Lakshmi Rao
@lakshmirao1
I lead global AI-powered diagnostics platforms, digital factories, and transformation portfolios that improve fleet uptime and enterprise delivery.
IndiaWhat I'm looking for
At Daimler Truck Innovation Center India, I lead OneDiagnostics, a global AI-powered vehicle diagnostics platform and Centre of Excellence serving Daimler Truck and Bus brands worldwide. I own its strategy, roadmap, operating model, governance, and end-to-end delivery across Purchasing, Aftersales, and Engineering.
I've built and scaled a 90+ person global team across India, Europe, and North America, spanning data science, analytics, architecture, and engineering. I also hold P&L accountability for an $8M+ digital product portfolio and have delivered predictive maintenance, fault detection, ServiceNow ITSM, and Salesforce Service Cloud capabilities at enterprise scale.
Previously at Mercedes-Benz and Logica, I delivered global aftermarket workflows across 50+ markets, reduced unplanned downtime by 30%, and led cloud modernisation, CRM integration, governance, and quality improvements. I'm recognised with the Best Transformation Leader Award and bring more than 20 years of delivery ownership across digital platforms.
Experience
Work history, roles, and key accomplishments
Deputy General Manager (DGM)
Daimler Truck Innovation Center India
Dec 2020 - Present (5 years 9 months)
Leads the OneDiagnostics Centre of Excellence, owning end-to-end delivery of AI-powered diagnostics and analytics across global Daimler Truck and Bus brands. Delivered €2M in cost savings through a zero-downtime platform separation and built a 90+ cross-functional team.
Senior Program Manager
Mercedes-Benz Research and Development India Pvt. Ltd.
Oct 2015 - Dec 2020 (5 years 2 months)
Owned end-to-end delivery of global Recall and Service Measure digital workflows across 50+ markets, achieving 100% compliance and zero major incidents. Directed digital transformation of retail IT systems and reduced unplanned downtime by 30% through enterprise risk governance.
Pre-Sales Consultant
Logica Pvt. Ltd.
Jul 2007 - Oct 2015 (8 years 3 months)
Won the Logica Diamond Award for securing high-value digital transformation mandates and building multi-million dollar client relationships. Reduced delivery delays by 25% through scalable digital governance frameworks and achieved 40% reduction in defect slippage.
Associate Consultant – Testing
Mindtree Limited
Aug 2005 - Jul 2007 (1 year 11 months)
Worked as an Associate Consultant in testing, contributing to quality assurance and delivery processes.
Principal Software Engineer
ArisGlobal
Oct 2000 - Aug 2005 (4 years 10 months)
Served as Principal Software Engineer, responsible for software engineering and development tasks.
Education
Degrees, certifications, and relevant coursework
Indian Institute of Management Bangalore
General Management for IT Executives, General Management
Completed the General Management for IT Executives (GMITE) program at IIM Bangalore in 2011.
Bangalore University
Bachelor of Engineering, Electronics Engineering
Earned a Bachelor of Electronics Engineering from Bangalore University in 1999.
Tech stack
Software and tools used professionally
Availability
Location
IndiaAuthorized to work in
Job categories
Skills
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