Advanced technologies and disruptive innovation are vital to help meet future global energy needs. Since its set up in 2015, the IT Hub Bangalore is one of four IT hubs for Shell globally, and with 2,000+ staff now on seat, has the largest IT footprint delivering across all of Shell's global business lines. The IT Hub Bangalore recently organised Techtonic 2017 - its first community event focused on inspiring learning about the entire hydrocarbon value chain of Shell, sparking new ideas through hackathons and ideation events, and engaging the rich supplier and partner ecosystem.
The objective of Techtonic 2017 was to recognise and understand digital solutions that are not only essential for competitive strength, but also play a vital role in accelerating business success. Techtonic encouraged all of Shell IT Bangalore Hub's 2,000+ employees, other Shell entities and Shell's event technology partners to showcase their projects, achievements, and innovative energy-industry-IT solutions. For example, one technology that was showcased allowed wearers of a HoloLens device to walk inside and around a digital 3D model of a subsurface rock sample to examine rock properties like porosity and permeability.
Techtonic also comprised of skill development programs on new-age game-changing concepts for Shell's employees such as masterclasses on Blockchain, Energy Transition Program, New energy systems, Waste to energy technology and Internet of Things (IoT). It also saw the culmination and felicitation of two employee innovation competitions that had all of hub's employees engaged in a creative innovation battle. Ideation challenge, wherein the winning idea gets to be endorsed and funded by the group's global CIO, had employees ideating in different categories such as business IT strategic asks, emerging technologies and cost-saving levers. The winning idea had a high business applicability and impact - Blockchain and NFC (Near Field Communication) tags to prevent counterfeiting of lubricants. Datapalooza, a Microsoft Power BI Visualization-based hackathon that fosters thinking, promotes innovation and encourages experimental business ideas among employees, had 5 teams win out of an overwhelming number of 148 participants and solutions that cut-across the integrated energy footprint of Shell.
Initiatives such as Techtonic and Shell's increasing focus towards expanding its in-house IT expertise over the last decade is a testimony of the importance of digital ecosystems for driving the next leap of progress in the energy world. Commenting on the occasion, Jay Crotts, Group CIO - Shell, said, "We brought together our largest IT group in Shell for a day-long event that left me feeling confident about accelerating the digital journey in Shell. The delivery we are seeing from our colleagues here in Bangalore is truly world-class."
Speaking on the occasion, Nitin Prasad, Chairman - Shell India, said, "In India and world over, we are witnessing fundamental changes in the energy markets and the type of energy solutions required. Shell has an incredible legacy of being one of the first companies that laid the foundation of India's intricate energy ecosystem and went on to play a significant role in developing its energy infrastructure. Our intention now is to play a similarly pivotal role in the digital transformation and technological advancement of India's energy industry, because we believe, digital and technological innovation are as essential as collaboration in helping India meet its future energy demands. The Techtonic 2017, our largest initiative in the Indian digital space, owing to its spirit of innovation and learning, provides for a platform to collaborate and deliver on this commitment of ours. I am confident that the digital solutions that our 2000+ ingenious employees of the Bangalore IT hub generate, shall go on to play a critical role in providing the more and cleaner energy solutions that tomorrow's India and world need."
Arun Padmanabhan, VP - IT Bangalore, added, "TechTonic 2017 was the first community initiative in IT Hub Bangalore that focused on collaboration, learning and innovation. The intent has been to increase awareness about what is happening [in relation to technology] across Shell IT Hubs and the industry as a whole: This provides for a unique overview of the technological landscape for all 2,000+ bright minds within our centre and ignites their passion to innovate and create. It also marked a great opportunity for all of us within IT Hub Bangalore to interact with industry pioneers and leaders both within the company and externally. The work we undertaken here is truly challenging and impactful, a proposition that makes Shell IT Hub a great place to be for any IT professional in India. Our aim is to be at the forefront of technological evolution and to use it for society's larger advantage."
The Bangalore IT hub, the largest IT hub for Shell globally, is focused on bringing next-generation IT solutions to the Indian and global market. Post this debut launch, Techtonic will become an integral part of the annual calendar of Shell India, thus joining an illustrious list of events/initiatives that anchor Shell's efforts to be at the forefront of innovation and help drive sustained value and growth for Shell globally and for India.
