A bit about India ...
India is a complex country, made up of many states and territories all uniquely different, right down to local languages spoken. With 50% of the 1.2 billion population under the age of 26, that makes for an enormous emerging number of tax payers, consumers and workers in the coming years, hence all the buzz about the unavoidable phenomenal economic growth here.
Only as recently as the 1990s did India start to make the seriously overdue reforms to its pre existing draconian government rules and regulations; the result of which has been a total turn around in the economy, growth and opportunity here. India still has a way to go in its preparation to become a serious player on the world stage, which I have no doubt that it will become. With the reforms of the 1990’s, bravely and proactively undertaken by the then Finance Minister (now current Prime Minister) Dr. Manmohan Singh (that man deserves a Nobel prize in my opinion) the doors were effectively opened to foreign investment.
From that time forth a myriad of foreign investments have poured into the country, most notably by the big multi national banks, software houses, insurance companies and consumer product companies. Welcome to the call centre of the world! Software development, call centres and back office processing within India is big business and a highly valued and recognised contributor to the economy. The government have responded by creating government approved technology sectors; where taxes are minimal, and infrastructure is guaranteed — such as power, internet, phones, water etc. With private educational facilities jumping on the band wagon, the sheer number of graduates each year is staggering (reported to be in the region of 2.4 million per annum) yet still there remains a shortfall of graduates!
Let me share with you how unique the local software market is here in India. The number one accounting product here in India is loathed by all accountants I have spoken with as it is thought to be out of date, inefficient, very basic and cumbersome. Those accountants who have had experience with foreign accounting software solutions are trolling for products within India which can offer them the same functionality and reporting. The local number one accounting product to which I am referring is one of only a handful of products available which is customized for this market, and as it has such massive saturation everyone, simply everyone — uses it and is taught how in school! The possible foreign competitors to this local product have been slow or hesitant to step into the market, I can only assume as a new accounting product would have to ensure huge re-education and therefore costly and timely commitment to get any traction. Interestingly, and worthy to note, this local accounting solution achieved its nation wide saturation by having no registration codes on its product (oohh…I can just hear all of you software developers catching your breath in horror at that statement!). The upshot is that everyone and their mum were free to simply borrow a friends version, install and voila — they were in business. Literally. In the past two releases, registration is required. Previous versions can still however continue to be copied and used usefully to this day. How is that for brilliant viral marketing to ensure countrywide saturation!
With India’s reputation for innovative software development over the past few years it has looked to local companies to create bespoke solutions to specific software requirements within the country. Unfortunately, an alarming number of these solutions have been tarred by massive over-runs, huge delays and inefficient capabilities of the final product. Top-tier executives and management are now trending for the first time to look offshore for proven & reliable software applications with good maintenance and support structure to purchase or implement within India.
Obviously as infrastructure grows in core industries, and all the associated service sectors, demand within India for suitable software solutions grow with it. The New Zealand and Indian government are currently in talks regarding the set up of a free trade agreement between both countries. This would be very valuable indeed for New Zealand.
A bit about the company...
bridge2india is a Kiwi owned Indian company founded in 2007 to provide facilitation, business services and personal assistance to foreign companies on the ground from within India, through our Mumbai base. Our vision is to provide cost effective and proactive practical advice and assistance to entities and individuals making the big leap. Through our first hand experience doing business in India, our established network and expertise in a variety of new market entries, we ease the transition in doing business in this ever-evolving market. Understanding cultures, expectations and acting as “the bridge” to negotiate the path for both parties to succeed is paramount to our strength in service offerings.
We are committed to seeing each project through to a satisfactory conclusion. On project completion we either step aside for both parties to continue on their own, or stay involved providing local representation on behalf of the foreign company. Tailoring our services to suit the individual needs of our clients (designed primarily with the SME’s and/or individuals in mind), we consider it a privilege to encourage and assist business development in India, and to assist our clients to achieve their business goals. We are passionate about Indian globalization, and build our network with likeminded individuals and companies who are also committed to furthering business both here and internationally.
Our services are broadly broken down into three sectors, as per the chart below:
We can manage as little or as much as is required, such as the provision of wireless internet services, mobile phones, to virtual office assistance, to advice about where to get a good coffee, a haircut or a sandwich!
Through our partners we provide a range of outsourcing expertise through experienced providers of services, who are proven and able to deliver in a timely and accurate process driven manner. Successful outsourcing projects to date include:
A bit about me…
My grandparents met and married in India after arriving here separately on business during the time of the British Raj. With a father born and raised in India; my first trip to the subcontinent was in 2004 as a backpacking tourist with my then 19 year old daughter. Unbeknownst to me at the time; that crazy, overwhelming, distressing (we were here during the Tsunami) and exhilarating initial two month holiday was just the beginning of my Indian experience!
I have worked for and with various New Zealand technology companies during the past fifteen years in administration and finance, assisting and working through successful new market entries along the way. My latest role was CFO to a private investor, for whom I oversaw and managed investments on his behalf for the Asia Pacific region. During my tenure there were many acquisitions, sales, consolidations and restructuring of finance, start-up companies as well as the successful design and release of various software products.
In the year following that fateful first trip to India, I was able to explore various business opportunities here in India on behalf of my employer. This bought me back to India many times in the intervening years, ultimately resulting in my relocation to Mumbai to set up a BPO to process financials and payrolls designed to service the US, Australian and NZ markets. Despite its success, my employer ultimately decided to pull out of India for personal reasons, which left me with the choice to either return to NZ in an expanded role, or to stay here and further my business interests on my own in India.
Identifying this opportunity as being a business model I was keen to pursue, being passionate about business and the opportunities within India, along with my established network on the ground here; I decided to utilize and consolidate all of my previous business experience by setting up bridge2india to offer real, valuable and cost effective advice, service and assistance to foreign entities looking to enter this market.
bridge2india
Linda Crossley
Managing Director
Bridge2India
www.bridge2india.in
enquiries@bridge2india.in
