eNews
ManoramaOnline enhances user experience with Google’s strategic partnership
Mumbai: ManoramaOnline, a digital media, has significantly advanced its platform through “ManoramaOnline 2.5,” an ambitious project aimed at revolutionizing user experience on both web and e-reader platforms. This major upgrade made possible through a strategic partnership with Google, marks a significant step forward in the platform’s commitment to delivering high-quality content to the Malayalee community. Over the past quarter-century, ManoramaOnline has become a trusted source of news and information, consistently excelling in online content delivery.
The primary goal of “ManoramaOnline 2.5” was to create a modern, user-friendly interface that aligns with contemporary trends. The project addressed key issues such as UX/UI, content discoverability, and CMS architecture. The redesign features a sleek, intuitive interface that makes it easier for users to find relevant content quickly. Enhancements to the CMS architecture streamline the content publishing process, offering greater flexibility for editors and ensuring a more dynamic content presentation. Additionally, the project met the growing demand for enhanced e-paper services among subscribers.
The collaboration with Google has yielded impressive results. Since the roll-out of the redesigned platform, user feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. Post-redesign, there was a 55% increase in the average engagement time per session for direct traffic, indicating a significant improvement in user engagement and satisfaction with the redesigned platform. Additionally, there was a 6% increase in engaged sessions per user for both direct and organic search traffic referrals, indicating a notable enhancement in user interaction and interest with the revamped platform. Users now enjoy a more engaging and satisfying interaction with the platform, reflected in increased engagement times and higher satisfaction rates.
The success of this project was made possible through a strategic partnership with Google. Google’s expertise and resources provided invaluable insights and support throughout the project, helping ManoramaOnline leverage cutting-edge technologies and best practices to significantly enhance the platform’s performance and user experience.
The ‘ManoramaOnline 2.5’ project, initiated in partnership with Google, undoubtedly accelerated our efforts to improve reader experience and engagement across all our platforms,” said ManoramaOnline, chief executive officer Mariam Mammen Mathew.
“ManoramaOnline has been a pioneer of high standards in the news and information space. Partnering with the brand and the hugely committed team to improve their news delivery across digital channels has been an invaluable experience. Having credible news reach the language user is a core part of Google’s mission and we could not be happier with the results”, said Durga Raghunath, Head of News Partnerships, Google India.
With the successful launch and operation of the redesigned platform, ManoramaOnline continues to evolve, leveraging the use of the latest technology to meet the dynamic needs of its users.
eNews
PNB partners Kiwi to launch credit-enabled UPI for users
Targets 180 million customers; RuPay card offers 0.5 per cent to 1.5 per cent cashback
MUMBAI: Swipe, tap, or scan credit is quietly slipping into the rhythm of everyday payments, and Punjab National Bank wants in on the action. The state-run lender has partnered with Kiwi to roll out credit-enabled UPI payments for its 180 million customers, marking a significant push to blend traditional banking with India’s fast-evolving digital payments ecosystem.
At the centre of the collaboration is the launch of the PNB Kiwi Credit Card on the RuPay network. The card is designed with a digital-first approach, offering fully online onboarding and seamless integration with UPI, allowing users to transact via scan-and-pay while accessing credit.
The offering also brings in a rewards layer, with cashback ranging from 0.5 per cent to 1.5 per cent on online transactions, positioning the product as both a convenience play and a spending incentive.
The move comes as UPI continues to dominate India’s digital payments landscape, increasingly blurring the lines between debit-led transactions and credit access. For PNB, which operates over 10,000 branches around 60 per cent in semi-urban and rural areas, the partnership signals a targeted effort to extend formal credit to segments that have traditionally remained underserved.
The collaboration also reflects a broader industry shift, where banks and fintech platforms are converging to embed credit directly into payment flows, reducing friction while expanding access.
With RuPay credit cards gaining traction and UPI evolving beyond peer-to-peer transfers, the PNB–Kiwi tie-up positions both players at the intersection of scale, accessibility, and the next phase of digital finance in India.
