Exclusive Interview with Anmol Reen Jalota, Head of Digital, Signify, Greater India.
Anmol is a seasoned IT leader with over 22 years of experience in IT services. As the Head of Digital for Greater India and Head of Digital Delivery for Global Enabling Functions at Signify India, she has been instrumental in establishing and expanding CoEs for Digital Transformations. Her strategic mindset and deep understanding of industry trends have been crucial in shaping Signify’s digital roadmap. She holds a master’s degree in computer application from Kurukshetra University and is a certified Agile Scrum Master (CSM).
1. As being the leading company in the lighting industry, what are the important values you are adding in people’s life?
At Signify, we strongly believe in the transformative power of light to elevate people’s lives. Our products and services are designed to empower our customers by providing them with maximum comfort, productivity, and safety. We continuously innovate to create new lighting solutions that are not only energy-efficient but also sustainable, thereby contributing to a healthier environment. In line with our #BrighterLivesBetterWorld vision, we are committed to delivering value to our customers while also making a positive impact on society.
2. What is the new paradigm in the lighting industry?
The lighting industry is undergoing a significant transformation, with the shift towards smart, connected lighting solutions becoming more pronounced. As technology continues to evolve at a rapid pace, customers are increasingly seeking advanced, data-driven, integrated solutions that offer superior energy efficiency, longer lifespan, and improved quality of light. Furthermore, businesses around the world are recognizing the power of biophilic design and embracing lighting solutions that reconnect people with the natural world. We recently launched our industry first ‘NatureConnect’ technology and while NatureConnect is a relatively new offering in the Indian market, its impact is already being felt globally.
3. Can you outline the trends which are driving the digital transformation in the lighting industry and its impact?
At Signify, we believe in revolutionizing the lighting industry, which we do by integrating advanced technologies and innovations in line with the recent trends, all while keeping a core focus on enhancing user experience and promoting sustainability. The trends are constantly evolving, but at the moment, a few of the trends, as well as their impacts are as follows:
• Smart Lighting Systems and IoT: The integration of IoT enables smart lighting solutions that offer remote control, responsiveness to environmental changes, and improved energy efficiency. Such solutions significantly improve the user experience in retail spaces and other areas of application.
• Sustainability and Energy Efficiency: We are committed to using recyclable materials, promoting modular design, and reducing carbon footprints. Our goal is to deliver high-quality lighting solutions that are not only efficient and reliable but also environmentally friendly.
• Data Analytics & AI: By utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning algorithms, we can analyze data to further optimize lighting systems, improving both energy efficiency and reducing maintenance costs.
• LED Technology: LED tech is essential to provide cost-effective, versatile, and energy-efficient solutions. This technology allows us to offer superior lighting quality while minimizing operational costs.
• Human-Centric and Dynamic Lighting: These systems adjust to environmental changes and human activities, significantly improving comfort and productivity. We believe this adaptability is crucial in creating an optimal environment for work and leisure and is poised to have a positive impact on productivity, mood, and health.
• Connected Lighting: By enabling centralized control and monitoring, we can seamlessly integrate into smart buildings and cities, further enhancing the efficiency and reliability of our solutions.
The impact of these trends involves increased efficiency and cost savings due to the adoption of LED and smart lighting solutions. It also includes improved maintenance with the help of data analytics and AI, enhanced user experiences, and a positive impact on the environment through sustainability initiatives.
4. What are your strategic roadmap for bringing digital transformation in the lighting industry?
Bringing digital transformation in the lighting industry involves a comprehensive, multi-staged approach in line with the recent customer trends. At Signify, we deploy:
• Conduct Current State Assessment: We begin by evaluating the existing state of lighting systems and infrastructure, examining the room for digital and IoT integration.
• Set Clear Objectives: The next step involves crafting a vision and objectives that revolve around improving user experience, energy effectiveness, sustainability, and cost savings.
• Identify Key Stakeholders: Identifying necessary partners including tech providers, contractors, and end-users forms an important part of our strategy to keep up with technological advancements and regulatory changes.
• Comprehensive Implementation Plan: Detailed planning, outlining timelines, budgets, and resources needed for the transformation, in order to streamline our process and reduce potential obstacles.
• Prioritize IoT Integration: Our plan focuses heavily on implementing smart lighting solutions. This includes integrating sensors and controls for remote monitoring and operation of lighting systems.
• Invest and Implement Technology: Investing in advanced technologies like AI, IoT, and data analytics for predicting lighting demand, conducting preventive maintenance, and optimizing lighting performance.
• Human-Centric Approach: Introduce human-centric lighting solutions that enhance user experiences and promote overall health and wellbeing that alters levels based on the time of day (circadian rhythm lighting).
• Establish CoEs and Training Programs: Driving innovation and upskill individuals is essential, and involving the setting up of Centers of Excellence (CoEs) that boost understanding and effective usage of our new systems.
• Cybersecurity Measures: Given the connectivity of lighting infrastructure, cybersecurity is paramount. It entails establishing rigorous protections for our systems to safeguard operational integrity and customer data.
• Promote Sustainability: Our operations are aligned with circular economy principles and we strive for eco-certifications, focusing on recyclable materials, energy-efficient designs, and reduced carbon footprints.
• Continuous Monitoring and Improvement: Utilizing data analytics, continual monitoring and assessment of the performance of our new systems to identify areas for enhancement and optimize performance.
In essence, our strategic roadmap involves leveraging technology, partnership advancements, innovation promotion, security assurance, and sustainability prioritizing, to bring about a comprehensive digital transformation in the lighting industry.
5. Which are the sectors where you can see the role of this digital transformation?
We at Signify envision the digital transformation in the lighting industry having a significant impact across multiple sectors:
– Urban Planning (Smart Cities): The integration of smart, connected lighting systems can greatly enhance public safety by providing well-lit environments and reducing energy use through efficient management. Our Interact City connected lighting system provides intelligent public lighting that can be remotely managed and controlled to improve safety and efficiency. The system supports smart city services like environmental monitoring and public Wi-Fi.
– Commercial Real Estate: Advanced lighting solutions can contribute to energy savings, while personalized lighting controls can improve comfort and productivity. For commercial real estate, we offer energy management and enhanced occupant experience that delivers the right amount of light, resulting in significant energy savings
– Healthcare: It can be used to create a conducive environment for patient wellbeing and recovery, as well as for staff to perform their duties effectively. NatureConnect by Signify is a lighting solution designed specifically for healthcare by mimics natural daylight patterns to support the wellbeing and recovery of patients
– Hospitality and Retail: Signify’s Color Kinetics LED lighting systems can be used in retail stores and hotels to create dynamic, colorful, and immersive environments that empower the customer experience. Additionally, The Philips Dynalite system, an advanced lighting control solution, can be used to create different moods and atmospheres, enhancing the overall guest experience.
– Education and Transportation: In educational institutions, optimized learning environments can be achieved through proper lighting. For transportation, improved safety can be ensured with well-planned and efficient lighting systems, integrating Signify’s connected lighting systems into public transportation infrastructure like bus stops and train stations.
In conclusion, the digital transformation in the lighting industry has the potential to transform various sectors by improving efficiency, safety, and user experience. We at Signify India are committed to driving this transformation and delivering superior value to our customers across these sectors.
6. How will CoE drive the integration and what are your plans for it?
Our Centers of Excellence (CoEs) will play a critical role in promoting and integrating digital transformation across the entire lighting industry, in the following way-
• Comprehensive Strategy Development & Prioritizing Initiatives: Our CoEs will aim to outline a meticulously curated digital transformation strategy that incorporates our goals, objectives, and priorities. Yet, we will remain flexible to reprioritize initiatives based on the greatest potential impact to our goals.
• Coordinating & Integrating Initiatives: CoEs will assume an important role in integrating digital transformation initiatives within various departments and teams in our organization. They will function like a bridge between the different entities to ensure that the activities align with our global strategy, hence avoiding unnecessary overlap and facilitating the implementation.
• Sharing Best Practices & Knowledge: To ensure that our digital transformation initiatives meet consistency and effectiveness, CoEs will encourage the sharing of best practices and knowledge across different teams. Through promoting a culture of knowledge sharing, we aim to continually improve our practices and make better informed decisions.
• Providing Training & Support: Recognizing the importance of skill development and support in successful digital transformation, our CoEs will provide extensive training to employees in new technologies, data analytics, and digital transformation best practices. This will strengthen the competencies of our workforce, enabling them to better implement and manage modern lighting solutions.
The essence of our CoEs lies in developing comprehensive digital transformation strategies, prioritizing initiatives, coordinating and integrating these initiatives, sharing insights and best practices, and providing robust training and support. By doing so, our CoEs will be instrumental in driving digital transformation in the lighting industry, and we remain committed to their establishment and growth.
