Investments in cloud, AI and cybersecurity get yourself a push amid the coronavirus pandemic

With the COVID-19 pandemic disrupting businesses globally, technology will play a “stronger role than previously”, enabling monetary recovery, Microsoft India President Anant Maheshwari said. Speaking at the Microsoft Envision Forum 2020, Maheshwari noted that the coronavirus pandemic has changed businesses, communities, industries and the world, forever.

“No one company is going to solve a challenge such as this alone, in fact it is likely to take the private and public sectors working together to carefully turn the tide on COVID-19. As we continue steadily to work through the existing situation and arrange for the near future, it’s clear that the change required is significant - as is the potential opportunity across industries,” he said.

He added that technology will play an integral role in general management of social sector programs across education, health insurance and public distribution, assisting to strengthen the economy.

“Technology will play a more robust role than ever before - enabling economical recovery and helping every one of us achieve more,” he emphasised.

The event, which was organised digitally on Friday, saw industry leaders across banking, financial services and insurance, manufacturing and retail sectors deliberate on the necessity for innovation and real-world digital transformation.

Aarthi Subramanian, group chief digital officer of Tata Sons, said COVID-19 will accelerate the scaling of digital across industries and investments in cloud, artificial intelligence and cybersecurity.

“Digital transformation in companies will concentrate on new end-to-end customer journeys and we will see an increase in adoption of automation in manufacturing industries. They will also invest in boosting employee engagement given the remote working model,” she added.