Multi-cloud strategy is helping businesses see beyond Microsoft and Amazon

In the digital world we live in, many companies tend to treat Microsoft Corp. and Amazon.com Inc. as their only options while implementing cloud computing. However, in recent times, IT managers are starting to look beyond and realized that there are various other options too in the market, and the competition is pretty heavy in this segment. Analysts are speculating that the governments and businesses are now signing up with different providers, pitting the vendors against each other to bring down the costs.

Many other providers like Oracle Corp, Google, and IBM Corp are getting a chance due to the shift even though Microsoft and Amazon hold the lion’s share in the market. Experian PLC, a popular name in the credit-reporting segment, made its move to the cloud in 2014 with AWS. However, the company has since then availed services from other providers like Oracle, Microsoft, and Google. The global chief architect of Experian, Mervyn Lally, has stated that more options are good because they tend to add more competitive pressures on the providers. Popular companies like AT&T is also bringing together various providers under one network. A multi-cloud strategy is gaining immense traction in recent times because it can manage workloads better and cost-effectively.

 

 

HCL will support Microsoft Cloud for Financial Services during strategic launch

HCL Technologies, a popular name in the global tech segment, has recently made an announcement that it has become a launch partner for Microsoft’s recent effort Microsoft Cloud for Financial Services. HCL has stated that the company is bringing together various capabilities for the latest effort from Microsoft, and it will provide comprehensive compliance coverage along with multilayered security options. This is mainly being done to improve the collaboration between employees, improve productivity, provide a better experience for customers, modernize the core systems, and manage risk.

President of HCL’s Financial Services, Rahul Singh, has stated that the company is keen on participating in this initiative is mainly due to the fact that it will allow Ideapreneurs of HCL to make their domain expertise in a hyperscale foundation that is futuristic. HCL’s PowerBanking product will make use of the available features of  Microsoft Cloud for Financial Services. This provides better comprehensive scenarios for the customers of retail banks. Bill Borden, Corporate VP of Microsoft’s Worldwide Financial Services, has stated that their companies play a crucial role in promoting the digital transformation goals of their customers. The company is looking forward to making use of its expertise in the retail banking segment to promote innovation for growth.

 

 

Alphabet Launches Brand New ‘Moonshot’ for Robotics Software

Google's parent Alphabet recently has launched a new "moonshot" project to develop software for robotics, which can be used in a wide range of industries. The new unit, Intrinsic, will very soon become an independent Alphabet company to power their industrial partners to advance their work and to help them make everything from solar panels to cars. Also, Intrinsic is working to improve industrial robotics' creative and economic potential for several businesses, entrepreneurs, and developers.

Intrinsic emerged from Alphabet X and has launched the "moonshot" project that helps self-driving car division Waymo and life sciences group Verily. Intrinsic is currently focusing on supporting a shift towards a more sustainable and equitable way of manufacturing and thereby facilitating low-cost production. The company is looking for partners in the automotive, electronics, and health care sectors who are already using industrial robotics.

Recent analysis and statistics show that currently, just 10 countries manufacture 70 percent of the world's goods. Meaning most things are made far away from their end consumers driving global transport emissions, and many countries and businesses miss out on economic opportunities. Intrinsic will overcome these challenges by making manufacturing easy and efficient.

 

Automobile Giant Tata Motors Opens Eight New Showrooms in Ahmedabad

 

In line with its retail acceleration strategy, India's automobile giant Tata Motors inaugurated eight strategically located showrooms in and around Ahmedabad. These new showrooms will embrace the brand new and modern retail identity, and it will be hosting the company's entire range of passenger vehicles, including its electric vehicles portfolio.  The new outlets of Tata Motors are situated in prime locations in these upcoming exclusive pockets, which will provide an enhanced customer experience with and quick turnaround time.

This expansion drive comes on the back of a stellar performance in the passenger vehicles market in India. Tata Motors stated that the company registered its highest ever sales in nine years and Q4 FY21. In FY21, the business registered its highest-ever annual sales in eight years while posting a growth of 69 percent versus FY20. Tata Motors also recorded a strong growth of 342 percent in Q1FY22, over Q1FY21.

The company further added that with the recent introduction of the new EV policy, the company expects to emerge as one of the largest EV states in the country, and it will constantly work hard to expand the network and product portfolio that will help cater to the state government's commitment and emphasis on green mobility.

 

 

Heathrow has requested Britain to allow fully vaccinated people to travel without quarantine

 

London's Heathrow Airport has requested Britain to allow vaccinated passengers to travel after the cumulative losses of the airport reached $4 billion. Heathrow was one of the busiest airports in Europe pre-pandemic, and now due to COVID-induced restrictions, the trade volume has come down significantly. The airport has stated swift action is needed from the government's end, and travelers are also demanding a solution quickly. If the situation continues to worsen, many jobs are expected to be lost.

John Holland-Kaye, CEO of Heathrow, has stated that the passenger level at Heathrow is well about 25 percent of the pre-pandemic level, whereas other airports in Europe are nearly 50 percent. If the passengers planes and not reaching global markets like the US, the UK exports will not be able to get its export out of the country. This will eventually lead to the fall of the UK and will end up costing jobs unless traveling is allowed. If Britain allows people who are fully vaccinated to travel without the mandatory quarantine for ten days, then there can be some amount of recovery and benefits. Other Europeans have followed this method and have opened up traveling where as Heathrow is expecting Britain to do the same to achieve recovery.

 

Even though the retail giants are reporting positive numbers, the retail sector is yet to recover from COVID

Retail giants ITC Ltd and Hindustan Unilever have recently revealed their Q1 FY22 numbers, and it seems promising. Even though the numbers are good, it, however, did not reward the share prices. When compared to the previous year’s numbers, HUL has managed to increase its profits by 9.5 percent (1,881 crores). Retail giant ITC has taken a huge leap and has reported a 28.6 percent rise in standalone profit (3,013.5 crores) for q1 of 2021. In the corresponding year of the previous cycle, ITC had reported Rs 2,342 crore as standalone profit.

Even though June month was severely affected by the second wave of COVID, both the retail giants managed to deliver good numbers in profit. Only a handful of companies have managed to show profits in this q1, and there are more than 50 percent of retailers who are yet to reach the pre-pandemic level in terms of profit. Data from RAI suggests that the profits of June month fell severely, and it showed that sales were down by 50 percent when compared to 2019 June. CEO of RAI, Kumar Rajagopalan, has stated that retail businesses are finding it very difficult to bounce back, and pan-Indian retail sales came down by 50 percent.

 

 

84% of Woman gamers in South India feel that gaming can be pursued as a career

Popular tech giant HP has recently conducted a study and has discovered that 99 percent of people living in Hyderabad are certain that gaming relieves stress. Furthermore, the study showed that more than 90 percent of people believe that gaming can be a good career option. Along with the facts mentioned above, it was discovered that more than 48 percent of the respondents are willing to spend up to Rs 1 lakh on gaming rigs and PC. The study conducted by HP revealed certain new trends like growing preference in gaming among women, and they are also keen on taking it up as a career option.

Almost 84 percent of the women respondents have stated that they have the desire to pursue gaming as a career. A recent HP study shows that 94 percent of the respondents feel that gaming induces positive feelings and reduces stress significantly. Women are ahead of men in this sudden shift of perception, and they feel that gaming can improve cognitive skills, improve cognitive skills, and relieve stress. Ninety-four percent of women respondents have stated that gaming is the best source of recreation and relaxation when compared to 92 percent of men. The survey was conducted in the South Indian cities of Chennai, Hyderabad, and Coimbatore, and it shows that people agree that gaming is beneficial.