Page 14 - MMI- Aug2022

al skills, and transferable skills. plement and make efficient tives, and investments that of-
The most in-demand soft skills use of new digital marketing fer something for everyone. For
include leadership skills, com- systems or sales platforms, you example, Trailhead, Salesforce’s
munication, collaboration, and need talent that can work with free online learning platform,
time management. data and analytics, which for democratizes digital learning
Individuals who exhibit both many manufacturers is foreign by helping participants with
technical know-how and new- territory. In these scenarios, low technical knowledge ob-
age soft skills will benefit the talent brings with it new and tain a Salesforce role in as little
most from the current trend, emerging skill sets. At the same as six months.
as organizations are looking for time, training, reskilling, and Individuals who possess both
employees with holistic skills. enablement of existing employ- technical knowledge and new-
Indian industry experts realize ees is also imperative. age soft skills stand to bene-
that we are at the juncture of Manufacturers today need fit the most from the current
endowing the world with inno- to embrace the future by be- trend, with companies ea-
vation not only in technology ing innovative, adaptable, and ger to hire profession-
but with skilled manpower that change-management-focused. als with a comprehensive
is willing to learn, unlearn, and In many cases, attracting the skill set. Organizations that
relearn. Today’s workforce has right talent isn’t only a case of build work environments
become more tech-savvy, and upgrading systems, technolo- where everyone can thrive
concepts like digitalization as gies, and processes; it’s about are equally likely to be the most
well as Industry 4.0 certainly creating appropriate roles that resilient in the future as they
complement each other. enable those upgrades. begin new ways of working.

Filling the skills gap Deepening relationships
Re-skilling the workforce is one for growth
of the most significant challeng- Forward-thinking manufac-
es and opportunities we face at turers are defining, developing,
this moment. There was a grow- and rapidly accelerating digiti-
ing digital skills gap before the zation to compete on the most
pandemic. However, with the important market differentia-
importance of digitalization in tor: their ability to understand,
rebuilding the economy and so- engage, and earn the trust of
ciety, that gap has gotten even their ecosystem. These compa-
greater. As per insight from the nies put their employees first.
Digital Skills Index, India leads While not all manufacturing
in digital skills readiness with jobs will necessarily require
Rajkumar Ravuri 72 percent of respondents in extensive training in software
Director - Manufacturing India actively learning new dig- development or IT, they will
Salesforce India
ital skills now. require knowledge of digital
In recent years, the shift from An entirely new set of skills technologies and systems. Man-
assembly-line manufacturing such as 3D printing, Internet ufacturers are commencing
to technology-driven manu- of Things (IoT), and robotics are their journeys toward digital
facturing has changed the way causing massive changes in the transformation. It has become
companies hire prospective Manufacturing sector, which critical to provide a differen-
employees. As manufacturing means that manufacturing tiated customer experience
facilities and workspaces are system employees must deal while remaining profitable.
constantly changing due to with manufacturing in a fun- According to our latest State
technological advancements, damentally different way. To of Sales research, 74 percent of
employers are more likely to address the growing skills gap, sales leaders in manufacturing
hire individuals who are skilled companies must invest in en- say that digital transformation
in digital technologies. abling their workforce to learn is accelerating for them. They
For instance, the Manufactur- the skills they require for their are investing in technology to
ing industry in India is rela- jobs now and in the future. We do something very human—
tively new to digitalization. But support the skilling imperative deepen relationships—and as a
we all know how important it via an extensive list of import- result, they’re growing.
is to the future of work. To im- ant platforms, projects, initia- Manufacturing, despite its me-

14 | July-August 2022 Modern Manufacturing India