'Choice Solutions' is the solution champ in data center optimization

Top 5 Players:

Choice Solutions
ESDS
Ashtech Infotech
Precision Infomatic
Compton Computers

 

Solution Champ: Choice Solutions

Hyderabad-based Choice Solutions grew around 6 percent in FY13 and made a top line of `97.6 crore. Out of the total revenue, `4 crore came in from managed services business which saw an increase in 20 percent over the last fiscal's managed services business.

Data Centre (DC) solutions have been a key growth area for choice solution. The company worked on many diverse solutions based on business requirements using virtualization and consolidation and sometimes simple solutions like reworking the equipment positioning within a DC, increasing the DC temperature, upgrading to newer generation equipment among others.

One of major projects that it did undertake was the implementation of a DC solution for Sona Somic Lemforder Components, a project reported to be bagged against the competitions like Wipro and Dell. Choice completed the whole project within a live IT environment with just few cut-offs. The value led solutions and implementations culminated not only in client satisfaction but also market recognized awards. It commissioned a state-of-the-art data center for NABARD in 75 days. In addition, the company identified newer opportunities beyond IT in the datacenter space and also deployed innovative solutions like green datacenters, nuclear-proof datacenters, and a datacenter-in-a-box.

ESDS

Nashik-based ESDS Sofwatre Solutions growth was not substantial in FY13 and grew less than 10 percent over the last FY. ESDS generates maximum revenue from services business wherein it offers services like BFSI Sales and Services, DC Turnkey and Consulting Services, GIS Services, Hardware Sales, ITES, Service Annual Maintenance. However, the company's biggest revenue generator is Webhosting Services followed by DC Turnkey and Consulting Services.

But the company-eight years down the line-has more than 33,000 customers globally. With respect to its datacenter business, the company believes that today's datacenter environment is not just about hosting servers and hardware. The company has evolved with time and currently offers services around virtualization, cloud computing, disaster recovery etc., to lead the competitive landscape.
Recently, ESDS has completed two major projects worth over `20 crore. On eof them was for Satara District Cooperative Bank(DCCB), which entailed building of a datacenter hosting the 285 branches IT infrastructure of Satara DCCB. Second important project was from Maharashtra State Power Generation Company Limited, where ESDS setup a Datacenter in Mumbai. Another recent project bagged was from Dhule DCCB for building a datacenter.

ESDS operates in an important principle: Continuous assessment of efficiency and reliability issues, followed by changes with ongoing monitoring of progress ensures continuous improvement. A year-and-half back the efforts of ESDS has been acknowledged by various companies. It also bagged Industrial Excellence Award for Innovation by Bhaskar Group.

Ashtech Infotech

Last year, this company performed well at providing end-to-end data center solutions and excelled in design and integration of power and cooling system apart from core network infrastructure and computing. It garnered 97 crore in FY13, up 30% from FY12.

This new segment won Astech severl projects including the largest one from Adani Group in Ahmedabad. This not only opened up a new market for Ashtech and brought in new customers, but it also won them recognition from an important technology partner and helped them increase market share in the SMB space.
One of the largest projects, which also won several accolades for Ashtech, was the implementation of an end-to-end data center set-up to run core banking, "a cheque truncation system, and a Real Time Gross Settlement system as per RBI guidelines. The project was completed in record time and helped the customer to excel in processing time and compliance."

The company also went against conventional wisdom and hired 16 new sales people in FY13 at a time when their peers were laying off staff. This was not just simple bravado but a smart move to inspire the entire workforce to fire on all cylinders.

Precision Infomatic

Chennai-based Precision deployed Array Networks' link load balancers to achieve high speed connectivity and availability for their hosted business critical applications and services for their customers. This enabled their customers to work with almost no service disruption as Precision was able to get uninterrupted access and committed bandwidth for services. Array also helped Precision to be ready for migration to IPv6, which will help us to get better TCO.

Early last year, set up a data center with a capacity to scale up to 8,000 virtual servers and 3 petabytes of storage with an idea to offer RIM and hosting services. It also worked with Karvy to implement data center solutions across 20 districts of north India for the National Population Register (NPR) project.
Other major contracts were the deployment of HP server and storage systems for Vodafone for `15 crore and `5 crore tender won to deploy HP storage across ECIL offices in the country. The implementation which started toward end of December 2012 went live in January 2013. The company made a top line of 330 crore in FY13 and grew around 20 percent over the previous FY.

Compton Computers

Delhi-based Compton computers give imperative to the design part of the datacenter and works with clear objective of meeting customer's 100 percent requirement. It works on the principle of deployment of the design on best business practices ensuring longevity of the infrastructure.

It implemented a 3,000 sq ft tier-3 data center project for the IT consulting and solutions company, Nagarro. Compton was also roped in for capacity planning for the next five years. The project was deployed in record time with 99.999 percent guaranteed uptime. Compton also deployed solutions for the Sri Ram Pistons. Some of its previous orders include the integration of complete end to end datacenter for Jackson Developers for their five star hotel, Crowne Plaza and for Indian Metrological Department for a complete datacentre solution including connectivity, hardware and software integration and manageability.

Owing to the fact that that business opportunity is unique in itself and needs hard work to get the most cost effective and performing solution for their clients, Compton invests an ample amount in research and development within the organization.

Other leading players
- Cache technologies
- VDA Solutions
- CCS Computers
- SBA Infosolutions
- HTP Systems