Sonata Software: Frontrunners of India’s Global Tech Boom

The Indian technology industry continues to experience rapid digital transformation, which is driven by a range of technologies such as AI and cloud computing. 

At the core of this evolution are the regional technology companies eager to remain competitive. These organisations are committed to enhancing innovation to secure a future that is better connected and optimised. 

As a leading Modernisation Engineering company, Sonata Software is just one example of an India-based company actively exploring disruptive technologies to drive progress and support the digital progress of its clients. 

In this exclusive interview, Technology Magazine speaks with Rajsekhar Datta Roy, Sonata Software’s Chief Technology Officer about how the company is navigating the evolving Indian IT landscape. He explores how the company focuses on both technology and business strategy to shape its future and overall industry impact.

How has India’s technology boom impacted Sonata Software? Can you speak to any particular successes as a result?

The technology boom in India has been a game-changer, and Sonata Software has greatly benefited from this vibrant ecosystem. The abundance of skilled talent, coupled with a culture of innovation, has positioned India as a global leader in technology adoption. 

At Sonata, we have leveraged these advantages to drive our growth and success. The surge of technology-driven startups with innovative solutions has fostered a dynamic environment where even established organisations are keen to incubate and scale their offerings locally before taking them to the global stage. The mobility and availability of skilled professionals in India have been instrumental in our ability to scale rapidly and deliver cutting-edge solutions to our clients worldwide.

Our model at Sonata is built on the foundation of innovation and co-creation. India serves as our innovation hub, where we collaborate closely with clients to develop and refine solutions. The evolution of Global Captive Centers (GCCs) into innovation and R&D hubs further enhances our ability to capture business opportunities globally.

How is Sonata Software incorporating AI into its digital transformation solutions for its clients?

Sonata Software is positioning itself as a "responsible-first" AI organisation, integrating AI into every aspect of our offerings. We are transforming all our practices and competencies to be AI-led or AI-influenced, whether it’s in managed services, enterprise services, cloud, or data-sourced solutions. This approach also extends to our internal operations, including finance and HR, ensuring that AI is at the core of everything we do.

A key focus for us is making our workforce AI-ready, with 70% of Sonatians already equipped with the skills to leverage AI in their roles. We are fostering an AI-first culture, instilling a mindset shift that prioritises delivering efficiencies and value creation at scale through AI. 

To support this transformation, we have developed focused programs designed to bring the benefits of AI to our clients and deliver service excellence across the board. We understand that every client is on a journey of modernisation, and we are committed to helping them transform responsibly with AI.

Additionally, we have built proprietary assets and intellectual properties around Harmoni.AI, our responsible-first AI offering, tailored to each of our service and industry-specific areas. This not only differentiates us in the market but also underscores our commitment to innovation. Our robust partner ecosystem, including our collaborations with Microsoft Fabric, our empanelment on the Microsoft AI Council, and partnerships with eminent educational and research institutes, further strengthens our ability to deliver AI-driven solutions at scale.  

Are there any specific new advancements in AI technology that Sonata Software is focusing on?

We have been steadfast in our belief that for enterprises to fully leverage AI and achieve sustainable benefits, it’s essential to adopt a responsible-first approach. Establishing guardrails to ensure safe, secure, consistent, and ethical practices is fundamental to everything we do in the AI space. This philosophy is the backbone of our AI advancements, which are concentrated in several key areas.

Firstly, we focus on designing IT landscapes for responsible AI deployment in enterprises, utilising our proprietary Harmoni.AI platform. This approach ensures that AI is integrated thoughtfully and effectively across business functions. Additionally, we have developed reusable business process assessments and components aimed at making enterprise functions more efficient—what we term business function modernisation with AI, enabled through our Harmoni.AI Albums.

Another area of focus is enabling AI-led software engineering through the Harmoni.AI workbench, which streamlines and enhances the development process. Beyond these core advancements, we are actively collaborating and co-creating industry-specific solutions that address targeted business challenges, ensuring that our AI offerings are both innovative and highly relevant to our clients' needs.

Sonata’s responsible-first AI offering – Harmoni.AI – has a Data Governance and Acceleration engine, which backs it with a choice of using Industry Leading LLMs and a consulting framework to enable effective adoption and faster time to market. Currently we have built 6 service delivery platforms, Industry Use cases, and Acceleration BOTs. 

Tell us about Sonata Software’s partnership with Microsoft. How is the company using Microsoft technology to drive enterprise Gen AI adoption?

Sonata Software immensely prides itself on its over three-decade-long association with Microsoft. 

Through this partnership we have co-created assets and built IPs on the Microsoft stacks, which enables the seamless use of the tools. We have an alliance with the Microsoft team globally in driving adoption across global clients. 

Recently, we integrated Sonata Harmoni.AI with Microsoft Azure AI to empower customers with Responsible-first solutions, enhancing our ability to deliver AI solutions that expedite customer adoption, enable distinct use cases, boost productivity and foster secure innovations. The integration complements Sonata’s collaboration with Microsoft Fabric and its position as a Microsoft AI Partner Council member. 

How do you see AI use evolving for businesses?

AI use in businesses is rapidly evolving, becoming more integral and strategic across various sectors. Initially, AI was predominantly used for automating repetitive tasks and enhancing efficiency. However, as the technology advances, its applications are becoming more sophisticated and far-reaching.

In the near future, we can expect AI to drive deeper insights through advanced data analytics, enabling businesses to make more informed decisions in real-time. AI-powered tools will enhance personalisation in customer interactions, leading to improved customer satisfaction and loyalty. Furthermore, AI is set to revolutionise areas such as supply chain management, predictive maintenance, and cybersecurity, providing businesses with a competitive edge. 

AI will also play a critical role in augmenting human capabilities rather than just replacing tasks. This includes AI-driven tools that support creativity, innovation, and complex problem-solving, allowing employees to focus on higher-value activities. As AI becomes more embedded in business processes, ethical considerations around data privacy, bias, and transparency will also gain prominence.

Overall, AI's role in businesses will shift from being a supportive tool to a central component of strategy, driving transformation and creating new opportunities for growth and efficiency. 

What future technology trends do you see shaping Sonata Software in the future?

As Sonata Software continues to evolve as a Modernisation Engineering company, we recognise the importance of integrating responsible innovation into everything we do. Our commitment to data protection, regulatory compliance, environmental sustainability and ethical practices is foundational to our approach. 

One of the key areas where we see transformative potential is Data Modernisation. With data becoming the lifeblood of modern enterprises, our focus is on enabling businesses to unlock actionable insights while maintaining the highest standards of data security and privacy. We’re helping our clients transition from legacy systems to more agile, data-driven infrastructures, positioning them for long-term success.

Cloud Modernisation is another trend shaping our future. As businesses increasingly migrate to cloud-native environments, we are helping them modernise their operations to take full advantage of cloud scalability, flexibility, and innovation. Our cloud solutions are designed with a strong emphasis on sustainability, ensuring that our clients can achieve their digital transformation goals while also reducing their environmental impact. 

Generative AI (Gen AI) represents a significant leap forward in how businesses can automate and enhance various functions. At Sonata, through Harmoini.AI, we are exploring how Gen AI can be responsibly integrated into our offerings to drive innovation while upholding ethical standards. Whether it is automating complex tasks or creating personalised customer experiences, we’re focused on AI that complements and enhances human capabilities.

Through these technology trends, Sonata Software is positioning itself to lead in modernisation engineering, delivering solutions that are both advanced and responsible, ensuring our clients stay ahead in a rapidly changing digital landscape.

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