Just In Time Group, pledges its support to e-Asia 2009 as exclusive Gold Partner
Just In Time Group is proud to pledge its support as the exclusive Gold Partner for e-Asia 2009,
Asia's largest ICT event to be held in Colombo from 2- 4 December 2009.
Just In Time Group (JIT) is a foremost systems integrator in Sri Lanka with over a decade of
experience, providing timely delivery of ICT solutions and service support to a niche market both
locally and overseas.
Having successfully implemented some of the largest, mission critical ICT systems and projects in
Sri Lanka, together with global technology partners such as Gemalto, Hitachi, UTstarCom to name a few,
JIT provides integrated solutions for vital sectors such as Telecommunications, Government & Financial
Services.
"We are very proud and privileged to be associated with Asia's leading ICT event and to contribute
to the objective of reinforcing technology and knowledge-centric growth" stated a senior spokesman for
JIT Group.
Emphasising on the importance of an event such as this in Sri Lanka, the spokesman said 'JIT Group
has great pleasure in rendering our support to ICTA as we see e-Asia as being of paramount
significance to local companies, primarily for actual solution businesses to understand evolving
trends of digital technology and more so for our company, to showcase our unique strengths in the ICT
field'
Being an ICT company that has always adopted a stance of maintaining a low profile, JIT Group felt
it opportune to get involved in this year's e-Asia as it is the ideal platform to 'come out in public'
since the event will be represented by top level stakeholders from a large number of companies.
e-Asia 2009, the annual international ICT conference being held in Sri Lanka for the first time,
is under the theme Opportunities for Digital Asia and will provide the perfect opportunity for all
stakeholders in the ICT arena both here and abroad to come together through active conferencing and
networking & thereby promote growth in Asia.
In addition to being the exclusive Gold Sponsor, JIT Group is also the official Conference Kit
provider for the event.
JIT partners with SAIC for ICT solutions
Posted on 20th March 2009
JIT announced that they have partnered with Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) of USA, for jointly marketing and promoting ICT solutions to Sri Lanka.
SAIC is a Fortune 500® scientific, engineering, and technology applications company that uses its deep domain knowledge to solve problems of vital importance to the nation and the world, in national security, energy and the environment, critical infrastructure, and health. Founded in 1969, SAIC has over 45,000 employees with offices in more than 150 cities worldwide.
Amongst their core solutions is the Consequences Assessment Tool Set (CATS) software which assesses the consequences of technological and natural disasters to population, resources and infrastructure. Hazards accounted for in CATS range from natural disasters such as hurricanes, Tsunamis and earthquakes, to technological disasters such as industrial accidents, terrorism and acts of war. CATS predicts the damage and assesses the consequences associated with that damage as a result of a technological or natural hazards, using real-time weather and a variety of sources. The CATS system was extensively used in handling the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
SAIC software was used by the Disaster Management Centre in Sri Lanka during the Tsunami in 2004. A pilot project, funded by the US Trade & Development Agency (USTDA) was initiated at the National Disaster Management Center (DMC) and the Department of Meteorology using the CATS System to ensure preparedness and consequent actions to be taken in the event of major disasters. The Emergency Operations Center at the DMC was equipped to receive direct feeds from the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center and other Worldwide Organizations which could issue warnings of impending disasters.
SAIC is a also a leading provider of scientific, engineering, systems integration and technical services and products to all branches of the U.S. military, agencies of the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), the intelligence community, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and other U.S. Government civil agencies in combating terrorism, cybercrime, and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
JIT is a leading ICT systems integration company and has been a pioneer in providing mission critical IT systems to key government and private sector organizations, particularly in the Banking and Telecommunication industries.
Dialog Telekom signs up with Teleonto for Revenue Assurance Solution
Posted on 24th March 2009
Dialog Telekom Sri Lanka, signed up with Teleonto in early March 2009, for procurement and implemention of a Revenue Assurance Solution. The opportunity was faciltated by Teleonto's local parter, Just In Time Holdings (Pvt) Ltd.
Teleonto is the world's 1st appliance based onsite software-as-a-service offering for Revenue Assurance and Revenue Intelligence Analytics for Telcos.
Suntel Telecom deploys MicroStrategy for Enterprise Reporting and Analysis
Posted on 27th March 2009
Microstrategy Incorporated, a leading worldwide provider of business intelligence (BI) software, today announced that Suntel Ltd. has selected MicroStrategy for enterprise reporting and analysis across multiple areas of the company. Suntel is Sri Lanka's fastest growing telecommunications provider, with an all-digital network that connects thousands of residential customers and business ranging from corner shops to the biggest corporate names in the country.
Suntel plans to use MicroStrategy for reporting and anlysis of key business areas, including Customer Care, Finance and Sales. With MicroStrategy, Suntel users will be able to report on, and anlyze large volumes of data with a high level of accuracy. MicroStrategy has demonstrated its high performance and ability to seamlessly integrate with Suntel's existing Telecom Model from Sybase IQ.
OBSI Technologies, a pioneering BI Services Company based on Chennai, and a MicroStrategy reseller in India, has supported SUNTEL during their planning, development and deployment stages of the reporting and analytics project. OBSI Technologies is represented by Just in Time Holdings (Pvt) Ltd.
Hitachi Data Systems Shapes Winning Storage Strategies for the Financial Services Industry
Posted on 29th May 2009
Hitachi Data Systems, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hitachi, Ltd. and the only provider of Services Oriented Storage Solutions, today, announced on 20th May 2009, the launch of the inaugural Financial Services Industry (FSI) Summit -Winning in the Downturn in Colombo, Sri Lanka
The summit was attended by senior executives from financial services companies from around the ASEAN region. The interactive forum sought to analyse trends and drivers shaping the financial services industry and served as a platform for senior executives to find solutions to common issues.
Noted Ravi Rajendran, Vice President and General Manager for ASEAN, Hitachi Data Systems,
"Financial services providers are in crisis and are fighting for survival. However, even with budgets are being cut, IT management must continue to leverage technology to manage compliance and regulatory needs. At Hitachi Data Systems, we understand that our role is to help our customers do more with less, and partner with them to help them win in the downturn."
In a survey conducted by Hitachi Data Systems in November 2008, 88% of CIOs confirmed that the phenomenal growth of data makes storage a top priority in enterprises even in the wake of the current financial crisis. Technology heads taking part in the survey from across Asia Pacific unanimously agreed that IT is embedded closely in all business operations, which makes leveraging IT efficiently a critical task. On the topic of storage solutions spend amidst the turmoil in the money markets, 57% of the CIOs stated that they would not reduce their storage investments. Managing costs (69%) and allocation of storage resources (52%) are the most critical tasks to be achieved in the uncertain economic climate, while a centralized approach to business is the single-most important factor that defines business success according to technology decision-makers.
Highlights of the summit included Presentations by senior executives from Hitachi Data Systems, discussions with key industry experts, and Insights from partners of JIT for Financial Services solutions.
JIT has partnered with Hitach Data Systems to synergize the deep local knowledge of JIT together with the award winning solutions of Hitachi Data Systems, to help Sri Lankan businesses reap significant business results from technology deployment.
Quote & Print software and Just In Time Holdings to showcase at Collate 2010
Quote & Print, a software developer based in Australia, has 28 years of experience
in supplying Management Information Systems (MIS) to the printing industry.
Through leading-edge technology, Quote & Print provides a one-stop solution
for all Print MIS/ERP requirements. The company works with more than 600
printing companies, offering solutions for any size, budget or type of Printer.
Quote & Print Software, has appointed M/s Just In Time Holdings (private) Limited,
a subsidiary of the Just In Time Group, a leading systems integrator in Sri Lanka
as their local partner and will be exhibiting the Quote & Print system at the
Collate 2010 Exhibition in Colombo from 19th to 21st February.
Ingrin Institute of Printing & Graphics in Colombo has installed the Quote
& Print system as a learning tool, to be utilized for training of future
Printing administrators.
Local printers are warmly invited to visit the Quote & Print stand at Collate
2010 where Quote & Print and Just In Time with the assistance of INGRIN
will be demonstrating how Quote & Print can help printers manage their
businesses more effectively and profitably.
Seminars will be held on the stand at 11 am, 1 pm and 3 pm each day
of the exhibition. Q & P's software is a fully integrated Windows-based
multi user system for estimating, job tracking, workflow, production control,
scheduling, invoicing, and accounts, forms and sales management. Key
features are ease of use, modular design and low cost of ownership. ROI
can often be achieved in the first year of use. Since the Software is both
integrated and modular, it enables companies to add modules to uses as
their business grows.
Current customers include printers in sheet-fed, digital, screen, large
format plotters, labels, continuous, magazines, newspapers, procurement,
promotional, brokers, universities, and government.
Just In Time Group is a foremost systems integrator in Sri Lanka with over
a decade of experience, providing timely delivery of ICT solutions and service
support to a niche market in Sri Lanka.
Having successfully implemented some of the largest, mission critical ICT systems
and projects in Sri Lanka, together with global technology partners such as
Gemalto, Hitachi, UTstarCom to name a few, JIT provides integrated solutions
for vital sectors such as Telecommunications, Government & Financial Services.
Lanka must compete to win ? Interview with COO of Just In Time Group
"Universities, technical and commercial institutes offering IT education and the private sector have to be
linked into one national program and driven towards creating an ICT workforce and jobs worthy of attention
from overseas markets. A high level engagement by the Government to attract large IT services users like
Yahoo, Google or Microsoft to look at Sri Lanka as a Development Hub will give an indication of what we have
and what more we need to have to attract that kind of job creating entity to Sri Lanka and the gaps to be
filled quickly. Sri Lanka must compete to win. Which means we must have a game plan"
Government initiatives towards IT and English are commendable. Each Province has to assess their human and
infrastructure resource pool for ICT and take meaningful steps to quickly bridge the infrastructure gaps for
the human resource pool to be trained and productive, said Chief Operating Officer of (COO) Just In Time
Group Chrishan Mendis.
Excerpts of the interview.
Q: What is the contribution made by your company to the ICT sector in Sri Lanka?
A: We have introduced many trail blazing technologies to Sri Lanka. We have won overseas contracts for IT
specialists to offer consultancy and professional services. It helped Sri Lankan IT professionals to gain
exposure and opportunity with Foreign Principals and we are proud to note that the capabilities of our Sri
Lankan staff has been praised by many reputed overseas IT giants whom we serve.
In addition we have also brought in international best practices in solutions architecture, project management
and support services into the country.
We have successfully completed and continue to support our projects which includes IPTV, banking,
electronic switching solutions, disaster recovery, billing solutions, high end routing and switching solutions,
load balancing, bandwidth optimisation, data security and access management solutions, storage and server
virtualisation, installation of wide area and local area networks. Many of these projects are complex and
requires a multi-skilled resource pool for implementation and support.
Q: What was the growth you had for last year?
A: Last year our group had opportunities in IT and cost optimization consultancies, and virtualisation. Many of
our clients opting for alternate models such as Revenue Share and Managed Services has also had an impact
on our top line.
Q: How can Sri Lanka be the ICT hub among the other countries in the region?
A: We have to aim more for the high skill ICT services segment and create a good brand image for Sri Lankan
IT services.
The Government must take a bold step to modernize their overseas missions to be more of a marketing arm
for Sri Lankan talent including but not limited to the ICT sector. Must differentiate our country in terms of
knowledge, skills and abilities to those of other nations who have a larger work force.
The Government with the help of the private sector must drive initiatives for selected specialized IT service
offerings to attract potential overseas clients.
Since our potential IT resource pool is comparatively small, a clustering initiative by giving the necessary
infrastructure such as IT parks with competitive facilities to attract investors to every district with talent has
to be expedited before we lose potential market share to other countries.
Universities, technical and commercial institutes offering IT education and the private sector have to be
linked into one national program and driven towards creating an ICT workforce and jobs worthy of attention
from overseas markets.
A high level engagement by the Government to attract large IT services users like Yahoo, Google or Microsoft
to look at Sri Lanka as a Development Hub will give an indication of what we have and what more we need to
have to attract that kind of job creating entity to Sri Lanka and the gaps to be filled quickly. Sri Lanka must
compete to win. Which means we must have a game plan.
On a long-term basis Government must invest into upgrading or setting up a dedicated university for world
class ICT research and development to cater to the region for both graduate and post graduate studies. This
will give a brand identity to our IT degrees in the same manner our Engineering degrees have a reputation in
the world.
Q: How do you see the IT professionals in the industry?
A: We have very capable IT professionals. What?s lacking is opportunity for them to excel within this country.
If someone does a survey of how our IT professionals who have found jobs in overseas markets are rated by
their employers, it will give us a statistic to be proud of. As a country we must now start looking at ways to
keep them within the country and yet earn in foreign currency by working for overseas employers.
Q: What are the possible ways that Sri Lanka can take ICT to rural areas?
A: Government initiatives towards IT and English are commendable. Each Province has to assess their human
and infrastructure resource pool for ICT and take meaningful steps to quickly bridge the infrastructure gaps
for the human resource pool to be trained and productive.
We can expect some Provinces human capital training and development needs including English language skills
also to be comparatively lagging.
Investments (Foreign or Local) into those provinces should be offered incentives like long-term lease of land,
tax holidays, concessionary electricity rates for any Public Private partnerships that will help bridge the gaps
and create ICT jobs.
Here too the Provincial Universities and technical schools to be linked into the ICT job creation initiative for
continuous supply and development of employable resources.
Q: What is the strength of your company capital and employees?
A: We started in 1996 with three employees and now our group has close to 100 employees.
Q: What are the future plans of your company?
A: Industries involving technology such as ICT has frequent change impacting its business. Our group has to
keep up with the future requirements of our clients.
This includes business models, financing models, service offerings and use of asset instead of ownership
becoming important to customers. We see value in partnerships with related stakeholders such as telecom
companies and professional service providers to leverage on resulting cost benefits and synergies that can be
passed on to the customer.
Going forward we will be laying even more emphasis on strengthening the multi skilled work force so that our
core competencies will be a strength for our customers to hand over their ICT requirements to us and
concentrate on their own core business.
Q: What is your advice to young people who wish to climb the corporate ladder?
A: Whatever you do in life your motives has to be pure and good. You must have the correct attitude
towards the company.
You must believe that you will grow only if the company grows because it?s your company. Focus towards
achieving corporate objectives and always look for positives and solutions. Maintain trust and confidentiality
at all times and talk only to the necessary people if there is a problem.
Q: What is your philosophy in life?
A: To enjoy life within a framework based on the religious teachings I believe.
Q: What is the country you like to visit most?
A: Switzerland
Q: What is the place you like to visit in Sri Lanka?
A: Every place in Sri Lanka is special, I enjoy the traditional village hospitality and food. The rough drive in
the Knuckles Range gives a different thrill.
Q: How do you spend your leisure?
A: Mostly playing with my children during school vacations and travelling within Sri Lanka with family and
friends.
Bio-Data
Name: Chrishan Mendis
Post: Chief Operating Officer - Just In Time Group
Civil Status: Married, has two children
School: S. Thomas? College, Mount Lavinia
Experience: 20 years experience
Hobbies: Swimming
