Pratik Chandan : Redefining Inventory Efficiency In The Stainless Steel Industry
Pratik Chandan
Managing Partner
In a similar spirit, Pratik Chandan, Managing Partner of Balwant Steel, has built his entrepreneurial journey on curiosity, persistence, and the courage to keep improving. Under his leadership, the company has expanded beyond its original product line and become a trusted name in the stainless-steel industry, setting new benchmarks for reliability, efficiency, and innovation.
Founded in 1986 by Balwant P. Chandan, Balwant Steel started as a small family-run stainless-steel trading business in Chennai. After his father’s untimely passing, Pratik, along with his brother Prashant Chandan, shouldered the responsibility of carrying forward his father’s legacy.
What began as a challenging moment soon became the catalyst for a remarkable transformation. When he stepped in full time around 2010, Pratik realized the industry worked on very traditional methods including stockpiling inventory, tying up capital, and waiting for orders. This encouraged him to change his mindset, as he believed that inventory should work for you, not against you.
Over the years, he has pioneered on-demand supply models and strategic procurement systems, helping businesses across India and overseas slash their inventory by up to 50 percent. This not only freed up working capital but also improved cash flow, profitability, and operational efficiency for his clients.
Pratik is also the author of Reduce Your Inventory to Half and 2X Your Profits, a book that has been described as a playbook for traders, distributors and manufacturers. The book offers practical strategies for transforming stock management, demand forecasting, and working capital utilization. He often mentors young entrepreneurs, encouraging them to rethink traditional practices and embrace data-driven decision-making.
In a recent interview with CEO Insights magazine, Pratik shared his strategies, future roadmap, and vision for the company. Let’s read about it.
What were the most transformative experiences you had at Loyola College?
Loyola shaped me in ways beyond academics. Meeting new people, engaging in clubs, and participating in community service helped me develop adaptability and teamwork. One of the most defining experiences was organizing educational events for under privileged communities, which taught me collaboration and social responsibility.
Another standout memory was being part of the cultural fest working committee, where I managed sponsorships and budgets under faculty guidance. The exposure to leadership, financial planning, and resource management continues to influence my professional decisions today.
How did Loyola influence your passion for entre - preneurship?
Loyola gave me both inspiration and confidence. Interacting with peers from entrepreneurial families broadened my horizons and reinforced my belief in the potential of my own industry. The academic rigor in areas like cost accounting and business strategy sharpened my acumen. The blend of exposure and knowledge helped me transform entrepreneurial ideas into practical business strategies.
How would you describe your leadership style?
For me, growth is a collective journey. I believe that if people grow, the company grows automatically. My approach is to give my team complete freedom and ownership. Mistakes are not failures; they are stepping stones. I encourage my team to take bold decisions, and whether right or wrong, I stand with them and guide them.
I also believe in a simple principle, which is be better today than you were yesterday. This mindset creates account ability, confidence, and leadership at every level.
What kind of work culture have you built at Balwant Steel?
Our culture is built on collaboration, trust, and innovation. I want every
What were the most transformative experiences you had at Loyola College?
Loyola shaped me in ways beyond academics. Meeting new people, engaging in clubs, and participating in community service helped me develop adaptability and teamwork. One of the most defining experiences was organizing educational events for under privileged communities, which taught me collaboration and social responsibility.
Another standout memory was being part of the cultural fest working committee, where I managed sponsorships and budgets under faculty guidance. The exposure to leadership, financial planning, and resource management continues to influence my professional decisions today.
Success is built on curiosity, the courage to try, and the wisdom to learn from every mistake
How did Loyola influence your passion for entre - preneurship?
Loyola gave me both inspiration and confidence. Interacting with peers from entrepreneurial families broadened my horizons and reinforced my belief in the potential of my own industry. The academic rigor in areas like cost accounting and business strategy sharpened my acumen. The blend of exposure and knowledge helped me transform entrepreneurial ideas into practical business strategies.
How would you describe your leadership style?
For me, growth is a collective journey. I believe that if people grow, the company grows automatically. My approach is to give my team complete freedom and ownership. Mistakes are not failures; they are stepping stones. I encourage my team to take bold decisions, and whether right or wrong, I stand with them and guide them.
I also believe in a simple principle, which is be better today than you were yesterday. This mindset creates account ability, confidence, and leadership at every level.
What kind of work culture have you built at Balwant Steel?
Our culture is built on collaboration, trust, and innovation. I want every
employee to feel like a partner rather than just a staff member. Think of it like a car, each part plays a role, and only when they work seamlessly together does the vehicle move forward.
We constantly encourage people to innovate, whether it’s reducing costs, improving operations, or scaling sales. This culture of experimentation makes our team resilient and future-ready.
What is your vision for the future?
My vision for the future is to position Balwant Steel as the most trusted and innovative partner in the stainless steel industry. Over the next five years, we will expand into every metropolitan city in India, creating a strong, inter connected network supported by a robust central team. But for me, growth is not just about physical presence, it is about building a seamless ecosystem where technology, efficiency, and trust go hand in hand.
We are investing in AI-driven forecasting, real-time inventory systems, and sustainable sourcing practices to ensure customers get faster, smarter, and greener solutions. Our goal is to free businesses from the burden of excess stock and working capital blocks, giving them the flexibility to focus on growth. At the same time, we want our employees to feel empowered and our partners to feel valued, creating a culture where every stakeholder grows together.
Ultimately, I want Balwant Steel to be remembered not just as a company that expanded, but as an organization that set new benchmarks in reliability, accessibility, and innovation, reshaping how inventory and supply chains are managed across India and beyond.
Pratik Chandan, Managing Partner, Balwant Steel
Pratik Chandan, Managing Partner of Balwant Steel, is a Loyola graduate and SPJIMR alumnus with over 15 years of experience in the stainless-steel industry. He is known for helping businesses cut inventory by half while boosting profits through innovative supply strategies. He is also the author of Reduce Your Inventory to Half and 2X Your Profits.
•Hobbies: Cricket and learning new things
•Favourite Cuisine: Indian
•Favourite Books: The Magic by Rhonda Byrne and The 5 Second Rule by MelRobbins
Awards:
•Most Innovative Company by SPJIMR
We constantly encourage people to innovate, whether it’s reducing costs, improving operations, or scaling sales. This culture of experimentation makes our team resilient and future-ready.
What is your vision for the future?
My vision for the future is to position Balwant Steel as the most trusted and innovative partner in the stainless steel industry. Over the next five years, we will expand into every metropolitan city in India, creating a strong, inter connected network supported by a robust central team. But for me, growth is not just about physical presence, it is about building a seamless ecosystem where technology, efficiency, and trust go hand in hand.
We are investing in AI-driven forecasting, real-time inventory systems, and sustainable sourcing practices to ensure customers get faster, smarter, and greener solutions. Our goal is to free businesses from the burden of excess stock and working capital blocks, giving them the flexibility to focus on growth. At the same time, we want our employees to feel empowered and our partners to feel valued, creating a culture where every stakeholder grows together.
Ultimately, I want Balwant Steel to be remembered not just as a company that expanded, but as an organization that set new benchmarks in reliability, accessibility, and innovation, reshaping how inventory and supply chains are managed across India and beyond.
Pratik Chandan, Managing Partner, Balwant Steel
Pratik Chandan, Managing Partner of Balwant Steel, is a Loyola graduate and SPJIMR alumnus with over 15 years of experience in the stainless-steel industry. He is known for helping businesses cut inventory by half while boosting profits through innovative supply strategies. He is also the author of Reduce Your Inventory to Half and 2X Your Profits.
•Hobbies: Cricket and learning new things
•Favourite Cuisine: Indian
•Favourite Books: The Magic by Rhonda Byrne and The 5 Second Rule by MelRobbins
Awards:
•Most Innovative Company by SPJIMR