Sysco LABS’ Nexus series spotlights AI-powered engineering

 Panellists at the session 

• Convenes top tech voices to discuss how AI is accelerating DevEx and modern software workflows

Sysco LABS recently hosted the latest edition of its Nexus series, bringing together thought leaders in the platform engineering space to explore how Artifical Intelligence (AI) is transforming the developer experience (DevEx) and accelerating software delivery. 

Platform engineering focuses on building and maintaining internal developer platforms (IDPs) that streamline workflows, improving developer productivity, and enabling faster, more reliable software delivery at scale.

The event featured a keynote segment and a panel discussion, spotlighting key industry experts in AI-driven automation, IDPs, and cloud-native strategies shaping modern software development. Speakers included Sysco Senior Director – Global QE, DevOps and SRE Dilhan Manawadu, WSO2 Director and Head of Engineering – Choreo BU Tishan Dahanayakage, and Virtusa Technology Director Mahesu Nithokumar. The event concluded with a panel discussion on operationalising platform engineering, moderated by Sysco LABS Senior Technical Lead – DevOps Ravindu Fernando, which featured the keynote speakers as well as Virtusa Senior Director, Senior Principal Architect and Global Head of AWS Practice Hussain Shabbir.

Discussions centred around the evolution of platform engineering and the increasing role of AI in enhancing developer workflows. In his keynote, Dahanayakage highlighted the importance of creating platforms that streamline processes and integrate essential tools such as CI/CD (Continuous Improvement/Continuous Deployment), SecOps (Security Operations), and observability, highlighting: “Building for builders means designing platforms that enable seamless workflows. By prioritising AI-powered DevEx, organisations can unlock new levels of productivity while attracting and retaining top talent.” 

Emphasising how AI-driven automation is transforming software delivery lifecycles, Manawadu in his keynote, said: “AI-driven automation is revolutionising the inner loop—enhancing how developers write, test, and iterate on code—while simultaneously optimising the outer loop by automating repetitive operational tasks. Platform engineering teams are central to this evolution, embedding intelligence into DevOps workflows and fundamentally transforming how software is engineered and delivered at scale.”

Beyond automation, discussions at the Nexus explored the critical skills required to succeed in platform engineering, emphasising the importance of architectural knowledge, cloud-native expertise, and a deep understanding of modern infrastructure paradigms. Elaborating on this, Nithokumar said: “Mastering architectural principles and their integration into cloud frameworks is crucial for anyone looking to advance in this field. The ability to design scalable, secure, and resilient systems is what sets top engineers apart.” Building on this, Shabbir added: “Cross-industry collaboration is accelerating this transformation, driving innovation in how software is built and delivered.”

The Sysco LABS Nexus events are designed to bring together industry thought leaders to facilitate deep discussions on emerging trends and best practices in the field, providing engineers with actionable insights to enhance their development processes. As part of Sysco LABS’ ongoing commitment to promoting industry collaboration, the Nexus series serves as a platform for knowledge-sharing and insightful dialogue on topics shaping the future of the Sri Lankan tech industry.