Unlocking Smarter Spending: Big Data, Business Travel & Finance at the SpendSmart Summit 2025, Hyderabad 

The 3rd edition of the SpendSmart Summit 2025, hosted in association with SOTC Travel Ltd. and Thomas Cook India Limited, lit up HICC, Hyderabad with vibrant discussions, strategic conversations, and visionary leadership. Paving the way for one of the most anticipated FinTech events in India in 2025, the summit focused on the intersection of Spend Management, data and decision-making. 

With finance and travel becoming more complex and intertwined, the evening spotlighted how technology and analytics are redefining how businesses spend and grow. 

Smarter Travel with Data: Fireside Chat on Business Travel Trends 2025 

Kicking off the evening was a powerful fireside chat on Data-Driven Travel Decisions, featuring: 

Himanshu Singh, SVP & Business Head – Solution Engineering & EMS, Zaggle 
Swapnil Sawant, Vice President – Global Enterprise Sales CT, Thomas Cook India 

The conversation explored how corporate travel is shifting from reactive cost control to proactive, data-powered decision-making. As business travel trends in 2025 evolve, enterprises are prioritizing visibility, policy alignment, and employee experience – all powered by tech. 

With automation and analytics, companies can now forecast travel costs, optimize bookings, and even manage policy compliance in real-time. The session highlighted how Spend Management in travel is no longer a back-office function – it’s a boardroom conversation. 

Data-Driven Finance: The CFO’s Competitive Edge 

Following the fireside chat, the spotlight moved to a high-impact panel on Data-Driven Finance: Unlocking the Value of Big Data in Strategic Decision Making, moderated by Himanshu Singh. 
 
The panel featured an accomplished group of finance leaders: 

Ballav Mundra, CFO – Hexagon Capability Center India 
Padmaja Chowdary, CFO – India & APAC, Credera 
Kishore Tallam, CFO – Skyroot Aerospace 
Dr. Kishore Nuthalapati, CFO – BEKEM Infra Projects Pvt. Ltd. 

From forecasting and budgeting to procurement and compliance, the panel explored how big data and automation are rewriting the rules of finance. In a world where agility and accuracy are essential, CFOs are leveraging data to move from reactive spending to proactive strategy. 

The discussion reinforced that modern spend management strategies rely on integration, real-time visibility, and machine-driven intelligence to unlock operational efficiency and long-term growth. 

Why Smarter Spend Management Is Non-Negotiable 

A clear theme across the evening was the critical role of intelligent Spend Management in navigating uncertainty. As businesses scale, decentralized spending and legacy processes can slow growth, create leakages, and reduce visibility. 

Key takeaways included: 

• Automating manual approvals and reconciliations
• Using AI to surface cost-saving opportunities 
• Driving policy-led spending with embedded controls 
• Connecting travel and finance teams with unified data platforms 

In this environment, traditional tools no longer suffice. Companies need spend management strategies that are scalable, smart and rooted in data. 

Looking Ahead: From Data to Decisions 

The road ahead is clear: the future of finance belongs to those who can act on data, fast. As business travel trends in 2025 continue to evolve and CFOs face increased complexity, the key lies in adopting agile, intelligent, and connected financial ecosystems. 

With events like these, Zaggle continues to be at the forefront of enabling businesses to rethink how they spend, operate, and grow. 

Stay tuned for more updates from upcoming SpendSmart Summits as we continue to explore how technology, strategy, and spend come together to build future-ready enterprises!