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Nitu Sharma is appointed by RMSI as Vice President and Head of Global Marketing and Demand Generation

RMSI, a leading provider of geospatial and engineering technology solutions, has announced the appointment of Nitu Sharma as its new Vice President and Head of Global Marketing and Demand Generation. In her new role, Sharma will oversee all global marketing functions and will be reporting directly to the company’s Chief Executive Officer.

This strategic leadership move comes as RMSI continues to expand its presence across international markets. With Sharma at the helm of marketing, the company aims to bolster its branding efforts, strengthen global visibility, and enhance its ability to generate and convert market demand across various sectors, including utilities, telecommunications, agriculture, insurance, and climate resilience.

Sharma brings to RMSI nearly 20 years of experience in marketing, having worked with a range of technology and business services organizations. She has held senior marketing roles at prominent firms such as Tata Consultancy Services and Iron Mountain. Her expertise spans brand building, digital strategy, marketing automation, and account-based marketing. Over the years, she has developed a reputation for establishing high-performing marketing teams, launching successful go-to-market strategies, and driving measurable growth.

At RMSI, Sharma is expected to lead the charge in shaping the company’s global marketing roadmap. Her role will focus on aligning marketing initiatives with business goals, strengthening the company’s digital footprint, and building scalable demand generation programs that can drive revenue growth. 

Expressing her excitement about joining RMSI, Sharma noted that the company’s mission to deliver innovative, tech-enabled solutions is a strong motivator. “I am thrilled to be part of a company that values client success and innovation. I look forward to collaborating with the leadership team to scale our brand globally and create high-impact marketing programs that align with RMSI’s growth vision,” she said.

Her appointment signals RMSI’s broader efforts to accelerate its digital transformation and reinforce its position as a trusted partner for geospatial and data-driven solutions. By bringing in an experienced marketing leader, the company aims to increase its market relevance and tap into emerging opportunities in an increasingly competitive and tech-driven business environment.

As RMSI moves into its next phase of growth, Sharma’s leadership in marketing is set to play a pivotal role in elevating the company’s global profile, attracting new clients, and supporting sustained business development across key industries.

Microsoft AI Boardroom 2025 Highlights BFSI Sector’s AI-Driven Transformation

On April 3, 2025, Microsoft hosted the “AI Boardroom 2025” event in Mumbai, focusing on the transformative impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in India’s Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance (BFSI) sector. The gathering brought together industry leaders to discuss the practical applications and benefits of AI technologies in enhancing productivity, customer service, and operational efficiency.​

The event featured a panel discussion moderated by Dahnesh Dilkhush, Executive Director – Customer Success, Microsoft India and South Asia. Panelists included Devang Mody, CEO of Bajaj Finserv Health; Neha Gupta, Managing Director and Partner at Boston Consulting Group (BCG); Nitin Chugh, Deputy Managing Director and Head of Digital Banking & Transformation at State Bank of India; and Sonali Kulkarni, Country Head – BFSI, Microsoft India and South Asia.

Puneet Chandok, President of Microsoft India and South Asia, emphasized AI’s pivotal role in addressing real-world challenges within the BFSI sector. He highlighted examples such as the streamlining of health insurance claims at Bajaj Finserv Health and the enhancement of operational efficiency at the State Bank of India. Chandok stated, “AI is undoubtedly the most transformative technology of our time, and its impact is particularly profound in India.” 

Supporting this perspective, a recent IDC survey commissioned by Microsoft revealed that the BFSI sector experiences the highest return on investment (ROI) from generative AI implementations, with an average return of nearly five times for every dollar invested. This underscores AI’s role as a significant competitive differentiator for organizations in the sector. ​

Sonali Kulkarni noted the sector’s transition from exploring AI’s potential to realizing tangible benefits. She remarked, “We are witnessing a pivotal moment for India’s BFSI sector as AI moves from promise to proof. The significant productivity gains, deeper customer insights, and cost savings being realized are a testament to the transformative power of AI.”

The discussions at the AI Boardroom 2025 event highlighted the BFSI sector’s commitment to integrating AI technologies to drive innovation and efficiency. As organizations continue to adopt AI solutions, the sector is poised for a future characterized by enhanced customer experiences and streamlined operations.

​Public Cloud Adoption in BFSI Sector Projected to Surge, Reaching $189.4 Billion by 2031

The global public cloud market within the Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance (BFSI) sector is poised for significant growth, with projections indicating an increase from $49 billion in 2021 to $189.4 billion by 2031. This expansion reflects a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 14.6% over the forecast period, underscoring the sector’s accelerating shift towards cloud-based solutions. 

Several factors are driving this upward trajectory. Financial institutions are increasingly embracing digital transformation initiatives to enhance operational efficiency, customer experience, and agility. The adoption of public cloud services facilitates scalable infrastructure, enabling organizations to respond swiftly to market dynamics and customer demands.​

Moreover, the proliferation of digital banking, mobile payments, and online financial services has necessitated robust and flexible IT infrastructures. Public cloud platforms offer the scalability and resilience required to support these services, ensuring seamless user experiences and uninterrupted operations.​

Security and compliance remain paramount concerns for the BFSI sector. Cloud service providers are continually enhancing their offerings to meet stringent regulatory requirements and to provide advanced security features. This alignment with compliance standards is fostering greater trust and adoption among financial institutions.​

Regionally, North America currently leads in public cloud adoption within the BFSI sector, attributed to early technological advancements and a mature financial ecosystem. However, the Asia-Pacific region is anticipated to exhibit the highest growth rate during the forecast period, driven by rapid digitalization, increasing internet penetration, and supportive government initiatives promoting cloud adoption.​

The competitive landscape is characterized by the presence of major cloud service providers offering tailored solutions for the BFSI sector. These providers are focusing on strategic partnerships, mergers, and acquisitions to expand their market presence and to offer comprehensive, secure, and compliant cloud services. 

In conclusion, the projected growth of the public cloud market in the BFSI sector signifies a transformative period for financial institutions globally. As organizations continue to prioritize digital innovation, agility, and customer-centric services, the adoption of public cloud solutions is set to become an integral component of their strategic initiatives.

NxtGen Unveils India’s First Sovereign Financial Services Cloud for BFSI Sector

NxtGen, a prominent provider of sovereign cloud services, has launched the country’s inaugural Financial Services Cloud (FSC), specifically designed to meet the stringent compliance, security, and data sovereignty requirements of India’s Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance (BFSI) sector.

The FSC platform ensures complete data residency within India, eliminating exposure to foreign jurisdictions and addressing growing concerns over data governance and regulatory compliance. This development offers a domestic alternative to global cloud hyperscalers, aligning with the increasing regulatory scrutiny faced by financial institutions.​ The FSC directly addresses over 400 regulatory controls imposed by key governing bodies, including the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI), Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), and the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In). The platform offers pre-integrated frameworks for full regulatory compliance and provides financial institutions with the “right to audit,” enabling direct verification of infrastructure-level security and compliance controls.

Designed for resilience, the platform offers disaster recovery and business continuity through geo-redundant infrastructure and customized recovery solutions. It also facilitates secure and regulation-ready integrations with FinTech partners, promoting collaboration within the financial ecosystem.

Benchmarking indicates that the FSC delivers high performance, outperforming global cloud providers, making it a future-ready solution for India’s financial institutions. The platform is already attracting interest from a diverse range of financial entities, including public sector banks, digital-first insurers, and emerging Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs), all seeking scalable, secure, and compliant cloud solutions in a rapidly evolving regulatory landscape.

In parallel with this launch, NxtGen is reportedly aiming to raise $300 million at a valuation nearing $900 million, signaling its commitment to expanding its footprint in the sovereign cloud services market.
The introduction of the Financial Services Cloud marks a significant milestone in India’s digital infrastructure, offering a tailored, compliant, and secure cloud solution for the BFSI sector.

F5 predicts higher-than-expected third-quarter revenue due to robust demand for cloud services

F5 Inc. announced on Monday that it expects its third-quarter revenue to exceed Wall Street estimates, driven by robust demand for its cloud services. Following the announcement, shares of the Seattle-based company rose by 1.8% in after-hours trading.

The company projects third-quarter revenue between $740 million and $760 million, comfortably ahead of analysts’ average estimate of $739 million, according to data from LSEG. For the second quarter ending March 31, F5 reported revenue of $731 million, surpassing expectations of $718.9 million.

The company also raised its full-year fiscal 2025 revenue growth forecast, now expecting an increase between 6.5% and 7.5%. This is an upward revision from the previous guidance of 6% to 7%, signaling confidence in sustained demand for its offerings.

F5’s second-quarter performance was marked by notable strength in its systems segment. Systems revenue rose 27% year-over-year to $179 million, reflecting the company’s efforts to enhance its hardware and software solutions to support evolving customer requirements. This growth in systems revenue comes amid a broader industry push towards hybrid and multicloud architectures, where enterprises demand both flexibility and security.

Despite the positive revenue outlook, F5’s earnings per share (EPS) guidance for the third quarter came in slightly below analyst expectations. Excluding certain items, the company forecasted EPS between $3.41 and $3.53, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.54. Nevertheless, analysts remain encouraged by F5’s strategic direction. The company has been transitioning from a traditional hardware-focused business to a software and services-led model. This shift has allowed F5 to capture a larger share of the cloud services market while maintaining relevance in an increasingly competitive landscape.

F5’s focus on cybersecurity solutions and application delivery in complex multicloud environments continues to resonate with enterprise customers. With companies around the world accelerating their digital transformation initiatives, F5’s role in ensuring secure, efficient, and reliable application performance positions it well for future growth.

The company’s outlook suggests that investments in product innovation, customer engagement, and cloud-centric strategies are yielding results. As organizations continue to navigate the challenges of hybrid IT infrastructures and rising cybersecurity threats, F5’s offerings are likely to remain in high demand.

F5 is scheduled to provide further details on its financial performance and strategic priorities during its upcoming earnings call with investors.

India Semiconductor Mission’s new CEO is Amitesh Kumar Sinha

The India Semiconductor Mission has recently announced the appointment of Amitesh Kumar Sinha as its new Chief Executive Officer. Amitesh, an officer of the 1996 Indian Railway Accounts Service batch, previously served as a joint secretary at the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology. Within that role, he evidently formulated policies and promoted the electronics industry through various schemes, including production-linked incentive programs for mobile devices, IT hardware, electronic components, and the semiconductor sector under the Semicon India Programme.

This appointment comes at a pivotal time as the government prepares to launch the second phase of the India Semiconductor Mission, aiming to bolster the country’s semiconductor manufacturing capabilities. Sinha’s leadership is expected to play a crucial role in advancing India’s position in the global semiconductor landscape.​ Sinha succeeds Sushil Pal at ISM, bringing with him a wealth of experience in the electronics and information technology sectors. His educational background includes a degree in civil engineering from Visvesvaraya Regional College of Engineering, Nagpur.

The India Semiconductor Mission, launched in 2021, is a government initiative aimed at developing a robust semiconductor and display manufacturing ecosystem in the country. With a financial commitment of $10 billion, the mission seeks to position India as a global hub for electronics manufacturing and design.

Sinha’s appointment is seen as a strategic move to steer the mission towards achieving its objectives, leveraging his extensive experience in policy formation and industry promotion.

ChatGPT Introduces Shopping Assistance, Intensifying Competition with Google

OpenAI has unveiled a new shopping feature within its ChatGPT platform, marking a significant step in its ongoing competition with Google in the realm of online search and commerce. This enhancement allows users to engage in conversational searches for products, receiving personalized recommendations complete with images, reviews, and direct links to retailers.​

The shopping assistance feature caters to ChatGPT’s GPT-4o model and is accessible to all users globally, including those on Free, Plus, and Pro tiers, as well as users who are not logged in. It covers a range of categories such as fashion, beauty, electronics, and home goods. OpenAI emphasizes that the product recommendations are not influenced by advertisements or commission-based incentives but are generated based on structured meta data like prices and reviews from third-party sources.

This development comes as ChatGPT experiences a surge in usage, handling over 1 billion searches weekly and boasting more than 400 million weekly active users as of February. The new shopping feature aims to streamline the online shopping experience by allowing users to find and compare items through natural conversation, subsequently connecting directly to merchants for purchases.

In response to the growing competition from AI chatbots, Google has integrated its own Gemini assistant into search results, providing AI-generated answers above traditional website links. This move signifies an intensifying rivalry between the two tech giants as they vie for dominance in the online search and shopping sectors.​

The introduction of shopping capabilities in ChatGPT reflects OpenAI’s broader strategy to expand its services and challenge established players in the digital marketplace. By offering a more personalized and ad-free shopping experience, OpenAI positions ChatGPT as a compelling alternative to traditional search engines.

As the digital landscape continues to evolve, the integration of AI-driven features like ChatGPT’s shopping assistance is poised to reshape consumer behavior and the dynamics of online commerce. Both OpenAI and Google are expected to continue innovating in this space, striving to enhance user experience and capture greater market share.

LinkedIn Emerges as a Key Platform for B2B Influencer Marketing

LinkedIn, originally recognized as a professional networking site, is increasingly being leveraged as a potent platform for B2B influencer marketing. With over a billion members globally, LinkedIn offers a unique environment where business professionals can engage with content that is both relevant and credible.​ In the realm of B2B marketing, trust and authenticity are paramount. LinkedIn’s ecosystem, characterized by professional interactions and content, provides an ideal setting for influencer marketing strategies aimed at business audiences.​

A significant trend on LinkedIn is the rise of video content. Data indicates that video content is the fastest-growing format on the given platform, with uploads increasing by 34% year-over-year. Short-form videos, in particular, have proven effective in conveying complex information succinctly, making them a valuable tool for B2B marketers.

Influencer marketing on LinkedIn often involves collaboration with industry experts and thought leaders who can provide insights and endorsements that resonate with professional audiences. These influencers, by sharing their expertise and experiences, can significantly impact brand perception and decision-making processes within organizations and even offer job roles. ​

Moreover, LinkedIn’s suite of tools, including analytics and audience insights, enables marketers to measure the impact of their influencer campaigns accurately. These tools provide data on engagement, reach, and conversion, allowing for continuous optimization of marketing strategies.​

As the digital landscape evolves, LinkedIn’s role in B2B influencer marketing is expected to grow further. Its unique position as a professional network makes it an invaluable platform for brands seeking to build credibility, foster trust, and drive business growth through influencer collaborations.​

In conclusion, LinkedIn’s emergence as a hub for B2B influencer marketing underscores the platform’s versatility and its capacity to adapt to the changing needs of marketers. By leveraging the platform’s professional environment and tools, brands can effectively engage with their target audiences, build lasting relationships, and achieve their marketing objectives.

Sonata Software Secures $73 Million AI-Led Digital Modernisation Deal with US Firm

Bengaluru-based IT services company Sonata Software has recently announced a significant $73 million deal with a US-based enterprise, focusing on AI-driven digital modernisation. The multi-year agreement entails Sonata providing comprehensive managed services to facilitate the client’s digital transformation journey.​

Under this partnership, Sonata will implement a scalable and reliable operating model to support the client’s global business expansion. Utilising cloud and AI technologies, the partnership seeks to improve operational effectiveness and provide a consistent user experience throughout the client’s activities. With a history spanning more than 50 years, the Fortune 500 consumer and industrial goods producer with headquarters in the US has created advanced packaging solutions and increased its market share through a number of acquisitions. This project is the client’s first attempt to update its operations at scale with an emphasis on establishing a consistent and uniform user experience. ​

Sonata Software’s role will encompass delivering managed services on a global scale, assisting the client in leveraging cloud and AI technologies to drive differentiated experiences and business value. The company’s strategy includes implementing industry best practices to drive operational efficiencies and ensure a profitable return on investment for the client.​

This deal aligns with Sonata Software’s focus on Modernisation Engineering, where the company aims to deliver hypergrowth for clients through its proprietary methodologies and frameworks. The collaboration is expected to significantly contribute to the client’s digital transformation objectives, positioning them to better navigate the complexities of the modern digital landscape.​ The announcement of this deal has been well-received in the market, reflecting confidence in Sonata Software’s capabilities to deliver large-scale digital transformation projects. The partnership underscores the growing demand for AI-led digital modernisation services and Sonata’s strategic positioning to meet this demand.​

As the digital landscape continues to evolve, partnerships like this highlight the critical role of technology service providers in enabling enterprises to adapt and thrive. Sonata Software’s engagement with the US-based firm exemplifies the company’s commitment to driving innovation and delivering value through strategic digital initiatives.

Anitha Prakash joined HCLSoftware as Deputy General Manager Marketing

Anitha Prakash, ex- marketing operations specialist at Hitachi Vantara has now joined forces with HCLSoftware to lead their marketing team as their Deputy General Manager Marketing. Following her time at Hitachi Vantara as Channel Marketing Manager-APAC, Prakash, who has over 15 years of marketing expertise in Asia-Pacific markets, joins HCLSoftware. With an emphasis on partner interaction, campaign management, and marketing operations, she oversaw channel marketing projects throughout the area. Building go-to-market initiatives that bolstered revenue growth and improved partner cooperation was her responsibility.

Prior to her role at Hitachi Vantara, Prakash held marketing operations and field marketing responsibilities within the same organization. She worked extensively on partner events, integrated campaigns, and field marketing programs aimed at improving market reach across APAC. Earlier in her career, Prakash worked at Accenture as a Knowledge Transition Lead, overseeing the transition of knowledge assets during key organizational processes. She also served as a Project Coordinator at Hewlett Packard Sales India Pvt. Ltd., where she was responsible for supporting project management and coordination activities.

At HCLSoftware, Prakash’s role as Deputy General Manager, Marketing will involve leading key marketing functions, supporting channel development, and contributing to the company’s expansion initiatives across multiple global markets. HCLSoftware, a division of HCLTech, develops, markets, sells, and supports more than 30 product families across Digital Transformation, Data & Analytics, AI and Automation, and Cybersecurity sectors. Prakash’s appointment comes as HCLSoftware recently marked its fifth anniversary, celebrating a period of innovation and expansion in the enterprise software sector.

Her experience in managing APAC-wide partner ecosystems, marketing operations, and strategic marketing programs is expected to contribute to HCLSoftware’s ongoing efforts to build stronger partner alliances and enhance its brand visibility globally, and Anitha is all set to lead their team with pure devotion.

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