25 MOST INNOVATIVE COMPANIES

In the fast globalising Indian economy, where a plethora of similar goods and services are vying with one another to get the consumer on their side, what sets a company apart is its quickness in anticipating customer demand and innovating accordingly. And that makes all the difference between success and failure!

When Steve Jobs gregariously introduced the iPod in October 2001, he not only changed the way people listened to music, but also managed to give a big thumbs-up to his company. How? Well, till then, Apple was struggling for mass acceptance of its computer brand Macintosh, which was going nowhere despite tall promises, in the face of stiff competition from Windows based PCs. But check this: analysts admit that ever since the iPod became a global sensation, the halo effect has rubbed off some on Apple’s computer business and Macintosh sales are on the revival path. That’s the impact of a seemingly innocuous innovation (in this case a 2-4 inch small musical device) on a company’s fortunes!

Closer home, take the case of Kingfisher Airlines. When flamboyant liquor baron Vijay Mallya decided on dabbling in the lucrative aviation sector, he went totally over-the-top and thought up an avant-garde way to lure consumers. The next thing one knew, his stylish Airbuses were in the air, replete with a state-of-theart personalised inflight entertainment system, a sassy cabin and ground staff in bold red attires, designer interiors in his aircraft, with the flashy Mallya himself greeting passengers on board. Coming for an audience, starved for such grandeur during travel, the inoovation paid off. Mallya’s special brand of air travel boasts of a sizable chunk of the total aviation pie within just two years of its launch.

Either via an inventive new product in the marketplace; or translating new ideas into a substantial product or service; or even successfully marketing and exploiting a new idea... innovation is fast becoming a winning habit for companies. Here’s a dekho at the 25 companies who are increasingly laying emphasis on being innovative in the Indian market. Their innovation need not always be out rightly radical (involving huge R&D expenditures). Sometimes it may be just a brilliant new idea (iPod?) or just an original adaptation of a known idea (Kingfisher Airlines?); It may just involve a minor tinkering with any of the 4Ps of Marketing (Product, Price, Promotion & Place) – a competitive pricing strategy, a different packaging, out-of-the-box marketing... Anything works, provided the demand is anticipated correctly. So, here they are in all their inventive glory...

JET AIRWAYS... is second to none in both aviation & innovation. The SMS check-in facility is another testimony to Naresh Goyal’s cutting edge thinking!

It’s no child’s play to wear the proud tag of ‘India’s only profitable domestic airline’. Jet Airways has earned this coveted status only after relentless efforts, not least among them tireless attempts towards innovations, to offer more bang for his buck to the Indian traveller. From introducing Indian aviation to the ‘Kiosk Check-in’ facility for the first time last year to the M-ticketing facility that has constantly been stealing the thunder for customer convenience, Jet has been constantly in the limelight for its innovative streak. Subhasish Dey, Industry Manager, Huntsman International and a Platinum card holder of Jet Airways, agrees. “Jet’s differentiating strategy can only be realized when someone travels Jet. They offer enormous new ways for time management, especially their recent SMS check-in facility,” he says.

SMS check-in allows Jet Privilege members to check-in via an SMS, which entitles the passenger to a seat number. And when the passengers reach the airport, they are simply handed in their boarding pass. What’s more, in preparation for its international thrust, Jet is now offering a private ‘suite’ aboard its new Boeing 777-300ER. The suites are mix of opulence and privacy, complete with an 83 inches bed, a 23-inch flat screen monitor, a personal hanging wardrobe, among other luxuries in the sky. Now that’s innovation for differentiation in the skies!

KINGFISHER AIRLINES... is synonymous with luxurious style and in-flight entertainment. Live TV in the sky is its next big differentiator!

When frequent flyers were cribbing about their ‘oh-so boring’ domestic journeys and the equally insipid cuisine onboard, the flamboyant liqour baron Mallya came up with just the perfect answer. His Kingfisher Airlines came in with ingenious in-flight entertainment, avant-garde cuisine, and inventive designer interiors on aircrafts in 2005–value for money offerings at virtually the same cost as other contemporary airliners. Everything was spanking new– starting right from the loud red uniform of cabin crews and ground staffs to the sleeperette seats and personalized screens, 8 video channels and 12 music channels. Kingfisher Airlines stood out from the crowd.

And what’s more, Mallya did not stop at just that. Earlier this year, Mallya struck again. He tied up with Media tycoon Subhash Chandra’s Dish TV to offer DTH services on his aircrafts, a welcome news to all fliers hungry for entertaining ways to while away their time 6000 feet above sea level.

Says Akarsh Anand, Chief Manager, ICICI (a frequent traveler with Kingfisher), “You need just one journey with Kingfisher to see why they have captured a decent market share in such a short span.” And he’s not the only one rooting for Mallya’s inventive brand of ingenious innovation.

TOYOTA... Customer satisfaction & retention tops Toyota’s priority list. From ingenious products to servicing, Toyota is looking ahead as always... Here’s a company that lives, breathes and eats innovation, globally, and in India too. Last year, it launched its unique Express Maintenance facility (an onehour periodic maintenance service) in India. Available at select outlets, the facility utilizes the Toyota production system & Kaizen methodologies to deliver the service, and hopes to increase customer satisfaction & retention. Toyota customers who otherwise would have had to wait for 14 hours for servicing, can do the same in an hour now.

In terms of product innovation per se, after making the ugly, but practical, Qualis super successful (now discontinued) in India, it did not do anything of much magnitude. But, the company is presently engaged in figuring out the perfect version of the ready to be refreshed Corolla, a product which has been hit hard by the revolutionary Honda Civic. They also plan to launch a new small car in the high potential B+ segment, which will compete with the likes of Swift & Getz.

Toyota is known for its extensive market research led strategy. The successes of the multi-utility vehicle Innova and the radically styled Camry can be atributed to the fact that Toyota anticipated their demand well in advance. KK Swami DMD, Toyota Kirlosker told 4Ps B&M, “We focus on the study of the consumers’ changing preferences and therefore getting the right cost price is important. We target a 10% market share by 2010.”

FORD... The innovation with the diesel engines have helped Ford to conquer the Indian psyche, and of course, Indian roads...

In what is a clear signal that the Blue Oval can no longer ignore the booming Indian auto mart, Ford has climbed the innovative band wagon big time in India! You only have to take a peek at the new Fiesta, designed and built with state-of-the-art automotive technology, including the innovative 1.0-liter supercharger engine and the facts will stand clearly in front of you. Fiesta Supercharger is the first application of this technology in a compact car, and its 1.0-liter engine has power equivalent to that of a 1.6-liter unit.

Ever since launching the Fiesta in 2005, there is no looking back for Ford India. The car has been so successful that it has created its own niche in the Indian auto bazaar. Piggybacking this success, the year 2007 has been special for Ford India. Ford now understands that the secret behind its unprecedented success in India is undoubtedly its common rail armed diesel engine range. For starters, Ford has installed a larger capacity engine in its up market SUV – Endeavour, which needed to get rid of its legendry power deficit. Talking to 4Ps B&M, Arvind Mathew CEO Ford India said, “I want a presence in all the segments. I never said no to any small car.” With the prospective entry of Honda and Toyota in the small car segment, Ford too has big ‘small car’ aspirations. After this momentous year in Ford’s kitty there will be more innovations on the horizon. Ford’s international crisis remains the only continuing problem.

TATA MOTORS... Magic & the Winger is not the title for another Harry Potter tale, instead they stand tall amidst Tata’s slew of product innovations!

The Magic & the Winger sounds like the title of a fairy tale! The launch of the four-wheeler public transportation mode – the Magic and the Winger, by Tata Motors in June 2007, is indeed a boon for the masses; those dependent on public transportation such as three wheelers and buses. The Magic seats 4-7 passengers and with pleasant interiors, comfortable seats and a number of benefits for the driver. The Winger, however, takes the tempo a notch higher. Seating 9-13, passenger comfort has been provided from all angles – starting from seat belts and spot-lamps to a 2-litre turbo charged engine and demisters. Both diesel engines, they cover the needs in rural & urban towns, promising to take intra-city transportation to the next level.

The launch of the longwheel base Indigo XL marked another product innovation from the Tata stable, earlier this year. Offering comfort and lavishness, this one’s is nothing short of a super-luxury car. But there have been reactions to its claim of being ‘India’s first stretch limousine’. Jigar Valia, Analyst, Parag Parikh Financial Advisory says, “The Indigo XL is a comfort vehicle and can do well, but it can’t really be called a limousine as it does not live up to that image.” More recently, Tata Motors also launched a trimmed version of the Indigo XL Classic, with a price cut and a few ‘grand’ features missing, making it a more value-for-money offering.

First with Indica, then with Winger & Magic, and now with the planned ‘Rs.1 Lakh Car’, Tata Motors has only reinforced its innovation for the ‘masses’ strategy. What say?

HERO HONDA... Affordable, efficient and effective, that’s what Hero Honda’s ingenious fuel injection technology in mobiles are all about. Fuel injection technology! Seems too much of dream theory for bikers, right? Wrong! As far as Hero Honda is concerned, it’s something that has bought a place for itself amidst our coveted list of 25 most innovative companies. The fuel injection technology not only uses fuel efficiently, but also goes on to add to the comfort level for bikers. And all of it comes at amazingly low emission levels. And how important technology is in two wheelers? Urmil Negandhi Auto Analyst, proclaims to 4Ps B&M, “Technology will play a crucial role in coming days. The player with latest technology, will eventually dominate.” Are the Munjal’s hearing?

Well, certainly seems so! Hero Honda has a legacy of bringing superior technologies and enjoys an edge over others in terms of affordable technology. “When you have high potential products like the Splendour, then you should leverage them fully” says Anil Dua, VP, Sales, Hero Honda. Indian consumers, who often times have been deprived of world class technologies, are having a field day. “Indian customer is not only price sensitive, but also wants latest designs, comforts, aesthetics and new technology at the same small price,” explains Negandhi. Hero Honda is walking the ramp with accolades, for being the first to bring an affordable technology into the price-sensative twowheeler segment. Have you begun to clap yet?

MARUTI... The running cost of WagonR Duo, using LPG, is about 33% less than the petrol vehicle in the same category, Now that’s original! “It’s not really difficult to sell cars these days when everyone’s getting richer in cities. But to maintain a leadership position throughout all these years and despite foreign models coming in, Maruti deserves an applause,” says Rajiv Sinha, a Maruti service station proprietor. Perhaps, it’s this doggedness that Maruti has successfully instilled amongst its dealers (recognised as their first and foremost customers) that has earned Maruti the top spot, irrespective of what competition may have on offer.

Or maybe it’s the extremely well thought out value adds that Maruti offers under one roof – be it car insurance or car finance, fleet management or even used cars – its been a fruitful journey for this veteran car maker that has constantly changed itself with changing times & tastes.

But that’s not why Maruti has made our cut this year. The prime reason isthat in 2006 they thought ahead and launched India’s first factory- fitted LPG vehicle, the WagonR Duo.

Further, ever since Maruti listed itself in 2003, the company has felt “a greater obligation... to perform and deliver value,” believes S. Nakanishi, Chairman of Maruti Udyog Limited (MUL). No wonder, Maruti has constantly been taking various steps to push sales, prime among them being their tie-up with the State Bank of India to encourage rural car buyers. Plus cost cutting against rising raw material costs and ability to provide top quality compact cars like the Swift, Alto and Zen, has helped it sell more Altos in year 2006-07 than “combined sales of all car models of its nearest rival.” Count on them for numbers!

ITC... they have not only cashed in on the organic food fad but their innovation called Bingo has created a new genre in snacks... that’s 10 on 10!

It won’t be an exaggeration to say that ITC stands for Innovation, Technology and Creativity, the way they have led by example. Staring from e-Choupal to rural retailing (Choupal Sagars) to the fashion ramps, this conglomerate has been a pioneer in innovations and often has been a bellweather in bringing in changes in Indian socio economic life. Innovation has been in its DNA... ever since its metamorphosis from a tobacco major to a conglomerate.

FY 2007 was not an exception for ITC and to sustain their growth mantra and their first mover’s advantage, the company rolled out many innovative products. The flagship brand Ashirvad is just one of the smash hit innovations for the company in branding staple food products, bucked up with massive marketing expansion strategies. In the same line, to become an early bird for cashing in on the organic food factor, they revealed Aashirvaad Select Organic Spices. They also forayed into the fast growing snacks market through their brand Bingo, which has created a new genre in snacks. ITC pepped it up with a massive distribution initiative & aggressive penetration ensuring presence in every corner of India from day one in more than 5 unique flavours. “We have always been at the forefront of innovation with the aim of catering to the evolving consumer needs. Consumers today are very knowledgeable & willing to try out newer products in the market, thereby making innovation a key ingredient for any brand’s success.” History has proved the mettle of this conglomerate to innovate, interestingly, ITC is also one of the rare companies to follow the triple bottom line concept in its accountancy practices. Truly a veteran in the field now!

ICICI BANK... Their performance precedes them and if one talks about cutting-edge, they often precede everyone in the business...

I ntroducing the concept of working hours from 8 to 8 was just one of the ways ICICI Bank made its mark on banking practices in India. The bank has constantly rewritten the rules of the game in favour of itself in the banking terrain by its sheer ability to innovate in terms of product & service offerings. The ICICI Bank model of growth has been ‘Universal Banking’ coupled with personalized banking & increased focus on retail customers and they have literally given the big daddies of the business (in particular the PSUs) a run for their money. Retail customers have been their main focus and this undying focus is completely reflected in all their innovations. So, be it leveraging the internet (online simulation games) to offer better and convenient banking services, extending working hours, launching a jewellery card for the first time in association with Gitanjali Group, or tying up with IBM & IFC to set up a comprehensive online resource centre for SMEs, the bank has been quite firm on the innovation bandwagon. As Charudutta Deshpande, Head, Corporate Communications, ICICI Bank, proudly asserts to 4Ps B&M, “Internet Banking & the concept of 8 to 8 banking are two milestones that have helped change the face of the Indian banking system...” This bank surely knows how to take care of its ‘interest’s, no matter where the interest rates are headed!

LG... They have an endless list of product innovations and to top it all, they have been stupendously creative in marketing themselves...

Market leader LG India treads the innovation path quite often. Just look at the list! The first ever desktop PC with finger print security, country’s first blue tooth enabled car audio system, India’s first monitor with 3D display effects, Time Machine TV, India’s first and only full metal bodied phone – LG Shine... It’s not only about products, they have also intertwined innovation in marketing themselves. For the first time in the Indian consumer durable industry, the company launched LG first – the first true value exchange programme, the Club 100 and ‘I love LG’, the first Dealer Relationship Management & Customer Relationship Management initiative. “LG has been a marketing innovator. LG has continually strived to raise the level of trade, through its trade-leverage activation, and the level of the consumer, through its advertising blitz” opines Brand Analyst Harish Bijoor. And there’s absolutely no doubt about what the company is aspiring for – keep innovating. “The consumer electronics market is rapidly expanding and its profile steadily changing, innovative add-ons are definitely to attract the technology savvy consumer. This is the key deliverable for LG for its quality-conscious consumer,” says Moon B. Shin, MD, LG Electronics India. Well, innovation can be applied to anything and everything a company does, and few do it like LG!

SAMSUNG... It innovates for the classes & not for the masses, but how does it matter till the time they innovate?

Interestingly, Samsung has come out with a couple of innovations recently that may not affect the masses, but have surely lured the classes. Firstly, it introduced the CLX-2160 series of colour laser multi function printers. These are of half the size as compared to all competing printers. Weighing only 18 kgs, this printer has a built in USB port, which means scanning & printing can be done using the USB memory, thus eliminating the need of a PC. Samsung India is also the first company credited with launching a 19” LCD television for Indians. The Bordeaux LA 19R7 has advanced features like a contrast ratio of 600:1 which means crisper images, resolution of 1440 x 800 and many others that could well make it a multimedia masterpiece.

Commenting on these innovations, Brand analyst Harish Bijoor states, “Product innovations add value to a brand in two ways, image & improving the quality of life. These have been largely image innovations and not necessarily volume innovations, which touch large numbers of consumers.” But is it that the company has been focusing only on the products and not on its marketing strategies? “I do believe Samsung needs to cover a lot of space in this terrain,” says Bijoor. Well, there’s no doubt about the Samsung India’s high innovation quotient, especially in its products, but a bit more on the marketing front could definitely take it through the roof. Anybody who doesn’t want that?

CANON... here’s one global company which truly believes in banking on innovations in ‘Pricing’ & ‘Place’ to click with the Indian junta!

In its quest to provide the best products & services to consumers, Canon has used the innovative pricing method by making its products affordable. Catering to the demands of small businesses, Canon brought out the multi-functional device Canon Image Classic MF8180C. A hot favourite in the laser category, the multi-functional products’ highly savvy, yet simple to use functionality, is perfect for limited office spaces. Another segment where Canon is making a loud noise is the digital camera segment. And when it comes to buying a camera, it all depends on who you are: a pro or an amateur. With Sony Cybershot leading the segment, undoubtedly Canon had its work cut out. But Canon, which topped the world digicam market with 21.5% market share in 2006, has been game for the challenge. Even though Sumit Gupta, MD, Icons Limited (handles Canon’s retail activities) modestly claims, “There isn’t much of innovation in retail,” nevertheless Canon has used the product placement and pricing strategy to its advantage instantly grabbing the eye-balls of the consumers. Roping in Sachin Tendulkar was another major coup for Canon. Competitors better prepare themselves to face more ‘Canon’ fire in the coming months!

SONY CORPORATION... Triniton, walkman PlayStation... Sony continues to carry the baton of a creative spirit via its cutting edge products The company that made Trinitron televisions part of drawing rooms & introduced what we know as the Walkman, continues to redefine innovation. The latest offering straight from their lab into India was the PlayStation 3 (PS3). Believe it or not, PS3, the third version of Sony’s PlayStations, dwarfs its predecessors in terms technology and puts Sony on a different level of innovation altogether in the segment.

Although it has been under the hammer for being over priced and competition and experiencing sleepless nights, yet one cannot ignore the fact that Sony was the pioneer in the gaming device business and is still far ahead of its competitors, when it comes to total sales. Vinnet Nagpal, President of ICRA, opines, “Sony is always known for the best in technology and high end products and its Bravia and PS3 are futher adding on to its legacy.” PS3 does not arouse the desires of the gamers the globe just for being powered by the fastest processor in the world but also because they have packed in numerous advance graphics tools in their PS3. Moreover, with Wi-Fi, Blu-ray drive, Bluetooth controller, HDMI port to boot, ‘cutting edge’ has just taken over the drawing rooms of PS3 zealots. Well, stay hooked... after all, It’s a Sony!

NOKIA... If one were to consider innovation as a religion, then it would be difficult to find an ardent preacher like Nokia

Over the years, Nokia has been on an innovation spree, be it mobile games, digital music service, network performance or network security. The ease with which it has transformed the Bounce Boeing Voyage from 2D to 3D and the Snake subsonic mobile puzzle game, bear testimony to its innovative streak, wherein it has successfully combined accessible game play with stylized presentation. On the security front, it recently launched Nokia IP2450 (a shared innovation with Intel and Check Point), which has been specifically designed to meet the needs of large businesses and service providers with respect to business continuity, scalability and extensibility. Nokia Music Stores unquestionably heighten the rivalry between Apple and Nokia, yet Nokia Music store, on a differentiating note, will allow users to download songs from Internet to their computers or directly to their mobiles over wireless networks, which iPhone does not have. They are ready to tap opportunities brought forth by the convergence of mobile communications and internet industries. As Nokia spokesperson Arja Suominen puts it, “We continue to focus on enhancing our strong position in mobile devices and networks, and building the new business of consumer internet services and business solutions, where we see interesting possibilities.” While connecting people, the company continues to cement its connection with innovation.

BLACKBERRY (RIM )... it makes mobile phones look prehistoric and gives a complex to laptops... and it has done it all through innovation

Just a decade ago, a device was launched to access e-mail on the go, after mixing dollops of creativity, scoops of innovation & some fresh chunks of new intellectual property, Blackberry today is an instantly gratifying electronic product, because it is so much more than a mobile phone. Extremely simple and easy, this product from Research In Motion Inc. (RIM) seems garnished with addictive ingredients.

What’s so unique and innovative about a phone with e-mail access, you may ask? But Blackberry handles e-mail like no body else can. A full QWERTY keyboard and unique “push” e-mail approach, actually makes other packet data based cell phones look like products from the horse and buggy era. The latest from the company is Blackberry 8830, the world edition phone which enables mobile globetrotters to access voice & data coverage across the globe.

For many corporate executives, Blackberry is an essential entity. High flier, Rohit K , Associate VP, ClubOne Air, raves about his 9300 nokia Blackerry phone saying, “I completely adore my Blackeberry, thanks to it I no longer have to lug around my laptop and my business does not suffer as I am online 24/7, no matter which part of the world I am in,” Blackberry, undoubtedly, has become the weapon of choice for many corporates as it continues to maintain its cutting edge.

MOTOROLA... After making ‘style’ a core offering in the Indian mobile phone space, Motorola continues to maintain its ‘RAZR’ sharp edge

They have scraped the bulky cell phone to a blade (almost) and they are getting ‘sharper’ day by day. First the ‘RAZR’, and now the RAZR2V8, whose global launch was in India, proves that they just can’t stop innovating. Malcolm Dawe, Vice President & General Manager, Motorola India, stated proudly on the new product, “It comes with an ARM 11 processor, which makes it the fastest mobile phone in the world at the moment.” There’s more! The company has also come up with Moto Q, the slimmest PDA around in collaboration with Tatas.

It’s not only about mobile equipments, Motorola has also been a leading solution provider in wireless and broadband communications. Along with technologically advanced phones, Motorola also deals with digital video system solutions and interactive set-top boxes; voice and data modems & wireless broadband access systems ranging from cellular infrastructure systems to cable to satellite television operators. The enterprise mobility segment of this company provides end-to-end enterprise mobility solutions to a range of public safety, government, utility, transportation, retail & other worldwide enterprise markets. Recently, it got into got into a deal with MTNL in India, to provide its innovative Universal Mobile Telecommunications Service (UMTS) solution that will help MTNL to lower its cost of operation and provide superior services. Indeed the company continues to be sharp as ever!

SONY ERICSSON... The name Sony always carries an extremely high innovation quotient... but still, read on and get convinced!

After bringing to life CyberShot and Walkman, Sony extended the same into Sony Ericsson mobile devices as well. According to Sudhin Mathur, General Manager – Sony Ericsson Mobile Communication India, “Innovation is the key to business success. At Sony Ericsson, we are committed to develop these distinctive products for our customers as mobile entertainment becomes more pervasive in India.” They were the first to introduce Bass-Reflex speaker, shake control feature that changes the track in its playlist by merely shaking it and also in the pipe- line is the Sense Me technology that would gauge the mood of the listener and play the track appropriate to that mood.

In the CyberShot range, too, Sony Ericsson is planning to release by K850i which has a 5 mega-pixel camera. It also comes in loaded with features that enable blogging. Sony Ericsson is known to have brought features that are relevant, and yet be the pioneers in their stream and believe that they would continue to do that in future as well. After all it carries the pedigree of Sony behind it... do we need to add any more?

HP... It’s the market leader in printing & PC segments in India, but still it continues to better itself with blockbuster innovations...

Sleek, sexy, space saving – those the 3 S of the new HP Touch Smart IQ770 PC. And HP effectively scores a homerun with this new cult object. HP is listing the TouchSmart as a PC for the kitchen especially – the nucleus of many family activities, where calendars, to-do lists and photos get checked – but it would work well in just about any room of your house. Due to its all-in-one design and the reality that it contains a TV tuner, it can also be useful in a student’s dorm room, where legroom is tight. This chip used in this desktop is characteristically found in notebook computers and it’s a powerful one. Though its sounds smooth, yet disagrees Harish Bijoor, CEO, Harish Bijoor Consults Inc. saying, “I do believe there has been a value addition in terms of bellsand- whistles value addition. It will take time for the Indian consumer to settle in with these innovations from the market leader.”

There’s nothing to prove about its competence in terms of coming up with innovations worldwide; one thing that should be wondered about is whether HP has been innovative in its marketing or pricing strategy in India – analysts comment that it has. It has indeed maintained its leadership position in the face of stiff competition, thanks to its relentless focuss on providing the most compelling value proposition to its customers.

MOSER BAER... Moser Baer with its ultra cheap offerings is dictating terms in the home video segment... just an extention, but innovation nevertheless!

A good start is what most of us can manage. But only few can hold it till end to emerge victorious. And Moser Baer is known to be one such winner. With its unrelenting focus on R&D, the company has always lead the market with new product innovations. All one has to do is to look back couple of decades to see how fast Moser Baer has changed the shape and format of the industry – from floppy disks to CDs to DVDs and now Blu-ray and holographic. “The focus on manufacturing and R&D has helped the company adopt and indigenise technology quickly. It is not a mere coincidence that Moser Baer is the lowest cost manufacturer of optical media in the world. These are but a few of the strategies that we will continue to focus to ensure that we are leaders in the space that we are in.” Yogesh Mathur, Group CFO, Moser Baer shares with 4Ps B&M. Be it the photovoltaic initiatives or the home video segment, Moser Baer has always extended its core competencies to set the stage on fire. Its entry into home video segment with dirt cheap prices, indeed, was a smart move that not only shook this highly fragmented industry but also gave original product manufacturers a run for their money. And now it plans to do the same with its photovoltaic business and computer peripherals. No doubt, Moser Baer has not only grown and evolved but has also been able to forecast & adapt to change quickly, even leading the way at times.

MICROSOFT... An innovator to the core this software giant has always surprised its users with tech wonders. Vista, Offi ce 2007, anyone?

“If you can’t make it good, at least make it look good,” if Bill Gates uttered this once, it wasn’t for Microsoft. Definitely not! An innovator to the core, the software giant has proved this, not only once, but on several occasions, with its user-friendly wonders that have dazzled the tech world. From technical architectures to servers, from online business solutions to personal computing… phew! You name it and Microsoft has it all.

This software giant has generated everything from handwriting-recognition software to touch sensitive features to mobile computing. And of course! Not to forget the new Windows Vista that has Completely c h a n g e d known style of interaction with the mind machines. An advanced graphical user interface, improved searching features, new multimedia creation tools and completely redesigned networking and display subsystems. Well, what more can one ask for? If yes, then the Microsoft Office system 2007, the most recent version of Microsoft’s productivity suite is already there. On the entertainment front too, Microsoft has thrilled its users from Xbox to digital music devices to the latest IPTV software.

To some, Microsoft still might be just a fast follower than a cutting edge innovator, but then just check out the latest offer on the block, ‘Microsoft Surface’. Hope this stumps all those unsatisfied creatures!

DELL... Here’s a company that has driven the course of future industry innovations, and it has been ‘PowerVault’ing all the way...

Known for its relentless focus on customer satisfaction, Dell undoubtedly with its innovative techniques has climbed the ladders easily enough to reach the top. Its culture itself speaks of innovation and improvement. In fact, Dell began its innovation technique by asking its customers what they want the product to do? Continuously working on consumer’s feedback Dell has time and again floored the IT world with its innovative approaches. “We believe in innovating every day, inculcating a mindset of innovation in our products, in our processes just the way we do things,” Rajan Anandan, Vice President and General Manager, Dell India shares with 4Ps B&M. Well, the 300 information disclosures by its R&D department in just the past two years says the rest!

And now, the latest from Dell’s factories is the fourth generation PowerVault LTO -4- 120 technology storage device that provides 800 GB native capacity with a whopping transfer rate of 432GB/hour. That means your backup window gets shrunk by a third and records a complete 100% growth in capacity. It’s the first drive, which offers ‘device level encryption’ that enables organisations to secure their data efficiently without the additional cost of installing software base encryptions. And lest we forget, it is indeed Dell’s concept of building direct relationship with customers that has helped it in its drive to chart out future industry innovations. The threestep process of ‘Listen-Solve-Impact’ has almost always led to some real path breaking innovations.

APPLE... They revolutionised the world with their path breaking innovations. What they began with iPod & iPhone, they continue with Safari...

They always do it in style (innovation personified). Be it the musically smart iPod or the technologically advanced iPhone, they have always dazed the world with their path breaking innovations. “Apple has always been successful in creating a strong brand image that reflects its innovation and creativity. And they have always proved it through their offerings,” Anmol Dhar, MD, Superbrands India told 4Ps B&M. Well, if this wasn’t enough, the latest from the innovators stable happens to be Safari 3 – the fastest web browser in the world. The stylish interface gets out of your way and loads the page two times faster than Internet explorer and up to 1.6 times faster than Firefox 2. Moreover, Safari bonds with iTunes in distributing Apple’s distinguished user experience to Windows and Mac users, as well as full support for open Internet standards. Now that’s tough bonding! And all at your doorstep – Safari has a bookmark management scheme that integrates Apple’s QuickTime multimedia technology, and features a tabbed-browsing interface. Sure to catch up fast with users like always.

And for the cons attached with it, as they say some popular features not set on by default, comes the experts comment from Apple CEO Steve Jobs - “We think Windows’ users are going to be really overwhelmed when they see how fast and spontaneous web browsing can be with Safari”. Hear that, ladies and gentlemen!

INTEL... Their innovative architectures have drawn new boundaries of performance, capabilities & effi ciency... well, they are pushing it further

It all started with a small silicon chip, the invention that sparked off a revolution, and one that continues till today. Be it the acclaimed Core 2 Duo desktop chip with Advanced Smart Catching, Smart Memory Access and Wide Dynamic Execution (all bundled in small chip); or the recently launched Intel C++ Compiler and Fortran Professional Edition, two power-packed software products that definitely are a deadly combination of highly backed compilers, performance libraries and Intel Threading Building Blocks (and speed up a computer’s responsiveness strikingly), Intel has always redefined technology. Of course, the products and initiatives from Intel – the world leader in silicon innovations – have never failed to impress.

“We were the first to introduce quad core on desktop & server and will be introducing our second generation quad core product this year,” John Mc- Clure, Director, Marketing, Intel South Asia, Intel Technology India Pvt. Ltd shares with 4Ps B&M.

And if this is not enough, the NOR multilevel flash memory chips at 1-gigabit density using its advanced 65-nanometer (nm) process technology is coming fresh from its stable. The new technology is sure to improve flash performance to enable the next generation of handsets that deliver new and enhanced capabilities for endusers. That’s being on top again!

So, it’s the undying thrust on innovation that keeps the chip maker up there, much above the rest. And the journey does not end here for sure...