In the modern automotive landscape, data is the high-energy fuel driving cutting edge development in electrification and autonomous driving systems. Harnessing that power requires a unique blend of technical and business acumen, which is exactly where this week’s spotlight, Charanya Thangaraj, excels. Currently the Service Area Manager of Data Access Services at Volvo Buses, Charanya thrives at the high-stakes intersection of connectivity, monetization, and industrial strategy.
Charanya’s track record spans the full spectrum of data innovation: from using blockchain to enhance transparency of electromobility supply chains to steering enterprise-wide data governance for autonomous driving. Today, her work focuses on the commercial frontier, transforming connected vehicle data into the essential foundation for tomorrow’s smart cities.
Hyperight.com: What’s the best way to describe your job to someone outside tech?
Charanya Thangaraj: Smart cities require different infrastructure entities such as vehicles and fleet operators to communicate with each other effectively. At the core of this communication lies useful data generated by the vehicle. Vehicle-generated data can enable smooth operations of vehicle fleets and thereby regulate the flow of urban traffic. My current role focuses on the build-up of necessary manufacturer capabilities to enable the widespread access of connected vehicle data for smart city infrastructure use cases.
Hyperight.com: What originally sparked your interest in AI/data, and what keeps you inspired today?
Charanya Thangaraj: Every business model is getting digitalized invariably, though the pace may vary. So, I was drawn towards learning more about data and digital in my Engineering days. I started my career as a programmer analyst, serving clients in the financial services domain where data integrity was held sacrosanct. This gave me exposure to building robust data products for a highly regulated industry. This initiation inspired me to pursue management consulting after my MBA. Following that, I got to work on solving automotive business problems by building integrated data solutions using modern technologies.
These days, most businesses accumulate valuable transactional data. Therefore, understanding an organization’s data enables one to understand their core business thoroughly and come up with impactful innovations. I find it fulfilling to be a part of this data-led change within businesses, now even more accelerated by the advent of AI.
Hyperight.com: What is one challenge you’re trying to solve, and why does it matter?
Charanya Thangaraj: As manufacturers’ role in the public transport industry evolves, there’s a renewed focus on tackling the challenge of data sharing. Sound data sharing principles and practices agreed among different stakeholders in the data ecosystem are very much needed in making interoperability possible. In order to support this, I’m involved in industry-wide data standardization discussions, together with fellow ecosystem players.
Hyperight.com: A tool you can’t live without (tech or not)?
Charanya Thangaraj: A user-friendly digital notebook. To capture and translate fleeting thoughts into sketches or writeups.
Hyperight.com: What trend in data or AI do you think will shape the Nordic region the most?
Charanya Thangaraj: The Nordic region is one of the frontrunners in ensuring trustworthy data. With technological advancements pushing the boundaries of innovation in acquiring enhanced insights, the significance of solid fundamentals comes to light. The evergreen need for securing data governance and implementing ethical guardrails is increasingly assuming more importance and the Nordics will play a major role in securing this.
Hyperight.com: What’s one piece of advice you’d give to others entering the data and AI field?
Charanya Thangaraj: This is an exciting time to be entering into the data and AI field. All of us possess transferable skills that can be readily applied in the data and AI field. Keep an eye on the latest trends and keep applying what you learn to solve business problems. Thanks to powerful insights drawn from vast amounts of data, today, businesses can make wise investments and take well-informed bets.
