IT Voice- What sets Greatify apart from the rest of the edtech models?
Dinesh Kumar Poobalan- One of the key differentiators between Greatify and other edtech platforms is the way they approach personalized learning. Traditional edtech platforms often focus on content delivery or assessment tools. Greatify, on the other hand, emphasizes adaptive learning algorithms, which are designed to adapt learning experiences to the individual learner’s needs and learning style.
Our products are designed to provide a comprehensive set of tools enhancing the educational experience both for the educators and the students. Some of our innovative tools include ManageX, LearnX, ExamX and PlaceX. Our focus is to simplify the educational journey to paperless driven, data-driven and responsible for eliminating the need to work with multiple service providers. Our mission was clear; transforming traditional, paper-based campuses into dynamic digital ecosystems. Addition to this, another distinguishing factor is the use of artificial intelligence (AI), dynamically incorporated in the educational framework, to automate tasks performed manually by teachers, such as grading, timetable creation and exam management.
IT Voice- What are the main issues and key trends that you see facing the edtech sector right now?
Dinesh Kumar Poobalan- The primary obstacle, what we feel, lies in the sheer number of ERPs and LMS available in the Indian market, thereby leading to heightened competition. To address this, our focus is on advocating and delivering a unified solution, positioning ourselves as a comprehensive one-stop platform for schools striving for excellence. Furthermore, the secondary challenge involves the necessity of training teachers to adapt the technology and software friendly approach. Our company has a dedicated training division that works closely with educators to elevate their expertise in utilising technology, automating processes and ensuring the seamless integration of our solutions into educational institutions. I believe, successfully overcoming these challenges demands not just effective market positioning but also a steadfast commitment to delivering top-notch training and services to schools and colleges.
In terms of discussing about the key trends in the industry, the evolution of all the technological advancements like, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), Virtual Learning (VR) etc., are set to revolutionize education by 2024. AI, ML, and VR will be everywhere in classrooms, online platforms and training modules. Edtech leaders are also looking at new areas like online degrees, education funding, and career transformation through re-skilling and upskilling, all of which have the potential to improve engagement, accessibility and outcomes.
IT Voice- In what way do you see the future of edtech will be impacted by developing technologies like AI and VR?
Dinesh Kumar Poobalan- In the last couple of years, the learning environment has expanded far beyond the bricks-and-mortar classroom. This paradigm shift means that both educators and students are now more used to technology as an integral part of education. The future of educational technology is poised for significant transformation with the continued development and integration of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), virtual reality (VR), Machine Learning, Internet of Things etc. These technologies have the potential to revolutionize education, making it more personalized, engaging and effective. AI to be used to create personalized learning plans for each student, based on their individual needs and interests. It is also helpful in assessing student performance which will further help educators to focus their attention on the kids who needs to improve their performance. Also, if we see the other potential aspect of Virtual Reality, an immersive technology that uses hardware and software to place the user in a virtual space, where they can move, interact and learn.
The advent of digital tools brought hope, but without a sensory-enabled approach, these tools risk falling into the same trap of one-way communication. Whereas, sensory-enabled learning addresses this gap by creating a dynamic, interactive, and inclusive learning environment.
IT Voice- Could you provide insights into Greatify’s strategic expansion plans beyond its current operations, especially regarding potential market entries or geographical expansions?
Dinesh Kumar Poobalan- We recognize that the world is becoming increasingly interconnected, and the digital landscape has no boundaries. Our mission is to digitalize entire educational institutions and making them paperless is our strategic plan. Our primary focus is to expand our business in the global markets. We have established our offices in Dubai and the United States (US). These two regions are currently at the forefront of our expansion strategy.
We appraise a twofold approach:
- Adapting to Global Practices: Our system is designed to be highly adaptive to different educational practices across the globe. This flexibility allows Greatify seamlessly integrate into different educational systems, ensuring that our solutions are relevant and effective across markets. Understanding and integrating these global practices allows us to provide customized solutions that meet the specific needs of educational institutions across different regions.
- Bridging Best Practices: We want to be the bridge that brings the world’s best practices to our clients. Identifying and integrating cutting-edge teaching methods, administrative processes, and technological advances from different regions allows us to provide cutting-edge solutions to our current clients and future prospects. Not only does this enhance their educational experience, but it also places Greatify as a global leader in edtech innovation.
Therefore, our strategic expansion plans are focused on utilizing the digital era’s boundless potential to create an all-encompassing, adaptable and globally connected educational platform.
IT Voice- How does Greatify’s PlaceX module revolutionize the traditional approach to campus placements, particularly in terms of leveraging technology to enhance the connection between students and employers?
Dinesh Kumar Poobalan- PlaceX is an AI-Powered Placement Management Platform, empowering students, companies and colleges to achieve exceptional placement outcomes. Our simplified placement process PlaceX seamlessly connects employers, students and placement recruiters, for expanding placement opportunities for students and makes the overall hiring process much more streamlined and smoother for employers. The module has unified Aadhar-based verification to ensure a secure and efficient experience for all stakeholders. Our modules are designed to meet the specific needs of the target audience. Like any other company, our core goal is to expand our horizons and provide quality education to students by using the latest technological advancements.
IT Voice- How does Greatify stay ahead of emerging trends in educational technology and incorporate them into its offerings to stay ahead in the competitive landscape?
Dinesh Kumar Poobalan- We always try to maintain the edge in the competitive landscape of educational technology by prioritizing innovation and also by staying ahead of emerging trends in the field. The collaborative spirit, technological advancements and commitment to inclusivity, defines the education narrative at present as well as in future years. At Greatify, we believe that change is the only constant. This fundamental conviction drives us to continually innovate and learn. Our product is built to evolve, absorbing and incorporating new technologies as they come out. As a result, we deliver innovative solutions that deliver higher educational and learning results for our users.
In addition, I believe that artificial intelligence in education has advanced to new heights, we investigated the complexities of personalized learning at Greatify, employing AI algorithms to determine specific student demands. As the conversation shifted from ‘How can AI improve education?’ to ‘How can we ensure ethical and responsible use of AI in the educational context?’ The implementation of AI for exam evaluation and personalized learning is our recent innovation, and the next thing we are coming up with is our PlaceX module.
IT Voice- How does Greatify effectively balance the diverse demands of modern education, including personalized learning, administrative efficiency, and data security, while continuously innovating to provide comprehensive solutions to its clients?
Dinesh Kumar Poobalan- In the fast-paced world of EdTech, the integration of AI is both a source of promise and a source of deep ethical questions. By embracing new technology and prioritizing feedback-driven improvement, we at Greatify create a balance between the needs of modern education. We explore emerging innovations with an open mind and a curious nature in order to improve educational results.
For example, we use AI to personalise learning experiences, privacy, bias and algorithmic transparency are at the forefront of our minds. Continuous improvement is based on input from educators, students and parents. This feedback allows us to improve our products to meet the changing demands of modern education. But amid these challenges lies a revolutionary opportunity to redefine how we understand and optimize personal learning experiences. We believe in leveraging state-of-the-art technology and rigorous models to mitigate information and maintain equity in learning outcomes. We tend to refine our AI solutions to reduce bias and ensure equal student treatment.
Our product namely, ManageX uses AI for administrative efficiency to analyze reports and support strategic decision-making to reduce administrative burden. We use AI for tasks such as proctoring to ensure the integrity of exams. We believe Data security is our topmost priority. We use strong encryption and adhere to GDPR, ISO 27001 standards to ensure data protection and maintain trust through proper consent to collect and process data. With an emphasis on trust, accountability, and academic excellence, we create an ecosystem where AI improves learning experiences while adhering to ethical standards, transforming education in a safer and more inclusive way.
