Puneesh Lamba, CIO, CMR Green technologies ltd.
The enterprise landscape in manufacturing is undergoing a massive transformation, driven by evolving technologies and new business demands. Three major trends are at the forefront of this change, reshaping operations, security, and digital strategy.
AI Everywhere: From Automation to Intelligence
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is no longer limited to task automation—it has become a strategic driver across manufacturing operations. AI now supports real-time decision-making, predictive and assisted analytics, and hyper-personalized customer experiences. Generative AI is transforming everyday workflows by automating email writing, presentation building, summarizing documents, and assisting with coding and contract creation. Many organizations are now building custom AI models tailored to their industry, unlocking strategic advantages and faster
innovation cycles.
Zero Trust Security: Reinventing Cyber Hygiene
With cloud adoption and hybrid work models becoming the norm, cybersecurity strategies have evolved to adopt the Zero Trust model. This approach centers on continuous identity verification, constant monitoring, and decentralized security. Enterprises are educating employees through awareness programs and scenario-based simulations. Cyber hygiene has gone beyond password protection—it now includes verifying suspicious emails, identifying deepfake scams, and ensuring voice calls are genuine. Security teams are addressing these evolving threats with proactive tools and adaptive responses.
The Rise of Parallel Application Ecosystems
Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems, once seen as strategic assets, are now considered basic infrastructure. Today, organizations are creating parallel ecosystems of lightweight, flexible applications that solve specific business problems faster and more affordably. These solutions bypass the constraints of large ERP upgrades and allow for more customized, responsive, and cost-effective implementations.
The CIO as a Strategic Business Enabler
The role of the CIO is evolving rapidly from tech implementer to business problem-solver. With technology advancing quickly, CIOs are shifting from long-term planning to agile execution—constantly presenting new ideas to the board for competitive advantage. Their role now mirrors that of any strategic business leader.
Integrating AI, Automation & Zero Trust in Enterprise IT
AI and ML are now being embedded into IT strategies to detect threats, automate responses, and reduce risk. Identity and Access Management (IAM), MFA, and Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) frameworks are being adopted, while employee training on Zero Trust and AI tools is critical to reduce human error and foster a resilient, security-first culture.
