| India's software industry has over the years grown in | | | | Next up is Wipro Technologies (NYSE - WIT) a |
| importance in the global market that we now have. | | | | company that has over the past couple of years has |
| The majority of revenue generated is from their | | | | snapped up various US and European companies, |
| export market (i.e. selling services to offshore | | | | which is sure to have sent out a message to their |
| companies), which is in heavy competition with the | | | | Western competitors of their intent to continue moving |
| USA. | | | | forward. And its competitors in the West are |
| After 9/11, many companies around the world realised | | | | companies which just cannot compete with India's |
| the need for offshore back-up systems and this | | | | lower wagers but higher skills level. |
| prompted a rash of investment by banks, airlines, | | | | What can major Western software companies do to |
| telecommunications and IT companies. | | | | fight back? Will home grown Indian companies be |
| The Indian software industry is worth approximately | | | | buying up the major Western players as they find that |
| $38billion, with $31billion of that being generated from | | | | they cannot compete in the long-term? |
| exports. | | | | I cannot answer the second question, but a possible |
| So who are the major players? | | | | answer for the first is that some of the advantages |
| Infosys (NASDAQ - INFY), which floated on the US | | | | established Western companies have over emerging |
| stock market in 1999, is an Indian IT outsourcing with no | | | | Indian companies are the experience in managing |
| Indian clients. It's purely a player on the global stage and | | | | projects efficiently and meeting deadlines and the |
| one that's only growing. Its shares may not be on the | | | | basic infrastructure within their own company and |
| rise right now, but once the dollar grows back in | | | | society ensures there is less rough and more polish. It's |
| strength their value will show and it will be time to sell. | | | | not to say that some of India's IT companies are not |
| If you're brave and enjoy a venture in to the foreign | | | | on equal (or superior) footing in terms of infrastructure |
| markets India's TCS (Tata Consultancy Services Ltd) | | | | but the companies leading the way in terms of |
| is another of the major players in India's software and | | | | infrastructure are majors such as TCS, Wipro and |
| IT outsourcing industry. Tata may be a name familiar | | | | Infosys. For smaller projects, investment in India is a |
| to many of you from Tata Holdings, which is one of | | | | gamble, as you may not know of the products doom |
| India's biggest industrial groups, so you can feel very | | | | until the eleventh hour. Western companies survival will |
| confident about this stock's value and future. Currently, | | | | depend up on them promoting the quality of |
| TCS (TCS.NS) is listed on India's national stock | | | | development they have to offer and the solidity of |
| exchange. | | | | project management from beginning to end. |