SMB: We would like to focus on the SME sector: IBM

We would like to focus on the SME sector: IBM

The company see a good potential in the SMB sector and wants to boost its growth there

Monday, March 15, 2010

BANGALORE, INDIA: Pradeep Nair, director, Software Group, IBM India in interview with Shilpa Shanbhag of Dataquest, talks about IBM's future plans and software strategy in India.

How would you explain IBMs software strategy during 2009 in India?

Clients were a little cautious while investing during the recession. They were looking at small projects that offer more return on investments. And, we were the first ones to offer them tailor-made offerings and clients saw substance in the theory.

What was the genesis of the SPS concept?

Looking at the rough weather, IBM decided to coin the concept of Smarter Planet System (SPS) which really helped us make a difference. This concept can be described as the one where we make the world a smart place to live in. There are various technologies like RFID, mobile phones that give data back. Now, you can connect instruments, and infuse intelligence. We have software that is able to process data in a matter of hours, and it is an inexpensive process. This smarter software also made sense to our clients.

What have been some of IBMs notable successes around SPS?

We have been associated with Incois for building a tsunami warning system. We have partnered with companies like TCS to place sensors in places where one would not even have imagined. Sensors have been positioned across the Indian Ocean in such a manner that they process real-time information 24x7. If there is a small disturbance in the wave movement or water, it transfers it to the Incois center at Hyderabad that transmits this information to the ports across the coast. This warning system has helped us in giving earthquake warning two to three times.

In the same way, we have also tied up with HPCL that supplies gas cylinders. Our RFID tags help them to track the route of the cylinders and prevent them from being diverted, or gas stolen from them.

What are your plans for the future?

We would like to focus on the SMBs. These are businesses that typically start small and make it big. We have identified this potential and want to give it a boost.

We are already working in this sector, and it contributes approximately 50 per cent in our software areas. In the future, you will see us focus on areas outside the metros, especially this year. While referring to SMBs, I am referring to strong emerging companies or institutions like Janata Sahakari Bank who require our support for solutions in order to offer uninterrupted services to their clients. Then we are also associated with companies like Bilcare that is building RFID solutions for pharma companies.

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