A global brick-and-mortal retailer is in the process of transforming itself into a digital-ready firm. And, another retailer wants to maintain prescribed temperatures at all its 300-odd outlets to keep fruits and vegetables fresh.
Both the firms have set up teams in India to achieve their targets. Sitting in GICs (Global In-House Centres), the teams would take care of the tasks set out for them.
India is a preferred destination for MNCs to set up with their GICs. Over 75 per cent of employees working in GICs globally are working out of India shows the significance. It, however, reached a crucial phase now to move on to the next level in the value chain as start-ups disrupting the space.
Experts say that the next 3-5 years hold the key for GICs in the country to address the challenge of grooming the digital workforce to meet demands and engaging start-ups to tap the external innovation capacities. India has over 1,000 GICs, contributing a quarter of India’s IT exports with $26 billion. Each year about 25 GICs are sprouting as the multi-nationals see value. The Nasscom, however, feels that the country can’t take this for granted and needs to gear itself up to address the challenges posed by digital transformation to retain its leadership.
“The window of opportunity for the country to move up the value chain is next 3-5 years. We crack this problem, nobody can reach us,” KS Viswanathan, Vice-President (Industry Initiatives) of Nasscom, told BusinessLine .
Two key issues He identifies two major issues that can help GICs surmount the challenge. “Change management at the mid level, making them realise the importance to make people ready for the challenge. And the other problem is to equip the younger professionals with digital skills,” he said.
In Hyderabad recently for the annual GIC conference, he said the Nasscom has launched two programmes simultaneously to address these issues. “We have started a programme for mid-level managers to make them digital ready. It is time we appreciate external innovation. We need to recognise the fact that innovation is happening in start-ups and we must harness this potential,” he said.
To address the other problem of skills shortage, the Nasscom identified ‘qualification packs’ at the college level to groom the talent quite early. “Unfortunately, there are no finishing schools to train the youth into the niche skills required for GICs. We need to focus on this,” he said.
“MNCs have no particular liking for a country to locate a GIC. If a country fits the bill in terms of niche digital skills they go there. We must realise this,” he said.