Digital capabilities will increasingly determine which companies create or lose value. Digital technology is redefining competition and changing even the business models across industries. Micro-chipped clothes today could tell washing machines how to treat them. Smart traffic systems are reducing the waiting time at traffic lights and better distribute cars through the city. Data from factory robots allow algorithms to predict when the machines will break down and schedule maintenance to ensure that they don’t. Implanted sensors are enabling early signs of illness in farm animals and micromanaging their feeding.

Publication: The Hindu Business Line

Date: December 15, 2019

The fast pace of digitalisation of economies is having a profound impact on the lives of people, governments and markets. As more and more people adapt to the digital economy, policymakers need to think swiftly and carefully about devising policies that will maximise the benefits of the digital revolution while mitigating the risks of job dislocation.Digital progress is the result of general-purpose technology that has the flexibility to transform itself as the driver of change for boosting productivity across all sectors.

Publication: Dawn

Date: December 14, 2019

E-commerce is growing, with occasional slowdowns depending on market trends. As more people gain access to the internet and earn more disposable income, thanks to an overall improving world, they gain more power to buy. People tend to use multiple channels when it comes to researching and shopping for a product. These channels can include purchasing from online stores, brick-and-mortar locations, catalogs, telephones or smart TVs. These are just a few examples that are available today, but more will surely appear with advanced technology. While the common view may be to limit your channels to reduce costs, keep several options open.

Publication: AdAge

Date: December 14, 2019

Pepperfry, India’s largest furniture seller, has not had an easy journey. Not only was the furniture market fragmented and unorganized, but was not a first mover either. The market then saw deep-pocketed large e-commerce players like Flipkart and Amazon sell furniture.In an interview with CNBC-TV18, Ambareesh Murty, CEO, and Co-Founder of Pepperfry spoke about what makes Pepperfry successful and where he wants to take the company in the next 2-3 years.

Publication: CNBC TV18

Date: December 13, 2019

The rise of a large number of startup founders and angel investors ploughing in money into the startup ecosystem and the rise of impact based startups are some of the encouraging trends in the startup space in India this year, a top official of Village Capital. Deepak Menon, Chief Program Officer, EMEAA at Village Capital, a US-based VC fund, is looking at startups to build scalable solutions that help people and small businesses become financially healthier and stable. The venture capital firm has partnered with PayPal and MetLife to provide mentorship to a clutch of Indian entrepreneurs.

Publication: Deccan Herald

Date: December 16, 2019

The government is thinking of regulating products and services sold on social networks such as Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and WhatsApp under the upcoming rules to protect consumers who transact on ecommerce portals. The move comes amid increasing complaints, both on the National Consumer Helpline and other portals that track consumer grievances, about products sold on marketplaces attached to social networks, according to officials and people aware of the development.

Publication: The Economic Times

Date: December 16, 2019