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Reliance likely to take on Amazon and Walmart in both online and offline retail

By
Anju Nambiar
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Amazon and Wallmart - Point 2 Note
Amazon and Wallmart | Image Credit-Retailreco

Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Industries recently purchased Future Group to further strengthen his position in the online and offline retail space. Reliance is planning for a big game and wants to combine both shopping experiences on a single platform. You won’t get more prominent names like Amazon and Walmart in e-commerce and retail. Even though Walmart recently merged with Flipkart, both the retail giants still fall short in understanding the Indian retail/e-com landscape. 

So far, the two big contenders have managed to stay strong since they have way more experience in this business and have been around for quite a while. Not to mention, both Amazon and Walmart are financially on much firmer grounds. 

Major retail and tech giants have been actively pursuing the Indian retail industry. Some are hailing Reliance’s move as a gamble because the Indian e-commerce and retail market are oversaturated with inexperienced suppliers. They are unsure of how to cope with running their shop online. 

Arvind Singhal, Chairman of Technopak Advisors, spoke about Reliance’s upper hand from the Future Group deal and said, Reliance was already much ahead of the competition. This deal has just further strengthened its position in the industry.

The recent $1 billion investment from Salt Lake is a clear indication that Reliance is making steady growth plans to push Reliance Retail biz to pick up on industry players. This is the second investment in Reliance industries subsidiary. Salt Lake invested $1.35 billion in the Jio platform earlier this year. Reliance is trying to become the best of both Amazon and Walmart for Indian retail.

Jio Platforms will act as the unifying platform for Reliance’s online and offline retail business. It is responsible for attracting Walmart’s investment. This is just the tip of the iceberg with more stakes expected to pour in. Many US companies, including Amazon, Walmart, and Zoom, were chalking out plans to take over India’s retail business. However, Reliance pushed forward Jio Platforms and Jio Mart, thus hindering their plans. 

Mayank Vishnoi, Resfeber International had this to say about Jio Platforms, The addition of new digital products targeting various sectors will pose threats to many large dominant players. Having strategic partners like Facebook and Google validates that Reliance’s game plan is real.

Reliance’s upper hand against Amazon was solidified when two notable events transpired. First was the acquisition of Future Group by Reliance Retail. Future Group was Reliance’s competitor, and this takeover accelerated Reliance’s growth further. Next was the decision to offer up a small piece of Reliance Retail to Walmart. If this deal materializes, it will be a big consolidation against Amazon.

In every way, Reliance seems to be picking up on Amazon and Walmart to make a stronghold in retail. Earlier, Reliance claimed a major stake in Netmeds, the e-commerce pharmacy company. But Future Group has been Reliance’s massive win so far because this deal is valued at $3.4 billion and will bring Future Group’s retail, wholesale, logistics, and warehousing units under Reliance’s wing.

Dalmia Cement (Bharat) launches platform for construction contractors

By
Point 2 Note Team
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constructions - Point 2 Note

Dalmia Cement has been in the news for quite some time. Dalmia Cement (Bharat) Ltd recently acquired Indian Energy Exchange shares worth approximately 98 crores through an open market transaction. As per the latest news, the company is launching Dalmia Masters, an online platform for construction contractors to help them with skill up-gradation, share best construction methods and practices, while giving incentives based upon their performance, helping deliver upward mobility and acknowledgment for their work.

Our product’s validation and recommendation by the contractor and technocrat
community plays a large role in our success. Reaching out to thousands of contractors and masons, Dalmia Masters will help redefine what construction professionals can expect from cement brands. – said Ujjwal Batria, Chief Operating Officer, Dalmia Cement (Bharat) Limited

The contractors and Head masons across 22 states and union territories across southern, eastern, and north-eastern India will be benefitted via Dalmia Masters platform. It is easy to enroll via mobile app, website, or through local Dalmia Cement dealer. The platform will offer e-learning and campus programs to the contractor community (post COVID-19 restrictions) that consist of personal electronics, consumer durables, and rewards.

After enrolling with Dalmia Masters, they can proceed to earn rewards by keeping constant use of Dalmia Cement’s brand names, consisting of Dalmia DSP, Konark as well as the eponymous Dalmia Cement brand.

Dalmia Cement respects the contractor’s community skills, ambitions, and aspirations. Over the past few decades, the company had loyalty programs linked to their performance, and Dalmia masters in an extension to their promise of ‘Dalmia Cement, Future Today.’ The program will reinforce the connection they have developed with construction professionals throughout the years.

USA based Indian Researchers are developing AI tools for tumor diagnosis

By
Apurva Minchekar
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Research - Point2Note

Two Indian researchers Pallavi Tiwari and Satish Vishwanath, faculty member in the Case Western Reserve School of Medicine and lead researchers in the Centre for Computational Imaging and Personal Diagnostics (CCPID) at the Case School of Engineering have been awarded with USD 1 million to build AI tools for tumor diagnosis to cut down on unnecessary second surgeries in cancer patients. 

Cancer patients have to undergo second surgeries unnecessary because the damaged tissues by chemotherapy or radiation resemble a recurring tumor on an MRI scan, which can be confirmed non-cancerous only after removing suspected tissue. Both Indian researchers believe that the AI tools for tumor diagnosis under development will be able to detect the difference between recurring tumors and non-cancerous tissues on post-operative MRI scans. The AI tool will be mainly for a brain tumor and colorectal cancer. Satish Vishwanath specializes in colorectal cancer and Pallavi Tiwari in brain tumors. 

The two Indian researchers are examining both types of tumors in this project. In such solid tumors, significant medical trouble identifies individuals who have reacted well to treatment with no or little tumor from those who still have expanding or recurrent tumors after treatment. If the tissue is not taken out, no one can tell if it’s a tumor or a dying tissue.

This means patients are being overtreated i.e., being recommended for an aggressive surgery that they do not need. Alternatively, clinicians risk not doing a second surgery when it is actually necessary to remove the recurrent tumor, implying that they sometimes risk undertreating the patient as well. – said Pallavi Tiwari

The AI tool will be developed to check routine MRI scans and capture specific information from them, which can measure physiology characteristics that can help distinguish between recurring tumors and damaged tissues. The researchers will work on multiple platforms for extensive research, test them across institutions, and conduct limited clinical trials to develop the AI tool in the next 3 years. The researchers will also face challenges such as pulling together post-therapy databases and detailed clinical information and ensuring that AI tools work accurately on post-therapy MRI scans. 

“The biggest clinical impact of the work will be in enabling fewer unnecessary surgeries to remove suspect tissue which needs to be confirmed as non-cancerous after initial therapy.” – said Satish Vishwanath 

The use of AI can transform and change the future of healthcare. It can help in deep learning of diagnosing a disease, reducing operational costs, helping in precise analysis in pathology, and building smart medical devices. Developing more AI tools in the healthcare field will be a revolutionizing clinical decision.

Amazon launches Alexa Print that uses voice commands to print documents

By
Point 2 Note Team
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Alexa Echo - Point2Note

Amazon’s brand-new Alexa Print feature extends the voice feature right into the physical world with many brand-new commands that enable the AI to provide a physical action to an inquiry or demand. Alexa can publish to-do checklists, recipes, a weekly schedule, educational material for children, and some games, like Sudoku or crosswords, puzzles, and a lot more.

A few of the web content originates from Alexa itself, like your usual order list or shopping list, for instance – some people still typically like to write down on a paper.

A lot of the material Alexa can currently print comes from third parties. Amazon dealt with Alexa skill makers Allrecipes, Los Angeles Times, and JumpStart Academy, to allow printing of various other files like educational worksheets, puzzles, recipes, and even more.

That indicates you can simply say things like “Alexa, print a crossword,” or “Alexa, print a breakfast recipe,” and a lot more.

Alexa

A few of these voice commands might be better than others. Having the ability to print “last Sunday’s crossword,” followed by “last Sunday’s crossword responses,” can be enjoyable for those that no more get a newspaper to read yet miss out on the puzzles.

For school kids, nonetheless, there are a couple of commands that can be worth utilizing. Alexa can currently be guided to print out “graph paper” or “lined paper,” which saves you from buying an entire ream or running out of paper when required. Homeschooling teachers or tutors and parents might also value the capability to print mathematics worksheets to supplement their remote education curriculum.

The Alexa-enabled printing feature works with any second-generation Echo device or newer and several IPP-enabled compatible printers. If you want to check that if your printer works with the feature, you can do so by saying, “Alexa, discover my printer.”.

The feature additionally offers you Low Supply Notifications as well as Smart Reorders alternative. Alexa gets information regarding your ink or printer toner supply degrees when you link your printer to Alexa and advises you through e-mail or voice when your product supply level is reduced.

Alexa has had the ability to print with specific printers- like supported HP printers. Alexa Print is Amazon‘s initial effort to function straight with printer-makers. Alexa Print is a helpful feature for those working remotely and teaching kids at home.

To put it simply, Alexa Print isn’t practically assisting Echo owners conveniently print documents, it’s additionally a means to produce extra e-commerce sales by taking advantage of the current scenario of work from home as well as online learning as the pandemic continues.

Google expands AI powered flood forecasting to India and Bangladesh

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Point 2 Note Team
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Ai powered flood forecasting - Point2Note
Ai powered flood forecasting

In 2018, Google started its flooding forecast effort in Patna, Bihar, which traditionally has been one of the most flood-prone areas in the country, with greater than 100 deaths every year – offer exact real-time flooding forecast to individuals in the area. As a Flood Forecasting initiative, Google teamed up with the Central Water Commission of India, Israel Institute of Technology, and Bar-Ilan University. Ever since Google has progressively broadened the AI-powered flood forecast solution and claims that it has sent out greater than 27 million flooding alerts in India to date.

Google likewise claimed that it has partnered with the Water Development Board of Bangladesh, which sees extra flooding than any other nation worldwide, to increase its effort to help the nearby country. This is the very first time Google is bringing the Flood Forecasting Initiative beyond India. It means that 200 million in India and 40 million in Bangladesh can currently get signals from its flooding projecting system so far.

Precise flooding projecting is a preferable objective. They use a mix of historical and contemporary data about river levels, rainfall, and flood simulations to create new forecast models through machine learning. In the situation of flood forecasts, however, Google isn’t utilizing details from users’ gadgets.

 “In more than 90 percent of cases, our forecasts will provide the correct water level within a margin of error of 15 centimeters,” said Google’s researchers. 

Google is trying out new models that can provide more precise notifications. Its most recent projection design can “double the lead time” of its previous AI-powered flood forecast system while also offering individuals details regarding the depth of the flooding. 

They, however, don’t deny that issues with using smart devices and pushing notifications still remains a complex piece of the puzzle. The major problems are the absence of accessibility to smartphones and limited trust about technical cautions. A recent survey reported that people favored getting alerts from local leaders through loud audio speakers and calls.

Google is currently considering these troubles and has started working in partnership with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. They hope to share its flooding projections with these companies that can further cascade the details with their very own networks.

There’s much more work ahead to strengthen the systems that so many vulnerable people rely on—and expand them to reach more people in flood-affected areas. Along with our partners around the world, we will continue developing, maintaining and improving technologies and digital tools to help protect communities and save lives, – said Yossi Matias, VP of Engineering and Crisis Response Lead at Google

Google has been interested in offering warnings regarding all-natural calamities and nationwide emergencies like flooding, wildfires, and quakes. A lot of these are dealt with by its Public Alerts program. Last month, the firm released a brand-new solution that transforms Android tools right into a seismometers network, leveraging the accelerometers inside phones and computers to spot the resonances from quakes and send out signals to individuals. The AI-powered flood forecast solution is a step ahead in its offerings.

Edtech firms on a hiring spree

By
Varun Aithal
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Edtech firms - Point2Note
Edtech firms

COVID-19 has hit the livelihood of many and affected almost all the industries across the globe. While it may have been worrisome for some, it also created opportunities for others. The pandemic forced multiple businesses to go online, and edtech firms are one of them. With colleges and schools being shut and education curriculum going online, it has opened the space for firms and startups to fast forward their strategies and use technology in their business, eventually making way for hiring more and more workforce to support them. 

According to reports, there are multiple vacancies in the edtech firms, and the companies are recruiting in large numbers. The lockdown has increased the demand for elearning, and it has resulted in exponential revenue growth of edtech firms. Initially, these firms were restricted to metropolitan cities, but they have even reached tier-2 cities and villages. 

There are multiple roles offered by these firms during the pandemic. The functions which are in high demand are technology, business development associates, content developers and faculty. Technology plays a vital role in edtech growth, and there has been a massive jump in hiring software engineers who can help design a robust online platform. To understand the market and present a revolutionary product, product managers are required. Similarly, brand awareness is essential, and according to the renowned BARC-Nielsen report, there is a 128% growth in the money spent on digital ads. 

On the other hand, focus on exclusivity has taken a paradigm shift when it comes to content for online channels. The content needs to be fresh and engaging. This has raised the demand for influential faculty and collaboration with industry professionals.

Recently, edtech startup WhiteHat Jr announced that they are planning to recruit 20,000 educators by year-end. The company believes that teachers remain the backbone of the product and are the driving force in their vision to make kids creators of technology. WhiteHat Jr was recently acquired by Byju’s and currently has 7000+ teachers on its platform.

In line with this vision, we are delighted to offer a long-term career roadmap to thousands of teachers in the country, and we are thrilled with the response, – said Karan Bajaj, CEO, and founder of WhiteHat Jr.

Edtech firms like Unacademy are raising funds to meet their ends and grow in the market. On the other hand, Byjus has become one of the top-sought learning platforms across the country. The offline classes are shifting slowly to online, which is increasing the demand for technology. To grow exponentially, hiring the talents is an important step and the edtech firms are the one which is offering the jobs in plenty.

Costco and Boeing invest millions to social justice initiatives

By
Point 2 Note Team
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Costco and Boeing - Point2Note
Costco and Boeing

We all have read about racial differences in the U.S. It shows us that to bring a change, we all need to unite and collectively support a social cause – a lesson we can seek from market leaders. Running business in the U.S. is to understand and consider racial obstacles, stand up for it, and preserve the communities’ culture and heritage. Looking at the racial oppression, two of the state’s greatest companies, Costco and Boeing, are investing tens of millions right into social justice initiatives.

Costco is investing $25 million to support the Local Initiatives Support Corporation’s (LISC), a new Black Economic Development Fund. Costco’s commitment guarantees to sustain Black-led banks and community development initiatives to allow companies to make financial investments mainly made to enhance financial possibilities for Black Americans.

We are thrilled to be a part of an investment strategy that will help some of the communities where we operate in the U.S. With LISC, and we are supporting a more inclusive economy, to break down race and class as barriers to opportunity and growth. – said Craig Jelinek, President, and CEO of Costco. 

Boeing announced $10.6 million in financial investments in almost two dozen nonprofits, and various other programs concentrated on “racial equity and social justice.” Amongst them is Seattle Children’s Odessa Brown Children’s Clinic, which will get $2.5 million to broaden healthcare accessibility for youngsters in Central and South Seattle.

Various other campaigns consist of improving the variety of Black Boeing workers in the U.S. by 20 percent to have their labor force reflect the regional markets where they function.

Boeing has given $120 million to support education in minority communities in the last five years. But the new $10.6 million investment reflects a new emphasis on digging deeply into confronting racism, and racial equity, CEO David Calhoun said in a message to employees.

Early responses to the protests on racism took place through social media messaging. These initiatives by companies suggest a much deeper, more financially purposeful reaction. Individuals representing black communities look ahead to the assistance of market players in the area to take such steps.

Google declares three-day weekend for ‘collective wellbeing’ of employees

By
Point 2 Note Team
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Collective Wellbeing - Point 2 Note
Google, image source Business Insider- Collective Wellbeing

It is officially six months right into working from home, and people almost everywhere have begun to feel the stress and are finding it challenging to manage the office and personal life. What appeared like a real blessing at first has transformed into a baneful scenario. All companies are now working on their back to work strategy. While Google had already extended its work from home policy until June 2021 and to ensure colleagues get much needed time for themselves, the tech giant has decided to offer an added day off to prevent stress and maintain ‘collective wellbeing’ of its employees during the COVID-19.

Previously, Google stated September 4, as a ‘collective wellbeing’ single paid vacation for all its staff members to eliminate tension and alleviation for them. Google now expanded this day-off in advance of the Labor Day in the United States, to a full-time vacation for all its employees. Employees that are taken into consideration as contractors or short-term, service providers or suppliers would not be entitled to this vacation.

The internal forum for employees states, We strongly encourage you to take this day off, and managers should actively support their team to reprioritize work commitments in order to do so,

The long weekend is subjective to urgent work requirements and if employees require to function on a Friday, they must take the following readily available functioning day off.

The technical team will not be able to enjoy the privilege of Fridays off, but Google is searching for methods to compensate them with a comparable course of getaway. Some staff members also wanted to take a few other days as a vacation. The company has mentioned in an interior message that it is not an alternative.
This added vacation is limited to the pandemic and will not be added to the yearly schedule, which indicates that it is just particular to 2020 to look after Google employee’s wellness amidst the tension of the pandemic and its after-effects.
“We’d like you to take this time off together as one team to better allow for detachment as a global community,” Google said.

This campaign by Google has taken the internet by storm. Previously, Google’s CEO, Sundar Pichai had asked employees to take time off on May 22, to resolve work from home related exhaustion throughout the coronavirus pandemic.

COVID-19 has had serious implications on everything – majorly economy and developing a new way of working for employees worldwide. Google has always been a favorite among professionals because of its culture, employee benefits and flexible ways of working. The three-day weekend initiative is a step ahead to ensure its employees are relieved from stress during the pandemic.

SpaceX launches its first Polar Orbit Mission from Florida

By
Varun Aithal
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0
SpaceX - Point2Note
SpaceX | Image Credit - Daily Express

Elon Musk Trust owned and backed SpaceX was able to launch the Polar Orbit Mission amidst the weather not conducive for them. The weather report stated that there is only 40% of chances to launch the space flight. Not deterred by the discouraging weather conditions, the scientists found the time gap to complete the mission. 

This was the first, Polar Orbit Mission launched from Florida since 1969. Before the launch on August 30th, the last polar orbit mission from Cape Canaveral was of Delta rocket on February 26th, 1969 – weather satellite ESSA 9 was launched five decades ago.  

During the launch, nine Merlin engines were used to shut down for two and a half minutes after the launch. This was done to provide the thrust for the launch.  

Talking about the mission, Wayne Monteith, associate administrator of the FAA’s office of commercial space transportation and the former commander of the 45th Space Wing said that SpaceX should be successful in 2 aspects – one is booster flyback and second, autonomous flight safety. The architecture of the command destruct systems is designed to set up terrestrially and you’d be looking right up the plume, and you get signal attenuation, and you may not be able to … send command destruct.

“So with autonomous flight safety and booster flyback, we were able to provide for them what appeared to be a notional safe corridor from a safety perspective.” 

SpaceX worked with the US Space Force’s 45th Space Wing to launch the Polar Orbit Mission. The 45th Space Wing controls the eastern range of Cape Canaveral. Cape Canaveral was preferred to that of Vandenberg even though the conditions being not suitable is because of its closeness to the equator. It is also beneficial in terms of rocket performance to low inclination orbits but reduces the performance when it comes to the high inclination orbits.  

SAOCOM-1B was scheduled to launch in March, but the mission was called off due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The main target of SAOCOM satellites is to provide information for the agriculture sector because taking advantage of the L-band capabilities, one of the things we develop is soil moisture maps, so we can measure the soil moisture 1 meter the surface of the land, – said Raúl Kulichevsky, executive and technical director of CONAE. 

The initial plan was to launch two Falcon 9 on the same day, which was previously done back in 1966. However, the scattered thunderstorms didn’t allow the launch of the second one. The other Falcon 9 was boarded with 60 Starlink satellites, which was launched on September 4th.

The company is set to launch a joint project between NASA, NOAA, the European Space Agency, and other European institutions. It is set to take off from Vandenberg with the Sentinel 6 Michael Freilich oceanography satellite in November. Also, another Falcon 9 will launch into a polar sun-synchronous orbit from Cape Canaveral on a rideshare mission with numerous small satellites in December. 

Washington Football Team fundraiser goes virtual

By
Varun Aithal
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0
Washington Football Team - Point 2 Note
Washington Football Team

The Washington Football Team announced on September 4 that they will conduct their annual Welcome Home Luncheon online for the first time in the history because of COVID-19. The event will be held virtually at 11:45 a.m. ET (21:15 IST). The money from the silent auction will be provided to the Washington Football Charitable Foundation’s COVID-19 relief efforts and social justice initiatives.

Welcome Home Luncheon is the annual event to pay tribute to the milestones achieved both on and off the field. The virtual meet holds special significance as it offers an excellent opportunity for both fans and corporates to come together to pay the tribute.

The best part of the virtual meet is that the fans will get to have a glimpse of the program for the first time. The entire fan base of the renowned Washington Football Team will get a glimpse of the program alongside raising the money for the Washington Charitable Foundation. The foundation has been playing a crucial role in providing support during the pandemic. Also, it is working on the social justice initiative across the DMV region. 

Three Washington players will be honored for their efforts on the field apart from their work off the field. The award includes the Bobby Mitchell offensive, Sam Huff defensive, and the Mark Moseley special teams player of the year award. 

The season doesn’t really feel like it’s begun until we hold the Welcome Home Luncheon. I have made a lot of unforgettable memories at this event. While I wish the Washington Football Team family could come together in person, I am thrilled that we’re able to invite our entire fanbase virtually and can’t wait to co-host with Julie. – said Santana Moss, Pregame analyst

Doc Walker will speak about the Charitable Foundation’s work and hand over the 2019 season player awards. Julie Donaldson and Santana Moss will host the event, which will feature remarks from special guests and a Q&A session with Prince George’s County native, Kevin Durant. 

Fans have already got a chance to participate in the silent auction and place their bids before the event. The bids are placed on experiences, autographed memorabilia, and much more.

The award ceremonies are not new for both fans and players. The virtual meet is making headlines because fans get to see the first-ever glimpse of the ceremony. The motive of raising funds for the social cause is a welcome move as the whole world unites for supporting COVID-19 relief efforts and social justice.

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