When Technology Creates the Future

Recently, along with my senior leadership team members, I was in Bangalore for a series of meetings and internal workshops. It also provided a great opportunity to go and visit the campuses of member companies and get a feel of innovation, up close. The plan fitted rather well and we were graciously hosted by Infosys, Wipro, Accenture and IIIT Bangalore in their respective campuses. As an industry body, innovative ideas often dominate our conversations but, and it’s a bonus when we actually get to see some of the remarkable work being done by thousands of passionate people with a high sense of ownership, driving innovation almost single-mindedly.

Sprawling Campuses

As one steps inside, the sheer expanse of it all strikes you and the hullabaloo outside, seems distant. Tranquillity descends, yet, the sheer energy all around is palpable. Almost visible! I was also reminded of autonomous vehicles which are tested in controlled environments which are similar in design.

Interestingly, these organisations had humble beginnings, say thirty or forty years back and functioned out of offices which in today’s parlance would be minimalist. Soon enough, business expanded manifold and the idea of large campuses started to take shape.

The campus designs we see today are futuristic and the sustainability principle is at the core – both from a capacity building standpoint and environment protection. Sure enough, it has a positive effect on health, commuting and adds to the overall productivity.  Infact I was proud to note that the Indian IT cos are shaping the future large campuses with focus on sustainability.

Limitless Possibilities

The innovation labs leave you with a sense of abundance with limitless possibilities. This is where the future is getting created! The people who work there have a tremendous ability to re-imagine a future which may seem a bit distant today, but it’s just a matter of time when most of it will become reality. Truly, as humans we are only limited by our own imagination, if at all.

Companies think and act differently when it comes to hedging bets on advanced technology which are still in a nascent stage. It was fascinating to see some of the work happening in 5G, Blockchain, Quantum Computing etc. These technologies may not scale in the near future, but there can be no disagreement about their future potential and it was wonderful to see all 3 companies we visited invest in shaping the future.

The kind of investments in future technologies that companies are making is truly impressive and most importantly, these are ample number of real examples with a high degree of touch and feel in a simulated environment.  

Experience    

We came across a new term – “phygital”. It’s a “space” where digital meets the physical world and opens up infinite possibilities. For instance, you want to buy a car but you don’t have the time to visit the showroom; well, Immersive Media takes care of it, to give you a real touch and feel experience and even prompts you to choose the specs according to your preference. And voila, you can have the car of your choice! Essentially, the customer is at the centre and technology works towards providing a unique experience in a multiple number of ways. We also got to see some real-life applications of Digital Twins and experience the value-added, in a simulated conditions. Clients may not always be aware of the range of possibilities that technology offers, and it may be a great time for tech companies to talk about it and see it through in execution. 

Circular Economy & Collaboration

The word “permanency” unless it’s about constant learn-ability may soon be passé. Agile is not only about software development, it’s also an approach to other aspects of business where resources have to be optimally utilised, especially talent. The Gig economy is increasingly finding favour with business leaders because there’s a high degree of speed, flexibility and competence associated with it. Organizations are also collaborating like never before to engage with a wide spectrum of stakeholders including startups, academia and the government. The clear focus is towards contributing to the marketplace.     

Sustainability

This idea is very powerful and all the companies we visited, voiced it clearly. It’s not just mindless expansion in scope - environmental sustainability is amongst the priorities. As an off-shoot, we are seeing many applications in the social sector as well which is changing the landscape in a big way including stakeholders’ expectation.  

Key Takeaways

I’d be falling short, if I didn’t share some of the powerful ideas that resonated:

1.     Our institutes are changing and changing fast. What we saw at IIITB totally blew my mind. Not only are they focused on deep research in almost all key areas emerging tech, but there is tremendous focus to ensure research applies to problem solving via creative engagement models with start ups and industry. Academia is ready to partner with industry to shape the future. Both sides need to forget what did not work in the past and build out new models based on open innovation and trust.

2.     Too much technology takes the focus away from the problem. Amazing how all companies stayed focused on the end problem with tech playing the role of enabler.

3.     Instant gratification is what people want and we have to find multiple ways to deliver it at scale. It leads us to the big idea of individualization and content on demand.

4.     We have stepped into the post-Digital era which comprises Distributed Ledger Technology, AI, Augmented Reality & Quantum Computing. It also marks the age of technology and humans coming together.

5.     Did you know that 70 – 75% of cyber security breaches are due to internal lapses? Well, I don’t want to end on a sombre note, so here’s something to cheer you up. When it comes to filing patents in cyber security related technology, India is most favourably placed at #3.

What we witnessed up close is really a tribute to the kind of talent we have in India. Here’s raising a toast to millions of people who work passionately towards making a HUGE DIFFERENCE!  And the next time, anyone says Indian companies are not innovating, my humble request to the person to take the time and actually visit some of our companies to see how they are at the front end of cutting edge innovation. See it to believe it!