INCREASE in computerization and electronic commerce has led to the demand for professionals who can build and manage databases. A recent IDC report estimates that the database segment in India is expected to grow at 17 percent per annum till 2006, with even low-end enterprises considering the implementation of database management systems. What was earlier considered a "critical need" is now an absolute necessity. There is consequently a vast are required to design more complex, robust and widely extensible systems for better competitive edge. opportunity for database professionals to expand their career horizons. Besides working in software companies, opportunities exist in sectors like banks, financial institutions, insurance, investment firms and telecommunication companies. In addition, sectors like retail, manufacturing, education, and the government are also emerging as potential growth areas for database management system implementation. Increasing usage however also means increasing challenges for database professionals, who are required to design more complex, robust and widely extensible systems for better competitive edge.

Requisite skills
The choice of database management software depends on the size, complexity and nature (of business) in an organization, however the basic skill set is expertise in any database technology, whether it be Oracle, Informix, Microsoft, IBM or Sybase. In addition the professionals must have basic programming skills.

Presently in India the maximum demand is for database administrators who basically look after the efficiency access security, retrieval, archiving and development of an organization's computerized database. This primarily involves managing database space, optimizing performance, performing periodical backups, developing reports and cross references from the data dictionary, and implementing disaster recovery operations. According to VK Ramani, senior vice president of UTI Bank there is a high demand for database administrators in the banking industry. "Professionals who have experience in banking applications with skills in Oracle application software will be much sought after," he says. Apart from recruiting engineering graduates, UTI also hires for this purpose, MCAs and commerce graduates with an aptitude for software development, trained graduates from NIIT, SSI and Oracle certified professionals.

Adaptability to changing user profiles, preferences and technology is a critical aspect for database administrators. Besides technical expertise they are also required to have good interpersonal skills as they have to interact with system analysts, end users and the management, during the course of implementation or design.

There is also a growing demand for database designers, who play a critical part in any database application. Says Praveen Kankariya, president and chief executive officer of Impetus Technology, who is currently recruiting database designers, "The database designer has to look into the kind of database which would be generated as the company grows, how much data does the system need to retain and for how long, and how many transactions does it need to support in a given timeframe, etc." Database designers today have an added responsibility of building robust and extensible systems.

In the high-end segment, the demand is for datawarehouse analysts, database architects, datamining and BI specialists. According to the market experts, datawarehouse professionals must possess experience in DBMS, SQL Server, Oracle, DB2 and Teradata. Apart from having application developer experience, they should also be able to work on Unix, Windows 2000 and Windows NT platforms.

Database architects are typically senior people (with six to eight years of experience), and possess the combined skills of data management and business acumen. They have to coordinate with the database staff and the end users, understand the business requirements and translate them into technical designs. This means dealing with complex systems and maintaining the data so that it can be accessed, manipulated and turned into information. Such professionals are been sought after in the banking sector.

For datamining, skills are required in areas like designing and optimizing large multi-terabyte data warehouses, Oracle, SQL Server or DB2 and ETL tools. Says Pankhil Shah, associate vice president of south zone for New Horizons India, "Data architects and datawarehouse professionals are a rare breed. The demand for qualified candidates has grown by 30-40 percent in the last two years, as business intelligence (BI) has become more vital to organisational growth." Commenting on the growing BI market, Tarun Malik, product manager for Business Tools Division at Microsoft India points out that according to Gartner, the global BI related IT services market was estimated at $10.4 billion in the year 2001. "It is projected to grow to $18.1 billion by 2005. Associated market for datawarehousing related IT services was estimated at $6.4 billion in 2001 and is expected to grow to $10.9 billion by 2005."

The soft skills in demand at senior levels are project management expertise, leadership, planning, procurement, deploying of resources and good communication skills with users.

Career Growth
In terms of career opportunity, a database professional can make the following choices - database administration, database development, database or datawarehouse analysis. They can also be technical consultants or functional implementers, giving consultancy on database applications in various functions of the organisation. Malik adds, "Database professionals can grow into such positions as technical consulting is gaining more and more importance due to its competitive advantage for a business." For business intelligence professionals the scope lies in system integration, BI applications implementation, customization, support and maintenance and datawarehousing/mining consulting.

It is common for one person to carry out all these functions in smaller organizations. In larger companies individual positions exist for specific skills and require focused expertise. Many a times, database administrators also have to work as data designers, while data architects might have to manage the whole team (working as a project manager).

Training on database courses are offered in most engineering colleges across the country. In addition, training is also available on database skills from technology vendors like Oracle, Microsoft and IBM.

Remuneration factor
Database-related jobs are well paid, both at the entry level and senior positions. Professionals working with medium and large-scale DBMS tools mostly demand higher salaries.

Database architects and datawarehouse designers and BI specialists are also among the highest paid. Industry remuneration figures indicate that database administrators earn about Rs. 2.5 lakh to Rs. 3.5 lakh per annum as starting salary, while database architects earn between Rs. 4.5 lakh to Rs. 6 lakh per annum. Datawarehouse designers can take home around Rs. 6 lakh to Rs. 8 lakh per annum. For datamining and warehouse professionals, the salaries can range anywhere between Rs.8 lakh to Rs. 10 lakh per annum.

Experts predict an increasing demand for skilled and qualified database professionals across verticals. The future is bright for those involved in backup management, working in NAS/SAN environments and maintenance of disaster recovery systems.