“TECH ADOPTION IS MORE THAN JUST IMPLEMENTING TOOLS”
Karthick Kasimayan
Assistant Manager (Digitalization), HCI IC
Though on the rolls only since 2019, Karthick Kasimayan has been involved with L&T projects since 2015, having started his digital journey at the CMRL and KKNPP HTS Projects. Currently driving digitalization from Heavy Civil IC’s Corporate Centre, he manages several notable transformation projects, including Precast Segment Tracking, Tunnel Segment Management System, and Quality Sanyog. “I develop and execute digital strategic plans for the business, including revenue forecasting, competitor analysis, project progress monitoring, and assessing prospects, business lines, and market geographies,” Karthick lists his responsibilities.
“Technology adoption is certainly more than just implementing tools; it is also about ensuring user comfort,” he shares. “Our training programmes help employees transition to new digital tools, reducing resistance and increasing overall adoption rates.”
A vital contributor to the ‘4M’ digital initiative, Karthick has developed apps for connecting People, Machines, Materials, and Methods to achieve integrated digital project management, like the Workmen Attendance System & Productivity Tracker Apps for Men; ConPro, RebarPro, Material NxT, etc. for Material; IoT and Fuel Sensors for Machinery; and Procube, SHEILD, IB4U, AI Computer Vision for Method. “With these Apps, our data-driven decision making has improved, contributing to the development and deployment of advanced data analytics platforms like Power BI Dashboards to help project management teams plan better.” He adds, “My next objective is to enhance existing digital solutions by integrating Artificial Intelligence models, with the goal of improving cost savings and project productivity.”
“My Immediate Superior is extremely supportive in analysing and bringing my ideas and vision to reality, encouraging me to explore new technologies and continue learning,” Karthick notes with gratitude. “My teammates are positive and motivating, always encouraging one another and fostering a collaborative & supportive work environment. Our teamwork enhances our collective growth and success,” he adds.
Although low implementation of digital solutions at site bothers him, he is yet optimistic, driving adoption with kick-off meetings, Digital Adoption Drive (DAD) workshops, monthly digital connects, proper SOPs, random digital audits, regular site visits, and, most importantly, user feedback and improvisation. “What also helps is the active support of our top leadership; their active adoption sets an example for others to follow.”
A Madurai man, and still single, Karthick enjoys working out and playing badminton. His most memorable moments are receiving the Digitally Enabled Project Award in 2017 at the KKNPP HTS Project and, more recently, the Heavy Civil IC’s Best Site Digital Ambassador Award in 2022 and now being recognized as an Influential Digital Ambassador. “My mother is very proud of these awards as they reflect my hard work and dedication,” he says, smiling. “She has always been my number one source of inspiration!”
“Being in the digital era where data in paper is fast becoming dashboards, we are in the process of implementing and creating a digital culture, which will not only help the organisation but also set a benchmark for the future,” states young Pragatheesh Sugavanam, who has the honour of winning the Top Influential Digital Ambassador Award 2024, having already won the Digital Champion Award at his IC level in 2024. “Our pivotal goal in digitalisation is to encourage data-driven decision making with the data streaming from our various digital tools, and this data is soon going to be our golden assets.”
A PGET, Pragatheesh joined as Planning Engineer in 2020 at the 24×7 Kalaburagi Water Supply project, from where he moved as Digital Coordinator into the Urban Water & Water Management BU and is presently playing the same role with the Rural Water Supply (North) BU at Chennai HQ, a move that has set him up nicely to play his role. “Digital solutions have come in very handy for us, as our work is widespread, to track productivity and progress in real time for all our 36 projects in Uttar Pradesh,” he highlights. “We developed digital initiatives after understanding the site scenario in both mobile & web versions.” The solutions he has been implementing include ePragati 4.0, ViewEHS, WISA 4.0, Material Nxt, BIM 5D, GIS (Geographic Information System), GIMS (Gap Information Monitoring System), Quality Sanyog & Asset One P&M. After a pause, he adds, “Once implementation has been streamlined, we have started to realize the benefits in terms of both time and cost.”
A true digital evangelist, Pragatheesh is keen to fast-track digital adoption across the organization, for which he suggests increased inter-IC interactions that will significantly avoid repetition of ideation and creation of new digital solutions. “As our organisation is led by extremely experienced leaders, their involvement in the ideation process will help immensely to create matured digital solutions for us,” he says with resolve.
Pragatheesh considers his first day at L&T as his life’s most wonderful happening and is grateful to his Immediate Supervisor, S Chandraeswaran, BU Head, RWS (North) BU, and WET IC Head E P Sajit for their guidance and support. “Under their leadership, I have travelled to almost all my sites for one-on-one interactions with the end users and even represented L&T in international conferences in New Delhi & Nashik,” he shares earnestly, adding that the digital team at WWW SBG & IC have also been hugely helpful.
