Making software easy with Gati

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For a person who joined a computer course on his father's insistence, Mehul K Jhaveri, chairman of the Surat-based Gati Software & Technology, has come a long way.

A B Sc graduate from South Gujarat University, Jhaveri, 32, was always interested in machines. "After my SSC exams, my father insisted that I join a computer course and learn something instead of wasting time. I joined the course and started liking it. This was over fifteen years back. But slowly, computers became my hobby and my passion."

On completion of the course, Jhaveri started working as a data entry operator. The reason? "So that I could touch the computer," says Jhaveri.

In 1992, Jhaveri started Jhaveri Computers and secured data entry contracts from various banks and other institutions. "The firm did well in the initial months, but as the competition intensified, our margins went down and I had to close down the firm," he says.

He worked in various software development firms in the years that followed, but was not satisfied.

It was around this time that Jhaveri came in contact with Tushar Balar, also a computer professional not satisfied with his work in different firms.

"I knew Tushar for long, but it was only when we became close friends that we realised that our ideas and dreams were similar. We had long discussions and finally we decided to start our own software development firm," says Jhaveri.

Together, they founded Gati Software & Technology in September 2002. But their problems were far from over. They had only one computer and no table "" the computer had to be kept on a chair. There was no money to invest either. So, along with the software development firm, they started dealing in computer hardware.

Says Jhaveri, "The software business did not do very well in the first year, we sold only five softwares. There were times we had negative thoughts, but we somehow motivated each other. We got back to basics, put in extra effort and the business started doing well. We sold fifteen softwares in the next five months and achieved a turnover of Rs 4.50 to 5 lakh."

Today, Gati Software & technology's client network includes jewellery industries, diamond industries, private safe vault, restaurants, beverages/ bottling companies, garment manufacturers & retailers. Some of the famous clients include Vinubhai Jewellers, Pachchigar Jewellers, Sugar N Spice Restaurant, Lake View Restaurant, Shahsvat Gems, Manilal Stores, etc.

Gati Software also plans to enter into the outsourcing business. Jhaveri recently visited Singapore and hopes to get a few contracts from there soon.

"Surat is a small city and there are limitations as far as software business is concerned. We want to expand and this was the main purpose of my Singapore visit. I met several companies there and work should start coming in shortly."

On Gati's short-term goals, Jhaveri says: "There is no software development firm in South Gujarat registered with Nasscom. We want to make Gati the first company of the region to be registered with Nasscom. This should happen by the end of this year."

The reasons behind Gati Software's success is simple. Says Jhaveri, "The tag line of our company is 'We Make It Easy'. Our goal is to give maximum satisfaction to customers. We believe customers just don't make business, they are the only business. We are following this principle as it is the only way of reaching to the top."