Digital
Dentsu India charts the Martech map to decode digital dominance
MUMBAI: In a world where marketing meets machines, Dentsu India has launched its latest industry report, ‘Martech Landscape in India’, offering a deep dive into the nation’s ever-evolving Martech ecosystem. With digital transformation accelerating across industries, the report unpacks how businesses can harness AI, first-party data, and hyper-personalisation to drive real impact.
The study comes at a time when India’s digital advertising market is projected to grow at a 19.09 per cent CAGR, touching Rs 59,200 crore by 2025. Driven by government initiatives like ‘Digital India’, Martech adoption is reshaping customer engagement, streamlining operations, and maximising ROI.
The Martech landscape is rapidly evolving, driven by key trends that are reshaping digital marketing strategies. AI and automation are revolutionising the industry, with predictive analytics and AI-led tools enhancing decision-making and customer engagement. As privacy regulations tighten, brands are increasingly turning to first-party data strategies, making owned data a crucial asset for personalised marketing.
Meanwhile, omnichannel and vernacular marketing are gaining traction, enabling brands to connect with diverse audiences through regional languages and voice search. The rise of e-commerce and digital retail is further fuelled by AI-powered personalisation, which is transforming the online shopping experience. Additionally, Tier 2 and 3 cities present untapped opportunities, as digital adoption surges beyond metro hubs, opening new avenues for growth and brand expansion.
The report underscores that Martech is no longer an option but a core business strategy. However, challenges such as integration complexities, data privacy concerns, and skill gaps must be tackled to unlock its full potential.
Dentsu CEO for South Asia Harsha Razdan said, “I have always believed that technology is most powerful when it simplifies complexity. Martech is a great example of that – it helps businesses make sense of vast amounts of data and turn it into meaningful customer experiences. Today, it’s not about whether businesses use Martech, but how well they integrate it into decision-making and customer engagement. In India, we’re at that turning point. The companies that get this right will build stronger customer relationships and more resilient businesses. But success isn’t just about having the right tools – it’s about knowing what to focus on. This report is designed to help businesses cut through the noise, focus on what works, and turn Martech into real business impact.”
Dentsu president & chief strategy officer for South Asia Narayan Devanathan added, “As the dots between media, creative, and customer experience connect more intimately, Martech has become the spine that unites these disciplines – enabling powerful, data-driven connections that drive meaningful outcomes. India’s Martech landscape is evolving rapidly, redefining how brands engage with consumers. By viewing Martech as the backbone of their business strategy, brands can unlock smarter solutions that fuel growth and impact. We’re proud to introduce this report as a valuable guide for brands looking to navigate and thrive in this ever-changing market.”
As India’s Martech revolution picks up pace, Dentsu’s latest report serves as a roadmap for brands looking to navigate, adapt, and thrive in the digital-first era.
Digital
Ethical AI must benefit society, not dominate it, says WFEB chief Sanjay Pradhan at IAA event
At Mumbai event, ethics expert urges businesses and governments to shape AI responsibly
MUMBAI: Artificial intelligence may be racing ahead at lightning speed, but its direction must still be guided by human conscience. That was the central message delivered by Sanjay Pradhan, president of the World Forum for Ethics in Business (WFEB), during the latest edition of IAA Conversations held in Mumbai.
The session was organised by the International Advertising Association (IAA) and the Artificial Intelligence Association of India (AIAI) in association with The Free Press Journal at the Free Press House on 7 March. Addressing a packed audience, Pradhan called for stronger ethical leadership to ensure AI remains a tool that benefits humanity rather than one that governs it.
“Artificial intelligence has rapidly become one of the most powerful technologies humanity has created,” Pradhan said. “It is unlocking breakthroughs in medicine, science and creativity at a pace unimaginable just a few years ago.”
But he warned that the same technology carries serious risks. AI, he noted, can amplify disinformation faster than facts can travel, compromise privacy, deepen discrimination and disrupt millions of livelihoods. Referencing concerns raised by AI pioneers such as Geoffrey Hinton, often called the godfather of AI, Pradhan stressed that the real challenge is not whether AI will shape the world, but whether humans will shape it with ethics and wisdom.
Structuring his talk around four guiding questions, why, what, how and who, Pradhan introduced the audience to WFEB’s emerging AI Ethics Partnership, a global platform aimed at advancing responsible artificial intelligence. He outlined four priority concerns that demand urgent attention: disinformation, bias and discrimination, data privacy and job security.
To make the idea of ethical AI easier to grasp, Pradhan offered a simple metaphor. Ethical AI, he said, is like a three layered cake. The outer layer represents the visible value ethical AI creates for businesses and society. The middle layer is organisational culture that moves ethics from written codes to everyday practice. The innermost layer, however, is the most crucial, the conscience of individual leaders.
Drawing from Indian philosophical thought through WFEB co-founder Ravi Shankar, Pradhan noted that while artificial intelligence can reproduce stored knowledge, true intelligence is boundless and rooted in conscience, creativity and compassion. Practices such as breathwork and meditation, he suggested, can help leaders develop the calm clarity needed for ethical decision making.
The event also featured a discussion with Maninder Adityaraj Singh, chief of staff and head of innovation at Rediffusion Brand Solutions Pvt Ltd, and Yash Johri, lawyer, Supreme Court of India.
Opening the session, IAA India chapter president Abhishek Karnani, highlighted the need for industries to understand and engage with AI responsibly.
“AI has to be befriended and understood,” added Rediffusion managing director and AIAI national convenor Sandeep Goyal. “Its ethical use will determine whether it becomes a friend or a foe.”
As AI continues to reshape industries and societies, Pradhan ended with a simple but powerful call to action. Businesses, governments and individuals must work together to ensure that the algorithms shaping the future reflect human values rather than just cold logic.
