Apple supplier Foxconn‘s top executive has praised the chip ecosystem of India. According to a report by PTI, the Taiwan-based company’s chairman, Young Liu said that the ecosystem for semiconductor chips in India is for the “very brave”. During the second edition of SemiconIndia, Liu expressed optimism about the country’s semiconductor roadmap. “The ecosystem for chips in India is for the very brave. Every experience only positions companies stronger going forward,”Liu said while addressing the event. He also noted that Taiwan will be the “most trusted and reliable partner” for India. “Prime Minister Narendra Modi once mentioned to me that IT stands for India and Taiwan. Honourable Prime Minister, Taiwan is and will be, your most trusted and reliable partner. Let’s do this together!” he added.Apart from this, Liu also discussed Taiwan’s “buffalo spirit” and how India can apply the same method to develop its semiconductor ecosystem. “India has said its government has a high say-do ratio. This kind of trust is important because India’s semiconductor development is just starting,” he noted. Liu also mentioned that a workforce with varying expertise is also needed to work and ease the challenges together.Foxconn-Vedanta chip-making venture ‘failed’, still there’s hopeFoxconn backed out from a $19.5 billion semiconductor joint venture with home-grown Vedanta earlier this month. The venture failed as it struggled to rope in a technology partner.In February 2022, a joint venture between these two companies was signed to manufacture chips that are used in several products starting from mobile phones to cars. Later on, the JV also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Gujarat government. The company promised to invest Rs 1,54,000 crore to set up a semiconductor plant in the state. This venture could’ve given India its first semiconductor manufacturing facility. In June, US-based memory maker Micron Technology also announced that it will become India’s first semiconductor assembly. However, there is some hope left as Foxconn is still in the game. Post the failure of the venture, the company confirmed that it has been keeping a lookout for apt partners.In a statement, the company said: “Foxconn is working toward submitting an application related to Modified Programme for Semiconductors and Display Fab Ecosystem. We have been actively reviewing the landscape for optimal partners.”

Apollo APL charts an ambitious course towards accelerated growth with a 2.86 lakh tons capacity expansion plan. The company eyes new greenfield plants in key regions, backed by a hefty INR 500 crore capex funded through equity infusion and internal cash flows. Their aggressive pricing strategy aims to gain market share while maintaining a debt-free stance.

Instagram co-founders Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger, earlier this year, launched their new venture Artifact — a news app that delivers a personalised feed powered by artificial intelligence (AI). The app is now adding an AI-powered text-to-speech feature that will read you news articles in celebrities’ voices. According to a report by The Verge, the company is offering this feature as part of a partnership with Speechify – which is a mobile and desktop app that reads text aloud using a computer-generated text-to-speech voice. Artifact will read aloud news in the voice of Snoop Dogg and Gwyneth Paltrow, who are among the voices that can read you the news. According to Robby Stein, Artifact’s head of product, there are more than 30 English voices available. How to enable text-to-speech playerUsers of the app will be able to turn on the text-to-speech player by tapping on a “play” icon at the bottom bar while reading an article. The player will then let them choose things like reading speed (up to 4.5x!) and which voice to hear. The report said that the audio will keep playing in the background as the user explores other parts of Artifact or if they leave the app. The text-to-speech feature is initially rolling out to Apple iOS and will come to Android in the next few days. How Artifact delivers newsArtifact brings news from a curated list of publishers, including The New York Times as well as small-scale blogs about niche topics. The app will feature a feed of popular articles just like the way videos are presented on Reels and TikTok. Once a user taps on an article that interests them, Artifact will prioritise similar posts and stories.Since its launch, the app has got several features powered by artificial intelligence. These include the ability to summarise articles, explain it, and rewrite clickbaity headlines with the help of OpenAI’s GPT-4 large language model.

Samsung and Microsoft have formed a strategic partnership to improve phone security for business customers. This new solution, known as “device attestation,” is designed to verify a device’s identity and health, thus ensuring that it has not been compromised. According to Samsung, the device attestation is only available on certain Galaxy smartphones and tablets, specifically those that have “Security by Knox” and run on Android 10 or a later version. It is important to note that the devices must have been running Android 9 or a later version at the time of their release to be eligible for this solution.What it means for users Samsung Galaxy devices will offer attestation with added protection from Microsoft Intune to increase security and flexibility. This solution is designed for enterprises and provides an additional layer of protection against compromised devices falsely claiming to be secure and gaining access to sensitive corporate data.“Samsung is committed to meaningful innovations that are as secure as they are versatile and optimised. As work habits evolve and people are working from virtually anywhere on any device, we are paving the way for the future of enterprise device security and democratising the means for businesses to better protect their information,” said KC Choi, EVP and Head of Global Mobile B2B Team, MX Business at Samsung Electronics.How does “on-device attestation” works on Samsung Galaxy smartphonesAs an enterprise IT manager, you can use Intune to ensure the security of your mobile devices without compromising the user experience. By integrating Samsung devices with this technology, even highly regulated organisations can allow employees to use their own devices for work. This increases productivity, improves user experience, and simplifies administration.This partnership between Samsung and Microsoft works on both managed and unmanaged devices regardless of ownership. Traditional device attestation requires network connectivity and enrollment into the corporate system, making it mainly applicable to managed devices. However, with mobile hardware-backed attestation, enterprises can verify the device’s integrity and provide access to the corporate system, even if it is unmanaged. This streamlined process also allows employees to safely access the corporate system on their personal devices without additional security measures.

Capgemini has announced the launch of its generative AI portfolio of services for its clients. The new portfolio is designed to scale businesses with the help of generative AI. What the generative AI portfolio includes:– The “Generative AI strategy” empowers CXOs to identify and prioritise the most pertinent generative AI use cases for their businesses. It allows them to showcase the tangible value that can be attained and establish the necessary groundwork in terms of people, processes, and technology to expand their generative AI investments while effectively managing potential risks. – The implementation of Generative AI for Customer Experience revolutionises customer interactions through the deployment of four specialized generative AI assistants. It enables hyper-personalized customer experiences using a synthetic design assistant, improves customer self-service with personalized chatbots, enhances customer care services with a content and knowledge assistant, and optimizes sales teams’ performance with a product & offers knowledge assistant.– The implementation of Generative AI in Software Engineering enhances efficiency and quality throughout the entire software life cycle, encompassing design, coding, documentation, testing, deployment, and operations. It expedites the time to market for new software and aids enterprises in reducing technical debt by facilitating extensive modernization efforts for legacy software. Additionally, it contributes to heightened security by automatically identifying bugs or vulnerabilities and suggesting appropriate adjustments to software development teams, thereby reducing the attack surface.– The utilisation of Custom Generative AI for Enterprises empowers businesses dealing with sensitive data to deploy customized generative AI assistants specifically tailored to leverage their proprietary information, maximizing the impact on business value. The Group has developed a platform that combines the capabilities of pre-trained open large foundation models (LFMs) with enterprise proprietary data, allowing the fine-tuning of LFMs to suit the individual requirements of each client. By building customized models that draw from the company’s expertise, these AI solutions can generate unique and reliable outputs, facilitating progress on various fronts, such as enhancing customer experience, accelerating R&D efforts, and boosting performance in support and business functions.

Increasing revenue and attaining sustainable growth are two goals that many businesses pursue in today’s fast-paced and intensely competitive business environment. And guess what? The secret sauce to making it happen lies in none other than effective sales strategies. These game-changing tactics serve as the lifeblood of a thriving business, propelling it forward and solidifying its position in the market. So, get ready as we dive into this article to explore a myriad of powerful sales techniques and approaches that have a proven track record of accelerating revenue growth and enhancing the overall bottom line. 1. Targeted Lead Generation Efficient lead generation is the backbone of any successful sales strategy. Rather than spreading efforts thinly across a broad audience, a targeted approach is essential. This involves utilizing data analytics and customer profiling to identify and focus on the prospects most likely to be interested in the products or services offered. By understanding the specific needs and preferences of these potential customers, businesses can tailor their marketing efforts to resonate deeply with the target audience, yielding higher conversion rates and more substantial sales opportunities. 2. Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Software Investing in a robust CRM system is a game-changer for sales organizations seeking to streamline their processes and optimize their performance. A high-quality CRM platform enables sales teams to manage their pipeline efficiently, track leads, automate sales processes, and nurture customer relationships. The system acts as a centralized hub of customer data, empowering sales representatives to deliver personalized and timely interactions with clients. By keeping customer information organized and accessible, sales professionals can focus on building strong connections and closing deals, leading to increased customer satisfaction and improved customer retention rates. 3. Consultative Selling Today’s customers seek more than just a sales pitch; they desire authentic interactions with businesses that genuinely understand their needs and offer tailored solutions. Adopting a consultative selling approach is the secret to becoming a trusted advisor to potential clients. Through active listening and thorough understanding of the prospects’ pain points, goals, and objectives, sales representatives can provide personalized recommendations that align precisely with the customers’ requirements. This level of attentive service fosters a strong sense of trust and loyalty, resulting in long-term customer relationships and increased referral opportunities. 4. Upselling and Cross-Selling While acquiring new customers is undoubtedly important, businesses must not overlook the immense revenue potential lying within their existing customer base. Implementing upselling and cross-selling strategies is a proactive way to tap into this opportunity. By suggesting complementary products or service upgrades to existing customers, businesses can boost the overall value of their purchases. Successful upselling and cross-selling not only drive immediate revenue growth but also contribute to enhanced customer satisfaction, as clients feel well-cared for and understood by the business. 5. Sales and Product Training In the dynamic world of sales, staying ahead of the game is contingent upon continuous learning and development. Investing in comprehensive sales and product training for the sales team equips them with the knowledge and skills necessary to excel in their roles. A well-trained sales force can confidently handle objections, provide accurate information, and deliver compelling sales pitches that resonate with potential buyers. Moreover, ongoing training ensures that the sales team stays up-to-date with the latest product developments, industry trends, and effective selling techniques, enabling them to adapt and excel in various sales scenarios. 6. Sales Incentives and Rewards Human motivation is a powerful driving force in achieving outstanding results. A sales team that feels valued and recognized for their efforts will go the extra mile to exceed targets. To fuel this motivation, businesses can implement performance-based incentives and rewards. Recognition programs, bonuses, and commission structures can serve as potent tools to inspire the sales team to reach higher targets, increase productivity, and ultimately drive revenue growth. The sense of accomplishment and camaraderie resulting from these initiatives create a positive work environment that fosters a culture of success. 7. Strategic Pricing and Discounts Finding the optimal balance between attracting customers and maintaining healthy profit margins is a challenge faced by all businesses. Strategic pricing is a delicate art that involves understanding the customers’ perceived value of the product or service. By employing data-driven insights and market analysis, businesses can determine the most compelling pricing strategy to encourage purchase decisions. Additionally, offering limited-time discounts and promotions can create a sense of urgency, driving customers to make a decision while still ensuring sustainable profitability in the long run. 8. Customer Retention Strategies While customer acquisition is undeniably crucial, customer retention is equally vital for sustainable revenue growth. Cultivating loyal, repeat customers requires dedicated efforts and a focus on creating exceptional experiences. Businesses can implement various customer retention strategies, such as loyalty programs, personalized offers, and unmatched customer service. By showing customers that their loyalty is valued, businesses can establish a strong bond and encourage repeat business, leading to increased customer lifetime value and reduced churn. 9. Strategic Partnerships and Alliances In the pursuit of accelerated revenue growth, businesses should explore strategic partnerships and alliances with like-minded and complementary entities. Collaborating with other organizations can expand market reach, enhance product offerings, and create new growth opportunities. By tapping into each other’s strengths, businesses can mutually benefit from shared expertise, resources, and customer bases. Such synergistic partnerships have the potential to unlock new markets and revenue streams that may have been challenging to access independently. 10. Sales Forecasting and Performance Analytics Data-driven insights are the compass that guides businesses on their journey to revenue growth. Sales forecasting and performance analytics provide invaluable information about sales trends, customer behavior, and the effectiveness of sales strategies. Armed with this knowledge, businesses can refine their approaches, identify areas for improvement, and make informed decisions to drive revenue growth. Analyzing performance metrics also enables businesses to set realistic sales targets and allocate resources more effectively. Conclusion In the quest to achieve remarkable revenue growth and ensure long-term business success, implementing a well-rounded and dynamic sales strategy is paramount. By combining targeted lead generation, leveraging CRM

US smartphone shipments saw a decline of 24 per cent year-on-year in Q2 2023, according to Counterpoint Research’s Market Monitor data. This marks the third consecutive quarter of year-on-year decline. In the declining second quarter, iPhone shipments were affected the least, witnessing a 6 per cent decrease year-on-year, while also registering an increase in share of shipments to 55 per cent. Among the Android brands, Samsung, Motorola, and TCL-Alcatel experienced the most significant drops in shipments.Samsung, which accounted for 23 per cent of total smartphone shipments, witnessed a decline of 37 per cent in Q2 2023. Meanwhile, Motorola, the third biggest shareholder, registered a 17 per cent decline in Q2 2023. TCL, which also includes the Alcatel Onetouch brand, accounted for 3 per cent of shipments, registering a staggering 69 per cent decline. Google, which had a 3 per cent share in Q2 2023, was the only manufacturer, which saw an increase in shipments, almost half of what it registered in the same quarter last year, accounting for 2 per cent of total shipments in Q2 2023.According to Research Analyst Matthew Orf, there was a decline in smartphone shipments in Q2 2023 due to low consumer demand. The summer sales slump arrived early, despite the decrease in inflation and the strong job market. Consumers were hesitant to upgrade their devices due to market uncertainty. This trend is expected to continue in Q3 2023, but there is optimism regarding the upcoming release of the iPhone 15.According to Research Analyst Matthew Orf, there was a decline in smartphone shipments in Q2 2023 due to low consumer demand. The summer sales slump arrived early, despite the decrease in inflation and the strong job market. Consumers were hesitant to upgrade their devices due to market uncertainty. This trend is expected to continue in Q3 2023, but there is optimism regarding the upcoming release of the iPhone 15.Apple‘s shipments declined in the recent quarter, but their share of shipments increased by 10%. The three major carriers offered attractive promotions for both postpaid and prepaid plans, including credits for the latest iPhone and discounts for older models.Trade-in credits hit record highs, with Verizon offering up to $1,100 for the Pixel Fold. Google’s Pixel 6a entered the prepaid market to compete with the iPhone 11, and both devices were heavily subsidised.Despite a drop in smartphone shipments, the foldable market achieved significant accomplishments during the quarter, notes senior research analyst Maurice Klaehne.Motorola unveiled its latest foldable device, the Razr+, in the US after a hiatus since 2021, while Google debuted its first foldable, the Pixel Fold, offering an alternative to Samsung’s Galaxy foldable devices. As Samsung prepares to launch new models of the Galaxy Z Flip and Z Fold in Q3 2023, it is possible that foldable shipments in the US could reach record highs during that quarter.

Fintech company Angel One (formerly known as Angel Broking) has launched the #SuperIsHere campaign. It is an AI-powered campaign that aims to encourage and empower billions across the nation to leverage the power of data and technology in their wealth-creation journey with the Angel One Super App. The #SuperIsHere campaign is driven by the Swedish director Anders Forsman, enlightens investors, traders, and users that the Super App platform is now available for the diverse investment journey. Through influencer partnerships, social media posts, business channels, news channels, Google, Meta advertisements, OTTs etc, this tech-powered campaign communicates how GenZ and Millennials can leverage the Super App for a customised and simplified investment experience. To bring the SuperApp experience live in Tier 2, Tier 3 and beyond cities, the company has also planned activation programs at a large scale.“Our mission is to empower every Indian investor through Angel One Super App, delivering a seamless and technologically advanced experience for investing and trading at all levels. We have utilized extensive data to comprehend client needs, enabling us to tailor curated journeys within the app. Through the #SuperIsHere campaign, we showcase the advantages of the Angel One Super App, aiming to attract more clients and expand into underpenetrated markets, thereby fostering organic growth,” said Prabhakar Tiwari, chief growth officer, Angel One Ltd. “We completed 100% rollout of the Super App earlier this year. It has been built with deep understanding of how mobile apps are integral to our lives, and investors and traders are no different. #SuperIsHere campaign would create pan India awareness and appeal for our SuperApp,” said Dinesh Thakkar, chairman and managing director, Angel One Ltd.

Worldwide smartphone shipments have declined for the eighth consecutive quarter. According to a report by the International Data Corporation (IDC), 265.3 million units of smartphones were shipped globally in the second quarter of 2023. The shipments have dropped by 7.8% since last year’s Q2. IDC’s Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker report claims that the market struggles with soft demand, inflation, macroeconomic uncertainties, and excess inventory.However, there’s a silver lining as the report notes that the rate of decline is slowing compared to previous quarters. Commenting on the current market scenario, IDC’s research director Nabila Popal said: “The good news is that inventory levels are improving and the latest market chatter suggests that by Q3 excess inventory in finished devices and components should clear up. As inventory levels normalize, we are finally hearing optimism from key OEMs and supply chains and expect the market to return to growth by the end of the year and into 2024. As the market ramps back up, it is also an opportunity for vendors to gain share. IDC expects a shift in the vendor rankings at the bottom of the stack, as we already see happening this quarter with Transsion entering the Top 5 for the first time.”Smartphone markets in different regions After five quarters of significant double-digit contractions, China witnessed a year-over-year decline of 2.1% in Q2 2023. The report adds that the market performance is better than in past quarters, however, consumer sentiment and spending remain low. As per the report, 618 online shopping festivals in June were expected to boost sales in China, but smartphone sales saw a 6.5% YoY drop at this time. Other major regions include Asia/Pacific (excluding Japan and China), the US and Europe and the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) also saw shipments decline by 5.9%, 19.1%, and 3.1%, respectively in 2Q23. Another research director at IDC, Anthony Scarsella said: “Although the first half of the year has presented many challenges to the market, we believe that there remains plenty of opportunity awaiting in the second half of the year. The foldable market remains an exciting product to consumers, and the arrival of new models and new vendors joining the race will hopefully translate to wider adoption and lower prices. Moreover, we expect the foldable market to grow nearly 50% in 2023 while the total market remains down.”Biggest gainers and losers Company 2Q23 Shipments 2Q23 Market Share 2Q22 Shipments 2Q22 Market Share Year-Over-Year Change 1. Samsung 53.5 20.2% 63.1 21.9% -15.2% 2. Apple 42.5 16.0% 45.4 15.8% -6.3% 3. Xiaomi 33.2 12.5% 39.5 13.8% -16.0% 4. Oppo* 25.4 9.6% 27.4 9.5% -7.6% 4. Transsion* 25.3 9.5% 18.8 6.5% 34.1% Others 85.4 32.2% 93.3 32.4% -8.4% Total 265.3 100.0% 287.6 100.0% -7.8% Source: IDC Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker, July 27, 2023

Last weekend, I turned to Google Search for help figuring out how many stamps I needed to put on an 8-ounce piece of mail. (Naturally, I was sending a copy of the latest issue of WIRED!). It’s the exact sort of question that I hoped Google Search’s new generative AI feature, which I’ve been testing for the past month, would solve much faster than I could through my own browsing. Google’s clunkily named Search Generative Experience, SGE for short, infuses its search box with ChatGPT-like conversational functionality. You can sign up at Google’s Search Labs. The company says it wants users to converse with its search chatbot, which launched to testers in May, to dive deeper into topics and ask more challenging and intuitive questions than they would type into a boring old query box. And AI-generated answers are meant to organize information more clearly than a traditional search results page—for example, by pulling together information from multiple websites. Most of the world’s web searches run through Google, and it’s been developing AI technologies longer than most companies, so it’s fair to expect a top-notch experience. So goes the theory. It turns out that in practice the new feature is so far more nuisance than aide. It’s slow, ineffective, verbose, and cluttered—more artificial interference than intelligence. The first thing I noticed about Google’s vision for the future of search was its sluggishness. Once you gain access to Google’s test, the search box looks unchanged. But in response to a query like “How many stamps to mail 8 ounce letter,” a new section takes up a good chunk of the screen, pushing down the conventional list of links. Within that area, Google’s large language models generate a couple of paragraphs similar to what you might find from ChatGPT or Microsoft’s Bing Chat. Buttons at the bottom lead to a chatbot interface where you can ask follow-up questions. The first thing I noticed about Google’s vision for the future of search was its sluggishness. In tests where I controlled a stopwatch app with one hand and submitted a query with the other, it sometimes took nearly six seconds for Google’s text-generator to spit out its answer. The norm was more than three seconds, compared to no more than one second for Google’s conventional results to appear. Things could have been worse: I did my tests after Google rolled out an update which it claims doubled the search bot’s speed last month. Yet I still often find myself deep into reading the regular results by the time the generative AI finishes up, meaning I end up ignoring its tardily submitted dissertations. Cathy Edwards, a Google Search vice president, tells me speed optimizations of the AI software underpinning the tool are ongoing. One could excuse the slowness of this new form of search if the results were worthwhile. But accuracy is spotty. Google’s five-sentence generative AI response to my stamps question included apparent errors of both multiplication and subtraction, stamp prices outdated by two years, and suggested follow-up questions that ignored crucial variables for shipping costs, such as shape, size, and destination. The disclaimer Google displays at the top of each AI-generated answer rang resoundingly true: “Generative AI is experimental. Info quality may vary.” In the same response, Google’s new search feature suggested that I would need either $2.47 or $4 worth of stamps. Navigating to the US Postal Service’s online calculator provided the official answer: I needed $3.03, or five stamps at 66 cents each with a 27-cent overpayment. Google’s Edwards says my humble query pushed the technology’s current boundaries. “It’s definitely on the frontier,” she says. Unfortunately, dumbing down didn’t end well either. When asked for just the price of a stamp, Google responded with an outdated figure. Only specifying that I wanted the price as of this month got the system to correctly reflect this month’s 3-cent cost hike. To be fair, ChatGPT would flunk this query too because its training data cuts off in 2021—but it is not positioned as a replacement for a search engine.