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QR code is a “powerful enabler” for revenue generation

Ana Mary Joseph
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QR code is a “powerful enabler” for revenue generation
  • Nearly 60% of organisations are planning to increase their investment in QR codes, focusing on dynamic implementations, augmented reality integration, and alignment with sustainability initiatives.
  • 62% of businesses anticipate higher sales in 2025 due to QR code initiatives, speaks volumes about their growing importance.

The humble QR code, once a novelty, is rapidly evolving into a strategic asset for businesses across diverse sectors in India.

A report by Uniqode, a QR code platform, underscores this transformation, projecting significant gains in sales and customer engagement for businesses leveraging QR code-focused initiatives.

The “State of QR Codes Report,” drawing insights from over 600 business leaders, reveals a burgeoning acceptance of these dynamic codes as a necessity, not merely a convenience, in the modern business landscape.

The report’s central finding, that 62 per cent of businesses anticipate higher sales in 2025 due to QR code initiatives, speaks volumes about their growing importance.

This projected growth is attributed to the ability of QR codes to transform physical spaces into interactive digital assets. By facilitating seamless connections between physical products, environments, and digital content, QR codes are effectively creating new points of sale and enhancing customer interaction.

Rich insights

Furthermore, the report highlights the power of QR codes in fostering two-way communication and collecting valuable first-party data. These codes signal a high level of user intent, leading to engagement rates significantly higher than traditional marketing channels.

This engagement, in turn, provides businesses with rich insights into consumer behaviour, allowing for more targeted and effective marketing strategies.

As Ravi Pratap Maddimsetty, Uniqode’s co-founder and CTO, points out that brick-and-mortar business, for example, can leverage QR codes to gather real-time feedback and customer data directly from their store locations, offering more relevant and responsive engagement opportunities.

Widespread adoption

The report also addresses the future trajectory of QR code adoption. A significant majority of respondents (90 per cent) engage with QR codes every week, with a substantial portion scanning them daily. This widespread adoption translates into an expectation of increased QR code utilisation across various sectors.

Consequently, nearly 60 per cent of organisations are planning to increase their investment in QR codes, focusing on dynamic implementations, augmented reality integration, and alignment with sustainability initiatives.

Despite the optimistic outlook, the report acknowledges existing challenges. Nearly half of the respondents reported facing roadblocks in implementing QR codes, with a significant percentage requiring more sophisticated tools for large-scale deployment.

This highlights the need for platforms like Uniqode, offering lifecycle management and analytics solutions, to facilitate seamless integration and optimise the performance of QR code campaigns.

India’s deep-tech sector is poised for global relevance

Naushad K. Cherrayil
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India’s deep-tech sector is poised for global relevance
  • Early-stage funds are increasingly backing scalable, IP-driven startups, recognising the potential for long-term growth and global competitiveness.

India’s aspiration to become a $10 trillion economy is intrinsically linked to a profound structural shift in its technology ecosystem. The nation is evolving from a software-centric landscape to one increasingly driven by deep-tech innovations.

The transition, underscored by governmental support and burgeoning venture capital interest, signals a significant maturation of India’s technological capabilities and its ambition to become a global leader in frontier technologies.

The report by 3one4 Capital highlights a deliberate and proactive approach from the Indian government, evidenced by initiatives like the Rs10,000 crore ‘Fund of Funds’, the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM), and the National Deep Tech Startup Policy (NDTSP).

These programs demonstrate a concerted effort to cultivate innovation and commercialisation in areas such as artificial intelligence, semiconductors, and clean mobility. This commitment is not merely a financial investment, but a strategic move to foster a sustainable deep-tech ecosystem.

Furthermore, the report points to the increasing involvement of venture capital in the deep-tech sector. Early-stage funds are increasingly backing scalable, IP-driven startups, recognising the potential for long-term growth and global competitiveness.

India’s cost advantage, coupled with its vast pool of engineering talent, provides a unique edge in this competitive landscape. With approximately 20% of the world’s semiconductor design engineers residing in India, translating to around 125,000 professionals, the nation possesses a critical human resource advantage.

However, talent retention and development are crucial for sustained growth. National research programs, university incubators, and corporate R&D investments are playing a vital role in nurturing and retaining skilled professionals.

By strategically building upon this existing foundation, India is ensuring a robust pipeline of researchers, engineers, and entrepreneurs capable of driving deep-tech innovation.

Pranav Pai, Founding Partner and Chief Investment Officer, 3one4 Capital, said that India’s deep-tech sector is no longer a niche but a burgeoning opportunity ripe for investment and poised for global relevance.

However, he said the journey towards becoming a true leader in deep-tech requires sustained capital, enhanced ecosystem collaboration, and patient execution. Challenges such as the development of robust charging infrastructure for electric vehicles and the improvement of battery efficiency need to be addressed to fully realise the potential of clean mobility solutions.

With the government’s commitment of $10 billion in incentives and the cultivation of strategic public-private partnerships, India is actively strengthening its fabless design and semiconductor manufacturing ecosystem.

This strategic push, combined with its existing strengths in design and engineering, positions India for a pivotal decade of growth in AI, semiconductors, and clean mobility. Ultimately, disciplined innovation and a long-term commitment will be the defining factors in India’s quest to establish itself as a prominent leader in the global deep-tech landscape.

Infineon and CDIL forge a path for semiconductor advancement in India

Mohammed Fahad
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Infineon and CDIL forge a path for semiconductor advancement in India
  • Agreement entails Infineon supplying bare semiconductor wafers to CDIL, which will then be processed, assembled, and packaged into power chipsets
  • The alliance, centered on the supply of silicon wafers by Infineon to CDIL, signifies a crucial step towards fulfilling the “Make in India” initiative and positioning India as a significant player in the global semiconductor landscape.

The burgeoning Indian market presents significant opportunities for growth in the semiconductor industry, a sector increasingly recognised as crucial for global technological advancement.

Infineon Technologies, a leading German semiconductor firm, has strategically partnered with Continental Device India Limited (CDIL), India’s pioneering semiconductor manufacturer, in a landmark agreement that promises to bolster the nation’s indigenous semiconductor production capabilities.

The alliance, centered on the supply of silicon wafers by Infineon to CDIL, signifies a crucial step towards fulfilling the “Make in India” initiative and positioning India as a significant player in the global semiconductor landscape.

Infineon’s decision to collaborate with CDIL is predicated on recognition of India’s unique market characteristics and the need for strong local partnerships.

Infineon Technologies Asia Pacific President and Managing Director CS Chua, said that CDIL possesses an intimate understanding of local requirements, making them an ideal partner for navigating the complexities of the Indian market.

A strategic approach

The agreement entails Infineon supplying bare semiconductor wafers to CDIL, which will then be processed, assembled, and packaged into power chipsets.

These chipsets will serve critical applications across various sectors, including power inverters, solar technology, automotive power solutions, and renewable energy applications, thus contributing significantly to India’s sustainable development goals.

From CDIL’s perspective, the collaboration with Infineon represents a significant advancement in their capabilities and a validation of their decades-long commitment to semiconductor manufacturing in India.

President Pankaj Gulati emphasises the strategic alignment of Infineon’s cutting-edge wafer technology with CDIL’s advanced Outsourced Semiconductor Assembly and Test (OSAT) capabilities.

The integration promises to not only enhance domestic production but also to foster innovation and establish new industry benchmarks. The initial focus on serving Indian customers suggests a strategic approach to secure a strong domestic foothold before expanding into overseas markets, showcasing a commitment to building a robust and sustainable business model.

US Court dismisses shareholder lawsuit against Intel

Ana Mary Joseph
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US Court dismisses shareholder lawsuit against Intel

A recent shareholder lawsuit against Intel has been dismissed in US District Court, highlighting the challenges in demonstrating corporate culpability in volatile market conditions.

The suit alleged that Intel fraudulently concealed operating losses within its foundry business, culminating in a significant stock price decline following the revelation of a $1.61 billion quarterly loss, workforce reductions, and a dividend suspension.

Judge Trina Thompson’s decision centered on the plaintiffs’ misattribution of a $7 billion loss to Intel Foundry Services, finding that shareholders were not demonstrably misled about the business unit’s reported results.

Furthermore, statements regarding “significant traction” made by the former CEO were deemed not misleading, as they pertained to specific customer acquisitions rather than overall revenue performance.

A cautionary tale

This dismissal underscores the burden of proof placed on shareholders to convincingly demonstrate that corporate statements were not only inaccurate but also intentionally deceptive and materially impactful to investment decisions.

While the plaintiffs retain the option to file an amended complaint, the current ruling offers a cautionary tale regarding the complexities of holding corporations accountable for perceived discrepancies between public pronouncements and subsequent financial realities.

Synology products are “easier to install and use” than other big players

Naushad K. Cherrayil
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Synology products are “easier to install and use” than other big players
  • Taiwanese company is bullish on NAS market and set to add more products to its pipeline.
  • Synology is investing in better AI integration and plans to do so through predictive data analytics and automated incident response solutions to enhance cybersecurity and backup services.

Synology products are much easier to install and use when compared to its big peers in the market as their [peers] solutions are complex, APAC Sales Head for Synology, said.

Speaking to TechChannel News in an interview, Michael Chang said it is easy to train the IT staff with Synology products when compared to its peers.

 “Synology provides easy plug-and-play solutions to install and the other key differentiator is that many competitors provide either software-only or hardware-only solutions, whereas Synology offers fully integrated solutions,” he said.

Moreover, he added that Synology’s licensing fees are more affordable than those charged by other competitors, thus representing a budget-friendly solution.

“Some companies don’t have strong IT skills but we make it as intuitive as possible and make it easy for them to manage in their infrastructure,” Chang said.

Synology is a Taiwanese company, started in 2000, which produces NAS (network-attached storage) products for data management functions alongside backup and storage solutions.

“When we started, we were focusing only on consumer segment and SMEs but now, we are also targeting enterprises as it provides huge business opportunities,” Chang said.

AI integration

Right now, the enterprise sector contributes about 20 per cent to the group’s revenues but he said that they launching new products and solutions to increase its market share.

“In 2025, we are targeting to increase our corporate clients’ share of the pie by another five per cent,” he said.

The company is going to launch VaaS (video as a service) on the cloud, new surveillance cameras, and scale-out storage solutions.

“We will be launching more AI solutions to increase productivity. Due to the emergence of AI, a lot of things have changed and productivity has increased. Synology is pouring money into better AI integration and plans on doing that through predictive data analytics and automated incident response solutions to enhance cybersecurity and backup services.”

In the future, he said that Synology NAS will become a database for companies to increase productivity.

Keeping an eye on cybercriminals

As the technology is advancing as well as cyberattacks, most companies have a second storage option in the cloud as a backup protection as they don’t trust the tech enough to keep their data in one place and on one medium.

For this, Chang said that they had identified this hybrid trend in the market for a long time and so “we had launched options such as on-premises as well as public cloud solutions.”

Even though Synology’s emphasis is on on-premise solutions, a big contrast to the cloud-focused services of companies like Google, Amazon Web Services and Microsoft, Chang said that the requirement for storing data within national borders prevents government agencies and some other organisations from using cloud-based solutions.

“Every year ransomware attacks have been increasing which requires businesses to establish data security as their fundamental need. Synology launched the ActiveProtect Appliance because both security and scalability requirements in backup solutions have risen intending to enhance user-friendly protections and cyber defense capabilities.”

Biggest markets

ActiveProtect merges data backup software functions with servers and their repositories into one hardware system to make enterprise-level protection simpler.

The system design of ActiveProtect provides plug-and-play deployment capabilities which enables quick backup initiation within 15 minutes.

“The management system gives IT teams the ability to monitor and control large backup resource collections effectively,” Chang said.

Moreover, he said that they have dedicated hackers in their team to test their products for any vulnerability and also collaborate with other security experts in the market to reward them if they find any vulnerability in their products and solutions.

Chang said the biggest markets for Synology are North America and Europe but has identified SAARC and also the Middle East and Africa as growth markets.

He said the NAS market outlook is bullish as data volumes are increasing.

In 2023, the total NAS market achieved a value of $34.62 billion, according to Fortune Business Insights, and forecast the market value to expand from $40.33 billion in 2024 to $129.52 billion by 2032 at a yearly growth rate of 15.7 per cent.

Deployment of AI by cybercriminals remains underdeveloped

Mohammed Fahad
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Deployment of AI by cybercriminals remains underdeveloped
  • One significant barrier to the widespread exploitation of AI in cybercrime is the efficacy of precautionary measures established by legitimate technology firms.

The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into the realm of cybercrime represents a dual-edged sword, one that has not yet been fully wielded by malicious actors.

According to Intel 471’s 2024 annual threat report, the cybercriminal underground is experiencing significant disruption due to law enforcement efforts. Notably, the decline of influential ransomware-as-a-service platforms like LockBit, alongside the emergence of RansomHub, underscores the precarious balance within this underground ecosystem.

Despite ongoing discussions surrounding AI’s potential, researchers observe that its deployment by cybercriminals remains underdeveloped on a large scale.

The report indicates that while some AI-based tools are being marketed, their effectiveness and operational longevity are questionable. Tools designed for data exfiltration, vulnerability analysis, and invoice fraud exemplifies this trend; however, they primarily serve to enhance existing tactics such as phishing rather than revolutionize them.

The analysts from Intel 471 highlight that most cybercriminals prefer to create bespoke AI solutions tailored to their specific operational needs. This custom approach raises questions about the establishment of a robust underground market for such tools.

Short lifespan

Although AI is a buzzword capable of driving both supply and demand in the criminal sector, the extent to which it has been harnessed effectively remains limited.

One significant barrier to the widespread exploitation of AI in cybercrime is the efficacy of precautionary measures established by legitimate technology firms.

These companies have implemented guardrails that restrict the malicious use of AI tools, resulting in a relatively short lifespan for harmful applications—typically ranging from weeks to months.

The competitive landscape is further complicated by the advent of lower-cost and open-source AI solutions, which renders the resale of malicious tools less financially viable than in previous years.

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