According to a global study conducted by Salesforce, India ranks first in digital skills readiness. In the Salesforce Global Index, India came out on top with 66 out of 100, followed by Brazil at 53, Thailand at 48, and Mexico at 47.
The score is based on a survey of more than 23,500 workers in 19 countries. The global readiness score is 33 on average. In India, 72% of respondents said they are learning digital skills very actively to prepare for the future of work. Over 66% of respondents claimed they are well-equipped to develop digital skills in India.
Arundhati Bhattacharya, chairperson and CEO of Salesforce India, said the government’s and industry’s initiatives to raise awareness about digital and the skills required for it are paying off. “The baby boomers are way ahead in adopting digital as it is a matter of survival, and they are reinventing themselves. India has done a few things right and this is a virtuous circle of learning the right things at the right time,” she said.
According to the report, India’s baby boomers are leading the way, with 83% of respondents’ actively’ learning and training for needed skills. As professionals work remotely in a hybrid workplace, the pandemic has pushed digital skilling initiatives.
“Online platforms became available as the digital transformation took root across the world, and the need for more and more skilled people became evident,” Bhattacharya said.
In India, digital marketing has been regarded as the most valuable workplace skill. However, only 39% of respondents rated their digital marketing skills at work as ‘advanced.’
According to IDC, by 2026, the Salesforce economy in India will create 1.3 million jobs and generate $66.4 billion in new business income. Salesforce’s partner ecosystem in India is expected to grow at a rate of $6.5 for every $1 Salesforce makes locally by 2026, according to the report. Only 25% of respondents had advanced collaboration technology skills needed specifically for the workplace, even though abilities in collaboration technology, such as Slack, are recognized as the most important skills needed by organizations today globally.
“The pandemic has enabled us to tap into talent that would have been difficult to access. Collaborative tools are absolutely required, especially to tap into talent in the hinterlands of India,” Bhattacharya said.
