While Instagram’s Threads logged a steep decline in active users after it registered 100 million sign-ups in a week, Twitter has recorded an increase in monthly users. Company owner Elon Musk said that monthly users of the social media platform, which is now called X, reached a “new high.” Musk shared a graph that showed the latest count as over 541 million. “X monthly users reach a new high in 2023,” he tweeted, adding that these numbers are after removal of a vast number of bots. Social media companies usually report their ‘active’ monthly users but Musk’s data was missing the (important?) word.Twitter reported that it had 229 million monthly active users in May 2022 and in November last year, Musk claimed that X had 259.4 million daily active users.Threads under ‘threat’?The development comes at a time when its direct competitor Threads is looking to find ways to retain its users. A report claimed that Threads registered a decline and daily active users dropped from 49 million to 23.6 million in about two weeks after it was launched.Earlier this week, a separate report claimed that Threads was working on “retention-driving hooks”, which are necessarily new features that may help the platform retain users. According to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, the drop-off in active users count was “normal” and he expects retention to grow as the company adds more features to the app. “Obviously, if you have more than 100 million people sign up, ideally it would be awesome if all of them or even half of them stuck around. We’re not there yet,” he said. ‘X’ comes to iPhonesThe monthly users count came as Twitter is undergoing a rebranding on smartphones. Twitter became X on the web, then the change came to Android and now iPhones users are seeing the blue bird logo changing to ‘X’. However, the name of the app on the App Store remains ‘Twitter’.It is pointed out that Apple makes it mandatory for apps to have at least two letters in their names, therefore, the name of the app is not changed on the App Store..

Elon Musk-owned micro-blogging platform Twitter (which was recently rebranded to X) has officially rolled out the ads revenue sharing feature. This feature will allow users to share revenue from verified users’ impressions of ads displayed in replies to the content they post on X. The company claims that this feature will help people “earn a living directly on X.” With this feature, creators on the social media platform will be able to set up ads revenue sharing and creator subscriptions independently. This feature will be available globally (including India) and eligible creators will be able to apply for the payout. Eligibility criteriaTo be eligible for ads revenue sharing creators need to be subscribed to Twitter Blue or be a part of Verified Organizations. Also, eligible creators need to have at least 15 million impressions on their cumulative posts within the last 3 months. Apart from this, the creator also needs to have at least 500 followers. Eligible users who want to claim the payment need to have a Stripe account. Twitter uses the Stripe platform to process its payments. Moreover, eligible users also need to comply with the company’s ads revenue share terms. These terms include creator monetisation standards and the X rules. Users will be able to apply for both creator subscriptions and ad revenue sharing by accessing the monetisation option in settings. However, if users are found to breach the ads revenue share terms they will be excluded from the program. How to claim paymentFirst, enter the Monetisation section of the app. This option will be available in the side menu of the iOS or Android app while on the overflow menu on the web version. After clicking the “Join and setup payouts” users will be redirected to Twitter’s payment processor, Stripe. Here users have to set up an account to receive their share. Users have to access their Stripe accounts to transfer funds to their external bank account. Users will receive payouts at regular intervals after opting in. Payments can be initiated once users have generated more than $50. The company has also mentioned that eligible creators who have set up their payout details will be able to receive a payment the week of July 31 if they meet the criteria and their payout amount exceeds the minimum threshold of $50.

Two US lawmakers who head a committee focused on China urged the Biden administration to tighten export restrictions on artificial intelligence chips in the wake of industry lobbying to leave the rules unchanged. Representative Mike Gallagher, a Republican and chair of the House of Representatives select committee on China, and Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi, a Democrat and ranking member of the committee, in a letter to Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo called to “further strengthen” a sweeping set of export control rules implemented last October that cut off China’s access to top AI chips made by US firms such as Nvidia, Advanced Micro Devices and Intel. The letter urges US officials to take an even stricter approach than one Reuters reported last month that they are considering.The October 2022 rules impose two performance caps on exporting AI chips to China – one on how fast the chips can talk to one another, and the second on the chips’ processing speeds.After the rules took effect, Nvidia created special chips for China with lower interconnect speeds. Intel this month also said it has created an AI chip that can be sold in China.But Nvidia’s chips still have high enough processing speeds to be useful in creating AI systems, and Reuters reported in May that the US export controls have done little to slow the progress of China’s AI sector.Last month, Reuters reported that US officials were considering tightening the rules by focusing on processing speeds alone, which could affect Nvidia’s chips. Nvidia at the time said that restricting sales of its AI chips to China “would result in a permanent loss of opportunities for the U.S. industry.”The potential tightening of the rules set off a flurry of lobbying activity, with the chief executives of Nvidia, Intel and Qualcomm traveling to Washington last week to meet with administration officials to discuss China policy. The same day as the visit, the Semiconductor Industry Association, a US-based industry group, urged the Biden administration to allow the “the industry to have continued access to the China market, the world’s largest commercial market for commodity semiconductors.” Gallagher and Krishnamoorthi urged an even tighter approach than the one Reuters previously reported officials are considering. The lawmakers’ letter recommended keeping a speed limit on how fast chips can talk to one another and said it “should be lowered sufficiently to prevent clever engineering that bypasses the regulations.”The lawmakers also urged administration officials to “closely consider” how to cut off Chinese firms’ access to advanced computing chips in the cloud, where major US firms such as Amazon.com, Microsoft and Alphabet’s Google offer the chips for rent as part of their cloud computing services.“We urge you to even further strengthen the October 7, 2022, rules so that advanced US technology and expertise related to advanced computing and semiconductors are not used against the United States,” Gallagher and Krishnamoorthi wrote.

Google, Microsoft and Facebook parent Metaannounced their quarterly results recently. And all of them are back in black, with the worst seem to be behind them. The shares of these companies too have bounced back. It’s no different for many other technology companies. Technology companies in the US are apparently talking less about recession this earnings season, signaling that they are increasingly optimistic about a soft economic landing.The recession chatter has been replaced by that of artificial intelligence. According to a Bloomberg analysis, with nearly half of the Nasdaq 100 firms having reported, executives are less frequently using words like headwinds, inflation, and recession in calls with analysts and investors. This is seen as a sharp reversal from last year, when such concerns drove steep equity declines.AI takes winds off “recession” Executives are said to be scrambling to elaborate on how they plan to monetize new AI products and services — be it up-selling software or manufacturing hardware to power servers and cloud infrastructures. “Collectively, this is a positive signal with respect to business prospects and profitability, a reference to how the economy remains reasonably resilient,” Mark Luschini, chief investment strategist at Janney Montgomery Scott, told Bloomberg.According to the report, references to recession and related terms like economic slowdown are down more than 70% this quarter in earnings calls compared to a year ago. The usage is poised to decline further, as per the data compiled by Bloomberg based on the companies that have reported this season. No more “headwinds” tooIncidentally, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell too said earlier this week that the US central bank’s staff economists are no longer forecasting a recession.Also, with inflation cooling in the US, companies have started using the term fewer times on calls. Even references to the word “headwinds”, which reportedly saw 70 mentions in the fourth quarter, slipped to 31. The US Fed since early last year has engaged in one of the most aggressive tightening campaigns since the 1980s in an effort to curb inflation. The inflation in the US touched a 40-year high in the year 2022. June’s consumer-price report showed an inflation rate reducing.

Apple supplier Foxconn‘s top executive has praised the chip ecosystem of India. According to a report by PTI, the Taiwan-based company’s chairman, Young Liu said that the ecosystem for semiconductor chips in India is for the “very brave”. During the second edition of SemiconIndia, Liu expressed optimism about the country’s semiconductor roadmap. “The ecosystem for chips in India is for the very brave. Every experience only positions companies stronger going forward,”Liu said while addressing the event. He also noted that Taiwan will be the “most trusted and reliable partner” for India. “Prime Minister Narendra Modi once mentioned to me that IT stands for India and Taiwan. Honourable Prime Minister, Taiwan is and will be, your most trusted and reliable partner. Let’s do this together!” he added.Apart from this, Liu also discussed Taiwan’s “buffalo spirit” and how India can apply the same method to develop its semiconductor ecosystem. “India has said its government has a high say-do ratio. This kind of trust is important because India’s semiconductor development is just starting,” he noted. Liu also mentioned that a workforce with varying expertise is also needed to work and ease the challenges together.Foxconn-Vedanta chip-making venture ‘failed’, still there’s hopeFoxconn backed out from a $19.5 billion semiconductor joint venture with home-grown Vedanta earlier this month. The venture failed as it struggled to rope in a technology partner.In February 2022, a joint venture between these two companies was signed to manufacture chips that are used in several products starting from mobile phones to cars. Later on, the JV also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Gujarat government. The company promised to invest Rs 1,54,000 crore to set up a semiconductor plant in the state. This venture could’ve given India its first semiconductor manufacturing facility. In June, US-based memory maker Micron Technology also announced that it will become India’s first semiconductor assembly. However, there is some hope left as Foxconn is still in the game. Post the failure of the venture, the company confirmed that it has been keeping a lookout for apt partners.In a statement, the company said: “Foxconn is working toward submitting an application related to Modified Programme for Semiconductors and Display Fab Ecosystem. We have been actively reviewing the landscape for optimal partners.”

Apollo APL charts an ambitious course towards accelerated growth with a 2.86 lakh tons capacity expansion plan. The company eyes new greenfield plants in key regions, backed by a hefty INR 500 crore capex funded through equity infusion and internal cash flows. Their aggressive pricing strategy aims to gain market share while maintaining a debt-free stance.

Instagram co-founders Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger, earlier this year, launched their new venture Artifact — a news app that delivers a personalised feed powered by artificial intelligence (AI). The app is now adding an AI-powered text-to-speech feature that will read you news articles in celebrities’ voices. According to a report by The Verge, the company is offering this feature as part of a partnership with Speechify – which is a mobile and desktop app that reads text aloud using a computer-generated text-to-speech voice. Artifact will read aloud news in the voice of Snoop Dogg and Gwyneth Paltrow, who are among the voices that can read you the news. According to Robby Stein, Artifact’s head of product, there are more than 30 English voices available. How to enable text-to-speech playerUsers of the app will be able to turn on the text-to-speech player by tapping on a “play” icon at the bottom bar while reading an article. The player will then let them choose things like reading speed (up to 4.5x!) and which voice to hear. The report said that the audio will keep playing in the background as the user explores other parts of Artifact or if they leave the app. The text-to-speech feature is initially rolling out to Apple iOS and will come to Android in the next few days. How Artifact delivers newsArtifact brings news from a curated list of publishers, including The New York Times as well as small-scale blogs about niche topics. The app will feature a feed of popular articles just like the way videos are presented on Reels and TikTok. Once a user taps on an article that interests them, Artifact will prioritise similar posts and stories.Since its launch, the app has got several features powered by artificial intelligence. These include the ability to summarise articles, explain it, and rewrite clickbaity headlines with the help of OpenAI’s GPT-4 large language model.

Samsung and Microsoft have formed a strategic partnership to improve phone security for business customers. This new solution, known as “device attestation,” is designed to verify a device’s identity and health, thus ensuring that it has not been compromised. According to Samsung, the device attestation is only available on certain Galaxy smartphones and tablets, specifically those that have “Security by Knox” and run on Android 10 or a later version. It is important to note that the devices must have been running Android 9 or a later version at the time of their release to be eligible for this solution.What it means for users Samsung Galaxy devices will offer attestation with added protection from Microsoft Intune to increase security and flexibility. This solution is designed for enterprises and provides an additional layer of protection against compromised devices falsely claiming to be secure and gaining access to sensitive corporate data.“Samsung is committed to meaningful innovations that are as secure as they are versatile and optimised. As work habits evolve and people are working from virtually anywhere on any device, we are paving the way for the future of enterprise device security and democratising the means for businesses to better protect their information,” said KC Choi, EVP and Head of Global Mobile B2B Team, MX Business at Samsung Electronics.How does “on-device attestation” works on Samsung Galaxy smartphonesAs an enterprise IT manager, you can use Intune to ensure the security of your mobile devices without compromising the user experience. By integrating Samsung devices with this technology, even highly regulated organisations can allow employees to use their own devices for work. This increases productivity, improves user experience, and simplifies administration.This partnership between Samsung and Microsoft works on both managed and unmanaged devices regardless of ownership. Traditional device attestation requires network connectivity and enrollment into the corporate system, making it mainly applicable to managed devices. However, with mobile hardware-backed attestation, enterprises can verify the device’s integrity and provide access to the corporate system, even if it is unmanaged. This streamlined process also allows employees to safely access the corporate system on their personal devices without additional security measures.

Capgemini has announced the launch of its generative AI portfolio of services for its clients. The new portfolio is designed to scale businesses with the help of generative AI. What the generative AI portfolio includes:– The “Generative AI strategy” empowers CXOs to identify and prioritise the most pertinent generative AI use cases for their businesses. It allows them to showcase the tangible value that can be attained and establish the necessary groundwork in terms of people, processes, and technology to expand their generative AI investments while effectively managing potential risks. – The implementation of Generative AI for Customer Experience revolutionises customer interactions through the deployment of four specialized generative AI assistants. It enables hyper-personalized customer experiences using a synthetic design assistant, improves customer self-service with personalized chatbots, enhances customer care services with a content and knowledge assistant, and optimizes sales teams’ performance with a product & offers knowledge assistant.– The implementation of Generative AI in Software Engineering enhances efficiency and quality throughout the entire software life cycle, encompassing design, coding, documentation, testing, deployment, and operations. It expedites the time to market for new software and aids enterprises in reducing technical debt by facilitating extensive modernization efforts for legacy software. Additionally, it contributes to heightened security by automatically identifying bugs or vulnerabilities and suggesting appropriate adjustments to software development teams, thereby reducing the attack surface.– The utilisation of Custom Generative AI for Enterprises empowers businesses dealing with sensitive data to deploy customized generative AI assistants specifically tailored to leverage their proprietary information, maximizing the impact on business value. The Group has developed a platform that combines the capabilities of pre-trained open large foundation models (LFMs) with enterprise proprietary data, allowing the fine-tuning of LFMs to suit the individual requirements of each client. By building customized models that draw from the company’s expertise, these AI solutions can generate unique and reliable outputs, facilitating progress on various fronts, such as enhancing customer experience, accelerating R&D efforts, and boosting performance in support and business functions.

Increasing revenue and attaining sustainable growth are two goals that many businesses pursue in today’s fast-paced and intensely competitive business environment. And guess what? The secret sauce to making it happen lies in none other than effective sales strategies. These game-changing tactics serve as the lifeblood of a thriving business, propelling it forward and solidifying its position in the market. So, get ready as we dive into this article to explore a myriad of powerful sales techniques and approaches that have a proven track record of accelerating revenue growth and enhancing the overall bottom line. 1. Targeted Lead Generation Efficient lead generation is the backbone of any successful sales strategy. Rather than spreading efforts thinly across a broad audience, a targeted approach is essential. This involves utilizing data analytics and customer profiling to identify and focus on the prospects most likely to be interested in the products or services offered. By understanding the specific needs and preferences of these potential customers, businesses can tailor their marketing efforts to resonate deeply with the target audience, yielding higher conversion rates and more substantial sales opportunities. 2. Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Software Investing in a robust CRM system is a game-changer for sales organizations seeking to streamline their processes and optimize their performance. A high-quality CRM platform enables sales teams to manage their pipeline efficiently, track leads, automate sales processes, and nurture customer relationships. The system acts as a centralized hub of customer data, empowering sales representatives to deliver personalized and timely interactions with clients. By keeping customer information organized and accessible, sales professionals can focus on building strong connections and closing deals, leading to increased customer satisfaction and improved customer retention rates. 3. Consultative Selling Today’s customers seek more than just a sales pitch; they desire authentic interactions with businesses that genuinely understand their needs and offer tailored solutions. Adopting a consultative selling approach is the secret to becoming a trusted advisor to potential clients. Through active listening and thorough understanding of the prospects’ pain points, goals, and objectives, sales representatives can provide personalized recommendations that align precisely with the customers’ requirements. This level of attentive service fosters a strong sense of trust and loyalty, resulting in long-term customer relationships and increased referral opportunities. 4. Upselling and Cross-Selling While acquiring new customers is undoubtedly important, businesses must not overlook the immense revenue potential lying within their existing customer base. Implementing upselling and cross-selling strategies is a proactive way to tap into this opportunity. By suggesting complementary products or service upgrades to existing customers, businesses can boost the overall value of their purchases. Successful upselling and cross-selling not only drive immediate revenue growth but also contribute to enhanced customer satisfaction, as clients feel well-cared for and understood by the business. 5. Sales and Product Training In the dynamic world of sales, staying ahead of the game is contingent upon continuous learning and development. Investing in comprehensive sales and product training for the sales team equips them with the knowledge and skills necessary to excel in their roles. A well-trained sales force can confidently handle objections, provide accurate information, and deliver compelling sales pitches that resonate with potential buyers. Moreover, ongoing training ensures that the sales team stays up-to-date with the latest product developments, industry trends, and effective selling techniques, enabling them to adapt and excel in various sales scenarios. 6. Sales Incentives and Rewards Human motivation is a powerful driving force in achieving outstanding results. A sales team that feels valued and recognized for their efforts will go the extra mile to exceed targets. To fuel this motivation, businesses can implement performance-based incentives and rewards. Recognition programs, bonuses, and commission structures can serve as potent tools to inspire the sales team to reach higher targets, increase productivity, and ultimately drive revenue growth. The sense of accomplishment and camaraderie resulting from these initiatives create a positive work environment that fosters a culture of success. 7. Strategic Pricing and Discounts Finding the optimal balance between attracting customers and maintaining healthy profit margins is a challenge faced by all businesses. Strategic pricing is a delicate art that involves understanding the customers’ perceived value of the product or service. By employing data-driven insights and market analysis, businesses can determine the most compelling pricing strategy to encourage purchase decisions. Additionally, offering limited-time discounts and promotions can create a sense of urgency, driving customers to make a decision while still ensuring sustainable profitability in the long run. 8. Customer Retention Strategies While customer acquisition is undeniably crucial, customer retention is equally vital for sustainable revenue growth. Cultivating loyal, repeat customers requires dedicated efforts and a focus on creating exceptional experiences. Businesses can implement various customer retention strategies, such as loyalty programs, personalized offers, and unmatched customer service. By showing customers that their loyalty is valued, businesses can establish a strong bond and encourage repeat business, leading to increased customer lifetime value and reduced churn. 9. Strategic Partnerships and Alliances In the pursuit of accelerated revenue growth, businesses should explore strategic partnerships and alliances with like-minded and complementary entities. Collaborating with other organizations can expand market reach, enhance product offerings, and create new growth opportunities. By tapping into each other’s strengths, businesses can mutually benefit from shared expertise, resources, and customer bases. Such synergistic partnerships have the potential to unlock new markets and revenue streams that may have been challenging to access independently. 10. Sales Forecasting and Performance Analytics Data-driven insights are the compass that guides businesses on their journey to revenue growth. Sales forecasting and performance analytics provide invaluable information about sales trends, customer behavior, and the effectiveness of sales strategies. Armed with this knowledge, businesses can refine their approaches, identify areas for improvement, and make informed decisions to drive revenue growth. Analyzing performance metrics also enables businesses to set realistic sales targets and allocate resources more effectively. Conclusion In the quest to achieve remarkable revenue growth and ensure long-term business success, implementing a well-rounded and dynamic sales strategy is paramount. By combining targeted lead generation, leveraging CRM