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Category: Business

  • Fintech acquisition strengthens digital banking ambitions at UST

    Manu Gopinath, President of UST, says the addition of Tailwind expands capabilities in core banking modernization and AI driven financial services

    UST has acquired fintech firm Tailwind Business Ventures as part of its strategy to expand its presence in digital banking solutions and support services. The acquisition strengthens UST’s capabilities in core banking modernization while extending its operational footprint across multiple geographies, including South America.
    Tailwind Business Ventures is headquartered in Texas and has operations in Brazil. Founded in 2003 as Integritas Solutions Group, the company later expanded its global delivery presence to Sri Lanka and Portugal. With a workforce of over 220 employees worldwide, Tailwind brings domain expertise in banking and financial services that aligns with UST’s focus on technology led transformation.

    The acquisition comes at a time when demand for digital banking implementation and support services continues to rise among banks and credit unions. UST expects the integration of Tailwind’s capabilities to enhance its ability to deliver technology solutions across the banking lifecycle, particularly in emerging and high growth markets.
    Commenting on the acquisition, Manu Gopinath, President of UST, said that Tailwind’s core banking expertise complements UST’s strengths in modernization, artificial intelligence, and enterprise transformation. He stated that the combined capabilities provide greater scale to address complex banking challenges while supporting customer experience, system integration, and security requirements.

    He added that the acquisition positions UST to support banking transformation initiatives across regions such as Latin America, Asia Pacific, and Africa, while also strengthening its presence in North America. According to him, banks in these markets are seeking partners with a strong understanding of regional needs and end to end delivery capabilities.
    Vijay Padmanabhan, Chief Financial Officer at UST, described the acquisition as a strategically significant investment for the company’s banking and financial services portfolio. He said that Tailwind’s experience in delivering digital banking solutions and its partnerships with established platform providers enhance the value offered to financial institutions.

    Padmanabhan noted that the addition of Tailwind’s team strengthens UST’s ability to support banks in delivering improved customer experiences through modern technology platforms and services.
    Paulo Vieira, Co founder of Tailwind Business Ventures, said that joining UST represents an important next phase for the company. He stated that the alignment of values and long term client focus between the two organisations creates opportunities to scale Tailwind’s approach globally while continuing to prioritise strong client relationships.
    UST and Tailwind did not disclose the value of the acquisition.
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  • ESOP buyback marks decade milestone as Cashfree Payments rewards over 400 employees

    The initiative includes 175 former team members and coincides with Cashfree Payments moving into an 80,000 square foot headquarters in Ecoworld Bangalore as it enters its next growth phase

    Bangalore, January 20, 2026: Cashfree Payments announced an ESOP buyback plan for its employees as the company completes ten years in India’s digital payments ecosystem. The buyback covers over 400 employees across current and former team members, including 175 former employees.
    The company said the move reflects its approach to building long term value and creating wealth for people who have contributed to its growth over the years.

    Akash Sinha, CEO and Co founder, Cashfree Payments, said, “Turning ten is not just a milestone, it is a powerful reminder of how far we have come and how much more we are building toward.” He added, “This buyback is about recognising real contribution and sharing the outcomes of growth.”
    Cashfree Payments said it has been scaling its cross border payments stack and recorded 250% GMV growth over the last year. The company stated that cross border currently contributes 10% of its revenue and it is aiming to take this to nearly 25% by 2030.

    Cashfree Payments described itself as the first fintech to have received the PA CB License from the RBI for exports and imports flows. The company also said the ESOP buyback comes at a time when it has moved into a new 80,000 square foot headquarters at Ecoworld, Bangalore, which it linked to its next phase of growth with a focus on employee well being, collaboration, and AI driven innovation.
    The company said it powers over $80 billion in annual payment volumes and serves more than one million businesses, including Zepto, RedBus, Swiggy, Nykaa, and Big Basket.

    Cashfree Payments said it offers products that support payment collection across 100 plus payment methods, payouts, cross border payments, and checkout features. It also highlighted SecureID, its identity verification stack, which includes APIs and KYC components designed to support compliant onboarding and fraud detection. The company said it is authorised by the Reserve Bank of India to operate as a payment aggregator for domestic and cross border payments and is also authorised to issue prepaid instruments. It said it is backed by Y Combinator, Apis Partners, State Bank of India, KRAFTON, and was incubated by PayPal.
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  • Funding round signals confidence in assisted wealth management as AssetPlus raises ₹175 crore

    AssetPlus Co-Founder and CEO Vishranth Suresh discusses the platform’s assisted wealth model as Nexus Venture Partners leads the round

    AssetPlus has raised ₹175 crore in a funding round led by Nexus Venture Partners, marking a significant milestone for the company as it continues to build an assisted wealth management platform centred on distributor-led advice. The round reflects growing investor confidence in models that combine technology with human guidance, at a time when India’s investing base is expanding rapidly.
    The Chennai-based company works with Mutual Fund Distributors to deliver long-term, goal-oriented wealth solutions to Indian households. Rather than positioning itself as a direct-to-consumer platform, AssetPlus has focused on strengthening the infrastructure that supports certified distributors, enabling them to manage compliance, operations, and multiple financial products through a single system.

    Vishranth Suresh, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of AssetPlus, said the company was never intended to function as a transactional distribution platform. He noted that the objective has been to build durable wealth management infrastructure where technology supports advice rather than replacing it. According to him, the fresh capital will help accelerate this approach while remaining aligned with distributors who work closely with investors over long time horizons.
    The funding will be used to deepen AssetPlus’ technology stack, expand product offerings, and strengthen initiatives that support holistic wealth management. While mutual funds remain a core focus, the platform also enables distributors to offer health and term insurance products, allowing them to address a broader set of financial needs within a unified framework.

    India’s investing landscape has seen a steady rise in participation, particularly among first-time investors. At the same time, market volatility and fragmented financial decision-making have highlighted the limits of a purely self-directed approach. AssetPlus is positioning itself around assisted investing models that emphasise continuity, context, and disciplined advice, especially during periods of uncertainty.
    Anand Datta, Partner at Nexus Venture Partners, said the firm was drawn to AssetPlus’ clarity of execution and its focus on building long-term infrastructure for assisted wealth management. He noted that an integrated approach across technology, products, and distributor capability building is increasingly critical to India’s financial future.

    Founded in 2016, AssetPlus today works with more than 18,000 Mutual Fund Distributors across the country. Together, they manage over ₹7,250 crore in assets under management, run a monthly SIP book exceeding ₹125 crore, and serve more than 1.5 lakh investing customers. The company continues to invest in systems that simplify distributor workflows, strengthen regulatory compliance, and improve advisory outcomes without adding friction.
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  • Vivek Abrol steps into the top role as Luminous Power Technologies transitions its leadership

    Vivek Abrol is appointed Managing Director and CEO of Luminous Power Technologies as Preeti Bajaj transitions to parent company Schneider Electric

    Luminous Power Technologies has announced a leadership transition with the appointment of Vivek Abrol as its new Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, effective January 19, 2026. The move marks a new phase for the company as it sharpens its focus on growth, sustainability, and technology-led energy solutions.
    Vivek Abrol takes over from Preeti Bajaj, who has transitioned to Luminous’ parent company, Schneider Electric, where she will assume the role of Executive Vice President and lead its Global Home Solutions Division. The change signals continuity in leadership while aligning Luminous more closely with Schneider Electric’s global energy and home solutions strategy.

    In his new role, Abrol will be responsible for driving profitable growth across Luminous’ portfolio and advancing its evolution into an integrated consumer energy fulfilment platform. His mandate includes strengthening the company’s leadership in inverters and batteries, accelerating the expansion of solar and sustainable energy solutions, and investing in innovation and digital transformation to enhance customer experience and operational efficiency.
    Commenting on the transition, Preeti Bajaj reflected on her tenure at the company, noting that Luminous has built a strong foundation in consumer energy and solar solutions over the years. She said the organisation is well positioned for its next stage of growth and expressed confidence that Abrol’s leadership will build on the momentum created during her term.

    Vivek Abrol said he was honoured to take on the responsibility of leading Luminous Power Technologies at a time when India’s energy landscape is undergoing significant change. He highlighted the growing importance of reliability, sustainability, and technology in how energy is generated, stored, and consumed, and said his focus would be on delivering innovative solutions that meet the evolving needs of homes and businesses.
    With more than 25 years of leadership experience across FMCG, electricals, and consumer businesses, Abrol brings operational depth and scale-building expertise to the role. His previous assignments include senior leadership roles at ITC, Pidilite Industries, and RR Kabel, where he led the consumer electricals business through a period of rapid expansion and transformation.

    Luminous Power Technologies, with a legacy spanning over three decades, continues to strengthen its position in inverters, batteries, and residential solar solutions. The leadership transition comes as the company looks to deepen its role in India’s clean energy transition while expanding its presence in global markets.
    At Prittle PrattleNews, featuring you virtuously, we celebrate the commitment and innovation. Led by Editor-in-Chief Smruti Bhalerao, our platform is dedicated to sharing impactful stories that inspire change and create awareness. Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube for more stories that matter.

  • Delhi hosts the CLMP Loyalty Workshop as Loyalty Academy expands its India footprint

    According to Brian Almeida, Senior Faculty Member at Loyalty Academy, modern loyalty programmes must balance value, data, and trust

    New Delhi, January 2026: Delhi is set to host the Certified Loyalty Marketing Professional workshop for the first time as Loyalty Academy brings its flagship CLMP practitioner programme to the capital on 12 and 13 February 2026. The workshop is being organised jointly with The Wise Marketer, in partnership with Strategic Caravan, marking the fourth public CLMP workshop to be held in India.
    The two-day, in-person programme follows successful editions in Mumbai and Bengaluru and is designed for professionals involved in building, evaluating, or transforming loyalty strategies. Participants include brand leaders, marketers, consultants, technology specialists, and agency professionals working across sectors where customer retention, engagement, and long-term value creation are central.

    The CLMP workshop offers a structured deep dive into the strategic, operational, technological, and financial foundations of effective loyalty programmes. The curriculum draws from global best practices while addressing market-specific considerations relevant to India, enabling participants to apply frameworks that are both internationally benchmarked and locally grounded.
    Delivered by senior faculty members from Loyalty Academy, the programme covers all core CLMP modules along with select electives from the full certification curriculum. The format combines expert-led sessions with interactive exercises, peer discussions, and applied learning. Indian loyalty practitioners will also contribute through featured presentations, bringing regional perspectives into the classroom.

    Speaking on the evolution of loyalty marketing, Brian Almeida, Senior Faculty Member at Loyalty Academy, said that loyalty has moved well beyond points and rewards. He noted that sustainable programmes today are built on clear value exchange, data intelligence, financial discipline, and trust, and that the CLMP programme is designed to equip professionals with the rigour required to design initiatives that are measurable and meaningful to customers.
    The workshop concludes with a comprehensive case study and final examination, evaluated by Loyalty Academy. Participants who successfully demonstrate applied understanding are awarded the Certified Loyalty Marketing Professional credential, a globally recognised certification in the loyalty domain.

    The Delhi edition reflects India’s growing role in the global loyalty landscape, as organisations increasingly seek structured approaches to customer engagement, data-led decision-making, and long-term relationship management.
    At Prittle PrattleNews, featuring you virtuously, we celebrate the commitment and innovation. Led by Editor-in-Chief Smruti Bhalerao, our platform is dedicated to sharing impactful stories that inspire change and create awareness. Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube for more stories that matter.

  • Circular economy principles enter mainstream appliance retail through Selsmart and Lloyd

    According to Nitin Gupta, Co-Founder and CEO of Attero, the Lloyd Eco Exchange Program simplifies responsible disposal and upgrades

    New Delhi, 15 January 2026: Circular economy practices are moving closer to everyday consumer decisions with the launch of the Lloyd Eco Exchange Program, a collaboration between Selsmart by Attero and Lloyd, the consumer durable brand of Havells India Limited. The initiative is designed to enable consumers to responsibly exchange old appliances while upgrading to new Lloyd products through a structured, transparent process.
    Under the programme, customers can exchange used appliances of any brand and receive fair value benefits that can be applied directly towards the purchase of new Lloyd air conditioners, refrigerators, washing machines, televisions, and other home appliances. The exchange is currently live across select Havells and Lloyd brand stores and is set to expand through partner retailers, enabling pan-India access across markets where Selsmart operates.

    The initiative integrates instant valuation and direct application of exchange benefits at the point of purchase, while ensuring that all collected appliances are routed through Attero’s compliant recycling infrastructure. By doing so, the programme aims to prevent discarded electronics from entering landfills and instead channel them into regulated recycling systems.
    Commenting on the launch, Nitin Gupta, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Attero, said the objective is to make responsible electronics recycling seamless and mainstream for Indian consumers. He noted that the programme combines economic value with sustainability, allowing customers to upgrade appliances without facing disposal challenges, while also supporting wider adoption of circular economy practices.

    Selsmart, which was launched in mid-2024 as Attero’s direct-to-consumer take-back platform, is currently active across more than 25 Indian cities and handles around 30,000 pickup orders each month. The platform offers doorstep collection, fair resale value, secure data wiping, and end-to-end traceability for used electronics and home appliances.
    The Lloyd Eco Exchange Program covers a wide range of appliance categories, including split and window air conditioners across capacities, single-door and double-door refrigerators, semi-automatic and fully automatic washing machines, and televisions across CRT and LED or LCD formats. The exchange benefit applies regardless of the brand of the old appliance, providing flexibility and convenience for consumers planning upgrades.

    All products collected through the programme will be processed using Attero’s proprietary recycling technologies, which combine mechanical, hydrometallurgical, and pyrometallurgical processes. These systems enable the recovery of high-purity metals such as copper, gold, silver, and critical battery materials, achieving recovery efficiency of over 98 percent and purity levels exceeding 99.9 percent. The recovered materials are reintroduced into domestic manufacturing supply chains, supporting resource efficiency and reducing dependence on primary raw materials.
    Through this collaboration, Selsmart by Attero and Lloyd aim to align consumer appliance upgrades with responsible disposal practices, contributing to reduced landfill pressure and reinforcing circular economy adoption within India’s consumer durable market.
    At Prittle PrattleNews, featuring you virtuously, we celebrate the commitment and innovation. Led by Editor-in-Chief Smruti Bhalerao, our platform is dedicated to sharing impactful stories that inspire change and create awareness. Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube for more stories that matter.

  • Indonesia clears its first generic Ceftazidime plus Avibactam, opening a new market for Venus Remedies

    Saransh Chaudhary, President Global Critical Care at Venus Remedies and CEO of Venus Medicine Research Centre, and Aditi K. Chaudhary, President International Business, outline the significance of the approval

    Mumbai, January 15, 2026: Indonesia has cleared its first generic version of the critical antibiotic combination Ceftazidime plus Avibactam, following the grant of marketing authorisation to Venus Remedies Limited by the country’s regulatory authority. The approval marks the company’s first anti-infective marketing authorisation in Indonesia and signals a significant expansion of its presence in Southeast Asia.
    The clearance enables the first generic entry of Ceftazidime plus Avibactam in the Indonesian market, strengthening access to advanced hospital-based therapies used to treat serious multidrug-resistant bacterial infections. For Venus Remedies, the milestone represents a key regulatory and commercial step as it expands beyond oncology into anti-infective therapies within the country.

    Indonesia is among the largest pharmaceutical markets in Southeast Asia, where antibiotics remain a critical therapeutic category due to the burden of infectious diseases and growing emphasis on antimicrobial stewardship. The approval also aligns with Venus Remedies’ broader strategy to deepen its footprint across ASEAN markets, where the company is commercially active in ten countries and holds more than 370 injectable approvals.
    Commenting on the development, Saransh Chaudhary, President Global Critical Care at Venus Remedies and Chief Executive Officer of Venus Medicine Research Centre, said the approval reflects the company’s continued focus on addressing antimicrobial resistance through clinically relevant therapies designed for hospital care. He noted that the milestone reinforces Venus Remedies’ commitment to expanding access to life-saving anti-infective treatments in international markets.

    Ceftazidime plus Avibactam is indicated for the treatment of serious infections such as complicated intra-abdominal infections and complicated urinary tract infections caused by gram-negative pathogens, including Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Enterobacteriaceae. Avibactam works by inhibiting key beta-lactamase enzymes, restoring the effectiveness of ceftazidime against resistant bacterial strains.
    Aditi K. Chaudhary, President International Business at Venus Remedies, said the approval marks the company’s entry into the anti-infective segment in Indonesia, a priority market within its international growth plans. She added that the development reflects a long-term approach to building a compliant, scalable, and sustainable business in the region.

    The broader ASEAN pharmaceutical market is projected to exceed USD 63.5 billion by 2029, underlining its strategic importance for Indian pharmaceutical exports. As the first generic of its kind to be introduced in Indonesia, Ceftazidime plus Avibactam is expected to improve access to advanced anti-infective therapy in hospital and critical-care settings, while strengthening Venus Remedies’ commercial platform across Southeast Asia.
    At Prittle PrattleNews, featuring you virtuously, we celebrate the commitment and innovation. Led by Editor-in-Chief Smruti Bhalerao, our platform is dedicated to sharing impactful stories that inspire change and create awareness. Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube for more stories that matter.

  • A golf course-facing luxury address takes shape in Chembur through a Crest and Vensco partnership

    Vijay Choraria, Managing Director of Crest Ventures Limited, outlines plans for the Crest Golfshire development opposite the Bombay Presidency Golf Course

    Mumbai, January 15, 2026: A new luxury residential development is set to redefine Chembur’s real estate landscape following a joint development agreement between Crest Ventures Limited and Vensco Group. The partnership will be executed through Crest Urban Living Private Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Crest Ventures Limited, and will result in a golf course-facing luxury mixed-use project titled Crest Golfshire.
    Spread across approximately 2.7 acres, the development is located directly opposite the Bombay Presidency Golf Course on Golf Course Road in Chembur. With an estimated gross development value of around ₹1,850 crore, the project is positioned among the most significant upcoming luxury residential developments in Mumbai’s eastern suburbs.

    Crest Golfshire is planned to unlock close to five lakh square feet of saleable area and will comprise premium three and four bedroom residences. The homes are designed with vastu-aligned layouts and generous carpet areas ranging from approximately 1,042 square feet for three bedroom units to nearly 2,000 square feet for four bedroom residences. Construction has commenced, and the project is registered under MahaRERA, with possession timelines aligned to prevailing market expectations.
    The development is envisioned as a gated community offering uninterrupted green views of the adjoining golf course, a feature that remains rare in Mumbai’s luxury housing segment. Planned amenities include a fully equipped gymnasium, sky lounge, clubhouse, landscaped open spaces, children’s play areas, and advanced security systems, aimed at creating a nature-integrated living environment within an urban setting.

    Commenting on the project, Vijay Choraria, Managing Director of Crest Ventures Limited, said the Chembur development represents an opportunity to unlock the potential of a rare golf course-facing parcel in the city. He noted that the combination of permanent green views, improving connectivity, and strong social infrastructure positions the project as a defining address in Mumbai’s evolving luxury residential market beyond traditional hubs such as South Mumbai and Worli.
    Golf course-oriented residential developments in India, particularly along Gurugram’s Golf Course Road, have historically attracted sustained demand from senior corporate professionals, expatriates, and high-net-worth individuals. Internationally, similar developments in Dubai, London, Florida, and Singapore are regarded as established benchmarks of luxury living. Crest Golfshire aims to introduce this residential format to Mumbai, positioning Chembur as a new focal point for such developments.

    The project is expected to benefit from Mumbai’s ongoing infrastructure-led transformation, including improved road networks, metro expansion, and enhanced connectivity to Navi Mumbai and the upcoming international airport. Chembur’s access via the Santacruz–Chembur Link Road, Eastern Freeway, and metro corridors has already contributed to its growing appeal as a residential micro-market.
    Crest Ventures Limited currently has multiple residential projects underway across Mumbai and other cities, including developments in Bandra West, Andheri East, Jaipur, and Raipur. To date, the company has delivered over 10 million square feet of residential, commercial, and mixed-use developments across India and has partnered with The Phoenix Mills Limited on marquee retail and mixed-use destinations in key markets.
    At Prittle PrattleNews, featuring you virtuously, we celebrate the commitment and innovation. Led by Editor-in-Chief Smruti Bhalerao, our platform is dedicated to sharing impactful stories that inspire change and create awareness. Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube for more stories that matter.

  • From chemicals to cognition, how crop protection thinking is changing at Godrej Agrovet

    Rajavelu NK, CEO Crop Protection Business, writes on AI led advisories, drone spraying and intelligence driven integration

    India’s crop protection sector is undergoing a structural transformation, moving beyond a narrow focus on yield preservation toward a broader objective of safeguarding food security under growing climate stress. Rising temperature extremes, erratic rainfall, labour shortages, and fragmented landholdings are forcing a fundamental rethink of how protection strategies are designed and applied.
    In 2025, this shift accelerated sharply. Climate volatility intensified pest pressure and resistance risks, exposing the limitations of repetitive, molecule-centric interventions. Farmers increasingly turned to integrated pest management and precision application methods, marking a transition from reactive spraying to intelligence-led decision making.

    Technological adoption played a critical role in this transition. Government-supported initiatives such as the Drone Didi programme brought targeted spraying into the mainstream through more than 15,000 women’s self-help groups. At the same time, around 20 percent of smallholders began using AI-driven pest advisories, supported by weather data and predictive analytics. These developments signalled a move toward anticipatory protection rather than post-damage response.
    Climate change has also altered the biological behaviour of weeds and pests. Heat stress, prolonged humidity, and unpredictable precipitation patterns have reduced the effectiveness of conventional control techniques. Increased frequency of pesticide use has raised the risk of resistance, creating a cycle of diminishing returns. As a result, crop protection is increasingly being integrated into adaptive farming systems that combine crop rotation, integrated pest management, and precision delivery using the right formulation, at the right dose, in the right location.

    Smallholder farmers remain central to the success of this transition. While they form the backbone of Indian agriculture, their access to capital and extension services remains limited. A digital layer has begun to bridge this gap, with a majority of farmers now receiving weather and pest alerts through SMS, messaging platforms, and vernacular applications. However, the adoption of advanced AI platforms remains uneven, highlighting the need for solutions that are practical, accessible, and locally relevant.
    Beyond product innovation, the emphasis is shifting toward advisory-led engagement. Crop specific guidance, bundled solutions, regional language support, and stewardship around dosage, protective equipment, and storage are becoming as important as active ingredients. Digital channels and field demonstrations are playing a growing role in ensuring correct and safe application.

    Counterfeit and substandard pesticides continue to pose a systemic threat. An estimated quarter of the market is affected, undermining farmer trust, distorting price signals, and creating environmental and safety risks. Addressing this challenge requires coordinated action across enforcement, retail accountability, packaging traceability, and farmer awareness rather than isolated interventions.
    Application technology is also evolving rapidly. Government approval of drone spraying under mechanisation schemes represents a significant inflection point. Precision delivery through drones reduces water usage, limits operator exposure, and improves timing and placement. In parallel, AI-powered pest surveillance and satellite-based advisories are enabling a shift from reactive spraying to predictive intervention, supported by initiatives such as the National Pest Surveillance framework.

    Public-private collaboration is emerging as a key enabler across drone adoption, pest monitoring, and counterfeit control. The complexity of agricultural challenges has made it clear that no single stakeholder can address them in isolation.
    India’s crop protection ecosystem stands at a decisive moment. Climate stress, resistance pressures, and smallholder constraints are intensifying, but advances in science, technology, regulation, and farmer-centric engagement offer a viable path forward. Success in the coming years will be measured not by volumes applied, but by resilience built through precision, integration, education, and enforcement that protect crops while preserving ecosystems and livelihoods.
    At Prittle PrattleNews, featuring you virtuously, we celebrate the commitment and innovation. Led by Editor-in-Chief Smruti Bhalerao, our platform is dedicated to sharing impactful stories that inspire change and create awareness. Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube for more stories that matter.

  • Indian FMCG brands rethink last mile execution as Smart Force by Scale Sherpas enters the market

    Scale Sherpas Managing Director, Anjana Ghosh, outlines how the shared field force supports rapid multi city expansion

    Indian FMCG brands are reassessing how they execute at the last mile as distribution complexity increases across General Trade and Modern Trade channels. Addressing this challenge, Scale Sherpas has introduced Smart Force, a shared field force model designed to help brands expand across multiple cities with speed and operational control.
    India’s FMCG market, valued at over ₹9 lakh crore, continues to rely heavily on General Trade, which contributes close to 65 percent of sales through more than 6.5 million kirana stores. While digital platforms and strong product innovation have enabled scale, many brands face execution gaps as they grow. These gaps often emerge in the form of fragmented distributor coordination, incomplete outlet coverage data, and rising costs associated with maintaining in house sales teams.

    Smart Force has been developed to address these issues through a ready to deploy execution framework. The model brings together shared on ground sales teams, pre mapped routes, and standardised processes, allowing brands to activate simultaneously across multiple markets without building large internal field organisations. According to the company, this approach helps reduce duplication, improve data consistency, and enable faster responses to market level challenges.
    With Smart Force, brands are able to shorten market entry timelines from the traditional six to nine months to as little as 45 days. The model is also positioned to improve numeric distribution through disciplined secondary sales execution while reducing go to market costs by up to 40 percent compared to conventional in house structures.

    The launch is led by Anjana Ghosh, Managing Director at Scale Sherpas and a former director at Bisleri, who brings decades of experience in building and scaling sales and distribution networks across Indian FMCG markets. She said that many brands continue to struggle not because of strategy gaps, but due to weaknesses in their last mile people model.
    “Brands do not need another strategy framework. They need execution that works consistently on the ground,” said Anjana Ghosh. She added that last mile sales teams are often disengaged and invisible to leadership, making it difficult to drive accountability, motivation, and productivity at scale. According to her, Smart Force has been designed as an execution first solution that addresses these structural challenges directly.

    Smart Force is supported by an AI enabled application with pre loaded route plans, beats, and outlet data covering 1.5 lakh locations. The system enables real time tracking, intelligent call planning, instant reporting, and actionable management information systems, ensuring that daily market activity translates into measurable outcomes.
    As competition intensifies and margins tighten across the FMCG sector, shared execution models such as Smart Force are emerging as a viable alternative for brands seeking predictable and scalable growth. Through this launch, Scale Sherpas aims to support FMCG companies in strengthening distribution velocity, improving execution discipline, and achieving faster market expansion.
    At Prittle PrattleNews, featuring you virtuously, we celebrate the commitment and innovation. Led by Editor-in-Chief Smruti Bhalerao, our platform is dedicated to sharing impactful stories that inspire change and create awareness. Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube for more stories that matter.