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Biz tech
The role of software as a service
SaaS or Software as a service, is computer based applications and
services that are provided via remote delivery to end users rather than
as a packaged product to be purchased and installed by the end user.
Here an interview with the Suntel’s Head of Corporate Solutions,
Ranjith Fernando on SaaS.
Q: How would SaaS transform software investments in future?
The beauty of the solution is that you can use it based on the
requirement without spending initial capital expenditure to obtain
services.
With the current global economic turmoil calls CEO’s of almost all
companies to do business in smarter ways. Ways where earlier we have not
even dreamt of. Software as a Service refers to one such way of doing
business as an when you would want it.This opens a whole new world of
opportunities for commercial establishments plus software vendors.
The SaaS model provides the platform for experimentation on usage. If
this is a success immediately adopt and expand on the services. If not
you have freedom to stop it.
On the other hand the vendors could open up a whole new market of
opportunities. Many companies who could not afford expensive world class
software or servers for that matter would fall in the radar for them.
This would of course be volume based business.
Q: What would be the role of a telco company given these
opportunities on offer
We are committed to establishing this eco system around the whole
concept. From one side you have software vendors and on the other hand
we are talking about customers who wants to aggregate their demands so
that a software can become affordable based on licensing.
There is a natural requirement for a intermediary party to host such
services and then to look after the infrastructure and complications
such as security, flexibility and scalability which arises along with
that.
A telco operator can play in this space as the solution integrator
and deliverer facilitating this transaction. From the customer point of
view they would naturally like a party who can handle their Wide Area
Network and a party who already have experience in this area with the
service standards.
The IDC infrastructure a company has also play a key role here as
this would ensure disaster recover mechanisms and information security
based on whether the IDC is certified by world information security
standards.
Q: What are the global trends in this area?
Based on a research done by Gartner INC in 2008 Dec found out that
the adoption of SaaS would increase by 90% in year 2009. SaaS is a model
of business which is here to stay. The economic crunch experienced in
year 2009 saw many top notch software firms commenting on SaaS direction
more positively.
Q: How far is Sri Lanka on this map?
Actually we are not. If you see the telecom industry where most of
the local companies have affiliations with their foreign partners,
technology flows quite fast. In a similar fashion adaptation of this
concept is likewise.
We ourselves are already having services in about four product ranges
including HR, Automated receptionist services, CRM applications and
surveillance. Some products have been instant successes where as others
the adoption would be through a life cycle.
Never the less we look at the market very optimistically as we want
to bring new services to our customers which will help them to be more
price competitive and add more value to their businesses.
This is the long term relationship we look forward with our
customers. Apart from this the IDC facilities we have ,which are up to
world standards sets us the correct platform to launch these services in
Sri Lanka.
So in short we as a country are very much in the game in SaaS model
of business.
Making software defect-free :
Virtusa TestFest 2010 was held on the February 25, as Virtusa
Corporation presented its groundbreaking software testing festival.
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At Virtusa
TestFest 2010 |
The event was organized to celebrate software testing and quality
assurance professionals and their contribution to the IT industry, in an
ever evolving world where quality plays a crucial and fundamental role.
This opportunity enabled first-hand experience on how software testing
tools, innovative methods, techniques and processes are designed,
implemented and used by professionals in the IT industry.
The festival, open to all Virtusa employees, IT students, industry
specialists and industry enthusiast, was intended to provide awareness
on some of the new developments in software testing and quality
assurance field.
The event also provided firsthand knowledge on using some of the
newer tools, technologies and best practices to quality engineers in
order to improve their productivity in software testing and quality
assurance.
This full-day event included an agenda of Testing Demonstrations,
Career Guidance and Interactive Time with Professionals, Quiz Programs
and Whitepaper Presentations.
Virtusa General Manager, Madu Ratnayake said over the last decade
they have built a very strong testing and quality assurance capability.
“We hope to enhance this capability in number of new core domain
areas to further strengthen our offering to global clients.
TestFest is a great platform for Virtusans to showcase their
capabilities. It was amazing to see the kind of innovation showcased by
Virtusans in multiple areas of quality assurance”, he said.
Huawei awards managed services contract to Sierra Global
Sierra Global, a subsidiary of Sierra Group has been awarded the
Managed Services contract by Huawei of China.
Huawei has emerged as a major player in Managed Services sector
reporting over 45 managed services contracts with global
telecommunication operators at the end of 2008 with an increase in sales
of managed services of 67 percent for 2008.
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Huawei Procurement Manager, Yunus
Shaik, Procurement Leader for Sri Lanka Huawei John Paul
Zhang Jian, Sierra Global Director/CEO, Dr. Arosha Fernando,
General Manager Sierra Global, Laffry Mazahir, Sierra Global
Deputy General Manager Muditha Kariyakarawana, exchange
agreements. |
This has significantly increased during the last year, and it is
expected to increase further during year 2010.
Awarding of the contract to Sierra Global of implementing the
project, Huawei has further strengthen their relationship with Sierra
Global.
Huawei’s Procurement Leader for Sri Lanka market, John Paul Zhang
Jian said ‘they are pleased to sign up with Sierra Global on this
Managed Services contract considering their long experience of 30 years
in the telecommunication industry and presence across the country
through their regional offices based in over 100 locations including all
main towns.
“Sierra Global is our first sub contractor in Sri Lanka and has
undertaken majority of Huawei’s telecommunication implementation work up
to date covering projects towards Mobitel, Airtel, Lanka Bell, Suntel,
Dialog Broadband, Tritel and SLT,” he said.
Sierra Global’s Director / CEO, Dr. Arosha Fernando commented ‘It has
been incepted in our minds to change the strategy of the company and to
move into Managed Services in line with the industry trends in the
telecommunication sector compared with the rest of the world. This
strategy was initially developed 4 years ago, and today the concept has
become a reality with the already awarded managed services contract from
Huawei.”
“Tower construction operations will be carried on as usual but the
work has significantly decreased and will continue to decrease in time
to come.
Hence, our main focus would be managed service in the future” Dr.
Fernando said.
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