Present Tense, Future Bright

ASHTECH INFOTECH

The average size of the contracts got reduced that meant Ashtech Infotech's topline was hit directly. Delayed customer purchase decisions, which stretched
the sales and project deployment cycles coupled with a lopsided dependence on the West (more than 90 percent revenue) also did not help matters.

On the positive side, the VMware partnership got strengthened and new principals like Hitachi and Kaseya coming on board offered hope to Ashtech. New service arms like consulting and RIM were added to the portfolio-consulting had already helped Ashtech win two hospitality sector projects. Storage projects in government agencies was another bankable option. Notwithstanding negative growth, the company still assiduously tried growing its business strategies. During the year, Ashtech bagged three major deals. It became the technology consultant for ITZ Cash Card and infrastructure implementation for cash card and ERP applications. Also, it bagged a major contract for the implementation of the entire core IT Infrastructure for Tikona Network (ISP) for wireless services delivery. Further, it has started implementing the core banking infrastructure for AMCO Bank, Ahmedabad. Besides bagging these major contracts, Ashtech also established tie-ups with Ruckus Wireless, F5 and Kaseya in order to strengthen its presence in the market.

The company currently offers IT solutions to the corporate sector in the areas of mobile computing, storage, security, backup/recovery, enterprise systems management, and also in services like infrastructure management, technology consulting, etc. Riding high in the West region, Ashtech draws about 98 percent of its revenue from the respective region. Also, as for the market segment divide, Ashtech brings in a larger chunk of revenue from the IT/ITeS and telecom sectors, which contribute about 45 percent to its total revenue, and then follows the BFSI sector, which accounts to 30 percent of the revenue.

Having a well-laid plan to come up with better business prospects, Ashtech plans to focus more on technology consulting and also increase its dealing with some major projects with public sector and large corporate houses. Currently, the company has 221 focused employees, which is expected to rise to 235 by March 2011.

Highlights

• Established tie-ups with Ruckus Wireless, F5 and Kasey
• Bagged contracts from Tikona Network and AMCO Bank