Latest news with #Chandra
Time of India
12 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
Why Martech Is Now at the Heart of Customer Experience in BFSI?
The finance sector has traditionally operated with siloed systems, legacy processes and fragmented data, making it difficult to understand or respond to individual customer needs in real time. Personalisation was limited and experiences often felt transactional. Martech is now reshaping this landscape, enabling financial institutions to harness data, unify touchpoints and deliver tailored, meaningful interactions that build trust, improve retention and increase lifetime value. The Big Leap Martech Social, hosted by ETBrandEquity and CleverTap, brought together India's leading marketers for an exclusive conference on 8 May 2025 in Bengaluru. Speakers included Anchit Chandra, vice president and head of digital marketing and CRM, Muthoot FinCorp ONE, and Animesh Das, CEO, Acko General Insurance. The session was moderated by Subharun Mukharjee, vice president, CleverTap, and Krystyna Devina Lason, senior anchor and producer, The Economic Times. The discussions focused on how martech enables financial brands to go beyond transactions and build relationships through data-driven insights and contextual relevance. Chandra spoke about the challenge of serving a diverse customer base—ranging from grassroots individuals to ultra-high-net-worth clients. Each transaction is unique, whether it involves pledging different quantities of gold jewellery or applying for loans of varying sizes. He said this diversity is also what unlocks long-term value. 'With over 3,800 branches, each providing daily insights from walk-ins, we capture data from conversations, personalise offers and use localisation to reach different segments. Our martech stack helps us process that data and enrich it with secondary sources, allowing us to serve customers whose needs we may not directly capture,' he said. This strategy allows Muthoot FinCorp ONE to personalise interactions based on each customer's financial context. Whether it's assessing fluctuating loan eligibility or segmenting service delivery, the company aims to offer relevant and differentiated solutions. 'We're building a martech stack that delivers tailored offers daily, driving loyalty and improving retention,' said Chandra. Das recalled the early days of Acko and the limitations of traditional insurance. He said insurance had remained unchanged for decades, sold by agents door-to-door, based on paper-heavy, standardised products. The system lacked innovation and personalisation. Acko wanted to change that completely. 'Tech is usually seen as a way to gain efficiency. It shouldn't be. It should be the foundation of how you build the product, experience and distribution. This isn't about incremental changes, it's about rethinking the entire model.' Das said understanding the core consumer is more important than pushing broad campaigns. Precise targeting, he added, can cut marketing costs by a third. 'We ask: is the user already on the platform? Which channels do they use? Tools today allow us to reach users with accuracy and context.' He cited an example: 'If a customer has recharged a FASTag, I know they're likely travelling. I won't send a generic 'buy insurance' message. I'll say 'Hope you're travelling, see how our insurance can help.' That kind of sharp messaging only works when tech is central. It's not about scale, it's about reaching the right user smartly and efficiently.' Muthoot FinCorp ONE and Acko reflect how martech is reshaping financial services. From real-time data integration and targeted offers to smarter product development and communication, technology is now central to modern customer engagement.
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Business Standard
2 days ago
- Business
- Business Standard
Tata to create a new trust to help Air India crash victims: Chandrasekaran
The Tata Group will set up a new trust to support families of the Air India crash victims 'in every possible way,' said Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran. In an interview with Times Now, Chandrasekaran said the group is working on a plan to depute one Tata employee with the families of each victim. 'We are looking at the option to set up an AI171 trust to help the families,' Chandrasekaran, who first heard about the crash in his Mumbai office, said. The conglomerate has already announced ₹1 crore compensation to each victim of the crash which killed 274 passengers, including crew and people on the ground in Ahmedabad. When asked about maintenance of the aircraft, Chandrasekaran said Air India takes all safety-related issues very seriously. 'We can't jump to any conclusions and we have to wait for the investigation to get through,' Chandra said. He added that the Black Box and Cockpit Voice recorder will give the correct picture. There were no red flags about maintenance, he said. A preliminary report is likely in the next 30 days, he added. 'We had 27 Dreamliners when we bought the airline from the government in 2022 and acquired 6 through Vistara being merged, and there were no concerns about the Dreamliners,' Chandra said. Dreamliners have been flying for a very long time, he said, adding that Dreamliners are not maintained by any Turkish company as speculated in a section of the media. Chandra admitted that the communication from Air India was not very strong and the group has set up a new strategic communications team to communicate better with the people. 'We have to communicate very strongly on a daily basis,' he said. On communications with the passengers, Chandra said communication has improved but still a lot needs to be done. 'Our focus currently is on addressing the needs of all those who are affected and bring stability,' Chandra said. He added that they will look into the alleged 'plagiarised' statement made by Chief Executive Officer Campbell Wilson a day after the crash. On Praful Patel's social media statement that why Singapore Airline (SIA), an Air India equity holder, is keeping quiet, Chandra said SIA has been a great partner. 'Since we have taken over, we have taken the best processes from SIA. They have helped us in processes like customer experience and they are offering all the help they can,' he said. Campbell was not a nominee of SIA, Chandra clarified. Chandra said when these Dreamliners were acquired in 2013, Patel was part of the then government, led by Congress. On Wednesday, former civil aviation minister Patel had lashed out at Singapore Airlines for its 'deafening silence' following the crash of Air India flight AI171 last week. He questioned why a key shareholder and maintenance partner of the airline had failed to publicly respond for nearly six days. Patel, a senior leader of the Nationalist Congress Party, served as civil aviation minister from May 2004 to January 2011.
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Fictitious addresses, forged documents: SGST dept uncovers ₹130-crore fraud
The state goods and services tax (SGST) department has uncovered a large-scale fraud in which firms registered under 'fictitious' addresses allegedly siphoned off ₹130 crore by falsely claiming input tax credit (ITC), officials said. A series of FIRs have been lodged at the Kalyanpur police station in Kanpur on Monday and Tuesday, they added. According to state tax officer Ramesh Chandra, one of the main accused, the proprietor of a firm, obtained GST registration on February 11, 2025 using an address in Gangaganj, Panki. However, physical verification by the department found the declared premises occupied by an unrelated individual, who denied any commercial association with the said proprietor and stated that the property had not been leased, Chandra said. Further scrutiny revealed that the electricity bill submitted on the GST portal was also linked to a different address where the said proprietor could not be traced, he said, adding authorities suspect that forged documents were used to secure the registration. Data analysis from the GST portal indicates that the firm declared an outward supply worth ₹463 crore and availed ITC amounting to ₹83.37 crore, which was subsequently passed on to another firm, which has been under suspension since April 28. Moreover, the firm had not recorded any inward supply, raising concerns regarding the authenticity of its transactions, officials said, adding the firm's PAN details suggest it also obtained GST registration in Delhi. Another firm from Patna allegedly using fictitious address details availed ₹37.87 crore through fraudulent ITC claims, officials said. Similarly, an individual from Maharashtra operated a firm suspected to be evading taxes to the tune of ₹8.44 crore. The SGST department has initiated legal proceedings against the accused under relevant provisions of the GST Act, and further investigations are underway to ascertain the full extent of the fraud and identify additional beneficiaries.
The Hindu
4 days ago
- Business
- The Hindu
PNB inks pact with Singareni Collieries to launch salary saving scheme
Public sector lender Punjab National Bank has signed an MoU with The Singareni Collieries Company to launch PNB Salary Saving Scheme whose feature included a ₹1.25 crore accidental insurance coverage for SCCL employees. The agreement was signed in Hyderabad recently in the presence of PNB MD and CEO Ashok Chandra, other senior officials from both organisations among others, the bank said in a release on Monday. Besides the personal accidental insurance, the scheme offers term life insurance cover of up to ₹10 lakh; air accidental insurance of up to ₹2.50 crore; permanent total disability cover of up to ₹1.25 crore and family centric benefits including zero balance accounts for spouse and 2 children. It also offers a host of additional banking benefits, including concessions on interest rates, documentation and upfront charges in retail loans. 'The agreement with SCCL will serve as a model for other sectors. The customised scheme is now effective for SCCL employees and we are committed to extend similar comprehensive coverage to other industries soon,' Mr. Chandra said.
News18
6 days ago
- Health
- News18
Multiple Sclerosis In India: A Neurological Battle Beyond The Surface
Last Updated: The progression of multiple sclerosis can be unpredictable, as some individuals show mild symptoms while others show varying degrees of disability. Multiple sclerosis is a neurological disorder that occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks the protective sheath surrounding the nerves in the brain and spinal cord. This causes inflammation and scarring, interfering with the messages sent between the brain and the rest of the body. The progression of the disease can be very unpredictable, as some individuals have mild symptoms, while others may have worsening disability. Dr. P Satish Chandra, Senior Consultant Neurologist at Apollo Hospitals Jayanagar, Bengaluru, explains that multiple sclerosis (MS) is also called an 'invisible illness', but for the people who experience it firsthand, every day, the struggles are far from invisible. MS not only affects physical well-being but also mental, social, and financial health. Dr Chandra says, 'In India, more than 1.5 lakh individuals, primarily young adults aged 20-40, are struggling with this condition in the absence of proper systemic support." 'The symptoms of MS are varied and differ in each person. These can involve fatigue, vision problems, weakness in the muscles, motor impairment, balance issues, cognitive problems, and even depression. These symptoms might get intensified over time, making performing everyday tasks a huge challenge for those afflicted by it," explains Dr Chandra. While the precise cause of MS is unknown, studies indicate that a combination of genetic predisposition and environmental exposures is implicated. Dr Chandra says, 'MS cannot be cured, yet it can be treated. Disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) like ocrelizumab, today, are enhancing outcomes by lowering relapse rates as well as halting disease progression and preventing disability in the long run. Ocrelizumab is one of the DMTs approved in India, which can be used in all subtypes of multiple sclerosis and is the only treatment approved for the primary progressive form of MS. It works by targeting immune cells that cause nerve damage, significantly reducing relapse rates, slowing disease progression, and preserving mobility for longer. Administered biannually, it also improves adherence by minimising treatment burden." Beyond medical treatment, patients face significant social stigma – being seen as unreliable, lazy, or even emotionally unstable. Empowering people with MS means advocating for early and accurate diagnosis, workplace accommodations, mental health support, and inclusion in policy frameworks. Accurate and timely diagnosis remains a problem, particularly in smaller cities where neurologists and diagnostic facilities are scarce and symptoms get falsely attributed to other neurological or nutritional diseases. First Published: June 15, 2025, 11:47 IST News lifestyle » health-and-fitness Multiple Sclerosis In India: A Neurological Battle Beyond The Surface
