Advertisment

IT has a pervasive view of business systems

author-image
DQI Bureau
New Update

Retail industry is always looked upon as a sector that offers ample business

opportunities and massive growth. However, the biggest challenge for the

industry is synchronizing every part of the businesses with seamlessness as

per market conditions. Today the industry is looking at IT to handle this

challenge.

Advertisment

Marsha Blakeslee, general manager of UST Globals Industry Practices, talks

about the companys green initiatives and ITs role in retail sector. Excerpts

Whats your take on the presence of UST Global in lists like top fifty

green outsourcing suppliers?




A green company finds itself among the top fifty green outsourcing suppliers
by taking steps to encourage environmental participation throughout the company.

Marsha Blakeslee, general manager, industry

practices, UST Global
Advertisment

We plant trees to help re-build forests; we encourage saving energy by

turning off laptops and printers at close of business each day and on weekends;

weve replaced standard light switches with those that respond to room movement;

and are replacing paper coffee cups with standard mugs. And thats just the

beginning.

How are new technologies like RFID integration, mobile syncs, etc,

evolving in retail solutions?



The RFID technology is proven but its high cost of implementation is acting

as a hurdle for retailers. Business intelligence is also a clearly recognized

value, again with a high cost of entry. But it promises big returns as retailers

get more sophisticated in its use.

Mobile commerce, in contrast, has a relatively low cost of entry and can

provide immediate value in both customer communication and logistics support.

Certainly, we conduct an in-depth analysis of each new technology before making

any client recommendation.

Advertisment

How big a role is IT playing in revenue optimization for retail

enterprises in the present times?



IT is a business enabler, and capable of assisting with specific solutions

to enhance business performance. IT executives can move to a trusted advisor

role in the business by developing IT staffs subject matter expertise in

combination with analytical skills. Particularly, since IT has a pervasive view

of business systems across the organization by virtue of its role in the

organization.

What solutions would be available for the non-organized format of Indian

retail industry, and by when?



Thats a difficult question to answer. The biggest discussion in the market

right now is on the need for a pay-as-you-go option, which appears not to have

emerged from the vendor community yet. Cloud computing is an available

infrastructure for this, but the market will have a difficult time taking

advantage of any solution until it gets organized from both a process and

standards perspective. The time frame for developing such a service could be

accelerated if the Indian retail community could sponsor some collaborative

definition of their IT requirements.

How does India work for UST Global on the retail domain?



UST Global has many retail clients around the world. For each client there

is a dedicated account team working on IT business solutions, knowledgeable in

the clients specific market strategies, and aligned with client goals. We also

have people dedicated to staying in touch with the overall trends and emerging

solutions for the retail domain. With a strong understanding of each client, our

teams in India provide thought leadership, in addition to a wealth of IT talent.

How demanding is the retail industry for the ITeS solution in India as

compared to global markets?



Each retail market has its own unique challenges and opportunities. The ITeS

solutions required in India are as challenging as solutions required in other

areas of the globe. We certainly see the emergence of Open Source, SaaS and the

growing number of integrated solution suites changing the retail systems

landscapenot for any one region, but globally. UST Global works on all types of

engagements in direct response to the IT strategies of its clients.

Pankaj Maru/CIOL



maildqindia@cybermedia.co.in

Advertisment