The Revolutionary Change Manager
DataQuest|May 2023
The simple but elegant office belies the power Ratan Tata wields.  Arguably, one of the most powerful men in the realm, Ratan Tata is also some kind of an electronics 'aficionado'. His private lobby, at Bombay House, has only electronics magazines. At 53, Tata, chairman of Tata Sons, is responsible for retaining the group's #1 status in India. Ratan Tata started his career with Nelco-an electronics company of the Tata stable and has always been considered 'technology friendly. Today, as many as nine Tata companies are involved with computers and software. Ratan Tata has forged alliances with companies like AT&T and OKI to spearhead the group's foray into the telecom sector. In an exclusive interview with DATAQUEST Managing Editor. Shyam Malhotra and Editor, L Subramanyan, Ratan Tata discussed his vision of holding on to the Tata hegemony in the technology race. And the future of Tatas in information technology Excerpts:
The Revolutionary Change Manager

Given the fact that India is opening up, what are the bottlenecks that still need to be looked at, specially in the IT Industry? 

"I believe, we should really try at this stage to make the Indian industry price competitive as the Indian IT industry has to become globally competitive. I think all tariffs on all components and peripherals should be reduced further so that we are really able to source components at international prices.

But wouldn't this hurt the existing manufacturing units in India?

This would appear somewhat unfair to those who have set up manufacturing facilities in India. But I would counter that by saying that I would not be opposed to removing tariffs from finished products, except to the extent of compensating excise duty or sales tax so that the end product is also cheaper. Ultimately, the end-user should also have the opportunity to source (even end products) from elsewhere.

Don't you feel that this liberalization process, which came a little after TISL was conceived, has had some adverse Impact on the company?

Well, adverse impact... now, again you need to define what your business is going to be. I think it would be a very narrow description of your business if you set out to manufacture hardware. A more accurate definition would be that you want to build the company that will provide solutions, that is, IT solutions for your (Indian) industry. I think that solution should be the best price and the best quality solution. (Once you have that) you can then divide it into software and hardware...and creativity.

Bu hikaye DataQuest dergisinin May 2023 sayısından alınmıştır.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

Bu hikaye DataQuest dergisinin May 2023 sayısından alınmıştır.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

DATAQUEST DERGISINDEN DAHA FAZLA HIKAYETümünü görüntüle
The T in RealTy
DataQuest

The T in RealTy

Hyper-personalised home buying and renting experiences? E-tours? E-signatures? Digital bookings? Why? How? Technology cannot be used as a varnish when one faces old plastered walls like unorganised agents, lack of ecosystem tech-literacy, fragmentation, complex regulation, balancing hyper-personalisation with anonymisation and still ushering customers towards virtual tours, AR, VR, AI magic and personal touch. Let's take a tour with Sangeet Aggarwal, Head of Product at HOUSING.COM, PropTiger.​com

time-read
4 dak  |
February 2025
Democratizing Al, challenging norms, and shaping the future of global innovation
DataQuest

Democratizing Al, challenging norms, and shaping the future of global innovation

I sat down with DeepSeek for a candid conversation about its rise, its vision, and its potential to redefine the AI landscape. From democratizing AI to challenging the status quo of the Western tech world, this Q&A delves into the heart of what makes DeepSeek a game-changer.

time-read
2 dak  |
February 2025
Are leaders ready to bridge the innovation-trust gap?
DataQuest

Are leaders ready to bridge the innovation-trust gap?

AI is no longer the future-it's the now. However, as organizations race to integrate AI into their operations, a fundamental question looms: how can businesses balance rapid innovation with trust and security? Nate MacLeitch, CEO of QuickBlox, weighs in.

time-read
7 dak  |
February 2025
Preparing leaders for the AI Era
DataQuest

Preparing leaders for the AI Era

The term “Management Education” often conjures images of dusty case studies and rigid classroom hierarchies.

time-read
3 dak  |
February 2025
GCCs on a Drum-roll in India: Hence, Zimmer
DataQuest

GCCs on a Drum-roll in India: Hence, Zimmer

The IT riff here used to win only Emmys and Grammys in, and for adding to, global orchestras of outsourcing, application development and back-office work. Not anymore. It’s time for business Oscars. With GCCs.

time-read
10 dak  |
February 2025
RegTech: Because even compliance deserves a tech upgrade
DataQuest

RegTech: Because even compliance deserves a tech upgrade

The business environment is getting increasingly complex in India as the country embraces its digital future. From data privacy to digital lending norms and strict anti-money laundering measures, regulators in the country have increased their efforts to make sure there is transparency, accountability, and protection in this age of rapid technological innovation.

time-read
10 dak  |
February 2025
Supercomputing on Ojammpic!
DataQuest

Supercomputing on Ojammpic!

Would Quantum breakthroughs and AI Supercomputers finally make the elusive super-machine affordable, accessible and lean enough to sit happy next to your coffee mug?

time-read
10+ dak  |
February 2025
Automation means handshakes
DataQuest

Automation means handshakes

If RPA is the backbone, ATI is the brain. Say hello to some new digital white-aprons, fewer insurance frauds and easier preventive-medicine efforts. Vijayashree Natarajan, SVP Head of Technology, Omega Healthcare dissects AI’s new-and-exciting limbs as she argues that AI augments and complements RPA.

time-read
3 dak  |
February 2025
How open AI DeepSeek will likely disrupt the market
DataQuest

How open AI DeepSeek will likely disrupt the market

Jaspreet Bindra, Founder of AI&Beyond and Tech Whisperer Ltd, gives us a ringside view of the changes taking place as a result of DeepSeek entering the market. Excerpts from a freewheeling video interview.

time-read
6 dak  |
February 2025
Why cyber insurance is a lifeline for enterprises
DataQuest

Why cyber insurance is a lifeline for enterprises

While some businesses still believe they’re too small to be hacked,” Tata AIG’s Najm Bilgrami politely disagrees. The company has redefined the sector with its latest product, CyberEdge, which not only insures against cyber risks but also offers a comprehensive ecosystem of prevention, response, and risk improvement services.

time-read
5 dak  |
February 2025