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Tag: SaaS

  • Balaji rings in ‘Kutingg’: A family-first app with kadak stories

    Balaji rings in ‘Kutingg’: A family-first app with kadak stories

    MUMBAI: Talk about a ‘family kutingg’! Balaji telefilms is striking a new chord in digital entertainment with the launch of its latest family-first app, kutingg.

    Unveiled on 8 September and set to go live on 11 September, the platform promises gripping fiction, spirited non-fiction, and snackable entertainment designed for India’s mobile-first audience. Positioned as a digital destination for every member of the household, kutingg is packed with kadak stories told with authenticity and flair.

    Speaking on the launch of Kutingg, Balaji Telefilms group CEO and group CFO Sanjay Dwivedi said, “At Balaji, our journey has always been about anticipating how stories are experienced and staying ahead of audience expectations. Today’s audiences want stories that are sharper, shorter, and more personal and Kutingg is our answer to that. This is not just another entertainment app; it is a family-first destination that offers Kadak stories across fiction and non-fiction, from snackable content to immersive limited series, and even vertical formats for a new-age viewing experience. With Kutingg, we want to give audiences more than just shows. We want to deliver moments that bring families together, stories that spark conversations, and entertainment that truly stays with them.”

    The content line-up reads like a buffet of entertainment. Daily drama lovers can tune into Pyaar Kii Raahein or Saas, Bahu aur Swaad, while weekend binge-watchers get Cheerleader. There’s also a ‘superstar library’ featuring Bose and Mentalhood, and a host of chat shows from Morning Mantra to Bollywood Gapshap. Vertical video formats sit comfortably alongside long-form narratives, keeping pace with how Indians scroll, stream, and snack on stories today.

    “This is not just another entertainment app, it is a family-first destination that offers sharper, shorter, and more personal stories,” said Balaji telefilms group chief revenue officer Nitin Burman. He added that kutingg is designed as an ecosystem where content, creators, and brands can thrive together. “Our vision is to make kutingg not only India’s preferred family-first destination but also a hub for innovation in both content and commerce.”

  • Productivity SaaS for education is changing: a wake-up call for schools

    Productivity SaaS for education is changing: a wake-up call for schools

    For schools that have relied on productivity SaaS solutions for years, it’s a pivotal moment to reassess long-term needs. With providers like Google ending free unlimited storage in 2022 and Microsoft’s recent updates to their education offerings, institutions face significant challenges including increased costs and reduced functionality. These developments underscore the importance of adopting systems that provide stability, scalability, and control.

    After January 2025, Microsoft rolled out significant changes to its Microsoft 365 Education plans, including retiring the Office 365 A1 Plus plan, reducing storage pools to 100TB per tenant, and restricting some licenses to web-only applications without their counterpart desktop versions, including Word, Excel, or PowerPoint.

    These adjustments may push schools toward higher-cost paid plans or force them to reallocate resources to maintain functionality, prompting many to reevaluate their reliance on SaaS solutions. Beyond financial implications, there are also rising concerns over data privacy and compliance. Educational institutions manage high loads of sensitive information such as student records, financial data, and research. This makes them prime targets of cyberattacks, which target nearly 80% of institutions annually (Netwrix, 2024). Furthermore, compliance with regulations such as FERPA and GDPR requires secure, private, and auditable data management practices, which some SaaS solutions may struggle to meet.

    Shifting to an on-premise productivity solution offers educational institutions increased control over their data, cost predictability, and storage scalability. Unlike SaaS offerings, prone to subscription price hikes and unpredictable removals to their service features, on-premise solutions can provide a stable framework more suited for long-term needs. Locally stored data also ensures privacy, helping schools meet compliance requirements while protecting sensitive information.

    Some on-premise productivity solutions like Synology Office Suite enhance collaboration and communication with tools for secure file storage, granular sharing permissions, real-time document editing and instant messaging, supporting both group projects for students and file management among faculty.

    Learn more | Synology Office Suite

    For IT administrators, these solutions simplify management with centralized dashboards, system health monitoring, and auditing tools for compliance. Advanced access controls also enable efficient delegation of tasks across IT teams, ensuring smoother workflows and stronger oversight of digital infrastructure.

    While changes from major SaaS providers might disrupt operations in the short term, they also provide an opportunity for educational institutions to reassess the suitability of their current systems. On-premise productivity solutions provide a sustainable pathway to address cost concerns, enhance security, and build a resilient digital foundation for evolving educational needs of educators and students alike.

  • Mindshare Fulcrum appoints Bharat Sethi as principal partner – programmatic

    Mindshare Fulcrum appoints Bharat Sethi as principal partner – programmatic

    MUMBAI: Digital marketing professional  Bharat Sethi has joined Mindshare Fulcrum as principal partner – programmatic, bringing over 15 years of industry experience to the role.

    Sethi, who previously served as head of media at Tatvic, boasts an impressive career spanning major tech firms including Google and Yahoo. During his five-year tenure at Google, he developed expertise in data analysis, digital strategy and software as a service (SaaS).

    His appointment comes as Mindshare continues to strengthen its programmatic advertising capabilities across video, display and connected TV platforms.

    Prior to Google, Sethi worked at Cognizant as an account manager for Doubleclick India. His earlier roles include optimisation strategist at Yahoo and account manager at Komli Media, where he managed performance and re-marketing campaigns across India and southeast Asia.

    Sethi holds an MBA in information technology/finance from SVKM’s Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies and a BE in computer science from Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Technology.

  • Battery Ventures invests sizeable sum in enterprise software firm Signiant

    Battery Ventures invests sizeable sum in enterprise software firm Signiant

    MUMBAI: Intelligent file transfer software  company Signiant has got a shot in the arm with technology-focused investment firm Battery Ventures investing a sizeable sum in it.  (Signiant called it “ a majority growth investment” though terms were not disclosed as the firm is  private.). 

    Signiant’s innovative technology allows large media files—from movies and TV shows to sports and news content—to move through the media supply chain quickly and securely, regardless of where the files are stored. The core technology is becoming more critical as media companies increasingly produce rich, effects-laden content for distribution across a range of online streaming platforms, often involving creators and vendors in multiple locations. From its key position at the foundation of the media tech stack, the company is now expanding the functionality of the file transfer SaaS platform into adjacent media services.  

    Signiant’s flagship products are used by some of the world’s largest media and entertainment companies in sectors such as post production, professional sports, gaming, and broadcast/cable TV. Customers include large companies such as NBCU, Warner Bro Discovery, Ubisoft and the National Hockey League, as well as many smaller companies throughout the global media ecosystem. 

    “We are thrilled to partner with Battery, a firm with a long history of scaling enterprise SaaS businesses, to begin writing the next chapter of the Signiant story,” said Signiant chief executive Margaret Craig. “Both the company and the media industry are at inflection points. We feel our solutions are uniquely suited to meet the current moment in media and entertainment, which demands the type of efficiency and fast time-to-value that only a modern multi-tenant SaaS platform can deliver.” 

    Signiant will use the investment from Battery to fund product development and go-to-market activities, as well as potential future acquisitions in the media technology space. The company previously completed two add-on acquisitions which expanded Signiant’s product footprint. The company remains committed to pursuing future acquisitions to better serve its customers.  

    “As the production of media content becomes more specialised and complex, owing to advancements in video and sound quality, and fancy visual effects, it means media files have gotten larger and more difficult to move around and track,” noted Battery Partner Dave Tabors. “In our view, Signiant has cracked the code on how to tackle this problem, building a robust SaaS business to facilitate the transfer of these files in a secure way. And we see the opportunity to grow the company’s market even more.” 

    Added Roland Anderson, a Battery principal: “Signiant’s solutions, including its Media Shuttle product—which uses a proprietary protocol to move files over any IP network, between both public cloud and on-premises storage locations–are high-quality and extremely sticky among its customers. We’re excited to work with the company to fuel further growth, both organic and through potential acquisitions.” Both Tabors and Anderson are joining Signiant’s board. 

    Pharus served as exclusive advisor to Signiant on the transaction and Mintz Levin acted as counsel to the company. 

  • Storage work collab platform LucidLink makes two senior hires

    Storage work collab platform LucidLink makes two senior hires

    MUMBAI:  California-headquartered LucidLink, the storage collaboration platform that frees creative teams to work together from anywhere, is gearing up for its next phase of accelerated growth with two powerhouse leadership hires.

    Building on its success in the creative industries, LucidLink is extending its reach into new markets as it redefines how companies connect and collaborate with their data. To lead this expansion, the company has appointed Mike Maimone as chief revenue officer (CRO) and Gregor McCole as chief financial officer (CFO). With proven expertise in scaling high-growth SaaS companies, Mike and Gregor are set to supercharge LucidLink’s mission to make data instantly and securely accessible from anywhere. 

    LucidLink has achieved remarkable growth, which has been further fuelled by its $75M Series C investment round at the end of 2023, new brand re-launch in April and the recent release of its next-generation product, which transforms how teams access, share and collaborate with data. These milestones mark a major inflection point as LucidLink extends its extraordinary impact on the creative industries into other data-dependent verticals.

    Looking ahead to 2025, LucidLink is poised to launch new platform offerings that will shape the future of collaboration and simplify workflows for all enterprises.

    “Mike and Gregor bring outstanding expertise to LucidLink at a pivotal time as we redefine global file access, collaboration, and productivity for businesses worldwide. Mike’s strategic leadership will drive our expansion into new verticals and regions, while Gregor’s deep financial acumen across private and public enterprises will be essential in navigating our accelerated growth,” said CEO & co-founder Peter Thompson.

    Mike Maimone, an experienced software executive, brings a proven record of driving customer engagement and accelerating revenue. At ZoomInfo, he recently led the enterprise customer division, generating $330M in revenue and growing emerging products to $75M ARR. As LucidLink’s CRO, Mike will oversee global sales, customer success, and partnerships, focusing on scaling the company’s presence in new and existing markets.

    “LucidLink’s trailblazing technology is a game-changer, and I’m thrilled to spearhead our expansion into untapped markets,” said Mike. “There are tremendous opportunities ahead not only to expand within our customer base but also to get LucidLink into the hands of more and more industries.”

    Gregor McCole, with deep experience in leading high-growth SaaS companies, joins as CFO to drive LucidLink’s financial strategy. Previously, he led Arctic Wolf Networks through significant valuation growth, increasing ARR by 10x and overseeing three funding rounds that propelled the company’s value to $4.3B. Gregor will guide LucidLink’s financial operations as the company continues its rapid expansion.

    ”LucidLink is uniquely positioned to redefine creative collaboration, and I’m eager to help drive its financial strategy during this pivotal moment,” said Gregor. “The unparalleled platform innovation and tremendous market demand will ensure even greater success during this time of incredible growth.”

  • Our focus is to solidify Superbot’s position as India’s leading AI-powered voice agent solution: Sarvagya Mishra

    Our focus is to solidify Superbot’s position as India’s leading AI-powered voice agent solution: Sarvagya Mishra

    Mumbai: AI-powered voice agents are transforming the way businesses engage with customers, providing instant, personalized responses and streamlining communication processes across various industries. Amidst this transformation, Superbot, an AI-powered voice agent startup, founded by Sarvagya Mishra and Ankit Ruia in 2018, stands out as a pioneering solution.

    Based out of Gurugram, Superbot bridges the communication gap between organisations and their clients with its intelligent, AI-powered capabilities. With the potential to handle over one million calls a day, Superbot ensures seamless, 24/7 customer support, making it an essential tool for businesses looking to enhance customer engagement and satisfaction.

    To gain deeper insights into Superbot’s overall business framework and its solutions, Indiantelevision.com caught with Superbot co-founder & director Sarvagya Mishra.

    Edited Excerpts:

    On the inspiration behind starting Superbot in 2018 and the journey till now

    Our journey with Superbot began as a response to a challenge we faced while managing PinnacleWorks, our parent company in the education sector. Despite our diligent efforts and the deployment of dedicated counsellors, we encountered costly delays in addressing student queries, leading to missed opportunities and reduced conversion rates. This prompted us to conceive an automated chat agent capable of comprehending the sentiment behind customer queries and responding with human-like empathy. Initially designed for the education sector, Superbot quickly gained traction, becoming the preferred solution for round-the-clock customer query management among over 100 educational brands within a year. However, we soon realized that there was a need to proactively engage customers to boost ROI. This prompted us to evolve Superbot into an AI-powered conversation Agent, proficient in intelligent dialogues over telephony channels. As we transitioned Superbot into a versatile SaaS product, we expanded its capabilities to cater to diverse industries, addressing various calling needs from conducting large-scale surveys to handling critical tasks like lead verification and payment reminders. One of its standout features is serving as a 24/7 incoming helpline, guaranteeing zero wait time for user inquiries. This significantly reduces average handling time (AHT) and enhances customer satisfaction (CSAT). Today, Superbot is capable of managing over one million calls per day and supports 10 plus languages, with ongoing efforts to include more. It has become instrumental in facilitating seamless communication for businesses across India, and I am immensely proud of the journey Ankit Ruia and I (Sarvagya Mishra) have undertaken to make this vision a reality.

    On Superbot bridging the communication gap between organisations and clients

    Superbot bridges the communication gap between organisations and clients through its advanced AI-powered capabilities. Using cutting-edge natural language processing (NLU) and automatic speech recognition (ASR), Superbot responds to customer queries over calls in real time, reducing response times and enhancing satisfaction. In the education sector, it manages student inquiries, provides course information, and ensures 24/7 availability for prompt and accurate responses. Also it is being utilised by various organisations to verify their incoming leads on a real-time basis, and profile them, while saving 60 per cent of their counsellors time. In e-commerce, Superbot assists with product inquiries, order tracking, and issue resolution like returns or refunds, improving customer experience and reducing operational costs. Healthcare uses include patient queries, appointment scheduling, and service information, improving efficiency and satisfaction. With multilingual support, Superbot serves diverse customer bases, making it essential for organizations aiming to enhance customer service with faster, more accurate, and personalised responses, fostering stronger client relationships.

    On the unique features that Superbot offers to help brands stand out in a crowded market

    Superbot is a highly versatile platform, uniquely positioned to meet the diverse communication needs of various industries. One of its standout features is its in-house speech recognition modules, which achieve an exceptional accuracy rate of over 92 per cent. This capability allows Superbot to excel in understanding local Indian dialects and pronunciations, ensuring clear and effective communication with customers across different regions. Moreover, Superbot offers a user-friendly DIY platform that empowers businesses to customise their conversational experiences. This feature provides greater control and flexibility, allowing businesses to tailor Superbot’s interactions to their specific requirements without extensive technical knowledge. Additionally, Superbot supports over 100 use cases, demonstrating its versatility and adaptability across different industries. From e-commerce to healthcare, Superbot streamlines operations by handling tasks such as appointment scheduling, order confirmations, customer support, and more. This broad application makes it a comprehensive solution for businesses seeking to enhance customer engagement and operational efficiency. Furthermore, Superbot’s scalability is another key advantage. It can manage over one million concurrent calls per day, ensuring reliable performance even during peak times. This scalability, combined with its advanced AI-powered conversation capabilities, positions Superbot as a leading choice for businesses looking to improve customer satisfaction and stand out in a competitive market.

    On the role you see Superbot playing in the future of advertising and marketing

    At Superbot, we’re leading the charge in revolutionising advertising and marketing by capitalising on the increasing prominence of voice bots in consumer interactions. According to a Deloitte study (2022), it’s projected that by 2030, voice bots will contribute to 30 per cent of total e-commerce sales, highlighting the growing importance of voice-based communication channels in driving business transactions. With the voicebots market size estimated to reach $98.2 billion by 2027, growing at a CAGR of 18.6 per cent during the forecast period 2022-2027, the opportunities for voice-based technologies like Superbot to transform businesses of all sizes are immense.

    At Superbot, we harness advanced AI-powered conversation capabilities to enable personalised and interactive engagement with customers. This empowers brands to deliver tailored messages and promotions directly through voice channels, enhancing customer interaction and conversion. Our 24×7 incoming helpline ensures zero wait time for user inquiries, significantly reducing average handling time (AHT) and enhancing customer satisfaction (CSAT). With our scalable and versatile platform, Superbot also supports various marketing strategies, from conducting surveys and gathering feedback to providing real-time assistance and personalized product recommendations. By integrating these cutting-edge capabilities, we empower businesses to drive innovation and efficiency in their advertising and marketing efforts, enabling them to maintain a competitive edge over their rivals.

    On Superbot ensuring credibility and reliability in the era of AI and deep fakes

    At Superbot, we ensure credibility and reliability in an era where AI is frequently misused through stringent security measures and ethical practices. We maintain data security with advanced encryption and hold ISO 27001 certification, ensuring secure storage and protection of user data against unauthorized access. Our robust authentication processes verify user identities, guaranteeing interactions with legitimate users and not malicious entities. We source information from reliable databases, ensuring responses are based on credible information and not susceptible to manipulation or misinformation. At Superbot, we also promote transparency by clearly communicating our capabilities and limitations to users, fostering trust. We adhere to ethical AI guidelines, ensuring our algorithms are fair, transparent, and free from biases. Continuous monitoring of performance and user feedback allows us to promptly address any issues that could affect credibility or reliability. Partnering with industry leaders and complying with regulatory standards further enhances Superbot’s credibility, providing a secure and trustworthy conversational experience.

    On Superbot enhancing customer engagement and retention for brands and transforming customer support for local businesses through AI-powered voice agents

    Superbot is revolutionising how brands engage and retain customers through its cutting-edge AI-powered voice interactions. It leverages advanced natural language processing and emotional intelligence to deeply understand customer queries and provide highly personalized, empathetic responses. This fosters meaningful connections and unparalleled customer intimacy, going beyond transactional interactions to cultivate brand loyalty and advocacy. Superbot’s multilingual capabilities ensure seamless communication across diverse regions, breaking down language barriers. By intelligently automating routine inquiries and streamlining complex processes like appointment scheduling or order confirmations, it drastically reduces response times, elevating customer satisfaction to new heights.

    For local businesses, Superbot offers a cost-effective and infinitely scalable solution for 24/7 exceptional customer service without compromising quality. Its real-time data access ensures prompt resolutions by providing the latest information. Additionally, Superbot’s feedback and survey tools enable continuous improvement, ensuring businesses can consistently meet evolving customer needs. Through its transformative voice capabilities, Superbot empowers brands to proactively engage customers, minimise churn, and build lasting, trust-based relationships. Local businesses gain a competitive edge by delivering unparalleled AI-driven customer experiences that transcend traditional limitations.

    On the impact of Superbot’s DIY portal on businesses of various sizes

    Superbot’s DIY (do-it-yourself) portal empowers businesses of all sizes to harness the power of AI-driven voice interactions without the need for extensive technical expertise. This user-friendly platform allows organizations to customize and tailor conversational experiences according to their specific needs, fostering a seamless integration with existing processes and workflows. For smaller enterprises, the DIY portal serves as a cost-effective solution, eliminating the barriers typically associated with implementing advanced AI technologies. It enables them to elevate their customer engagement strategies and deliver personalized experiences on par with their larger counterparts. Conversely, for larger corporations, the DIY portal offers unparalleled flexibility and control, allowing them to fine-tune Superbot’s capabilities to align with their unique business requirements and scale operations as needed. This democratisation of AI-powered voice solutions levels the playing field, enabling businesses of diverse sizes and industries to leverage Superbot’s transformative potential and gain a competitive edge in the ever-evolving landscape of customer experience management.

    On your future plans for Superbot, including global expansion

    At Superbot, our immediate focus is to solidify our position as the leading AI-powered voice agent solution in India. We intend to make an indelible mark across the nation by refining and augmenting our offerings to cater to the diverse needs of various industry verticals and regions. This strategic approach will enable us to gain a comprehensive understanding of the unique communication challenges faced by businesses operating in different sectors and geographic locations within India. By tailoring our solutions to address these specific requirements, we aim to establish Superbot as the go-to platform for seamless customer engagement and support across the country. Our commitment to continuous improvement will drive us to consistently enhance our natural language processing capabilities, expand our multilingual support, and integrate cutting-edge technologies to deliver unparalleled experiences for businesses and their customers.

    Once we have firmly established our presence and gained extensive insights from our nationwide operations, we will be well-positioned to embark on a global expansion strategy. With a robust foundation built on our success in India’s diverse market, we will leverage our expertise to adapt and localize our offerings for international markets. This will involve integrating new languages, cultural nuances, and region-specific communication preferences, ensuring Superbot’s relevance and effectiveness transcends geographical boundaries. Our global expansion plans will be driven by a steadfast commitment to innovation, collaboration with local partners, and a deep understanding of the unique challenges faced by businesses in different regions.

  • Kapture CX aims to double its revenue in FY25

    Kapture CX aims to double its revenue in FY25

    Mumbai: Kapture CX, a leading SaaS-embedded customer experience platform plans to double its revenue with a 100 per cent growth projected in the ongoing fiscal on the back of a solid FY 24.

    Incepted in 2011, Kapture CX continues to capitalize on building the future of customer support automation by leveraging the capacity of AI, ML, and other emerging technologies in the market. This unprecedented growth comes after the platform’s successful $8 million fund-raise from Cactus Venture Partners and India Alternatives. This capital-raised marked a significant milestone in its nascent journey and has been allocated for bolstering growth, expanding the current team, and securing large enterprises across the BFSI, retail, consumer durables, and travel industries.

    Currently, Kapture CX serves over 1,000 enterprise clients across 18 countries, spanning from marquee companies like TATA 1MG, Namma Yatri, Bigbasket, Wow Skin Science, and Unicommerce.

    These businesses use Kapture’s platform to support more than 250 million customers globally. In FY 24, Kapture introduced proprietary large language models (LLMs) to enhance customer support by resolving queries, analyzing sentiments, and automating resolutions. Our self-serve technology now automates 70 per cent of workflows for our clients, significantly reducing their operational costs.

    “Having become a key stakeholder in the global customer experience ecosystem, we’re witnessing continued traction across multiple verticals and live on SAP and Google Marketplace to expand our integration and accessibility capabilities. In a move to strengthen our reach and go-to-market strategy, we have formed strategic partnerships with industry leaders like Hitachi. Additionally, we’re also experiencing significant inbound interest and have partnerships with large systems integrators (SIs) in the pipeline,” said Kapture CX CRO Gaurav Juneja.

    Kapture exhibits the commitment to catalyse innovation and introduced its revolutionary voice bot, leveraging the power of GenAI, natural language processing, and advanced audio technologies to precisely interpret and efficiently respond to all customer queries and transform customer interactions. The platform continues to develop forward and bold-looking LLMs to enhance customer support by resolving queries, analysing sentiments, and automating resolutions, which has automated 70% of workflows, and significantly reduced operational costs.

    Building on this momentum, he further added, “We have always been at the forefront of using advanced technologies, from image processing, advanced sentiment analysis to Auto QA and NPS modules. Thanks to our technological stalwartness, we were able to land another notable achievement by enabling India’s largest grocery store to reduce their TAT to 2 minutes, and increase customer satisfaction (CSAT) by 20 per cent.”      

    The customer experience platform is poised to shape the future of customer support automation by bringing forth empathetic and proactive customer service, and maintaining a strong focus on high customer satisfaction, and lower operating expenses by showcasing an increased emphasis on innovation. Underpinned by its vision to become the leading player in the customer support arena, Kapture will continue to develop robust partnerships to promote and enhance the overall customer experience.

  • Unlocking productivity: The rise of QR-driven horizontal SaaS solutions for enterprises

    Unlocking productivity: The rise of QR-driven horizontal SaaS solutions for enterprises

    Mumbai: QR-driven horizontal SaaS solutions transform how businesses in India restructure their procedures and improve output. As the implementation of SaaS continues to flourish in the Indian business environment, the incorporation of QR codes into solutions is turning out to be a game-changer in offices, manufacturing units, commercial towers, business centres, coworking spaces, Schools, colleges, data centres, etc to name a few places.

    The overall SaaS industry has been subject to significant development, with predictions representing a considerable growth from $237.48 billion in 2022 to $273.55 billion in 2023.

    Introduction to QR-driven horizontal SaaS solutions

    QR-powered SaaS solutions serve various industries and business operations across numerous verticals. They help diminish the net consumption of paper and consequently minimize paperwork throughout the organization. That’s Horizontal SaaS! It’s plug-and-play, easy to use, easy to manage and monitor in a centralized manner across multiple sites, and asset-light and affordable.

    71 per cent of corporations worldwide depend on SaaS model applications, solidifying their position as a fundamental facilitator for the digital revolution.

    Growing adoption of horizontal SaaS

    The SaaS revolution is in full swing in India. Businesses around the nation are embracing cloud-based solutions like never before. From start-ups to well-known organizations, from metros to tier 3, the whole world is embracing the SaaS trend to improve operational protocols, save capital expenditures, and remain ahead of the curve.

    Further, money-saving, ease of use, and simple execution are the tip of the iceberg at this moment. With Horizontal SaaS, industries in India are gaining incentives for solutions that can get used to changing prerequisites without impacting the calculated financial expenditure of the organization.

    Understanding the impact on productivity

    1   Enhancing efficiency – By integrating QR codes into Horizontal SaaS solutions, establishments in India are not merely modernizing workflows but altering them to boost efficiency. Visualise staff members scanning a code and promptly retrieving the facts & figures or searching tools they require to complete the task – that’s productivity at its best. A hardware-based solution, caters to one person at a time, in contrast, QR code-based solutions can handle multiple people at one time, save time, are asset-light, save money, and allow repetitive manual tasks to be automated, enhancing productivity. What more?! The Data gets verified digitally.

    2   Measuring productivity gains – With QR-driven horizontal SaaS solutions, firms can track metrics, examine statistics, and observe first-hand the encouraging influence on the grassroots level.

    In turn, the SaaS industry is anticipated to continue this remarkable curve, touching a projected $908.21 billion by 2030, displaying an 18.7 per cent compound annual growth rate (CAGR).

    Key features and benefits

    QR-driven solutions have a pool of features, from seamless integration with existing systems to real-time data access. In addition, the benefits speak for themselves. Enhanced efficiency, reduced errors, and secured data accessible on the go are just a few of the perks that come with adopting QR-driven solutions.

    Overcoming challenges and implementation of best practices

    Common Challenges

    There is a lack of awareness about the benefits of cloud-based systems over on-premise systems, which incur a high cost and are difficult to manage, maintain, and upgrade.

    Best Practices

    To ensure a smooth transition and maximize the benefits of QR-driven SaaS, enterprises should focus on clear communication, stakeholder engagement, regular feedback loops, and training programs. By prioritizing user experience and providing ongoing support, organizations can optimize the implementation process and drive long-term success.

    The Indian software as a service (SaaS) market is estimated to grow from $13 billion in 2022 to $25 billion by 2025, $35 billion by 2027, and $50 billion by 2030, as per a report by venture capital firm Bessemer Venture Partners (BVP). Finally, the incorporation of QR-driven horizontal SaaS solutions is in a position to push competence, production, and modernization across different segments of the Indian and Global business ecosystems. By leveraging the ability of QR codes in SaaS applications, ventures can enhance processes, heighten collaboration, and stay ahead in a progressively competitive market. As corporations persist in embracing digital transformation, the perspective of QR-driven solutions in India stays positive, presenting promising opportunities for progress and advancement in the ever-evolving business landscape.

    The article has been authored by Qudify co-founder and chief business officer  Akshat Tripathi.

  • AddUp Networks & NikolEV wins Zypp Electric’s EVolve challenge season 2

    AddUp Networks & NikolEV wins Zypp Electric’s EVolve challenge season 2

    Mumbai: Zypp Electric, a tech-enabled EV-as-a-Service platform, recently completed its EVolve Challenge season 2 aimed to support innovation-driven startups in the EV industry with minds working to shape a sustainable future. The winners, AddUp Network and NikolEV will receive a cash prize of Rs 10 lakh and orders worth up to Rs 2 crore from Zypp Electric along with incubation & funding support.

    This year’s challenge attracted an impressive array of startups, all passionate about creating a sustainable future and revolutionizing the EV industry. After a rigorous evaluation, two exceptional startups, AddUp Network and NikolEV, were declared winners.

    AddUp Network is a SaaS-based logistics startup that aims to democratize the supply chain for SMBs and enable their growth through technology-driven logistics excellence and innovation.

    AddUpNetwork director and founder Abhishek Prabhuda said, “Participating in the evolving challenge was a thought-provoking activity, with an experienced jury asking us intriguing questions. It made us rethink several aspects of our business model like the target market, and the ability to price and collect, which have now become the key pillars for AddUp Networks. The journey for AddUp so far has been an exhilarating roller coaster. We have been able to serve some of the big clients as well as the SMEs, and we continue to learn as well as evolve with them.

    Our growth vision with Zypp Electric remains extremely exciting with the combination of a SaaS-based tech stack combined with the EVaaS operating model. It brings synergies like hyperlocal and e-commerce deliveries as well as new delivery methods like same-day and slotted delivery to the fore.” he added.

    The second winner, NIKOL EV, is building India’s largest operational EV charging infrastructure with their self-developed and designed chargers. They have set up EV charging stations that provide uptime of 98 per cent against an industry average of 60 per cent.

    NikolEV director and founder Arjun D Pawar said, “We are very happy to receive this accolade in the EVolve Innovation Challenge Season 2. We have been working tirelessly for the last 2.5 years towards shaping a sustainable future in the electric vehicle charging infrastructure landscape.

    We are excited about the possibilities ahead between Nikol EV and Zypp Electric in shaping the future of clean mobility in India. Thanks to the whole Zypp team for providing a platform that propels the vision of startups like us.”

    Zypp Electric co-founder & CEO Akash Gupta said, “With Evolve Innovation Challenge Season 2, we are reaffirming our commitment to foster innovation in the Indian EV industry. The first season of the EVolve Innovation Challenge, which was launched last year, saw participation from over 100 startups. Out of these, 4 i.e. Mechanify, Flo, TSAW & Mastiebikes were selected for funding and mentorship. This year, the challenge aimed to support even more participants and help them bring their innovative solutions to the market. We have our winners for this year, and I congratulate them for their efforts in working on innovative solutions to drive the adoption of electric vehicles and supply chains in the country. They are working diligently and we’re their growth partners to achieve their mission.”

    The success of the previous season’s winners, including Flo Mobility, TSAW Drones, Mechanify, and Mastiebikes, highlights the tremendous impact of the EVolve Innovation Challenge. TSAW Drones, which specializes in drone deliveries for logistics, agriculture, and surveillance, praised the program’s support and mentorship.

  • WebEngage onboards three new strategic hires

    WebEngage onboards three new strategic hires

    Mumbai: B2B Saas company and a leading full-stack retention operating system, WebEngage, has announced the onboarding of three strategic hires to help the company catapult into its next phase of growth. Hetarth Patel comes in as vice president – MENA & managing director – UAE; Shreya Trivedi joins as WebEngage’s first-ever chief of staff, and Apurva Chawla has been roped in as associate director – product led growth in India.

    Having recently started operations across Indonesia, the company has also announced that it has opened up more than 100 positions across departments and geographies.

    MENA region is the second-largest market for WebEngage and Patel will helm the company’s growth vision in the Middle East & North Africa region by harnessing its award-winning CDP-powered marketing automation platform and building on its commendable track record in the region.

    With a distinguished career spanning about a decade, Trivedi, will play an instrumental role in supporting the founders and executive body in achieving strategic goals. Her job will also involve enabling the scale-up of the business and optimizing productivity across the teams. She will help keep every employee glued to the mothership and its mission.

    Chawla will be responsible for a zero-to-one journey for brands that hold the potential for generating new revenue streams for WebEngage. He will enable the process of making integration, onboarding, and adoption easier for clients by standardising events, metrics, and campaigns.

    Commenting on the announcement, WebEngage CEO & co-founder Avlesh Singh said, “As we continue to ride the wave of success, Patel, Trivedi and Chawla’s appointments come at a very opportune time. WebEngage is on a mission to revolutionize retention marketing through a full-stack solution, by enabling brands to maximize the utility of data and meaningfully engage customers. The appointment of these leaders will help us with this mission and fuel the company’s growth ambitions.”

    “As a philosophy, we have always maintained discipline in our growth and kept an eye on the long haul. This is the reason why WebEngage is considered one of the most enduring companies within the B2B SaaS ecosystem. In our 11 years journey, the company has never laid off a single employee and we will never have to do so in the future. In fact, we are looking to hire more than 100 folks for over 30 open positions currently across multiple locations in India, UAE and Indonesia. The ride has just begun and we have the tickets to the front row seats for anyone who wants to join our journey of simplifying retention for the world.” he added.

    For the record, WebEngage has been growing 100 per cent YoY and intends to maintain the momentum. It has also picked up $20 million in funding this August. WebEngage has showcased unusual frugality and resilience in an 11-year journey filled with ups and downs, burning only six million dollars in capital to reach a $20 million annual revenue run rate, an enviable position to be in. Peers in SaaS spend about 3 – 5x more to get to the same scale. The company works with 600+ clients, including new-economy and internet-first businesses, and propels the digital transformation journey for enterprise clients.