CATEGORIES

“WE'LL PAVE THE WAY FOR TRAVEL INDUSTRY TO BOUNCE BACK”

The past 20-odd months have been challenging for the travel industry. During this period EbixCash not only held its ground but also paved the way for the sector to bounce back. BW People spoke with Naveen Kundu, MD, Ebixcash Travel Services about the industry and what’s in store for the travel and hospitality sector

TECHNOLOGY SHOULD ENABLE THE DOMAIN

Domain expertise must take precedence to technological application in a journey towards consumer-friendly growth, according to Dhawal Kamath, Chief Business Officer, EbixCash

HOW'S THE MOTIVATION? IS IT THAT HIGH?

Aruna Savant, Chief Management Officer, EbixCash Financial Technologies talks about the new way of working post-Covid, and the challenge of resistance to going back to work from office

THE TIRELESS MAVERICK

ROBIN RAINA, the Chairman and CEO of Ebix Inc, who wears the dual hat of founder and promoter of EbixCash, firmly believes that India is ready for a greater presence on the global financial stage and EbixCash, his end-toend financial services provider, is ideally placed to tap this opportunity. With a slew of high-profile acquisitions, nurturing a discipline of growth and establishing strong governance practices, Raina’s speed of decision-making highlights the ambitious goal he has set for himself and his company. The building blocks that include a unified all-inclusive offer and the business model that intuitively houses recurring growth avenues, topped with his overall efforts, place him on the fast track to reaching this mark. Excerpts from an interaction with BW Businessworld’s Group Editorial Director, NOOR FATHIMA WARSIA:

EXCEPTIONAL GROWTH

Technology offers and changes in both market and consumer dynamics are opening up newer opportunities for relevant businesses, according to TC Guruprasad, MD & Board Member of EbixCash Payments Solutions Division

DEMOCRATISING HIGH-QUALITY EDUCATION

The pandemic induced rise of the edutech sector presents the opportunity to democratise high-quality education by taking the best of concepts and faculties to every student in the country

Economy's Inflection Point

The Indian Economy faces a pivotal moment. A post-pandemic bounce is visible. But there are headwinds on the horizon as well.

Citizens Must Trade Votes for Growth

HISTORY, INSIGHT, AND A LITTLE OBSERVATION tell us that economic growth is the most powerful instrument for scaling the socioeconomic pyramid. It is pivotal to poverty eradication and sustainable development. Growth triggers a virtuous circle of prosperity, catalyses a progressive ecosystem. It vitalises the quality of life, social harmony, equality and opportunity.

Talking-Straight The # 1 Behaviour Of High-Trust Leaders

IN TODAY’S WORLD most people in their personal and professional dimensions can think of several situations everyday where they have felt like others were beating around the bush and indulging in double-talking, pussy-footing, soft-pedalling, diplomacy (the words they use to cover-up their blatant lies, half-truths, falsehoods, glib-talk and spin-doctoring), obfuscating tergiversation and strange circumlocution about facts, truths, viewpoints, intentions, ideas, opinions or agendas. While distorting facts and omitting information may sound legally/technically correct, this practice will lead to wrong impressions, and will never inspire trust.

It is Okay to Fail

FAILURE − A WORD THAT HAS MANY DIFFERENT MEANINGS, many different connotations and many different interpretations. Failure is used for individuals, organisations, products, experiences and actions.

Rebuild Trust

BW Wellbeing World hosted the Festival of Wellbeing where Raj Yog meditation teacher, spiritual guide and mentor SISTER BK SHIVANI, explained Rebuild Trust – a corporate culture gradually overcoming distrust developed due to the pandemic

WAKE UP, ADVERTISING!

Advertising continues to reinforce implicit codes in its portrayal of women even though the real women no longer represent those stereotypes

THE NEW AGE DIGITALPRENEURS

Industry captains and young entrepreneurs pondered on what makes tech startups tick in these times of stress at the YEA Summit

“‘RETURN TO OFFICE' IS PLAYING OUT IN INDIA AS WELL”

Mindspace Business Parks REIT (real estate investment trust) offers one of the largest, grade A office portfolios in India spread across Mumbai, Hyderabad, Pune and Chennai. Mindspace REIT is managed by K Raheja Corp Investment Managers LLP. VINOD ROHIRA, CEO, Mindspace REIT shares with ASHISH SINHA of BW Businessworld how the hiring done after the pandemic is leading to a renewed demand for grade A office spaces that conform to compliance, governance, health, and safety protocols. Excerpts:

Retail Tech Trends That Are Reset To Last In 2022

Over the last two years, adopting robust tech solutions became the mantra leading businesses to reform their modus operandi to survive and deepen their connections with customers but there is a slew of top technological trends to reshape the retail industry in 2022

Reskilling: The Lead Enabler

As India invests in emergent technologies and big-ticket projects such as Smart Cities, PLI scheme and NDCP lead to a rise in demand for new skill-based jobs, a whole generation of frontline workforce needs to be skilled, reskilled or upskilled to match demand

BNPL For Merchants Through Embedded Finance — The Next Opportunity

A new Buy Now, Pay Later variant, Merchant BNPL is making its way into mainstream credit for small businesses when they buy from suppliers

The Open Platform & The Big Opportunity

The open internet must be protected and first-party data is the queen, asserts Megan Clarken, Global CEO, Criteo as she points to the strategy that is getting Criteo back on its feet

Enabling The Omnichannel Experience

Airtel is digitising its core businesses, mobility, broadband, DTH & B2B, making customer experience the cornerstone of a strategy that aims to build new digital businesses and revenue streams

IN THE TIGER'S DEN

Already being touted as India’s best tech year yet, 2021 is underlining that out-of-the-box and bold moves are now needed, from all stakeholders, to create the next wave that will propel India’s tech economy towards real growth

Technology Trends

An amazing future awaits the practice of medicine with the advancement in digital healthcare technologies like 3D-printing, VR, AR, AI, robotics and nanotechnology

“Microsoft Runs On Trust”

Microsoft India has broken moulds and energised its structure under the leadership of its President, Anant Maheshwari, who sees India high up on the global tech map. In this interview with Noor Fathima Warsia, Group Editorial Director, BW Businessworld, Maheshwari discusses the key trends that he believes impact the sector. Excerpts:

“Our Strategy Is Focused On Hybrid Cloud & AI”

IBM is on a path to growth and sees hybrid cloud and AI as a $1 trillion market opportunity, informs Sandip Patel, MD, IBM India in this conversation with BW Businessworld. Excerpts:

“We Are Committed To Boost ‘Make in India”

The PLI scheme will enable more device, sensor, component manufacturers come to India and that will drive the uptake of 5G, opening up new opportunities, says Sanjay Malik, Senior VP & Head of India Market, Nokia in this conversation with BW Businessworld’s Noor Fathima Warsia. Excerpts:

Tatas Find Back Their Lost Child: Air India

‘Always aim at perfection for only then will you achieve excellence!’ — JRD TaTa

FAST FORWARD TO THE FUTURE

Content, culture, interactivity and COMMERCE are all coming together to brew the perfect storm propelling MEDIA into a new direction in India, birthing a slew of MEDIATECH companies that are attractive to consumers and investors alike

Towards a Global Tax Framework

THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC precipitated visible populist angst against transnational companies (TNCs) in India and across the world.

Should Air India Continue to use the MAHARAJAH?

SOON AS THE ACQUISITION of Air India by the Tatas was officially confirmed, I sent out a short questionnaire to about 100 of my frequent flyer friends. Almost all seasoned travelers, mostly C-suite occupants. I personally also called a few of them just for a better understanding. The feedback was intriguing, if not surprising.

“I PRIORITISE TWO THINGS, INFRASTRUCTURE AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT”

IN an interaction with Annurag Batra, Chairman and Editor-in-Chief, BW Businessworld Group, the Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant speaks about the 60th year of Goa’s independence, massive strides the state is making in the start-up space, inclusive development and self-dependency.

IT'S TIME TO TUNE INTO INDIA!

SENSATIONALISM SELLS in the news media. The negative narratives bring eyeballs and attention and good revenues subsequently. If you are a news TV organisation or a news TV editor, you know that if you do a story where you show a subject (even if it’s a country and its citizens) whose inadequacies you amplify in negative light, you can use it to terrorise your audience and get everyone else to fall in line.