MUMBAI: From plywood to power moves, Century Plyboards (India) Ltd. is setting the stage for a digital transformation that goes beyond building materials. The company has unveiled AIgnite, an organisation-wide initiative designed to weave Generative AI into every corner of its operations from boardroom strategy to shopfloor execution.
Created in collaboration with Timespro, AIgnite isn’t just a tech experiment but a year-long structured programme aimed at reshaping leadership thinking and functional workflows. Its debut session, AI for Leadership, saw spirited participation from chairman Padma Shri Sajjan Bhajanka, managing director Sanjay Agarwal, the promoter board, and senior executives. The focus: how AI can sharpen decision-making, fast-track innovation, and turbocharge operational intelligence.
The AIgnite roadmap spans sales, marketing, finance, HR, procurement, IT and SCM, with domain-specific learning tracks rooted in TimesPro’s AI in action framework. Structured into three tiers CXO & leadership strategy sessions, function-centric hands-on labs, and refresher & deep dive modules the programme blends simulations with real-world outcomes, from creating sharper sales pitches and hyper-personalised marketing campaigns to automating finance reporting and optimising procurement.
Timespro president & CFO for enterprise solutions Arun Kabra underlined the intent: “True transformation is not about learning tools, it’s about rewiring thinking. Our collaboration with Centuryply is proof that when leadership pairs intent with innovation, AI shifts from the periphery to the core.”
Centuryply’s HR team has already plugged AI into recruitment, sentiment tracking, and employee engagement, signalling how the cultural shift is as crucial as the technical one. “AIgnite is not about adopting a tool, it’s about evolving a mindset,” said Century Plyboards CHRO Rakesh Tiga. “This is how we build a future-ready Centuryply with technology in our hands and purpose in our hearts.”
The initiative, steered by the learning & development team under Kapil Anand, is designed to maximise relevance and engagement across teams. Beyond upskilling, it sets the foundation for a people-led transformation agenda that positions Centuryply among India’s most forward-looking companies in the AI revolution.
With AIgnite, Centuryply isn’t just adapting to the future, it’s building it, one algorithm at a time.
