Category: interview

Exclusive Interview with Mr. Naveen Mypala, Managing Director, Urban Living

We at Shreyas Webmedia Solutions (SWS) thank Mr. Naveen Mypala, Managing Director, Urban Living for the exclusive interview opportunity. Mr. Naveen Mypala (NM), who started his career as MD of Urban-Aero Systems, became one of the managing partners of Urban Cap Ventures and Partners LLP and assisted clients in fundraising using customized and structured debt products. As the executive director at Aliens Group Pvt. ltd, NM successfully supervised the completion of six infrastructure projects, including roads, railway tracks, piling rigs, and earthworks.

Let’s know more about his success story and his vision. 

SWS: What is your biggest USP that differentiates the company from competitors? 

NM: Other players in the market like NoBroker and 99acres only operate as property aggregators in certain cities to assist buyers in making the best decision when renting or purchasing a property. 

On the other hand, Urban Living is a one-stop solution that caters to the entire project and customer life cycles. 

Urban Living’s most prominent USP is its comprehensive services and consultation with real estate developers and customers. We are a process-driven platform, encompassing the entire project development process from land audit, development strategy, and design to sales, marketing, collections, banking, documentation, execution, and leasing. 

We also employ cutting-edge decision-making CRM, tech stack and sales solutions to increase the efficiency of developers and their customers. We collaborate with leading reward companies for a consumer loyalty experience. Our efforts do not end with sales. We unlock efficiencies with post-sale processes as well as with revenue management. With Urban Capital, we assist our clients with fundraising, revenue management, customers’ requirements, and valuation to help maximize their profits. 

SWS: How do you think the real estate market is shaping up? 

NM: Real estate is the second most important source of employment for India after agriculture. It contributes around 6% of the country’s GDP. With the implementation of the RERA Act and GST, small and large realtors and land developers are compelled to redesign their business models or risk facing penalties. The Real Estate Regulatory Investment Trusts (REITs) are also working to increase transparency in the sector by strengthening the regulatory environment. It has led to new trends in the real estate market, contributing to the overall popularity of the real estate sector in India. 

At the same time, technology is increasingly fueling every facet of human existence; it is no different for the real estate market. Robust digital systems for effective real-time inventory management, to online payments, developers are implementing cutting-edge technology tools and procedures at all stages of commercial operations. One can see massive growth in the field of real estate. 

SWS: How do you integrate Proptech services into your business model? 

NM: Urban Living utilizes the best available practices to fulfill developer as well as customer needs. We have industry-experienced core teams equipped with cutting-edge technologies to make the real estate market more efficient and transparent for all stakeholders. 

We are into strategic advisory, mandate sales, and offer SaaS solutions. Also, we cover all the aspects of the real estate developer’s needs by integrating multiple software and service providers. This enables seamless operations with digital workbenches, virtual tours, enhanced customer touchpoints to improve sales numbers at a lesser cost per sale, and CRM with TAT. Project profitability is monitored along with revenue management, payment reminder, and cash flow forecasting is very key for collections with bank integration and a project site monitoring app. 

The use of proptech improves the productivity of this segment and has streamlined the interactions between the developer and their potential customers and gotten more referral sales with an increase in brand loyalty. The company also provides interior design at a lesser cost due to scale, and tailored packages at the best value to the customers.

SWS: Please put some light on your expansion plans. 

NM: When it comes to construction and urban developments, India has been at the forefront of the world. With the rising demand for residential properties, Urban Living is expecting to sell over 1,000 units each year across India to create top-line revenue. The company’s residential inventory is steadily increasing from 6000 units in the pipeline. In the next four to five years, Urban Living foresees 80% of its portfolio centered in Hyderabad. As e-commerce grows, warehouse and logistics opportunities emerge in Hyderabad, Bengaluru, and Gurugram. The company expects the future of the real estate industry with the help of automation. Apart from India, there are numerous opportunities abroad with the upsurge of proptech worldwide. 

SWS: How many projects have you executed till now, please explain. 

NM: Urban Living is completing approximately ten projects in several locations, including Hyderabad, with a total inventory of 6,000 units. Apart from Hyderabad, the organization is working on projects in Bengaluru, Chennai, Cochin, and Navi Mumbai. We have contributed to building the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project with the help of our formwork installation in addition to the construction of Image Tower, T-Hub, Elevate, Kohinoor in Hyderabad, Subansiri Dam in Arunachal Pradesh, IISR in Tirupati. 

In addition to residential and commercial developments, the company is designing a luxury hotel. We have already attributed our formwork for Taj Starworth, Bengaluru. We are also working on the mixed-use master planning of a 60 acres site in Hyderabad and anticipate strong demand in this market. Besides India, Urban Living has also completed design projects in Vienna, Hong Kong, China, and New York. 

SWS: Please explain the large-scale projects that you are planning to execute in the coming 3 years. 

NM: With 6,000 units in the pipeline, Urban Living’s residential inventory is rapidly growing. Urban Living projects that in the following four to five years, Hyderabad will account for 80% of its portfolio. Urban Systems is also working to sell and rent 2,000 units worth of project formwork equipment in the next three years. In addition to residential and commercial developments, Urban Living receives requests for Commercial office space, co-living, and co-working spaces to manage operations, with automated rent roll, smart documentation, etc. Urban living Studios is planning to complete 2 large-scale projects in the next year. 

SWS: Are you going to utilize any new technology to enhance any service (new/old)? 

NM: Proptech solutions are gaining prominence in the real estate sector globally. Urban Living has also integrated seven different software platforms to enable virtual tours and automate processes like marketing, CRM, payment reminders, and project management. Formwork and EPC contract management are used to design, procurement of materials, and construct the project based on sales. The company is also utilizing apps for real-time tracking of website traffic and conversions and focusing on digitizing business to go paperless. One tool cannot do everything. As a result, Urban Living is adopting multiple tools to ramp up processes and services to improve its overall efficiency. 

In addition, Urban living is planning to introduce blockchain technology and distributed ledger technologies offering privacy and security to the customers. We anticipate that the issue of No Objection Certificates (NOC) and other compliance certificates, which can be secured using blockchain technology, could be beneficial to the expansion of the real estate sector. Blockchain and smart contracts can transform traditional paper-based and offline commercial property transactions such as acquisitions, leases, and financing. This technology will bring about trust and transparency between the two parties involved. The use of distributed ledger technology in smart city ecosystems, such as smart parking, promotes smarter decision-making in city management with real-time insights. Also, Urban Living will by using BIM software to help optimize all of the design and civil work. With the intervention of digital twins , a 3D virtual model of the building will give a clear visual to the customers. With sensors linked to the web and cloud, the concept will become more sophisticated, allowing digital twins to be accessible anywhere, at any time. 

Founder’s Profile 

Mr. Naveen Mypala started his real estate career in 2003. Before Urban Living, He has experience in developing and master planning large townships. Mr. Mypala spearheaded the completion of 15+ real estate projects and handled 15,000+ residential inventory and 4 million square feet of commercial space. He has been involved in infrastructure projects like roads, railway tracks, irrigation, power, piling rigs, form-works, and earthworks He also worked as a commercial pilot on the Boeing 777 aircraft in a prominent airline for over 20 years.

Founder’s Quote: 

“The pandemic has made technology pervasive across all industries, including real estate. In 2021-2022, trends such as the utilization of artificial intelligence, blockchain, machine learning, and SaaS garnered attention. The advent of cutting-edge technologies in the real estate market has changed the industry’s conventional operating paradigms. Proptech or property technology has evolved into an essential tool for managing real estate work operations. Proptech has aided firms in effectively managing their project lifecycle via a tech stack. This includes revenue management of the customer lifecycle and this process dependency will continue to grow in the future. We, at Urban Living, take pride in participating in some of India’s major infrastructure projects and serving as a motivator in the global real estate revolution.”- Mr. Naveen Mypala, Managing Director, Urban Living.

About the company 

Urban Living is a real estate development management and Strategy consulting firm based in Hyderabad. The company has four verticals: Urban Living Spaces, Urban Capital, Urban Living Studio, and Urban Living Systems.

Urban Living Spaces focuses on a 360-degree proptech solution to digitize and automate the sales and marketing channels to boost the productivity of the real estate developers. As the name suggests, Urban Capital looks after investment banking to fund projects through institutional investors and home loans by NBFCs and PSU banks. Urban Living Studio is primarily concerned with interior design and architecture. Whereas, Urban Living Systems provides a Formwork system for projects and a full-fledged service in formwork.

Exclusive Interview with Mr. Viineit Toshniiwal, Founder and CEO, Bizzo

-Editorial Team SWS

We at Shreyas WebMedia Solutions (SWS) thank Mr. Viineit Toshniiwal, Founder and CEO, Bizzo for the exclusive interview opportunity. Mr. Viineit Toshniiwal (VT) gains over 25 years of experience across the finance and tech sectors and is focused on leveraging his expertise to develop a global software-as-a-service (SaaS) company that has intrinsic long-term business value.

Let’s know more about his success story and his vision.

SWS: Can you tell us about the company’s founders and culture?

VT: Bizzo is a B2B enterprise that aims to empower small and medium service providers to build, scale and organise their businesses digitally. The company is founded by Viineit Toshniiwal, a visionary with over 25+ years of experience across the finance and tech sectors.

Prior to founding Bizzo, Viineit held a series of leadership positions across Asia. He was the Managing Director of Equirus Capital, a founding member of Gateway.in, Business Head for Greater China at Infosys and an Assistant Vice President – Global Treasury at Bank of America.

With Bizzo, Viineit is now working to leverage his wealth of experience to build a tech-forward business that has real intrinsic long-term value. Driven by his ambition to find the next big challenge, Viineit founded Bizzo in 2021 and within a short span of time, he has developed a dynamic team of like-minded individuals who are driven by their passion to help small and medium service providers to grow their businesses digitally. Viineit believes that digital technology has the power to transform the smallest of businesses in every corner of the country. And he has managed to infuse this vision of building for real India and its “bharatpreneurs” into his team.

Keeping in mind the current pandemic, Bizzo has a policy of flexible working hours and hybrid work culture so that the employees can work according to their comfort. Being, the organisation that want to digitize the ecosystem, Bizzo also wants to drive it digitally with data. The company is using the best SaaS tools to organize all the work digitally. The company follows a transparent work culture which enables an employee at an entry-level to can reach out to the Senior Management in case of any concerns. The company adheres to a strict no hierarchy policy so that each employee can contribute to the company. Additionally, Bizzo is among the few startups in India to have a dedicated ESOPs policy for almost all the employees which enables rewards for employees for asset creation.

SWS: How Bizzo will assist businesses in developing direct ties with their clients without the need for aggregators? 

VT: Service providers find it really difficult to create their own websites due to high cost, technology infrastructure and a need for tech know-how. Most of the SMBs lack this knowledge, and as a result depend on aggregatos. Bizzo helps these SMBs by creating their own booking portal without requiring any technical know-how at zero infra cost. The singular purpose of Bizzo is helping small and medium service providers to circumvent the growing monopoly of aggregators. The company aims to put power back into the hands of entrepreneurs so that it can connect with its customers directly. Bizzo does this by helping entrepreneurs to create their own booking portal that can help automate the intake of bookings 24×7 and ensure that a booking-related query is never missed out on. This is the first step to enabling service providers to seamlessly consolidate bookings and queries that come through several digital channels such as WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, Justdial, and Google.

Once this is done, Bizzo will work to alleviate more pain points faced by entrepreneurs such as creating a digital catalogue of their services, linking and adjusting pricing and availability depending on high or low demand periods, generating vouchers/invoices/discount coupons, maintaining customer data/records & reports, collecting payments and processing refunds/cancellations.

The goal is to help SMB business owners to refrain from micro-managing duties that can be easily digitised. Also, the larger vision is to help them independently manage their business via digital tools without the dependence on aggregators.

SWS: What is SaaS, and how can it help a company operate more efficiently? 

VT: A cloud computing offering, Software as a service (SaaS) provides users with the option of accessing a vendor’s cloud-based software. SaaS works akin to a rental wherein the applications are based in a remote cloud network and can be accessed through the web or an API.

Below are some of the most prominent benefits of SaaS for businesses; especially small and medium businesses that are looking to leverage the power of technology.

1. Democratisation of Tech: Through SaaS, SMBs can access the most sophisticated form of technology and easily empower themselves to scale and grow their business.

2. Low Initial Investment: High cost of technology adoption was one of the major hurdles for SMBs. The advent of SaaS and business enablement platforms such as Bizzo have helped SMBs to benefit from the perks of digitisation.

3. Ease of Use and Automation: Complexity and lack of user-friendliness were among the common barriers when it came to the adoption of technology by SMB entrepreneurs and service providers (especially for the ones doing business in a traditional way). The advent of SaaS has helped in empowering SMB entrepreneurs to free up their precious time and energy that can then be diverted to other pursuits.

4. Mobility and Compatibility: SaaS applications are compatible across multiple devices and can be accessed remotely from anywhere in the world. Given the current pandemic situation where remote working has witnessed a massive increase, this is extremely helpful.

5. Increased Revenue: By digitising their businesses, entrepreneurs are allowing themselves to take back the power from aggregators and independently communicate with their customer base. This translates to more revenues and greater profitability due to the absence of steep commissions charged by aggregators.

SWS: Can you explain the main differences between online and offline businesses in terms of financial benefits and challenges?

VT: No business today can truly be offline, even old-school grocery stores or kirana stores, as they are called in India, have adopted some form of online tech in the form of Gpay etc. Hence, a cash-only offline business that is limited by a geographical location is no longer viable today.

However, having said this, small and medium entrepreneurs across India often limit their digital strategy to just Whatsapp messaging, thinking that this entails taking their business online. However, India’s SMB entrepreneurs or “bharatpreneurs”, as I like to call them, have to understand that such platforms are only tools to disseminate messages and aren’t considered full-fledged digitisation or taking a business online.

Mentioned below are some of the most important reasons why small and medium entrepreneurs need to move their businesses online. 

– Zero-Cost Migration: One of the biggest barriers for SMB businesses to go online is the supposed high cost of setting up an online presence. But today, there are a host of business enablement platforms looking to help entrepreneurs to build a digital presence and take their businesses online for very minimal costs.

– Profitability & Revenue: Profitability remains a top priority for any business. By taking a business online on their own, entrepreneurs are opening up the doors to increased profit margins and more revenues. By going digital independently, small businesses can become more discoverable and also manage to get rid of steep commissions charged by aggregators, resulting in increased revenue and profits.

– Saving on time and effort: More often than not, SMB entrepreneurs have more than one business to look after. Digitising their business becomes even more important as it can free up time and energy that can then be diverted to other pursuits. It can also help small and medium business owners to run their businesses remotely and not be bound to one location all year round. This can act as a major boon considering that we are still in the midst of a pandemic.

– Company reputation: A single Google search has the potential to attract or repel a customer from buying a product/availing of any service. Hence, creating an online presence is a crucial aspect of maintaining a business’ reputation. In today’s highly competitive market, customers cannot be expected to take a business seriously if they have no online presence to showcase its offerings effectively.

SWS: What mistakes do you think tourism startups should avoid, and what should they do instead?  

VT: Founding a startup in any sector is a difficult task. Since the tourism sector has a vast number of players in the market who are vying for the same geographical locations, it makes it even more difficult for a tourism startup to carve out space for itself. Mentioned below are a few of the mistakes that tourism startups tend to make:

-Not thinking holistically: Many entrepreneurs remain narrowly focused and make the mistake of working on just one product/service. This offers a silo-like and broken experience to customers. And since customers today increasingly crave for holistic experiences, tourism startups must adapt and work on creating all-inclusive services.

-Not networking enough: Tourism is an ecosystem where multiple parties come together to deliver an experience to a customer. Hence, more networking with different kinds of service providers will only lead to greater chances of success in terms of making a company more visible and cross-selling products. No entrepreneur in the tourism industry can work in isolation, hence, there is nothing like too much networking. -Not leveraging technology: Technology plays a very important role in making tourism flourish. Technology has helped to replace costly human labour with tech-enabled tools and has helped to minimise labour costs. Thus, tourism sector start-up founders have to get on board with understanding technology themselves and must hire teams that have a tech-forward mindset. The goal is to use technology to its fullest to try and grow, organise and scale a business.

-Ignoring market research: The travel and tourism industry is extremely sensitive to any extraneous forces. Hence, entrepreneurs in this space have to remain extremely aware of evolving trends and constantly acquire data-backed insights from market research experts to make well-informed and strategic decisions.

-Not getting help: Small and medium entrepreneurs and service providers in the travel and tourism industry are often stretched thin. They can get bogged down by having to manage mundane and time-consuming tasks. Hence they must get the support that can help them meet all their digital needs to increase their start-up’s runway.

SWS: Can you tell us about your clients and future expansion plans? 

VT: We have identified a white space in the services sector and are looking at enabling digitisation, especially for the hospitality, travel-tourism and allied sectors. The travel and tourism sector in India is a fast-growing business with a 10% growth rate. Within a month, starting February 2022, Bizzo has successfully onboarded 20,000 bhratpreneurs. The aim is to onboard 10 million users in the next two years. Bizzo also aims to raise close to 20 million in funding within the next two years.

Iconic Indian pop-star Arjun Kanungo rocks the music circuit with his Supermoon #NowTrending ft. Arjun Kanungo Tour…

The iconic Indian pop-star Arjun Kanungo is rocking the music circuit with his Supermoon #NowTrending ft. Arjun Kanungo Tour. The five city tour has already created waves in the cities of Delhi, Chandigarh and Bangalore and is all set to paint the cities of Pune and Mumbai red in the coming days.

1) Tell us about your experience of doing a gig or show in the new normal era?

I think the things have gone back to pre-pandemic condition, at least 90%. In fact, more people are coming out now because they have missed going to live events, and it’s more exciting now because of the long break that everyone has had. So, the only thing that everybody is afraid of is the covid waves that may happen. But now that we have been vaccinated, we aren’t seeing the government shutting down things. Maybe enable a few more precautions here and there because we don’t want any more waves to happen. I think the worst is over, but I am no doctor.

2) Tell us about your association with Supermoon and Zee Live team?

It’s the first time I’m associating with them, it’s been fun. We are doing five cities right now – Mumbai, Delhi, Pune, Bangalore, and Chandigarh. First time I’m doing a ticketed tour so, it’s a part of my larger Via Industry Tour and I am excited for this. It is really nice to have a partner such as Zee Live’s Supermoon. They really got a lot of significant value as partners organizing this tour. I’m looking forward to a long-term association with them.

3) What can fans expect from your gig in Bengaluru and Mumbai?

I’m super psyched for both these cities. They both are close to me. Mumbai obviously because I’m a Mumbaikar, but Bengaluru also because I’ve only received a lot of love every time I’ve gone there. People can expect a power-packed performance. Anybody who’s come to my shows can tell you that there is no shortage of energy. There is going to be jumping and dancing and singing, so it’s a mixed bag. There’s stuff from my new album which, of course, is the focus, all my hit songs, Bollywood songs and some surprises. In Mumbai, I have some surprise acts too.

4) How important is this tour for you and what memories does it bring alive?

It’s super important. I can’t tell you what it means for an artist to have a first-ticketed tour and one which is so big, in so many cities. Supermoon is a part of a much bigger tour that we are doing. It means the world to me because I never thought that I’ll be in a place where people will buy tickets and come for my shows. So, it means a lot!

5) Tell us your three favorite songs?

It’s difficult to say. I’ll name the three songs that I am listening to right now. One will be Agar Tum Saath Ho by AR Rahman; then I would say Kygo’s Freeze and then Ek Tarfa by King from his new EP.

6) Which recent song you can’t stop humming?

It’s got to be Pasoori. It’s currently everybody’s favorite and it’s definitely on my list too.

Exclusive Interview with Cardinal Ritter Senior Services’ CEO Chris Baechle

We thank Chris Baechle, CEO, Cardinal Ritter Senior Services for this interview opportunity. He discussed business operations and strategy with Rochelle Brandvein, President, Brandvein Aaranson Public Relations, and Neel Achary, Editor, Business News This Week.

Tell us about the vision or goal of Cardinal Ritter Senior Services (CRSS.)

Our ultimate goal is to provide compassionate, loving, and individual care to each older adult we serve.

How does your organization help people? What are your major programs and services?

Our main objective: is to provide independence, options, and the highest quality of service to senior adults. We feature a continuum of care – including social services and supportive programs including counseling, emergency support, rehabilitative therapy, and senior employment – to meet the needs of older adults.

How many people work at CRSS? Describe your various locations?

We have approximately 380 employees working at our 10 locations throughout the St. Louis region. Our communities include the following:

  • Our Lady of Life independent living apartments has 205 apartments and was founded in 1982. CRSS also features 10 affordable HUD senior complexes with a total of 611 apartments located throughout the St. Louis Metropolitan area.
  • Mary, Queen and Mother Center is a 230-bed skilled nursing facility for long-term care, memory care, and short-term rehabilitative services that was founded in 1981.
  • CRSS has two assisted living communities:
  • Elizabeth Hall, which opened its West End location in 1983, has 45 apartments that offer traditional assisted living for low-income seniors who may have mental health challenges.
  • Mother of Perpetual Help (MOPH), which opened its Shrewsbury main campus in 1996, features 96 apartments. Two memory care communities – Grace and Faith – opened in 2013 and have 30 studio apartments located within the MOPH assisted living community.

How did COVID impact your organization?

The impact on our community has been significant since older adults are one of the most vulnerable to COVID-19. One of our biggest challenges during the last two years has been keeping our residents all safe during the pandemic.

We have made great strides throughout this time period. According to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), which tracks COVID-19 vaccination levels for nursing homes, CRSS was one of the first communities to achieve the highest vaccination rates in the entire state of Missouri. We currently have 98% of our residents and 95% of our staff are vaccinated or have valid religious or medical exemptions.

What is your current plan of action when dealing with the ongoing COVID climate?

Our initiative to keep both our residents and our staff safe has resulted in better communication among our communities. We continue to invent ways how to remain as healthy as possible. This includes sharing our heightened sanitation methods, monitoring guests who visit and keeping our residents as socially engaged as possible. We also are just as focused on their mental well-being as we do their physical wellness.

Have you experienced any recent major innovations?

We recently broke ground on a $6.5 million, nearly 20,000-square-foot memory care expansion, which will have two separated homelike neighborhoods of 13 residents each for a total of 26 residents.

The expansion project differs from more medically intense dementia care programs. Features include a natural environment with cutting-edge technology to help mitigate the effects of “sundowning,” a state of increased confusion and restlessness for those with dementia which begins or worsens as daylight starts to fade.

Can you give us background regarding how CRSS was created?

Cardinal Ritter Senior Services (CRSS) is an agency of Catholic Charities and the Archdiocese of St. Louis that provides compassionate care through a continuum of high-quality residential, healthcare, and supportive social services. Inspired by Jesus Christ, its long tradition focuses on providing independence, options, and the highest quality of service to senior adults.

Catholic Charities of St. Louis created the framework for CRSS following a 1959 comprehensive study on the needs of seniors in the St. Louis Metropolitan area. Initially established as the Catholic Charities’ Department of Aging in 1961, the agency was later renamed the Cardinal Ritter Institute in 1965. In 2004 the organization’s name was changed to Cardinal Ritter Senior Services to best reflect its mission and purpose.

What is your message to the people and community you serve?

Here in our communities, we treat older adults just like you would any member of your own family: with unconditional care, support, and kindness. We offer an all-inclusive community where we provide social services and supportive programs that include counseling, emergency support, rehabilitative therapy, and senior employment. We are extremely proud of both our services and our team.

About Cardinal Ritter Senior Services

Founded in 1961, Cardinal Ritter Senior Services (CRSS) creates communities that promote the dignity of human life and reflect the spirit of Jesus Christ. CRSS impacts nearly 3,750 seniors – with 60% of the 1,711 directly served lacking adequate resources – who benefit from housing options including independent or assisted living, memory care, affordable apartments, and skilled nursing communities. In addition to its main Shrewsbury campus located at 7601 Watson Rd., the nonprofit has 10 affordable HUD total apartment communities throughout the St. Louis Metropolitan area and a robust social services department. For more information, call (314) 961-8000 or visit http://www.cardinalritterseniorservices.org.

Exclusive Interview with Mr. Gopal Jeyaraj – Head India and SAARC – Anker Innovations

-Editorial Team SWS

We at Shreyas Webmedia Solutions thank Mr. Gopal Jeyaraj – Head India and SAARC – Anker Innovations for the exclusive interview opportunity. Mr. Gopal Jeyaraj discussed various aspects including the company’s prospective plans, collaborations and many more

Let’s know more about his success story and his vision.

Could you tell us a little about your company and what you hope to achieve? 

Anker Innovations is a global leader in smart charging and audio technologies and a developer of consumer products for the home, car and more. Founded in 2011 by Steven Yang, Anker quickly established itself as an innovator and market leader in intelligent charging solutions. Today, Anker Innovations is bringing this same spirit of innovation to a number of exciting spaces including automotive, audio, entertainment and the emerging smart home. This is being led by its 5 key brands.: ANKER, SOUNDCORE, EUFY, NEBULA, ROAV and ANKER WORKS. With over 100+ million customers in more than 100 countries and regions around the world, Anker Innovations and its key brands are driving unprecedented growth. This is our purpose of the brand “Build leading brands that consumers love and provide essential services to advance industry”. Our goal is to empower smartness into people’s lives with the right price point. We have invested & shall continue to invest in R & D which would help us achieve this goal.

What do you think the future of the industry will be like?

AI & ML would be the future of the industry mainly because of the technological advancements that we have been seeing every year. Technology will keep driving advancement across business models in different sectors, allowing new businesses to enter the market and seriously disrupt companies. Business leaders must be able to think creatively and embrace innovation to create breakthrough value for their customers in order to drive business growth, stay relevant in changing times, and differentiate themselves from the competition.

What do you believe the factors are that have contributed to your steady growth?

Anker is a firm believer in the consumer and has created a methodology that follows the phases shown below. Our R&D Team focuses on obtaining and comprehending customer insight, which is then translated into product design. We bring insights to life with our product using insights. We adhere to strict quality control standards and demand excellence while providing world-class customer service. Aside from that, we have been expanding and spending heavily in R&D, which has resulted in over 1400+ patents that distinguish us from competitors. Overall, we are well-positioned to continue creating value for our clients, which translates into continued sales and profit growth.

What are the different brands that make up the Anker group, and what are your main focus areas/brands?

Our focus is on all of the Anker Innovations categories because they all market to a very similar consumer in various portfolios. Among the group firms are: Anker – Anker is the world’s leading charging technology company. Wireless charging, auto charging, and our best-selling portable and wall chargers are all included. Anker is a pioneer in Power Delivery technology, which allows phones, tablets, and laptops to charge at previously unheard-of speeds. Soundcore – Soundcore deconstructs sonic illusions in order to develop speakers and earbuds that elicit genuine emotions. The Flare series, 360° speakers with a beat-driven lightshow, and the Spirit series, the world’s first truly sweatproof headphones, are among them. Eufy – EUFY is developing a new generation of linked security devices and appliances that will simplify and expand the smart-home experience.This includes Eufy Genie, an Alexa-powered speaker, and a growing list of smart appliances such as lights, vacuums, and smart plugs. Nebula – NEBULA represents a new and exciting class of smart, portable entertainment devices. This includes Nebula Mars and Nebula Apollo — the world’s first smart, portable cinema. Nebula combines smart capability with immersive audio and visuals. Very recently we have also announced Anker Works which focuses on products designed for Home and Office workers at most affordable price points.

Could you tell us more about TWS and the models you’re intending to introduce in the ANC TWS category?

Soundcore has a diverse array of TWS products, including Liberty Air 2 Pro, Life Note 3, Life Note E and so on. We employ creativity, expertise, and cutting-edge listener research to build products that redefine audio quality standards. Hear ID, PartyCast, ACAA, Bass Up, Bass Turbo, and many other patented and distinctive technologies have improved the audio experience. In ANC, our premium products have the Personalised ANC function, which allows a listener to alter the ANC as needed. The multiple ANCs offered on the device include Transparent Mode (particularly for indoors, where you need to hear the surroundings clearly), Transport Mode (mainly for travelling such a Metro, Flights, etc), and Outdoor Mode (as the name implies, it is for busy environments) and an optimize to customize as per the needs.

Do you want to inform us about Eufy appliances and the various varieties of vacuum cleaners you are offering to customers?

Eufy’s tagline, “Smart Home Simplified,” motivates us to create simple-to-use smart home gadgets that improve your life. Eufy has models in the Homevac (Handstick vacuum cleaner sector) and Robovac categories (Robotic Vacuum Cleaner segment). We have a large selection of Bounce, Gravity, and Laser products. The product is chosen based on the application’s requirements. We also have items that are tailored to the requirements of Indian homes. 

Can you tell us about your collaborations? 

Our most significant collaborations have been in the field of audio. With Grammy Award Winners, who particularly test and support our quality products. Many influencers, particularly tech reviewers, such as Tom’s Guide, Tech Radar, Unbox Therapy, JerryRigEverything, UrAvgConsumer, and others.  

Can you tell us about Eufy Security, a company focusing on home security cameras, smart video doorbells, and a variety of security sensors with a low-cost strategy?  

eufy Security offers an entire home security ecosystem that focuses on smart technologies, artificial intelligence, and unrivalled battery life, with a distinct focus on privacy protection. We believe compromise and convenience do not have to go hand in hand. We think that protecting consumers also entails preserving your privacy. Cloud storage, in our opinion, should be a choice rather than a mandate. That’s why our home security ecosystem is created for quality, constructed with cutting-edge technology, but intended for local storage, so no one except your family members can view your crying baby, snoozing cat, or yourself dancing around the house. What occurs in your house should remain in your home.

Exclusive Interview with Mr. Siddharth Kukatlapalli, Co-Founder and CBO, Syntizen

-Editorial Team SWS

We at Shreyas WebMedia Solutions (SWS) thank Mr. Siddharth Kukatlapalli, Co-Founder and CBO, Syntizen for the exclusive interview opportunity. Mr. Siddharth Kukatlapalli (SK) discussed various aspects such as the brand’s USP, various challenges faced since the company’s inception, the company’s global expansion plans and many more.

Let’s know more about his success story and his vision.

SWS: Can you tell us about  Syntizen digital identity solutions??

SK: Syntizen offers Digital Identity solutions which can help any Business/Government identify citizens before offering any kind of service/subsidy. Syntizen offers Aadhaar authentication, e-KYC with Aadhaar, Video KYC, Digi Locker, Facial Matching & Liveness Detection, etc. On a daily basis, Syntizen’s Digital Identity solutions clock about 6-7 Million transactions per day for all the clients put together.

SWS: When and how did the concept for Syntizen first occur to you? 

SK: The concept of Fingerprint Matching was one of the co-founder’s projects in Engineering. Keeping that as a base, we had done some research on Biometric databases and understood more about Aadhaar in 2013-14 and started the organization with an idea to offer digital identity services. Slowly, we developed products on top of Aadhaar and later on marketed the same with BFSI and Government sectors. During the pandemic, we started to work on Contactless Digital Identification and started to explore more with respect to Facial Matching and Facial Liveness technology.

SWS: Until now, what has been your most difficult challenge? 

SK: There were multiple challenges that we faced during our journey. However, if you ask us what has been the most challenging, I would say it was the scaling up of the systems that we built. By understanding the concept and with a tech team a prototype can be built. While we built our system, initially we had planned at managing a system that can handle about 10,000 transactions a day. However, when we had on-boarded big BFSI clients and initial government clients, we had to immediately start deploying systems that had to process at least 10,00,000 transactions in a single day. Getting there was one of the biggest challenges as it was new to us and the system was directly being used in the production environment. Now, we are handling 60,00,000 – 70,00,000 transactions a day and are now in a position to increase the capacity 10-fold within hours.

SWS: Could you elaborate on the brand’s USP? 

SK: Syntizen has been a one-stop solution provider for all the Digital Identification or KYC needs of any organization. Apart from providing all solutions under one umbrella, we also have ensured that our systems are scalable to any level, safe and secure as per regulator compliances, and also systems audited by CERT-IN CISA Empanelled audit firms. In addition to all the above, we have everything built in-house and don’t depend on any third-party organization for any service.

SWS: Who do you want to reach out to? And how are you going to get in touch with them? 

SK: Currently, Syntizen is concentrating on BFSI Sector and Government Sector in India. In the future, we are targeting a global solution for digital identity. Currently, we are getting client references, and also with the help of our strategic partners and investors, we are getting introduced to our target customers. Social Media and Email campaigns are also being done in parallel.

SWS: What motivated you to start this venture? 

SK: During our engineering days, we had seen many instances where services were delayed because time was needed to identify the citizen. Sometimes, the time taken to validate a citizen was more than 2 days. This triggered the idea for us wherein we wanted to offer solutions that can help anyone identify a citizen in a digital way and instantly.

SWS: What has been your greatest achievement so far? 

SK: There have been a number of achievements that we as Syntizen are proud of. However, some of the key achievements include getting funded by Mastercard, recognized as Most Innovative Aadhaar Solution Provider by Telangana Government and also in being adjudged as a NASSCOM Emerge 50 Startup. Apart from the above-mentioned recognition, we are also really happy that our services are being used by common public and most of them are getting benefitted by getting instant services/subsidies.

SWS: Who is taking advantage of Syntizen’s Aadhaar services? 

SK: Currently, Syntizen’s Aadhaar Services are being used by four state governments which are Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh governments. Apart from the governments, our services are currently being used by Fincare Small Finance Bank, DCB Bank, Shriram Life Insurance, SBI Life Insurance, etc. Prior to the Supreme Court judgement about 10 BFSI Companies were using our Aadhaar Services including Muthoot Fincorp, Manappuram Finance, etc.

SWS: Syntizen uses their Aadhaar services for how many transactions per day?

SK: Currently, Syntizen’s Aadhaar engine performs about 6-7 Million transactions a day for all the clients put together.

SWS: Can you tell us about your 8-year journey of digital identification solutions and 1 billion digital identity transactions for all of your clients combined?

SK: Syntizen has been fortunate enough to complete 8 years in the Digital Identity domain and is very proud of the 1.5 Billion transactions that we have performed. Experience gained from performing 1.5 Billion transactions is probably our biggest takeaway. The transactions done by us are directly affecting people and helping them avail crucial services/subsidies. The fact that multiple people are availing of critical services/subsidies like getting a ration or government fund/scheme makes it much more special for us. Our plan now is to further expand to BFSI Sector and other state governments in India in the immediate future and also to go global shortly.

SWS: Could you please elaborate on the launch of new features for your existing products in India, such as C-KYC, Digi Locker, and Sensitive Data Masking? 

SK: The introduction of C-KYC, Digi Locker and Sensitive Data Masking is to further establish the fact that Syntizen shall be a one-stop Digital Identity solution provider for any organization. Previously we were working with Aadhaar and also offering PAN Services & Facial Matching with Liveness Detection. Now, we are expanding our product offerings by including C-KYC and Digi Locker. Sensitive Data Masking is a solution that we are targeting for a global launch as this product is getting built with the GDPR regulations in mind. In India, we have already launched Aadhaar Data Masking and are working on launching other OVD Masking in India really soon.

SWS: Can you elaborate on your Going Global Plan and how you plan to get your products suitable for global markets? 

SK: Syntizen’s Global Plan had taken a shape in the last financial year where we were in fruitful discussions with our existing investors and strategic partners for launching products with a global digital identification appeal. For instance, we have a product called Electronic Customer On-boarding System (e-COS), which is currently linked with the Aadhaar ecosystem in India. This product can be integrated with any other National ID and be made available for that country.

SWS: Could you please elaborate on GDPR Regulations? and the five state governments with which you collaborate Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Odisha. 

SK: As mentioned earlier, Syntizen is the Aadhaar solution provider for four state governments which are Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. In these four state governments about 100 different integrations of our systems are done and about 6 Million transactions are performed. In Odisha, Syntizen has launched a first-of-its-kind solution called Video KYC for Pensioners. This solution helps the Pensioner to sit at home and get the life certificate with the help of a selfie/video call.

SWS: Could you give us more information about your Digital Identity systems, such as facial matching and liveness detection? 

SK: Syntizen’s Facial Matching and Liveness Detection services are currently being consumed by two governments and also certain players in the BFSI Sector. These Services are being used by Telangana Government for Transport Department and Education Department where the need of the citizen to visit the government offices is eliminated. In Odisha, the systems are being used to provide Life Certificates for pensioners. Similarly in the private sector, Video KYC is being used for instant and contactless Customer On-boarding.

SWS: You’ve worked with over 20 BFSI firms, and your solutions have helped them save 90% of the time and money spent on customer onboarding. Could you provide some light on the situation?

SK: Syntizen’s services like Aadhaar Authentication, e-KYC, e-Sign, etc are being used by multiple BFSI firms. While the previous system of customer on-boarding i.e., paper-based customer on-boarding included an application form, collection of KYC documents, verification of KYC documents by private agencies, transporting of the application forms, and maintenance of the same for audit purposes for a period of 5-20 years based on regulators. Instead of all the above, our system was completely digital and this empowered the client to instantly verify the customer and also offer the service immediately. Our system helped by saving time for customer onboarding and also reduced costs by 90%.

SWS: Government clients have saved over 150 crores because of Syntizen’s Digital Identity solutions. How did you pull it off? 

SK: Syntizen’s Services like Aadhaar Authentication and Facial Matching with Liveness Detection were offered to our Government clients. Our government clients integrated our services to the majority of government schemes like Ration, Pension, Fees Reimbursements/Scholarships, Local Government Subsidy Schemes, Stamps and Registration etc. By doing so, we eliminated a lot of middlemen and also prevented leakages in the system as fake/duplicate entries were caught. This helped governments save a lot of money and also get a lot of transparency in the system. Our dashboards help the government to uniquely identify the beneficiaries and in taking key crucial administrative calls.

SWS: What are your plans for the future and what do you hope to achieve?  

SK: Our plans for the future are simple.  We want Syntizen to be recognized as a Global Digital Identity Solution provider. We want to offer products/services that are really simple to integrate and help our clients reduce a lot of time and money. Though we are present in five state governments and have 20+ BFSI clients, we believe that we have just started. We are building a strong R&D team and are bringing in a key strategic partnership in place which will help us get introduced to the Global Market.

Interview of Ms. Nikita Naterwalla, Founder- Caim by arelang

Ms. Nikita Naterwalla, Founder- Caim by årelang™, gains vast experience in the wellness sector and is focused on revolutionizing the supplementation market by offering the company’s customers innovative and nutrition-rich plant-based forms of delicious confectionery. Let us know more about her vision and thoughts.

How has your journey been so far?

Having worked in the wellness space for over 20 years with a leading MNC, my interest in supplementations and their benefits has been honed and fuelled by curiosity, research and plenty of reading. Whether it has been on how the body works, to what the body needs and being able to debunk several health and diet theories that have been floating around the wellness space. A personal health challenge gave rise to the need for seeking alternative health remedies and when they say that necessity is the mother of invention, in my case, it could not have been further from the truth. So, my passion project started with all terrible tasting home-based concoctions and this search for a perfect phytoestrogen formulation got me working closely with the phytochemistry department of the ICT which specialized in the research on plant-based nutrients and extracts. Our first formulation was what we now call the Rekindle for Women. I had it for well over a year as a powdered packed in a tea potli. Bitter as it was, the effects on me were so phenomenal that I had to share it with the world. Now to find the perfect way to deliver the goodness of these powerful yet extremely bitter ingredients was the beginning of the first struggle. How do we take these ingredients and add them to something that we love to eat? This was where the concept of årelang Naturals was conceived. Providing micronutrients and superfoods in the form of delicious confectionery! We had our first 2 products ready for launch within 8 months of the pandemic. All in all, the journey so far, has been extremely exciting and spiced with a whole lot of new learnings that I’m so grateful for.

What are the opportunities anticipated in the health and wellness industry? How do you see the Candyceuticals market growing and expanding over the period?

According to a very recent FSSAI publication, the Indian Nutraceutical Market is slated to be valued at $18B from the current market size of $4B at an expected CAGR of 35%. The Candyceutical market will most certainly impact greatly on this growth. Candyceuticals will be the way ahead for the nutraceutical market. They are delicious, this delivery method promises increased bioavailability of nutrients, they are fun to eat and finally, Candyceuticals will always be something that each of us as individuals look forward to consuming, rather than going through the unpleasantness of swallowing pills and large tablets.

In India, the Candyceuticals market is on the rise and it is opening up new opportunities for formulators who are willing to experiment both in terms of the latest applications and delivery formats. Reports suggest that the Candyceutical market will grow by a six per cent CAGR through the end of this decade, reaching a market size of $5.8 billion worldwide in 2029. The Candyceutical market will become an integral part of the growing Nutraceutical market which was valued in 2015 at $ 184B and was pegged to grow to $ 302B in 2022 at a compounding growth rate of 8.3%. However, by 2020 this market was already valued at $412.7B and grew at an exponential CAGR of 17.5%. If we take this growth trend into account, by 2027 the global nutraceutical market will be at $1,276B with India slated to be one of the biggest contributors to the increasing market size.

Where do you see Arelang Naturals in a few years? Kindly throw light on the vision of the brand? What are the forthcoming initiatives in the long run?

Our vision is to revolutionize supplementation. We have in the pipeline over 20 formulations that we promise to bring to our consumers in innovative forms of confectionery within the next 2 years or so. As we expand, we will be introducing multiple flavour variants of our formulations and possibly more as we see the need.

Caim by årelang™ is the first brand launched by årelang Naturals® and offers potent plant-based supplementation through confectionery. If things go as planned, you will be seeing several new innovative initiatives from us in the field of wellness in the coming years.

What are your Company’s goals? How do you build a successful customer base? 

Our immediate goal of course is to be able to reach our audiences, educate them on the goodness of the products, provide information to them on how their body works and clear up their myths on nutrition. We are hoping to be able to generate a loyal customer base that loves the product we have created for their bodies and make them a part of their daily routine.

Life Mantra for aspiring women entrepreneurs

Be true to your venture and stay focused on your goals. Starting a company is hard, growing a new company is harder and running it is the hardest, but don’t let anyone tell you that you cannot do it. Keep your team small and initially until the sales and the money start to come in, keep the motivation levels high within your team. Expect days where you feel like you are not getting anywhere but don’t lose hope – keep reminding yourself on why you started and keep working toward your goal. Always celebrate the small wins – be it your first customer or when your first shipment of ingredients comes into your warehouse, because recognizing the small victories of your business will boost your morale as well as your teams, and will give you a new surge of energy that you and your team will need to get to your next small victory. Follow your dreams and never give up.

Interview with Bhavyen Bhandari , Co-founder of Mantra Softech…

Mr. Bhavyen Bhandari, co-founder, Mantra Softech, a global hi-tech manufacturer of biometric and RFID-based products and solutions heads the projects division of the company. He is one of the few renowned entrepreneurs in biometric manufacturing and R&D capabilities having vast expertise in handling projects of several reputed corporate giants.

Let us know more about his views and plans

Q1. Mantra offers a host of security solutions to businesses from different sectors; could you brief us about your key offerings?

A.  Our offerings are related to identity solutions for men and vehicles based on valid identity, access authorization, and checking of valid credentials for accessing premise. It covers all business applications such as attendance, workers management, visitors, canteen, vehicle, drivers by integration of face, finger, IRIS and RFID etc technology together.

Q2. Covid pandemic has taken a toll on most businesses. How has this scenario impacted your business and offerings?

A. Quick innovations and rapid implementation was required during post Covid and majority of typical industrial applications are turned into contactless identifications requirements. Industries are fully ready to implement innovative ideas and that helps us to do innovations in technology.

Q3. With many startups coming up, the last ten years have remained very dramatic in terms of companies giving huge weightage to security-related technology. In your experience, what security solutions are demanded the most in today’s day & age?

A.  Industries are focusing to protect digital data and using logical security, we can prevent and protect digital data and data storage device is going to help industries whereas physical security is required to convert into intelligent system to manage and automate men and machines.

Q4. DigiYatra initiative is in its first phase and is set to revolutionize passenger onboarding in the aviation sector. Being a leading biometric company, how do you envision the opportunity this initiative has created?

A. Electronic gates for passenger boarding system is huge potential market for biometric industries and that can provide hassle free and self – sufficient boarding experience to passengers.

Q5. Mantra has a long history of providing solutions for government-led schemes, and the role of Aadhaar has remained pivotal in it. We’d like you to throw some light on how things became better and more transparent for the commoner with Aadhaar coming into the picture.

A. Aadhaar is one stop solutions for all direct benefit transfer and Government funded scheme that provides subsidized items directly in hand of beneficiaries. This makes huge impact and provide social economic security to beneficiaries that Government backed schemes are directly benefitted to citizens and residents of India.

Q6. What are some of the critical parameters you keep in mind while opting in for a project?

Ans: We are focusing on three major aspects:
1. Successful On-field delivery and Implementation
2. Resolving use cases required for business and subject
3. Solutions to address pain areas of end users whosoever is using technology
If, solution design and technology is not able to suffice above three requirements then Mantra is not opting project.

Q7. What are some of the benefits your clients derive when they partner with Mantra for their security needs? And, what is that one major USP that gives your brand a competitive edge over the others?

Ans: Mantra is providing all varieties of product and solutions that anything related to identify and biometric technology. Its expertise into not only manufacturing of identify based hardware and software but also into implementations, delivery and commitments towards services makes most reliable and affordable identity solution provider.

Mantra’s 360 degree offerings and inclusion of local contents for all identity solutions are preferred by partners and offering “One Window” for all identity related requirements.

Q8. In the upcoming times, what should we expect from Mantra that redefines business solutions?

Ans: Mantra is investing heavily into research and development to provide design excellence, quality excellence and next generation identity technology including Software as Services, portability and mobility in hardware, long distance authentication gadgets, intelligent biometric platform that provides better security, automation and fulfil all business needs related to identity requirements.

Exclusive Interview with Mr. Rakesh Goyal, Director, Probus Insurance

-Editorial Team SWS

We at Shreyas WebMedia Solutions (SWS) thank Mr. Rakesh Goyal, Director, Probus Insurance for the exclusive interview opportunity. Mr. Rakesh Goyal (RG) discussed various aspects such as the company’s expansion plans,  tech stack upgrading with contemporary AI and ML technologies, the local distribution network, and many more.

Let’s know more about his success story and his vision. 

SWS: Could you explain how the company evolved from a regular insurance brokerage to a well-known tech-enabled platform?

RG: Integration of new technologies while enabling Artificial Intelligence and the development of process-oriented ethos have been the key area. Our cohesive approach with unified tech, while developing required skill sets and creating a thorough data strategy for the processes have been our hit approaches. Technological infrastructure has helped us evolve from a regular insurance brokerage to a well-known tech-enabled platform, taking the high-tech road with the wellspring of technology innovation. 

SWS: How do you want to establish a name for yourself?

RG: Insurance not only benefits policyholders, insurers and aggregators but also supports society as a whole. Policyholders buy insurance to avoid financial hardship in the case of unprecedented situations or to build up a monetary reserve for a specific purpose while attempting to reduce mortality, deprivation, and endurance risks. Probus Insurance Broker’s fundamental goal is to serve society as a whole and to provide a financially equipped & safer community for both rural and urban populations. Not only do we want to provide the optimum insurance plan to our customers, but we also want to provide a haven for all of our insured’s family/dependents. We aim to provide the finest insurance plans for all families, as well as ensure to be a huge helping hand in any crisis for our customers and support them at every step of preventative care. We wish not just to generate profits or revenue, but also to give back to society by supporting all kinds of families by insuring them.

SWS: Yours is the only broking firm in India that has successfully balanced its online and offline presence. Can you shed some light on this?

RG: As customers across the different domains are considerably migrating and looking for online options, Probus too wanted to be a part of this ever-increasing evolution by embracing digitization. Our online platforms (website & applications) have been at the forefront along with the social media/digital media presence that has balanced the online presence. Talking about the offline presence, our quick step-in services, as well as POSP, have majorly contributed to the offline area. In addition to this, our user-friendly online platform is designed with the self-service concept along with inclusion of new technology which enables the users to browse through the various products and find the optimum suit for themselves, thereby ensuring enhanced and satisfying customer satisfaction.

SWS: Probus Insurance is the country’s second FDI beneficiary, and you recently raised $6.7 million from BlueOrchard Investment Managers in Switzerland. Would you like to expand on this? 

RG: We have been the only InsurTech company in the country who have been profitable since day 1. But at a certain point in time, the support factor and the expertise of the big players who are well versed in the InsurTech industry stand essentially more significant than the money. Having said that, with the expertise of BlueOrchard which has invested in more than 91 countries in this space. The funds are undeniably necessary but the most critical thing that we will be receiving from them is their expertise in expanding business and taking everything at Probus to the next level. With their knowledge and learnings of different countries, their support would take us to new statures. Through this funding, we have not just received the capital, but have received an array of distinct critical things which are highly essential for growth. Their investment is indeed a big support to help us serve society with our services in a more reformed way. Moreover, it would also help us expand in the industry as a whole with their expertise and tactics. It has been extremely rewarding and exciting to learn and comprehend from a more seasoned perspective, and to collaborate for the good of the organization. This investment definitely ensures the smoothest flow of work possible, as well as a healthy balance of profit and service to society along the way. 

SWS: What do you think the variables are that contribute to the company’s constant growth over the last four years?

RG: Getting smarter through technology adoption, implementing a coherent strategy, executing a comprehensive data strategy and creating the right talent & technology infrastructure have been the key variables that have contributed to the company’s constant growth over the last four years. 

SWS: Why did you decide to upgrade your existing tech stack with contemporary AI and ML technologies?

RG: The idea of upgrading the existing tech stack for distribution, claims, underwriting & pricing could be enhanced using these technologies. We are looking forward to identifying the required modifications and new technologies to support the next normal. By upgrading and investing in the right digital tools, we are aiming to further enhance the efficiencies in the policy management process for insurers.

SWS: Can you inform us about your local distribution network and footprint? 

RG: We have been radically evolving by incorporating several improvements through the implementation of various processes so as to meet the expectations of the customers. So far, we have offices in 20 different cities and with around a team of 375 spread across 40 cities. In addition to this, we have sold policies in 14500 pin codes in the previous year and we are aiming to expand further. 

SWS: In the following four years, how many cities you intend to cover and how many insurance beneficiaries you plan to reach?

RG: We are expecting to have our presence all over the country, thereby covering all the cities & rural areas in the existing pin codes. This will enable us to serve people from every corner of the nation. We are also looking forward to stay profitable without burning the capital by just investing, as they say shrewd investments are necessary with proper planning and strategy. Without planning and building the right strategy there are no chances of achieving this goal. Our strategic plan will help us penetrate different localities thus considering the interest of different people who lay their interest in Probus. It’s not only about profitability but being competitive, consistent and balancing. Our goal is the collective growth of all our stakeholders with the right business ethics and transparency. Over five years, we want to reach out to rural parts of the nation. Our POSPs are available to assist all whosoever come in contact with us, with the right knowledge & awareness of the insurance coverage. This will help customers to not only choose and customize their requirements of policies requirements in a more informed manner but also help them understand the importance of having a policy for them and their families. We attempt to make insurance available to everyone in a more quick and hassle-free manner.

Interview with the founder of Soroo: The future of technology

-Editorial Team, Shreyas WebMedia Solutions  

We at Shreyas WebMedia Solutions (SWS) thank Mr. Gulshan Kumar Ahuja, CEO of Soroo for the exclusive interview opportunity. Mr. Gulshan Kumar Ahuja (GK) discussed the motive behind the initiation of soroo, his vision and many more.

Let us know more about his success story and his thoughts

SWS: What inspired you to be where you are today?

GK: My main inspiration comes from providing the best service to every customer.

SWS: How was Soroo established and in which year?

GK: Soroo was established in the year 2003. Soroo was established with a motive to provide optimum satisfaction to consumers. We started our work with just a joystick that one uses for playing games. Slowly, we expanded and till 2013 we began selling mobile accessories.

SWS: What is the vision behind Soroo?

GK: Our vision is to become one of the best Indian brands that sell mobile accessories.

SWS: What are you working on right now?

GK:Answer: We are planning to start an e-commerce platform for mobile accessories.

SWS: What were the obstacles you faced when you first started your journey?

GK: Starting your own business is never easy. The corporate world is definitely fierce. Hiring suitable candidates, financial management, winning the trust of customers were among the key obstacles that we faced at the start of our journey.

SWS: Where would you like to see yourself in the next 5 years?

GK: In the coming five years, we’d like to have a nice customer base who have faith in our products.

SWS: What is your target audience?

GK: Teenagers and adults who are tech-savvy and non-tech-savvy as well.

SWS: What is your goal?

GK: Our brand’s goal is to become more than just an e-commerce platform. We wish to boost our network and target a large range of customers.