Open Source Solutions Save Kerala Electricity Board Whopping Rs 8 Crore!

                     If FOSS (Free and Open source) needed any validation at all, KSEB’s use of open source solutions for its IT needs should be as good as any. Within a few years of opting for open source solutions for critical functions like accounting and billing, KSEB has made savings to the tune of Rs 7-8 crore.

    

                     KSEB started its open source journey by implementing a billing software Oruma back in 2006. Then came an accounting software named Saras. The databases that KSEB uses for managing information of millions of users also uses Postgre SQL. Even KSEB’s new site is now developed in Joomla. That’s some open source friendly organization!

 

                         The coverage here by Linuxforyou has a detailed analysis of the technical aspects of these solutions. What I find interesting is that a government body took the extra effort to not go for the propitiatory route and instead implemented open source solution in what looks like a well thought out strategy.

                       The technical details do suggest that KSEB takes their IT very seriously and opting for open source solutions was not only a way to increase savings but have a salable and efficient IT infrastructure in place.

                       With open source solutions, KSEB makes significant savings on the yearly license fees and renewal upgrades alone that standard enterprise solutions would cost, leave aside the one time software costs.

                       In addition, KSEB cites that open source solutions provide the ownership of code which can help the in-house team to rectify issues themselves or seek help from a large online community.

                      This is not the first case of a government body opting for open source solutions. Back in 2008, Tamil Nadu government opted for a Linux distribution instead of Microsoft’s OS. It actually makes a lot of sense for e-government initiatives to opt for open source solutions. Not only will these save the government tons of money but it could help making open source alternatives more common place. Infact, policies in countries like Africa etc. mandate the use of open source solutions for e-government projects. 

What are your thoughts on KSEB’s success story with FOSS? Do you think more and more government bodies should take the cue and follow suit?

Apple’s iPhone 4S delivers an elephant fart, except for maybe Siri !

                   There is a folklore in India which goes like this. A village has never seen an elephant. One day an elephant came to the village and every villager was happy to see it. Some fed it, some bathed it and some worshipped it. The village was happy with the elephant.

                  One day a villager got inquisitive and popped up a question. What would be elephant’s fart like? Now that’s a valid question worth pursuing. Given the size of the elephant the expectations were pretty high. Everybody took their own precautions and were watching it from far.

                  They waited and waited and waited. Just like we all did for the Apple’s event to start on October 4, 2011. Then something happened. It was insignificant. Everybody were looking at each other : Is that what I think it is? Was that it? To be sure, the villagers came closer and closer. Then elephant went on for one more time. That was it. And it was no different. It was like any other. It was normal. Villagers were mighty disappointed.

The elephant story perfectly reflects the mood of what happened at the end of Apple event.

           

             For a company like Apple which is expected to throw innovation after innovation, iPhone 4S was a mighty disappointment. First 45 minutes went on about Apple’s stats on $3 bn it paid to the developers, 250000 iOS devices sold, 78% market share in the tablet market and all of its Mac goodness.

               Then there were two lousy apps. One sends greetings as post cards to China and the other is some location based friend finding stuff. Then the event moved on to some more Apple ego boosting and then came Siri, the personal assistant which can recognize your voice.

               Siri will be available with iPhone 4S only, which by the way is the greatest iPhone ever as per Apple. What iPhone 4S got is a slightly better camera, slightly better battery, a faster processor and a faster graphics engine. A slightly better iPhone 4 is not what we expected out of this event. The fact that iPhone 4S can record videos in 1080p was magnified. I fail to understand why.

I have written 1080p many a time for most of the high-end Android phones. I’m not sure what’s the big deal anyway. I can go on for 1000 more words but the only way to sum it all succinctly is with this :

               Apple’s event on Oct 4, 2011 and the iPhone 4S turned out to be an elephant’s fart.

               One thing is clear though. Apple is clearly not interested in this event. May be we shouldn’t be interested in Apple either.

Should we be checking out the next Apple event? Let’s ask Siri.

Siri…. Siri…. Siri you there?

Looks like Siri is pissed too.

Cisco pushes for Tablet Adoption in Enterprise space, Launches Cius In India!

                     I have been extremely vocal about the penetration (or the lack of it) of tablets into the enterprise. There has been a small albeit significant uptake for tablets in the enterprise but for the most part tablets are finding it hard to find a place in the otherwise technology heavy enterprise segment. 

                    There are various reasons as to why tablet use has not picked up in the enterprise space including the obvious one, like tablets are not enterprise ready, there isn’t a strong use-case or that their position in the existing hardware ecosystem at enterprises is not well-defined.

However, there is one reason which is rather basic and makes the most sense-  

Lack Of Security.

                     For enterprises, information (data) is the biggest asset and no company can afford any compromises on that. With PC’s and LAN being the traditional modus operandi at majority of enterprises, the security aspect is handled aptly by tweaking firewalls and access filters. A tablet is structurally and functionally a  disruption in the sense it allows for sharing of information. A mobile device which lets for exchange of data over a 3G connection or a Wi-FI connection – that’s a big nightmare for the information security guy in the enterprise.

                   One reason why the existing tablet makers haven’t forayed into the enterprise segment by handling the security aspect is largely a function of the existing state of tablet market. On one hand, there is iPad and then there are those Android based tablet manufacturers. 

                 Well, I haven’t seen Apple really excited about the enterprise sales channel and Android being open source has its own challenges. One lesser discussed reason is that the majority of tablet makers have either been consumer based companies or have marketed their tablets primarily from a consumer standpoint.

               Enter Cisco  and you have an OEM which earns its bread and butter from Enterprise and Enterprise alone. Cisco is almost ubiquitous in the enterprise especially when it comes to Unified Communications (voice, data communications/networking).

               Cius is Cisco’s entry into the ever increasing list of tablets. What’s more, Cisco is playing to its strengths and is focused on the untapped enterprise segment. Cisco is now launching its tablet- Cius in India and is targeting the tablet at the enterprise

                  I do not track the tablet space very well but I do manage to read about a new tablet being launched every other day.

 

I do not remember anyone covering Cius’s launch and possibly because Cisco is not marketing it for the consumer segment.

               They are looking to leverage their strengths and targeting their entire marketing / sales efforts towards the enterprise segment. To put things into perspective, Cisco already has about 700,000 users in the enterprise for a variety of its IP telephony and networking products. 

               That’s a large enough target base to sell to and going by how enterprise sales cycle work, Cisco stands to work towards causing a serious disruption by bringing entire department resources to use tablets. With Cisco’s experience in enterprise sales, it may not face the friction other tablet makers are expected to face if they try selling it to the enterprise.

               With Cius, Cisco’s messaging is also very clear and ties perfectly with the enterprise. For one, they aren’t harping on the size of the appstore etc., but rather hinting at the enhanced security features on offer.

 

              Also supporting Cisco’s cause is seamless integration with Cisco’s networking and communication infrastructure (wireless LANs) which is how Cisco can manage to control information flow and delivery a secure experience. Additionally, Cius is being positioned for improved productivity though it is yet to be seen if Cisco has tied up with any enterprise software vendors to provide tablet optimized versions of frequently used enterprise tools.

              The positioning for Cius is definitely on the money but the technical specifications made me cringe a little. The seven-inch touchscreen tablet works on Intel Atom Processor and comes with 1GB RAM (expandable memory up to 32GB), dual cameras (front and back) and 3G/4G and WiFi support. 

              Atom is not the strongest processor out there and a 1GB RAM does not really speak “Heavy Duty Performance”. The pricing is a little steep as well at Rs 35,000 for the tablet and Rs 50,000 for the tablet with a docking station. 

             But I don’t see price being a major barrier especially in the enterprise segment if the tablet manages to deliver on its promise of security and improved productivity. Only time will tell but I have to say that Cisco could be a step ahead in pushing tablets into the enterprise.

What are your thoughts on Cisco’s tablet launch in India targeted specifically at the enterprise segment?

           Will Cisco manage to leverage its existing install base and make tablets popular in the enterprise or will Cius face the same fate as the many tablet makers out there

Ecommerce growth propels huge Social Media spends by Indian Companies!

Social Media in a very short time has become an indispensable platform for Marketers. Infact, it has gone so mainstream that it now commands between 30% to 40% of overall marketing budgets on digital media according to the recently released ASSOCHAM findings.

In a study titled ‘Explosion of Social Media: Transforming The Corporate Business Scenario,’ by ASSOCHAM, Indian companies are spending over 1200 crore rupees purely on Social Media Marketing.

 

Unlike a few years back, Indian audience are now getting comfortable in buying goods online, which has seen a sudden growth spurt in the E-Commerce start-ups of late. According to Ebay India head, Deepa Thomas, India is set to become one of the top 10 ecommerce markets in the world by 2015. Given the huge potential of Indian Ecommerce market, early ecommerce startups like Flipkart are commanding estimated valuations of a Billion Dollar! 

Social Media sites play an important role in the success of an Ecommerce startup or any other product or brand for that matter – There have been many studies showing online purchases are largely governed by friend reviews, referrals and word-of-mouth publicity. Consumers let their heart out on platforms like Facebook & twitter – They talk about their latest  purchases online and about how good / bad their experience was while buying it. So it has become extremely important for companies to create a compelling social media presence to closely watch the feedback of consumers online.

Additionally, with majority of Indian netizens joining the Social Media bandwagon, it becomes a very attractive advertising medium not only for online companies, but for all all kinds of products and brands.

The report released by ASSOCHAM is based on their interactions with over 1,400 directors, CXOs, and senior executive from sectors as diverse as BFSI, auto, FMCG, manufacturing, IT, telecom, biotech, education, infrastructure, consumer packaged goods and healthcare to ascertain the extent of their spending on online activities and about 75 per cent of them said that they have doubled their spending on social media this year.

Although, it is difficult to gauge exact Social Media RoI, companies are seeing lot of positive results by increasing their Social Media presence. Most of companies are now having dedicated team of people who track conversations, blogs, discussions, chats on social networks to ascertain the consumer preferences and perceptions towards their products and services.

There is one other reason why Social Media is becoming an attractive platform for brands and companies – Unlike traditional TV and Print Media, the marketing costs are low and the efforts you put into social media have a far longer shelf life!

Comments Welcome!

Flight Boarding passes may go mobile soon!

                           This is great news – Just a few days back came the announcement from IRCTC that virtual e-tickets will be accepted on-board all the trains of Indian Railways. Indian Air travellers also can look forward to similar kind of service where the Flight Boarding passes may go completely mobile.

                          According to news in HT today, SITA, an IT solutions provider in travel space, is in talks with airlines and other agencies concerned for implementation of their PassengerWeb check-in application that allows people to check-in via electronic boarding passes sent directly to their phones.

                         The way the system works is very simple – The passenger logs into the Airline website and carries out the process as it is done for normal web or kiosk check-in. He / She has option to either print the boarding pass or send it to mobile. If the passenger chooses, “Send it to Mobile” a sms is sent with a link. The link contains a QR code, which essentially will work as your boarding pass.

At the time of check-in, QR code will be scanned which will provide all the information that a Boarding Pass provides.

Check out the video below to see how PassengerWeb check-in works: 

PassengerWeb check-in application Demo

                       The Mobile Check-in is not only extremely convenient to the passenger, but brings along huge cost savings to the Airlines as well. According to industry experts, the average saving per online check-in is estimated at US$3.58, rising to US$5.34 for online check-in without baggage. So if an airline manages to save about Rs. 150 to Rs. 250 per passenger for each check-in, it definitely is a huge plus!

                       Additionally, lesser trees will have to be cut as passenger will not have to carry a paper print-out, no waiting in line for getting your boarding passes among other advantages.

                      I just hope that TRAI, with its recent directive does not become a hurdle for implementation of this system because if travelers don’t get the sms, they cant have their boarding pass on their mobile phones.

Mobile Based Kisan Credit Cards – Will It Succeed This Time Around?

                      Of all there is said and written about the rural opportunity in India, one thing that continues to plague the rural ecosystem is lack of an efficient financial services model. Despite all the advance, agriculture is and will remain a key component of the rural community but farmers continue to be bogged down by lack of an adequate and efficient financial services system especially when it comes to loans.

                      The impact that lack of capital and the inability for farmers to pay that in time is not new and even after decades, there is a nexus of the in-house bankers in the form of “jamindars" (landlords) who play on the lack of knowledge of farmers. 

                      Banks have managed to replace the landlords when it comes to lending money but it is out there that they haven’t been really successful given the peculiarities in ability of farmers to pay their loans. For e.g. lack of rains or a natural calamity makes it impossible for farmers to pay the loans in time and their plight becomes worse.

                       In a bid to revive the credit situation when it comes to farmers, NABARD is piloting a new Mobile based Kisan Credit Card (M-KCC),

NABARD has funded Rs 44.66 lakh to regional rural bank Pallavan Grama Bank, which is conducting a pilot study to launch mobile-enabled Kisan credit cards for farmers in Villupuram district, with a view to reduce transaction costs and improve efficiency.

                      The pilot aims to reinvent the wheel and take a fresh look at Kisan Credit Card which have been launched in the past without much success.  

                      Pallavan Grama Bank is the one to start the pilot and as many as 400 cards have been disbursed already. The improved element here which I think the authorities are betting on is the mobile enablement of these credit cards which is not surprising given the improving mobile penetration in rural India

The concept as such has its merits and could prove beneficial if its take off at a larger scale. For one, farmers would be able to conduct all their transactions right from their mobile phone saving them trips to the bank. 

                        Additionally, this could help the banks reduce the physical staff thereby saving some costs and passing that to the farmers in the form of more subsidization (A long strech but feasible).

                        However, the most important benefit of mobile Kisan Credit Card could be in the form of financial inclusion. If the mobile interfaces are intuitive and user-friendly and farmers can get their way around it, there is a possibility that more and more farmers will adopt the same. This can prove instrumental in well documented records of monetary transactions the farmers make over a period of time.

                         Not only will this bring more transparency there is a possibility of mining that data to develop a recommendation engine. The recommendation engine could draw from the transactional data and help farmers understand better ways of capital expenditure and utilization.

I personally think that any rural targeted banking product needs to have a educational/ awareness component linked to it to ensure that farmers can be enabled beyond just capital disbursement.

What are your thoughts on Mobile based Kisan Credit Cards?  

Do you think they can be successful this time around?

5 reasons the ‘make money online’ bubble needs to be busted!

                        Not in our wildest of dreams would we have imagined a decade back that the internet would be flooded with ‘make money online’ campaigns and advertisements. While making money online may be a reality for a few (infact, very very few) in India, it is still a distant dream for others who’ve pinned their hopes and savings into the idea of working from home and making money.

Here are 5 reasons why the make money online bubble needs to be busted and people need to get back to looking for real jobs.

The idea of making money online is often misleading

                    Whether it is earning through affiliate programs or advertisement revenue, the thought of making money is very over-rated. The advertisements promise the Indian IT savvy surfer that they would become rich and start earning thousands within the first few weeks. Unfortunately, these tall claims about making money online are far from true and are creating unnecessary hype. 

People are quitting real jobs to jump into the unknown

                  The stories of engineers and doctors turning to the internet to make money online are not uncommon these days. And who can we blame for that except the make-money-online bubble?

These massive job switches happen due to the lure of quick and easy money without even acquiring any skills of Internet Marketing. This ignorance is only causing the bubble to inflate more.

Options of making money online do not make you rich overnight

                   Like any other profession, the business of making money online does not make anyone an overnight millionaire. In fact it is much worse, because unlike jobs in the real world where you get your salary or income no matter what, your business online will not pay you until it picks up.

If you’re relying on blogs and websites that show you how to make money online, go splash some water on your face!

Students are ignoring studies over this bubble

                  Are we really surprised that students are trying out their hands on this bubble of making money online? Many university students remain logged in from their computers all day and all night scouting forums and looking for that next big idea about making money online. 

                Unfortunately it is not until they’ve wasted a lot of time, effort and money that they realize that making money online is often a glorified ideology and requires the patient effort of many years, or months, if one is lucky. 

Abuse of social media websites

               Social media websites are also facing the wrath of the make money online bubble, especially in India. Fake IDs, misleading usernames, inappropriate pictures and false advertising are doing the rounds of virtually every social media and networking website. Little does the ‘real person’ on these social media website know that by clicking on such links, they are only promoting the cause of unscrupulous elements floating around on the internet.

             Having said all this, we still stand with the fact that it is possible to make money online through various dedicated means, but it not a moolah churning machines that everyone is assuming it to be. There is a reason why only few marketers emerge successful out of the thousand who enter this business. 

 

And that’s why, the make-money-online bubble needs to be busted and how!