Global Operations of Tata Steel Uninterruptedly Run Due to Digital Readiness Amidst COVID-19 Pandemic
Tata Steel, a global steelmaking company, has been at the forefront of digital transformation since the implementation of its "Anytime-Anywhere Compute" platform in mid-2019. This forward-thinking initiative allows employees to access corporate systems from various locations, as long as they have a stable internet connection.
The implementation of this platform proved to be a game-changer when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, potentially helping the company navigate the disruption without turbulence. The power of cloud computing was harnessed to enable access to the corporate network irrespective of geography.
As the pandemic escalated, Tata Steel significantly increased its reliance on digital tools. Over 2000 online meetings are now held daily, and the company's iCloud systems have seen a surge in usage. In the last week of March 2020, over 25,000 users accessed the ERP system, 40,000 the communication and collaboration iCloud, and more than 1000 the Manufacturing Execution System (MES).
The increased digital reliance is also reflected in the number of user sessions recorded. During the last 10 days of the lockdown period, 150,000 internal user sessions were recorded, with 80,000 in India and 70,000 in Tata Steel Europe. In India alone, 22,000 users accessed or transferred over 50 terabytes of data in the communication and collaboration iCloud in March 2020.
Shop floor managers are also benefiting from this digital shift, with smart plant applications enabling them to monitor manufacturing plant operations seamlessly. They can view camera feeds on their devices, ensuring smooth operations even when working remotely.
Security is a top priority for Tata Steel, with heavy investments in cybersecurity controls. Despite the increased usage, no reported incidents have occurred thus far, highlighting the effectiveness of these measures.
Tata Steel's digital transformation efforts extend beyond the "Anytime-Anywhere Compute" platform. The company has heavily invested in iCloud computing, connectivity, and cybersecurity. Information security policies are enforced consistently with technology, minimising the need for employee retraining.
The company's IT communication and collaboration uses a state-of-the-art iCloud platform, with data storage separated between personal and corporate containers. These virtual classroom sessions can be attended by participants over video conferencing platforms enabled through state-of-the-art video conference front-end tools and browsers.
Tata Steel has also leveraged iCloud-based secure private access technology for seamless access to its IT systems. The company is running analytics or AI models on the data to provide necessary insights.
In 2019, Express Computer featured Jayanta Banerjee, Group CIO of Tata Steel, in a story about the digital transformation at Tata Steel. The company is now on a multi-cloud platform, eliminating single points of failure.
As of now, over 8,000 employees in India and 6,000 in Tata Steel Europe are accessing the company's systems from home or other locations. Tata Steel's digital transformation journey continues, aiming to create a more efficient, connected, and secure work environment for its employees.
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