ITV

Tag: cloud communications

  • Airtel, Vonage launch unified business communication app for enterprises

    Airtel, Vonage launch unified business communication app for enterprises

    Mumbai: In a strategic move to revolutionise business communications in India, Airtel Business has partnered with Vonage to launch Airtel IQ Business Connect, a cutting-edge application designed to streamline customer engagement for enterprises. This innovative platform promises multi-channel communication, real-time monitoring, and data loss prevention, ensuring seamless interactions across mobile devices, tablets, and laptops.

    Airtel IQ Business Connect, launched on 16 October 2024, provides enterprises with a unified communication platform that simplifies customer engagement, even during employee transitions. The device-agnostic application ensures continuity, allowing businesses to maintain strong customer loyalty without investing in additional hardware.

    “We are delighted to partner with Vonage and launch ‘Airtel IQ Business Connect’ – a next-gen technology application. Businesses today are looking for a compliance-adhering, unified communications application to ensure smooth customer communications,” said Airtel Business, chief business officer – digital products & services, Abhishek Biswal. “This solution will drive improved business communication and productivity.”

    Vonage, a global leader in cloud communications, expressed excitement over the collaboration. Vonage, head of applications, Reggie Scales said, “We are excited to announce our strategic partnership with Airtel Business to power new unified communications capabilities for enterprises in India. Effective communication and collaboration are essential in today’s dynamic business environment. This solution brings a multi-channel approach, combining voice and messaging to enhance engagement.”

    Airtel IQ Business Connect, part of Airtel Business’s cloud communications portfolio, empowers employees and hybrid workforces to communicate seamlessly with stakeholders, improving customer engagement and satisfaction. As India’s first telecom company serving as a WhatsApp Business Service Provider (BSP), Airtel ensures omnichannel engagement across voice and messaging platforms.

    This partnership strengthens Vonage’s commitment to innovation in India, where it operates an R&D centre of excellence in Bengaluru, focusing on building new business communication features.

  • Tanla Platforms faces growth hurdles amid mixed Q2 FY25 performance

    Tanla Platforms faces growth hurdles amid mixed Q2 FY25 performance

    Mumbai: Tanla Platforms’ second-quarter results for the fiscal year 2025, disclosed on 17 October 2024, reveal a business grappling with mounting expenses and stagnant revenue. Despite a series of strategic efforts, including the recent ValueFirst acquisition, the cloud communications company encountered a modest revenue decline compared to the previous year, alongside increased operational costs that pressured profitability.

    The company’s revenue from operations dipped to Rs 1,00,072.28 lakh, a slight reduction from Rs 1,00,859.22 lakh in the corresponding quarter last year. Total consolidated income remained nearly flat at Rs 1,01,098.10 lakh, showing only a minimal increase from Rs 1,01,493.34 lakh in Q2 FY24. Meanwhile, expenses surged to Rs 85,025.81 lakh, driven primarily by higher service costs and employee benefits, eroding the gains made from cost-control initiatives earlier in the year.

    “Our continued focus on enhancing operational efficiency has yielded some positive outcomes, but the evolving market dynamics present formidable challenges,” stated Tanla Platforms, chairman and CEO, D. Uday Kumar Reddy. The company’s service costs grew by 0.9 per cent, indicating the struggle to optimise expenses while sustaining the quality of operations.

    Tanla reported a profit before tax of Rs 16,072.29 lakh for the quarter, down from Rs 17,872.33 lakh a year earlier. Net profit attributable to shareholders also declined to Rs 13,021.15 lakh from Rs 14,254.99 lakh in Q2 FY24. The company’s earnings per share fell to Rs 9.70 from Rs 10.60, highlighting the strain on shareholder returns amid rising operational pressures.

    A deeper look at the expenses reveals an escalation in employee benefits, which rose 23 per cent to Rs 5,437.11 lakh, reflecting the cost of retaining talent in a competitive market. Additionally, depreciation and amortisation expenses increased by 3.8 per cent to Rs 2,344.08 lakh, indicating substantial investments in technology and infrastructure.

    The results also underscore Tanla’s ongoing strategic efforts, such as the acquisition of ValueFirst, which are yet to fully realise the anticipated synergies. The financials for the half-year ended 30 September 2024, showed a revenue increase to Rs 2,00,292.77 lakh from Rs 1,91,970.43 lakh in the same period last year, largely attributable to consolidating ValueFirst’s operations. However, profit before tax for the half-year saw a modest decline, signalling potential headwinds ahead.

    Tanla’s current assets increased to Rs 2,24,991.07 lakh, up from Rs 2,03,782.46 lakh as of March 2024, driven by higher trade receivables and cash reserves. This bolstered liquidity provides some buffer, but also raises questions about cash flow management, as trade receivables growth may indicate delayed collections.

    With the CPaaS market becoming increasingly competitive, Tanla faces the challenge of reinvigorating its growth trajectory while managing costs. The company’s reliance on expanding its client base and introducing new product offerings will be pivotal in driving future performance. Investments in digital infrastructure and potential acquisitions may further strain margins in the short term, but could pay off with stronger growth in the long term.