Introduction
The CII Karnataka Digital Marketing & Brand Conclave 2023 was held on 13/04/2023 at The Ritz Carlton, Bangalore. The event was organized by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and focused on the latest trends and strategies in digital marketing and branding. CII is a non-government, not-for-profit, industry-led and industry-managed organization, with around 9000 members from the private as well as public sectors, including SMEs and MNCs, and an indirect membership of over 300,000 enterprises from 286 national and regional sectoral industry bodies.
For more than 125 years, CII has been engaged in shaping India’s development journey and works proactively on transforming Indian Industry’s engagement in national development. CII charts change by working closely with Government on policy issues, interfacing with thought leaders, and enhancing efficiency, competitiveness and business opportunities for industry through a range of specialized services and strategic global linkages. It also provides a platform for consensus-building and networking on key issues.
This event was sponsored by:
Gold Sponsor: Cycle Agarbathi
Associate Sponsors: Kennanmetal, Hitachi Energy, ASM Technologies Corporate Contributor: Purva Orient Grand
Keynote Speakers:
The event featured several keynote speakers who shared their insights and expertise on digitaln marketing and branding. The keynote speakers included
Mr. Arjun M Ranga – Chairman, CII Karnataka Digital Marketing & Brand Conclave
Immediate Past Chairman, CII Karnataka & Director, NR Group & Managing Director,
Cycle Pure Agarbathis.
Mr. Karthik Ramanujam – Chief Digital Evangelist Verse Innovation
Mr. Deepak Bakshi – Managing Director, Accenture in India
Mr. Sourav Ganguly – Former BCCI President, Former Indian National Cricket Team
Captain & Legendary Cricketer
Ms Uzma Irfan – Director-Corporate Communication Prestige Group & Founder Sublime
Ms Manashwi Banerjee – Head of Communications India & South Asia Hitachi Energy
India Ltd.
Mr. Pratik Arun Shetty – Senior Director Marketing Flipkart
Prof Madhu Viswanathan – Associate Professor of Marketing and Research Director,
ISB Institute of Data Sciences, Indian School of Business
Mr. Prashant Parmeswaran – Managing Director Tata Consumer Soulful Pvt Ltd.
Mr. Kiran V Ranga – Director N Ranga Rao & Sons
Ms Dipti Sudhir – Head Digital Marketing & E Commerce & PR Britannia Industries Ltd.
Mr Sandeep Alur – Director Microsoft Technology Centre
Sessions:
The event had several sessions that covered various topics related to digital marketing and branding. Some of the sessions included.
Session 1: Perspectives on Digital Marketing & Customer Aspirations
Session 2: Building and Sustaining Iconic Brands
Session 3: Panel Discussion on Digital Marketing & Integrating Value Chains
Session 4: Master class on The Perils and Promises of Digital Marketing
Session 5: AI in Marketing
Learning from the sessions
Learnings from Mr. Karthik Ramanujam’s talk : Mr. Karthik Ramanujam’s talk on the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) was one of the highlights of the event. He explained how ONDC is a game changer for the Indian e-commerce industry, as it aims to build an ecosystem by onboarding banks, payment apps, e-commerce entities, and retailers, resellers, and logistics providers.
Mr. Ramanujam emphasized that ONDC is a collaborative effort to create a level playing field for all stakeholders in the e-commerce industry. By building an open and interoperable network, ONDC aims to enable seamless transactions and reduce the dependence on a few dominant players in the industry. This, in turn, will help boost competition and innovation, benefitting both businesses and consumers.
Mr. Ramanujam also discussed the benefits of ONDC, such as reduced costs, increased efficiency, and improved customer experience. He highlighted how ONDC will enable retailers and small businesses to connect with customers across India, regardless of their location or size. Overall, Mr. Ramanujam’s talk on ONDC provided valuable insights into the future of the Indian e-commerce industry. Attendees learned about the potential benefits of ONDC and how it can create a more level playing field for all stakeholders in the industry. The talk was well-received, and attendees left with a deeper understanding of the role ONDC can play in shaping the future of e-commerce in India.
During his talk at the event, Mr. Karthik Ramanujam also gave examples of digital native brands that are everaging technology to transform the customer experience. He discussed how these brands are using digital platforms to engage customers and provide a seamless and personalized experience. One such example is Goldmedal, a company that has its own applications where all the dealers can log on and view their transactions with the company. This helps them to manage their inventory and streamline their operations. Mr. Ramanujam also highlighted Indiqube, an app that allows users to order food from IndiQube cafeterias, avail offers that are exclusive for IndiQube clients, book partnered spaces and refreshments, book gym slots, hire transport, and much more. This app provides a one-stop solution for all the needs of IndiQube clients. Mr. Ramanujam also discussed Kirloskar, a firm that operates the largest 3D printers in mainstream manufacturing of pumps. He highlighted how Kirloskar has introduced AI and self-
learning systems that work with sales teams and end-users to select, customize, and perform all application engineering around existing products. This has helped Kirloskar to streamline its operations and provide a more personalized experience for its customers. Finally, Mr. Ramanujam spoke about Story@Home, a Baroda-based brand that had physical stores but then came the ecommerce boom. Story@Home was among the first few brands that partnered with Flipkart, Amazon, SnapDeal, and many more. Today, digital mediums are a big part of the business, right from product research and manufacturing to the final consumer.
Story@Home is leveraging technology to provide a seamless and personalized experience to its customers. Overall, Mr. Ramanujam’s examples of digital native brands provided valuable insights into how businesses can leverage technology to transform the customer experience. Attendees learned
about the potential benefits of digital platforms and how they can help businesses streamline
their operations, engage customers, and provide a more personalized experience.
Panel Discussion
Session 1: Perspectives on Digital Marketing & Customer Aspirations
One of the highlights of the event was a panel discussion that was moderated by Mr.
Vijaykrishnan Venkatesan. The discussion centered on the challenges and opportunities of digital
marketing and branding in the current landscape. The panel featured Mr. Deepak Bakshi,
Managing Director of Accenture in India, as one of the panelists.
Mr. Bakshi shared his insights and experience on how businesses can leverage digital marketing
and branding to drive growth and engage customers. He emphasized the importance of data-
driven marketing and the role of technology in transforming customer experiences. Mr. Bakshi
also discussed how businesses can leverage social media and other digital platforms to reach and
engage customers.
The discussion also touched upon the challenges of digital marketing and branding, including the
need for businesses to constantly adapt and innovate to stay ahead of the competition. The
panelists also discussed the importance of having a strong brand identity and the role of
storytelling in building brand value.
Overall, the panel discussion was a valuable addition to the event, providing attendees with
insights and perspectives from industry experts on the latest trends and strategies in digital
marketing and branding. The participation of Mr. Deepak Bakshi, Managing Director of
Accenture in India, added to the richness of the discussion, and attendees left with a deeper
understanding of the challenges and opportunities in digital marketing and branding.
Session 2: Building and Sustaining Iconic Brands
The second session of the CII Karnataka Digital Marketing & Brand Conclave 2023 featured Mr.
Sourav Ganguly, former BCCI President, former Indian National Cricket Team Captain, and
legendary cricketer, who shared his insights on building and sustaining iconic brands. The
session was moderated by Mr. Arjun M Ranga.
During the session, Mr. Ganguly discussed his experiences as a cricketer and how he leveraged
his personal brand to build a successful career. He also talked about the importance of
consistency, hard work, and dedication in building and sustaining iconic brands. According to
Mr. Ganguly, brands that have been successful over the long term are those that have stayed true
to their values and principles, and have consistently delivered on their promises to their
customers.
Mr. Ganguly also emphasized the importance of innovation and creativity in building iconic brands. He highlighted how businesses need to constantly evolve and adapt to changing customer preferences and market trends to stay relevant and competitive. Overall, Mr. Ganguly’s insights on building and sustaining iconic brands provided valuable lessons for attendees at the CII Karnataka Digital Marketing & Brand Conclave 2023. Attendees learned about the importance of consistency, hard work, dedication, innovation, and creativity in building successful and sustainable brands.
Session 3 – Panel Discussion on Digital Marketing & Integrating Value Chains The third session of the CII Karnataka Digital Marketing & Brand Conclave 2023 was a panel discussion on Digital Marketing & Integrating Value Chains. The panel was comprised of Mr. Arjun Ranga, Ms. Uzma Irfan (Director-Corporate Communication at Prestige Group & Founder of Sublime), Ms. Manashwi Banerjee (Head of Communications India & South Asia at Hitachi Energy India Ltd) , Mr. Pratik Arun Shetty, Senior Director Marketing at Flipkart. The session was moderated by Mr. Arjun M Ranga.
The panel discussed the various challenges and opportunities that businesses face in integrating their value chains and leveraging digital marketing to enhance customer engagement and drive sales growth. They talked about the importance of data-driven insights in developing targeted marketing campaigns and personalizing customer experiences. The panel also highlighted the role of social media and influencer marketing in building brand awareness and engaging with customers. They discussed the importance of identifying the right influencers who align with the brand’s values and messaging, and how to measure the
effectiveness of influencer campaigns. In addition, the panel touched upon the impact of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, and blockchain on digital marketing and value chain integration. They discussed how businesses can leverage these technologies to improve supply chain efficiency, enhance customer experiences, and drive growth. Overall, the panel discussion on Digital Marketing & Integrating Value Chains provided attendees with valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities of leveraging digital marketing to drive business growth. The discussion highlighted the importance of data-driven insights, social media and influencer marketing, and emerging technologies in building successful and sustainable brands in today’s digital economy.
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