Upinder Zutshi

MNC companies setting up operations and investing in building up their offshore presence in India is a well known fact. But a US-based company, which was headquartered in the US, shifting to India is a pointer to the advantage that India Inc enjoys over other competing nations. The company in question is Infinite Computer Solutions, a five-year-old US-based company.

Said Upinder Zutshi, COO, Infinite Computer Solutions (ICS), “In line with what analysts and trade bodies are predicting, we are seeing a lot of business coming to India. We feel we are better positioned to grow in India rather than the US where the business is moving from US to India. The offshore services market is well poised to grow in India and we would like to be in a position to exploit this. Additionally, we are also looking at coming out with an IPO in the next 2-3 years’ timeframe.” Zutshi is extremely bullish on India and expects about 50 percent of the onsite work moving to India in the next three years. As part of its expansion plans, ICS is looking at scaling up its human resources strength in the Bangalore development centre from around 250 employees currently to around 1,200 in a period of 2-3 years. Plans are also on to set up a second development centre in either Pune or New Delhi.

ICS has already begun transferring some of the onshore work to India. Additionally, the company has also begun moving its key executives to the Indian office. Being a US-based company, ICS has already developed good client relationships and the company is looking at moving the onsite business offshore to India.

In addition to the US, ICS would be looking at tapping the Asia Pacific market more aggressively this year. ICS is forming a subsidiary in Singapore, which would give it a footprint in the Asia Pacific region. The Singapore subsidiary would also act as a backup facility to the Indian office.

While the company closed its fiscal year 2002 with revenues of $41 million, this year ICS expects to close the fiscal year at $55 million. Going forward, Infinite’s vision is to become a $150 million company in the next three years. To achieve its quest for growth, ICS is looking at the acquisition route to build up competencies and expand its reach. The company is planning two acquisitions, one in the US and one in India. In the US, the company will be eyeing companies that have strong client relationships. Among the list of companies that will be shortlisted for acquisition, ICS would be giving a preference to companies that are currently involved in doing R&D services. Zutshi believes that as the R&D outsourcing trend is catching on in a big way, the acquisition will help ICS in penetrating a new market. In India, it is looking at acquiring a company that
has expertise in the BFSI segment.