Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, has recently announced a significant expansion of its AI-powered business chatbots. This development is set to enhance brand interactions on both WhatsApp and Messenger, making it easier for businesses to connect with their customers through automated yet personalized conversations. The integration of these chatbots with click-to-message ads represents a strategic move by Meta to harness the potential of conversational AI in transforming customer engagement. AI Chatbots and Business Communication Over the past few years, the adoption of AI chatbots has been on the rise, driven by the need for businesses to offer instant and efficient customer support. Meta’s initiative aims to take this trend further by enabling brands to integrate AI-powered chatbots directly into their communication strategies on its platforms. With the expansion to WhatsApp and Messenger, businesses can now leverage the popularity and ubiquity of these messaging apps to foster more meaningful and seamless customer interactions. Click-to-Message Ads: A Game Changer Click-to-message ads have become a popular tool for businesses to initiate direct conversations with potential customers. These ads appear on Facebook and Instagram and, when clicked, open a chat window on either WhatsApp or Messenger, depending on the user’s preference. By incorporating AI-powered chatbots into this feature, Meta is providing businesses with an automated solution to manage and respond to these inquiries, reducing the need for manual intervention and improving response times. This integration offers several benefits. Firstly, it allows businesses to engage with customers at scale. Instead of relying on human agents to respond to every message, chatbots can handle a large volume of inquiries simultaneously, ensuring that no customer is left waiting. Secondly, these chatbots can be programmed to provide personalized responses based on user data, such as purchase history or browsing behavior, making interactions more relevant and engaging. Enhancing Customer Experience One of the key advantages of AI chatbots is their ability to provide instant responses. In today’s fast-paced digital landscape, customers expect quick answers to their questions. Whether it’s product information, order tracking, or troubleshooting, chatbots can deliver accurate information without delay. This enhancement not only elevates customer interactions but also fosters long-term loyalty and retention Moreover, the use of AI enables chatbots to learn and improve over time. Through natural language processing and machine learning, these chatbots can understand complex queries and provide more nuanced responses. This continuous learning process ensures that the chatbots become more efficient and effective as they handle more interactions. Implications for Businesses The expansion of AI-powered chatbots to WhatsApp and Messenger opens up new opportunities for businesses. It allows them to streamline customer support, generate leads, and drive sales through automated, yet highly personalized interactions. For small businesses, in particular, this technology can be a game-changer, enabling them to compete with larger companies by offering a professional and responsive customer experience. Furthermore, by integrating chatbots with click-to-message ads, Meta is encouraging businesses to adopt a more conversational approach to marketing. This shift can lead to higher engagement rates, as customers are more likely to respond to interactive and personalized ads than to traditional static ones. Meta’s expansion of AI-powered business chatbots to WhatsApp and Messenger marks a significant step in the evolution of digital customer engagement. By combining the convenience of messaging apps with the capabilities of AI, Meta is providing businesses with powerful tools to connect with their customers in a more efficient and meaningful way. As this technology continues to evolve, it is likely to become an integral part of the customer service and marketing strategies of businesses across industries.

Ashok Soota, often hailed as the magic man of the IT industry, took over as CEO of Shriram Refrigeration in 1978, a company that had been posting losses for four consecutive years. Under his leadership, it achieved its first profit in five years. However, his most significant role came six years later. 👇 In 1984, he became the president of Wipro’s IT division, Wipro Infotech, and over the next 15 years, grew its revenue from ₹22 crore to ₹2,200 crore, making it India’s largest minicomputer company. Even Intel’s then-CEO, Andy Grove, sent him a letter of appreciation. But Ashok had other ambitions. 🤔 In August 1999, he co-founded Mindtree with nine other IT professionals and built it to a revenue of ₹455.37 crore within six years. In February 2007, he took the company public with an IPO worth ₹237.72 crore, which was oversubscribed 110 times. Ashok had achieved great success, but challenges soon followed. 👇 Mindtree faced stagnating revenues, missed growth targets, and internal disagreements about M&A strategies, leading to Ashok’s resignation on 28th January 2011. Even after 33 years of an illustrious career, at the age of 69, Ashok was contemplating his next move. 🤔 His next goal was to create a company that put happiness at the forefront for both employees and customers. Just one month after resigning, he took the plunge and, with nine others, founded Happiest Minds Technologies in April 2011. 🚀 Ashok’s vision was clear ⏩ to establish a mindful IT company specializing in emerging technologies like cloud computing, social media, mobility, analytics, and security. Targeting industries such as travel, media, manufacturing, CPG, BFSI, and retail, the company officially launched on 29th August 2011. 💼 Within three months, Happiest Minds had customers from the US, UK, and India, and it established five offices across Bangalore (India), New Jersey (US), and Reading (UK). On 16th November 2011, the company raised ₹228 crore in funding led by Cannan Partners and Intel Capital. 💰 While competition existed, no one focused on “connected IT.” Ashok adopted a “Born Digital” strategy, combining AI, IoT, and analytics with conventional IT services. Strategic global partnerships with MongoDB (September 2014) and Mastercard (December 2014) further propelled the company’s success. ✅ By 2018, Happiest Minds had grown to ₹460.23 crore in revenue and was serving 38 Fortune Global 2000 companies. In September 2020, it made headlines with its ₹702 crore IPO, oversubscribed by 151 times. With a listing premium of 111.4%, it became one of the most successful IPOs of the year. 💪 Today, Happiest Minds generates ₹1,710.03 crore in annual revenues, serving 61 billion-dollar and 48 million-dollar companies across the US, UK, India, Canada, Australia, and the Middle East. The company is now valued at ₹12,276 crore. 🙌 ➡️ Despite winning over 100 awards for his contributions, Ashok Soota is also recognized for his philanthropic work, including his donation of ₹375 crore towards India’s largest private-sector medical research initiative on Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases. 🙏

Mumbai City FC has announced the extension of its partnership with Acer, continuing the brand’s role as the club’s Official Technology Partner. With this renewal, the Acer logo will now appear on the right sleeve of the Islanders’ First Team kits throughout the upcoming Indian Super League (ISL) season. The logo will also be prominently displayed at the club’s training facilities at the NMSA Ground in Vashi, Navi Mumbai. Kandarp Chandra, CEO of Mumbai City FC, expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “We’re thrilled to extend our partnership with Acer. Their support has been crucial in ensuring the smooth operation of our club, and we deeply value their commitment. In the modern sports arena, technology and innovation are key to success, and Acer has significantly contributed to this aspect.” Sooraj Balakrishnan, Associate Director & Head of Marketing at Acer India, shared, “At Acer, we are committed to enhancing lives and driving innovation through technology. Our partnership with Mumbai City FC, one of India’s leading football clubs, perfectly aligns with our mission to advance technology in sports. Football’s popularity in India makes this collaboration an excellent opportunity to support a club that embodies excellence and passion. By integrating our technology with Mumbai City FC’s dynamic approach, we aim to elevate the sporting experience and engage with their passionate fan base. Together, we will set new standards and create meaningful experiences within and around the game.”

The 15th edition of the Indian Digital Marketing Awards (IDMA) took place on July 19, recognizing remarkable and impactful contributions to the digital media landscape. The event celebrated brands and agencies for their innovation and creativity in crafting insightful campaigns. At this prestigious event, Tata Consumer Products Limited won a gold medal for its campaign titled ‘Tata Tea Gold – Durga Pujo Campaign – #BanglarNokshaPujo’ under the ‘Best Use of User Generated Content’ sub-category. The campaign was executed by Media.Monks. Durga Pujo is a time when West Bengal bursts into vibrant colors, with women adorning themselves in an array of exquisite traditional handloom and textile sarees. This festive celebration of handloom heritage inspired Tata Tea Gold’s festive series packaging. The brand introduced 10 special packs, each inspired by five Bengali handloom styles: Kantha, Jamdani, Baluchari, Batik, and Garad, depicting the key rituals associated with each day of Pujo. This cultural tribute was encapsulated in the term ‘Banglar Noksha Pujo,’ meaning Bengal’s Celebration of Patterns. The campaign’s marketing and communication strategy was led by a digital video film that told a heartwarming story of cultural heritage, nostalgia, and the love for sarees being passed down from mother to daughter. The brand collaborated with popular Bengali influencers to ignite conversations around the film and people’s passion for handloom sarees. The social media plan featured reels with elaborate illustrations, diving deep into the features and origins of each handloom style while skillfully incorporating Pujo elements. To engage audiences, the brand invited women of all ages to share their Pujo OOTD (outfit of the day) on Instagram, with contest winners receiving the Tata Tea Gold festive series kit. IDMA recognized outstanding work in the digital media space, celebrating brands and agencies for their exemplary innovation and creativity in crafting insightful and impressive campaigns. This year, the IDMA jury was chaired by Suresh Narayanan, Chairman & Managing Director of Nestlé India. The awards honored winners across eight prime categories: Web, Mobile and Tablets, Social Media, Search and PPC campaigns, Small Medium Business, Start-Ups, Hall of Fame Awards, and Special Awards.

Born into a middle-class family with a father who worked as an accounts officer, Arun Jain always had a keen interest in technology. After earning his degree in electronics engineering from Delhi College of Engineering, he interned in software programming at the American tech giant Wang Labs. Despite witnessing cutting-edge technology, his thoughts were elsewhere. 🤔 While the US had over 1,000 software programs, India had barely reached 100. Arun aspired to start his own company to develop software for India. In 1983, with three friends and a modest capital of just Rs 20,000, he founded International Information Systems. ✅ His concept was straightforward ⏩ An IT consulting firm focused on delivering software solutions to businesses. Initially starting as a partnership, Arun soon recognized the need to establish a software hub and change the company name. In 1986, he rebranded it as Nucleus Software Workshop Pvt Ltd, but then, something unexpected occurred. 👇 One of Nucleus’s co-founders departed, leaving Arun in need of a new direction. He identified the demand for specialized software solutions in the banking and financial services sector. With just Rs 10,000, he decided to pivot again. On 24th July 1993, Polaris Software Lab was born in Chennai, starting with a 120-person office in Anna Salai, Chennai. 🙌 Polaris began by offering core banking solutions, transaction processing, and risk management. Its first client was the US-based Data General for file systems, followed by Saudi American Bank for their client-server banking application. Then, the big break came. 💪 Arun successfully secured Citibank as a client for their consumer banking and credit card operations, outcompeting industry giants like TCS, Infosys, and Mastek. Polaris scaled rapidly, reaching a revenue of Rs 264 crore with eight offices across the USA, Japan, Germany, and Singapore. It went public in 1999, achieving a market worth of Rs 900 crore. 💰 Within just seven years, Polaris experienced a 105% growth rate and was recognized among the “Top 200 Fastest Growing Companies in the World”. On 22nd May 2002, it acquired Citibank’s Indian software business, Orbitech, marking the largest transaction in India that year, valued at Rs 2,700 crore. 📉 By 2014, Polaris had reached revenues of Rs 2,424 crore, but Arun sought to differentiate between the product and service businesses. He demerged the service business to focus entirely on the product side, giving it a new identity. Thus, Intellect Designs Arena was established in 2014. 🚀 With cloud-native products for complex banking, Intellect achieved a revenue of Rs 453.1 crore in its first year. By 2018, it was serving 240 customers across 91 countries, growing at an annual rate of 36.4% and reaching a revenue of Rs 1,458.7 crore. 💸 Today, Intellect Designs Arena generates a revenue of Rs 2,506.4 crore with a profit of Rs 548.5 crore. It partners with 60% of the world’s top banks and is valued at Rs 13,619 crore. 💪 ➡️ But perhaps the most remarkable achievement is that Arun’s Ullas Trust has supported over 2 million economically disadvantaged students from 1,500 schools across 114 districts over the last 26 years. 🙏

Indriya, a brand under the Aditya Birla Group, celebrates the art of craftsmanship and the timeless love for fine jewelry in its newly released film. “Each piece crafted at Indriya is a tribute to the rich Indian Kaarigari, reimagined with a contemporary touch. From reinventing classic favorites like polki and kundan to incorporating local crafting techniques, every design showcases the finest aspects of India’s jewelry traditions. Our mission is to reinterpret ancient jewelry-making methods and create masterpieces that captivate all five senses. Indriya offers a diverse range of designs suitable for every occasion, from everyday wear to special events, and exquisite bridal jewelry, with over 16,000 designs in gold, polki, and diamond,” the company stated. The Lumiere necklace embodies the essence of stardust with vibrant gemstones and a modern twist on the traditional “hansuli” design. The Gul Posh necklace features a 2,500-year-old jewelry-making technique, fused with diamond innovations, showcasing craftsmanship beyond imagination. Shantiswarup Panda, Head of Marketing at Indriya, says, “This story begins with our customers’ deep love for jewelry and highlights our artisans’ passion and dedication in creating these pieces. It is a tribute to the rich tradition of Indian Kaarigari, celebrating both our artisans’ artistry and our customers’ love for fine jewelry.”

Here’s a rephrased version of the text: Born into a middle-class Brahmin family in Chennai, R. Thyagarajan aspired to become financially independent. While searching for opportunities, he came across an intriguing advertisement. 🤔 In 1961, New India Assurance, a general insurance company, offered a training stipend of ₹500—unusually high when most companies didn’t pay more than ₹300. He was one of only 12 people selected for the position and spent the next decade working in commercial financing. But then, a significant change occurred. 👇 On September 20, 1972, the Indira Gandhi-led government nationalized the general insurance sector, which included 55 Indian companies. At 37 years old, Thyagarajan realized it was time to move on and build something of his own. He envisioned financing people without a credit history, and an idea sparked. 💡 The idea was straightforward ⏩ A chit fund, where the collected money is distributed to one investor monthly until everyone has received their share. He planned to use this money to buy trucks and offer financing at a 37% interest rate when the market rate was 80%. On April 5, 1974, Shriram Chits was launched. 🚀 Thyagarajan’s idea quickly gained momentum and eventually evolved into Shriram Transport Finance Company (STFC) in 1979. The company grew to hold deposits worth ₹800 crore from 200,000 depositors and was listed on the stock market in 1984. Impressed by its growth, Tata Motors and Ashok Leyland acquired a 15% stake in STFC in 1990. 💰 But then, in 1998, the RBI raised concerns. It cautioned depositors that their money might be at risk because STFC was lending to finance 5-10-year-old pre-owned trucks. Thyagarajan personally spoke to every depositor over the next three months, reassuring them of his business model. And then, something remarkable happened! 🪄 As the company managed over ₹3,000 crore in assets with a profit of ₹100 crore by 2006, it raised ₹700 crore from TPG and Chrys Capital, becoming a ₹1,000 crore company. 📉 By 2009, STFC had purchased hypothecation loans from commercial vehicle maker General Electric and expanded into construction equipment financing. It securitized ₹8,757 crore worth of loans and raised ₹584 crore, crossing ₹50,000 crore in managed assets by 2013. 💵 With its ratings upgraded to AA+, STFC raised ₹25,100 crore by issuing India’s first Masala Bonds—Senior Secured Rupee Denominated bonds—on the Singapore Stock Exchange. Thyagarajan had made history as Shriram Group crossed the trillion-dollar mark, managing assets worth ₹100,000 crore in 2019. 🙌 Today, the Shriram Group is involved in housing, insurance, transport, wealth management, and real estate. Its flagship entity, Shriram Finance (renamed from STFC in November 2022), manages assets worth ₹233,443 crore, while the group as a whole is valued at ₹70,400 crore, serving over 23 million customers. 💪 ➡️ But perhaps the most remarkable part is that R. Thyagarajan still doesn’t own a mobile phone, drives a ₹4 lakh car, and has donated shares worth ₹6,120 crore to his employees. 🙏

Ad sales from marketplace sellers surged nearly 50% in fiscal Q2, as Walmart emphasized expanding its in-store and offsite advertising offerings. Walmart Connect, the retailer’s U.S. advertising division, saw a 30% year-over-year revenue increase in fiscal Q2 2025, as reported in an earnings statement. The global advertising business, including India-based Flipkart, grew by 26% over the same period. Although Walmart does not disclose specific advertising revenue figures, it has revealed that the business generates billions annually. Marketplace sellers, including smaller and emerging brands that sell through Walmart, significantly contributed to this growth. Walmart CEO Doug McMillon highlighted this during a call with investors, noting that ad sales from this category rose nearly 50%. McMillon also mentioned in a statement accompanying the earnings report that newer businesses like marketplace, advertising, and membership are diversifying profits and enhancing the resilience of Walmart’s business model. This year, Walmart Connect has been focused on increasing the variety of media options available to its advertising partners, with in-store and offsite channels being key priorities. More ads are now visible on self-checkout lane screens, in TV aisles, at sampling stations, and over Walmart’s store radios as the company seeks to better monetize its substantial brick-and-mortar presence. Offsite, Walmart Connect has partnered with publishers like Disney to leverage its first-party shopper data for more targeted and measurable ads on connected TV. Additionally, Walmart’s acquisition of smart TV maker Vizio for $2.3 billion earlier this year has bolstered its capabilities in the video advertising space. Walmart’s e-commerce business also experienced solid growth in Q2, which likely contributed to an increase in onsite advertising—campaigns running on Walmart-owned properties. According to third-party analysis, Walmart leads among retail media networks in generating onsite advertising impressions. Global e-commerce sales, which are reported separately, increased by 21% year-over-year, making a significant contribution to the overall results, as noted by CFO John David Rainey during the investor call. Overall, the earnings report exceeded Wall Street expectations, with Walmart raising its outlook for the full year. U.S. comparable sales grew by 4.2%, while consolidated revenues increased by 4.8% to $169.3 billion. Advertising and membership growth together accounted for over 50% of operating income growth for the quarter, according to Rainey.