Role of IT in textile sector is key to success – Mr Subramanyan

18 Nov '09

6 min read

The next slide delved on the technology tools available in the marketplace, among which he listed Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), Supply Chain Management (SCM), Customer Relationship Management (CRM) and Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) as the key tools which could help the sector. ERP he said manages and integrates a number of different business activities within a company, including order processing, materials sourcing, manufacturing, account handling and logistics, but the challenge is in choosing the right ERP and effective utilization of the same.

He further explained that in fashion and textile business, the demand changes rapidly due to changing fashion trends which creates volatile market situations and this unpredictability and shortened lead time creates difficulties for supply chain, the answer to which is an effective SCM, which can help overcome the difficulties. CRM, he said puts the customer at the heart of an organization and tailoring communications, systems, processes and procedures around a customer needs, are vital building blocks that define CRM.

The last but not the least; PLM manages all central product data, enabling users to reuse that data to improve the speed of accurate and real time information and have complete visibility of progress and any issues. PLM emerged in the world of apparel from such tools as CAD (Computer Aided Design), GMS (Grading and Marker Making Systems) and PDM (Product Data Management), he said.

Next on the topic were the 'Business Intelligence Tools' available within the information technology domain, which he said helps in improving organizations by providing business insights to all employees leading to better, faster, more relevant decisions with the means of Advanced Analytics, Self Service Reporting, End-User Analysis, Business Performance Management, Operational Applications and Embedded Analytics.

He added by saying that Business Intelligence (BI) is about getting the right information, to the right decision makers, at the right time and BI leads to fact-based decision making, single version of the truth and also includes reporting and analytics.

Mr Subramanyan than explained the concept of 'Cloud Computing'. Cloud is a metaphor for internet, he said, which has two views. One is the engineering view and the other is the business view. Engineering view provides services on virtual machines allocation on lap of large physical machine, while business view is a method to address scalability for large scale applications.

The next presentation delved on the checklist for success in generating value in information, communication and technology. Mr Subramanyan explained in detail each of the steps like; Carry out an independent assessment of the quality of existing output and whether quality could be improved by investment in ICT to ensure retention of existing business and analyze how to improve speed-to-market for time sensitive deliveries.

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