Business Objects to rope in more partners

MUMBAI: Business Objects, a business intelligence (BI) solutions providing company, has revealed its plans to partner with more SIs for its Indian operations, which it has started recently. The company has three kind of partners: distribution partners, which include Tata Infotech, Sonata and Mediline, SIs or certified consulting partners, which include TCS and Wipro among others and independent software vendors (ISVs) like I-Flex.

"We do not want to increase our reseller base and are happy with the work our three distributors are doing. However, we are very keen on bringing more SIs into our fold," informed Sanjay Deshmukh, Business Development Director - South Asia, Business Objects. According to Deshmukh, there is a good potential for BI solutions in India and thus wants more partners who can double up as consultants in this arena to offer BI implementation services.

Speaking on the potential market size for such solution, Henry Goh, MD, Business Objects, South Asia said, "IDC pegs the BI solution market in India at $ 54 million, which is expected to grow by 26 percent in next fiscal. We are looking at capturing nearly 25-30 percent of this market, which is very strategic to us."

Though the company has been operational in the country for last five years, it formally opened its first office in Mumbai only recently. "We are introducing data integration and analytical application tools to further strengthen our leadership position in the Indian BI market. And we intend to achieve a 120 percent growth in 2003-04," said Deshmukh. He added that banking, finance, manufacturing and government are the key verticals where the company will focus strongly.