IT: Turnkey Vs Portfolio

What’s your roadmap in 2010?

We have a SAP ERP running on eight modules and we have achieved the go-live stage in a record implementation time. Now we plan to go for BusinessObjects Audit Information System. We have some more areas outlined for SAP evaluation in the next year’s agenda.

Have you ever encountered any industry-specific gaps in a vendor’s menu?

Yes, gaps are there. But you have to trust your vendors to configure business processes accordingly. Gaps are natural and they should be filled in due course. The CIO has to play a third-party thorough check. For example- we have an internal IT audit system that checks each module and then informs the implementation person.

Do you follow a portfolio approach in managing IT?

Turnkey approach is mostly costly and may not work for diversified organizations. At times, multi-partner approach works easily. Everything depends on the degree of step-by-step scaling, time, labour and money implications.

Have you seen a reskilling need in your resources?

Yes, there is a change in my staff as per new training needs and new market areas.

How does your staff work vis a vis outsourced functions?

IT maintenance, desktop maintenance, hardware, networking, data-base administration areas are taken care internally. VSA maintenance, server related areas, SAP maintenance, email areas are better outsourced as they can’t be handled in-house.