Zensar banks on R and D for digital tech growth

Feb 05, 2018: Zensar Technologies is banking on its dedicated R and D centre to remain competitive in key digital technology areas such as AI, machine learning, blockchain and serverless computing.

 

The RPG Group-promoted IT firm said it is already putting forth the works of the R and D centre in Pune, called Zenlabs, during conversations with existing and prospective clients. Zensar Technologies, which ultimately aims to become 100% digital, earns nearly 37% of revenues from digital.

 

"It (Zenlabs) is helping Zensar position differently wherever we are fighting deals," CEO Sandeep Kishore told in an interview, adding the R and D centres have been "ramped up since inception in April last year" to have 100 people including five PhDs.

 

A sharp rise in the use of digital technologies by users - be it in retail or banking - has pushed companies in the $154-billion Indian IT sector across sizes to increase spending towards R and D.

 

Only in the past three years, analysts said, large players such as TCS, Infosys and Wipro were consistent in spending in innovation, albeit it hovered around 1% of revenue.

 

Kishore said the industry, including Zensar, has hardly practiced a research-focused approach in the past.