Looking at the brighter side of AI, the technology offers benefits in biometric logins, natural language processing, access to multi-factor authentication, etc. We understand the pros and cons of this emerging technology. Therefore, we mix traditional methods and AI to stay on top of our cybersecurity strategy and take appropriate steps beforehand to mitigate the risks later.– says Sandeep Khurana, CTO, NEC Corporation India in an exclusive interview with Enterprise Talk.”
ET Bureau: How is the IT and network technology sector helping develop a digital society?
Sandeep Khurana: According to industry research, worldwide IT spending is projected to reach $3.8 trillion in 2021, an increase of four percent from this year. I strongly believe that technology has shaped the way society lives over the past decade, and this trend is going to get stronger.
Today’s scenario of the COVID-19 pandemic has further explored the limits of how technology can support the disruption in our lives. We all see how education is being delivered today by the medium of Ed-tech.
A large part of the enterprise business is also being provided from the boundaries of our homes, and healthcare services are using telemedicine. All services are shifting to the mediums of technology.
In India’s context, the Government and Enterprises are coming together to offer technological solutions best suited to the “new normal”. Sectors, including manufacturing, health, public safety, logistics, and transportation, will be boosted multifold with the application of emerging technology.
Read More: Tackling the Digital Adoption Challenges for Enterprises’ Digital Transformation Journey
ET Bureau: How can businesses ensure security and safety simultaneously with touchless solutions?
Sandeep Khurana: In recent years, there have been innumerable debates in industry circles about the merits of AI, contactless technology, and its impact on human life. Looking at the brighter side of AI, the technology offers benefits in biometric logins, natural language processing, access to multi-factor authentication, etc.
We understand the pros and cons of this emerging technology. Therefore, we mix traditional methods and AI to stay on top of our cybersecurity strategy and take appropriate steps beforehand to mitigate the risks later.
Even before this pandemic disrupted society and this “touchless” thing came to vogue, tech companies promoted the theme of ‘frictionless’ to provide an opportunity for enterprises to enhance their customer experience.
One such example has been the usage of biometrics (facial recognition) to allow airline passengers to have a frictionless experience while at the airport and while boarding aircraft.
ET Bureau: Where is India’s growth curve headed with automation and ICT solutions?
Sandeep Khurana: According to GlobalData, the overall information and communications technology (ICT) spending in India is estimated to rise to $144 billion by 2023 from $101 billion in 2018 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.2%.
With core sectors in India, including manufacturing, infrastructure, transport, and logistics shifting to IT-driven business models, the spending is expected to grow multi-fold. In my opinion, products and solutions that address the economy’s immediate and long-term requirements will witness widespread society adoption.
Read More: Do All Enterprise Devices Have Security Restrictions Configured?
ET Bureau: What are global investors seeking from the Indian technology market?
Sandeep Khurana: We, since the 1950s, have been contributing significantly towards the country’s progress. As we expand the portfolio and the depth of solutions and services offered both in the Indian market and globally, the industry has good support from the global market.
Overall, we aim at the “India Go Big” initiative by leveraging our solution development & delivery capability from India to aid the global business growth and serve as a global delivery hub for offshore support & product development.
ET Bureau: What, according to NEC Corporation India, could be the mid-term and long-term goals for the global digital transformation journey?
Sandeep Khurana: We are in the midst of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, where digital technologies have emerged as a critical driver for business success. While it has become necessary for world leaders to embrace digital transformation with open arms, digital returns on investment (ROIs) are essential.
Adopting software-centricity, digital technologies, and data can help society sustain in these new times. As countries across the world reel under the impact of the pandemic, we have been focusing on empowering governments and businesses to unleash the power of digital.
To this end, with our “In India – For India & From India – For Global” strategy, we are focusing on strengthening our R&D efforts and developing innovative solutions at our laboratories to create social value and drive long term impact.
We have identified some 5-6 key growth drivers. In this context, we are looking at how we can create new solutions based on the ‘New Normal’ and make the customer adapt to the product for the better.
Read More: Digitization – The Most Critical Technology Need Across the Healthcare Industry
We partner with the Government to derive solutions based on the new models, and our local presence in the Indian market is robust in terms of quality and cost expectation. We are committed to contributing to the development of safe, secure, and smooth communications infrastructure by expanding our solutions business portfolio.
Sandeep Khurana is Chief Technology Officer at NEC Technologies India Pvt. Ltd. He has been associated with the organization for over a decade and is currently responsible for leading the overall Technology function. A seasoned IT professional, Sandeep comes with over 24 years of substantial experience in the sector, having taken on several senior leadership roles in Strategy, Presales and Business Development, Client Relationship Management, and Business Operations.
Marketing professional with experience in B2B and MR industry. Skilled in Marketing, Strategy Making, Copywriting and Content Creation, Sales, and SEO with excellent Communication Efficiency. Holding a dual master's degree focused on Marketing from IBS, Pune and ICFAI University.
