36. TATA CONSULTANCY SERVICES: The Nimble Footed Giant

The feather in Tata Consultancy Services' cap was its contribution of Rs 2,870.26 to the overall Indian software exports of Rs 28,350 crore during 2000-01, which is almost ten percent. In fact this was one of the few companies software companies which was not affected by the economic slowdown because of its strong relationship with its overseas customers will ensured continuity of business. 

Instead it diversified its product portfolio in the European market to protect itself from business fluctuations in any particular sector. It also set up a demonstration centre in Amsterdam to showcase all its products and solutions, and cater to its entire European market -- a gambit that has paid off. It added 211 new clients in financial 2000-01, of which 84 were in the AMJ quarter, taking the total number of its clients to just under 1,000. 

This year TCS managed to wedge its place in the Silver Club by clocking a revenue of Rs 3124 crore in 2000-01, up by 42.47 percent form the previous year's Rs 2,034 crore. Agency revenues also grew from 36.61 crore in 1999-00 to Rs 52 crore. The US continued to be the prime destination for the company's exports, contributing 63 percent of its earnings w hile Europe sent in 27 percent. Overall, services remained TCS' strength, garnering 98 percent of its total revenue, while the rest came from packaged software. 

Last year, TCS teamed up with leading telecommunication companies including Sun Microsystems for the creation of new open technology to improve VoIP. It also tied up with Trivnet, an Israel-based provider of on-line payment solutions to market value-added solutions in the realm of mobile-commerce and electronic-commerce to wireless carriers, Internet Service Producers and other IP service providers

Its biggest achievement was becoming the world's first organisation to attain Level 4 of the People Capability Maturity Model (PCMM) for four centres - Delhi's Gurgaon II and Noida, Kolkata and Chennai's Tidel Park.

It also subscribed to VC fund Viventures to make VC investments in technology startups across the Asia-Pacific region. 

Given the fact that revenues have been consistently doubling every two years, for the last six years, TCS can look forward to maintaining this pace this year too. This will be possible through strengthening its role in the domestic market and increased focus on IT-enabled services and automation technology. With the TCS planning to go the IPO route, thei company is poised to join the top 25 in the next DQCI Silver Club.