Capgemini banks on India for BIM services

MUMBAI, INDIA: For Capgemini, the global IT outsourcing and consultancy firm, its been just 11 months since it rolled out top-five growth line initiatives, which include business information management (BIM), smart testing, info transformation services and application lifestyle services to strengthen its business.

Among those top-five initiatives, the concept of BIM has really paid off well in terms of driving the company's business and overall growth. And the key force behind that growth in BIM services space is none other than the company's strong skilled workforce based in India. To further enhance that growth, Capgemini announced on Tuesday its continued investment in BIM with the launch of its new Customer BIM Experience showcase (CUBE).

Capgemini has about 5000 staffs employed in the BIM services space globally, out of which 1500 staffs are based in India.

“About 30 per cent of staffs working in the BIM services are in India. Earlier, we had about 800 staffs and now the headcount has gone up to 1500. Our India headcount is growing at huge rate, much faster and proportionate to our growth,” said Paul Nannetti, Capgemini's global leader — Information Management Service Line, after making this announcement.

The reason for the rise in offshore headcount for Capgemini is the availability of big pool of skilled professionals in the country compared to other geographies.

“In the last six months, we have hired more than 600 people, which include about 500 skilled staffs in the BIM space and it would be very difficult to get such big number of skilled professionals in other regions such as Europe or North American geographies. Out of the recruited staffs, 80 per cent are skilled professionals,” he explained.

Nannetti pointed out that it has lot to do with Capgemini's global delivery and off-shoring model. According to him, the BIM services line which is considered part of the company's applications business, has contributed about 20-22 per cent revenue to the overall business.

“We grew by 48 per cent in the first half of this year and will grow by 52 per cent in the remaining half as per our current estimates and we expect to grow at the same rate next year. With the current trend of 48 per cent growth in the BIS space which has led to 50 per cent rise in the headcount in India, we do expect more staffs in time ahead,” Nannetti said confidently.

And the Customer Business Information Management Experience showcased at its office in Mumbai also utilizes the strong technology and solutions capabilities along with the skilled resources from India.

Built over 400 sq ft area, the CUBE has interactive kiosk based on BIM services model powered with 100 virtual machines to support various tools, solutions and content to provide a full view of the company's capabilities and expertises.

CUBE allows customers to experience innovative BIM solutions and can interact with BIM subject experts on site or via video conferencing across locations. Also it helps customers to examine solutions as per the specific needs and business issues, review proofs of concept, technology innovations and productivity tools.

It is dedicated to BIM services line and is part of the company's BIM Center of Excellence (CoE) in India. Among 70 odd customers in the BIM space, Capgemini has been signed by Canon Europe to transform its overall business and sales using IT.