In Limelight - Part 1

I am Sunil Datta. I have done B.Sc in Electronics from Sri Venkateswara University, Tirupathi and M.Sc in IT from Bharatiar University, Chennai. I am a part of IDS Next’s Client Engagement Group (CEG) for the last three and a half years. 

What are the interesting stuff you do at IDS Next?

I am primarily responsible for offering post product service to our clients across Karnataka. I interact with customer’s right from collecting product cost to convincing them to upgrade to new version of our software. I also periodically visit our clients’ property based on the SLA and client requirements.

In order to ensure that our clients are leveraging our Hotel ERP to the fullest, I conduct trainings and appraise them on the new features in our solution. Collecting AMC is another important aspect of my JD here at IDS Next.

I also coordinate the IDS Next Advantage Academy initiative. In this role, I work with hotel management colleges across India to offer their students a qualitative exposure to IDS Next software. I impart module wise training on our Hotel ERP to faculty members of these colleges. Our objective is to equip fresh graduates in our software so here is to make maximum number of hotel management graduates ready for the rigor of the hospitality industry.

Does your role at IDS Next help you grow personally?

I love technology and I am a ‘techie’ sort of guy. Be it imparting training on our Hotel ERP to our clients or faculty members of hotel management colleges, I talk technology. In order to make our clients understand our new product features, I need to first develop a strong sense of appreciation towards technology. To accomplish my job, I spend a lot of time understanding the vast feature set of our products and solutions. Over the years, I think I have become a subject matter expert on our product. Working in IDS Next is strictly all about technology and that’s what I love here.

If you look at my profile, you would understand that I work in a very challenging environment as I need to live up to my company’s expectation and at the same time; we need to keep up our services as part of the service industry. No doubt, working in IDS Next has added tremendous value towards my personal growth.

How did you come to join IDS Next?

I was working as an IT Manager of a hotel which used IDS Next’s hotel management software. That’s how I came to be acquainted with the company and was so impressed by our robust software that I wanted to join. Thus when I got an offer, I did not look back but grabbed it with both hands.  As I have already said that I love technology and thought that working for IDS Next would give me that much needed platform to look at hospitality technology from up close. I would say that I have both an insider and outsider’s perspective of their software.

How has your contribution to IDS Next been recognized?

The management at IDS Next is prompt to recognize its employees’ efforts. I had been awarded with ‘Extra Mile’ award by the CEO as a token of appreciation towards my work. On several occasions, I have helped a client even when it was not part of my KRAs. I have a free hand working in IDS Next as long as it is pertaining to offer excellent service to our clients. Colleagues in sales, marketing and product development team are always there to back me in my effort to do better.

How does your day start at IDS Next? 

My day starts with checking of mails. I line up my tasks as per their importance and timeliness. It is followed by a brief discussion with my manager, Mr. Varadharajan. Sometimes, he also asks me to incorporate some additional task into my list of assignments. My profile is mostly a field job and that’s why I spend maximum time at clients’ sites.

Would you like to say something to freshers or those aspiring to join IDS Next?

If you want to grow professionally while learning new things, IDS Next is the right place. As the Hospitality IT industry is growing, IDS Next as a global leader in this sphere has lots of scope to grow immensely. If you get a chance, do join us and grow with our company.