In an interactive session on leveraging new age technologies, such as big data analytics, cloud and industrial internet of things, Alok Khanna, executive director-IS at IOCL said that often people take a stable and secured network for granted, but that was not the case with IOCL which has its own secured data centre.

Talking about the initiatives taken up by IOCL, Khanna pointed towards the government-sponsored direct LPG subsidy scheme launched in November last year. He said that since connectivity at some places was an issue, there was a need for a stable IT system, for efficient data transfer. “The unique thing about the LPG scheme is that real time data transfer has been achieved,” Khanna added.

Atul Rastogi, deputy general manager (BIS), GAIL, too talked about the importance of new age technologies. Giving an example from his organisation, Rastogi said that even though the company had only 4,300 employees, it carried out its operations easily due to highly automated systems in place.

He said that some of the IT measures adopted by GAIL included decentralised applications and e-mail, centralised SAP ERP and corporate intranet, and a three-way disaster recovery. “Our CMD has a vision of transforming GAIL into a smart utility,” Ratogi added.