The Hindu Business Line : BSIL to step up consulting services

SOFTWARE services firm Blue Star Infotech Ltd (BSIL), which is trying to position itself as a consulting-led services firm, expects an aggressive growth in consulting practice for the current fiscal.

"We expect our consulting-led services to contribute 60 per cent of our revenues in 2004-05," said Mr Parmod Bhalla, Managing Director (BSIL).

The company sees a great opportunity in providing consulting services in the medium to medium-large enterprises market segment.

"We plan to distinguish ourselves in the marketplace by providing end-to-end consulting services to this segment," Mr Bhalla said.

BSIL's consulting services practice, which comprises package implementation services, system architecture and business transformation services and enterprise solutions, accounted for about 30 per cent of the company's revenues in 2003-04, he said.

BSIL plans to strengthen its consulting teams in the United States, United Kingdom and India by adding about 200 consultants.

"Globally, we want to be known as a local consulting company," Mr Bhalla said adding that the company planned to hire about 50 local consultants in the US and UK each over the next 12 months.

BSIL, at present, has a 50-member consulting team in the US. The company is also increasing its consulting team in India from 60 to 150 over the next 12 months, Mr Bhalla said.

The company is also looking to acquire consulting firms in the US and UK.

"We are looking at small consulting firms with a strong customer base and a weak offshore presence and are in talks with a couple of them," Mr Bhalla said adding that the company had not set any timeframe to complete the acquisition.

BSIL, which forayed into the domestic market last year, plans to concentrate on small and medium businesses with distribution and implementation of its existing product portfolio, said Mr Sudhir Gera, Vice-President, marketing.

The company is targeting verticals, such as pharmaceuticals, retail, gems and jewellery and auto ancillaries, where it sees a major growth potential.

BSIL also plans to enhance its product portfolio for the domestic market, Mr Gera said adding that the company may include a customer relationship management product this year.