Ziva Technologies: Google of the mobile search world  
June 02, 2008
Source: TNN

Admit it. Mobile search engines are a pain. They pose more questions than they can answer. That explains why the Bangalore-based Ziva Technologies is changing accepted realities to become the Google of the mobile search world. With multiple patent-pending innovations, Ziva is focused on making mobile search more comfortable and gradually become the chosen way to get information, replacing PC-based search. 

"We have developed on the Web 3.0 platform, which is an interactive search engine. Google is still on Web 2.0, which throws all kinds of answers at you. But with our technology, the software interacts with you to understand what you really want and then provides the answer," says Ajay Sethi, founder-MD of the company. 

It works like this. For example, if you enter an ambiguous search phrase, like 'movies in Bangalore', the engine asks which localities would you prefer, and then provides the answers according to the preferences you enter. The Q&A engine is part of Ziva's Manas platform. This platform is compatible with any language, any vertical or segment, and any number of heterogeneous information sets. In other words, the search and access paradigm remains the same across multiple verticals. 

Also, if the engine does not have the answer, the question can be asked to a wider community, which might know the answer. And this is the second innovation wherein a dynamic social network can be set up through the mobile. "It really increases the odds of you getting the answer to your question. If you want to know which is the best theatre group in Bangalore, you might not get it from the search engine but would get some answers from the community of users. The customer does not pay anything other than the operator's SMS charges when using this community, aptly called Peepal. 

When he uses the Zook portal, he pays nothing at all. The Zook portal can be accessed over WAP at Zook.in. This is also a patent-pending technology and the interface, which looks quite like the Google page on your PC system, uses both the Peepal network and the Manas platform. "You would hardly go beyond two questions if you search through our software," claims Sethi. "We are looking at $1 billion within the next couple of years," says Sethi, which would be a quantum leap from its revenues but very much achievable. 

Clients like Nokia and JustDial have already signed up and are using the service. "Ziva is poised to be at the forefront of low-cost mobile innovations that can have a global market. It is easier to innovate in this sphere because of the low costs involved in setting up an IT-based industry than a brick and mortar factory or say a retail outlet," says Prof. Srinath Srinivasa, of IIT-Bangalore. "We need to have a strong technical team as well in each of these emerging companies." 

Ziva has heeded this advice, having a strong technical team where every member has either 7+ years of experience or M.Tech. and higher educational qualification. The team has a proven track record of building and delivering innovative products with members having previously worked with companies such as Yahoo, Oracle and the likes. Much like Sethi who is a pass-out of IIT Bombay and then worked for Oracle till 2004. 

In February this year, Ziva was among the nominees for the MobileMonday Peer Awards in Barcelona. The event recognises the most innovative and fastest-emerging startups. "Although we did not win, it was good to see us being nominated," says Sethi. Another Bangalore-based firm, Mobisy, was among the finalists, and that showed the heady development of mobile technology in the city. 

Ziva's next focus is to move to the South East Asian markets, where they have already set up a presence with their platforms and the Zook interface. Also, the answers that are sent out to searchers shall carry ads, based on permission and the preference of the people, says Sethi. With Ziva growing in excess of 30% in a landscape getting cluttered with competition, Sethi banks on innovation and a good technical team to soar to the top, and get there faster than others. 

IEC forays into education verticals    
June 02 , 2008 
SOURCE: Google

Delhi-based IEC Software Ltd, with presence in IT Education, has recently forayed into other verticals of formal and non-formal education. 

The listed company plans to invest Rs 200 crore by 2011 to strengthen its position in the kindergarten to the post-graduation market.

The company, which has presence in IT education through its franchisees and ICT installations at Government schools, said it has also recently acquired a finishing school VEF System Private Ltd, for Rs 6 crore.

“We want to consolidate our presence in the KG-PG segment. With our existing infrastructure we hope to leverage and grow in the formal education venture as well,” Mr Naveen Gupta, CEO of IEC, told Business Line.

The AICTE approved IEC College will provide formal education to students in the field of engineering, pharmacy, management and hotel management. This apart, the company also plans to add components like skill-set enhancement and personality development. 

He said the company is also looking to launch more programmes in areas like paramedical and fine arts. 

“We are also considering to apply for a deemed university status as we will have a presence in almost all verticals of education”.

Wipro HR programme to tide over talent crunch    
June 02, 2008 
SOURCE: Google

The company has tied up with Pune-based Symbiosis Institute of Business Management. The programme is a three-semester course that would be aligned to organisational HR needs.

Bangalore, May 30 It is estimated that the trained HR professional pool in the country is just about 2 per cent of what the industry actually needs. To tide over the crunch in the talent management team, Wipro Technologies launched the People’s Ambassador Programme last year. 

As part of the programme, about 30 non-engineering graduates within Wipro will be trained every year in HR processes such as employee engagement, induction process, assimilation and performance management. 

Says Ms Veena Padmanabhan, General Manager, Talent Engagement and Development, Wipro Technologies, “We are looking for competencies similar to what we would have in our current HR team.” Wipro Technologies currently has a 160-strong human resources team. 

The programme involves selecting non-engineering graduates within Wipro and grooming them over a three-year period to be inducted in the HR team. Selection is based on a management aptitude test and soft skills such as professional interpersonal sensitivity, problem solving skills, customer orientation, self confidence and team working abilities. 

The company has tied up with Pune-based Symbiosis Institute of Business Management for the same. The programme is a three-semester course that would be aligned to organisational HR needs, says Mr Pratik Kumar, Executive Vice-President, Human Resources, Wipro Ltd. 

The people ambassadors, apart from receiving a hands-on experience in the HR domain also receive coaching and mentoring from senior HR managers of the company.