Modernising enterprise architecture is the real challenge

Technology shifts driven by artificial intelligence (AI) are reshaping the IT services industry, even as market volatility weighs on technology stocks. Sandip Patel, managing director, IBM India and South Asia, in an interaction with Ojasvi Gupta, spoke about AI-led code modernisation, hybrid cloud strategy and talent development. Excerpts:

- 

How do you view the recent fall in IT stocks and the broader technology transition?

The current moment has to be seen in context. IBM has been investing in code modernisation for several years through skilling initiatives as well as our generative AI capabilities. Nearly two years ago we launched watsonx Code Assistant for Z for mainframe environments because we saw the role AI could play in modernising legacy systems. New AI tools are emerging every week, including our own. Translating COBOL code is actually the easy part. The real work lies in redesigning data architecture, replacing runtime systems and preserving transaction integrity and performance that have been built over decades through tight coupling between software and hardware.

How do geopolitical tensions affect India’s technology supply chains, particularly in semiconductors and electronics?