INFONET SOLUTIONS: A Dream Of Four

Dreams are the basis on which you can build the future. This is the belief
that drove four young and dynamic people Mahesh Kumar, Prashant Behl, Jalaluddin
Kokan and Naveen Nag Pal to start Infonet Solutions in 1996.

What started as a dining room initiative gained strength as the four put
together their collective hard work to grow Infonet. Today, Infonet Solutions is
one of the leading system integrators in Chennai which has clocked a turnover of
Rs 12.5 crore in 2003-04. "This year, we are aiming to achieve Rs 17.5
crore turnover," says Mahesh. 

NEW OFFICE, NEW BUSINESS

The foursome started their business in Prashant's dining room and within
three months moved to his father's office. After two whole years, the quartet
set up their own office in Mount Road, Chennai, which gave them more visibility.

FOURSOME POWER: Background (l-r) Mahesh Kumar and Prashant Behl, Foreground (l-r) Naveen Nagpal and Jalaluddin Kokan

With the new office, came a new business opportunity. While Infonet was
earlier in reselling, it started picking up crucial orders which were more
solution-oriented. The promoters previous work experiences helped them a lot in
reviving business acquaintances and converting them into customers.

Mahesh, an instrumentation engineer, looked after marketing and focussed on
getting new projects and enhancing the existing accounts with the company.
Jalaluddin who is an electrical and electronics engineering graduate, looked
after finance operations for raising capital. Naveen took care of human resource
and administration activities, while Prashant, a computer science graduate,
handled logistics, project implementation, service and support.

Prashant reminisces how they used to convince customers to give cash in
advance to them as they did not have proper capital.

Although, the four toiled day and night, they made it a point to compulsorily
meet during the lunchtime to discuss all business issues.

ALL-ROUND SOLUTION PROVIDING

Infonet Solutions has grown mainly by providing HP's complete solution
including desktops, notebooks, servers, storage solutions, imaging and printing
products. In networking, they have tied up with Cisco for active components and
Molex for passive products. It also occasionally provides solution based on
Nortel Networks.

"We entered business during the boom time and before we could stabilize
ourselves, the boom was over," says Prashant.

The market was flattening without any growth and challenges were thrown at
Infonet to sustain itself. But the four promoters put their focus and energy on
moving up the value-chain which helped them in the longer run.

S GOPIKRISHNA