An IT Stalwart

hspace="6" width="312" height="198">Yogesh K Agarwal, Chief GM, Escorts Ltd, is a veteran

IT professional. With 25 years of experience in IT, he is looking after the entire IT

functions of the Rs 3000-crore empire of Escort Group. An IIT Kanpur graduate in

electrical engineering, Agarwal did his specialization in electronics and automatic

feedback systems in 1968. Subsequently, he did his MS and MBA from Ohio State University.

He joined Escorts three years back, after heading the IT departments at Eternit Everest,

Singer India Ltd, and Times Of India. Agarwal has been instrumental in creating a proper

IT infrastructure at Escorts with resourcefully utilizing the manpower of 200-odd IT

professionals across the Group. Agarwal outlined some of the key functioning areas of IT

in a conversation with Sharmila Chand. Excerpts:

Escorts being such a

large group, how do you classify your responsibilities? color="#000000" size="2" face="Arial">



Escorts Group has an in-house IT Group for discharging all the IT functions and services
to the entire Group. It is called Systems Management Services (SMS). I head this Group

and, in addition, look after the IT functioning of Escorts Heart Institute & Research

Center and Escorts Hospital & Research Center. We have some hundred Pentiums and about

200 IT professionals across the Group. We have state-of-the-art facilities and have given

a lot of independence to IT professionals, which, in turn, has ensured better

productivity.

Tell us something

about the new ERP software package that you have implemented? color="#000000" size="2" face="Arial">



Avalon is an American software package marketed and supported by TCS in India. It is an
integrated business process package consisting primarily marketing, financial, purchasing,

materials, planning, and production modules. Ours is one of the first companies to install

this package.

How much did you spend

on implementation?



Around Rs 10 crore.

What changes has it

brought about?



It has brought about a drastic change in the entire functioning of our business. It has
streamlined all the processes and functions. It will bring in a lot of discipline in our

working culture. Real benefits should start coming in now.

How much do you invest

in IT every year?



Rs 10-15 crore.

How critical is IT to

Escorts business?



IT is a strategic part of our business. I would say that if my machine stops working, the
business will ultimately stop. IT is an integrated part of our business processes and we

are making optimum efforts to gain competitive edge and be cost-effective through

successful usage of IT.

What are your

immediate plans in IT?



We are in the process of implementing Lotus Notes these days. We are going to set up
ESCONET-Escorts Countrywide Network so as to integrate all the functions and be fully

networked right across the entire Escort Group. All our legacy systems would be,

henceforth, our 'integrated systems', i.e. each and every function including the placing

of orders, purchase, and billing will be linked to an integrated mode. Also, within a year

we will implement intranet to have quick communication mode within the company.

How will you further

strengthen your company?



I want to make the Systems Management Services (SMS) a software development center for
both on-shore and off-shore services and a profitable platform to gain more business. I am

already talking to some selective companies for this.