As a technology solutions provider, summarise the business model and your job role in the business?
NTT DATA is a full stack transformation company which firmly believes in combining both local and global expertise in solving our clients’ most important challenges. We simplify our clients’ IT modernisation journey with a comprehensive suite of services, spanning from consulting to implementation to support. Sustainability is key to all we do.
We have strong partnerships with top-ranked organisations, enabling us to offer tailored, multi-vendor integrated solutions. My role is to help our clients to reduce costs and improve efficiencies, across their value chain. This is achieved via a combination of embedding leading operational practices and using appropriate technology solutions.
Describe the technology solution and services stacks of your business that are of relevance to your end customers?
Our technology solutions and services stacks are comprehensive and tailored to meet the diverse needs of our customers. They include Industrial IoT, MES, AI, predictive maintenance, and cybersecurity. These solutions are designed to enhance productivity, streamline operations, and ensure data security.
By leveraging advanced analytics, machine learning, and cloud computing, we help our customers achieve greater operational insight and efficiency. We build and manage multi-cloud infrastructure in addition to running, transforming, and building applications. We help clients define their North Stars through our efficient consulting services to help solve their most pressing challenges and create bottom-line benefits.
What are the expectations of your end customers today and what are their principal challenges and pain points?
Today’s end customers expect seamless integration of IT and OT systems, real-time data analytics, and enhanced operational efficiency. Their principal challenges include managing legacy systems, ensuring cybersecurity, and adapting to rapid technological changes. They seek solutions that can address these pain points and support their digital transformation journey.
Client budgets are under significant pressure in an inflationary environment and slow economic growth in some of our regions. They expect very cost-effective solutions and, or alternative funding models. Fortunately, we can help clients with innovative ways of financing and delivering their projects, that create value for all stakeholders.
How does your solution and service stack help to drive innovation or transformation in end customer enterprises?
NTT DATA enables clients to achieve innovations through a combination of strategic approaches, advanced technologies, and collaborative efforts. We have developed an Innovation Operating System that provides a framework for continuous innovation. We maintain a portfolio of global software assets aligned with clients’ needs and investment priorities.
Furthermore, we leverage a broad ecosystem of partners, and this collaborative approach enhances innovation efforts. Innovation is promoted through various activities, such as the annual Tokyo Open Innovation Programme, regional challenges, and hackathons. By integrating these strategies and leveraging our extensive resources and capabilities, we help clients achieve sustained innovation and growth.
How is the relationship between business and technology heads changing inside end-user enterprises?
Their relationship is evolving significantly, driven by the need for digital transformation and the increasing importance of technology in achieving business goals. They are working closely together than ever before, in aligning technology initiatives with business objectives and ensuring that technology investments deliver tangible business value.
Technology leaders are increasingly involved in strategic planning and decision-making processes and are sharing accountability for the success of technology initiatives. Both groups are involved leveraging technology to drive efficiency, improve customer experiences, and create new revenue streams. The dynamic nature of the business environment requires them to be agile and flexible in their approach.
Which aspects of your job role drive high levels of job satisfaction for you, and which aspects of your job role are challenging for you?
The most rewarding aspect of my role is collaborating to help clients create more sustainable organisations. I have helped businesses understand their actual cost of products and make decisions on product rationalisation. Others have benefited from improved production operations, using lean manufacturing principles.
I love helping clients ensure accurate demand and supply planning, to reduce their working capital. Using leading maintenance practices has led to reduced unplanned downtime. Ensuring that I am update with the fast-evolving business and technology landscape requires a lot of personal time investments. Dealing with clients who are with a transactional mindset is a challenge.
What are the skills required for your job role currently and how is this likely to change for you in the near term ?
My role requires people, business, and technical skills. My background as an Industrial Automation engineer who moved into IT, OT integration, when I configured MES systems has held me in good stead. More recently the upskilling in the 4IR technologies has enabled me to have relevant conversations with my clients.
This technical background, coupled with my business knowledge from my MBA and my plant operations background, ensures that the solutions I offer my clients, are practical and make business sense. I will have to continue to upskill myself, holistically, in this fast-evolving world to ensure my skills remain relevant.
How do you see yourself in your career road map five years from now ?
My goal is to continue driving innovation and help organisations achieve their business transformation objectives. In five years, I see myself driving more advanced digital transformation, groundbreaking projects by focusing on integrating emerging technologies such as edge computing and AI, into manufacturing processes.
Over that period, I would have also better understood the very large and diverse NTT DATA organisation, to ensure I am able to contribute at both a local and global level to the evolving organisation, in some way or form and help create significant value for our clients, our people, our partners and contribute mitigating climate change.
