Energetica India Magazine - November 2025

AGM - Strategy & Transformation Luminous Power Technologies Q In markets like India, where cost, scalability, localisation and supply-chain risk are vital, how should companies strike the balance between in-house manufacturing and part- ner-ecosystem sourcing? Latika Lakhani Kukreja: In-house manufacturing gives control over technology and quality. At the same time, utilising partner ecosystems helps companies scale faster and bring efficiencies in the commoditised products. So, companies should first define their stra - tegic control area, value proposition and unique selling proposition (USP), then rationallymake a choice to build in-house what defines the brand’s performance or reliability; outsource standardparts/pro- cess to build scale and cost competitiveness. For outsourcing, choosing the right partner ecosystem is very crit- ical to ensure quality while strengthening supply chain resilience. Thus, developing tier-1 and tier-2 supplier ecosystems with clear capability mapping is quintessential. This can help develop a plan to localise gradually from assembly to subcomponents to raw ma- terials. Further, multiple partners/vendors should be developed to maintain regular supplies and build resilience. The Indian government is pushing localisation under “Make in In- dia”. Thus, workingwith local partners will give a strong edge; how- ever, for technical capability, global technology partnerships will be beneficial. The idea is to increase local value addition while leverag - ing local and global partner ecosystems. For this, collaborating with partners through R&D support, training, and process digitalisation is the best way forward to reapmaximumbenefits. Further, considering the volatility in the global market, a static manufacturing strategy is not sufficient. Manufacturing strategy should be dynamic, which can be updated at regular intervals util- ising data-driven supply chain visibility tools (IoT, AI, traceability systems) to monitor performance, quality, and lead times. Q Given the focus on AI, sustainability, and emerging tech, how can Generative AI, robotics, and drones drive efficien - cies in solar-asset operations for a company? Latika Lakhani Kukreja: Solar solutions are now evolving as complete end-to-end solutions with hardware, software, monitoring and maintenance. Emerging technologies such as AI, robotics and drones drive efficiencies in a unique way. GenAI can transformhow solar assets are monitored, analysed and optimised across their life- cycles. These are strategic levers for making solar operations smart- er, safer andmore sustainable. UtilisingGenAI, companies can transition fromreactive assetman - agement to an autonomous, self-optimising solar ecosystem. GenAI can also help optimise the layouts for solar plants based on terrain, radiance, and cost parameters. As a next step, it can also help syn- thesise the energy forecasting data to grid intelligence, thus ensuring seamless and consistent power for solar consumers. G ender diversity is not just a moral imperative; it is a performance multiplier. Women-led organisations show stronger ESG alignment, community connect, and stakeholder trust, said Latika Lakhani Kukreja, Assistant General Manager - Strategy & Transformation, Luminous Power Technologies, in an interview with Energetica India. LATIKA LAKHANI KUKREJA WOMAN INFLUENCER 60 energetica INDIA- November_2025