Saturday, August 17, 2013
Tuesday, August 13, 2013
Sunday, August 4, 2013
Case Study # TV industry
Is the cable industry digital ready?
The cable television industry in India is poised for one of its most significant developments in the last decade – a transformation to the Digital Addressable System (DAS) for television distribution. Cable operators in a DAS regime would be legally bound to transmit only digital signals. Subscribed channels can be received at the customer's premises only through a set-top-box equipped with a conditional access card, and a subscriber management system (SMS).
With the parliament clearing the bill to amend the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act in December 2011, the stage has now been set for transition to DAS, to be implemented across India in four phases. The sunset date of 30th June 2012 has been set for completion of phase-I and the government seem to be committed towards ensuring a smooth transition within the set timelines. However, with an installed base of only 6 million1 set-top-boxes (STBs), is the cable industry ready to usher the first wave of digitization?
With rising demand and the lead time for the delivery of STBs being 3-4 months, operators who did not place timely orders for STBs are likely to see delays as the deadline approaches near. As cable operators begin STB installation very close to the actual deadline, it is unlikely that all existing analog cable TV homes will be able to make a transition to digital cable within the specified time frame. Accordingly, we may witness a delay of approximately 6 to 12 months for complete digitization across metros (Phase I). Also, the implementation may vary across the metro cities. The Delhi market is considered the most challenging, given the highly fragmented nature of cable industry in the city, while the Mumbai market is largely consolidated, with fewer MSOs.
Some of the digital cable operators expect that 70-75 percent of the analog market has the potential to easily shift to digitization, provided that the cable industry is prepared for it.1 Further, they believe that if the cable industry does not gear itself for the transition, the DTH industry may gather around 40-45 percent of the market.1
We believe that timely installation of STBs is one of the many challenges that the cable operators will need to confront. The shift will require large capital expenditure (INR 15-20 billion in phase-I)1 on digital head-ends, back-end infrastructure, and STB installation. Regional and smaller Multiple System Operator's (MSOs), which account for approximately 50 percent of the cable TV market, may find it difficult to raise the required capital for phase-I in time.1
Apart from the financial requirements, digitization also presents large organizational challenges for the MSOs. A consumer focused approach will be a critical success factor for MSOs to succeed post digitization. While MSOs will continue to provide technical and manpower assistance to Local Cable Operator's (LCOs) for setting up head-ends and installation of STBs, they will also need to scale up their back-end infrastructure such as IT systems, call centres, billing operations and STB management (procurement and repair). While the back-end infrastructure and required network is largely in place for Phase-I, however much more work needs to be done to scale-up billing and customer service operations, which may further lead to large scale IT outsourcing contracts. This would call for significant manpower preparedness and deriving learning's from consumer focused industries such as Telecom where most critical processes are outsourced.
Conclusion
While the industry is excited and positive about successful adoption of digitization, the transition is not expected to be entirely smooth and there are bound to be implementation challenges. The Indian consumer also appears to be ready for digital television, as demonstrated by the high penetration of DTH platform amongst C&S subscribers. However, the cable industry will need to accelerate its efforts and ensure that it does not lose out on the digitization opportunity to the DTH players. In the quest to build a sizeable subscriber base, going forward, we may witness consolidation amongst MSOs, LCOs being acquired by MSOs and capital rising by MSOs. The success will depend on how the players work collaboratively towards overcoming their operational challenges, ensuring technological and manpower preparedness and building sustainable processes which will define the dynamics of the industry.
1. KPMG-FICCI Frames Report 2012, Digital Dawn- The metamorphosis begins
Wednesday, July 17, 2013
Tally Bill Of material Tips
STOCK ITEM CLASSIFICATION AS RAW MATERIAL, WORK IN PROGRESS, FINISHED GOODS
As discussed earlier, Tally is flexible and can be used in any business organization. The user can classify stock items as per his requirements. In manufacturing concerns the user will primarily have three broad classifications (Stock Groups) i.e. Raw Materials, Work in Progress, Finished Goods. All items that that are procured to manufacture a particular item is called Raw Material & is grouped under the group 'Raw Materials', where as, a product whose shape has changed, but has not reached its finished stage is called Semi-finished item. These items will be grouped under the Group 'Work-in-Progress' and any item that is changed its shape / nature completely and reached the final form is called finished Goods and is grouped under 'Finished goods' group.
The user can also create ledgers with the name Raw Materials, Work-in-Progress and Finished goods under the group Stock-in-Hand. Once the user has de-activated the option 'Integrate Accounts with Inventory', based on the Closing balances entered by the user, Tally automatically displays the total of closing balances of all the ledgers grouped under the group Stock-in-Hand.
BILL OF MATERIAL WITH AUTO ADJUSTMENTS OF STOCK
In many industries, especially assembly units there are number of components involved in the manufacture of finished items. It is extremely difficult to issue stock items each time a product is manufactured. Such situations can be handled in Tally by using Bill of Material. To create a bill of material, create a new item (finished or intermediate product) and specify the components that go in to manufacturing of that finished / intermediate product. Now, using manufacturing journal, specify the quantity of items to be manufactured. Tally immediately selects all items that go in to manufacturing of the finished product and automatically adjusts (decreases) the stock. Any additional manufacturing cost like wages, power, water charges etc, can be added to the value of the manufactured product.
How to create Bill of Material ?
-> Select Inventory Info -> Select Stock Item -> Select Create -> In items creation screen, select F12 and activate bill of material. -> Specify item name, Unit of Measure and other details and activate Bill of Material for Item. Specify all the items that go in to manufacturing / assembly of the finished product along with quantity. Save screen.
How to create Manufacturing Journal ?
->Select Inventory Info -> Select Voucher Types -> Select Create -> Specify name of the Journal (Mfg Journal) -> and other details -> activate the option 'Use as a Manufacturing Journal' and save screen.
How to enter a manufacturing Journal ?
Select Voucher Entry -> select Alt+F7 (Stock Journal) -> Opt for Mfg Journal -> select the finished product which is to be manufactured / assembled -> specify Qty -> Tally automatically picks up all stock items which constitute the finished product and also displays the total cost of components. The user can now add additional cost like Power charges, water charges etc. Tally will displays total additional cost, total effective cost and effective rate for each finished product.
JOB-WORKING CONCEPTS - Including Sub-Contracting
A Job-worker is one who procures materials from your company, changes its shape and form, converts it into a semi-finished state and returns the material back to you. Tally user can handle Job-Working / Sub-Contract concepts with the help of Locations (warehouses). Each job-worker or each sub-contractor can be equated to a location. The user can use Stock Journals to transfer material from the company warehouse to a Job worker / sub-contractor and back. Hence the user can keep him self informed of the qty of material issued as well as qty of stock items lying with the Job worker. Materials can also be transferred from one Job worker to another, to process the material further before the material comes back to the company warehouse.
How to handle Job-working concepts in Tally ?
Create each Job worker / Sub-contractor as a Location.
-> Activate 'Maintain multiple locations' in F11 (features) -> select Inventory Info -> select Locations (Warehouses) -> select Create -> specify the name of the Job-worker / Sub-contractor and save screen. Create any number of job-workers.
How does Tally handle Job work process ?
Select Voucher Entry -> select Stk Journal (Alt +F7) -> In Source column (left side), select items to be dispatched from company warehouse (Main location) along with the Qty and in the destination column specify same items and mention Job worker (location). Again using Stock Journal shows the movement of materials back after any particular process for e.g., the company can issue raw silk (raw material) to a Job-Worker (Location). The Job-Worker will process the raw silk, convert it to yarn and send Yarn back to the company.
ADDITIONAL COST OF MANUFACTURING WITH NOTIONAL VALUE AND PERCENTAGE
When a product is manufactured, other than the component cost, there are manufacturing cost like water charges, wages, electricity etc, which will have to be added to the cost of the product. In Tally, the additional cost can be added to the product while entering stock Journals or at the time of entering a manufacturing Journal (use B.O.M). The user can specify additional cost as a % of the component cost or even specify a notional value.
Procedure :
Select F11 (features) -> activate 'Track additional cost to purchases'.
Now, while entering Stock Journals, select the manufactured item in the destination column (right side of the Stk Journal) and specify qty and value -> Tally, now displays another screen and the user can enter additional cost by specifying % or providing notional value. Tally also allows user to add additional cost by using Manufacturing Journal.
REORDER LEVELS
It is imperative that Companies maintain sufficient inventory stocks to run their business. Hence many companies would like to maintain reorder levels. Tally offers a facility to maintain reorder levels. The user can define reorder levels as well as Min order quantities for all items. The user can define Reorder levels as well Min order quantities as per his requirements or it can be defined based on the consumption pattern for a given period (i.e. Days, Months, Weeks, Years). Tally provides information on all inventory items that have gone below reorder levels.
Procedure :
-> Select F11 (features) -> activate Purchase Orders and save screen -> next, select Inventory Info -> select Reorder level -> select All items (or particular groups) -> specify Reorder level and Min order level for each item (levels can also be maintained based on the consumption pattern of the item over a particular period) and save screen.
How to view a report ?
-> Select Display -> select Statement of Inventory -> select Reorder Status -> select any group or all -> Tally display complete details along with closing balance, Purchase orders pending, Sales order due, Reorder levels Shortfall and also order to be placed -> to view only those items which have gone below reorder levels select Reorder Only (Alt + L). The user can drill down to lower levels of reports from reorder status report, for e.g. the user can drill down to 'Specify Reorder Level' screen from the Reorder level column in Reorder Status Report.
STOCK AGEING ANALYSIS
This is another important report, which is useful for the management to know how fast inventory of various stock items are moving. This allows the management to decide the production schedule. This report shows ageing period for each and every stock item. The report by default shows ageing by date of Purchase. But the user can select the style of ageing by selecting the option ' Ageing Style' (i.e. By date of Purchase, By Mfg date, By Expiry Date, To be expired). The user can also change the period of ageing by selecting F6 option. It can also be used with the combination of expiry date for perishable goods and Pharma industry.
Procedure :
-> select Display -> select Inventory Books -> Ageing Analysis
Select F6 option for changing period,
Select Alt + S for changing ageing style
Select Alt + B for Expired Batches only
BATCH RELATED REPORTS
Tally provides for batch wise reporting. If the customer looks at the ageing analysis he can view all items with their batches along with their date of Mfg and Expiry date. The user can also get a report of items that have already expired or likely to expire so that he can move them fast by offering discounts etc. The user can also view ageing reports for all batches.
Procedure :
-> Select Display -> select Inventory Books -> select Ageing analysis -> select any groups or all -> Tally displays all stock items with their batch details, Mfg date and expiry date -> select Expired batches (Alt+B)-> Tally will display only those items have already past their Expiry date.
Wednesday, June 19, 2013
Tuesday, June 18, 2013
Google Map Maker Basics
Learn about Google Map Maker's basic functionality by creating a map yourself.
Introduction
Google provides a set of tools with which you can create your own maps: Google Maps and Google Map Maker. Google Map Maker is an online tool for collaborative mapping. Learning to work with this tool will make you aware of the power of online mapping techniques.
Google Map Maker
Google Map Maker is a web-based collaborative mapping application for creating, viewing and editing online geo-information. Map Maker was launched in June 2008 as a way to support the improvement of existing Google map data through the expert knowledge of local citizens. Map Maker uses Google Maps/Google Earth Imagery as a background, so that mappers can perform on-screen digitizing of terrain features or adding new information not contained in the imagery. Map Maker serves as an input to Google Maps, and many of the features that users add will eventually appear in Google Maps.
Below is a comparison of Google Maps data and Google Map Maker data. Some new features have been created by mappers at the bottom map and they do not yet appear in Google Maps. At the same time, due to refresh cycles, not all Google Maps features appear yet in Google Map Maker.
Map Maker activities have first targeted countries with minimal data in Google Maps. More country territories have been opened for editing since then, including the United States.
Friday, June 14, 2013
Google Drive wont run "This application has failed to start because the application configuration is incorrect....
 | |
| |
00 | |