From a hardware trainee to an ISP

Shrikanth is a typical example for a perfect techie. He decorated his room not with lavish decorations, pleasant flowers and other fragments. However, he sits in a room full of wires, coaxial cables and laptops waiting for his hands to get fixed of the problems. From a humble middle class family, S Shrikanth, CEO, SB Systems, Thanjavur, has spread his entity across Tamil Nadu and gaining customers across the state.

Early life:
Shrikanth was born and brought up in Thanjavur in an orthodox family. Having completed his school in Kalyanasundaram Higher Secondary School and a Masters degree in Computer Science from AVVM Sri Pushpam College, Poondi, he joined a as an employee in DDEORG and after that he joined in one of the leading IT firms of those days, Patni. "The experience in Patni helped me learning the alphabets of the IT industry. Right from sending a proposal, till closing the deals, Patni helped me in everything", says Shrikanth. "Right from my college days, I was passionate on starting my own company and it was possible only after few years of corporate experience", he says. "My first job was a hardware trainee and later I was promoted as senior engineer and then as a Branch Manager and ended as an area Manager", says Shrikanth. However Shrikanth tells that he does not follow a corporate system in his office. "Even though I learnt everything from MNCs, I do not implement any of that structure in my organization. I want only my own way of working", avers Shrikanth. "I dreamt of having my own office when I turn 40-years-old. I made the dream come when I turned 41", he says.

The story of SB systems:
In the late 1990's Shrikanth, along with his friends, started SB systems, with one of his friends. "I was a sleeping partner initially and then in the year 2008, I took complete charge of the company.", says Shrikanth who further adds that he wants to be different from the corporate company. "The company was started in a small scale with just 4 employees and today the company has many customers across the state", he says. Shrikanth also admits frankly that he did not face any big challenges in the initial days of his life. "I am very open that I did not have any big challenges at the initial days of my career."

Customer is strength:
In business Shrikanth does not depend on massive advertisements and marketing. "I do not believe in big advertisements and honestly, even my shop is not much visible to the public and even then I could get regular leads only through the existing customers", says Shrikanth who further add that he always want to be customer-centric entrepreneur. "If you check my clientele, I can figure out most of the customers are from the referrals and not through any marketing", he says.

Future plans:
Now, SB systems is into both retail segment and solutions segment. "I want to turn from a typical product-seller to a solution provider and my focus area is networking." "Other one major development is I have acquired a company which is a local ISP (Internet Service Provider). From few years now, I want to be a leading service provider for broadband in the state", he says.

Policies in life:
In business, Shrikanth believe in partnership model. "I have a habit of dragging good people in my own ambit and make them my business partner, even though I may not get the lion's share", he says who had handed over all his Chennai-office operation to a friend of him. "If there is one policy in life, for me, it is, ‘live life and enjoy it'. I can see many people who are running towards something forgetting the fact that they are not living their life properly. ", says Shrikanth. Even in the local market, Shrikanth has never failed to tie hands with other fellow members for the business.
Advice to growing entrepreneurs:
Shrikanth has many advices to the entrepreneurs who are starting their own IT business. "I may advise the young people to have faith on themselves and once they are confident of what they do, they should do with full involvement on whatever task that has been assigned", he says. He also asks people to enjoy the work whatever they do.

Personal life:
Shrikanth is married and is gifted with a son and a daughter. Shrikanth is guided his parents Santhanam and Annamal. Shrikanth also attributes his success to his brother Vasudevan who is with him in all his endeavors. Shrikanth does not have any role-model in his life.

Testimonial:
Sundaram Arokkiyaraj, employee, SB systems:
I like my ‘sir' very much as he is very much hard-working. I could not forget him throughout my life for his help. It was a tough time for me when my father passed-away. I did not have anyone to help me immediately. At that time, Mr.Shrikanth, not only helped me financially, but also helped me with physical support needed for the ceremonies of my dad.