Monday, 12 April 2021

Dhakneji says : Pahile APP

Context :

APP KE LIYE / Mumbai Mirror - 11 April

Extract :

Ø The Regional Transport Office (RTO) is all set to introduce the application within a month’s time

Ø The app will allow passengers to register their complaints or suggestions about services offered by rickshaws, taxis or mobile-app based taxis

Ø The complaints related to overcharging, refusal to take passengers, misbehavior by auto or taxi operators and other wrong practices, which often lead to arguments between passengers and drivers, can now be tackled properly

Ø Since the data related to complaints or grievances will be recorded in the app, the transport department can assess it and take appropriate action against errant auto or taxi operators

Ø The State Transport Commissioner, Avinash Dhakne, avinashdhakne@gmail.com / smccommissioner@yahoo.com

said the decision has been taken to improve public services

Ø The mobile application will serve dual purpose : resolve complaints and problems of passengers and create awareness about road safety

Ø The transport grievance mobile application will be a web-based application and anyone can download it

Ø Anyone can lodge the complaint according to the location and after lodging the complaint, they can even check the status of their complaint at any time in the future

Ø They will be able to see what action has been taken against the violator, and will also have the data of the complainant and that can also be tracked

Ø The mobile application was planned in 2017, but the project could not take off. But now the work has already been done and it should get functional in one month’s time

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MY TAKE :

Ø Once again , Congratulations Shri Dhakneji, for implementing ( although, just that part which concerns your department ), what I have repeatedly requested in my following blog / email :

I SIN > < U SIN ( I Seek It Now > < U Solve It Now ) …………[ 12 Dec 2012 ]

Extract :

Ø No need to login to the App , whose screen will read,

I wish to send my complaint to the following department :

# National Commission for Women

# Garbage Clearance

# Water Supply

# Electricity Supply

# Roads Repair

# Rationing ( Food Distribution )

# Police

# Bus Transport

# Railways

# Post

# Employment

# Education

# Irrigation

# Building Permits

# Revenue / Land Records

# Anti Corruption

# Other …etc (List should not exceed 50)

Ø Touching name of any department name will open a SMS message box where the user will type out his complaint (in language of his choice )

There will be option to speak-out and record voice message, for illiterate users

Touching SEND button will transmit the complaint and within minutes, user will receive SMS reply , giving,

# Name of Officer responsible

# Office Landline No

# Mobile No

# Email Id

# Complaint No

# Expected date of solving

Bingo !

Ø Then publish online, a tabulation of departments, arranged in the descending order of the no of complaints received / cleared / pending !

This frugal innovation will bring in Good Governance all over India

===================================================

Dear Shri Dhakneji,

I urge you to ensure the following features in this App :

Ø No typing / Just touching an icon and all entry by SPEAKING ( speech-to-text software integration )

Ø Speaking in any of the major Indian languages

Ø App to work even on a FEATURE phone ( millions of rural folks do not have Smart-phones )

Ø No need to enter the exact LOCATION where the incidence took place ( could enable What3Words integration in app or mandatory installation of SKYLO hub in rickshaws / taxis )

Ø Complainant’s details to get deciphered by just needing her to take a SELFIE ( Facial Recognition )

With regards,

Hemen Parekh / hcp@RecruitGuru.com / 13 April 2021

===================================================

Related Readings :

Ø Microsoft is acquiring Nuance Communications for $19.7B

Extract :

It's worth noting that Microsoft already has a number speech recognition and chat bot products of its own, including desktop speech to text services in Windows and on Azure, but it took a chance to buy a market leader and go deeper into the healthcare vertical

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Ø MS-acquired Nuance has large Indian Talent Pool/ Eco Times /13 April 2021

Extract :

Nuance is among the pioneers in VOICE RECOGNITION tools that have built products transcribing SPEECH – TO – TEXT

The firm had previously launched a transcription engine in HINDI and Indian English, targeted at customers in the country

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ø Natural Language

Extract :

Natural Language uses machine learning to reveal the structure and meaning of text. You can extract information about people, places, and events, and better understand social media sentiment and customer conversations. Natural Language enables you to analyze text and also integrate it with your document storage on Cloud Storage.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

If You Jaywalk in China, Facial Recognition Means You’ll Walk Away With A Fine

Extract :

Residents of Shenzhen don’t dare jaywalk.

Since April 2017, this city in China’s Guangdong province has deployed a

rather intense technique to deter jaywalking.

Anyone who crosses against the light will find their face, name, and part of

their government ID number displayed on a large LED screen above the

intersection, thanks to facial recognition devices all over the city.

=================================================

Ø Thank You, Shri Dhakneji, ………………………..[ 16 March 2021 ]

Ø Congratulations, Avinash Dhakneji …………..[ 15 Dec 2020 ]

Sunday, 11 April 2021

Vehicle Scrapping : From Policy to Practice

Major car manufacturers are in a hurry

To implement a “ practice “ detailed in my yesterday’s Blog ?

[ Vehicle Scrapping : Time to copy M&M ? ]

It seems so from the following news report which appeared in to-day’s MINT :

Tata Motors plans vehicle scrapyards in four cities

Extract :

Ø Tata Motors Ltd will collaborate with its dealers to build vehicle scrapyards in Howrah, Karnal, Hyderabad and Greater Mumbai… as India’s largest truck maker sets sights on an emerging business opportunity.

Ø The company will provide technical know-how and expertise for the vehicle dismantling units but may not invest directly in them…..investments will be brought in by the dealers themselves.

Ø Tata Motors will start with these four units but may expand the scrapping

business later .. creating a new revenue stream for its dealers.

Ø “In the coming months, the company may also collaborate with public sector

enterprises, but, initially, they may choose to go on their own.

Ø The government has proposed a road tax rebate of 15-25% and a full

registration fee waiver for the new purchase if old vehicles are scrapped. It

has also urged vehicle makers to offer a 5% discount against a certificate of

scrapping. Scrap yards will offer a price to the old vehicles being scrapped,

which will be 4-6% of the price of a new vehicle.

Ø Vehicle scrapping is expected to become a thriving business in the

coming years. Hence, most automakers are interested, and the number of

old vehicles, especially commercial vehicles, is staggering. So the potential is

huge.

Ø Most automakers are expected to tie up with some other company to get

the technology involved in the scrapping of vehicles.

Ø Top automakers are already considering similar scrapyards.

Ø Last year, Maruti Suzuki India Ltd announced a tie-up with Toyota Motor

Corp.’s subsidiary, Tshusho India, for setting up vehicle dismantling units

across the country. Mahindra Intertrade Ltd has partnered with MSTC Ltd, a

public sector unit under the steel ministry, for opening such scrapyards.

=================================================

In my yesterday’ s blog, I envisaged following practice which the dealers would adopt to entice the owners of OLD cars for a “ trade-in “ with a new car :

[ Vehicle Scrapping : Time to copy M&M ? ]

Here is how that “ deal “ will work :

While handing over the old car,( say ) the customer wants to buy a M&M

Scorpio ( priced @ Rs 10 lakhs / 5 % = Rs 50,000 )

Dealer says :

Ø Your old car Scrap Value is Rs 100,000

Ø If you do NOT want to buy any NEW car from me, I give you only Rs

50,000, as scrap value

Ø But, if you buy a Scorpio, I give you :

# Rs 50,000 as Scrap Value , AND

# Rs 50,000 as discount

=================================================

With regards,

Hemen Parekh / hcp@RecruitGuru.com / 12 April 2021

=================================================

Ø Blessing in Disguise ? ……………………………………[21 Mar 2021 ]

Ø Mahindra Accelo : Saluting a pioneer ………… .[ 19 June 2018 ]

Ø Car Grave-Yard of World ?...........................[ 14 Feb 2018 ]

Ø Alang : Junkyard ? Scrapyard ? SaveYard ? ….[ 12 Dec 2020 ]

Saturday, 10 April 2021

Vehicle Scrapping : Time to copy M&M ?

By end of 2022, I believe M&M will have built-up capacity to scrap 25 lakh vehicles

But, by that time, 400 lakh ( old ) vehicles will be ready to be scrapped !

I suppose, most other auto manufacturers will need to copy M&M strategy described in following news report :

Mahindra offers customers a vehicle scrapping solution

Extract :

Mahindra and Mahindra (M&M) has tied up with Mahindra MSTC Recycling Private Limited (MMRPL) to offer its customers an end-to-end solution for the scrapping of vehicles.

MMRPL is engaged in the business of acquiring used/end-of-life vehicles to dismantle and scrap them under the brand name of Cero.

This agreement with MMRPL will enable customers to get a hassle-free and transparent deal under one roof.

Any customer intending to purchase a new Mahindra vehicle by scrapping/exchanging the old vehicle which is more than 15 years, can do so at any Mahindra dealership.

While the service prevents customers from hunting for a vehicle scrapping agency/dealer, it also aims to align with the Govt’s intent to create an eco-system that eliminates old and polluting vehicles.

On the initiative, Sumit Issar, MD, Mahindra Intertrade

[ issar.sumit@mahindra.com ] said ,

“Cero is India’s first authorised recycler for motor vehicles. While we have dismantling centres at Greater Noida, Pune, and Chennai, the collection centres are at major cities such as Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Jaipur, and Chandigarh.

Furthermore, Cero has plans to have a presence in 25 cities within the next 10 months. The arrangement with M&M is going to strengthen this reach and benefit all Mahindra vehicle customers who are looking for solutions for scrapping their old vehicles.”

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MY TAKE :

Between them, the major car manufacturers ( Maruti Suzuki – Hyundai – Honda – Tata – Toyota – Ford etc ), have approx. 4,900 car dealers located in 523 cities

It is quite possible that they too realize that the biggest hassle for a person wanting to scrap his old car, will be to ,

Ø Find a SCRAPPING CENTRE ( there are practically none at present in entire country )

Ø Take his vehicle to such a Centre ( possibly located several hundred Km away )

Ø Get old car “ valued “ for its scrap value ( no bargaining – simply left to the mercy of the Centre )

Ø In the absence of option of getting “ Scrap Value “ estimates from several parties, agree to whatever is offered by that SCRAP CENTRE

But imagine, if I can take my old jalopy to car-dealers of all the car manufacturers mentioned above ( all located within 2 Km of one another ) and obtain 6 “ Comparative Estimates “, then I could take the best ( bargained ) offer for that NEW car which I wish to buy

There is every possibility that this realization ( of being able to motivate a customer by offering to take-over his old vehicle in exchange for a new buy ), would prompt ALL car manufacturers to copy M&M strategy !

I believe, some of the competitors ( of M&M ) will :

Ø Set up a portal where an old car owner can get a tentative “ Scrap Value Estimate “ by submitting full details of his car

Ø Offer to send a “ Human Estimator “ to the residence of such a “ Registered Potential Buyer of New Car “, to close the deal

I have no doubt M&M executives have taken into account such a counter-move from competitors

Till such time competitors decide – and set up – their own SCRAPPING PLANTS, they may still come forward and implement what I mentioned above

They may simply act as “ Collection Centers “ and hand over the old / collected cars, to some ( non-aligned / non-captive ) “ Scrapping Centres “

But who knows, in order to build up business for its own 25 “ Scrapping Plants “, Cero may even accept old cars collected by dealers of its competitors ( at least for first 2 years ) !

How will M&M address the issue of Shri Gadkariji’s “ request “ that car manufacturers give a discount of 5 % on the price of a new car, to new car buyers who bring / handover, a SCRAP CERTIFICATE ?

No big deal !

Here is how that “ deal “ will work :

While handing over the old car, the customer wants to buy a M&M Scorpio ( priced @ Rs 10 lakhs )

5 % = Rs 50,000

Dealer says :

Ø Your old car Scrap Value is Rs 100,000

Ø If you do NOT want to buy any NEW car from me, I give you only Rs 50,000 , as scrap value

Ø But, if you buy a Scorpio, I give you :

# Rs 50,000 as Scrap Value , AND

# Rs 50,000 as discount

This is only a TRAILER

Let us see how the FULL FILM unfolds