Bhopal firm gets GM order

Auto giant can save $240 million

Bhopal-based NetLink Software Group has bagged a multi-dimensional hi-tech project from Detroit-based auto behemoth General Motors. The project amount was, however, not disclosed.

With the completion of the project, General Motors can save $240 million, or more.

General Motors has selected NetLink to develop a software for its multi-purpose project "Supplier Suggestion System (SUGS)". This system will help the managers at General Motors to analyse and validate suppliers' suggestions.

"It is a very big project that will serve them for long. The SUGS will police the system and make sure that General Motors complies with it," said Sam George, senior manager (solutions), NetLink Software Group. "It is basically interfacing with various vendors," he added.

NetLink Software has a firm footing in the US, with clients like General Motors, Ford, DiamlerChrysler, Rubbermaid, Motorola, Blue Cross, Blue Shield, Lufthansa. Some Australian companies are also its clients. It has Touchtel, BSNL,and IBM on its client list in India.

"We are fixed vendors to GM and it is a matter of great honour for a Bhopal-based company to bag the assignment. The team at NetLink is very excited about this assignment and determined to try even more challenging assignments," Abhishek Verma, regional manager, told Business Standard.

GM has vendors around the world and the SUGS will help the company to interact with them on a broader platform.

"This global software will be of international quality and assist the General Motors in production and managing suggestions, and it would save them about $240 million in a business year," Verma said. NetLink's chief executive officer Anurag Shrivastava is in the US at present to give final touches to the deal.

NetLink has a tie-up with US-based Kettering University for graduate programmes in information technology and manufacturing operations. The company had to compete with big software giants to get the SUGS project.

NetLink was set up in 1998. Jointly promoted by two students of a regional engineering college, Anurag Shrivastava and Dilip Dubey, the company does good business in software development and export, IT education, business process outsourcing, etc.

The company has offices in Germany, Australia, and the US. NetLink also provides development, testing and implementation skills to management consultants.