National Technology Day in India is observed on May 11 every year to commend the efforts and accomplishments of scientists and engineers in the arena of science and technology. This day gives us an opportunity to appreciate the work and achievements of Indian scientists and engineers, but the day is not only for them, it’s for all those associated with ideation, facilitation, and dissemination of knowledge and information that helps the country grow and prosper.
Owing to the current time which demands for technological innovations that put human health and the environment first, the theme of the National Technology Day 2021 is “Science and Technology for a Sustainable Future.”
Goal 9 of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals reads: ”Build resilient infrastructure, promote sustainable industrialization and foster innovation”. We, at Yulu, feel proud to be a contributor towards this trajectory with our Yulu Miracles by making urban mobility in India seamless, shareable, and sustainable. Our Electric mobility solutions not only reduce carbon emission and lead India into a greener and cleaner future but also decongest the cities for a better-planned development of the sub-continent.
Given the purpose of this occasion, we dedicated this year’s National Technology Day to the rachis of Yulu – our Technology Team, for fabricating a decisive and potent framework on which we blossom.
We interviewed a few members of our technology team and here are some insights from them on their objectives and functionality.
The Tech-Talk
How does a product/service come into being?
A product is always designed twice by us- once in mind where we scrutinize the possible outcomes especially hazards and rule them out and then only it is developed physically. We have three basic goals whenever we are building a product- stronger performance, high reliability, and most importantly, better safety. Even after the product is launched we do regular evaluations. We’ve developed a system called the Internet of Things (IoT) where every component of each Yulu bike is connected to a central setup that records its status and serviceability for us to keep track of the usability of the bike and subsequently stick to the three goals mentioned above.
-Aloka: Associate Director EV
How do you strategize the course of your actions?
There are two key sources from where we get our directions; one is quantitative and the other is qualitative. The quantitative source comprises data, matrix, and statistics collated by us through our database. The second and the more extensive one is qualitative which embodies all information collected from our users through surveys, reviews, ratings, and even personal interviews. We work copiously with both these data to provide a hassle-free and smooth experience to our riders. We do routine follow up with our target consumers to understand their judgment about our product and services to consider it better.
–Aveek Nandi: Head of Product
How do you ensure the availability of Yulu Bikes across the zones as per the demand from the customers?
With our increasing presence throughout different cities, it was getting difficult for us to manage the demand and supply ratio. To tackle this issue, we developed a software called Demand Prediction Model. Under this model, we aggregate data like the number of bikes unlocked during various time slots of different days, similarly for weekends and weekdays, etc. from all zones, and then break it down to study the demand and accordingly channelize our supply across and even predict future demand. The data is refreshed fortnightly to maintain accuracy.
-Amit Kumar: Tech Manager/ Data Engineer
How do Yulu Miracles get charged?
For charging the Yulu miracles, we have developed stations called Yulu Max spread across the cities and zones. A good charging infrastructure helps tackle low charging density batteries and improves the range of the bikes. Yulu Max is a very cost-efficient, safe, and secure charging station that is very easily deployable at an optimal location with low power bandwidth and can charge multiple bikes. Currently, they are managed by our internal team called Yulu Pilots through the IoT network.
-Anish Sharma- Product Mangaer Iot and Charging Infra
How do you manage the Yulu app?
There are two versions of the Yulu app; one is customer-based and the other is use-in i.e. for our field employees to help perform their duties by assisting them with the location and status of the bikes. We have to ensure that usability and communication are comprehensive and efficient in both these versions, varying in their purpose. For this, we tend to sometimes use the app from their perspective and examine the features in different scenarios. This helps us determine its compatibility and relevance.
–Nagarjuna Yelishetty: Software Architect
What is the driving force behind your dedication?
The motivation behind our efforts lies in the success of our product. It’s very overwhelming to see people like and enjoy our product. Being a part of Yulu and its success story as a harbinger of change towards a viable future is very emboldening. Happy customer feedback or a good review is worth all the hours spent toiling in the office.
–Pravesh Kumar: Product Manager IoT and Embedded System
The Ted Talk
While we extol our Technology team at Yulu and all others who dedicate their lives to science and technology, we all should also commit to more sustainable technologies. It’s been reminded time and again to humankind that the environment is not something that we’ve inherited from our ancestors but borrowed from our successors. We must take the onus of our actions and exist responsibly.
As Arthur C. Clarke has quoted, “Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic,” we urge you to believe in the Miracle we have created. It’s going to be a magical journey for you and you’ll save your planet by just having fun. We promise it is accessible, affordable, and always available for you. Take your ride towards sustainability and channel the change Earth wants. Be the fuel for our Technology Team to keep their spirits high and be the rider to a transformed India.
Yulu applauds the endeavors and intentions of our Technology Team.
A Happy National Technology Day To All Indians.