"Healthcare Industry demand a near perfect system to deliver every solution. We deal with lives and so we have to ensure our solutions are extremely robust, mature and mistake proof."
Arvind Sivaramakrishnan
CIO
Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Ltd
Arvind is responsible for the IT strategy and implementation of IT initiative across the Apollo Hospitals group. He has extensive experience in management consulting, architecting, and building solutions for enterprise wide applications.
Challenges in technology to meet enterprise needs in 2013 and expectations
The biggest challenge that technology will face for enterprise needs is to work on solutions optimize efficiency for businesses and create value.
The cloud technology is clearly asolution in this direction. However, there are concerns on the same that need to be addressed. Every business enterprise in today’s business world is keen on embracing technology. Cost, efficiency, effectiveness and collaboration are the key drivers to making choices. The technology has to clearly fit into these key focus driving areas.
Big Data is also another technology area that promises benefits. They key concern here is the path towards implementation that helps realize the promise of value.
The areas in business environment where solutions do not yet exist or not up to the mark, and which if existed, would've made job easier
Healthcare with technology delivers a lot of efficiency. But understandably it does demand a near perfect system to deliver every solution. We deal with lives and so we have to ensure our solutions are extremely robust, mature and mistake proof. This keeps me awake at night. The quest for perfection in every aspect of solution delivery. I must admit that today’s technology is indeed mature. It is not right to say that we don’t have solutions, but as we mature, we demand and expect more maturity from our solutions. It is this chase towards perfection that helps healthcare business enterprises achieve financial, operational, service and clinical excellence. This directly benefits efficient health delivery models and enhances global access to patient care.
Technology trends impacting enterprise business environment
Unified communications is one technology that we believe will bring benefit to healthcare. It has the potential of enhancing the access to healthcare globally and make treatment options more accessible. Mobile technology is also an area of key interest. With the rapid expansion of mobile phones and associated technology, this provides a very good form for healthcare solution delivery. It has the right promise of accessibility and cost effectiveness.
My roles and responsibilities as a CIO
The role of the CIO has indeed made a lot of transition. Today, the CIO has a direct seat on the business table. I personally report into the executive director of the group. This clearly means that business enterprises are now focusing on delivering impact and expanding horizons by effective leverage of technology. We are now expected to deliver business transformational services that help the growth. Growth and expansion strategies are aligned to effective use of technology. So our solutions are not only expected to deliver maturity but also efficiency and leadership benefits to our organization.
Lessons learned and advice for fellow CIOs
Keep it simple. Solutions have to be simple and effective. We have to listen to the stakeholder needs. Our solutions should align with business priorities. We should also understand the constraints under which the business operates. There by we have to align with the business to mitigate the constraints. We should also ensure that any technology we adopt should align with our business needs. There is no silver bullet and what works for one is not destined to work for another. We should stay delivering effectiveness for our organizations through technology, its inherent change management and the constant efforts towards adoption of the solutions.
