Today anything from oil supertankers to every inch of Diego Maradona’s world cup soccer winning legs can be insured. There is a vast array of Insurance types such as Medical, Property, Casualty, Auto, Business, Life, Pension and Annuities etc. The intricacies of the various facets of the industry are many and the processes span quoting, pricing, ratings, underwriting, endorsing, claims and so forth. And, there are various providers and players across the Insurance value chain.
With all of this complexity, it wouldn’t seem that the Insurance industry is a good candidate for cloud computing—an architectural paradigm that relies first and foremost on the standardization of processes that can be offered as services and hosted by an external provider.
But, I believe just that. In fact, I foresee a time in the not-too-distant future wherein the Insurance industry will witness its parallel to what Salesforce.com provides for general CRM functions today. And here’s why.
Two Categories of Insurances Processes
Insurance--regardless of what is being insured—can be broadly classified into two sets of processes.
1. Front End Processes: comprised mainly of the processes involved in the quoting, pricing and selling of insurance policies
2. Back End Processes: involved in the fulfillment of insurance claims.
In this article we will focus primarily on the Front End Processes. Though the various types of insurance products differ greatly in their function and applicability, these front end processes through which they can be managed are quite streamlined and identical. Let’s take a closer look.
At a high level, Front End processing involves the following standard steps:
- Submission of Application (Insurance Type – Medical, Auto, Property etc.)
- Rating
- Underwriting
- Quoting
- Binding
- Endorsement and Issuance.
With more than two decades of on-time/on-budget delivery, Infogain has built strong, proven, repeatable methodologies and worldwide delivery capabilities for CRM/Customer Support, Business Intelligence, Mobility and Collaboration.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Monday, March 29, 2010
From Web Portal to Web Application
Users demands evolved, yet again, to expect web portals to function as web applications. Web applications enable a distributed and fault tolerant portal deployment over multiple channels. Web applications render device independence for wireless services.Remote access to web services, information retrieval and database connectivity is possible through mobile or even a PDA device. The web application server provides secure and dynamic content management. It provides integration between web technology and content retrieved from an open source and distributed over a wide network.
Web applications provide Enterprise critical benefits of:
• Single workspace for B2E, B2B and B2C business transactions, data and applications
• Consolidated view of enterprise for integrating and managing business processes
• Availability of business intelligence information through diverse connections
• Productive work environment through interactive user communities and groups
• Universal and remote access to Enterprise data through multiple channels like mobile, PDA and laptops
• Single sign-in for users data and application access
• Enhanced user experience with information for the right users at the right time
• Dynamic and adaptive web services with a user-centric approach
Web applications provide Enterprise critical benefits of:
• Single workspace for B2E, B2B and B2C business transactions, data and applications
• Consolidated view of enterprise for integrating and managing business processes
• Availability of business intelligence information through diverse connections
• Productive work environment through interactive user communities and groups
• Universal and remote access to Enterprise data through multiple channels like mobile, PDA and laptops
• Single sign-in for users data and application access
• Enhanced user experience with information for the right users at the right time
• Dynamic and adaptive web services with a user-centric approach
Enterprise-wide Customer Challenges
They might be called kunde in German but the importance of customers remains same across boundaries.Becoming a ‘customer-centric’ enterprise is not about implementing a Customer Relationship Management solution. It is the ability of an enterprise to capture rich customer information and analyze it intelligently to know their customer well.
For enterprises, the challenge of meeting customer demands is increasing. Each department requires intelligent and updated information of customers to strategize effective business processes. No customer process and data stays in one department within the enterprise. In most enterprises, fragmented, redundant, and unsynchronized customer data resides across discrete data stores.
Following are some of the reasons for this:
• Rapid growth
• Mergers & acquisitions
• Multiple product lines
• Each business unit with their own representation and usage of customer data
• Different transactional systems not sharing the customer data efficiently and in real-time, and others.
For enterprises, the challenge of meeting customer demands is increasing. Each department requires intelligent and updated information of customers to strategize effective business processes. No customer process and data stays in one department within the enterprise. In most enterprises, fragmented, redundant, and unsynchronized customer data resides across discrete data stores.
Following are some of the reasons for this:
• Rapid growth
• Mergers & acquisitions
• Multiple product lines
• Each business unit with their own representation and usage of customer data
• Different transactional systems not sharing the customer data efficiently and in real-time, and others.
Friday, March 26, 2010
SOA with Business Process Management
Implementation of SOA at the ground level starts with the implementation of very simple
services that typically involve a single step—most likely a CRUD (Create, Read, Update,
Delete) operations to a database. More complex multi-step orchestrations are
implemented and driven by standards like BPEL and BPMN.
Even after the tools have advanced this far and greatly eased and standardized application integration, this is an ongoing process. BPEL tools will be used to build services by pulling together various elements of the enterprise and making them available as enterprise-wide shared services.Read More/Download
services that typically involve a single step—most likely a CRUD (Create, Read, Update,
Delete) operations to a database. More complex multi-step orchestrations are
implemented and driven by standards like BPEL and BPMN.
Even after the tools have advanced this far and greatly eased and standardized application integration, this is an ongoing process. BPEL tools will be used to build services by pulling together various elements of the enterprise and making them available as enterprise-wide shared services.Read More/Download
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Oracle Master Data Management Luncheon_06 April 2010
Infogain invites you to join us for a free seminar conducted jointly with Oracle. The free seminar will help you learn how Oracle Master Data Management solutions provide end-to-end data quality and integration for customers, suppliers and products. These solutions reduce compliance risk, optimize operations, reduce application integration costs and boost sales and marketing initiatives.
During the presentation you will understand how to:
* Improve your up and cross sell performance to increase revenue and market share
* Lower integration costs while improving IT agility
* Reduce compliance risk and cost
* Improve operational efficiency with fewer manual touch points and errors
* Optimize Business Intelligence.
When & Where:
Tuesday, April 06, 2010
11:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Oracle Conference Center
611 Anton Blvd, Suite 700
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
Click here to register for the event.
During the presentation you will understand how to:
* Improve your up and cross sell performance to increase revenue and market share
* Lower integration costs while improving IT agility
* Reduce compliance risk and cost
* Improve operational efficiency with fewer manual touch points and errors
* Optimize Business Intelligence.
When & Where:
Tuesday, April 06, 2010
11:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Oracle Conference Center
611 Anton Blvd, Suite 700
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
Click here to register for the event.
Sunday, March 21, 2010
How to get started with MDM, and what ROI you can expect.
An MDM layer enables companies to realize internal efficiencies by reducing the cost and complexity of processes that use master data (through fewer code clashes, less data duplication, better control over business processes, and so on). It reduces manual translation and analysis to improve repeatability and speed to insight. An MDM layer improves the ability to share, consolidate, and analyze business information quickly, both globally and regionally. And it makes it possible to rapidly assemble new, composite applications (software that combines the elements of a business activity in a coordinated application and user interface) out of accurate master information and reusable business processes.
Why is the whole concept of master data management gaining so much traction right now?
MDM is trendy now, but I would still consider the implementation of it very immature. There are many technology alternatives on the market to solve a wide variety of master data challenges, but end users are still struggling a great deal to effectively scope and define their MDM strategies.In the current economic environment, MDM is playing an important role in reducing compliance risk due to a lack of data transparency and trust, especially in the financial industries and others that have been hit hard. However, organizations are also looking for MDM to improve efficiencies and analytical insights so they can make better decisions, faster.
The business benefits of MDM:
MDM helps organizations handle four key issues:
1) Data redundancy: Without MDM, each system, application, and department within an organization collects its own version of key business entities. This leads to redundant master data and poor data quality.
2) Data inconsistency: Enterprises spend enormous resources trying to reconcile master data, often with limited success. Furthermore, this reconciliation process is repeated over and over because there is no mechanism to capture the data assets garnered from the first or succeeding reconciliations.
3) Business inefficiency: Redundant and inconsistent master data leads to inefficient supply chain management, inconsistent customer support, customer dissatisfaction, and wasted marketing efforts. Fractured master data in business processes causes ineffectiveness and inefficiency.
4) Supporting Business change: Organizations are constantly changing as new products and services are introduced and withdrawn, companies are acquired and sold, and new technologies appear and reach maturity. These disruptive events cause a constant stream of changes to master data, and without a way of managing these changes, the issues of data redundancy, data inconsistency, and business inefficiency are exacerbated.
Why is the whole concept of master data management gaining so much traction right now?
MDM is trendy now, but I would still consider the implementation of it very immature. There are many technology alternatives on the market to solve a wide variety of master data challenges, but end users are still struggling a great deal to effectively scope and define their MDM strategies.In the current economic environment, MDM is playing an important role in reducing compliance risk due to a lack of data transparency and trust, especially in the financial industries and others that have been hit hard. However, organizations are also looking for MDM to improve efficiencies and analytical insights so they can make better decisions, faster.
The business benefits of MDM:
MDM helps organizations handle four key issues:
1) Data redundancy: Without MDM, each system, application, and department within an organization collects its own version of key business entities. This leads to redundant master data and poor data quality.
2) Data inconsistency: Enterprises spend enormous resources trying to reconcile master data, often with limited success. Furthermore, this reconciliation process is repeated over and over because there is no mechanism to capture the data assets garnered from the first or succeeding reconciliations.
3) Business inefficiency: Redundant and inconsistent master data leads to inefficient supply chain management, inconsistent customer support, customer dissatisfaction, and wasted marketing efforts. Fractured master data in business processes causes ineffectiveness and inefficiency.
4) Supporting Business change: Organizations are constantly changing as new products and services are introduced and withdrawn, companies are acquired and sold, and new technologies appear and reach maturity. These disruptive events cause a constant stream of changes to master data, and without a way of managing these changes, the issues of data redundancy, data inconsistency, and business inefficiency are exacerbated.
Friday, March 19, 2010
Summer 2010 Blockbuster: Mobile Point-Of-Sale | In This Issue | Mobile Enterprise Magazine
There are people who believe that cash and coins are obsolete -- someday, futurists claim, all money will be virtual. Some companies are already preparing for a transition by replacing retail cash registers with mobile devices.
Handhelds with credit card readers, running Microsoft Windows CE and often based on rugged devices from Intermec and Motorola, are described as mobile point-of-sale products and have been available for years. There are even Research In Motion BlackBerry options. But then the Apple iPhone came out, and that's changing the game.
Checkout devices built on iPhone or iPod Touch units are smaller, cheaper, and more adaptable than their Windows ancestors. Several small companies are joining this trend and they'll soon be followed by an 800-pound gorilla -- hello, Oracle.
Big or small, these companies deliver three major benefits to retailers. The technology differentiates the shopping experience, eliminates lines at checkout counters, and minimizes the chances of customers changing their minds.Read More
Handhelds with credit card readers, running Microsoft Windows CE and often based on rugged devices from Intermec and Motorola, are described as mobile point-of-sale products and have been available for years. There are even Research In Motion BlackBerry options. But then the Apple iPhone came out, and that's changing the game.
Checkout devices built on iPhone or iPod Touch units are smaller, cheaper, and more adaptable than their Windows ancestors. Several small companies are joining this trend and they'll soon be followed by an 800-pound gorilla -- hello, Oracle.
Big or small, these companies deliver three major benefits to retailers. The technology differentiates the shopping experience, eliminates lines at checkout counters, and minimizes the chances of customers changing their minds.Read More
Why is master data management so important right now?
Some organizations are growing, some are preparing for growth,and yet others are still managing costs to satisfy survival strategies.Independent of your business strategy, there are business processes that focus on customers, suppliers, products and services that span departments, business units and firewalls. These processes describe how an organization does what it does; to improve performance, reduce costs, ensure compliance, drive revenue and reduce time-to-market, a clean, consistent single view of master data is required.
Master data management is the cornerstone of nearly every critical business transaction. Knowing how to capitalize on it may be the strategic differentiators your organization needs. MDM is not a single project but an ongoing journey.
Infogain’s MDM approach focuses on customer data integration and complete data management, which together provide a 360° view of the customer and deliver high data accuracy for operational transactions and analytical reporting. We leverage the Oracle Customer Data Hub and Data Relationship Management products which provide the underlying MDM application components, and work with the client to deliver the custom MDM solution that fits their specific business and technology requirements.
Master data management is the cornerstone of nearly every critical business transaction. Knowing how to capitalize on it may be the strategic differentiators your organization needs. MDM is not a single project but an ongoing journey.
Infogain’s MDM approach focuses on customer data integration and complete data management, which together provide a 360° view of the customer and deliver high data accuracy for operational transactions and analytical reporting. We leverage the Oracle Customer Data Hub and Data Relationship Management products which provide the underlying MDM application components, and work with the client to deliver the custom MDM solution that fits their specific business and technology requirements.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Insurance Industry Outlook for 2010
While economic indicators may suggest a financial recovery and the technology spend for the insurance industry as a whole should reverse for positive in 2010, I believe spending will still be relatively weak. Last year was marked by the industry’s sharp focus on core areas, which may be repeated this year as well. Traditionally the insurance industry has been dominated by legacy applications and traditional processing environments to a great extent as the industry has failed to catch up to its sibling in financial services vis-à-vis the adoption of new technology.
2010 presents an opportunity for insurers to revisit their strategies and reposition their value to customers. The learning out of the global financial meltdown is forcing insurers across the globe to look at growing the business, organization wide expense reduction and prioritizing operational effectiveness in their day-to-day operations. While there is value in investing in areas like policy administration, business intelligence (especially underwriting and claims analytics) and agent portals, ignoring disruptive technologies like Web 2.0/social networking, mobile computing, workflow, and straight through processing will be disastrous. Besides bringing in operational velocity, these areas help Insurers to remain competitive in the marketplace.Read more
2010 presents an opportunity for insurers to revisit their strategies and reposition their value to customers. The learning out of the global financial meltdown is forcing insurers across the globe to look at growing the business, organization wide expense reduction and prioritizing operational effectiveness in their day-to-day operations. While there is value in investing in areas like policy administration, business intelligence (especially underwriting and claims analytics) and agent portals, ignoring disruptive technologies like Web 2.0/social networking, mobile computing, workflow, and straight through processing will be disastrous. Besides bringing in operational velocity, these areas help Insurers to remain competitive in the marketplace.Read more
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
E-Commerce Integration: What You Don't See Can Hurt You
Whether your e-commerce site is being developed by contractors or your internal IT team, there are good reasons to care about how it's connected to your other business systems. All integrations are not alike. Some are sleek -- some are tangled messes. What does your system look like under the hood?
The year is 2025. You're at the Detroit Auto Show. The internal combustion engine is on the decline, and alternative energy vehicles are no longer alternatives.
Walking the show floor, you're captivated by two apparently identical vehicles, parked side by side. Both are ruby red. Both have classic lines that scream performance.
However, it's the engineering and extreme performance under the hood that real car aficionados desire -- and when you pop open both hoods, the differences are startling. Read More
The year is 2025. You're at the Detroit Auto Show. The internal combustion engine is on the decline, and alternative energy vehicles are no longer alternatives.
Walking the show floor, you're captivated by two apparently identical vehicles, parked side by side. Both are ruby red. Both have classic lines that scream performance.
However, it's the engineering and extreme performance under the hood that real car aficionados desire -- and when you pop open both hoods, the differences are startling. Read More
Monday, March 15, 2010
Mobility for Insurance
We have been tracking the sharp increase not just in adoption, but usage of mobile devices for more than voice services, such as SMS texting, social networking, uploading pictures and videos. With this rising demand of mobile technology, the demand for mobile applications also seems to rise. The mobile applications that are able to provide added values like anywhere and anytime access, GPS technology and ease at handling multiple tasks.
Several applications are live today, each of them delivering a highly efficient graphical user interface (GUI) to both internal and external users, and allowing both online and offline execution. All insurance products that allow for an automated workflow will be integrated and handled with the new applications. Mobile applications are certainly the latest evolving wave in the introduction of e-business.
After a car accident, it can be difficult to think clearly and remember all of the details that need to be taken next. Infogain has developed a mobile application to help the customers and as well as field force staff.
Infogain mobile application helps customers find local resources, document the accident and submit Claims information via their handset. Additionally, it provides flexibility to agents by providing them better access to data, better self-service options and opportunity to view key reports. No longer constrained by business hours and inaccessible resources, their business day is far more productive.
This application gives agents a way to do business anywhere, anytime. Agents can login and use this mobile application to upload and download information, exchange data, and view reports. The infogain insurance mobile solution framework enhances the agent experience and gives them a convenient means of quoting, reporting and customer documentation.
Benefits of Infogain mobile solution:
• Provides real-time access to information.
• Offers lower initial cost & maintenance cost.
• Reduces operational costs.
• Increases your websites transaction capabilities.
• Provides agents access to key reports.
• Makes real-time information processing possible.
• Offers new capabilities that produce highly satisfied customers.
Infogain mobility solution fulfils the requirement of both the field force who carry out the sales and claims adjudication process and customers can better view, review, and manage their accounts. This mobility solution allows agents to transact business in real time over a secure web portal. The processes and transactions can also be added to portals that permit real-time access to data and real-time information processing.
Several applications are live today, each of them delivering a highly efficient graphical user interface (GUI) to both internal and external users, and allowing both online and offline execution. All insurance products that allow for an automated workflow will be integrated and handled with the new applications. Mobile applications are certainly the latest evolving wave in the introduction of e-business.
After a car accident, it can be difficult to think clearly and remember all of the details that need to be taken next. Infogain has developed a mobile application to help the customers and as well as field force staff.
Infogain mobile application helps customers find local resources, document the accident and submit Claims information via their handset. Additionally, it provides flexibility to agents by providing them better access to data, better self-service options and opportunity to view key reports. No longer constrained by business hours and inaccessible resources, their business day is far more productive.
This application gives agents a way to do business anywhere, anytime. Agents can login and use this mobile application to upload and download information, exchange data, and view reports. The infogain insurance mobile solution framework enhances the agent experience and gives them a convenient means of quoting, reporting and customer documentation.
Benefits of Infogain mobile solution:
• Provides real-time access to information.
• Offers lower initial cost & maintenance cost.
• Reduces operational costs.
• Increases your websites transaction capabilities.
• Provides agents access to key reports.
• Makes real-time information processing possible.
• Offers new capabilities that produce highly satisfied customers.
Infogain mobility solution fulfils the requirement of both the field force who carry out the sales and claims adjudication process and customers can better view, review, and manage their accounts. This mobility solution allows agents to transact business in real time over a secure web portal. The processes and transactions can also be added to portals that permit real-time access to data and real-time information processing.
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Infogain a great fit for Barratts' mobile retail vision
Barratts newly refurbished London Oxford Street store throws opens its virtual doors to the mobile shopping revolution
Infogain, a global retail and mobile solutions provider, today announces the first phase of deployment of a tailor-made retail mobility system for leading UK shoe retailers, Barratts Shoes, now underway for delivery on time.
Developed to support Barratt's drive for multi-channel excellence to coincide with the opening of a state-of-the-art new concept store environment - its flagship outlet on Oxford Street on 25 March 2010 - a sexy new iPhone app will go live the same day, presenting the first phase of a wide-reaching, fully integrated retail mobility system.
Delivering a unique and highly compelling virtual shopping experience, in phase one, the Barratts iPhone app will present the entire season's collections, searchable by occasion (weddings/evening dress/casual wear, etc) or by brand; a trend-setting Barratts Changing Room where clothes images can be uploaded to mix and match against the latest shoe styles, and a 'birthstone' finder with related colours and styles, to add a new, very personal search dimension. Customers will be able to email, mms and Facebook their outfit choices to friends for fun or honest feedback! Customers will also be able to upload their 'completed look' to the Barratts website to enter a dedicated 'My Barratts Style' online competition. Read more..
Infogain, a global retail and mobile solutions provider, today announces the first phase of deployment of a tailor-made retail mobility system for leading UK shoe retailers, Barratts Shoes, now underway for delivery on time.
Developed to support Barratt's drive for multi-channel excellence to coincide with the opening of a state-of-the-art new concept store environment - its flagship outlet on Oxford Street on 25 March 2010 - a sexy new iPhone app will go live the same day, presenting the first phase of a wide-reaching, fully integrated retail mobility system.
Delivering a unique and highly compelling virtual shopping experience, in phase one, the Barratts iPhone app will present the entire season's collections, searchable by occasion (weddings/evening dress/casual wear, etc) or by brand; a trend-setting Barratts Changing Room where clothes images can be uploaded to mix and match against the latest shoe styles, and a 'birthstone' finder with related colours and styles, to add a new, very personal search dimension. Customers will be able to email, mms and Facebook their outfit choices to friends for fun or honest feedback! Customers will also be able to upload their 'completed look' to the Barratts website to enter a dedicated 'My Barratts Style' online competition. Read more..
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Store rollout exposure for Retailers
To overcome data integration and information challenges by incorporating different modules from Oracle’s Retail and E-Business Suites.
Specifically, Infogain provided the following:
- BI implementation on OBIEE based on RDW of ORMS
- Multi-phased approach based on business priority to build/enhance the
enterprise data warehouse
- Quick validation of the existing data warehouse Oracle RDW 12.x
- Customized OBIEE repository of RDW 13.x with RDW 12.x
- New dashboards and out-of-box reports from RDW
- RDW integration with RMS, ReSA, RPM and WMS using the DBLink approach.
Solution Benefits
The provision of a capable off-site support team freed the client’s resources to
focus on business issues trusting all operational needs were being satisfied by the
Infogain team. The results were significant IT and business benefits, as follows:
- Adhoc reporting to provide more insight to management
-Easier analysis of historical data to help anticipate future trends
- Increased quality of development by freeing core teams to focus on ORMS RDW
BI Application
-Smooth and fast resolution of all production issues
- Enhanced, secure and stable applications
- Cost benefits due to usage of RETL tool
- Fine tuning and optimization of the RDW
- Quick data validation
- Better visibiilty into store operations
- Efficient expense allocation and budget forecasting.
Specifically, Infogain provided the following:
- BI implementation on OBIEE based on RDW of ORMS
- Multi-phased approach based on business priority to build/enhance the
enterprise data warehouse
- Quick validation of the existing data warehouse Oracle RDW 12.x
- Customized OBIEE repository of RDW 13.x with RDW 12.x
- New dashboards and out-of-box reports from RDW
- RDW integration with RMS, ReSA, RPM and WMS using the DBLink approach.
Solution Benefits
The provision of a capable off-site support team freed the client’s resources to
focus on business issues trusting all operational needs were being satisfied by the
Infogain team. The results were significant IT and business benefits, as follows:
- Adhoc reporting to provide more insight to management
-Easier analysis of historical data to help anticipate future trends
- Increased quality of development by freeing core teams to focus on ORMS RDW
BI Application
-Smooth and fast resolution of all production issues
- Enhanced, secure and stable applications
- Cost benefits due to usage of RETL tool
- Fine tuning and optimization of the RDW
- Quick data validation
- Better visibiilty into store operations
- Efficient expense allocation and budget forecasting.
Mobile Loyalty for the Transportation Industry
Infogain has developed a unique approach to loyalty for the Transportation industry. Our solution enables you to establish a permanent relationship with your customers - making you 'mobile' and putting your applications in your customers’ mobile phone, all in a matter of weeks.
* Establish a continuous communications link with your customers for information, ticketing, offers and continuous loyalty.
* Communicate new products and offers to the right customers at the right time.
* Enable fully secure ticket/voucher fulfillment process for delivery of redeemable tickets, vouchers and coupons via the mobile phone.
* Provide customer service at your customers’ convenience.
* Integrate your new mobile-enabled transactions with your existing systems, including CRM systems to achieve rapid customer data acquisition and customer profile build up, low cost loyalty implementation and synchronization with existing services.
* Establish a continuous communications link with your customers for information, ticketing, offers and continuous loyalty.
* Communicate new products and offers to the right customers at the right time.
* Enable fully secure ticket/voucher fulfillment process for delivery of redeemable tickets, vouchers and coupons via the mobile phone.
* Provide customer service at your customers’ convenience.
* Integrate your new mobile-enabled transactions with your existing systems, including CRM systems to achieve rapid customer data acquisition and customer profile build up, low cost loyalty implementation and synchronization with existing services.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Women on top
Though more and more women are assuming positions of authority, there are numerous hurdles to be overcome on the way to the top
Our world has been founded on the irrefutable principle of patriarchy since time immemorial. Changing such a rigid mindset is possible – but difficult. As more and more women climb the corporate ladder and assume positions of authority, we find that the workforce demonstrates resistance to submit to this authority at times. We delve deeper into the reasons and solutions for the same.
Yet another year has passed. And the key question is – are we finally at a point where women occupy positions in authority, as much as men? “Yes, we are seeing women occupy significant positions in not only corporate boardrooms, but also top positions in the public/government sector. The corporate sector stands to benefit from this trend in improving their productivity as well as applying diversity in their capabilities. Naina Lal Kidwai, Renuka Ramnath, Preetha Reddy and Chanda Kochhar are some of the prominent women bigwigs in India today,” says SumTotal’s HR director, S Rajalakshmi. Read more ..
Our world has been founded on the irrefutable principle of patriarchy since time immemorial. Changing such a rigid mindset is possible – but difficult. As more and more women climb the corporate ladder and assume positions of authority, we find that the workforce demonstrates resistance to submit to this authority at times. We delve deeper into the reasons and solutions for the same.
Yet another year has passed. And the key question is – are we finally at a point where women occupy positions in authority, as much as men? “Yes, we are seeing women occupy significant positions in not only corporate boardrooms, but also top positions in the public/government sector. The corporate sector stands to benefit from this trend in improving their productivity as well as applying diversity in their capabilities. Naina Lal Kidwai, Renuka Ramnath, Preetha Reddy and Chanda Kochhar are some of the prominent women bigwigs in India today,” says SumTotal’s HR director, S Rajalakshmi. Read more ..
Sunday, March 7, 2010
The Challenges Are Clear
Information technology consulting (IT consulting, Computer consultancy, Computing consultancy, technology consulting or business and technology services) is a field that focuses on advising businesses on how best to use information technology to meet their business objectives. In addition to providing advice, IT consultancies often implement, deploy, and administer IT systems on businesses' behalf.For most businesses, 70%-80% of their IT budgets are spent on maintenance, leaving little for the advancement of business goals.
The challenges are clear:
* Fragmentation and proliferation of systems
* Unsuitable current technology / infrastructure / processes
* Technology infrastructure not scalable enough
* Evolving technologies and best practices
* Governance & regulatory compliance
The challenges are clear:
* Fragmentation and proliferation of systems
* Unsuitable current technology / infrastructure / processes
* Technology infrastructure not scalable enough
* Evolving technologies and best practices
* Governance & regulatory compliance
Thursday, March 4, 2010
The Advantage of a Point Of Sale – System
While POS inventory systems are not new--large chains have been using them for more than 20 years--what is new is the price. POS inventory systems are typically sold as modules. Most systems include at least two computers and printers, one at the checkout counter for POS activities and the second in the back room for inventory reporting. There is POS software specific to almost every kind of business imaginable - hotels, retail, restaurant, auto mechanic, etc. Most POS systems are able to be plugged in to the business' high speed internet connection. They can process credit card and check authorizations very quickly, as compared to the usual dial-up connection of an ordinary "black box" credit card terminal.
Be cautious, therefore, about setting up with any proprietary POS software systems. These systems are designed to run only under that merchant processor and you will be locked in to any future processing rate increases they decide to impose. To change from them down the road would be a huge task and they count on this that is why their POS software is so cheap up front. They will have you locked in as a merchant customer forever. POS systems provide reports that list merchandise that should be reordered because stock has fallen below the recommended level.
A computer point-of-sale (POS) inventory system, on the other hand, automatically captures a host of information about each sale and instantly updates the inventory database. Retailers can then view on a screen up-to-the-minute information about stock on hand or create printed reports that help in making buying decisions.
Be cautious, therefore, about setting up with any proprietary POS software systems. These systems are designed to run only under that merchant processor and you will be locked in to any future processing rate increases they decide to impose. To change from them down the road would be a huge task and they count on this that is why their POS software is so cheap up front. They will have you locked in as a merchant customer forever. POS systems provide reports that list merchandise that should be reordered because stock has fallen below the recommended level.
A computer point-of-sale (POS) inventory system, on the other hand, automatically captures a host of information about each sale and instantly updates the inventory database. Retailers can then view on a screen up-to-the-minute information about stock on hand or create printed reports that help in making buying decisions.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Legacy modernization For Insurance
We recognize that the key to modernizing legacy systems is retaining the business process knowledge and data embedded in the systems and simultaneously enabling those systems to work with new applications. We know that each business is different and that our approach to modernizing your legacy systems needs to be flexible.
Our Legacy Framework helps our clients to modernize their applications through a structured process which reduces business risks and leverages the capabilities offered by newer technologies. The highlights of the framework include:
• Mechanism to identify the right solution approach for the specific legacy application
• Methodology to manage requirements and
• Tools and templates to accelerate the modernization.
IT productivity and innovation go hand-in-hand. When developers are readily available for new projects, rather than assigned to costly ongoing maintenance, the door is open to new thinking. Modernizing legacy environments can reduce required maintenance time by over 50 per cent and greatly reduce the technological footprint. This helps IT departments to reduce costs accelerate development cycles and assign valuable and often expensive resources to new initiatives that can enhance – rather than just maintain – company performance.
Our Legacy Framework helps our clients to modernize their applications through a structured process which reduces business risks and leverages the capabilities offered by newer technologies. The highlights of the framework include:
• Mechanism to identify the right solution approach for the specific legacy application
• Methodology to manage requirements and
• Tools and templates to accelerate the modernization.
IT productivity and innovation go hand-in-hand. When developers are readily available for new projects, rather than assigned to costly ongoing maintenance, the door is open to new thinking. Modernizing legacy environments can reduce required maintenance time by over 50 per cent and greatly reduce the technological footprint. This helps IT departments to reduce costs accelerate development cycles and assign valuable and often expensive resources to new initiatives that can enhance – rather than just maintain – company performance.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Mobile portals Mobilize For Scale
Mobile is rapidly becoming a key differentiators as companies use IT to gain strategic advantage in their marketplace.Infogain’s proven solutions yield attractive, user friendly and effective iphone and other mobile applications. We work together with the client to quickly and effectively achieve the following:
* Present industry best practices and brainstorm with you to understand your company's business requirements, determining which business processes could leverage mobile technologies, and measuring their impact
* Assess technologies
* Design and develop attractive, user-friendly solutions leveraging wireless and mobile technologies
* Integrate the mobile solution with enterprise data sources
* Deliver content and business intelligence to mobile devices
* Present industry best practices and brainstorm with you to understand your company's business requirements, determining which business processes could leverage mobile technologies, and measuring their impact
* Assess technologies
* Design and develop attractive, user-friendly solutions leveraging wireless and mobile technologies
* Integrate the mobile solution with enterprise data sources
* Deliver content and business intelligence to mobile devices
Monday, March 1, 2010
VAS India 2010
The VAS market is currently dominated by CRBT/RT, SMS, followed by Gaming applications.
Some of the emerging areas include the extension of location based services (LBS) to provide useful services at an affordable cost, which I believe has tremendous potential in the Indian market. The excitement over 3G opportunities is mixed, which is based on reasonable grounds. I anticipate the mobile VAS services in 3G category will take longer to penetrate within a large consumer base in an emerging market like India. The vast majority of consumers would prefer more utility based services across available mobile platforms at a competitive rate. Data logistics will play a greater role in reshaping mobile advertisement services with personal profile information.Read more @ VAS India 2010
Some of the emerging areas include the extension of location based services (LBS) to provide useful services at an affordable cost, which I believe has tremendous potential in the Indian market. The excitement over 3G opportunities is mixed, which is based on reasonable grounds. I anticipate the mobile VAS services in 3G category will take longer to penetrate within a large consumer base in an emerging market like India. The vast majority of consumers would prefer more utility based services across available mobile platforms at a competitive rate. Data logistics will play a greater role in reshaping mobile advertisement services with personal profile information.Read more @ VAS India 2010
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