National Technology Day 2021: Technology, a vital factor for businesses during pandemic

Celebrating India’s successful nuclear tests at the Indian Army's Pokhran Test Range in Rajasthan under Operation Shakti on May 11, 1998, the National Technology Day is observed. This day upholds the country's technological advancements in this space. It also celebrates the the achievements and contributions of Indians to science and technology.

As we all know, in last few years technology has advanced multifold and it is considered as a key factor for the economic development of the country. For the economy to grow at a sustainable rate, adopting the latest technologies which augment the business performance is essential along with upgrading the skills of the existing workforce. Moreover, at present we are reeling under COVID-19 pandemic and organisations have been forced to implement measures such as work from home for their employees to adhere to the social distancing norms.

On this backdrop we have garnered views of some industry experts, so let’s see their opinion.

Gurumukh Uttamchandani, Executive Director, Syska Group

"Technology and associated innovations have been a game changer for businesses as well as individuals, especially in the times of the pandemic. Since the last few years, technology has been a part of everyone’s lives in some way or the other way, but Covid-19 has led to an inevitable surge in the use of digital technologies for various communication such as paying bills, shopping and much more. With an aim to stay safe and refrain from coming in contact with any surface, there has been an escalating demand from consumers to pursue products and solutions that provide contactless technology which can be accessed through voice control commands or mobile apps. Smart homes, the Internet of Things, and contactless technology are becoming an indelible part of every household and we at Syska have always been striving to develop such technology led products that can usher in convenience and comfort to the lives of our customers. Features such as ease-of-use, security and data privacy, functionality, connectivity and longevity are some of the crucial aspects for the modern consumers when they seek technology led innovations in products. As we observe National Technology Day on 11th May, we at Syska stand committed to continue developing latest technologies and support in bringing about a positive change through our product offerings."

Parag Naik, Co-Founder & CEO, Saankhya Labs

“Technology is playing a vital role in keeping everyone connected especially during the pandemic. It has been the greatest pillar of support to mitigate interruptions caused to business operations, as well as providing critical services such as remote healthcare, e-commerce etc. Technology development can be a great enabler for the progress of any business or nation and should be nurtured with focus towards innovation. We at Saankhya Labs have been at the forefront of bringing innovative solutions for the next-gen wireless communication technologies. Saankhya has been investing in building cutting edge products for 5G, satellite communications and broadcast applications. As we celebrate National Technology Day on 11th May, we must acknowledge the technological innovations that are set to transform the way we live, conduct business or communicate in the new normal.”

Kishan Jain, Director, Goldmedal Electricals

“During this ongoing pandemic, technology has helped us educate, prepare, and empower people to deal with the situation and drive business continuity seamlessly around the world. Consumer electrical companies have witnessed a spike in the consumption of products that offer contactless technology and smart solutions. At Goldmedal, we try our best in delivering technology-led products for our target audience. As smart products are enabled with technology, they are designed to allow customers to manage their electrical products through touch and voice commands. We are always striving to adopt advanced technologies in our system which can support us to efficiently operate our manufacturing and accounting processes as well as in communicating with our stakeholders seamlessly. We have been working on the path to becoming a digital-first organization. As we celebrate National Technology Day on 11th May, we at Goldmedal strongly believe that technology is the future and we will continue to strive towards bringing innovative and advanced technology-led products."

Niraj Hutheesing, Founder and Managing Director of Cygnet Infotech

“Annually, National Technology Day is observed on 11th May to celebrate various innovations in the field of technology that are empowering India. Over the course of the last one year, technology has played a critical role in keeping people connected whether in business or personal settings. Undoubtedly, the pandemic has increased digital demands, and technology leaders are forced to advance their roadmap for leveraging technologies such as Robotic Process Automation (RPA), Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and Hyper-automation. By understanding the impact of these technologies, leaders can better prioritize decisions around digital transformation. Unquestionably, hyper-automation is the future of digitization and will transform businesses across industries, thereby supporting the country further in its digital journey.”

Manisha Raisinghani, Co-founder & CTO, LogiNext

"Technology has dramatically changed life, especially in the past decade since the arrival of the smartphone. New revolutions in mobility, the internet, and artificial intelligence have given entirely new ways of doing things- from how a child studies to how goods are moved through the global supply chain! All industries are adopting technology and especially during the times of the pandemic, the importance of touchless systems and digitisation came to the forefront. At LogiNext, since our inception in 2014, we've been making the most of machine learning and artificial intelligence to help enterprises digitise, optimise and automate their logistics operations to help save on fuel, cost and achieve operational excellence. Our commitment to using technology for good by providing efficient logistics remains paramount and we'd be looking at more ways of reducing carbon footprint by optimised routes and in the process, delighting the end-customer through everything we do."

Gaurva Burman, APAC President, 75F

"The COVID 19 crisis has made us all see technology in a new light. Technology is being considered as the key tool for economic development, crisis management and resource distribution in this current situation. Everywhere various applications of technology are being used to manage many critical situations. The pandemic has forced offices worldwide to remain shut. As an IoT powered Building Automation Solution provider, we wanted to address this problem with a new sequence, The 75F Epidemic Mode. The mode is designed to maximize ventilation and outside air to maintain a healthy and safe indoor environment during the pandemic.

As more businesses now reopen for on-premises operations, ensuring a safe and healthy work environment for employees is paramount. Therefore, this system is specially designed to make offices secure when they reopen post-pandemic by implementing the latest guidelines from HVAC&R Experts and government bodies like the CDC, ISHRAE, and ASHRAE, etc. Intelligent building solutions are AI powered, easy, cost-effective, faster to install, and can be extremely useful for companies looking to implement more sustainable practices while also keeping their employees safe in a post-pandemic world."

Prem Kumar, Founder & CEO, Snapbizz

"On National Technology Day, we renew our commitment to democratizing technology's power down to the smallest merchant level. This will enable them to transform by leveraging their core strengths, which include proximity, convenience, and hyperlocal assortment, to not only survive but to thrive.

In terms of MSMEs' digitisation, the consumer retail sector has seen strong growth in the last year. This was fueled primarily by the current Covid scenario, especially for the kiranas. A national infrastructure of over 10 million Kirana stores serves India's 1.3 billion heterogeneous population, which has enormous socioeconomic and ethnic diversity. India is also a country where nearly 70% of shopping baskets are less than 200 rupees. The Kiranas' survival is more concerned with the vacuum it will create in serving the population than with the stores themselves. SnapBizz has had a lot of success leapfrogging retailers from the calculator to the cloud in order to achieve digital financial and ecosystem convergence. We owe a huge debt of gratitude to brands, banks, and philanthropy for assisting us in achieving our goal of inclusive change and bringing technology to the bottom of the pyramid."

Ji Hyun, Co-founder & COO, Giftiicon

"Covid-19 has highlighted and reiterated the Indian consumer shopping and gifting behaviour. We see India as the next biggest market for all technology-based solutions. The great American dream in our understanding is shifting towards the great Indian dream with so much potential and a market full of tech-savvy consumers who are looking for easy on-the-move solutions.

Particularly in the post-Covid age when people are socially distanced yet want to retain their human connections, our technology offers the perfect low-contact touch base option for anyone with a smartphone. With the pace of technological change, we can be certain that many new such solutions will be available through apps and websites in the coming years. Though we are amongst the new players in the space, the customer response this season has given us great confidence that we are moving in the right direction in the Indian market."