The Hindu Business Line : Nirvana to focus on verticals

ANTICIPATING increased business from the US market, Bangalore-based BPO vendor Nirvana Business Solutions plans to beef up its infrastructure and human resources pool in India and the US.

Having moved away from the Indian BPO matrix that largely comprises back-end processes, Nirvana Business Solutions will focus on technology verticals to offer services such as bug fixing, testing and high end systems integration support. The company is in advanced stages of negotiations with two leading technology firms in the US to provide these services, said Mr Raj Kondur, Chairman and CEO.

"We have reached the stage where India needs to change the story from `it's cheaper' to `it's better' and that is where (intellectual property) IP-driven service offerings comes in. Nirvana has been able to leverage on this value proposition to gain increased traction in the US market. We are currently hiring at the rate of 50 people a week here to keep up with this as also increase the number of consultants in the US," Mr Kondur told Business Line.

Interestingly, Mr Kondur is the erstwhile co-founder of ChrysCapital, the country's largest venture capital fund, with approximately $450 million under management.

Plans are on to open a 1,000-seater facility in Mumbai by March 2005. Declining to comment on the proposed investments, the company CEO said the facility would be similar to the company's existing infrastructure in Bangalore that currently accommodates 450 people.

"So far, we have invested $8 million on the Bangalore facility that includes manpower, infrastructure and technology spends," Mr Kondur said.

A relatively new entrant to the BPO scene, Nirvana set up operations in 2002 with its client portfolio including a large airline firm, an Internet services and a strategy consulting firm. Its proprietary-driven methodologies include VAIIDTM, an offshore value identification system that helps customers to develop an offshoring process agenda and understand the financial and operating implications of an offshore initiative.

Looking ahead, Nirvana plans to focus on the insurance, telecom and cable ISPs segments. On the expected revenues, Mr Kondur said the company was close to break-even and expected to record $25 million by next year.