• Sports and Women’s western wear dominate the wish lists

Bangalore, December 22, 2017:  India’s largest fashion sale event – Myntra’s End of Reason Sale (EORS) is all geared up for the 7^th Edition, being held between 22^nd and 25^th of December. Myntra observed a no sale period for 24 hours, which started at 8 pm on December 20^th, during which prices of products were revealed to shoppers, allowing them to choose and create a wish list of products they wished to purchase during the sale. The ‘Price reveal’ resulted in 20 million products wish listed as of 4 pm on December 21^st, just hours before the sale.

Data reveals that majority of wish lists were dominated with sportswear and sports shoes. Men preferred to bag more of T-shirts, casual shoes and sports shoes, while women largely opted for tops, kurtas and dresses. Being winter, sweat shirts were a popular choice between both men and women. A total of 2.5 million people created wish lists, hours before the sale.

Myntra also allowed shoppers to create groups through a feature called, ‘Myntra Shopping Groups’ that offers additional discounts to group members who shop for a certain value.  The current edition witnessed the formation of 6 lakh groups.

EORS is known for bringing in multifarious firsts in the industry with each passing edition. Starting from the sale preview, price reveal, VIP Pass entry and social shopping, it has taken innovation to a new level.

Renowned brands such as Nike, Adidas, Puma, Forever21, Red Tape, Tommy Hilfiger, Jack & Jones, Marks & Spencer, Mango along with Myntra’s in-house brands such as Roadster, HRX, All About You, Anouk, Dressberry etc are a part of the big sale, offering 50 – 80% discount on their products. Myntra has put up over 5 lakh styles from about 2000 brands for this sale.

About Myntra-Jabong:

Myntra & Jabong are India’s leading platform for fashion brands and pioneer in m-commerce play. Myntra has partnered with over 2000 leading fashion and lifestyle brands in the country such as Roadster , Nike, Adidas, Puma , HRX , Levis , wrangler , Arrow, Diesel, All About You, Biba , W, Diesel , US polo , Wrogn,  Ralph Lauren , Fashion 21, Mango , Mac and many more to offer a wide range in latest branded fashion and lifestyle wear . Myntra services over 22,000 pin codes across the country with the largest in season product catalogue, 100% authentic products, cash on delivery and 30 day exchange /return policy. Myntra & Jabong are today the most preferred shopping destinations in India.

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Third study in three-part series shows customers’ AI acceptance at odds with businesses’ expectations

NEW YORK, December 7, 2017 – Despite massive corporate investments in artificial intelligence (AI), nearly three-quarters of consumers are concerned about AI infringing on their privacy, according to a new study from Genpact, a global professional services firm focused on delivering digital transformation. The survey of more than 5,000 people across the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia also reveals that 59 percent of respondents think their government should do more to protect personal data from AI.

Disconnect in corporate and customer views

Consumers’ wariness of AI contrasts significantly with optimism expressed by corporate management. According to a previous Genpact study conducted earlier this year, 88 percent of senior executives at companies that are leaders in AI expect the technology will drive better customer experiences within three years.

The consumer survey released today is the third in a three-part Genpact research series that offers a comprehensive view of AI adoption, readiness, and impact across three critical and disparate communities – the C-suite, workforce, and consumers. The first study, published in September 2017, explores the C-suite and senior management’s perspective, and the second survey, released in November 2017, looks at workers’ views.

In the consumer research released today, only 12 percent of people surveyed say they would prefer to be served by a chatbot, even if the service they receive is faster and more accurate than that of a human. Yet over three times more executives (38 percent) think their customers will prefer service by a chatbot in three years, according to Genpact’s senior management study. Companies need to lay the groundwork now to address this disconnect and pave the way for smooth AI adoption.

Building trust with cautious consumers

Although companies continue to embrace AI (for example, 82 percent of senior executives say they plan to implement AI-related technologies by 2020), many potential customers still have substantial fears. Nearly two thirds of respondents in the consumer study worry that AI will make decisions that will impact their lives without their knowledge. Moreover, 58 percent of people surveyed do not feel comfortable with companies using AI to access their data to personalize and improve their experiences with a brand.

“AI is a game-changer to improve the customer experience, yet real challenges remain regarding trust and privacy,” said Sanjay Srivastava, chief digital officer, Genpact. “To encourage adoption, the key is to have visibility into AI decisions, and be able to track and explain the logic behind them. Companies need to break through the ‘black box’ to drive better insights for their business and give consumers the assurance they need.”

Meeting consumer expectations today, and tomorrow

Even with explosive growth of home digital assistants, chatbots, smart sensors, etc., consumers still perceive they have little contact with AI. Less than half of those surveyed say they interact with some form of AI regularly. In addition, two in five (41 percent) believe that AI has made no difference to their lives.

However, the study also shows that younger generations interact with AI more frequently and cite its benefits. They are twice as more likely than older people surveyed to say AI is making their lives better. Younger generations also don’t need the human touch quite as much: Only one third of Gen-Z and millennials strongly agree that they prefer human interaction rather than AI, compared to 57 percent of baby boomers.

“Younger generations’ rapidly changing views underscore how AI, even in these early days, is the single biggest shift that is transforming how people interact with businesses and the world around them,” continued Srivastava. “The companies that will win in this new world are ones that seize AI’s potential in a way that deeply understands and solves for consumers’ concerns.”

For more details on this study, see The consumer: Sees AI benefits but still prefers the human touch. For views from the C-suite, read Genpact’s first report, Is your business AI-ready?, and see The workforce: Staying ahead of artificial intelligence for second part in the series. Combined, these findings give businesses valuable insights on how to succeed with artificial intelligence.

About the Research

In August 2017, Genpact worked with research firm YouGov to survey 5,179 people (2,189 in the United States, 1,749 the United Kingdom, and 1,241 in Australia) to study how artificial intelligence impacts their personal and professional lives. Of the total survey population, 2,795 were employed at least eight hours per week. YouGov conducted the fieldwork online between August 15-30, 2017. In addition, in a separate study conducted in June 2017, Genpact and FORTUNE Knowledge Group surveyed 300 global senior executives on AI issues, and also differentiated between “AI leaders” – respondents who achieve strong positive business outcomes from AI, scoring 9 or 10 on a 10-point scale — and “AI laggards,” who scored 1 through 6 on the same scale.

About Genpact

Genpact (NYSE: G) is a global professional services firm that makes business transformation real. We drive digital-led innovation and digitally-enabled intelligent operations for our clients, guided by our experience running thousands of processes for hundreds of Global Fortune 500 companies. We think with design, dream in digital, and solve problems with data and analytics. We obsess over operations and focus on the details – all 78,000+ of us. From New York to New Delhi and more than 20 countries in between, Genpact has the end-to-end expertise to connect every dot, reimagine every process, and reinvent companies’ ways of working. We know that rethinking each step from start to finish will create better business outcomes. Whatever it is, we’ll be there with you – putting data and digital to work to create bold, lasting results – because transformation happens here. Get to know us at Genpact.com and on LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube, and Facebook.

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SAN DIEGO, Calif. – September 18, 2017 – The Identity Theft Resource Center® (ITRC), a nationally recognized non-profit organization established to support victims of identity theft, today announced a new campaign pushing for free credit freezes for consumers.

The #FreeFromAll3 Campaign aims to persuade the three major credit reporting agencies, Equifax, Experian and Transunion, to waive fees for an initial credit freeze and one thaw and refreeze per year for all Americans. The campaign comes in the wake of the Equifax data breach, which exposed the Social Security numbers of 143 million Americans, leaving them vulnerable to identity theft.

“Credit freezes are an important tool in the fight against identity theft. While credit freezes are not right for everyone, the issue of cost should not factor into a consumer’s decision on whether or not to utilize one” says Eva Velasquez, CEO and President of the Identity Theft Resource Center. “It is our hope that the credit reporting agencies will consider this and allow consumers to protect their identity, no matter their financial situation.”

The ITRC has seen historically unprecedented traffic to its victim assistance call center since the Equifax data breach became widespread public knowledge on September 7, 2017. The organization feels the #FreeFromAll3 Campaign is one way of putting some measure of control back into the hands of consumers.

A Change.org petition has been created to gather support for the #FreeFromAll3 Campaign and outlines the position of ITRC and allows consumers to voice their support directly to the CEOs of the three major credit reporting agencies.

About the Identity Theft Resource Center

Founded in 1999, the Identity Theft Resource Center® (ITRC) is a nationally recognized non-profit organization established to support victims of identity theft in resolving their cases, and to broaden public education and awareness in the understanding of identity theft, data breaches, cybersecurity, scams/fraud, and privacy issues. Through public and private support, the ITRC provides no-cost victim assistance and consumer education through its call center, website, social media channels, live chat feature and ID Theft Help app. For more information, visit: http://www.idtheftcenter.org

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Being single has its advantages – not least the freedom to do what you want. You can go, see and do whatever you like without having to compromise for anyone else’s sake. But are people willing to do so? Humans are social beings, after all. That’s why new YouGov research has looked at which activities people are most to take part in on their own.

Three-quarters of APAC residents have ordered a takeaway to consume alone

Unsurprisingly, the vast majority of respondents have gone shopping and for a walk by themselves, with 84% and 83% respectively saying they have done so. Other popular solo activities include ordering a takeaway (77%), going to a coffee shop (72%) and going to a restaurant for dinner (68%), with the majority of people saying they have done these by themselves at some point.

At the other end of the scale, going to a nightclub alone is the least popular activity, with just 29% of people saying they have ever gone by themselves, compared to the 46% of those who say they would never do so and would not be willing to do so. Other top activities that people would avoid doing by themselves include getting drunk at home (46% say they would never do so) and going to a bar for a drink (40%).

The activities that most people have never done by themselves but would consider doing include going on holiday abroad (37%), taking a gym class (33%) and going to a music gig (31%).

Half of men have gone to a sporting event by themselves

For the most part, men are much more likely than women to have taken part in any of these activities by themselves. This is a conscious choice on the part of women: rather than being willing but yet to indulge in these activities alone, women are specifically against doing these things by themselves.

Going solo to a sporting event is the most divisive activity between the genders. Half (51%) of men have gone to a sporting event by themselves, compared to a third (35%) of women. By contrast, nearly a third of women (29%) would not be willing to go to a sporting event alone, compared to just one in five (19%) men.

Other particularly divisive activities include going to a bar for a drink, going to a nightclub and going swimming. Some of the differences are obvious – men are simply more likely to be sports fans than women – whilst others could indicate different motivations between men and women for taking part in certain activities. For instance, in the case of going to a nightclub it may well be that for women spending time with friends is the entire purpose of the venture, whilst for men it might be that going to a nightclub serves more as a means to an end.

The latest YouGov Omnibus survey suggests that the singles’ economy is big business. Not only are consumers already pursuing a number of activities on their own but they are also open-minded about expanding the range of activities they do solo. The challenge for brands is now to give them the opportunities and confidence they need to take that next step – giving them the motivation to explore new experiences.

Research Demographic: 

Data was collected online between 1 and 21 August 2017 using YouGov’s panel of over 5 million people worldwide. It was weighted to be representative of the online population.

Sample size: Asia Pacific (n = 9,241; Australia: 921; China: 1,014; Hong Kong: 1,019; Indonesia: 1,072; Malaysia: 1,092; Philippines: 1,047; Singapore: 1,044; Thailand: 1,019; Vietnam: 1,013)

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~Hi-tech, tough, easy to carry – this is the ultimate gadget for all audio lovers~

SoundBot, California-based personal gadget brand makes its maiden entry into Indian markets through Instaplay Solutions Private Limited. The superior all-purpose high quality gadget is for outdoor lovers, people with active lifestyle, music aficionados, and technology enthusiasts.

The company mostly caters to those who are looking for a highly tough, yet multi-purpose product engineered to withstand and be used in different types of applications and mediums such as surfing, skiing, mountain-biking and almost anything else.

The partnership with Instaplay Solutions Private Limited will be taking the demand for these high-quality gadgets to next level. As a start-up owned by a technology veteran, it introduces its revolutionary products in India. Today, most people want connected devices which are personal gadgets. This is the perfect place to find one befitting universal needs for any user.

SoundBot products range from wireless headphones, speakers, earbuds, earphones & car accessories. All their products are innovative and revolutionary music/audio devices that are user defined and are of high quality for listening pleasure.

Excited about the partnership, Mr. Howard,Director, SoundBot shares,” We are excited about our association, India has a great mix of outdoor lifestyles that people take advantage of. The personal music space has grown by leaps and bounds and we are here at a time when demand for personal gadgets is growing to enormous levels. It’s a great way to position our hi-tech devices”.

Commenting on the partnership, Instaplay Solutions Pvt Ltd spokesperson said “SoundBot is a well-known brand in its own space overseas, we are looking forward to the vast Indian audiences taking an equal trajectory toward the brand. It will cater to people constantly searching for personal gadgets to match their active lifestyle”.

 About SoundBot –

California based brand primarily operates in the wireless personal gadget space. It opened its doors in 2015.

SoundBot began with a simple mission – to develop a premium quality audio accessory portfolio and enhance your overall music listening experience through innovation, quality, convenience, and technology that is inspired by you.

About Instaplay Solutions Pvt Ltd –

Delhi-based, technology start-up started by tech veteran with a vision of offering high-tech personal; gadgets for consumers seeking active lifestyle

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The next-gen algorithms to enable credit access to an additional 15 lakh customers annually, with incremental retail assets of INR 68,858 crores at very low risk

Mumbai, 31 May, 2017:  As the consumer credit industry continues to grow with increased demand fueled by the digital transformation in the market, TransUnion CIBIL today launched CreditVision^® to expand the eligible consumer base and drive access to finance for many more deserving consumers. CreditVision^® is a transformational way of looking at the past credit behavior of a consumer. CreditVision^® algorithms predict risk and expand credit opportunities by intensively studying the trended data that unlocks the patterns in payment, exposure and spend behavior. These algorithms, which are based on the past 36 months of trended data, enable identification of comprehensive and specific customer behavior and are delivered in an easily usable and quantitative format to enable financial institutions to use these customer insights for making more precise lending decisions. This would pave way for possibilities to expand the retail credit market and promote access to cheaper, easier and faster credit opportunities, which is a major aspect of financial inclusion in this digital age.

TransUnion CIBIL’s analysis of consumer credit demand and behavior using CreditVision^®, shows that it could enable credit access to an incremental 15 lakh borrowers every year without compromising on risk. In addition, the algorithms have identified another 20 lakh borrowers who currently have access to banking credit, but would be eligible for higher lines of credit or higher loan-to-value.

With CreditVision^®, TransUnion CIBIL aims to partner with credit institutions to provide insights beyond the CIBIL Score and help understand the nuances of consumer credit behavior thereby supporting them to better gauge the risk profile and provide credit to many more deserving borrowers.

Speaking at the CreditVision^® launch, the Managing Director and CEO of TransUnion CIBIL- Mr. Satish Pillai said, “Financial inclusion and credit penetration are the keystones of propelling India on a sustainable high growth trajectory. With the launch of CreditVision^® in India, we reinstate our commitment in supporting our member institutions on driving profitable business growth and credit penetration by providing credit access to many more deserving consumers. These new age CreditVision^® algorithms are a definite game changer for the credit industry which will enable phenomenal market expansion while helping define lending strategy for a growing nation on a digital path like ours.”

CreditVision^® may be the much needed tool for Indian credit sector which is burdened with recognized NPA and stressed assets amounting to almost 15% of their total asset. With the exception of Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), most sectors of commercial lending, which forms the bulk of banking assets, are showing low single digit credit growth. Retail credit, which benefitted from disciplined information and analytics driven decisioning, has grown substantially at low delinquency rates and is justifiably looked upon as a savior for Indian banking. However, overenthusiastic lending can also make retail borrowers over leverage, such as the case in 2008 and CreditVision^® will help mitigate these challenges and expand the Indian credit market while keeping delinquency in check. This will enable banks to grow profitably, even on a risk adjusted basis, in the retail space.

Banks and credit institutions in India are enthusiastic on the prospects of CreditVision^®. Speaking on the benefits of CreditVision^® for the industry,

Mr. Rajesh Kumar, Group Head- Retail Credit & Risk at HDFC Bank said, “CreditVision^® represents the future ready bureau of the big data world enabling advance analytics. The rich insights on nuances of consumer behavior that CreditVision provides will help the industry identify and provide credit opportunities to a larger customer base thereby helping improve credit penetration and access to credit”.

“CreditVision^® trended attributes are definitely more insightful than a point-in-time snapshot provided by the traditional bureau data. This helps map the credit evolution of the consumer and could have potential use case in underwriting and exposure management strategies. By using CreditVision^®, we hope to penetrate to a much larger customer base, thus significantly increasing our retail outreach.” said Mr. Rakesh Bhatt, COO, Bajaj Finance Limited.

“Traditional bureau data is based on attributes derived from a point in time snapshot of customer behavior. CreditVision^® provides insights into historical trends instead of a point in time snapshot which significantly enhances predictions of future customer behaviours thereby improving lending decisions. This will augment our ability to not only predict risk but also identify key consumer drivers that would impact critical marketing decisions.” , added Mr. Harjeet Toor, Business Head – Microbanking, Cards, Retail & MSME Lending at RBL Bank.

TransUnion CIBIL is committed to support the credit industry with content, insights, products and solutions to drive business growth while facilitating access to finance for deserving consumers. CreditVision^® is set to help the credit industry drive retail credit growth while enabling increased access to credit for consumers thus triggering credit penetration and financial inclusion in India.

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From pre-school to PhD, we have very successfully charted a linear path for our children. We have done what Henry Ford did to automobile making – introducing the production line, where every task is streamlined, every job is specialised and where conformity is the rule, that puts one on the conveyor belt of conventionality. In the process, we can like Henry Ford about his Model-T, proclaim, that one can have it in “any colour you want, as long as it is black”.

The key features of this production line academic system are the strict adherence to the syllabus, where students are cajoled to conform to the never-ending quest for that extra mark; discipline is used to stifle their natural urge to question or experiment; and to blindly follow as gospel truth, the sermons that we deliver. Capacity utilisation, in terms of student roll-out becomes the goal, profitability in terms of revenue generated by the institutions the raison d’etre, and the attaining of an efficiency level where we churn out clones faster than we can imagine, an end in itself. The Model-T is everywhere, ubiquitous in its ugly, uniform black. Oblivious of (or is it obnoxiously ignorant?)  the ground realities, of the demands of the times, or even the desire to cater to the needs of the consumers.

We can pat our collective backs like Henry Ford did with his perceived success of the Model T. Or, we can take a hard look at what has brought us to this precipice. Can past successes guarantee a shelter against future redundancies?  We can continue to load antiquated, anachronistic software (read dated syllabi) on state of the art hardware (read fresh student batches) or do we empower them with the latest operating systems? We can either evolve to tango with the times, or do a Dying Swan. We can either force students to chug along like steam engines on the tracks that we have laid down for them – take them from point A to point B – even as life plays out its grand drama of creation all around the tracks. They can look with amazement at the opportunities sprouting all around them, but restricted as they are to the tracks, can they seize those opportunities? Drink life and success to the lees? Add value to the economy? Contribute to the Nation building process?

There is a growing chasm between us, the academia and our consumers, the industry. We provide them with raw material that is far from being finished or “deployment ready” and must be worked upon, leading to the unpardonable wastage of scarce resources. Tied up as we are to our respective assembly lines, we are unable to incorporate their – the industry’s needs, leave alone give them bespoke solutions. The result, being the creation of a Holy Trinity of lost opportunities. The biggest loser in this entire rigmarole apart from the Industry and the Academia, is, needless to say, the student, whose natural, instinctive creativity is choked; whose talents are blunted; and what could have stood out in proud defiance, is forced to submit to the ordinary. What we are doing is simply put, sacrificing excellence on the altar of mediocrity.

Commerce Plus is our humble effort to break out from this rut, to destroy the moulds of conformity. Our formal journey may have started only two years back, but the background work leading to the journey has been continuing for some time now. The idea is simple – to open the windows and let the fresh air in. To let the young minds equip themselves for the life ahead, as opposed to cramming them with information, all signposts and no destination. To provide students with an opportunity to embrace a culture of inclusive learning: see-feel-learn-earn, where they learn by example and excel from experience.

On a more realistic level, Commerce Plus is also an effort to empower students who are not among the so-called best and the brightest. Efforts are directed towards instilling the required skill sets without confining them to the class rooms, expose them to the experts through interactive sessions and help them acquire skills, hands on, through industry visits so that their transition from the campus to the office is as seamlessly integrated as possible. The fees that are charged for this entire process has been deliberately kept extremely low, subsidised as the dream is, by the management of the institution. A sacrifice for inclusion, contribution of a responsible Corporate Citizen, in an effort to give back to society, a part of what it draws from the society, for sustenance.

On an even higher level, Commerce Plus is an extension of the thought that had led to the setting up of the BESC way back in 1966. The institution was originally conceived with a view towards providing a platform for the dissemination of knowledge, with a marked orientation towards commercial knowledge, irrespective of all socio-economic considerations. To provide supplementary doses of “formal education” to students pursuing careers in business, which explains the morning and evening classes. Even today BESC retains its overwhelmingly Commerce core and from this vantage point, Commerce Plus, is but a logical extension of an idea whose time has come.

Today, it is but significant that while BESC celebrates its 50^th year of being, we are preparing to take our first faltering steps towards the fulfilment of a greater goal, towards the achievement of something that was the integral part of the original charter that our founding fathers had set before themselves, towards a mode of imparting education that is not restricted by or within, itself.

The Commerce Plus, which had begun as an experiment within the hallowed portals of BESC is now in its infancy. And, in keeping with the dream of our founding fathers of making a thousand flowers bloom, we want to open it up for our peers in the domain to review, help us refine it further and if deemed fit, to embrace it for the benefit of our children, the knowledge warriors of tomorrow. The seeds of Commerce plus were planted by BESC, was sustained by a vison, watered by a search for excellence and the tender sprouts guarded with funds from internal resources. Now that it is ready to bear fruits, it is our pleasure and our duty to invite the world to come and share the fruits of our honest efforts – what we have nurtured with our tender loving care.

Th Model T, which had once dared to test the stratosphere and was virtually peerless in its success, was soon consigned to ignominy when it refused to change with the times, refused to pay heed to the needs of those it was supposed to serve. If we do not rise to meet the dynamics of our times, if we fail to future proof ourselves, if we restrict ourselves to the assembly lines of this anachronistic system of rote, then a future that will be worse than the one that befell the Model T, or for that matter the T-Rex, awaits us.

BESC has been synonymous with Commerce for the last five decades. Come join us as we celebrate it, in all its myriad hues and abilities that aid the creation of wealth for the Nations. Join us in our Mission to unshackle the minds of our children. Join us in our Mission to Celebrate Commerce. Join us as we embrace the power of the plus.

Commerce Plus!

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Streaming Sticks, Drones and Smart Home Products Top List of Devices that Can Compromise Consumers’ Security if Left Unprotected

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

• Survey reveals that 80 percent of consumers will likely holiday shop online this year
• Holiday season brings new gifts, and while 85 percent of consumers start using connected devices within the first day of receiving it, only 45 percent claim they take the proper security measures
• Consumers know it’s important to secure their devices, but nearly half (46 percent) are uncertain whether they are taking the proper security steps to do so

India- Nov. 23, 2016 – Today Intel Security announced its second-annual McAfee Most Hackable Holiday Gifts list to identify potential security risks associated with hot-ticket items this holiday season. The No. 1 most hackable gift category included laptops and PCs, followed by smartphones and tablets, media players and streaming sticks, smart home automation and devices, and finally, drones. To accompany the list, Intel Security conducted a survey to identify the risky behaviors consumers are engaging in during the holiday season and educate them on how to protect themselves.

“Unsurprisingly, connected devices remain high on holiday wish lists this year. What is alarming is that consumers remain unaware of what behaviors pose a security risk when it comes to new devices,” said Gary Davis, chief consumer security evangelist at Intel Security. “Consumers are often eager to use their new gadget as soon as they get it and forgo ensuring that their device is properly secured. Cybercriminals could use this lack of attention as an inroad to gather personal consumer data, exposing consumers to malware or identity theft or even use unsecured devices to launch DDoS attacks as in the recent Dyn attack.”

While a majority of consumers are aware of the vulnerabilities in older connected devices like laptops (73 percent), mobile phones (70 percent) and tablets (69 percent), they lack awareness about the potential risks associated with emerging connected devices, such as drones (20 percent), children’s toys (21 percent), virtual reality tech (18 percent), and pet gifts (11 percent). As technology continues to evolve, it is essential consumers  understand the risks associated with even the most unassuming devices. While 75 percent of consumers believe it’s very important to secure their online identities and connected devices, nearly half are uncertain if they are taking the proper security steps.

This Year’s Most Hackable Holiday Gifts Include:

1. Laptops and PCs – Laptops and PCs make great gifts, however, malicious apps targeting PCs are unfortunately common, and  are not just limited to Windows-based devices.

2. Smartphones and Tablets – Survey results revealed that 64% of consumers plan to purchase either a smartphone or tablet this holiday season. Just like PCs and laptops, malware could result in personal and financial information being stolen.

3. Media Players and Streaming Sticks – Media players and streaming sticks have changed the way consumers enjoy movies and TV, but consumers can unknowingly invite a cybercriminal into their living room by failing to update their device.

4. Smart Home Automation Devices and Apps – Today’s connected home devices and apps give users the power to control their homes from their smartphone. Unfortunately, hackers have demonstrated techniques that could be used to compromise Bluetooth powered door locks and other home automation devices.

5. Drones – Drone sales are expected to grow to more than $20 billion by 2022.  They can provide unique perspectives when it comes to shooting video and photos.  However, not properly securing the device could allow hackers to disrupt the GPS signal, or hijack your drone through its smartphone app.

Tips for Consumers to Protect Holiday Cheer:

To stay protected for a happier and safer holiday season, Intel Security has the following tips:

• Secure your device. Your device is the key to controlling your home and your personal information. Make sure you have comprehensive security software installed, like McAfee LiveSafe.
• Only use secure Wi-Fi. Using your devices, such as your smart home applications, on public Wi-Fi could leave you and your home open to risk.
• Keep software is up-to-date. Apply patches as they are released from the manufacturer. Install manufacturer updates right away to ensure that your device is protected from the latest known threats.
• Use a strong password or PIN. If your device supports it, use  multi-factor authentication (MFA) as it can include factors like a trusted device, your face, fingerprint, etc. to make your login more secure
• Check before you click. Be suspicious of links from people you do not know and always use internet security software to stay protected. Hover over the link to find a full URL of the link’s destination in the lower corner of your browser.

Find More Information: 

• To learn more about the list and survey, check out:
  • Blog post from Gary Davis: https://blogs.mcafee.com/consumer/most-hackable-gifts-2016

Twitter: Follow @IntelSecurity for live online safety updates and tips. Use hashtag #safeholiday to discuss the Most Hackable Gifts of 2016

Survey Methodology

In September 2016, Intel Security commissioned OnePoll to conduct a survey of 9,800 consumers (aged 18-55+). Respondents were individuals who use an internet-enabled device on a daily basis in the following countries: Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Mexico, Netherlands, Spain, the U.K., and the U.S.

About Intel Security

Intel Security, with its McAfee product line, is dedicated to making the digital world safer and more secure for everyone. Intel Security is a division of Intel Corporation. Learn more at www.intelsecurity.com.

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Too much reliance on digital technologies has given rise to ‘human-less’ customer services

MUMBAI; June 30, 2016 – Fifty four percent of Indian consumers prefer dealing with human beings over digital channels to solve customer services issues, according to new research from Accenture (NYSE: ACN). The report also found that 88 percent of consumers have switched provider in the past year due to poor customer service, with internet service providers, retailers and banks being the worst offenders. In India, the estimated cost of customers switching due to poor service is $412 billion.

The Accenture Strategy report, ‘Digital Disconnect in Customer Engagement’, is based on the company’s eleventh annual Global Consumer Pulse Research, which gauges the experiences and attitudes of 24,489 consumers around the world about marketing, sales and customer services. 550 Indian consumers were included in the sample.

“Companies have lost sight of the importance of human interaction and often make it too difficult for consumers to get the right level of help and service that they need,” said Raghuram Devarakonda, managing director, Advanced Customer Strategy, Accenture Strategy. “Companies wrongly assume that their digital-only customers are their most profitable, and that customer service is a cost. Consequently they over-invest in digital technologies and channels and lose their most profitable customers – multi-channel customers – who want experiences that cover both digital and traditional channels.”

The importance of human connection in customer services

Human interaction remains a vital component of customer satisfaction, even in the ‘digital age’. 54 percent of Indian consumers prefer dealing with human beings over digital channels to solve customer services issues and get advice (70 percent). Another 63 percent of consumers say they are even willing to pay a higher price for goods and services if it ensures a better level of service.

Physical or in-store experiences are also highly valued amongst consumers. 51 percent agree that in-store service is the best channel for getting a tailored experience, and 49 percent say they are more willing to be sold new or upgraded products when receiving a face-to-face service compared to online. Another 44 percent say they would rather go to a store first than use digital channels to get advice on the best products and services.

“Indian companies have reached a tipping point in their customer’s digital intensity and need to rebalance their digital and traditional customer services investments if they want to improve loyalty, differentiate themselves and drive growth,” added Raghuram Devarakonda. “Companies abandon the human connection at their own risk and are facing the need to rebuild it to deliver the varied and tailored outcomes that customers demand.”

Improving customer experience

The Accenture Strategy report reveals that there is huge room for improvement in the delivery of today’s customer services. 57 percent of consumers admit that it is frustrating dealing with a company that does not make it easy to do business with them. Another 65 percent expect customer service to be easier and more convenient, and 83 percent want it to be faster. Complaining on social media about poor customer experience is the norm for over half (53 percent) of consumers who admit taking to social channels in order to vent.

Once a provider loses a customer, 52 percent of consumers will not go back. But there are measures companies can take to hold on to them. 81 percent of ‘switchers’ feel the company could have done something to retain them. 74 percent report that if companies could provide customers with better live or in-person customer service, it would have impacted their decision to switch provider.

How leaders of customer services succeed

Organizations that want to rebalance their digital and traditional customer service channels should look to:

1. Put the human and physical elements back into customer services: Rethink your investment strategy. The focus should be on delivering satisfying customer experiences – not methods of interaction. Ensure your channel management approach delivers integrated experiences.
2. Make it easy for customers to switch channels to get the experiences they want: Build customer service channels that enable consumers to fluidly move from digital to human interaction to get the outcomes they desire.
3. Root out toxicity: Define and address the most toxic customer experiences across all channels. These experiences can directly impact profitability. Identify the experiences that have the greatest potential downside and leverage those insights to guide an investment strategy.
4. Guarantee personal data security: 80 percent of consumers say it is extremely important that companies protect the privacy of their personal information. By not selling or sharing customer data with other companies, and guaranteeing that safeguards are in place to protect it, consumers will be more willing to hand over personal information which can be leveraged to deliver better experiences.

Please visit www.accenture.com/GlobalConsumerPulseResearch to read the full report. Join the conversation at @AccentureStrat #GCPR.

About the research

Accenture Strategy’s Global Consumer Pulse Research is an annual online research project that assess customer attitudes towards marketing, sales and customer service practices and customers’ behaviors in response to companies’ practices. The 2015 survey includes online responses from 24,489 consumers in 33 countries: Denmark, Finland, Sweden, UAE, Thailand, South Korea, Singapore, Norway, Mexico, Malaysia, Ireland, South Africa, Russia, Argentina, Turkey, Poland, Philippines, Netherlands, Belgium, Czech Republic, India, Indonesia, France, Germany, Japan, China, Brazil, Spain, Canada, Australia, Italy, United Kingdom and the United States. Respondents were asked to evaluate their experiences of up to four industries out of 11 industry sectors: retail banking and financial services, wireless services providers, consumer goods retailers, gas and electric utility providers, consumer electronics manufacturers, property and casualty insurance providers, fixed service providers (excluding cable and satellite), healthcare providers, hotels and lodging, life insurance, and cable and satellite service providers. The survey was fielded in August and September 2015.

About Accenture

Accenture is a leading global professional services company, providing a broad range of services and solutions in strategy, consulting, digital, technology and operations. Combining unmatched experience and specialized skills across more than 40 industries and all business functions—underpinned by the world’s largest delivery network—Accenture works at the intersection of business and technology to help clients improve their performance and create sustainable value for their stakeholders. With more than 375,000 people serving clients in more than 120 countries, Accenture drives innovation to improve the way the world works and lives. Visit us at www.accenture.com.

Accenture Strategy operates at the intersection of business and technology. We bring together our capabilities in business, technology, operations and function strategy to help our clients envision and execute industry-specific strategies that support enterprise wide transformation. Our focus on issues related to digital disruption, competitiveness, global operating models, talent and leadership help drive both efficiencies and growth. For more information, follow @AccentureStrat or visit www.accenture.com/strategy.

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