‘Reinvent, get a focus on customer demands to beat the downturn’

Our eFE Bureau in Hyderabad

Constructing strategic focus, identifying new opportunities, adopting the Internet and perfect execution are key to tackling the IT slowdown, according to Oracle India country manager Shekhar Dasgupta.

Delivering the key-note address on ‘Tackling IT slowdown - Strategies’ at the three-day Gitex expo organised by CII, Dasgupta said that maintaining cost leadership, delivering product and service excellence to the fullest and safeguarding the intimacy created with customers were critical to staying afloat in the downtrend market.

Adopting technology change (Internet technology everywhere), process change (provide customers with self-service and compete for your customers’ business at low cost) and structure change (sales push-in, customer application development and restructuring lines of business) form the blueprint for e-business, Mr Dasgupta said.

He said in order to counter China, which was fast becoming a force to reckon with, the Indian IT industry should keep in mind the importance of customer value, push for innovating and re-inventing, radically changing the business models and bridge the chasm among businesses.

IT companies should not forget that the Indian market held huge potential and that it was essential to tap this. The industry also should shift focus from US to West European markets, he said.

The slowdown is not new and it happens every 8 years. It hits not only IT but also the entire economy. What is important is that everyone should look at the changing trade cycle, disruptive technologies, new competitors, new business models, changing customer profile and changing customer demands, Mr Dasgupta added.

Earlier, B V R Mohan Reddy, chairman and managing director, Infotech Enterprises Limited, said China was fast emerging with the necessary infrastructure put in place and should be underestimated. E-security, disaster management, enterprise solutions and packaged implementation were emerging areas for possible exploitation. Cultural synchronisation was essential to tap the growing European markets, he said.

Creating customer-centric environment, quality initiatives, intellectual property and moving up the value chain were essential to tackle the present slowdown, he said.