Siemens Technology and Services (STS), a global capability centre of Siemens AG, seems to hold a special place for its Indian team, which plays a crucial role in the company’s global journey of innovation and digitalisation.
Siemens AG, the parent company, is a technology company focused on industry, infrastructure, digital transformation, transport as well as the transmission and generation of electrical power.
In an interview with AIM, Pankaj Vyas, CEO and managing director of STS, explained, “Our focus is on owning, accelerating, and innovating – making India the digitalisation hub for Siemens globally.”
Vyas added that India is not just an extension anymore; it is an integral part of Siemens’ global innovation strategy.
Speaking about the growth of STS in India, Vyas pointed out that the organisation started as an extension of Siemens’ business units globally. Over the years, India has transformed into a core innovation and digitalisation hub for the company.
Today, STS in India comprises over 9,000 professionals, with more than 6,000 focused on development and innovation.
Vyas said the organisation is building expertise in technology, product, and business know-how. The team is actively involved in the design, architecture, development, and lifecycle management of Siemens products.
What is so Special about the Indian Team
Citing two examples, Vyas highlighted how Indian teams have significantly contributed to STS’ innovation worldwide.
One such contribution is SiGreen – a cloud-based platform that helps supply chain heads monitor their carbon footprint and ensure sustainability. Developed largely in India, this solution has already won Siemens’ prestigious Werner VonSiemens Awards for innovation.
Another notable innovation by the India team is Circularity 360 – a platform designed to optimise material and component selection and ensure products are sustainable from the design stage itself.
According to Vyas, judging by the emissions associated with products, 80% of product-related decisions are made during the design phase. If sustainability aspects are not prioritised during the design phase, it becomes difficult to address them later.
A key element of sustainable design is the selection of components and the incorporation of circularity principles. “This involves considering factors such as whether a product is using substances of concern and if it aligns with strategies like reusability, remanufacturing and whatnot,” Vyas further added.
These challenges have prompted the introduction of Circularity 360, which is reportedly going for patent and has been completely funded by headquarters.
“STS is also at the forefront of emerging technologies like AI, the internet of things (IoT), industrial edge, and digital twin solutions. Smarter field devices are the foundation for everything else,” said Vyas.
Siemens’ devices, now connected through IoT and secured with advanced cybersecurity protocols, are designed to gather and transmit valuable data. This data is then utilised for applications ranging from predictive AI for anomaly detection in manufacturing to generative AI for digital twins and other advanced use cases.
Industrial Copilot as a Game Changer
Siemens Industrial Copilot, an AI-powered assistant, is an innovation driven by Indian talent that uses multimodality. The concept of the industrial copilot uses multimodality. “You take a voice as a modality, and you convert it into actions,” Vyas explained, demonstrating the integration of different modes of input and output.
This system allows operators to interact with machines using natural language, streamlining operations and reducing training time. As Vyas mentioned, it is an example of how to take human-machine collaboration to the next level. “It’s like having a smart assistant you can talk to in any language,” Vyas said, hinting at the potential for Indian languages in future versions.
Vyas also pointed out that the issue of employability arises due to the challenges of training individuals on a large scale. Referring to Industrial Copilot, Vyas said, “If you can have systems which you can operate with a lesser [amount of] training, then that means your people can be employed much faster and at a much bigger scale.”
Furthermore, the capability of interacting with machines in local languages is emphasised as a transformative factor. This approach eliminates the need for extensive manual learning.
Road Ahead
When asked about the future of STS in India, Vyas pointed out three focus areas – ownership, acceleration, and innovation. He believes Indian teams will continue to lead high-value projects globally driven by advancements in AI and digitalisation.
While Siemens has no immediate plans to expand to tier 2 or tier 3 cities, Vyas acknowledged the potential of such locations, particularly with government incentives and improving infrastructure.
Additionally, Vyas mentioned that STS is adding a “new value layer” focused on data rather than just devices, which positions India well for growth.
Confirming the elaborate infrastructure in Bengaluru, Vyas said, “In our office, we have 50 labs.” This highlights the importance of proximity to hardware setups in STS’ operations.
The focus of STS is on connecting the real and digital world with a commitment to use data sourced from the real field and real devices. This approach maximises the utilisation of current locations and prioritises these over exploring tier 2 and tier 3 cities.
Vyas described the STS’s culture as one rooted in competence, agility, collaboration, and innovation. “It’s not about cost arbitrage anymore; it’s about adding value,” he said. Siemens is fostering a collaborative environment that encourages speaking up, challenging the status quo, and innovating.The company’s diversity initiatives are also noteworthy, with women making up approximately 32% of its workforce. “We aim to create a culture of respect and inclusivity while staying agile to meet future demands,” Vyas added.
