In an interview with TimesTech, Sonali Chowdhry, CEO of Officenet, shares how the company is transforming HRTech for over 250 manufacturing clients across India. From AI-powered attendance to predictive analytics, Sonali discusses the evolving needs of industrial workplaces and how Officenet is driving digital innovation, workforce transparency, and operational efficiency in real-time, multi-shift environments.
Read the full interview here:
TimesTech: Officenet serves over 250 manufacturing clients across India, including major names like Dabur, LG, and Havells. What unique workforce management challenges do manufacturing companies face, and how does Officenet specifically address them through its HRMS solutions?
Sonali: Manufacturing organisations operate in dynamic, multi-shift environments with large, distributed workforces, many of whom are not desk-based. Traditional attendance and workforce management systems struggle to offer the flexibility and real-time visibility needed in such settings. Officenet was built to bridge this exact gap. Our HRMS platform streamlines shift scheduling, manages complex compliance requirements, and ensures accurate, real-time attendance, even in plants without Wi-Fi. We’ve designed it to be mobile-first and intuitive, so whether it’s a plant supervisor in Baddi or an HR head in Noida, they can manage operations seamlessly from wherever they are.
TimesTech: The manufacturing sector is increasingly turning to smart HR solutions. What trends are driving this demand, and how is Officenet positioned to meet the evolving needs of this sector?
Sonali: Post-pandemic, there’s been a clear shift towards digitisation, even in legacy-heavy sectors like manufacturing. Organisations want greater visibility into workforce productivity, automation of repetitive tasks, and actionable insights for decision-making. Officenet is deeply aligned with these needs. We’ve embedded AI, real-time analytics, and automation across our modules to help manufacturers manage compliance, absenteeism, contract labour, and field staff performance, all on one platform. Our deep domain understanding of manufacturing workflows gives us a unique edge.
TimesTech: Officenet’s AI-based face recognition attendance system, with real-time geo-tagging and mobile accessibility, is a standout feature. How has this innovation impacted field and gig workforce management for your clients?
Sonali: This has been a game-changer. With increasing reliance on field sales teams, gig workers, and temporary staff, companies were struggling with authenticating attendance and location in real-time. Our AI-powered face recognition with geo-tagging ensures not just accuracy but accountability. Clients now have real-time dashboards showing who has checked in where. It has reduced time theft, eliminated proxy attendance, and improved trust between HR and the workforce.
TimesTech: From voice-controlled attendance via Siri Shortcuts to AI-enabled chatbots, Officenet has automated several HR processes. How do these features improve accessibility, productivity, and employee satisfaction across industries?
Sonali: Our aim is to make HR accessible to every employee, regardless of tech proficiency or location. With voice-enabled attendance, even shopfloor workers or delivery agents can check in hands-free. Our AI-enabled chatbot acts like a personal HR assistant, resolving leave queries, fetching payslips, or helping with onboarding 24×7. The result is faster resolution, reduced HR workload, and a more empowered workforce. It’s about making HR invisible, in the best way possible, by integrating it into the flow of work.
TimesTech: Predictive analytics using machine learning is another highlight. Could you share how insights like attrition risk and attendance patterns are helping companies make smarter, proactive HR decisions?
Sonali: Today, reactive HR is no longer enough. With machine learning, Officenet offers companies the ability to anticipate challenges before they escalate. For instance, if an employee shows irregular attendance over time, combined with poor performance scores, the system flags a potential attrition risk. This allows managers to intervene early, with a check-in call or support, rather than waiting for a resignation email. Similarly, predictive rostering helps optimise staffing levels based on past absenteeism patterns, ensuring production continuity. It’s about empowering HR with foresight, not just hindsight.
TimesTech: Data privacy and compliance are critical, especially in HRTech. How does Officenet ensure the security of sensitive employee data and adhere to GDPR-aligned practices?
Sonali: Data security is not a checkbox for us, it’s core to our architecture. Officenet follows industry best practices for encryption, role-based access, and secure cloud hosting. We’re also fully aligned with GDPR principles, including consent management, data minimisation, and audit trails. Clients can customise access rights, track every data interaction, and ensure full compliance with Indian and international labour laws. In an era where data breaches are costly, both financially and reputationally, our platform is designed to protect what matters most: people’s data
TimesTech: Officenet has been recognized with multiple awards, including the CIO Choice Award and the Great Place to Work certification. How do these recognitions reflect your broader vision for workplace culture and innovation?
Sonali: These recognitions are both humbling and motivating. They reflect not just what we build, but how we build it. At Officenet, we believe that workplace technology should be human-centric. Our own culture is collaborative, innovation-driven, and transparent, mirrors the kind of environments we help create for our clients. Being a Great Place to Work tells us that our own team feels seen and supported. The CIO Choice Award validates that our platform delivers real, measurable value to enterprises. Together, they reinforce our mission to modernise HR with empathy and intelligence.
TimesTech: What is your vision for the future of HRTech in India’s manufacturing landscape, and how do you see Officenet evolving to support digital transformation in this space over the next 5 years?
Sonali: We believe the next five years will be transformative. As Industry 4.0 gains ground, workforce management will move beyond transactions to intelligence, integrating IoT, AI, and behavioural analytics to optimise human potential on the shopfloor and beyond.
Officenet is already building toward this future. From wearables integration to emotion recognition and workforce well-being dashboards, we’re expanding the definition of HRTech. Our goal is to help businesses not just manage workers but motivate and retain them, creating agile, resilient, and future-ready organisations.
