TCS launches AI platform for trial oversight as India's AI use rises to 86% from 65%
When TCS rolled out its new AI platform for clinical-trial oversight, the buzz in hospitals and CROs was immediate. The tool is meant to match patients automatically, spot safety flags sooner and shave weeks off the paperwork that usually drags studies out. It’s still in pilot mode, so we’re watching to see if the promises hold up.
The timing feels intentional, though - recent figures show a noticeable jump in AI use inside India’s health-care global capability centres. That surge hints at a wider move toward data-driven work, making TCS’s effort look less like a lone gamble and more like a reaction to market pressure. The real test will be whether the platform can turn those big-picture trends into real benefits for sponsors and trial participants.
Industry data backs TCS’s push. AI adoption in India’s health-care GCCs climbed from about 65 % in 2019 to roughly 86 % in 2024, Zinnov managing partner Karthik Padmanabhan told AIM, noting that AI tools now sit at the heart of patient recruitment, risk monitoring, a
Industry trends support TCS's push toward AI-driven oversight. Adoption of AI in India's healthcare GCCs has risen sharply from 65% in 2019 to 86% in 2024, Zinnov managing partner Karthik Padmanabhan told AIM, noting that AI tools are now central to improving patient recruitment, monitoring risks, and ensuring regulatory compliance. The update comes as the life sciences industry increasingly relies on AI and analytics to navigate stricter regulations and the challenges of decentralised, adaptive trials.
TCS notes that the platform is aligned with international guidelines ICH E6(R2) and the upcoming E6(R3), and incorporates Quality by Design principles from the start of a study through execution. TCS says the platform has been used in more than 1,300 studies across 32,000 sites, a sign that AI-driven oversight is fast becoming a standard part of modern clinical research.
The new TCS platform builds on the AI-enhanced upgrade to TCS ADD’s Risk-Based Quality Management suite, adding four modules, risk assessment, quality-tolerance limits, trial analytics and subject-level monitoring. In theory, those tools should give drugmakers a more immediate view of the growing complexity in studies, flagging hazards sooner, tightening data quality and easing oversight. It comes at a time when AI use in India’s healthcare GCCs has apparently risen from about 65 % in 2019 to roughly 86 % in 2024, according to Zinnov’s Karthik Padmanabhan.
The piece, however, doesn’t show any pilot data or third-party validation, so it’s hard to say how much recruitment efficiency or risk reduction will actually improve. Regulatory acceptance of AI-driven monitoring is still a gray area, and plugging the new modules into existing trial workflows could turn out to be trickier than advertised. Overall, the move signals a shift toward more algorithmic support, but whether sponsors and patients will see concrete benefits remains an open question.
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Common Questions Answered
What are the four new modules added to TCS ADD’s Risk‑Based Quality Management suite?
The platform introduces risk assessment, quality‑tolerance limits, trial analytics, and subject‑level monitoring. These modules are designed to give drugmakers real‑time insight and help flag hazards earlier during complex clinical studies.
How does TCS’s AI platform aim to improve patient‑matching and safety signal detection in clinical trials?
The AI platform automates the patient‑matching process, quickly identifying eligible participants based on trial criteria. It also uses advanced analytics to flag safety signals sooner, reducing the risk of adverse events going unnoticed.
What recent trend in AI adoption within India’s healthcare GCCs supports TCS’s launch?
AI usage in India’s healthcare global capability centers (GCCs) has risen from 65% in 2019 to 86% in 2024, according to Zinnov. This sharp increase underscores the growing reliance on AI for patient recruitment, risk monitoring, and regulatory compliance.
Is the TCS AI platform already fully deployed across India’s clinical‑trial ecosystem?
No, the technology is still being tested in pilot sites and has not yet been rolled out nationwide. TCS is using these pilots to validate the platform’s ability to cut administrative lag and improve data quality before broader adoption.