Which skills should professionals prioritise to build long-term careers in AIDC? How are companies, technology partners, and research hubs collaborating to create opportunities in this fast-evolving sector? To answer these questions, we spoke with the TVS Electronics team, gaining insight into the roadmap that links today’s talent with the future of smart tracking, automation, and data capture.
Q. Could you give us an overview of TVS Electronics and your role in shaping its presence in the AIDC sector?
A. TVS Electronics has been at the heart of India’s IT journey for more than three decades. We pioneered the introduction of IT products across the country, starting with dot matrix printers and keyboards. Over the years, we have expanded our portfolio and today offer a wide range of point of transaction products, broadly classified as input devices, computing devices, output devices, and validation devices.
Our solutions serve multiple customer segments, including retail, government, and banking. We are now also focusing on manufacturing and logistics, with an emphasis on AIDC products and solutions. Within TVS Electronics, we operate under two key groups: the Product and Solutions Group and the Services Group.
Q. For readers who may not be familiar, what exactly is AIDC, and how would you explain it in simple terms?
A. AIDC stands for Automatic Identification and Data Capture. In simple terms, it is about using technology to automatically identify items, collect data about them, and enter that data directly into computer systems without manual effort.
The main application that customers and industries are looking for today is track-and-trace solutions. From manufacturing to sales and finally to the end customer, AIDC makes it possible to track and trace products at every stage.
This is what we aim to provide: a set of products and solutions focused on track and trace, using multiple devices and technologies, to give customers complete visibility across their operations.
Q. And where do we see AIDC being applied most commonly today?
A. AIDC is widely used across industries. For example, e-commerce companies such as Flipkart, quick commerce platforms, and large manufacturers like Tata or Trent rely on it.
Any company that manufactures products, stores them in warehouses, or transports them to customers can benefit from AIDC. Whether it is managing goods in a factory, tracking items in a warehouse, or ensuring accurate delivery, AIDC helps businesses maintain efficiency and visibility throughout the process.
Auto-ID and Data Capture (AIDC) was once seen as a support tool. Today, it has become the backbone of modern business, powering speed, accuracy, and traceability across industries.
At TVS Electronics, we see this change every day. From shop floors to delivery hubs, our scanners, mobile computers, tablets, and printers are helping businesses work faster, reduce errors, and stay competitive. We see AIDC in the following areas:
- Manufacturing – Smarter production: Factories need both speed and traceability. Our scanners (BS510–BS513) and label printers capture data instantly, keeping production lines error-free and compliant.
- Logistics – Always on time: In logistics, delays are costly. Our rugged HS65, T1 Pro, and K8 mobile computers give real-time visibility across warehouses and trucks—helping providers deliver on time, every time.
- Retail – Better service, happier customers: In dynamic retail environments, customer experience is everything. P1 tablets and HS65 mobile computers empower staff to update prices, check inventory, and serve customers instantly.
- Electronics manufacturing- Zero errors: Electronics production leaves no room for mistakes. Our scanners and printers ensure precision labelling and traceability, protecting both products and reputation.
- Quick commerce – Speed above all: In Q-Commerce, minutes matter. The HS65 mobile computer, with its long battery life and fast performance, keeps workers efficient, while the P1 tablet gives supervisors real-time control.
- E-Commerce – Managing scale: With millions of SKUs and high returns, e-commerce is complex. Our AIDC solutions simplify picking, shipping, and returns, cutting errors and saving costs.
Q. How has the AIDC space evolved in recent years?
A. In recent years, there has been a strong focus on barcodes, especially the move from traditional 1D barcodes to more advanced 2D barcodes. Many industries are now mandated to use barcodes to ensure easier and more accurate traceability.
Because of these regulations and the growing need for visibility, adoption of AIDC has increased rapidly. This has created a huge opportunity in the market, with expected growth of around 10 to 15 per cent CAGR Year-over-Year (YoY).
Q. When it comes to product design, how does India compare with global standards in AIDC technology?
A. In reality, there is not much difference. In India, we are largely adopting the same practices that are followed in global markets. We work closely with large technology partners and have strong collaborations with them. This ensures that our solutions are fully aligned with international standards and meet the quality and compliance level that customers expect worldwide.
Q. From a business perspective, why has AIDC become so important today?
A. AIDC has become extremely important for businesses because it directly improves speed, reliability, and efficiency. It helps solve critical pain points in areas like inventory management, tracking, and stock taking.
With AIDC, companies can quickly identify shortages, receive early alerts on stock levels, and avoid disruptions. It reduces errors, minimises claims or disputes, and ensures that missing items are tracked accurately. Ultimately, businesses see significant improvements in efficiency, cost savings, and customer satisfaction.
Q. Could you share some examples of AIDC innovations under the Make in India initiative?
A. We are actively supporting the Make in India initiative by building AIDC solutions that add more value within the country. To begin with, we started at the Finished Goods stage. Now we are moving towards semi-knocked down models, and in the future, we will advance to completely knocked down levels.
Our goal is to steadily increase the local value addition in our products from about 20 per cent today to nearly 50 per cent over the next three years. This will not only strengthen local manufacturing capabilities but also make India a stronger player in the global AIDC ecosystem.
Q. What are some of the biggest challenges in designing AIDC solutions in India, and how is TVS Electronics addressing them?
A. One of the key challenges in India is that advanced design capabilities are still limited compared to global markets. While we have our own in-house design teams, we often need additional expertise and support. To address this, we are working through strong partnerships and collaborations with leading global technology players. By combining our local strengths with their advanced design knowledge, we can deliver world-class AIDC solutions that meet both Indian and international standards.
Q. What aspects of manufacturing make AIDC devices dependable?
A. Reliability comes from following strict standards at every stage of manufacturing. Each product goes through defined quality and reliability checks to ensure it meets industry benchmarks. We conduct extensive testing before launching any device in India so that customers can trust its performance in real-world conditions.
Q. Do you handle product testing in-house, or do you also work with external partners?
A. We follow a hybrid approach. We have our own in-house testing facilities, and we also work with external accredited labs. This combination ensures that our products are validated thoroughly and meet both internal standards and independent quality benchmarks.
Q. How do you manage cost, performance, and scalability in your devices?
A. We address this by offering products across three categories: entry-level, mid-level, and premium. Depending on the customer’s use case and specific requirements, we provide the right option that balances cost and performance. This approach ensures scalability, allowing businesses to start with what they need today and move up to more advanced solutions as their operations grow.
Q. Once deployed, how do these AIDC solutions integrate with existing IT or ERP systems?
A. In most cases, AIDC solutions are integrated with a company’s core ERP or other existing IT systems. The data captured by AIDC devices, such as inventory levels, tracking information, or stock movement,s is automatically passed on to the relevant fields in the system.
From my experience, integration is usually straightforward. Since it is primarily about connecting the data flow between the AIDC devices and the IT system, there are rarely significant challenges. Proper planning during setup and ensuring the data formats match the ERP fields are usually all that is needed to prevent common mistakes.
Q. Looking beyond ERP, how does AIDC connect with IoT and artificial intelligence?
A. Yes, AIDC solutions are increasingly integrating with IoT and AI. Companies want to track every product from manufacturing to distribution and finally to sales. With IoT, especially in e-commerce and logistics, warehouses across India can be monitored centrally. This allows companies to track operations, manage stock levels, and quickly identify any challenges in real time.
AI adds an extra layer of intelligence to this system. For example, when barcodes are damaged or hard to scan, AI helps the scanners read them accurately, ensuring data is captured correctly. By combining IoT and AI, AIDC devices not only collect data but also improve efficiency and reliability across operations.
Q. For engineers considering AIDC adoption, what should they keep in mind before investing?
A. Engineers should first understand the scale of their operations and the specific outcomes they want to achieve. Currently, industries are focused on reducing waste and preventing missing parts. Even a slight improvement, such as a 1 per cent reduction in losses, can have a significant impact for large companies.
Given this, engineers should carefully evaluate scalability and the required investment to ensure that the AIDC solution delivers the best possible results. This approach helps companies implement solutions that are both efficient and sustainable.
Q. Looking ahead, how do you see AIDC transforming industries such as retail, logistics, and manufacturing?
A. In India, the AIDC industry is still catching up to global standards, and we are estimated to be about five to six years behind leading markets. While penetration is currently low, sectors like logistics, retail, and manufacturing are increasingly adopting AIDC solutions.
Globally, devices such as mobile computers have already moved to higher configurations like 6GB RAM and 64GB or 128GB storage, while in India, 4GB RAM and 32GB storage are still standard. Our company, however, has anticipated these trends and launched future-ready products in the Indian market to stay ahead.
All our solutions are designed with a roadmap that ensures sustainability and relevance for the next four to five years, preparing Indian industries to benefit from higher efficiency, better tracking, and improved operational control as AIDC adoption grows.
Q. Can you give us a real-world example of how AIDC helped automate processes for a company?
A. We can look at two verticals: logistics and manufacturing.
In manufacturing, for example, consider a two-wheeler company. Raw materials move from the supplier to production, then to finished goods, and finally to the warehouse for dispatch. AIDC solutions help track every stage of this process. Each step is validated before moving to the next, ensuring accuracy, reducing errors, and improving overall efficiency.
What sets our solutions apart is the use of advanced technology. For instance, frontline workers previously using devices with 4GB RAM might take an hour to complete a process. With our new 6GB variant, the same process can be completed in half the time, significantly improving productivity.
In logistics, AIDC is applied to first-mile and last-mile operations. Every product is barcoded, enabling precise tracking through dispatch and delivery. This not only improves operational control but also enhances scalability and efficiency for the business.
Overall, AIDC helps companies automate processes, improve productivity, and scale operations effectively.
Q. How do you ensure privacy and protection within your AIDC solutions?
A. All our products are tested for cybersecurity and use 128-bit encryption to protect sensitive data. Additionally, our devices are GMS certified, a certification from Google that ensures they meet strict security standards.
Most of the time, customers use their own software with our hardware. With all the encryption and certifications in place, we ensure that customer data remains secure and is not exposed or leaked. This gives businesses confidence that their data is fully protected while using our solutions.
Q. How much does user experience influence the adoption of AIDC devices?
A. User experience is critical because our devices are used by workers on the factory floor or in warehouses. As a company, we focus on making our products simple, intuitive, and user-friendly.
Usability is important, but so is comfort, since workers often use these devices for long hours. Our design ensures that devices are not only easy to operate but also comfortable to handle. Additionally, our products are rugged and durable, performing well in demanding environments.
By prioritising usability, comfort, and durability, we ensure higher adoption and satisfaction among end users.
Q. For professionals entering this field, what skill sets are most valuable in the AIDC sector?
There is a growing demand for engineers in the AIDC field, especially as industrial automation expands. Professionals entering this sector should have strong fundamentals in engineering, which is the foundation for all AIDC work.
In addition, emerging technologies like artificial intelligence and large language models are becoming increasingly important. Electronics and software knowledge are also valuable. Young professionals looking to build a career in AIDC should focus on these areas to prepare for the future of the industry.
Q. Partnerships seem essential in this space. Which collaborations have been most critical for TVS Electronics?
A. Partnerships with global software and industrial automation players are key to AIDC success. We already collaborate with companies such as Soti, 42Gears, and Orifi, and have long-standing partnerships in logistics and industrial automation. These collaborations help us enhance our solutions and expand our capabilities. At the same time, we continue to explore new partnerships to stay at the forefront of technology and meet evolving customer needs.
Q. Turning to the Indian market, how are you expanding your presence and reaching new customers?
A. Our brand has been established for over three decades, and we have extensive experience in this industry. With the launch of new products in the last six to seven months, we have expanded our sales team and strengthened our partner network across more than 20,000 PIN codes, including service support.
We are actively increasing distribution and onboarding more partners, specifically for AIDC solutions. With these initiatives, we expect to gain significant market share and achieve growth of more than 15 per cent year on year.
Q. Have any of these products already been launched, or are they still in the pipeline?
A. Yes, several of our products are already in the market, including mobile computers, industrial printers, industrial scanners, desktop printers, and 2D barcode scanners. Our recently launched mobile computer has already seen strong success.
Additionally, we have a few more products in the pipeline that will be launched soon.
Q. Beyond India, are you also exporting your AIDC products?
A. Yes, our focus is not just on India. We have already expanded into Sri Lanka, Nepal, and a few other countries, where our products are being distributed and gaining traction. We are establishing ourselves as a leading player in these markets and plan to expand aggressively into other global markets as well.
Q. And on the manufacturing side, do you still import raw materials or are you fully localised?
A. Our products are a mix of finished goods and SKD, but the focus is on Make in India. Currently, around 70 to 80 per cent of our products are made in India, contributing to local manufacturing and the nation’s growth. For certain technologies not yet available domestically, we do import components, but we are also working to develop these in-house.
We have a large factory and R&D facility in Tumkur, near Bengaluru, where we manufacture, test, and develop our products. This ensures high quality and supports our Make in India initiative.
Q. Could you tell us a bit more about your India facility and the kind of testing setup you have?
A. We have a strong R&D presence in Bengaluru, with over 100 engineers working in-house. Most of the products we launch are tested and developed internally, although we also leverage some external testing facilities when needed.
Our legacy products, such as DMP keyboards and touch pads, are fully developed at our R&D centre. Over the past one and a half to two years, we have heavily invested in R&D to create products tailored for Indian conditions. These products are designed to be rugged, durable, and suited to the specific needs of Indian customers. For example, our keyboards are known for their rugged design and long-lasting performance, reflecting the focus on quality and local usability.
Q. Finally, what does the future look like for TVS Electronics over the next five years in the AIDC space?
A. Our focus over the next five years is on expanding our product portfolio and becoming the number one player in the AIDC sector. We plan to launch new products in the coming two to three quarters, with AI integration and AI-based solutions becoming a key part of our offerings.
We are also adapting to changes in form factors, making mobile computers smaller and more comfortable for end users. Other areas of focus include variable solutions, video analytics, and RFID technology, which we see as the future of AIDC.
In summary, our roadmap is centred on AI-enabled products, innovative form factors, advanced analytics, and cutting-edge RFID solutions to meet the evolving needs of our customers.
