Business
Market expansion and European investment drive 99x’s growth in 2021
Despite challenging market conditions brought on by the prevailing pandemic in 2021, technology company 99x saw organisational growth across the board while maintaining topline performance and recording strong profitability for the financial year ended 31 December 2021.
Some notable achievements for the year were the USD 20 million investment from a Scandinavian private equity company and the acquisition of Norway-based Seeds Consulting AS, to increase its presence in Europe and strategically position 99x to build new offerings to the enterprise market. The company also diversified its customer portfolio by expanding into new markets last year and onboarded new clients, spread across Norway, Sweden, Germany, and Singapore. This growth was supplemented with a notable increase in talent at 99x’s Sri Lankan offices, with over 100 employees recruited virtually in the last year alone.
“2021 was a challenging year. We expected greater mobility across borders, which was finally not the case and not what we hoped for. However, our people continued to deliver through it all while working from home for a second year. We see the trend of digitally onboarding customers and employees in our business, which we believe will be the new normal. Our customer satisfaction scores have in fact increased over the past two years, which is a testament to the dedication and resourcefulness of our teams, and I truly appreciate their commitment – our accomplishments in 2021 would not be possible without them,” observed 99x Founder and CEO Mano Sekaram, when commenting on the company’s performance.
He added that despite the ongoing pandemic, the company hopes to have more people in office this year. “Our work has been cut out for us in 2022, with various macro-economic factors weighing in – being a good employer is no longer enough. However, I’m confident we will continue to find new ways to engage and retain our people.”
99x also strengthened its leadership with the appointment of legal professional Shalini Ratwatte as its Chief Legal and Governance Officer, to play a tactical role in company’s plans for expansion in international markets.
Keeping in line with its people-first approach, the company made it a priority in 2021 to extend the maximum support to employees and families affected by COVID, providing logistical and financial assistance at every stage. “Our HR, facilities and administrative teams rose to the challenge in extending this level of support to our employees in a difficult time,” Sekaram noted.
99x continued to be recognized for its people practices, and business and export excellence. It was listed as a Best Workplace in Asia for a fifth year and Best Workplace in Sri Lanka for a ninth consecutive year by Great Place to Work® Institute.
Uplifting the community continued to be of the highest priority for 99x, and the company focused on aiding hospitals during a time when the healthcare industry has been inundated. This included contributions to the Kalubowila HDU and setting up of a PCR testing facility at the Wathupitiwala Base Hospital.
99x’s university relationships initiative Dotitude continued uninterrupted in 2021, with numerous workshops, trainings, mock interviews and more conducted online for universities and higher education institutes, empowering thousands of undergraduates across the country. This culminated with the launch of ‘Hacktitude’ in December, an inter-university hackathon geared at grooming talented undergraduates to be industry-ready upon graduation.
Understanding that remote working is now here to stay, the company partnered with VMware to implement its Workspace One platform across the organisation, which bolstered the company’s work-from-home strategy and enabled it to deliver seamless, uninterrupted product engineering services to global clients, even during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
99x is a technology company co-creating well-engineered, innovative digital products for the Scandinavian market. Its expertise has been proven through a portfolio of over 150 impactful global digital products, developed together with leading Independent Software Vendors (ISVs). 99x employs over 350 technology and product specialists, who are high achievers, creative thinkers and team players. The company is one of Asia’s Best Workplaces for 2021 and has been named a Best Workplace in Sri Lanka for nine consecutive years.
The Delegation of German Industry and Commerce in Sri Lanka (AHK Sri Lanka) proudly facilitated the first-ever Sri Lankan delegation’s participation at Drupa 2024, the world’s largest trade fair for the printing industry and technology. Held after an eight-year hiatus, Drupa 2024 was a landmark event, marking significant advancements and opportunities in the global printing industry.
AHK Sri Lanka played a pivotal role in organising and supporting the delegation, which comprised 17 members from the Sri Lanka Association for Printers (SLAP), representing eight companies from the commercial, newspaper, stationery printing, and packaging industries. This pioneering effort by AHK Sri Lanka not only showcased the diverse capabilities of Sri Lanka’s printing sector but also facilitated vital bilateral discussions with key stakeholders from the German printing industry.
Business
Unveiling Ayugiri: Browns Hotels & Resorts sets the stage for a new era in luxury Ayurveda Wellness
In a captivating reimagining of luxury wellness tourism, Browns Hotels & Resorts proudly unveiled the exquisite Ayugiri Ayurveda Wellness Resort Sigiriya. This momentous occasion, celebrated amidst a vibrant and serene grand opening on the 6th of June, heralds a new chapter in the Ayurveda wellness tourism landscape in Sri Lanka. Nestled amidst 54 acres of unspoiled natural splendour, Ayugiri features 22 exclusive suites and stands out as the only luxury Ayurveda wellness resort in the country offering plunge pools in every room, rendering it truly one-of-a-kind.
The grand opening of Ayugiri Ayurveda Wellness Resort was an enchanting event, where guests were captivated by the melodies of flutists and violinists resonating through Sigiriya’s lush landscapes. As traditional drummers and dancers infused the air with vibrant energy, Browns Hotels & Resorts’ CEO, Eksath Wijeratne, Kotaro Katsuki, Acting Ambassador for the Embassy of Japan and General Manager, Buwaneka Bandara, unveiled the resort’s new logo, marking a significant moment witnessed by distinguished guests from the French Embassy, Ayurveda and wellness enthusiasts along with officials from the Sigiriya area, LOLC Holdings and Browns Group.
“Our strategic expansion into wellness tourism with Ayugiri Ayurveda Wellness Resort Sigiriya symbolises a significant milestone for Browns Hotels & Resorts. Wellness tourism has consistently outperformed the overall tourism industry for over a decade, reflecting a growing global interest in travel that goes beyond leisure to offer rejuvenation and holistic well-being. By integrating the timeless wisdom of Ayurveda with modern luxury, we aim to set a new standard in luxury wellness tourism in Sri Lanka. Whether your goal is prevention, healing, or a deeper connection to inner harmony, Ayugiri offers a sanctuary for holistic well-being” stated Eksath Wijeratne.
Ayugiri encapsulates the essence of life, inspired by the lotus flower held by the graceful queens of the infamous Sigiriya frescoes. Just as the lotus emerges from the murky depths, untainted and serene,
Ayugiri invites guests on a journey of purity and rejuvenation, harmonised with a balance of mind, body and spirit, the essence of nature, echoes of culture and the wisdom of ancient Ayurvedic healing.
HNB General Insurance, one of Sri Lanka’s leading general insurance providers, has been honored as the Best General Bancassurance Provider in Sri Lanka 2024 by the prestigious Global Banking and Finance Review – UK.
The esteemed accolade underscores HNB General Insurance’s unwavering commitment to excellence and its outstanding performance in the field of bancassurance. Through dedication and hard work, the HNB General Insurance team has continuously endeavored to deliver innovative insurance solutions, cultivate strong relationships with banking partners, and provide unparalleled service to customers nationwide. This recognition is a testament to the team’s dedication and relentless pursuit of excellence in the bancassurance business.
“We are honored to receive this prestigious award, which reflects our team’s tireless efforts and dedication to delivering value-added insurance solutions and exceptional service through our bancassurance partnerships,” said Sithumina Jayasundara, CEO of HNB General Insurance. “This recognition reaffirms our position as a trusted insurance provider in Sri Lanka and motivates us to continue striving for excellence in serving our customers and communities.”
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