BIZ TECH

Suntel selects IBM Software

IBM said that Suntel has selected IBM Lotus software to create a collaborative environment to improve the way employees work together in any mode at any time, raising employee performance and cost-efficiency.

Under the agreement signed in 2008, Suntel is deploying the enterprise-wide software consisting of Lotus Notes and Domino and Lotus Sametime for unified communications and collaboration and Lotus Symphony document, spreadsheet, and presentation tools to its employees. The implementation will be completed this month.

Suntel will make available Lotus Sametime to its employees so they would be able to communicate with each other through instant messaging, visuals and voice.

Lotus Notes was chosen because it is more than just an E-mail, as it enables creation of Web 2.0 composite applications or “mashups” which combine content in unique ways from multiple internal and external web sources and does “live text” which allows a person to click on a company address and automatically bring up driving directions. The software, running on an enhanced and open standards-based system, will also allow Suntel to collaborate with its business partners effectively in the future as the business grows.

“We are sure that IBM Lotus Notes and Domino solution will give us a secure and scalable collaboration environment for future growth and development at a lower cost of ownership,” said Director, Product Development and CIO, Suntel Ltd. Dr. Tariq Marikar. “We are also pleased with the contribution IBM has made to the open community through Lotus Suite of products,” he said.

Virtusa supports schools in Gampaha

Virtusa Corporation facilitated the setting up IT laboratories for the children of Halpe Ekanayake Kanishta. Vidyalaya, Dorowwa Maha Vidyalaya and Mirigama Dudley Senanayake Aadarsha Maha Vidyala as a part of their CSR initiative “Digital Reach”.

The project is aligned with Virtusa’s sustainable strategic plan and represents the company’s investment to help improve the quality of the IT industry and bridge the gap of digital illiteracy in Sri Lanka.

The company provides schools with computer laboratories, text books and material. In addition, Virtusa offers training for selected teachers, which will not only help further their studies but also benefit the future of Sri Lanka. Manager - Marketing and Corporate Communications Virtusa Corporation Farzana Khan said, “As part of our Digital Reach Initiative, we are glad to set up these IT labs.

This effort will help drive interest and curiosity amongst school age children and further their interest in IT.

There are many career opportunities in the IT industry and we hope that the schools will use this opportunity to encourage students into careers in IT”.

Joins SLASSCOM Advisory Board

Dr. Gamini Wickramasinghe, a pioneer of the software industry and private education in Sri Lanka and Dr. Peter Hayes British High Commissioner in Sri Lanka joined the Sri Lanka Association of Software and Service Companies, SLASSCOM the unified national IT/BPO industry association Advisory Board.

Dr. Wickramasinghe is currently the Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission of Sri Lanka, Chairman of the Insurance Board of Sri Lanka and the Chairman of Bank of Ceylon.

Dr. Wickramasinghe pioneered the concept of locally based quality British tertiary education in Sri Lanka with the setting up of the Informatics Institute of Technology.

The Informatics Institute of Technology plays an important role in the national IT capacity building effort. Since its inception in 1990 a large number of Sri Lankan students have had an affordable opportunity to access and successfully obtain a world class British undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications while in Sri Lanka.

Dr. Peter Hayes is currently the British High Commissioner in Sri Lanka. He is a diplomat and had played several key diplomatic roles.

Dr. Hayes was the Principal Private Secretary to the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in London from 2005 to 2007. “We are delighted to have Dr. Wickramasinghe and Dr. Hays on our Advisory Board.

Their deep knowledge of the industry, global policy and governance will help Sri Lanka as we chart the course of the high potential IT/BPO industry. SLASSCOM represents the completion of a long-felt need within the software and IT enabled services industry, for a unified, strong, and representative body that can speak with one voice, and provide inspired leadership to an industry that has tremendous potential to become the highest export earner for Sri Lanka.” said Chairman of SLASSCOM, Ranjith Fernando.

The objective of SLASSCOM is to act as a catalyst of growth of the Sri Lankan IT and BPO industry by facilitating trade and business, propagation of education and employment, encouragement of research and innovation, and by supporting the creation of a progressive national policy framework.

ERP systems bring transparency

Anjana Samarasinghe

Adaptation of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems encourage best business practices in the organizations, said Vice President of IFS South Asia Jayantha de Silva.

The ERP systems profile completes the picture and facilitates the decision making process of the organizations. ERP systems integrate all the information and calculates the risk with a strategy behind it.

It also helps to push ideas and it will bring transparency to the organizations, he said. In Sri Lanka only a few companies use good ERP systems and most of the companies follow some big companies without knowing what they exactly need. IFS has embarked on a campaign to educate organizations on ERP systems and promotes ERPs among them.

“We have already commenced our campaign in this region. We have conducted several workshops for potential organizations in Bangladesh and Pakistan. We captured good prospects through these workshops,” he said.

“In Sri Lanka we expect to conduct individual presentations in selected companies. We did the evaluation process before selecting these local companies with their capability of adopting ERP systems,” he said.

“Implementing an ERP system is a strategic decision for an organization. It has a very high return on investment. Organizations in developed countries use third generation ERP systems.

There is a huge potential for ERP systems in the South Asian region,” he said. Talking about the IFS applications he said that they focus on user productivity. Customers can spend more time on business and less time struggling with technology.

‘Nuwana Sinhala Text to Speech’ launched

The Nuwana Sinhala Text to Speech developed by the Software Engineering Services Division (SESD) of the Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT) was launched at the celebration to mark the 200th Birthday of Louis Braille.

This software helps the visually impaired to read a document, to use it to type Sinhala text and for proof reading. This software comes in handy as it improves the accuracy levels of their Sinhala typing as well.

This follows a request by Sri Lanka Council for the Blind from the SESD of SLIIT to explore the possibilities of developing a software which would open doors of knowledge to the visually impaired.

Dean/ Research of SLIIT Dr. Koliya Pulasinghe guided a dedicated batch of students, who undertook an year’s extensive research, to develop an appropriate software engine. Samson Perera, a visually impaired professional representing the Sri Lanka Council for the Blind has been working hand in hand with the project team from day one. Perera who works for the Sri Lanka Council for the Blind is well conversant with Microsoft Word and Excel. He undertakes training for the visually impaired at the Council.

The Nuwana Sinhala Text to Speech software will be made available to all those interested, free by the Sri Lanka Council for the Blind.

Biz Tech quiz

This week’s Biz Tech quiz is “what is known in computers as cookies?”

The winner will receive the world’s smallest computer mouse sponsored by Sala Enterprises. Sala Enterprises is involved in marketing IT related products for over 14 years.

You can send your answers to [email protected] or post your answers to Sala Enterprises, 445, Havelock Road, Colombo 6. Please mark “Daily News Biz Tech quiz” on your answers. The winner will be announced every two weeks.