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Tag: Capgemini

  • Sportz Interactive plays a power shot with GenAI-first leadership revamp

    Sportz Interactive plays a power shot with GenAI-first leadership revamp

    MUMBAI: Sportz Interactive (SI) is changing its game plan and it’s going big on both people and pixels. In a strategic shake-up aimed at fuelling its global expansion and pivoting to a GenAI-first future, the sports tech specialist has unveiled a bolstered leadership line-up spanning product, technology, delivery, HR, and business functions.

    At the core of this formation is a three-pronged attack:

    . Sanket Sawkar, SI’s chief product & innovation officer and a 23-year company veteran, will steer the product vision and innovation strategy, designing fan engagement tools to meet the ever-shifting demands of sports organisations.

    . Monojit Banerjee, the new chief technology officer, arrives with stints at JP Morgan, Amazon, and Razorpay, tasked with building secure, scalable engineering platforms to underpin SI’s ambitious product roadmap.

    . Ravi Ranjan, chief delivery officer and Agile delivery specialist from Capgemini and Thoughtworks, will ensure SI’s projects cross the finish line on time and at peak performance.

    Adding people power to the playbook, Himanshu Kapadia joins as SI’s first chief human resources officer, bringing experience from Disney, HDFC, and DBS to foster a high-performance, people-first culture.

    CEO Siddharth Raman called the move a “pivotal moment”, highlighting SI’s strengthening foothold in the UK and Europe, backed by its track record with marquee sports organisations in India. The reshaped leadership, he said, “will help us lead with digital foresight, build for a GenAI-first world, and deliver transformative impact for our partners.”

    With its enhanced bench strength, SI looks set to turn its strategic vision into a winning season, one where innovation, agility, and AI are all playing for the same team.
     

  • Rugby gets a ruck-solid start with GMR RPL’s star-studded sponsor pack

    Rugby gets a ruck-solid start with GMR RPL’s star-studded sponsor pack

    MUMBAI: Move over cricket, there’s a new league in town and it’s tackling eyeballs and brands with equal force. The inaugural season of the GMR Rugby Premier League (GMR RPL) kicked off in Mumbai at the Shahaji Raje Bhosale Sports Complex, with six franchise teams colliding in high-octane matches. But the real scrum might just be off the field, where a ruck of top-tier sponsors have piled in to back the tournament.

    With GMR leading from the front as title sponsor and HSBC powering the league as a principal partner, the GMR RPL has already racked up a formidable roster of 17 sponsors and partners. Big names like Capgemini, Bisleri, Hero Fincorp, JSW Cement, Amul, Dream11, and Nanavati Max are among the brands jumping into the fray.

    In fact, Capgemini is suiting up as the Transformation Partner, Bisleri is keeping the players hydrated, and Dream11 is fuelling fantasy picks as the Fantasy Sports Partner. Other players in the pack include Encalm, Megawide, Waisl, Pushpak, Wintex, and The Capital Group, not to mention Radio Mirchi bringing the buzz as the Radio Partner.

    Broadcast muscle is also strong, Star Sports Select 1 is the Official Broadcaster, Jiocinema (under JioHotstar) is streaming it live, and Rugby Pass TV is beaming the action to global fans.

    “This isn’t just a game-changer, it’s a groundbreaker,” said GMR Sports CEO Satyam Trivedi. “To onboard over 17 big-ticket brands for a brand-new sport in India is a strong signal that the market is ready to embrace new sporting formats.”

    Rugby India president Rahul Bose and longtime champion of the sport, was equally moved. “The GMR RPL is our dream come alive. To witness such overwhelming support from grassroots to boardrooms is exhilarating. We truly believe this is the beginning of a bold new chapter for Indian rugby.”

    With big tackles on the pitch and even bigger backing off it, the GMR Rugby Premier League looks all set to convert casual onlookers into die-hard fans one try at a time.

  • Future shock and awe as students go full Steam ahead at Innovation Day

    Future shock and awe as students go full Steam ahead at Innovation Day

    MUMBAI: Who says teens only use tech to scroll? At Capgemini India’s Hyderabad innovation lab, students from Birla Open Minds International School proved otherwise flying drones, building robots, and pitching AI solutions to real-world problems at full throttle. Hosted in partnership with SkillShark EduTech, Innovation Day was the grand finale of a 14-day Certified Internship Program that introduced Grades 9–12 students to emerging fields like mechatronics, AI and sensor tech. Held at Capgemini’s Applied Innovation Exchange (AIE), the event blended brainpower with bold ideas and not a textbook in sight.

    Twelve standout students presented Proof of Concept (POC) projects ranging from a Disaster Response Drone and a Mental Health Monitoring Robot, to an AI-powered Time Companion App. These weren’t just science fair fluff each prototype showcased technical depth, social relevance, and a level of confidence that suggested India’s next generation of engineers may already be on the assembly line.

    “At Birla Open Minds, we believe students need real tools to build real futures,” said Hyderabad school Principal Syamali Chowdhury. “Innovation Day helps them connect the dots between concepts and creation.”

    For Skillshark Edutech, founder Ashhar Ahmad Shaikh the goal was simple, “Bridge the gap between education and industry. We want students to see themselves not just as learners, but as creators.”

    And it worked. “In school, we only get theory. Here, we used sensors, coded AI, and designed actual tech to solve real issues,” said Ishita Adlakha, a Grade 12 student. “It made me feel like I could actually build something that matters.”

    Apart from the tech wizardry, the programme also threw in lessons on mental wellness, personal finance, and mentorship reminding students that future-readiness isn’t just about algorithms, but also empathy.

    With curiosity sparked, confidence boosted, and creativity flowing, this Innovation Day proved that when students are handed the tools of tomorrow they’ll build something better than just a future. They’ll build one worth living in.

  • Kaur power drives WSO2’s APAC ambitions with digital push

    Kaur power drives WSO2’s APAC ambitions with digital push

    MUMBAI: She’s got the code to scale. In a strategic play to fuel its digital dominance across Asia-Pacific, Wso2 has appointed Navneet Kaur as vice president and general manager for the region. From India to Japan, and from SAARC to Southeast Asia and ANZ, Kaur’s appointment signals a sharpened focus on enterprise transformation in one of the world’s fastest-growing digital markets.

    Armed with over 20 years of experience at tech giants like Salesforce, Mulesoft, and Capgemini (Aricent), Kaur has made a career out of scaling businesses and building high-performing teams across APAC. Now, she’s steering Wso2’s vision for the region at a time when cloud-native innovation and digital infrastructure modernisation are hitting a major inflection point.

    “There’s a wave of innovation and opportunity in the region,” Kaur said, adding that Wso2’s platform is uniquely poised to help businesses “modernise and compete in a cloud-first world.” Her leadership will be central to advancing the company’s open-source and SaaS offerings ranging from API management and integration to identity and access management for sectors like BFSI, telecom, and government.

    WSO2 already enjoys strong traction in India, and the company is doubling down on customer-centric strategies, strategic partnerships, and value delivery across APAC. With enterprises increasingly seeking secure and scalable digital experiences, the Sri Lanka-headquartered firm is betting big on Kaur’s deep domain knowledge and transformative vision.

    By investing in strong regional leadership, WSO2 hopes to unlock meaningful business outcomes in the region, one digital experience at a time.

  • Brand Finance valuation Report 2025: Three Indian firms in top 10 IT list

    Brand Finance valuation Report 2025: Three Indian firms in top 10 IT list

    MUMBAI:  Indian information technology (IT) firms are rocking it, and how. What started as a dream project to build India’s IT capabilities some 30-40 years ago has yielded dividend in a manner possibly not imagined. Take a look at the brand valuation consultancy  Brand Finance Global 500 and IT Services Top 25 reports. At least three Indian firms figure in the top 10 IT firms list.

    The report also reveals that the value of the top 25 IT services brands has surged to $163 billion, spurred by increased corporate spending and demand for advanced technologies, particularly artificial intelligence (AI). Top 10 IT Services providers as per the report  are (in alphabetical order) — Accenture, Capgemini, Cognizant, Fujitsu (IT Services), HCLTech, IBM Consulting, Infosys, NTT DATA, TCS, and Wipro.

    Accenture retains its title as the world’s most valuable IT services brand for the seventh consecutive year, with a brand value of $41.5 billion. It also claims the title of the strongest brand, surpassing IBM Consulting, and has secured $3 billion in new generative AI bookings over the past year. Its rise in brand strength is largely driven by its exceptional familiarity and market presence, particularly in the US, where it commands the highest familiarity levels among the top 25 brands. Accenture’s robust competitive position is further reflected in its top score for consideration in both Europe and the US.

    TCS follows as the second most valuable IT services brand, with a brand value of $21.3 billion, bolstered by investments and its association with marathons and other high-profile sports events worldwide. From sponsoring iconic races like the TCS New York City Marathon and the TCS Sydney Marathon (its latest acquisition in 2024), to partnering with Jaguar TCS Racing in Formula E, TCS has cemented its global presence by using sports as a dynamic platform to connect with diverse audiences while highlighting its transformative digital solutions.

    HCL GuatemalaTCS chief marketing officer Abhinav Kumar said:  “As we kick off a new year in 2025 with the World Economic Forum at Davos, we are delighted to see our brand cross this major landmark and cement its position in the top tier of our industry. We have been a strategic partner to WEF for 15 years and in this period our brand has nearly grown ninefold in value and is known globally for being a leader in innovation, the ability to deliver the most complex technology work in the world, and in creating long term partnerships of value with our clients. My thanks to the hundreds of thousands of TCSers who proudly build and live this great brand every second. We are all in it for the long run.”

    Infosys, valued at $16.3 billion, ranks as the third most valuable brand, boasting the highest compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 18 per cent among IT services brands over the past five years. Bolstered by the robust leadership of CEO Salil Parekh, Infosys has redoubled its relevance in the AI-first world and consistently delivered strong performances and innovation in the rapidly evolving digital services landscape.

    HCLTech is recognised as the fastest-growing IT services brand in 2025, achieving an impressive 17 per cent increase in brand value to $8.9 billion, driven by significant deal wins and early adoption of AI technologies. This growth is fuelled by its strong financial performance driven by a series of mega deal wins across diverse industries and geographies in 2024, the continued positive momentum of its successful brand transformation and its early leadership in AI/GenAI business. HCLTech’s AI offerings have created a lot of stickiness in the market, the company having entered the space almost a decade ago and having strong AI partnerships with all the leading Technology OEMs and Hyperscalers.

    “FY24 saw HCLTech deliver solid market performance with our revenue growth rate the highest among tier 1 global IT services companies and our early leadership in the AI and GenAI space. This exceptional performance is directly mirrored in our brand valuation, showcasing the strong correlation between our business achievements and our brand’s market perception,” said HCLTech chief marketing officer Jill Kouri..

    “Our global purpose-driven strategy is paying off great results. HCLTech’s fastest brand value growth reflects the continued relevance and stickiness of our company’s value proposition to all its stakeholders, driven by bringing together the best of technology andour people to supercharge progress,” added HCLTech global head of brand  Zulfia Nafees.

    Sustainability is increasingly influencing brand reputation, accounting for 17.5 per cent of decision-making in the sector. Accenture leads in this area with the highest Sustainability Perceptions Score among the top 25 brands, reflecting its commitment to ethical management and social responsibility.
     

    Infosys CEO

    Infosys’ Parekh, for the second year in a row, has topped the IT services ranking in Brand Finance’s Brand Guardianship Index (BGI) 2025 for the role of CEO as brand custodian and steward of long-term shareholder value. 

    “Over the past four decades, brand Infosys has been nurtured by our founders and our leadership, carefully balancing purpose, promise and performance. This relentless focus is reflected in the brand’s leadership and steady gains in brand value over the years”, said Infosys global chief marketing officer Sumit Virmani. “We are delighted with Brand Finance’s recognition of Infosys’ continued brand momentum and differentiated value creation for businesses in an AI-first world.” 

    Brand Finance’s findings highlight the critical importance of AI capabilities and sustainable practices for IT service providers aiming to stay competitive in a rapidly evolving market.

  • Riya Arora gets managing director’s post at Inspirational group

    Riya Arora gets managing director’s post at Inspirational group

    MUMBAI:  Riya (Rani) Arora has been appointed as the managing director of Inspirational group, bringing 27 years of extensive experience as a global leadership development and communications consultant. In her role, she will manage a wide range of leadership interventions across various sectors, including financial services, IT, FMCG, automotive, and manufacturing.

    Riya, who previously served as the director for inspirational development group’s India office, holds a marketing degree and several certifications, including executive coaching, MBTI, DiSC, NLP, and assessment centers certification. She also possesses an honors diploma in information systems management.

    Before her current role, Riya enjoyed an 11-year tenure at Capgemini (formerly Kanbay), where she created communication strategies and led comprehensive leadership development programs globally. Her final position was as the global head of assessment and development centers, where she oversaw programs across the US, UK, Singapore, Australia, and India.

    As an independent consultant, she has collaborated with high-profile clients such as Barclaycard, World Bank, and Bajaj Auto, delivering customized leadership interventions. Riya’s earlier career included managing a computer academy and teaching French.

    Beyond her professional commitments, Riya is an ardent follower of Sri Sri Ravishankarji and a daily practitioner of Sudarshan Kriya, advocating the importance of well-being in personal and professional settings.

  • ZEUX Innovation redefines design leadership with groundbreaking workshop series

    ZEUX Innovation redefines design leadership with groundbreaking workshop series

    Mumbai: ZEUX Innovation, a UX design and innovation firm, sets a new benchmark with the launch of its Design Leadership Workshop series for design professionals seeking to elevate their leadership skills and impact. Headquartered in Mumbai, ZEUX operates with an outcome-based focus and approach, creating frictionless digital experiences across sectors. Through its Design Leadership Workshops, the firm aims to cultivate design leadership and innovation, empowering participants with the skills and mindset to transition from executing design tasks to leading strategic initiatives.

    The workshops are a call to action for UX Designers, creative directors, design managers, product designers, and founders who face challenges in clearly defining design problems, thinking strategically within the design ecosystem, communicating design ideas effectively, and embracing disruption to drive innovation. ZEUX’s initiative seeks to address these common struggles, providing professionals with the tools and insights needed to navigate and lead in the ever-evolving landscape of design.

    Led by  ZEUX Innovation co-founder Saurabh Gupta and an expert in UX design and innovation, the workshops are generating a strong interest. An alumnus of the National Institute of Design, Saurabh has trained more than 8,000 people across the globe. With over twenty years of experience, he conducts workshops to develop design leadership and innovation, introducing participants to his ABCD framework: Articulating the problem, Big-picture thinking, Clear communication, and Delivering disruption. Leveraging his long track record of providing successful UX solutions for both startups and Fortune 500 businesses, he is a renowned mentor for aspiring leaders owing to his experience in effortlessly integrating design and innovation into company culture.

    The workshops maintain a limited capacity of 26 participants per session to ensure an interactive and immersive experience. This approach attracted design professionals from diverse backgrounds, including UX, Product, and Visual Design, as well as, founders and project leaders seeking to enhance their design leadership capabilities.

    Reflecting on the success of the UX design workshops, Saurabh Gupta expressed “We are thrilled by the overwhelming success of our Design Leadership Workshop. It underscores the growing demand for strategic design leadership skills in today’s competitive landscape. Our commitment to fostering design excellence and innovation remains unwavering. We are expanding our workshop series to meet the needs of design professionals seeking to drive meaningful change through design.”

    These workshops have received overwhelmingly positive feedback from participants, who commended the sessions for their insightful content and practical applicability.  The attendees found immense value in the program’s practical framework and fresh perspectives on problem definition in design, strategic thinking, communication clarity enhancement, and leveraging disruption for innovation and growth.

    In response to participant requests for a more comprehensive program, ZEUX is also exploring the possibility of introducing a multi-day residential certificate program. This extended format would enable a deeper exploration of key concepts and foster stronger connections among participants.

    Sharing his experience, Capgemini a UX design manager Sandesh Mandlik, expressed gratitude for the exceptional workshop, highlighting its enlightening presentation and the blend of theory and practical exercises. Karthik Chaganty, a senior design specialist at Dream 11, found the curriculum inspiring, with relevant lectures and engaging activities driving home the concepts. Nandini Bhosale, UI/UX designer, TCS, shared that as a young designer, hearing Saurabh decode the mindset and perspective required for leadership was invaluable. She noted that the workshop advanced her career by 2-3 years. Khushboo Shah, founder of Studio Juxta, found the sessions insightful, covering overlooked UX aspects with simplified topics, and expressed excitement to implement the knowledge gained in their design process. Overall, the workshop provided a comprehensive and immersive learning experience, leaving attendees eager to apply their learnings.

    ZEUX Innovation remains steadfast in its dedication to fostering design excellence and innovation. With plans to deliver unique and practical content in an engaging format, ZEUX aims to further solidify its position as a leader in equipping designers with the skills and perspectives necessary for driving meaningful change through design.

  • Projections indicate that by 2030, at least half of fortune 500 companies may have a CIO

    Projections indicate that by 2030, at least half of fortune 500 companies may have a CIO

    Mumbai: Aspire Impact, under the aegis of the Impact Future Project (IFP), a thought-leadership platform supported by global tech giant Capgemini, has launched a report on the evolving role of chief impact officers and their potential influence on organisations. This research publication is a first-of-its kind effort to understand, define and champion adoption of this crucial C-suite role.

    As a comprehensive deep dive into the chief impact officer’s role the report features direct voices and opinions from 25 global ESG, sustainability, and impact leaders from varied organisation types and sectors across 10 countries and 6 continents. The thorough inquiry offered over 12 insights and trends based on responses to an online survey and a series of in-depth interviews which explored the need, readiness, role, skills, key performance indicators, and future prospect of the role.

    As we approach pivotal milestones like 2030 and subsequently, the 2050 goals, the role of a chief impact officer emerges as crucial. As each chief impact officer contributes to transformative solutions within their organisations, a network of socially conscious leadership should emerge that is collectively equipped to steer capitalism towards a more responsible and sustainable path.

    Organisations must heed the following key implications: Firstly, there is an urgent need for organisations to recognise, prioritise, and formalise the chief impact officer role—an imperative supported by 95 per cent of survey respondents. Secondly, appointment of chief impact officers are driven by an investor-led movement, with a growing demand for transparency and disclosures on ESG, Sustainability and Impact data and its linkage to financial performance. Thirdly, above all else, this role demands collaboration and consensus-building, given the possibility of encountering opposition from other CXOs, an apprehension highlighted by as many as 67 per cent of the participants. Many participants in the research believed in and pressed the necessity to derive authority from the CEO and the Board.

    Delving further into the expectations and responsibilities associated with this position, the research reveals a notable transformative trend. 33 per cent of respondents recognise the triple bottom line as a critical focus, with a substantial emphasis (52 per cent) on integrating Impact into corporate values and culture. Chief impact officers play pivotal roles in developing long-term transformation plans for total impact performance, achieving net zero/circularity/SDG targets, and measuring and managing overall impact. The report underscores the imperative for CIOs to possess a profound understanding of the interplay between ESG, Sustainability, and Impact to formulate effective strategies that lead to positive organisational and societal outcomes.

    Additionally, the report emphasises the need for extensive research, ample content, and pedagogy to prepare existing CSOs/ESG Heads, enabling them to confidently transition to the role of chief impact officer and guide their boards and corporations into the era of Impact capitalism and impact accounting.

    Aspire Impact founder & CEO Amit Bhatia emphasized the urgency of creating the Chief impact officer role, stating, “While 42 per cent of Fortune Global 500 companies have made commitments to reduce emissions by 2030 and 25 per cent have adopted net-zero targets, only a handful have a chief impact officer. There cannot be a better time to push a stronger business case for creating this role and thus a new cadre of protagonists who can catalyse, inspire, integrate, and orchestrate impact.”

    Expressing contentment with the research findings. Ecostart and founder CEO of Greenman Black (formerly Partner, head of sustainability & design (ESG) at Infosys Corey Glickman highlighted its particular significance for the Indian corporate landscape saying, “The role of the Chief Impact Officer (CIO) is gaining prominence in the corporate world as companies increasingly recognize the importance of sustainability and social impact. The CIO is responsible for ensuring that the company’s operations align with its social and environmental goals. The evolving role of the Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO) is central to the integration of material ESG issues into corporate strategy. The rise of the CIO role is a natural progression of this trend, as companies seek to create long-term value by aligning their business practices with their social and environmental goals.”

    PVR Limited, chief sustainability officer Sangeeta Robinson expressed her delight at being part of this research, said, “Sustainable Value Creation is a journey not a destination. It is a journey of continual improvement. The impact you create in year one becomes your baseline for the next. This is why I believe that leading Sustainability requires not just skills and qualification, but passion too.”

    Knowledge Development, Aspire Impact, director and co-author of the publication Harpreet Ghai said, “Those who can proactively negotiate these challenges and conjure up initiatives to create green pathways for their companies, won’t be wizards with magic wands, but 21st century transformation leaders, aka the new Corporate Sherpas, or chief impact officers.”

    ESG, Sustainability, and Impact leaders interviewed included Anirban Ghosh, head, Centre for Sustainability, Mahindra University (formerly chief sustainability officer, Mahindra Group); Kumar Anurag Pratap, vice president, CSR, Capgemini Technology Services India Ltd.; Aradhana Lal, senior vice president, Sustainability & ESG, Lemon Tree Hotels; Dr. Arvind Bodhankar, executive director & chief risk officer, Dalmia Bharat; Carlos Enrique Cavelier Lozano, Dream coordinator & president, Alqueria; Carla Duprat, director for Sustainability, Grupo Camargo; Corey Glickman, co-founder and Partner Strategy & Consulting, EcoStart Ventures Inc, and founder, Greenman Black LLC (formerly Partner, head of sustainability & Design (ESG) at Infosys); Denise Hills, Board member, UN SDG Pioneer, ESG and Sustainability Advisor (formerly Global Sustainability director, Natura&Co); Désirée Lucchese, head of ethics and Impact, U Ethical Investors; Ellen Martin, chief impact officer, Circulate Capital; Fernando Cortes McAllister, vice president, CSR, Grupo Bolivar; Giuliana Ortega, sustainability director, Raia Drogasil; Dr. James Robey, executive VP, Global Head of Environmental Sustainability, Capgemini; Jill Weise, vice Chair and managing director, Kroll; João Figueira, chief strategy officer, Betterfly; Jyotin S Kutty, vice president and chief sustainability officer, Tata Motors Ltd.; Milind Mungale, advisor, Information Security and Technology NSDL (formerly EVP & chief impact officer, Protean eGov) ; Nana Yaa Ofori-Koree, head of partnerships, sustainability and CSR, Fidelity Bank Ghana; Octavio Rocha, chief impact officer, New Ventures; Prabodha Acharya, chief sustainability officer, JSW Group; Pratyush Panda, head ESG, LTIMindtree; Sabina Curatolo, senior director impact, Breakthrough Victoria (formerly Partner & head of Impact, Bridges Australia); Sangeeta Robinson, chief sustainability officer, PVR INOX Limited; Viiveck Verma, founder and CEO, Upsurge Global; and Zarmeen Pavri, co-founder and General Partner, SDGx. Guest Contributors included Swapnil Joshi, director, sustainability & design (Smart Spaces), Infosys; and Radha Sule, deputy vice president, corporate sustainability, Tata Capital.

    Prominent figures at the launch event who delivered keynote addresses included well-known names like Vineet Rai, Founder, Aavishkaar Capital; Kieron Boyle, chief executive, Impact Investing Institute, UK; Tatiana Glad, executive director, Impact Hub Network; and Kumar Anurag Pratap, vice president & CSR Leader, Capgemini. Capgemini has been dedicated to supporting Aspire in conducting ground-breaking research within the impact economy ecosystem since 2020, showcasing their commitment to advancing research initiatives in this field.
     

  • Emerging technology an integral part of sports consumption by fans: Capgemini

    Emerging technology an integral part of sports consumption by fans: Capgemini

    MUMBAI– Capgemini, the official Global Innovation Partner of the Men’s and Women’s HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series since January 2018, has launched a new report, ‘Emerging technologies in sports: reimagining the fan experience’. The study, using responses from over 10,000 fans around the globe who regularly watch and follow top sports, has been produced by the Capgemini Research Institute.

    The study shows that for 69 per cent of fans, the use of emerging technologies, such as virtual reality (VR), artificial intelligence (AI) and augmented reality (AR), has enhanced their overall viewing experience both inside and outside the stadium; a positive experience with technologies also enhances overall fan engagement. Of respondents who liked their technology experiences, 56 per cent said they would actually go to more physical matches at their team’s stadium as a result, and 60 per cent said they would stream more matches online. 

    49 per cent of fans have often increased their spending on team merchandise following a good experience and 42 per cent have increased this spend a few times, while 92 per cent said they increased their spend on online subscriptions for watching matches (either often or a few times). The report also shows that fans who have experienced emerging technologies during a recent visit to a stadium are more satisfied with their experience overall, highlighting a 25-point NPS® (Net Promoter Score) difference between fans who have experienced emerging technologies and those who have not.

    Sports fans from Asian countries lead in using emerging technologies

    Fans from Asian countries – including India, Hong Kong, and Singapore – lead in the adoption and acceptance of emerging technologies in sports. Close to three-quarters of Asian fans (74%) have experienced the use of emerging technology in the stadium, with India leading at 88%. However, this drops to 56% for the United States, 50 per cent for Germany, and below 50 per cent each for Canada, France, United Kingdom and Australia. Furthermore, 71 per cent of Asian fans said they would be willing to pay more if new technologies enhanced their stadium experience, compared to 40 per cent of North American fans, 34 per cent of European fans, and 33 per cent of Australian fans.

    Adoption of emerging technologies can convert more followers into avid fans

    Emerging technologies can also convert and upgrade more fans to become avid fans who generate more business and positive word-of-mouth on having a good tech-enabled sports experience. For example, 73% of avid fans attend more matches following a good tech-enabled experience, compared to 50 per cent of the rest, and nearly three-quarters of avid fans watch a match in the stadium when their favorite team is playing.   

    Emerging technologies are helping athletes perform better and avoid injuries

    Athletes are increasingly using a variety of emerging technologies for activities, including training, injury prevention and tracking performance. For example, Zone7, a company using data and analytics for identifying and avoiding potential career-threatening injuries to athletes, has achieved 95% accuracy in predicting injuries and has been able to reduce potential injuries by 75 per cent.

    Tom Mitchell, Captain of England’s Rugby Sevens Team said, “The use of virtual reality in reviewing training sessions and matches can have a big impact on sports. If you can put yourself in a given situation instead of just reviewing a match by watching a video, then the learning and reviewing experience becomes much more real. If you are able to be in that situation again, either through VR or another technology, it would be a massive step up in terms of the reviewing and learning experience.”

    Strategies to unlock the value of emerging technologies in sports

    Sports organisations across the world are now presented with a huge opportunity to tap into evolving consumer expectations and make far more customised and personalised fan engagement. According to the new report, organisations can focus on the following areas to adopt and optimise emerging technologies in sports: 

    • Reassure fans on usage of personal data by seeking consent where possible on use of data, being transparent about the use and protection of consumer data, and demonstrating the value that consumers stand to gain with this data exchange,
    • Identify user needs before investing in and deploying emerging technologies, 
    • Convert more fans to ‘avid fans’ by defining a digital fan experience and offering ‘hyper-personalised’ experiences, 
    • Build digital practices, capabilities, and transform organizational culture by investing in a digital culture, skills, and cross-sharing of information across sports organisations to drive greater innovation.

    Capgemini global digital customer experience practice leader Darshan Shankavaram said, “The use of emerging technologies in the fan experience is an exciting and rapidly growing area. Sports organisations across the world have a huge opportunity to tap into evolving expectations of fans and athletes to build a more joined up, customized and personalised engagement experience. Additionally, organisations can benefit by using technology to improve players’ performance or prevent injuries, or for coaches to strategise the play through simulations.”

  • ‘InnovatorsRace50’: Capgemini teams up with CNN

    ‘InnovatorsRace50’: Capgemini teams up with CNN

    MUMBAI: Capgemini has turned to CNN as an international media partner to bring InnovatorsRace50 to life amongst the network’s huge global audience on digital and TV. This follows a successful partnership in 2016 for Capgemini’s Innovators Race, where a branded content campaign established the competition amongst CNN audiences.

    Entrants have until 28 Februray to take part in Capgemini’s contest via innovatorsrace50.com and will compete across five categories: Govtech and Social Enterprises, Fintech and Mobility, Consumers and Well-Being, Digital Processes and Transformation, Data and Security. Five winning startups will then earn the chance to each secure business backing of US$50,000 equity free funding, extensive networking opportunities, participation in international tech events, access to industry experts and the possibility of becoming a Capgemini partner.

    At the heart of the international multiplatform campaign on CNN is Capgemini’s exclusive sponsorship of CNN editorial content ‘Unicorns’. A digital content hub on CNNMoney which will be CNN’s home for multi-media content about start-ups and entrepreneurs, including a series of videos featuring successful startup founders. Alongside the editorial content will be a number of bespoke branded content Capgemini videos produced by CNN International Commercial’s award-winning brand content studio Create. Capgemini’s campaign and branded content will be targeted to reach key audiences using CNN AIM (Audience Insight Measurement).

    As part of the digital integration and following the announcement of the InnovatorsRace50’s 10 finalists in June, CNN will publish a unique ranking of the 50 most active and promising startup companies valued at over US$1 billion USD in 2017: The Unicorns 50.

    In addition, the campaign will be extended on television with a special Capgemini-sponsored 30-minute programme entitled ‘Unicorns’ airing in October on CNN International available in over 322 million homes and hotel rooms worldwide.

    “We are thrilled to once again collaborate with Capgemini this year and celebrate its 50th anniversary while being involved in the exciting InnovatorsRace adventure,” comments CNN International Commercial French-Speaking Europe territories sales director Clementine Soilly. “Being at the forefront of innovation, CNN is the perfect international partner to go beyond standard advertising and amplify the InnovatorsRace50’s mission to shine a spotlight on disruptive startups around the world.”

    “CNN is a key media partner to drive reach and engagement for InnovatorsRace50, our special 50th Anniversary edition set up to celebrate the spirit of innovative entrepreneurship,” comments, Capgemini group branding and advertising VP Emmanuel Lochon. “The sponsored multi-format content campaign combined with our global contest work hand in hand to share the stories of some of the most successful start-ups of today while supporting the potential unicorns of tomorrow.”