The Hindu Business Line : An off-beat launch pad

How many of us would consider a job in an IT company in a place like, say, Pollachi, about 40 km from Coimbatore? Wouldn't one rather wait for an opening in a more IT-happening place?

But sometimes, it may not be a bad idea to move to smaller cities/towns.

Look at Loganathan, Suresh and Senthil (among many others at Pollachi - a rural agricultural township), for instance. Their career at ABT Infosystems has proved to be a turning point in their lives.

Hailing from a rural background, Suresh, after completing a diploma in Electrical Engineering, took up the first job that came his way - in the electrical department of a private company.

The management, after assessing his interest and aptitude to learn new things and take on challenges, assigned him a job at ABT Info (a group company).

Since then, the going has been good. Suresh's rural upbringing and halting communication have not stood in the way of frequent official visits abroad. "Our boys are performing better than some of the metro guys. Our core strength is in our understanding of the customers' needs and executing the same with perfection and on time," says ABT Infosystems' Deputy General Manager, Mahendra Kumar.

ABT Infosystems is into software development for engineering product-lines. Software developers work alongside clients in the US, the UK and European countries in project execution, related to engineering illustrations, conversions and technical publications.

"We are targeting projects worth $2 million this year. At the current growth rate, this could treble in a span of two years," says Mahendra Kumar.

At least a dozen professionals of the 85-member team have travelled to the UK and the US a couple of times to execute projects and understand the client's needs.

Senthil, who holds a diploma in Mechanical Engineering, joined ABT Infosystems two years ago. "This is my first job. I joined this company to stay closer to home. Within 15 months, I went to the UK on official assignment and am off shortly to the US. My friends are now keen to relocate and join here, as they feel that the recognition is far better in a relatively smaller concern."

Loganathan is a Mechanical Engineer. After graduating from the Dr Mahalingam College of Engineering and Technology, he joined ABT InfoSystems. "I worked on some projects here even as a student. Now, I've decided to settle down in Pollachi and am contented with my job," he says.

The company has executed three projects in eLearning for the industry, besides other projects.

"Non technical people cannot compete with the projects we work on and there is no dearth in the number of projects we get," says Mahendra Kumar.

The clients sound satisfied. N.S. Rathika of Banyan Infotech, for whom ABT Infosystems is hosting a Web server, says the "ABT Data Centre is helping medium-sized organisations like us to use the latest advancements in the Internet and Web technology at a very low premium."

India Radio Ventures Private Ltd launched its FM radio channel with the brand name `Radio Indigo - The Colour Of Music' in Bangalore in September. K.S. Venkateswarlu, Chief Technical Officer, India Radio, says ABT Infosystems is hosting its Web site and handling all the related works. And the company is happy with the services.

As eWorld headed back to the city, it took away a thought or two, too.

That techies in rural areas appear a dedicated lot, and are going places too.

lnr@thehindu.co.in

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