TCG Software to focus on domestic market

NEW DELHI: TCG Software, the software wing of The Chatterjee Group, is

looking at increasing its focus on the Indian market to develop its domain

expertise in verticals like finance, pharmaceuticals, banking, retail

manufacturing and telecom. Says CEO of the company, Veer Sagar, "We want to

be explore the domestic market for two reasons: it is yet untapped and second,

to develop domain expertise from our experience here."

This is the first time that the company will be looking at the domestic

market. The company's activities till now had been focussed on providing

high-end software services and solutions to global corporations by leveraging on

its cost-effective model of offshore development center based out of Calcutta.

But after the reality check of the slowdown, the strategy of Indian software

corporations to leverage on the offshore model will no longer help. Companies

have to develop domain expertise and pitch for sales in certain sectors as IT

spending across most sectors are expected to taper off in the wake of the

slowdown. However, certain segments like finance, telecom, retail, pharma,

manufacturing and the government are still expected to spend.

Therefore focusing on India is part of its bigger strategy to develop domain

expertise. This would not only help the company expand its market but would also

contribute towards building its expertise in certain verticals. Indian customers

are relatively more fault-tolerant and it is easier to foray into new technology

areas in the market here as against the overseas market where customers are more

exacting in their demands.

A major focus area of the company will now be on e-governance. Perhaps the

only sector to be spending steadily, most vendors across the world are now

looking at the government these days. TCG Software has already done a project

with the New York State Police Department to manage the database for its drug

de-addiction program. Another interesting project that the company has worked

for is the Calcutta Municipal Corp called Calamanac which enables citizens to

access a range of information and services online. The company is also in talks

with the Oman Police for another project. Sagar thinks that the opportunity in

the government sector is immense considering the variety of solutions that could

be required in the sector.

The company has in the meantime expanded its team of software developers

working on development projects with clients as varied as Nortel and Sapient.

But despite the slowdown and the layoffs, it is difficult to find good software

developers. Good developers are still prized assets and the layoffs are usually

laggards who become a strain on resources during difficult times.