Extending capabilities into edge computing is a critical area for development: Mindsprint CTO

Mindsprint, a digital solutions and services company headquartered in Singapore, is working across industries to help clients in their artificial intelligence (AI) and digital transformation journey. The company, which spun out of Olam Group, a $36 billion food and agri giant nearly four years ago, has recently developed a customer-facing AI platform MindVerse that allows clients to explore different generative AI solutions independently. In a recent interaction with TechCircle Sagar P.V., the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of Mindsprint, elaborated on the company's latest initiatives in AI and generative AI, as well as its increased emphasis on analytics, product engineering, and edge computing solutions. Edited excerpts:

What technologies currently excite you, and what are your focus areas for tech innovation?

Our technology services group is structured into five main practices, where we see significant traction and engagement with customers. The first one is enterprise solutions, encompassing ERPs and trading platforms. Our ERP practice includes about 800 consultants proficient in SAP, Microsoft Dynamics, and other ERP systems. Secondly, our customer experience practice focuses on digital marketing, digital commerce, and CRM systems like Salesforce. 

We also have a strong practice in product engineering and manufacturing, covering custom development, low-code/no-code platforms, and mobility. We offer services in data engineering, governance, quality, and the development of data lake platforms and pipelines, along with advanced analytics and machine learning solutions. In the past 12 to 18 months, we have developed over ten Generative AI solutions for Olam clients and native customers.

Regarding areas of traction, we see a strong focus on data analytics, especially in Southeast Asia, India, and the US, with most conversations starting around AI and data. We're committed to enhancing our capabilities here, integrating AI into product engineering from the outset, rather than as an afterthought. We have a global presence, originally starting with Olam in Singapore. With the organisational split, we now operate in Europe, and the Middle East, and have strong sales and operational capabilities in North America. Our primary focuses are North America, Southeast Asia, India, the Middle East, and the UK due to our ties with Olam.
 
With tightening IT budgets, where do you see growth opportunities and challenges?

The industry is facing budget constraints, prompting C-suite executives to scrutinise discretionary versus non-discretionary spending. Despite this, they aim to derive maximum value from each dollar spent. Companies are focusing on innovation to differentiate themselves in challenging markets, leading them to seek partners like Mindsprint who prioritise technology while maintaining a business-centric approach. We offer frameworks for return of investment (RoI) calculations that help establish clear value commitments for new technology investments, fostering trust and credibility with clients, even in cost-sensitive environments. Organisations that articulate value and RoI effectively are gaining traction.
 
Could you share 1-2 cases where technology improved business management or customer experience?

One case involves an India-based energy utility that manufactures solar panels. They faced extended quality assurance processes that delayed market entry. We implemented a computer vision solution for real-time quality assessment in their production, significantly speeding up the QA process and enhancing their supply chain operations. 

In another example, a Middle Eastern food trading company seeking 5-fold growth realised they needed a robust ERP system. After an 8-week consulting engagement, Mindsprint quickly began implementation, leveraging our extensive domain expertise. This expedited approach, compared to the typical 12-18 months rollout, has significantly supported their growth ambitions, leading to positive outcomes and satisfaction with our collaboration.
 
How are you leveraging GenAI? Has it advanced beyond the experimental phase to generate RoI?  

When we started with generative AI 15-18 months ago, every organisation went through an experimental phase, building proofs of concept (POCs). We quickly moved past that phase. We recently announced the expansion of Mindverse, a Gen-Al solution accelerator, powered by GPT technology that includes over 10 Gen-AI solutions designed to extract actionable insights while ensuring the confidentiality of sensitive data. Initially, customers’ concerns centred on data security and worries about losing proprietary information. However, most CIOs have since overcome these concerns and understand the security protocols by working with trusted partners.  

There has always been concern on GenAI's generating RoI, especially with open AI or large language models (LLMs), requires substantial computing power and cloud resources, leading to higher operational costs. Recently, we’ve designed solutions for our procurement organisation and sales and operations teams in healthcare and pharmaceuticals, prioritising both operational efficiency and sales growth. This changes the RoI conversation; clients are more willing to invest $1,000-$2,000 monthly in generative AI solutions if it translates into higher sales and improved operational efficiency.  
 
What is the structure of your tech team, and are you planning to expand in the coming months?

We currently have over 3,000 employees and are rapidly growing. Our robust hiring plan includes both lateral hires and recruiting from top engineering and MBA programs. Among our staff, 1,000 focus on business process services, while 2,000 are on technology services, divided into five practices, with a strong presence in cybersecurity. Our focus is not only on hiring lateral talent but also on attracting graduates from engineering and business schools. We have a strong in-house learning and development function that supports upskilling and cross-skilling. Our retention rates have consistently exceeded industry standards over the last 7-8 years due to our commitment to employee care and career development opportunities within Mindsprint.  
 
How are your operations in India?  

We have dedicated sales teams focused on the Indian market, with our Asia-Pacific sales head based in India, covering not only India but also regions like Singapore and Malaysia. Our talent is primarily concentrated in Bengaluru and Chennai, with around 85% in these locations. We also have teams in Pune, Mumbai, and Delhi, with about 10%-15% spread globally, including in Singapore, West Africa, the US, and the UK. Both our R&D and technology delivery centres are located in Bengaluru and Chennai, with a 70%-30% distribution of our accounts.  
 
What key technology areas need improvement in your competitor benchmarking?  

We strategically choose our focus areas and understand our strengths relative to larger organisations. We categorise our capabilities into three horizons: Horizon 1 includes our existing strengths; Horizon 2 focuses on areas for improvement; and Horizon 3 concerns developing new capabilities. This horizon-based approach guides our strategy. We’ve found ourselves competing against large IT services firms, as clients often seek a "challenger champion" model. This allows us to disrupt the status quo while leveraging our strong IP solutions in data and product engineering. We will also continue to upskill and build differentiators in other technology areas.
 
What are your tech vision and growth plans for Mindsprint over the next 12-18 months?  

One of our primary goals is to continue our advancements in analytics and generative AI while extending capabilities into edge computing, which we see as a critical area for development. Additionally, we are investing in confidential computing to enhance data security during use. We will continue to focus on product engineering and low-code/no-code development to meet the growing demand for quick digital solutions, particularly on platforms like ServiceNow and OutSystems over the next year and a half.