Tata Consultancy Services Limited: The Pioneer in the Indian IT Industry

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"Many years ago, there was an industrial revolution. We (India) missed it due to (factors over) which we had no control. Today, there is a new revolution - a revolution in information technology, which requires neither mechanical bias nor mechanical temperament. Primarily, it requires the capability to think clearly. This we have in abundance. We have an opportunity even to assume leadership. If we miss this opportunity, those who will follow us will not forgive us for our tardiness and negligence." ¹

- FC Kohli, Deputy Chairman of TCS.

"TCS' achievements are mainly due to the company's foresight in gaining expertise and experience in emerging technologies. TCS' ability to provide end-to-end solutions is another of its major strengths. We may not be visible, and we do not publicize our achievements but we are definitely leaders in the industry." ²

- Atul Takle, Vice-President, Corporate Communications, TCS.

Introduction

In June 2003, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) - the leading information technology (IT) company in India, reported revenues of Rs. 49.975 bn (US$ 1.04 bn)³ for the financial year ending March 31, 2003 (Refer Exhibit I and Exhibit II for the financials of TCS). This made TCS the first IT company in India to cross the $1 bn revenue mark.

Within a span of three and a half decades, TCS emerged as one of the largest software companies in Asia, employing 28,000 IT professionals from 30 nationalities working in 32 countries. TCS has also been the largest software exporter from India for past 30 years. TCS played a major role in developing the IT industry in India. The company was a pioneer, starting its business way back in 1968. During the first couple of decades, TCS faced many problems in doing business, owing to unfavourable government regulations and the licensing system, which made it difficult to even import computers. Recalling the hurdles faced by the company, SR Ramadorai, the CEO of TCS (Refer Exhibit III for organizational structure of TCS), said, "It would take us two years in India and almost a year in the US to get all the clearances we needed to import computers.

By the time we got the approvals, the model of the computer would have changed. Then we had to explain to Indian customs officers that model numbers don't mean much, etc. But they would say, go back and get the license amended. On top of that, we had to pay 300 per cent import duties and give export commitments that were sometimes 250 per cent the value of the computers we were importing. Those were painful processes. Very few companies would have persisted through all of that."⁴

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1] "The Kohli Touch", www.india-today.com, April 16-30, 2000.

2] Anupama Katakam, "Software successes," www.frontlineonnet.com, August 31 - September 13, 2002.

3] 1US$ = Rs.45.9050 as on July 16, 2004.

4] "India's Software Patriarch Still a Pace-Setter," The Business Times, November 05, 2001.