CITY www.ahmedabadmirror.com/city AhmedabadMirror SATURDAY, MAY 26, 2012 8

NIFTian’s smarttrolley to makeshopping faster The electronic trolley automatically receives, saves andtransmits product information to complete billing process,thus saving customers from standing in a queue

A n NIFT, Gandhinagar graduatehas designed an electronic trol-ley which promises to not onlymake shopping trips fun but

also increase sales for retailers. VinayPrajapati (28), who recently complet-ed his masters in fashion technology,has designed a trolley equipped withwireless and radio frequency identifi-cation (RFID) technologies, which canautomatically detect, receive, save andtransmit product information to com-plete the billing process. This is aimedat enhancing customer satisfaction byreducing time consumption and alsocutting cost of services and inventorymanagement at the billing counter.

“The inspiration for this trolleycame from my own shopping experi-ence. No customer enjoys standing ina queue to get the billing done. It issheer waste of time. The RFID trolleyhelps in fast shopping and checkout.The trolley automatically calculatesthe worth of the good inside it, thusminimising the time at the billingcounter. It also has a navigator, whichwill guide the customers to differentsections of the store. This will helpattracting customers to that particularstore and help the retailers in increas-ing footfalls,” said Prajapati. The trol-

ley will also help the retailers to trackthe buying behaviour of customers.

Prajapati’s research concentrateson automation of retail process thatinvolves customers. He said, “One cansave on man power required to man-age a retail store if RFID is imple-mented at item level. More over RFIDcan automate and reduce humanerrors at payment counters. It makesthe process efficient.”

“If all goes fine I will makeadvancements in present proposaland instal prototype in an apparel orfashion accessories outlet and recordcustomers’ review. It will help meprove that time is indeed money,”Prajapati added.

Shraddha.Singh@timesgroup.com

Vinay Prajapati

Bharatiya Janata Partyleaders LK Advani and SushmaSwaraj did not attend the key partyrally in Mumbai on Friday eveningdue to prior engagements, partyleaders said, denying that theirabsence was due to any discontent.

The party said the absence of thetwo leaders was known much earli-er. It also showed an invite of therally, which did not mentionAdvani’s name.

“Advani’s schedule was fixed ear-lier so he is not there and SushmaSwaraj has to attend a programmein Ghaziabad on Saturday morn-ing,” said party spokespersonNirmala Sitharaman.

Asked if both the leaders decidednot to attend the rally as they wereunhappy with the change in theparty constitution that would allowa second term to party presidentNitin Gadkari, Sitharaman said:“There has been no discontent overthe party resolution and he (Advani)is fully with us... it (any discontent)is all in the minds of the people.”

Another party leader said: “It wasknown since long that we will passan amendment to the constitution,and it is not for any particularleader. It will benefit all presidentsat state and district level as well.Why would there be a sudden dis-content over something that isknown for so long?”

Party sources added that Advaniwas not well and suffering from athroat infection. He had, however,addressed the valedictory functionof the meet before leaving.

Sushma Swaraj also denied spec-ulation that there was a rift amongparty leaders.

“I respect and honour all deci-sions of the party. Please do notdraw any other conclusions. I mustreach Delhi tonight (Friday night)because I have to leave early morn-ing for an important function in UPtomorrow (Saturday). I cannotattend tomorrow’s (Saturday) func-tions unless I take an early flight toDelhi,” she posted on micro-blog-ging site Twitter.

SENIOR LEADERS UNHAPPY WITH NITIN GADKARIThe clarifications came after specu-lations of serious cracks in the topleadership did the rounds. Advani’snon-unavailability was seen as hisunhappiness with Gadkari gettingthe unprecedented second consecu-tive three-year term.

Gadkari’s term will now end in

2015 which means that the partywill go to the 2014 Lok Sabha elec-tion under him, underminingAdvani’s role. Advani, many believe,has not yet ruled himself out as theprime ministerial candidate for BJP.

Incidentally, many senior leaderswanted change in presidentshipafter the patry’s poor show in thefive state assembly elections. BJPhad performed badly in UP andPunjab where its seat count wentdown and lost power inUttarakhand. Goa provided the sil-ver lining where it defeatedCongress.

Gadkari’s decision to bring UmaBharati from Madhya Pradesh tolead the party in UP did not payoff. Besides, reinducting formerparty general secretary Sanjay Joshiand putting him in charge of pollsdid not go well with his adversaryGujarat Chief Minister NarendraModi. AGENCIES

Vinay plans to instal a prototype at one of the retail outlets and get customer feedback

L K Advani, Sushma’s absence pre-decided;there is no rift: BJPAmendment to extend president’s term was known for long, says spokesperson

MODI MAY BE IN BJP PARLIAMENTARY BOARDThe new-found bon homie between Nitin Gadkari and Narendra Modi could seethe Gujarat chief minister getting into the party’s Parliamentary Board soon. Indications are that Gadkari could induct Modi into the powerful organ of the par-ty following the recent coming together of the two that seems to have upset quitea few equations. Asked whether any party chief minister could get into the Parlia-mentary Board, a veiled reference to Modi, BJP spokesperson RavishankarPrasad said, “BJP president has discretionary powers and no one objects to it.”Only yesterday, Gadkari is believed to have extracted the resignation of SanjayJoshi from the national executive at the behest of Modi. Today, Modi and Gadkarireached the stage together at a public meeting following the national executivehere, displaying their new bonding. Gadkari had come to the venue earlier butwaited for Modi to arrive so that they could take the podium together. PTI

Sushma gave the rally a miss because she had to reach Delhi on Friday night, while Advani didn’t attend due to throat infectionMUMBAI