Lord Kulveer Ranger Examines India's Digital Skills Drive Global Transformation
India has emerged as a powerhouse of tech talent, driving digital transformation across industries worldwide. Lord Kulveer Ranger, a prominent figure in the UK tech scene and member of the House of Lords, offers insights into this phenomenon and its implications for the tech industry's future.
India's journey to becoming a tech talent hub has been remarkable. With a large, young population and a strong emphasis on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education, the country has produced a vast pool of skilled tech professionals. Lord Ranger notes, "There is so much digital transformation still to be achieved globally across industrial markets and public sectors, that there is an immense requirement for more people that can design, code, develop, manage and deliver." India, once seen as a source of cost-effective labour, has transformed into a hotbed of innovation and expertise.
Historically, many tech companies looked to India for cost savings. Lord Ranger explains, "You used to go to geographies where you could access cheaper labour. Markets like Latin America or India, and global companies have built massive operations in these regions." This shift indicates a maturing market where Indian tech professionals are increasingly valued for their skills and innovation rather than just cost-effectiveness. "Now, these geographies are not about just achieving better value labour due to the hyperinflation global demand for the skills has created," Lord Kulveer Ranger observes.
The Global Talent War
The demand for Indian tech talent has sparked what Kulveer Ranger describes as a "global talent war." He notes, "You're cannibalising your competitors and overpaying to buy businesses purely to acquire talent and skills at scale."
This talent competition has several implications — rising costs, skills development, and retention concerns. Increasing demand has led to salary inflation in Indian tech hubs, while at the same time, there's a growing focus on developing specialised skills to meet global demand. Meanwhile, as international companies compete for Indian talent, there are concerns about retaining skilled professionals within India.
Strategies for Talent Acquisition and Development
However, Lord Kulveer Ranger suggests a multipronged approach to address the tech talent shortage which means having a multi pronged skills strategy:
- Offshore development: Continue to leverage talent in regions like India.
- Near-shore solutions: Explore talent pools in geographically closer regions.
- Onshore talent development: Invest in reskilling and upskilling local populations.
"You asked the question through the prism of cities," Lord Ranger says, "I think this is a conversation about nations but also about regions and cities focusing on developing their digital skills base to complement the multinational and national demands. Be it fintech, healthtech, retail operations or other sub-markets. Regions can establish specialist eco-systems to support a ‘geo-blended-pipeline of off, near and on shore skills”.
The Role of Education and Reskilling
As the demand for tech talent grows, there's also an increasing emphasis on education and reskilling. Kulveer Ranger highlights the importance of creating "skills pipelines on shore, near shore, offshore, to ensure we can sustain and meet the demand both now and in the future."
This approach isn't just about producing new graduates and reskilling the existing workforce. "That's not just people coming out of higher education, it must also be about reskilling and redeploying a population that needs to now move from probably older jobs and skills that they've had, to new," he explains.
Lord Kulveer Ranger on the Future of Global Tech Collaboration
Lord Ranger envisions a future where global tech collaboration becomes increasingly important particularly from a global digital strategy perspective.
This perspective hints at a future where Indian tech talent isn't just providing services; it’s actively shaping global tech policies and practices.
Yes, India's tech talent boom is a national success story, but it’s also a crucial component of the global digital transformation story. As Lord Kulveer Ranger's insights suggest, the evolving role of Indian tech professionals is reshaping the industry, driving innovation, and challenging traditional notions of talent acquisition and development.
India's role as a talent hub is likely to grow significantly in the next decade. However, this growth must be balanced with sustainable and ethical practices, quality and innovative delivery, and a focus on continuous skills development to ensure long-term international partnerships and success.
