P&G Sees India as Key Talent Pool and Test Bed for Global Tech Ops

Procter & Gamble (P&G) is leveraging India's talent pool to drive its global technology operations, according to Seth Cohen, the company's global chief information officer. P&G has been expanding its tech work in India, which Cohen described as both a major talent pool and a market that offers lessons for the company's operations globally.

Cohen, who has been visiting India for about 25 years, noted that Indian universities have quickly adapted to new technologies, creating a strong connection between education and business needs. This shift is helping P&G meet consumer demands in various markets.

The company is using experiences from India's quick-commerce market to develop technology capabilities that can be deployed globally. In this market, consumers expect products to reach them within 10 minutes, forcing P&G to make more granular decisions about inventory and use algorithms to optimize finished-goods flows and predict product positioning.

P&G is also studying consumer behavior from social media to digital commerce in India, aiming to provide relevant information and make it easier for consumers to convert interest into a purchase. Cohen emphasized that India can offer technology learnings for markets with different social-media platforms.