An interview with Mr. Balaji Venkitaramasubramanian ,Head Human Resources , OrbiTech, Chennai.

Tell us something about the company, its products and services?

OrbiTech (formally known as COSL) is a pioneer in banking and financial software. Sixteen years of rich and varied experience and a sound domain knowledge developed over the years has made OrbiTech a leading name amongst the IT solution providers in the banking and financial industry.

OrbiTech has a proven track record of delivering both large and small projects spanning multiple geographical areas, varied cultural zones and time zones within tight and stringent budgets and time schedules.

OrbiTech, a SEI CMM Level 5 company, is the first banking and financial software company to achieve this distinction. Furthermore, having worked on banking and financial applications worldwide, OrbiTech has acquired sound understanding of the workings of various local markets. These valuable insights enable OrbiTech to provide every client with practical and workable solutions.

The organisation has received several awards from various international bodies for building world-class software products using state-of-the-art architecture and design concepts:

* For `Robustness' - Asian Bankers Report, August 2001

* Internet Banking Solution in Asia and the best in India -- Asian Bankers Survey Award, 2000 * OrbiPack's custodial software rated as Best Custodial System -- Global Custodian, 1998, 1999 and 2000

* Best Imaging and Workflow Solution - Computer Society of India, 1999

* Smithsonian Institutes recognition (1993) for `Visionary Use of Information Technology' in using open distributed architectures in the field of financial services technologies.

The award winning banking and financial suite of products, OrbiPack, developed by OrbiTech, is a scalable and robust banking application software used by banks and the financial industry in 73 countries the world over.

OrbiPack is a comprehensive suite of software products for banking and financial services. Under the OrbiPack umbrella are plug-and-play products for all banking areas including corporate banking, retail banking, trade finance, credit/risk management, cash management, treasury management, lending, investments and securities, mutual funds and credit cards. OrbiTech's strengths lie in providing project management and software development services on a full responsibility basis. The company focuses on design that delivers speed of processing and quick response time, with 24 x 7 uptimes. Parameterised design reduces the time to market and provides the competitive edge.

Where have been the development centres established and what is the current employee strength?

Our development centres are situated in Mumbai, Chennai and Hyderabad while the Pune centre should be operational shortly. We have our global offices in the US and UK . Currently we have nearly 1200 trained and qualified techno-bankers working on various projects and products.

How is the company going to augment its human resources department while catering to a wider market now?

We went through a process of internal restructuring to ensure a robust organisation by consolidating our core strengths. We are a growing organisation and approximately 50-60% of our recruits come from campuses. In spite of growing concerns about campus recruitments, we honoured all the offers made to the students. Apart from this we have been aggressively recruiting for key positions in all functional areas.

Does OrbiTech implement any innovative training methods?

One of the recent innovations was studying how technology was being internalised (most of our learning happens in the field of technology). Based on the findings we modified our instruction methodologies in all our training initiatives. Some of the other innovations include deploying process technologies like open space and real time strategic change in our off-site reviews and team building initiatives.

Apart from offering competitive pay scales, what are the other retention policies followed?

At OrbiTech people add value to the company. Our people work with an integrity that we respect, recognise and reward. We invest in an on-going training to enhance their skills. Our culture demands entrepreneurial qualities in all our transactions, which in turn brings out the best in our people. We offer ample avenues not only to learn but also to contribute. We firmly believe that our people are the best in business across competencies. That in itself offers abundant challenges and opportunities.

What are your plans for the future?

OrbiTech's priorities are to continue to invest in building world-class proprietary products, expand its customer base and establish a strong and extensive global presence to help generate greater revenues.

MALINI SURYANARAYANAN

maalini.mds@cxknetworks.com