The Hindu Business Line : Cognizant keen to tap domestic opportunities

Coimbatore, Aug. 24 Cognizant Technology Solutions is eyeing the domestic market for business growth. The company is servicing 18-20 clients in India, but sees huge opportunities here.

“We are keen on bringing global expertise to companies here,” Mr R. Chandrasekaran, President and Managing Director, Cognizant, said.

To strengthen its presence and the revenue mix in markets such as India, West Asia, the Asia-Pacific and Latin America, the company has put together a strong management team in Australia, India and Singapore in recent months.

“We built the e-commerce engine for MJunction Services, which is a 50:50 joint venture between Tata Steel and Steel Authority of India. The business volume is around Rs 45,000 crore in that network. We service the client not only from Chennai, but Coimbatore as well. We have also done a project for SAP Labs in Bangalore and Pfizer Global Research and Development, Mumbai,” he said, citing select projects undertaken here.

The company has over 560 active customers, around 50 global delivery and development centres and 12,000-plus projects in 40 countries.

Signs of improvement

On IT budgets, he said, “Customers have frozen IT budgets. This was in a state of flux six months ago. The situation is showing signs of improvement as customers have now started awarding projects.”

The company, he said, would continue hiring within its internal engine, absorb (campus recruits) albeit in a staggered manner.

Without giving the number of candidates that the company recruits off-campus, Mr Chandrasekaran said, “Earlier campus recruitment was a rat-race. Now it is a lot better. About 10 per cent of Cognizant’s annual campus hiring happens from in and around Coimbatore. Our commitment to campus will continue.”

Asked if there was a reduction in pay-package, “not really, salary increase has become more manageable now. There is a sense of realism”.

Coimbatore Facility

The company has set up a new techno-campus, part of an SEZ. It has invested around Rs 180 crore in the first phase of the project.

The seven-storey building has a seating capacity of 6,000 with space for further expansion. “It is the largest facility in a tier II location,” Mr Chandrasekaran said.

It established its presence here in 2005 with 50 professionals at the KMCT IT Park. This facility was formally inaugurated by the Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister, Mr M. K. Stalin, on Sunday.

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