With Oracle’s Cloud solution, the government is planning to connect more readily with its citizens, says Vineet Kshirsagar, Head-Government Business, Oracle India, in an interaction with Elets News Network (ENN).
How is Oracle looking to be part of the cloud-based solution offering in the government space?
Oracle provides an unparalleled range of resources and solutions that enable agencies to continue to benefit from their existing IT investments while also smoothly adding today’s most promising technologies. First, Oracle enjoys a long tradition of maintaining the public sector that makes it uniquely qualified for modernisation engagements. The company began in the public sector over a quarter century ago when it licensed its first database. Since then, Oracle has delivered low-risk, proven solutions that demonstrate a clear understanding of the public sector needs. In addition, the firm has a broad and deep product line that combines essential solutions for the government with a portfolio that covers all standard business processes, including financial activities, supply-chain management and human resources. Oracle’s solutions are used by government organisations of every size, type and location. Each agency can immediately find the right Oracle technology to meet the unique needs of its organisation.
How does Oracle India have an edge over its rivals in the Indian Cloud business?
Having a strong portfolio of traditional and emerging technologies enables Oracle to go beyond offering just a collection of point products; instead, it can deliver complete solutions tailored for the public sector with minimum integration, customisation and testing by agencies. So, as organisations modernise by implementing new technology enhancements, a foundation built with best-in-class Oracle technologies makes merging new capabilities into existing workflows happen without interoperability or integration breakdowns.
Oracle is a government partner for today and tomorrow. Its investments in research and development, along with key strategic acquisitions, allow it to deliver a portfolio of cutting-edge capabilities and proven solutions that minimise risk to the government clients. Oracle’s solutions support open standards, and platforms will continue to help agencies’ transition to virtualised infrastructures and elastic computing platforms — all while providing the industry-leading security and privacy capabilities required by the government.
The more government organisations take advantage of Oracle’s integrated stack, the more benefits they will see. For example, a single, trusted stack eliminates separate systems for public safety, taxation and social services for greater efficiency and more transparent services. Oracle’s cloud computing strategy illustrates how a leader in government solutions can help this sector successfully embrace emerging technology. Oracle Cloud Computing Solutions comprise the most complete selection of enterprise-grade cloud solutions, including:
Software as a Service (SaaS), for solutions such as enterprise resource planning (ERP), human capital management, talent management, sales and marketing, customer experience, planning and budgeting services and financial reporting
Platform as a Service (PaaS) combines Oracle database and development technologies to support government programming and testing activities.
Infrastructure as a service (IaaS), for the latest in high-performance, flexible and economical storage resources.
What sort of Cloud services has Oracle offered to the government departments so far?
For over a quarter of a century, Oracle has worked with public-sector organisations throughout the world to empower modern governments with a broad portfolio of applications, hardware and services that are available as integrated solutions within a single technology stack. This provides a fast and cost-effective way to embrace innovative technologies, which is a secure and risk-reducing strategy for empowering modern government.
As a Cloud service provider, how do you combat the issue of network and data security?
Oracle understands that the confidentiality, integrity and availability of your information are vital to your business operations. That’s where Oracle Service Cloud excels. You must have trust and confidence in your service provider, and Oracle takes this commitment seriously. Security is embedded in Oracle’s ‘DNA’ – within the product, development cycle and in Cloud Operations practices – to ensure your information remains your information.
What are the various sectors in the government space in which Oracle sees implementation of its services?
Public service agencies, including government, education and healthcare, are increasingly looking for lower cost and more flexible ways to improve efficiency, flexibility, operational agility and integrity of systems. Cloud computing has come to be recognised as both a business and deployment model that enables public sector organisations to achieve these aspirations.
‘Security is embedded in Oracle’s ‘DNA’ – within the product, development cycle and in Cloud Operations practices – to ensure your information remains your information’
Briefly share your views on Digital India campaign, PMJDY and ‘Make in India’ mission.
The government’s Smart Cities and Digital India initiatives have gathered maximum attention from the IT sector, as these projects will rely heavily on ICT. The Digital India initiative will drive infrastructure changes. We have a lot of experience. Whether it is in public, education or military sector, we have products that cater to all these. We have the ability and resources to propose a solution either entirely based on Oracle technology or on Oracle technology plus partners that helps achieve the goals.
What kind of opportunities do you see for yourself and the IT industry in the wake of these initiatives?
The Digital India initiative presents huge opportunities for the IT industry. Cloud in the government has a very large impact, for sure. The whole eGovernance theory has been there for a pretty long time. Public data indicates that eGovernance transactions have reached 1.5 billion in the period of six months. This is the level of impact that technology has made on the government. With the new government’s vision, this impact will surely reach another level altogether. The level of interest around Cloud is increasing. Lately, a lot of government portals have been coming up with the same. These portals are an effort by the government to interact more with the citizens, gather their feedback and engage them in the process of governance.