Madhusudhan Murthy on AI, IoT, and the Future of Technology at GlobalLogic

In an exclusive interview, Madhusudhan Murthy, SVP, Global Head of High Tech, ISV, and Private Equity Business at GlobalLogic, delves into how the company is leveraging cutting-edge technologies such as AI, IoT, and blockchain to drive digital transformation. He also sheds light on the future potential of quantum and edge computing, cybersecurity best practices, and GlobalLogic’s role in India’s growing semiconductor industry, offering valuable perspectives on the technological trends shaping the future.

Excerpts:

DQ: How has the company integrated AI, IoT, and blockchain to enhance customer offerings?

Madhusudhan Murthy:  Digital transformation is at the core of what we do. AI, particularly generative AI, has been a game-changer for us. Although AI has existed for years, generative AI is disruptive, particularly in areas like customer service. For instance, the adoption of self-healing mechanisms means that many customer service tasks can now be handled without human intervention, improving efficiency.

In terms of IoT, we’ve worked with clients to provide remote management and control of systems. For example, one of our clients manages over 2,000 stores in North America, and we enabled remote temperature control for all these stores from India. Similarly, our blockchain solutions are helping industries like retail and finance by improving inventory management and transaction processing.

DQ: You mentioned generative AI as a disruptor. Can you elaborate on how it's transforming businesses and specific industries?

Madhusudhan Murthy:  Generative AI has the potential to transform industries by making processes faster, more efficient, and data-driven. We’ve seen this firsthand with several of our clients. For instance, in revenue generation, we helped a private equity client double their opportunity size by leveraging AI to refine their revenue funnel. In software development, generative AI can accelerate the lifecycle by 20-25% through automated code generation.

We also see applications in knowledge management, where AI can automatically generate and deliver the necessary documentation to employees without requiring human intervention. This reduces the time spent on administrative tasks and allows teams to focus on strategic work.

DQ: Quantum computing and edge computing are emerging technologies that are getting a lot of attention. How is GlobalLogic preparing for these trends?

Madhusudhan Murthy:  Quantum computing is still in its infancy, but it has immense potential, particularly in sectors like finance and healthcare. For example, we’ve worked on real-time trade settlements in the financial sector, where trillions of dollars are exchanged daily. Traditional computing systems struggle with the speed and accuracy required for such operations, but quantum computing offers a solution.

Edge computing, on the other hand, is already seeing adoption, especially with the rise of 5G. We’ve helped clients implement edge computing solutions to handle localised computing tasks, such as temperature control in retail stores, without needing extensive infrastructure changes.

DQ: As companies adopt more advanced technologies, cyber threats are evolving. What best practices would you recommend for companies to stay secure?

Madhusudhan Murthy:  Cybersecurity is crucial, and I like to compare it to a Tom and Jerry scenario, it's an ongoing chase. Security today needs to be proactive, not just reactive. At GlobalLogic, we follow best practices in secure coding and regularly test our products for vulnerabilities before they go into production. 

We also use third-party validation services to assess the security of our products, ensuring they are ready for the market. However, even with the best practices, breaches may happen. When they do, it’s important to learn from them, share the knowledge, and improve security protocols.

DQ: India is making strides in the semiconductor industry. What role does GlobalLogic play in this space, and how is it contributing to the semiconductor ecosystem?

Madhusudhan Murthy:  The semiconductor industry has faced disruptions, especially during COVID-19, when supply chains were heavily impacted. We’re seeing a shift now where companies want to de-risk their supply chains by manufacturing chips locally or across multiple geographies. India’s "Make in India" initiative has given the semiconductor industry a boost.

At GlobalLogic, we are deeply involved in chip design and development. We provide end-to-end services, from designing specific chips tailored to client needs whether it's for automotive or consumer electronics to integrating those chips into a broader digital ecosystem. We're also constantly exploring strategic partnerships and acquisitions to further our capabilities in this area.

DQ: What technological trends do you see dominating the industry in the coming years, and how should companies prepare?

Madhusudhan Murthy: Generative AI is here to stay and will likely dominate in the next few years. It will change business models, infrastructure, and the way companies approach innovation. Edge computing will also gain more traction, particularly with the advent of 5G, as it enables faster and more efficient compting at the edge of the network.

Quantum computing is still evolving, but it will play a crucial role, especially in sectors like finance and healthcare. Companies need to be prepared to invest in these technologies, as they will become critical in maintaining a competitive edge.

DQ: Any final thoughts you’d like to share?

Madhusudhan Murthy: One thing I’d like to emphasise is the importance of capability building. At GlobalLogic, we’ve trained and certified all 33,000 of our employees to be proficient in generative AI, ensuring they are ready to meet the demands of our clients. It’s crucial that companies not only adopt these new technologies but also prepare their workforce to leverage them effectively.

Additionally, we’ve streamlined our internal processes to make technology adoption easier for our clients. By simplifying provisioning and enabling faster deployment of tools, we’re helping our clients stay ahead in the fast-evolving tech landscape.