From PCs to Powerhouses: Inside Lenovo India's AI Strategy

Shailendra Katyal, MD, Lenovo India, discusses the company's AI strategy, its shift from a PC player to a full-spectrum solutions provider, and how Lenovo is driving innovation in AI infrastructure, sustainability, and enterprise solutions in India.

- Aanchal Ghatak

In an exclusive interview with Dataquest, Shailendra Katyal, Managing Director of Lenovo India, discusses how the company is transforming its business to meet the evolving demands of AI infrastructure and enterprise solutions. From Lenovo's "pocket-to-cloud" strategy to leveraging government initiatives like PLI, Katyal shares insights into how the company is positioning itself in the competitive tech landscape. He also touches on the growing demand for high-performance computing, the role of GPUs in India's digital transformation, and Lenovo's focus on sustainability and energy efficiency. Excerpts:

How is Lenovo positioning itself in AI infrastructure and enterprise solutions, and what sets the company apart?

Lenovo has evolved beyond just a PC company to a comprehensive solution provider, covering everything from servers and data centers to phones. Our "pocket-to-cloud" strategy integrates these technologies into a cohesive offering.

Globally, and in India, about 9-10 % of our business comes from solutions. What makes Lenovo unique is our ability to integrate diverse technologies and solutions-unlike competitors who may be more fragmented.

We're working with 150-200 ISVs to build AI and generative AI solutions and see this as a transformative time, much like the early days of the internet. We're replicating our global strategy in India, with a focus on advanced manufacturing, design, and solution delivery.

How effective have government policies like PLI been for Lenovo's initiatives?

Government initiatives such as Digital India and PLI (Production Linked Incentive) have been extremely beneficial. Digital infrastructure like UPI and Aadhaar has been a major enabler, and the PLI scheme's localization efforts have directly benefitted Lenovo.