US-based software company Adobe Systems is looking to replicate the success of its flagship offering ‘Photoshop’ by betting big on the ‘experience/ marketing cloud’ segment.

The segment – pegged at $200 million in India – includes its digital cloud businesses in a single platform and helps businesses plan, manage, budget, analyse and also measure the effectiveness of their digital media campaigns.

According to Sunder Madakshira, Head Marketing, Adobe India, the experience cloud segment – targeted at enterprises and even small businesses – is witnessing a nearly 30 per cent growth, year-on-year, here in the country. Retail (both e-commerce and brick and mortar companies), BFSI (banking, financial services and insurance), media and entertainment industry, travel and hospitality segments and government and education sectors have been the main drivers of these solutions.

“We are witnessing a near 30 per cent growth in the segment against a market growth of 20-25 per cent. Moreover, we are getting new clients too,” he told BusinessLine on the sidelines of a conference organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).

In fact, Adobe has seen a near 150 per cent growth in its client-base in India to 100 during December 2016 to November 2017.

Client-base in the previous year was 40. (Adobe follows a December-November period for accounting purposes). In the first five months of this year (December onwards), at least 30 new clients have been added.

Photoshop still a flagship

But, as Madakshira points out, Photoshop continues to be a flagship for the Nasdaq-listed company. The software has seen a near 30 per cent annual growth globally and in India.

In fact, Adobe seems to have worked out on piracy concerns that once plagued it here in the country.

According to market sources, some six years ago, pirated versions of its products accounted for nearly 64 per cent usage here.

“Over the last five years, our subscriptions have more than doubled in numbers,” Madakshira said, adding that subscriptions have been growing annually. Consumer education initiatives and adding of new features and value-adds to licensed products have helped the company.

Moreover, the growth in India, for ‘Photoshop’, is being driven by new users that include designers, film-maker and animators, entrepreneurs and freelancers.

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