‘The only thing that is constant is change’. This adage by Heraclitus is as relevant today as it was centuries ago. Within the business sphere too, corporates and manufacturing facilities are constantly embracing change to make operations smoother, transparent and more sustainable.
The case of the manufacturing sector in India is quite interesting in this regard, especially with the emphasis on the ‘Make in India’ program now. It is estimated that the manufacturing industry is likely to reach a market size of USD 1 trillion by 2025, and since this sector can create about 90 million jobs by then, all eyes are on developments taking place here. Infact, some of the positive changes taking place in this sector can be understood from the following perspectives:
More women in the workforce: We may still be a long way off from the uniform inclusion of women across functions in manufacturing facilities, but some promising initiatives are already taking place on this front. Across the country, women are being absorbed in more roles within factories and manufacturing plants. A Hindustan Unilever factory in India, for instance, is even being run by an all-women team!
Sustainability drives performance: Manufacturing facilities are also doing all it takes to increase their energy-efficiency and reduce wastage levels. Right from optimum resource use, to pollution control, waste water recycling, rainwater harvesting, reuse of scrap material, and additional quality control measures, a range of eco-friendly initiatives are being prioritized to reduce the organisation’s carbon footprint.
Technology offers the advantage: While technology has always played a critical role to enhance plant productivity, its use has often been restricted due to budgetary concerns. Many Indian facilities are, however, adopting more sophisticated technology tools these days to automate, accelerate and standardize the production system. From advanced analytics to alert systems, technology is helping employees work more productively and improve performance outcomes.
Since the country’s demonetisation drive, technology supporting digital payments has also received a boost. By successfully transitioning employees on new-age payment platforms, organisations can demonstrate their commitment to go cashless. Remote factory locations often adopt token-based discounted meal systems for employees. Imagine the ease offered to employees here if they could avail of meals without physical tokens. The Super Tag makes this possible! Unlike other smartphone-based payment systems, it doesn’t even require the user to be online or to learn about new ways of transacting. This compact NFC-based tag can be easily stuck on any personal device, and just needs to be tapped once on the NFC-accepting device of the merchant. The meal token is deducted, and the employee can instantly pick up his lunch or snacks on offer. As all sales are recorded online, enterprises can be kept informed of exact token usage and be billed accurately by their vendors, without any pilferage. Zeta constantly endeavours to make digital payments quick, secure, and convenient, and the Super Tag seems capable of ushering in a quiet revolution with its capabilities.
