Saurabh Gupta, Group Chief Digital Information Officer, Gujarat Flurochemicals Limited, highlights how GFL successfully navigates the challenges of legacy systems and cybersecurity to become a connected, intelligent, and future-ready digital enterprise.
In an era where the chemical industry is evolving from pure production to building sustainable, customer-centric value chains, digital technology has become the critical catalyst for transformation. At Gujarat Fluorochemicals Limited (GFL), this shift is driven by a strategic and integrated approach to information technology.
Group Chief Digital and Information Officer
Gujarat Fluorochemicals Limited
In an exclusive conversation with Nisha Sharma, Senior Tech Correspondent at Tech Disruptor Media, Saurabh Gupta, Group Chief Digital and Information Officer, Gujarat Fluorochemicals Limited, outlines how GFL is leveraging a powerful tech stack—from SAP S/4HANA and Salesforce to IoT and AI—to achieve operational excellence, foster innovation, and ensure future-ready resilience. He unpacks the pivotal roles of data analytics, IT-OT convergence, and a foundational cultural change in building an intelligent enterprise that is as focused on sustainability and safety as it is on growth and efficiency.
TDM: How is digital technology reshaping the chemicals industry, and what role do you see IT playing in driving operational excellence and innovation at Gujarat Fluorochemicals?
Saurabh Gupta: Digital is fundamentally reshaping the chemicals industry, and at Gujarat Fluorochemicals, we see it as a key lever for both operational excellence and innovation at scale.
From a business standpoint, the industry is no longer about just producing chemicals; it’s about creating sustainable, customer-centric, and strong value chains. Here, IT plays three pivotal roles:
1. Operational Excellence through Integration & Automation
- We’ve implemented SAP S/4HANA on RISE and integrated it with Salesforce, other applications, and data lakes.
- This allows us to run smart factories where production, supply chain, and quality are connected in real time.
- RPA for routine transactions, freeing up human bandwidth for higher-value work
2. Innovation & Customer Experience
- Through Salesforce CRM and customer portals, we’ve digitized the customer journey end-to-end — from order booking to quality tracking.
- Data-driven demand forecasting has reduced inventory and improved service levels.
- We’re also exploring AI agents for customer interaction.
3. Future-readiness & Sustainability
- With Industry 4.0, and IT-OT convergence, IT is not just enabling cost efficiency — it’s enabling sustainability and regulatory compliance, which are critical in chemicals.
- Analytics help us manage energy consumption and emissions, directly aligning IT with ESG goals.
TDM: Manufacturing is at the heart of Industry 4.0. How do you see IoT, AI/ML, and predictive analytics transforming production, safety, and supply chains?
Saurabh Gupta: Industry 4.0 in chemicals is all about connected, intelligent operations. At Gujarat Fluorochemicals, we see transformation in three clear areas:
- Production: IoT + predictive analytics → real-time monitoring, reduced downtime, optimized yields.
- Safety: AI/ML-driven alerts + digital twins → proactive risk detection, safer plants, compliance.
- Supply Chain: Data lakes + forecasting models → accurate demand planning, reduced inventory, better customer service.
In short — IoT, AI, and analytics are making manufacturing smarter, safer, and more resilient.
TDM: With IT and OT systems increasingly interconnected, what unique cybersecurity challenges do process-driven industries face, and how do you address them?
Saurabh Gupta: In process-driven industries like chemicals, IT-OT convergence creates three unique cybersecurity challenges:
- Expanded Attack Surface: Connected plants mean PLCs, sensors, and legacy OT systems are now exposed to cyber risks.
- Operational Impact: A cyber incident can halt production or compromise safety — not just data.
- Compliance & Trust: Regulations and customer expectations demand stronger controls across IT and OT.
Our approach is layered — Zero Trust architecture, network segmentation, AI-driven monitoring, and strong OT–IT collaboration to ensure security never compromises safety or uptime.
TDM: Process industries generate massive data from sensors, equipment, and enterprise systems. How are you leveraging cloud, edge, and analytics to optimize operations?
Saurabh Gupta: In process industries, data is the new raw material. At Gujarat Fluorochemicals, we leverage it through:
- Cloud: Unified data lake for enterprise + plant data → single source of truth, scalable AI/ML models.
- Edge: Real-time processing at plant level → faster insights, predictive maintenance, safety alerts.
- Analytics: QlikSense dashboards + AI-driven forecasting → optimized production, energy efficiency, and supply chain agility.
Together, cloud, edge, and analytics turn raw data into actionable intelligence for efficiency and resilience.”
TDM: At Gujarat Fluorochemicals, how have you balanced digital innovation with legacy systems, compliance, and business continuity?
Saurabh Gupta: Balancing innovation with stability is key in chemicals, and we approach it through three levers:
- Legacy Integration: Phased SAP S/4HANA migration with APIs and middleware ensures old and new systems co-exist smoothly.
- Compliance: Built-in GRC, audit trails, and cybersecurity controls keep us aligned with industry regulations.
- Business Continuity: Cloud-first, disaster recovery, and hybrid models ensure uptime while we modernize.
This way, we innovate without disrupting operations — transformation with resilience.
TDM: What is your vision for building a “future-ready digital enterprise” over the next 3–5 years?
Saurabh Gupta: Our vision for a future-ready digital enterprise rests on three pillars:
- Automation/AI-first Operations: Embedding AI agents, predictive analytics, and automation into every core process for agility and speed.
- Connected Ecosystem: Seamless IT–OT integration, cloud platforms, and partner/customer portals for an end-to-end digital value chain.
- Sustainable Growth: Using digital twins, ESG analytics, and smart energy management to align business performance with sustainability goals.
In the next 3–5 years, we want IT to be not just an enabler but a growth driver — making Gujarat Fluorochemicals more intelligent, resilient, and future-ready.
TDM: Driving digital change in a traditional industry requires cultural alignment. How do you foster innovation, agility, and digital-first thinking across teams?
Saurabh Gupta: Technology change succeeds only when culture changes with it. At Gujarat Fluorochemicals, we foster digital-first thinking through:
- Leadership & Mindset: Driving top-down sponsorship, change champions, and a clear narrative that digital is core to growth.
- Capability Building: Upskilling programs, digital academies, and hands-on adoption of tools like SAP Fiori, Salesforce, and analytics.
- Agility & Innovation: Cross-functional squads, RPA/AI pilots, and ‘fail-fast, learn-fast’ culture to encourage experimentation.
This way, digital becomes everyone’s responsibility — not just IT’s — embedding innovation into the DNA of the organization.”
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