TCS retains ‘India’s most valuable brand’ tag in Kantar BrandZ rankings

Tata Consultancy Services Ltd (TCS) has retained its tag as India’s most valuable brand, closely followed by HDFC Bank Ltd, in Kantar BrandZ’s latest rankings.

TCS, with a brand value of $44.8 billion, was placed in the 46th spot globally, and HDFC Bank, with a brand value of $43.26 billion, took the 47th place in a list led by tech giants Apple, Google, and Microsoft in the top three positions.

Holding the No.1 position for the third consecutive year, Apple is joined at the top of the ranking by Google, Microsoft, and Amazon, reflecting technology’s enduring place in everyday life, Kantar said.

Apple also became the world’s first $1 trillion brand with a brand value of $1.02 trillion, about 15% up from last year. In comparison, Google was valued at $753 billion, up 30% from the previous year, while Microsoft was valued at $712 billion, up 42% from a year ago.

“With its $1 trillion brand valuation, Apple has proven resilient in the face of testing market conditions, justifying premium prices and proving that meaningful, different and salient brands are best placed to weather global economic disruption,” Kantar said.

This year, brands investing in artificial intelligence (AI) are seeing big gains by reaping the benefits of enhanced customer experience.

McDonald’s retained its position in the top five, with its success bolstered by its continued innovation, including its use of AI for scenarios such as dynamic menu boards and order prediction, demonstrating how non-tech brands are also exploring AI to unlock growth.

Illustrating the nascent power of AI in everyday life, NVIDIA leapt 18 places to the No.6 position in the latest ranking with a brand value increase of 178%. Facebook rejoined the Top 10 after a one-year absence, while Oracle joined the top 10 for the first time.

Alongside AI titan NVIDIA, Adobe and AMD also made impressive gains, securing a spot among the Top 20 Risers with brand value increases of 66% and 53%, respectively, Kantar said.

This year’s BrandZ ranking underscores the resilience of top brands, with the total brand value of the Global Top 100 rebounding 20% to reach $8.3 trillion, close to the 2022 peak of $8.7 trillion, Kantar said.

The latest brand valuation ranking and report is based on the opinions of more than 4.3 million respondents about 21,000 brands across 532 categories.

Since its launch in 2006, the brand value of the Global Top 100 has increased 474%, while the threshold to join the Top 100 has increased 354% from $4 billion to $19 billion, it added.

Meanwhile, among Indian brands other than TCS and HDFC Bank, Airtel, with a brand value of $25.26 billion, took the 73rd spot, followed by Infosys, with a brand value of $24.68 billion.

“Even through a tough year of disruption and volatility globally, we stayed focused on delivering on our brand promise and let our purpose point the way for Infosys. Through the uncertainties, our clients trusted us to help them navigate their next with cutting edge digital-first, cloud-first, and AI-first approach. We remained committed to amplifying human potential and creating the next opportunity for all – people, businesses, and communities,” said Sumit Virmani, executive vice-president and global chief marketing officer at Infosys.

Martin Guerrieria, head of Kantar BrandZ, said, “Kantar BrandZ data shows that Infosys is among the top 6% of the most trusted brands in both India and the US. In both markets, Infosys is becoming more relevant to its customers by cementing its positioning as a trusted partner. BrandZ’s 2024 Most Valuable Global Brands report reveals that strong brands continue to thrive despite global economic uncertainty. Crucially, investment in effective marketing helps to improve customer predisposition and drive brand value growth, contributing significant dollar value to sustain business success.”