Zee Spotlight Debuts with Hyundai: A Game-Changer in Omnichannel Brand Engagement

Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited (ZEEL), India’s leading Content and Technology powerhouse, has unveiled its latest high-visibility advertising innovation – Zee Spotlight under the ‘Z’ RISE Initiative. Designed to deliver unmatched brand salience across the network, Zee Spotlight offers advertisers a clutter-breaking mix of premium brand touchpoints across both General Entertainment Channels (GECs) and Movie channels.

As part of this new offering, Zee Spotlight brings together a powerful combination of Stings, Branded Windows, In-show Funnel Placements, QR-code Astons, and Tags on GECs, along with Branded Carousels, L-bands, Astons, Stings, and Tags on Movie channels. True to its name, each of these element puts a spotlight on every stage of the AIDA Model (Awareness, Interest, Desire, Action). This holistic suite which will also activate multiple impact elements on OTT platform ZEE5, will enable brands to maximize impact, strengthen recall, and seamlessly integrate into viewers’ content journey through an omnichannel approach.

Hyundai Motor India Limited, a brand synonymous with innovation and leadership in the Indian automotive industry, has come onboard as the exclusive inaugural partner for Zee Spotlight. With this association, Hyundai will leverage the network’s unparalleled reach and visibility to further connect with millions of consumers across the country.

Speaking on this initiative, Laxmi Shetty, Head- Advertisement Revenue, Broadcast & Digital, Zee Entertainment Enterprises said: “With Zee Spotlight, we are reimagining how brands engage with audiences in a highly fragmented media ecosystem through an omnichannel approach. This offering provides advertisers with high-frequency, high-visibility brand presence across our most watched entertainment destinations. We are delighted to have Hyundai, a brand that resonates strongly with innovation and excellence, as our very first partner for this journey.”

Mr. Virat Khullar, AVP & Vertical Head - Marketing, Hyundai Motor India Limited added: “At Hyundai, we are constantly seeking innovative avenues to connect with our customers. Zee Spotlight initiative is a cutting-edge platform that redefines brand story telling through an omni-channel lens. The partnership will allow Hyundai to seamlessly integrate with Zee Entertainment’s diverse ecosystem across general entertainment channels (GECs) and movie channels, offering an unique opportunity to engage with viewers in a more dynamic and immersive way. As a brand driven by innovation, we see this partnership as a powerful step forward in building deeper connection with consumers across India’s vibrant landscape.”

With this collaboration, ‘Z’ continues to set new benchmarks in advertiser-led innovations, ensuring brands receive maximum resonance while enhancing the viewing experience for millions of households. 

Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India inaugurates its First-Ever EV Concept Store in Bengaluru

In a significant step towards electric mobility journey, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India (HMSI) today inaugurated its first-ever EV Concept Store in India, located at Mantri Square Mall, Malleshwaram, Bengaluru. This one-of-a-kind Concept Store is designed to offer customers an immersive & futuristic experience, giving them a glimpse into Honda’s world of mobility, technology, and innovation. HMSI also announced a new BaaS Lite Plan for ACTIVA e: where customers can pay just Rs 678/month, making EV ownership more accessible than ever before.

A Glimpse into the Future: Inside Honda’s EV Concept Store

Honda EV Concept Store

Honda’s new EV Concept Store is designed to offer a fascinating experience of the company’s technological advancements. From electric mobility to personal aviation, it captures the essence of Honda’s global innovation. At the heart of the store is a main LED Display, which serves as a digital focal point to engage visitors through interactive content, brand storytelling, and product highlights. It provides dynamic insights into Honda’s electrification journey. A history wall is also on display, exhibiting the remarkable journey and key milestones of Honda over the years.

The Product Display Zone showcases Honda’s latest electric offerings in India – the ACTIVA e: and QC1. Visitors can get up close with these models, explore their features, and understand the engineering that powers them. For families and younger visitors, the Kids Interaction Zone offers engaging experiences. This section has been specially designed to make the store welcoming to all age groups, reflecting Honda’s inclusive brand philosophy.

The Safe Tech Zone gives a detailed look at the core components behind ACTIVA e: and QC1, including the PMS motor, hub motor, charger, battery and Mobile Power Pack (MPP). Visitors will also witness Honda’s advanced battery swapping technology at the dedicated Honda Power Pack Exchanger e:. This innovative system enables seamless battery replacement for the ACTIVA e:, providing unmatched convenience to users. Live demonstrations of the system will showcase the efficiency and user-friendliness of this technology.

Adding an international flair, the store features a scale model of the Honda Jet, symbolizing the excellence in personal aviation. Honda’s Electric Racing Go-Kart (eGX), showcasing the company’s innovative approach to sustainable performance, is also on display. Powered by Honda Mobile Power Pack e: swappable batteries, the electric Go-Kart delivers impressive acceleration & precision handling. Another exciting highlight is the Honda Moto Compacto, a foldable electric scooter. Weighing just 19 kg, it is ideal for urban commuting with a top speed of 24 kmph and range of 20 km per charge. This display illustrates how Honda blends nostalgia with cutting-edge tech to create modern solutions.

Honda ACTIVA e: New BaaS Lite Plan

Honda EV Concept Store

Marking a pivotal moment in HMSI’s journey towards sustainable mobility, the all-new ACTIVA e: aims to redefine urban transportation in the country. The ACTIVA e: features Honda Mobile Power Pack e: - a swappable battery system developed by Honda Motor Co. Ltd. Japan and managed by Honda Power Pack Energy India Pvt. Ltd (HEID). It is equipped with two 1.5 kWh swappable batteries, delivering a range of 102 km* on a full charge.

As part of commitment to make electric mobility convenient for customers, Honda has introduced a new BaaS Lite plan, wherein the customers will have to pay just Rs. 678 per month (for 20kWh energy usage per month), making EV ownership accessible for users. This affordable subscription model is tailored specifically for users with lower daily running, offering them an economical entry into EV ownership. With the BaaS Lite plan, customers can easily swap batteries at Honda’s battery swapping stations, ensuring seamless and hassle-free usage. The new BaaS Lite plan has been launched in addition to the existing Basic and Advance subscription packages.

Wipro with Cisco and AT&T Develop Transformation Platform for Retailers to Enhance Cx and Incremental Ad Revenue within Physical Stores

Wipro Expands Retail Media Offering in Collaboration with Cisco and AT&T

Wipro VisionEdge+ allows retailers to enhance customer experience and drive incremental ad revenue within physical stores

Wipro has recently announced the expansion of retail-focused capabilities within Wipro VisionEDGE+. This enhanced offering, developed in partnership with Cisco and AT&T, and leveraging Amazon Web Services (AWS), serves as a comprehensive retail transformation platform designed to unlock the full potential of retail media network.

According to the National Retail Foundation, 80% of all shopping still happens in stores, providing a critical touchpoint for brands and retailers to connect with consumers. Recognizing this potential, Wipro VisionEDGE+ offers a powerful, measurable, and omni-channel platform for retailers and brands, that complements their existing digital strategies.

This offering allows retailers to:

• Enhance customer experience with interactive displays that provide personalised recommendations and navigation assistance.
• Drive incremental revenue by offering brands programmatic advertising and enabling assisted selling through digital endpoints.
• Centralize control and operations to facilitate seamless content tracking across multiple platforms, while also enabling scalability.
• Create an omnichannel platform allowing customers to virtually try on items and order from ‘endless aisles.’

Wipro VisionEDGE+ combines dynamic digital signage with cutting edge AI-based platforms that provides business insights, customer sentiment analytics, and traffic management data, tailored to retailers’ specific needs while ensuring compliance with privacy regulations. Additionally, the platform leverages:

• Cisco’s intelligent network solutions to ensure secure and seamless connectivity within the retail environment.
• AT&T’s network infrastructure to provide reliable and secure data transmission.
• AWS’s robust and scalable cloud computing services to power the platform’s data analytics and machine learning capabilities in order to deliver a personalized and engaging in-store experience.

“We are thrilled to leverage Wipro’s over two decades of Retail expertise for our customers, empowering them to capitalize on the billion-dollar opportunity in advertising revenue,” said Malay Joshi, Chief Executive Officer – Americas, Wipro Limited. “Retail media is not just a trend; it’s a transcendent force reshaping the future of in-store experiences. Wipro VisionEDGE+ extends this power to brands and retailers to transform every customer store visit into a personalized journey.”

“The retail revolution is fuelled by connectivity and AT&T’s next-level network infrastructure serves as a secure and reliable foundation for Wipro VisionEDGE+. This solution showcases our collaborative approach to help businesses unlock new insights to drive success in the digital era,” said Sarita Rao, Senior Vice President, AT&T Partner Solutions.

"We are proud to complement Wipro VisionEDGE+ with our secure and intelligent networking solutions focused on retail environments," said Tim Coogan, Senior Vice President at Cisco. "With a simple network management platform experience, cloud-driven automation and innovation across our partner ecosystem, Cisco’s partnership with Wipro will help drive measurable outcomes for shared customers in the retail sector.”

Infosys and SAP Emarsys Partner to Enhance Businesses' Customer Engagement Across Multiple Channels

Infosys, a global leader in next-generation digital services and consulting, has announced a collaboration with SAP Emarsys, a cloud-based omnichannel customer engagement platform. This partnership aims to empower businesses to enhance their customer engagement across multiple channels.

Through this collaboration enterprises will be able to orchestrate complex industry-specific cross-channel marketing campaigns, reach customers in real-time, and drive customer loyalty through personalization. By harnessing AI capabilities of the platform and Infosys Topaz, an AI-first set of services, solutions and platforms using generative AI technologies, businesses can unlock the value of data from across organizational silos to enable data driven insights and predictive analytics to boost revenue growth.

Key highlights of the collaboration:

• Leveraging Infosys Cobalt and Topaz: The collaboration will utilize Infosys Cobalt and Infosys Topaz to drive revenue growth and improve customer experiences.
• Orchestrating Marketing Campaigns: Enterprises will be able to create high-impact marketing campaigns and reach customers in real-time, driving customer loyalty through personalization.
• AI Capabilities: By harnessing AI capabilities of the platform, businesses can unlock the value of data from across organizational silos, enabling data-driven insights and predictive analytics to boost revenue growth.
• 360-degree View of Campaigns: The synergy between Infosys and SAP Emarsys will provide clients with a comprehensive view of campaigns, blending digital channels with in-store experiences to create seamless customer journeys.

This collaboration is set to create a new era of customer engagement, generating faster insights across the customer lifecycle and facilitating a push towards innovation to deliver engaging shopping experiences across multiple touchpoints.

Dinesh Rao, Executive Vice President, Co-Head of Delivery, Infosys, said, “We are delighted to collaborate with SAP Emarsys to bring groundbreaking omnichannel marketing solutions to our customers. We look forward to helping businesses streamline their marketing processes, seamlessly blending digital channels and creating a new era of customer engagement and generating faster insights across customer life cycle.”

SAP Emarsys is recognized for its ability to automate highly personalized and engaging omnichannel customer experiences, which is crucial for businesses looking to improve their customer engagement and drive growth.

Brian Falzone, Chief Operations Officer, SAP Emarsys, said, “Our collaboration with Infosys will supercharge customer engagement and the way our customers leverage data to make strategic decisions. With Infosys' expertise connecting integrated marketing solutions to maximize revenue through personalization, innovation will continue to remain at the forefront for our customers.”

SAP Emarsys is an omnichannel customer engagement solution that is part of the SAP Customer Experience portfolio. It's designed to empower marketers to deliver personalized, real-time engagements at scale, which can significantly increase customer lifetime value (CLTV) and loyalty. SAP has acquired Emarsys in October 2020.

Omnichannel Enablement Startup Omnivio Raises $1.02 Mn in Seed Round Led by Caret Capital, Blume, Eximius and Others

Startup will allocate the funds towards the development of its Omni-channel control towers and Orchestration product suite

Omnivio, a pioneering Omnichannel enablement company, has successfully raised USD 1.02 million (INR 8.4 crores) in its latest Seed Round of funding. The investment was led by Caret Capital, formerly known as Supply Chain Labs, with participation from prominent investors including Blume Ventures, Eximius VC, SuniconVenture Fund, Misfits, and several angel syndicates and individual investors from India, Middle East, and South East Asia. The platform had raised its angel round in August 2022. This latest round also saw participation from existing investors, 91 Ventures, Dexter Angels, and Supermorpehus, bringing the total funds raised by Omnivio to approximately INR 12 crores (USD 1.5 million).

Omnivio is on a mission to redefine the Omnichannel experience for retailers and omni-brands by addressing one of the most significant challenges in the industry—ensuring seamless customer experiences across multiple channels. With the Omnivio control tower and orchestration platform, the company offers post-checkout visibility and business operations control across marketplaces, own checkouts, and physical stores.

Commenting on the fundraise, Mr. Sidhartha Kumar Bhimania, Co-founder, Omnivio expressed his gratitude for the support received from top-tier investors, entrepreneurs, and angel investors from the ecosystem. Mr. Bhimania emphasized that this support is a testament to the calibre of the Omnivio team and the vast potential of their mission.

On the investment in Omnivio, Prajakt Raut, Managing Partner from Caret Capital affirmed “While omni-channel is rapidly becoming mainstream, companies find it challenging to transition from a pure offline player to an omni-channel player, or vice-versa, astheir existing supply chains and distribution networks are not designed for the omni-channel world.Startups can play an enabling role and Omnivio has been able to distinguish its strategy and business model. OmnivioSaas platform provides brands a control tower for managing synchronisation between different stakeholdersand deliversgold-standardconsumer experiences.We are excited to partner with Sidhartha, Anuj and the team at Omnivio as they march towards transforming India’s value chain. 

Omnivio intends to allocate the newly raised funds towards the development of its Omni-channel visibility and orchestration product suite. Additionally, the company plans to expand its enterprise Go-To-Market (GTM) teams in India and the Middle East. With this infusion of capital, Omnivio is well-positioned to continue its journey to become a category-defining Omnichannel enablement company.

About Omnivio:

Omnivio is an Omnichannel enablement company that is dedicated to addressing the challenges faced by retailers and omni-brands in providing seamless customer experiences across multiple channels. The company's innovative solutions, including the Omnivio control tower and orchestration platform, empower businesses with the post-checkout visibility and control necessary to thrive in the Omnichannel landscape.

Pepperfry Launches Its New Studio in Bangalore

STRENGTHENS ITS OMNICHANNEL PRESENCE IN SOUTHERN INDIA

Pepperfry, the leading ecommerce furniture and home goods company, announced the launch of its New Studio in Bangalore, Karnataka. The offline expansion is in line with the company’s aim to penetrate into niche markets and strengthen its omnichannel consumer engagement in home and living space in India. Pepperfry’s studio footprint currently spans across 90+ cities with 180+ studios in the country.

Pepperfry Studios have transformed the furniture retail landscape in India. The company’s omnichannel strategy is driven by expansion of FOFO studios across the country and it currently works with 90 plus unique partners. The new studio launched in partnership with Vishnuz Enterprise, is situated at a prime location at S.G. Arcade, RR Nagar, in Bangalore, spanning across a carpet area of 1705sq. ft. It offers customers a first-hand experience of an infinite catalogue of furniture and home products. Customers will get specialized design advice from the company’s interior design consultants. The studio at Bangalore aims at providing a personalized shopping experience tailored to the unique needs of home and living customers in Karnataka.

Speaking of the launch Amruta Gupta, Business Head - Franchising and Alliances, Pepperfry said, “We are delighted to launch our new Studio in Bangalore in partnership with Vishnuz Enterprise. Owning a Pepperfry franchise is an entrepreneurial success, and we aim to reach consumers beyond the larger catchment areas of metropolitan and tier 1 cities. Our franchise partners include a mix of successful businesses, women entrepreneurs, ex-army officials and first-time entrepreneurs. Today a large part of our Pepperfry customer interactions leverage AR and virtual product interactions. With our mission to spark a feeling called home across the world, we endeavor to consistently deliver great customer service.”

Jayakanth.B & Pallavi Jayakanth (Owner of Franchise Studio), said, “We are extremely happy to partner with Pepperfry, India’s leading home and furniture marketplace. Pepperfry has pioneered a truly differentiated omnichannel business and we are proud to be a part of their journey in creating the largest omnichannel home and furniture business.”

Launched in 2017, Pepperfry franchise business model offers order fulfillment and after sales service by Pepperfry, support on studio design, launch & set up, operational guidance, marketing, and promotions. Pepperfry partners with local entrepreneurs who are aware of the hyperlocal demand cycles and trends. Pepperfry launches about 8-9 franchisees every month.

Pepperfry Accelerator Program was crafted in the year 2021 to expand Pepperfry’s offline footprint. The big differentiator of this program is the Capex required by franchise partners which starts with INR 15 lakhs. This model is based on 100% price parity and does not require the partner to hold product inventory, making it a mutually beneficial business association.

Pepperfry is India’s leading ecommerce furniture and home goods company offering customers a diverse selection of over 120,000 SKUs in over 500+ cities with a consistently great shopping experience. The Pepperfry managed marketplace helps thousands of entrepreneurs and merchants sell to millions of discerning customers across India.

E-Commerce Aggregator Browntape Raises Funding to Expand its OmniChannel Retail Solutions

Browntape.com, a leading e-commerce aggregator in India, has raised a fresh round of funding, from PE fund Marathon-Edge backed Ginni Systems, to drive growth. Ginni Systems, maker of Ginesys is a leading provider of ERP & POS solutions.

Browntape's software streamlines backend processes for retail brands & online sellers to manage their inventory and orders across various marketplaces & website engines such as Amazon, Flipkart, Myntra, Magento, Shopify, and 30+ such platforms from a single panel. Orders can be fulfilled from multiple offline locations of a brand across warehouses and stores.

Browntape Technologies Private Limited, which was founded in 2012 by Gurpreet Singh and Piyush Goel, previously raised funds from angels and institutional funds including GSF Accelerator, Krishnan Ganesh, Seedfund and Gati Ltd. among others. The startups, which has been cashflow positive for the past three years, enables sales of over Rs 100 Cr every month through its SaaS-based order and inventory management system.

Commenting on the development, Gurpreet Singh, Co-Founder & CEO, Browntape said, "The pandemic has given a tremendous push to digital and online commerce in the last year. Many retail brands are considering digital retail to be critical for business continuity and a key piece of their future growth strategy. Browntape enables offline players or digital native brands to quickly offer their products across online channels in a simple and cost-effective manner. We are delighted to welcome Ginni Systems with Marathon-Edge backing on board; the capital will help us grow our offering and serve our customers better."

"The simplicity and ease of use of our system has been a key differentiator for us. Our customers want to go online quickly, manage a single view of inventory across multiple marketplaces/websites, and fulfill seamlessly. We have recently added wellness marketplaces 1mg and Netmeds, social-commerce marketplace Meesho, FMCG marketplace Grofers, and are working to add more marketplaces for even broader coverage across retail categories. Increasingly artificial intelligence is playing a greater role in retail and we are working to build AI-powered insights and processes for sellers that will help them grow their businesses more efficiently" said co-founder & Product Head Piyush Goel.

The multi-location aware system at Browntape.com connects the offline inventory present across various retail stores and warehouses of a brand to their online presence such that orders generated via online channels can be served from any of the offline locations dynamically. Brands can define the formula for fulfillment - whether based on availability, proximity to the buyer, or other criteria.

Browntape powers digital retail for some of Indian's largest brands such as Tata Croma, Future Group, Zivame, Tupperware, Catwalk, D'Decor, IFB, Welspun and others across categories including Fashion, Lifestyle, Home Decor, Electronics, Footwear, Bags, Sunglasses, etc.

Marathon Edge is a private equity investor in technology and consumer sectors with a typical ticket size of $5-10 Million. Nikhil Raghavan, partner from Marathon Edge will be joining Browntape's board. On Browntape, Mr Raghavan said, "Piyush and Gurpreet are pioneers in building a multi-channel order management system. Covid has shown that this is a business model that is critical to any brand or retailer wanting to sell through their own website and marketplaces - and to manage the complexity."

Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.