Hexaware technologies

The global aviation industry was amidst serious concerns with the increasing fuel & labor costs, regulations, economic slowdown in various countries and intense competition. To make things worse, the industry had an all time low period after the 9/11 attacks. The industry felt the need to replace the existing age old IT systems with new functionalities & features to reduce the time-to-market and respond to the changing business needs. As this shift occurred, it became clear that airlines need to reinvent their IT systems and processes to stay ahead of competition and to cut down the cost.

With what started as a business focus on Airlines way back in 1997, Hexaware was the first non-captive to do so. Acquiring its first client –

Canada's leading international airline, in the same year, nothing stopped Hexaware to emerge as the harbinger in providing Airline IT solutions, retaining its leadership position in the same. There was no looking back after this success and emerging as a leader was no easy game. Commitment of the senior management, re-invention of the service offerings to accommodate the changing business needs, helped Hexaware surge ahead in the business of providing IT solutions to the aviation industry.

P.K Sridharan, Executive Director & Global Delivery Head, states “We are able to realize the returns on the investment and commitment made in the airlines business and Hexaware is poised to provide next generation IT solutions to the industry with Leadership through Focus”. As one of the pioneers in the airlines IT business, Hexaware began developing/maintaining core solutions for airlines at a time when it was not a focus area for other vendors from India. Since then, Hexaware has expanded its gamut of service offerings and served the airline industry.

IATA (International Air Transport Association), which is a premier body representing the airline industry, has identified five focus areas in order to simplify the business of airlines with the use of Information Technology. The areas viz. Electronic Ticketing, CUSS (Common Use Self Service) Kiosks, RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) for baggage tags, Bar Coded boarding documents and Automated Interlining are imperative for the airline industry. Apart from the above, IT systems for customer service or marketing advantage and simplifying internal processes are also termed to be equally imperative as the above. A recent survey by SITA (Société Internationale Télécommunique Aéronautique) indicates that the biggest IT challenges in the future for the airline industry would be to reduce costs while maintaining profit, sunsetting of legacy systems, simplifying procedures, E-ticketing, E-commerce and self service. “As the IT solutions move into the next league, Hexaware remains well positioned to offer the above solutions to the airline industry” – says Lakshmi Narasimhan, AVP - Airline Practice. Hexaware launched the Airline MRO (Maintenance, Repair & Overhaul) Practice to further strengthen its Leadership position. In this direction, it has built alliance with Oracle for their flagship MRO product, cMRO. Also, it started focusing on the Airline Revenue Accounting practice and has partnered with a leading Revenue Accounting product vendor to provide IT and Bureau Processing services

Relationship with Leading System Integrators, Unisys and IBM:

Hexaware has over 700 man years experience in providing maintenance and support for two major airline products namely Unisys USAS and IBM’s TPF. Under Unisys engagement, Hexaware covers Cargo operations and Passenger Reservations Systems, Logistics Management System, Cargo Portal Services and much more.
	“As a global leader in end-to-end airline solutions, Hexaware is leading the development of next generation IT systems for all types of airlines and airports. Since our inception, we had many firsts to our credit like thefirst Interlining of E tickets and enjoyed great working relationships with many major airlines, leading product vendors and system integrators”, says Lakshmi Narasimhan. Hexaware with its 500+ technical & domain consultants and 2200+ person years of overall experience, is ready to take a plunge to the next level. Apart from that, it has a plethora of skilled resources in specialized airline technologies like USAS and TPF.
In his concluding remarks, Lakshmi Narasimhan quotes – “As an industry leader we will continue to invest in next generation solutions that address the airline business demands, deliver them with highest quality & pursuit and adapt to the changing business needs”. This reminds us of a Charles Darwin Quote stating “It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change will emerge as the winner”
	Lakshmi Narasimhan, AVP of Airline Practice in Hexaware.