Informatics Publishing Limited

G. Venkatesh ¹, George Easaw ²

Affiliations
1 Presidency College, IN
2 Alliance University, IN

Abstract

The taxi aggregator services (also called as ride sourcing services) have become popular in the last few years in India. The companies managing these services call themselves as technology companies. This excludes them from the purview of transport regulations that a typical transport operator has to adhere to. One of the major reasons for the success of Ola and Uber, the two ride sourcing services in India, is their ability to digitally match supply and demand by successful deployment of technology. Technology has enabled the right information to be available to the right persons at the right time. The business model of taxi aggregators has intelligently woven solutions to address the gaps in the present call taxi system - namely driver behavior, lack of focus on performance, uncertainty of demand, difficulty in matching capacity with demand, increase in prices etc. With technology comprising of software algorithms enabling accurate matching of demand and supply, the wait time is reduced for the customer and for the drivers, the idle time is reduced. The other benefit for the consumer is that travel using ride sourcing services is at an affordable cost due to the volume of the operations. This has created a win-win-win situation for all - the taxi aggregator gets his commission, the driver gets assurance of demand and the consumer has to wait less and pay reasonable charges for availing the taxi services. The pricing structure is also very dynamic. This paper attempts to study the technique by which performance of these aggregator services can be measured. The paper has identified the criteria and measures of performance that can help ta xi aggregator services to improve customer satisfaction and quality of service. The paper has also suggested possible ways in which these services can use an innovation strategy to drive the business agenda.

Keywords

Innovation, Technology, Ola, Ride Sourcing, Services, Service Supply Chain, Spokes Model, Taxi Aggregator, Transportation Network Companies, Uber.

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Uttam Kumar Mandal ¹, K. L. Sharma ², K. Venkanna ², Pushpanjali ², Ravikant V. Adake ², Rahul N. Masane ², J. V. N. S. Prasad ², G. Venkatesh ², Srinivasa Rao ²

Affiliations
1 ICAR-Central Soil Salinity Research Institute, Regional Research Station, Canning Town, South 24-Parganas 743 329, IN
2 ICAR-Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture, Hyderabad 500 059, IN

Abstract

Subsistence agriculture practice and a combination of harsh climate and fragile soils along with increasing demographic pressure are matters of great concern from the viewpoint of resource management and longterm sustainability in the semi-arid tropical Alfisol soils of India. In this study, soil quality index (SQI) has been computed on 190 sites of farmers' fields in southern India to evaluate the possible effect of land management practices on soil degradation and determine the critical levels of soil organic C stock to maintain a desirable SQI and also suggest appropriate management practices. In all, 26 predominant physical, chemical and biological properties of soils were studied and based on principal component analysis, moisture retention at field capacity, available soil N, available P, DTPA-extractable Zn, exchangeable sodium percentage, C-mineralization and bulk density were identified as the key indicators of the study region. SQI was also computed using four soil functions, viz. nutrient cycling, availability of water, resistance of soil to degradation, and salinity and sodicity. Soil resilience index was computed using data on substrateinduced respiration after exposing the soil to heat stress. SQI was highest under paddy followed by permanent fallow, maize, cotton, intercropping, redgram, and was lowest under castor system. Based on the results, it was observed that the soils which had higher SQI were also productive and they exhibited higher resilience capacity. An amount of 8.6 Mg ha^-1 soil organic C stock per 15 cm depth was found essential to maintain soil quality and 2.2 Mg ha^-1 of organic matter was needed every year to maintain this stock. On-farm participatory research trial was conducted using SQI as a tool for sustainable land-management practices.

Keywords

Cropping Systems, Organic Carbon Stock, Soil Quality and Resilience, Sustainable Land Management.

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G. Venkatesh ¹, P. Sivaiah ¹, D. Chakradhar ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Mechanical Enigneering,National Institute of Technology Karnataka, Surathkal - 575025, IN

Abstract

This paper investigates the multi response optimization of machining parameters in hot turning of Inconel 718 based on Taguchi based grey relational analysis technique. Cutting parameters such as cutting speed, feed rate, depth of cut and temperature of workpiece were taken as process parameters where as surface roughness, tool wear and material removal rate (MRR) were considered as performance characteristics for the present study. From the Taguchi based grey relational, an optimum level of cutting parameters has been identified. Furthermore, analysis of variance (ANOVA) has been carried out and identified that feed rate is the dominant process parameter on multiple performance characteristics.

Keywords

Hot Turning, Surface Roughness, Tool Wear, Grey Relation Analysis.

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Karayil Srikanth Rajan ¹, S. John Alexis ², G. Venkatesh ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Mechatronics Engineering, Sri Krishna College of Engineering and Technology, Sugunapuram, Kuniamuthur Post, Coimbatore-641 008, IN
2 Department of Mechanical Engineering, Sri Krishna College of Engineering and Technology, Sugunapuram, Kuniamuthur Post, Coimbatore-641 008,, IN

Abstract

Rapid prototyping techniques are time compression tools finding very wide applications in visualization, functionality and testing of part prototypes. The time and the cost spent for building actual prototypes demands for high tooling cost and longer product development time. The past two decades have witnessed a substantial growth of newer techniques, which would reduce the above-mentioned factors.

In this paper an attempt has been made to enhance the process capabilities of one of the RP techniques, the Laminated Object Manufacturing [LOM] by replacing the standard constant power, profile cutting laser with that of a more powerful profile cutting/welding laser with varying power output. The dual advantage of using a variable power laser is that it can be used for both profile cutting and bonding of layers, which in turn provides the option of producing both metal and non-metal prototypes. The use of a variable power output laser would provide strong and reliable bonding between layers as compared to the weak bonding provided by the use of heat sensitive adhesive roller in conventional LOM machines. Only a very few metal RP techniques are available for Indian manufacturers which are very costly. A detailed description of the dual application laser technique and its working are dealt in this paper.

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G. Venkatesh ¹

Affiliations
1 Associate Professor (Marketing), Presidency Business School, Hebbal-Kempapura, Bangalore - 560024, Karnataka, IN

Abstract

The insurance sector has been less agile to adapt to rapid changes sweeping the external economic environment. However, massive advances in technology have now necessitated the insurance sector to relook at their business processes, archaic legacy systems and IT infrastructure to explore ways and means to serve the customers better. Block chain innovations in insurance are disruptive. Advent of block chain can mean simpler processes, lower premiums, greater transparency, increased accountability, increased efficiency and possibility of niche coverages. Block chain also enables smaller firms to cover risks that were earlier covered only by large insurance firms. However, there are limitations to implementing this technology due to the heavy investments involved in implementing block chain and due to change management challenges. There is scope for strategic alliances between insurance sector and insur-tech entrepreneurs to derive the maximum value out of block chain technology.

Keywords

Block Chain, Digital Ledger, Insurance, Innovations, Micro Insurance, Smart Contract

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