IT players keen on linking with Kochi
New technologies for small and medium business entities
KOCHI: Major companies having a stake in IT and telecommunications
sectors are looking towards Kochi for a rewarding future.
The city has been attracting investment from a host
of companies and the trend is set to continue.
Cisco Systems, a worldwide company engaged in networking
for the internet, is planning to increase its presence
in Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode. The company
may launch its operations in towns like Thrissur and
Kottayam also. While the company is ready to take up
big networking jobs, it is equally exploring the opportunities
in small and medium business segments.
"The small and medium businesses (SMBs) in Kochi
are finding an increased need to adopt advanced telecommunication
technologies such as internet telephony to stay competitive,"
says Kaushik Bellani, business development manager-commercial
enterprise, Sisco Systems, India & SAARC. Banks
such as the Ernakulam District Cooperative Bank and
the Catholic Syrian Bank have already deployed Cisco
solutions in the Kochi market, he pointed out. The company
is developing domain specific solutions to help SMB
customers.
Mr. Bellani notes that favourable business conditions
have led to the rapid proliferation of regional clusters
in the country. Kerala has particularly emerged as a
hub for rubber and coir products, power loom and seafood
processing industries. This situation augurs well for
domain specific solutions, he says.
"Network trails PCs," says Mr. Bellani, stressing
the need to expand the market. Quoting the NASSCOM report,
he says SMBs in India spent $17.5 billion on IT &
Telecom in 2003-04, with expectations to touch $34 billion
in 2008.
The proposed Smart City Project will further accelerate
the growth of internet-related applications. There will
be much more avenues for computerised activities in
almost all sectors, according to him. In view of the
huge opportunities, there is a considerable shift from
the manufacturing sector to the services sector in general.
This trend will be reflected in Kochi also, he says.
Of late, several big players have arrived in Kochi.
One among them is IBS Software Services Private Limited.
The second development centre of the company was opened
here recently. The IBS Group is a major IT solutions
provider to the global travel, transportation and logistics
industry. The company offers a range of software solutions
that manage operations of airlines, airports, oil and
gas companies.
The company recently announced its agreement with the
Canadian airline, WestJet, for the new generation passenger
service system.
Sensing the importance of computer-linked technologies,
attempts are being made at various levels to take advantage
of the IT-friendly environment. The Indian Computer
Education Society, an organisation of those associated
with computer learning centres, is keen on opening more
centres.
Courtesy: thehindu.com
Outsourcing
Partners at Kochi |
Cost Advantage
| Start
Business in Kerala | Kerala's
IT Policy |
Technology Focus
|
