Avijit Das Gupta: A Global Technopreneurial Leader Digitalizing East Africa’s Excellence

Avijit Das Gupta
Avijit Das Gupta

How much influence can a Chief Product Officer (CPO) like Avijit Das Gupta have in driving the business growth of a company like Compulynx Limited (Kenya) over the past six years to the maximum in a vast and diverse region like East Africa?

The answer is tremendous.

CompuLynx, where Avijit currently contributes his expertise as the Head of Product for Digital Identity & Payment Solutions, is a prominent provider of digital identity and payment solutions. The company is known for its innovative approach to technology and its ability to deliver comprehensive solutions that address the evolving needs of the market. Through strategic partnerships and a focus on cutting-edge technology, CompuLynx has established itself as a key player in the industry.

Under Avijit’s leadership, the company continues to advance its mission of driving digital transformation and maintaining a robust Human-Tech Partnership in the face of a continually shifting global IT field.

A Possessor of Multiple Talents

In addition, he is associated with a Tech startup company, a joint venture between CompuLynx Limited & Liaison Group, known as LCT Africa Limited in Kenya. As the Chief Technology Officer there, he is part of a lean startup’s product development team building a world-class healthcare digital product, an integrated end-to-end Healthcare Administration platform using cutting-edge technology to streamline the medical insurance schemes processes.

Before joining CompuLynx, Avijit was associated with various IT companies and Tech startups in India, Germany, the USA, and Australia. He managed senior-level technology lead positions for software product development and project deliveries.

His current focus and key responsibilities include continuing his work engagement as an established IT professional in digital product innovation and digital transformation and directing technology planning strategy build-up for next-generation digital products for the BFSI, FinTech, NGO, Government, HealthTech, and Security Services industries in Africa.

With the technology landscape in constant flux, Avijit strives to stay relevant in the rapidly changing IT space. He continues his aspiration to learn new cutting-edge technologies, gain a better understanding of how to adopt the new technology stack and practices to drive digital innovation and foster the process of maintaining the Human-Tech Partnership in the rapidly changing IT industry, where the AI Revolution is being experienced across the globe.

A Saga of Innovations

Avijit’s Journey as a Digital Product Lead in the Software Product Development & IT Services Industry began nearly two decades ago. According to him, the IT industry drives innovation and transformation across various sectors, including healthcare, finance, and security services. With technology evolving promptly, companies are constantly seeking ways to streamline processes, enhance security measures, and improve customer experiences through digital solutions. The integration of advanced technologies such as cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and digital identity verification has become crucial for businesses aiming to stay competitive and meet the growing demands of the market. This environment of constant technological advancement creates opportunities for professionals to lead and innovate in ways that can profoundly impact multiple industries.

Before sharing his motivation to step into the dynamic ecosystem of tech solutions, Avijit shares that the tech industry is a vibrant and rapidly evolving landscape where the interplay of various factors creates a dynamic ecosystem. This ecosystem is shaped by the interactions between startups, established companies, investors, consumers, and regulatory bodies.

“Now we have an interesting situation: The phrase ‘survival of the fittest’ has evolved into ‘survival of the connected,” says Avijit. The key to thriving in this dynamic environment lies not in isolated digital tools or products but in the creation of robust digital ecosystems that interconnect and amplify an organization’s capabilities.

At its core, a business ecosystem is a network of interconnected organizations, technologies, products, and stakeholders that collaboratively deliver value to customers.

It’s a dynamic, living entity where the sum is greater than its individual parts, fostering innovation, adaptability, and growth, which immensely motivates me to stay focused in the dynamic ecosystem where Avijit has been working and associated with many innovative digital product development journey as a Lead Developer, as a Solution Architect, Product Owner, Product Manager, Product Head or other Senior Executive roles in different organizations including MNCs, Mid-Sized Companies as well as in the Tech Startups.

Brightest Benchmarks of Compulynx

Emerged as East Africa’s leading tech company, Compulynx’s guiding philosophy is rooted in a deep commitment to innovation, customer-centricity, and excellence. Avijit says they believe that technology should empower businesses to achieve their full potential, “Which is why we focus on delivering tailored solutions that address the unique challenges of each client. Our success has been driven by a relentless pursuit of quality, a culture of continuous improvement, and a passion for fostering long-term partnerships with our customers.” They are dedicated to staying ahead of the curve in technological advancements, ensuring that their clients are equipped with the most effective tools to thrive in a rapidly changing world.

Avijit and his team have continually kept themselves abreast with global trends in technology, particularly in the spaces that we operate in, i.e. Retail Technology & Digital Identity. Having a very good understanding of the local landscape in Africa, they have tailored their solutions to suit the African user and African market. “That’s been our key driver of success as we’ve been able to deliver solutions for me in Africa, for Africa, and by Africans.”

Their success in Africa has opened up other markets. Therefore, they continue to make their products and solutions highly configurable, which makes it easy for them to enter other markets, each with its own local nuances.

Dazzling Digital Distinctions

In a dynamic global landscape, Avijit says their USPs are centred on their expertise, versatility, and customer focus. Compulynx is distinguished by its ability to deliver comprehensive, end-to-end solutions that seamlessly integrate both software and hardware components. Its deep specialization in Biometrics, Digital Identity solutions and Retail Management enables the firm to offer highly customized and scalable products that meet the specific needs of various sectors. As a transformational company, it is committed to driving digital transformation across industries by harnessing the power of cutting-edge technology. “Our strong market position in East Africa is a testament to our ability to adapt, innovate, and deliver value, positioning us as a trusted partner for businesses looking to navigate the complexities of the modern industrial landscape,” adds Avijit.

Compulynx balances operational efficiency with customer satisfaction by embedding innovation into its processes and focusing on user-centric design. It continuously seeks feedback from its customers to understand their evolving needs and preferences. By leveraging agile methodologies, the firm can quickly adapt and deliver solutions that exceed customer expectations. Avijit says their commitment to quality and efficiency ensures that their products/solutions not only meet but also anticipate the needs of their customers, resulting in exceptional customer satisfaction.

Digitalization and technological advancements are at the core of CompuLynx’s operations. It integrates these principles by embracing a culture of innovation and investing in research and development. Its solutions are designed to harness the power of emerging technologies, enabling its customers to stay ahead of the curve. “We focus on creating scalable and adaptable solutions that drive digital transformation across industries,” says Avijit.

Ardently believing that the workforce is the foundation of a successful company, Avijit says they foster a culture of growth, skill development, and empowerment by investing in their employees’ continuous learning and development. “We provide opportunities for training. Our inclusive and supportive work environment empowers employees to take ownership of their projects and contribute their unique skills and perspectives. Recognizing and celebrating achievements is an integral part of our culture, motivating our workforce to excel and drive the company’s success.”

Businesses are a way for the East African industry to pace up its economic potential and capacity. Avijit’s advice to budding entrepreneurs aspiring to venture into the product innovation space is to stay curious and open to new ideas. Embrace change and be willing to take calculated risks. Focus on understanding the needs of your target market and developing solutions that add value. Building strong relationships with customers, partners, and mentors is essential for growth. Persevere through challenges and setbacks, as they are valuable learning opportunities.

A Tech-Powered Vision for the Region

CompuLynx’s vision is always to build “zero-defect” systems. To this end, says Avijit, they continue to innovate in order to develop new products and solutions that help their customers improve their service to their customers.

“Digital transformation has had a monumental impact on the world as we know it,” he adds. Digital technology across the globe is being used to transform industries, create smart cities and drive social and economic change. There is no doubt that this transition has happened faster in developed regions than in developing countries. “Still, we must note that we are seeing an incredible shift across Africa, especially East Africa, in how technology is being utilized, so much so that many call East Africa a new hub for digital innovation.”

Avijit informs that according to Google and the International Finance Corporation’s joint report titled “e-Conomy Africa 2020”, the internet economy in Africa is projected to reach $180 billion by 2025, accounting for 5.2% of the continent’s GDP. This growth is driven by increased internet access, urbanization trends, and a vibrant startup ecosystem (IFC). Also, AI emerges as a pivotal theme for the digital progression in Africa. AI has the potential to enhance these projections dramatically. McKinsey & Company estimates that AI could boost Africa’s GDP by up to $1.2 trillion by 2030.

In this context, CompuLynx will continue to play a pivotal role, focusing more on their AI/ML innovation journey, flourishing as an East Africa based Digital Product Innovation company and also as a smarter System Integrator solution provider company making a significant impact on East Africa’s transformational tech-powered products innovation future landscape primarily in the following areas:

  • RetailTech solutions,
  • FinTech solutions,
  • DigitalID solutions,
  • HealthTech solutions, and
  • EduTech solutions.

Also, CompuLynx has taken a leading role in initiating a program to upskill the local talents in the East African region as Skills and Talent Development to nurture a Digital Workforce, which will be a key factor for the digital transformation in the continent. The government and private sectors will be looking for skilled local developers, engineers, digital product specialists, and budding entrepreneurs, concludes Avijit Das Gupta.

Hall of Fame:

Avijit Das Gupta has been: