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Steria to tap Indian market this year

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CIOL Bureau
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NEW DELHI, INDIA: Europe based IT services company, Steria will be aggressively targeting the opportunity thrown by domestic Indian market in 2009. The formerly Xansa, is also giving final touches to its center of excellence in retail in India, which will start soon. The company will also be doubling its head count in India by 2011.

Speaking to CIOL, Mukesh Aghi, chairman and chief executive officer, Steria, said going forward, Indian domestic market will throw up huge opportunities and as company, Steria cannot afford to ignore those opportunities.

“We cannot ignore India. We will be in the country in 2009,” said Aghi.

Aghi, however added the company, will do its home work before it makes its maiden venture in the country.

“ We have to come with right solutions that make sense for Indian customers  We have huge expertise in traffic management systems in Singapore, Paris and London and we can offer these solution for Indian cities.

Aghi added that Steria's solutions for credit card fraud management, Airport management system and command and control solutions for police makes sense for Indian customers.

"We have big issue for security in the country and these solution can equip the security forces to be more responsive in times of crisis,” said Aghi.

The Paris headquartered, Steria offers customers integrated services including consulting in core business processes and development and operation of their information systems.  The group employs around 18,000 staff in 16 countries.

However in India, though the company has three delivery centers, it had been hesistant to tap Indian domestic market. The company had in October 2007, Steria acquired the British firm Xansa. . On December 31, 2007, Steria revenue amounted to €1.4 billion.

Sterai Excellence Center

Commenting on the excellence center, Aghi added that, Steria is targeting to offer retail solutions for the Indian market.

“ The company would invest £100,000) to set up the CoE. We see major growth from retail sector here and Sterai wants to be the first to offer these solutions,” he said.

Aghi added that, for Sterai, India was a key market when it came to contribution from delivery centres in India and company will be doubling its head count in next three years. Sterai currently employs around 5,600 people in three locations in India.

Steria Indian Delivery Centres

Agahi also added that company was a following calibrated strategy when it came to its delivery centers in India.

“ We have specific roles for each centers, Chennai handles our French centre while Pune handles German centre. In Noida centre, the company supports different customers from Norway Spain, Sweden and Denmark.

“Language is a a critical issue for Europe and you got have a focused strategy and so it is not only language but nuances of culture that you are dealing with, adds Agahi.

Agahi added that Steria centers in India were involved in entire spectrum of extensive work both in IT and BPO sectors. “ We work from telemetry analysis of engine performance for FI racing  down to pure BPO support “

No impact of recession on Steria world wide business

Pressure on bringing costs

Commenting on whether recession had any impact on Steria world wide business, Aghi contended that the company was meeting it targets and did see any slow done in their worldwide business.

“We are making all the numbers. We are seeing growth in public sector, telecom, though slower in financial market”.

On a question whether, because of down turn Steria like other IT companies was seeing pressure from client to revisit and negotiate existing contracts, Aghi said the company, though wasn't getting pressured on existing contracts, however when it came to renewal, the company was under pressure on bringing the costs down. This trend, Aghi, said, was being witnessed across all verticals..

“ I am under pressure to provide save nil services.  It is challenging but we have no choice. You have to be innovative and provide same level of services at the same costs”

Going forward, Aghi added that company part from its focus on public sector, will keep driving on finance and banking sectors, though not western banking.

“We will keep keep on extending utilities segment and work in our strategy to globalise  our accounts.  We have accounts like Duetshe bank or French telecom, where we do lot of  work in Germany and Farance, but not much outside Germany or France. We will be trying to grow with all of our customers outside irrespective of their parent headuarters,” added Aghi

Integration almost complete

Commenting on the state of process of integration between Xansa and Steria, Aghi added that the acquisition internally had been completed and combined force of Steria and Xansa is driving with growth in business.

“ Optimization is done. You don't hear about Xansa now. That is gone. In India majority of the people from Xansa have stayed on and it is done”