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IFS targets 300 customers by 2013

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CIOL Bureau
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MUMBAI, INDIA: IFS, a global enterprise software firm that provides a component-based extended ERP suite built on SOA technology, is keen to expand its customer base in the Indian market.

Though the Swedish firm had made a direct entry into India back in 2004-05, it was unsuccessful in tapping more customers against its rivals like Oracle and SAP.

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Last year, the company changed its go-to-market strategy and decided to explore and expand its reach in India through large system integrators (SIs), IT service providers, channel partners and consulting firms.

“For the last 5-6 years, we have a direct presence in India and been doing everything directly on our own. But now we are doing it through our partners,” IFS India’s managing director Thiru Vengadam told CIOL over phone. “Mahindra Satyam and Infosys are the large SIs for us, while other firms like Vayam Technologies and CMC work with as our IT partners for the implementation and service support.”.

That apart, he continued, the company has started engaging channel partners and consulting firms that have knowledge and expertise in ERP implementation.

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At present, the Indian subsidiary has 50 large customers that include National Hydro Power Corporation (NHPC), Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), Nhava Sheva Port Terminal, Transmission Corporation of Andhra Pradesh (APTRANSCO), Haryana Vidyut Prasaran Nigam Limited (HVPNL) among others. “We believe that by the end of 2012, we will have around 100 customers and is planning to double it by the end of 2013,” Vengadam said.

The company is focusing on verticals such as power, infrastructure, complex manufacturing and defense sectors.

Interestingly, the business application market in India is getting crowded with many local and global software firms competing against each other.“Though our entry in India was late, there is still room for us as there are many companies which want to have specific business solutions or ERP. Our offerings are focused on service and asset management, manufacturing, supply chain and project.”

“The Indian market is expanding, as there are companies which want to replace local ERP applications with global ones like ours' that fulfill specific needs of businesses and provides strong support as well as lower total cost of ownership,” he concluded.