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'Business does not stop due to non-availability of IT'

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CIOL Bureau
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BANGALORE, INDIA: Despite the seriousness of IT in the real estate industry being at a nascent stage, publive-imagethe Mumbai-based Lavasa Corporation Limited, a leading property deveoper undertaking large-scale lifestyle development in India has deveoped a new urbanism principle towards IT. In a discussion with Manu Sharma of CIOL Bureau, Vinod Vyas, Head – Information Systems of  Lavasa Corporation Limited spoke about the new communications sytems implemented and also on what are the challenges he forsees in the future.

CIOL: What are the major challenges faced by you in your organization?

Vinod Vyas:
The seriousness towards IT in Real Estate industry is still less because of simple reason that business does not stop due to non-availability of IT. However, certain organizational necessities cannot be avoided such as office automation, finance & accounts, sales and MIS. Thus major challenge is to aware users to use IT for automation where traditionally they are completely manual such as construction, projects, land department etc. 

CIOL: Does your organization link IT budget with the company's performance/growth? If yes please elobrate?

Vinod Vyas:
No. Our management has a strong conviction that IT is critical to the business of Lavasa and hence IT is viewed as a critical investment. 

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CIOL: Can you cite any specific areas where IT has come up as an accomplishment in your stint?

Vinod Vyas:
Introducing integration of conventional communication methodologies with new IP based communication systems such as IPPBX, VoIP etc. 

CIOL: Going forward, what are the challenges that you foresee?

Vinod Vyas:
Change Management (User’s acceptance to automation and revised business processes.)

CIOL: How far have you come as regards to adopting 'Green IT technologies'?

Vinod Vyas:
We are concerned about the global warming. The initiatives are at planning stage. 

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CIOL: What will be the IT budget for the new fiscal year? What is the growth rate over last year? 

Vinod Vyas:
The budget is significantly more than the previous year. 

CIOL: Name the top 5 items that you expect to spent during the fiscal year?

Vinod Vyas:
Some of the major IT items that we invested during the last fiscal include: Infrastructure & Telecom and also in ERP. 

CIOL: Do you feel the amount allocated for IT is sufficient if yes why? If not why not? How much should you be spending?

Vinod Vyas:
The amount is decided by Head – IT and COO together and its sufficient as per business need. 

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CIOL: Has the prices of the IT products (hardware/software) been on the decline due to the current stronger rupee against the US dollar?

Vinod Vyas:
Not much 

CIOL: Since the rupee is growing stronger against the dollar, don't you thing it is the right time to purchase IT products both hardware/software?

Vinod Vyas:
It effects when the purchases are huge in quantity.

CIOL: How big is the IT staff in your organization?

Vinod Vyas:
The strength in our organization is presently ten.