Digital Transformation Drives Productivity and Sustainability in India's Chemical Industry
India's chemical industry is embracing a digital revolution to boost productivity, safety, and global competitiveness. A webinar by Indian Chemical News and AVEVA, 'Catalysts for Change,' brought together experts who outlined strategies including phased digital transformation, leveraging AI/ML for asset optimization, and introducing 'Return on Time' for evaluating initiatives. Discussions also covered Agentic AI applications, evolving global trends like scaled digital platforms and Chief Digital Officers, and tackling SME adoption challenges through 'as-a-service' models for equitable growth.
India's chemical value chain is undergoing a significant digital transformation, redefining productivity, safety, and competitiveness. This shift is crucial for India to become a global chemical manufacturing hub, reduce import dependence, and meet environmental norms. The Indian Chemical News, in association with AVEVA, hosted a webinar titled 'Catalysts for Change: A Digital Revolution for India’s Chemical Industry' on January 21, 2026, to discuss this vital evolution.Experts shared their insights: Abhiram Alurkar of DFPCL emphasized a phased approach to digital transformation, starting with connecting and contextualizing data, then moving to predicting and optimizing, and finally prescribing and assisting the workforce. Jagdish Pranami from SRF highlighted maximizing productivity from existing assets using AI/ML, citing examples like predictive maintenance for steam traps and rotating equipment, which significantly reduces losses and downtime. Ramesh Dham of Coromandel International introduced 'Return on Time' (ROT) alongside ROI, stressing the importance of quick value realization from digital investments, and discussed how Agentic AI could revolutionize maintenance, spare parts, and production planning.Anand Mantri from Kearney detailed five global trends: organizations scaling beyond pilots, the rise of Chief Digital and Information Officers (CDIOs) at leadership tables, increased ecosystem partnerships, and digital transformation being viewed as a revenue generator rather than just a cost center. Naveen Kumar of AVEVA spoke on providing industrial intelligence across design, build, operate, and optimize stages, and addressed the digital divide for SMEs by advocating for platform-based and 'as-a-service' models to make digital adoption practical and scalable.
