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Tag: HDFC Bank

  • HDFC Bank, Airtel, Infosys and SBI join TCS in the Top 5

    TCS tops new Kantar Most Valuable Brand Report

    Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has come out on top most valuable brand for the third straight year, as per the Kantar BrandZ Most Valuable Indian Brands Report. With a brand value of $49.7 billion, TCS has seen a 16% rise versus last year, driven by investments in innovation, particularly in AI and digital transformation.

    India’s top 75 most valuable brands now have a combined value of $450.5 billion, marking a 19% increase from last year. Brands across diverse business sectors fuelled this growth, with 54 brands boosting their brand value over the past year. This igrowth outpaces most other BrandZ rankings globally and closely mirrors the 20% increase seen in the Global Top 100, notes a communique.

    Kantar BrandZ Top 10 Most Valuable Indian Brands 2024

    Rank 2023 Rank 2024 Brand Category Brand Value 2024 (US$ M)
    1 1 Tata Consultancy Services Business Technology and Services Platforms 49,657
    N/A 2 HDFC Bank Financial Services 38,286
    4 3 Airtel Telecom Providers 29,856
    3 4 Infosys Business Technology and Services Platforms 25,221
    5 5 State Bank of India Financial Services 17,979
    6 6 ICICI Bank Financial Services 15,604
    8 7 Jio Telecom Providers 13,744
    7 8 Asian Paints Paints 13,555
    10 9 HCL Tech Business Technology and Services Platforms 11,815
    11 10 LIC Financial Services 11,499

     

    TCS tops a strong group of seven Business Technology and Services Platforms, collectively worth almost $100 billion, and equalling 22% of the total value of India’s Top 75 ranking.

    Financial Services brands also dominate, with 17 brands, contributing 28% of the ranking’s overall brand value. HFDC Bank (No.2; $38.3bn) retains its position as India’s second most valuable brand. State Bank of India (No.5; $18.0bn), ICICI Bank (No.6; $15.6bn) and

    Zomato is this year’s Fastest Riser with 100% growth in brand value year-on-year due to relentless innovation and expansion into quick commerce. It has also boosted efficiency and elevated its customer experience over the last year.

    Deepender Rana
    Deepender Rana

    Said Deepender Rana, Executive Managing Director, Insights, South Asia at Kantar: “Strong brands consistently outperform the market. Over the past year, the companies behind India’s Top 75 brands have achieved an impressive 52% stock market growth, outpacing the 37.6% growth for the Sensex. Brands that thrive are those that create a Meaningful Difference by meeting evolving consumer needs, challenging industry norms, and forging strong emotional connections. The top performers in this brand ranking have excelled by embracing disruption and innovation, leading to significantly higher growth.”

    Soumya Mohanty
    Soumya Mohanty

    Added Soumya Mohanty, Managing Director & Chief Client Officer, Insights, South Asia at Kantar: “It’s not enough to make consumers want to buy, brands must build their saliency and relevancy across all touchpoints, from advertising to in-store experiences. Successful brands create a consistent presence that resonates with consumers, driving both awareness and loyalty. Those that thrive have combined strategic reach with compelling, creative messaging to capture consumer attention and drive significant brand growth.”

  • Gets RCB players to sell, literally

    Wondrlab creates campaign for PayZapp by HDFC Bank

    PayZapp by HDFC Bank joins the cricket fever with its new ad featuring RCB players, created by Wondrlab.

    Talking about the campaign, Ravi Santhanam, Group Head, Chief Marketing Officer & Head – Direct to Consumer Business, HDFC Bank, said: “PayZapp’s partnership with RCB is a strategic move to leverage the cricket season extravaganza. With cricket being such a popular sport in the country, the league gives PayZapp an ideal opportunity to enhance visibility and mindshare. The partnership helps us strengthen the ‘Choice of Payments’ brand positioning and build a better recall for PayZapp. We are proud to be the official payments partner of RCB.”

    Added Amit Akali, the CCO and co-founder of Wondrlab India: “After the success of PayZapp’s launch campaign, our goal was clear: to craft an advertisement that would once again break through the clutter, particularly amidst the fervour of the cricket season. Collaborating with RCB provided the perfect platform to place the players in unconventional scenarios, while they talk about payment choices on the app.”

  • Indian brands remain resilient during global slowdown, notes the Kantar BrandZ Top 75 Most Valuable Indian Brands Report

    TCS stays India’s most valuable brand

     

     

    By Our Staff

     

    Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has retained its #1 position in the 10th edition of Kantar BrandZ Top 75 Most Valuable Indian Brands Report for the second consecutive year, with a brand value of US$43 billion. HDFC Bank, Infosys and Airtel also hold on to their top four positions, while State Bank of India rises one place to enter the Top 5.

     

    India’s Top 75 brands have a combined brand value of $379 billion, a decline of 4% from 2022 – a modest decrease given the ongoing economic volatility across most of the world. This is testament to Indian brands’ resilience, stability and consistency. The decline has been driven by brands in the Business Technology and Services Platforms category, which have a major presence in international markets, and therefore have been impacted by global pressures, recession threats and geopolitical instability.

     

    The Automotive category produced the Top 75’s two fastest risers: TVS (No.51; $1.90bn) and Mahindra (No.47; $2.01bn) and achieved the second highest category growth at 19%. India’s automotive brands have quickly responded to changing consumer needs, notably the shift in preference from hatchbacks to SUVs, and the demand for electric vehicles.

     

    TVS gained 59% in value and leapt 24 places thanks to a number of successful product launches and a 10-year partnership with BMW that gives it leverage in markets such as Europe, the US and Canada. Mahindra, which grew its value by 48%, has made itself incredibly meaningful in Indian consumers’ eyes, and has also significantly boosted its salience.

     

    The ranking’s 16 Financial Services brands contribute the biggest chunk of its total value. They grew 6%, thanks to the boom in digital banking, led by Axis Bank (No.17; +28%) and ICICI Bank (No.6; +18%).

     

    Telecom providers also performed strongly, resulting in a 17% rise in total brand value. Airtel (No.4; +29%) took full advantage of the end of the price wars to focus on what makes it special and relevant to Indian consumers’ lives. This included offering differentiated digital services, such as the Xstream entertainment app and Wynk music app. Airtel has also successfully leveraged the rapidly increasing demand among businesses for data and connectivity related solutions, and digital products that enable the delivery of an enhanced omni-channel customer experience.

     

    There are four newcomers to the 2023 Indian brand ranking, plus two re-entrants. PhonePe – the highest entry at No.21 – has quickly become India’s leading digital payment app by investing heavily in the strength of its infrastructure, building connections with partner banks, and developing a huge network of merchant acceptance points. Also making their debut are fintech brand Cred (No.48; $2.0bn), photo and video sharing app ShareChat (No.67; $1.33bn) and entertainment platform Star (No.71; $1.30bn).

     

    2023 is the 10th ranking of India’s most valuable brands, during which time the Top 50 have increased almost fivefold in value, from $69.6bn in 2014 to $339.9bn in 2023. The last decade is a story of strength and resilience: 33 of the brands in the current Top 75 were also in the 2014 ranking. The companies behind India’s most valuable brands have consistently outperformed the key market indices – the SENSEX and the NIFTY50 – with share price growth over 10 years of 99.6% compared with 83.2% and 81.7% respectively.

     

    Kantar BrandZ Top 10 Most Valuable Indian Brands 2023

    Rank 2023 Brand  Category Brand Value 2023 (US$M)
    1 Tata Consultancy Services Business Technology and Services Platforms 42,969
    2 HDFC Bank Financial Services 33,612
    3 Infosys Business Technology and Services Platforms 24,170
    4 Airtel Telecom Providers 22,517
    5 State Bank of India Financial Services 14,483
    6 ICICI Bank Financial Services 12,976
    7 Asian Paints Paints 12,839
    8 Jio Telecom Providers 11,773
    9 Kotak Mahindra Bank Financial Services 10,332
    10 HCL Tech Business Technology and Services Platforms 9,361

     

    Said Deepender Rana, Executive Managing Director- South Asia, Insights Division, Kantar: “It has been India’s decade. Our GDP has almost doubled with an 82% growth, while the world GDP has grown at 30%. This delta is even more when it comes to the most valuable Indian brands, which have almost quintupled in value (4.9 times), compared to the most valuable global brands, which have grown by 2.4 times. So Indian brands are significant value creators for our economy. We expect this trend to accelerate in the next decade as Indian brands don’t just thrive in India, but also explore growth overseas in their quest to become true multinational giants. Our IT services brands have already done that, with TCS and Infosys already featuring in the Top 100 Most Valuable Global Brand list. The strongest Indian brands have forged powerful connections by consistently adding value to people’s lives, and consumers see them as different to their rivals in ways that really matter. Brands must keep investing in building equity to create future demand, even as they capture existing demand which requires a better balance between short- and long-term strategy.”

     

    Added Soumya Mohanty, Managing Director & Chief Client Officer- South Asia, Insights Division, Kantar: “There is great diversity within the India Top 75: they are a combination of established names and dynamic young brands, both global and local in footprint. What they have in common is their ability to be essentially Indian. Through a deep and detailed understanding of consumers in the market, and adopting the local culture and ethos, even huge international brands are seen and cherished as ‘homegrown’. The trust and loyalty this engenders has helped Indian brands to suffer less and recover more quickly from the storms that have buffeted them over the past 10 years.”

     

    Other key highlights from the Kantar BrandZ Most Valuable Indian Brands report include:

    :: Sustainability credentials have a major influence on consumer decision-making – almost 9% of Indian brands’ Demand Power – a Kantar BrandZ measure of the ability to drive predisposition to buy – comes from perceptions around sustainability. However, only 8% of brands in India are seen as leaders in this area, compared to 11% globally, indicating an opportunity for those that can do more.

    :: Differentiation is key to commanding Pricing Power – the ability to justify price charged. Brands that have grown in both Demand Power and Pricing Power over the last year did so by being Meaningfully Different. There are different routes to being perceived as differentiated: a brand could be seen as distinct, to be a specialist, or to have purpose.

    :: The strength of the domestic economy has acted like a shield – Overseas contribution for the Top 30 Indian brands accounts for 31% of brand value, compared with 47% for Japan, 59% for the UK, and 85% for France. This has protected the ranking from the worst effects of international volatility.

     

    The Kantar BrandZ Most Valuable Indian Brands ranking, report and extensive analysis are available now at www.kantar.com/campaigns/brandz/india 

     

  • There's a lot to be done on customer awareness and safety tips for financial transactions, writes Sanjeev Kotnala

    Should Banks & Payment Platforms collectively address safe transactions?

     

     

    By Sanjeev Kotnala

     

    Sanjeev KotnalaEvery day there is a story of a digital payment scam. One fails to understand how even literate and well-aware people are conned. The fault is not with banks and digital payment platforms, which constantly try to educate consumers on the does and don’ts of digital- online payments.

     

    One marvels at the agility and innovative schemes the scammers run to trap the gullible public. The fraudsters are fast learners, innovative and agile in redefining their work processes. The scammers have a new technique, a new trap and a new story every day to trap their victims. They know that ten can be potentially trapped for every cautious person they encounter.

     

    On the other hand, the basic precautions while making a digital-online payment have not changed much. But, it seems that people learn only when they or people near and dear to them are targeted and scammed.

     

    The banks keep on talking about wanting to create a secure financial network. Still, the onus should be on the users: who needs to be alert while using the platforms to make digital payment and purchases.

     

    Collective Corroborative Effort Is Needed

    Maybe, there is a need for collective, collaborative, synchronised efforts from all banks and payment gateways. Maybe, the different messaging strategy used by the banks and payment gateway is confusing. These messages need high frequency and cross media utilisation across Radio, Print, TV, Digital and even outdoor. And print and TV can work wonderfully well for the communication.

    Do you agree that a collective simple communication drives like Pulse Polio, where every bank and payment gateway contributes, will lead to better communication effectiveness or should they individually address the problem.

     

    ICICI BANK #BeatTheCheats

    ICICI Bank and ICICI Foundation have been doing some good work communicating these simple rules. They have treated the scammers as an organised set-up with training and showing how they trap the victim. Think the communication works.

    UPI PIN is only needed for making the payment, not for receiving payment. Never share your UPI PIN with anyone.

     

    Never scan unknown QR Codes. QR Code is scanned for making payment and not for receiving payment or refund. Beware of fraud lottery scams and messages that tell you – you have won and send you a link for payment. Remember, if it’s too good to be true, it probably is! Never trust calls/SMS claiming you won a lottery. Never click on unknown links. Never share your PIN/OTP with anyone. Let’s #Beatthecheats.

     

    RBI Bank And Digital Safety

    RBI has been at the forefront of customer digital safety education and communication. It has used various media options and created simple communication series. And its shorts are directly shareable across social media platforms. Like every other bank, it has films pushing digital safety and not sharing banking financial information. And they has used day-to-day situations like a badminton court and a restaurant to further make the point. It even has a Rap Song to propagate the message. The bank has heavily invested on Digital interaction on the subject and used print to communicate the message.

     

    OTHER BANKS

    HDFC Smartbuy even shares tips on how to get the best out of online shopping and safe Digital Payment. They have a series of ads showing possible Scam schemes like Holiday and how the victim is trapped.

     

     

     

    Axis Bank  plays the same or similar points in their communication on Phone pe Chori. RBL bank also shows the scamming process, including the KYC update scam, and how an alert customer can be safe.

     

     

     

    THE SCAM STORIES.

    There are many stories that scammers weave to trap their victims. For example- pre-payment advance for buying an item on sale by the victim, including a deal on platforms like OLX. Lottery win information and need for the pre=conditional registration fee. Hacking into customers’ WhatsApp or Facebook accounts and sending messages to the contacts, asking for money. Using Facebook hack of open account visuals and then using them as sextortion. Massage parlour booking sextortion case. Selling consumer durables or properties at a very attractive price. Multiple bookings at Airbnb or Homestays or even low-cost, out-of-the-world priced holidays and many more.

     

    HELPLINE 1930

    As per the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), more than 1,40,000 UPI fraudulent activities were reported on the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal (NCRP) during Q1 and Q2 2022. RBI says that UPI transactions increased by 1200% in the fiscal year ending September 2022. This massive increase has also made UPI fraud account for a reasonably high number of cyber frauds in the country.

     

    There is a definitive need to educate the public on Cyber Crime Helpline – 1930 and the site www.cybercrime.gov.in. They must be told – what to do when they fall for the scam. What information is needed to pursue the case, and what they should do.

     

    NET-NET

    There is much more that banks and digital payment platforms need to do regarding customer awareness and safety tips for financial transactions. And the onus for safety should also be on the customers. One has to be aware of and follow the safety tips that banks and payment platforms regularly share. Maybe, they should contribute funds, and a collective communication drive should be strategised and implemented for better effectiveness and efficiency.

     

    ~ ~

     

    How To Ensure Safe Digital Payment Transaction. ( Source SBI and ICICI Bank)

    • ATM/Debit/Credit Card is the key to your bank. Do not hand over your card to anyone else for use.

    • Never write the PIN anywhere.

    • Never share your financial information when requested over the phone or by e-mail.

    • Do not seek help from strangers in ATM/ Branch; instead, approach any bank official.

    • While withdrawing cash from an ATM or entering it during any transaction, like shops and airport lounges- make sure nobody is standing behind you. Always cover the keypad with your fingers.

    • No bank will use e-mail or call you to ask for your PIN, password or other confidential account information.

    • Do not give your phone to strangers to send SMS or make calls. If they are in an emergency, send the SMS yourself or dial the number yourself.

    • Try using unique and complex passwords and change passwords frequently. Strong passwords/ Biometric permission should be enabled on your phones/laptops/tablets.

    • Try using biometric authentication wherever feasible.

    • Do not download any unknown app suggested by strangers.

    • Try keeping your Mobile PIN and UPI PIN different and random.

    • Do not respond to any unknown UPI requests. Report suspicious requests

    • Never disclose, store or write down your user ID, passwords or PIN

    • Disable the ‘Auto Save’ or ‘Remember’ function in your device to avoid storing the user ID and passwords.

    • Always remember that a PIN is needed only for transferring amounts, not for receiving.

    • Instantly disable UPI service on your account if any transaction has happened without you doing it.

    • On the internet- Always look for “https” in the address bar of the bank’s website.

    • Avoid performing online banking transactions in public places using open Wi-Fi networks. Always log out and close the browser when you finish your work.

    • Do not share your personal/financial information on any social media platform.

    • Manage your debit card transactions through Online Banking.

    • Set a limit for card transactions at e-commerce platforms, POS and ATM both for domestic and international transactions

    • Always download apps through official stores. Monitor permission is given for critical apps on mobile and keep track of unnecessary and unused apps

     

  • Pushes HDFC Bank to #2 in Kantar BrandZ India rankings

    TCS is India’s Most Valuable Brand

     

     

    By Our Staff

     

    Tata Consultancy Services (US$45.5 billion) is the new number one most valuable Indian brand, claiming the top spot from HDFC Bank (no.2, $32.7bn) which had held the position since the first ranking was unveiled in 2014. TCS’s brand value has been accelerated by global demand for automation and digital transformation following the pandemic.

     

    The Top 10 Most Valuable Indian Brands together contribute just over half of the ranking’s total value. There has been significant movement at the top, in addition to the two most valuable brands switching positions. There are two new entrants – Infosys ($29.2bn) which has rocketed up to no.3 from 12th position, and ICICI Bank ($11bn) which has climbed two places to no.9. State Bank of India ($13.6bn) has also risen four places to no.6.

     

    There are brands from 23 different categories in the 2022 Indian Top 75. There are a total of 14 newcomers , from 11 categories – including online gaming, education, apparel and real estate, reflecting the diversity and dynamism of the Indian economy.

     

    India’s strongest brands have bounced back from the pandemic to increase their brand value by a massive 35% CAGR since 2020, when COVID-19 hit the country. India’s top 75 brands are worth a combined $393 billion, equivalent to 11% of India’s national GDP.

     

    Technology and Banking brands account for over half of the total value. Six B2B Tech brands and 11 Consumer Tech brands contribute 35% to the total value of the ranking, reflecting the rise of Tech India. Overall, B2B brands (tech, payments) are on average almost three times as valuable as B2C brands, reflecting the fact that many of the B2B brands play on the global stage while B2C are more focused on the domestic market. Six banking brands deliver 19% of the total value. Also notable for their performance are Insurance brands, which have performed well as the pandemic increased consumers’ focus on protection of life and health and Telecom Providers, led by Airtel (No.4; $17.4bn) and Jio (No.10; $10.7bn), which took full advantage of growth opportunities as everything moved online, from education to work to parties.

     

    Key newcomers to the ranking include Vi (No.15; $6.5bn); formed from a merger between Vodafone and Idea, Byju’s (No.19: $5.5bn), the educational technology brand that has become India’s most valuable education brand, and Adani Gas (No.21; $4,5bn).

     

    Said Deepender Rana, Executive Managing Director- South Asia, Insights Division, Kantar: “India’s leading brands have grown at an exceptional rate, despite global economic headwinds, putting the disruption from COVID-19 behind them. Indeed, they have both driven and benefited from the transformation in consumer and business behaviour as a result of COVID-19, especially where it relates to the use of technology. The challenge now is to sustain momentum as inflation bites worldwide and consumers and businesses adjust to the new normal. Brand owners will need to work harder to identify and build on what makes worth paying for and ensure ROI on their marketing expenditure to avoid a margins squeeze.”

     

    Kantar BrandZ has identified Four Fundamentals responsible for powering brand growth: Function, Convenience, Experience and Exposure. India differs from other markets around the world, however, in that a brand’s sustainability credentials and purpose matter more.

     

    Overall, 65% of Indians feel anxious about climate change, and 64% believe businesses must play their part. The highest-ranking brands in the Top 75 are clear on purpose and have a relevant sustainability agenda. These include services platform Zomato (No.30; $3.1bn), which offsets the carbon footprint of its deliveries and packaging. Swiggy (No.20; $4.8bn) elevates consumers’ quality of life with speedy delivery of meals, groceries and healthy items, as does Flipkart (No.12; $8.9bn), while also helping smaller local brands to connect with consumers via its platform.

     

    Added Soumya Mohanty, Managing Director, Insights Division, Kantar: “Purposeful and sustainable brands are rewarded. Indian consumers look further than the brand attributes that affect them personally – they want brands to improve people’s lives and have a positive impact on wider society. They vote with their wallets, choosing brands they see as ‘doing the right thing’. Indian brands should have a clear view of their purpose, connect strongly with it by embedding it in their culture, talk about it in creative and powerful ways, and deliver on it – without fail.”

     

    Salience – the ability of brands to spring quickly to mind when a consumer has a need – is also vitally important. India’s Top 10 brands are far more salient than their counterparts in most other countries. However, for growth to be supercharged, brands must also have strong meaning as well. They should have functional meaning – doing a good job of fulfilling a need – but also a layer of emotional meaning. The Kantar BrandZ India Top 75 far exceed other Indian brands on all these of these vital predictors of success.

     

    Other key highlights from the analysis include:

    :: 57 of the brands in the 2022 Top 75 have been in the ranking since 2018, while 19 have moved up the league table.

    :: The share prices of companies behind strong brands are protected in a ‘bear’ market and recover more quickly. Between August 2014 and June 2022, the SENSEX India Index gained 63.8%, while a portfolio of the most valuable Indian brands rose 81.8%.

     

    There are eleven consumer tech brands in the Top 75, reflecting the increasingly digital way Indian consumers live, which is 11% of the total brand value. The four most valuable brands in this category are Flipkart (No. 12; $8.9bn), Byju’s (No. 19; $5.5 bn), Swiggy (No. 20; $4.8bn) and Nykaa (No. 25; $3.7bn).

     

  • To promote freedom from fraud

    HDFC Bank launches ‘Vigil Aunty’ campaign

    By Our Staff

     

    HDFC Bank has announced that the Bank will celebrate 75 years of India’s independence by launching a new campaign, ‘Vigil Aunty’, which will encourage people across the country to practise safe banking habits.

     

    Commenting on the launch of this campaign, Sameer Ratolikar, Chief Information Security Officer, HDFC Bank, said: “Fraudsters are increasingly adopting social engineering tactics to steal money from customers’ bank accounts. On the pretext of offering certain services or promising help, the fraudsters are luring customers into sharing their PINs, OTPs, passwords, and other confidential banking information with them. Hence, there is a need to educate customers on safe banking habits and make them aware of the various modus operandi used by fraudsters. At HDFC Bank, we recognise our role in creating this awareness.”

     

  • HDFC Bank launches national campaign on ESG

    By Our Staff

     

    To observe World Environment Day, HDFC Bank has announced the launch of four films that highlight the bank’s social and environmental initiatives under its flagship programme Parivartan. These films are part of a nationwide ESG campaign and have been conceptualised by ad agency Leo Burnett.

     

    As part of the campaign, the bank has also planned a high-decibel activation in over 40 locations across the country. At over 125 busy traffic signals the bank will put up a short street play to encourage people waiting to turn off their engines to reduce air pollution.

     

    Said Ravi Santhanam, CMO, HDFC Bank: “HDFC Bank has always been committed to leading responsibly. We believe that as India’s largest private-sector bank, we must use our brand to create a positive social impact and make a difference in the lives of communities. With this campaign, we want to raise awareness on the simple steps we can take to prevent a catastrophic future. We need to come together and act now so we can create a better tomorrow.”

     

    Added Rajdeepak Das, CEO & Chief Creative Officer – South Asia, Leo Burnett: “At Leo Burnett we pride ourselves on working with HumanKind brands. HDFC Bank has always empowered people by putting purpose at the heart of all their endeavours. With the latest campaign, we want to highlight the importance sustainable progress and our films reflect the brand’s commitment to sustainability. World Environment Day was the perfect time to launch our campaign.”

     

    Now if only the bank were to train its energies on making all its outposts (branches, ATM counters etc) truly accessible for Persons with Disabilities.

     

  • Will be providing communications support to group companies

    Bajaj Group appoints Neeraj Jha to head comms

    By Our Staff

     

    Neeraj Jha
    Neeraj Jha

    Bajaj Group has announced the appointment Neeraj Jha as Group President & Chief Communications Officer. In his new role, Jha will be responsible for the Group’s brand reputation and advising chairman and Senior Leadership of the Group (SLG) on all matters pertaining to reputation, media and communication and providing communications support to Group Companies. He was until recently with Bharti Airtel and before that with HDFC Bank.

     

    Said Kushagra Bajaj, Chairman of the Bajaj Group:  “I have long believed communication can play a crucial role in building successful organisations. The need has never been more apparent than today when organisations must communicate fast, accurately and responsibly to stay ahead and be liked in a digitally connected world. We’ve been on a constant pursuit to bring world-class talent on board to support our future endeavours as we move to the next phase of our growth journey. We’re delighted and excited to have Neeraj. He brings with him just the right mix of skill, experience and industry insights we seek.”

     

    Commenting on his joining, Jha added: “It’s a rare privilege and honour for me to be associating with a brand as iconic as Bajaj. Few names can evoke the trust, respect and pride like it can. Kushagra has proved that he has the vision, strategy, the dynamism, and indeed, the humility to build on its rich legacy to take the Group, one of country’s oldest, solid and most progressive – to greater heights. I’m delighted and at the same time thankful to Kushagra for having made me part of this journey.”

     

  • Campaign to cover over 4,000 essential service stores across metros

    HDFC Bank launches Safety Grid campaign to reiterate social distancing

    By A Correspondent

     

    HDFC Bank has launched its #HDFCBankSafetyGrid campaign to encourage and reinforce #socialdistancing. Using the outer grid of HDFC Bank logo that indicates trust, the bank has created physical markers on the ground to help people maintain the World Health Organisation (WHO) prescribed social distance while waiting in queue at a shop or an establishment.

     

    Said Ravi Santhanam, Chief Marketing Officer, HDFC Bank: “In this hour of need, when the nation is fighting the pandemic, we have decided to put the bank logo, known to millions of Indians, on the ground, for their safety and protection. HDFC Bank and its logo has been synonymous with trust for over 25 years now. We have defied convention, for our belief is that safety of the people and social distancing is very important to fight Covid19. And we are honoured that we are able to use our logo to send a message across to the people. The cause that we are fighting for today is much greater than any marketing rules and norms. And every effort or contribution counts.”

     

    Speaking about the campaign, Rajdeepak Das, MD – India and Chief Creative Officer, Leo Burnett South Asia added: “Social distancing is one of the primary ways in which we can keep this deadly disease at bay. But in reality, one does need to step out to buy essentials. The grids are a physical manifestation of the social distancing individuals must maintain in any public setting. It’s a simple but extremely powerful idea a simple solution, albeit a bold one.”

     

     

  • With the ‘Make Every #WishComeTrue with #HDFCBankFestiveTreats’ campaign, the brand capitalized on influencer ads of every other brand out there

    HDFC Bank’s latest ad campaign capitalises on influencer ads of other brands

    By A Correspondent

     

    HDFC Bank along with Kinnect, its social media agency, has executed an ad campaign for Diwali that’s highly personalised and contextual to the relevant audience.

     

    With the ‘Make Every #WishComeTrue with #HDFCBankFestiveTreats’ campaign, the brand capitalised on influencer ads of every other brand out there. Almost every influencer ad on Instagram stories was followed with an HDFC Bank story of how to buy that product with an HDFC Bank offer.

     

    Discussing this campaign, Ravi Santhanam, Chief Marketing Officer, HDFC Bank said: “HDFC Bank has always been a digitally-forward bank, and this campaign is an ingenious way to create brand affinity and talkability amidst the over-cluttered festive space on digital. All our marketing efforts focus on being native and non-intrusive to users. This campaign did just that through the clever takeover of Instagram through influencers”.

     

    Added Chandni Shah, COO of Kinnect: “Marketing during the festive season is tricky, as a consumer is spoilt for choice and therefore may experience difficulty in decision-making. We wanted HDFC Bank to stand out, and actually make the decision-making process simple and intuitive for the consumer. Following existing brand stories was the perfect (albeit, unexpected!) way to do this. What a way to create brand recall by swimming along the Diwali tide, instead of against it!”

     

     

  • Mindshare, Madison, Hotstar, Aflle and Meesho max at the Mobile Marketing Association’s 2019 Smarties Excellence Awards

    Mindshare & HUL bag big @ Smarties

     

    By A Correspondent

     

    The Mobile Marketing Association (MMA) presented the 2019 Smarties India Awards, in Mumbai last Friday. The annual awards saw a line-up of 52 award recipients in mobile marketing as well as industry-focused categories, celebrating creativity, success, business impact and outstanding achievements across the mobile ecosystem.

     

    Mindshare India and Madison Communications led the most wins, receiving 17 and 9 awards respectively across 26 categories, ranging from Brand Awareness, Most Engaging Mobile Creative and Social Impact/Not for Profit, amongst others. In the industry awards segment, Hotstar was awarded ‘Publisher of the Year’, Mindshare India was recognised as ‘Agency of the Year’ while Hindustan Unilever Limited was recognised as the ‘Marketer of the Year’, and ‘Affle’ was awarded ‘Enabling Technology Company of the Year’. Meesho clinched two awards for ‘Best in Show’ for the campaign ‘When Women Joined Hands to Break Social Shackles’ and as ‘Brand of The Year’.

     

    The MMA #BuildtheFuture Forum was held prior to the Awards ceremony, where topics revolving around the adoption and leverage of technology to better understand the mobile marketing landscape were discussed.  Marketing to Gen Z in an age of user generated content, the cross-media reach of OTT vs. other media, leveraging data for precision marketing and how to leverage Mobile Voice were some of the themes around which eminent panellists from the  marketing ecosystem shared their perspectives.

     

    Said Moneka Khurana, Country Head, MMA India: “The MMA Forum and Smarties have, over time, created an industry ecosystem that brings the greatest marketing minds to one platform to identify and celebrate plethora of emerging talent and opportunities in the industry. It is exciting to see that marketers are truly starting to leverage mobile’s interactive capabilities to deliver real business results for brands. This year the quality of the winning campaigns highlight the growing significance of mobile and carves a promising future for the mobile marketing industry.”

     

    Added Ravi Santhanam, Chief Marketing Officer, HDFC Bank, who was Jury Chair :, “Innovation is key in the delivery of good marketing campaigns, but with attention spans being under a second now, the marketer has to churn out more innovations in shorter periods. This year as a jury, we saw brands who showcased brilliant ideas which combined high impact execution and also led to real business ROI. It was a tough one to pick winners in every category, but one that the jury has thoroughly enjoyed and learnt from.”

     

    The winners were picked by a panel of judges who deliberated over the submissions across four main criteria – creativity, execution, strategy and most importantly, business impact. The jury comprised:

     

    :: Ravi Santhanam of HDFC Bank,

    :: Pawan Sarda of Future Group,

    :: Abhishek Desai of P&G,

    :: Amit Sethiya of Syska Group,

    :: Asha Kharga of Axis Bank,

    :: Deepali Naair of IBM India & South Asia,

    :: Gauravjeet Singh of Unilever,

    :: Jayraj Jadhav of TATA AIG,

    :: Neel Pandya of L’Oreal,

    :: Nipun Marya of Vivo,

    :: Punitha Arumugam of Hotstar,

    :: Ravi Desai of Amazon,

    :: Rohit Dadwal of MMA

    :: Sandeep Ranade of Kantar.

     

    Over 300 submissions were received for of which 99 shortlisted entries which set the bar for marketing strategy, innovation, creativity and use of technology in mobile marketing.

  • Shortlisted entries come from across sectors like FMCG, BFSI, M-Commerce & Health

    MMA India announces Smarties India 2019 shortlist

    By A Correspondent

     

    Mobile Marketing Association (MMA) has announced the shortlist of entries to the 2019 Smarties Awards in India. The winners will be announced on September 27 in Mumbai.

     

    As many as 99 entries have been shortlisted from across industries from the entries submitted. Those shortlisted for this year’s Awards include brands like Pepsico, MTV, Tata Chemicals, Google, Vodafone Idea, HDFC Life, Amazon Prime Video, Tanishq, LG, amongst other leading national and international brands. The leading agencies that worked in collaboration with these brands are Mindshare India, Performics India, Madison Media, Essence Global, Interactive Avenues, etc.

     

    A total of 13 senior level brand marketers made up the jury, namely, Ravi Santhanam of HDFC Bank, Pawan Sarda of Future Group, Abhishek Desai of P&G, Amit Sethiya of Syska Group, Asha Kharga of Axis Bank, Deepali Naair of IBM India & South Asia, Gauravjeet Singh of Unilever, Jayraj Jadhav of TATA AIG, Neel Pandya of L’Oreal, Nipun Marya of Vivo, Punitha Arumugam of Hotstar, Ravi Desai of Amazon, Rohit Dadwal of MMA and Sandeep Ranade of Kantar.

     

    Said Ravi Santhanam, Chief Marketing Officer, HDFC Bank, who is also this year’s Jury Chair: “Consumer attention has almost entirely shifted to mobile platforms, pushing marketers from all industries to enter this space in order to reach the desired audience. We were truly impressed to see the variety of work showcased by marketers and agencies whose campaigns push the bar on creativity higher every year.”