ISODA committee to give shape to association

KOLKATA, INDIA: The managerial council of Indian Software Dealers Association (ISODA), the first ever software dealers’ association in India, will be meeting on September 10 in Mumbai to deliberate on the course of ISODA, its future plans and draw a framework on which ISODA will function.

“We are looking to collaborate with channel partners in the software market across India. We are also looking for collaborative efforts from major vendors. ISODA has 65 registered members in its fold, which means that nearly 80 percent of the total software transactions in the country are being carried out by us,” commented Hemant Chabria, Regional Secretary—East, ISODA.

In the scheduled meeting, ISODA will finalize its structure, mode of work, guidelines for the members, and the terms and conditions for membership.

Also, key issues regarding vendors and problems with distributors will be taken up and the future course of action will be decided upon.

“With the progress of software dealership and check on piracy, new issues regarding government norms and decisions are coming up. Also, there are key issues remaining with the distributors, which need to be addressed. In the meeting, we will be taking up these issues and will finalize the future course of action,” said Rajesh Kothari, Chairman, ISODA.

In its few months of operation, ISODA has already successfully waived off the freight charges by Ingram Micro and Redington on each license delivered. “Previously, Ingram Micro and Redington used to charge Rs 300 as freight charges on every license. As there was no common forum to address this key problem, it was left unheard. With the formation of ISODA, we have got a common platform and a common voice to oppose this freight charge. Now, it has been waived off, however, in some places, Rs 75 is still being charged. But this will soon be revoked,” added Chabria.

With a core team of 19 members across India, the objective of the organization is to form a common forum empowering the software channel players to voice their opinion and address their problems.

Having maximum presence of members in the West, ISODA is looking for an even distribution and representation of members from all regions of the country.

“A brief session with some major national distributors will follow the meeting in the evening where we might put forward some issues related to ISODA,” Kothari concluded.