Interview of TAdviser with the CEO of "National center of informatization" Konstantin Solodukhin

Konstantin Solodukhin: There is a search of the place of the company in the market. The NCI was created to concentrate resources which would be developed and operated information systems for the benefit of the state. It was supposed that in NCI the best forces on development of the similar systems will be concentrated, on the one hand. On the other hand, these systems had to be created using uniform development approaches, to implementation and operation.

Now different state IT systems, as a rule, become different contractors. Each of them has approaches, the ideology, the building tools. But at some point there were thoughts that it would be quite good to unify all this. As a matter of fact, it at the first stage in NCI was also tried to be made, but that is called "broke teeth". Because it is not simple - there is a heritage from which it is difficult to pass to ideal model.

Konstantin Solodukhin: Commands changed, but desire to become the national leader in the field of informatization of state agencies never vanished. The question is in how we are going to do it. The devil, as we know, is in parts.

One of the integrators working today at the market had no strategy to become the leader. All of them arose, as a rule, on some anchor clients. Everyone had objects on which they accumulated examination and money supply which then could risk on projects with not absolutely guaranteed margin. Someone then became the big player, and someone remained in the niche.

Our difference from model of integrators is in what we want to play in the long term in terms of that product line which we create. This model not absolutely in line with the current economic trends since if to speak about private equity, then, probably, today very few people invest in long. Influence of external factors on success or failure of the project very strongly. Risks are like that that it is heavy to manage them.

Whether it is possible to consider the project interesting to investments if it has a payback period of 7 or 10 years? Probably, the majority will tell that it is not present. Our purpose – to build a long story, and it in principle in our case of short cannot be. If to look at a set of the directions in which we work all of them are long in terms of return of investments.

We do not intend to pump up muscles and to be on sale. We are going to create a product line which will become the standard in the market. And the market will use these products if they will be well made, will have good support. And there will be enough number of the specialists able to work with them that the customer felt confidence that his company will not be left and to it will render the normal level of service.

Konstantin Solodukhin: About departments and state corporations.

Konstantin Solodukhin: Main directions six:

• The basic software (operating systems and DBMS enter here).
• ERP – both the full-fledged systems, and separate functional units. Today we can work with three platforms – SAP, 1C and BARS.
• Engineering software – CAD, PLM, PDM, MES, etc.
• State information systems
• Systems of the business analysis (BI)
• Storage systems with high capacity. This specific direction which we selected in separate. United Instrument Manufacturing Corporation (a MIC, as well as the NCI is included into Rostec state corporation, - a comment of TAdviser) transferred to NCI examination on creation protected by DWH of high capacity. We are able to manage our operating system DWH more than 100 PBytes. Such systems in the world of unit. And requirement on them for Russia is.

Konstantin Solodukhin: Not only franchisee. In big projects, for example, in Russian Post, we will act as the strategic partner of 1C. Including using their tools by forces of our developers we will create new solutions.

At the same time, and we from anybody do not hide it, in our plans of long-term strategy there is a creation of own high-performance platform of the corporate level which will close basic needs and to compete with world solutions in this sphere. It is the next stage in which we will be engaged since 2017.

Konstantin Solodukhin: It will be cooperation of developers.

Konstantin Solodukhin: It is one of options which we consider.

Konstantin Solodukhin: Here we already have an examination of development based on Linux received during creation of a line of secure systems Dawn and Dawn (OS and DBMS) for security agencies. We applied this experience to creation of a basic program platorma Aurora - our own initiative development.

Konstantin Solodukhin: The team of 50 people in central research institute of economy, information science and management systems was engaged in development of Aurora (Central Research Institute EISU, is included into a MIC, Konstantin Solodukhin worked as the First Deputy CEO of central research institute in 2014-2015, - a comment of TAdviser). We took a part of this command in NCI.

Further we want to arrange cooperations, to attract including regional specialists. In general, we are going to place the main part of employees of production divisions of NCI in regions - in Innopolis, first of all. In Moscow there will be only employees working directly with clients.

Konstantin Solodukhin: Because there was no global need to change OS. There is Windows or MacOS. They on the characteristics of all satisfy. Why to me to create a system? Why to do something that on consumer properties it will not be better than what is. There have to be additional signals from the market that for some reason it is impossible to use Windows, Mac OS or still something.

Konstantin Solodukhin: Yes, political. Or signals in terms of information security. But they should come. Still all signals which came led to limited market. Conditionally speaking, arrived to create the order of OS with some specific characteristics on information security, and then the customer bought 100 sets of this system. The developer company is farther it turns out in a situation that she performed this work, but on an update it has no means any more. And it has no other markets too since to other customers of OS with these specific characteristics it is not necessary. As a result there is no necessary critical mass.

There is a lot of developers of operating systems based on Linux, and everyone to himself received a certain clearing – Alt Linux one, Aster of Linux another, Central Research Institute EISU a third, ROSA – the fourth. Everyone as a result has a small clearing which does not allow to make the project paid back.

We want to concentrate at ourselves competences on development of OS and to try to create this critical mass of demand. We want to do any product which we will release, according to our strategy compatible to our operating system.

We need to create a certain quantity of jobs which will lead to the fact that this OS will become usual for the user. After that we will begin commercialization – we will be able to charge a fee for licenses, for support. But without creation of this critical mass nothing will depart.

Konstantin Solodukhin: Including, at the expense of Rostec.

Konstantin Solodukhin: There are two aspects. Already existing and newly created jobs. On new jobs we will unambiguously install our operating systems. Today all computer makers are interested in that their products went with the OS maximum set which are selected by the customer. Neither at Kraftvey, nor Akvarius, nor at Depot has no problems to test their computers from new OS and to enclose it in that pool of OS with which their equipment is delivered.

Konstantin Solodukhin: If our OS works with a standard set of office applications, then any reason will use it. Unless mental accustoming to Windows.

Konstantin Solodukhin: I do not say that we want to make OS, only in the market. I say that we should concentrate in ourselves competences. It means that we will have to come, and most likely we will come, both to Viola, and to Aster. At each of the companies today limited markets.

Konstantin Solodukhin: Yes, we want to consolidate.

Konstantin Solodukhin: Maybe purchases. Can be for a start creation of joint development teams. Things of this sort are profitable to all today. This expansion of the markets.

Konstantin Solodukhin: We offered model of virtual design office. We have a technological solution which allows to provide big design commands (which, for example, design the airplane or the boat) licenses and development tools without upgrade of the computer park of the enterprise.

Today, if you need development or upgrade something, you need to create in one step 1500 jobs of designers. And, it is heavy jobs for which, in fact, pays the state. When the order is performed, these heavy machines with heavy video cards which work with 3D - graphics, go to a warehouse or are used as office appliances.

Konstantin Solodukhin: And it can not be at all. If in parallel at five enterprises orders are started, then each of them has the information environment of development, and the state pays for it.

We suggest to transfer heavy processing to computer center, and on places to have conditional thin clients. Conditional. We do not create thin clients. We take those machines which already are on places. We connect them to a farm of the centralized resources. Plus this farm is engaged in administration of licenses.

If designers need import software, for example, to Siemens, then each enterprise does not need to buy it. They can order from us this software in the form of service. We will open for them an opportunity to project that product which is necessary for them, in that environment which we provide. Thereby we concentrate both a license part, and an iron part in one place.

Konstantin Solodukhin: We will create the center on resources of Rostec. It can be DPC of United Instrument Manufacturing Corporation or some other.

Konstantin Solodukhin: Not only. There is a certain methodology. There are completions of software. It is the first step. The second step – we suggested to make the engineering center based on Rostec where we suggested to enter not only developments of Rostec in this area, but also developments, for example, of the Sarov Nuclear center. This engineering center will develop in parallel the Russian software. In process of its readiness we will replace with it foreign.

We will be able to invest money which we will earn due to the service provided on import software in development of domestic software. Support of the state anyway will be required, but it will be public and private partnership. We will invest a part of money in development, a part will enclose the state.

Konstantin Solodukhin: It can be also direct financing. The state considers a subject of engineering software at the highest level.

Konstantin Solodukhin: It actively applies, but there not everything is so simple. There are restrictions on use.

Konstantin Solodukhin: Through Sarov we just also assume to attract Ascon to the solution of certain tasks.

Konstantin Solodukhin: This direction is as the finished product of BARS Group. But also we can someone and purchase.

Konstantin Solodukhin: "Forecast" is a big question. We laid it aside so far. The fact that it is necessary to make with Forecast how many it is necessary to enclose there to receive the platform in the correct status does not justify investment. Big risks.

Konstantin Solodukhin: Not absolutely. We consider that the information system of department consists of several blocks, a part of which standard, a part – purely departmental. Specific.

If to approach on state, then all zoo of systems which was produced by integrators could be made at normal approach a standard product with the minimum customization. Began with this NCI, but for this task there has to be correct time.

Konstantin Solodukhin: We consider that it is necessary to discuss approaches to this story. Based on a yesterday's panel on TsIPR we prepare offers for the Ministry of Telecom and Mass Communications and we will discuss options of optimization of creation of the state information systems, including due to standardization of software solutions, creation of base of components and platforms based on Ministry of Telecom and Mass Communications of the Russian Federation medical and obstetrical Centre, contracts of lifecycle of information systems.

Konstantin Solodukhin: It is, for example, about the systems of the normative reference information, integration buses. Having faced budget deficit the state should look at it in a different way. And one of approaches to economy of means is a unification. We will move in this direction.

Konstantin Solodukhin: If here Timur Akhmerov sat (the CEO of BARS Group, - a comment of TAdviser), he strongly would take offense at you. He does not consider BARS integrator and builds vendor model. It really does custom developments, but when understands that this development can be applied to other clients, he tries to standardize it as much as possible. And it already has products which the third party can implement, customizing them under clients. For example, "BARS of BI" or "BARS Budgeting".

Konstantin Solodukhin: BARS Group has permanent revenue which grows. There is a clear marginality. EBITDA margin – about 12.5%. Akhmerov strictly adheres to model of work with the products. And if to look at NCI in general, then by 2020 we calculate that the share in revenue from own products at us will reach 65%.

Konstantin Solodukhin: Till 2020.

Konstantin Solodukhin: We expect not less than 25 billion rubles annual revenues.