Western Region Special: Vidarbha

Hitesh Parikh        

COMPANY: Micropro

FOUNDED: 1988

BUSINESS AREAS: Software developer and reseller for hardware and software,
Micropro has tie-ups with Wipro, IBM, Microsoft, Oracle and CA. It offers
networking solutions from HP, Molex, AMP, D-Link and 3Com products. As a member
of the GID program, it also sells Intel-based assembled PCs

STRENGTHS: Focused on corporate sales with total solutions. Micropro has
installed the largest number of servers for the Nagpur market. Revenue from
facility management services makes 25 % of its overall business

WEAKNESSES: It has got a mix of its own web-based software solutions for the
pharmaceutical, hospital and automobile industry, but has been keeping low
profile in the marketing them across the country

MOTTO: Provide complete end-to-end solutions and promote home-grown software

PLANS: With storage and security market picking up in Nagpur, Micropro has
tied up with Intransa, CheckPoint, Trend Micro and CA for its future growth

TURNOVER (2003-04): Rs 6.70 crore

EXPECTED TURNOVER (2004-05): Rs 7.50 crore

OFFICES: 3

Vinod Verma       

COMPANY: Key Computers

FOUNDED: 1989

BUSINESS AREAS: Starting with Megaware brand of PCs, Vinod started
selling and servicing HP, through its retail showroom called IT World. It also
sells Acer, APC, Wipro and Lipi Data products

STRENGTHS: Claiming to be the largest third-party maintenance provider
for PCs and printers in Central India, Key Computers is the only HP cartridge
replacement center in the region. It has an ISO 9001-2000 certified unit to
manufacture its own brand of PC called IT World's IT PC

WEAKNESSES: Though Key Computers is focusing on educational institutions,
but it has not been able to make much headway, especially in terms of margins

MOTTO: Once our customer, forever our customer

PLANS: A lot of software development companies are coming to Nagpur, and
Vinod expects these to give Key good business in sales and services. He will
also focus on government business, that has begun investing in IT

TURNOVER (2003-04): Rs 6.0 crore

EXPECTED TURNOVER (2004-05): Rs 7 crore

OFFICES: 1

Ganesh Pagay        

COMPANY: ICIS Computers

FOUNDED: 1989

BUSINESS AREAS: Initially, ICIS exclusively specialized in AMCs for SMEs
and corporates. Though it started reselling in 1995, but stopped it last year
due to low margins and payment issues

STRENGTHS: Seeing the narrowing cost between branded and assembled
machines, Ganesh now sells the former. This helps him negotiate with customers
better, especially in the case of big orders

WEAKNESSES: Ganesh tried manufacturing his own PC brand 'Pagay
Microsystem' in a ISO 9001 certified setup, but failed to matched the status
of HCL or Zenith. High attrition of employees is another problem, though not
strictly a weakness

MOTTO: Provide value-added services to government and SME segments

PLANS: Ganesh wants to provide value-added services like smart card
implementation and access control automation. He has tied-up with Savior STJ
Electronics, which has stationed two engineers at ICIS for providing support

TURNOVER (2003-04): Rs 2.85 crore

EXPECTED TURNOVER (2004-05): Rs 3.5 crore

OFFICES: 1

Sudesh Bajaj        

COMPANY: Micron Network Computing Systems

FOUNDED: 1997

BUSINESS AREAS: A training institute, the company soon took up networking
projects and is currently a premium partner for HCL and IBM as well as their
authorized service provider

STRENGTHS: One of leading solution providers, Micron focuses on providing
authorized service for brands like Epson, APC, Benq and Siemens, through its
service wing, Micron Services

WEAKNESSES: Juggling a team of 38 employees, servicing six brands,
running a software division and fending competition in and around Vidarbha can
be stressful and some orders do slip by

MOTTO: Now is the time to grow in a sensible manner

PLANS: Micron hopes to take advantage of the growth that is happening in
the field of storage, networking, security and BPO solutions

TURNOVER (2003-04): 7.35 crore

EXPECTED TURNOVER (2004-05): Rs 8 crore

OFFICES: 1

CHANNEL SNAPSHOTS: Vidarbha

Vidarbha Computer & Media Dealer's Welfare Association (VCMDWA)

VCMDWA is one of the oldest IT associations in Nagpur. The association
started with a group of 25 members in 1991, with the prime objective of finding
a solution to the 'price war' that dealers indulged in. As the members kept
growing, so did the objective. Today the association has 70 members and a whole
lot of activities.

The association also holds Compex, which is touted as one of the biggest IT
exhibition of Vidharba. This four-day event, which is organized on the lines of
IT Asia and Comdex, attracts over 50,000 visitors. The event is a showcase of
new launches and product display. The association also holds monthly meetings to
discuss and solve issues like octroi, warranty, cheque bouncing and service
support. Lately, the association has invested a lot of money in building a
multi-purpose conference hall for the welfare of the members and also to
generate revenue by letting it for outside use.

It also runs consumer awareness campaigns on a regional level. It conducts
seminars to throw light on the changing market
dynamics and on upcoming technologies. The association has a monthly newsletter
called 'Spark' which informs members about the happenings in the channel
communities and other matters of interest.

EXECUTIVE COUNCIL

PRESIDENT: Sudhir Budhay

VP: Milind Choure

SECRETARY: Vinod Verma

JOINT SECRETARY: Sudesh Bajaj

TREASURER: Prashant Bulbule

COMMITTEE MEMBERS: Hitesh Parikh, Karunakar Rao, Arun Kumar Morarka