Realising that these problems are endemic to humid and tropical regions where water tables are low and waterlogging common, our R&D team decided to seek out a durable and affordable solution. And what resulted after intensive brain-storming, testing ideas and experimentation was Ambuja Kawach—a product with inherent water-repellent features that worked as a shield against seepage and without any chemical additives.
Kawach was manufactured using waste materials/mineral admixtures, which replaced clinker in the production process. The result was 30% lower carbon footprint compared with ordinary Portland cement. Launched virtually during the lockdown, Kawach garnered nearly 2.9% of our total sales in a short span, despite the challenging demandsupply environment.
The product met with a resounding response. The Solar Impulse Foundation endorsed Kawach as one of Holcim’s Top 10 solutions globally, that was both ‘green’ and created ‘economic value’ for its customers.
spirit to think out-ofthe-box and create customised solutions for our customers that has proved to be true once again.
Stakeholders and investors
Customers
Government and regulatory authorities
Dealers
Employees
Construction professionals
Suppliers
Community
Industry associations
Developments and key initiatives |
KPIs |
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RESPONSIBLE PRODUCTS
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Strengthening reach of Ambuja Kawach |
7 . 7 lakhtonnes of Kawach sales volume achieved during the year |
TECHNICAL SERVICES |
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1,994Sites where modular curing solutions were provided 14,824customer sites provided with instant mix solutions In CY2021 |
ACCELERATED DIGITALISATION |
Strengthen digital transformation for internal and external stakeholders |
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in CY2021
We are a frontrunner in technology use and have built on our reputation as pioneers in product innovation through our strong emphasis on research and development. We are constantly innovating not only to bring new and sustainable products and solutions to the market but also optimise resource use and decarbonise the cement industry. We are scaling up digitalisation across the organisation value chain to strengthen our competitive edge in the market.
We take proactive initiatives to help reduce our carbon footprint, while enhancing our product quality and brand promise. Our products and services help our customers and construction professionals reduce their carbon footprint, manage maintenance requirements and cost of operations, making the projects greener and cleaner with lower environmental footprint.
During 2021, we continued to scale up our sustainable products and solutions.
GLOBAL RECOGNITION FOR AMBUJA KAWACH
Ambuja Kawach has been endorsed by Solar Impulse Foundation, a renowned environmental non-profit, as ‘Green Building Solution’. We are the first cement brand from India to be awarded this label. Ambuja Kawach also features among the first top ten Holcim solutions recognised by Solar Impulse Foundation.
We have developed various products and solutions with ‘Ambuja Certified Technology’ to enable sustainable construction, which has become a key differentiator for the Company. Our Technical Services team undertakes various initiatives to promote sustainable construction. Instant concrete mix proportioning solution, which reduces usage of natural resources, is one onsite construction solution provided by the Company. During the year, this solution was provided to 14,824 customer sites, leading to a saving of ~17.20 million litres of water. Modular Curing or Zero Water Curing solution is another such sustainable construction solution, which was provided at 1,994 sites, saving ~24 million litres water at construction sites.
Our team is also creating awareness about Rainwater Harvesting (RWH) solution and helping customers implement the same at their sites. During 2021, RWH solution was provided at 100 sites, conserving ~8.5 million litres water annually.
Our applicator training programs have helped masons and contractors upgrade skills across the country.
During the year, 514 contractors were covered under various training programs and 1,000+ contractors were educated digitally at the height of the pandemic.
Customer sites advised on Zero Water Curing solution, leading to saving of ~24 million litres water
The Ambuja Knowledge Center was as a knowledge sharing platform for architects and engineers. We have 19 such centres across the country to promote and educate construction professionals on sustainable construction and advanced material and techniques. During the year, 5,350 professionals were covered through various knowledge sharing activities and webinars helped reach out to over 1,500 leading professionals.
With an aim to strengthen operations and enhance our competitiveness, we are driving digitalisation initiatives focusing on Operational Excellence, Controls and Compliance and Culture.
Contractors are an important stakeholder, given their importance to the individual house builder (IHB), a primary segment we cater to. To empower, engage and fulfil the unmet needs of contractors, we launched Ambuja Abhimaan, a differentiated long-term loyalty program. The program has achieved many milestones, including recognition as one of best mobile loyalty programs, engaging and benefiting 80,000+ key contractors. Besides earning loyalty points, we are also facilitating contractors to market their own work and manage their projects with help of Ambuja Darpan, a business aid mobile app, further buttressing the loyalty. The key features of the app are contractor profiling and estimator among others. It also offers Vaastu tips, event calendar and Ambuja dealer locator facilities that can be used both online and offline.
We have two apps for our Technical Services team – My World, which helps capture onfield efforts in Customer Relationship Management and Ambuja Abhimaan which is used both by contractors as well as the Company’s officers. This year, we incorporated the Price MIS (Management Information System) mechanism in both the apps to get the correct and on-ground information from the market.
Following the Plants of Tomorrow program of Holcim, we are implementing automation technologies and robotics, artificial intelligence and predictive maintenance across the entire production process. We have implemented predictive tools for quality assurance (FinCem) and piloted predictive tools for maintenance (Preheated Cyclone Blockage, Kiln Energy Optimisation, Ball Mill Slide Shoe Failure, Refractory Lining Failure) to enhance product quality, plant efficiency and safety.
Another Plants of Tomorrow initiative is TIS/PACT- the Technical Information System and Performance & Collaboration Tool--which helps take operational decisions based on data about weekly operations, monthly performances, projects and actions. We have introduced Edge AI at all manufacturing locations to facilitate rapid deployment of predictive models and seamless connectivity with plant data sources.
We also initiated the Digital Eye Program, which facilitates inspection of confined spaces through the use of drones. The concept of connecting mines through the Mines of Tomorrow initiatives was also introduced.
The Transport Analytics Center (TAC) is helping us enhance logistics efficiency through route optimisation, cost optimisation and increase road safety. We are leveraging BlueYonder and other software packages to drive logistics efficiency in the organisation.
Safe kms through TAC