IT Life: Thinking Big

Tell us about your current role, how long have you been in IT and what are your areas of expertise?
I have been in IT since 1994. I am currently the Global Chief Operating Officer at NIIT Technologies which is a specialist IT solutions organization that focuses on key verticals which include Travel and Transportation, Banking and Financial Services, Insurance, Manufacturing and Media. My area of expertise is advising companies on their technology strategy in order to achieve their business objectives.

What motivates you right now?
New technologies in every field. I think we are entering into a new technological era with not just exciting new technologies but also an increasing willingness by businesses to experiment and accept failure (as long as they fail fast and fail cheap).

What has been your favorite project so far?
Most recently it has been helping farmers in Asia get the best market price for their produce through a combination of an auction platform, real time analytics and mobile apps. Next step – Africa.

What technologies were you involved with ten years ago?
It was mostly ERP – SAP and Oracle. At the time many of my clients in Europe were considering a wall to wall SAP strategy. It’s amazing how times have changed as clients today increasingly consider ERP systems as systems of record (back end systems) and are looking at cloud based software for systems of engagement.

Who is your tech hero and who is your tech villain?
My tech hero is Mr. NRN Murthy. He made millions of graduates in a then third world nation. He believed that they were good enough to make a substantial difference to companies and people across the globe. Social media trolls are my pet hate. I was bought up with the adage that ‘if you have nothing nice to say, don’t say anything’.

What’s your favorite device ever made and what do you use the most?
I have a Palm Pilot and Ericsson P900 in my office desk, mostly for nostalgic reasons.  I am currently digging the pen that comes with my Surface Pro. As an inveterate note taker it is helping me be more effective and travel a little lighter.

What’s the greatest challenge for an IT company/department today?
Digital Darwinism – Be the Disrupter or at the very least be a Fast Follower and ensure that you don’t get disrupted.

Apart from your own, which company do you admire the most and why?
3M for the Innovation DNA that runs right through the organisation and has been so for decades.

What did you want to be when you were a child?
A fighter pilot (We lived closed to an air force base).

Sudhir Chaturvedi is global COO at NIIT Technologies

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