Netkraft undergoes major ‘re-inventing’ exercise

BANGALORE: Netkraft India, the Banagalore-based firm engaged in enterprise

application integration, is pursuing an extensive restructuring exercise in the

organization, to aggressively tap the global market. The

"re-inventing" exercise, as Netkraft India president and CEO Prasanth

Prakash, calls it, will help meet the demands of new markets, in terms of

geography as well as technological requirements.

As part of the restructuring process, the firm will also bring about changes

in its brand projection, which will provide it the identity of a global player.

The company has also carried out re-designations of its employees, which the

management claims will provide more focus and pre-defined job roles.

Speaking to CIOL in an exclusive interview, just weeks before the ‘re-inventing’

announcement, Prakash said, "We have graduated from offering Internet

solutions for new ventures to providing Net-centric solutions for medium and

large corporates, globally. Since it’s a move up the corporate ladder, it was

necessary to go in for a brand shift and change our outlook, both externally and

internally. "

On the strategy adopted, he said: "The re-inventing strategy has been

under progress for the past 45 days and this was conducted with the objective of

matching our capabilities and strategies vis-a-vis the demands in the new

markets. It also includes broadening the entire operation and becoming more

focussed to offer Net-centric solutions, which will include solutions for

network enterprises, Internet, Intranet and other solutions in the connected

world."

From being a start-up just three years ago, the firm now boasts of having a

presence in the US, UK, France, Finland and Singapore. While the firm is ‘stand-alone’

in the US, UK and Singapore, it has a strategic tie up with Jipeq and France

India trade in Finland and France, respectively. The tie up with Jipeq also

covers the Scandinavian region including countries like Sweden and Norway.

"With an increased presence in European countries and in the Asia

Pacific region, we had to re-restructure ourselves to a global firm from being

one that caters exclusively to the US markets. Although we still continue to

have major amount of our business coming from the US region (about 65 per cent),

European and Asia PAC region contributions have also increased significantly (25

and 10 per cent respectively). Hence it was necessary to provide a global

outlook for the company," said Prakash.

With an employee base of nearly 350 professionals, the firm plans to recruit

additional 50 professionals, every quarter this year. As part of the ‘re-invention,’

the firm has given its employees a redefinition of expectations that has

resulted in re-designation and re-defining job roles.

"The skills required was mapped more clearly to the existing employees

and those who lacked the same are now being imparted with the necessary

training, which is part of the regular training module, to enhance new skill

sets offered in the firm. During the re-designation exercise there were a few

people who perceivably felt they were being designated was a downward revision.

However, they were counseled and the entire exercise was explained to them in

detail. There have been no salary cuts or lay off whatsoever in the firm,"

added Prakash.