VIDEO | Dover Corporation CDO: Technology-Enabled Immersive Experiences May Outdate Web

(US and Canada) Girish Juneja, SVP, Chief Data Officer, Dover Corporation, speaks with Virendra Daphne, CDO Magazine Representative, about the things new generation data and technology practitioners must learn to excel at digital transformation, how different finance, health care, and manufacturing are in their digital transformation journey, and the characteristics of a successful career in digital transformation.

Juneja insists Gen Z technology enthusiasts understand the change drivers before starting a career in technology. The first is customer experience, which is pivotal. Juneja believes the new generation is ready for immersive experiences at the workplace. Over the next decade, the web may be outdated because technology-enabled immersive experiences will involve physical and virtual worlds together.

Next comes the sustainability factor. Juneja ensures that the next generation is acutely aware of sustainability. They understand technology's impact on improving sustainability in the manufacturing and utility sectors. In the case of manufacturing, he adds, it boils down to building sustainable products in sustainable ways. Juneja shares that they create products that drive environmental sustainability, like CO2-based HVAC systems, EV charging equipment, etc. Regarding utilities, he concentrates on how power sources can be made sustainable since the producer-consumer relationship changes based on the utility of power.

Juneja highlights the digital transformation aspect in the three verticals of finance, health care, and manufacturing. He calls to finance the leader among the technology-led business transformations because they are digital at the core. He asserts that finance drives digital transformation by changing the core value propositions of financial institutions. Hence, it is fundamental for the finance giants to think inside out of their products and services.

Juneja maintains that digitization is yet to change core patient care effectively. Complete digitization of health care is complicated due to regulations and privacy requirements. However, he commends the innovations in white spaces, where opportunities have emerged around delivering patient care based on digitization. He further mentions the COVID-driven remote diagnostic innovations, digital innovations around consumer information for better care delivery, robotic surgery, and gene therapy.

Digital transformations happening in manufacturing are more like economic transformations inside out, says Juneja. He states that as the internal combustion engine got usurped by EV technology, companies had to rethink everything from manufacturing to operations, market, and customer support.

He puts forth four characteristics for successful digital transformation careers. The first is to have a strong foundation in technology. The second is to be leaner, then think big to bring in incremental changes and the ability to communicate.