Q: Could you outline the main ways in which technologies such as AI and IoT are shaping the office of the future?
A: A remarkable role performed by AI is the effective analysis of colossal volumes of data.

Modern artificial intelligence solutions are developed with capabilities that enable the technology to swiftly define patterns and extract intricate customer related information. The information collected can provide an organisation with a competitive edge when offering customised products.

The AI solutions used in a regular retail model analyse a person’s purchasing history, and buying patterns and behaviour. The knowledge gleaned from this type of analysis equips businesses with the ability to predict and anticipate responses among market segments and demographics.

Meanwhile, the scope of IoT encapsulates the interconnected digital world. People would be able to complete tasks with a simple click through voice command functionalities made possible courtesy of the Internet of Things.

Moreover, the accelerated digitalisation and technological advancement that has taken place in the recent past leads experts to believe that approximately 85 billion IoT devices will be deployed over the next three years.

Q: How are emerging technologies and digital transformation impacting organisations’ bottom lines?
A: The digital transformation process that was fast tracked by the COVID-19 pandemic has led us to believe that the world as we know it will never revert to its original state. The entire business landscape has completely changed and been brought into a new dimension.

Enterprises have an opportunity to create a new class of business due to the changes introduced by this digital transformation.

Legacy companies that have adopted the same operational routine for myriad generations are left without an alternative other than to diversify their businesses or adapt and incorporate technology into the mix.

An advantage that can be leveraged by embracing digital transformation is the automation of manual processes. With this, organisations can curtail unnecessary expenditure on overheads such as the cost of labour.

On the other hand, digital transformation can be used as the basis to acquire new skills and capabilities (i.e. by upskilling), and improve productivity and the quality of the work completed.

Q: What is your take of the latest emerging trends and innovations in the IT industry – and what technologies can be leveraged in this landscape?
A: OREL IT has been exposed to three riveting segments during its tenure – viz. AI, data science and software.

The large-scale adoption of AI that’s prevalent in the modern context is on the cusp of creating a paradigm shift in the IT industry. Artificial intelligence is on the verge of becoming the new information technology, in my opinion.

This landscape has also stirred up heated conversations regarding the ethics that should govern AI, given the developments that are taking place in the field. It is evident that corporates aren’t satisfied with the mere adoption of new technologies.

Companies are keen to invest in the expansion of AI capabilities since the available knowledge on the subject is at risk of becoming outdated or obsolete – they aim to seek extended capabilities with regard to using AI to derive optimal results.

Augmented reality (AR) follows closely behind AI in terms of its popularity in the virtual environment.

Meanwhile, augmented analytics is a specialisation that has garnered significant public interest in the data science domain. This is a concept that’s aligned with the fundamentals of code and cloud data.

Furthermore, software development has evolved as a platform compared to its previous classification as a sector. The software sector has entered the cloud computing and low and no code technology arenas.

Additionally, big data analytics is as prominent as it was at the beginning of the decade and recent developments that have taken place in the dimension of mixed reality point to bright prospects for its growth in the future.

Q: And finally, what are the key challenges faced by organisations such as OREL IT?
A: Skill migration or the ‘brain drain’ is an unfortunate phenomenon that has consistently occurred over the past decade or so. In my view, the market lacks the adequate skills and capabilities required to adapt to new technologies.

As a leading IT solutions provider, OREL IT has expanded its operational territory to different geographical locations throughout the nation.

We have noticed that there is a major disparity when it comes to the availability of good internet connections and the quality of general utilities in rural settings. This makes it difficult for businesses to offer services with islandwide coverage.

Sri Lanka has predominantly promoted sectors such as apparel and plantations due to their ability to earn foreign currency. In contrast, sectors such as IT, knowledge and other related development services are promoted with less enthusiasm, in my opinion.

The country remains ahead of neighbouring nations in the region where its IT capabilities are concerned. In view of this, it would be prudent to ensure that we account for the potential this offers to develop Sri Lanka as a technological hub.

INTERVIEWEE DETAILS
Dr. Upendra Pieris
Chief Executive Officer
COMPANY DETAILS
Telephone:5706706
Email:marketing@orelit.com
Website:www.orelit.com