SPI | Media Kit | Feature Articles | ‘Mysore has the potential for building brand identity’

Mysore - based SPI recently took over all US and UK BPO/LPO customers of city based Comat Technologies. The company which is growing at the rate of 70% annually is set to earn $ 20 million during the current year. The new acquisition is set to contribute 15% to the total annual revenue. SPI also added 400 employees of Comat Technologies to its pay roll. Abinath Kumar caught up with Sid Mookerji, co - founder of SPI, and spoke about the recent take over and Mysore emerging as a key IT destination.

How significant is the acquisition of Comat Technologies for SPI?
The acquisition is very important in many ways. It had paved the way for SPI to increase head count and play a diversified role in the market in terms of services- medical transcription, BPO/LPO. We want to extend our expertise in outsourcing services. We have complete expertise in medical, health and legal services sectors. The move has also opened doors for geographic diversification.

SPI is the only home grown profit making company. Is your vision being realized?
To an extent, yes. It is difficult to quantify vision. Our vision was to get 3,000 employees and we have achieved one third of it. Over all, we have plans to absorb 3,500 people.

While big companies are reluctant to invest here, why are you concentrating on Mysore?
From business prospective we want to emerge as a company that knows outsourcing very well in IT area. Secondly, we want to be one of the biggest in Mysore who carry social responsibility to a different level.

Mysore has made it to top tier II cities. What are its chances of emerging as a brand outside Mysore?
If the four lane highway can have such an impact on the IT industry, the impact will be greater once BMIC is in place. This will attract investments. The upcoming airport will also add brand value to Mysore.

How do you rate Mysore’s prospects to emerge as a leading tier II city?
Mysore stands for different things. There is relaxed way of life here, which Bangalore can’t hope for. Mysore has the potential for building identity. If you take IT in Karnataka, Bangalore is bursting at the seams. Hubli and Dhrawad are good but what about connectivity? We have good educational facilities. Many are setting shops in Mysore.

You have been talking about local employment. Where would you see SPI in the next 10 years?
In the next 10 years, we will be a company growing organically and inorganically. SPI hopes to be an icon in Mysore, We are planning to earn $ 30 million in 2007-08 and intend to absorb about 150 in medical transcription sector in the next few months. In all we will have 250 people in the next few months. Mysore has huge talent pool, which we want to tap.