
HCLTech to enhance operations for US energy supply firm Just Energy
on Thursday announced a partnership with US-based energy supply company
Just Energy
to enhance its operations and customer experience.
The third-largest IT services player will provide
digital process outsourcing
solutions alongside its generative
AI platform
to boost efficiency across the company's IT, finance, analytics, customer care, sales and renewals functions, it said in a statement.
This is the second energy sector deal announced by HCLTech in a week. On Monday, the Noida-headquartered software exporter said it is
collaborating with European energy multinational E.ON
on cloud and network management.
Also Read:
HCLTech partners with Spanish health insurer ASISA to drive digital transformation across Iberia
'By combining our expertise in GenAI and digital process outsourcing, HCLTech will contribute significantly to Just Energy's innovation strategy and customer satisfaction," said Ajay Bahl, chief growth officer, Americas, manufacturing and allied industries, HCLTech.
Live Events
HCLTech seeks to improve workforce collaboration and business process management at Just Energy through a role-specific single-user interface platform and its business process optimisation offerings, the statement said.
Discover the stories of your interest
Blockchain
5 Stories
Cyber-safety
7 Stories
Fintech
9 Stories
E-comm
9 Stories
ML
8 Stories
Edtech
6 Stories
"We are confident that HCLTech's proven expertise and commitment to service excellence will help us achieve our key business objectives relating to operational efficiency and service improvements," said Scott Fordham, chief operating officer at Just Energy.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The Hindu
15 minutes ago
- The Hindu
How Wai Wai noodles went from Nepal's kitchens to global shelves
As Wai Wai launched its new range of instant cup noodles last month, founder Binod Chaudhary took a moment to reflect on how it all began. The Nepal-based brand first hit the shelves in 1984, entering the market quietly, but it did not stay quiet for long. In no time, Wai Wai shook up the instant noodle scene. The brand made its Indian debut in the Northeast, gradually winding its way across the country. So, what prompted Binod to take that first bold leap? He recalls a moment of serendipity: 'That was 35 years ago. Travellers returning from Thailand with bags of instant noodles sparked my curiosity as a bystander,' he says. 'The businessman in me spotted a gap. Even though Maggi ruled the market, I believed Nepal deserved its own brand.' His decision was not met with universal support. 'Many advised me not to bother,' he admits. 'But facing those doubts only pushed me harder. I wanted to create something that would become a staple snack, and I'm proud we did.' Wai Wai now positions itself as the third-largest instant noodle brand in India. It reported revenues of ₹800 crore and is aiming for ₹1,200 crore by 2026. What began as a single product has grown into a portfolio of 200 to 250 SKUs, with a footprint in over 30 countries. Part of what made Wai Wai stand out from the very beginning was its packaging, and how people could eat it. Each pack came with a tastemaker, flavoured oil, and a spiced powder, offering more than just convenience. It offered choice. 'It was the versatility that set Wai Wai apart,' says Binod. 'From day one, you could eat it straight from the packet as chur-mur (a type of snack where the ingredients are crushed and peppered with potatoes and spices), boil it into a hot noodle soup, or mix it into snacks like Wai Wai bhel or alu mimi, a comforting, runny potato curry with crushed noodles that's popular in Darjeeling.' The inspiration came from Thailand, where he had observed people eating noodles in all kinds of creative ways. 'We took that idea and adapted it for Nepal. Especially the chur-mur style, in flavours like Schezwan and tomato — it really clicked with the younger crowd. Over time, it became a snack loved across generations.' Wai Wai's journey began in a modest factory in Saibu, Bhainsepati, in Nepal's Lalitpur district. By 2006, the brand had made its first international leap, setting up a factory in Rangpo, Sikkim. Today, Wai Wai has product lines like Wai Wai Xpress and Wai Wai Quick, catering to a global audience. But the idea was not just about noodles, it was about bold diversification. Binod Chaudhary, then running his family's textile business, Arun Emporium, saw an opportunity in food. 'I believed Nepalese consumers would welcome a different taste and more flexibility,' Binod says. 'We introduced flavours like spicy chicken and veg masala, now pantry staples across Nepal and India. Our initial success at home gave us the confidence to grow into India, where we tailored products for local preferences with flavours like jain masala and tomato chatpata.' To get the flavours just right, the early team travelled to Thailand, studying how noodles were made and consumed. 'We kept the name 'Wai Wai' from the Thai brand — it was catchy and worked well in our markets,' Binod adds. 'Flavours like classic masala and chicken were refined through trials and feedback. Our first taste-testers were our own families and young people in Kathmandu. That local connection mattered.'
&w=3840&q=100)

Business Standard
15 minutes ago
- Business Standard
Dhanuka Agritech slips 19% in 2 days post Q1; Axis Sec downgrades to 'Hold'
Dhanuka Agritech share price today: Shares of Gurugram-based agrochemical manufacturer Dhanuka Agritech fell around 6 per cent to hit an intraday low of ₹1,547.6 after it reported a weak set of numbers for the June 2025 quarter (Q1FY26). At 12 PM, Dhanuka's share price was trading 4 per cent lower at ₹1,578.7 per share on the NSE. In comparison, NSE Nifty50 was up 0.44 per cent at 24,672.15 levels. The market capitalisation of the company stood at ₹7,122.22 crore. The stock has plunged nearly 19 per cent in the last two trading sessions. Dhanuka Agritech share price Dhanuka Agritech's profit after tax (PAT) jumped 13.52 per cent year-on-year (Y-o-Y) to ₹55.5 crore in Q1FY26, as against ₹48.89 crore in the same quarter last year (Q1FY25). The revenue from operations grew 7.03 per cent Y-o-Y to ₹528.29 crore in Q1FY26, from ₹493.58 crore a year ago. At the operating level, earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (Ebitda) rose 16 per cent Y-o-Y to ₹83.19 crore, from ₹71.72 crore in the same quarter of the previous fiscal year. Subsequently, Ebitda margin expanded to 15.75 per cent in Q1FY26, from 14.53 per cent a year ago. Dhanuka Agritech FY26 guidance The company said, in its investor presentation, that it is expecting higher double-digit growth in its revenue for FY26, while Ebitda guidance remains in line with 2024-25. Dhanuka Agritech Q1 results analysis - Axis Securities According to analysts at Axis Securities, Dhanuka commenced FY26 on a cautious note, posting a 7 per cent Y-o-Y revenue growth in Q1, driven by 5 per cent growth in volumes and a 7 per cent improvement in realisations. The brokerage said that the delayed and uneven southwest monsoon affected timely kharif sowing, softening demand for agri-inputs like herbicides. Conservative farmer sentiment and high channel inventories also weighed on primary sales. However, improved rainfall by late June has brightened agricultural prospects, paving the way for a recovery in Q2. According to Axis Securities, Dhanuka's newly launched 9(3) product — Dinkar, a herbicide for paddy, has received a positive response, particularly in southern markets. The company is on track to launch additional products from its Dahej facility in H2FY26, including Kinzan, a Japanese fungicide (licensed from Nissan Chemicals) targeted at grapes and potatoes. "Furthermore, it plans to launch Melody Duo—a product acquired from Bayer CropScience—along with at least two more new products in FY26, which should support growth momentum," the brokerage said. Axis Securities has downgraded the stock from 'Buy' to 'Hold' with an unchanged target price of ₹1,800 per share, citing limited room for further appreciation at current valuations.

Mint
15 minutes ago
- Mint
Trump vs Powell puts spotlight on central banks' independence: How does RBI score?
The very public friction between US President Donald Trump and Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell has once again thrust central bank independence into the spotlight. The underlying question is both simple and consequential: should elected leaders have a say in how central banks set interest rates? This tension isn't new. Trump repeatedly criticised the Fed's rate hikes during his earlier term. European leaders were unsettled by the European Central Bank's aggressive tightening in 2022. And back in 2018, India witnessed its own showdown between the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the finance ministry. Still, the consensus among economists is clear: independent central banks are critical to maintaining macroeconomic stability. To measure the independence of central banks across countries and time, researchers have created an index based on some core criteria. Each criterion is assigned a score, and then these scores (with or without weights) are used to arrive at an index value, ranging from 0 to 1, with 1 representing the highest level of independence. Common central bank parameters assessed in these indices include rules of appointment of the governor and the monetary policy committee, freedom to formulate monetary policy, norms for conflict resolution, primary policy objective, rules for lending to government, financial independence, and reporting and disclosure norms. A recent index assigns India's RBI a score of 0.59, indicating moderate independence. RBI's report card The RBI scores high on several key parameters of central bank autonomy. It has a clear inflation-targeting mandate, operates with an independent budget, and adheres to sound reporting and disclosure standards. However, its overall independence is moderated by structural constraints, most of them stemming from its ownership and governance structure. These can be grouped into three categories. First, while the six-member Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) includes three external members and three RBI representatives, all are appointed by the government. The RBI governor, also a government appointee, holds the casting vote in case of a tie. Second, in the event of a policy disagreement, the government retains the final say. Both these rules are seen as a lack of independence in monetary policy. Third, under the RBI Act, the central bank is required to transfer its surplus to the government after meeting expenses and provisioning. This is viewed as a lack of financial independence. Despite these limitations, the RBI has largely delivered on its core mandate. Between August 2016 and June 2025, inflation exceeded the official upper tolerance band of 6% in just 28 of 107 months. Inflation volatility has also declined significantly since the adoption of flexible inflation targeting (FIT). Through the turbulence of the last five years, when RBI shifted from covid-era easing to post-pandemic tightening, inflation fluctuations were still lower than in the pre-FIT years. Importantly, the RBI has built credibility as a steward of price stability. Its consistent emphasis on the 4% inflation target has helped anchor public expectations, even though households tend to overestimate inflation by 3-4 percentage points, their expectations remain stable over time. Independence and co-operation If India's central bank, despite being government-owned, manages to do its job well, should it still aspire to greater independence? Perhaps. Research shows that greater central bank independence is associated with lower inflation and more effective monetary policy in the long run, especially for developing economies. However, India's situation is different for two reasons. One, the scope for conflict on monetary policy is slightly lower. Conflict is most likely when inflation is on its way down: the government would prefer lower rates to boost growth, while the RBI may want to wait until inflation is stamped out. But given that inflation is as much a political hot potato as a monetary headache—elections have been lost on the price of onions—the government is more sensitive to inflation, and less likely to demand rate cuts until inflation is under control. Two, the present government is committed to reducing its fiscal deficit and debt. Therefore, it is unlikely to push for lower rates just to reduce debt servicing costs. When governments are fiscally profligate, monetary policy has to compensate by printing money or keeping interest rates at artificially low levels. In contrast, fiscal prudence frees monetary policy from the pressure of propping up budget deficits. Central bank independence in itself does not guarantee effective policy. The US Fed has full independence in setting monetary policy, yet hasn't escaped criticism from the White House. Turkey has a high independence score of 0.8 out of 1, but President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's policy interference has led to runaway inflation. The takeaway? Independence is necessary but not sufficient. What matters most is whether fiscal and monetary policy can work in sync. Price stability is best achieved when governments and central banks act as partners, not adversaries, in managing the economy. The author is an independent writer in economics and finance.