Industrial Automation Magazine India

If companies do not embrace new technology are bound to suffer a lot

Published on : Friday 01-07-2022

Adnyesh Dalpati, CEO, Boson Technologies, Hands-on Enterprise Architect, Technologist and IoT Evangelist.

The pandemic is nearly behind us, but the effects on the industry will last longer. What are three digitalisation strategies that companies are working on based on lessons of the last two years?

The three main digitalisation strategies are:
1. Automation of processes through Robotic Process Automation (RPA) – RPA helps eliminate repetitive tasks that require human intervention and are repetitive; RPA essentially helps in pandemics to get the jobs done in case of fewer resources.

2. Adoption of Productivity & Efficiency Tools for Employees – In a hybrid environment, monitoring employees' efficiency has become difficult, so productivity apps and employee monitoring apps have increased significantly.

3. ERP Systems – Instead of having multiple disconnected systems, companies are building or deploying ERP systems in their organisations, so the information in various departments is properly flowing. This was much-needed post-pandemic since physical communication channels were disrupted, and the need for digital was required.

Is there any urgency to move towards digitalisation for so many Indian companies who are not entirely into Industrial Revolution 3.0?
It has an obvious answer, you adopt, or you die. If companies do not embrace new technology they are bound to suffer a lot. Also, the pandemic is an eye-opener; instead, one should see it as an opportunity to make things better and more accessible.

For many companies, the challenge is moving from pilot to deployment at scale. What is the way forward?
The fear of losing business makes it difficult to move from pilots to deployment. There are many pilots done, but no new changes have been implemented.

The only way through this is to create buy-in with all the stakeholders. So, post pilots, there is no fear of something going wrong; if the entire business is involved in some capacity with the activity, they all vouch for the success of creating an environment of mutual trust.

There is so much work going on in the area of Data Analytics. What about the effort to get real-time data directly from machines?
Realtime data requires low latency systems; there are initiatives in the area of edge computing, 5G private infrastructure networks, software side software-defined networks, micro services, etc., which can help achieve low latency systems and infrastructure. Also, in Machine Learning, the infrastructure is becoming affordable to be used with large datasets and easy plug-and-play methods.

Many niche and custom solutions are being attempted for connecting legacy machines; what about long-term serviceability?
This is because of dependency on legacy machines and fear of losing business if a new initiative is taken. They are not long-term solutions but help bridge the gap till a new app is developed or a new strategy is implemented. We should avoid calling them part of digital transformation since they are not long-term solutions.

Is it too early to talk about standards and regulatory guidelines for collection, storage and access to data?
No, it has already begun, and many countries have adopted it for Web 2.0. Also, Web 3.0 talks about different levels of data security standards. This is a must for all; data is oil, and we must protect it. If guidelines are not followed, it could lead to misuse, and people will trust in sharing information online. If not regulated, it will make adopting new tech more difficult in the long run.

Digital transformation is necessary for companies to become part of the big global supply chains. Are there already such requirements by big buyers as a condition to become their suppliers?
Yes, Marketplaces like Amazon and Walmart have become 1st party buyers; they have specific protocol EDI for communication of orders, inventory, shipping, etc. Some buyers need standardised protocols for data exchange and network infrastructure also to start with. These enhance the information infrastructure, speed up the transaction processing and reduce operations. As we are growing in volumes, digital transformation helps bridge this gap as well as build it for the future.

How could Digital Transformation help companies cope with the supply constraints of recent origin – for example, electronic chips and other shortages arising out of political events in Europe?
Business processes are like assembly lines; if one process fails, it leads to a butterfly effect on other methods, resulting in delays and, ultimately, loss of business. Digital transformation in such processes is necessary where systems can understand the patterns and predict the failure. An early alarm can help remediate the action course rather than taking it later. Even in crises, quicker decisions can be taken to re-route and avoid untimely delays, which can help remediate the losses and keep the supply chain intact. Change is the only constant here.

Adnyesh Dalpati, CEO, Boson Technologies, Hands-on Technologist and Enterprise Architect, has 17+ years of experience working across Investment Banks, Ecommerce, Stock Exchanges, Media, Telecom and Cloud Computing Companies. Specialised in Artificial Intelligence, IoT and Edge Computing Applications and Architectures, he is an active contributor, speaker, and evangelist to Tech Forums, Conferences, Corporates Trainings and Webinars. Currently, running an initiative named Eureka Moment to motivate youth and also, mentors many students on technology and career. Also, recognised as Emerging IT professional of the year 2022 in CIO Conclave and Top 50 Global Thought leaders by Thinkers360.
 
(The views expressed in interviews are personal, not necessarily of the organisations represented)