Interview with Hitachi Vantara’s Sanjay Agrawal

The IT/IT-enabled services (ITeS) and business process management (BPM) sectors are undergoing a structural change, with several key trends emerging. Artificial intelligence (AI) is moving from pilots to real-world deployment, increasingly becoming embedded into everyday operations. Further, platform-based models are replacing fragmented systems, making it easier to scale services and integrate data, automation and intelligence. There is also a growing emphasis on governance, security and responsible AI, particularly as enterprises deal with more complex data environments and regulatory expectations.

Rather than replacing roles, AI is changing how work is done, pushing organisations towards more outcome-driven models. However, the path to scale is not without challenges, as legacy infrastructure, talent gaps and evolving security risks continue to slow down adoption. Sanjay Agrawal, Head Presales and CTO, Hitachi Vantara India and SAARC, shares his perspectives on the trends, challenges and priorities shaping the next phase of the IT/ITeS and BPM landscape…

What according to you have been the three key technology trends shaping the IT/ITeS sector?

From my perspective, the IT and ITeS sector is increasingly being shaped by how effectively organisations can harness and operationalise data. At Hitachi Vantara, we consistently see that enterprises are moving toward data centric architectures, where unified data platforms enable real time insights and stronger decision making.

Another defining shift is the growing adoption of hybrid cloud environments, where organisations are balancing flexibility with control. This allows them to scale workloads efficiently while maintaining governance over critical data.

We are also seeing a clear rise in AI ready infrastructure, where enterprises are investing in platforms that bring together storage, compute, and data integration to support modern workloads. As highlighted in Hitachi Vantara’s AI portfolio developments, enterprises are increasingly focused on building strong data foundations to drive measurable outcomes from AI initiatives

How is AI transforming the way enterprises IT/ITeS sector operate? How are technologies such as AI, automation and platform-based systems reshaping operating models and workforce dynamics?

AI is moving rapidly from experimentation to production, and this is fundamentally reshaping enterprise operations. In our experience, the real transformation lies in combining AI with strong data foundations and integrated platforms.

At Hitachi Vantara, we are seeing organisations adopt platform driven approaches, where AI, data, and infrastructure are brought together into unified ecosystems. Solutions such as Hitachi iQ and Hitachi iQ Studio are designed to help enterprises build, deploy, and manage AI agents at scale while maintaining governance and control over their data

Automation is also playing a critical role in enabling intelligent workflows and operational efficiency. With advancements in AI orchestration and multi agent systems, enterprises can automate complex processes while maintaining visibility and oversight. From a workforce standpoint, this evolution is about enabling teams with the right tools and platforms so that they can focus on higher value innovation driven tasks.

How are you strengthening cybersecurity frameworks while adopting new-age technologies?

As digital adoption accelerates, cybersecurity must be embedded into the core of enterprise systems. At Hitachi Vantara, we believe in a data first approach to security, where protection, governance, and resilience are integrated across the entire lifecycle.

There is a strong focus on ensuring that data remains secure within enterprise environments, particularly as AI systems scale. Solutions are increasingly being designed to support sovereign data control, governance, and compliance, enabling organisations to operate securely even in highly regulated industries

In addition, the emphasis on trusted infrastructure and resilient data platforms ensures that organisations can maintain continuity while safeguarding critical information.

What execution challenges or structural constraints have you encountered while adopting advanced technologies at scale?

While the intent to adopt AI and advanced technologies is strong, many organisations are still working toward building the right foundations. One of the key challenges we observe is the gap between AI ambition and data readiness. As highlighted in Hitachi Vantara’s insights, organisations with mature data practices are significantly more likely to realise measurable returns from AI, reinforcing the importance of strong data governance and integration

Another challenge lies in managing complexity across hybrid environments. Enterprises require platforms that simplify operations while enabling scalability across distributed systems. There is also a need to address operational and organisational readiness, ensuring that technology adoption is aligned with business strategy and supported by the right skills and processes.

What major technology shifts do you anticipate in the IT/ITeS domain in the coming years? How will they help redefine your organisation’s systems?

Looking ahead, I believe enterprise systems will continue to evolve toward integrated, intelligent, and data driven ecosystems. The focus will be on enabling real time decision making powered by AI and advanced analytics. We expect to see further advancements in agentic AI and autonomous systems, where enterprises can design and deploy AI agents that operate with greater context, coordination, and efficiency within secure environments

At the same time, the importance of bringing data closer to compute and enabling seamless data access across environments will become increasingly critical for performance and scalability. Ultimately, organisations that invest in strong data foundations, trusted infrastructure, and integrated platforms will be best positioned to drive innovation and long-term growth.