All Posts by Himanshu Sheth

|In: acquisition|Last Updated: | 0 Comments

Atos, a global leader in digital transformation has completed the acquisition of Syntel Inc., a leading global provider of integrated information technology and knowledge process services headquartered in Michigan, with $924 million revenue in 2017 of which 89% is in North America, 25% operating margin, and 40% of its activities in digital, automation, and robotization. Syntel offers its customers high value-added digital services in several specific verticals such as Banking and Financial Services, Healthcare, Retail and Insurance.

Commenting on the finalization of the deal, Thierry Breton, Atos Chairman and CEO said

Today marks a new major step in the development of the Group, as we welcome more than 23,000 Syntel employees to Atos. With this transaction, we take a new dimension to accelerate the digital transformation of our customers worldwide, while strongly reinforcing our Business & Platform Solutions activities with new clients in North America and a delivery platform from India with a consistent and competitive size to support our customers in their digitalization journeys.

We worked extensively to be ready from day one post-closing and to ensure continued delivery of services to our clients while at the same time leveraging the combined strengths of the two Groups for profitable growth. In that regards, Syntel will operate as a dedicated unit named Atos Syntel within our Business & Platform Solutions Division.

Pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement, announced on July 22, 2018 and approved by Syntel’s shareholders on October 1, 2018, Syntel today becomes a wholly owned subsidiary of Atos. The purchase price of $ 3.4 billion and the repayment of Syntel’s outstanding debt for $ 0.3 billion were financed through debt fully underwritten by BNP Paribas and J.P. Morgan Securities PLC, whose syndication closed largely oversubscribed with a group of 25 banks. As a result of the acquisition, Syntel shares will cease trading, and will be delisted from the NASDAQ.

The Group expects to generate compelling and significant synergies both at revenue and cost levels. Strong portfolio and complementary customer bases between the two companies will generate multiple cross-selling opportunities, leading to expected revenue synergies of $ 250 million by the end of 2021, with 20% operating margin, half of them planned by the end of 2020. Atos will also benefit in particular from tangible operational improvement by taking advantage of Syntel’s current offshore, automation, and robotization capabilities. Cost synergies are planned to be generated in particular by applying Syntel’s best practices on the existing Atos Business & Platform Solutions operating model. The total cost benefits are estimated at $ 120 million per year on a run rate basis by the end of 2021 with a linear phasing.

The transaction is expected to be EPS accretive immediately with double digit accretion as early as 2019 excluding the impact of PPA and transaction and implementation costs. Syntel will be consolidated into the Group financial statements as of November 1, 2018.

|In: General|Last Updated: | 0 Comments

A driving license is necessary if you wish to drive a vehicle in India. Driving without a license is a punishable offense.

Image Source

Let us look at the process of applying for a new driving license:

How to Apply For A Driving License?

A driver’s license will not be issued without a valid learner’s license. Thus, the first step towards acquiring a drivers license is to get the learner’s license issued, undergo training, pass the learning license online test, and then apply for driving license.

Documents Required For Learning License

  • Physical Fitness Declaration [Form 1].
  • Passport-sized photographs.
  • Medical certificate [Form 1-A].
  • Age Proof
  • Address Proof

There are a couple of ways in which you can apply for driving license. Let’s take a look at these methods:

Applying For A Driving License Online

The online application of driving license is facilitated by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. This is a convenient way of applying for the license and you can access the website from anywhere.

  • Visit the Parivahan website of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.
  • Select the Indian state in which you reside
  • Navigate to driving license
  • Click ‘Apply online’ and select ‘New Driving License’
  • A set of instructions on the application process will be displayed. Read these instructions and click ‘Continue’.
  • Options like Learner’s License, a Foreign DL, or a Defense License will be displayed. Check the relevant box and proceed
  • Now you will be asked for the license number and date of birth
  • Click OK after filling these details
  • Next, fill your personal details like name, age, and current residential address.
  • You need to be ready with the soft copies of documents like address proof, age proof, and identity proof.
  • The soft copy of your passport size photograph and signature are also required

To acquire a driving license successfully, you need to pass the driving license test. While applying for the same, you will be asked to visit the RTO and appear for a practical test. It will test your knowledge of driving a vehicle.

  • During the application process, select your preferred timing for appearing for the test i.e book the test slot.
  • Next, make the necessary payments and submit the application.
  • An application number will be generated after you click on submit. Do not forget to note it down as it will be required for future references. Also, you can use this number to track the status of your application.

Applying For Driving License Offline

Some people prefer to apply for a driving license offline. In this method, you need to personally visit the Regional Transport Office and complete the procedure. Refer to the set of documents mentioned below. Visit the nearest RTO with the hard copies of these documents. Each document needs to be self-attested.

Get the driving license application form from the driving license department of the RTO by paying nominal charges. Fill the form duly, attach your recent photographs, sign the application and submit it to the relevant office in charge. After the process is complete, you will be given a temporary license which can be used instead of your permanent driving license. You can expect to receive your driving license via post within a month.

Documents Required For Driving License

The following list of documents need to be submitted when applying for driving license:

  • Learner’s License
  • License Application [Form 9]
  • Proof of address

Anyone of the following document can be submitted as address proof

  • Ration card.
  • Voter’s identity card [EPIC Card].
  • Life insurance policy.
  • Utility bills like electricity, telephone bill, gas bill.
  • State or Central Government issued payslip.
  • Proof of age

Anyone of the following can be submitted as age proof

  • Pan Card.
  • School matriculation certificate.
  • Voter’s identity card [EPIC card].
  • Birth certificate.
  • Driving school certificate [for transport vehicle]
  • Documents related to the vehicle to be used for the exam
  • Passport-sized photograph

Remember that you cannot drive alone on a learners license, you have to be accompanied by a permanent license holder until you become one. Always carry a relevant license while driving a vehicle.

|In: Finance|Last Updated: | 0 Comments

In the hustle bustle of city lives, we are rarely able to scrape out time for ourselves. Come to think of it, when was the last time you went for a movie all by yourself or gorged on your favourite dish at a restaurant alone? The answer is probably, never.

We are always accompanied by colleagues, friends, relatives, siblings, acquaintances and the likes. But sometimes, to really know yourself, it is important to travel alone even if it means for a few days only. Just pick up that bag-pack and head out.

Of course, in this day and age if you are a woman, you have to be extra cautious of your surroundings, and hence choosing the right destination is of utmost importance.

Before everything else, what you need to take care of is your finance. You don’t want to land up in a foreign country cash-strapped. Have you saved up enough to afford a vacation? Or do you need a personal loan? Why take loans from friends or relatives when there are financial institutions such as Tata Capital offering quick travel loans at easy interest rates? Apart from the obligation part, there is always a social stigma attached to loans taken from family or friends.

So, don’t let such thoughts bog you down. Instead, check out websites of banks and leading financial institutions such as Tata Capital, and find out your personal loan eligibility. If you fit the bill that is the personal loan eligibility parameters, and you have all your documents in place, then apply for a travel loan, without thinking twice.

A travel loan is nothing but a personal loan for travel. Something as simple as funds should not stop you from exploring the world and finding yourself.

Here are the top three picks for solo female travel in terms of safety, solitude, spirituality and everything that a woman wants  [yes, we figured that out, too]:

The Nusa Islands, Indonesia

Nusa Islands made up of three islands – Nusa Lembongan, Nusa Penida, and Nusa Ceningan – are what people say Bali was like three decades ago. Calm, serene and without the touristy crowd that throngs Bali. It’s got the bluest water that you can imagine, the beaches are absolute bliss, the viewpoints are gorgeous, to say the least. You can just spend hours sitting on a viewpoint or by the beach, simply staring at the sunset.

If you must, you could trek a few miles to feel nature at its best. This place is best suited for solo female travelers for the sheer reason that most people are anyway rushing to Bali, so you wouldn’t really have to sit awkwardly between two couples in a restaurant or a park or a viewpoint or the beach.

The roads are great for a day of solo excursion on a bike. You might just bump into other solo travelers, and make friends. Sounds good, doesn’t it? Take up a nice plush hotel for your stay without worrying about the expenses considering you have already armed yourself with a personal loan for travel.

Berlin, Germany

Wondering how such a big and busy city made it to this list? Well, Berlin is not just another big city – it’s filled with connoisseurs of art and culture, artists, and a rich heritage that you’d love to soak up. Since you have already availed of a travel loan, make no delay in booking tickets for art galleries, street art tours, museums and theaters in advance. You’ll absolutely fall in love with the city in no time.

Despite being the capital, Berlin apparently doesn’t feel crowded because it is quite spread out. And with umpteen big parks in every other neighborhood, there’s a lot of peace and calmness around. You can just hop in with a Frankfurter, some fries and a book, and spend your entire day reading in the lap of nature. Berlin is especially one of the top picks for women solo travelers because it has got a very low crime rate. The city is easy to navigate and to fall in love.

Iceland

Iceland ranks number one on the Global Peace Index. It is considered to be the safest country to visit for female solo travelers. A visit to Iceland, best known as the land of the ice and fire, can be one of the most unforgettable experiences of your life.

Apart from the fact that it has a very low, almost NIL crime rate, the fact that it’s a country of contrasts – fiery volcano’s and icy glaciers – is what makes this country so offbeat and charming, just like women are.

The best time to visit Iceland, known for its extremely cold temperature, is February-March and September-October. When here, you can take some time out enjoying the Northern lights, the Dynjandi waterfalls — one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Iceland, situated on the Dynjandivogur Bay, or swim in the Blue Lagoon. The Blue Lagoon is one of the most popular attractions of Iceland. It is a geothermal spa made of heated seawater and has a mesmerizing turquoise colour.

You can even observe the tectonic plates that sit on the Pingvellir Plain, the point between North America and Europe where the plates are shifting away from each other. Witnessing this would be a once in a lifetime opportunity. Iceland is definitely not a place for joyrides and shopping so if your solo travel is all about that you might as well avoid Iceland. If your motto is to get closer to nature and yourself by soaking up the beauty of your surroundings this is the place to be.

Exploring Iceland can be a bit expensive and that is why it’s better you take a personal loan for travel unless you have a lot of savings to spend from.

The social stigma of travelling solo or even taking a personal loan no longer exists. So, if you are looking for the much-needed break or just a travel loan, financial institutions like Tata Capital are there for you.

|In: Finance|Last Updated: | 0 Comments

Goods and Services Tax is the biggest tax reform we have witnessed. It has given birth to a completely new and unified tax structure in India. It replaces the indirect taxes like Excise duty, Service Tax, VAT, CST etc. This new tax regime is known to remove the cascading effect of tax on the business of the products and services. This tax structure was levied to make the products and services available to consumers at a lesser price. It was also supposed to be helpful in increasing the production capacity and the buying power of a common man. In short, it was supposed to increase the GDP at least by 1% to 3%.

According to the latest news on GST, India has announced a growth of 7.1% for the financial year 2016-17 and for the March, it was 6.1%. Talking about the recent GDP Data for July to September Quarter, the country’s GDP has been pegged at 6.3% as compared to 5.7% in the previous quarter. We are expecting the GDP figure to be 6.7% in the financial year 2018, 7.3% in financial year 2019, and 7.5% in the financial year 2020.

Now assessing the impact of GST on our GDP, here are the positive points:

  • Since there is now one tax rate, it has created a unified market in terms of tax implementation. This has helped the seamless transaction of goods and services all across the states.
  • The cost of the transaction has reduced, as the news on GST confirms. As per a study, it was inferred that there were about ten types of taxes which were levied on the road transport. GST has eliminated all and hence has considerably reduced the transportation cost.
  • As the GST has now been implemented, the export of goods and services has become competitive due to the non-effect of cascading taxes on goods and products. As per a study by NCAER, they recommended that GST is a revolution and has the potential to increase the country’s GDP by at least 0.9% to 1.7%.
  • GST is a more transparent tax structure. This will help garner more revenue to the government since GST will improve the tax compliances. Even the corruption will be reduced significantly.
  • Since GST has replaced all the taxes, the exemption in excise duty to manufactures has also become void, giving more revenue to government, resulting in a higher GDP.

Talking about the negative impact on GDP,

  • With GST slabs of 18% and 28%, some services have become costlier leading to short-term inflation. As per DBS bank study also, GST will lead to the rise in inflation.
  • As per some experts, GST has impacted the Real Estate negatively because it has added a 10% cost reducing the demand by 12%.
  • Some experts believe that IGST, CGST AND SGST are nothing but newer names of Central Excise, VAT, CST and Service Tax etc.

We have positives and negatives of almost everything. But overall, we are expecting a positive impact on of GST on GDP. For more business news and updates, subscribe to BloombergQuint.

|In: Technology|Last Updated: | 0 Comments

Zendesk, Inc. released the Zendesk Benchmark Guide for Enterprise that features insights and best practices for two different types of large companies – Digital Natives that have been considered digital since their founding, and Digital Transformers, more traditional companies that are in the process of modernizing their approach to customer support.

Image Source – Zendesk Benchmark

The report details what sets companies with the most sophisticated customer support operations apart from their industry peers. For both Digital Natives and Digital Transformers, the companies with the best-performing support teams share a commitment to scalability, consistency, innovation and proactive customer service.

One surprising finding – A company’s age isn’t the primary factor linked to its approach to customer support. In fact, plenty of younger companies are still working to modernize their support operations, while several established companies have already mastered the digital landscape.

The high performers in both groups also view their support software as a platform, using apps, integrations and APIs to give agents the information they need to move quickly, maintaining consistency and context across channels.

For both Digital Natives and Digital Transformers, Zendesk Benchmark data shows the companies that face the most challenges are those that directly serve consumers. Traditional enterprise companies that are B2C have a higher volume of requests, lower customer satisfaction scores and the slowest reply times of all company types, implying a digital transformation is most urgently necessary for this group.

At the same time, Digital Native companies in the B2C category still face high customer expectations while handling a massive volume of requests. They see nearly eight times the volume of customer requests and have an average customer satisfaction score that is nearly 10 percentage points lower than companies serving other businesses or operating internally. While these large companies tend to take full advantage of their support software, they see a constant need to innovate and scale to keep up with changing customer expectations.

Digital Natives and Digital Transformers also differ in their self-service capabilities. Digital Native help centers have twice as many articles and a ratio of self-service content views to total ticket volume that is five times higher than that of more traditional enterprise companies. The takeaway for Digital Transformers is that investing more in self-service can lower costs, drive better customer satisfaction scores and improve agent efficiency.

KT Prasad, Country Sales Director, Zendesk India, said

The Zendesk Benchmark Guide findings perfectly mirror the trend in India. In fact, we have been witnessing heightened interest from enterprise and traditional companies in adopting digital technologies to help them scale. While India presents a growing breed of Digital Natives, I don’t think the Digital Transformers are far behind in coming up to speed and embracing avenues such as Omnichannel and self-help when it comes to Customer Experience.

Ted Smith, Director, market insights at Zendesk, said

Regardless of where a company is in its journey, understanding what customers want and how to deliver is critical for businesses to succeed. The Zendesk Benchmark Guide for Enterprise can help companies see how they stack up against their peers and what they can do to position themselves better and create the best experiences for their customers.  

For more information, download the Zendesk Benchmark Guide for Enterprise reports here.

Methodology

For the purpose of this report, Zendesk defined enterprise companies as those with 1,000+ employees and 100+ agents. Looking at a sample of 170 enterprise companies that have opted into the Zendesk Benchmark, Zendesk used dimensionality reduction and clustering to discover three distinct approaches to support operations. Zendesk further analyzed those clusters based on operational metrics and product usage to uncover best practices and potential improvements.

|In: Finance|Last Updated: | 0 Comments

There is a difference between an inter-day trade and an intra-day one while trading in stock market. Both can help you make money. Want to know how? Get a better grasp of the concepts before delving into the investing challenges within the stock market.

Image Source – YouthIncorporatedMagazine

Introduction to Trading

If you are contemplating about trading bonds and shares in the stock market to earn extra or even quite a bit of money, comprehending the discrepancy between an intra-day and inter-day trade could make you get your stock market broker into a mess.

Your trading plan, as an investor in the stock market, may be either short-term or even long-term; letting the stocks mature over time to yield more in the distant future.

Time Frame with Trading

The meaning of inter-day is “inside or within” the day. In trading terminology, intra-day trading is generally known as day trading.

With an intra-day trade, you take an arrangement in a stock, equity or foreign currency combinations once the stock markets open and close the location before the stock markets close within the same day.

On the other hand with inter-day trading, you keep trading locations open on a minimum up to the close of the stock markets and during the night. Swing trading is a general method to portray the practice of having a hold on locations from even a day to a week approximately.

Day Trading is Dangerous Work

The perception of day trading sounds like the correct way to move forward. It is easy because you trade in the stock market during the day and secure your profits by the end of the day before the stock markets close for the night.

As you explore potential trading policies, there is a very elevated point of interest in intra-day trading and many investors and business selling suggestions about it.

On the other hand, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s webpage has a comprehensive page dedicated to the hazards of trying to make money from day trading stock markets.

The SEC has made a point that a majority of the trainee day traders lose quite a bit of their trading currency when they begin and you have to bear in mind that there are no “easy profits” with this method of stock market trading.

Rules and Restrictions

Depending on the type of stock you are trading, the laws might be considerably diverse for intra-day and inter-day trades. Stock market trading laws supply elevated points of control for intra-day trades. Influence helps you make more profits from a lesser amount of changes during the day. For stock market traders, normal day trading will effect in the outline day trader label.

Trading Effect on Markets

The rules which affect trading accounts at the close of stock and futures markets is of crucial importance, if you fluctuate trade or inter-day trade. Say, if a day trader does not close a position by the time a market closes that particular trade then then makes it to the inter-day trading list! This is one of the reasons day traders close out trades right on time. Resultantly, the closing price of a security may hold greater significance than all the hullabaloo of the day for the closing trader.

|In: IOT|Last Updated: | 0 Comments

Home automation is no longer the stuff of science fiction; it has become real with the concept of Smart Home. It is equipped with latest features and technologies: a smart home is being touted as the biggest innovation in the real estate sector today. It is more comfortable, highly secured and part of a lifestyle, therefore, they are more in demand.

Image Source – Smart Homes

As per Colliers International India, the concept is still evolving in India, although at its core, is the ability to manage a system of networked devices, also known as the Internet of Things [IoT] and servicing powering homes remotely through apps on the smart-phones and computers. The adaptation of a smart home is largely driven by various smart devices for convenience, security, entertainment, efficiency and health.

In India, the concept was earlier limited to luxury segment only, with now spreading its wing to the mid-income segment also. The increment in its demand has mainly increased with a rise in internet penetration and affordability of smart devices.

For most young professionals, smart homes are no longer a concept or differentiated product offering, but essential components of their dwelling specifications. The developers need to understand the consumer preference and incorporate these into their products.

Talking about the Smart homes, Gaurav Mittal, Managing Director, CHD Developers said

Smart homes concept is new to India and it is trending in the Indian real estate market. Smart home technology products aim to incorporate comfort, entertainment, mobility and security, providing consumers with connected solutions all the time. New advanced technology is making people smarter and that too homes, a variety of things can be controlled like lights appliances, security systems from anywhere in the house or as well as any region in the world by phone and internet. Technology shapes the future and it can help to make it compatible with nature.

As per Anarock Property Consultants, in India, these are common in IT-centric areas like Pune’s Kharadi and Navi Mumbai in Mumbai. It comes in various shapes and sizes, and saturation of smart features. Its features are turning into the ‘must-haves’ and are becoming common among all age groups.

Anupam Varshney, Head – Sales & Marketing, Vatika Limited said

Today’s homebuyers look for a home which complements them and simplify their busy lives. With Vatika Smart Homes you would be able to control your gadgets through a voice command or remotely through a mobile app. We have focused on the elements which make a home more convenient.

The concept of Smart Homes is set to revolutionize the real estate sector and we are glad to provide the same to Vatika buyers. Vatika Automated Smart Homes will be available in Vatika India Next and Vatika India Next 2 townships in Gurugram.

Increasing awareness about the need for environmentally sustainable development and living is also another reason for the rise in the increasing demand for smart homes. Thus, a genuine smart home is conceived and developed with a certain tech-enabled focus, ensuring optimal use of the facilities at the project level. It becomes necessary for a developer to use the latest technology without ignoring quality and security.

|In: Technology|Last Updated: | 0 Comments

NASSCOM, the global IT giant, has reported that it expects India to grasp a 20% market share in the Internet of Things [IoT]. This newly emerging sector is expected to be worth $300 billion by 2020.

Image Source – IoT

According to NASSCOM’s [Industrial Initiative] Vice-President, K. S. Vishwanathan

The Internet of Things is driving the fourth wave of industrial revolution dramatically alerting manufacturing, energy, transportation, medical and other industrial sectors while emerging worldwide.

NASSCOM, or the National Association of Software and Services Companies, is a not-for-profit association dedicated towards creating a conducive business environment for IT enabled companies and services to thrive in. With multiple industry sectors and sub-sectors in its domain, NASSCOM’s Industry Council has been set up to address the specific needs of each sector. As such, it actively engages with the industry, its policy makers as well as all other stakeholders.

Moreover, as part of the associations’ Global Trade initiative, NASSCOM also focuses on expanding its outreach to both developed and emerging markets. It collaborates with such markets on innovation and technology, policy advocacy related to several issues such as taxation and labour mobility, as well as exploring new geographies and markets. By ironing out any operational hurdles that may stand in the way, overall, NASSCOM looks at promoting India as a technology and services hub on a global scale.

Over the last decade, India has seen an exponential growth in the Internet and E-commerce space, with the number of Internet users going past the 450 million mark. This makes the country the second largest Internet-based market after China.

E-Commerce

This spike in Internet penetration in both urban and rural India has also propelled growth in the E-commerce sector. With a growth rate of about 20%, the country’s E-commerce industry is expected to surpass the $100 billion mark by 2020.

Internet of Things [IoT]

Thanks to the Internet boom, new and emerging fields like Internet of Things [IoT] are now flourishing. Simultaneously, they are also resurrecting and revolutionizing several sectors such as manufacturing, industry, transportation, energy, health care and medical – amongst many others. As a result, India’s IoT market is on track to capture 20% of the global market share and surpass the $300 billion mark by 2020.

The Big Picture

The Internet industry is currently undergoing a massive change with more and more avenues for companies to bank upon. However, for the industry to reach its full potential, a lot more needs to be done. Thereby, the country has set up a mobile and Internet council to nurture the imminent growth in this space and contribute to its overall growth and development.

With the Indian share market steadily chugging along, and more and more entities learning how to invest in share market, India’s overall economic growth is expected to rise. And the stellar showing by the Internet and E-commerce sector is only going to propel it further.