French IT services group Atos to buy Syntel

French IT services group Atos has agreed to buy US Information Technology group Syntel in a move to significantly expand its presence in North America. This transaction is a major step in the strategy of Atos to reach a global scale.

Atos, which provides IT services to sectors ranging from aerospace to retail, said the deal to buy Syntel will strengthen its activities in banking, finance, and insurance and allow it to provide complete IT solutions to its U.S. customers.

The deal will significantly enhance the business & platform solutions division's growth and profitability profile through an extended digital services offering, cutting-edge India-based delivery platforms, as well as revenue and cost synergies.

The acquisition of Syntel, a 38-year-old company with 23,000 employees, comes after last year's unsuccessful attempt by Atos to buy Gemalto. Syntel provides technology and IT services utilizing a network of software development centres in India.

SmartQ acquires Goodbox’s cafeteria business

Bengaluru based SmartQ, which provides digital solutions for food courts and cafeterias, has acquired Nexus Venture partners backed Goodbox’s cafeteria business for an undisclosed amount.

SmartQ is operated by YourNest Angel Fund-backed Bottle Lab Technologies Pvt. Ltd. Goodbox provides online shopping platforms to each Bengaluru neighborhood store registered with its app. It also provides food-ordering services in the city. In 2015, Goodbox had raised $2.5 million (Rs 16.5 crore) from Nexus Venture Partners.

The acquisition of cafeteria business comes two months after Goodbox, an app that offered mini apps to a wide range of small and medium-sized businesses within its own app, reportedly turned its focus to neighborhood stores for hyperlocal delivery even as it exited its “non-core businesses.

Goodbox allows businesses to create a storefront on its app, similar to a real-world store. In other words, businesses can create an app for themselves on Goodbox’s platform, where customers can directly interact with the store and conduct transactions. Users also get loyalty and reward points for using the platform.

Oyo acquires AblePlus

Hospitality firm Oyo has acquired AblePlus, the Mumbai based Internet of Things (IoT) startup. Oyo will now be introducing IoT into the basic precincts of their Hotel Management System.

The company also introduced industry-first initiative of Digital Arrival & Departure Register, which has been adopted by the state governments of Haryana and Rajasthan. In addition, Oyo also makes use of Machine Learning (ML) based algorithms to personalize the user journey. Customers will now be able to look at self-check-ins, which will be supported by digital arrival and departure register, self KYP with Aadhaar, and IoT server-managed smart locks.

With the rollout of the added technology enabled operations, Oyo team believes they will be able to track assets across properties better, and also work in reduction of wastage of electricity and minimizing the carbon footprint. This will take OYO a step closer to consolidating its vision of creating beautiful living spaces across India.

The team is also looking at introducing voice-based assistance in rooms, enabling automation of controlling appliances and lights among other services. Going forward, Oyo also plans to implement a comprehensive guest entertainment programme that will include fitness, gaming and augmented experiences. The company is also looking at several other integrated technology solutions including enhancing its Oyo Asset Management offering, so that it is easy to partner with them.