Pune, India, November 10, 2023 — Extentia, a Merkle Company; a leading global technology and services firm, is delighted to share a glimpse into a phenomenal 2023 that they have had so far, filled with notable milestones and enriching experiences.
Extentia — A Certified Silver Sitecore Solution Partner
As a certified Silver Sitecore Solution Partner, Extentia has brought intelligent and scalable solutions to businesses worldwide. Their expert team of developers and designers continues to pave the way for clients to find innovative solutions to their business challenges.
Mark My Words 5 — 'Passion in Motion'
Showing their continued commitment to learning and growth, Extentia was thrilled to host ‘Mark My Words 5’ with long-term friend Mark Luckey. His inspiring life story, insightful advice on holistic well-being, and tools for personal and professional development left Extentians feeling motivated and better equipped for the future.
The Mental Fitness Project
Mark Luckey and Paul Taylor also brought a new mental health initiative with the ‘Mental Fitness Bootcamp,’ as part of the ‘Mental Fitness Project.’ This culminated in webinars, coaching sessions, and more to help Extentians keep track of their mental well-being. It was a long-awaited part of Mark’s efforts to bring about positive change in the mental health space for all. Extentians enthusiastically embraced the endeavor, which also led to stellar results for all the participants.
X24 Hackathon — Season 6 — A Phenomenal Return
After a two-year hiatus, Extentia proudly revived the sixth season of the X24 Hackathon, a high-octane event where innovation reigns supreme. The six vibrant houses passionately engaged in this 24-hour code extravaganza, competing fiercely and pushing the boundaries of creativity. The crowning of the 'Constant Variables' as the undisputed champions highlighted their unwavering commitment to groundbreaking solutions.
X24 Hackathon — Season 7 — AI on the Horizon
This year, the seventh season of X24 Hackathon will be about all things AI! Extentia’s six houses are set to compete fiercely, demonstrating their prowess in conceiving groundbreaking solutions, while incorporating AI into their project workflow.
Events That Defined the Year So Far
The team at Extentia actively participated in a series of captivating events:
The Techquarium Workshop: Extentians delved into the fascinating world of 3D printing, exploring 3D design software, and working hands-on with Resin and FDM printers. They got a unique chance to showcase their creativity through innovative 3D-printed trinkets.
International Women’s Day: In celebration of International Women’s Day, Kotak Bank hosted a nail art and caricature kiosk for the women of Extentia. It was a time for much-needed self-care and appreciation for the tremendous value each of them brings to the team.
The XPL Badminton Tournament: The company’s first-ever XPL Badminton Tournament was a spirited inter-house competition, with the ‘Spartans’ proving their mettle as the winners.
The XPL Cricket Tournament: The Extentians embraced the sporting spirit again, with record-breaking inter-house matches over 5 days. The tournament ended with a historic victory for ‘Parikrama’.
Breakfast Talk: Extentia continued the practice of inviting speakers to ETP for informative ‘Breakfast Talks’ on various subjects of interest and importance. So far, the company has hosted three such sessions.
Anjali Vyas enlightened the Extentians about 'Invisible Multiple Sclerosis' (MS). Her insights into the challenges faced by people with MS in the workplace shed light on an important subject.
Anuradha Gurnani's insightful session on ‘Peaceful Coexistence with Animals’ highlighted the importance of a harmonious relationship with animals. She emphasized how animals provide companionship, unconditional love, and a means to connect with one's inner self. Anuradha also stressed that vaccination and sterilization offer practical, humane approaches to mitigate conflicts with animals.
Priti Khare held a session called 'Embrace Equity', where she delved into crucial subjects like equity, equality, and dismantling gender biases. She presented an impactful distinction between equity and equality in our lives, accompanied by her personal journey that led to the creation of new opportunities.
Extentia Forum: After a gap of three years, the Extentia team gathered in person for their annual ‘Forum.’ This event presented the perfect opportunity to celebrate milestones, embrace new beginnings, and welcome the integration with Merkle. Min Lu (Head of M&A Integration, dentsu) embraced the company's vibrant culture with a forward-looking attitude.
#NJY‘23: The unforgettable #NJY23 experience brought with it warmth, entertainment, and togetherness. The event showcased remarkable house performances and honored talented and dedicated Extentians across the board. Jim Butler (President, CX & Commerce, Merkle), visited the Extentia team and was part of the festivities in Pune as well. “We're thrilled to host this year's Annual Party and bring together our colleagues and new partners from Merkle for a night of celebration and fun,” said Umeed Kothavala (Chief Experience Officer, Extentia). “This year's theme, 'The Perfect Blend,' represents the unique combination of talents, skills, and perspectives that make Extentia, Merkle and dentsu so dynamic and successful as a true 'blend' of ideas, cultures, and strengths.”
Celebrating All Things Design: In April, Extentia geared up to celebrate International Design Day throughout the month. In a dynamic celebration of creativity and innovation, Extentia hosted an internal banner design event as well. The event was open to all Extentians and aimed to design a flex banner in honor of International Design Day. The talented and enthusiastic Extentians produced a captivating flex banner, which graced the premises throughout the entire month. Collectively, the International Design Day events provided an invaluable platform for designers to explore the limitless possibilities and applications of AI in the world of design. The success of these initiatives, as underscored by the remarkable banner display, distinctly reflected Extentia's unwavering commitment to nurturing a culture of design and innovation, empowering its creative community, and advancing the boundaries of design exploration.
Design Day at Extentia: Extentia celebrated this year’s International Design Day in a big way. ‘Design Day at Extentia’ was a standout event that stood as a testament to the profound influence of design in our world. This special occasion brought together a diverse community of design enthusiasts, including students, professionals, educators, and all those who hold a passion for the creative arts. It was a platform where ideas and creativity converged, where attendees had the chance to explore the latest design trends, technologies, and practices. Extentia celebrated Design Day to underscore the vital role design plays in our daily lives, shaping experiences, solving complex problems, and innovating for a better future. It was a day for attendees to gain insights from industry insiders, explore the inner workings of our creative hub — the Experience Studio (ES), and immerse themselves in the technology that drives design innovation. A visit to Extentia's headquarters, known for its vibrant work culture, was a highlight, making this event not only educational but also incredibly fun. Ultimately, by participating in Design Day at Extentia, attendees became part of a global community dedicated to the transformative power of design and its positive impact on the world. This event was an opportunity to connect, learn, and explore, making it a must-attend for anyone passionate about design and its potential for good.
ExperienceX: Additionally, as part of its dedication to promoting design education, Extentia hosted 'ExperienceX', aimed at engaging budding design students. The event featured a captivating panel discussion led by Extentia's design enthusiasts, focusing on the intersection of AI and design. This theme closely mirrored the discussions held on Design Day at Extentia, providing budding design students with insights into the intricate relationship between AI technology and design practices. Furthermore, 'ExperienceX' featured multiple interactive booths that showcased an array of design projects successfully undertaken by Extentia over the years. The event offered a unique opportunity for aspiring designers to explore practical examples of innovative design work, facilitating an invaluable exchange of knowledge and inspiration.
SAP Day at Extentia: In August, Extentia hosted its inaugural SAP Day event at XEN LAB in Pune, with insightful discussions and creative engagement. Devashish Nayak (Vice President of Delivery, Extentia), highlighted the company's journey and agile approach to adopting SAP technologies. Esteemed speakers from SAP India provided real-world use cases and insights into SAP's vision and innovative capabilities. Anil Apte (Senior Vice President of Delivery, Extentia), concluded the event, which also featured interactive activities. SAP Day left participants inspired, reflecting Extentia's commitment to delivering impactful solutions in collaboration with SAP.
#ExtentiaInTheMerkleCircle
Extentia's growing friendship with Merkle was evident in the interactions with members of the Merkle team, including Susan Zoch (Global Chief Counsel, Merkle); Barry Fiske (CXO, Chief Creative Discipline Lead, Merkle Americas); Parry Ruparelia (Executive Director, Digital Product Transformation, Merkle Americas); and Jim Butler (President, CX & Commerce, Merkle). Their sharp knowledge and insights added tremendous value to the integration journey.
M.1 Celebrations: The celebration of Extentia's one-year anniversary within the Merkle family culminated in a dazzling series of events. From the remarkable Rangmanch cultural extravaganza, which showcased Extentians' extraordinary talents in music, dance, and poetry, to the grand M.1 Finale, filled with excitement and nostalgia, the events left a profound mark. Extentia's leaders, along with colleagues from Merkle, dentsu, and DGS, joined virtually from across the globe, uniting across time zones. The celebration commenced with the heartwarming M.0 reveal video, which provided a nostalgic journey through the past year. This journey was shared through the insightful words of leaders, reflecting on #ExtentiaInTheMerkleCircle, which culminated in applause.
"Without exception, across geographies and roles, we've had the opportunity to meet, interact, and work with exceptional, incredible people. And knowing that these are the people that we are going to be working with and collaborating with, gives us a great source of motivation on being able to accomplish phenomenal things together," said Umeed Kothavala (Chief Experience Officer, Extentia). "We knew when we wanted the Extentia family to join us that it was a company that had amazing talent and amazing capabilities. We also knew that the leaders put a lot of care into the culture," said Pete Stein (President, Americas, Merkle).
Lastly, the spotlight shone on the winners of the YoFoto competition, recognized for their ability to capture the essence of creativity through photography. Extentia expressed heartfelt gratitude to everyone who contributed to this remarkable journey and celebration, with eager anticipation of future milestones together.
As Extentia moves forward in 2023, the team looks forward to many more breakthroughs, exciting events, and enriching experiences.
About dentsu
Part of dentsu, dentsu international is made up of five leadership brands – Carat, dentsu X, iProspect, Dentsu Creative, Merkle, and supported by its specialist brands. dentsu international helps clients to win, keep and grow their best customers and achieve meaningful progress for their businesses. With best-in-class services and solutions in media, CXM and creative, dentsu international operates in over 145 markets worldwide with more than 45,000 dedicated specialists.
About Merkle
Merkle, a dentsu company, is a leading data-driven customer experience management (CXM) company that specializes in the delivery of unique, personalized customer experiences across platforms and devices. For more than 30 years, Fortune 1000 companies and leading nonprofit organizations have partnered with Merkle to maximize the value of their customer portfolios. The company's heritage in data, technology, and analytics forms the foundation for its unmatched skills in understanding consumer insights that drive hyper-personalized marketing strategies. Its combined strengths in consulting, creative, media, analytics, data, identity, CX/commerce, technology, and loyalty & promotions drive improved marketing results and competitive advantage. With more than 14,000 employees, Merkle is headquartered in Columbia, Maryland, with 50+ additional offices throughout the Americas, EMEA, and APAC. For more information, contact Merkle at 1-877-9-Merkle or visit www.merkle.com.
About Extentia® Information Technology
A global technology and services firm that helps clients transform and realize their digital strategies. With a unique Experience Centric Transformation approach, Extentia’s ground-breaking solutions are in the space of mobile, cloud, and design. The team is differentiated by an emphasis on excellent design skills that they bring to every project. At Extentia, we believe in open communication and transparency across all our departments, where possible. For a snapshot of Extentia's fiscal report for the year, kindly download the document. Focused on enterprise mobility, cloud computing, and user experiences, Extentia strives to accomplish and surpass their customers’ business goals. The company’s inclusive work environment and culture inspire team members to be innovative and creative, and to provide clients with an exceptional partnership experience.