Kalpana Pathak &Amp; Shivani Shinde

Stories by Kalpana Pathak &Amp; Shivani Shinde

Tech firms look beyond headcount to grow revenue

Tech firms look beyond headcount to grow revenue

Rediff.com   5 Nov 2008

In fact, firms like NIIT Technologies and EXL Services are already reaping the benefit of the first- mover advantage with over 20 per cent of their revenues coming from non-linear business in the quarter ended September 30. A non-linear business' focus moves away from the tendency to measure growth on the basis of headcount or the concept that the more the number of people working, the more the revenue.

Falling Re raises cost of studying in US

Falling Re raises cost of studying in US

Rediff.com   5 Nov 2008

UK, Australia numbers could pick up instead.

Travel industry pins hopes on new formats

Travel industry pins hopes on new formats

Rediff.com   3 Nov 2008

Travelport has decided to make holidaying an over-the-counter experience, where the customer can plan his travel. It will launch about 150-200 travel solution shops by tying up with malls, multiplexes and retail chains. Online travel company Cleartrip.com tied up with the Indian Railway and Catering and Tourism Corporation in September. SOTC plans to hold a six-day long Great Holiday Bazaar across all its outlets from November 3-8, with discounts between 4 and 20 per cent.

Mid-cap IT firms may shed 10% staff

Mid-cap IT firms may shed 10% staff

Rediff.com   29 Oct 2008

India's mid-cap software companies may shed as much as 10 per cent of their workforce as revenues and margins have shrunk owing to a global slowdown, analysts say.

BPCL may sell 'purest' water

BPCL may sell 'purest' water

Rediff.com   29 Oct 2008

A refiner embarking on an alternative fuel strategy may end up selling bottled water to quench the thirst of millions.

B-schools woo companies for next summer

B-schools woo companies for next summer

Rediff.com   29 Oct 2008

Wary of the times ahead in the job market, business schools are working on a risk-minimisation strategy and looking at doubling the pool of companies on the campus for the summer placements scheduled in November this year.

VC funds vote for clean tech

VC funds vote for clean tech

Rediff.com   17 Oct 2008

Indian clean technology businesses are finally catching the attention of investor community. New Ventures India - founded by World Resources Institute and CII-Godrej Green Business Centre - aims to fund 50 entrepreneurs in this segment by 2010 with a target investment of $250 million

5,000-Mw capacity lying idle due to gas shortage

5,000-Mw capacity lying idle due to gas shortage

Rediff.com   13 Oct 2008

State power boards incur fixed cost of Rs 3,500 crore (Rs 35 billion). About 5,000 Mw of gas-based electricity generation capacity, built at a cost of about Rs 20,000 crore (Rs 200 billion), is lying idle due to the shortage of gas in the country.

Slowdown plays spoilsport at B-school fests

Slowdown plays spoilsport at B-school fests

Rediff.com   6 Oct 2008

It's time for the famous B-school fests. But the zing is somewhat missing this time.

SAP takes centre stage with HCL, Infosys' bid for

SAP takes centre stage with HCL, Infosys' bid for

Rediff.com   29 Sep 2008

With India's two leading IT outsourcing companies, Infosys and HCL Technologies, vying to acquire the UK-based consulting firm Axon, SAP implementation is back in focus.

Ambani dispute: RIL may make submission over MoU

Ambani dispute: RIL may make submission over MoU

Rediff.com   26 Sep 2008

"The MoU between the (Ambani) brothers is in the private domain and has never been produced in the court. Agreements between the brothers were entered into on the basis of negotiation and decision on the case cannot be taken on this basis," Milind Sathe, senior counsel for Mukesh Ambani's RIL had told a division bench in July this year.

India Inc bets big on biodiesel

India Inc bets big on biodiesel

Rediff.com   25 Sep 2008

Apart from the increase in the number of players entering the sector -- there were just 25 entities two years ago -- the scale of operations has also increased substantially, with 30 companies planning large-scale operations, experts said. The capacity of biodiesel plants set up by these companies will range between 30 tonnes per day and 300 tonnes per day. Based on the capacity, it will cost between Rs 300 million and Rs 3 billion to set up these plants.

Lehman bankruptcy will hit IIM placements

Lehman bankruptcy will hit IIM placements

Rediff.com   16 Sep 2008

With America's fourth largest investment bank Lehman Brothers filing for bankruptcy protection and Merrill Lynch being bought over by the Bank of America, placements at the Indian Institutes of Management will be affected.

HCL follows Future Group, plans $1 bn venture fund

HCL follows Future Group, plans $1 bn venture fund

Rediff.com   11 Sep 2008

The venture, on the lines of Kishore Biyani's Future Ventures India, will focus its investments in the information technology sector, said a source familiar with the development.

Oberois plan own water brand

Oberois plan own water brand

Rediff.com   10 Sep 2008

The hotel giant is looking at having an exclusive arrangement with Pune-based Mulshi Springs -- a company that bottles natural spring water. The brand will be called Oberoi Spring Water and a formal announcement is expected soon. The packaged spring water will be available in 200 ml, 500 ml, 1 litre and 1.5 litre pet bottles priced between Rs 50 and Rs 200 respectively. "Water will be sourced from a rain forest near the Sahara Amby Valley," added the official.

HCL Tech may raise $1 billion for acquisitions

HCL Tech may raise $1 billion for acquisitions

Rediff.com   10 Sep 2008

The company is in talks with a few private banks and has signed on Citibank as one of the bankers to raise these funds, said sources. HCL Technologies and Citibank declined to comment saying that 'they do not comment on market speculation'.

Norwest eyes 6 deals by year-end

Norwest eyes 6 deals by year-end

Rediff.com   9 Sep 2008

Plans another $1-billion fund, wants to expand core team in India.

BPOs flock to rural areas to set up shop

BPOs flock to rural areas to set up shop

Rediff.com   9 Sep 2008

With the telecom industry aiming to increase its rural subscribers base and the central bank asking banks and financial firms to cater to the rural sector, businesses will have to find ways of servicing customers, say analysts. Most of the rural BPOs have a seating capacity of below 100 per centre, as they are situated in remote areas.

Hope floats on KG basin gas

Hope floats on KG basin gas

Rediff.com   8 Sep 2008

Fertiliser, power plants plan expansion in anticipation

IT firms adopt new ways to offset hiring costs

IT firms adopt new ways to offset hiring costs

Rediff.com   6 Sep 2008

A slowdown in the global economy and sub-prime crisis in the banking, financial and insurance services sector, its major revenue earners, force the domestic IT industry to take a relook at its hiring strategy.