 "Mats Lundquist")
Mats Lundquist, CEO of Telenor Connexion, which offers smart solutions to global manufacturing companies, tells Malini Bhupta, in a free-wheeling interview that India needs to be more open to partnerships.
What brings you to India?
We are working with international companies with specifically Swedish. We have customers like Ericsson, Scania and Volvo. We believe India is an interesting market, which is small today but with great opportunity. Our key focus is international companies exporting into India and Indian companies that are exporting to the world.
What do you think of the government's push for smart manufacturing?
My understanding is that India is trying to create employment by digitising manufacturing utilising software skills that it already has. India's software skills can help improve manufacturing by not only improving production capabilities but by producing products that are connected. This will help companies create new business models.
For exampple, we have worked with a company that makes lawn mowers, which are connected in such a way that they can be connected to mobile phones of consumers. By connecting products companies can sell them as a service too. These smart solutions are enabling software and business model changes today across industries. I see this being done by other manufacturing countries and companies which are investing in IOT platforms for manufacturing.
What kind of smart solutions do you offer that can help companies in India?
We have solutions for companies which are into manufacturing. We are working with an Indian company manufacturing smart electricity meters for global markets. We see penetration of smart solutions is limited. India is behind advanced markets like China. We hope that the smart city initiative will fuel growth. As Make in India ties in with Smart City, it could fuel IT growth. We are already working with international companies and some Indian companies. For instance, globally we offer a roaming solution that can be put in trucks, such that the trucks are connected.
What can India do to go up the manufacturing value chain?
India should be more open, which will be very beneficial for it. A lot of this is about partnering with the right companies and the Swedish delegation is very keen on doing this. The country has to be open to new partnerships. If you are too domestic it would be a barrier to go up the manufacturing value chain.
What are you expecting from government?
We are a global company with solutions. We believe better internet of things (IOT) uptake is important. If India is protectionist, then other countries will also be that way. The main point is to have a global mindset and that will attract international partners.
