Navtej Kohli Business Blog

Navtej Kohli tracks news from The Indian Railways which are on the technology upgradation drive.

After a long spell, The Indian Railways finally are on the track for technology upgradation and it has been decided that The Railways will depend on technology to make improvements in operational efficiency, bring transparency in working and provide better services to passengers.

In addition, the railways are trying to bring about radical changes in railway technology systems and processes. The railways will focus on information technology application in freight service management, passenger service management and general management.

For getting maximum benefit in the coming years, the mantra for present and future IT applications would be seamless integration. The railways nationwide communication infrastructure will provide the foundation for a common delivery network and platform. Modern technologies like GIS, GPS and RFID will be applied progressively.

Navtej Kohli shares views on Cloud Computing.

The latest word that is creating a buzz in the world of web has to be Cloud computing. Cloud computing uses virtualization to allow users to dynamically prepare servers over the web as per their requirement and pay only for the resources they use.

There is a define buzz being created by cloud computing. As per most people, it’s just marketing hype, while others feel it’s old wine in new bottle and is the same as distributed computing. Either way Cloud Computing is on the rise, with biggies like IBM, Google, Amazon, RedHat etc, all launching Cloud based solutions.

So, for now…it is a cloudy web ahead!

A new start up venture has emerged - Mochilla, a marketplace for individual newspaper, magazine and other articles.

Let me explain how it works - If VentureBeat wants to run AP stories, for example, we can go to Mochila and pick out individual Associated Press stories, run them on VentureBeat for free — and share any resulting revenue with Mochila and AP. It is a 40-30-30 percent revenue split, with AP getting the 40 percent. AP is a customer of Mochila’s, as are a number of other big publishers, including Hachette Filipacchi Media US, which owns cars and drivers and many others.

AP gets to dictate various terms, such as embargos, or geographies where the story may or may not run. If it doesn’t want to offer its content for free, then it can choose to sell it for a price to buyers.

This a la carte publishing model is new; we haven’t heard of anything like it. Until now, VentureBeat would have to wade through lots of paperwork to acquire rights to AP content, and typically buy for monthly periods or longer.

Mochila has raised $8 million in a second round of funding. Charles River Ventures, led the round, while Mochila’s previous investors, Mission Ventures, The Greenspun Corporation, and Jerry Colonna, also participated.

The only catch is that we’d have to run the advertising in a set, central spot within the AP story — a format dictated by Mochila’s platform (see screenshot below for example). Mochila chief executive, Keith McAllister, says the company will soon provide other advertising possibilities. It opens its free platform Thursday to the public for the first time. Mochila’s marketplace includes print, audio, video, and photo content.

Mochila did not provide VentureBeat with a full list of publications offering their content for free (via advertising). However, it claims it has more than 100 big publishing companies — operating more than 1,500 newspapers, magazines, wire services and websites — participating through either the paid or free model.

-Navtej Kohli

Do you wish to know if the economy is falling apart or not? According to Fed there are mixed signals to indicate a crisis in home finance, unemployement report, strong productivity numbers and an expectation (from analysts) of a 15% gain in corporate profits for 2008.

The good news is that due to the collateral damage and decline in consumer spendings, shares of reputed companies has become more affordable. The S&P 500 index is down 6.9% so far this year, which puts it at 17 times estimated 2007 earnings. If earnings growth meets expectations, you’re paying 15 times 2008 earnings. That ratio is right in the middle of the historical range.

-Navtej Kohli

Navtej Kohli an established businessman speaks on how to start a new business at your retirement age.

Starting a new business in your early age is easier than starting a business in your retirement age when there is a lot to lose including your all time life savings. When you are young, there is a lot of zeal and energy and if your idea is good then you can succeed easily.

Not many people at later stages have the courage to start a new business and are scared of the circumstances. But if planned properly and thoughtfully it is not that difficult to succeed. The challenge is figuring out what to do and how to do it, without betting the farm on a venture that might not pan out.

John Smith spend his entire life painting houses of others when at the age of 50 he realized it was not something he wanted to do. He opted out and voted for retirement. Soon he started his own company giving consultation to budding and established companies for general contracting and painting. Today he has lot of work, a job that is very satisfying and with flexibility of hours.

The question arises that why John was so successful and was able to accomplish so much.

1. Find niche and untapped market in the business that you have experience. Sometimes the best way to determine what business to start is to identify a loophole that was left at the place where you worked.

2. Consider turning your hobby into a business. One can only gain success if he/she does what they enjoy the most. If pleasure is mixed with work then your mind is at peace and you get success.

3. Use your connections and social networking. Over the years the network of people that you make always helps you in the long run. These people will help you to get ideas and develop and grow your business.

4. Do not invest a lot initially.  Plan your investments wisely, as it is a new business; do not spend a lot in developing the infrastructure at a very early stage.

If you plan your moves right, you’ll find a way to be productive and make money even after your core earning years are behind you.

I’m Navtej Kohli, an established entrepreneur of a budding oil exploration company Granox. When I’m not working, I like to help others start their own business and grow it. Contact me if you need help on developing your company.

The Federal Reserve on Wednesday provided its projection for economic growth this year. They said that there will be a lot of damage from the hazards of housing slump and credit crunch. It also forecasted higher unemployment and inflation.

This updated forecast came by Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke stating that the U.S. economy could continue to weaken, affecting the whole global economy.“With no signs of stabilization in the housing sector and with financial conditions not yet stabilized, the committee agreed that downside risks to growth would remain even after this action,” minutes of the Fed’s Jan. 29-30 closed door meeting showed. Due to slowing economic growth, the Fed projected that the national jobless rate will rise to 5.2 percent to 5.3 percent this year. That is higher than the central bank’s old forecast for the rate to climb to as high as 4.9 percent. Last year, the unemployment rate averaged 4.6 percent.

With energy prices shooting upward, the Fed also raised its projection for inflation. The Fed now expects inflation to be between 2.1 percent and 2.4 percent this year. That’s higher than its old forecast for inflation, which was estimated to come in at around 1.8 percent to 2.1 percent.

- Navtej Kohli