Competition for MS Office
For all those who have been condemning the monopoly of MS, here's some solace. The most essential office tools comprising word, presentation and excel are now available on the web. What's incredible is the fact that you can write and save it also. Well, reports (computerworld)suggest that applications currently running on desktops will soon get obsolete. Well, a far fetched thought, you would say. However, with an increasingly mobile workforce that rely on laptops, the writing is on the wall for deskptop established applications. Some of the web-based applications fast gaining prominence include writely,gmail,thinkfree, etc. Guess, it's only a matter of time when these applications will cross the chasm and enter the mature market.
Resource - What does it mean
I was quite intrigues to read a report on "resources." An oft-repeated word amongst the burgeoning IT firms, resources are associated with people and assets for any firm to generate output in line with its client expectation. Was discussing with a new-joinee in one of the prominent firms based in Chennai about the word resources and he had a lot to say. The gist of it revolved around the sophisticated infrastructure equipped to ensure world-class services to its employees who will in turn generate better-than-competition results for clients. However, what intrigued me was the mention of resources recruited considering the forecast. Well, nothing new in that as companies in India recruit resources in droves and keep them in bench. It just occured to me that resource here means "standing in reserve" or "waiting to be used." Well, somehow that doesn't appeal to me. It pays to be in IT.
'Nicher and Nicher'
Small IT firms in India are focusing on 'colonizing' specific niches through organic and inorganic means, resulting in creating an increasing number of domain specialists and obviously envious growth. With the big IT firms showing increased aggression in 'consolidating,'smaller firms are showing their dexterity in mining specific verticals.Let's take for instance IT firms' hot-pursuit at present - healthcare. There seem to be a lot of interest in the healthcare vertical, lifesciences in particular, especially by small IT firms. Two Chennai based companies, TAKE Solutions and Helios and Matheson recently announced their acquisitions to reinforce their initiative in this vertical. It also emerges quite clearly that the skillset required to address niche space so as to colonize is very different from those required to consolidate. The investment, team composition, footprints all differ in 'colonizing' and 'consolidation.' The acquisitions made by TAKE is a clear indication of the focus and commitment of small IT firms increasingly targeting the niche areas for growth. OnSphere Corporation, an emerging leader in regulatory compliant web-based Pharma solutions and Applied Clinical Intelligence LLC, providers of clinical research solutions to pharmaceutical and healthcare companies were acquired by TAKE Solutions.
Cognizant - True to its name
The Merriam-Webster defines Cognizant as "knowledgeable of something especially through personal experience." True to what the name connotes, Cognizant is aggresive in its pursuit to assimilate knowledge and extend business solution to its customers by harping on "relationships." Be it media, customers, employees or any stakeholders (of which I don't have first-hand experience), the fastest-growing MNC is known for maintaining healthy relationships. Forever expanding and mining into diverse verticals, the company is known for its aggression in customer acquisition. However, the company ensures that the aggression is not at the expense of its existing relationship with clients. To further emphasize the company's investment towards "relationships," it pioneered the concept of relationship managers who can match the "wavelength" of customers. Operating in such diverse portfolios as they do, it is certainly commendable the way the company maintains its pace while ensuring healthy relationships.
