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A single umbrella of IT solutions at a good price, is how Nikesh Sakaria, Founder and MD, best describes his company, CDP India. CDP has already made a mark for itself with its consistent quality and commitment to customers. Starting with a turnover of Rs 5 lakh in its first year, it posted revenues of Rs 16 crore in 2002-03.
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| Manish Sukhadia |
Nikesh is now steering CDP to touch a turnover of Rs 22 crore in 2003-04. “The three divisions —PC renting, Assembled PC, Maintenance and Support—are the pillars of my company,” says Nikesh confidently. Last year, CDP averaged 15,000 PCs on annual maintenance contracts, sold 4,000 assembled PCs and rented 500 PCs.
GOING THE PROFIT WAY
A BE in Digital Electronics from Mumbai University, Nikesh got his first break as an engineer at Infoton in Mumbai. Within a year he moved to IDM, which was IBM prior to its exit from India in 1977. IDM was then later taken over by
HCL.
Making the most of his one-year experience at IDM, Nikesh founded CDP in 1991 as a service and maintenance company that also sold PCs. He was soon joined by Ankit Desai, who is now in-charge of the maintenance and support division. Later, Gaurang Bhat and Manish Sakaria came on board as partners. They look after CDP’s marketing and software development activities.
Coming from a family of businessmen, Nikesh believes that everyone has a right to make a ‘profit’ in this industry. “A decent margin is what I expect from all my deals and in return I provide good service” says he. And it is this belief that brought Nikesh success.
| PROFILE |
| START UP YEAR |
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1991 |
| ADDRESS |
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299, Shantashram Bldg, Tardeo Road, Nana Chowk, Mumbai - 400007. |
| TEL |
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2387 3744, 2389 8797 |
| FAX |
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2389 0563 |
| E-MAIL |
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nikesh@cdpindia.com |
| WEB SITE |
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www.cdpindia.com |
EYEING NEW OPPORTUNITIES
CDP has come a long way in offering complete IT solutions. It is the business partner for major vendors like IBM, HP, Toshiba, Packeteer, APC, DLink, Cisco, Microsoft and Intel. It also has its own brand of assembled PCs called Venus.
The company’s software division has been very active in developing POS software, which was successfully marketed in Malaysia. Looking at the growing potential for POS software in this region, the company is now planning to open a office in Malaysia.
To further expand its solutions offering, CDP recently formed a new company called CDPe Solutions. “CDPe is a facility management company with 25 employees working on certain software project,” informs Nikesh. CDPe will be primarily focusing on providing IT solutions in the field of banking and finance.
MOVING UP THE LADDER
CDP, which initially operated from a small rented place in Tardeo at Mumbai, is now based in a plush 1,500 square feet office. It has six offices with 45 franchisee-based support locations across the country. It also has a 4,500 square feet warehouse in
Vasai.
 Though catering mainly to the corporate segment, CDP does not ignore the increasing opportunities in the SOHO. Until last year, it had a showroom targeted at this vertical in Mumbai, which was closed when the company moved to its new office.
LOYALTY BINDS THE TEAM
CDP boasts of a very low attrition rate. Nikesh attributes this loyalty to a good incentive structure that he offers his employees. “Always respect the team members as you can never do any work single-handedly. Success is always a team effort,” explains he.
Nikesh has a total of 60 employees who are given a free hand in taking independent business decisions. “This definitely works better for us. My staff members are capable of taking decisions within the given limits,” says he.
NELSON JOHNY
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