How Datatribe is helping businesses harness data into actionable intelligence

Adgully has been turning the spotlight on the entrepreneurs who fought against all odds to bring their dreams to fruition in our special series – START-UP STARS. We at Adgully wholeheartedly support the ‘Vocal for Local’ movement and have been featuring numerous local/ homegrown businesses, brands, and Apps in the country launched in the last few years.

In conversation with Adgully, Ajay Shenoy, Co-Founder & Business Head, Datatribe, speaks about building affordable SAAS products, transition of India into a global hub for innovation and entrepreneurship, creating Actionable Data Intelligence, and much more.

What is DataTribe and what services does it offer?

Datatribe builds affordable SAAS products for organizations that help them harness their own data. Our first two products are myLearn (an organizational learning platform) and Parsel (a product cycle management platform). In a short while we will release a performance management product which is currently under development and testing. Each of these products is Tier 2 ERP products, which are easy to deploy and provide real time tracking and analytics.

What inspired you to start Datatribe and what are the problems that you set out to solve?

The key challenge with respect to data is the lack of an easy system to access data and make it available to the right people within an organization. This challenge can largely be addressed only by technology, however, current systems to do so are expensive and cumbersome to deploy (essentially large-scale ERPs). We are addressing this by providing the SME and enterprise market with affordable, SAAS-based data driven products for multiple parts of their business.

As a B2B company, are there any government initiatives that you have benefited from?

Currently we, as an organization, have not applied for any government initiatives. We are boot strapped and supported by a small number of Seed Investors, which has helped us to develop our products to the stage that they are market ready and currently being deployed to our first set of customers.

Could you tell us about the start-up ecosystem in India and how it is growing?

India has transformed into a global hub for innovation and entrepreneurship, with the startup ecosystem in India considered as one of the fastest growing and most dynamic in the world. Major factors attributable to this are the Youth Demographics, Digital adoption, Government Initiatives and Investment surge. Backed by these, primary sectors of growth in startups include Edtech, E-commerce, Logistics, Healthtech, AgriTech, Cleantech (EV) and Gaming. The future of India’s startup ecosystem appears promising, driven by continuous innovation, increased digital adoption, and supportive government policies. Emerging technologies like AI, blockchain, and IoT are likely to create new opportunities. As more global investors and corporations recognize the potential of Indian startups, the ecosystem is likely to expand further, driving economic growth and technological advancement.

As a tech company, could you tell us how you use AI in your services?

Our modules convert raw data points available to our customer organizations into Actionable Data Intelligence that can be used for making informed decisions. For example: in Parsel (Product cycle management system) our AI tools enable Automatic picklist/ put away list generation through an unique order processing methodology; Pick route optimisation to ensure unidirectional flow, Route and vehicle optimisation to ensure efficient logistics and Workforce/ fleet optimisation to ensure greater productivity. At the very least across both products AI plays a large role in ensuring optimization, fulfillment and analytics pertinent to the user segment.

As a B2B company, could you give the overview of the sector in India? What are some of the pressing challenges and how can they be addressed?

The B2B sector in India has seen significant growth over the past decade, driven by the rapid adoption of digital technologies, the rise of startups, and increased global integration. This sector encompasses a wide range of industries, including manufacturing, wholesale, retail, IT services, and more.

Challenges in the B2B sector include a fragmented market primarily due to a large number of SMEs, thus making standardization and scalability difficult. Inadequate infrastructure in logistics and supply chain along with an overall access to financing are contributing aspects. Hesitation towards adoption of new technology as well as absence of skilled workforce are other limiting factors to this segment. Solutions towards these are to encourage investments in infrastructure – possibly by public-private partnerships, innovative financing solutions, subsidies towards digital adoption and collaboration between industry and educational institutions to allow for skill development in the workforce.

How does DataTribe set itself apart from competitors in the market? Datatribe prides itself on developing products that follow three basic tenets – ease of deployment, ease of use, and highly affordable. We believe in ensuring that we drive value through our solutions that enable leaders of organizations to get more bang for their buck – where not only is their organization top line enhanced, but also without adversely affecting their bottom line.

What advice would you like to give to the young entrepreneurs in your sector?

The methods to navigate in this sector do not differ from any of the basic building blocks one needs to follow. Understanding of market/ customer needs, building relationships, focusing on product-market fit, leveraging of technology, building a sound business model along with wisely managing finances and building a strong team are of utmost importance. On the emotional front, one needs to be persistent, perseverant, patient and above all, hungry for success. One shouldn’t be shy to ask questions from mentors or guides, should be focused on the long term and always ensure that there is continuous learning.

What is your vision for DataTribe in the coming years?

DataTribe products will become the trusted tools for professional users within an organization hierarchy. It will be the “go to” system for making informed decisions that will chart the profitable course of our client organizations. Personal gratification for me is when a customer affirms that our products are not just a “good to have digital transformation solution” – but a well thought out and pertinent solution that fits their needs and drives value for their organization.