Personally Tech With the JIF CEO and Sbarro North India Head Akhil Puri

In our weekly column Personally Tech we talk to people from all walks of life to learn about the apps and gadgets that they love and can't live without. Technology has changed the way we all live and work, in myriad ways, and we try to showcase how it has changed lives.

This week, we got to talk to Akhil Puri, the CEO of Jyoti International Foods. The company brought the Sbarro master franchise to India, and Puri is directly involved in building the pizza chain's brand in North India. Puri's work history lies in the Quick Service Restaurant (QSR) industry, and he's worked with brands like Nirula's and Subway in the past. He tells us his passion lies in golf, but once he started talking about his gadgets, we could see he's a fellow techie too.

Read on to know more about the apps and gadgets that Puri loves and can't live without.

1. Describe your technology setup - what computer/ phone/ tablet/ camera/ gaming console/ other gadgets do you use?
I use an 11-inch Apple Macbook Air as my primary computer because it's extremely user friendly, has a fast processing speed and is really light, which helps me in carrying it anywhere instead of needing a tablet. My phone is a Samsung Galaxy Note 3 - the big screen means I don't need a tablet, great battery life allows me go without a recharge for an entire day, and it has a brilliant display on which I can view high resolution images and videos on my phone. The S-Pen feature lets me take notes anywhere and is synced with my laptop through the Evernote app.

I also love my Canon EOS 60D - it's an excellent DSLR for amateur photographers. It's easy to use, lightweight, has a large LCD screen, and excellent image quality.

Other than that, I have an Apple TV that I use for presentations and videos, and my Brookstone Power Bank, which rescues me during those days when I run out of battery for my devices.

2. What are three apps (mobile/ tablet or PC/ Mac) you couldn't live without?
There's more than three. First, there's Gmail - for all my emails I use the Gmail app, as all the accounts are linked with the Google apps and I can view all my emails in a consolidated app. Then, Evernote, I use it all the time for managing personal as well official task lists. WhatsApp keeps me connected to friends and teams and Facebook is useful for connecting to friends, and to monitor my brand pages. Truecaller had made answering calls much simpler by identifying unknown numbers, and Economic Times keeps me updated on the latest business news.

3. What is the one gadget (other than your phone) you never travel without?
My BrookStone Power Bank

4. What is your dream gadget/ technology setup?
A gadget that replaces the physical passport. This would really make it easy for one to travel, wherein instead of carrying a physical booklet which expires after a certain period and requires physical visa stamping, these could be avoided by making everything digital in nature.

5. How has technology changed the way in which you work?
All the gadgets that I use currently have helped me in increasing efficiency and productivity. They assist me in staying up to date with my tasks and also, interact seamlessly with my teams. Especially as I have to work with various teams in different regions across the country, the devices reduce travel time and let me stay in touch with them on regular basis.

To see more stories about the apps and gadgets people use, check out our older Personally Tech stories.