development firm famous for its township projects in West Pune and beyond. Pharande Promoters & Builders, the flagship company of Pharande Spaces and an ISO 9001-2000 certified company, is a pioneer of townships in West Pune. With the recent integration of Puneville Commercial into one of its most iconic townships, Pharande Spaces taken a major step towards addressing Pune’s current and future requirements for fully integrated residential-commercial convenience.

NEW YORK, US and NOIDA, India, March 13, 2024—HCLTech, a leading global technology company, announced that it has been recognized for its talent readiness and digital talent capability by Everest Group and Avasant.

Everest Group’s Talent Readiness for Next-Generation IT Services PEAK Matrix Assessment 2023 positioned HCLTech was as a Leader and a Star Performer.

In Avasant’s Digital Talent Capability RadarView, 2023–2024, HCLTech has been positioned as a Leader for the third consecutive year.

“We are honored to be recognized by Everest Group and Avasant RadarViewTM for our talent readiness and digital talent capability. This recognition is a testament to our commitment to providing our clients with the best possible services and our employees with the best possible opportunities to develop their skills and grow,” said Ramachandran Sundararajan, Chief People Officer, HCLTech. He added that talent development initiatives are a strategic priority of the company, evident from its investments in the area, including advanced AI-based learning and development solutions and strategic alliances with technology providers to upskill the workforce.

Everest Group noted that HCLTech offers clients a strong delivery mix of resources skilled on next generation technologies including cloud, cybersecurity and application services. The report also noted HCLTech’s strong focus on early talent development—evident from its TechBee and apprenticeship initiatives—prepares young people for global careers in technology with a chance to pursue higher education while enjoying financial independence.

“HCLTech has implemented robust talent sourcing strategies including train-hire-deploy model for talent acquisition through its strong ecosystem of academia partnerships and upskilling programs for early talent. It has a strong focus on enabling personalized skilling for its workforce and has implemented frameworks to enable non-linear and accelerated career progression, aligned with associate’s aspirations and business requirements. It has effectively incorporated AI and analytics-powered solutions to optimize its workforce development and management strategies. Clients are appreciative of HCLTech’s talent quality in terms of domain and technical expertise during next-generation IT services engagements.” said Arpita Dwivedi, Practice Director at Everest Group.

In Avasant’s RadarviewTM report, HCLTech was one of the two top service providers that scored 15/15 across all three categories: digital strategy and talent capabilities, talent transformation, talent investments and innovation.

Avasant noted HCLTech’s focus on its products and platforms strategy through HCLSoftware, efforts to infuse generative AI capabilities into products leveraging its orchestration and prompt engineering platform and partnerships with Microsoft, Google and other companies to build joint solutions using GenAI. Avasant also noted how HCLTech has skilled over 60% of its workforce on the latest digital technologies with a good mix of proprietary platforms and external platforms. The report lauded HCLTech’s New Vistas initiative for hiring from an alternate talent pool and creating local employment opportunities while expanding its global presence.

Avasant defines digital talent capability as a combination of talent transformation strategies and processes, digital skills, digital roles and technology capabilities that enterprises and IT service providers use to develop digital talent pools and pipelines to deliver efficient and targeted digital services. Avasant’s Radarview TM report on the Digital Talent Capability 2023 identifies key technology and talent-related trends and insights that are expected to have a long-term impact on any digital transformation project.

At HCLTech, we offer employees skill-based learning opportunities in digital, engineering, cloud, AI, and enterprise software with the freedom to experiment and pivot across roles and functions for an enriching career experience.

NEW YORK, US and NOIDA, India, March 13, 2024—HCLTech, a leading global technology company, has been included in the coveted S&P Global Sustainability Yearbook 2024 for the second year in a row. This underscores HCLTech’s deep commitment to doing business sustainably and helping its clients accelerate their sustainability agendas through technology.

S&P Global engaged with 9,400 companies across 62 industries globally to draw down a list of 759 companies, including HCLTech, that made it to the 2024 Sustainability Yearbook.

“This is yet another validation of our focus on embedding sustainability at the core of our business. We continue to be guided by our ESG strategy based on the tenets of act, pact and impact to deliver meaningful impact on communities and the planet,” said Santhosh Jayaram, Global Head, Sustainability, HCLTech.

HCLTech has committed to limiting greenhouse gas emissions and aligning with the 1.5ºC pathway by 2030, with the goal of achieving net zero target by 2040. The company aims to transition to 80% of electricity usage from renewable energy by 2030.

In FY23, HCLTech replenished 26 times more water than it consumed across its operations in India. It is the first India-headquartered company to join the Water Resilience Coalition and endorse the CEO Water Mandate.

HCLTech is creating an impact on communities beyond India through grants, partnerships and employee volunteering. HCLTech Grant Americas has committed $5 million over five years in grants to NGO combating climate change and restoring ecosystems and biodiversity.

Through HCLFoundation programs, the company had a positive impact on 5.5 million lives in India, of which over 50% were women, and helped 12,000 people with disabilities.