Rijuraj Rajendran

Crafting a Technological Future with Purpose and Vision

Rijuraj Rajendran

CTO,

HyFun Food

When Rijuraj Rajendran steps into a room, he brings with him not just a wealth of technical expertise but a deep-seated belief that technology should serve a greater purpose. As the Chief Technology Officer at HyFun Foods, Rijuraj sees his role as more than just managing the IT systems—he’s a technology-enabled champion, empowering business productivity to drive efficiency. Rijuraj’s journey spans over two decades, during which he’s navigated the complexities of various industries, each one shaping his approach to leadership. What makes him unique is his ability to see the bigger picture. For him, technology isn’t just about innovation for innovation’s sake; it’s about creating solutions that drive real, meaningful progress for the company and its people. This philosophy has been the cornerstone of his work at HyFun Foods, where he’s not only modernised the tech stack but also fostered a culture of continuous improvement and forward-thinking. At HyFun Foods, Rijuraj’s leadership is characterised by a relentless focus on operational excellence. He spends much of his time understanding the company’s challenges, collaborating with strategic partners, and crafting digital solutions that don’t just solve problems—they empower the business to thrive. His ability to stay ahead of emerging trends and adapt to change is rooted in a deep understanding of both technology and human nature. More than a seasoned global CIO and CTO, Rijuraj’s holistic vision for HyFun Foods is one where technology is not just a tool but a catalyst for revenue growth, innovation, and success. Speaking with TradeFlock, he discusses his challenges and strategies.

What’s the most challenging project you’ve tackled, how did you overcome it, and what did you learn?

Leading a digital transformation in the healthcare sector, particularly for smart hospitals, was one of my most challenging projects. Integrating technologies like telehealth, AI, IoT, and machine learning to enhance patient-centric care required creative solutions, as there were no ready-made answers. Managing scope creep was a significant challenge, but I overcame it by engaging closely with business stakeholders during the planning phase to ensure precise requirements. The most important lesson I learnt was the necessity of sticking to the original strategy while focussing on ROI and aligning IT with business goals. This approach was crucial in driving the project’s success and ensuring sustainable, impactful outcomes.

How will technology evolve in India’s food processing industry in the next five years, and how are you preparing for it?

As a CTO, I’m passionate about driving disruptive innovation; I see it as a transformative force in the food processing industry. The frozen food sector, once focused on turning raw agricultural materials into consumable products, is now revolutionised by advanced technologies. One key innovation is “computer vision” application. Investing in modern technology from farm to kitchen is crucial for continuous innovation in ready-to-eat products. Advanced tools like robotics enhance production speed, maintain consistent quality, and improve safety standards, driving significant improvements. Digital agronomy’s role is on its rise through “Smart, Precision and Sustainable Farming.” Implementation of technologies like drones, IOT,blockchain, AI and robotisation will revolutionise the future of farming. Organisations will use data-driven decision-making (DDDM) processes to produce predictions and insights in realtime, allowing them to maximise performance. Consumer behaviour shapes transformation in the food processing sector as well; e-commerce will play a pivotal role. Complex logistic processes and demanding customers, e-commerce, driven by enterprise resource planning (ERP) integration, and event-driven architecture help companies accomplish their tasks easily. At HyFun Foods, we are exploring the latest technologies and new intelligent platforms, which are data-driven, AI-powered predictive analytics for informed decision-making.

How have your travels and diverse project experience influenced your leadership?

My extensive travel and experience across various sectors have profoundly influenced my leadership style and decision-making. Navigating diverse regions and industries has underscored the need for adaptability, allowing me to respond effectively to unique cultural, operational, and industry-specific challenges. This flexibility is vital for leading projects in varied settings. Exposure to different cultures has improved my ability to manage diverse teams, making cultural awareness a key aspect of my decision-making. My cross-sector experience broadens my perspective, enabling innovative and multifaceted problem-solving. Additionally, these experiences have sharpened my strategic thinking, enhanced my empathy, and improved communication, which are crucial for fostering trust and collaboration in complex projects.

How do you balance agility and security in your IT infrastructure for the frozen food industry?

I adopted cloud computing and tools that underpin the cloud-first strategy to guarantee security and agility. This approach allows HyFun Foods to develop scalable, secure applications that adapt quickly to the frozen food industry’s evolving demands, keeping us competitive and innovative.

Can you describe a pivotal career moment that significantly impacted your path?

A pivotal moment in my career was when I introduced the “Digital Online Newspaper” as paper-based news declined. This shift towards a data-driven content strategy in digital media revolutionised the industry, and I’m proud to have contributed to this transformative change.

What career achievement are you most proud of, and why?

I’m most proud of leading major digital transformation programmes across diverse industries like FMCG, healthcare, media, and oil and gas. These achievements reflect my ongoing journey as a strategic enabler, effectively bridging technology and business to drive innovation.

Which emerging technologies excite you, and how will you integrate them?

As CTO, I’m thrilled by the potential of emerging technologies like edge computing, blockchain, robotics, AR/VR, and next-gen AI. I envision 360-degree end-to-end digitisation, digital twins, and platform agnostics. I aim to work to build an “IT Centre of Excellence” that will elevate organisational efficiency to new heights. ‘Data is King” data-driven and AIpowered enterprise will be my benchmark. I’ll make use of “technology fusion” to build a dynamic, scalable infrastructure that meets our changing needs. This innovative strategy will elevate our business and create a more inclusive and impactful technological future.