Smruti Compubits set to join state's IT bandwagon

THE IT VALLEY - PART I

Although Gujarat missed the information technology bus in the first phase, a saturation effect in cities such as Hyderababad and Bangalore, coupled with the depletion in infrastructure and power supply, the state is fast emerging as a preferred destination for infotech companies, especially those in the business process outsourcing (BPO) industry.

One such company is Smruti Compubits Support (Gujarat) Pvt Ltd (SCSGPL), which has decided to set up a centre at Infocity in Gandhinagar. SCSGPL is a BPO which works for the UK-based telecom major Spheroid and a couple of clients in engineering and other related fields.

SCSGPL is a joint venture between the UK-based Compubits Support and the Delhi-based Smruti Consulting and Services.

The SCSGPL centre will primarily provide engineering application, system software, operational and disaster recovery to both offshore and onshore development for group companies. The site will expand and strengthen the Compubits support team in the UK to provide cost-effective services to its clients.

"The InfoCity site in Gujarat was selected for the India hub as it was felt that the infrastructure, availability of resources such as uninterrupted electricity and water, pleasant environment, access to qualified resources access to an international airport and scope for future expansion are good for smooth operation," said Dinesh Dubey, chief operating officer, SCSGPL.

"High-end BPO services are now coming into India, and I am sure this business itself is a multi-billion dollar proposition. It is not a late-beginning for Gujarat, but the state is entering the next stage of outsourcing. You may be aware the current business into India is only a scratch on the surface of the total outsourced pie from the international market," said Dubey. Besides working for a UK-based telecom major, Compubits has two-three more clients, which involve renewing engineering works and the like. "To being with, we will appoint a team of about 20 persons primarily in the engineering aspects, but this will be expanded as new projects come in," the official said.

Anupam Saxena, general manager, marketing, Creative Infocity, said: "A recent study by consulting firm Jones Lang Lasalle has shown that Gujarat is one of the most preferred destinations because of low real estate prices, easy availability of manpower, good salaries, cheap and uninterrupted power and one of the best connectivity. This is being reflected in several BPOs being set up across the state and especially at Infocity."

Jagrut Vyas, convenor, information and communication technology panel, Confederation of Indian Industries, Gujarat, said: "I tend to believe that the number of BPOs in Gujarat are likely to increase to a great extent, primarily because of the infrastructure available here and the fact that there is a saturation in established centres."

Compubits Support is associated with the multi-million dollar conglomerate Spheroid, an international organisation with its activities spread over various countries and products for over 25 years.

Spheroid has facilities in the UK to provide computer network, engineering and implementation services. Compubits' support team has skills in application design and development, project management and the systems software area and its experience spans over 25 years.

It has its core business of providing application, system software, operational and disaster recovery support for network asset management systems for major international telecommunications companies in the UK since 1995.