SunGuard expands its India operations

Opens second facility in Bangalore

SunGuard Offshore Services, a subsidiary of USA-headquartered SunGuard that provides software and process solutions for various types of industries, has expanded its India operations with the opening of its second facility in Bangalore.

The company, which started its India operations in 1993 as Automated Securities Clearance and SCT Software Solutions (before being acquired by SunGuard in 2000 and 2004 respectively), also announced raising its headcount from the present 750 to 1,000 in the next one year.

Akila Krishnakumar, chief executive officer of SunGuard Offshore Services, Bangalore said, "We were one of the earliest successful product development companies in India and are actively involved in the development as well as full life-cycle management of about 60 products for the company, which are made out of our Indian facility," she said.

Presently, SunGuard has five facilities located in Bangalore and Pune. The Pune facilities are the largest in India which presently employs around 550 people.

"With the inauguration of the second facility in Bangalore, the Bangalore facilities now have a capacity of 250 people," Akila Krishakumar said.

SunGuard's Asia Pacific operations presently contribute around 15 per cent of its annual turnover of $4 billion (calender 2005).

Ron M Lang, chief executive officer of SunGuard's Enterprise Solutions Group said, the company aimed to touch a revenue of $5 billion by 2008 and raise the contribution of its Asia Pacific operations to 25 per cent.

SunGuard has around 17 clients in India, mostly in the bank risk management area. Ron said, "SunGuard is increasingly interested in India as a global centre for software development, and is marketing SunGuard solutions to Indian financial services institutions, corporations, public sector and higher educational institutions."

He said the company has around 30 products for local governance and criminal justice system which could get wide acceptance in India.