Shivani Shinde, Ram Prasad Sahu

Stories by Shivani Shinde, Ram Prasad Sahu

Tata Neu in numbers: 120 mn customers, 2,500 offline stores, 80 mn downloads

Tata Neu in numbers: 120 mn customers, 2,500 offline stores, 80 mn downloads

Rediff.com   8 Apr 2022

Shivani Shinde reports. The youngest member of the Tata group, the much-awaited Tata Neu, has finally been launched for people across the country. The 'super app' offers a number of services ranging from financial services to tech, travel and even groceries. The app takes off with a customer base of 120 million, with 2,500 offline stores. According to the Tata group, the app will be a one-stop destination for all consumer needs. The super app also offers a bouquet of financial offers like Unified Payments Interface (UPI), bill payments, loans and insurance. Tata Neu will also provide other services like fashion, gadgets, groceries, travel and health.

Near-term worries will keep HUL stock under pressure

Near-term worries will keep HUL stock under pressure

Rediff.com   3 Apr 2022

There are multiple near-term worries for the stock of India's largest listed consumer company, Hindustan Unilever (HUL). While inflationary pressures will weigh on its profitability, demand pressures - especially in the rural market - are expected to hit the firm's revenues. This is why brokerages have cut the earnings estimates for financial year 2022-23 (FY23) by 7-10 per cent.

Under India's digital infra hood: Growing data centres

Under India's digital infra hood: Growing data centres

Rediff.com   1 Apr 2022

As India builds its data centre capabilities, it is imperative that it is supported by green energy. This is because data centres are guzzlers of energy.

TCS' $50-bn goal below its growth standards

TCS' $50-bn goal below its growth standards

Rediff.com   22 Mar 2022

Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) - the largest information technology (IT) services provider in India and the second-largest globally - recently set an ambitious goal of $50 billion in revenue by 2030. The growth required to reach this goal, however, is lower than the company's own standards. In the past decade, TCS revenues, or net sales in US dollar terms, have grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.5 per cent, from $10.2 in 2011-12, to an expected $25.3 billion during 2021-22 (FY22), based on its revenue trend in the first nine months of FY22.

With return to office, real estate investment trusts expected to do well

With return to office, real estate investment trusts expected to do well

Rediff.com   21 Mar 2022

Distribution yields could rise, but risk of Covid, higher interest rates remain.

Analysts see more pain ahead for auto firms

Analysts see more pain ahead for auto firms

Rediff.com   15 Mar 2022

What has hit sentiment further is a draft proposal by the government to increase vehicle insurance premiums for financial year 2022-23 (FY23). Third-party motor insurance premiums have not been increased over the last two years and if this is approved, insurance costs for specific segments could rise by a fifth. The worst impacted is the 350cc and above two-wheeler segment, where premiums are up 21 per cent. Royal Enfield (Eicher Motor) is the market leader in the segment. The premiums in the 150-350cc two-wheeler category are also being inc

TCS tweaks leadership, Suresh Muthuswami made chairman, North America

TCS tweaks leadership, Suresh Muthuswami made chairman, North America

Rediff.com   24 Feb 2022

IT major Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has made changes to its leadership roles in North America. As part of the changes Suresh Muthuswami has been elevated to the role of chairman, North America, said sources in the know. This is one of the most significant leadership changes the company has announced for the region. The reason for the changes in the North American region, the largest in terms of revenue for TCS, is because Surya Kant who has been at the helm of North America for the past 16 years is stepping down by the end of the fiscal year, as he retires.

TCS bags electronic passport mandate from MEA

TCS bags electronic passport mandate from MEA

Rediff.com   8 Feb 2022

Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has bagged -- from the Ministry of External Affairs -- the contract for delivering electronic passports (e-passports), according to sources. This deal is in addition to the second phase of implementing the Passport Seva Program, which the company got from the ministry. Players such as Thales India and HP participated in this deal, which is expected to be of Rs 1,000-1,200 crore.

TCS world's second most valuable IT brand, Infy fastest growing

TCS world's second most valuable IT brand, Infy fastest growing

Rediff.com   27 Jan 2022

Infosys has emerged as the fastest growing IT services brand following 52 per cent brand value growth since last year and 80 per cent since 2020 to $12.8 billion, earning it third spot, the brand valuation consultancy said in its latest Global 500 IT Services Ranking report. TCS and Infosys have pushed IBM to fourth spot from second. IBM's brand value now stands at $10.6 billion, a decline of 34 per cent from last year and 50 per cent since 2020.

Analysts bullish about Tata Motors' domestic business

Analysts bullish about Tata Motors' domestic business

Rediff.com   26 Jan 2022

Tata Motors' UK-based subsidiary, Jaguar Land Rover or JLR, reported a muted operational performance in the December quarter of financial year 2021-22 (Q3FY22). The luxury carmaker saw a 33 per cent year-on-year (YoY) decline in wholesale volumes to just under 70,000 units in Q3, against estimates that were 16 per cent higher. The drop in despatches to dealers was on account of shortage in semiconductors.

HCL Tech to hire 40,000-45,000 freshers for FY23 to meet attrition threat

HCL Tech to hire 40,000-45,000 freshers for FY23 to meet attrition threat

Rediff.com   19 Jan 2022

HCL Technologies plans to double its fresher hiring for the upcoming financial year (FY23) as attrition continues to inch up. The company said that it will hire 40,000-45,000 freshers for FY23, up from 20,000-22,000 target for FY22. The company also stated that to ease supply-side constraints and to have access to diversified skills, it was expanding into other geographies over the next three-four quarters. "Some of the geographies that we are investing in to source talent include countries like Romania, Hungary, Bulgaria, Guatemala, Costa Rica. We are also ramping up our presence in Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Australia, New Zealand, etc.

How Indian IT giants are playing catch-up in consultancy

How Indian IT giants are playing catch-up in consultancy

Rediff.com   18 Jan 2022

The analyst community tracking the Indian IT services industry took special note of Accenture's first quarter (Q1) performance, which showcased the rapid growth of its consulting business that outperformed its outsourcing business. Bookings indicate that the trend will continue. Consulting bookings increased 41.6 per cent year-on-year (yoy) to $9.4 billion, higher than the 17.6 per cent growth in outsourcing to $7.4 billion. The management commentary was also more bullish on the consulting business.

Why unicorns are investing in startups

Why unicorns are investing in startups

Rediff.com   7 Jan 2022

Byju's, Flipkart, PharmEasy and CRED, among others, have taken the acquisition route to grow

Accenture's growth outlook augurs well for Indian IT services players

Accenture's growth outlook augurs well for Indian IT services players

Rediff.com   21 Dec 2021

Accenture's Q1 FY22 results have sent a wave of cheer among analysts, as the company raised its revenue guidance and said it expects double-digit growth in outsourcing, up from single digit to low double-digit growth expected earlier. Accenture's financial year ends on August 31. The company raised its revenue outlook for FY22 to 19-22 per cent in local currency, up from 12-15 per cent earlier.

Spread of Omicron puts spanner in back-to-office work

Spread of Omicron puts spanner in back-to-office work

Rediff.com   14 Dec 2021

The spread of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus has made Indian companies persist with their policy of banning overseas trips and allowing only essential travel within India. The IT services firms, which had planned to ask their employees to return to the workplace, are also waiting and watching the Covid-19 situation before fully opening up their offices. Large conglomerates like the Tatas, Birla, JSW and Reliance are continuing with the mandatory social distancing and masking policies within their office premises.

'Our IPO signals faith in good old-fashioned profitable companies'

'Our IPO signals faith in good old-fashioned profitable companies'

Rediff.com   7 Dec 2021

'We have focused on profitable revenue, cash generating businesses, throughout our journey.'

How TCS is helping clients digitise their work models

How TCS is helping clients digitise their work models

Rediff.com   30 Nov 2021

Moving over 520,000 employees to a digital work model is no mean feat. Having done so, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) is taking these learnings to help clients digitise their work models. Swiss Re is one such client. For the global information technology services firm with a headcount of 528,748 as of end-September, the shift to a single human resource (HR) platform started a few months before the pandemic started, when TCS moved its HR solutions to Microsoft's platform. Siva Ganesan, global head, Microsoft business unit, TCS, still remembers the early days when TCS embarked upon a move from an existing software platform to a digital medium for communications on a Microsoft Office platform.

'Raising funds is not the end, execution is important'

'Raising funds is not the end, execution is important'

Rediff.com   23 Nov 2021

'We do realise it is time to have a larger ambition.'

Why Godrej Consumer stock may remain under pressure

Why Godrej Consumer stock may remain under pressure

Rediff.com   22 Nov 2021

A weak margin outlook in the near term and lack of fresh triggers may keep the Godrej Consumer Products (GCPL) stock under pressure. The stock, after tepid September quarter (Q2) results and marginal downward revision in earnings estimates, declined 3.5 per cent in trade on Friday. Though consolidated sales of the company, which owns the Goodknight and Cinthol brands, grew 8.5 per cent year-on-year (YoY), its operating profit declined because of the sharp contraction in margins.

Infosys, L&T are top picks of most brokerages for Samvat 2078

Infosys, L&T are top picks of most brokerages for Samvat 2078

Rediff.com   12 Nov 2021

Despite unprecedented levels of uncertainty in Samvat 2077, investors have little to complain about on the returns front. The BSE Sensex delivered returns of 38 per cent in this period, while the Nifty registered a return of over 40 per cent. As is the case in bull markets, companies in the small- and mid-capitalisation basket outperformed the benchmarks, with returns almost twice those of frontliners.