New-age technologies to play key role in the neo-normal: Vijay Sethi, CIO, Hero Motorcorp

The COVID-19 pandemic has enabled the world to view the field of information technology in a different way. Certain trends, such as work from home on a large scale and video conferencing, that were earlier considered unfeasible and impractical are now being adopted by organizations large and small as part of the new normal. In a way, the time is now ripe for organizations to explore and adopt new technologies, which will become a norm in the future.

Deep Tech is once such domain that is capable of bringing about a technological shift in the IT industry. In that same vein, Vijay Sethi, CIO, CHRO and Head CSR, Hero Motorcorp Limited, who has also been the DataQuest CIO winner in the past, shared his thoughts on the ramifications of Deep Tech in the manufacturing sector.

“Technologies like AI, ML and Data Analytics are entering into manufacturing in India and are set to play a key role in the neo normal when it comes to the sector,” said Sethi. These technologies are now set to become all the more imperative due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, feels Sethi.

“Companies are beginning to view technology in a different way. The majority of the conversations are now circling around going contactless and social distancing, and these trends are here to stay and would get embedded into the way of functioning of companies. We may also have to start looking at using artificial intelligence to ensure that happens,” said Sethi.

While the adoption of technology has various challenges, mindset continues to remain the main challenge. However, in the last three months, the COVID-19 pandemic has essentially changed that added Sethi. “Movement of thousands of trucks every day is the norm in the manufacturing sector. Therefore, trucks and delivery will get sensor enabled to ensure social distancing,” he said.

As manpower and travel-related challenges will continue to persist for some time, technology will also be used to ensure productivity at offices through video conferencing and other tools. “Businesses are making decisions with the aid of technology. Video conferencing will be used further to overcome travel costs, and AR, VR and MR are all gradually creeping in,” stated Sethi.