P&G bets on Indian talent to drive global tech ops

Mumbai: India's universities are rapidly evolving to embrace new technologies, producing a talent pool that the world's largest consumer goods company, Procter & Gamble (P&G), views as crucial for its global technology operations, according to the company's global chief information officer Seth Cohen. Cohen, who has visited India for approximately 25 years, has observed the universities' swift adaptation to newer working methods and technologies.

He lauded the students' insightful questions and the educational system's proactive approach to meeting business needs. P&G is actively expanding technology initiatives in India, considering the nation's diverse consumer behavior and retail landscape as a valuable source of lessons for its global operations. The company is leveraging India's quick and digital commerce trends, along with high-frequency stores, to develop specialized technology solutions.

These innovations include optimizing inventory management via algorithms and using dark store analytics to predict product placement. Additionally, P&G is studying how consumers navigate from social media to digital commerce, aiming to use search and location capabilities to enhance user experience and conversion rates. Cohen also highlighted the potential transfer of India's technology learnings to markets with different social media platforms, noting that the company's innovations in one region could benefit operations in areas where platforms like TikTok are popular.