MAM
Dentsu partners Opower to deliver sophisticated client services
MUMBAI: Dentsu Inc has partnered with Opower Inc, a leader in cloud-based big data platforms for the utility industry. Dentsu will work together with Opower and Opower Japan to further enhance client services as Japan moves toward liberalization of the energy market starting from 2016.
With the liberalization of the retail electricity market starting from April 2016 and that of the retail gas market in 2017, households and small business owners will be able to freely select the power and gas companies they want to use. In countries outside of Japan, where energy market liberalization started much earlier, the increase in the number of businesses entering the market and the diversity of the tariff plans offered were such that the ability to develop marketing communications that closely met consumer needs became an important factor in creating a competitive edge for a utility.
Opower is a leading provider of engagement platforms, and provides services to approximately 100 electric power and gas companies all over the world where markets have already been liberalized. Based on the analysis of big data such as personal power usage data, the company provides personalized energy-saving advice to consumers, and, by improving the cost efficiency of utilities through this feedback, improves the relationship between businesses and customers while supporting the optimization of energy balance.
Dentsu, meanwhile, is already providing a wide variety of solutions such as marketing and promotion services, business development, consulting and IT solutions to a large number of energy-related clients in Japan through its energy sector solutions team DEMS, which was launched in February this year.
By leveraging their mutual strengths, Dentsu and Opower aim to deliver even more sophisticated client services and provide integrated marketing communications services to existing electricity, gas and other energy providers as well as to new market entrants. In addition, the two companies will continue to promote the horizontal development of knowhow for energy businesses outside of Japan while strengthening the localization of Opower’s solutions to meet the needs of consumers in Japan.
Overview of the services provided by the two companies:
(1) Customer acquisition, retention and increased loyalty through big data analysis and energy-saving insights
a. Proposal and implementation of plans that seamlessly and organically link integrated
communication strategies across mass media, PR channels, social media and one-to-one direct channels to subscribers
b. Marketing and outsourcing services in the direct communication business geared toward subscribers
(2) Creation of regional engagement models: The two companies will utilize the power usage data from Opower platform subscribers together with Dentsu’s consumer expertise and data on regional and societal trends to develop new demand-response schemes, regional loyalty point programs and advertising media campaigns for different geographic segments.
Brands
Uidai partners with Google to help users locate Aadhaar centres
Verified Aadhaar centres to appear on Maps with services and access info
MUMBAI: Finding an Aadhaar centre may soon be as easy as finding your favourite café. In a move aimed at making public services more accessible, the Unique Identification Authority of India has partnered with Google to display authorised Aadhaar centres on Google Maps. The feature, expected to roll out in the coming months, will allow residents to locate verified centres quickly and confidently.
More than 60,000 Aadhaar centres, including state of the art Aadhaar Seva Kendras, will be mapped. When users search on Google Maps, they will be directed to authorised facilities rather than unverified listings, helping curb misinformation and confusion.
The listings will do more than drop a pin. Users will be able to see the nature of services offered at each centre, whether it is adult enrolment, child enrolment, or limited to address and mobile number updates. Details such as operating hours, parking availability and divyang friendly infrastructure will also be shown wherever applicable.
Uidai CEO Bhuvnesh Kumar, said the collaboration is part of the authority’s continued effort to improve ease of living for Aadhaar holders by making authorised centres simpler and faster to navigate.
The partnership will deepen in its next phase, with Uidai using Google Business Profile to manage information and respond directly to public feedback. Looking ahead, the two organisations are also exploring the option of enabling appointment bookings through the Google Maps interface, potentially allowing residents to plan their visits with greater efficiency.
Google India country head, strategic partnerships Roli Agarwal, said integrating verified Aadhaar centres would help millions access trusted services with confidence, bringing essential government infrastructure closer to the people who need it most.
If all goes to plan, a routine Aadhaar update may soon begin not with a queue, but with a search bar.
