One has to draw the line and separate the enterprise from the marketplace. Secondly, too much is expected too soon. The supply chain management (SCM) at the supplier end has to be integrated through the company to the front end, i.e. the Customer Relationship Management (CRM). And this integration should be seamless. But it will be some time before this happens. We cannot expect an infant to run while it is learning to walk, said Mr Mohan. Another major hurdle, according to him, is the absence of a seamless inter-bank electronic payment gateway. And we seem to be heading nowhere as there is no concrete effort from anybody or any organisation in this direction, he said.

It will be another two-to-three years before this country has a payment gateway connecting all banks at all locations.