Insight of My Company and its IT Strategies
About My Company:
- The Bombay Swadeshi Store is in Retail Business. This Store is established by Lokyaman Tilak in 1905. India Swadeshi Jagran is started from this Store during India Independent Movement.
- We are selling Artifacts, Apparels, Tea, Herbal Khadi Shop, Crockery, Paintings,Home Accessories etc.
- This is the India’s first Retail Company listed in Stock Exchange.
- We have 17 Stores across Mumbai, Goa, Pune, Lonavala, Aurangabad, Hyderabad, Bangalore.
IT Strategy:
- The Main strategy is our CRM uptime must be around 95 %.
- Our All the Servers are at HO, Mumbai
- At each Stores we have Broadband Connection for CRM Data Synchronization and official Communication.
- We have In house IT Team to Resolve the Store Problems, If there is Hardware Failure then we hire Local Engineer on Call Basis.
- We give maximum Time on preventive Maintenance to minimize Hardware and Software Issue at Store and HO Level.
- We have automated Backup Procedure for Database and Users Directory.
- We have outsourced the Support for our CRM to get resolved the Problem within Minimum Time by there expert.
- We are also using Dropbox for Official File Sharing and User File Sync on Cloud.
Views on new technologies
Virtualization is great technology, It is not only minimize Cost, Power consumption it also helps in migrating Server & Client within minimum time during Disaster.
Cloud Technology is very good Technology, We can Access Data, Application Any where on any Machine whether it is Desktop, Laptop or Smart Phone or I Pad etc.
This Technology also help in the Time of Disaster.
Resources to Keep Updated with Latest Technologies
Reading Magazine, Visiting Websites, News letter in my mailbox and at last attending Technical Seminar.
Team Size: We have 5 Members in My Team.
Biggest Pain Point
Data Synchronization with Stores due to which there are too much problem in Reporting ( Daily Sales, Daily Stock, Discount, Price, Quantity ) to Top Management.
Technology to Address Pain Points
Yes, Technology will help to resolve these Pain Points. But the Main thing is these Reporting issues are not Technical, It is created by the End User who is doing wrong Operation at there End.
Slowdown Impact on IT Innovation
Any Innovation is Great that is evolved during SlowDown. Right now There is no other Industry who is suffering more than Retail. Sales Goes drastically down.
Just Few Month Back, I was asked for Cloud Storage and that must be free and also the File Sharing must be in real time if some one has updated the DATA in the Report.
I searched for many check all free Service, As per My Business Requirement Dropbox was good so I have implemented that.
So Dropbox is certainly become critical. We used to generate Report from CRM but Simultaneously the Consolidated Report came from store in Excel from all store and Top Management check it Real Time.
Challenges Faced
The Main Challenge Comes from Inside. For that We have given access only that much information to users. Users cant attach External Device within Network. Only Few users can access the External Device after Approval of there HOD.
Adoption of Cloud Policy
Right now We are just experimenting with Cloud. This is in Neonatal Age. We don’t adopted Cloud Policy.
Role of Cloud
This is very Critical Issue, Most of the IT head is worrying about Security.
For Example. I have stored my all company information on Cloud. There are certain Question after that.
- What the Service Provide is doing with My Data ?
- What will happen if Service Provider company shut down the Shutter ?
- At the Time of Disaster how long SP will take to keep each Business Process on Track ?
- Till What extent there Servers are Secure from Hacking and Information Leakage?
Expenses on IT Systems This Year our Budget is very Low and this is till now with TOP Management.
IT Leader – Manager First or Technologist First
Neither A Manager nor A Technologist.
A Manger are only Facilitator and A Technologist are only Process Enabler. An IT Leader must be a Business Man.
If A Technologist enable each and every Business Process And then become Manager and then Manger Facilitate Each enabled Process then it is better to be think like Business Man.
In any Industry Technologist played Most Critical and Important Role, Even after that they get sidelined in Decision Making.
A CEO always in Picture and in Mind of Owner of the Company but A CIO not.
Latest Technology
We have just implemented New CRM, Also IT Budget not too much So Right Now I am not looking for any New Technology.
Advice/ Suggestion
The Main thing is Business and within 4 -5 Years The People with Business Logic and Technology will run any Business.
