MD, Head of HR and Corporate Communications, Nomura Services, India, reckons that the development of e-commerce and the emergence of online marketplaces is yet another triumph of technology – it not only connects businesses and consumers, but also helps to create new jobs
In this interview, Arijit Pal Choudhury, MD, Head of Human Resources & Corporate Communications, Nomura Services, India, explores the relationship between technology and human connections. He discusses the positive impact of technology on communication, education, healthcare, and work. He also touches upon the role of technology in reshaping workplace design and promoting inclusivity. Overall, the interview highlights the potential synergy between technology and human connections. Edited excerpts:
With technology becoming a way of life, do you think real human connections are at a loss?
Technology has become invincible and has permeated all areas of our lives. It’s time to end the debate about technology versus human connections and explore ways in which both can be synergized to achieve optimal results.
Of late, technology has come in for a lot of criticism due to the adverse effects of online addiction, disconnect from reality, loneliness, and a lack of meaningful social relations. While these perils must not be dismissed, they should be brought further into the open and managed.
Having said that, technology has done more good than harm to human relations. New-age solutions like telecommunications and video conferencing have brought the entire world including family members spread across the world onto device screens. Today, wishing loved ones on special occasions or festivals has literally become as easy as clicking a button.
Technology has enabled accessibility and affordability in areas such as education, employment, and healthcare. Organizations are able to offer 24×7 customer support with almost zero wait time through technologies such as NLP, ML, and AI. Similarly, some healthcare industry challenges have been addressed by solutions like virtual consultation, electronic medical records, and digital prescriptions, enabling patients from the remotest parts of the country to consult some of the best healthcare professionals.
With networking tools and engagement platforms, technology has revolutionized the way organizations build and maintain human connections – unleashing the immense potential to foster communication, collaboration, and a culture of trust and transparency.
By using technology as a catalyst rather than as a substitute for human relations, we can fully leverage its potential.
How is technology influencing the future of work?
For this, we need to reflect on the past. The pace of growth of general-purpose technologies has shown exponential progress from one launch in 100 years to one on average every 14.2 years. Just in the last 20 years, we have had three general-purpose technologies – nanotechnology, AI, and IOT – altering economic and social structures. We have already started talking about a quantum leap towards singularity, which necessitates a need to manage the change creatively and proactively to maintain control over irreversible technological advancements. Though it may seem a bit farfetched now, there could come a day when technology consciousness runs parallel or even merges with human consciousness.
The breakneck speed and complexity of technological advancements continuously challenge us to reimagine the corporate environment involving work, workforce, and workplace.
A decade ago, could you imagine careers such as digital content creators or social media influencers? That’s how the work paradigm has changed. Androids and bots are learning human language skills, providing us with freedom from low value-adding jobs and presenting us opportunities to unleash the full force of our human ingenuity. Today, we do not know with certainty the kind of jobs that will exist in the future. But we certainly know that the future workforce will comprise of humans, bots and machines.
Imagine your AI-enabled digital twin in the Metaverse making a list of action items from a meeting while you are on vacation. Increasingly, there is a need for an agile workforce with an expanded capacity to unearth unknown problems.
As work and workforce are continuously evolving, the workplace is also undergoing transformation. It is imperative for companies to invest in systems that allow them to balance the value of physical proximity with the need for flexibility. Organizations need to embrace new-age technologies that empower employees to decide what, where, and how of their work.
Technology is reshaping everything we know about traditional work, workforce and workplace. It has created a level playing field by offering the magic of real-time data. Creative and proactive users of technology will stay relevant in the future.
What is the impact of technology on workplace design?
Today, the workplace has extended beyond the office, into our homes and co-working areas, compelling us to re-think workplace design.
Flexible and agile working has spurred a movement in workplace design that relies on technology for daily interactions. As such, organizations need to adopt technologies that promote inclusivity and stimulate social intelligence. It must present people with a choice of spaces complementing the nature of their work.
Whether it is learning, interacting, or communicating, technology in its discernible shapes and forms must be leveraged to create enhanced employee experiences. For instance, sophisticated technological aids have redefined the mode and forms of training. It has galvanized on-the-go, in-the-flow, bite-sized learning, and made interactive virtual classrooms a reality, reducing dependency on physical infrastructure.
It may not be wrong to say that an ideal workplace design is one that complements the evolving work and workforce and enhances organizational productivity.
What excites you about human connections and technological innovations that you are witnessing today?
So many things!
I’m amazed at the pace of digital commoditization. For instance, Aadhaar. Isn’t it exhilarating to see how quickly an innovation has become such a significant need?
Another life-changing innovation was Co-WIN. This digital platform played a critical role in India’s fight against Covid-19. It is reassuring to see technology-enabled devices such as drones carrying food and medicines to inaccessible disaster-hit areas and partnering in rescue operations.
I’m also impressed with the way technology has promoted economic inclusivity. The growth of fintech and how it has offered everyone easy access to financial services is a true technological success story. The development of e-commerce and the emergence of online marketplaces is yet another triumph of technology – it not only connects businesses and consumers, but also helps to create new jobs.
I am also excited to see how technology offers equal opportunities for all, providing a plethora of learning opportunities irrespective of social status or background.
Above all, I am excited and humbled to see the brilliance of human beings, the brains behind these innovations and technological developments. It is we who have connected the world through technology, and it is we who continue to enhance and build on it to bridge human connections.
