Tech Mahindra, SoftTech partner to offer AI, ML, other tools for construction, infra companies

Information technology (IT) services company Tech Mahindra has partnered with Pune-based construction and architecture software provider, SoftTech, to offer artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), mixed reality (MR) and other services to government bodies and companies in the construction and infrastructure sector.  

SoftTech provides enterprise software tools for building design and resource planning in the construction sector. Now, it will add services such as AI, ML, MR, building information modeling (BIM), digital twins, augmented reality (AR), construction wearables, metaverse platforms, and robotics and automation in the construction and infrastructure development sector. 

The partnership will see the combined services being offered to SoftTech's clientele, which includes government entities such as municipal bodies, as well as private companies such as those that provide construction and infrastructure services. 

The move marks a burgeoning number of partnerships being signed by Indian IT service majors to offer digital transformation tools to companies across industries. On August 22, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) won a contract from Absa Corporate and Investment Bank (CIB) in South Africa to offer on-cloud trading and investment services. The deal included software services for Absa’s front-end operations, trade management and other administrative purposes as well. 

Global service providers are also increasingly looking to offer infrastructure support to companies — in anticipation of a higher demand for digital transformation of businesses. On Thursday, Amazon's cloud services arm, Amazon Web Services (AWS) announced the setting up of a ‘Local Zone’ in Delhi. The equivalent of an edge computing and data centre services facility, the Local Zone is the first of its kind for AWS outside of its home market, the US, and will offer cloud infrastructure including computing, storage, database management and other services. 

The setting up of such facilities can be key to companies receiving faster IT infrastructure, which may reduce latency of operations and lead to advanced, more developed tasks and features such as deployment of metaverse platforms. 

To be sure, companies are also looking to strike partnerships to advance their internal operations. For instance, on September 26, Hyderabad-based IT services firm Cyient announced a deal with US IT major Accenture to use software automation and AI to upgrade its internal business infrastructure.