 "Businesses have to be cautious while putting crucial data into cloud: Luis Alvarez")
One needs to understand what type of data is moved into cloud and the flow from one end to another, Luis Alvarez tells Sangeeta Tanwar
How do you see BT Global Services contributing to the government's 'Make in India' programme?
For Make in India programme, we are partnering with global companies and facilitating the setting-up of manufacturing facilities in India. We have established partnerships with companies such as Rolls Royce and Unilever. Our contribution to Make in India programme is directed to ensuring that the companies that are manufacturing out of India are able to benefit from the global ecosystem of relationships. Another area relates to the technology solutions space. Our research team based out of the company's technology centre in Gurgaon works on developing innovative technology solutions for global customers. Therefore, the company is not manufacturing anything physical in India but is in the business of creating solutions for its customers.
What are the industries that are going to drive cloud services in India? How well is BT Global Services placed to tap the opportunities offered by a growing cloud services market?
The banking and financial services are a growing market for cloud services in India. Automobile is the next big industry driving the cloud services business. Within the automobile space, not only are manufacturers focusing on cloud services but even the ecosystem partners such as car or tractor component manufacturers are adopting cloud services. In this space, we are working with companies such as Fiat, and Tata Motors. We are also witnessing growing demand for cloud services from the pharmaceutical and health care industry. We have a strong network globally as well as in India. We are present in nine cities and have access to 120 more across India. More importantly, for us the volume of work in terms of connections and services is growing in double digits.
How are you leveraging the cloud computing opportunity to better serve your customers? What are your plans to monetise cloud computing in India?
The company is looking at a number of opportunities to monetise its cloud offering. First, we are tapping into global companies that are operating in India. Second, we are pitching to our existing clients for more business.
Cloud services is a dynamic business and we are focused on differentiating BT Global Services' offerings in terms of our focus on cyber security, interoperability and end-to-end data management services for customers. For example, we offer organisations the choice of moving select data and services on our cloud platform. The client can adopt BT Global Services' cloud platform even as it chooses to use applications and services by others such as Amazon Web Services or SAP etc. Moreover, our network offers low latency ensuring that response time for organisations while serving their customers is low. We see ourselves as the glue which holds partners (organisations) and customers together.
What are the challenges impacting the adoption of cloud computing in India?
Rather than talking about challenges per se, I would make few recommendations for businesses.
First, businesses need to ensure that they do not put things in cloud that do not work well. This means that one needs to design applications and workflow intelligently and then use technology to make it work better. Second, one needs to understand what type of data is going to be moved into cloud. Essentially, businesses have to be cautious while putting crucial data into cloud - for example, hospitals need to be careful while hosting patients' data on cloud, banks need to safeguard information of their customers while retailers have to play safe with shoppers' credit card information. Third, businesses have to be sure of who is going to access the applications created in cloud and for what purpose. This is important to determine availability of the right devices and required bandwidth for accessing specific applications.
How do you see new technologies blurring the divide between the telecom and information technology (IT) industry and the same impacting businesses of firms including yours?
Increasingly, businesses are witnessing convergence between fixed and mobile telephony, voice and data services, and telecom and IT. Globally, telecom and IT industry were the first to move into cloud. We understand that communication and connectivity are critical for our clients' business but the company is clear that it will not get into developing software or applications because it is pure IT play.
In India, we will continue Strengthening our network presence and make it 4G and 5G ready by laying more fibre. A fibre-based network will help the company connect its big data centres and provide connectivity to customers. Further, in an age where huge volume of content is being generated by users, the focus will be on managing big data using cloud services. With the proliferation of wearable devices, technology is influencing and changing the way humans interact. In such an environment, BT Global Services will continue working towards cloud led and IT driven solutions to further help improve businesses' their ability to interact with customers.
How do you see BT Global Services contributing to the government's 'Make in India' programme?
For Make in India programme, we are partnering with global companies and facilitating the setting-up of manufacturing facilities in India. We have established partnerships with companies such as Rolls Royce and Unilever. Our contribution to Make in India programme is directed to ensuring that the companies that are manufacturing out of India are able to benefit from the global ecosystem of relationships. Another area relates to the technology solutions space. Our research team based out of the company's technology centre in Gurgaon works on developing innovative technology solutions for global customers. Therefore, the company is not manufacturing anything physical in India but is in the business of creating solutions for its customers.
More From This Section
The banking and financial services are a growing market for cloud services in India. Automobile is the next big industry driving the cloud services business. Within the automobile space, not only are manufacturers focusing on cloud services but even the ecosystem partners such as car or tractor component manufacturers are adopting cloud services. In this space, we are working with companies such as Fiat, and Tata Motors. We are also witnessing growing demand for cloud services from the pharmaceutical and health care industry. We have a strong network globally as well as in India. We are present in nine cities and have access to 120 more across India. More importantly, for us the volume of work in terms of connections and services is growing in double digits.
How are you leveraging the cloud computing opportunity to better serve your customers? What are your plans to monetise cloud computing in India?
The company is looking at a number of opportunities to monetise its cloud offering. First, we are tapping into global companies that are operating in India. Second, we are pitching to our existing clients for more business.
Cloud services is a dynamic business and we are focused on differentiating BT Global Services' offerings in terms of our focus on cyber security, interoperability and end-to-end data management services for customers. For example, we offer organisations the choice of moving select data and services on our cloud platform. The client can adopt BT Global Services' cloud platform even as it chooses to use applications and services by others such as Amazon Web Services or SAP etc. Moreover, our network offers low latency ensuring that response time for organisations while serving their customers is low. We see ourselves as the glue which holds partners (organisations) and customers together.
What are the challenges impacting the adoption of cloud computing in India?
Rather than talking about challenges per se, I would make few recommendations for businesses.
First, businesses need to ensure that they do not put things in cloud that do not work well. This means that one needs to design applications and workflow intelligently and then use technology to make it work better. Second, one needs to understand what type of data is going to be moved into cloud. Essentially, businesses have to be cautious while putting crucial data into cloud - for example, hospitals need to be careful while hosting patients' data on cloud, banks need to safeguard information of their customers while retailers have to play safe with shoppers' credit card information. Third, businesses have to be sure of who is going to access the applications created in cloud and for what purpose. This is important to determine availability of the right devices and required bandwidth for accessing specific applications.
How do you see new technologies blurring the divide between the telecom and information technology (IT) industry and the same impacting businesses of firms including yours?
Increasingly, businesses are witnessing convergence between fixed and mobile telephony, voice and data services, and telecom and IT. Globally, telecom and IT industry were the first to move into cloud. We understand that communication and connectivity are critical for our clients' business but the company is clear that it will not get into developing software or applications because it is pure IT play.
In India, we will continue Strengthening our network presence and make it 4G and 5G ready by laying more fibre. A fibre-based network will help the company connect its big data centres and provide connectivity to customers. Further, in an age where huge volume of content is being generated by users, the focus will be on managing big data using cloud services. With the proliferation of wearable devices, technology is influencing and changing the way humans interact. In such an environment, BT Global Services will continue working towards cloud led and IT driven solutions to further help improve businesses' their ability to interact with customers.