Senior Manager IT / Head of IT
Serena Hotels / TPS (Pakistan) Limited
Total years of experience :26 years, 9 Months
Progressed through increasingly responsible position with an industry leading integrated property management system, ERP, materials control, customer survey and satisfaction systems through global operating providers. Initially recruited to revamp the IT infrastructure across the company and transform IT into productive and supportive business entity. Instrumental in IT’s success during 7 make overs and 2 new projects.
Reporting to CEO and oversee 8 direct and 15+ indirect IT professional; managing company’s IT budget. Driving planning and execution for the enterprise’s technology strategy, ensuring full alignment of IT with the corporate mission. Analyst and Project Manager for new centralized ERP implementation across the country which includes major improvements in business processes. (iScala, Epicor Dubai).
Led effort to achieve game‐changing improvements in critical operational processes through consistent client solution models in various ERPs across multiple areas. Standardization across geographies to create a more unified global organization. System includes Opera, Micros Fidelio Financials, Materials Controls, Credit Portal, Customer Feedback Medallia and Human Capital Management System.
Transformed both the company’s and the customers’ view of IT within Company. Established IT as the differentiating factor within the organization, by centralizing and implementing standards, processes, and procedures and providing regular communication with team members and leadership.
Implemented Global HR solution on Success Factors that enabled greater HR efficiencies organization‐wide, including hiring, performance appraisal, succession planning, reporting and global payroll consistent policies.
Analysis, Design of Data Center and Enterprise Wi-Fi solution for different properties/hotels in Asia, along with commercial and operational contracts with service providers and brands like Huawei, Alcatel-Lucent, Cisco, Dell, HP, Microsoft etc.
Preparation of Disaster Recovery Program including offsite backup solution and implementation of fire drill exercises.
Delivered Substantial Savings by moving Company’s Email Solution to Microsoft Cloud Services.
Coordination with Global IT, Marketing and Technology Companies for the uplift of company’s global website to support e-commerce, GDS, mobile optimization and linkages with social media and booking engines like iHotelier, Trip Advisor, Booking.com, Medallia and LHW etc.
Dushanbe Serena Hotel, Tajikistan pre-opening team member. Travelled to Dushanbe and stayed for months before hotel commissioned, led technical team on site with project management consultants to build, data center, IT infrastructure deployment including networks, wireless, server, client, EPBX, user training for core ERP solution.
Leading yearly Audits for the Company which includes Q&A, submissions, clarifications and implementation of recommendation by audit firm and internal audit department.
Reporting to CIO, initially joined the IT team to lead the implementation with analysis of business processes for the afresh established operations of the company in Kabul; led the project with user department, consultants and developer.
Implemented Oracle based custom ERP; includes Procurement, Inventory, Payable, Receivable, Sales, GL, HR and Payroll modules.
Proactive planning of ERP infrastructure to maximize the usage and performance of system for users.
Requirement analysis with ZTE and ERP Consultants to drive the integration between billing system and ERP.
Scheduled follow ups and co-ordination with users to track down and resolve any issues faced during usage.
Project Management and technical support to developers in miscellaneous project tasks.
Backup review of all critical databases.
Support to software development team to align the technology with business needs.
Weekly report and Quarterly progress presentation to CEO, CTO, CFO and CIO.
Managed 24x7 hotel operations with team of 5 IT professionals. Kabul Serena is first 5 star rating hotel in Afghanistan with diverse challenges to provide high level customer satisfaction.
Scope of the position was expansive which includes departmental direction, design, installation, engineering support, implementation, user and customer support, training, general IT administration.
Implementation of SCALA hospitality ERP system, along with HR, Payroll and time and attendance modules.
Development of customized reports for ERP Epicor Scala.
Implementation of loyalty club and Health club systems.
Interface development to link biometric hand punch machines with HR system.
Analysis, procurement, configuration and implementation of AAA RADIUS Internet Billing system.
Remedy to general network anomalies and improvement of network efficiency to support hotel business in better way.
Re-deigned and deployed new Data Center to ensure required atmosphere and efficiency.
Visited Epicor Scala Dubai for consultation and rectification of pending issues including technical review of newer version to decide for up-grade.
Siemens EPABX maintenance contract, configuration and activation of hotel value added services.
Introduced the charging mechanism for internet with AAA and converted the expenses into profit.
Domain controller and Active directory setup to secure systems and data.
Maintenance and configuration of electronic door and safe locking system.
Joined as a pre-opening team member for new operations in Pakistan. Initial scope of the position was to setup the IT infrastructure from scratch, including networks, co-ordination with ERP vendor for analysis and implementation across the company.
Analysis, design and implementation of IT infrastructure.
Led due diligence and implementation, training, of Oracle based centralized ERP system.
Designed and implemented VPN with local ISP at head office and branches for accessibility of ERP for all branches.
Project management and business requirement review of existing and new features of the system.
Selection and decision on IT hardware procurement.
Security policies and contingency plans to safeguard the data & information.
Overall IT management (ERP, Official website, HR, Payroll & Inventory).
Configuration of domain controller with Active directory setup to secure data access.
Administration of web hosting, website and emails addresses for the company.
Joined as a programmer and worked closely with IT Manager. Being corporate office associate, scope of the position was extensive and company was just started moving towards systems and tasks starts from design, programming, installations, implementation, user training and support to all hotels and sales offices.
Head Office moved to Islamabad in 2003 therefore also worked with Islamabad Serena Hotel IT Team in pre-opening team member
Team member: Customizing and implementing Microsoft Great Plains Dynamics Ver.7.5 with MS SQL Server and for in-house developed and implemented Back of the House Accounting Software for Head office & Hotels.
Designed, customized & implemented LAN/WAN at HO and hotels using Windows & Novell Server OS.
Customization, reports and maintenance of miscellaneous in-house developed systems (GL, Payroll, Front Office Reception, Cashiering, and Point of Sales for Restaurant.)
Designed, developed & maintaining dynamic web site using ASP for daily financial reporting online.
Technical suggestions for IT procurement needs of the group.
Administration of web hosting, website and emails addresses for the company.
Implementation of Front Office System Fidelio, Micros 8700 & Back office accounting software at Islamabad Serena Hotel member of Leading Hotels of the World.
Development of dynamic website for online guest survey/comments, including interface with PMS (Fidelio) for auto e-mail generation.
- (Degree Chartered from Government of Pakistan and University Grants Commission Recognized) - Specility in IT, Networks, Software Development, Maintenance, Technologies Introduction and theory etc.
ITIL V3. Preparatory Classes at NUST, Islamabad. Penetration testing and ethical hacking workshop by CORVIT, Islamabad iScala, three days’ workshop at Dubai. Oracle, FoxPro, Delphi and other short courses of IT (Details available if required)
One Year Diploma