To say the landscape of technology is ever-evolving is an understatement, and Basudev Pal, Director at Technossus, is an individual whose career perfectly suits the necessary adaptability and vision.
Starting his journey in the tech world with mainframe computers and languages like COBOL and PL/1, Pal’s career has been nothing short of remarkable. His move to the UK in 1996 marked the beginning of a series of successful ventures that would establish him as a force to be reckoned with in the industry.
Pal’s knack for recognising potential and his entrepreneurial spirit led him to set up operations for HCL. It was a move that would pave the way for his future endeavours, including the establishment of Blue Star Infotech in the UK, which was later sold off.
His career took a turn towards the Middle East, where he founded a startup and later introduced another company to the European market called SIFI. But it was his role in turning around JK Technosoft that truly showcased his leadership and business acumen. Under his guidance, the UK and European arms of the company saw a sixfold increase in the top line and a significant improvement in the bottom line.
In 2021, Pal embarked on a new challenge with Technossus, a scale-up company from Silicon Valley. “The company was created on paper in July 2021,” he states, “and today we are a significantly larger organisation through strategic expansion,” with operations now spanning Europe, Canada, and the UK, with Pal laying the foundation for its UK operations. “We are doing some significantly great work,” he says with pride.
Technossus, Leading by Example
Technossus, under the leadership of Basudev, has brought the power of tech to different areas, particularly in the health tech and healthcare sectors. The company has also delved into cloud orchestration and application development, focusing on biometrics and public safety.
Digital transformation is another area where Technossus shines, developing applications that enhance client touchpoints for logistics companies. Moreover, the company is deeply involved with Medtech startups, creating point-of-care systems for conditions like thrombosis and diabetes.
Facial recognition applications are also part of Technossus’ repertoire, aiding safety forces in various locations and ensuring swift and accurate responses to situations. Mobile applications developed by Technossus enable the verification of identities on the go, showcasing the company’s ability to address real-world challenges through technology.
Perhaps the most intriguing aspect of Technossus’ work is the Innovation Hub. The hub focuses on public safety, working on challenges that can be addressed through technological solutions, whether visual technologies, social media, or voice recognition. This multimodal approach is central to Technossus’ mission, as it seeks to enhance public convenience through its innovative endeavours.
Addressing Challenges Through Tech
Reflecting on the industry’s evolution, Pal shares, “I have seen the entire gamut of this whole operation.” From witnessing the rise and fall of databases like HPS and the transition from client-server computing to cloud computing, his experience offers a unique perspective on the sector’s growth.
Pal identifies business IT alignment as one of the biggest challenges, emphasising the importance of aligning technology with business objectives. He notes the concept of technical debt, where companies knowingly incur a ‘debt’ in their architecture to hit the market faster, as a necessary trade-off in today’s fast-paced environment.
But the Technossus Director is not one to shy away from growth opportunities. “Challenges give rise to innovation through creative approaches,” he asserts. The tech sector, according to Pal, is on the cusp of transformative change, reminiscent of past shifts from mainframes to PCs and from bespoke to COTS applications.
Currently, the industry’s focus is on the advent of generative AI, which Pal believes could revolutionise the level of work required from technology vendors. Pal highlights the emergence of low-code and no-code platforms, which streamline application development, and the concept of the digital employee, which enhances productivity.
The UK, in Pal’s view, is leading the charge in these initiatives, particularly within the finance sector, where technology is advancing more rapidly than in other parts of the world. However, he identifies a significant challenge: the scarcity of skilled resources to meet the burgeoning demand for technology. “Finding the right resource pool to take on the work is definitely going to be a challenge,” he predicts.
Despite these hurdles, Pal remains optimistic about the progress and the remarkable applications Technossus is developing. “The applications that we are looking at and working on are seriously amazing,” he enthuses, expressing pride in being part of such groundbreaking work.
Vision and Adaptability: The Hallmarks of Leadership
Approaching the end, Basudev shares his insights on what constitutes an ideal leader. “A leader is ageless,” he states emphatically, believing that leadership is defined by vision and the capacity to adapt to changing circumstances. Experience, while valuable, should not become a hindrance to growth. “Experience is very good, but then the mind should be open to learn,” Pal advises
Basudev sees leaders as enablers rather than doers, individuals who empower others to innovate and excel. “There is a lot to learn from the generation coming into the industry,” he observes, highlighting the importance of remaining a student of life, regardless of one’s experience or position.
For Pal, the tech industry’s rapid evolution exemplifies why leaders must be adaptable. Roles that are commonplace today were inconceivable two decades ago, and the future will likely bring roles we cannot yet imagine. “I never thought that there would be a digital employee,” he reflects, acknowledging how reality has outpaced science fiction.
Ultimately, Pal’s vision of leadership consists of continuous learning, adaptability, and the ability to embrace the future’s potential. It’s a perspective that not only shapes his approach at Technossus but also serves as a guiding principle for aspiring leaders in any sector.
