Technology

IFS focuses more on foreign projects, forex

by Surekha GALAGODA

IFS, the Global Enterprise Applications company will focus more on foreign projects this year to balance the mix and also earn more foreign exchange but we will never neglect our local clients, said Vice President South Asia IFS Solution Asia Pacific Jayantha de Silva.

He said that the company is planning some contingencies while IFS will work in synergy with other companies to mitigate the effects of the down turn that is gripping the world.

The core areas of IFS are Defence such as Lockheed Martin, Enterprise asset management and not the traditional areas of banking and insurance.

Therefore, we are relatively better than our competitors and friends, said De Silva.

The demand will not decrease as we are in areas such as defence where the demand will not decease.

Software professionals

He said the way a company remodels will decide on whether the company will stay in business or not as this is the time to explore new opportunities and analyse the business model being followed at present.

Then the company will be able to identify the strengths and weaknesses and develop accordingly.

Within a very short period Sri Lanka has proved that its software professionals are second to none.

For example, the discarded rate of Sri Lankan software professionals are negligible compared to professionals in other countries which are perceived as good.

The software professionals formed the Association, SLASCOM, somewhat similar to NASCOM. As an industry the number of people in the industry is small and at present software to the value of $250,000-300,000 is exported while the target was to export software to the value of US$ 1 bln by 2012.

Now we together with the IT enabled services industry have a large number where we can make a representation and together we have increased our target to $ 2 bln.

Together we go to the international market as one entity. SLASCOM is working closely with the government and the response is very encouraging.

The Government has given the software and IT enabled industry a huge concession on PAYE tax.

The software industry did not market themselves and we are also to be blamed for that, now it is time to exploit the situation and market ourselves. Whatever said and done people will settle for a lower price.

Challenges

Most of the things perceived as challenges or problems are not the real challenges. Some of the companies with all challenges have done extremely well. IFS made an investment of US$ 1.2 bln in 2008 and the net value of the investment is Rs. 1.2 bln.

The biggest problem faced by the industry is the capacity of people.

The demand for Sri Lankans from other countries will be affected due to recession. IFS will not curtail recruitment but we will recruit more to cater to the demand.

"I am confident that the industry will not have a long term repercussion, but it is a time for companies to look back.

Bigger the economy, bigger will be the affects, but the affects on developing nations such as us will be small. In addition some individuals have the capacity to cushion it and overcome the challenges in a short time.

Huge demand

We are focusing on software exports and IT enabled services. The domestic IT industry is small and they will be affected but it will be short term.

There will be an impact on exports and IT enabled services due to the downturn but it will be relatively small.Local IT companies are trying to do the same thing but now they also have to rethink, revisit and restratergise.

Speaking of IFS, De Silva said that 2008 was their best year internationally and regionally and growth will be 30%.There is a huge demand for our staffers and we are finding it difficult to cope with the demand.

The demand is high and we have to be better than the international staff. My people are valued more than any country in the region.

The IFS staff are trained and developed to have a knowledge of every aspect or to be "Jack of all trades." Our consultants are more priced but they have the highest demand.

Due to this fact we get a good profit and an exposure while the customer gets a good product. The integrity of my staff is very high and I have not got any complaints from customers about my staff.

AV Corporation introduces Optoma Pico Pocket projector

Latest DLP Projector Technology exhibited :

AV Corporation (AVC), has introduced the Optoma Pico Pocket Projector, adding another dimension in the DLP multimedia projector category in Sri Lanka. This was initially exhibited at Sri Lanka's premier ICT exhibition INFOTEL 2008.

The Pico Projector weighs 115g (4oz) and is positively svelte for a projector sized at 50 mm across, 103 mm in height and 15 mm deep. It is lighter than an average multimedia mobile phone that is found in the current market.

This audio supported device is perfect for viewing video and images from an iPod or media phone and small enough to be comfortably carried in a pocket.

The re-chargeable battery operated Optoma Pico projects video and images up to 60 inches.

The pocket projector usage is ideal for workstations, travel based employees, businessmen on tour and especially for executives on customer visits where they could easily display the presentations with light weighted instruments as such. This would be an ideal portable device even for scholars to display their presentations when working on field studies.

Head of AV Corporation (Pvt.) Ltd., Sanjeev Thurusinghe said, "Optoma is focused in developing and marketing projection systems; it is their speciality positioned itself as the projection expert.

Optoma stands out from other competitors in the industry; also provides innovative products that are carefully crafted to incorporate the latest technology.

We are transferring this promise to Sri Lanka.

The introduction of Pico Pocket Projector will revolutionise the whole projector market.

Our market is 60% corporate and AVC as a respected audio visual company has identified the importance of inducting the best technology to Sri Lanka". "Our greatest strength is our team; we provide extensive training and promote development across all disciplines," he said.

Head of Technical AVC, Indika Gurusinghe said, "DLP (Digital Light Processing) is a proprietary technology developed by Texas Instruments. Compared with LCD, the traditional projector technology DLP projected image has more benefits ranging from high contrast ratios, picture and text readability, lower power consumption and less heat dissipation which results in minimal total cost of ownership".

Klevenberg showcases its Total Auto Electrical Solution

Klevenberg (Pte) Ltd. showcased the concept of 'Total Auto Electrical Solution' at the recently held Formula Plus Motor Show 2008, organised by the Classic Car Club of Ceylon. Pioneers in Mobile Battery Service, Diesel Emission Control and Synthetic Lubricants, Klevenberg launched yet another innovative concept "Total Auto Electrical Solution".

This year approximately 200,000 visited the motor show and most of them were attracted to visit the stall done by Klevenberg on a unique concept 'Total Auto Electrical Solution'.

The stall covered globally leading brands such as Lucas, Champion, Simoniz, Lucas TRW, Delphi, Lucas TVS, Hartridge, Stanadyne, Lumax and Britpart for Land Rover. Klevenberg had a separate Technical Corner for schoolchildren and students of Technical Colleges where technical experts educated them on motor engineering and issued various educational material on complimentary basis.

A Formulae 3 car which was displayed within the Klevenberg stall which was sponsored by Lucas, Champion, Simoniz and Delphi all of which are agencies held by Klevenberg. Formulae drivers have relied so much on Champion Spark Plugs and the recent winner powered by Champion was Renault's double world champion, Spaniard Fernando Alonso, driving a Renault RS27, captured the first ever night F-1 victory of the sensational Singapore Grand Prix. Champion has made history in motor racing and the recent Formulae winners such as Alonso, Schumacher and Hamilton have made a spark ignited by Champion.