Today’s business environment demands strategic agility from companies, the power to think outside the box, thrive amid disruptions and stay ahead of the curve through constant innovation. This has ignited a technology revolution, with artificial intelligence (AI) and automation rapidly taking over various aspects of business operations.

However, the advantages of speed, flexibility and a fresh perception are mostly embraced by two categories – deep-pocketed design thinkers with a penchant for winning at any cost and the new kids on the block, young startups requiring business transformation for cost-cutting, scalability and success. 

For those in the middle – micro, small and medium businesses (MSMEs) – digitalisation, or any other tech advancement, brings a sense of uneasy familiarity. They continue to struggle with time-consuming manual processes due to their entrenched reliance on ‘that’s how it works’.

But the times are changing, and many SaaS (software-as-a-service) platforms have entered the fray to help improve the business performance of small and medium enterprises. 

“Our vision is to become the de-facto cloud-based system for the maximum number of MSMEs,” Unesync’s cofounder and CEO Rohan Chopra told Inc42 in a recent interview.

Unesync aims to do so “by becoming the go-to financial tool that completes the automation trifecta, including banking, accounting and compliance”, according to Chopra.

Set up in 2023 by Chopra and Ujjwal Agarwal, the Gurugram-based fintech SaaS platform offers a robust suite of accounting solutions, such as GST-compliant e-invoice and e-bill generation and developing insightful financial reports.

The startup further aims to digitalise India’s MSMEs, targeting an ecosystem featuring 63 Mn ventures or thereabouts.

“Today, nearly 50% of all GST-registered businesses are disconnected from the technology landscape,” said Chopra, underscoring the huge opportunity. “This is the market most fintech (SaaS) players are addressing now.”

Consequently, the fintech SaaS space shows promising growth potential in India. A report by Inc42 also estimates that the market is set to surge from $4.6 Bn in 2022 to $31 Bn in 2030, growing at a CAGR of 27%.

Chopra also thinks fintech SaaS should explore niche, specialised use cases to cater to the diverse requirements of small and medium businesses. As Unesync’s custom connectors function as gateways, allowing developers to build on top of the platform, the startup can develop solutions for different industry segments. 

Talking about use cases, Chopra said, “People have used them [custom connectors] to streamline BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards) registration or even automate e-waste recycling directly from their inventory, a crucial practice that is now mandatory.”

Can fintech SaaS solve the growth challenges of India’s SMEs/MSMEs? 

Watch Rohan Chopra of Unesync decode the potential of fintech SaaS, how one can tailor it for diverse requirements, its adoption challenges and more.

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Electric vehicles (EVs) are pivotal in reducing air pollution, tackling planet warming and lowering fossil fuel dependency. Given these sustainable, eco-friendly advantages, the Indian EV market anticipates significant growth, with projections reaching $110.7 Bn by 2029. As the transition from ICE (internal combustion engine) vehicles to green mobility unfolds, data-driven strategies become critical for maximising EV benefits across the rapidly evolving industry landscape.

But how does data analytics help scale EV services and maximise vehicle performances? After live data is captured, advanced algorithms analyse crucial metrics such as battery efficiency, vehicle range, charging patterns and energy consumption to develop predictive models that can help eliminate operational challenges.

To understand and navigate the intricacies of a data-driven approach within the EV ecosystem, Inc42 and Qlik (a data analytics platform set up in Sweden and now based in the US) organised a panel discussion titled How EV Startups Can Leverage Data Analytics To Revolutionise $110 Bn+ Industry. 

The session covered a number of critical topics, including:

• The importance of data analytics in optimising EV performance & driving efficiency
• The benefits of data-driven fleet management for EV operations
• How data analytics ensures improved customer experience

Moderated by Himanshu Ghawri, Partner at PwC, the roundtable brought together leaders from various EV startups. Among them were Shashank Sathe, CTO at Magenta Mobility; Amitabh Saran, founder & CEO of Altigreen Propulsion Labs; Jaideep Dhok, head of data at Yulu; Ankit Mogra, director (insights & analytics) at Ather Energy; Kumar Prasad Telikepalli, cofounder & group CTO of Matter, and Rishi Beri, automotive sales head at Qlik India.

Data Is Steering The EV Market Forward

The future of electric vehicles is increasingly shaped by data-informed decision-making. A major source of this data is telematics systems embedded in EVs, turning them into mobile information hubs.

For instance, telematics data is a potent tool widely used across industries and applications, including automotive, logistics, transportation and fleet management, insurance and more. Vehicular telematics can collect a wealth of data, including usage, direction, current location, engine health, charge status and battery temperature. 

This comprehensive data is then analysed to identify anomalies, enhance battery performance through efficient charge cycles and mitigate degradation. Besides early detection of potential issues and the corrective measures that EV manufacturers can adopt, telematics data also helps fleet operators manage their resources efficiently and assess driving patterns and drivers’ behaviour. 

“Once we have telematics data, we can use it for proactive alerts. In fact, some of the most important vehicle control features are often managed [remotely] through the telematics dashboard,” explained Shashank Sathe of Magenta Mobility. “Think of fleet operations. In case there’s a driver misuse or one leaves the geofencing area of the commute, we receive a proactive alert. A remote immobilising feature gives us time to stop the vehicle anywhere, reach out to the driver and resolve issues.” 

Data insights not only ensure strategic decision-making in fleet operations but also play a crucial role in enhancing customer experience. Understanding customer preferences through data analytics helps manufacturers tailor their services, thus increasing customer satisfaction and brand loyalty. 

“Today, customer interaction with a brand/company has become very complicated,” said Ankit Mogra of Ather Energy. “If a person buys our vehicle from a big town and takes it to a small town, he is happy (maybe because it is an aspirational purchase). But another challenge comes up immediately. How will they get the servicing done? So, [alongside telematics], we use geospatial analytics to deliver a vehicle and plan for services even before the customer requires it at that location.” 

That’s the beauty of data in a digital-first era. Apart from best-possible operations at the vehicular level, many companies are now looking at data-driven intelligent charging networks (call it infrastructure planning, if you want) to do away with range anxiety for good. 

To better understand how data is shaping the future of green mobility, watch the Inc42-Qlik panel discussion – How EV Startups Can Leverage Data Analytics To Revolutionise $110 Bn+ Industry.

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The buzz surrounding generative AI (GenAI) is palpable, with experts weighing its advantages and disadvantages, predominantly focussing on the benefits, given ChatGPT’s demonstrated utility across various industries. Undoubtedly, it has significantly propelled the growth of the startup ecosystem, while also carving out a lucrative market for itself.

In today’s landscape, GenAI boasts sector-agnostic use cases, from sorting emails in edtech to detecting fraud in fintech, enabling startups across all industries to streamline their operations and technology deployment. Consequently, the GenAI market in India is projected to surge from $1.1 Bn in 2023 to $17 Bn by 2030.

However, what is interesting is the use of GenAI in data strategy. For the uninitiated, data strategy is paramount for informed decision-making, it enhances understanding of customers for improved CX, product development and innovation, optimising marketing efforts and mitigating risks.

By strategising data effectively, startups can gain a competitive edge and navigate uncertainties in the dynamic business environment. Now imagine combining data strategy with the power of GenAI to reach the growth potential.

To decode how startups can combine GenAI with data strategy, Inc42 and Databricks, a unified, open analytics platform, organised a roundtable titled “The GenAI Advantage: How GenAI Can Help Startups Reshape Data Strategies” as part of 2-part series — Executive Boardroom: Laying The Foundation For Data & AI-Led Growth.

The session covered many critical topics, including:

• Generative AI’s role in expanding startup operations
• How generative AI is influencing decision-making processes for startups
• Will generative AI replace jobs?

Moderated by Prashant Garg, a partner at EY, the roundtable brought together leaders from startups across sectors such as — edtech, B2B marketplaces, 3PL, lending tech, deeptech and more. Among them were Aman Arora, cofounder & chief technology officer of Leverage Edu; Sudhir Singh, chief technology officer of Droom; Amit Choudhary, chief product and technology officer of Ecom Express; Shiva Singh, director of technology at Moglix; Rajesh Ramdas, senior director-field engineering at Databricks; Hemant Mongia, vice-president of engineering at BharatPe; Shalabh Aggarwal, chief technology officer of CredFlow; Ankit Ladhania, director of engineering at Park+ and Rahul Prasad, cofounder & chief technology officer of Bobble AI.

GenAI In Action: Enhancing Data Strategies Across Sectors

Speaking during the discussion, Gurugram-based Ecom Express’ Choudhary revealed that the logistics startup has created an address large language model to reduce return to origin (RTO) cases and predict the right addresses. He claimed that GenAI helped the company increase its topline with the help of GenAI.

Meanwhile, lending tech startup CredFLow has deployed GenAI to identify user patterns and engage with the users who take loan credit from the startup.

The startup’s CTO Aggarwal said, “By utilising GenAI the startup can detect the fraudster move of the user six months ahead. He added that it is possible as it analyses user data like criminal records, EPF, income tax statements, and GST records (via MasterGST).”

While these businesses have effectively used GenAI because of its affordability, its adoption is perceived as a job-replacement threat.

Rahul Prasad chuckled, “It might, we don’t know.” He pointed out that it is still in its nascent stage to come up with any conclusion.

To explore how startups in sectors like fintech, ecommerce, edtech and more are combining data and GenAI to make key business decisions, watch the Inc42 and Databricks roundtable — The GenAI Advantage: How GenAI Can Help Startups Reshape Data Strategies.

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Time and again, we have come across iconic superheroes providing ‘deliverance’ and revitalising humankind. But few ‘Dark Knights’ have defended ‘data’ as the world and its businesses undergo a digital transformation.

That’s because data governance (DG), a set of policies, processes and metrics to manage data across an organisation, is too complex a subject to make it to the reel world (fictional hackers and their nefarious projects are far more intriguing). So are fast-evolving compliance regulations, proactive risk management and the data-driven scaling model often pursued by aspiring startups.

However, the ‘guardians of data’ – CTOs, data scientists, compliance specialists and data protection officers – continue to play a pivotal role. They help businesses navigate the intricacies of data privacy, security and usability to optimise operations and ensure sound decision-making. 

As data frameworks are the backbone of tech-driven companies and digital-first economies, these talking points are also impacting consumer mindsets. For instance, 68% of consumers trust businesses, which are transparent about their data privacy frameworks, according to a recent EY survey. On the other hand, 50% of the companies surveyed are yet to acquire relevant skills, although they are open to outsourcing data privacy tasks.

To dive deep into data governance and enable startups to design effective data management programmes for scaling up while maintaining data integrity, Inc42 and Databricks, a unified, open analytics platform, organised a roundtable titled How Data Governance Can Help Indian Startups Establish Data Integrity & Scale Up Safely  under their 2-part series called Executive Boardroom: Laying The Foundation For Data & AI-Led Growth.

The session covered many critical topics, including:

• Avenues of data governance for early stage startups
• Decoding the impact of India’s data policies on startups
• Key criteria for selecting a data platform

The roundtable brought together a host of tech decision-makers and industry leaders specialising in data protection, security and data-driven growth. Among them were Praveen Kumar Kalwagadda, vice-president of engineering at Cashfree Payments; Ankit Choudhary, head of data practices at Shadowfax; Vikas Garikipati, director of product at LetsTransport; Sagar Kumar, head of engineering (payments) at PayU; Rizurekh Saha, head of product (automation and generative Al) at Yellow.ai; Vinay Rai, senior vice-president of cloud and engineering at Netradyne; Ved Antani, chief product and technology officer at BetterPlace; Krithika Muthukrishnan, chief data science officer at Scripbox; Shriharsha Prakash, vice-president of cloud operations and security at LeadSquared, and Pramod Rajagopal, head of solutions architecture at Databricks.

The session was moderated by Abhinav Johri, a partner at EY. He is responsible for the development and activation of cloud and digital solutions and also manages P&L (profit and loss) in those areas.

How Custodians Of Data Can Steer Startups Towards Data Best Practices

Technology decision-makers at early stage startups typically focus on product-market fits and go-to-market strategies. However, setting up a robust data governance framework from the beginning is crucial as the complexities of data management increase when an organisation scales up.

“For a young startup, a zero-trust (never trust, always verify) model for access and application from the start is crucial. Retrofitting such models into your platform becomes challenging when you achieve significant scale,” said Ved Antani of BetterPlace.

Startups should also stay abreast of critical data protection regulations, such as the (EU) GDPR and the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, passed in 2023 by the Indian government, besides industry-specific rules and guidelines. Knowing these regulations inside out is vital for ensuring compliance and winning stakeholders’ trust.

Selecting the right data platform is extremely important for startups to achieve this. Platform providers should also follow these stringent measures to meet the demands of the ‘data guardians’ across the startup ecosystem.

“If you are a platform provider but not attentive to real-world problems faced by your end customers, if you are building features and functionality solely based on your perception rather than what truly matters to them, it becomes a potential pitfall,” said Pramod Rajagopal of Databricks.

To gain more insights into how to scale up businesses while staying compliant with data laws, watch the Inc42-Databricks roundtable titled How Data Governance Can Help Indian Startups Establish Data Integrity & Scale Up Safely.

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From A-list celebrities throwing their weight behind direct-to-consumer (D2C) brands to legacy players entering the dynamic world of D2C, today’s consumer brand landscape is experiencing transformative changes.

In this evolving landscape, more consumers, especially millennials and Gen Z, are prioritising convenience alongside selection and affordability. This shift is evident from the search to checkout and post-purchase stages, indicating a maturation in the online consumer journey. Customers now seek a premium experience throughout the entire value chain.

These rapid changes can also be attributed to the rising consumer demand for innovative and customised products, instant access to brands across channels and valuable product insights, often leading to the adoption of new brands. Together, these shifts in consumer behaviour have fuelled the overall D2C growth and pushed certain mass-appeal brands into the limelight.

A look at the market estimates further supports this breakthrough growth. By 2025, India’s total addressable D2C market is estimated to reach $100 Bn, a threefold increase from $33.1 Bn in 2020.

Amid the ongoing digital revolution in the consumer retail space, it is essential to explore the ‘core’ aspects of D2C businesses and look closely at ‘conversions’, a critical element contributing to the growth of D2C brands.

To understand and navigate the intricacies of conversion in the consumer brand landscape, Inc42 and Simpl organised a roundtable titled How D2C Brands Can Master The Conversion Game To Unlock Growth under the series – Consumer Brands Reimagined.

The session covered many critical topics, including:

• How D2C brands personalise users’ website journey
• How market trends impact product portfolio expansion
• How data and technology help streamline user experience

The roundtable brought together leaders from various consumer brands. Among them were Shreedha Singh, cofounder and CEO of The Ayurveda Company; Dhruv Madhok, cofounder of Arata; Kuldeep Parewa, founder and CEO of Anveshan; Aman Gupta, CMO at Farmley; Nihal Kalra, cofounder and CEO of The Decor Kart; Ravneesh Dhaneshwar, former director of growth at Earth Rhythm; Ankit Dass, founder and CEO of Zaydn Sneakers; Eshita Anil, head of performance marketing at boAt, and Shivam Dang, head of D2C growth at checkout network Simpl.

Digvijay Ghosh, a partner at EY-Parthenon, moderated the session. With 15 years of experience in the consumer product and retail industry, he is an expert in pushing the growth agenda for consumer brands by transforming their route-to-market and digital commerce capabilities.

Inside The Conversion Matrix: Strategies And Insights For D2C Success

In business and marketing, conversion serves as a critical outcome metric indicating specific and measurable actions by users. It signifies the achievement of a coveted goal, be it product purchase or active product engagement.

D2C brands employ diverse strategies to drive conversion, recognising that the goal goes beyond merely initiating transactions. It is all about achieving specific outcomes to ensure business success. Therefore, brands will meticulously refine UI/UX, personalise experiences and incentivise users with deals, discounts and loyalty programmes.

“We ran a campaign called ‘build your own bundle’, allowing customers to buy three or four different products. However, customers could purchase only one product from a specific category/range. If a shopper buys four products from four different categories and spends, say, INR 1,099 [instead of getting just one for the same price], chances are at least one or two products will stick in that household, and conversion will rise,” said Dhruv Madhok of Arata.

However, there are conversion loopholes within the current system.

“For example, in a typical checkout system, out of all the users 70% drop at the checkout due to friction while only 30% complete. You have to fill in long forms every time you visit the same website because there is no personalisation, and it takes three to five minutes on average,” said Shivam Dang of Simpl.

“Just improving the checkout experience with a single sign-on can work wonders. Marketplaces have set the standards for this. Your address and card details are saved whenever you enter a marketplace. Why can’t we do the same on D2C websites?” he queried.

To explore the key factors driving conversion in the D2C space, from digital display to product portfolio mix, omnichannel commerce to data-driven insights and technology impact, Watch the Inc42-Simpl roundtable — How D2C Brands Can Master The Conversion Game To Unlock Growth.

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The world is still recovering from the crazy days when OpenAI CEO Sam Altman was fired after a board coup and rehired after staff support and a nudge from its biggest investor, Microsoft. Ironically, the chaos that ensued is part of the massive disruption triggered by generative AI (GenAI). 

Unlike traditional artificial intelligence that mostly makes sense of large amounts of data, the ‘generative’ power of the new AI threatens to topple the innovation landscape, work processes and the entire economy. In essence, most businesses and industries are left gasping by its potential impact on manufacturing and services, productivity and efficiency as the next epoch of enterprise revolution takes over.

While business leaders try to assess the overall impact of GenAI, India has geared up fast to become a part of the new ecosystem. The country boasts more than 70 native GenAI startups backed by 80+ Indian institutional investors and $440 Mn+ in funding since 2019. And here’s the cherry on the top – Adobe recently acquired Bengaluru-based AI video creation platform Rephrase.ai. India’s generative AI market, valued at more than $17 Bn, is undoubtedly making its mark.

To dive deep into the nuances of the ongoing tech revolution and address the concerns of industry stakeholders, Inc42 and Google Cloud organised a roundtable titled Generative AI, Cloud And Startups: A Power Trio Redefining India’s Techscape!

The session covered various critical topics, including:

• Decoding the real-world impact of GenAI
• Strategies to tackle market-entry challenges posed by generative AI
• Navigating the changing landscape of workforce skills

The roundtable brought together technology decision-makers from diverse industry segments. Among them were Avneesh Goel, SVP (product & technology) at Awfis; Prince Singh, house owner (product) at OneBanc; CredFlow CTO Shalabh Aggarwal; Nitin Jain, cofounder & CBO at Oxyzo; Rajan Nagina, head of AI practice at Newgen Software; Deepak Mishra, VP (data science) at FarMart; Naman Khator, lead of solutions architect at QueueBuster; Souparno Bagchi, COO at BalanceHero India, and Gurpiar Sibia, head of customer engineering at Google Cloud. 

The session was moderated by Vishal Agarwal, partner at EY and currently leading its data analytics practice. 

The Road Ahead: Embracing GenAI Opportunities And Navigating Challenges

In the past decades, cloud technology has transformed how startups and enterprises work, scaling up operations, unlocking innovations and accelerating business success. Within India’s burgeoning startup ecosystem, ranked third globally behind the US and China, cloud-native startups have emerged as a global SaaS (software as a service) hub and rapidly expanded into critical areas like IaaS (infrastructure as a service), PaaS (platform as a service) and BaaS (banking as a service).

Per a Bessemer Venture Partners report, among the VC-funded Indian startups in 2022, 20%, or 468, were cloud and SaaS entities. Cloud spending also grew by nearly 22% that year, almost equal to the entire continent of Europe. This indicates how cloud computing, in its many avatars, is rising even when the funding winter has paused frenzied growth activities across the ecosystem.

Interestingly, artificial intelligence (AI) has been an innovative component in cloud play for service enhancements. Now, the country’s mature tech ecosystem is breaking frontiers to become a part of the ongoing tech revolution – generative AI.

“I am most excited about the rise in productivity that it [GenAI] ensures across different divisions of an organisation, be it marketing, content or [software] development. And I think that is perhaps the most mature use case right now where the risk is under our control,” said Deepak Mishra of FarMart.

But adopting technology can be challenging, be it a decades-old ecosystem like enterprise cloud or the latest GenAI breakthrough. For instance, a significant concern in an ML-driven tech landscape is model collapse. This occurs when an AI model trained on synthetic data generates progressively less diverse and more repetitive outputs (even LLM or large language models can fall prey to it).

“I think we cannot let go of the human angle around it, and that applies to everything AI. If we allow AI to learn from itself [and create], it will eventually lead to a self-collapse,” said Shalabh Aggarwal, CTO of CredFlow.

Watch the roundtable titled Generative AI, Cloud And Startups: A Power Trio Redefining India’s Techscape to gain more insights.

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A decade ago, most Indian consumers used to be hesitant about making online purchases. Instances like receiving wrong orders or not receiving them at all made most of us avoid the “Buy Now” button.

Fast-forward to today, ordering online has become a daily errand. This shift is not solely a matter of convenience, but rather it reflects a profound change in the way technology has permeated daily lives and redefined consumer expectations.

Upping the ante, third-party logistics (3PL) players have stepped in to respond to the evolving consumer demands. In the digital era, these 3PL players know that adaptability and scalability are the crucial elements for staying abreast of the preferences of today’s dynamic consumers.

Therefore, these players are laser-focussed on empowering traditional enterprises to scale their operations, enhancing both agility and cost-effectiveness flexibly. Not just this, many 3PL providers offer advanced data analytics, facilitating a deeper understanding of consumer behaviour and supply chain optimisation.

“With ecommerce and quick commerce coming in, traditional enterprises are now thinking about how to be present closer to the consumption centres. So, enterprises have outsourced fulfilment to 3PL providers with plug-and-play operations in all the major consumption centres and can ensure order fulfilments within 24 to 48 hours,” Ajay Rao of Emiza said.

Founded in 2015 by Ajay Rao and Jitendra Kumar, Mumbai-based Emiza serves as a supply chain enabler for consumer brands, assisting them in expanding their businesses both online and offline. Currently, Emiza works with more than 160 brands, has a presence in 12 Indian cities and operates a network of over 24 fulfilment centres.

In the contemporary landscape, where ecommerce, shorter delivery timeframes and the need for low-cost solutions dominate, the logistics industry is experiencing a surge in activity. To provide some perspective, data from IMARC Group indicates that the Indian logistics market achieved an impressive valuation of $259.5 Bn in 2022. Projections for the future are equally promising, with expectations of reaching $432.4 Bn by 2028, showcasing a robust CAGR of 8.8% between 2023 and 2028.

While technology has undeniably spearheaded numerous advancements in the logistics sector, this transition necessitates careful consideration of factors like scale, efficiency and regulatory compliance.

So, what does the founder & CEO of Emiza, Ajay Rao, recommend? Watch Rao’s interaction with Inc42’s Tapanjana Rudra on how third-party logistics players are changing the face of traditional enterprises.

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As new technologies are emerging faster than our institutional prowess to adapt and integrate them, business leaders are often at a crossroads, wondering if they should build technology tools in-house or procure off-the-shelf solutions. This classic dilemma, which is now more relevant than ever, has the potential to shape the future of a tech company, impacting its efficiency, growth and ability to innovate.

Talking about current business models which are running successfully worldwide and those that worked well in the past, Saket Agarwal, founder and CEO of the Mumbai-based SaaS consulting company Onnivation, said, “If you look at McDonald’s, Boeing, Wells Fargo, most of the banks, or most of the companies which literally print money, you will be surprised to know that they don’t make anything themselves.”

Build-versus-buy has its pros and cons. Developing the software programme in-house guarantees a level of customisation that is well-aligned with an organisation’s needs. It will also be cost-effective in the long run as the company does not have to pay licensing fees. On the other hand, buying the software is a quick solution. It helps embed extensive domain knowledge and industry best practices that may exceed the capabilities of an in-house IT team. Therefore, companies today need to go hybrid, introducing a mix of best-in-class ready-made solutions and differentiated, custom-built offerings.

“If your core business is to sell burgers or planes, thousands of components will be involved. If you start backward integrating into everything, you risk diluting your expertise in your core business,” explained Agarwal. 

Will Tech Collaboration Hurt Innovation, Integrity?

While the decision to collaborate with external entities presents a complex web of challenges and advantages, a fundamental question is at play: How does it impact the core value proposition of a tech company?

Interestingly, tech companies are expected to prioritise technology in their value proposition when responding to investors’ queries. Neither markets nor investors take kindly to the notion that a tech company may not have complete control of its intellectual property.

Dhruvil Sanghvi, founder and CEO of the logistics SaaS startup LogiNext, also raised this concern. “If something critical on your platform is not controlled or developed by you, it is not your intellectual property in this new-age business scenario. It’s not really flying.”

Therein lies the paradox. Such collaborations can amplify the reach of a technology company, enhance products/services, or address market gaps. But they can also introduce elements beyond one’s control, diluting the company’s tech identity.

But that is not to say that partnerships should be shunned entirely. These can help scale up a tech business, gain entry to new markets and offer diverse solutions. The challenge lies in maintaining a delicate balance between collaboration and uniqueness.

Sanghvi delved deeper into the complex dynamics, especially in the Indian context. “Does this inclination to do everything in-house indicate where a company’s focus lies?” he queried.

“In India, there is a tendency to handle tasks internally rather than seeking external partners. It is partly due to a less mature vendor ecosystem and vendor relationships compared to other parts of the world,” he observed.

Agarwal of Onnivation drew an analogy between such business compulsion and the must-do of a skilled batsman. “Often, we hyper-optimise, focussing on our weaknesses. But if one is a great batsman, every minute he spends learning how to bowl [because he does not bowl well and considers this a weakness] is a minute lost when he could have become a better batsman.”

His perspective underscores a common trend within the startup ecosystem – the inclination to manage everything internally. This can lead to dwindling focus away from what should be a priority, a reluctance to delegate tasks and an unwillingness to relinquish control.

Eventually, it is all about walking the tightrope that requires purposeful navigation, a sense of unwavering priority and the capability to adapt. In essence, businesses must operate holistically in sync with the challenge and promise of a tech-driven future.

In this episode of the Masters Of SaaS series hosted by Inc42, watch Dhruvil Sanghvi of LoginNext in conversation with Saket Agarwal of Onnivation explore the delicate balance between autonomy, collaboration and innovation in a fast-evolving SaaS landscape.

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After three years into a debilitating pandemic, the job market has changed worldwide and India is no exception. Since the ‘great recession’ triggered by Covid-19, traditional nine-to-five jobs gave way to gig work, work from home (WFH) and remote jobs. Next came the ‘great resignation’, the ‘quiet’ and the ‘loud’ quitting’. But the workforce pushback saw enough backlash in large-scale tech layoffs and the latest back-to-office mandates.

As the frequent waves of change continue to rock a once-placid hiring market with its conventional norms and red flags, reinventing recruitment becomes the hallmark of new success stories that companies aspire to achieve.

In a fast-evolving jobscape where adaptation is critical, practical application of degrees matters most and diversity dictates the talent hunt, most organisations are embracing new-age hiring strategies for optimum outcomes. From using AI and automation for talent scouting to remote interviews, skill-based assessments and online onboarding for real-time collaboration from anywhere, the tech-age tools and methods have unlocked value-added features for maximum productivity and professional growth.

To understand where the best candidates are and how to recruit them, Inc42 joined hands with Fountain, a leading platform for high-volume hiring, to host The Focal Point Roundtable on The Future Of Work: Reimagining Hiring In The World Of AI And Tech. The event explored the role of AI/ML in recruitment, the significance of employer branding and how smart hiring practices could address various concerns and challenges.

A wide range of critical topics were discussed, including:

• The driving forces behind the changing landscape of recruitment practices
• The impact of AI/ML in reshaping the recruitment process
• Effective strategies for communicating the employer brand to the emerging Generation Z workforce

Chandana GC, director of workforce transformation at PwC India, moderated the roundtable.

A host of hiring decision-makers from various startups were also present at the session. Among them were Darshith Satheesh, head of HR at Portea Medical; Naveen Tom Alex, HR director at Shadowfax; Seema Vijay Singh, CHRO of MediBuddy; Ketan Krishna, people and governance head at RentoMojo; Ashish Bansal, VP (HR) at BlueStone; Anvith Murthy, VP-HR (IT, admin and procurement) at Rapido; Rupini Raman, HR head at Yulu; Farhan Ahmed Hazarika, head of talent and people, Teachmint; Maxson Lewis, founder and MD, Magenta Mobility; Ravi Loyal, GM (talent acquisition) at Swiggy; Naveen Kumar N, HR head at Licious; Vinayak Srigovindan, HR expert, and Sean Behr, CEO of Fountain.

Hiring Innovations: The Use Of AI/ML & The Complexities Of Modern Practices

With the employment landscape undergoing a technology-driven transformation, the latest trends driving the hiring process reveal a complex interplay encompassing possibilities and obstacles. Therefore, a change in mindset is required to sync technology and human hiring to help businesses and the workforce move forward.

“Hiring tools have evolved in surprising ways,” said Seema Vijay Singh of MediBuddy. “I never expected we would use platforms like Instagram for recruitment, but it is becoming prevalent. This shift is quite remarkable, as any technological changes we introduced were often met with resistance in the past. So, we had to push for adoption, resulting in many follow-ups and challenges. But the current landscape is quite the opposite.”

While social media is driving the diversity pool and redefining work culture, tech advancements in areas like AI/ML provide valuable solutions for managing the high volume of job applications companies regularly receive. AI-powered applicant tracking systems (ATS) are particularly helpful here as they can swiftly scan and rank resumes, allowing recruiters to focus on the most promising candidates.

In addition, tech tools can ensure more objective evaluations by eliminating human biases, thus reducing potential discrimination and fostering fair hiring. But the question is: What additional benefits can these tech innovations bring to add value?

“In my experience, leveraging technology is not only about sourcing profiles. It is about understanding capability gaps within an organisation, comprehending the risks in the current talent landscape and the ability to come up with suitable solutions,” said Naveen Kumar N of Licious.

For a deep dive into the trends shaping the future of hiring, tune in to the roundtable discussion – The Future Of Work: Reimagining Hiring In The World Of AI And Tech.

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