Before adopting the solutions from IBM, what were some of the challenges you faced?
Atin: Before selecting the IT infra from IBM, we have been using their hardware solutions. We were also using services from different vendors. Our database management services, ERP and infrastructure management were managed by third parties. We also needed to upgrade the hardware as the company had grown and we needed the space. So we approached IBM.
What is the advice that IBM offers companies when they approach you for solutions?
Ravi: The way dialogues have shaped up last two decades is phenomenal. Finding out the business needs and the current performance and interoperability, we arrive at the platform support that needs to be offered. For instance, Karam Industries was using Power 8. Just a mere upgrade is not enough. Digital transformation is about bringing in new applications, new workloads and landscape.
Atin: IBM understood our needs and looked at our environment and the systems and applications we were looking for. Their way of looking at solutions is based our ambitions and they did not ignore the other applications that we were already using. They even consider the future technologies that will emerge and ways we could then step up based on our growth.
What are some of the disruptions you see in manufacturing post-covid-19?
Atin: I agree there will be disruptions in manufacturing. Pre-covid-19 there were some sectors that saw plenty of disruptions. Covid-19 is a gloomy time for manufacturing. Our plants are running, but there are several restrictions because of the seriousness of the situation. Technology is allowing us to achieve much.
Ravi: For us, ensuring that all applications are available and that it offers security. Pre-pandemic, everything was related to digital transformation. But it was only spoken about. It is the pandemic that ensured that many implemented it so as to allow their processes to function, even while many worked from home. The applications, per se, are not disruptions, but they have grown over time. In fact, more are going to get added to the landscape. The future is all about more collaboration, and more applications. IT must become inter-operable. Cloud will help enable much.
Atin: We had more than 300-plus applications running. The challenge was listening to IBM while juggling the existing ones. We were in a quandary. Managing all this is a cumbersome task for a manufacturing unit. It is important to select the right technology, partner who are experts, then half the battle is won. Now we don’t have to worry about the technology, but only look at manufacturing and sales. We have adopted the hybrid model and preferred to avoid 100% Cloud or in-house servers.
Considering the numerous solutions available in the market, what is your USP and how do you stand out?
Ravi: From a technology standpoint, we bring architectures which can fit in seamlessly in hybrid architecture. We talk about compute, a robust processor with high performance and security features. We have a great Open Source and some of the technologies we have on our applications will help the users curtail access and maintain the level of security they seek. The unique advantage that we have is the ability to cater to al possible workloads – your digital workload, your Open Source workload, your business workload, etc.
Atin: The performance we are getting from IBM after using their applications is 175% better than what we are used to. This is the commitment that has come in from IBM, and we know they will do justice to our investment.