According to a recent report by Digital Realty, 75 per cent of Indian companies are rethinking their infrastructure and location strategies in response to evolving data requirements, reflecting a broader shift in artificial intelligence (AI) adoption across the country. This trend positions India as an emerging digital hub within the Asia-Pacific region.
The report revealed that 59 per cent of Indian firms already have a formal data strategy, surpassing many global peers. Businesses are focusing on three core pillars in their AI journey: data localisation, sustainability, and structured data approaches.
AI and machine learning are increasingly recognised as key to unlocking data value, with 44 per cent of companies citing AI as essential for this purpose. Sustainability has also become a leading consideration, with 60 per cent of businesses identifying it as the primary influence on their AI strategies. Furthermore, 51 per cent now evaluate IT success based on environmentally conscious practices.
To meet compliance and performance goals, 77 per cent of organisations have adopted distributed data models. However, challenges remain: 52 per cent report difficulties in deriving insights from fragmented data, and 51 per cent cite inadequate investment in robust data systems as a barrier to AI progress.
In response, companies are prioritising energy-efficient infrastructure, with 46 per cent focusing on achieving lower Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) to reduce consumption and align with environmental objectives.
