Infosys Technologies Ltd is to explore new types of engagement model which could be seen as being more appealing alternatives to the traditional services contract that is typically tied to the resources of time and materials.
One option it will push at businesses constrained by the current downturn, is an opportunity to rent access to an Infosys developed platform which supports some new or ‘future state’ business process.
One example is a new Infosys designed social commerce platform. It allows organisations to quickly and cheaply turn on a system that can be used to explore how to encourage customers or trading partners to participate in business-led social network channels, without first having to find capital to fund its development.
According to senior VP Subash Dhar, Infosys has already met with some initial successes.
“One hi-tech company is already using our social commerce platform as a means of supporting product co-development with certain chip set manufacturers,” he told us.
Dhar cited another example, this time a platform Infosys has developed for use by companies in the media sector. This automates several aspects of the advertisement management business process such as scheduling and billing, accounts receivables and book closure.
“We have internal strategy groups working in different vertical sectors to explore how future industry trends will impact on business processes. We aim to build platforms and solutions that will help companies prepare for new or changed business processes without them having to invest huge amounts of time and effort.” He explained that the platforms are accessed as a service, rented or paid for by subscription.
The company has also developed a highly scalable Oracle platform that automates human resources benefits management processes, and one that handles procurement and enterprise purchasing of commodity items and products.
“When times are tough like they are now, businesses become more open to new ideas. For us, it is a great time to get into deep conversations with customers to discuss with them the challenges they face. An underlying theme to this new approach to engagement is to be able to say to clients, ‘Pay us for results, not for our effort’. The engagement model is based on outcomes and results rather than resources.”
The proposition will mean businesses can prepare for the upturn, without having to invest heavily in new infrastructure and new systems, he claimed. “A model that is delivered as a software service suits today’s environment. Customers get to pay as they go, and Infosys takes all the risk,” Dhar said.
