Transformation Tour - Vijayawada Chapter

Nowadays, going digital is the only way for enterprises to keep up with the global pace and stay relevant in the industry. The transformations due to digitalisation have percolated to SMBs in tier 2 and tier 3 cities in the country. A successful example is the Government of Andhra Pradesh and its proactive approach in taking initiatives to make Vijayawada the IT hub of the country. Though most industries are concentrated in Vishakhapatnam, Vijayawada and Tirupati are emerging IT markets considering the ongoing developments in the cities.

Looking at Vijayawada’s industrial potential, it is evident that the city holds the scope for growth in research, pharma, healthcare, manufacturing, and other industrial sectors. All these sectors are rapidly adopting technology to enhance productivity and efficiency, optimise operations, and improve customer service delivery. The government has also been active in boosting the adoption of IT at the grassroots level and hence technologies like direct benefit transfer (DBT) and unified payments interface (UPI) are transforming the way businesses have been operating in Vijayawada.

In an effort to bring to light the potential of the city as an emerging IT hub of Andhra Pradesh, CRN India, a B2B IT publication of The Indian Express Group, in partnership with Dell Technologies and Ingram Micro , organised Transformation Tour, a one-day conference, on 5th July 2023, at Vivanta, Vijayawada.

The conference began with a presentation by Rana Pandey, Group Product Manager, Ingram Micro. He presented on the theme ‘Grow Your Opportunity with Dell Technologies’. Advocating the use of upgraded technologies to stay ahead, Pandey highlighted that Dell is the first and only vendor that has shifted to Intel's 13th-generation processor from the older 12th-generation. This helps customers to enhance their productivity and efficiency manifolds.

In addition, he mentioned how Dell Technologies, with its wide range of products and services, is helping customers to ensure seamless collaboration and productivity. “We clear the way for superior and secure user experiences from anywhere,” he added, citing the remote work trend that’s on the rise at present.

Shedding light on some innovative offerings from Dell, Pandey said, “The next iteration of Dell Optimizer will connect the Dell Technologies portfolio like never before. Systems, displays, and peripherals will work seamlessly together to provide the world's most intelligent collaborative experience.”

The conference had a power-packed panel discussion that witnessed intriguing insights from industry leaders in the city of Vijayawada. The speakers deliberated and exchanged thoughts on 'Navigating the Digital Landscape: Strategies for SMBs in India to Embrace Digital Transformation';.

Tarun Kumar Kakani, CEO, Glocal Technology Solutions and The Amaravati Boating Club vividly shared his perspective on the rate of IT adoption among SMBs in Vijayawada as well as in the state of Andhra Pradesh. He said, “For MSMEs, the right availability of skilled manpower to manage the current set of technologies efficiently is a concern. Technology companies have to proactively demonstrate these technologies to create awareness."

While portraying the growth of scale and productivity, Ramakrishna Dasari, CEO, Efftronics Systems Private Limited addressed the gathering. Further, he opened up by saying, “MSMEs have to realise that technologies and digitalisation will help them scale their business and improve productivity. They should identify the business purpose and adopt the right set of technologies available to them.”

Bringing the security concerns and data protection issues to light, Sumanth Kumar Kotha, Managing Director, Apex Media and Entertainment Services said, "Cybersecurity is a major concern for enterprises today. They need to invest in the right skill sets to manage the gap, create the required security posture, and protect their organisation. It is imperative to take cyber security with utmost priority.”

Meanwhile, Rana Pandey, Group Product Manager, Ingram Micro put forth the OEM’s perspective, in this case Dell, and deliberated that “Technology is evolving at a rapid pace. Enterprises need to prioritise when it comes to their technology spend. Accept, adapt, and acknowledge the current technology trends and we as technology service providers are always there to help customers in their digital transformation journey.”

The Transformation Tour - Vijayawada Chapter witnessed a participation of over 50 delegates and successfully delivered interesting presentations and a knowledgeable brainstorming session. The show received an enthusiastic response from the attendees and ended on a high note.