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How are you leveraging technology in a chemical industry enterprise?
Atul operates one of the largest integrated chemical manufacturing complexes of its kind in Asia, and has a global presence in the manufacturing verticals of Aromatics, Bulk Chemicals & Intermediates, Colours, Crop Protection, Pharmaceuticals, Flora and Polymers. The entire Atul enterprise is enabled through commercial and technical automation to meet the stringent and precise norms of its manufacturing processes – and the organization is highly technology-centric. The enterprise is enabled through Oracle Applications eBusiness Suite R12 ERP solution for encompassing its entire commercial activities.
What strategic shades if any has IT got here?
Yes, IT has certainly turned highly strategic with the advent of centralized business systems enabled through Oracle Applications eBusiness Suite ERP. There is a phenomenal change in the functional equation between the Business and IT departments in the organization as they have enhanced their operations to a higher level of synergy – IT being the enabler for the integrated operations of all the desks in the various departments of its seven business verticals.
Do you face issues rolling out IT to the last mile?
It definitely is not very easy to make IT reach out to a company’s spread geographically in India. But as compared to the scenario a few years back, it has become much easier to roll-out now with the advent of technology penetration and the all-pervasive presence of ISPs for connectivity. Still, basic infrastructure with reference to the electrical power availability is a challenge to be surmounted.
Managing people as a CIO, what’s been your experience like?
Managing people is one of my best lessons. It is People Management which is the essence for the success of any enterprise IT solution while Technology Management is secondary and a lesser challenge to overcome.
What’s your approach to striking smart deals?
Sticking to the dictum that – There is always a scope for better price negotiation (on the same set of deliverables).