In an interview with TimesTech, Garima Bharadwaj, Co-Founder and CTO of Enlite, discusses how the company’s patented universal edge controller is redefining autonomy across buildings, data centers, and industrial systems. She explains the shift from traditional automation to real-time, on-device intelligence that enables faster responses, enhanced safety, and efficient, scalable operations. Garima also highlights Enlite’s global patents, LLM-on-hardware roadmap, and expanding worldwide deployments.
Read the full interview here:
TimesTech: Enlite has introduced the world’s first patented universal edge controller. What problem were you trying to solve when you decided to build a single controller for such diverse environments?
Garima: Enlite’s patented universal edge controller solves the complexity caused by fragmented proprietary controllers across building, industrial, and data center systems. It replaces multiple hardware-specific controllers with a single, software-definable device. This unified controller enables faster deployment, remote updates, and scalable management with minimal engineering effort. The system employs a rule engine that operates by the minute, processing data and executing algorithms in the cloud. It adapts to each site’s unique characteristics, allowing personalized control strategies while maintaining real-time responsiveness at the edge, making operations simpler and more efficient across diverse environments.
TimesTech: You mentioned the shift from automation to real-time autonomy. How do you define this shift, and what does true autonomy look like for buildings, data centres, and industrial systems?
Garima: The shift from automation to real-time autonomy means moving from systems that follow fixed rules to those that continuously sense and respond without needing manual commands. True autonomy in buildings, data centers, and industrial settings involves sending data every second, understanding each site’s specific needs, and adjusting systems dynamically for optimal comfort and efficiency. Buildings can change HVAC and lighting based on occupancy and air quality, data centers can optimize cooling continuously, and industrial systems can predict problems and adapt operations. This ongoing process improves reliability and energy use by constantly learning and updating control actions in real time.
TimesTech: The controller runs generative intelligence locally at the edge. How does on-device intelligence change speed, safety, and decision-making compared to cloud-only systems?
Garima: On-device intelligence in the controller forms a distributed architecture where each node handles unique end machinery with tailored operations. Local processing accelerates speed by enabling instant responses to site conditions, while cloud data crunching powers generative intelligence for complex optimization and pattern recognition across sites. Safety improves through resilient edge execution that continues during connectivity gaps, complemented by cloud oversight for predictive insights. Decision-making gains precision as nodes adapt individually yet coordinate via cloud directives, balancing low-latency autonomy with scalable, fleet-wide learning for superior efficiency.
TimesTech: Enlite has filed multiple global patents and is piloting LLM-on-hardware technology. Can you share what this means for your roadmap and how it positions India in deep-tech innovation?
Garima: Enlite’s global patents and LLM-on-hardware pilot mark a breakthrough in embedding advanced AI on small devices. This enables complex autonomy directly on edge hardware, reducing latency and improving safety. For India, this showcases leadership in deep-tech innovation, building indigenous AI hardware and IP, and positioning the country as a key global contributor in autonomous infrastructure technologies.
TimesTech: Traditional BMS and IBMS systems rely heavily on complex wiring. How does your wireless architecture simplify deployment and impact energy efficiency, ESG outcomes, and operational visibility?
Garima: Wiring for traditional building management systems adds to Scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions. These come from extracting materials like copper, making cables, moving them to sites, and disposing of waste at the end of use. Studies point out that such supply chain steps create a large part of a building’s lifetime carbon load, sometimes reaching 10 to 30 percent overall. Wireless setups cut these effects by skipping most cabling needs. Enlite’s approach makes updates quicker and lowers total emissions through better efficiency during operation.
TimesTech: With deployments across 35 million sq. ft. already, what are your next big milestones? Are there sectors or markets where you see the fastest adoption for this new controller?
Garima: Having deployed over 35 million square feet, Enlite’s next milestones include expanding its controller portfolio and global partnerships while commercializing large language model technology directly on hardware. The company is expanding internationally into markets like the Middle East and Southeast Asia and deepening its presence in India across commercial real estate, pharmaceuticals, smart airports, data centers, public infrastructure, and hospitality sectors. Enlite plans to accelerate its edge AI and telemetry capabilities to deliver faster, adaptive decisions at scale.
