Bandhan Bank Partners with Salesforce for Digital Transformation
Kolkata, March 21, 2025: Salesforce, the #1 AI CRM[1], today announced its partnership with Bandhan Bank, a pan-India universal bank, to revolutionize its loan origination systems (LOS) and deliver a seamless, digital-first experience for customers. With over 6,300 outlets across 35 states and union territories, Bandhan Bank has been at the forefront of financial inclusion and banking innovation. This strategic collaboration marks a significant milestone in the bank’s technology-driven transformation journey, aiming to provide accessible, efficient, and technology-driven financial solutions to customers across India.
Bandhan Bank has consolidated multiple loan origination systems (LOS) into best-in-class AI-driven platforms powered by Salesforce, creating an efficient and intelligent lending experience. Following its Core Banking System transition in October 2023, the bank has accelerated its digital transformation journey, enhancing product innovation and operational excellence to deliver faster, more efficient, and customer-centric financial services. With Salesforce’s Lightning Platform which is used for Housing Finance LOS and Sales Cloud for commercial loans, Bandhan Bank has streamlined the entire loan lifecycle- from customer onboarding and credit evaluation to approval, disbursal, and servicing.
With AI at the core of this transformation, the bank has enhanced loan quality, trade finance, payment processing, fraud detection, and risk management, ensuring greater accuracy and security. By leveraging automation and data-driven decision-making, it is also driving efficiency, agility, and governance excellence, building a more robust and future-ready financial ecosystem.
Arundhati Bhattacharya, President & CEO, Salesforce, South Asia, said, “Banking is undergoing a seismic shift—becoming more intelligent, automated, and deeply customer-centric. Bandhan Bank’s technology-driven transformation is a testament to the power of AI-driven technology in redefining speed, agility, and trust in financial services. This collaboration brings together Bandhan Bank’s bold vision to create a smarter, more connected, and data-driven lending ecosystem—one that enhances operational excellence while setting new benchmarks for customer experience in the industry.”
While commenting further on the rapid technology adoption in the banking sector, Arundhati added, “As AI reshapes the industry, banks must innovate responsibly—ensuring trust, security, and inclusion remain foundational. With Agentforce, we are entering a new era of digital banking, where AI agents collaborate with humans to drive intelligent automation, optimize decision-making, and deliver hyper-personalized financial experiences at scale. At Salesforce, we are committed to equipping financial institutions with next-generation digital infrastructure that accelerates growth, strengthens resilience, and fosters financial empowerment across India.”
Ratan Kumar Kesh, Executive Director & Chief Operating Officer, Bandhan Bank, said, “At Bandhan Bank, we are committed to leveraging technology to create a streamlined and efficient banking experience. Through our partnership with Salesforce, we are building a scalable, AI-powered digital platform that enhances speed, agility, and operational excellence. By consolidating multiple LOS into best-in-class systems, we are optimizing decision-making, accelerating loan approvals, and ensuring a seamless experience for our customers and employees.”
Salesforce Agentforce, a new layer on the Salesforce Platform, enables companies to build and deploy AI agents that can autonomously take action across any business function. As the financial services industry embraces AI-driven transformation, Agentforce represents the next evolution of digital banking—where AI agents work alongside humans to improve operational resilience, accelerate lending workflows, and deliver hyper-personalized financial experiences.
Honda Launches 2025 Activa: Scooter Bole Toh Activa
Mumbai, 24 January 2025: Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India (HMSI) today launched the new OBD2B-compliant version of the Activa, taking India’s most loved scooter to the next level of technology, convenience, and sustainability. The updated Activa now comes equipped with a host of advanced features, designed to cater to the evolving needs of customers.
Introducing the New Activa, Mr. Tsutsumu Otani, Managing Director, President & CEO, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India, said, “The Activa has always been at the forefront of redefining mobility for Indian customers. With its latest 2025 iteration, it continues to embody the perfect blend of innovation, convenience, and reliability that has made it India’s most loved scooter. The addition of the TFT display with Bluetooth connectivity and the OBD2B-compliant engine demonstrates our commitment to staying ahead of the curve in terms of technology and sustainability. We are confident that the new Activa will not only elevate the riding experience for our customers but also reinforce Honda’s leadership in the Indian scooter market.”
Commenting on this announcement, Mr. Yogesh Mathur, Director, Sales and Marketing, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India, said, “The Activa is more than just a scooter, it is a trusted companion for crores of families across India and proudly stays true to its tagline ‘Scooter bole toh Activa’. The new 2025 Activa raises the bar with its smart features like a 4.2-inch TFT display with Bluetooth connectivity & navigation, idling stop system, and USB Type-C charging port, all tailored to meet the evolving needs of customers. As India’s favourite scooter, the Activa has always been synonymous with convenience and reliability. With the introduction of the OBD2B model, we are delighted to take a step further towards a cleaner future.”
New Activa: New Colours and Advanced Features
The updated Activa gets several mechanical updates, designed to meet the upcoming regulations, and elevate the riding experience of customers. At its heart is a 109.51cc, single-cylinder PGM-Fi engine that is now OBD2B compliant. It develops 5.88 kW of power at 8,000 RPM and 9.05 Nm of peak torque at 5,500 RPM. It is also equipped with Idling stop system to enhance fuel efficiency.
In terms of features, the Activa sports a new 4.2-inch TFT display with Bluetooth connectivity. It is compatible with Honda RoadSync app, enabling functions like navigation and call/message alerts, allowing riders to stay connected even while on the move. The Activa is now also equipped with a USB Type-C charging port, ensuring convenience for riders to charge their devices on the go.
The Activa retains its iconic silhouette and now gets alloy wheels even for the DLX variant apart from the top-spec H-Smart one, further enhancing its visual appeal. It will be offered in three variants, STD, DLX and H-Smart, with six colour options on sale. They are – Pearl Precious White, Decent Blue Metallic, Pearl Igneous Black, Mat Axis Gray Metallic, Rebel Red Metallic, and Pearl Siren Blue.
Canon India Launches 7 New Large Format Printers
India, 23nd January 2025 – Canon India, a leader in digital imaging solutions, today announced the launch of the new imagePROGRAF TZ-5320 and TX Series (TX-5420/5320/5220), which offer a range of single function and multi-function1 large format printers to cater to diverse printing needs. The imagePROGRAF TZ-5320 outputs large volumes of drawings at high speed to meet high productivity needs in the construction, design, manufacturing and output industries. The TX series covers a wide range of printing needs, including drawings, posters and bulletin boards.
Speaking on the launch, Mr. Toshiaki Nomura, President & CEO, Canon India said, “With the printing industry in India witnessing rapid transformation driven by evolving customer needs, Canon remains steadfast in its mission to introduce pioneering solutions that meet the dynamic demands of the market and customers. Our latest imagePROGRAF TZ and TX series reflects this commitment, offering enhanced speed, precision, and versatility. These advanced printers are designed to empower professionals in graphic arts, architecture, and engineering by enabling large-volume, high-quality output with remarkable ease. We believe these innovations will further strengthen the creative ecosystem in India by unlocking new avenues for growth and expression.”
Thanks to enhanced productivity and improved poster quality with vivid colours, the new printers are ideal for the CAD industries, corporate and government sectors, and areas of the output industry like in-house production of corporate materials can be elevated.
Sharing his thoughts on the new lineup, Mr. C Sukumaran, Senior Director, Products & Communication, Canon India said, “The launch of the new imagePROGRAF TZ and TX series highlights Canon’s continuous efforts to combine advanced technology with environmental responsibility. Equipped with enhanced magenta ink and automatic ink sensing, these printers deliver improved colour vibrancy, sharpness, and reduced downtime—key to meeting the growing demands of professionals for precision and productivity. Additionally, features such as reduced energy consumption and eco-conscious packaging underscore our commitment to sustainability, ensuring that our products not only offer best-in-class performance but also contribute positively to the environment.”
Canon India Launches Official e-Shop
National, January, 2025: Canon India today announced the launch of its first official e-Shop in India, marking a significant milestone in the company’s digital transformation journey. Serving as the ultimate ‘One-Stop Destination for Canon consumer products,’ the platform ensures seamless accessibility for customers across more than 89,000 PIN codes in India. By partnering exclusively with Canon-authorized business partners, the e-Shop offers a wide range of high-quality products, including cameras, lenses, printers, and accessories, enabling consumers to explore and purchase authentic Canon products from Canon authorized business partners. This strategic initiative aligns with the growing preference among Indian consumers for digital shopping to meet their technology needs.
With features like secure payment options and easy order tracking, the Canon e-Shop offers unparalleled convenience, reliability and security. In addition to offering Canon’s complete range of consumer products on a single platform, the e-Shop will showcase all ongoing offers and schemes, enhancing value for users.
Sharing his thoughts on the launch, Mr. Toshiaki Nomura, President & CEO, Canon India said, “At Canon India, we are committed to understanding and adapting to our customers’ evolving needs, thereby ensuring Customer Delight throughout. The launch of our e-Shop is a testament to this commitment, as it offers a seamless and trusted shopping experience at the convenience of a touch. By bringing our extensive range of Canon products onto a single platform, we ensure our customers can effortlessly transition from exploring our brand to fulfilling their technology requirements. This milestone aligns with our vision to enhance accessibility, convenience, and trust, reaffirming Canon India as a customer-first brand.”
The Canon India e-Shop launch reinforces the company’s ongoing efforts to strengthen its digital footprint. With a phased expansion strategy to onboard additional partners and products, Canon aims to establish a holistic platform to meet the dynamic needs of its customers. While the initial rollout emphasizes a cohesive shopping experience, future enhancements will include innovative features such as an AI-powered chatbot for personalised customer support.