When you first started your business, you were practically doing everything on your own. You had a small workspace and no employees to worry about. You only had a few clients and not much paperwork to deal with. In other words, you did not have much going on as far as productivity is concerned. But once the business got bigger over time, that all changed.
Nowadays, you have an office filled with employees who are busy working towards a single goal: making your company more successful than it already is. Of course, this means that things can get pretty hectic at times. With so many people running around doing their own thing, it can be hard for you to keep track of everything that’s going on in the workplace.
That’s why it is so important for businesses to find ways to improve their productivity. It will help you work together efficiently without getting overwhelmed by too many tasks at once or having difficulty communicating with each other about what needs to be done next!
Can Help Your Business Be More Productive
Blockchain technology is a distributed ledger, which means that it can be used to securely store and share information. This allows businesses to transfer data transparently without having to worry about security issues or privacy concerns.
In the past, most companies have been forced to use third-party providers for some types of shared storage and processing power. This has made them vulnerable because they are reliant on these external providers, to be honest, and trustworthy with their data. With blockchain technology, however, there is no need for this kind of arrangement because it provides an immutable way for businesses to store their information.
Boost Your Bottom Line
By now you've heard about how blockchain technology can improve your business. And we're sure you've also heard how important it is to improve productivity, efficiency, and profitability in your company. But how exactly do you achieve these goals?
The way to go about improving productivity, efficiency, and profitability is by implementing blockchain solutions into your company's operations.
Here are a few ways that blockchain can help increase profits:
Make more money from customers' purchases - If customers are paying for goods with cryptocurrency, they'll be paying more than if they were using traditional forms of currency like credit cards and debit cards—which means more money for the seller!
Get new customers - By providing discounts or other incentives only available through crypto payments (Bitcoin), merchants have an opportunity to attract new customers who may not have shopped with them before—and those new shoppers might become repeat customers as well!
Here’s How It Can Make It Happen
Blockchain is a distributed database that uses cryptography to maintain a publicly accessible, decentralized data structure. It’s often referred to as a “digital ledger.”
It stores the history of transactions and records them in “blocks.” Each block contains a timestamp and an encrypted link to the previous block in the chain – hence its name: blockchain!
If you want your business to benefit from blockchain technology, then you need to learn about what it is and how it works.
Reduce Unnecessary Costs
In addition to reducing the need for middlemen, blockchain also reduces the need for manual processes. When you use a traditional ledger system, it's common for your product or service provider to require that you check off every step of the process manually. Blockchain removes this need by automating it. This can be done through smart contracts (more on them in a later section).
Make Better Use of Your Resources
Making better use of your resources is another way to improve productivity. You can accomplish this by using blockchain technology to improve resource allocation, management, planning and scheduling, optimization, and forecasting.
In addition to making the most of any asset you have in your organization (manpower or machines), you also need to make sure that those assets are used effectively. This means accounting for all factors when deciding where and how an employee should be working.
Adopt an Agile, Responsive Approach
An agile, responsive approach to operations will help you achieve increased business productivity. This means that you need to be able to respond to change quickly and efficiently.
This can be achieved through the following:
A flexible workforce who understands the value of changing their tasks and methods to get results faster. Employees will have the freedom and flexibility they need to deliver on short-term projects as well as long-term goals.
Cross-functional collaboration between departments so that all members of your team know how each other's work affects their performance levels, which helps ensure that there are no bottlenecks or delays in communication between departments (or even within one department). For example, if someone needs information from another department before they can complete their task list then this should be made clear at the beginning so everyone knows what's happening next so there isn't any confusion later down the road when time is running out.
Equip Yourself for Future Changes
If you're looking for a way to increase your business's agility, blockchain can be an effective tool. By developing an innovative product or service using blockchain technology and implementing it on a global scale, you'll be able to bring about change in the way people do business. In this way, you'll create a "new normal," one that is more agile and adaptable than ever before.
The importance of being agile cannot be overstated. This is true whether you're looking at large corporations such as Amazon or small businesses like yours. It's important because when times are changing rapidly (as they always are), we need to find ways to adapt quickly without compromising quality or performance standards. Otherwise, we risk falling behind our competition.
Organizations have responded by creating processes that allow them to react quickly when necessary. However, what if these processes could respond automatically? This would make them even more efficient than before!
Conclusion
We hope you now have a clearer vision of how blockchain and the Internet of Things can improve business productivity. You may be wondering how to implement these technologies within your organization.
We recommend starting with a feasibility study that identifies areas within your organization where blockchain technology could be implemented. It also outlines potential benefits and costs associated with each of those implementations.
TRADE talks between India and the US have hit a roadblock over disagreements on duties for auto components, steel and farm goods, Indian government sources said to Reuters, dashing hopes of reaching an interim deal ahead of president Donald Trump's July 9 deadline to impose reciprocal tariffs.
Here are the key issues at play:
HURDLES TO A TRADE DEAL
India's dependence on agriculture – a major source of rural jobs – has made it politically difficult for New Delhi to accept US demands for steep tariff cuts on corn, soybean, wheat and ethanol, amid risks from subsidised US farm products.
Domestic auto, pharmaceutical, and small-scale firms are lobbying for only a gradual opening of the protected sectors, fearing competition from US firms.
The US is pushing for greater access to agricultural goods and ethanol, citing a significant trade imbalance, along with expanded market access for dairy, alcoholic beverages, automobiles, pharmaceuticals, and medical devices.
"LACK OF RECIPROCITY"
Despite India offering to cut tariffs on a range of farm products, give preferential treatment to US firms, and increase energy and defence purchases, Indian officials say they are still awaiting substantive proposals from Washington amid Trump's erratic trade policies.
Indian exporters remain concerned about US tariff hikes, including a 10 per cent average base tariff, 50 per cent on steel and aluminium, and 25 per cent on auto imports, as well as a proposed 26 per cent reciprocal duty that remains on hold.
STRATEGIC ALIGNMENT
Indian policymakers see the US as a preferred partner over China but remain cautious about compromising policy autonomy in global affairs.
The US is India’s largest trading partner and a major source of investment, technology, energy, and defence equipment.
TENSIONS OVER PAKISTAN
India remains wary of deeper strategic ties after Trump’s perceived tilt toward Pakistan during a recent conflict between the neighbours, which raised doubts about US reliability.
GROWING INDIAN EXPORTS TO US
New Delhi is confident exports will continue to grow, especially in pharmaceuticals, garments, engineering goods and electronics, helped by tariff advantage over Vietnam and China.
India's goods exports to the US rose to over $87 billion in 2024, including pearls, gems and jewellery worth $8.5 billion, pharmaceuticals at $8 billion, and petrochemicals around $4 billion.
Services exports – led by IT, professional and financial services – were valued at $33 billion in 2024.
The US is also India's third-largest investor, with over $68 billion in cumulative FDI between 2002 and 2024.
US EXPORTS TO INDIA
US manufacturing exports to India, valued at nearly $42 billion in 2024, face high tariffs, ranging from 7 per cent on wood products and machinery to as much as 15 to 20 per cent on footwear and transport equipment, and nearly 68 per cent on food.
According to a recent White House fact sheet, the US average applied Most Favoured Nation (MFN) tariff on farm goods was 5 per cent compared to India’s 39 per cent.
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Vedanta Resources, which is based in the UK and owned by Indian billionaire Anil Agarwal, has been working on reducing its debt. (Photo credit: Getty Images)
VEDANTA LTD said on Thursday that its parent company, Vedanta Resources, has signed a loan facility agreement worth up to £438 million with international banks to refinance existing debt.
The refinancing move, where old loans are replaced by new ones, often at better terms like lower interest rates, has led ratings agencies such as S&P Global Ratings and Moody's to upgrade their outlook on the company this year.
According to Vedanta's exchange filing on Thursday, the lenders involved in the deal include Standard Chartered Bank and its Mauritius unit, First Abu Dhabi Bank, Mashreqbank, and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp.
Vedanta Resources, which is based in the UK and owned by Indian billionaire Anil Agarwal, has been working on reducing its debt.
The company lowered its net debt by £876m, bringing it down to £8.1 billion in fiscal 2025.
(With inputs from Reuters)
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Trump said that while deals are being made with some countries, others may face tariffs.
US PRESIDENT Donald Trump on Friday said a "very big" trade deal could be finalised with India, suggesting significant movement in the ongoing negotiations between the two countries.
“We are having some great deals. We have one coming up, maybe with India. Very big one. Where we're going to open up India," Trump said at the “Big Beautiful Bill” event at the White House.
The president also mentioned a trade agreement with China but did not provide details. "Everybody wants to make a deal and have a part of it. Remember a few months ago, the press was saying, 'You really have anybody of any interest? Well, we just signed with China yesterday. We are having some great deals," he said.
‘Some we are just gonna send a letter’
Trump said that while deals are being made with some countries, others may face tariffs. "We're not gonna make deals with everybody. Some we are just gonna send a letter saying thank you very much, you are gonna pay 25, 35, 45 per cent. That's an easier way to do it," he said.
Trump's comments come as an Indian delegation led by chief negotiator Rajesh Agarwal arrived in Washington on Thursday for the next round of trade talks with the US.
Talks ahead of July 9 deadline
Both countries are working on an interim trade agreement and are aiming to conclude it before July 9. The US had announced high tariffs on April 2, but the Trump administration suspended them until July 9.
Agriculture and dairy remain sensitive areas for India, which has not included dairy in any of its free trade agreements so far. India is cautious about offering duty concessions in these sectors.
The US is seeking duty reductions on items such as industrial goods, automobiles (especially electric vehicles), wines, petrochemical products, dairy products, and agricultural goods like apples, tree nuts, and genetically modified crops.
India, on the other hand, wants duty concessions for sectors such as textiles, gems and jewellery, leather goods, garments, plastics, chemicals, shrimp, oil seeds, grapes, and bananas.
ASDA, one of Britain’s largest supermarkets, has reported a pre-tax loss of £599 million for 2024, swinging sharply from a £180 million profit the previous year.
The loss comes despite total sales rising by over £1 billion to £26.8bn, as the retailer faces mounting debt costs, falling sales, and spiralling spending on a major IT overhaul, the Telegraph reported.
The main blow to Asda’s finances has come from its heavy debt load, a legacy of its £6.8bn buyout by the Issa brothers and private equity firm TDR Capital in 2021.
According to the report, the company’s debt pile, now close to £5bn, has become much more expensive to service as interest rates have risen. Last year, finance costs jumped by 38 per cent to £611 million, up from £441 million the previous year
Asda said it was forced to pay higher rates after refinancing part of its debt, putting further pressure on its bottom line.
Another major factor behind the loss is the ongoing “Project Future” – Asda’s multi-year plan to separate its computer systems from former owner Walmart. The project has been beset by delays and cost overruns, with total spending now approaching £1bn, far above its original budget
Last year alone, Asda spent £310m on the IT transition, which has included job cuts and outsourcing as the company tries to control costs. Problems with the new systems have also led to pay errors for thousands of staff.
While overall revenue rose thanks to new store openings, underlying sales have slipped. Like-for-like sales, excluding fuel, fell by 3.4 per cent to £21.7bn, with food sales down 3.7 per cent.
Meanwhile, Asda’s share in the UK grocery market has dropped to a record low of 12.1 per cent, with the retailer losing ground to rivals such as Tesco, Aldi, and Lidl
Despite efforts to win back shoppers with price cuts and a new convenience store push, Asda was the only major supermarket to report a sales decline in recent months, analysts said.
The company’s results were also hit by a £378m impairment charge, reflecting a drop in the value of its stores and assets. These one-off costs, combined with the IT spending, were singled out by Asda as the main reasons for the headline loss.
“The reported overall loss is the result of two significant one-off costs,” an Asda spokesman said, pointing to the impairment and Project Future costs. “These are not recurring costs and do not reflect the underlying performance of the business”
Allan Leighton, who returned as chairman last year, has launched a price war and cost-cutting drive to try to restore Asda’s fortunes. He has described many of the company’s problems as “self-inflicted” and is aiming to “turn it into what it was”. However, he has warned that a full recovery could take several years.
Despite the bleak headline numbers, Asda insists its core business remains profitable, with a pre-tax profit of £115m before exceptional items. Adjusted earnings before rent also rose slightly to £1.14bn.
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Mounjaro, or tirzepatide, is part of a new class of weight-loss medications, with trials showing patients losing an average of 20 per cent of their body weight after 72 weeks.
ELI LILLY said on Thursday that it has received approval from India's drug regulator to launch pre-filled injector pens of its weight-loss drug, Mounjaro.
The move gives the company more options to compete with Novo Nordisk, which recently launched its weight-loss drug Wegovy in the country.
Lilly began selling Mounjaro in India in late March for treating diabetes and obesity. Until now, it was available only in 2.5 mg and 5 mg vials.
"With this approval, all six dosage options for Mounjaro will soon be available in India, supporting a more personalised approach to treatment," Lilly India President Winselow Tucker said.
According to a company statement, the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization has approved Mounjaro KwikPen, for once-weekly use, in six dose strengths: 2.5 mg, 5 mg, 7.5 mg, 10 mg, 12.5 mg and 15 mg.
The approval will allow Lilly to compete more directly with Denmark-based Novo Nordisk, which launched Wegovy in India on Tuesday with multiple dose strengths and an “easy-to-use” pen device.
India, with a rising number of diabetes and obesity cases, presents a major market for weight-loss drugs. A study published in the medical journal The Lancet ranks India among the top three countries globally for high obesity rates.
Lilly did not share pricing details. Each Mounjaro pen will have four fixed doses of 0.6 ml.
Mounjaro and Wegovy are part of a class of drugs known as GLP-1 receptor agonists. These help regulate blood sugar levels and slow digestion, which makes people feel full for longer periods.
In India, both companies are expected to face competition from domestic generic drugmakers that are working on lower-cost versions of Wegovy. The drug’s active ingredient, semaglutide, is set to go off patent in India next year.
Police may probe anti-Israel comments at Glastonbury