Facilities Management
Facilities management is the integration of processes within an organization to maintain and develop services, which will support and improve the effectiveness of the organization's primary activities. Within this fast growing professional discipline, facilities managers have extensive responsibilities for providing, maintaining, and developing multiple services. These range from space management and communications infrastructure to building maintenance, administration, and contract management.

Hosting Services/E-Business
As companies are constantly increasing their Web presence, hosting service providers are offering an array of solutions that also include corporate e-mail options. Today, most small companies have loaded their websites with static pages carrying corporate information. However, advanced companies are exploiting the Web by getting into e-business methods that enable companies to link their internal and external data processing systems in a more efficient and flexible manner. This has resulted in companies working more closely with suppliers and partners to better satisfy the needs of their customers

IT Consulting
Consultants offer strategic inputs to their enterprise clients to help them get maximum benefits from technology deployment. These consulting companies cover different user segments-automobile, BFSI, government, healthcare, telecom, et al. They carry out feasibility studies in which they try to understand user requirements and advise on technology selection, cost-benefit analysis, RoI analysis, etc. They also create or improve their clients' business processes like enterprise resource planning, supply chain management, and customer relationship management. Overall, the purpose is to help enterprises align technology resources with core business objectives. Some technology consultants also provide training to users on application usage or specialized technology areas.

IT Training Services
In this information age of rapid technological changes and innovation, it has become mandatory to continuously upgrade ones skills, and that of the employees for optimum use of available resources. Training schools impart quality education by conducting periodic seminars on IT trends and training in networks, Internet, hardware maintenance, systems administration, and emerging technologies like video conferencing etc. They also have special curriculum for corporate training that includes real-time case studies.

Managed Services
Organizations have realized the need for handing over their IT-related functions and business processes into the hands of specialist managed services providers. This allows them to concentrate on their core business activities. Some of the managed services that are provided include Data Warehousing, Business Intelligence, and Infrastructure Management. These add value through efficient use of technology to deliver tangible business benefits to customers.

Network Integration
As LAN and Internet connectivity become the cornerstones of a robust IT infrastructure, traditional vendors and maintenance companies have evolved to become comprehensive network integrators. Today, they not only provide software and computer systems but also advanced network integration solutions like network planning, deployment testing, bandwidth optimization, management of converged or next gen networks to carry data, voice, and video. As compared to small companies, big companies are the real users of these services as they deal with unpredictable workloads and mission-critical information. That is why they are signing stronger SLAs.

Packaged Software & Implementation
Though the market is flooded with software packages for diverse corporate needs, the demand for packaged software is yet to take off. A very large number of small and medium businesses are embracing technology to streamline their business processes. However, initially, buyers like to deploy only low-cost local solutions. So local vendors need to refine their marketing strategies to meet that need. They should be able to woo buyers with modular products that allow them to move gradually toward total automation.

Rentals
For temporary business needs like organizing a workshop, training, seminars etc, companies now don't need to buy expensive equipment like computers, projectors, and printers. They can get all these under one roof from the rental service companies for a day, month or even an entire year, depending on the requirement. These companies provide equipment at cheaper rates with facilities like onsite maintenance and payment on installment basis.

Security
Though information security has always been top priority for CIOs or IT managers, the need for security is more pronounced in the emerging compliance regime. Similarly, for companies that want to start or expand the scope of their businesses through e-channels, systems and network security are among the prime requirements. Security solutions cover areas such as secure content management, threat management, identity access management, and authentication. Advanced solutions include Unified Threat Management, which helps companies easily implement and manage various security functions at reduced TCO levels. So for ensuring consistent security for their information systems, enterprises can hire the services of specialized vendors who can help them formulate right policies, keeping in view their present and future information management requirements.

System Integration
In any industry the need for system integration (SI) is growing every day to optimally use the information that resides in the legacy systems. The need of SI often arises, when the company wants to integrate a new system with an existing or legacy system. Multiple systems (hardware and software) are integrated for inputting, processing, interpreting, storing, and categorizing data to meet key business goals as opposed to more expensive customized implementations that may require original programming or manufacture of unique components.

Compiled by Sandeep Kumar Sharma 
sandeeps@cybermedia.co.in

Page(s)   1  2