From complexity to cohesion: Activating India’s digital potential

As a CEO aiming to gain a competitive advantage, one might consider focusing on enhancing organizational productivity and delivering an exceptional customer experience. These are sound business goals, but the progress will depend on the effectiveness of the technology stack. It could be challenging to make significant progress without prioritizing digital transformation, which encompasses seamlessly integrated systems and comprehensive visibility of the technology ecosystem.

And this transformation isn’t a one-time event: it’s a continuous journey as organisations keep adapting to new market dynamics, customer expectations and technological advancements.  

Digitalisation is a priority for the C-suite

In India, CIOs and CTOs now cite digitalisation and greater adoption of innovative and new technologies as their business priority for the next two years, according to research for  2024 Infrastructure Lifecycle Management Report. Meanwhile, 96% of C-suite executives say that legacy infrastructure is greatly affecting their agility.

However, while implementing new IT services and infrastructure can help one contain costs and boost performance, it also introduces complexity and creates a need for access to the right kind of expertise to manage the hardware and software infrastructure. Even the best technology will not deliver a great return on investment while applications and data remain siloed.

Without the guidance and assistance of an expert partner, the journey to digital transformation can be a lonely trek, with unnecessary twists and turns causing unwanted delays. 

A new, software-centric perspective

IT infrastructure ranges from on-premises platforms to cloud architectures, and everything in between. It is also an increasingly software-centric environment, where both new and legacy assets have to deliver value throughout their lifecycle. 

Yet, one cannot simply replace the hardware with software-driven infrastructure. All the assets – new and old, hardware and software – must work together. 

A blended approach that combines the strengths of both software and hardware is therefore more effective in connecting diverse systems across vendors or service providers, including legacy, cloud and emerging technologies, to create a cohesive ecosystem.

Managing technology as an asset

Organisations generate plenty of data, but it’s often spread across multivendor environments. This makes it hard to convert large volumes of data into valuable insights.

Partnering with an IT service provider is the best way of accessing key multivendor technology modernisation skills. 

A service provider’s expertise in asset lifecycle management means they can proactively address the challenges by designing, implementing and continuously optimising technology solutions that support business goals.

Also, according to our lifecycle report, 96% of organisations in India agree that a service-provider portal is key in enabling infrastructure visibility – because what can’t be seen, can’t be managed.

That’s why organisation’s system integration expertise, centred on software-defined infrastructure (SDI), gives a single-pane-of-glass view for real-time visibility into all the systems, applications and infrastructure. 

Carving out a competitive edge – securely

When it’s done right, digital transformation through system integration helps the organisation gain a long-term competitive advantage. One can make and implement strategic business decisions more swiftly, so it’s easier to adapt to market changes and customer demands while improving the customer experience. 

System integration solutions need to bring together people, processes and technologies to provide a solid foundation for innovation and growth. A service provider’s expertise in this regard will keep the technological infrastructure scalable and ready to evolve.

Optimising the total cost of ownership can also help with cost savings. For example, NTT DATA’s Licence Management Assessment will show the full value of the licensing investments,  Experts are available to assist with simplifying governance, mitigating risk, and controlling costs in this area.

Additionally – and importantly – cybersecurity must be integrated into every systems-related discussion in an organisation. 

So, a successful integration project will strengthen the data security not only to safeguard critical data but also to comply with industry compliance requirements. 

A future-proof partnership

Another benefit of working with an IT service provider with global expertise is that one gains access to managed services and support in areas beyond infrastructure management – everything from multicloud and networks to data centers and collaborative technologies.

Vendor relationships matter greatly, too. 

Incorporating circularity into the way work is conducted is a strategy for reducing waste and carbon emissions. Products and materials are reused, remanufactured or recycled to extend their lifespan and minimise resource consumption. In this way, the sustainability actions contribute to sustainability goals. 

K N Murali

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K N Murali, Vice President, Technology Solutions, NTT DATA