Search the Internet          Tips  Sites: Finance, Investment

Ford rides into IT sector on FITSI

Shobha Warrier in Madras

"Henry Ford put wheels on the road, and now we are putting wheels on the Internet," said Phil Spender, the managing director of Ford India Ltd at the launch of the auto giant's latest venture, Ford Information Technology Services India (FITSI).

"A young Indian in the US clicks a mouse and orders a Ford Ikon for his parents in India. No shipment, no airlifting of the vehicle. The Ford Ikon will be there at his parents' door. This is what technology is all about and this is what we are going to achieve through FITSI", elaborated Vaughn Koshkkarian, vice-president, Ford Motor Company.

After the first two software development centers in the US and UK, Ford Motor Company chose India as the third region to develop software for their automobile activities.

FITSI has booked the entire 8th floor- 80,000 sq.ft- at the TIDEL Park in Madras, which has 800 work stations for software engineers.

It will serve as the hub for Ford's entire IT software development initiatives in India and throughout the Asia Pacific. FITSI will deliver "high quality solutions in business software, Computer Aided Engineering and Manufacturing (CAD/CAM) and call centre/e-mail processing.

The first customer of FITSI will be Ford Asia Pacific.

"FITSI clearly demonstrates Ford's continuing long-term commitment to India. We recognize that India is a leader in developing computer software and e-commerce business solutions - and we want to tap into that expertise," Phil Spender remarked at the inauguration of FITSI on Thursday.

With the primary focus being on e-business solutions for Ford Asia Pacific, FITSI will also manage legacy system support and system implementation.

"There are four reasons why we chose Madras as the base for our Asia-Pacific IT operations. One, pro-active support from the government agencies and high- tech infrastructure, two, the best technical schools in India are in and around Madras, three, valuable asset in the form of a skilled work force, and four, TIDEL Park has the best technical facilities in India," John Larson, director of IT for Asia-Pacific and Southern Africa said.

Along with customizing Ford's E-business solutions for the region, FITSI's CAD/CAM and design engineering capabilities will also significantly support Ford Motor Company in developing cars for the Asia Pacific region.

The partners of FITSI are Covansys, Satyam Computers and Thirdware Solutions.

Ford Motor Company's presence in the Asia Pacific formally began with the opening a sales office in 1905 in Japan two years after Henry Ford established the Ford Motor Company. Now Ford has offices in Australia, China, India, Korea, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Philippines, South Africa, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam.

Money

Business News

Tell us what you think of this report