Tag BUSINESS

by Sakshi Kalani ,Founder & CEO of Savy Click and Jaipur Unfolded

As 2025 approaches, the marketing landscape is poised for a transformative shift, driven by advancements in technology, the rise of new consumer demographics and evolving global priorities.

Here’s why 2025 marks a critical moment for brands worldwide:

1. Accelerated Adoption of Emerging Technologies

Artificial intelligence (AI), augmented reality (AR), and virtual reality (VR) will move from experimental to essential. These technologies will enable hyper-personalized customer experiences, immersive marketing campaigns, and virtual shopping environments to become a mainstream platform for consumer interactions and brand storytelling.

2. Gen Alpha steps In

The eldest members of Gen Alpha, the first truly digital-first generation, will enter their teenage years in 2025. This cohort will drive cultural trends and significantly influence family purchasing decisions.

3. Zero-Party Data Revolution

With privacy regulations tightening and the decline of third-party cookies, brands will rely on zero-party data, where consumers voluntarily share information in exchange for value. Transparency and trust will be paramount for marketers to maintain access to this critical resource.

4. Marketing Goes Green

By 2025, global sustainability goals and consumer demand for environmentally conscious products will push brands to adopt authentic, actionable measures. Marketing campaigns will focus on showcasing tangible impacts, moving beyond greenwashing to deliver credible narratives.

5. Stepping into Phygital Marketing

The convergence of physical and digital experiences will reshape marketing strategies. From augmented reality showrooms to gamified retail spaces, 2025 will blur the lines between online and offline interactions.

As these shifts converge, 2025 will challenge brands to embrace innovation, sustainability, and authenticity to stay competitive.

India is the sixth-largest producer of chemicals in the world, enjoying a compound annual growth rate of 11–12% by 2027.Employing more than 2 million people, the industry produces a wide range of specialty chemicals, API (active pharmaceutical ingredients), agrochemicals, and flavors and fragrances.

As the sector grows, it faces increased international competition—and in this environment, functional excellence in research and development (R&D) can offer a critical business advantage. Improving R&D efficiency will be essential to enable Indian chemical companies to scale their output to contend in the global marketplace.

Jun Liu, Director, Chemicals & Materials Solutions at Revvity Signals, explores the transformative impact of digital technologies on R&D workflows in the chemical industry. He emphasizes how Electronic Lab Notebooks (ELNs) like Signals Notebook streamline processes, enhance collaboration, and support regulatory compliance, ultimately driving greater productivity and business efficiency.

Transforming to digital technologies

Traditionally, R&D teams have relied on basic unstructured data capture tools – spreadsheets, PDFs, email, digital images, and even paper notebooks – to organize their work. For large, fast-growing teams, the lack of unified, organized workflows can soon become a challenge all of its own, with limited control of processes, documentation and information.

Increasingly, the sector is adopting Electronic Lab Notebook (ELN) solutions, which provide a fully structured digital working environment to manage every aspect of R&D, from experiment design to AI-powered analytics and regulatory compliance.

In recent years, ELNs have emerged as a powerful tool for streamlining R&D workflows and improving data management. ELNs are designed to help researchers work more productively in an environment where data collection and analysis is increasingly, and sometimes exclusively, digital.The newest solutions rely on cloud technologies, delivered as software-as-a-service (SaaS), enabling data to be accessed and updated from any location – a key advantage for employees and their collaborators across the globe.

Case Studies in the Chemical Industry

Aarti Industries and PI Industries are Indian chemical companies that have adopted ELNs and have experienced significant productivity gains as a result.

Aarti Industries in Mumbai, which specializes in specialty chemicals, uses Signals Notebook to improve the accessibility of experimental data, to support regulatory compliance, and to meet ISO certification standards. Vinod Shivanand Honmute, Head of R&D Excellence remarks, “After deploying Signals Notebook, previously tacit knowledge is now available to everyone with a click of a button.”

PI Industries, a fast-growing agrochemicals specialist based in Gurugram, Haryana, chose Signals Notebook as its core platform to enable collaboration within their company and with external partners. This solution, which includes Signals Notebook, provides what amounts to a shared language and resource, able to extend to third parties under full control of the PI Industries team.

NATCO Pharma, headquartered in Hyderabad, manufactures generic pharmaceuticals and is another Indian chemical company now deploying Signals Notebook to help accelerate product development and improve regulatory approvals processes. Rama Seshagiri Rao, Manager of Data Quality Assurance, emphasizes, “To remain competitive in the generic pharma industry, we need to quickly complete R&D, technology transfer, lab validation, and plant validation, and then file the product with the different regulatory agencies. Signals Notebook is fulfilling all of these expectations.”

Key Considerations for Selecting an ELN

There are three main factors to consider when selecting an ELN: functionality, integration, and scalability.

Functionality: An ELN must meet the specific needs of your research team, including features for data capture, analysis, and collaboration. Understanding the tasks, processes, and data types will help to select an ELN that merges seamlessly with your workflow. For example, you might need an ELN that can capture your chemicals value chain, or one that can restrict visibility of experimental data to specific groups of users.

Integration: Look for an ELN that can integrate with your existing laboratory instruments and software. Ensuring instrumentation compatibility will improve data exchange by automating previously manual processes and can help to eliminate data errors.

Scalability: As workload grows, the nature and volume of R&D processes and regulations may also change. Selecting an ELN that is able to flex capacity easily will be an important future consideration. Equally, as your partner ecosystem expands, you may need an ELN that makes it easy to collaborate securely with contract partners at multiple locations.

With a modern, cloud-based ELN delivered on the SaaS model, companies can vastly improve data management, collaboration, efficiency, and compliance – ultimately, helping to deliver the next era of breakthroughs.

Signals Notebook from Revvity Signals

Signals Notebook offers a comprehensive range of integrated components designed to support R&D workflows, with extensive resources for chemicals research. For example, Signals Notebook includes automated data capture, integration with a wide range of internal and external reference sources and databases, embedded ChemDraw software and Spotfire data visualization, and a host of collaboration and management functionality.

In addition, as a SaaS solution, Signals Notebook enables users to start small and scale big, with nothing more than a modern web browser and a reliable internet connection. For global teams looking to accelerate R&D programs, Signals Notebook provides a clean, intuitive interface, ready to power the next generation of research.

Mumbai, 11th November 2024: Life Insurance Council has released updated industry business numbers for the month of October 2024. Amongst several key highlights, new business premiums (NBPs) underwritten by Indian life insurers has achieved a robust Y-o-Y growth of 13.16% in the month of Oct’24, with YTD figures recording a 18.56% growth over the same period last year. New business premiums expanded from ₹26819.01 Crs in Oct 2023 to ₹30347.6 Crs in Oct 2024, with YTD collections growing even more from ₹185195.81 Crs to ₹219561.64 Crs this year. Despite the underlying demand for enhanced insurance protection from both individual consumers and corporate clients alike, new policy issuances decreased by 41.6% to 12,01,214 in October’24 as compared with 20,56,928 policies sold in the same corresponding period last year.

According to data released by the Life Insurance Council, the life insurance industry saw individual single premiums growing by 8.60% on a Y-o-Y basis to close at ₹3397.07 Crs for Oct’24 while YTD growth stood at 14.16%. Individual non-single premiums came in at ₹7453.5 Crs and grew by 2.76% in Oct’24, even as YTD collections settled at 18.23% higher than the corresponding period last year. This strong performance can be ascribed to the fact that life insurers are increasingly focusing on encouraging first-time life insurance buyers to buy essential life insurance solutions, contributing to the 4.52% growth in combined individual premium collections for the month of Oct’24 and 16.89% growth on a YTD basis. In the Group policy segment, single premiums grew by 15.81% with monthly collections coming in at ₹18258.37Crs. In fact, the Group policy category witnessed a 18.61% growth in premiums collected in Oct’24 while new policy issuances expanded by 2.70% on a Y-o-Y basis.

The life insurance industry in India has been making significant strides forward by expanding access to insurance and making an effort to reach out to areas and segments of the country’s population that were previously underserved when it comes to their insurance needs. Towards this end, life insurers added more than 5,82,565 individual life insurance agents, with an overall 2.64% growth in cumulative agent count. Still, the sustained pace of agent addition is being complimented by the high speed of digitisation by life insurers, paving the way for additional gains in insurance penetration that should provide a significant boost to new business premiums in FY25 and beyond.

November 7th, 2024 – Les Roches, one of the world’s leading institutions in hospitality management and luxury tourism education, announces the launch of a new Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Sports Business Management. This program is crafted for sports enthusiasts, professional athletes, and business-minded individuals aspiring to careers in sports tourism and sports business. The four-year program will be based at the Marbella campus in Spain’s Costa del Sol, a region renown for hosting over 90 golf courses in a 60 km radius, with two months of immersion at the Crans-Montana campus in Switzerland—home to major sports associations—as well as a two-week period at the newly established Abu Dhabi campus in the vibrant Zayed Sports City in a historic building which seamlessly blends tradition with modernity and a popular destination for hundreds of sports events such the FIFA Club World Cups, the Asian Cups, The Arabic Gulf Cups, the Special Olympics World Summer Games, the International Athletes Meet, and American Rodeos, amongst others.

Founded in Switzerland in 1954, Les Roches has established a campus in Marbella which stands as a prime destination for Les Roches students who aspire to a global career in sports business management, sports events, and sports tourism.

An unstoppable Sports Industry demanding the best talent

In recent years, hospitality and sports have grown in tandem. According to Global Market Insights’ Sports Tourism Market Report, sports tourism is expected to reach approximately  globally by 2032, with a compound annual growth rate of 10%. The 2023 figures showed a global total investment of around €500 billion, with Europe leading the sports tourism market, holding over a 40% share.

Increasing partnerships between sports and tourism companies are driving a tourism sector focused on sports with tangible growth potential. These collaborations have enhanced destination appeal, enriched visitor experiences, and contributed to sustained growth in sports tourism. Notably in Europe, sports vacations have surged, with over €200 billion invested in recent years. Travelers are increasingly drawn to these types of active adventures, blending cultural exploration with activities like hiking, cycling, and skiing.

The growing demand for sports tourism is driving a need for highly qualified personnel across the industry, especially in the Event Industry. Managing Sports Events usually involves a big Hospitality (Accommodation and F&B) component. This specific new BSc program has emerged in response to the boom in sports tourism, which now accounts for approximately 10% of global tourism, according to the UN Tourism.

Les Roches graduates each semester access already roles and internships in over 200 high-end companies in hospitality, tourism, and luxury sectors, including sports organizations like Formula 1, FIFA, Nike, and the International Olympic Committee.

An experiential approach for future leaders

Over four years, students will immerse themselves in both the sports and business ecosystems, graduating with not only theoretical knowledge but also practical experience and a comprehensive portfolio of academic projects that will add significant value in their future job search.

Designed to equip students with industry-specific skills as well as adaptable, transferable competencies, the Bachelor of Science in Sports Business Management offers targeted education in areas such as sports marketing and leadership, finance, data analytics, entrepreneurship, nutrition and performance, science and techniques in sports, and legal frameworks, as well as insight into the evolving landscape of sports, including e-sports and sustainable practices. Through experiential learning, applied projects, and internships, graduates will be prepared to lead in diverse roles across the sports sector, from managing professional teams to developing new business ventures in sports.

The program includes an initial immersion in the Sports Lab, where students will lead and manage real sports clubs designed to function as professional organizations. Under faculty mentorship, they’ll assume real-world responsibilities, including participating in university-level competitions and managing all aspects of club operations, from logistics, marketing, and communications to financial management, sponsorship acquisition, and event organization.

In addition to technical skills, students will develop key transferable competencies—strategic thinking, leadership, and cross-functional communication skills—through hands-on management experience and direct mentorship.

Furthermore, the program offers direct exposure to the sports industry and leading industry partners, providing students with valuable networking opportunities and insights into the operation of professional sports organizations. This includes visits to sports facilities, meetings with industry professionals, and workshops led by key partners.

Les Roches specialized programs in tourism sports management & events

The global sports and events industry offers exceptional professional opportunities, as various destinations, regions, and even countries utilize sports to diversify their economies while reinforcing their tourism and hospitality sectors.

Positioned at the forefront of hospitality management education with 70 years of history, Les Roches’ new BSc in Sports Business Management joins Les Roches’ programs focused on sports tourism and events: the Master of Science in Sports Management and Events, which has already launched its first cohort at the Crans-Montana campus with the next intake scheduled for March 2025, and the Diploma of Advanced Studies in Golf Management, which has also started at the Marbella campus with the next intake starting in March.

Unique location and flexible study options

The Marbella campus location gives students an opportunity to dive into the sports and hospitality markets, establishing initial industry contacts in a region renowned for hosting events and attracting elite athletes. Marbella, located in the Costa del Sol area, is the perfect place to enjoy unparalleled cuisine, stunning landscapes, rich history, and the warmth of its people. With a variety of cultural and tourism offerings available year-round, it’s easy to see why this region stands out as a top sports destination, led by disciplines such as golf, athletics, soccer, and swimming.

Les Roches also offers this degree a curriculum that allows students to tailor their training to the sports industry’s most in-demand areas, including technology and data, as well as health and wellness. Additionally, the program can be completed in a flexible hybrid format (online and immersion weeks), ideal for active professional athletes seeking an academic foundation to transition into the business world.

“With this new degree, Les Roches continues to lead in an industry that is constantly reinventing itself. Our new academic offering is marked by strong specialization, and we remain committed to this direction. We aim to channel the passion that defines top athletes into business leadership to develop the future leaders of the global sports industry. The academic structure of this program reflects our commitment to merging sports experience with business acumen, providing an entry path for both sports enthusiasts and elite athletes, as well as business professionals eager to explore this field,” said Carlos Díez de la Lastra, CEO of Les Roches.

13th August 2024: BAYSIDE CORPORATIONS (BCS), a leading name in luxury real estate consultancy with a strong presence in Goa and Chandigarh-Tricity, has announced a strategic partnership with Integrated Centre For Consultancy Pvt. Ltd (ICCPL), a renowned PR firm specializing in real estate. This collaboration aims to generate a Gross Transaction Value (GTV) of over INR 500-700 crores in FY 24-25.

Under this partnership, BCS will be responsible for converting leads into actual sales, while ICCPL will handle marketing and lead generation for luxury properties. The joint effort targets luxury housing markets in Goa and Chandigarh-Tricity, with plans to market and sell over 16 projects in both regions. The portfolio includes properties ranging from Rs 3 crores to Rs 15 crores, including 3BHK units to 1-acre farmhouses.

An official spokesperson for the partnership stated, “The Indian luxury housing market is expanding rapidly, extending beyond metros to major tourist destinations like Goa and emerging cities such as Mohali and Panchkula. With this potential, it is crucial to have organized and structured brokerage firms to consolidate smaller brokers and amplify sales in these markets.”

The spokesperson added, “Through this strategic partnership, we aim to build a robust network of independent investors, brokers, and professionals interested in investing and earning from real estate.”

ICCPL is a diversified media and communications firm with a strong presence in Northern India, as well as cities like Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Goa. The firm is also a leading digital marketing agency through its wholly-owned subsidiary DIGICOMM and handles marketing designs through its subsidiary STUDIO 360. ICCPL was a pioneer in the proptech segment with the launch of FIND MY CO-WORK (FMCW) in 2018, which was later integrated with one of its subsidiaries.

On the other hand, BAYSIDE CORPORATIONS (BCS) has been a prominent player in the luxury real estate market in Goa since 2021 and expanded into Tricity in 2024. Recently, BCS made headlines with plans to hire over 400 employees in FY 24-25.

MUMBAI/NEW DELHI: Kroll, the leading independent global risk and financial advisory solutions firm, announced today the launch of the ninth edition of its Celebrity Brand Valuation Study titled, “Brands, Business, Bollywood”. The study provides a ranking of India’s most powerful celebrity brands based on brand values derived from their brand endorsement portfolios and relative social media presence.

The overall brand value of the top 25 Indian celebrities included in the latest study is estimated at $1.9 billion in 2023, an 18% jump from the previous year.

Key findings of the report include:

● Virat Kohli reclaimed the number one spot with a brand value of $227.9 million, nudging Ranveer Singh to second place at $203.1 million.

● Shah Rukh Khan secures third position with a brand value of $120.7 million on the back of three blockbuster hits in 2023, marking his incredible return into India’s top five celebrity endorsers since 2020.

● Akshay Kumar dropped a rank this year to the fourth position with a brand value of $111.7 million while Alia Bhatt moves to fifth with a brand value of $101.1 million.

● Other notable movements include the meteoric rise in brand value of Kiara Advani moving from rank 16 to rank 12, and Katrina Kaif returned to the list of India’s most valued celebrity brands after five years.

Aviral Jain, Managing Director, Valuation Advisory Services at Kroll said, “Our report recognizes the expansion of celebrity-owned startups across various industries and the spectacular rise of Indian celebrities as global ambassadors of reputed global brands. The year 2023 also witnessed Bollywood’s powerful comeback to the film industry, with blockbusters breaking records to cross the $100 million mark—re-establishing Bollywood’s dominance in the film industry. The synergy between celebrity entrepreneurship, global star advocacy and the resurgence of Bollywood is set to redefine the dynamics of the entertainment and business industries.”

About Kroll

As the leading independent provider of risk and financial advisory solutions, Kroll leverages our unique insights, data, and technology to help clients stay ahead of complex demands. Kroll’s team of more than 6,500 professionals worldwide continues the firm’s nearly 100-year history of trusted expertise spanning risk, governance, transactions, and valuation. Our advanced solutions and intelligence provide clients with the foresight they need to create an enduring competitive advantage. At Kroll, our values define who we are and how we partner with clients and communities.

D C Manjunath Consul General of India gave away the awards

The Telugu People are a very strong community in the USA. 40% of Indians studying in the USA are Telugu. Telugu is the fastest-growing language in the USA. Telugu is the USA’s third most-spoken Indian language. Approximately 10 lakh Telugu People live in America.

Hyderabad, June 20, 2024……Telugu Times, a publication that has been catering to the Telugu diaspora in the USA for the past 21 years, presented the second edition of Business Excellence Awards 2024 to successful Telugu entrepreneurs in Dallas, in the United States of America.

Sri D C Manjunath Consul General of India, was the Chief Guest. He appreciated the Telugu community’s role in the US economy and the Indian economy with growing remittances to India year after year. He also appreciated Telugu Times for serving the Telugu Community.

Mr J. A Choudhary, Former Adviser – IT&C, Government of Andhra Pradesh, who was Guest of Honor recalled how several IT Professionals benefited from STPI (Software Technology Park of India) Hyderabad in his tenure and congratulated the Entrepreneurs for their success and excellence.

The Award Winners were Mr Srikanth Gaddam, CEO -of ERPA, Columbus Ohio- IT Services Category; Mr Dayakar Puskoor, CEO- Dallas Venture Capital – Venture Capital and Investment Category; Dr Yogi Chimata, Dallas Renal Group, Dallas – Hospitals and Healthcare category; Mr ANIL SUNKARA, Producer- AK Entertainments, Dallas, TX – Cinema and Entertainment; Mr BALA Indurthi – President- Sankar Netralaya, Atlanta, GA – Community Service; Ms Geetha Dammanna – CEO- Dammanna Law, Dallas, TX – Legal; Mr Ramesh Gadiraju, A2B Sweets & Restaurants, – Hospitality; Mr Kiran Pasham, President- Splash BI, Atlanta, GA – IT Products Development; Mr Vijay Borra- CEO- DFW Lands, Dallas, TX- Real Estate; Mr Maheswara KAS- CEO, KK Software Associates, Columbus OH- IT Staffing.

Giving his opening remarks, Telugu Times Editor and CEO Chennuri Venkata Subba Row, Telugu Times embarked on this initiative last year to recognize and honour business excellence of the Telugu business community and showcase their talents to the world by honouring them with awards. Telugu in the USA is a very strong community. Nearly ten lahks Telugu people live in the USA. 40 percent of Indian students in America are Telugu. Telugu is the fastest-growing language in the USA. Telugu-speaking people are the largest ethnic group in the USA. Telugu people run several restaurants and theatres. Telugu films are released in the US one day before. More Hindu temples have come up in the USA. No Indian state has as robust a relationship as two Telugu states and the US have. The strength of our relationship is our people-to-people connections, strong democracy, and shared values, so he added that we felt the need for such an initiative.

The rise in the Telugu population is attributed to the increasing representation of the Telugu diaspora in the technological field, especially after Y2K

“For the thousands of readers for whom Telugu Times has been an integral part of their Indian-American journey, ” Subba Row added.

The awards ceremony was first held in Milpitas, San Francisco in June 2023, and now for the second time it happened in Dallas, TX in June 2024.

Mr Nagendra Bandaru, Executive Board Member – WIPRO & President of Enterprise Futuring, delivered a Keynote address on Success in Technology Leadership & Future of AI, ably moderated by Mr Satish Manduva, CEO- Intelli Soft Technologies & Founder President- IT Serve Alliance.

Mr Raja Doddala, Head of Growth Equity & Investments- Churchill Asset Management spoke on VC Funding for Emerging Tech Firms & Growth Equity. The Fireside Chat was moderated by Mr Ram Nandhyala.

Plano Mayor John B. Munns, Mr Gopal Ponangi, Trustee, Frisco School District ISD, and Mr Tony Singh, Council Member – Little Elm City were present.

Mr Prasad Thotakura, Former President-TANA, Mr G Atma Charan Reddy, Former President- ATA, Mr Bapaiah Nuthi, Former President -NATS, Mr Sridhar Korsapati, Former President -NATA, Ms Neel Gonuguntla, US India Chamber of Commerce DFW and several other dignitaries of the Indian diaspora graced.

Mr Nagendra Badaru gave away Appreciation Mementos to Partners & Sponsors – Mr Suresh Manduva & Mr Satish Bandaru (TANTEX) Mr Sridhar Bendapudi (IT Bluebird), Mr Seshu Kalra (Soft Keys Inc), Mr Venkateswara Chinni (Pelican Valley), Mr Krisha Korada (APLLAZ) and others.

New Delhi, 16th May 2024, Amidst the lively streets of New Delhi, VĀSA Indica is set to open its doors on May 17th at Regency One, marking the dawn of a revolutionary era in retail. Over 60 emerging designers will display their curated assortments. Nestled near Dhan Mill, the 5000 sq. ft. retail space offers a meticulously crafted haven where each brand’s vision can be explored and appreciated in an environment that is as inviting as it is inspiring.

Founded by a trio whose expertise spans BUSINESS, DESIGN, and STRATEGY, VĀSA Indica is the brainchild of Rishi Sakhuja, Devika Sakhuja, and Yuvraj Singh Shergill. Each brings a distinctive perspective to this brainchild: Rishi’s strategic direction and experience in the direct-to-consumer market, Devika’s impeccable eye for curation and luxury, and Yuvraj’s prowess in retail and real estate development. Together, they embody the ethos of The New Indica, offering strong support to Indian brands while boldly championing the essence of the Indica values.

One of the founders of VĀSA Rishi Sakhuja further adds “We seek to revolutionize Indian fashion, curating selections that reflect contemporary trends. Empowering modern buyers to express individuality with confidence, it envisions a future synonymous with accessible and diverse fashion and lifestyle”.

” VĀSA Indica offers modern consumers personalized styling assistance, handpicked events, and exclusive previews, shaping the environment into a dynamic nexus where craftsmanship, style, and commerce harmonize. Featuring brands like Ka-Sha from Pune, Divya Sheth from Kolkata, Mimamsa from Lucknow,Tilla from Ahmedabad,Ekadi from Bihar, Naushad Ali from Pondicherry, Art Chives from Mumbai & Ode-to-Odd from Ranchi amongst others who proudly champions the essence of the Indica ethos, With prices ranging from INR 10,000 to INR 75,000, luxury becomes accessible, bridging India’s artisanal heritage with modern aspirations.

The result is a destination where exclusivity feels accessible and where every piece of clothing or accessories comes with a narrative that adds to the larger story of Indian fashion. VĀSA Indica is poised to make its mark on Delhi’s style landscape, offering a refreshing, thoughtfully curated take on contemporary fashion that celebrates the best of India’s evolving identity.