As Global Capability Centers shift from cost arbitrage to value creation, can they build in‐house AI competencies to become true innovation engines, or will plug-and-play agentic SaaS solutions render them obsolete? Industry heads debate the strategic roadmap for GCCs to invest in internal AI talent, platforms, and IP generation.

With ambitions to close the gap with Silicon Valley and Beijing, will India’s combination of academic talent, vast data, and policy support propel it to AI leadership, or will gaps in research funding and commercialization slow that ascent? Thought‐leaders discuss the ingredients—investments, regulations, talent pipelines—needed to transform the nation into an AI powerhouse.

This topic will focus specifically on how AI, through UPL SAS's initiatives like nurture.retail, is fundamentally changing the agri-input procurement and distribution landscape in India, empowering retailers and ultimately benefiting farmers. Outline: I. Introduction: The Critical Role of Agri-Retail in India ● Traditional Challenges for Agri-Retailers: Limited access to diverse products, opaque pricing, inconsistent availability, working capital issues. ● The Digital Imperative: How technology is disrupting and empowering the retail sector in agriculture. ● UPL SAS's Strategic Focus: Recognizing agri-retailers as key enablers and leveraging AI to strengthen their position. II. AI as the Catalyst for Agri-Retail Transformation Transparent and Efficient Procurement: ● Traditional: Manual orders, limited supplier options, price negotiations. ● AI Revolution: Digital marketplaces providing seamless access to wide product assortments, transparent pricing, and timely offers. ● UPL SAS Solution: Deep dive into how nurture.retail's AI-powered platform facilitates this. Optimized Inventory Management and Forecasting: ● Traditional: Guesswork, stockouts, or excess inventory. ● AI Revolution: AI-powered forecasting models analyzing crop cycles, weather patterns, local demand, and sales trends to predict product needs. ● UPL SAS Solution: Explain how these models enable retailers to optimize inventory, reduce stock-outs, and ensure product availability. Personalized Recommendations and Sales Velocity: ● Traditional: General product push. ● AI Revolution: AI-powered recommendation engines guiding retailers towards regionally relevant inputs. ● UPL SAS Solution: Showcase how this improves both relevance for farmers and sales velocity for retailers. Streamlined Logistics and Delivery: ● Traditional: Inefficient transportation, delayed deliveries. ● AI Revolution: AI-optimized logistics for timely and cost-effective delivery of agri-inputs. ● UPL SAS Solution: Highlight any specific AI tools or partnerships that enhance logistics efficiency. Financial Empowerment for Retailers: ● Traditional: Limited access to credit from traditional institutions. ● AI Revolution: AI-powered credit scoring models using alternative data to unlock affordable financing options. ● UPL SAS Solution: Emphasize how this addresses a critical pain point for many underserved agri-retailers. III. Multi-faceted Impact on the Agriculture Industry ● Strengthening Rural Supply Chains: Creating a more robust and responsive network for agri-inputs. ● Direct Benefits to Farmers: Timely access to the right products, informed choices, and ultimately, better yields. ● Economic Growth in Rural India: Empowering small businesses and fostering local economic development. ● Data-Driven Insights for the Industry: Aggregated data from retail operations providing valuable insights for manufacturers and policymakers. IV. The Future of Agri-Retail with UPL SAS ● Expansion and Deepening of AI Integration: Future enhancements to digital platforms and AI capabilities. ● Building a Collaborative Retail Network: How UPL SAS fosters partnerships within the agri-retail ecosystem. ● Case Studies: Success stories of agri-retailers who have seen significant growth and efficiency gains through UPL SAS's AI-driven solutions. ● UPL SAS's Role in "Atmanirbharta" in Agriculture: Contributing to self-reliance through a strengthened, tech-enabled agri-retail sector.