Businesses can use AI/ML in product engineering lifecycle: Marlabs

As architects of a digital future, Marlabs is committed to crafting a tomorrow that transcends today's boundaries. Marlabs is unique because of digital alchemy, design-led solutions, innovation lab, transformative impact, and emotive technology.

Sriraman Raghunathan, Global AI leader at Marlabs tells us more. Excerpts from an interview: 

DQ: How can businesses effectively integrate AI and ML innovations into product engineering to enhance customer experience? 

Sriraman Raghunathan: Businesses can use AI/ML in their product engineering lifecycle to better understand requirements, generate user stories for backlog management, predict and identify potential risks, automate better visual design and UI development, and provide education to help customers understand the benefits of AI-powered features and how to use them effectively. These collectively enhance customer experience.

DQ: What strategies can companies adopt to ensure that AI is seamlessly integrated into core business functions and operations for improved productivity and efficiency? How has Marlabs been able to leverage this?

Sriraman Raghunathan: Some of the strategies we have leveraged include education, awareness and training programs that are personalized for each business functions, baselining of productivity and efficiency KPIs for business functions, piloting of select AI tools and technologies to augment their daily workflows while continuously monitoring and measuring improvements to KPIs and to determine ROI. 

 

DQ: In what ways do you believe AI will prioritize human enablement over human displacement in the future, particularly in the context of business operations?

Sriraman Raghunathan: With an approach of augmented intelligence, rather than replacing humans, AI can augment human capabilities by automating repetitive tasks, providing insights, and assisting in decision-making, leading to increased productivity and job satisfaction. 

Use of AI also often leads to job transformation with the emergence of new roles and creates opportunities to reskill and upskill. Use of AI in certain industry segments will also improve safety and risk management by predicting and preventing accidents and forecasting risks. This not only protects human workers but also enhances operational resilience and reliability. 

DQ: What specific challenges do companies face when building a data talent pool in India, and what approaches can be taken to address these challenges? What approach is Marlabs taking to tackle this? 

Sriraman Raghunathan: Marlabs, like other digital services firms, faces a challenging talent pool in India, especially in AI, due to rising costs of hiring, skill gaps and more importantly competitive pressures from product firms and the vibrant start-up ecosystem. 

Some of the approaches Marlabs has adopted to address these include upskilling existing talent pool, better compensation structure to those who are AI-ready, partnerships with academia, an environment that fosters innovation, and providing better quality of work.

DQ: Can you outline Marlabs' roadmap for accelerating AI by focusing on upskilling employees, and how do you plan to execute this strategy effectively?

Sriraman Raghunathan: Marlabs has launched a comprehensive AI upskilling program for their entire technical workforce, including data, engineering, testing, infrastructure, and experience disciplines.

Some of the approaches to effectively execute this strategy include identifying skill gaps and areas where upskilling is needed to support AI initiatives, defining clear learning objectives aligned with the organization's AI strategy and a comprehensive supporting curriculum, flexible training methods, hands-on experience with supporting infrastructure and a system of recognition and rewards, monitoring progress of learning KPIs and measuring its business impact. 

Executing this strategy also requires strong leadership support, adequate resources, and a commitment to investing in upskilling of employees and fostering a culture of innovation and learning.