MSMEs need common platform for freshers’ hiring, training: CEOs – Times of India

PUNE: MSMEs are facing a challenge in terms of availability and employability of technical school graduates and diploma holders and there is a need for a common platform for recruitment and training of entry level employees, said the heads of companies present at the “CEO priorities in the current fiscal” roundtable organised by CAMS Consulting.
“Automation, digitalisation and artificial intelligence (AI) could address some of the issues like manpower shortage, quality, productivity, product quality and statutory compliance,” Anantha Padmanabhan, former cluster president of three regions at Alfa Laval said.
All CEOs agreed that after sales service is key in acquiring and retaining customers even in a B2B business environment. The overall customer experience management is very important. This mindset change should happen with MSME’s on priority, a statement said.
Apart from being recognised as a leading manufacturing, auto and IT hub in India, Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad are one of the largest manufacturing ancillary units, majority of them being MSMEs. Various industry reports have documented that MSME sector alone contributes to over a third of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP).