Securing the Future of Indian IT

[geekerati]

MUMBAI, India—India could be home to the world's dominant IT firms in 20 years–if. That was the theme of a panel discussion during the first day of the Nasscom 2006 conference here.

Arun Maira, chairman of the Boston Consulting Group, India, said that India could do in IT what the Japanese have done in the automobile industry, displacing American IT powerhouses just as Japan's car makers have superseded Detroit automakers as the world's leaders.

"Indian companies are low-cost and small just like the Japanese were," said Maira.

"But what will be the shape of the industry in the next 15 years? Big changes start from small things," said Maira.

The consultant asked the audience whether in 20 years an Indian IT company could have the world's highest market capitalization. A significant number raised their hands.

Maira noted that things can change greatly in 20 years, pointing out that in 1985, the Soviet Union was a superpower and Japan was thought by many to be on the verge of global economic dominance.

In 2005, however, the Soviet Union has dissolved, while China and India are seen as ascending the world's economic throne in the next century.

But Indian companies must make adjustments to secure their place in the sun, said Maira.

"Indian companies have the low-cost base. There is not much variety and innovation yet."

Several panelists agreed that changes are needed.

Pramod Bhasin, president and CEO of Genpact, warned, "The day another country is cheaper than India, then we'll go there. We must improve processes. It's more important than cost arbitrage."

eWEEK.com Special Report: Outsourcing the Enterprise

Vineet Nayar, president of HCL Technologies Ltd., seconded, "India will have to become more efficient, or China will do to India what India has done to the U.S."

"Software products will become more like appliances. You need to pay according to value." Customers are fed up by the value we're delivering to them," said Nayar.

Maira said Indian companies must be on the alert for new answers.

"We're flying into a fog and the old instruments won't work," adding, "Today's business is like driving on an Indian road. Unless you are course-correcting all the time, you are likely to have a fatal accident."

Much more read on