Defiance Tech in talks with Dassault for cloud solutions

Hinduja Group company Defiance Technologies is planning to partner Dassault Systèmes, a Paris-based provider of 3D product lifecycle management (PLM) solutions, to deliver its offerings using the former’s cloud-compatible architecture technology.

“We are currently in discussion with Dassault Systèmes. Our plan is to go in for proof-of-concepts and pilot projects in around six months, We plan to target small business enterprises with a pay-per-use model," said Subu D Subramanian, managing director and chief executive officer of Defiance Technologies.

Defiance, a provider of engineering, ERP and IT services leveraging the global delivery model, plans to offer cloud services to its clients, PLM solutions to start with, to industry clusters like automotive. The cloud-based solutions would later be extended to areas like design and engineering, and testing and simulation for its customers in the aerospace and automobile space.

Defiance, founded in 1976 in the US and was later acquired by the Hinduja Group, would require an up front investment to set up necessary infrastructure to offer its cloud services. Subramanian, however, said that such decisions would be finalised only after signing the partnership.

Meanwhile, the company is also looking at acquisitions in the US and Europe, primarily in engineering and SAP where the company has its focus on, or other new technology segments. It intends to finalise at least one buyout deal during the 2012-13 financial year.

“We are looking at both value-based acquisitions to build our expertise and competency and volume-based deals to increase our engineering services capabilities,” he said.

The value-based buy, for an estimated $5 million-20 million, is expected to bring in boutique, niche companies with a strength of around 50 to 100 people, while the volume-based acquisition would attract $50-100 million investment to add around 500 to 1000 people to the existing strength.

Defiance would also invest in expanding its operations in the US, Europe, India, West Asia and Africa. “We have around 1,500 people now and the strength is expected to be doubled by 2012-13. This will not include the manpower added through acquisitions,” Subramanian said.