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Tag: Survey

  • Consumers subscribe to TV channels in bouquets rather than paying for individual channels: Study

    Consumers subscribe to TV channels in bouquets rather than paying for individual channels: Study

    Mumbai: There are gaps in the effective exercise of consumer choice in TV channel selection, according to a study on the TV consumer market, released on Wednesday.

    The key findings of the report suggest that most consumers avail TV channels via bouquets or packages and rely on distributors’ basic packages to make their choice. Based on the findings, the report states that the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) could review the charges for Network Capacity Fee (NCF), which is a flat fee, and instead consider a Network Access Fee (NAF), which is charged on a per-channel basis.

    The nationwide survey of over 10,000 TV consumers was commissioned by Consumer Unity and Trust Society (CUTS) and Broadband India Forum (BIF) in the months of April and May 2022. The study evaluated consumers’ perception of TV channel selection and overall satisfaction.

    This is a first-of-its-kind evidence-based study conducted in India which captures the consumers’ perspective and level of satisfaction regarding TV viewership.

    TV consumers prefer bouquets/packages

    The study found that 54 per cent of consumers surveyed buy TV channels via bouquets or packages, and 35 per cent do so via a combination of bouquets and individual channels. With an effective total of 89 per cent of consumers surveyed preferring bouquets, the survey highlighted that it was the preferred choice of channel selection.

    According to 70 per cent of survey respondents, television provides good value for money, compared to only 27 per cent for digital/OTT platforms and only three per cent for TV apps.

    Most consumers factor in the price of a TV package when selecting a TV subscription, and a majority subscribe to the distributors’ basic package, which includes between 100 and 200 channels. The survey found that consumers typically pay between Rs 200 and Rs 400 for their subscriptions.

    40 per cent of survey respondents felt that their TV subscriptions catered to the viewing needs of the entire family. However, consumers felt that there was room for levels of satisfaction to grow, as they may want to watch new channels that they think they may like, highlighted the study.

    Quality of Service (QoS) found wanting

    The study pointed out that a majority of consumers, 75 per cent, were unaware of Trai’s channel selector app, launched in June 2020. Only 31 per cent were aware that they could add/remove TV channels from their subscription packages, 51 per cent were hesitant to add/remove channels themselves, and only 43 per cent of those who eventually added TV channels found the process convenient.

    The majority of consumers, 60 per cent, relied on manual channel addition and removal & required direct intervention from distribution, it found.

    In 2017, Trai issued quality of service (QoS) regulations requiring itemised billing, quick and convenient grievance redressal, and assistance with customer premises equipment.

    The study found that one in five consumers believes there has been a decline in grievance redressal, assistance with set-top-boxes (STBs), freedom to choose which channels to watch, and an increase in the number of advertisements.

    Furthermore, three out of every four customers claim to have never received an itemised bill. All of these are required by the current regulatory framework, and non-compliance with this framework is reflected in insufficient enforcement at the last mile of distribution, it said.

    Empower last mile service providers

    As per the conclusions of the study, the mismatch between consumer preferences and channel subscriptions could be reduced if more efforts are made to raise consumer awareness, e.g., capacity building through regional consumer cells, and if consumers have more say in deciding their bouquets.

    The study suggested that the charges for Network Capacity Fee (NCF) could be reviewed to ensure that subscriptions reflect consumer choice. Alternatively, a per-channel Network Access Fee (NAF) could be considered instead of a flat NCF charge.

    “Distributors could be incentivised to assist customers by providing appropriate channels and bouquets of their choice using this method,” said the statement.

    The regulator could also assist credible consumer organisations in raising awareness, developing capacity and acting as watchdogs for QoS compliance, channel selection availability, quality of content, viewing experience and quality of service.

    Last-mile service providers/distribution platform operators continue to be the primary point of contact for TV subscriptions, and it is crucial that QoS requirements and transparency mandates are accomplished.

    CUTS International secretary general Pradeep S. Mehta said, “The major findings indicate that there are gaps in the effective exercise of consumer choice as well as channel selection. Efforts to enhance consumer awareness around their rights as well as methods of channel selection are imperative. However, any further regulatory intervention should follow a detailed cost-benefit analysis.”

    Broadband India Forum president T.V. Ramachandran said, “The study assumes great significance and relevance, especially in the present times, when the general notion is that digital media and content are impacting the popularity of legacy and linear TV. The report indicates possible areas for regulatory and policy focus to help in the overall improvement of quality of services and consumer satisfaction.”

  • Online advertisements influence 55% of health insurance buyers: WATPapers

    Online advertisements influence 55% of health insurance buyers: WATPapers

    Mumbai: Hybrid digital agency from Dentsu Creative India WATConsult has released its latest issue of monthly WATPapers titled ‘Consumer’s outlook towards health insurance.’ The report explores how the Covid-19 pandemic has transformed the consumer perception about insurance, as more individuals felt the need to have financial backup to meet unforeseen medical expenditures.

    According to the report, more than half of the respondents have purchased health insurance in the last six months. These policyholders belong to the age group of 25 to 35 years, residing in the top four metros as well as small metros.

    Most of them have purchased health insurance for themselves and their parents. With regard to the coverage duration, 32 per cent of the respondents have purchased health insurance for up to two years. 27 per cent of the respondents have opted for a health insurance plan for a year’s duration.

    For the record, in India, there are a plethora of benefits offered by health insurance policies. Most of the respondents say that their health insurance policy covers facilities like cashless treatment and maternity coverage followed by emergency room services, discounted treatment for COVID, and free health check-ups.

    The report further states that when it comes to purchasing health insurance policies online, the journey from assessing the need for a health insurance policy to purchasing one is very likely to start by watching policy reviews and videos online. This enables the consumer to get familiar with the brands and options available. They then visit the brand’s website or search for suitable policies on the internet. Post which, they are likely to compare websites and evaluate a suitable policy based on the benefits and features it offers.

    Commenting on the latest issue, Isobar India Group CEO Heeru Dingra said, “Since the pandemic, there has been an ever-growing demand for health covers because people have realised that huge medical expenses, especially when engulfed in uncertainty can take a toll on their financial and mental well-being. In such a situation relying on savings is not enough, hence, a health insurance policy is ideal as it covers facilities like cashless treatment, maternity coverage followed by emergency room services, discounted treatment, reimbursements, and free health check-ups. This issue of WATPapers is a must-read as it showcases the trends observed in the sale of health insurance plans and how policyholders today are shielding themselves against medical emergencies.”  

    WATConsult managing partner Sahil Shah added, “The pandemic has disrupted the industry by altering how people view health insurance for themselves, and their family members. This period of an extreme health crisis, with the pandemic looming over, has led more and more people to opt for health insurance. The future looks promising for the health insurance sector with changes in the regulatory framework, which will lead to changes in the industry conducting its business. Factors such as growing awareness, the need for health protection and inclusion in the financial planning of an individual, will drive the growth of the Indian health insurance sector even higher and further.”

  • 71% of IPL viewers get influenced by ads with Bollywood celebs: iCubesWire survey

    71% of IPL viewers get influenced by ads with Bollywood celebs: iCubesWire survey

    Mumbai: With Indian Premier League (IPL) fever spreading across India and marketers promoting the event as one of the biggest advertising ecosystem in the country, a whopping 71 per cent of the respondents surveyed said their buying decisions get influenced if there is a Bollywood celebrity in streaming ads. Digital marketing agency iCubesWire conducted a IPL marketing and advertising survey among 1,000 respondents from mid-March to mid-April.

    The survey further indicates that a significant 74 per cent of the respondents agreed that their buying decisions from IPL streaming ads get influenced by such ads that are targeted towards children or liked by younger age segment.

    “IPL is one of the biggest sporting event on the planet and lot of advertising money is spent on its broadcasting by brands to reach out to their target group,” iCubesWire CEO Sahil Chopra. “This survey has clearly indicated that brands are still banking on Bollywood celebrities to deliver their message to end users, a trend which we believe will continue to stay with many OTT celebrities also joining the fray.”

    As the country in the last few years has also been witnessing a major push towards getting back to Indian roots, 73 per cent of the respondents said they prefer watching ads that show Indian culture or legacy.

    Not surprisingly, Covid-19 pandemic has changed the way we buy products and services with healthcare becoming the top concern for everyone. The healthcare sector including health insurance advertisements during IPL streaming has led to 78 per cent of the surveyed respondents to invest on their physical fitness and health.

    Other key findings are:

    ·  IPL survey says that 80 per cent of fans enjoy interaction over chat apps during live streaming.

    ·  Nearly 64 per cent people of the poll takers like to watch IPL matches on TV. On the other hand, 32 per cent of the people like to watch IPL matches on their mobile phones, a number that has been consistently growing over the last few years.

    ·  In terms of language, respondents preferred to watch ads in both English and Hindi equally at 47 per cent.

    ·  Fantasy cricket leagues have been gaining traction as one of the leading advertisers on IPL, and 69 per cent of the respondents agreed that they participate in such gaming leagues.

    ·  As fast internet has reached to almost all corners of India, 80 per cent of the respondents said they participate in community viewing virtually and chat with friends and relatives on the streaming apps.

  • 26% of people surf internet while watching TV: Axis My India Survey

    26% of people surf internet while watching TV: Axis My India Survey

    Mumbai: At least 26 per cent of people surf the internet while watching Television, revealed Axis My India CSI Survey for February, thus opening deeper conversations on rising multi-screen user behaviour and scope of competitive advertising among different platforms.

    The survey covered as many as 10, 525 people across different states via Computer-Aided Telephonic Interviews. While 70 per cent of them belonged to Rural India while 30 per cent belonged to urban areas. In addition, 59 per cent of the respondents were male while 41 per cent of the respondents were female.

    According to the survey, consumption of media like TV, Internet, and Radio has also increased for 24 per cent of the families.

    Axis My India further assessed if advertisement influences consumer’s purchase decisions, and found that at least 41 per cent agreed that ads are stimulants and thereby drive purchases. This reflects the view of 18-35 year olds from the northern part of India. However, a majority of 57 per cent disagree on the same. 

    The latest monthly analysis of consumer perception also showed that spends on essentials like personal care & household items have increased for 43 per cent of the families showcasing a surge in the northern and southern part of India, however, this is also the lowest surge in the last five months. Spends however remain the same for 33 per cent of the families. Spends on non-essential & discretionary products like AC, Car, Refrigerator has also increased for 10 per cent of families, indicating an even lower percentage than the last five months.

    “The survey captures consumers’ apprehensions yet preparedness and confidence in the advent of Omicron. While essential, non-essential, and health-related increased expenditures witnessed a dip, consumers at the same time have expressed their confidence of not being financially impacted by the 3rd Wave,” said Axis My India CMD Pradeep Gupta, commenting on the February report.

    “Moreover, in our attempt to discover consumer information consumption habits, we witnessed a growing possibility of shared space competitiveness between TV and online for influencing ad-based purchase decisions. However online space unlike TV is an interactive platform and thereby possesses the challenges of ensuring the security and safety of data shared by consumers. Overall with the nation’s sentiments resuming back to slow and steady normalcy and more opportunities opening up within the media space, advertisers and marketers are in a sweet spot and should thereby leave no space untouched,” he added.

    Some of the other key findings of the consumer sentiment index survey are:

    ·89 per cent families reported going out the same for short vacations, malls and restaurants as compared to 85 per cent of families last month, which has been the highest percentage in the last five months.

    ·Consumption of health-related items more or less remains the same for 44 per cent of the families, while a surge is witnessed among 38 per cent of the families.

    ·With regards to financial and personal security, 41 per cent is apprehensive that the information shared online is not secure.

    ·Over 67 per cent believe that women are better as compared to men when it comes to financial/ investment management.

    ·A bulk of 48 per cent believe that the new variant of the virus – Omicron won’t impact their financial well-being.

    ·In a positive, 50 per cent of respondents engage in sports/exercise and other health-related activities to remain fit and healthy.

  • Digital is now second important source of brand awareness after TV: Axis My India survey

    Digital is now second important source of brand awareness after TV: Axis My India survey

    Mumbai: In a reflection of the changing media consumption habit and the surge both in digital consumption & advertising, 38 per cent of consumers shared that they have majorly seen ads on digital platforms in the latest Consumer Sentiment Index (CSI) survey by Axis My India. In terms of brand advertisement placements, 44 per cent said they had seen it on television, while only 11 per cent and seven per cent of the audience believe that they have seen ads on print or outdoor respectively. This digital growth is led by the 26-35 age group audience, as per the survey.

    Consumer data intelligence company Axis My India released its latest findings of the India CSI, a monthly analysis of consumer perception on a wide range of issues. The sentiment analysis delves into five relevant sub-indices – overall household spending, spending on essential and non-essential items, spending on healthcare, media consumption habits, and mobility trends. The surveys were carried out via computer-aided telephonic interviews with a sample size of 10430 people. 62 per cent belonged from Rural India while 38 per cent belonged from urban counterparts.

    Reflecting the view of the majority, the survey for the month of October reveals that media consumption remains the same for 48 per cent of the families while the same has increased by 25 per cent. In addition, a combined 82 per cent said that they had seen more ads on TV and digital platforms over others.

    Overall household spending has increased for 63 per cent of families which reflects a seven per cent increase from the last month. This increase is highest in Northern India.

    The increase in spending on essentials like personal care & household items stands at 50 per cent reflecting a surge by five per cent. The net score which was +20 last month has increased to +27 this month. The growth in rural India is slightly higher as compared to urban markets.

    Spending on non-essential & discretionary products like AC, car, refrigerator has increased for 18 per cent of families. For 73 per cent spends on non-essential purchases remain the same which reflects an uptick of three per cent from last month. The non-essentials November net score, therefore, lies at +9. The trend on spends on discretionary products reflects a fine balance between caution and indulgence.

    With more exposure to outside activities, the importance of health bounced back quickly. Consumption of health-related items increased for 47 per cent of families as compared to 44 per cent last month. The health score which has a negative connotation i.e. the lesser the spends on health items the better the sentiments, has a net score value of -27.

    Consumption of media remains the same for a majority of 48 per cent of families and increased for 25 per cent of the family, while mobility net score reflects a constant improvement over the last four months.

    88 per cent of families said that they are going out the same or more on getaways/staycations /malls/restaurants, with travel bans being lifted and double vaccination providing easier movement opportunities. The overall mobility score is at -4 which is an improvement over last month which was at -5. This reflects slow but consistent progress in people’s sentiments for engaging in out of home activities

    Gauging views around the Diwali festivities, Axis My India, further discovered that 36 per cent of the consumers are planning to go beyond small-ticket purchases this festive season. While 24 per cent are looking to spend on household or personal items like White Goods (AC, TV, Washing Machine, Refrigerator, etc.), furniture, electronics, and jewellery; Nine per cent are looking to buy a four-wheeler or a two-wheeler. Further from a purely sentimental outlook, 59 per cent of the consumers reflect the view of a more hopeful and cheerful Diwali this year!

    The November net CSI score, calculated by percentage increase minus percentage decrease in sentiment, was recorded at +9, up from +7 last month and rising at a constant pace over the last three months, indicative of a positive shift in consumer consumption metrics.

    “With the festivities at its peak, one can easily witness consumer’s excitement in terms of loosening their purse strings for varied expenses and experiences. While Diwali has triggered spending on products of personal indulgence (like 2-wheeler/4-wheelers or jewellery) and household items, the upcoming festivities and enthusiastic consumer sentiment will further set the momentum for the last half of this year,” said Axis My India CMD Pradeep Gupta, commenting on the October report.

    “In addition, one can also witness a transition in terms of preferences amongst consumers’ like opting for EVs or cheering for privatisation of loss-making companies. The growth of digital as a medium of advertising overtaking print & just after TV reflects the change in media consumption habits which was triggered by the pandemic. Lastly, our survey shows that a vast majority of India is still not investing in this age of cryptocurrencies, it would be interesting to see how financial players beyond traditional banks can capture and convert their interests for investments using varied instruments,” he added.

    This month, Axis My India’s Sentiment Index also delved deeper to understand consumers’ views on varied issues of national interest. These include privatisation of loss-making public-sector companies like that of Air India, views on economic recovery by 2022, alternatives to rising fuel prices, investment preferences, sentiments around Diwali, and on brand advertisement placements.

    While the long-awaited sale of Air India to the Tata group reflected a hopeful future for the airline. Axis My India further gauged consumer’s sentiment on whether or not the government should privatise other loss-making public sector companies. 46 per cent are in agreement with privatisation of such companies while 36 per cent disagreed with this view.

    When asked if economy/livelihood and business is expected to bounce back by January 2022, 41 per cent believe that the same is possible and Southern India being more optimistic with 54 per cent agreeing to this. With rising fuel prices being a concern, 48 per cent are optimistic about shifting to electric vehicles wherein 33 per cent and 15 per cent said that they will consider buying a 2-wheeler and 4-wheeler respectively in this segment. The younger age group of 18-35 have a more likelihood, with 53 per cent in agreement to an EV shift.

    Sharing their views on financial planning, a majority of 23 per cent still prefers to park their money in savings accounts, while a combined 12 per cent prefers to invest in fixed deposits, shares/stock market, and mutual funds. Gold is still seen as a reliable investment option for four per cent of the consumers. 40 per cent of the audience still don’t invest and interestingly two per cent still save their money in post offices.

  • OACT2021: The evolution of Connected TV in India

    OACT2021: The evolution of Connected TV in India

    Mumbai: The addressable connected TV (CTV) advertising universe is estimated at six to eight million, according to mediasmart, an Affle company, India and SEA, senior director- brand and strategy Nikhil Kumar.  The CTV evolution has arrived in India. Today, you can easily join the CTV ecosystem via a smart TV, dongle, gaming console, or connected set-top-box (STB).

    Kumar was addressing the ‘OTT Advertising and Connected TV Summit 2021’ organised by Indiantelevision.com on 7 October. The two-day event is co-powered by mediasmart, an Affle company and summit partner – The Q. Stakeholders across the industry engaged in insightful discussions on the dynamics of OTT and CTV advertising.

    The growth of CTV in India is driven by several factors. Chinese manufacturers have played a pivotal role by introducing low-cost smart TVs for as much as Rs 15,000. Low-cost dongles like Amazon Firestick and Google Chromecast are popular ways to access web content. Jio has led the adoption of connected STBs. These technologies have driven the penetration of the CTV market to a point where you don’t necessarily have to be from a metro or Tier-1 city to be a part of the CTV ecosystem. According to a report by Counterpoint Research, India’s smart TV market saw 65 per cent year-on-year growth in Q2 2021 due to increasing demand.

    Some may conflate over-the-top platforms with CTV but they are completely different ecosystems. While OTT can be seen as a subset of the CTV ecosystem, its journey began almost two decades back with Netflix. Certainly, a majority of the usage on CTV is driven by OTT viewing. A report indicates that 91 per cent of users watch movies on CTV, there is also a small but growing audience that is listening to music, playing games, and catching up on the news.

    “CTV is reaching an incremental base of evolved users who have come into the ecosystem to enjoy everything that the internet has to offer,” said Kumar, adding that the pandemic has played the role of a catalyst for CTV.

    “People confined at homes realised that linear TV was mundane because of repeated content and were looking at new ways to entertain themselves,” he added. It helped that India has the cheapest data costs in the world at $ 0.09 per Gb. A survey showed that 78 per cent of smart TV users were accessing the internet via direct apps instead of search and discovery platforms.

    Even though the base of CTV was nascent compared to other media, mediasmart was excited to tap into the opportunity. “We’ve always been a platform that’s believed in strong digital ownership of the consumer journey,” said Kumar.

    The company did not look at CTV in isolation. When it targeted a CTV household, it assumed that there were three to four members in the household who owned a smartphone. They developed a technology system called ‘Household Sync’ that maps the user journey on CTV and mobile.

    Marketers have always bifurcated between brand and performance, opined Kumar. “Here’s a technology that puts your brand advertising on the largest screen possible but also delivers middle and bottom-funnel conversions, so it takes you across the entire funnel. At mediasmart, we’ve always valued metrics such as cost per conversion and verticalisation approaches.”

    mediasmart’s solutions looked at delivering immediate action-oriented feedback to advertisers on the brand impact. Their platform allowed them to look at completion rates on TV followed by retargeting on mobile devices. It also let them measure click-through rates to analyse if the brand was reaching the last mile. “Ultimately, what every brand is concerned about is the bottom-funnel,” opined Kumar.

    The CTV market is growing in double-digits month-on-month that will lead to an increase in users, advertising penetration, and reach. In markets like the US, the share of video impressions on CTV is as high as the share of video impressions on mobile. While the US was never a major mobile market, unlike India, Kumar explains that the opportunity is still attractive because even though the base is small, the impact is large.

    He added, “There is a lot of headroom for CTV to grow in India. There is still a significant base of box TV users in India who may potentially migrate to low-cost smart TVs. Apart from cord-cutting, there is a whole new generation of ‘affluent cord nevers’ who are opting for CTV systems over DTH and cable connections.”

    (Source: India CTV Report 2021 by mediasmart, an Affle Company, VTION, and Interactive Avenues)

    For more information: https://indiantelevision.com/events/oact-summit-2021/

  • Commitment to sustainability adds value to a brand : BBC News study

    Commitment to sustainability adds value to a brand : BBC News study

    Mumbai: Demonstrating a commitment to sustainability adds value to a brand, according to two waves of surveys conducted by BBC Global News to understand how consumers in APAC and across the globe feel about sustainability.

    The survey focused on three industries – automotive, technology, and finance.

    It found that 81 per cent of respondents thought that demonstrating a commitment to sustainability adds value to a brand. 79 per cent surveyed agreed that sustainable practices and commitments are an important consideration when making purchase decisions. 68 per cent were happy to pay for more brands with strong sustainability and eco-friendly practices. 57 per cent said they would stop buying a product they were previously loyal to, if they discovered it was not committed to sustainability.

    For the 27 brands surveyed across the three industries, on average, half of all the consumers said they are not aware of the brand’s sustainability practices. Finance brands ranked the highest with 63 per cent of consumers being unaware of their sustainability practices.

    Consumers believe that it is important for all brands’ sustainability practices to involve research and education, according to the survey. 83 per cent of consumers believe that brands should invest in education about the importance of sustainability and 79 per cent agree that brands should be financing research for sustainable practices.

    The research showed that, for consumers across the region, brand trust is seen as the most important brand association, indexing particularly high in the automotive and technology sectors at 87 and 83 per cent, respectively, with finance scoring at 63 per cent.

    66 per cent of respondents said that interviews with an international news partner are the most influential way for consumers to learn about a brand’s CSR, followed by branded content within a premium environment at 39 per cent.

    “These results demonstrate the importance that consumers place on a brand’s sustainability credentials and show that they are willing to use their wallets to make their feelings known,” said BBC Global News’ senior vice president, commercial development, Alistair McEwan. “For brands to retain loyalty from their customers, they need to be absolutely clear about their commitment to taking action.  Those that fail to do so open themselves to criticism, so it is vital that brands shape their narrative and communicate their message in a transparent and authentic way and working with trusted storytellers like the BBC will enable that.”

  • A third of MSMEs enhance digital presence during lockdown

    A third of MSMEs enhance digital presence during lockdown

    NEW DELHI: Digital transformation by Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) has traditionally lagged behind the expected growth curve. As per Zinnov Consulting, out of the 75 Million MSMEs based in India, 16-18 million have a social media presence, an online listing or a website. Out of five million domain names registered in India, only half have a website behind them.

    Ahead of International MSME Day 2020, Endurance International Group (“EIG”), the parent company of web presence brands like HostGator, Bluehost, ResellerClub, BigRock undertook a survey with Indian MSMEs to understand their adoption of digital presence in response to challenges during Covid2019.

    According to the survey, approximately 30 percent of MSMEs started a business website or enabled e-commerce functionality since the lockdown started owing to the Covid2019 pandemic. More than 50 percent of MSMEs surveyed / embraced video conferencing tools and WhatsApp to keep business running during these turbulent times.

    The importance of digital mediums during this crisis has had a resurgence. Preference for using digital is now approximately ~1.9X more than traditional sales interactions. MSMEs in the educational services segment recorded the highest jump in the importance of using digital mediums.

    With lockdown measures in place, the MSMEs who were able to offer e-commerce functionality witnessed revenue contribution from e-commerce increasing to approximately 50 percent of their total revenues. For MSMEs in retail and educational services, increase in revenue contribution from e-commerce was 53 percent and 65 percent respectively.

    The negative impact of Covid2019 on MSMEs has been intense with many having to pause or entirely shut their business. In this survey, one third of MSME respondents confirmed that they are temporarily shutting their business until normalcy resumes. This pause in business is more prominent among MSMEs in metros cities and those in the retail and manufacturing verticals. Majority of MSMEs (nearly 60 percent of those surveyed) believe that it will take up to six months for business to return to normal.

    MSMEs are seeking support from the government to tide over this crisis. More than 50 percent of MSMEs expect the government to offer tax discounts or exemptions, followed by 36 percent of MSMEs asking for loans at zero interest or cheaper rates.

    “Covid2019 has forced everyone to rethink daily life. In response to the lockdown, MSMEs who could embrace digital presence were able to keep some semblance of normalcy and continue to serve or engage with their customers. This crisis has made it imperative to digitally transform our places of work. We are fortunate to be able to aid businesses in their digital transformation journey through our products and services," said Endurance Group- APAC, SVP and general manager Manish Dalal, having web presence brands like HostGator, Bluehost, ResellerClub, BigRock.

    According to the survey, lack of technical expertise and the perceived costs of developing a web presence continue to be the key challenges to creating web presence. Due to these challenges, very often MSMEs take assistance from web professionals to create digital presence. India is primarily a DIFM (do-it-for-me) market and web professionals will play a key role in the digital enablement of MSMEs.

    EIG caters to small business owners and web professionals, those who help small businesses to come online, through brands such as HostGator, Bluehost, ResellerClub, BigRock. These brands provide the tools and resources needed to build and establish a web presence, be found online, and improve productivity through digital solutions like domains, hosting, business email and more.

    Survey Methodology

    To understand the digital trends among small businesses during the lockdown, EIG administered an online questionnaire to their MSME customers in the segments of retail, educational services, technology services, independent bloggers, consultant, advertising & marketing, travel and finance. Majority of these MSMEs are in the metro cities. The survey was conducted over the first 2 weeks of June 2020.

    Key findings:

    ●        Approximately 30 percent of MSME  either started a website or expanded to e-commerce during the COVID-19 lockdown;

    ●        Around  50 percent embraced video conferencing and WhatsApp for business purposes;

    ●        Revenue contribution  from e-commerce increased close to 50 percent  for MSMEs during COVID-19;

    ●        Preference for using digital is now estimated at ~1.9X more than traditional sales interactions; and

    ●        Approximately 60 percent MSMEs believe that it will take up to 6 months for business to return to normal once COVID-19 ends.

  • Facebook tops list of least-trusted tech cos

    Facebook tops list of least-trusted tech cos

    MUMBAI: The year 2018 has been a stormy one for social media giant Facebook. In the latest stir of data breach events surrounding company, the company is said to have sidestepped its own privacy rules to give more than 150 companies, including Microsoft, Amazon, Netflix, and Spotify, special privileges to its user’s data.

    Now, in a recent survey conducted by research company Toluna, it reported that out of 1,000 participants, 40 per cent of participants trust Facebook the least with their personal information. This gave Facebook the number one position in the list of least-trusted tech companies.

    With 8 per cent, Twitter and Amazon are tied for second on the list followed by Uber on the fourth with 7 per cent of participants saying they trust the company least with their data.

    Google and Lyft with 6 per cent are tied on the fifth position. Apple and Snapchat at 4 per cent, Microsoft at 2 per cent, Netflix and Tesla both at 1 per cent making them the most trusted company with personal data in the survey list.

    Since the Cambridge Analytica scandal, Facebook has seen a bumpy ride as controversies have been following the social networking company.

  • Netflix India: New survey reveals that India ranks highest in watching Netflix with pets

    Netflix India: New survey reveals that India ranks highest in watching Netflix with pets

    MUMBAI: Love for our pets has reached epic heights – special pet taxi services in Mumbai, sick leave for dogs in Italy, emotional support peacocks in the US – so it should come as no surprise that our four-legged friends have infiltrated our entertainment habits as well. According to a new survey released by Netflix, when it comes to watching TV, most Indians (75%) find pets to be the best binge partner. 88% of Indian members have watched Netflix with their pets, as compared to 74% globally.

    After all, watching a show with pets mean no spoilers and no cheating. The best binge paw-tner? You bet! Not only do pets not hog the remote or judge your entertainment tastes (well, maybe), they make the perfect partners for the company, the cuddles (44% of Indian members have turned to their furry friends for comfort during a sad or scary scene) and even the conversation (39% have talked to their pet about the show or movie they were watching).

    Though you should be warned that pet bingeing can also be ruff. A considerable number of respondents (43%) have moved from where they were sitting, so their pet would be more comfortable, several (31%) have bribed them with treats to watch longer, and some (30%) have even gone so far as turning off a show because their pet didn’t appear to like it. The snuggle is real.

    So what are the shows everyone is barking and meowing about? Dog and cat owners in India are likely to go for comedy with a high dose of drama and adventure. Bring on Friends from College, Alias Grace, and A Series of Unfortunate Events. The one show that brings all streaming species together is Stranger Things…#justiceformews.

    Looking for some brand new shows that you can now stream or download to watch with your partners and paw-tners? We recommend Lost in Space (premiering April 13) for a thrilling journey with the Robinson family.