Technology

eSys to launch 'Gigabyte 10.1' Small Notebook

Sri Lanka's leading computer hardware distributor eSys Technologies Lanka Private Limited, a subsidiary of EZY Holdings will shortly launch the 'Gigabyte Booktop M1022M 10.1' Small Notebook.

Appointed recently as the sole distributors of Gigabyte laptops in Sri Lanka, eSys Technologies are proud to add the Gigabytes attractive range to the many products distributed by the company.

Shafraz Hamzadeen with the new Gigabyte 10.1

The M1022M is the result of countless hours of ingenuity and creativity, featuring an Intel Atom N270 mobile Processor, 1GB of DDR 11 memory and a 2.5" 160GB SATA hard drive which is upgradable to 320GB. It also features Windows 7 Starter, widely acknowledged as the best operating system Microsoft has ever released.

Other features include Bluetooth 2.1 with enhanced data rate which increases transfer speeds by up to 3 times that of a conventional Bluetooth connection, thus rivalling Bluetooth connections in the latest PDAs and cellular phones. It also supports Draft N Wireless Lan 802.11n, the fastest Wi-Fi connection currently available. The PC1 Express Card slot allows for expansion as well as upgrading to a 3.5G connection, offering Internet on the go at HSDPA speeds.

Featuring an elaborate and stylish design, with a keyboard that is 92% the size of a notebook, it is fully ergonomic with 17.5 mm keys, allowing for comfortable usage and extended hours.

"It's multiple features, combined with the flexibility of design will undoubtedly appeal to a broad spectrum of users with divergent needs and we are confident that it will be a hit in the local market", said Chief Executive, EZY Holdings, Shafraz Hamzadeen.

Incorporated in 2004, eSys Technologies grew to be the largest distributor for computer components in Sri Lanka within a span of 6 years. eSys Technologies has a strong regional sales and support team with over 200 employees focusing on distribution. The Company is financially robust with over US $ 3.5 million invested in infrastructure and products.

With an aggressive sales force and proactive solutions to their customers, eSys has changed the business dynamics of the computer trade in Sri Lanka.

"We have what is known as a 123 Express service to provide our partners an efficient solution. This focuses on 1-hour warranty, 2-hour technical training and 3-hour delivery of goods", said Hamzadeen.

The company has 10 regional offices focusing on developing the computer market by providing warehousing with approximately 30,000 square feet, and touches more than 1000 sales points across the country. Speaking on the recent tie up, Yaasir Nizam, General Manager eSys Technologies stated, "We are proud to partner with a company like Gigabyte. We believe their product line would ideally suit the local market in both design and price. I am positive that our infrastructure and market approach would undoubtedly position Gigabyte as a laptop to look out for". eSys Technologies plans on unveiling the entire range of lifestyle and business laptops of Gigabyte in within the first quarter of 2009.

IT-BPO Industry to attract UK SME clients

SLASSCOM, the national IT/BPO industry chamber, has initiated an aggressive promotional campaign in the UK in order to introduce Sri Lankan IT/BPO capabilities and to help build relationships with key decision makers in the UK and Europe.

"We are focusing on UK and Europe as one of our strategic markets to promote the Sri Lanka IT/BPO industry. UK has been a long-standing trade partner of Sri Lanka and through the partnership; we aim to extend this to the emerging IT/BPO industry" said Ashique M Ali, Director and Global Trade Forum Leader of SLASSCOM.

The growing IT-BPO industry in Sri Lanka offers a unique advantage for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in UK to enjoy premium access to a high quality talent pool, which is becoming increasingly challenging in large established destinations such as India and China. The environment is also highly conducive for establishing high-in-demand niche competency centers out of competition for even larger global services companies.

SLASSCOM organised a number of active campaigns and events in UK, along with ICTA to promote Sri Lanka as a lucrative IT/BPO destination.

The objective of this program is to create the necessary platform for the Sri Lankan enterprises to enter into UK market and to promote Sri Lanka as a destination for UK enterprises to be globally competitive.

Speaking on the success of the UK industry promotion program, Dinesh Saparamadu, Chairman of SLASSCOM said, "Sri Lanka is emerging as a global IT-BPO destination of choice in number of key focus domain areas. Sri Lanka is ranked among the Top 50 Global Outsourcing destinations by AT Kearney and ranked among Top 20 Emerging Cities by Global Services Magazine. The opportunity for Sri Lanka is significant and this is the ideal time for us to accelerate our national focus. We must focus on market development and capacity enhancement as priority actions. We are very excited about the potential and the opportunity for Sri Lanka".

The BPO sector focuses on Financial and Accounting services, Investment research, Engineering services and UK based Legal services among several other niche sectors. The IT-BPO industry has been identified as a thrust industry by the government.

Recognizing the potential of the industry, the government has taken number of positive steps by providing fiscal and other incentives and concessions to fast track the development of the sector.

GoodHope deploys Oracle E-Business Suite :

Increase efficiencies while reducing costs

GoodHope Asia Holdings Ltd (GAHL) has deployed the Oracle E-Business Suite to help centralize information and processes and provide a single, consolidated platform across multiple locations.

The company has implemented Oracle Financials, Oracle Order Management, Oracle Purchasing, Oracle Human Resources Management System, and Oracle Payroll to significantly increased efficiencies while reducing costs.

"The Oracle E-Business Suite has allowed GAHL to centralize our financial, human resources, and product ordering and trading operations, which has significantly reduced the cost associated with managing these functions across the group," said Kevin de Silva, IT Director, GoodHope Asia Holdings Ltd.

"Oracle Financial in particular is very flexible and robust and can be modelled in any way we require.

Oracle is also the only company that can provide integrated end-to-end applications.

With these centralized functions, we are eliminating duplicated efforts across the businesses in Indonesia and Malaysia."

GAHL has diverse business interests in Colombo, Sri Lanka and across South East Asia, with oil plantations run by Carson Cumberbatch PLC.

Under a shared services arrangement, eleven oil plantations in Malaysia and Indonesia use Oracle Order Management to order fertilizers, chemicals, spare parts and other materials required to run the operations.

As a result, GAHL benefits from a streamlined ordering process that increases the company's bargaining power with its suppliers.

Around forty companies within the Carson Group in Sri Lanka, Malaysia, and Indonesia are using Oracle Financials.

With the help of this implementation, the consolidated financial reports enable GAHL to receive financial reports in three days rather than weeks or months.

"This is a landmark project for us and a great example of the seamless end-to-end capabilities that Oracle can deliver to a conglomerate with a diverse group of businesses," said Dr. Vickum Senanayake, Country Manager, Sri Lanka and Maldives, Oracle.

"With access to accurate and timely information across the entire organization, GHAL is now positioned to make better, more informed decisions and operate at a faster, more cost-efficient pace."

Oracle Order Management is being used at five oil palm plantations across Malaysia and Indonesia to enable effective inventory management, real-time visibility of production and shipment tracking online.

Oracle Payroll and Oracle Human Resources Management System are being used at the GAHL Colombo office, to expedite payroll and recruitment activities; the process is being managed by only two employees for all the companies, plantations.

Once salaries are processed, the information is sent to Oracle Human Resources Management System and made available for staff to view online at their convenience with the necessary authorizations.