Tuesday, December 31, 2013

MundoFox: Bringing Spanish Contents into US Soil

MundoFox is an American broadcast TV network that uses the Spanish language in its broadcasts. MundoFox is a joint venture of Fox International Channels and RCN Televisión SA of Colombia. Following the approval by both companies of the terms of the joint venture, MundoFox was launched in August 2012. MundoFox is based in Los Angeles, California.

It was Fox International Channels who first used the brand mundoFOX in 2006. It was used as the website for Canal FOX, the company’s brand of cable channel for Latin America. Fox International launched video on demand for the programs that Canal FOX airs in Portuguese or Spanish.

MundoFox as a TV network in the US was launched in January 2012. In his speech, Fox International Channels CEO Hernán López said MundoFox will cater to the growing demand for high quality Spanish-content for advertisers and viewers in the US. Among the 309 million US residents in 2010, 16% or 50 million of them were Hispanics or Latinos. In 2011, 4.5% or 3.6 billion of the company’s 80 billion in advertising revenues were from the Hispanic or Latino markets. According to López, Fox network was in the same dynamics when it was launched against existing English language content networks in 1986, and the company looks to replicate Fox’s earlier years as it launched MundoFox against established Spanish language content networks.

One of MundoFox’s signature formats was the Teleseries, which looked similar to telenovelas but have fewer episodes. Teleseries focus on action-oriented stories taken from diverse locations. Teleseries also have increased production values.

Most of MundoFox’s first original series were produced in Colombia. Because the network’s slogan is Americano Como Tú, or "American Like You," MundoFox will produce more US-based series on its second year, although it will also increase its Mexican flavor.

On top of entertainment contents, MundoFox has its own news division, the Noticias MundoFox. It will
cater to the Latino markets in the US and the diverse sensitivities of the different demographics of the market.

Friday, December 27, 2013

Jiayuan: Its Founder’s Story is Its Greatest Success Story

Jiayuan.com International Ltd. is China’s largest online dating platform. China has a growing single population, especially in the urban areas. Jiayuan is committed to provide effective, trusted and client-focused dating platform that will result in dating and marriage.

Jiayuan was fouded by Rose Gong, who was only 27 years old at that time. She was busy taking up her Masters degree in Journalism so she did not have the time to socialize. She signed u for a number of online dating sites but was disappointed with poor user experience. The sites were difficult to navigate, had poor designs, and contained fake user profiles.

Gong created her own online dating site. She used the stories of thousands of students and young professionals around China who had similar needs as her motivation. Her site should be dedicated to help these singles find their romantic partners within a trusted online environment. Gong featured her best friend as the first user. Then she invited her classmates, friends, and family to sign up for her site. Within a few months, Gong found her husband through Jiayuan.com. They got married in 2004.

Today, Jiayuan is serving more than 73 million registered members. Tens of thousands of new members are signing up to the platform every day. Aside from online matching, Jiayuan also hosts offline events. Most of its offline services are towards the affluent members of the society who are looking for serious relationships through their busy schedules.

Tuesday, December 24, 2013

InsideTrack: A Different Kind of College and University Coaching

College and university students in the US can find valuable coaching services from InsideTrack. The company’s online platform has been attributed to the increase in student enrolment, persistence and graduation. InsideTrack’s coaching program was first tested in Stanford University.

Since InsideTrack was founded in 2001, the company has helped over 350,000 students in over 50 colleges and universities across the US. This feat earned InsideTrack the right to be named as one of US’s 500 fastest growing companies in 2007.

At the time of InsideTrack’s launching, student coaching was less controversial. However, the entrance of InsideTrack put pressure on colleges and universities to step up in getting their students to finish and graduate. This makes InsideTrack’s contribution difficult to criticize. Ultimately, school administrators have realized that InsideTrack does a better job than their in-house advising can do.

Golden Gate University vice president for academic affairs Barbara Karlind said there is no other student coaching company that can match the expertise of InsideTrack. Being a private university that focuses on adult education, Golden Gate has contracted with InsideTrack since 2010 to help returning students and new students during enrolment time.

Golden Gate conducted a follow-up program called “secret shopping” to find out how InsideTrack fared against its in-house advisers. Karlin said Golden Gate officials were impressed with InsideTrack’s professional and personal approach with students. After initial inquiries with the school, Golden Gate recorded increased enrolment.

After the success of the initial contract, Golden Gate decided to replace all its in-house advisers with InsideTrack coaches. However, in-house advisers that showed potential and skills would undergo development trainings, possibly with InsideTrack personnel.

Since InsideTrack coaches do not stay on campus, InsideTrack’s platform employs one-on-one coaching through the phone. Through the years, InsideTrack has evolved to include pre-enrolment coaching in its primary service offerings. InsideTrack grew because its coaches act like parents who know the best way to keep the students on track.

InsideTrack was founded by Alan Tripp. The company is based in San Francisco.

Friday, December 20, 2013

BlueLinx Holdings: A Fortune 100 Company

BlueLinx Holdings is among the Fortune 500 companies. It is the largest wholesaler of building products in the United States. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, it is an independent distributor that has expanded to offer over 10,000 products and 70,000 SKUs.

Although officially formed in 2004, BlueLinx Holdings can trace its history back to 1954. In that year, the distribution division of Georgia-Pacific Corporation began operations starting with 13 warehouses used for storage and distribution of Georgia-Pacific Plywood. Over the next four decades, the division quickly grew to have more than 130 warehouses nationwide. In 1994, the division consolidated its warehouses and established two sales and operations centers in Atlanta, GA and Denver, CO.

In May 2004, the distribution division of Georgia-Pacific was purchased by Cerberus Capital Management together with a team of senior leaders from the division. This acquisition paved the way for BlueLinx Corporation. A year later, the company was made public through the New York Stock Exchange.

Tuesday, December 17, 2013

Ranbaxy Laboratories: Global Research Company

Ranbaxy Laboratories is a research-based pharmaceutical company with customers in more than 150 countries around the world. For more than 50 years now, the company has been providing high-quality, affordable medicines that both patients and healthcare professionals trust. A part of the Daiichi Sankyo Group, a leading global innovator in the pharmaceutical industry, Ranbaxy operates in 43 countries and has 21 manufacturing facilities in eight of those. A robust presence in both emerging and developed markets allows the company to cover all top 25 pharmaceutical markets available.

A vertically integrated company, Ranbaxy not only develops and manufacturers but also markets various generic and branded generic, value-added, and OTC products, as well as intermediates, active pharmaceutical ingredients, and anti-retrovirals. With a portfolio encompassing more than 500 molecules for use in tables, capsules, inhalers, injectables, creams, ointments, and liquids, Ranbaxy makes its presence felt across treatments and therapies, including pain management, anti-infectives, and nutritionals.

Ranbaxy was founded by Ranbir and Gurbax Singh in 1937. Back then, it was as a distributor for Shionogi, a Japanese company. Ranbaxy got its name from its founder's names, Ranbir and Gurbax. Their cousin Bhai Mohan Singh bought the company from the two in 1952 and when Bhai Mohan's son Parvinder joined, Ranbaxy enjoyed improved growth.

It was in June 2008 when Daiichi Sankyo acquired a stake in the company, valued at $2.4 billion. Come November of the same year, Daiichi Sankyo was able to complete the takeover of Ranbaxy, sealed with a $4.6 billion deal which gave the former a 63.92% stake in the latter. Ranbaxy follows a business philosophy that delivers optimum value to stakeholders and constantly inspires employees to excel and set global standards. With a workforce of over 14,600 individuals, bringing together more than 50 nationalities, the company finds strength to not only improve the quality of healthcare but make it accessible as well to people all over the world.

Friday, December 13, 2013

Populous: Creating Sports Facilities in Style

Populous is an architectural company that specializes in designing sports facilities. Populous plays a major role in designing stadia and arena. Among the most prominent designs of Populous were New York’s Yankee Stadium, London’s Wembley Stadium, Sydney’s Stadium Australia, San Francisco’s AT&T Park, Minneapolis’ Target Field, and Chicago’s United Center.

Before January 2009, Populous was a part of the HOK Group and was operating as HOK Sport Venue Event.  After the management buyout, Populous started to operate independently. Thereafter Populous was known as one of the world’s largest architectural companies.

Populous treats each project as challenge. It discovers new opportunities to amplify the locality’s character by listening, observing and collaborating with its customers. Populous was fortunate to have a team that has international perspective. This team can bring together different ideas that come from other cultures, activities, events, landscapes and building types

For more than 30 years with over 1,000 projects, Populous has grasped an understanding of the industry. However, Populous continues to harness its knowledge to create that design that leaves a great impact on people’s lives.

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Authenware: Revolutionizing Cloud Security

At a time when the cloud is the most reliable repository of data, it is great to know that a cybersecurity software company like Authenware Corporation exists to provide its clients with peace of mind. Authenware’r proprietary innovation is a tokenless authentication system that provides strong security by combining environmental and behavioral characteristics and keystroke dynamics to minimize web fraud, identity theft and other online system vulnerabilities.

Authenware’s innovative solution uses a pattern of user-created personal security that automatically recognizes all authorized users thereby keeping hackers out. Millions of Authenware users are kept protected every day in a wide array of industries such as healthcare, telecommunications, financial services, online retailers and government agencies.

In August 2012, Authenware launched its revolutionary MyAuthenWareTM, a solution that was geared toward consumers and enterprise. This end-user solution is cloud-based and biometrically secured authentication portal. It allows the user to remember only one set of login credentials to a number of websites. The user can also use the portal to store files ad notes.

MyAuthenWareTM uses a unique way of identifying and authenticating authorized users. The solution measures the rhythm and cadence of the user’s typing pattern and integrates them with user-specific environment and behavioral characteristics. MyAuthenWareTM delivers the highest level of convenience to its users. Logging in to a number of different sites using its authentication portal using a single username and password is backed by high security behavioral biometrics.

Gartner Group, the world leader in IT research and advisory, cited Authenware’s technology in its “Magic Quadrant for User Authentication” report in February 2012 as “simple to implement, scalable and robust.” It provides good user experience. Gartner’s ow circle of clients have a positive view of Authenware and its technology.

Recent developments at Authenware showed that the company is working on enterprise security that would tackle cybercrime. The new offering is convenient and easy to use but is viewed as the solution that would close the gap between enterprise security and consumer security.