Faces Off

HDFC Bank operates in a highly automated

environment in terms of IT and communication systems. The bank has to maintain

its position in a highly competitive environment. All this is constantly

evaluated and addressed by leveraging on existing and new technologies.

“Another constant challenge we faced was on the communication front,” says

Vivek Joshi, VP-IT, HDFC Bank. To bring the business heads and various team

members on routine basis to brainstorm as well as address operational, growth,

and delivery issues was becoming an expensive and daunting task.

Joshi felt that while evaluating a communication system,

HDFC Bank needed something simple and easy to use solution. It was important

though that the solution leverage on the existing network infrastructure. The

team evaluated various solutions around audio/video chat, audio conferencing,

desktop sharing, services based model as well as captive model for

videoconferencing. The team finally consented that a face-to-face interaction

and collaboration would have the best impact and if it has to be achieved, the

only way is either travel extensively or else resort to good quality

videoconferencing system for near face-to-face interaction.

The bank follows a stringent RoI model and the

pre-evaluation was, therefore, based around tangible costs such as the amount

spent on travel expenses of executives. Keeping the criteria in mind the bank

concluded that if they went in for a Tandberg conferencing solution, the RoI

would be realized in less than a year's time.

In phase one, three zonal offices and two offices in Mumbai

were set up with the Tandberg videoconferencing system. The corporate office was

equipped with MCU capability. The systems were deployed in conference rooms and

used as shared resources between departments. The bank appointed a designated

administrator with centralized control.

Today, the bank has covered nine zonal offices and three

offices in Mumbai in one year. 32 port MCU deployment is also in progress across

locations. And most importantly, Joshi claims there is optimization of the

systems by extensive usage. There is now an ongoing discussion to cover all

major branches with HDFC exploring various business applications such as

advisory services to customers to be run on the solution. Today, it conducts

regular business reviews with management through videoconferencing as well as

vendor meetings for project reviews and other business requirements. More recent

applications to be included in the roster are HR interviews, product trainings,

MD's address, plus a few more business applications. 

Minu Sirsalewala



minuvs@cybermedia.co.in