CIO's Shopping Guide

Want to sell solutions to corporates? Learn what investments leading
companies are making in their IT infrastructure and what qualities their CIOs
are looking for in suppliers.

Company: Gayatri Sugars

Current IT infrastructure
in the company:

A sugar manufacturing plant with two facilities in Hyderabad,
we have around 30 workstations running predominantly on Microsoft Windows
operating system. We also have three windows-based Intel servers. These
workstations

are largely Compaq and Zenith makes.

As far as applications are concerned, we have FoxPro package
for accounting and a customized Oracle-based application for packaging. Besides,
there is an ERP solution, though not functional in all modules. Our other IT
hardware includes printers and scanners. We have around 15 printers that are a
combination of PVS printers and Wipro. Since we don't have too many executives
who need to travel often, we have a limited usage of laptops.

Value of existing
IT infrastructure:

Given our combination of branded systems, and a set of
printers and scanners, the whole of IT hardware and software is worth around Rs
25 to Rs 30 lakh. Since ours is not an organization that needs a combination of
applications, the software costs are much lower, where as majority of the
investments are incurred on hardware infrastructure.

Proposed IT infrastructure
for 2005-06:

We have major plans for the next year. By July-September of
2006, we should have another sugar manufacturing plant. The project is in the
advanced stage and are planning to scale up our operations in both our
facilities. But as far as applications are concerned, there would be marginal
upgradations and no substantial change. Agreed that ERP solutions are more
scalable and robust, but it needs people who can run the application. What we
presently have is quite good and our staff is quite comfortable performing the
operations.

Earmarked IT budgets
for 2005-06:

We will have additional workstations, printers and scanners.
For this,we might have an outlay of what we incurred on IT infrastructure so far-around
Rs 25 to Rs 30 lakh. For 2005-06, I don't foresee major investments.

Current systems supplier:

Since we deal with branded machines, we purchase them from
local dealers in Hyderabad. It's not that we stick and chose to one dealer
forever. It all depends on who is offering a feasible solution to suit our
requirements. So far we have been dealing with two to three dealers.

Qualities you look
in for a supplier:

Back-up service is all what we primarily look for. Since we
are not that comfortable installing and maintaining the infrastructure all by
ourselves, a lending hand whenever in need is what we look out for. Also, a
fair-dealing in monetary terms will project their transparency of operations.
Besides service offering and timely delivery, we also consider consultancy
services while choosing a supplier.

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