Archives May 2023

New Delhi, 2023 – Gautier, a France-based home furniture designer, manufacturer, and retailer with stores worldwide, announced its re-entry into the Indian market for the third time. Gautier will be working with the world’s largest franchise consulting firm, Franchise India, to ensure that this entry is successful.

The company plans to set up stores over 3,000-5,000 square feet across metros and large cities, primarily in the South to begin with. While at present, it will import all furniture from France, there are plans to set up a manufacturing line as the Indian business scales up.

With a legacy of over 60 years, Gautier Furniture has established itself as a leader in the global furniture industry, synonymous with luxury, elegance, and functionality. The brand’s unique designs and exceptional craftsmanship have won the hearts of customers across the world, making it a sought-after brand in the furniture market.

Franchise India is playing a crucial role in helping Gautier to expand its presence in India. Franchise India is consulting and providing Gautier with market research, analysis, and guidance on the best strategies to enter and succeed in the Indian market. They are also helping Gautier identify potential franchise partners and establish franchise agreements with them.

Mr. Gaurav Marya, Founder, Franchise India said, “Gautier has been successful in the Gulf, with most buyers being of Indian origin, which has attracted them for a re-entry. Gautier is re-entering India. While initially it is exploring franchisee routes to set up a couple of stores with local partners, eventually it may take the equity route. The brand is still strong in India.The size of the furniture and home décor market in India is around $25-billion, of which around 14-15% is organised. India has become an attractive market for European companies, given their overseas expansion and business hit due to the Russia-Ukraine war and recession in most European nations.”

“I am very excited about Gautier’s entry into India. It is a significant milestone for our brand, and we are eager to share our unique French designs and quality furniture with the Indian market. We are confident that Franchise India’s expertise and support will help us establish a strong presence in India and provide customers with a world-class retail experience. Our aim is to create beautiful, functional, and sustainable furniture that resonates with Indian customers and enhances their living spaces.” – Richard Ravel,Managing Director, Caucasus chez Gautier France

Delhi, 22nd May 2023: Mrunal Thakur known for her remarkable performances in both Bollywood and the digital space has made her dazzling debut at the Cannes Red Carpet with GREY GOOSE.. With their shared commitment to excellence, GREY GOOSE and Mrunal created an unforgettable experience at the festival.

To mark this momentous occasion amidst their remarkable journey, GREY GOOSE partnered with FALGUNI SHANE PEACOCK at the Cannes Film Festival to create Mrunal’s custom looks. Together, they presented a fashion-forward narrative that emphasized the importance of focusing on the journey rather than the destination.

Mrunal’s red carpet debut symbolized a pivotal movement in her career, reflecting her journey from India to the International Stage. Her undeniable talent, combined with GREY GOOSE’S timeless allure and Falguni Shane’s design sensibilities brought a touch of glamor and sophistication, setting a new standard for red carpet appearances.

Mrunal wore an ivory evening gown by Falguni Shane Peacock. The fitted gown has strategically placed cutouts that add a touch of modernity. Adding a whimsical touch to the gown, delicate frills cascade gracefully in the front. The gown is replete with a waist cape that falls elegantly over the waistline, creating drama and a visual impact. Exquisite and intricate silk threadwork embroidery, sequins, acrylic applique, and opaque stones adorn the bodice of the gown. An elegant trail with feathers completes the ensemble.

Speaking on the occasion Mrunal Thakur adds “ Representing GREY GOOSE at the Cannes festival and being a part of this iconic celebration of creativity has been an honor. Collaborating with Falguni Shane added an extra layer of excitement to my red carpet-appearance.

Speaking on the occasion Falguni Shane adds “For Mrunal (Thakur), we’ve created an ivory-hued evening gown that exudes sheer elegance and fashion-forward allure. The gown’s fitted silhouette and the strategically placed cutout’s accentuate Mrunal’s curves and adds a touch of sensuousness and modernity to the look. These artfully crafted cutouts reveal just the right amount of skin, creating a tantalising balance between sensuality and refined charm. The gown celebrates Mrunal’s grace and sophistication. It pays homage to the country’s heritage, showcasing the unparalleled craftsmanship and attention to detail that have been perfected over generations,”

New Delhi,22nd May 2023 Taj City Centre, Gurugram, a part of the Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL), has announced the introduction of an Electric Vehicle (EV) charging station and an on-site bottling plant. This initiative stems from the shared commitment of IHCL and HB Estate Developers Ltd. to promote sustainability and reduce the hotel’s environmental impact.

The demand for EVs has witnessed a substantial rise due to the Indian government’s decision to prohibit diesel cars in major cities nationwide by 2027, coupled with the domestic EV market’s remarkable growth at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 49% between 2022 and 2023. In response to this trend, Taj City Centre, Gurugram has installed two EV charging points equipped with 7.4 KW DC chargers.

Furthermore, the hotel has taken an additional step towards environmental stewardship by installing a high-capacity bottling plant capable of producing 500 bottles per hour. This measure has effectively eliminated the usage of single-use plastic bottles, thereby reducing the carbon footprint generated by guests during their stays.

Vijay Sehgal, the Director of Engineering at Taj City Centre Gurugram, remarked, “As custodians of Indian hospitality, the team at Taj City Centre Gurugram remains committed to investing in a more accessible and sustainable future.” He further added, “We are delighted to launch these initiatives, aligning with our dedication to embracing greener practices and meeting the growing expectations of environmentally conscious guests.”

The launch of the EV charging station and on-site bottling plant is in line with the hotel’s mission to establish and expand its own sustainable ecosystem, driven by the legacy of IHCL and the inherent values of Paathya.

Mumbai 22nd May 2023  Tata Hitachi, a leading provider of Construction and Mining Equipment, announced its First Edition of the Annual Financiers’ Summit and Awards Show – Synergie 2023 at ITC Maratha, Mumbai.

Synergie 2023 – a Summit and Award Show for Financiers – gives Tata Hitachi a forum to thank Finance Partners and recognize their efforts by rewarding top performers. It also provides a unique platform to engage and co-create better financial solutions for our esteemed customers.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Sandeep Singh, Managing Director Tata Hitachi said, “It gives me great pleasure to host Synergie 2023 – the First of an Annual Summit to felicitate our Finance Partners. Financiers are an important stakeholders in our Construction Equipment ecosystem.

We believe that this summit will help further strengthen our relationship with our Finance Partners and help us to continue to grow and innovate.”

The chatbot market is experiencing rapid growth, fueled by the advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) and the rising demand for personalized customer interactions. Projections indicate that the market is set to reach an impressive USD 15.5 billion by 2028. In this ever-evolving landscape, it’s crucial to keep an eye on the top AI conversational brands that are reshaping the chatbot industry and revolutionizing customer engagement. These innovative players are leveraging AI technologies to deliver seamless and interactive experiences, transforming the way businesses interact with their customers.

Google Dialogflow:

Google Dialogflow is a powerful AI conversational platform that enables developers to build and deploy chatbots across multiple channels. With advanced natural language understanding (NLU) capabilities and integrations with Google Cloud services, Dialogflow empowers businesses to create intelligent and context-aware chatbots.

Haptik:

Haptik is a leading AI conversational platform that specializes in chatbot development and virtual assistant solutions. Their platform leverages natural language processing and machine learning to enable businesses to build intelligent and context-aware chatbots that can provide personalized customer experiences across various industries.

IBM Watson Assistant:

IBM Watson Assistant is an AI-powered conversational platform that leverages natural language processing and machine learning to enable businesses to build and deploy chatbots and virtual assistants. With its extensive capabilities, Watson Assistant enables organizations to provide personalized and interactive customer experiences.

Amazon Lex:

Amazon Lex is a chatbot-building service offered by Amazon Web Services (AWS). It uses deep learning algorithms to understand and interpret natural language, allowing developers to create conversational interfaces for applications and devices. Amazon Lex integrates seamlessly with other AWS services, enabling businesses to leverage the power of the cloud.

Microsoft Bot Framework:

Microsoft Bot Framework provides a comprehensive set of tools and services for building and deploying intelligent chatbots. With its wide range of development options, including SDKs and frameworks, Microsoft Bot Framework empowers developers to create conversational agents that can interact with users across multiple platforms.

The momentous event was graced by esteemed guest of honor, Ms. Swati Sengupta – a renowned author and former journalist along with Mr. Rajesh Kalra – Chairman of MRIS Sector 51, Gurugram & Ludhiana, Mr. Gaurav Rai – Executive Director of MRIS Sector 51, Gurugram & Ludhiana, Ms. Sanyogita Sharma – Director, MRIS, Ms. Pooja Puri – Principal and renowned authors. The Student Council members extended a warm welcome to the guests, setting the tone for the evening.

At MRIS, it is believed that in today’s technology-driven world, children must develop dynamic writing skills and a deep passion for reading. The Young Authors Felt Pen Program serves as a platform to nurture these talents. Confetti is the 11th book published by the young authors at MRIS under the YAFP program after the successful launch of Vivid, Starlight, Limitless, Over the Moon, Spring Tide, Textures, Bew, Sequined and Symphony.

During the launch, the budding authors from the school shared their experiences of writing their stories, which will now become a part of the MRIS curriculum. Authors expressed their joy in writing for the second time, reminiscing about their earlier book, ‘Over the Moon.’ MRIS strives to empower every child with a voice, instilling in them the ability to write for self-expression, fostering a love for reading, and nurturing their passion to become extraordinary storytellers.

Ms. Sengupta addressed the young authors, discussing their potential and writing abilities, inspiring and motivating them for their future endeavors. Additionally, there was an engaging session where the YAFP authors had the opportunity to interact with renowned authors present at the ceremony.

Ms. Pooja Puri congratulated the students and their parents quoting, “the love for learning is developed at a very young age and the love for reading & writing can be created at any age, because that’s the beauty of literature. I am proud to see how these young litterateurs have manifested their dream with the support of the mentors and their friends at School.”

Mr. Gaurav Rai motivated the young authors saying, “This is the second book released by the students of MRIS 51 Gurugram and I am overjoyed to see the inclination towards reading & writing amongst today’s generation. Right guidance and true passion are the keys to success in any field you choose to follow.”

Manav Rachna is committed to nurturing young talent and promoting a lifelong love for literature and storytelling among students. The schools are truly dedicated to providing a platform for creativity and self-expression, empowering students to become confident writers and avid readers.

20th May 2023 Mumbai: Hoopr.ai, a leading music tech company, announced that it has reached a major milestone with the addition of 1 Lakh users since its official launch in July 2022. These users include content creators, filmmakers, enterprises, agencies, broadcasters, and brands from all over the 28 states and 8 union territories of India. The platform, which was designed to address the challenges faced by India’s 80mn+ content creators in sourcing copyright-safe music for their videos, has quickly become a go-to resource for creators across the country.

“We are thrilled to have hit this milestone so quickly,” said Gaurav Dagaonkar, Co-founder & CEO of Hoopr.ai. “It’s a testament to the demand for our platform and the effectiveness of our approach to providing copyright safe music for content creators. We’re proud to be helping creators to focus on what they do best – creating amazing content – without having to worry about copyright issues.”

Hoopr’s co-founder and CMO, Meghna Mittal added, “When we started building Hoopr, we envisioned it as a platform that will become a big part of any creator’s journey. We are excited and proud of the fact that more than a lakh creators including celebrities such as Ranveer Brar and Ashish Vidyarthi have chosen to use our product. Going forward, we see millions of creators using Hoopr as they syndicate and monetise their videos across platforms. At the same time, the music on Hoopr is of tremendous value to broadcasters, OTT platforms and UGC content platforms.”

Hoopr’s platform provides creators with access to a vast library of copyright safe music tracks that can be used in their videos without fear of infringing on copyright laws. The platform has built a library comprising of thousands of tracks made by established as well up and coming musicians from across India. The music includes songs in various vernacular Indian languages apart from English as well as sound effects actually recorded in places such as the banks of the Ganges, local markets in India, wildlife across India, etc.

“We have built an exclusive library powered by the largest network of independent artists and music producers across the country” added Dagaonkar. “For video creators, business and platforms, accessing high-quality, copyright safe Indian music is now easy and affordable without burning a hole in their pockets or worrying about lawsuits. We’re excited to continue growing our user base and contributing to India’s burgeoning video economy.”

Some well-known creators using Hoopr include Ranveer Brar, Ashish Vidyarthi, Taniya Khanijow, and others along with brands such as Bharat24, New Jagran Media, etc.

Bangalore,20th May 2023- In line with its customer-centric approach and commitment to meeting the evolving market needs, Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM), has announced the commencement of three-shift operations at its manufacturing facility in Bidadi from the month of May, 2023 backed by the rising demand for its existing portfolio of products and its new launches in 2022.

Three shift operations commencement is set to boost the plant’s production output by over 30% and strategically meet the strong booking numbers for its entire range of product portfolio in the country. The announcement also means that the company will be generating additional employment of close to 25% including that of increased intake from Toyota Technical Training Institute (TTTI), which is the company’s existing skill technical education facility in its Bidadi plant, with a focus to scale-up students’ skill levels on advanced technology by Toyota’s globally certified expert trainers. Last year, TKM also undertook a major expansion of TTTI with capacity going up from 200 to 1,200 students (academically, batch-wise). TKM currently has a 6000-member strong team, including production and non-production staff.

Commenting on the company’s recent development, Mr. Sudeep Dalvi, SVP & Chief Communication Officer, Toyota Kirloskar Motor said “We are extremely thrilled to see the market responding very positively to our entire product line-up. As we remain optimistic about the market, our “customer first” philosophy will continue to manifest across all our business decisions – one of which is the start of the third shift operation which is a testimony to the overwhelming response received by our offerings thus enabling us to meet the delivery commitments to our customers. Our Team Members are our biggest asset and we are happy that the third shift brings in new members in to the Toyota family, we have ensured that all our team members feel safe and comfortable in the added shift through a series of welfare measures for overall wellbeing. As we look forward, we remain steadfast in our mission to build ever better and greener cars, contributing to India’s vision of ‘Make in India’ and sustainable mobility. Together, we strive to deliver Mass Happiness to All”.

Over the years, TKM has had strategic focus on maximizing plant efficiency and embracing cutting-edge technologies, exemplified by the newly established e-Drive manufacturing line at TKAP thus underscoring its contribution to India’s pivotal objectives of “Make in India”, “Skill India,” and energy efficiency.

Furthermore, inspired by Toyota Environmental Challenge (TEC) 2050, sustainability continues to be fundamental to the company’s business. With this as the bedrock the TKM is deeply committed towards a greener future and a better world. Toyota adopted various environmental risk mitigating measures through TEC 2050, towards realizing the carbon neutrality targets. One of them is Plant Zero CO2 Emissions Challenge which aims to achieve zero CO2 emissions at our manufacturing facilities. Also, a significant step towards energy management has been the adoption of alternative renewable energy sources by utilizing green energy with significant progress over the years. The new shift operation will also be from 100% renewable energy.

Overview of TKM

Overview of TKM 1st Plant:

Overview of TKM 2nd Plant:

India, 20th May 2023 Barracuda Networks, Inc., a leading provider of cloud-first security solutions, today announced a new platform called Barracuda SecureEdge, a SASE solution that helps make hybrid and remote work easier to secure. Barracuda SecureEdge integrates Barracuda’s Secure SD-WAN, Firewall-as-a-Service, Zero Trust Network Access, and Secure Web Gateway capabilities. Using a single-vendor solution enables businesses and MSPs to strengthen their security posture and help to reduce costs. Delivered as a service, Barracuda SecureEdge secures users, sites, and IoT devices, is easy to manage and connects any device, application, and cloud/hybrid environment.

According to Gartner®, “By 2025, 80% of enterprises will have adopted a strategy to unify web, cloud services, and private application access using a SASE/SSE architecture, up from 20% in 2021.”1.

Using a single-vendor SASE solution like Barracuda SecureEdge can lead to cost reduction and stronger security. It reduces the number of systems to purchase and lowers internal and external support costs. Additionally, improved security can be achieved and there are fewer risks of misconfigurations and interoperability issues that can happen between separate security systems. Today, cloud migrations, remote work, and the need for anytime, anywhere access makes a SASE solution essential.

The new Barracuda SecureEdge platform makes hybrid and remote work easier to secure, strengthens security, improves performance, and reduces management complexity. Key use cases for customers include:

•  Multi-layered network protection: Offers consistent policy enforcement for in-office and remote users, delivered from the cloud, on-premises, or in a hybrid environment.
•  Protection against web-based threats: Protects against web-based threats, regardless of the location of the user.
•  Secure remote access: Provides secure remote access for any user to any application and workload, with Zero Trust Access.
•  Optimized cloud and application access: Facilitates optimized cloud and application access from any user or site by providing Secure SD-WAN capabilities.

SecureEdge facilitates direct access to applications for remote users with Zero Trust enforcement, URL filtering, and traffic optimization to make the most of shared internet lines. Key highlights of the new platform are:

•  Control and visibility: Provides a high level of control and visibility into user-generated traffic at each endpoint. Selective security inspection enables businesses and MSPs to maintain control over critical application traffic.
•  Intent-based networking: Simplifies operations by applying intent-based networking principles across the entire platform, including SD-WAN and secure application access.
•  Multiple levels of security and connectivity: Includes multiple levels of security and connectivity with auto-secure SD-WAN over all available uplinks.
•  Built-in optimization: Built-in last-mile optimization uses advanced Forward Error Correction algorithms to mitigate packet loss and optimize network traffic. These algorithms are applied when connecting office locations as well as endpoints.

“Barracuda’s new SecureEdge platform provides businesses and MSPs with a SaaS solution that makes remote and hybrid work easier to secure and helps to improve security and reduce costs,” said Tim Jefferson, SVP, Engineering for Data, Network, and Application Security at Barracuda. “With SecureEdge, Barracuda offers a cloud-native SASE platform that enables customers to control access to data from any device, anytime, anywhere, and allows security inspection and policy enforcement in the cloud, at the branch, or on the device.”

“Today’s IT teams face a common challenge: how to connect and secure a growing number of remote and hybrid workers, devices, and IoT systems in an increasingly cloud-based landscape. Traditional network and security architectures weren’t designed for this. If security is a journey, SASE is the next stage in that journey,” said Parag Khurana, Country Manager, Barracuda Networks India. “Our new SASE platform, Barracuda SecureEdge secures users, sites and IoT devices, is easy to manage and connects any device, application, and cloud/hybrid environment. The result is increased integration, visibility, and security for the ever-expanding attack surface, with reduced complexity and cost.”

“The new SecureEdge platform from Barracuda, which offers a single solution that includes secure SD-WAN and remote access for users, will enable us to extend security features to the endpoint and make remote and hybrid work easier to protect,” said David Peppard, Chief Technology Officer with SuperCare Health. “By implementing device-level security and inspecting suspicious or endangered network traffic on the SD-WAN device or in the cloud, we are confident that we can achieve a dramatically increased level of security.”

Bangalore, 20th May 2023 The 2023 batch of Class 10 students of LEAD, India’s largest School Edtech company, has achieved the highest levels of academic excellence in the CBSE Board exams, thereby setting new records for their schools. More than 20% of students from the LEAD Super 100 program – a specially curated coaching and mentoring program for meritorious students in India’s small towns – scored above 95%, versus only 2% of students across CBSE schools. Even among the broader set of LEAD Partner schools, 92 students have scored more than 90%. This is a testament to the potential of students from small towns and affordable fee schools that LEAD serves. When given the opportunity of excellent education, these students have performed at the same level as their peers in India’s metros and high-fee schools.

Top scorers Sanskruti Yuvraj Shinde studying in Zainabia English Medium School, Katphal, Maharashtra scored 98.6%; Bidya Priyadarshini Santi studying in Shree Gurukul English Medium School, Keonjhar, Orissa scored 98.2%; and Nijagun Mallikarjun Gaddad and Sparsh Mukesh Gariya from LEAD School in Akkalkot and Karmala, Maharashtra have both scored 96.4%.

Sumeet Mehta, LEAD Co-founder and CEO, said, “My heartfelt congratulations to the 2023 graduating cohort of LEAD CBSE Class 10 students! The learning growth and academic success achieved by these students reaffirm that with the right School Edtech system, students in small towns across India can achieve excellence in academics on par with their peers in metros and big cities. We are happy to have played a part in their incredible achievement and remain dedicated to empowering students to reach new heights of success.”

This extraordinary academic achievement is a testament to the effectiveness of LEAD’s Integrated School Edtech system, which prioritizes conceptual understanding of subjects, and builds critical 21st century skills such as Communication, Collaboration and Critical Thinking. LEAD’s NEP-aligned, multimodal curriculum has been built in line with international best practices and research, and uses innovative technology to identify remedial needs and personalize learning for students, thereby boosting student confidence and performance.

Sanskruti Yuvraj Shinde, student of Zainabia English Medium School, Katphal, said, “I am delighted to have scored so well in the CBSE Class 10 board examination, which is a big academic milestone for every student. This achievement would not have been possible without the support and guidance of my school teachers, my parents and LEAD. LEAD’s curriculum and classroom teaching methods have helped me understand concepts and subjects better, and have transformed my educational journey.”

Mrs. Insia Nasikwala, Principal, Zainabia English Medium School, Katphal, said, “We are immensely proud of Sanskruti for her outstanding performance in the CBSE Class 10 examinations. Sanskruti’s remarkable results are a testament to her hard work and determination, and the comprehensive educational support provided by LEAD. LEAD’s rigorous Class 10 system includes deep practice and timely remedials that have helped improve student conceptual clarity across subjects.”

LEAD offers an advanced CBSE curriculum for schools across India as well as state board programs for schools in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Rajasthan. LEAD’s curriculum is fully aligned to the latest guidelines prescribed by the respective boards and ensures that every child’s education is truly holistic and includes national-level exposure.