Archive · 25 Aug 2026
Austrian businessman says India globalized while local hierarchies remain
Wolfgang Bergthaler has watched India change for 22 years.
He says India now uses digital payments and QR codes much more than before.
The country has also built more metros, airports, roads and railways.
Indian companies and investors are becoming stronger, so foreign companies no longer seem special just because they come from Europe.
People are spending more, shopping online and expecting very fast deliveries.
Bergthaler says Indians are also more confident about their own country and travel more around the world.
However, he worries that some people have poorer diets, unhealthy lifestyles and concerns about air, water and privacy.
He still believes India has made incredible progress overall.
Wolfgang Bergthaler says India has become more digital, confident and competitive over 22 years.
He highlighted the shift from cash payments to widespread QR-code use, alongside UPI, Aadhaar and DigiLocker.
India now relies more on domestic technology, capital, expertise and brands, reducing the influence of foreign companies.
Bergthaler said consumers spend more on online shopping, rapid delivery and investing, while expecting higher service standards.
He praised India’s progress but raised concerns about diets, lifestyles, pollution, privacy and social media’s impact on attention.
- Who
- Austrian business-development professional Wolfgang Bergthaler, who has worked in Indo-European business development.
- What
- Bergthaler described India’s economic, digital and social changes while noting that traditional hierarchies remain influential.
- When
- He has observed India for 22 years and recently shared two posts on LinkedIn.
- Where
- India, with comparisons involving Europe and Austria.
- Why
- He offered personal observations about how India’s market, consumers, infrastructure and national confidence have changed.
- Observer
- Wolfgang Bergthaler, founder of Austria-based WB5 GmbH
- Period observed
- 22 years
- Digital change
- India shifted from a largely cash-driven economy to widespread QR-code payments
- Digital systems cited
- UPI, Aadhaar and DigiLocker
- Business environment
- India is a larger, more professional and more competitive market
- Consumer trends
- Greater spending, online shopping, rapid delivery and stock-market investing
- Concerns raised
- Diets, unhealthy lifestyles, clean air, water, privacy and short-form social media