TCS Summit Europe Day 1: Vibrancy and collaboration
This video captures the vibrancy and the connections that characterised the first day of the TCS Summit Europe in Barcelona.
TCS Summit Europe Live blog
Three main takeaways: Innovation, technology and transformation
14:00 CET
We’ve had a great three days in Barcelona, sharing insights and collaborating. Here are some of the key takeaways from the Summit:
Innovation
One of the central themes of the Summit was—all enterprises, regardless of sector, should put innovation at the heart of their purpose and mission. Our speakers and panellists advocated developing a workforce with the right mindset and skills, fostering collaboration within a broader ecosystem, and empowering individuals to explore new ideas.
Leveraging technology
Technology —especially AI—was a key focus and discussion point. The rapid evolution of this technology is defining business and is set to redefine many sectors. There is a huge potential for technology to drive sustainability. The companies that will succeed the most will be those that proactively integrate emerging technologies into their business strategies and operations.
Transformation
Our panellists made one thing clear—change must be embraced, and businesses must continually transform themselves. That puts the focus on managers to lead from the top and embrace change and sustainable growth.
We heard from a great range of inspirational speakers who emphasised the importance of preserving the planet for future generations and for having big, ambitious goals.
Small daily actions can add up to make a positive impact—a thought we can all embrace as we end the TCS Summit Europe 2023.
Vision with execution: Concluding the TCS Summit Europe 2023
13:15 CET
Taking to the stage to wrap up the event, Saptha Chapalapalli, Head of Europe, TCS, and Amit Kapur, Head of UK&I, TCS, reflected on the success of the Summit and how great it is to bring everyone together in person.
They highlighted three key points:
Inspiration: The diverse ideas shared during the Summit inspired all attendees.
Conviction: There was a shared commitment to collaborate and adopt some ideas discussed during the Summit to accelerate the sustainable enterprise.
Gratitude: They thanked all the attendees for participating, coming full of ideas and generating engaging discussions.
They touched upon other highlights from the panels and speakers— the importance of vision with execution, the changing concept of innovation, and the need to keep internal communications concise and to the point.
To sum up, they emphasised the value of meeting in real life, forming relationships, making connections and having conversations.
Saptha Chapalapalli, Head of Europe, TCS, and Amit Kapur, Head of UK&I, TCS, wrap up the TCS Summit Europe with some final thoughts.
The Gamechangers: Embracing change and achieving success in sports
13:00 CET
An inspirational panel of athletes shared their insights on how they motivate themselves, prepare, and deal with failure and success. The wide-ranging discussion focused on overcoming adversity, consistent training plans, mental preparation, enjoying the journey and focusing on the goal. They also talked about technology in sports.
Paula Radcliffe, former long-distance runner and champion, talked about the importance of goals, sharing a story from when she was 11 years old. Her athletics club coach gave her a sticker that said: “Aim for the moon because even if you miss, you’ll still land among the stars.”
It encouraged her to dream big, reach for her full potential and not set limits, she said.
Marlou van Rhijn, triple Paralympic champion in sprint distances, talked about how she maintained her drive after achieving a gold medal at the 2012 London Olympics.
She said she questioned how to replicate her success and felt overwhelmed. But her coach advised her to concentrate on just two things each day during practice and ensure that those two aspects improved by the end of the session.
She said breaking things down in this way helped her stay on track and make progress, even on challenging days.
Nils van der Poel, world- and Olympic champion in speed skating, emphasized how his career path has involved learning through hardship and personal discovery. He outlined the idea of “losing with pride” as a framework for success, which allowed him to maintain a sense of honour even in defeat. That has become a driving force, keeping him focused throughout his journey.
The panel also discussed the role of technology in sports and how athletes need to embrace and use technology while not becoming reliant on it. You must trust your instinct, while also harnessing the power of technology, Radcliffe said.
Athletes have a responsibility to address sustainability and environmental concerns, the panel said, primarily by setting an example and making incremental changes in daily life.
Overall, the panel underscored how athletes can play a central role in promoting positive change — sitting at the intersection of technology, sports, and sustainability.
Gamechanging top athletes reflect on success and overcoming adversity.
Panel discussion: Accelerating the sustainable enterprise
12:00 CET
A fascinating panel discussion covered the need for enterprises to become more sustainable, demonstrate this with reporting, and how technology can underpin those goals.
Helen Dean, CEO of Nest Corporation, the UK’s largest pension fund, shared her view on creating sustainable enterprises. She said NEST is relatively young at 11 years old but has experienced significant growth, and sustainability is fundamental to its mission.
She said this involves responsible investing and aligning the interests of members, employees, and wider society. NEST’s responsibility and purpose lie in ensuring the long-term financial resilience of its members, many of whom are new to savings and investments.
Helping customers achieve sustainable financial futures, especially in the Irish market, is a key focus at AIB Life, Bryan O’Connor, CEO and Executive Director, told the panel. AIB Life is trying to provide better financial planning and decision-making support to customers to help them improve their financial resilience and sustainability, he said. In collaboration with TCS, his company wants to provide more digital solutions as it moves forward.
Eelco van der Enden, CEO of Global Reporting Initiative, described how with the right technology, sustainability reporting and compliance can become more straightforward over time.
He discussed the challenges businesses face when trying to comply with various reporting standards in a cost-effective and straightforward way. He said compliance is often easier than people think because of the technologies and mapping tools that are now available. These can also help businesses align with different reporting standards.
By making some adjustments and using technology, companies can prepare reports for multiple standards simultaneously, he said. Drawing a parallel with the introduction of International Accounting Standards, he said, businesses raised similar concerns but eventually these were addressed, and compliance became more manageable using technology.
Panelists consider the best ways to accelerate the sustainable enterprise.
The Changemakers: Internal and external teams working seamlessly together
The Q&A of the changemakers session focused on talent and skills.
The speakers agreed that finding the right balance is about blending. Building internal talent is important, but in a fast-moving environment with skill gaps, solid partnerships and bringing in external expertise are essential.
Another key theme was the importance of attracting and retaining talent in the context of transformation.
Flexibility and agility in talent acquisition are crucial, the panellists said. It’s crucial to think outside the box and embrace diversity when building teams. This diversity includes not only engineers but also people from other backgrounds.
Management teams are central to successful transformation, ensuring continuous communication. There’s a tendency to wait for the transformation to pass before communicating. But good communication is essential to sustain the transformation momentum and make it clear that there’s no turning back.
Delegates answer audience questions on waysto get internal and external teams working seamlessly together.
The Changemakers: Data as a starting point for business transformation
Vera Ingallati, Sodexo’s Vice President of Global Application Management Systems, shared a personal story of sailing in Greece and how that relates to her company’s transformation journey of being focused on the goal. She said the French food services and facilities management company undertook a transformation that began with data and digital.
She discussed the challenges of attracting tech talent and how Sodexo recruited people, including product owners, agile coaches, and data engineers, to prepare for the transformation. They also partnered with TCS to extend their teams globally.
Technology is at the heart of Sodexo’s operations, with three key business goals:
- Efficiency
- Strong relationships
- Increased sales and retention
She highlighted the importance of data foundations and noted how Sodexo’s journey was built on data, technology, and processes as guiding stars in a quest for efficiency. She emphasised the importance of demonstrating the value of data use cases to secure investment for future projects.
Vera Ingallati, Sodexo’s Vice President of Global Application Management Systems, discusses how to attract and retain tech talent.
The Changemakers: Collaboration between business and IT
10:10 CET
Collaboration between business and IT is essential in making difficult decisions when it comes to transformation, said Dr Marcus Heidmann, co-CIO Private Bank, Deutsche Bank.
Deutsche Bank has completed the largest migration in Europe within the banking sector, consolidating Post Bank onto the Deutsche Bank IT platform. This involved 1,500 people working over three years in four phases, and TCS, particularly its subsidiary in Germany, was key to achieving this.
It is important to bear in mind the unexpected impacts on customers and operational processes, which must be addressed retrospectively. The consolidation of Post Bank onto the Deutsche Bank IT platform and the modernisation of the online and mobile banking platforms demonstrate what can be achieved through collaboration, Heidmann said.
Collaboration between business and IT was a key topic for Dr Marcus Heidmann, co-CIO Private Bank, Deutsche Bank.
The Changemakers: Galvanising a sense of urgency and purpose
10:00 CET
Delegates heard from Christopher Blatchford, Chief Technology Officer at Kingfisher Group, who stressed the importance of developing a sense of urgency and purpose that can accelerate change.
Kingfisher Group faces increasing competition and consumers who demand an omnichannel experience and rapid product delivery. Consumers also want to see sustainably and ethically sourced products.
Blatchford said, technology brings both opportunities and uncertainties and companies need to adapt. He outlined three key lessons:
- Recognise the urgent challenges and changes in the industry and consumer behaviour.
- Define a clear and authentic vision and purpose.
- Be clear about the strategies that are needed to achieve the vision. Kingfisher focuses on four areas, one of which is becoming more “product-led”.
Christopher Blatchford, Chief Technology Officer at Kingfisher Group, speaks about developing a group purpose.
The Changemakers: How PostNord became a technology-led company
09:45 CET
In this session, we will hear from some companies that TCS is working with to achieve sustainable transformation. The first speaker was Jörgen Hellberg, CIO, PostNord.
Hellberg talked about the best ways to shift mindsets and shared what he learned on the journey of turning a traditional postal service into a technology-driven enterprise. Three key points he made were:
- Make sure that the company management fully understands that technology comes first.
- Work on the outcomes — always think about the simplest solution and ask, “What is the simplest solution to unlock the opportunity?”
- There is no silver bullet to suddenly make everything good — what is required is a lot of hard work, and you need to be consistent to achieve your goals.
He also emphasized the importance of being defined as a technology company rather than a logistics company. IT and technology are now co-creators of the company’s future, rather than just support services. That summed up the challenge, which was changing the perception of IT within the company, where it had a reputation for being slow, expensive, and out of touch with the business.
There are many challenges, but the outcome is that a 400-year-old company is transformed into a technology leader.
Jörgen Hellberg, CIO, PostNord, shares the ways his company is working with TCS to achieve sustainable transformation.
Day 3 TCS Summit Europe 2023: Change, acceleration and gamechangers
Welcome back! It’s Day 3 — the final day — of our Europe Summit. Many delegates started this morning with a run through the beautiful city of Barcelona along the Avinguda Diagonal, and now they are getting ready for a full day of engagements.
We will start with a panel on changemakers featuring Jörgen Hellberg, CIO, PostNord; Christopher Blatchford, Chief Technology Officer, Kingfisher Group; Vera Ingallati, VP, Global Application Management Systems, Sodexo; and Dr. Marcus Heidmann, co-CIO Private Bank, Deutsche Bank.
Next up will be a panel discussion on the Summit’s central theme: Accelerating the sustainable enterprise. Speakers will include Helen Dean, CEO, Nest Corporation; Bryan O'Connor, CEO and Executive Director, AIB Life; and Eelco van der Enden, CEO, Global Reporting Initiative.
The summit will conclude with an interview with Paula Radcliffe, former long-distance runner and champion, Marlou van Rhijn, triple Paralympic champion in sprint distances and Nils van der Poel, world- and Olympic champion speed skating. Finally, Saptha Chapalapalli, Head of Europe, TCS, and Amit Kapur, Head of UK&I, TCS, will wrap things up and summarise the key takeaways.
You can read the agenda in detail here.
Delegates participate in a morning run along the Avinguda Diagonal in Barcelona.
Previous days
Day 1 key takeaways: The need for innovative thinking in a changing world
19:00 CET
As we come to the end of the first day, here are the key takeaways.
- An inspirational speech from Bertrand Piccard, Explorer and Chairman of the Solar Impulse Foundation, reminded us of the human capacity to make the impossible possible through creativity and innovation.
- He talked about the need to imagine and pursue possibilities beyond conventional wisdom to solve the biggest challenges of our time.
- Piccard said innovation arises not from new inventions but from challenging and discarding oldbeliefs.
- To be successful sustainable enterprises, we must embrace change and question established norms.
- An address from two of TCS Europe’s senior leaders— Saptha Chapalapalli, Head of Europe, TCS, and Amit Kapur, Head of UK and Ireland, TCS — looked at how the central theme of the TCS Europe Summit has evolved since last year from the dawn of the sustainability era to accelerating the transition to a sustainable future.
- They talked about the power of coming together and how collaboration brings out the best ideas.
- When enterprises apply innovation and technology, they can unlock more solutions and meet their commitments to society and the world at large.
- A panel of senior business leaders considered emerging tech trends particularly artificial intelligence.
- The panel debated how organisations can embrace AI and navigate the regulatory landscape.
- There is a need to get the balance right between innovating with AI and responsible implementation of the technology.
- They said partnerships will be key to driving AI innovation as they underscored the need to give room to failure.
See you tomorrow for more discussion and a continuation of the agenda.
Delegates gather in Barcelona at the TCS Europe Summit to watch a panel on emerging tech trends
Steering through the next decade of change sustainably will require a culture of innovation and a helping hand from the latest technologies.
And it’s those specific challenges that Europe’s most senior business leaders are set to debate at the TCS Summit Europe, in Barcelona, Spain, from 27th to 29th September 2023.
The Summit aims to explore how enterprises can sustainably navigate change while harnessing the best of technology and innovation to make them fit for the future. This live blog will follow all the action, as the meetings bring together C-suite executives, global influencers, politicians, sports people, industry experts, and changemakers.
We will follow every twist and turn, keeping you up to date, starting with the opening address from Saptha Chapalapalli, Head of Europe, TCS, and Amit Kapur, Head of UK and Ireland, TCS; and a keynote speech on how to make the impossible possible by Bertrand Piccard, Explorer and Chairman of the Solar Impulse Foundation.
Arriving at the TCS Summit Europe, in Barcelona, Spain
Welcome to the live blog covering TCS’s Europe Summit on technology, innovation, and sustainability
16:30 CET
Good afternoon, and welcome on board as we bring you live updates from the events as they unfold at this year’s TCS Summit in Barcelona, Spain.
We’ve got a packed agenda ahead over the next three days as our guests convene at the conference in Hotel Sofia, Barcelona.
Kicking things off, we will have a welcome and introduction from Saptha Chapalapalli, Head of Europe, TCS, and Amit Kapur, Head of UK and Ireland, TCS, followed by our keynote speaker, Bertrand Piccard, explorer and Chairman of the Solar Impulse Foundation.
A thought leader on innovation and sustainability and an advocate of the economic potential of clean technologies, Piccard will share his thoughts on “the art of making the impossible possible.”
We’ll follow that with a panel on emerging technology trends, which will feature Ipek Ozsuer, Chief Digital and Information Officer, dsm-firmenich; Harsha Deshmukh, Executive Vice President & CIO, Infineon Technologies AG; Thomas Saueressig, Member of the Executive Board of SAP SE for SAP Product Engineering, SAP SE, and Rob Elsey, Group Chief Digital Information Officer, Co-op.
The next three days look packed with interesting and exciting insights. We’re looking forward to bringing together some of Europe’s top business leaders and hearing the debates and ideas flowing from that. This live blog will follow the action in real time and summarize the key points. Let’s go!
TCS hosts the Summit Europe 2023 in Barcelona, Spain, bringing together senior business leaders to discuss innovation and technology
Opening TCS Summit 2023: applying innovation and technology to unlock solutions
17:20 CET
The Summit opened with an address from two of TCS Europe’s senior leaders: Saptha Chapalapalli, Head of Europe, TCS, and Amit Kapur, Head of UK and Ireland, TCS.
They highlighted how the Summit’s theme has evolved since last year when business leaders discussed the dawn of sustainable enterprise. A year later, they will focus on the best ways to accelerate that transition.
Chapalapalli and Kapur talked about the power of coming together and how collaboration brings about the best ideas. When enterprises apply innovation and technology, they can unlock more solutions and meet their commitments to society and the world at large.
What’s clear is that industry leaders have the tools to drive significant change in their own way. Most companies now have well-defined sustainability agendas—but time is ticking—and an acceleration is needed to achieve this. And that will form the basis of the discussions and debates over the next few days.
TCS Europe’s senior leaders Saptha Chapalapalli, Head of Europe, TCS, and Amit Kapur, Head of UK and Ireland, TCS, discuss accelerating the transition.
Bertrand Piccard: The future is uncertain, we need a different mindset
17:50 CET
When things aren’t working, we change course, we change our mindset, and that’s what we must do when working on sustainability and protecting the environment.
That was the central point of the keynote speech by Bertrand Piccard, Explorer and Chairman of the Solar Impulse Foundation. He urged everyone to recognise that the “impossible” is merely a product of people’s mindsets rooted in the belief that the future will resemble the past. In reality, the future is unpredictable and demands disruptive thinking.
Drawing on his experience of developing solar-powered aviation, Piccard said multiple sectors and examples from history, including the exploration of the moon and flight, show how disruptive ideas have shattered old ways of thinking to produce great results.
“The future is never an extrapolation of the past,” Piccard said. “The future is uncertain, and unpredictable, and requires us to be disruptive and innovative.”
Changing mindsets and thinking in a different way will be key to solving the challenges we face, and experiences and knowledge are not always an advantage. People don’t want to face failure, face doubts, or face questions, he said.
And those changing mindsets are needed when we think about innovative ideas surrounding sustainability. “When we speak about sustainability, it is technology, but it is also common sense,” Piccard said.
He further said that sustainability and decarbonisation agendas can be attractive, create jobs and bolster the economy. Many of the items and gadgets we rely on today were designed in the past, in a carbon-intensive world, and that’s an opportunity.
“When we speak of decarbonisation, when we speak of sustainability, sometimes we are frightening people who say it's going to be really difficult and expensive,” he said. “But maybe we can change the wording. Maybe we can say the goal is to modernise our world. The goal is to bring the world from the past to the present.”
The involvement of artificial intelligence in solving these challenges depends on the human beings using it, he said.
“You need the human values. Today, it is very clear that we cannot be energy efficient without artificial intelligence. But we have to use it where it's useful.”
There is a way to protect the environment and bring profits for enterprises, if we engender a new way of thinking. “I think this can create some enthusiasm,” he said.
Bertrand Piccard, Explorer and Chairman of the Solar Impulse Foundation makes the case for a new mindset on sustainability.
Emerging tech trends: Balancing ethics and innovation in AI implementation
18:45 CET
The first panel at the Summit focused on artificial intelligence, and how organisations can embrace the technology while navigating the evolving regulatory landscape. One of the themes the speakers explored was how to get the balance right between implementing AI at pace and doing so responsibly. Partnerships will be key to driving AI innovation, they said.
Thomas Saueressig, Member of the Executive Board of SAP SE for SAP Product Engineering, SAP, advocated cautious experimentation. His company is balancing innovation with data privacy and ethical considerations. SAP has a sandbox for internal use, and access and security are strictly controlled, he said.
Rob Elsey, Group Chief Digital Information Officer, Co-op, spoke about how AI can improve customer experiences and make them more personalised. The panel, which also included Ipek Ozsuer, Chief Digital and Information Officer, dsm-firmenich and Harsha Deshmukh, Executive Vice President & CIO, Infineon Technologies AG, concluded that AI offers unparalleled opportunities.
Success will hinge on AI being embedded in business processes and applications, making it a foundational part of operations.
Panelists discuss the balance between rapid implementation of AI and doing so responsibly.
Day 2 key takeaways: The role of sustainable business in building greater futures
14:00CET
What a packed and informative second day! Our speakers and panels covered topics including AI, sustainability, innovation, and how businesses can become fit for the future.
This evening, delegates will attend a gala dinner. Tomorrow, we will be back with more informative discussions and guests, including former long-distance runner and champion Paula Radcliffe, triple Paralympic champion in sprint distances Marlou van Rhijn, and world- and Olympic champion at speed skating Nils van der Poel.
Key takeaways from Day 2:
- N Chandrasekaran, Chairman, Tata Sons, shared his insights on the role business can play in building greater futures.
- Tata Group’s guiding principles are—a strong sense of purpose, a robust value system, and the trust of the people in the communities it serves.
- Three key transitions are underway— AI, energy, and supply chain.
- Success is about combining vision and execution, Chandrasekaran said.
- A separate panel focused on fostering an entrepreneurial mindset and harnessing science and technology to spark innovation.
- There is a growing need to combine entrepreneurship and science while keeping in mind the need for transparency, fairness, and value creation for customers, the panel concluded.
- Prof Alexander Stubb, former PM of Finland and The Rt Hon Philip Hammond, former Chancellor of the Exchequer and Secretary of State, discussed a wide range of topics and covered aspects of geopolitics, economics, and societal challenges.
- The keynote from K Krithivasan, CEO and Managing Director, TCS, focused on harnessing the power of emerging technologies such as AI.
- He noted how AI has captured our imaginations and how there are now around 1,200 startups focusing on artificial intelligence.
- TCS is committed to helping its customers realise the potential of generative AI in a structured and effective manner, he said.
We will leave you with the thought from K. Krithivasan, CEO & Managing Director, TCS, that technological advances in all fields, not just in AI, mean we can all be excited about prospects for the future. See you tomorrow!
Delegates watch a panel debate at the TCS Summit Europe 2023.
Welcome to Day 2 of TCS Summit Europe 2023!
09:00 CET
Good morning and welcome to Day 2 of the live blog. We are starting off with a keynote address from K Krithivasan, Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director, TCS, who is sharing his views on the next stages of transformation, emphasising the importance of staying relevant to clients.
He’s also covering the impact of emerging technology trends, including AI, and the potential for job creation and growth, and talking about how collaboration and resilience are more important than ever in the face of economic and geopolitical uncertainties.
We will give a complete summary of his speech later. Now, let’s look ahead to the day with an exciting and packed line up.
Prof Alexander Stubb, former PM of Finland, and The Rt. Hon. Philip Hammond, former Chancellor of the Exchequer and Secretary of State, will talk about global challenges.
We will also have a panel debate on the state of innovation, followed by a session with N Chandrasekaran, Chairman, Tata Sons, in conversation with Lionel Barber, former editor of the Financial Times, who will talk about the role of business in building greater futures.
Stay tuned for our coverage and more photos of the event.
Masters of Ceremonies, Rosanna Lockwood kicksoff Day 2 of the TCS Summit Europe 2023
Generative AI and enterprises: Keynote from K Krithivasan, CEO & Managing Director, TCS
09:59 CET
K Krithivasan, CEO & Managing Director, TCS, focused his keynote address on harnessing the power of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and how enterprises can become more sustainable.
He noted how AI has captured our imaginations and pointed out that there are around 1,200 startups now focusing on artificial intelligence alone. TCS is committed to helping its customers realise the potential of generative AI in a structured manner, he said.
Krithivasan highlighted the transformative power of generative AI and how we can harness it for good in business. He discussed how it can be used in the pharmaceutical and insurance industries as well as in architectural design. For example, onboarding a pension fund typically takes about 90 days, but TCS reduced it to six to seven days using AI.
He said these examples show how AI can reduce errors, streamline processes, save time, and improve decision-making. There are also many examples of how it can be used in sustainability. He added that AI and other technologies are key to accelerating the sustainable enterprise and hitting goals.
He described a tiered approach to generative AI in the companies TCS works with:
- An industry-first and domain-based approach to extract the most value.
- Leveraging investments in cloud computing.
- Creating an ecosystem to adopt and integrate startups.
- Creating a knowledge superstructure to maximise the use of the developed knowledge.
Krithivasan concluded by saying that technological advances in all fields, not just in AI, mean we can all be excited about the prospects for the future.
K. Krithivasan, CEO & Managing Director, TCS highlights the power of AI
Geopolitics in dynamic times and the critical issue of climate change
10:49 CET
Prof. Alexander Stubb, former PM of Finland, and The Rt. Hon. Philip Hammond, former Chancellor of the Exchequer and Secretary of State, discussed a wide range of topics and covered aspects of geopolitics, economics, and societal challenges.
Climate change and sustainability featured on the agenda, as critical global issues, and the need to be honest about the transition towards renewables and net zero. A central challenge is making sure governments and businesses are doing enough and persuading citizens to accept sustainability-focused changes, they said.
Prof. Alexander Stubb, former PM of Finland, and The Rt. Hon. Philip Hammond, former Chancellor of the Exchequer and Secretary of State in discussion at the TCS Summit Europe 2023.
How technology and innovation are redefining business
12:00 CET
This panel discussion focused on fostering an entrepreneurial mindset and harnessing science and technology to spark innovation. The panelists discussed the importance of walking in the customers’ shoes every day and how that helps identify new opportunities.
Dr Harrick Vin, Chief Technology Officer, TCS, discussed how technological advances accelerate innovation, particularly in the knowledge economy where software is used.
He outlined three key points:
- The time required to build software has decreased, making it easier and faster to create new solutions.
- Advances in technologies like AI can make software more intelligent and capable.
- Personalised digital workspaces have improved, allowing people to work from anywhere.
These factors mean the time-cost-quality equation of knowledge work is changing, which is redefining many industries.
The airline industry is changing and exploring new opportunities to meet and exceed customer needs, and technology can aid this, said Siobhan Fitzpatrick, Chief Experience Officer of Virgin Atlantic Airways. Against a tough background of the pandemic, geopolitical tension, and fluctuating fuel prices, airlines must focus on recovery and meeting customer expectations, she said. And that will involve being the best for customers and employees while also reducing costs, she added.
Zurich Insurance has a history of innovation and is now focused on embedded insurance and digitization, said Archana Jain, Group CTO and Head of Infrastructure Services and Security at the company. Embedded insurance means providing insurance to customers at the point of need, for example, when they book travel or make a purchase.
Leadership support and sponsorship are critical to driving innovation within an organisation, said Jerzy Janeczko, Chief Information Officer, Lonza. To foster innovation, people need to be aligned with the strategy and encouraged to value innovation as crucial.
The challenge often lies in envisioning how technologies like 5G can create new opportunities for customers before they are aware of them, said Howard Watson, Chief Security and Networks Officer, BT Group.
The panellists concluded that there is a growing need to combine entrepreneurship and science, while keeping in mind the need for transparency, fairness, and value creation for customers. Innovation must be combined with empowering, engaging, and nurturing talent.
A panel of European business leaders discuss how to foster innovation.
Business in the future: A sense of purpose, a robust value system, and trust
13:00 CET
In conversation with Lionel Barber, former editor of the Financial Times, N Chandrasekaran, Chairman of Tata Sons, shared his thoughts on the role business can play in building greater futures.
N Chandrasekaran, Chairman, Tata Sons in conversation with Lionel Barber, former editor of the Financial Times.
Summit recap
Delegates discussed innovation, technology, collaboration and how to accelerate the sustainable transition.
TCS Summit Europe Day 2: Energy and exploration of ideas
This video captures the energy that brought people together on the second day of the TCS Summit Europe in Barcelona.
Delegates came together to debate their ideas and covered a wide range of topics including AI, sustainability, innovation, and how business can become fit for the future.
