Archives March 2025

Atlanta, GA, and Kolkata, India – March 19, 2025 – Fusion CX, involved in providing customer experience (CX) solutions, has acquired Sequential Technology International LLC (STI), a provider of CX services for the telecom and utilities industries. The acquisition enhances Fusion CX’s market position, expands its global footprint, and boosts its ability to deliver innovative CX solutions. [Fusion CX is investing approximately $12M in acquiring and integrating the business.

“We are thrilled to welcome the STI team into the Fusion CX family,” said Pankaj Dhanuka, Co-Founder, Managing Director, and CEO of Fusion CX. “This acquisition enables us to expand our services and deliver value to clients worldwide.”

Headquartered in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, STI is recognized for its scalable and reliable customer support services. The integration strengthens Fusion CX’s presence in key global locations, including Bethlehem, Manila, Bangalore, Gurugram, and San Salvador.

“This acquisition brings us complementary strengths, significantly enhancing our capabilities in telecom, utilities, and healthcare,” said Kishore Saraogi, Co-Founder, Managing Director, and COO of Fusion CX. “We are committed to driving innovation and delivering seamless customer experiences across these vital sectors.”

Fusion CX’s President, Andrew Wilmott, will take on the additional responsibility of overseeing the STI business, to ensure a smooth transition and position the organization for growth.

“By combining our vision and tech stack with STI’s capabilities in serving clients in telecom, utilities, and healthcare, we are poised to deliver scalable, and innovative solutions,” said Andrew Wilmott, President of Fusion CX. “This partnership will build on STI’s remarkable legacy, deliver transformational solutions, and accelerate growth”

New Delhi, 19th March 2025: inDrive, a global mobility and urban services platform, has won 14 awards, including eight gold, four silver, and two bronze, for its celebrity marketing campaign in India ‘Ab App ki nahi, aap ki chalegi’, at various marketing award ceremonies held between January 2025 and March 2025. These awards celebrate excellence in marketing and advertising.

“At inDrive, we are committed to crafting bespoke experiences for our passengers. India is a key market for us. These wins are a testament to our commitment to engaging with our users to offer superior experiences,” said Avik Karmakar, Senior Marketing Manager – South Asia, inDrive.

“At the core of our efforts is our mission to challenge injustice and impact the lives of one billion people by 2030,” he added. 

The list of awards at various forums is given below:

inDrive’s marketing campaign ‘Ab App ki nahi, aap ki chalegi’ is built on the premise of its salient feature, the ‘Offer your fare’ model, which allows passengers and drivers to set fares mutually instead of leaving it to AI algorithms to determine their price. The campaign includes a brand film unveiled by Vikrant Massey as brand ambassador. It captures the daily hassles of commuting and how inDrive addresses those challenges. The campaign played an instrumental role in achieving key objectives such as driving brand awareness, more app installs, increase in new users as well as rides.

Bathinda, Punjab – March 18, 2025

Guru Kashi University (GKU), Punjab, has partnered with Heritage Community College, Canada, to provide students with an exceptional opportunity to earn a globally recognized Canadian diploma alongside their GKU degree. Announced today, this collaboration is set to offer students international academic exposure and a competitive edge in the job market.

Under this initiative, both current and new GKU students can now enroll in a Canadian diploma while pursuing their degree. The self-paced learning model provides flexibility, allowing students to complete coursework at their convenience. Upon successful completion, students will graduate with both a GKU degree and a Canadian diploma, significantly enhancing their global career prospects.

The partnership was officially unveiled at GKU’s Annual Day, a prestigious event attended by students, faculty, and distinguished guests. The launch featured live Q&A sessions, student testimonials, and insights from industry experts, highlighting how this initiative will benefit aspiring professionals.

This year’s Annual Day also brought together students from across India and international institutions for a vibrant showcase of performing arts, music, and intellectual exchange. The event also included an annual prize distribution ceremony, recognizing and rewarding students for their outstanding performances in various competitions.

One of the key advantages of this program is its cost-effectiveness. Students can now obtain a globally recognized Canadian qualification without the financial burden of studying abroad. Additionally, the diploma enhances international career and immigration prospects, provides industry-relevant skills, and serves as a pathway for further studies or employment opportunities in Canada. This collaboration ensures that students gain world-class education from India without the challenges of visa applications and relocation.

Speaking about the partnership, S. Gurlabh Singh Sidhu, Chancellor of GKU, stated, “This collaboration is a testament to GKU’s unwavering commitment to providing students with world-class education and international exposure. Partnering with Heritage Community College, Canada, expands opportunities for our students, allowing them to gain global credentials while studying at home. This initiative strengthens our mission to develop industry-ready professionals equipped with the best of both worlds—Indian education and Canadian expertise.”

Jatinder Dhesi, President of Heritage Community College, Canada, highlighted the significance of the partnership, saying, “Education today is borderless, and this collaboration ensures that GKU students can access high-quality Canadian education from their home country. Our self-paced diploma program provides flexibility and international recognition, preparing students for a successful future. We look forward to welcoming GKU students into our academic framework.”

Amit Bhaskar, Director of International Relations, added, “This initiative reflects the forward-thinking vision of both GKU and HCC in creating global pathways for students. By integrating Canadian diploma credentials into our academic framework, we are enhancing employability and providing a strategic advantage for students aspiring for international careers or further studies in Canada.”

With this collaboration, GKU and Heritage Community College have redefined international academic opportunities, empowering students with the knowledge and skills required to excel in a globalized workforce. This partnership underscores GKU’s dedication to fostering excellence in education and equipping students with the resources needed to thrive in an increasingly interconnected world.

Chandigarh, March 18, 2025: Aditya Birla Sun Life AMC Limited (ABSLAMC) was incorporated in the year 1994. Aditya Birla Capital Limited and Sun Life (India) AMC Investments Inc. are the promoters and major shareholders of the Company. ABSLAMC is primarily the investment manager of Aditya Birla Sun Life Mutual Fund, a registered trust under the Indian Trusts Act, 1882. The asset manager has announced the launch of the Aditya Birla Sun Life CRISIL-IBX Financial Services 9 to 12 Months Debt Index Fund, an open-ended constant maturity index fund tracking the CRISIL-IBX Financial Services 9 to 12 Months Debt Index. The New Fund Offer (NFO) will remain open from 18th March 2025 to 20th March 2025.

The fund offers a distinctive opportunity for investors looking to optimize yields while maintaining a low-risk profile. With a constant maturity structure and a roll-down strategy from 9 to 12 months, the fund focuses on low-duration securities, primarily Commercial Papers, Certificates of Deposit and bonds, ensuring minimal exposure to interest rate fluctuations. It is strategically diversified, investing in a wide range of high-quality, AAA-rated issuers within the financial services sector, providing robust security and stability. The roll-down approach adds further value by holding securities for a 6-month period, potentially enhancing returns when term premiums are favourable. Additionally, being open-ended, the fund offers liquidity with flexibility for investors to enter or exit without any load, making it an attractive option for those seeking a combination of safety, flexibility, and potential return in a dynamic market.

Commenting on the new fund launch, A. Balasubramanian, Managing Director & CEO, Aditya Birla Sun Life AMC Ltd, said, “Our debt passive fund offerings continue to gain strong investor traction with the 3 to 6 months debt index fund assets reaching almost Rs 3700 crore as of 15th March 2025. This reflects strong investor confidence in high-quality, short-duration fixed-income solutions. With interest rates and yields currently elevated, expectations of upcoming rate cuts could lead to lower yields, enhancing the potential for attractive returns. The financial sector’s strong fundamentals, coupled with expectations of favourable interest rate movements, make the 9 to 12 months debt index fund an opportune time for investors to participate in this space.”

Accenture and CrowdStrike are collaborating to drive cybersecurity transformation, helping clients confidently navigate the next wave of innovation and growth.

By combining Accenture’s security services with the CrowdStrike Falcon® cybersecurity platform – including cloud security, identity protection and next-gen security information and event management (SIEM) – the collaboration will bring transformative improvements and cost efficiencies to areas such as security operations (SecOps), continuous threat exposure management and AI workload protection. This will enable real-time threat visibility, prevention and remediation with optimized operational costs.

“Cybercriminals are infiltrating organizations with alarming sophistication and unprecedented speed,” said Paolo Dal Cin, global lead, Accenture Security. “To combat this, we work closely with organizations to understand their unique cybersecurity needs and tailor solutions to address their specific challenges. By combining our expertise with CrowdStrike’s technology, we can help clients adopt a more proactive and efficient approach to digital defense.”

As businesses move to cloud-based environments and AI-enabled operations, the massive volume of data generated can overload traditional solutions, making it difficult for security teams to efficiently and effectively detect and respond to threats. This challenge is exacerbated as security teams often struggle to manage a mix of outdated technology and the need to constantly switch between disparate security tools, slowing down solutions designed to protect the business and customers from cyberattacks.

WHSmith is a global travel retailer, operating over 1,700 stores in more than 30 countries selling key travel essentials including food & drink, health & beauty, tech accessories and books. The retailer has strengthened its security operations by leveraging Accenture’s Managed Extended Detection and Response (MxDR) services and the CrowdStrike Falcon platform. The powerful combination of CrowdStrike and Accenture has enabled WHSmith to gain visibility across their global operations, extending advanced protection, detection and response capabilities from the corporate network to the storefront cash register.

Jon Begley, Global CISO WHSmith Group, said, “The collaboration between Accenture and CrowdStrike is helping us improve threat visibility across our global business while maintaining a responsive and agile security operation to protect our digital assets. This means we can focus on growing our global travel retail business further and offering a leading experience in our stores for customers on their journeys across the world.”

“Customer demand for Falcon platform adoption, cybersecurity consolidation, and SOC services expertise is driving our market-moving Accenture partnership,” said George Kurtz, founder and CEO, CrowdStrike. “Accenture’s deep expertise with the Falcon platform and SIEM transformation have directly assisted organizations in upleveling their cybersecurity programs from device to cloud to datacenter. Accenture plays a key role in guiding organizations to embrace the AI-native SOC, leaving legacy SIEMs, point products, and manual SOC operations behind for automated, resilient, and machine speed cybersecurity platform controls.”

The integrated offering benefits organizations by consolidating point cybersecurity products, reducing costs and simplifying operational functions and enhancing detection and response capabilities through a unified platform. The collaboration between Accenture and CrowdStrike includes:

● SecOps Modernization – Streamlines security operations workflows into an ecosystem that integrates threat prevention, detection and response with a unified approach based on CrowdStrike’s Next-Gen SIEM technology. This approach can unlock up to 30%1 cost optimization through streamlined security workflows enabled by AI and technology rationalization initiatives.

● Managed Detection and Response – Delivered by a seamless combination of Accenture and the Falcon platform to detect, investigate and respond to threats faster leveraging Accenture’s global scale. This powerful combination, augmented by integrated AI solutions from Accenture and CrowdStrike, can drive up to 60%1 workflow optimization for SecOps use cases.

● Continuous Threat Exposure Management – Helps clients transform their approach to vulnerability management while optimizing investments in teams, processes and tools. The combination of the Falcon platform and Accenture’s transformation services enables clients to consolidate exposure visibility across the extended attack surface and streamline prioritization using attack path analysis. This approach can help organizations simplify processes and consolidate tooling, realizing up to 15%1 cost optimization.

Bangalore, March 18, 2025 – Following its success across multiple cities, Reap Benefit is hosting the 6th edition of SolveCon on Saturday, March 22, 2025, at Bangalore Creative Circus. This one-day youth festival brings together young problem-solvers, entrepreneurs, and changemakers to collaborate, learn, and take action on local challenges.

As a launchpad into the Solve Ninja Movement, India’s largest community of 1.6 lakh youth changemakers, SolveCon equips young people with skills, mentorship, and real-world problem-solving experiences through interactive learning, networking, and fun activities.

SolveCon offers three dynamic spaces, encouraging participants to connect, learn, and play:

• SolveCon Mela – A lively, interactive space with creative exhibits, fun activities, and networking.
• Learning by Doing – Hands-on workshops on open-source tech & AI, persuasive communication, emotional well-being, and problem-solving skills.
• Changemaker Adda – A platform to share stories, challenges, and solutions, gaining inspiration from peers.

Attendees can also expect engaging discussions, interactive activities, and real-world problem-solving challenges, fostering a new generation of youth leaders.

SolveCon is open to anyone aged 17+ looking to:

• Develop practical skills
• Connect with mentors and like-minded peers
• Be part of a thriving community of changemakers

Whether you’re an aspiring entrepreneur, a problem-solver, or simply eager to make an impact, SolveCon offers a unique opportunity to turn ideas into action.

Since its launch in 2024, SolveCon has engaged nearly 500 youth across Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Bangalore, Mysore, and Nanded.

“SolveCon is about action—people coming together, exchanging ideas, and solving real problems. Bangalore, as India’s startup capital and innovation hub, is the perfect place for SolveCon’s return,” said Kuldeep Dantewadia, Founder – Reap Benefit.

The core of India’s economy is its blue-collar workers, who propel expansion in industries like manufacturing, logistics, and services. This group has historically had difficulty obtaining formal credit, which has forced them to rely on unofficial loan channels with exorbitant interest rates and strict terms, despite their crucial contributions.

 Leading tech-driven disruptors like RupeeRedee, Kredit-Bee, and Cashe are changing the way financial services are provided to underprivileged areas. These platforms are removing obstacles in lending by utilizing technology, data analytics, and streamlined procedures to provide fast, transparent, and easily accessible loans that are customized to meet the particular requirements of blue-collar workers.

 Here are the leading lending platforms that are connected to RBI-registered NBFCs, if you want to be protected from scams.

 RupeeRedee: Tech driven digital lending platform that was founded in 2018 to provide quick and hassle – free personal loans to underserved segments of the Indian population. By leveraging advanced technologies and robust data protection, RupeeRedee Simplifies the borrowing process for individuals who may not have access to traditional banking services. The platform focuses on offering medium-sized loans (up to 1,49,000) with minimal documentation, making it accessible to individuals from lower-income groups, especially those in need of immediate financial assistance. RupeeRedee operates through its captive Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC), FincFriends Private Limited, ensuring faster loan disbursals and a seamless KYC process

 Freo (formerly MoneyTap)
Freo revolutionizes personal lending with its innovative credit solutions and user-friendly app. By offering flexible credit lines and instant loans, Freo caters to modern financial needs with ease. Its real-time loan tracking and personalized credit options enhance the customer experience, making borrowing convenient and transparent. Freo’s focus on simplicity and efficiency sets it apart as a top choice for digital lending.

 Cashe
Cashe is redefining short-term lending with its fast and accessible microloans. The platform’s emphasis on rapid approvals and disbursals ensures that customers can quickly access funds when needed. Cashe’s use of alternative credit data allows it to serve a wide range of borrowers, including those with limited credit histories. Its dedication to clear communication and customer support enhances the overall lending experience.

 KreditBee
KreditBee stands out with its tailored loan offerings for young professionals and underserved segments. The platform provides a straightforward application process and instant loan approvals, leveraging technology to meet diverse customer needs. KreditBee’s personalized loan products and flexible repayment options make it a preferred choice for those seeking convenient and adaptable financial solutions.

If love life mein lafde hain, Zakir Khan has got your back! With new episode drops every week, Love Life Lafde on JioHotstar is a go-to for no-filter relationship advice, featuring a fresh lineup of celebrity guests in every episode. From Kumar Varun and Zareen Khan to Farah Khan, Tanmay Bhatt, and Barkha Singh, celebrities join Zakir as he dives deep into modern dating struggles, heartbreaks, and all the quirky twists of love. Whether you’re dealing with the block-unblock drama, endless breakups, or just want to be the go-to love guru for your friends, here are some golden tips and tricks straight from the show!

1. When the game of ‘block-unblock’ continues: We’ve seen it —or even been there—stuck in the never-ending loop of blocking, unblocking, and wondering where it’s all headed. In an episode, a caller shared his frustration about his girlfriend who keeps cutting him off, only to reconnect later as if nothing happened. Zakir Khan, along with guests Zareen Khan and Kumar Varun, had some unfiltered advice to offer. “Ek chappal jab purani ho gyi hai, to use kitna ghisoge?” quipped the official Sakht Launda, urging the caller to see that some relationships just aren’t worth the effort. Zareen Khan, bringing her own candid touch, admitted, “I have this guilty pleasure of not blocking people even after the relationship is over. So, when they call me and send messages, I just see but never respond,” sparking laughter in the room. Kumar Varun, while playfully teasing Zareen about her stance, backed Zakir’s point—sometimes, the best thing you can do is walk away. So, if you’re caught in the exhausting game of block-unblock, take the hint—it’s time to stop chasing ghosts. And no, texting on UPI isn’t going to fix it!

2. Facing repeated heartbreaks and girls trying to change you? Zakir Khan perfectly captured this struggle, explaining that when guys enter relationships, girls see them as “good and workable.” But the real issue arises when they become “non-workable.” Adding to this, Tanmay Bhatt shared, “You should not come as a finished product, you need to be a work in progress. You will have to give something to girls which is worth fixing.” Wrapping it up in his signature style, Zakir said, “Whenever a woman falls in love, it is like having a shop and what is in the shop. Maybe you have a beautiful shop, but to buy from there, she will have to go inside and see the stuff. So, I feel while the exterior may be good, you need to work on the interior.” So, all the guys, facing breakups, may be its time to listen to your partners and start working on yourself.

3. When friendships get complicated: In an episode of Love, Life & Lafde, a guest shared his struggles with navigating friendships — from making new friends to maintaining them over time. Farah Khan and Siddharth Suryanarayan joined the conversation, offering their take on the complexities of friendships. Farah shared how friendships with guys are different because you can talk about anything with them, but with girls, you have to be a little careful. “I can joke about anything with Shahrukh and Karan, and even with Anil Kapoor,” she added, calling it a dynamic she finds refreshing and easygoing. Siddharth backed her up, saying, “Nobody can compete with Farah when it comes to maintaining friendships the way she shows her friendship is genuinely unmatched.”

 Zakir Khan, known for his sharp insights, jumped in with a laugh, “If you want to be friends with a girl or even date her – all you have to do is be a good listener. Aap Hindustan ke 98% ladko se upar honge,” leaving the room in splits. Siddharth Suryanarayan followed up with a playful remark, “Podcast host aur ladki ka dost — dono ka role ek hi hai,” sparking even more laughter as the conversation flowed, highlighting the quirks and nuances of modern friendships.

4. When you’re playing T20, but they’re playing Test in relationship: We’ve all been there — investing emotions, hoping things will get serious, only to realize the other person is moving at a completely different pace. In an episode of Love, Life & Lafde, Kush, (the guest who appeared with a problem on the show), shared his frustration about being stuck in a situationship where his feelings were deepening, but the other person wasn’t matching the same intensity. Biswa Kalyan Rath, Zakir Khan, and Maanvi Gagroo had some insightful advice to offer. Zakir pointed out, “Maybe you feel something, and you need an immediate reaction, but that becomes unfair on the other to immediately seek for an answer, because when you start something with lack of trust, it takes a longer time for the trust to build.” Kush candidly admitted, “I’m playing T20, but she’s playing Test.” Zakir, with his signature wit, responded, “On the last day, in the last session, even the other player has to play T20,” drawing laughter in the room.

Mumbai, March 18, 2025 – From zipping through the streets delivering food to tearing up the dance floor, Aakash, a Swiggy delivery partner, is set to take center stage in Amazon MX Player’s Hip Hop India S2 that was launched on March 07, 2025.

 Hip Hop India is a dance reality show that caters to 18-30 year old audiences in Metro, and Tier 1-2 cities. With Season 1 being widely appreciated for its concept and giving budding talent a platform to showcase their talent, with Season 2 it aims to take the entertainment to the next level with Remo D’souza and Malaika Arora donning the judges hat.

 Season 2 witnessed the prowess of Aakash, a runner-up in Swiggy Wiggy Talent Hunt S2, taking his passion for dance to one of India’s biggest hip-hop stages.

 Empowering delivery partners beyond their work is a core commitment at Swiggy. Through various initiatives, Swiggy enables its delivery partners to explore their passions— and for Aakash, that passion is dance. In line with this commitment, Swiggy is also providing financial support to help him pursue his dream of becoming a professional dancer.
Aakash made it to the final round of auditions, without having to go through the regional rounds. His audition was aired in one of the episodes that can be viewed on the Amazon MX Player’s Hip Hop India S2! Aakash took the stage with high-energy moves to “Dance Ka Bhoot”, impressing the judges- ace choreographer, Rahul, and rapper and the host of Hip Hop India Season 1, Wicked Sunny, with his passion and determination. As the sole breadwinner of his family, he had balanced his responsibilities while relentlessly chasing his dream. He proudly represented his Swiggy roots, donning his signature Swiggy T-shirt as he moved closer to his passion.

 Being part of a show judged by Remo D’Souza and Nora Fatehi , Aakash’s journey was a testament to the power of perseverance and passion. His story proved that Swiggy wasn’t just delivering food; it was delivering dreams. This was a story of dedication, hard work, and power moves!

National, March 18, 2025: Crown Worldwide Group, a global leader in logistics, records management, and international mobility, is celebrating 60 years of innovation, seamless service delivery, and steadfast industry leadership. Since its founding in 1965 by Jim Thompson, Founder and Chairman the company has supported corporations and families in relocating and establishing their workspaces and homes with ease.

Over the decades, Crown has built a reputation for excellence in transporting priceless art collections and safeguarding enterprise-level data and records through its renowned records management service. With a strong presence in 45 countries and servicing over 10,000 corporate clients globally, the company remains committed to expansion and strengthening global partnerships, including key markets such as India.

As the company looks ahead, Group CEO Jennifer Harvey emphasized Crown’s adaptability and focus on future growth. She said, “Reaching this milestone is a testament to the dedication of our employees and the trust of our clients. As we look ahead, we remain focused on innovation, sustainability, and expanding our services to meet the evolving needs of businesses and individuals worldwide. Our journey has been remarkable, and we are excited for what the future holds.”

India has emerged as a crucial market for the group, contributing 15-20% of its global revenue and ranking among its top 4-5 markets. Recognizing the country’s vast potential, Crown Worldwide Group established its India operations in 1997, becoming the first foreign corporation in the sector with 100% foreign participation. Starting in Mumbai, the company quickly expanded across Delhi, Chennai, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Ludhiana, and Hyderabad. As part of its long-term strategy, Crown Worldwide Group transitioned from leasing properties to acquiring assets, solidifying its presence in the market.

As part of its continuing shift in emphasis for growth in more ‘glocal’ services, Crown is:

• Rebranding its Records Management business, which currently stores more than 40 million cartons of hardcopy information, to emphasize an ongoing focus on digitalization and simplifying workflows.
• Continuing to invest in sustainable services, including furniture and IT renewal through its Crown Workspace division, to help organizations meet changing workplace needs.
• Leveraging the company’s $1.4 billion property portfolio to provide more storage solutions for clients in every region.

Though demand for its heritage business has declined, in 2025 Crown will launch new technology to enhance visibility, compliance, and simplicity around corporate international relocation, while introducing new services that support assignee wellbeing in a world that is becoming more challenging to navigate culturally.

Building on a strong legacy of corporate social responsibility, the organization is also continuing to sharpen its focus on decarbonization, having completed the mapping of its global carbon footprint last year.

Commenting on Crown’s commitment to India, Srinivas Krishnan, Managing Director, South Asia at Crown Worldwide Group, said, “As the group celebrates six decades of delivering exceptional services, there is a renewed focus on further elevating our India operations. India has also become one of the fastest-growing Crown Worldwide Group markets. Solid partnerships, integration of technical advancements, and a deep understanding of unique customer needs and pain points have defined our journey here.”

With Crown India displaying steady growth, substantial investments are being made in infrastructure, technology, and training to fuel the group’s new ventures in healthcare and pharma logistics, custom-bonded warehouses, wine and cold storage chains, and high-end premium goods storage and warehousing. Additionally, India is emerging as the backbone of Crown’s information management business, with increasing demand for secure digital records storage, compliance solutions, and data protection services. The global information management industry is projected to reach USD 100 billion by 2027, with India playing an increasingly vital role in shaping the sector’s future. The group also plans to strengthen its workspace and third-party logistics business units while integrating AI into its workflows without any workforce reductions.