Eminent CIO's Of India 2026

Driving Intelligent Manufacturing Through AI & Enterprise Digital Core

 

Dr. Sandip Pradhan
Chief Digital & Information Officer - Century Plyboards (India)

 

Century Plyboards is rapidly evolving into an intelligent, autonomous enterprise. Anchored by a scalable digital core of SAP S/4HANA, Salesforce, and Zoho, its IT framework balances aggressive operational efficiency with rigorous security and governance. From driving plant-wide visibility to aligning with the Make in India initiative, it is empowering its workforce and safeguarding its data to build a future-ready manufacturing ecosystem.

 

IT INVESTMENT VALUE & RESILIENCE
Every investment is evaluated for scalability, integration, and measurable ROI. SAP S/4HANA has eliminated redundancies and enabled real-time analytics, while RPA and n8n-based orchestration have reduced operational effort significantly. Cloud-integrated platforms like Zoho and Salesforce boost agility and interoperability. Strong vendor partnerships and proactive monitoring safeguard operational resilience, ensuring sustained long-term business value and delivering enhanced visibility across all manufacturing plants.

 

IT GOVERNANCE & MEASURABLE OUTCOMES
At Century Plyboards, IT governance is built on an outcome-driven framework aligned with business priorities. The migration from ECC to SAP S/4HANA has enabled standardized processes, real-time decision-making, and robust role-based access controls — improving reporting turnaround by over 50% and reducing manual effort by 35–40%. Automation through RPA reduces manual intervention while KPI-driven performance tracking, supported by global partners Deloitte and EY, ensures continuous accountability and measurable business value across all functions.

 

IT STRATEGY & NATIONAL PRIORITIES
Our IT strategy aligns with India's digital transformation vision and the Make in India imperative. SAP S/4HANA provides an agile, scalable foundation supporting enterprise expansion and data-driven decisions. Integrating Zoho and Salesforce enhances customer engagement and operational visibility across business units. By optimizing supply chains, improving transparency, and enabling innovation, we contribute directly to national priorities of digitalization, sustainable industrial growth, and economic resilience.

 

SECURITY, PRIVACY & DIGITAL INCLUSION
Security and privacy are central to our digital strategy. Strict role-based access controls, regular audits, and compliance frameworks within SAP safeguard critical enterprise data. Proactive risk management continuously identifies and mitigates emerging threats. In parallel, we drive digital inclusion by simplifying interfaces and enabling mobility — empowering every employee to leverage digital tools. We are continuously evolving toward an intelligent, autonomous enterprise driven by AI, data, and secure digital platforms.

 

WORKFORCE READINESS FOR THE AI ERA
We are fostering a culture of continuous learning through structured upskilling programs, cross-functional exposure, and hands-on implementation of automation tools. Employees gain practical experience with RPA, workflow orchestration, and AI-driven analytics, enabling adaptation to evolving digital environments. By embedding intelligent insights into daily workflows, we empower faster and more informed decision-making — ensuring our workforce remains future-ready and fully aligned with our digital transformation journey.