Aurobindo Pharma’s Blueprint for Digital Excellence: Insights from Group CIO, Chitti Babu

As one of India’s largest and most globally recognized pharmaceutical companies, Aurobindo Pharma has been on a mission to reimagine how medicines are developed, manufactured, and delivered through digital innovation. Under the leadership of Group CIO, Chitti Babu, the company has embedded technology into the very fabric of its operations — creating a connected, compliant, and data-driven enterprise that is setting benchmarks for the global pharma ecosystem.

From smart factories powered by MES, electronic batch records, and SCADA integration, to the deployment of in-house generative AI and predictive analytics, Aurobindo is using technology to drive efficiency, ensure quality, and strengthen regulatory confidence. Its digital-first mindset is also transforming R&D and supply chain management — enabling faster product rollouts, improved demand forecasting, and proactive quality control.

Express Computer spoke with Chitti Babu, who shares with us, how Aurobindo Pharma is expanding its digital roadmap with deeper investments in AI, machine learning, IoT, and blockchain platforms, while scaling automation across its manufacturing network

Some edited excerpts:

Aurobindo has been at the forefront of digital transformation. Can you take us through some of the recent digital initiatives and its impact?

Aurobindo Pharma has implemented several high-impact digital initiatives in recent years to reinforce its global presence and operational excellence. These efforts have transformed manufacturing, quality, compliance, and enterprise processes, driving both efficiency and innovation across the organization.

The company is advancing smart factory initiatives, utilizing Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES), electronic batch records, and SCADA integration to achieve rapid data-driven decision-making, compliance, and supply chain resilience. Aurobindo is also advancing in-house generative AI for operational support, including ERP-integrated chatbots, ensuring all proprietary data remains securely within their firewall and regulatory boundaries.

These digital initiatives enable faster and more accurate regulatory compliance, operational visibility, and responsiveness to global market demands. In-house, stable AI adoption is prioritized, with no tool deployed unless it has proven reliability over six months ensuring regulatory compliance is never compromised.

Aurobindo’s digital initiatives exemplify how robust technology adoption in the pharmaceutical industry can deliver both operational advantage and competitive differentiation in a highly regulated sector.

With the pharmaceutical sector undergoing a massive tech shift — how is Aurobindo leveraging digital to stay ahead of the curve in India?

Aurobindo Pharma is leveraging digital technology in India to maintain its leadership through a combination of smart manufacturing, advanced R&D, and end-to-end supply chain digitization. The company’s digital strategy includes automation of manufacturing operations using MES, electronic batch records, and paperless validation to drive quality and compliance. This is paired with in-house generative AI and robust data analytics platforms to support decision-making and optimize product development cycles.

These initiatives reduce human workloads, cut costs, and enable data-driven responsiveness, directly improving time-to-market and business resilience in a rapidly changing regulatory environment. Digital transformation has also enabled faster rollouts.

Generative AI and predictive analytics are redefining enterprise decision-making. How is Aurobindo leveraging AI to drive innovation across design, production, and customer engagement?

Aurobindo Pharma is leveraging generative AI and predictive analytics to drive substantial innovation across drug design, production efficiency, and customer engagement. These advanced digital tools are integrated throughout the product lifecycle, enhancing everything from R&D and manufacturing to personalized marketing and service delivery.

Predictive analytics support production planning, demand forecasting, and inventory optimization, resulting in improved supply reliability and efficiency. AI models detect patterns for predictive maintenance, process deviations, and real-time quality control, reducing downtime and enhancing manufacturing excellence. Digitalization initiatives like serialization and tracking in entire supply chain provide granular visibility across the supply chain, enabling proactive responses and regulatory compliance.

Aurobindo’s commitment to AI not only drives efficiency and quality improvements but also positions the company to meet evolving market demands and regulatory requirements while sustaining leadership in India’s and global pharma innovation landscape

Given recent disruptions in global supply chains and digital ecosystems, what measures is Aurobindo taking to build cyber and operational resilience?

Aurobindo Pharma is proactively strengthening both its cyber and operational resilience in response to global supply chain disruptions and growing digital threats. The company is prioritizing a multi-layered strategy integrating technology, operational re-engineering, and risk management to safeguard business continuity and regulatory compliance.

Aurobindo conducts periodic reviews of its cybersecurity posture and penetration tests, ensuring robust vulnerability detection and remediation. Implementation of advanced endpoint security, firewalling, and identity management tools protects sensitive enterprise data and manufacturing systems against ransomware and cyberattacks. Dedicated cyber risk frameworks, guided by board-approved IT and digital security strategies, enforce compliance with domestic and international regulatory requirements while preparing for emerging threats.

Adoption of digital tracking and serialization technologies enables end-to-end visibility and rapid response mechanisms across the supply chain, enhancing both security and efficiency. Disaster recovery protocols, investment in capacity building, and automation of logistics functions allow the company to maintain high service levels even during large-scale disruptions.

Aurobindo’s approach combines digital fortification, operational autonomy, and strategic risk management, ensuring that the company remains agile, compliant, and secure in an increasingly complex global environment

What are some of the key digital initiatives that the Aurobindo Group is looking to launch in the next six months to one year?

Over the next six to twelve months, Aurobindo Group is set to launch a suite of ambitious digital and technology-focused initiatives designed to propel its leadership in pharmaceuticals, sustainability, and advanced manufacturing. These initiatives are aligned with both business growth and global best practices in digital transformation.

Key Upcoming Digital Initiatives

Expansion of AI and Advanced Analytics: The company is deepening investments in AI, machine learning, IoT, and blockchain platforms

Capacity Expansion and Smart Manufacturing: Additional manufacturing automation and digitalization initiatives are being set up.