Now more than ever, the telecoms sector is playing a crucial role in keeping ‘India connected’ - empowering people, start-ups, Small & Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and large corporates to replace physical dependencies with digital infrastructure.
From now to next and beyond, the trickle impact is set to shape a new normal. Digital adoption is expected to cascade further and drive a fundamental change in how businesses function and people lead their lives – gaining a more pronounced role in the times to come.
On the radar: challenges for telecom and digital infrastructure providers
The crisis has unfolded many challenges for the telecoms and digital infrastructure companies. Building the digital infrastructure to support new ways of remote working and accelerate the digital way of life will require collaboration from all stakeholders. Now is the time to think about the future and enable the transition from ‘digital-first’ to ‘digital-throughout’.
From now to next and beyond, the industry will need to respond to several common challenges to shape the future of a digital and well-connected India. Considerations will be required toward:
- Customer and brand: navigating complexities for to accelerate connectivity for all – building resilience in customer onboarding and service management through digital channels
- People and workforce: Institutionalizing new ways of working for their employees, and enabling companies to shape the future of secure remote working
- Supply chain: Optimising supply chain dependencies and countering volatilities in equipment and labour construct
- Finance and internal controls: Revenue and cash management, including rapid cost take-out initiatives and robust internal controls for business continuity
Shifting focus on growth levers to ride digital habits
Telecom and digital infrastructure companies can shift gears and focus on growth levers to capitalize on evolving digital patterns. The opportunity to capitalise new revenue streams and drive cost efficiencies will go a long way in normalising sector performance to a pre-COVID EBITDA run rate (Earnings Before Interest, Tax, Depreciation and Amortization).
Opportunities to position customized solution portfolio for SMEs including advanced connectivity and cloud services, strengthening platform play through vertical partnerships, and enhanced B2C proposition exhibit potential. With that, relooking at cost models to focus on cash conservation, reduction in operating leverage and improving cost efficiencies will assume importance.
The report titled ‘Building enterprise resilience: Now, Next and Beyond’ highlights an eight-pillar framework with considerations for the sector to navigate the Now, and plan for ‘Next’ and ‘Beyond’