Fortude’s Gaurika Wijerathne, Vice President – Data & AI, Michael Brown, Vice President – Digital Transformation (Americas), and Gogula Aryalingam, Associate Vice President – Data & AI, share insights into the company’s innovative strategies to stay ahead in the rapidly evolving data and AI landscape. They highlight fundamental principles driving Fortude’s success in the Americas, Europe, ANZ, and Asia. Leveraging over a decade of experience, Fortude develops integrated strategies and robust systems to support clients in digital transformations across industries like fashion, food and beverage, manufacturing, and distribution.
Michael Brown, Vice President – Digital Transformation (Americas), Fortude
Fortude is a leading global enterprise and digital services company, specializing in ERP, data and AI, managed services, automation, and digital advisory. With offices in the US, Canada, UK, Netherlands, Singapore, Sri Lanka, and Australia. Fortude implements projects worldwide, serving over 100 businesses across 18 countries with the support of over 550 employees.
Partnering with top technology providers like Infor, Microsoft, UiPath, Avalara, Power Automate, and Ephesoft, Fortude delivers tailored, innovative solutions that align with the business and technology goals of their clients, ensuring successful enterprise transformations and enhanced customer satisfaction.
Considering the rapidly evolving landscape of data and AI technologies, what innovative strategies is Fortude implementing to stay ahead in the market, particularly in regions like the Americas, ANZ, and Asia?
Gaurika: Echoing what most cricketers would say when they are interviewed; we just stick to the basics. We prioritize three fundamental principles. Focused specialization is the first. Concentrating exclusively on data and AI, and honing our expertise to deliver solutions tailored to our customers’ needs. The second principle is Early Adoption and Skill Enhancement. Embracing new technologies during their early stages, we undergo a rapid training and certification process to stay abreast of industry advancements, making sure our team stays ahead when it comes to innovation. The third principle is Agile Solution Development whereby continuously updating our offerings to align with emerging market trends and evolving customer requirements, we maintain flexibility and responsiveness in our approach to solution development. By adhering to these strategies, Fortude’s data and AI practice is equipped to effectively address the dynamic challenges of this landscape, positioning us as leaders in innovation and value delivery across diverse regions and markets.
Could you share some insights into the specific digital transformation initiatives Fortude is spearheading in the Americas, and how these initiatives are driving customer growth and satisfaction?
Michael: As our brand promise states, “Delivering digital solutions that matter” – we partner with customers and leverage our experience of over a decade in technology leadership to serve in an advisory capacity. We work with our customer teams to build an integrated strategy with clear transformation goals that align with their technology and business. When talking to leadership in business and IT, we discovered that all the support and direction must be clear to them as they align their teams and customers for the transformation activities and tasks ahead. As we work with our existing customers in the Americas who are transforming their businesses with an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system, we also help them understand the entire technology ecosystem available to them and other digital initiatives outside of their ERP. Some of these include data and AI, RPA (Robotic Process Automation), integrations, and test automation. For example, we engage with customers who recognize the need to build a data platform, give guidance and also provide the Microsoft Fabric platform needed to build AI functionality moving forward. We aspire to support many customers on their digital transformation journeys and want a partner who truly cares about what matters as a business and technology goals to them.
As an expert in data and AI, how is Fortude leveraging these technologies to provide customized solutions that address the distinct business requirements of a global clientele?
Gogula: Although each customer is unique even within an industry and across geographies, when we closely examine their requirements, we find that most needs are fundamentally similar. Our approach involves developing automated frameworks based on established standards. These frameworks serve as a foundation for creating customized solutions, ensuring consistency and efficiency. As new technologies emerge, we stay abreast of these developments. When a relevant technology becomes available, we integrate it into our existing frameworks, allowing us to leverage the latest tools while maintaining compatibility with our established solutions. Additionally, we actively update our frameworks to absorb paradigm shifts. Whether it’s AI, machine learning, or data analytics, we adapt our solutions to align with evolving industry trends. In summary, our strategy involves a balance between standardized frameworks and agile adoption of emerging technologies, enabling us to provide tailored solutions that address the unique needs of each client while maintaining scalability and efficiency.
With the increasing emphasis on data privacy and security, how does Fortude ensure compliance and build trust with its customers, especially in regions known for stringent regulatory frameworks like the UK, Europe, and the Americas?
Gaurika: Specializing in Data & AI comes with the responsibility of looking after our customers’ data. This is why we prioritize data privacy and security to build trust with our customers when we engage with them. We adhere to industry-specific regulations such as GDPR and HIPAA, ensuring our solutions align with these standards. Sensitive data is encrypted both at rest and in transit, and access is limited to authorized personnel. Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments help us identify and address potential risks. Transparency in our data handling practices and employee training contribute to a secure environment. Our commitment to compliance, encryption, access controls, transparency, and employee education enables us to build trust with customers across regions with stringent regulatory frameworks.
Given the diverse market landscapes across regions, how is Fortude meeting the unique needs and challenges of customers, particularly in terms of digital transformation?
Michael: Fortude addresses the diverse needs and challenges of its customers across the world by leveraging its global expertise, and deep understanding of local market dynamics. Our value framework emphasizes external factors, such as market conditions, industry trends, technological advancements, and internal organizational challenges, ensuring each client receives a strategy tailored to their unique environment. We understand that digital transformation solutions are not a one-size-fits-all solution. That’s why we take a collaborative approach and work closely with each customer to develop customized strategies that address their specific objectives and challenges. This approach makes sure we deliver tangible results – helping clients thrive in an increasingly digital world. Cross-regional collaboration and knowledge sharing within Fortude ensure best practices and innovations are shared across all markets, enhancing the effectiveness of our solutions. Our value creation principles are at the heart of everything we do and focus us on delivering tangible value and driving results. These principles include optimizing business models for higher operational and workforce efficiency, fostering a culture of agility, innovation, and scalability, and leveraging the digital ecosystem to maximize returns on existing investments.
Could you elaborate on Fortude’s approach to ensuring the ethical use of AI and data analytics in its solutions, especially considering the varying regulatory environments and cultural sensitivities across the Americas, Europe, ANZ, and Asia?
Gogula: We tailor ethical frameworks to the specific industry and regional context, addressing privacy, fairness, transparency, and accountability. By customizing these frameworks, we navigate varying regulatory environments and cultural sensitivities. Drawing inspiration from healthcare, where ethical considerations are paramount, we apply similar principles to our solutions. Our development teams receive clear guidance on ethical implications, making informed decisions during development. We raise awareness across our organization about AI ethics and encourage employees to identify and address ethical risks. Continuously monitoring the impact of our solutions and engaging stakeholders ensure alignment with cultural norms and regulatory requirements. In summary, our strategy balances standardized ethical frameworks with agile adaptation, enabling us to provide ethical, tailored solutions while maintaining scalability and efficiency across regions.