Tag: Samsung

  • BigCity goes Down Under to play the loyalty game in Australia

    BigCity goes Down Under to play the loyalty game in Australia

    MUMBAI: When it comes to loyalty, BigCity just levelled up this time, all the way Down Under. BigCity Promotions, one of India’s most awarded sales promotion and loyalty agencies, has announced its entry into Australia with the launch of a new office in Sydney, marking its first international expansion in nearly two decades. The move signals the company’s ambition to replicate its India success across the Australia–New Zealand (ANZ) region, a market ripe for disruption in the loyalty and engagement space.

    Founded in 2006, BigCity has become something of a legend in India’s reward ecosystem known for turning mundane promotions into high-voltage brand experiences. With 8,000 plus programs executed for over 500 global brands, including Pepsico, Unilever, Mondelez, Coca-cola, Samsung, and Amazon, the agency has earned a reputation for blending creativity, technology, and measurable impact.

    From B2C reward programs to B2B loyalty solutions and gamification-led engagement, BigCity has redefined how brands connect with consumers and trade partners alike. Its proprietary plug-and-play platform lets brands launch campaigns within days offering faster time-to-market, reduced costs, and full creative flexibility. Built on an in-house technology and analytics stack, it also enables deep insight into consumer engagement, redemptions, and ROI, giving marketers the holy grail of modern marketing measurable loyalty.

    The Sydney office will serve as BigCity’s regional hub for Australia and New Zealand, extending its full-service suite to local and global brands in the region. The operations will be spearheaded by Gunjan Kumar country director, who brings over 27 years of global experience across telecom, banking, retail, and FMCG. Having driven client engagement and loyalty strategies across continents, Kumar is tasked with building the BigCity playbook for the ANZ market, one that blends local insight with the brand’s signature executional agility.

    “Australia is a market ripe for transformation, and our goal is to bring the same scale, creativity, and speed that have powered some of India’s biggest campaigns to brands here,” said BigCity Promotions co-founder Vikas Shah. “For nearly two decades, BigCity has redefined how brands engage through innovation, technology, and storytelling this expansion is a natural next step in that journey.”

    BigCity’s forte lies in its ability to gamify engagement, transforming passive audiences into active participants. Its campaigns often feature instant-win mechanics, leaderboards, challenges, and digital contests, all designed to boost brand love and repeat purchase intent. This gamified approach has proven especially potent in cluttered categories like FMCG and telecom, where attention spans are short but loyalty can be won with the right mix of fun and function.

    The expansion also comes at a time when the ANZ market is seeing brands look beyond conventional loyalty cards and cashback models. With digital-first consumers demanding more personalised, experiential rewards, BigCity’s data-driven, experience-centric approach may find fertile ground.

    In India, the company has long been the behind-the-scenes architect of some of the country’s most memorable campaigns, the kind that combine large-scale activation, complex fulfilment, and regulatory precision without ever losing the element of play. It’s this operational mastery that BigCity now hopes to bring to Sydney’s brandscape.

    As the company steps onto foreign shores, the move underscores how homegrown Indian marketing innovation is beginning to travel the world not as an imitator, but as an industry leader exporting expertise. For BigCity, the next game has just begun. And this time, it’s on a whole new continent.

     

  • HMD promotes Abhishek Ranjan to CMO for India, APAC

    HMD promotes Abhishek Ranjan to CMO for India, APAC

    MUMBAI: HMD is ringing in a new chapter of marketing leadership with the elevation of Abhishek Ranjan to chief marketing officer for India and the APAC region.

    A seasoned brand strategist with over 17 years of experience, Abhishek has helped shape the narrative for some of the biggest names in tech, including Samsung, Micromax, Logitech, Philips Mobiles, Celkon, and Tecno Mobile India.

    Since joining HMD in 2022 as head of brand marketing, he has played a pivotal role in transforming the brand’s identity, leading product campaigns, and spearheading launches that have resonated strongly with Gen Z and millennial consumers. His work on unveiling HMD as an independent phone brand and introducing innovative products like Crest and Fusion has further cemented his reputation as a creative powerhouse.

    In his new role, Abhishek will lead marketing, communications, and brand strategy across India and APAC. His focus will be on innovation-led growth, digital-first engagement, and strengthening HMD’s human-centric promise in an increasingly connected world.

    With his track record of marrying creativity and strategy, Abhishek’s promotion signals HMD’s intent to build a future-ready brand that speaks to the new-age consumer, one innovation at a time.

  • Saksham Kohli hops over to FCB India as president of new venture

    Saksham Kohli hops over to FCB India as president of new venture

    GURGAON: Saksham Kohli has landed at FCB India as president of FCB NEO, marking the end of a nearly seven-year stint at Cheil Worldwide where he shepherded Samsung’s flagship mobile campaigns.

    The move, announced this month, sees Kohli swapping his associate vice-president perch at Cheil—where he orchestrated integrated campaigns for Samsung’s mobile portfolio and ecosystem products—for the top job at FCB’s new venture.

    At Cheil since 2019, Kohli climbed from director of client services to associate vice-president, spending his final months managing full-funnel marketing strategies that blended creative, digital and media. Before that, he put in three years at Ogilvy, steering brands including Perfetti Van Melle, Pernod Ricard India, BMW Mini and Dupont through 40-odd large-scale integrated campaigns.

    His advertising pedigree includes a two-and-a-half-year spell at FCB Global (2013-2016) handling Whirlpool’s India operations, plus stints at McCann on Aircel, Ogilvy & Mather on KFC India, Publicis on Beam Global Spirits & Wine, and BBDO India on Wrigley’s and Hewlett Packard.

    Kohli’s pitch: marketing that starts with understanding people and ends with measurable impact. Whether FCB Neo delivers on that promise remains to be seen—but with a Samsung-sized portfolio under his belt, he’s certainly had the practice.

  • Big Blue Marble launches managed TV-as-a-service for global operators

    Big Blue Marble launches managed TV-as-a-service for global operators

    MUMBAI: Big Blue Marble, the international media technology brand formed by Austria’s ORS group and video streaming experts Insys VT, has unveiled a new managed end-to-end TV-as-a-service platform designed for cable operators and OTT service providers worldwide.

    The platform is built to empower Tier 2 and Tier 3 operators with a ready-to-deploy, multi-tenant service model that allows customisation to reflect each operator’s brand and offering, while delivering a seamless and modern entertainment experience to viewers.

    At the core of the platform lies the 3ready Framework from 3 Screen Solutions (3SS), which powers the viewer-centric Android TV custom launcher and applications for Android TV, Samsung, and LG Smart TV platforms. Meanwhile, SEI Robotics provides the hardware foundation with its cost-effective Android TV-based set-top boxes (STBs).

    “We are so excited to launch our new TV-as-a-Service platform and empower more and more service providers to take their TV service businesses to the next level,” said Big Blue Marble Group chief customer officer Thomas Langsenlehner.

    The newly introduced Android TV STB from SEI Robotics is designed for reliability and essential functionality, featuring an Amlogic 5th generation Soc, 3gb RAM, and 16gb flash storage. Together, these components enable a smooth, high-performance viewing experience.

    The platform’s comprehensive configuration capabilities allow service providers to tailor the user interface and functionality to their brand. Smaller operators can benefit from economies of scale while gaining access to proven technology across both hardware and software. Subscribers, in turn, can expect intuitive navigation, rich content discovery, and consistent streaming performance.

    The collaboration also marks a continuation of Big Blue Marble’s partnership with 3SS, which began five years ago. “We’re extremely proud that Big Blue Marble continues to trust the 3SS team to help deliver superior OTT entertainment to operators all around the globe,” said 3SS managing director Kai-Christian Borchers.

    Adding to that, SEI Robotics CEO Jeff Yin, commented, “Both regional and local operators are now gaining a powerful opportunity to differentiate and provide their service providers with advanced and proven set-top box technology that enhances first-rate entertainment experiences.”

    With this new venture, Big Blue Marble is positioning itself as a global enabler for next-generation television services, combining the strengths of content, technology, and innovation into a single, managed ecosystem.

     

  • Pvr Inox serves up India’s first luxury dine-in cinema in Bengaluru

    Pvr Inox serves up India’s first luxury dine-in cinema in Bengaluru

    MUMBAI: Lights, camera… appetiser! PVR Inox is giving Bengaluru’s cinema-goers a taste of something extraordinary with the launch of India’s first-ever luxury dine-in cinema at M5 Ecity Mall, where silver screens meet silver service.

    Fresh off opening its new eight screen multiplex at the mall, Pvr Inox is now transforming the movie experience into a full-fledged culinary and lifestyle destination. The new dine-in format lets guests enjoy gourmet, chef-curated meals in the comfort of their cinema seats, no stepping out, and remarkably, no movie ticket required to dine.

    The concept redefines what a night at the movies means. From Crosta’s artisanal pizzas and Wokstar’s sizzling Asian comfort food to Dogfather’s inventive hot dogs and Local Street’s regional delicacies, every dish is designed to elevate the cinematic journey. Add to that café corners, indulgent desserts, and lounge-style foyers and the venue doubles as a social space for foodies and film buffs alike.

    At the heart of this venture lies “youthification”, Pvr Inox’s futuristic approach to entertainment. The space integrates gaming zones, kids-first formats, and digital lounges, alongside its luxury auditoriums, appealing to young, experience-hungry audiences. “This is not just about watching films, it’s about spending time well,” said Pvr Inox lead specialist – innovation, film marketing & digital programming Aamer Bijli.

    Echoing the sentiment, Pvr Inox Limited  managing director Ajay Bijli added, “With M5 Ecity Mall, we’re inviting audiences to experience cinema in an entirely new way. From India’s first dine-in auditorium to immersive technology and curated food, it’s a celebration of films, lifestyle, and shared moments.”

    The tech is as grand as the gastronomy. Every auditorium boasts Dolby Atmos, Dts:x, and 4k Laser projection, with the Big Pix theatre offering Reald 3D visuals, and the Samsung Onyx Led screen taking in-seat dining to dazzling new heights.

  • Samsung and Publica fast-forward their FAST alliance

    Samsung and Publica fast-forward their FAST alliance

    MUMBAI: Now that’s what you call prime-time chemistry. Samsung Ads and Publica by IAS have renewed their multi-year global partnership, promising to make connected TV (CTV) ad breaks as smooth as the shows themselves.

    Announced in New Delhi on 1 October, the deal sees Samsung Ads lean on Publica’s award-winning ad server and unified auction tech to boost revenue while keeping viewers glued to seamless, TV-like ad experiences.

    Samsung TV Plus, the company’s free ad-supported streaming service, already beams out more than 3,500 channels worldwide, more than any other major FAST (Free Ad-Supported TV) platform, and reaches a staggering 88 million monthly users. With Publica’s technology under the hood, Samsung Ads aims to give brands precision targeting and advertisers first dibs on prime ad slots, without compromising on the viewer experience.

    “Publica’s platform has helped us become the industry’s leading FAST service,” said Samsung Ads head of channel sales Joe Melaragno. “This next phase deepens our ability to deliver more high-quality content while maximising value for advertisers.”

    Publica CRO Cameron Miille added, “Our solutions ensure Samsung Ads can curate exceptional CTV ad breaks as their audience continues to grow.”

    From pod exclusivity to smarter auctions, the partnership is designed to make ads feel less like interruptions and more like part of the show, a win for both brands and binge-watchers.

  • Drawer to dollar Cashify unlocks India’s 219.7 billion dollar resale boom

    Drawer to dollar Cashify unlocks India’s 219.7 billion dollar resale boom

    MUMBAI: Phones that gather dust in drawers may soon gather dollars instead. With the refurbished smartphone market pegged to hit a staggering 219.7 billion dollars by 2033, India is powering up to become the world’s recycling and recommerce hub and Cashify’s Great Indian Upgrade 2025 whitepaper shows just how big this reboot really is.

    Drawing insights from 10,000 survey respondents, proprietary marketplace data, and reports from IDC, Counterpoint and Canalys, the study maps how resale culture has shifted from hush-hush grey channels to an increasingly mainstream movement. Yet, the so-called “Drawer Economy” remains a colossal untapped treasure chest 70 per cent of Indians admit to hoarding two to three unused phones at home, signalling billions of rupees in locked-up value.

    The shift in behaviour is undeniable: 33 per cent of consumers now sell old phones to fund upgrades, 40 per cent are lured by competitive buyback offers, and 63 per cent dispose of devices within six months of upgrading. But the grey market still dominates, with 77 per cent of resale happening informally, Cashify argues this highlights the urgent need for trusted, transparent platforms.

    India shipped 151 million smartphones in 2024, up 4 per cent year-on-year, with the average selling price climbing to Rs 22,100. While Apple’s shipments surged 35 per cent, making India its fourth-largest global market, the brand also dominates resale: it commanded 64.5 per cent of refurbished sales in 2024 and 62.9 per cent in the first half of 2025. Three in five refurbished buyers picked Iphones driven by steady demand for the iPhone 14 Pro, iPhone 13 Pro Max and iPhone 12 Pro in the premium Rs 60,000-plus bracket, which itself grew 33 per cent YoY.

    Following Apple are Oneplus (10.2 per cent), Xiaomi (9.7 per cent), Samsung (6.1 per cent) and Vivo, which is showing the fastest growth, rising from 2.1 per cent in 2024 to 3.2 per cent in H1 2025. Oppo and Realme follow at 2.4 per cent and 1.9 per cent respectively.

    While Delhi, Bangalore and Mumbai remain the epicentres of trade-ins and refurbished sales, tier-2 and tier-3 cities are catching up fast, signalling that circular tech culture is spreading beyond metros.

    Cashify has also unveiled India’s first Repairability Index, ranking brands on spare-part availability and repair scores addressing one of the biggest barriers to longer device lifecycles. A solid 57.9 per cent of consumers say they prefer repair over replacement, though cost (53.2 per cent) and part shortages remain major hurdles.

    Backing this push is Cashify’s “repair-first, recycle-always” ecosystem, powered by 200 plus physical stores, a 10,000 plus retailer network, and an AI-driven 80,000 sq. ft. refurbishment facility.

    Awareness is on the rise: 76 per cent of respondents could correctly define “refurbished” as “like new tested and repaired by experts.” Of all refurbished buyers, 60 per cent chose Apple, with purchasing patterns shifting upwards: 32.4 per cent spent Rs 21,000–35,000, while 17.1 per cent spent over Rs 50,000. The top drivers? “Like new at lower cost” (50.8 per cent), “budget fit” (32.4 per cent) and sustainability (8 per cent).

    What builds trust? A 12-month warranty tops the list (52.5 per cent), followed by detailed device reports (16.9 per cent) and “try before you buy” options (16.9 per cent).

    “India’s 219B dollars resale revolution isn’t just a market opportunity, it’s a chance to redefine how technology is consumed,” said Cashify co-founder & CEO Mandeep Manocha. “Our findings clearly show consumers are embracing resale, yet the untapped ‘Drawer Economy’ highlights the urgent need for trusted platforms.”

    Cashify co-founder & CMO Nakul Kumar added: “For too long, old phones have been treated as clutter rather than capital. India’s upgrade culture is shifting from impulsive consumption to mindful circulation. Repairability is key when fixing devices becomes easier, sustainability becomes everyday action.”

    The whitepaper also calls for supportive policy frameworks, from easing customs on refurbished imports to tax incentives for sustainable recycling and digital traceability for e-waste.

    As India transitions from hoarding to habit, Cashify’s data-rich report positions recommerce not just as a market disruptor but as a mainstream economic force, one that puts forgotten phones back in play, turns drawers into goldmines, and powers India’s leap towards a greener digital future.

  • Fast and festive: Instamart’s quick India sale delivers deals in minutes

    Fast and festive: Instamart’s quick India sale delivers deals in minutes

    MUMBAI: No time like the present, especially when the present arrives in 10 minutes. Instamart has kicked off its ‘Ouick India movement 2025,’ promising shoppers lightning-fast festive deals with savings of up to 90 percent.

    http://quickindiamovement.in

    Running from 19 to 28 September on the Swiggy and Instamart apps, the sale is packing in over 50,000 products: from iphones and smart speakers to Barbie dolls and beauty essentials, all dropped at your doorstep in minutes.

    Tech lovers can score blockbuster discounts on top smartphones like the iphone 17, Oneplus, Samsung, OPPO and Motorola, alongside hot gadgets such as the Lenovo ideapad slim 3, JBL flip 5 speakers and Philips smart home must-haves. Beauty buffs, meanwhile, can nab a Plum green tea face wash for just Rs 99, while toy fans get their pick of LEGO and Barbie.

    Adding a playful twist, shoppers voted for their favourite deals to appear during the daily golden hour (5–7 pm), unlocking crowd-pleasers such as the Oneplus 13r at Rs 38,999, Hammer airflow earbuds at Rs 349 and a 20-piece Cello opalware dinner set at Rs 799. Hourly price drops promise even more surprises.

    Instamart, CEO, Amitesh Jha called it “the country’s mega-festive season sale delivering thousands of products at unbeatable value and speed… no more waiting days for your orders to arrive.”

    On top of jaw-dropping deals, banks and wallets are sweetening the pot with instant discounts and cashback offers, including 10 percent off with Axis, ICICI, RBL and HSBC cards, plus extra rewards for Swiggy HDFC credit card and Phonepe UPI users.

    Backed by leading brands such as boat, Philips, Pampers and Nestasia, Instamart’s quick India movement is shaping up as the fastest way to tick off every festive wish list. Because why wait for tomorrow’s deals, when today’s can be at your door in ten minutes flat?
     

  • Publicis brings Ravi Bhaya home to script client-first transformation

    Publicis brings Ravi Bhaya home to script client-first transformation

    MUMBAI: Talk about a full-circle moment, Ravi Bhaya is back at Publicis, this time to steer the ship as chief client officer at Publicis Media India. Based in Mumbai and reporting to Lalatendu Das, CEO of Publicis Media South Asia, Bhaya’s brief is crystal clear: transform client partnerships with a mix of data, AI and creativity that sets the group apart in what it calls a “Category of One.”

    It’s a homecoming for Bhaya, who spent over two decades shaping global media strategies across India, Germany, South Africa, Indonesia, Vietnam, Singapore and North America. His CV reads like a travelogue of transformation leading mandates for marquee brands including P&G, Samsung, Coca-Cola, BMW and Mondelez, expanding agency capabilities in new markets, and driving growth strategies rooted in performance-led marketing.

    Bhaya also dabbled in the startup world, co-founding Rsquared Global Ventures (R2GV) to advise Martech, Adtech, data and commerce ventures on scaling strategies, while working closely with VCs to spot high-growth bets in emerging tech. Before that, as managing director for global growth at Munich-based Serviceplan Group, he was instrumental in driving alliances, partnerships and international expansion.

    His return to Publicis signals a sharper client-first agenda. With Starcom, Zenith and Performics under his wing, Bhaya is tasked with deepening partnerships and pushing integrated, future-ready solutions in India’s rapidly shifting media landscape. For Publicis Groupe, which has doubled down on data-led and AI-powered offerings, the appointment underscores its ambition to blend global expertise with local impact.

    Or as Bhaya himself put it, coming back feels both “familiar and fresh” rooted in trust, fuelled by renewed ambition, and very much tuned to what’s next for clients in an industry where data, creativity and AI are increasingly inseparable.

  • Wipro strikes the right chord with Harman DTS acquisition for AI-led growth

    Wipro strikes the right chord with Harman DTS acquisition for AI-led growth

    MUMBAI: When a tech giant meets a sound maestro, sparks fly louder than music. Wipro Limited has signed an agreement to acquire the Digital Transformation Solutions (DTS) business unit of Harman, a Samsung company, in a move that turbocharges its AI-powered engineering and consulting ambitions. The deal, expected to close by 31 December 2025 subject to regulatory nods, will see more than 5,600 DTS employees including senior leaders across the Americas, Europe and Asia, join Wipro’s ranks. The acquisition adds not just people, but precision: DTS specialises in domain-led design, connected products, software platforms, and AI-native accelerators, making it a prized catch for Wipro’s engineering global business line.

    “This marks a pivotal step in Wipro’s transformation journey,” said Wipro CEO and MD Srini Pallia highlighting how the deal blends DTS’ high-touch digital engineering with Wipro’s global consulting-led, AI-powered muscle. The aim? To accelerate digital innovation, cut time-to-market, and sharpen competitive edge for clients.

    For Wipro managing partner & global head of engineering Srikumar Rao,  the move strengthens the company’s software-defined, platform-centric approach, allowing it to deliver large-scale transformation across high-growth sectors like hi-tech, consumer, industrial, healthcare, and aerospace.

    From Harman’s side, the transition was framed as a springboard. “As part of Wipro, DTS will have the complementary capabilities and scale to expand its impact,” said Harman CEO Christian Sobottka while Harman chief strategy officer Carolin Reichert, noted the move frees Harman to double down on its automotive electronics and audio innovation.

    Crucially, the acquisition comes with a multi-year strategic agreement with Harman and Samsung, opening doors for joint growth and tighter collaboration in AI-first technologies.

    Advised by Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., the transaction tunes perfectly into Wipro’s larger symphony: uniting virtual and physical worlds, embedding AI across engineering, and orchestrating innovation that resonates across industries.

    With DTS set to integrate into Wipro’s engineering arm post-acquisition, the tech giant may well have composed its boldest note yet in the race for digital transformation.