Capt. Shaji Kumar

Tag: #Astute

  • ASTUTE CARE

    Astute Care is led by a team of professionals who have the single minded devotion to fulfil the Values that it professes.

    Results you can count on
    Our Professional cleaners will provide consistent results. They will keep your home sparkling and fresh all the time. You won’t have to worry if company drops by unexpectedly. Your home will always be pristine. You’ll be proud to have spur-of-the-moment visitors.
    Specialised Tools and EquipmentA professional provider will be aware of all of the major innovations and developments in the cleaning industry. They have invested their resource into finding the absolute best cleaning materials and equipment available on the market. They should have a wide range of supplies and specific tools and cleaning products for every job. They will know when and where to use each tool and will use these to deliver impeccable and high-quality cleaning results.
    Trained and Skilled StaffA professional cleaning company will have a pool of highly trained and skilled staff. The employees are professional and have attended many hours of training. They will have unique training to clean all commercial environments and will do be able to deliver cleaning results efficiently. All of their staff should also be security vetted and background checked so that you are confident that they are hiring only the best teams of people.
    Reduce your Environmental FootprintWhen it comes to environmental care, the cleaning industry has made great strides in recent years. A reputable cleaning company will be committed to ensuring that its products are as environmentally friendly as possible. They will have environmentally friendly solutions that are safe for both the environment and of course the people in contact with them.

    All Service Professional are trained and certified by ALTA. (Astute Learning & Training Academy) – a non-profit initiative for the Blue Collar Workforce by Astute Outsourcing Services Pvt. Ltd. supported by Chaque Jour Aashirwad Social Welfare Trust.

  • An humane approach to blue collar workforce management.

    Howsoever, troubling it may sound, jobs have always been differentiated on the colour of the collar. White, Grey, Blue – that’s the way it has always been.

    The “Blue” account for approximately 400 million jobs in India. Of these many are of contractual nature, where earnings are based on either the number of hours or days “worked”. Prominent among these are Drivers and “workers” engaged in Logistics, Delivery, etc.

    I was instrumental (always abhorred the term founded and never been able to come to terms with it), Astute Outsourcing Services Pvt. Ltd.  in 2013, as a Facility Management Company, which later transgressed into “Staffing” services with the strategic acquisition of Adamas HR Services Pvt. Ltd.. And in 2020, re-kindled the nascent business segment of Residential Services re-christened as Astute Care (erstwhile On Time – Live Easy™, which I had started toying around in late 2016).

    Seven years into Business, and going over numerous data especially in the post lockdown or pandemic scenario, I realised that my business is a contributor to the 400 million odd “blue collar” workforce. Even though the business model is not attributable to hours or days worked but based on actual employment with a employee-employer relation, it is still dependent heavily on the “Customer’s” end use requirement. Thankfully the Lockdown and subsequent social distancing norms and efforts to contain the spread of the “virus” has seen a spurt in demand for efficient and reliable workforce to handle deliveries and provide a sanitised environment both at work-place and in people’s homes as homes in this new normal scenario have become an extension of work place.

    Pouring over the newspaper reports, many of the 400 million were not as lucky as our employees, and the distressing tales of woe over how the “migrant” workers trudged back home, on foot in the absence of any other viable mode of transport being made available. This got us thinking and utilised the abundant time available to put the AOSPL think tank to work and come out with a solution to better manage the workforce. 

    My Team realised that there were a lot of issues which we could resolve by migrating to  technology. Digital, that seems to be the most prevalent byword going around post pandemic is what we based our future solutions on. Out came our drawing board – with plans to draw up a plan and solution where we could solve – digital on boarding, automated attendance management, payroll, leave, Insurance, skilling- a comprehensive model to have in place a effective workforce-management solution directed exclusively for the Blue Collar segment. Hence the idea of “SARAL JOBS” was mooted. There are lot of solutions for all types of Collars from on boarding to retirement, except the BLUE. So we decided on a multi-lingual vernacular based digital platform solution to cater exclusively for the much neglected Blue.

    Just imagine, if a Data Mapping solution for these 400 million was available in the Pre-Pandemic era we may have been spared to have been spectators of this horrid saga which each one of us “witnessed” from the confines of our homes, while a majority of these 400 million trudged back to their places of origin. 

    Most of the Blue Collar staff are deployed in an multi-location environment. We have staff deployed across the span of the Country and the “manual” process is rather cumbersome and difficult to comprehend for effective and timely solution. Say for example, if one of our delivery boys deployed at a warehouse wanted to apply for a eave, they presently follow a rather cumbersome process involving paper forms and getting stage even approvals, all of which is quite time consuming and considering the “work” pressure becomes quite an ordeal for the employee to manage. A solution like “SARAL-JOB” can automate and simplify all this and more – simplifying life – for the distributed workforce, leading to savings in cost and time. We at Astute have realised that the way forward is to invest in Technology for growth for the better of both the “Blue Collar” employee as well as the employer.

  • The advent of a new Morning…

    Even the longest and darkest of night, ends with morning light. We are nearing the end of the 3rd Lockdown. Maybe, just maybe, even if the announcement of the lockdown was abrupt and sudden in line with what we have come to accept as the innate style of our Prime Minister, it may have helped India avoid what could have been a large scale devastation, as seen elsewhere in the World. Still waiting, but the statistics till date does project quite an encouraging outcome. Anyway, lockdown or not it is time when manufacturing and other operations will be and undoubtedly should be permitted to restart in a phased manner. How much more can we remain locked up? This is an extremely critical and delicate operation that will involve clear guidelines, operating principles and a very vigilant approach to health and safety.

    Communication that is simple, easy to understand and practice becomes an essential tool in this phase. Unlike what we saw in these last 50 days, all stakeholders need to be explained the steps and procedure for operating productively while maintaining social distancing and essential practices. As also everyone in the Industry will be waiting in hope when the Finance Minister unwraps the Economic Stimulus announced by the Prime Minister in his 3rd address to the nation tonight. Astrology is always capable of predicting the future for anyone, whether it is a man, woman, country or the world itself, but astrologers can sometimes predict the future and events accurately and at times can even fail to predict it correctly. But I do firmly believe, as the Prime Minister reiterated, we can really turn the tide and change things – to make India great again. This is an opportunity for us to change things.

    When we see a hole in a piece of silk, we are hardly surprised. It may be a shame but given the susceptibility of this fabric to wear and tear, it is inevitable. When we see a hole in a piece of steel, we are amazed. What on earth caused this?  Our psychological armour is sturdy. For all our inner sensitivity, it takes a lot to dent our external confidence – and it has been proved many times over. We are made of quite sturdy stuff. The experience of this pandemic will yet again just prove the point. I am quite certain that collectively we would see a resurgent India galloping ahead.

  • WHAT NOW….?

    More than a month has passed since the Prime Minister announced a National Lockdown. What Now? Do we continue in this state of suspended animation and continue to dwell ensconced within our respective dwellings? It appears that the respective State Governments do not want to take a chance. A chance with what? It is time that the Government starts work on a broader plan so as to allow the life to go on. Fear of death by Covid-2019 virus would far outweigh the fear of death by starvation. In absence of any lifeline or monetary support each business is left to fend for itself. The roll call at some point will determine as to how many would be left standing.

    In the meeting with Chief Ministers on Monday, the Prime Minister had rightly pointed out that importance needed to be given to the economy as well. It’s high time to walk the talk. There is no way that there is going to be an end game anytime soon as far as this particular virus is concerned. So when is it going to be the right time? Whatever, the diktats that may be given there is bound to be a massive fallout if this lockdown restrictions is not lifted and things allowed to resume post 03 May 2019. Yes this is definitely a risk that no State Government can avoid. People have become wiser and as adults, all the sane ones would follow the NEW Normal. We will forget what the Old Normal was. There was a logic to the first and even the second lockdown…but to nurture the thought of a Third…will most definitely be catastrophic and maybe even more devastating than the deaths which will be caused by the Covid-2019 virus.

    This undoubtedly is a crisis situation. When you’re in the midst of a crisis, it can be hard to think past your short-term response. Lockdown is indeed that – a short-term response. But, the primary focus of leaders should be on the long term. After all, it is their job to lead people into the best possible future. But their diverse army of experts now marched out a phalanx of hypotheses to explain the consequences.

    The People have been made adequately aware of the grave consequences this particular virus is empowered to inflict. Trust the people to handle the situation from hereon. Provide them with support and guidance. Locking them up in homes is definitely not a solution anymore. When it was right it was right, but now it is overdoing it. The virus isn’t going to go anytime soon, that is for sure. We just need to adapt to the NEW Normal. As Bill Joy, the brilliant thinker and engineer reminded us, “great medicines have saved lives, but it’s the simpler things, like clean water, proper hygiene and a cleaner way of life that have saved the most lives”. We are quickly learning what is causing our immune systems to react. Social distancing works but it’s a temporary answer. Lack of testing will haunt us but it will be solved over a period of time. Ventilators and hospitals will be better equipped and in a better state of readiness. We will see patterns on how to treat, or vaccinate, or both. In the meantime, there are ways to beat the virus and return to versions of a normal life. Masks hold the promise of protection at a minimum, and eradication at best. Just as there is a lot about the virus we don’t understand, there’s a lot about how it spreads we don’t understand. It can peter out and come back. It can weaken over time.

    Work From Home may become a norm in times to come at least for some time, not as a forced one but as a way of life in the future. We can see the multiple benefits of such an arrangement. What can be done for the IT Industry, can be adapted to other verticals as well. But we just need to take this calculated risk. Some collateral damage is imminent, however comparatively it will be worth the chance. However, we can just wait and watch as the decision makers have to take that call..

  • Occult & Mysticism.

    Astrology, Palmistry, Numerology, Tarot, and a whole lot of other occult sciences are used to “predict” the future. The quest to know what lies ahead is more prevalent now than ever. Even though it has always existed in all cultures and across continents, the yearning to know what lies ahead is gaining momentum – much more than ever. Consequently it has been a catalyst in creating a vocational Industry in itself. The soothsayers might have never had the going so good. The more your yearn to know about what lies ahead, the more you make the essence of living life a pain. The beauty of life is in living each day as it happens, and not by trying to stay ahead. This can never be done as it is absolutely impossible to “predict” to the point as to what is going to happen. Anyway even if it is predicted, there is no way it will happen without making the requisite effort.

    The key to success now is to maintain focus, keep a sense reality and, most importantly, plan all of your moves carefully and strategically.

  • MSME’s : Wither to?

    India houses more than 63 million MSME’s contributing 29 percent of the GDP, 45 percent of Industrial Production, providing employment to millions of Indians. However, it has always been beset by inherent issues which unfortunately has largely remained unattended to. Despite a dedicated Ministry setup by the Government there still remains a huge gap between the cup and the lip. The most unique challenge that MSME’s endure is access to low cost capital. This despite having dedicated channels like SIDBI in existence. Authenticated reports estimates that the credit gap for MSME’s stand at approximately INR 15 lakh crore. And with the advent of technological advances, initiatives like GST and the formalization of the economy, the back of this sector is already at a capacity stretch. Only 20 percent of the MSME’s are being financed by the formal banking system, that leaves the rest 80 percent to scrounge for “finances” from the informal sector at atrocious rates of interest. This lack of adequate access to timely and affordable credit continues to remain one of the sector’s biggest challenges, restricting its growth and future potential. There has been some initiatives led by the Government like the 59-minute loan, co-organisation between banks and NBFC’s for affordable credit, however despite these initiatives being laudable at a macro level, it still leave a huge gap at the micro level, as it does not translate into anything.

     

    The dream of growth and pushing the GDP to get to 5 trillion, with a budding young India and initiatives like start-up India, pushing the young Indians to explore avenues of entrepreneurship & self-employment, the Government needs to step up its act and ensure that the hand holding translates to grass root level. The hand holding has to be more visible. There is no other way around the crisis of employment, and it is only logical to push entrepreneurship and self-employment. The large businesses may only contribute just as much to this 5 trillion target, than the 30 percent sector which can be pushed to clamour and contribute as much as possible – and it can. This is the only way that a young vibrant India having 70 percent of able bodied under thirty raring to go population can take us to the finish line.