In an interview with ET Digital, he explains how the company is employing AI in its dairy and beverages manufacturing facilities to ensure product quality via tools such as visual inspection systems, and real-time monitoring with feedback mechanisms. Edited excerpts:
Economic Times (ET): Many ITC categories, including dairy & beverages, recently faced inflationary headwinds. How did ITC cut down costs in the value chain?
Sanjay Singal (SS): As a consumer-centric organisation, we focused on measures that enabled us to optimise the cost across the value chain to enable us to not burden consumers. Different cost vectors across the value chain were evaluated to offset any impact. We implemented cost-effective solutions in both manufacturing and supply chain so as to not pass the burden of inflation to consumers.
ET: What are your plans to further expand dairy and beverages portfolio in India?
SS: In line with ITC’s philosophy to provide healthy and innovative products to consumers, this year we launched a portfolio of smoothies, fruit-based beverages with fruit chunks and seeds. Interestingly, we witnessed a surge in consumer preference for dairy-based and hydration products.
We will continue to leverage ITC’s R&D expertise, manufacturing capabilities, harness the power of digital to drive superior consumer insights & innovation, and bring delightful products to consumers.
ET: What role can technology, especially AI, play in the dairy and beverages supply chain?
SS: Technology, including artificial intelligence (AI), can revolutionise the dairy and beverages supply chain in several ways. It covers the whole spectrum of the value chain — from demand forecasting to managing manufacturing and supply chain, understanding the market and consumer needs, along with sustainability by optimising resources at all levels.
At ITC, delivering superior quality is a very important pillar for us. Digital technologies, including AI-powered sensors and machine learning algorithms, can help monitor and maintain product quality throughout the production process. We are leveraging AI in our dairy and beverage manufacturing facilities to ensure product quality through tools like visual inspection systems, real-time monitoring with feedback mechanisms. One of the key vectors in the food category is traceability and transparency, which can be addressed with the help of AI. Blockchain technology, often coupled with AI, can provide a transparent and immutable record of the product’s journey, ensuring authenticity, safety and compliance.
ET: What is ITC doing in terms of adopting sustainable manufacturing and production solutions?
SS: Given that sustainability 2.0 is one of the strategic pillars of competitiveness for ITC, there are multiple drivers for adopting sustainable solutions in manufacturing and production. Some of the interventions include transforming supply chain, sourcing, logistics, manufacturing and warehousing systems into a resilient and agile next-generation connected platform.
