The Hindu : `Industry should use IT to predict future'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Feb 22, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

`Industry should use IT to predict future'

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI, FEB. 21. Information technology (IT) may be used to exploit the "factor advantage" of India (low wage cost) in the short-term but the country cannot achieve global competitiveness unless businesses learn to use IT to analyse and predict the future in terms of market and technological requirements, R. Seshasayee, Ashok Leyland managing director, said here yesterday.

There was no alternative to leapfrogging in technology for Indian companies in the liberalised policy environment. There was an "inverse relationship" between an open-door policy and flow of technology from abroad. When the country had a closed economy, foreign companies could enter the Indian market only by sharing their technology, even if the technologies offered were not of contemporary status. However, liberalisation resulted in a situation where domestic companies would have to develop technology on their own, he said, inaugurating a two-day, fifth Cost Congress of the Confederation of Indian Industry — Southern Region (CII-SR) devoted to the theme, "Enhancing Global Competitiveness Through Technology."

Leapfrogging would be possible only if Indian industry had faith in its capabilities. Companies need not waste resources in reinventing technology which was already developed but they could make a beginning with technology "embedded in everyday life." "Infant ideas are available crying for parentage, and our task is to identify and adopt them."

Mr. Seshasayee cited the example of credit card companies using the database available from the business to analyse and predict the behaviour and the emerging and latent requirements of their customers and offer products and services. In the automotive industry, development of hydrogen and other alternative fuels was a technological option. The industry, under a project of the Department of Science and Technology of the Union government, had embarked on a plan for using telematics to guide omnibuses to allotted bays in busy terminals such as Koyambedu here, Mr. Seshasayee said to explain how IT and telecommunication could be used innovatively for concept/product development and improving efficiency.

Narayan Sethuramon, joint managing director, W.S. Industries, said technology should be used creatively to enhance competitiveness.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Tamil Nadu