Expat Chit Chat

Lanka should improve retail automation

Country Head, Cisco Systems Management, Rajkumar Natarajan:

Ruwanthi ABEYAKOON

Cisco’s Internet Protocol-based (IP) networking solutions are the foundation of the Internet and most corporate, education, and Government networks around the world. Cisco provides the broadest line of solutions for transporting data, voice and video within buildings, across campuses, or around the world.

The company has been a pioneer in using the Internet to provide customer support, sell products, offer training, and manage finances.

Cisco is strengthening its presence in Sri Lanka to meet the growing networking needs of businesses including the Government, large enterprises, and telecommunications and Internet service providers. Country Head, Cisco Systems Management, Rajkumar Natarajan joins Expat Chit Chat this week to talk about the IT revolution.

How has Cisco’s operations progressed in Sri Lanka?

We are on the verge of the financial year. We have done well and have experienced a growth of 80 per cent. We hope to come out with innovative products. We will take our clients to the next level of video conferencing.

We also have developed personalised versions of communication technology. Our markets have spread throughout the year. We are strongly present in Banking, Telco, Finance and SME sectors. We are focusing on growth in all areas.

How do the Small and Medium Businesses (SMB) respond to IT development?

The SME selection programme providing solutions for SMB sector was well received. Our partners found a way to differentiate their business.

More are lined up to register with us. SMB is a high growth sector for us. Our challenge was to take this programme across the island. To tap the market we had to leverage our agents to go to the rural areas. Reaching the SME segment is not easy as it is a huge market. We also handle Maldives SME sector operations from Colombo.

How is Sri Lanka picking up the new technology comparing with the other countries in the region?

Sri Lanka is very much in the lead. Sri Lanka is ahead of India and other parts of the region. Dialog offered several solutions that were firsts in Asia. Banking industry is also grasping IT rapidly.

Hatton National Bank was the first to introduce IP telephony. Sri Lanka is looking at technology to expand. Retail automation is one thing Sri Lanka has to improve. There is a lot of scope in the technology programmes the Government launched. If Sri Lanka keeps on adopting technology all the sectors would develop faster.

What opportunities did you see when starting up business in Sri Lanka?

We have been doing business with Sri Lanka for a long time. Earlier we handled business from India. We saw a clear opportunity to accelerate our growth. For this we needed a dedicated office here through which we could increase productivity. So in 2006 we started our office here with three people. Since then business have been successful.

What is your experience with the local staff?

There is so much talent in the country. We have built a very good team while preserving the culture. Cisco’s vision is to take the local talent to another level. There is enough talent within and outside Cisco.

How do you face the competition in the IT field?

Competition has not affected us much. We are doing business in a different dimension. Not many technology companies are there in Sri Lanka. Some of the technology companies are not based here. Cisco provides ample technology solutions and the challenge is reaching the untapped markets and expanding into new areas using the emerging technology.

What is your experience in Sri Lanka? Can you recall an unforgettable incident?

I have been here for two years. I have traveled extensively. I keep revisiting the cultural triangle. It is a quiet area and good for relaxation. My stay here has been very pleasant. On our way to Trincomalee we were stopped almost every couple of Kilometers because of high security.

The security people were very warm and polite. Once on our way to Habarana there was an elephant on the road. We were not sure whether to go or not to go. When we stopped the vehicle all the others also stopped and there was a line of vehicles behind us. I have experienced several unforgettable incidents in Sri Lanka.