Effective strategies for building a future-ready workforce

The future of work isn’t waiting for us — it’s already here.

As human resource leaders, it's our responsibility to ensure that our workforce is not just capable of meeting today’s challenges but is also prepared to meet the demands of tomorrow. More importantly, we need to ensure our people are ready. At NTT DATA, we understand that building a future-ready workforce means combining internal upskilling initiatives with strategic external partnerships. This approach enables us to prepare both our employees and the next generation of talent for success in the ever-changing business landscape.

Here are some of the key strategies we’ve implemented that have made a tangible impact on our people and organization.

Empowering the internal workforce

At NTT DATA, our people are at the core of everything we do and we understand that fostering a future-ready workforce begins with current employees. NTT DATA Technology Foresight 2024: Navigating the Future report, highlights how advancements in AI, cloud computing, and automation are reshaping industries. To address these shifts, we provide continuous learning opportunities that equip them with the tools and skills they need to navigate these changes. We’ve made upskilling a priority through various programs such as Management Excellence Program and Leadership Acceleration Program, which prepare our employees for management and leadership roles. Additionally, we provide Generative AI certifications and other related technology courses through our internal learning platform to our employees.

Preparing future talent through Centers of Excellence

While upskilling the workforce is essential, preparing future talent is equally important. At NTT DATA, we recognize the value of industry-academia partnerships in closing skills gap. These collaborations allow companies to access talent pool trained in both academic knowledge and practical industry-aligned skills.

NTT DATA’s Centers of Excellence, established in collaboration with educations institutions in India, offer students hands-on training in critical areas like full-stack development, data science, and Salesforce. This initiative ensures that students are equipped with the real-world skills necessary to ride the technology wave.

Leveraging AI and emerging technologies for workforce development

NTT DATA’s investment in AI-driven tools is another key component of our strategy. AI enables us to offer personalized learning experiences, ensuring they receive the right training at the right time. For example, our learning simulation tool, Caisy—an AI that helps employees improve their ability to engage in difficult conversations—helps them to build competence and confidence in the workplace.

Gartner’s 2024 Predictions emphasize that the rapid expansion of Generative AI is reshaping how work gets done, thus making it essential for organizations to harness this technology for both learning and development.

Moreover, remote and hybrid learning models have become crucial in the post-pandemic world. At NTT DATA, we provide flexible learning opportunities that allow our workforce to acquire new skills from any location, at any time.

People-first approach

At NTT DATA, we believe that a future-ready workforce begins with a people-first approach. By prioritizing upskilling, partnering with educational institutions and leveraging emerging technologies like AI, we enable our employees to thrive in the face of change. To stay ahead, HR leaders ideally should adopt a similar approach—focus on people, embrace innovation and create learning environment where employees and future talent can flourish. In doing so, we build resilient teams equipped for both today’s challenges and tomorrow’s opportunities.

Explore opportunities at NTT DATA