Overview
Digitization is bringing a fundamental shift in the competitive landscape across multiple industries. Brown field IoTization and technologies such as analytics, edge computing are enabling current businesses to be more efficient, and innovate faster. This is facilitating the evolution of new agile business models where service is treated as a product. These technologies cut across all the stages in a typical value chain such as new product development, sourcing, direct procurement, manufacturing, sales, and distribution.
Today’s customers expect the products they use to be intuitive and always available. Enterprises need to weave smart experiences at every customer touch point by making them:
- outcome driven
- experience centric
- service oriented
- ecosystem-led
We welcome you to an evening of interactive discussions with leading industry luminaries to deliberate on real world industry challenges, solutions, best practices and how digitization, IOT makes it possible to build smarter supply chains, manufacturing processes, and end-to-end ecosystems delivering value. This thought leadership forum will help you share your experiences and get invigorated by learning from your peers.
Join CTO Straight Talk Roundtable and Experience SMART.
Agenda
Time |
Topics |
16:30 Hrs. |
Registration |
16:45 Hrs. |
Welcome Address |
17:00Hrs. |
Keynote Session by GH Rao, President, Engineering and R&D Services, HCLTech |
17:30Hrs. |
Keynote: Digital Transformation Strategy |
18:00Hrs |
Analyst View - Smart Digital Experiences for 21st Century Industry |
18:30Hrs |
Panel Discussion: Digital Transformation - Monetization/ Business models |
19:00Hrs. |
Networking, Cocktails and Dinner |
Session

GH Rao is President of Engineering and R&D Services (ERS) at HCLTech. ERS provides services to product engineering companies dealing with Aerospace, Automotive, Medical devices, Consumer Hi-tech and Telecom from all over the globe..
GH joined HCLTech as an R&D engineer in 1980. During this time, he was part of the R&D team that developed hardware subsystems for a range of micro/mini computers. He was also the chief architect of multi-processor systems that employed contemporary architectures for a range of high-end minicomputers launched by HCLTech during the late 1980s. In the early 90’s, when HCLTech and Hewlett Packard formed a joint venture (HCLTech-HP), GH was responsible for leading the technology adaptation programs, and the engineering teams..He later took charge of building business lines around core engineering services like system and VLSI design services in the early days of HCLTech. GH has added several services -including embedded systems - and also repositioned the ERS group to align with industry verticals since 1996. He is also responsible for transforming and expanding the scope of services through comprehensive engineering services.
GH holds a Bachelor’s degree in Electronics and Communication Engineering.

Jayanthi (Jay) Iyengar joined Xylem in 2015 and is responsible for leading the Company’s global R&D, technology and innovation activities as well as evaluating the technological landscape and accelerating the Company’s customer-driven innovation agenda. Prior to her current role, Ms. Iyengar served as Group Vice President, Engineering and Technology and Chief Technology Officer for the Eaton Corporations’ Aerospace Group. Previously, she held a series of increasingly responsible leadership roles over 15 years at Chrysler Group, including Global Director, Electrified Powertrain and Senior Manager and Chief Engineer, Hybrid Development Center.
Ms. Iyengar received a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Mysore University in Karnataka, India, a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Indian Institute of Technology in Mumbai, and a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan. She has also served on the board of the IEEE (Institute of Electrical & Electronics Engineers) Vehicular Technology Society.
Joe Barkai is a recognized industry analyst, strategy adviser, blogger, and published author. His focus is on researching, forecasting, and the strategic application of technology to drive innovation, competitiveness, and business processes excellence.With more than 30 years of experience helping organizations across diverse industries chart their product and market strategies, Joe offers a unique ability to “connect the dots” and articulate the business value of emerging technologies such as the Internet of Things, artificial intelligence, augmented reality, and machine learning.
In his book The Outcome Economy: How the Industrial Internet of Things is Changing Every Business, Joe discusses impact of the Industrial Internet of Things on manufacturing companies and offers a perspective on product innovation and operation in an always-connected world.As the Chairman of the Automotive IoT program at SAE, the world’s largest organization of automotive engineers, Joe has a unique perspective on emerging technologies and business models in connected cars, autonomous driving, and mobility of the future. Previously, as Vice President of Research at IDC, a leading global market research firm, Joe led global research across a broad spectrum of industries, including automotive, industrial equipment, aerospace, construction machinery, medical devices and high-tech.
- Sajid Kunnumal, Vice President, JCI
- Sean Slyman, Director, Navistar
- John Enderle, VP of Americas, Siemens
- Bryan Phillips, Sr. Director R&D Food Preparation, Electrolux
- Vijay Dara, Director of Manufacturing Administration, Komatsu America Corporation