SRM Radiant Info eyes top spot in IT training sector

CHENNAI: While the IT training industry is still suffering from the after-effects of the dotcom bubble burst, US slowdown and layoffs, the Chennai-based training schools -- SRM Infotech and Radiant Software have tied up in a bid to enter the league of top three IT training institutes.
Radiant has announced its merger with SRM Systems and Software to form new IT training institution called SRM Radiant Infotech. With a network of around 800 centers, the new venture is expected to synergize the efforts of the two firms and leverage their business experience to emerge as the leader in this segment.
"We are confident of getting listed among the top three IT training institutions in India in the next couple of years. This merger is the first step towards this end," said the managing director of erstwhile Radiant Software, S Giridharan. Radiant chief Giridharan would lead the new business as president and CEO of SRM Radiant Infotech.
Meanwhile, SRM Systems and Software and Radiant Software are in the process of spinning off their respective software project divisions as separate entities to retain their foothold in the sector. This comes a month after the firms gave separate interviews to the DQ Week, announcing massive expansion plans in the country, including setting up overseas centers. While Radiant had announced to open 150 centers across India in the current fiscal, SRM said it would set up 70 new centers, mainly through the franchisees.
SRM Radiant Infotech now has planned to rework on the expansion programs charted out before merger by the individual companies. "Presently, we are planning to have 800 centers across India in the next three years under the new venture," he said.
"The infrastructure, workforce, business partners (franchisees) and students of these two institutes would be retained by the new company, except for few changes in the top management," added Giridharan. However, both the firm officials declined to comment on the exact stake of SRM and Radiant in the new venture. The company is also seriously considering international expansion plans of entering South Asia and South East Asia.