Technology

Bally, Howrah | September 30, 2026: The technology revolution is no longer confined to major metropolitan centres such as Kolkata, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Pune. As artificial intelligence, digital marketing and technology-driven employment reshape the global economy, smaller urban centres are increasingly becoming part of the emerging digital ecosystem. Bally in Howrah is now drawing attention to this transformation through the growth of technology company THATWARE LLP.

Founded by technology entrepreneur Dr Tuhin Banik, THATWARE operates in areas including AI-driven digital marketing, search intelligence and search engine optimisation (SEO). According to the company, although its roots are in Howrah, its services and projects extend beyond India into international markets, highlighting the growing potential of technology businesses operating from locations outside the country's traditional IT hubs.

The company's journey can be traced back to Dr Banik's early technology initiatives in 2015. After an initial virtual company and A2Z feeds phase in 2016, the formal journey of THATWARE began in 2018. The organisation was subsequently incorporated as THATWARE LLP in 2019.

Over the years, the company says it has expanded its focus to emerging areas of technology, including artificial intelligence, SEO, semantic search, data-driven digital marketing, Large Language Model (LLM) optimisation and AI-powered search technologies. These fields have gained increasing importance as businesses worldwide adapt to changes in online search, digital consumer behaviour and the rapid development of generative AI.

Dr Banik, the company's founder and CEO, has a professional focus on artificial intelligence, machine learning, data science, semantic search and advanced SEO technologies. Under his leadership, THATWARE says it is working towards developing technology and digital marketing solutions suited to an environment in which AI-powered and conversational search are changing the way people discover and consume information online.

One of the company's notable claims relates to employment generation. According to the CEO, more than 200 professionals are currently associated with THATWARE across areas such as SEO, content, technology, digital marketing, analytics and AI-related services. The company also says that a section of its workforce comes from Howrah and neighbouring areas, creating opportunities for local professionals to pursue technology-oriented careers without necessarily relocating to larger IT centres.

The company has also highlighted training, mentoring and professional development as important elements of its workplace culture. With technology evolving rapidly, continuous skill development has become increasingly important for professionals working in digital services, particularly in areas affected by developments in artificial intelligence and automation.

The emergence of technology-oriented employment in Bally also reflects a broader shift in the geography of India's digital economy. Industry observers have increasingly pointed to the role of internet connectivity, digital infrastructure and remote collaboration in enabling professionals outside major metropolitan areas to participate in national and international projects.

For young people in Howrah and surrounding districts, the availability of technology-related employment closer to home could potentially create an alternative to relocating to Kolkata or other established IT destinations. Such opportunities can also provide exposure to international clients, modern digital tools and evolving technology practices, subject to the scale and nature of individual organisations and projects.

The rapid expansion of AI and generative AI is further accelerating this decentralisation of technology-driven work. Businesses increasingly require expertise in data, search, digital marketing, automation and AI-enabled technologies, creating possibilities for service providers operating from smaller cities and semi-urban locations.

THATWARE's development in Bally therefore represents one example of how technology businesses are expanding beyond India's traditional IT corridors. From a base in Howrah to projects serving wider markets, the company's journey reflects the possibility of connecting local talent with the global digital economy.

As AI-led technologies continue to influence business and employment patterns, the growth of technology enterprises in areas such as Bally could contribute to a wider transformation in the region's employment landscape. If such initiatives continue to expand, they may create greater opportunities for local talent to acquire technology skills and participate in an increasingly globalised digital economy without having to leave their home region.