The Hindu Business Line : Sharp Business plans network expansion

Mr Sunil K. Sinha, Chief Executive, Sharp Business Systems (India) Ltd, showing a multi-functional device - digital printer, copier, scanner and fax machine rolled into one, at a press conference in Hyderabad on Friday. — A. Roy Chowdhury

Hyderabad , Dec. 3

SHARP Business Systems (India) Ltd (SBSIL), the Rs 60-crore joint venture between the Japanese office automation major Sharp Corporation and Larsen and Toubro (L&T), has chalked out an aggressive marketing expansion plan aimed at consolidating its market share in the domestic market, its Chief Executive, Mr Sunil K. Sinha, said.

Addressing newspersons here on Friday on the eve of launching the company's latest digital full colour multifunctional system to enhance office communication, he said the company was planning to increase the number of its dealers by 25 per cent by the fiscal-end from the existing 200 plus dealers spread across the country. The company currently has 16 regional offices.

He said the focus would be on both metros such as Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bangalore and Kolkata and non-metros such as Nagpur, Guwahati, Chandigarh, Lucknow, Jaipur and Kochi. Stating that after-sales service has been an integral part of Sharp's marketing plan, he said the company currently has 16 company-owned service centres and over 80 authorised service centres in the country. "We plan to increase this number at least 10 per cent by the end of current fiscal."

On the plans for the next year, he said the company would be focussing on colour in office and offering document management solutions in colour. "We are looking at an overall 20 per cent growth for this financial year and a market share of 15 per cent," Mr Sinha said.

The company's product portfolio in India includes digital copiers/printers, facsimile machines and multi-media projectors. While digital copiers/printers contribute over 50 per cent of the total turnover, facsimile machines account for 15 per cent and projectors contribute roughly 35 per cent, Mr Sinha said.