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Asia-Pacific region leads the world in mobile app growth: Adjust

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The Asia-Pacific (APAC) region leads the world in mobile app growth, reveals a report by Adjust, a mobile marketing analytics platform. The report shows just how fast the mobile app market is growing, as more and more people in APAC are using apps to manage their daily tasks and keep themselves entertained.

As per the Adjust APAC Mobile App Trends Report 2021, installs across all verticals in the region increased by 31% YoY in 2020, and are continuing to grow steadily in 2021, up by another 4%. Growing 54% YoY, sessions also boomed in 2020 — largely due to the shift to mobile during lockdowns. Consequently, growth in sessions has not been as impressive in 2020 so far.

“While APAC’s overall sessions growth in H1 2021 has only increased by 1%, it is slowly building momentum and has almost reached 2020’s Q1 peak,” said April Tayson, Regional VP, INSEA, Adjust. “This shows that the app industry is retaining users acquired during the recent lockdowns — and continues to bring new users,” she said.

Installs and sessions increased dramatically in every country in 2020 — all continuing to grow in 2021.

The report is based on Adjust’s top 910 apps from APAC. It draws data from India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam.

According to the study, India and Vietnam came closely behind Japan with 27% YoY growth on install rate in 2020, ranking second amongst the APAC countries. Japan’s installs grew the most in 2020, climbing 32% YoY, just above the regional average of 31%. Singapore’s sessions have increased by 34% this year, compared to the 1% growth in 2020. Vietnam, the only country that didn’t grow in 2020, decreasing 9%, is seeing the inverse in 2021 — with sessions increasing by 12%.

The report also takes a close look at the growth of three verticals: gaming (hyper-casual and non-hyper casual), fintech and e-commerce in APAC in 2020 — and their continued growth in 2021.  Hyper casual gaming grew the most out of all verticals, with installs climbing 66% YoY in 2020, and 49% in 2021. Fintech takes second place (36% and 18%), followed by ecommerce (27% and 8%) and non-hyper casual games (23% and 4%).

Additional takeaways

Gaming saw impressive growth in APAC. For gaming overall, Vietnam was the top-performing market in 2020, with a 37% boost in installs YoY, followed closely by Indonesia (34%) and India (33%). In H1 2021, Singapore (80%), Vietnam (51%) and Japan (41%) are leading the pack in installs.

For hyper-casual gaming specifically, Singapore saw the most YoY growth in installs (112%) in 2020, followed by Indonesia (101%) and Thailand (74%). This year, however, Indonesia (64%), India (61%) and Thailand (54%) are enjoying the highest install growth rates.

Fintech in APAC excelled in 2020, as people increasingly turned to mobile banking and payments. The trend continues in 2021. India ranked third alongside Singapore with a 72% growth rate in fintech installs in 2020, while Thailand and Vietnam led the way with 100% and 97% respectively. So far in 2021, fintech app installs are surging in all markets, with standout growth in Indonesia (89%), Singapore (70%) and South Korea (62%). India currently ranks fourth at 24%.

The report also shows that the time users spent in-app, the amount of sessions they had per day and the length of each of those sessions all grew. This is evidenced by very consistent retention rates throughout the year despite the impacts of the pandemic. In Q4, the day 30 average was 5.68%.

With iOS14.5+ redefining the industry’s approach to user acquisition, and Android 12 on the horizon, collecting granular data points on user behaviors and in-app patterns is becoming increasingly important. With this data, developers and marketers can do A/B testing to understand what users expect and how to optimize the in-app experience to better meet their needs.

itel launches 4K G-Series Android TV Range in India

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itel India has recently launched its new range of 4K Android TVs in the country under G-Series. Available in 140cm (55) and 108cm (43) size variants, the TVs offer a super loaded package for consumers who expect a better picture and sound quality.

The 4K UHD resolution coupled with Ultra Bright Display (up to 400nits) and 24W Dolby Audio provide an immersive viewing experience in the comfort of their home. On the technology front, G4334IE (43-inch) and G5534IE (55-inch) come with the Android 10 operating system (OS), built-in Google Assistant and Chromecast and a powerful chipset from MediaTek for a glitch-free picture clarity. Its premium design and smooth finishing make it a beautiful addition to the room while its robust built and durability adds to the consumer benefit.

The TVs offer access to 5000+ apps through Google playstore, 2GB + 8GB storage and a smart remote for enhanced convenience of the user. It is also equipped with built-in Wi-Fi, HDMI, USB ports and Bluetooth 5.0 to enable a connected smart home experience as well. As a super loaded package that maximizes consumer benefit, the TVs are supplemented by free installation, 2-year warranty on panel and the extensive service network of 750+ centres across India. The TV portfolio is ‘Made in India’ and is targeted towards consumers who want to upgrade to a superior and better Android TV.

With the growing retail potential of electronics in Tier 2 & 3 cities, itel India is expanding its portfolio with advanced products that push the boundaries of technology and innovation. The 4K UHD Android TV range is one such product offering superior technology to the consumers in this competitive market. The price of the latest range will cost you Rs 32,999 for the 43-inch variant and Rs 46,999 for the 55-inch version.

Truecaller’s safety app Guardians crosses 1 million downloads

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Personal safety app Guardians, from the house of Truecaller, has achieved a milestone of1 million downloads worldwide, with India accounting for 60% of the total. The app was launched in March this year and is available on both the Google Play Store and Apple App Store.

Guardians now supports multiple languages including Hindi, Arabic, French, Spanish, Portuguese and Indonesian. The app has received 4.5 stars rating on Google Play Store and is also typically amongst the top 10 apps in the Maps and Navigation category.

Features to look out for

Satellite view: Users can now turn on satellite view and see a real map of Earth along with accurate topographical details. Just like the default map view, satellite imagery is also provided by Google. Users can switch between satellite and default views from Profile > Advanced.

Location-based alerts: With this feature, the app will allow users to mark their most frequent places like their home, school or workplace. These locations can be their safe space and whenever someone moves out of this ‘safe’ place, the Guardians can be notified of the same.

In the next few updates to the app, users will be allowed to automate things too, such as automatically start location sharing when one leaves home, thus further saving the battery, said the company in a statement.

Activity-based alerts: This feature is opt-in, so users will have to specifically enable it if they want to use it. Activity-based alerts are based on your activity and use Android’s Activity Recognition API. The Guardians app will soon be able to trigger and send notifications when you start walking or driving. It will also be able to trigger sharing of alerts based on speed, such as when you start walking/running or driving faster than 50km/h.

Route Mobile appoints Bhaskar Pramanik as Additional and Independent Director

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Route Mobile announced the appointment of Bhaskar Pramanik as an Additional and Independent Director on the Board of the Company on August 10, 2021.

Pramanik is a seasoned entrepreneur and a tech disruptor with a career spanning over 45 years. He has held key national and global leadership positions in leading multinational technology companies, across India, Singapore, and the US. Pramanik was also on the Executive Committee of NASSCOM, the National Committee of CII and AMCHAM, and has been a former board member of the State Bank of India, former Chairman of Microsoft India and Managing Director at Oracle Corporation and Sun Microsystems in India. He was also the Global VP for Commercial Systems at Sun Microsystems Inc., based out of Menlo Park, CA.

Rajdipkumar Gupta, Managing Director and Group CEO, Route Mobile Limited, said, “We are delighted to welcome Mr. Bhaskar Pramanik as an Additional and Independent Director at Route Mobile to guide and enhance our global footprint, expand our market segments and prepare us for the next stage of growth.” He further added, “His deep domain expertise and experience in working with big tech firms across sectors as well as his in-depth business acumen especially with emerging technologies will bring tremendous value to the Board and the Company.”

Pramanik is currently an Independent Board Member and Advisor to several companies and is also an investor in start-ups. He is also on the Advisory Board of Schulich University, Toronto, Canada, and Bennett University, Noida, India. Pramanik is a prominent keynote speaker at Industry and Leadership forums and has also received numerous awards throughout his career, notably the Baton Award at Digital Equipment Corporation, the Global Leadership and the Best GEM VP Award at Sun Microsystems, and a Platinum Award at Microsoft. His recognition at Microsoft includes the IMA Award for Best MNC, the Randstad Award for the Most Attractive Employer in India, the Great Place to work in Asia by GPTW.

Having led growth strategies, go-to-market execution, and driving remarkable results with his astute business sense for major global brands, Pramanik often shares his wealth of experience as a mentor to a number of professionals and colleagues, most of whom are now MDs and senior leaders at various companies in India including SAP, Google, Netaps, Red Hat, Nvidia, Cisco and Thermo Fisher.

MediaTek brings in Dimensity 920, Dimensity 810 chips for 5G smartphones

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Expanding its Dimensity 5G family, fabless semiconductor major MediaTek today announced the new Dimensity 920 and Dimensity 810 chipsets. This debut gives smartphone makers the ability to provide boosted performance, brilliant imaging and smarter displays to their customers.

Designed for powerful 5G smartphones, the Dimensity 920 balances performance, power and cost to provide an incredible mobile experience. Built using the 6nm high-performance manufacturing node, it supports intelligent displays and hardware-based 4K HDR video capture, while also offering a 9% boost in gaming performance compared to its predecessor, the Dimensity 900.

The Dimensity 810 is built using the 6nm high-performance manufacturing node. It provides Arm Cortex-A76 CPU speeds up to 2.4GHz, premium camera features including artistic AI-color in collaboration with Arcsoft, and advanced noise reduction techniques for superb low-light photography.

“With the expanded Dimensity chipset series, MediaTek is providing device makers and smartphone users with the latest innovations at more accessible price points for the mainstream market,” said Dr. JC Hsu, Corporate VP and GM of MediaTek’s Wireless Communications Business Unit. “Delivering a boost in performance, display intelligence and image brilliance, these new Dimensity chipsets will improve user experiences and deliver advanced 5G features and capabilities to 5G smartphones,” added Hsu.

The 5G smartphones powered by MediaTek Dimensity 920 and Dimensity 810 are expected to launch in the global market in Q3 2021.

Key features of Dimensity 920

MediaTek Smart Adaptive Displays: Adjusts the display refresh rate according to the game or UI action detected, raising it during periods of intense action to improve user experiences, and then lowering it to improve power efficiency.

4K Video Capture Hardware Engine: Integrates a flagship-class, HDR-native image signal processor (ISP) and incorporates a unique hardware-accelerated 4K HDR video recording engine supporting up to four concurrent cameras and up to 108MP sensors.

Boosted Performance: With the Arm Cortex-A78 processors in the octa-core CPU that can reach 2.5GHz clock speeds, along the latest LPDDR5 memory and UFS 3.1 storage, the Dimensity 920 maximizes performance.

Advanced Connectivity: Supports dual 5G SIM, dual VoNR, up to 2CC carrier aggregation, MediaTek 5G UltraSave power efficiency suite and 5G SA/NSA networking, 2×2 MIMO Wi-Fi 6 connectivity, Bluetooth 5.2 and multi-GNSS.

Smooth Gaming: Supports MediaTek HyperEngine 3.0 with 5G call and data concurrency, plus connection enhancements for high-speed rail and ‘Super Hotspot’ technology.

Key features of Dimensity 810

Faster Performance: Arm Cortex-A76 processors now support up to 2.4GHz in its octa-core CPU.

Faster Displays: Mainstream 5G smartphones can now benefit from 120Hz displays for an ultra-smooth user experience.

Incredible Cameras: Supports advanced noise reduction techniques (MFNR & MCTF) for excellent low-light capture, and supports up to 64MP cameras.

High-end AI-Camera Features: Enables stunning camera experiences like AI-Bokeh and artistic AI-Color in collaboration with Arcsoft.

Smooth Gaming: Supports MediaTek’s HyperEngine 2.0 gaming technologies with an intelligent resource management engine and advanced networking engine.

MediaTek’s Dimensity 5G series brings smartphones an unrivaled combination of connectivity, multimedia, AI and imaging innovations to global markets with the Dimensity 700, 800, 900, 1000, 1100 and 1200 families. With support for every cellular connectivity generation, the new Dimensity 5G chips deliver the latest connectivity features including 5G standalone (SA) and non-standalone (NSA) architectures, 5G two carrier aggregation (2CC) including mixed mode FDD+TDD, dynamic spectrum sharing (DSS) technology support, True Dual SIM 5G (5G SA + 5G SA) and Voice over New Radio (VoNR).

UNISOC passes TMMi Level 5 certification

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UNISOC has recently officially obtained the Level 5 certification, the highest level of software Test Maturity Model Integration (TMMi) recognized by the international TMMi organization, becoming the first cell phone chip design company in the world to pass this certification.

UNISOC participated in 16 process areas (PA) items of TMMi Level 5 certification, all fully achieved. Receiving TMMi Level 5 certification marks that UNISOC has stepped up to a new level in testing risk assessment mechanism, testing process quantitative management, defect prevention mechanism, and other aspects. This further makes UNISOC’s testing capabilities match up to the international top level.

Since 2019, UNISOC has carried out a comprehensive management reform, established a scientific decision-making mechanism, introduced Integrated Product Development (IPD), Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI) and Test Maturity Model Integration (TMMi), and other advanced scientific management processes in the industry, as well as determined the capability baseline and quality benchmark of internal R&D, making the decision-making and evaluation of R&D more scientific and measurable.

Through two years of effective reform, UNISOC became the first cell phone chip design company in the world to win both TMMi Level 5 and CMMI Level 4 dual certification. TMMi Level 5 certification marks not only UNISOC’s another important breakthrough in R&D and quality process management but also a concrete step of the enterprise management system from “orderly” to “efficient”.

Don’t want to pay big bucks on a smartphone? Here are 5 best phones under 5k

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These days, smartphones are a basic need for every one of us. You are disconnected from the world if you don’t own a mobile phone. People even pay a king’s ransom to get their hands on the most expensive phones to maintain a symbol of status. Still, there are a set of people who don’t want to spend too much money on the phone. And thankfully, owing a mobile phone doesn’t break the bank anymore. In order to cater to them, we are here with a list of 5 best android phones that one can buy under Rs 5,000. Let’s check it out.

Samsung Galaxy M01 Core

 

Galaxy M01 Core is one of the best budget phones from the house of Samsung. It comes with a 5.30-inch touchscreen display with a resolution of 720×1480 pixels. Powered by a 1.5GHz quad-core MediaTek MT6739 processor, the phone comes with 1GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage. It has a decent camera setup and a respectable pixel density for the price. The Samsung Galaxy M01 Core is a great device for anyone moving from feature phone to a smartphone. You can avail the phone at Rs 4,999.

Lava Z1

 

Lava Z1 is one the best android phones under 5,000. The phone flaunts a 5.00-inch touchscreen display along with an 854×480 pixels resolution. Powered by a quad-core MediaTek Helio A20 processor, it comes with 2GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage with an expandable storage option. As for the optics, it on the rear packs 5-megapixel camera and sports a 5-megapixel camera on the front for selfies. Fair to say, it is one of the easiest phones to recommend at this price point. The price of Lava Z1 has been set at Rs 5,199.

Gionee F8 Neo

 

Gionee F8 Neo offers a 5.45-inch touchscreen display with a resolution of 720×1440 pixels. Powered by an octa-core Unisoc SC9863 processor, the phone comes with 2GB of RAM and 32GB of inbuilt storage that can be expanded via microSD card. Coming to the optics, it packs 8-megapixel camera on the rear and sports a 5-megapixel camera on the front for selfies. The Gionee F8 Neo can be availed at Rs 5,499.

Reliance Jio Phone 5

 

Reliance Jio Phone 5 is yet to be launched. With this device, Jio is aiming to offer an entry-level smartphone at an affordable price range. It features a 5.0-inch IPS LCD display with a screen resolution of 720×1280 pixels. Powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 425 chipset, users will get an 8GB of inbuilt storage that can be expanded up to 256GB via micro SD card. On the camera front, it provides a single 8-megapixel primary camera and a 5-megapixel camera on the front. Reliance Jio Phone 5 is expected to be launched on August 22 at Rs 4,999.

Itel A47

 

Itel is a China-based company known for its budget-friendly smartphones. The device has a 5.50-inch touchscreen display with a resolution of 720×1440 pixels. Powered by a 1.4 MHz quad-core processor, Itel A47 comes with 2GB of RAM and 32GB of inbuilt storage that can be expanded via microSD card. Coming to the optics, it packs a 5-megapixel primary camera and a 5-megapixel camera on the rear. It sports a 5-megapixel camera on the front for selfies. The price of Itel A47 in India is Rs 5,499.

Tech NewsWrap: Nokia C20 Plus launched in India… and more

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Nokia C20 Plus launched in India

After launching in China back in June, Nokia C20 Plus has launched in India with an exclusive partnership with Reliance Jio with several features. The smartphone comes in 2GB RAM and 32GB storage and will be available for Rs 8,999 as well as a 3/32GB variant which goes for Rs 9,999. It is available in the country in Blue and Grey colours through the Nokia India website. Alongside the Nokia C20 Plus, Nokia brand licensee HMD Global announced the India launch of the Nokia C01 Plus, Nokia C10, and the Nokia XR20.

Vivo Y53s launched in India

Vivo Y53s smartphone is launched in India as the company’s latest model in the Y-series. The latest model in the Y-series comes with triple rear cameras and a waterdrop-style display notch. Powered by MediaTek Helio G80 processor, the smartphone has 128GB of onboard storage, and 18W fast charging. The Vivo Y53s will come in two colors with a price tag of Rs 19,490. The new Vivo phone is likely to face tough competition from the likes of Samsung Galaxy M51 and Redmi Note 10 Pro Max.

Realme GT 5G Flipkart availability confirmed

The launch of Realme GT 5G in India is drawing near. Recently, the Realme CEO Madhav Sheth confirmed to announce the Realme GT and Realme GT Master Edition on August 18 in the country. The latest device has been listed on Flipkart, thereby confirming its online availability. The listing reads, “Flagship Killer 2021 Coming Soon” and shows a racing car, a speedometer, and the ‘GT’ moniker. The Flipkart doesn’t reveal anything else about the latest device yet.

Sony launched its three new X-series wireless speakers in India

Sony launched its three new X-series wireless speakers in India – SRS-XP700, SRS-XP500, and the SRS-XG500. All the three are portable party speakers and come with Sony’s own X-Balanced speaker units with Mega Bass and Live Sound mode. The Sony SRS-XP700 price in India has been set at Rs 26,990, SRS-XP500 priced at Rs 32,990 and SRS-XG500 cost Rs 32,990. All the three models will go on sale starting August 10.

Xiaomi gifts Mi 11 Ultras to India’s Olympic medalists

Xiaomi India’s Manu Kumar Jain has announced that the company is giving away Mi 11 Ultra and Mi 11X smartphones to the Indian athletes who won medals at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. India won a total of 7 medals and the six individual sport winners will be gifted a Mi 11 Ultra each by Xiaomi India. Whereas, the entire Indian National Hockey team players will be rewarded with a Mi 11X each.

Best 5 Super AMOLED Display phones under 20k

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Regardless of what category of users you belong to, the display of your phone will significantly impact your experience. After all, you consume everything through the display of your smartphone with the blessed Internet has to offer. Many times, the resolution of the display gets the most attention, but the type of display is equally important. Super AMOLED is one of the best and most popular screen technologies currently in use on smartphones. It is identified by deep blacks and high contrast ratios. If that kind of richness is what you value above anything else, here’s the list of 5 best super AMOLED smartphones that you can buy under Rs 20,000.

Redmi Note 10 Pro Max

Redmi Note 10 Pro Max is one of the best Super AMOLED phones under Rs 20,000. It comes with 6.67-inch full-HD+ 120Hz HDR10 Super AMOLED display that gives you crisp and vibrant looking screen. The smartphone is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 732G SoC processor and has up to 8GB of RAM with 128GB of storage. You get a 5020mAh battery with 33W charging. Phone gives you 108 MP + 8 MP + 5 MP + 2 MP camera with 16 MP front camera for selfies. The Redmi Note 10 Pro Max comes in Dark Night, Glacial Blue and Vintage Bronze colours and can be availed at Rs 19,999.

Realme 8 Pro

Realme 8 Pro

Realme 8 Pro sports a 6.4-inch AMOLED display and has full-HD+ resolution. The device is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G processor and comes with 6GB or 8GB of RAM and 128GB of onboard storage. It has 4,500mAh battery capacity that is capable of fast charging at 50W. Coming to the optics, the phone has four rear cameras – 108 MP + 8 MP + 2 MP + 2 MP camera with 16 MP front camera for selfies. The Realme 8 Pro comes in Illuminating Yellow, Infinite Black and Infinite Blue colours and will cost you Rs 17,999.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 10

Xiaomi Redmi Note 10

The 6.43-inch full-HD+ AMOLED screen is a major highlight of Xiaomi’s Redmi Note 10, producing crisp details and colours that pop. It is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 678 SoC processor and has 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage. The device has 5000mAh battery with a fast charging capacity. You get four rear cameras on the phone – 48 MP + 8 MP + 2 MP + 2 MP as well as a 13 MP front camera for selfies. The Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 comes in Aqua Green, Frost White and Shadow Black colours. You can buy the handset in Rs 13,499.

Samsung Galaxy M31s

Samsung Galaxy M31s

The Samsung Galaxy M31s has a 6.5-inch Infinity-O AMOLED display. It has Samsung’s Exynos 9611 processor and has up to 8 GB of RAM and up to 128 GB of internal storage. The device is powered by a 6000mAh battery that supports fast charging of 25W. Coming to the cameras, you get four rear cameras – 64 MP + 12 MP + 5 MP + 5 MP cameras. On the front, it has 32 MP camera for selfies. Samsung Galaxy M31s is available in Mirage Black and Mirage Blue colours and will cost you Rs 16,999.

Vivo Y51

Vivo Y51

The Vivo Y51 comes with a 6.58-inch super AMOLED touchscreen display. It uses an octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 665 processor and has 8GB of RAM with 128GB of inbuilt storage. The handset is powered by 5,000mAh battery capacity and provides fast charging. You get 48 MP + 8 MP + 2 MP camera set-up with a 16 MP selfie camera on the front. Vivo Y51 was launched in Titanium Sapphire and Crystal Symphony colours and you can buy it at Rs 17,990.

Locobuzz chooses Microsoft Azure for better performance and security

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Digital customer experience management platform Locobuzz today announced their web service migration to Microsoft Azure. With this migration, Locobuzz aims to improve scalability, security and overall performance of their CX platform.

Locobuzz currently helps 125+ brands acutely measure and analyse brand insights, customer behaviour, competitor insights and performance analytics across all key digital channels. The migration to Microsoft Azure will help Locobuzz increase processing capacity by 50X of the current 100 million data points per day capacity. The elasticity of the servers ensures that businesses can scale up or down their processing needs without limits. In addition, it will enhance the security for the platform to work against potential threats or data leaks. Locobuzz users will leverage Intelligent firewalls and WAF protect data will help raise early alerts against suspicious activities and instant backup will ensure there is no loss of data under any circumstances.

Nitin Agarwal, CTO & Co-Founder, Locobuzz said, “The primary motivation for this migration is that it gives us the ability to scale up rapidly, reducing the procedural waiting period and making it very easy to adapt to new and changing business requirements. In terms of infrastructure compliance, Microsoft Azure is one of the best audited cloud service providers out there which gives Locobuzz an edge over its competitors. Microsoft Azure analyzes the infra from security hardening point of view and recommends possible fixes which helps in identifying and rectifying them before they can cause any issue. The overall experience will be of increased speed and efficiency. I think that at the scale we are growing, it is very necessary to ensure that our clients experience the vision we have for revolutionising digital customer experience management.”

Sangeeta Bavi, Director, Startup Ecosystem, Microsoft India, said, “Microsoft Azure will help Locobuzz deliver faster and secure solutions to their customers. The Locobuzz solutions provide a variety of performance insights and analytics for brands on digital platforms, and allow customers to take advantage of the flexibility and enterprise-grade reliability that Microsoft Azure provides.”

With this migration, the Locobuzz CX platform will enable businesses to have cloud resources adjusted to their consumption rate, space requirements for data volume and processing. This allows the platform to efficiently manage resources in terms of computing power and operational costs. Businesses will also be able to incorporate various business models aided by highly scalable Kubernetes clusters that make sure there is no single point of failure, hence helping businesses secure their data in the easiest and most efficient way possible.