Category: Business World

Platforms to check out for some great travel options for a budgeted trip

Travelling is something which relaxes the mind and body. It gives us a way to explore the world, meet new people, look at the mesmerising sites and release stress. While everyone might want to pack their bags and just leave for a trip right away, one thing that makes us take our steps back is money. While planning a trip, one has to set a budget and abide by it. Not for every trip, one can afford to spend thousands. Therefore, it is important to learn the art of managing a budget while enjoying your trip to the fullest.

To make it adventurous and budget friendly one can look to rent a bike or get a self-drive car or take a bus for short journeys, consider alternative routes, hostels or budgeted hotels to manage the expenses.

Avis India:

Avis India – India’s leading car hire, leasing, and fleet management provider, Avis India, is a Joint Venture between Avis Budget Group, Inc. and The Oberoi Group. Avis India has a fleet of more than 8000 premium cars across the country, with a network extending across 50 conveniently located stations in 20 cities and have been recognized as the industry leaders in business innovation. As India’s leading car rental service provider, Avis has been present across the globe for over 16 years. Its fleet consists of more than 2500 premium cars across India. Avis India has launched various services across multiple formats – including chauffeur drive, operating lease, self-drive and fleet management services – to fulfill the requirements of both corporate and retail customers across India.

Avis in India is present at Agra, Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Bhubaneswar, Chandigarh, Chennai, Cochin, Coimbatore, New Delhi, Gurgaon, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Kolkata, Mumbai, Noida, Pune, Rishikesh, Shimla, Udaipur, and Vadodara.

GoBikes

GoBikes is a bike rental platform which aims to fill the void in the transportation sector. The platform is designed primarily for daily commuters who rely on public transportation. It allows users to choose from a variety of bikes and scooters available at affordable prices and promises to deliver quality service.

GoBikes aims to solve the absence of last and first-mile connectivity that exists in most of the major cities in India. GoBikes provides the users with the experience of a personalized ride where the process of renting a bike/scooter is made easy and hassle-free.

GoBikes has built a technologically exclusive and user-friendly platform which it believes will revolutionise the future. GoBikes is a two-wheeler rental company headquartered in New Delhi, India. It is a Limited Liability Partnership(LLP) firm.

redBus:

redBus is the best online bus ticketing platform in the world. redBus currently operates in six countries (India, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Peru, and Colombia) and plans to expand its bus ticketing services to more nations. redBus, which has over 18 million customers globally, is a simple, fast, and secure way to book affordable bus tickets. This one-stop bus booking platform enables users to purchase tickets on the move and offers simple payment options, making their travel less taxing and inconvenient. The redbus smartphone app assists users in getting where they need to go by directing them to the best seats, boarding station, and other locations. With simple booking options, popular payment options, and the ability to conduct secure transactions, redBus makes it simple for travellers to get to their destination.

Zostel:

Zostel, being a team of highly motivated professionals from top B-schools and T-schools of the country came together to change the status quo in this stale market sector and to create a fresh, new market segment of backpacker hostels in India. The core theme of all the Zostels has been to provide a safe, hygienic, centrally located and affordable accommodation wherein travelers can come together and share their stories while having a good time. Zostel also promotes micro entrepreneurship as almost all the Zostels are run by handpicked, motivated local entrepreneurs on a franchise model.

Since early 2017, in addition to providing social accommodation, Zostel has come up with a new segment – Zostel Escape – wherein we try to provide local, authentic experiences to the guests. These experiences are again handpicked and conducted by the local people and are intended to take the guests beyond the obvious and touristy destinations and experiences. With time, Zostel Escape will be rolled out across all Zostels.

Teaching Tips for the New Age Teacher

The growing prominence of digital education has resulted in a gradual shift in teaching techniques over the past few years.Thanks to virtual classrooms, teaching is now a multidimensional skill that requires learning, practice and engaging students with rich educational content.

How do teachers transition smoothly to the digital teaching revolution? Here are some easy-to-implement tips for teachers in the changing times.

Continue to Learn

Being a curious learner is the first step towards being a good teacher. Teachers should continue their upskilling journey to catch pace with the changing dynamics. They can consider enrolling for short-term courses to specialize in different and evolving aspects of teaching.

There’s an abundance of short-term courses to learn new-age teaching techniques. Easy on the pocket, these courses help them upskill with ease. Some of the certification courses offered by teaching platforms like SuperTeacher Academy are focused on:
● Planning for excellent learning
● Engaging classes digitally
● Presentations using PPTs

Such certification courses help teachers use digital tools to create appealing powerpoint presentations, worksheets and learning content. To sum up, such courses help them sharpen their skills and improve their teaching efficiency in the class.

Use Smart Teaching Tools

There is no shortcut to achieving subject matter expertise. But there are smart tools to enhance their teaching acumen. Teachers must equip themselves with digital tools to ensure a smooth teaching experience in a digital environment. Online teaching platforms now ensure that teachers do not spend too much time on administrative tasks. Tech-interventions have made it possible for teachers to save time by using some of the most common tools available such as:

● Attendance trackers : tools that help teachers keep track of student attendance
● Fee management tools : tools that help teachers receive timely fee payments
● Automated progress reports : automated reports that analyze student progress
Log on to Online Teaching Platforms

Online teaching apps help teachers establish their digital presence seamlessly. These enable teachers to create multiple batches and enroll as many students as they want. There are no geographical limitations whatsoever. This implies that teachers can enroll students from across geographies. The best part about online teaching platforms is that they connect students and teachers with maximum ease and thereby increase access to learning resources.

Network with Fellow Teachers

Interacting with fellow teachers from different backgrounds helps gain newer insights into teaching methods. It helps teachers support each other in learning new skills and staying updated on the latest industry trends. Not just that, networking is crucial for teachers who aspire to land future opportunities in established institutions.

Access Reliable Content

There’s an abundance of learning resources on the internet. However, accessing a reliable set of information, in a unified place, is a challenge for teachers and students alike. Online teaching platforms provide ready-to-access teaching resources. These resources are prepared by experts and are renowned for their credibility. Such teaching apps are also equipped with rich question banks which can be used while conducting exams.

Key Takeaway: Upskilling is a Necessity
Upgrading one’s teaching skills is the need of the hour to stay updated with industry standards. Doing so helps:
● Bridge learning gaps between teachers and students
● Sharpen teaching skills
● Add value to professional experience
● Widen array of opportunities
● Stay on track with industry standards

Lakhs of teachers have already established their presence online. While some struggles will persist, teachers are sure to find solutions and overcome roadblocks in digital classrooms. Indeed, online teaching platforms, social media communities and fellow educators are supporting each other in this dynamic transition.

Upskilling has become a necessity in modern times. This is why teachers must equip themselves with new-age teaching tools and techniques to ensure better learning outcomes for students. Platforms like SuperTeacher Academy will not only help them conduct online classes smoothly, but will also empower them to progress and grow professionally.

How to apply for NMIMS Common Entrance Test-2022 for admissions in Engineering and Pharmacy programs

Mumbai, 30TH May 2022: SVKM’s NarseeMonjee Institute of Management Studies (NMIMS), Deemed-to-be University with an academic legacy of 41 years has announced Common Entrance Test (CET) 2022 for undergraduate program in Engineering and Pharmacy – at Mumbai, Indore, Navi Mumbai, &Shirpur campuses.

The curriculum is designed to prepare students for successful careers in the field of engineering, technology and pharmacy and provide them with job opportunities in Top notch companies.

With the digital era firmly in place, the world will soon witness huge demands for engineers in the domains of AI & Machine learning, Data Science and Cyber security along with sound fundamental knowledge of core engineering. The Mukesh Patel School of technology management & Engineering (MPSTME), NMIMS University thus offers programmes not only in these emerging areas but also in core engineering viz; Mechanical, Civil, Electronics & Telecommunication and Mechatronics with a lot of interdisciplinary focus and choice to the learners.

The institute’s flagship programme- the MBA Tech program has given a large number of techno-managers to the industry over the years and is one of its most successful programmes. It is a unique opportunity to study management principles along with core technical knowledge. The program enables students to get a sound knowledge of various work fields like the digital sectors, finance, marketing, Pharmacy, Research, and in various other industries too, bringing them at par with the MBA graduates and equally accepted by the industry.

Since its establishment, the university has a track record of 100% placement assistance. Top brands like E&Y, Ingram Micro, Zycus, HDFC Bank, Jio, Cipla, Glenmark, Sun Pharma, Cognizant, Novartis are a few names where the students have been placed.

Dean, Dr. Alka Mahajan, SVKM’s Mukesh Patel School of Technology Management & Engineering said, ‘What an engineering aspirant needs to look for in a university/institute is a robust forward looking curriculum and structure, choice & flexibility of learning, experienced and well qualified faculty, and an opportunity to pursue other interests. A diverse peer group and opportunities for further education abroad matter too. At the MPSTME, NMIMS University we offer all of these and much more’

Dean, Dr. Bala Prabhakar, SVKM’s Shobhaben Pratapbhai Patel School of Pharmacy & Technology Management (SPPSPTM) said, “The revolutionary technological advancements in all the disciplines has brought about a great metamorphosis in the world. The current and future generations will have to learn differently and excel multidisciplinary skill sets to have a successful career and to contribute meaningfully to the Society. NMIMS, a Deemed-to-be university with visionary and progressive approach to the future world, offers dynamic, contemporary and futuristic programmes, one of the most popular being, MBA Pharma.Tech, where the student acquires multidisciplinary skills in the areas of Pharmacy, healthcare and management. The graduates are well received by the industry and are contributing in a major way to the health care sector, with the emerging trend being becoming entrepreneurs in healthcare and related sectors. They are well established globally in countries like USA, UK, Australia, and Germany to name a few.”

About NMIMS-CET 2022

NMIMS-CET 2022 is the official Common Entrance Test for admissions in Undergraduate and Integrated Degree programs offered by constituent schools of NMIMS at 5 campuses. NMIMS-CET will have five sections – Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics/Biology, Logical Intelligence & Language Proficiency comprising 120 questions. Candidates applying to the pharmacy program will have to select either Mathematics or Biology as one of the sections during the application process. There will be no negative marking. Candidates can take a maximumtwo attempts and best of two scores will be considered for the selection process.

Program under NMIMS-CET

• ABET Accreditation to B.Tech. Programs at Mumbai Campus to improve comfort and productivity
• MPSTME Ranked no.2 Best Emerging College in India by India Today Group-MDRA 2020
• SPPSPTM rank 14 in the NIRF 2021 for the Best Pharmacy School in the country by MHRD
• NMIMS Pharmacy programs are approved by both AICTE and the Pharmacy Council of India (PCI)

Reaction on RBI Annual Report by PayNearby, LenDenClub and Sarvatra Technologies

1) Mr. Anand Kumar Bajaj, Founder MD CEO of PayNearby (PayNearby is India’s largest branchless banking network) 

“While the pandemic and increasing internet penetration across India accelerated the demand for digital banking, the need for breaking through untapped markets has compelled traditional banks to go branchless too. This is reflective of the exponential growth that BCs (Business Correspondents) have witnessed, especially in the last two years. While the growth has been marginal throughout the decade -2010 to 2020 – the industry has observed a growth spurt to the tune of 100% in the last year alone.

BCs have effectively been bridging the gap between the banking institutions and the unbanked masses in the hinterlands. Through a robust digital infrastructure coupled with adequate handholding that builds trust and confidence, the BC network is creating access points across semi-urban and rural India for banks to offer a range of financial products that are building the future of banking for the real Bharat. The sharp growth witnessed through the last year across various platforms, inclusive of Points of Sale (PoS) terminals, Micro ATMs, and a huge chunk of the households that transacted digitally during the lockdown can be attributed to the BC network.

Additionally, RBI implementing a geo-tagging framework to provide users with precise locations of existing touchpoints is a great move, eventually inching India towards the larger mission of digitization.”

2) Mr. Bhavin Patel, Co-founder & CEO of LenDenClub (India’s largest Peer-to-Peer lending platform) 

“It was imperative that FinTech companies and other financial institutions be treated equally in the policy framework. The recently established comprehensive regulatory framework for NBFCs catalyzes the sector, allowing for a proper structure and a few restrictions that favour NBFC clients for their safety. As an innovation facilitator, the RBI has done a remarkable job of setting out the latest report of the ‘Working Group on Digital Lending,’ which has crafted laws that will further accelerate the expansion of the digital space and foster healthy competition among industry players. Furthermore, their proactiveness has fostered India to head the global fintech hub this decade.

The Reserve Bank of India’s conscious efforts, such as creating a FinTech department, setting up 75 digital banks, and creating a comprehensive regulatory framework, indicate that it expects FinTechs to boost financial inclusion with innovative products and services that the sector has been developing. It is a significant responsibility for us and other fellow FinTech service providers to maintain the RBI’s trust through honest efforts and the development of robust infrastructure, which will result in an advantageous position for customers and, therefore, for the broader ecosystem.“

3) Mr. Mandar Agashe, Founder and MD of Sarvatra Technologies (, India’s premier banking technology solutions provider offers cloud computing platform for 100+ co-operative banks such as i.e.; UCBs, SCBs, DCCBs, RRBs, Credit Societies as well as leading banks like IDBI, ICICI, Equitas, even payment players like Google Pay) 

“Inter-linking of fast payment systems of different countries for instant and low-cost cross-border remittances is one key area highlighted in the report. Like connecting India’s UPI and Singapore’s PayNow that will go live in the current year, we should explore similar partnerships to deepen collaboration with overseas partners especially with countries where many Indian working population reside.

Like in UPI, such tech integrations will go a long way in building robust payment solutions that can be taken to global markets, while collaborating with local payment system operators. Also initiatives like DigiSaathi, UPI123Pay, and increasing transaction limits of UPI and IMPS will strengthen the digital payment systems with enhanced security. While the pandemic has led to a shift in the rise of digital adoption, we believe digital payments will continue to advance in the coming years owing to substantial changes in behaviour, integration of new technologies and awareness building measures.

Additionally, the FI-Index is a comprehensive manifestation incorporating inputs from banking, investments, insurance, postal, and the pension sector. It will help the entire BFSI fraternity, including the technology companies to develop the right product set for a specific target audience and market. The fraternity can thus reach the last mile with products that are relevant, affordable and secure.”

KSB Limited announces results of quarter first of 2022

• The Sales value for Q1 2022 is registered at INR 4,177 million which is about a 9% increase over the corresponding quarter of 2021
• Achieved ROS of 13% for the quarter
• Operating profit margin continues to be at 13%

Business Highlights

(All amounts in INR million)

Summarizing the Q1’22 performance, Mr. Farrokh Bhathena, Director of Sales and Marketing, KSB Limited said “This quarter we have recorded the highest ever quarterly order intake which is 54% higher than the corresponding quarter of 2021. Our sales achieved for the quarter are 9% higher than that of the corresponding Q1 2021 quarter. The market is gradually rolling back to the pre-covid times favouring faster market movement and business activities. A good number of project orders were received for petrochemical/chemical segment and water wastewater segment, we also recorded good growth in agriculture segment compared to Q1’21“.

Major Highlights

• The Business activities are steadily coming back to normalcy
• Export Orders in Q1 2022 up 54% compared to the corresponding period of last year
• New shed inaugurated at KSB Limited Sinnar plant.
• Mechanical Seal repair facility inaugurated at Chinchwad
• Solar Pumps Certification for MNRE completed

Mr. Milind Khadilkar, Chief Financial Officer is pleased to share the Strategy 2024 formed by the Company. Accordingly, the Company has a target to achieve of Order intake of INR 2,500 Crores, Sales INR 2,200 Crores and ROS of 13% by the end of year 2024. He continued to state that, the strategies focus on new products, new markets, operational excellence, solar business, export business, Digitalisation etc.

Digitalization being one of the important pillars to achieve the Strategy 2024, Mr. Khadilkar informed top Digitalization initiatives of the Company as following:

1. Sales Initiatives: Project Cost Information System, Dealer Management Portal
2. Operations Initiatives: MIS Automation, Machine Monitoring & Model Workstations
3. IT Initiatives: Cloud Adoption, Data Classification, and Data loss prevention

Kotex relaunches in India with the introduction of Overnight Period Panties

May 2022 – National: Kotex, one of the pioneers in female hygiene products is relaunching in India, with one of its innovative products – Kotex Overnight Period Panties – a breakthrough innovation that gives unparalleled period protection on heavy flow nights is built to distinctiveness and excellence. This 100-year-old brand thrives on the values of providing comfort care products to women. Kotex ensures that periods never get in the way of any woman’s progress. It aims to support and encourage young girls and women on their path to establish a new world order and break the cycle of the old world.

Period management is a topic of growing interest with more information being doled out today and a concerted effort to move it out of a ‘taboo to talk about’ topic. Keeping in mind the day-to-day struggles of women, Kotex believes that women can perform whether on their periods or not. The research conducted by Kotex in India suggests that Kotex Overnight Period Panties is a life changing product which provides 360-degree protection for heavy flow period nights. Kotex Overnight Period Panties breaks the old cycle of night-time discomfort and anxiety on heavy flow nights, by bringing in complete 360 degree protection for anxiety-free and restful nights.

Ms. Saakshi Verma Menon, Marketing Director, Kimberly – Clark India said – “As a brand, Kotex strives to work towards a world where a period never stands in the way of a girl’s progress. The Indian girl today, understands that periods are a natural process and openly wants to challenge any taboos or pre-existing negative biases that exist around it. We relaunch Kotex in India with the innovative and convenient Overnight Period Panties. As a woman I can vouch for how life changing this product is and I am thrilled to be able to launch this for the women in this country. Kotex overnight period panties offer women an unparalleled experience of a 360 degree leak free protection. For decades, women have been held back at night and periods have been a yet another reason for it . With the launch of this product, we encourage women to not let their period hold them back so they can own the night – in whatever way they choose to”

Tanuja Bhat, Sr. Executive Creative Director, Ogilvy India says, “In a world that says that girls should be back home before night sets in, Kotex as a brand believes that confident, young girls can proclaim, ‘I own the night, I am the change’ and freely do as they please; be a professional gamer, a hula hooper, a night rider or simply take a rest night. The brand launch campaign challenges society’s regressive mindset and gives girls a powerful statement, an anthem that captures their unstoppable spirit as they set out into the world. The innovative product – Kotex Overnight Period Panties, challenges traditional formats and offers modern, superior period protection. Together, they bring alive the Kotex belief that ‘Periods should not come in the way of a woman’s progress’.”

The ad brings out the true Gen Z characteristic of being the harbinger of change in their lives and wanting to take charge & ownership. ‘I Own the Night. I am the Change is the message that underlines the campaign and the target audience. The youth today does not shy away from discussions and does not think period blood is something to shy away from. The campaign focuses on empowering girls to break the cycle and focus on their passions to progress. It talks about how each girl owns the night her way, period or not. The campaign throws light on their lifestyle, and how they believe they are the change. The campaign has been designed for all the relevant platforms that she uses – be it Instagram stories, Instagram Reels, Youtube, Spotify Ads and Snapchat Lens.

Kotex has also launched their website kotex.co.in which is a content hub for all things periods and a one-of-a-kind period tracker that helps. The company also gives them an opportunity to become a part of the Kotex Tribe, where there is period management information and period tracker that helps the young women of today to be in charge and not let periods disrupt their day-to-day lives.

Shalby Hospital Business Registered Highest Ever Annual Revenue of Rs. 6,598 million up by 54%

Ahmedabad Gujarat, India, May 2022: Shalby Limited, India’s leading multi-specialty hospital, has announced its financial results for the fiscal year ending on March 31, 2022.

Hospital Performance Highlights: FY2022 vs FY2021

Total Revenues of Rs. 6,598 million, growth of 54% y-o-y

Operating EBITDA of Rs. 1,426 million with EBITDA margins of 22%

Profit After Tax was Rs. 698 million, growth of 63% y-o-y

Realized Return on Capital Employed improved to 14%, compared to 8% in FY21

Bed occupied during the quarter were 563, with occupancy rate of 46%

In patients count of 40,603, growth of 41% y-o-y

Total Surgery count of 20,240, growth of 70% y-o-y

Hospital Performance Highlights: Q4 FY2022 vs Q4 FY2021

Total Revenues of Rs. 1,523 million, growth of 6% y-o-y

Operating EBITDA of Rs. 323 million with EBITDA margins of 21%

Profit After Tax was Rs. 157 million, growth of 42% y-o-y

Bed occupied during the quarter were 499, with occupancy rate of 42%

In patients count of 9,629, growth of 11% y-o-y

Total Surgery count of 5,558, growth of 1.6% y-o-y

Mr. Shanay Shah, President said:

“Shalby delivered a strong performance during the year and I am pleased that Shalby as a hospital group was able to support the Covid-19 patients especially during the second wave of Covid-19 which impacted the lives of many. In the second half of the year, we saw a strong recovery of elective surgeries which continues to drive our core specialty revenues.

During the year, a total of 20,240 elective surgeries were performed, an increase of 70% on y-o-y basis. We saw a strong jump of 41% for in-patient count and travel of international patients has also resumed. Occupied beds increased to 563 up by 31% in FY22 from 428 occupied beds in FY21. ARPOB and ALOS were recorded at Rs. 33,707 and 4.55 days in FY22 vis-a-vis Rs. 27,400 and 5.42 days in FY21. Our core specialty such as Arthroplasty, Critical care & General Medicine, Oncology, Cardiac Science, Orthopaedic, Neurology and Nephrology contributed 29%, 22%, 9%, 8%, 8%, 5% and 3% to the revenues respectively.

Continued generation of strong cash flow from hospital operation of Rs. 1,238 million helped to strengthen our balance sheet further. Our Realized Return on Capital Employed has increased from 8% in FY21 to 14% in FY22. We have closed the year with a net cash balance of Rs. 475 million at group level and are well positioned to fund our strategic growth plans.

Shalby has evolved and become a true multi-specialty hospital group which is backed by clinical excellence and patient delight. Shalby Jaipur created history with 200 Joint Replacement surgeries in a month by a single Orthopedic surgeon. We at Shalby units, have successfully completed total 28 Kidney and Liver transplants in FY22. We continue to focus improving internal systems and processes. We have also successfully implemented SAP in February 2022 and this strategic implementation aims to strengthen our financial & operational processes by improvising database management, administration, security, real-time access and advance analytics to support the business decisions.”

Mr. Sushobhan Dasgupta, Vice Chairman and Global President said:

“In FY22, Shalby delivered strong performance across all key operational and financial indicators. The company continued to achieve many milestones in clinical excellence across Shalby units and proud to make a difference in people lives.

During the year, we undertook various initiatives to improve occupancy levels and brand recognition by leveraging digital media and marketing campaigns. We are also focusing on geographical expansion of our footprint which will support our growth aspirations. Our Asset light franchise model plan is witnessing positive traction among partners and customers, we have added 3 hospital under franchise model at Udaipur, Gwalior and Kanpur. We have plans to open over 50 Shalby franchise hospital across India within the next 3 years and capitalize on Shalby expertise and excellence in orthopedics.

At Shalby Consensus, we have made significant progress within first 10 months of the acquisition. We have built a team of experienced professionals to lead the key departments, improved the operational capacity by around 50% and now focusing on improving the customer mix from wholesale to retail. In February 2022, we have received import license for complete range of Joint replacement products i.e. Total Knee System, Total Hip System for selling them in India. This will allow Shalby to import implants for internal consumption also cater to the additional demand for implants from the franchise centres and other hospital in India. Furthermore, we have launched new knee implant product called TCKS (Tahoe Unicondylar Knee System) for the US market very recently and the initial responses have been encouraging. The implant manufacturing business is fully synergistic with our core existing hospital and arthroplasty business, and we remain on track to achieve our annual sales target of Rs. 100 crores by end of FY23.

We are constantly innovating, improving our systems and processes, expanding our reach, developing talents and strengthening our brand to serve more patients with highest quality of healthcare offerings and enhancing overall patient experience. Our strategic initiatives are expected to drive the sustainable growth momentum of the business in the coming years and create value for all stakeholders.”

Ace mountaineer Anvitha Reddy sets her sight on more peaks across continents after her triumph on Mount Everest

Hyderabad, May 2022: Telangana’s pride and ace mountaineer Anvitha Reddy Padamati, was given a rousing reception by her fans and the management of Anvita Group, the sponsors of her Everest expedition, at the RGIA Airport, today. Anvitha Reddy was later felicitated at a glittering ceremony by Atchuta Rao Bopanna, Managing Director, Anvitha group and Shekhar Babu Bachinepally, her coach, on her humongous accomplishment of reaching the summit of mount Everest.

Anvitha Reddy set out from Hyderabad for climbing the mount Everest in the first week of April. On reaching Nepal she completed the formalities and began her climb from the Southern side of Mount Everest located in Nepal. After a 9 day trek she reached Mach base camp located at an altitude of 5300 on the 17th April 2022. In the subsequent weeks she completed ‘Rotations’ up the mountain, to acclimatise to the low oxygen levels and reached an altitude of 7,100 mtr. Anvitha Reddy started for the Mount Everest summit from the base camp on 12th May 2022. After going through four camps at different altitudes, she along with her Sherpa guide started from Camp-4 on 15th May 2022 night. She had her dream come true by reaching the Mt Everest summit (8848.86mtr) on 16th May 2022 at 9.30 AM.

I turned ecstatic on reaching the top of the world, a moment I aspired for the last eight years had come true. It was this moment which kept me going despite enormous challenges including convincing my parents who were averse to the adventure sport, financial limitations and more. It was Shri Atchuta Rao Bopanna, Managing Director of Anvita group, who came forward and relieved me of my financial concerns, that enabled me to concentrate on my ambition. I am immensely grateful to Shri Atchuta Rao Bopanna for his kind gesture and to my coach and mentor Shekhar Babu Bachinepally for the grooming, says Anvitha Reddy Padamati. I was educated about the Everest trekking by my coach Shekar sir even before I set out for that. That made me aware of how to go about while trekking on Everest, how to cope with different situations we encounter and how I should be mentally strong to reach the summit. He was confident from the word go about my ability to reach the top of the world. Khumbu icefall is the toughest and the dangerous stretch of the trekking, but I was prepared to trek through it safely and courageously. My trek in -40 degrees weather conditions on Mt Elbrus gave me the confidence to trek on Everest. On May 16th at 9.30 am I reached the summit, that was the most memorable day of my life. The saddest part was seeing dead bodies, I had to pass through two dead bodies of trekkers, though I wasn’t frightened, but felt sad that they couldn’t go back home like me to celebrate the achievement with their families. I began my journey of mountaineering in 2014 at Bhongir rock climbing school and that terrain helped me to train and climb all the mountains till date. Anvita Group’s Atchuta Rao sir approached me after my Elbrus summit and assured to sponsor all my treks thereafter. Everest expedition was expensive but without hesitation Anvita Group sponsored it.

The 24 year old MBA Graduate, Anvitha Reddy hails from a humble middle class family in Bhongir. Her father Madhusudhan Reddy is an agriculturist and mother Mrs. Chandrakala Padamati, works at an Anganwadi school in Bhongir. Though she got interested in rock climbing at an young age of 17 years, she had to take a break from mountaineering for four years to complete her formal education on hers parents’ insistence. The family’s limited means also couldn’t afford to fulfil her ambition of climbing the Mount Everest. It was Anvita Group, with whom she is employed as an Assistant Manager Marketing, had come forward and liberally sponsored the entire expedition expenses.

Anvitha’s unstinted commitment and single minded dedication is what made us to spot a champion in her. We at Anvita Group wanted her to focus on her goal unhindered and did our bit for her to achieving it. Anvita Group will continue to support her to summit different peaks in all the continents in future too, says Atchuta Rao Bopanna, Managing Director, Anvita group.

The iconic Bhongir fort in Anvitha’s neighbourhood inspired her to scale mountains and her Coach a distinguished mountaineer awarded with the ‘Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award’ by the President of India, Shekhar Babu, gave wings to her dreams. She completed her basic training at Rock Climbing School, Bhongir and Basic and Advance mountaineering courses from reputed institutes in India. She extensively practiced climbing at Bhongir and became part of top management of Rock Climbing School, Bhongir. She went on to achieve several laurels including climbing Mt Kilimanjaro, the highest peak of Africa continent in January 2021; Mount Khadey, the Indian Himalayas – Tso-Moriri, Ladak, in February 2021 and Mt Elbrus, the highest peak of Europe continent in December, 2021. She is the only Indian to achieve this rare feat of climbing Mt Elbrus in winter.

Speaking about Anvitha and her expedition, her coach Mr Shekhar Babu stated ” I am immensely pleased at Anvitha summiting Mount Everest. She prepared and gained the required experience herself in a steady manner. She progressively worked on her goals, acquired knowledge, skills and experience including physical and mental endurance. Very happy for her summit and several more achievements to come.”

Anvitha has received several accolades and appreciations for her accomplishments and the most memorable for her is the President of Russian Mountaineering Federation Mr Abdulkhalim Elmezov complimenting her for being the first Indian to climb Mt Elbrus in winter in biting cold.

Deepak Fertilisers Q4 consolidated PAT up 144 pc at Rs 283 cr

Pune, May 26, 2022: Deepak Fertilisers on Wednesday reported a 144.30 percent jump in consolidated profit after tax (PAT) at Rs 282.91 crore for the quarter ended March 2022.

The company’s PAT stood at Rs 115.80 crore during the corresponding quarter of 2020-21, Deepak Fertilisers and Petrochemicals Corporation said in a BSE filing.

Revenue from operations during the quarter rose 27.77 per cent to Rs 2,012.48 crore as compared to Rs 1,575.08 crore in the same period of the previous fiscal.

For the full fiscal 2021-22, the company’s PAT went up by 69.14 per cent to Rs 687.48 crore as against Rs 406.44 crore in FY21.

Revenue from operations grew by 31.93 per cent to Rs 7,663.29 crore from Rs 5,808.49 crore in 2020-21.

”On the back of strong financial performance in the first 9 month of the year, delivery of robust financial performance in the fourth quarter underscored the unique advantage of integrated operations and diversified end user segments of our products,” Deepak Fertilisers Chairman and Managing Director Sailesh C Mehta said.

He added that improved price realisation on the back of strong demand for the company’s products and strategic initiatives taken at the marketplace allowed it to sustain its momentum despite steep increase in raw material (RM) prices and disruption in supply chains that affected its capacity utilisation in the last quarter of FY22.

Going forward, he said, market leadership in key product segments and strong demand outlook will strengthen business growth and profitability.

”In mining chemicals our focus remains on tracking the market and customer demand to maximize volumes through competitive offerings. Our focus is also to demonstrate and deliver value propositions of ANFO (ammonium nitrate/fuel oil) based explosives through our Technical Services,” he noted.

Talking about speciality chemicals, he said the government’s production linked incentive (PLI) schemes in solar and electronic industry is likely to improve demand for niche and specialty premium graded nitric acid.

”On fertilisers we are focusing on increasing our Crop Specific Product Portfolio and market penetration of Speciality Fertilisers,” he said, adding the company’s ammonia project at Taloja (Maharashtra), which is adjacent to its downstream customer, is making strong progress and well on track.

Shares of the company on Wednesday closed at Rs 595.50 on BSE, up 4.95 per cent.

Social Commerce – Redirecting Retail Into The Future

By Mr. Ankur Dayal, CEO & Co-founder of Primarc Pecan

The biggest upside to marketing (and now selling) on social media? Everybody is right here, scrolling through their feeds, ready to engage with content and get influenced by it. Add in your products to the mix and there you have it, a complete ecosystem of its own – a brand’s entire funnel from discovery and interest building to complete purchases. Everything is in one place without redirection, making it a smooth, simplified experience for buyers.

Smoother retail experience

Breaking it down, social commerce simply means marketing through connections and engagement, tapping into and harnessing the social network of a brand’s associates. While some strategies include dedicated social commerce applications and platforms, others make use of popular social media networks.

Thanks to the fact that communication is led by a person they trust/know/follow, the audience has a sense of security and trust which is supported by reviews, discussions and user experience stories being more accessible. All this information helps consumers make informed purchase decisions that they feel more confident about.

Adding value to the mix

Influencers, individuals, and brands are three primary pillars of social commerce. A report by digital marketing agency WATConsult indicates there are 157 million consumers in India. Social commerce helps in creating awareness around brands in a whole new way. The new concept of social commerce has simplified shopping experiences making them more engaging when compared to other social media experiences.

A report by Money control quoted retailers saying that about 40% of sales during the lockdown period in India happened on WhatsApp. Digitally active Indians, as per a Bain & Company survey spend over three hours per day online on average. Of this, about two hours are spent on texting, social media networking, and watching videos. It also says that social commerce in India, which is a $1.5 to $2 billion Gross Merchandise Value (GMV) market, has the potential to grow to $16 to $20 billion in just five years and $60 to $70 billion GMV by 2030.

As social commerce demographics are concerned, it engages with a younger consumer base (within the age group of 25 and 44) and as for communication strategy, the brand’s direct communication takes a backseat as the views and interests of peers/fellow customers get preference.

Unlocking Potential

In India, the growth in the social commerce segment is being driven primarily by Tier-II city audiences on dedicated social commerce applications. As platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest disrupt the social media space, they are also triggering potential growth opportunities for customers from Tier 1 cities who have greater spending power. Brands are leaving no stone unturned in achieving this. For instance, they are using Instagram to build a strong brand with enticing content, visual stores, customer testimonials, or influencer-led campaigns. Facebook on the other hand has proved to be a great example of demonstrating multiple categories of social commerce via in-app buying through the Facebook shop and user/influencer-led selling on its marketplace. The social media platform is the largest player, as an April 2021 study by market research company e-Marketer quoted that more than two in three people who use Facebook use it exclusively on their mobile phones in the US. For Amazon Store-fronts and Pinterest, the focus is on influencers and content respectively.

With their significant follower base, influencers create content and recommend products on e-marketplaces to get paid every time the platform registers a successful sale via their store. For Pinterest, it is the user intent that sets it apart from the rest as it primarily focuses more on content than the publisher. Pinterest is becoming a powerful social commerce platform thanks to the CTA options it provides to publishers.

With social commerce picking up, the India Brand Equity Foundation indicates that the number of native social commerce shoppers could touch 228 million this year, marking a 45 percent increase. Brands on their part have been able to create a robust presence and pinpoint which social media platform their audience is.

So, if clothing and accessories, electronics, home furnishing, self-grooming, and baby products do well on Facebook and Instagram, market trends show customers going in for apparel and accessories, homecare, healthcare products, electronics, and home decor furnishing. Social commerce on Pinterest is more about outdoor sports accessories, jewellery, bags, shoes, and clothes.

Eventually, with all the data in place, projections going strong, and customers enjoying social commerce on their mobile phones, all that it leaves the sellers to focus on is a strategy that puts the brand and products first with a content-based approach. A game plan that lets your consumer directly purchase a product on a social media platform without having to exit the platform.