TN dealers unite to form a company

Dealers in Tamil Nadu are set to make history by rolling out a public limited

company. The company, titled COM-COM Public Ltd will start its operations by

distributing exclusive products and is expecting investments from across the

country so that the operations would be on a pan-India basis. Around 400 dealers

across the state are said to have already shown interest in investing in the

initiative and will hold stakes in the company. However, company sources didn't

reveal the investment, as it has not yet been fixed.

The procedure for getting the company registered is in progress and it

wouldn't be surprising if the company is launched by the end of April. PN

Prasad, CEO, Microplus Computers, who is driving the setup of the company said,

“The whole idea of launching this company is to take various IT products and

services to all the places with huge visibility, as dealers have a vast presence

in every corner of the country, and they need not depend on anyone for service

and support.”

To start with the company proposes to distribute products of ELCOT, who

recently showed interest in working with the channel as they aim to increase PC

penetration by supplying one-lakh brand desktops and laptops to educational

institu­tion and the student community. Claiming that the process in its initial

stages, Prasad said, “We are looking at taking this forward legally and working

with ELCOT and other vendors. We have the capacity to take forward the project

easily with our strong and vast presence and can extend service support to the

costumers in a more enhanced manner.”

Subsequent to the distri­bution activities, COM-COM Public Ltd has proposed

to set-up multi-location service centers for major vendors and centers for

training the dealers in major cities and upcountry locations. The company has

also planned to undertake AMCs of multi-location companies such as banks, Prasad

informed. As a policy the company will not deal with multi-distribution products

and would only undertake exclusive and good products, he claimed. He also said

that initially COM-COM would not enter the retail format. The company has also

proposed to go for an IPO and appoint executive members post the launch.

It may be noted that the new company has no relation with Confed-ITA, the

common body working for the welfare of IT associations across Tamil Nadu,

despite Prasad being the VP of the association. A company source clarified that

it was a collective decision and had no bearing with Confed.