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Tag: Pankaj Gupta

  • Karnataka Bank’s 100-Year journey unraveled through the phygital experience center powered by DaveAI

    Karnataka Bank’s 100-Year journey unraveled through the phygital experience center powered by DaveAI

    Mumbai: In celebration of Karnataka Bank’s remarkable century-long journey, a visionary Phygital Experience Center emerges as a beacon of innovation, inviting audiences to embark on an immersive exploration of the bank’s past, present, and future. Developed in collaboration with DaveAI, the leading AI-powered experience creators platform sets a new standard in customer engagement and showcases Karnataka Bank’s unwavering commitment to pioneering technologies.

    The Phygital Experience Center, inaugurated by the Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka – D. K. Shivakumar, promises a transformative encounter that seamlessly merges the physical and digital realms. By transcending conventional celebratory formats, Karnataka Bank aims to offer patrons a dynamic space where they can delve into the institution’s rich heritage while envisioning its trajectory in the digital age.

    At the core of this innovative venture lies DaveAI’s proprietary visual synthesis pipeline, meticulously integrated into captivating narratives, gesture-controlled experiences, and immersive simulations. Visitors were greeted by virtual avatars, could take part in virtual reality tours, and engage with augmented reality experiences, all curated to provide an unparalleled glimpse into Karnataka Bank’s evolution over the past century and its vision for the future of banking.

    “When Karnataka Bank celebrated their centenary year, one of their most important questions was, what do they need to do so that their legacy continues for another 100 years. They turned to us to ideate on what is possible in the future of banking. Together we came up with a very futuristic experience center with great ideas to showcase what they are already doing as well as what they would plan to do.

    Concepts such as, Metaverse, Virtual Branches, Autonomous banking with the help of AI etc. were experienced by 100s of people from their staff and family as well as other dignitaries. Everyone was wowed by Karnataka Bank’s vision as well as their management’s commitment towards making it reality in the near future,” said Dr. Ananth, CTO & Co-Founder at DaveAI.

    The highlights of this Digital Bank of the Future included:

    1. Gesture-Controlled Experiences: A journey through the bank’s 100-year legacy, featuring a virtual avatar narrating key milestones and achievements, setting the stage for an enlightening exploration.

    2. Virtual Reality Tour: Visitors could step into a VR pod for a 360-degree tour of the futuristic digital banking unit, experiencing firsthand the fusion of tradition and technology that defines Karnataka Bank’s future.

    3. Innovation Showcase: A dynamic zone showcasing the bank’s innovative initiatives, featuring interactive kiosks and augmented reality-powered card discovery, designed to engage and educate visitors on Karnataka Bank’s diverse range of products and services.

    Commenting on the launch, Karnataka Bank CDMO Pankaj Gupta expressed excitement saying, “It is a proud moment for Karnataka Bank as we seamlessly blend tradition with the boundless possibilities of the future. Our Digital Experience Center stands as a testament to this fusion, exuding beauty and innovation in every corner. Now, our mission extends beyond mere admiration within our experience center; it’s about bringing these immersive experiences to the doorsteps of all our customers, enriching their lives both within the confines of their homes and beyond.”

  • An overview of WhatsApp’s safety and privacy campaigns this year

    An overview of WhatsApp’s safety and privacy campaigns this year

    Mumbai: In an age where privacy and online security have become paramount, WhatsApp is at the forefront of innovating features that continually help enhance the safety and privacy for users globally. From  chat lock to disappearing messages, silence unknown callers to privacy checkup, every new feature adds to WhatsApp’s multiple layers of protection.

    Understanding that launching innovative features alone is not enough, WhatsApp has invested time and effort to educate users and drive awareness around some of its key safety and privacy features. This strategic effort involves multiple safety and privacy campaigns designed to empower users to take control of their online safety and privacy.

    Stay safe with WhatsApp campaign:

    • On 12 April, WhatsApp rolled out their three-month ‘Stay safe with WhatsApp’ that focused on  creating user awareness around safer digital practices, highlighting product features that empower users to take control of their online safety and ensure a safer messaging  experience.  

    • WhatsApp collaborated with influential figures such as Rajiv Makhni, Manoj Chugh, Jaspreet  Bindra, Akancha Shrivastava, Pankaj Gupta, and Deepak Maheshwari to amplify awareness  of WhatsApp’s safety and privacy features.  

    • As part of this campaign, WhatsApp released educational user guides highlighting safety tools and product features to secure users’ WhatsApp accounts. Additionally, it offered  insights on how to stay protected from scams using WhatsApp’s safety features.

    Privacy campaign highlighting WhatsApp’s “Multiple layers of protection”

    • WhatsApp launched a global campaign focused on the importance of secure communication  and WhatsApp’s multiple layers of privacy. The campaign shows how a private conversation  with a friend or loved one on WhatsApp creates a safe space for people to communicate  with one another.

    • Mirrors Activation and partnership with Anushka Sharma to highlight the power of private  messaging. WhatsApp partnered with actor Anushka Sharma to launch a series of mirrored  messages appearing in private spaces – women’s restrooms – in malls across Delhi. Mirrored  messages with QR codes appeared in women’s restrooms in Delhi malls, offering suggestions  for checking in via a private WhatsApp message. These messages disappeared afterward,  similar to the Disappearing Messages feature on WhatsApp.

    • 3D Anamorphic installations at the Gateway of India: WhatsApp hosted an immersive  storytelling experience at Mumbai’s iconic Gateway of India, where anamorphic privacy  installations and projection mapping on the monument facade vividly showcased the layers  of privacy WhatsApp offers:

    For the final leg of the privacy campaign, on 4 September, WhatsApp will announce a partnership with Ranveer Singh to promote message privacy where he talks about how WhatsApp’s multiple layers of protection give him control over his most private conversations.

    In a candid conversation the actor opens up about what’s in his phone and how he protects his most  private conversations on WhatsApp. The entertaining video almost has Ranveer spilling the beans but instead educates people on the importance of private and secure messaging with simple privacy  features like end-to-end encryption, chat lock, screenshot blocking for view once messages on WhatsApp.

    Talking about the collaboration with WhatsApp, Ranveer Singh, said, “With more and more private  conversations happening online, our privacy needs are also evolving. From sharing my most private  thoughts with my friends and family to discussing work, my WhatsApp has private information like  film scripts, my financial details. The cool thing about WhatsApp is that with its layers of privacy I  know my conversations are always secure and with features like chat lock, I can password protect my  most private and important chats so that even though my phone changes hands, my chats don’t.”

    Meta director, consumer marketing Vyom Prashant said, “We’re thrilled to partner with Ranveer to bring alive the multiple ways in which WhatsApp protects our users’ privacy, in an  entertaining, informative, and relatable manner. We believe this partnership along with our  campaign on privacy, demonstrates to our users that they always have a safe and private space on  WhatsApp for their conversations.”

  • Pankaj Gupta joins Coinbase from Google Pay

    Pankaj Gupta joins Coinbase from Google Pay

    NEW DELHI: In an attempt to build a strong team from scratch, American cryptocurrency exchange company Coinbase has appointed Pankaj Gupta as its vice president – engineering and site lead for India. Before joining Coinbase, Gupta was leading Google Pay Engineering in APAC. 

    To expand its operations in India, Coinbase is all set to hire hundreds of employees across various roles in the next one or two years. 

    "For the next phase of my life after Google, I am thrilled to share that I will be joining Coinbase as VP of engineering and site lead for India. I’ll be responsible for leading and building the company’s technology hub in India from scratch. I will be hiring across India," wrote Gupta on his blog. 

    He added that India has world-class tech expertise and some of the brightest minds in the industry. He also expressed his aim to tap and develop local talent in India. 

    "The plan is to hire hundreds of employees across all levels in engineering, product management, UX design, research, and program management within the next one to two years to build out a full tech hub in India. Together, we’ll work on some of the most interesting challenges spanning the full modern tech stack — including deep tech areas like blockchains, data engineering, infrastructure, machine learning, and more," he added. 

    On 25 March, Coinbase had said that the company is planning to open a physical office in Hyderabad. The decision to expand its operations in India comes at a time when the central government is mulling a ban on cryptocurrency. 

  • #Decision2Protect: HDFC Life features policyholders, in their own words

    #Decision2Protect: HDFC Life features policyholders, in their own words

    NEW DELHI: HDFC Life has launched the #Decision2Protect, a customer testimonial-based campaign that intends to showcase the need for term plans through the stories and experiences of the policyholders, narrated by the policyholders themselves.   

    As part of its research activity, the company connected with existing policyholders to understand their reasons for choosing an HDFC Life term plan. This exercise not only offered insights but also brought to the fore powerful stories, which are relatable to a larger audience, which in turn created the foundation for the testimonial campaign.  

    Conceptualised by Leo Burnett, the creative has been produced by The Content Factory and directed by Ateet Chadda. 

    Leo Burnett MD – India & CCO South Asia Rajdeepak Das said, "What the past one year has taught all of us is that life is full of uncertainties. But with a little bit of foresight we can overcome any unforeseen setbacks. HDFC Life’s new #Decision2Protect campaign explores such real life examples of people who ensured that their loved ones are able to tide over any eventuality that might come their way. And more importantly, it tells that all-important message that a small decision can go a long way in ensuring that our families are always protected."

    HDFC Life senior EVP (sales) & CMO Pankaj Gupta said the campaign is centred around policyholders who believed in and benefited from its life insurance products – sharing their thoughts about how the product worked and enabled them to continue living their lives fully, despite the uncertainties that they faced.

    “These powerful themes are universal and we feel confident they will resonate with the larger community. While the concept of term life insurance is quite well established, not everyone acts in a timely manner or benefits from the product. We take it as our responsibility to create greater awareness that enables individuals to take the decision to protect at the right time. The Covid2019 pandemic has impacted millions of lives bringing about an even greater sense of uncertainty. It has made every individual with financial responsibilities realise the need for protection for self and family. And that is what term life insurance provides. It acts as a safety net for the family and protects them against the uncertainties of life,” he added. 

     

  • HDFC Life launches ad campaign #BounceBack

    HDFC Life launches ad campaign #BounceBack

    MUMBAI: HDFC Life, one of India’s leading private life insurance companies, has launched a new ad film that speaks about bouncing back from life's setbacks, instead of letting them bring you down.

    As a society, we tend glorify success. However, on the path to success, one often needs to overcome challenges, which are seldom spoken about. This creates a perception that successful people never face difficulties, leading to unnecessary pressure on individuals, especially children.

    Keeping this in mind, the latest ad film by HDFC Life showcases an endearing story of a young girl who has not performed well in an examination, despite giving it her best effort. She faces the dilemma of explaining it to her father. However, her father senses her emotion and realises that he has been unable to prepare his daughter to deal with challenges. He therefore decides to start this lesson by revealing the setback that he had overcome in his life.

    'BounceBack' has been used as a theme in the brand's recent campaigns. It further strengthens the brand promise of HDFC Life’s ‘Sar utha ke jiyo !’.

    Speaking on the thought behind the campaign, Sr. Executive Vice President (Sales) & chief marketing officer, Pankaj Gupta, said, "Preparing the young generation to face challenges and pressures, in order to do well and live a life of pride, is an integral part of parenting. Especially in today’s scenario wherein we often see students struggling due to academic, parental and peer pressures. Support from the family is what one counts on, to bounce back from setbacks. We have tried to portray this through the ad film”.

    He further added, “Life insurance plays a similar role. It offers a support system which enables individuals and families to bounce back from life’s uncertainties. Be it critical illness, accidental disability or untimely death, life insurance empowers families in their bounce back journey by being their financial partner."

    Speaking about the campaign Leo Burnett South Asia  managing director India & chief creative officer Rajdeepak Das said, “This campaign takes forward the ‘BounceBack’ narrative. Failure is one of the most important teachers of life but we often shy away from talking about our failures. Through this campaign, HDFC Life adopts a refreshingly different and bold perspective and takes a stand to not only secure your loved ones financially but also emotionally to deal with failures. For a brand like HDFC Life, whose DNA emphasizes ‘Sar utha ke jiyo !’, this campaign is the perfect springboard to talk about empowering your loved ones to bounce back from setbacks.”

  • HDFC Life’s new ad campaign showcases real-life stories of individuals who “Bounced back to Life”

    HDFC Life’s new ad campaign showcases real-life stories of individuals who “Bounced back to Life”

    MUMBAI: HDFC Life, one of India’s leading private life insurance companies, has launched a new ad film ‘Bounce back to Life’ that features real-life survivor stories to showcase the need for term insurance to financially protect ones family and loved ones when faced with unforeseen circumstances.

    The route for the campaign is 'Bounce Back to Life', based on the insight that 'in a near death experience, the first thoughts that flash are always about family / loved ones' and thus, it's important to secure their future. The theme strengthens the HDFC Life’s ‘Sar Utha ke Jiyo’ brand promise.

    The campaign introduces real survivor stories of Amrita Raichand (Chef) and Boria Majumdar (Sports Journalist). Amrita survived the Mumbai terror attack and Boria is a survivor of a mid-air engine failure. They talk about living through these difficult experiences and learning how to cope in its aftermath. An important part of bouncing back from these incidents was realising the importance of spending time with their loved ones and protecting their future to ensure that they lead their lives with pride.

    The penetration of insurance is low in India. While buying an insurance policy, people do not consider its core benefit – life cover / protection, rather they look for returns. Besides, people tend to believe that nothing is going to happen to them, without realizing that life is uncertain. This campaign thus brings out the need for taking action now and not postponing the plans into an indefinite future.

    Speaking on the thought behind the campaign, Sr. Executive Vice President (Sales) & Chief Marketing Officer, Pankaj Gupta, said, "I am happy to share that our latest ad film addresses the need for protection and brings out one of the strongest essence of life – Hope. We at HDFC Life, believe that real-life stories relate and connect to every human and helps driving a sense of urgency to evaluate financial decisions that can secure our future and enable a life of Pride.”

    Speaking about the campaign Rajdeepak Das, Managing Director India & Chief Creative Officer Leo Burnett South Asia said “This campaign brings very touching; powerful, human stories told with an impactful narrative, that I am sure will strike a chord with the audience. More so because; although these individuals have lived through a tragedy, our chronicle focuses on the positive way they have survived their individual ordeals and come out of it stronger and more optimistic. After all life needs hope, faith and love. This is a beautiful ‘HumanKind’ story.”

  • HDFC Life hands media mandate to Zenith

    HDFC Life hands media mandate to Zenith

    MUMBAI: Following an extensive pitch involving multiple media agencies, Zenith has won the agency of record (AOR) mandate for HDFC Life. This is for the entire traditional media mandate. The digital duties already lay with Performics.Resultrix.

    Zenith India group CEO Tanmay Mohanty says, “This win is a matter of great pride for us and an extension of our existing, very fruitful digital relationship with HDFC Life. Our teams were able to demonstrate an effective ROI-focused, data-driven approach to media. Zenith’s strong suite of tools, proprietary research and analytics will unlock new consumer connections for HDFC Life and will deliver on seamless, integrated communications.”

    HDFC Life CMO and EVP strategic alliances, bancassurance and specialty sales Pankaj Gupta adds, “We are happy to associate with Zenith and believe that it would be an exciting partnership, since Zenith’s view on the brand mirrors that of ours. Zenith exhibited fresh thinking and insights on the life insurance category during the pitch. Hope that through its forward-thinking and disruptive approach, Zenith would help us stay ahead of the curve in a dynamic media environment; thereby, deepening our market presence and highlighting our customer-centric value proposition.”

    HDFC Standard Life Insurance company is a joint venture between HDFC Ltd, one of India’s leading housing finance institutions and Standard Life Aberdeen, a global investment company. HDFC Life is a leading long-term life insurance solutions provider in India, offering a range of individual and group insurance solutions that meet various customer needs such as Protection, Pension, Savings, Investment and Health.

  • HDFC Life’s health campaign is a reality check for those who believe they ‘look fit’

    HDFC Life’s health campaign is a reality check for those who believe they ‘look fit’

    MUMBAI: HDFC Standard Life Insurance Company, one of India’s leading private life insurers, has launched a new ad campaign highlighting the need for health insurance, by using a simple and relatable analogy of ‘Liar Mirror’. The campaign that has been launched on the digital platform features celebrities who are real-life critical illness survivors. In the 2 min ad film, Actor/Model Lisa Ray and Actor/Comedian Suresh Menon are seen talking about why the mirror has always been a liar to them.

    HDFC Life has maintained an insight-driven approach for its marketing campaigns. The company’s findings on consumer approach towards fitness and financial preparation for health ailments contributed towards the theme of ‘Liar Mirror’.

    What is the campaign all about?

    Appearances are deceptive, and we frequently get carried away by what we see. The mirror is often taken as an indicator of health in our busy lives. It is assumed that if a person looks fit externally, she is in good health. HDFC Life has attempted to break this myth and bring about a change in the mindset of people. The film highlights the stories of two popular faces – Suresh Menon, a heart ailment survivor and Lisa Ray, a cancer survivor. Suresh and Lisa talk about how they appeared completely fit from outside only to be diagnosed with serious ailments. The ad shows the survivors talking about the need to take a look inside, go for health check-ups and prepare financially to face any adversities.

    Pankaj Gupta, Chief Marketing Officer & Executive Vice President, Strategic Alliances, Bancassurance & Specialty Sales, “In India, we have become conscious of our diet and exercise regimen, but still have deep inertia when it comes to regular health check-ups. Non-communicable diseases are on the rise and we wanted to address this increasingly serious social issue, in the most realistic way. Hence, we used the testimonial approach and are delighted to be associated with Lisa & Suresh on this campaign. They are real fighters who have survived their respective challenges and emerged victorious, thereby resonating with our brand message of ‘Sar Utha ke Jiyo’. We urge people to not just believe what they see in the mirror, but also delve deeper and be #Ready2Fight.

    On the creative front, Rajdeepak Das, MD – India & CCO – South Asia, Leo Burnett said, “It is a simple way to demonstrate what the truth is. When you look in the mirror every morning, you think everything is right but there are things happening that you cannot see. We are a Humankind brand and we wanted to solve a human problem – so people can realize the truth.”

    Commenting on the campaign, Suresh Menon said, “When I was approached with the idea, I could immediately relate to it. I felt this was my story. Back then, I never expected to have a heart issue and it came out of nowhere. I believed I was fit and healthy. This campaign rightly breaks the myth that looking fit and being fit are not necessarily the same.”

    Lisa Ray added, “In my case, there were not many visible signs telling me that I was unwell. One moment I was leading my life, traveling and working in films and television around the world, and in the next I was diagnosed with cancer. The other important aspect, which this campaign talks about, is the financial preparation. Medical expenses are steep and you could run up bills that erode your savings very quickly. Hence, being financially prepared today is a very important aspect of investing in long term good health.”

  • HDFC Life promotes ULIP through anti-bullying campaign

    HDFC Life promotes ULIP through anti-bullying campaign

    MUMBAI: HDFC Life Insurance Company has launched a new ad campaign on Unit Linked Insurance policies for planning children’s future. The ad highlights the issue of bullying and conveys a message that parents need to empower their children to fight their own battles, making them self-reliant.

    The campaign emerged from a consumer insight that parents are inherently wired to be protective towards their children, but at the same time, they also want their children to be equipped with life-skills to navigate through the unexpected twists and turns that life throws their way. It shows parents’ efforts in preparing their loved ones for the future. The TVC will run for one and half months.

    The film narrates the story of a young boy who is bullied for his weight. The twist comes when the father, although concerned for his child’s well-being, sends him back to confront his tormentors. HDFC Life has tried to highlight the valuable life lessons that parents try to inculcate in their children; making them face their fears against their natural instincts of protecting their children. The film brings out the brand thought of ‘Apno Ko Apne Dum Pe Jeena Sikhao’, an interpretation of ‘Sar Utha Ke Jiyo’, showing the breadwinner of the family as more than just a conventional financial provider.

    The ad articulates the essence of the brand – helping your loved ones live with pride while making sure they have a secure future. And ULIPs offer dual benefits of growth and security which enables one to fulfil long-term financial goals and also ensures financial security. Thus, the campaign brings to light the necessity of not only providing financial strength in achieving future dreams but also the strength of character that helps one endure times of difficulty.

    HDFC Life executive vice president of strategic alliances, bancassurance and marketing Pankaj Gupta says, “As parents, financial security is not the only gift we want to leave behind for our children. We also want them to be emotionally independent. Our motto of ‘Sar utha ke jiyo’ is all about holding one’s head high no matter what the situation is.

    “Through this campaign, we aim to convey this in the context of a prevalent concern among children – bullying. Instead of showing the child as the victim and having viewers sympathising with him, we wanted to show how the right kind of encouragement from parents empowers and prepares him to face the future. Planning for the child’s future and securing it, is the priority for every parent. In fact, our research shows this as one of the key reasons for buying life insurance, especially the savings and investment plans. Our ULIP offerings enable parents to plan their child’s future over the long-term,” he adds.

    Leo Burnett South Asia chief creative officer Rajdeepak Das mentions, “To truly imbibe ‘Sar Utha Ke Jiyo’ in today’s world, we needed to understand what’s happening with the kids today. Of the many problems that they face today, bullying is something that kids are unable to tackle head on. We wanted to use this as a metaphor to highlight the importance of teaching children to be emotionally independent. I am proud of how our philosophy flows through this entire campaign, and I am confident consumers will relate to it and do what is best for the emotional health of their children.”