Zeta : An App For Convenient Payments

Times have changed and  so has the financial world. With everything available at your fingertip going cashless is a viable option. Talking of online payments, recently I was checking this app called Zeta – it is an app exclusively created to make digital payments easy, inclusive and valuable for corporations, employees, and merchants across India. This product revolves around one key idea i.e. spending and receiving money should be easy, fast, and hassle free.

This app is co-founded by Bhavin Turakhia (CEO) and Ramki Gaddipati (CTO) of Directi in April 2015, It currently has over 500 employees spread over 11 major cities in India including Mumbai, New Delhi, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Pune, Kolkata, Nashik, Baroda, Kochi and Ahmedabad.

                        

The factors that impressed me were these: 1) Optima 2) Spotlight and 3) Express.

Optima makes it practical for employees to take home Rs 80,000, or above, more every year in way of tax savings. For corporations, it offers the unique advantage of managing all grants digitally on one single portal, which is a step, heading at bringing down time, costs and resources involved in managing employee benefits. The Optime suite includes digitized solutions for meal vouchers, medical reimbursements, fuel and conveyance claims, LTA, communications reimbursements, tax-free gift vouchers, gadget purchase reimbursements and more.

Spotlight offers a customizable one-stop gifting solution that addresses all kinds of gifting requirements for corporations. The suite of solutions include 1) Instagift - the best option for one-time gifting, 2) Digi Gift - great for repeating gifting programmes and 3) Incentives - cash grants disbursed and managed digitally. All Spotlight grants enjoy wide acceptance in India and can be used via the app as well as physical cards.

Express is a smart phone-based meal ordering and payment solution that is revolutionizing the corporate cafeteria space. Zeta Express is complemented by the Zeta Express Kiosk, which is an automated cashier that eliminates the need of queuing up at cafeterias.

Apart from its varied range of offerings, Zeta also offers a unique payment suite comprising - the Zeta app, a Mastercard-powered physical card, Super Card and an NFC-enabled sticker, Super Tag, through which all Zeta grants can be used and accessed.

The Zeta Super Card is a Mastercard-powered physical card with robust anti-fraud security measures that allows users make payments across 11 lakh+ outlets as well as online stores. The Super Tag, is a one-tap payment solution that makes payments possible in seconds using near field communication (NFC). The Zeta app, which recently touched 100k downloads, is available for free downloads on Android, iOS and Windows devices.

Overall a good app, you may want to explore it due to its convenience and speed.

10 amazing facts you probably didn’t know about Sydney

Did you know that Sydney's Opera House, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, almost didn't come to be? Or that the locals refer to the Harbour Bridge as 'Coat hanger' thanks to its shape? How many metros offer you the chance to get up close and personal with nature? Sydney dishes out surprises at every corner making the marathon flight to the Land Down Under totally worth it. Here are 10 surprising facts about Sydney you probably didn’t know…

1) On top of the world- The Sydney Harbour Bridge is the largest and tallest steel arch-bridge in the World. No small feat considering it was built in the 1930's! Today the bridge carries eight traffic lanes, two rail tracks, a walkway and a bicycle path… As well as a set of stairs to the centre of the arc! At the summit, there's no sound save for the howling of the wind, and you are greeted by 360 degree views of one of the most beautiful cities in the world.

2) A walk to remember -Sydney is a city set in the wild. Locals have a deep reverence for nature, protecting and preserving the flora and fauna, which is why Sydney is known for her nature trails. There's something to suit every fitness level, and the views are always stunning. Take the coastal route and stroll from one beach to another. Or opt for an adventurous bush-walk. With routes clearly marked online, all you have to do is put on your sneakers and get going.

3) Sydney's festival of lights -It's not Diwali. It's Vivid. And it's about lights, music and ideas. Held annually in the May-June period, Vivid Sydney is when you get to see the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge bathed in lights; lights shaped like koalas lurking in trees inside parks; illuminated bulbs that you can step on when walking toward the beach… Just when you thought the city couldn't get prettier, Vivid makes Sydney sparkle!

4) Be a beach bum –Try your hand at surfing, diving, kayaking, stand-up paddle-boarding, or a jet-boat ride. You can even head to a Manly's Sea Life Sanctuary for shark diving. With over 100 beaches in and around the city, there is no aquatic adventure you can’t experience. Sydney's beaches also have a creative side. Time your visit with the annual art festival Sculpture by the Sea, and you'll be mesmerised by the Bondi-Tamarama stretch as it transforms into the World's biggest open-air sculpture gallery.

5) Eat that –The gastronomic scene changes seasonally, but going local always remains in vogue. The result - you can eat out and still stay healthy. Sign up for food tours which showcase Sydney's favourite eateries. Walk through the Rocks market with its many food stalls. Or treat yourself at a Michelin-starred restaurant. Fancy some kangaroo meat? Head to the Australian Heritage Hotel in the city-centre to try some.

6) Shop till you drop - Sydney's shopping scene ranges from bustling bazaars to extravagant malls. Paddy's market is where you go if you're looking for bargains. Or head to Westfield on Pitt Street Mall to find all the biggest names in the fashion world.

7) Game on - Tendulkar's been here, so have Dhoni, Kohli and other cricket legends. The Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) has seen more than its fair share of action. Sign up for a tour and you'll be taken behind-the-scenes and into the stadium. Look out for your favourite cricketer's initials etched into the dressing room’s wooden desks or cupboards. Until you meet him, this is as close as you can get.

8) Go the extra isle: Sydney's picture-perfect harbour comes with eight gem-like isles. The most famous is Cockatoo island, a 10-minute ferry-ride from the city. Try camping, or a glamping adventure. To spice things up, there are tours with treasure hunts. With maps and clues you will be walking through the island, alongside stretches of blue, and often stumbling onto hidden coves. A day spent like that is a real treasure.

9) Run for the hills - The Blue Mountains, an-hour-and half by road from Sydney, is filled with eucalyptus trees which exhale a fine bluish mist making the mountains appear coloured. They are also rich in aboriginal legends. There are several hiking paths in the mountains, along which you may come across age-old aboriginal carvings on the rocks. The natural beauty itself looks like art - a cloud of mist around you as you cross over little streams, spot shrubs peeking under rocks, while tall trees stand atop peaks. It seems too good to be true. But there it is, at the edge of Sydney.

10) The Opera show - The Opera House wasn't built by an Australian, but a Danish architect named Jorn Utzon whose design won the competition held in the ‘50s to pick the best form for the iconic structure. Today, a guided tour reveals the 14 year journey of the Opera House, from design to completion, and the tragic story of how Utzon never returned to Sydney to see his masterpiece complete. Ironically, today, no trip to Sydney is complete without visiting 'one of the 20th century's most distinctive buildings'.

ANJ by Anjoo Karanjia

Anjoo Karanjia is a multi-faceted woman who has been spearheading a number of successful businesses for over a decade now. The fashion enthusiast, who also heads travel and salon businesses, launched her fashion brand ANJ in September 2014.

ANJ is a luxury brand by Anjoo Karanjia that houses to labels: ANJ Kreations, a western pret label and ANJ Kouture, a luxury couture label. Luxurious yet minimalistic, the silhouettes and styles at ANJ are classy, exquisite and elegant. Anj Kreations was launched by Anjoo in 2014 followed by the launch of ANJ Kouture in 2015.

The idea behind launching ANJ was to give the customers a complete luxurious experience under one roof, where they can customize a beautiful piece for a wedding at ANJ Kouture, or choose from a wide range of ready-to-wear collection for their other occasions from ANJ Kreations. At ANJ, their biggest focus lies on the finest quality of fabrics, attention to detail at accessible price points.

ANJ Kouture draws its inspiration from a unique blend of modern and vintage architecture. Anjoo takes immense pride in her home city, Mumbai and its beautiful heritage structures which are a constant source of inspiration for her designs. Crafted with the finest of fabrics, the outfits are made-to-measure to ensure a one-of-a-kind experience for the clients.

For ANJ Kreations, Anjoo loves to imbibe the youthful energy that surrounds her, and further translate that onto her designs. The easy breezy printed boho chic silhouettes at Kreations are for the women who like stylish cuts with a statement. A major focus for this label is on the in-house prints created by Anjoo’s very own design team. 

Drawing inspiration from urbanism, ALAYA is ANJ Kreations’s newest pret and diffusion line. The silhouettes are flowy and structured along with mix and match separates. With its sublime prints, it incorporates elements like smoke, structured geometry and Diamante prints from the pandemonium of the concrete jungle. Floral over-sized prints and a pastel shaded palette are included to symbolise the environment. 

ANJ Kreations and ANJ Kouture collections are available at the flagship stores in Mumbai.

Adarza by ANJ Kouture

“I stand in front of the mirror reflecting on my past. I remember doubting myself, finding blemishes in my beauty and crying for acceptance. Today, I stand in front of the same mirror but now I see my inner beauty. I’ve found love. I’ve found a man who loves me, and has made me love myself. I’m marrying the man of my dreams tonight who mirrors the reflection of everything I ever wanted.”

Adarza is the latest bridal collection by ANJ Kouture. Inspired by the Sheesh Mahal at Amer Fort, Jaipur; the collection incorporates motifs and embroidery from the intricate architecture of the palace. Adarza which literally translates to “mirror” is used as a metaphor for the collection being a reflection of the bride’s emotions, personality and individuality. Curated keeping the traditional Indian bride in mind, the collection mirrors the modern, independent outlook of the woman today who is still deeply rooted in our cultural glory.

The color scheme of the collection takes you on a journey from pastels to deep shades. From ivory, gold, peach, blush pink, sun yellow to deep maroon and red; the collection includes heavy bridal lehengas, anarkalis and lighter range lehengas for other functions, and for family members and friends. The collection for grooms follows a similar color palate with a focus on classic fits. The color palate also makes the collection ideal for day ceremonies as well as evening receptions.

The outfits are embellished primarily with zardozi, dori and resham work. The noticeable feature that binds the collection together is the incorporation of mirror work in each outfit but in a uniquely different way. From crop tops to capes, traditional conservative necklines to modern cuts, the variety opens doors for the cultural diversity that our country boasts.

Anjoo Karanjia with her team designers (Mrin, Savitha and Aditi) express “As a woman, you look back and reflect at each stage of your life but the wedding ceremony holds a special place. Women today shy away from facing the mirror, either they doubt their physical appearance or run away from facing the truth. Adarza for me is an empowering movement for women to let their souls shine and have the freedom to express their inner beauty.”

STORE ADDRESSES:

Anj Kouture: Darvesh Royale, Shop no 4, Ground floor, Turner road, Bandra West, Mumbai 400050

Anj Kreations: Darvesh Royale, Shop no 7, Ground floor, Turner road, Bandra West, Mumbai 400050

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