General

Vodafone Intelligent Solutions Challenge [Paid Pilot Project worth Rs. 9 Lakhs]: Apply by Sept 27

Apoorva

Sep 25, 2023
4 min read

0 Comments

Online applications are invited for the Vodafone Intelligent Solutions Challenge 2023, organized by StartUp India, Vodafone, T-AIM and Nasscom. The last date to apply is September 27, 2023.

About VOIS Innovation Challenge

With a global team of over 24,000 highly skilled people servicing 28 countries, _VOIS (Vodafone Intelligent Solutions) is Vodafone’s strategic partner of choice for talent, technology, and transformation. Since its inception in 2006, _VOIS has evolved from a singular service provider to a global powerhouse in the tech industry.

Step into the realm of innovation with the _VOIS Innovation Challenge: Disrupt with The Edge, presented in collaboration with Telangana AI Mission (T-AIM) and Nasscom. The theme, Beyond Boundaries: Expanding Workforce Horizons through Innovation, is all about using advanced AI solutions to reshape how we work.

This challenge requires startups to come up with new solutions for two use cases: Speed to Competency for Customer Care Agents and Talent Uberization for Gig Workforce. So, they’re calling all Indian B2B startups!

Step up to suggest innovative solutions for these vital needs. Join us in changing the future of workforce efficiency with your creative ideas and offerings.

Eligibility Criteria

DPIIT-recognized located anywhere in India.
B2B startups preferred.
Proposed solutions should have a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) or beyond
Interested startups are invited to submit their solution, corresponding to the use case, by filling in the application form.
Innovators will be selected for the next round based on their approach note and the shortlisted ones will get the opportunity to present their Proof of Concept or ready solution.
The submissions will be evaluated, across multiple stages, based on a composite criterion that comprises innovation quotient, solution design, responsible AI practices in the solution, potential impact on _VOIS’ operations, prior deployments, team’s caliber, solution scalability, total cost of solution ownership, and alignment with the vision of _VOIS.

Themes for Challenge

Talent Sourcing and Matchmaking
Trust and Quality Assurance
Project Management and Collaboration
Compensation and Payment
Compliance and Legal Considerations
Performance Tracking and Evaluation
Intelligent Onboarding Processes
Adaptive Learning & Development Platforms
AI-Driven Agent Assist Tools
Predictive Performance Analytics
Employee Engagement Solutions

Problem Statement

Improving Speed to Competency for Customer Care Agents

The customer care world is split into Back Office and Front Office with various nuances that interplay towards providing an efficient customer experience. Enhancing ‘Speed to Competency’ for customer care agents comprises two crucial components:

From hiring to the day when an agent becomes a productivity
From Day-1 productivity to peak productivity

The objective is to expedite agents’ ability to confidently handle customer interactions and effectively resolve issues from the early stages of their tenure to peak productivity where they display maximum efficiency in customer support.

Startups should propose solutions and submit applications that will leverage cutting-edge technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) across the aforementioned themes.

Talent Uberization for Gig Workforce

Shared service organizations like _VOIS have a significant challenge in finding and retaining the right talent. They rely on full-time employees for the smooth functioning of the support functions like admin, HR, procurement, finance, IT, etc.

However, this type of staffing hinders adaptability, innovation, and overall competitiveness, thus falling short in terms of cost-efficiency and agility. The recent emergence of the gig workforce empowers organizations to optimize resource allocation, streamline project delivery, and enhance overall efficiency.

In line with this transformative trend, _VOIS is actively seeking innovative solutions to address the challenges and opportunities associated with implementing and managing a gig workforce for their white-collar workforce.
To meet the demands of a dynamic marketplace, tapping into the potential of a gig workforce has emerged as a promising solution.
Startups should submit applications that enable effective utilization of the gig workforce by using cutting-edge technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) across the aforementioned themes.

Incentives

The winning startup will receive the opportunity to implement a paid pilot project (worth ~EUR 10,000/INR 8,81,543.16) with _VOIS and drive positive transformation.

The winning startup will get the desired mentoring and domain advice.
This is an opportunity for startups to showcase their AI solution capabilities at an enterprise scale.
All winners and runners-up will be highlighted publicly by _VOIS through its digital channels.

Procedure Post Submission

Once the application form is submitted, the evaluator panel will score it based on the prescribed criteria.
Startups that rank in the top 10 or 15 in terms of their aggregate scores will be chosen for the next round.
The next round, a Techno-Commercial one, will entail startups presenting their Proof-of-Concept or solution to a composite team of experts from _VOIS.
This will be from Oct 16 to Nov 3. More details will be communicated upon selection for this round.
Top startups will feature in the final jury round that will be held on Nov 16.
More details will be communicated upon selection for the final round.