Interviews

Empowering the Future: How ESDS is Building a Skilled Workforce for India’s Cloud Revolution

CXOToday has engaged in an exclusive interview with Komal Somani – Whole Time Director and CHRO – ESDS

 

  1. How ESDS is actively building a future-ready workforce with the skills and expertise to support enterprises and the Indian government, focusing on the unique demands of the Indian cloud platform?

ESDS is dedicated to building a future-ready workforce through targeted training programs, addressing the dynamic needs of India’s cloud ecosystem across sectors like BFSI, government, healthcare, and education.  As the digital landscape expands further, ESDS will focus on the key areas of cloud training: data privacy, regulatory compliance, scalability, and security. According to the report, investment in digital infrastructure would add $310-$380 billion to India’s GDP by 2026 and 14 million jobs. Furthermore, 76% of professionals in India consider cloud computing a critical skill by 2025, which requires steady skill development.

People Development Framework: ESDS has developed a multi-level People Development Framework that cuts across all levels-from the junior professional to senior executives. The thrust will be on technical skills development through Lean Six Sigma and industry-specific certifications with focus areas of both leadership as well as problem-solving skills. Equipped employees with the latest cloud technologies to support Indian enterprises and government initiatives.

Tailored Certifications: At ESDS, our commitment to quality and process efficiency is reflected in the Six Sigma certification journey we offer our team—spanning from White and Yellow Belts to Green, Black, and Master Black Belts. Thus, our employees are empowered to lead in process efficiencies and quality management in accordance with the highest standards for organizations through Indian government entities and even businesses that rely on scalable and reliable cloud infrastructure.

  • AI & ML Upskilling: ESDS oragnises AI and ML workshops on data center automation and AI-based cloud solutions. Through these hands-on sessions, employees are able to work on predictive models and solve real-world use cases so that enterprise and government clients requiring advanced AI solutions receive better support.
  • Strategic AI Initiatives:ESDS AI also streamlines the strategic areas involved in cloud and data center operations including the power management, cooling systems, and customer support. It would be of particular benefit to the Indian enterprise sector, which has already begun implementing AI-driven automation and government agencies, which demand extremely efficient as well as secure cloud infrastructure to drive massive citizen services.
  • Aarohan Leadership Program: The Aarohan program offered by ESDS is applied while developing innovative thinking and leadership. The emerging leaders undergo the process to handle the complex cloud deployments along with the regulatory requirements required for the Indian enterprises as well as for the government sectors.
  • Innovative Solutions Training:ESDS is also creating roadmaps toward developing solution architects who can design cloud solutions that can adapt to the enterprises and the governments. This solution-focused approach rather than the technology-focused approach meets squarely a critical gap within the Indian cloud ecosystem and success therein lies in solving which problem you’ve resolved rather than which technology you’ve used.
  • Customized Learning Paths: ESDS offers a customized learning path for employees across all levels—from junior professionals to senior executives—encompassing certifications, workshops, and mentorship programs. This approach ensures continuous upskilling to meet the evolving demands of the cloud sector. Beyond technical expertise, our programs also focus on developing behavioral competencies such as leadership, decision-making, and communication skills, enabling our team to drive strategic initiatives for Indian enterprises and government agencies.
  • Cross-functional Collaboration: ESDS encourages cross-functional teams to be cooperative in AI and cloud-based projects with an appeal for innovative thinking across departments. It provides a holistic solution approach for problems, which is absolutely critical in terms of the support for building complex enterprise and government cloud infrastructures.
  • Cloud Solutions for Government Initiatives: ESDS supports digital India and Smart Cities projects through localized data, AI automation, and secure cloud infrastructures. It is well equipped in compliance and security that it will act as the Government’s trusted partner for its needs in cloud.
  • Industry Partnerships and Solutions:With a diverse set of different enterprises, ESDS works with diversified organizations to provide end-to-end cloud solutions that address unique requirements in the Indian market. Therefore, it is more efficient in the aspect of scaling up and keeping cost-efficient while meeting specific business needs for clients.

 

    1. The growing importance of data localization in India’s digital transformation journey and ESDS’ role in driving secure and scalable solutions for critical industries?

Data localization is an important step for India towards emerging as a digital economy leader. It ensures that the storage and processing of sensitive information happen in the country, which respects data sovereignty and fulfills all requirements of laws like the Data Protection Bill. As the generation of data by public and private sectors is increasing, its storage in the country helps to maintain control and security. According to Nasscom’s report, the data economy in India is expected to reach $4.5 billion by 2025, there is an increasing need for strong data localisation practices.

ESDS’s Role in Enabling Secure and Scalable Data Localization Solutions:

  1. Compliance with Data Sovereignty Regulations: ESDS has been the pioneer in data localization services, with solutions that are already compliant with India’s requirement on data protection and localization-which comes with requirements under the Data Protection Bill. Ensuring data stays within Indian borders, we enable government and enterprise organizations to keep abreast of compliance requirements while keeping sensitive data safe.
  2. Secure Cloud Infrastructure: ESDS offers secure cloud infrastructure for sectors like banking, healthcare, and government; these are equipped with multi-layered encryption and 24/7 monitoring. This translates to safe and compliant localized data on sensitive matters.
  3. Scalable Cloud Solutions for Growing Data Needs: As the Indian data ecosystem grows at a rapid scale, ESDS offers scalable cloud solutions, like the eNlight Cloud platform, where resources are adjusted with demand in real time to maintain performance and availability.
  4. Empowering Critical Industries:  ESDS enables BFSI, health care, and government sectors with specialized data localization solutions because sensitive information about financial transactions and patient records is stored within India.
  5. Promoting Digital Transformation in Tier 2 and Tier 3 Cities: ESDS’s operations in smaller cities like Nashik will drive digital transformation in Tier 2 and Tier 3 regions. It would help the organization to establish the data centres there for businesses and government bodies to fulfill localisation requirements, enhance regional economic growth, and upscale digital infrastructure across India.

 

    1. ESDS’ human capital strategies, focusing on continuous learning, upskilling, and ensuring talent readiness for emerging digital threats and opportunities?

ESDS has integrated the learning culture into its people development structure. It ensures prepared and responsive professionals within its ranks will be able to cope with rapid change in technology and the emergent threat from digital directions. With the Indian digital space expected to surge, the demand for skill sets in cloud computing will increase as 76 percent of Indian professionals consider it crucial to have expertise in cloud by 2025. Digital infrastructure may add anywhere between $310 to $380 billion to India’s GDP by 2026 and create around 14 million jobs.

  • Comprehensive Development Framework: ESDS offers comprehensive learning paths for employees from junior staff to the senior leadership, on skills like Lean Six Sigma and agile methodologies. This framework enables the organization to bring in talent at the junior levels and develop it into strategic leadership roles.
  • Role-Based Certifications: Training in ESDS is regarded as a way of career progression, and the company rewards the employee in certifications from foundational levels up to advanced courses like Risk Management and Governance. This makes for a workforce capable of both technical excellence and strategic decision-making.
  • AI & ML Upskilling: With AI and ML becoming crucial, ESDS hosts regular workshops to equip employees for emerging opportunities and potential risks associated with these technologies.
  • Cybersecurity Training: Knowing well the ever-emerging cyber risks, ESDS delivers cybersecurity training at every level with emphasis on data security and compliance in respect of client information.
  • Women Leadership Program: Aarohan is a special designed program of ESDS which promotes leadership among women, capitalizing on creativity, problem-solving skills, and strategic thinking to help them succeed in the changing cloud and AI environment.

This commitment to training and development ensures that ESDS remains agile and prepared for the future, making it a leader in addressing the challenges and opportunities in India’s expanding cloud ecosystem.

 

  1. ESDS’ vision on how technology is reshaping the HR function, from talent acquisition to employee engagement, while fostering innovation and resilience?

ESDS serves as a one-stop solution for Cloud, IT Security, and Managed Services, that has infused advanced technology into reshaping HR functions, be it talent acquisition or employee engagement, infused with innovation and flexibility. Strategically oriented through AI and automation, ESDS optimizes processes and fosters a culture of continuous improvement.

  • AI-Powered Recruitment Platforms – Darwinbox: ESDS uses an AI-based HR management software named Darwinbox that eliminates the chance of hiring bias in recruitment process by filtering through resumes, tracking candidates, and scheduling interviews. It would help in streamlining recruitment turnaround time to ensure faster hiring services.
  • Automated Screening with AI – Ceipal: ESDS is already using an AI-based platform called Ceipal towards further HR hiring perfection by quickly processing resumes and matching these candidates with best-fit jobs, thereby taking the guesswork out of screening for efficient focus by HR on the best-fit candidates.
  • NLP for Optimized Job Descriptions: ESDS uses NLP to fine-tune jobs that one is applying to, making them clear, inclusive, and perfectly suitable for the role. This increases the engagement rate of candidates with suitable positions.
  • Data-Driven Decisions with Predictive Index: Predictive Index technology at ESDS makes data-driven decisions through the entire employee lifecycle-from hire to retention. The AI-insights generate the opportunity to ensure if a candidate has potential for performance and fit within the company culture with better retention and higher satisfaction for employees.
  • AI in Employee Engagement and Development

ESDS’s use of AI extends to employee engagement and skill-building:

  • AI-Driven Engagement Surveys: The “Happiness Survey” at ESDS, which recorded a 73% happiness quotient, captures real-time feedback on employee satisfaction. This helps identify areas needing improvement and enables personalized action plans, boosting overall productivity.
  • AI for Skill Assessments: The employees in ESDS are subjected to AI-based evaluations that can give them immediate feedback on their strengths and improvement areas. This always keeps the workforce agile and prepared for new challenges to sustain organizational resilience.

In a nutshell, AI and automation of HR systems under the ESDS pave the way for an efficient, data-driven, and innovative approach toward talent management. It uses the features of Darwinbox, Ceipal, and Predictive Index to be innovators in the realms of HR as much as the productivity and engagement of its workforce are concerned.