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IT: Retail revolution's cutting edge

Our Bureau

BANGALORE, Feb. 5

INFORMATION Technology has arrived as the most important toolset for the organised retail industry worldwide, and the retail revolution in India should bank on the cutting edge information technology available here in abundance, according to Mr. Antonio Murta, Managing Director, Enabler Group, Portugal.

The $10-million Enabler is a Systems Integrator Company that is focussed on retailing and e-tailing sectors in Portugal, Spain, Italy, UK and Brazil.

``Retailing is the third largest industry for Information Technology, after telecommunication and banking. It accounts for 11 per cent of the total Information Technology business. Still, 83 per cent of the retailers still depend on internal systems whic h are obsolete,'' Mr. Murta said.

``Retailing in India, unlike rest of the world, is better placed to effect a faster turnaround on the technology front. In Europe, we are facing the bizzare situation of shortage in IT resources, including manpower for IT solutions in retail business. Bu t India, with abundance of resources, should not miss out on the advantage,'' Mr. Murta said.

Time, and not size, will determine the future success of many organised retailers, and in this light technology ``is key and too important to be left only to the technologists. This means, in absolute terms, a CEO who is exposed to digital technology'', Mr. Murta added.