Super Achievers Open Super Market

Chennai would soon be a home to one of the biggest IT super markets, thanks to young and dynamic entrepreneurs, I Sadiq Batcha, and A Thasthageer. The SSS IT Super Market will showcase products worth Rs 2 crore in its 14,000 sq ft showroom space. How did Sadiq and Thasthageer achieve this success? 

The secret behind Sadiq's success has been his passion for IT and a strong desire to succeed. As a college student, he always wanted to try something new and innovative in the IT market. Sadiq wanted to be his own boss and run his own business. This led to the establishment of SSS Enterprises in 1989 in collaboration with Thasthageer. 

SSS Enterprises started as a trading company and distributed IT products sourced from Singapore. Sadiq's association with his sources at Singapore has grown stronger over the years and currently he is looking for similar tie-ups in countries like Malaysia and Taiwan. 

The company became private limited in 1995, giving Sadiq and Thasthageer a better opportunity to build up the market presence for their organization. Over the years, their client base has expanded to the neighboring southern states as well.

New PC brand

Their market reach gave confidence to Sadiq and Thasthageer to launch their own PC under SSS Royal brand. The branded PCs witnessed major sales within a few months of their launch. "The PCs were well accepted in the market. And since our company was already known among channel partners, promoting the new brand was not difficult," points out

Sadiq.

One of the factors that has contributed to the duo's success is their man-management ability. Both, Sadiq and Thasthageer are well acquainted with their co-workers and clients. They never miss an opportunity to communicate with employees and catch up with what is happening to them. "I love talking to my employees and taking their advice on various matters. Be it appointment of a new staff or deciding a marketing strategy," points out

Sadiq.

Always on the look out for growth avenues, Sadiq started a new software company called Top World Infotech (TWIT) in 1999. "The revenue generated by this company has helped us to fund our new ventures and removed our dependence on external finance," says

Sadiq.

Primary focus

Sadiq's primary focus has always been his customers. This focus has enabled SSS Systems develop a reputation for itself as a company that provides timely and quality customer service. Be it hardware requirements or software solutions, SSS Systems has an answer for all queries. "We at SSS Systems seek to provide quality service at reasonable prices," says

Sadiq. 

Right from the beginning, the company has maintained strict quality controls and has been making its own research to improve manufacturing processes. The focus on R&D is aimed at enabling SSS Systems and TWIT to stay tuned to the constant changes in the Industry and to offer right solutions to clients. Right product for the right customer is the motto of the R&D at

SSS. 

Roadmap for the future

Today TWIT has already made significant progress in expanding its business in the software field. "In a short span of six months we have set a firm foot in the Italian market. We specialize on Linux and related software," says Sadiq. "We have highly skilled individuals with expertise in disaster recovery, help desk implementation and off-site system support and development," he adds. TWIT has also taken up turnkey projects in the areas of systems integration and re-engineering. 

Sadiq and Thasthageer are keen on competing globally. Looking at international trends and requirements, the duo is planning to apply for ISO certification. Both, SSS Systems and TWIT will soon undergo the ISO certification process. 

The company has also appointed an in-house consultant for achieving this objective. "All our activities are tailor-made and designed to suit the internal and external information needs in keeping with international standards," says

Thasthageer. 

The client list of SSS Systems includes many prestigious education institutions, corporates, government organizations and charitable institutes. The customer feedback has encouraged Sadiq and Thasthageer to foray into retail business and the result is SSS IT Super Market, which is scheduled to open by mid-April. "My dream was to open a store, to function as a one-stop solution for all IT needs, and I can see this happening," says a beaming

Sadiq.

Thanks to Sadiq's business foresight, his foray into hardware as well as software has given him the financial leeway to enter the retail market where capital investments have to be made in a big way to start off the operations. Sadiq brims with confidence that he will make a success of the retail venture.

There are reasons for Sadiq's confidence because he has spent sufficiently long time in the Chennai market and knows its pulse. Since he has his own brand of PCs that adhere to international standards, sales should be brisk on the retail counters. And the fact that SSS Systems already has a well-established service infrastructure, customers don't have to fear any support problems. 

Sunila Paul  in Chennai