Why are IT Role In Apparel, Automotive
One of the most influential industries, the automotive industry has been a role model for the other industries for long – mostly because of its state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities, latest and far more effective marketing measures, and of course, utilization of sophisticated technology that supports their products from the inception to delivery. Impressed by its IT practices, other industries follow the automotive industry closely. While every industry has different business objectives, their requirements also differ based on the nature and end product. However, the goal is to finally generate revenue and not only cut down on the expenses.
An industry-specific approach helps different businesses go a long way and that approach lies by not just roping in target buyers, but also adapting to an IT environment that is more beneficial in terms of ROI. The apparel industry contributes majorly to any country’s economy. Applications and software in the apparel industry help to improve the various processes, the industry not only benefits in reducing input costs, but also streamline and ensure better delivery timelines and quality. Which brings me to a much important question is Profit making an important SLA for a CIO in the Apparel Industry? I really doubt that…
In India, the apparel industry is now favoring open source software, PLM, Cutting Room Efficiency to improve business. And with all the benefits IT brings to the industry, it’s imperative to have a well-qualified CIO to supervise and run the IT Department but in India not many CIOs would fit the bill leave alone take Profit making as an initiative for themselves.
Unlike the technically-advanced countries, India’s apparel companies don’t have CIOs to oversee the technology that supports enterprise goals. Many Indian apparel business owners lack the knowledge of latest technology and its benefits for their businesses, which puts them in the backseat. The major issue is the miscommunication among the technology vendors, IT department, and the business owners. For example, the highly-efficient technology like PLM can be of little or no use, if not implemented precisely or as per the requirements of the business.
The CIO of an apparel company holds the responsibility of supporting technical initiatives and taking relevant decisions while ensuring that the IT Department runs smoothly. Therefore, an insightful CIO is an added benefit to the company. From TCIT to IT ROI Ratio to even Return on IT Investment, a CIO keeps track of all these performance indicators.
A CIO also helps in improving process efficiency by upgrading IT unit in order to keep downtime at bay, enable maximum returns, and give the business an edge over competitors. Every little IT step you take, it leads you towards the growth; resulting in greater IT-enabled mechanization requirements. And to step ahead on the right path, you need a very deft and experienced CIO so that the productivity can be improved.
So now ..would CIOs pick up addition to company Bottom Lines as their SLA? Lets see…