Published on April 10, 2025
On March 10, 2025, the Tata Data Excellence Forum (DEF) held its third quarterly meet virtually, drawing participation from over 130 data practitioners across 35 Tata group companies. The forum continued to serve as a collaborative platform for exchanging ideas, sharing successes and accelerating the adoption of data excellence and AI across the Group.
Global perspectives on Data & AI
The meet began with a session by Natalie Mead, VP – Solution Engineering APAC, Snowflake, who shared her insights on global disrupt ions and best practices in data management and AI implementation. Her address offered a lens through which participants could contextualise their own data journeys, establishing a strong foundation for the day’s discussions.
Showcasing Group learnings
Essential topics such as AI readiness, best practices in data management, and the challenges and opportunities in AI/ML applications were addressed throughout the day. One particularly encouraging session came from Sheela Balasubramanian, Tata Teleservices, who presented a case study on how the company had implemented key learnings to drive business transformation through data. Her session demonstrated tangible results of data-driven decision-making, inspiring participants to explore similar initiatives within their own organisations.
Fireside chat on Scaling AI
A major highlight of the day was the fireside chat titled “Accelerating AI Adoption at Group Companies” that brought together senior technology leaders including Rajesh Kannan, CDIO, Tata Motors, Soumya Ghosh, CTO, Tata AIA, with Shirish Talwar, Director – Data Systems, Tata 1mg, moderating the discussion. The conversation delved into real-world challenges, priorities and the organisational shifts required to scale AI solutions across businesses. The dialogue emphasised practical pathways for overcoming resistance, aligning leadership and embedding AI into the core operations of Tata companies.
Sessions on Strategy, Branding and Product Architecture
The forum also explored deeper technical and strategic aspects of data excellence:
Branding Data & Analytics:
Anant Sharma, Tata Chemicals, shared key strategies on how businesses can successfully promote their data-driven initiatives, ensuring that data and analytics are seen not just as technical assets but as critical drivers of business growth.
Data Frameworks for Digital-Only Products:
Seshadri Manivannan, Tata Play, discussed the architecture required to support digital-first products. He outlined how Tata Play has navigated the challenges of developing data frameworks for digital products, focusing on aspects such as real-time data processing, customer insights and the growing role of data in delivering seamless customer experience.
AI & ML in Action:
Harshil Parashar, Tata 1mg, wrapped up the day with a session on the real-world applications of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) in business. He shared Tata 1mg’s journey in integrating AI and ML into their business operations, including the opportunities they’ve discovered, the challenges faced and the lessons learned along the way. The session offered practical insights into how AI and ML can drive efficiencies in areas like predictive analytics, customer service and personalised healthcare solutions.
Continuing the journey
The Tata Data Excellence Forum has undoubtedly laid a strong foundation for furthering the Group’s collective journey towards data excellence and accelerated AI adoption. The momentum generated through the forum is set to drive continued collaboration, unlocking new opportunities for innovation and business transformation across Tata companies.
About Tata Data Excellence Forum
The Tata Data Excellence Forum was launched in May 2024 in response to the increasing importance of data-driven decision making. The forum connects data practitioners from across the Group to share insights, best practices and challenges related to data management, analytics and governance. The forum’s inaugural meeting was hosted by Tata Communications with the following quarterly session hosted by Titan in September 2024. The DEF has brought together over 190 data experts from more than thirty-five Tata companies to discuss AI use cases, data governance and the creation of a hyperconnected data ecosystem. By fostering collaboration and knowledge sharing, the forum aims to accelerate the Group's data-driven transformation.