HCL Peripherals targets Rs 200 crore for 2003-04

HCL Peripherals, a leading peripheral and solution provider, is setting its eyes on the overseas market. This is a part of its plan to achieve over 60 percent growth in revenues in the current fiscal as compared to the last fiscal when it achieved 30 percent growth, closing books with a turnover of Rs 120 crore. "We are targeting Rs 200 crore for 2003-04 and the overseas business will contribute around 40 percent in it," revealed R Srinivasan, GM (Marketing & Support), HCL Peripherals.

The company plans to open offices in Gulf and the SAARC region, besides setting up one in UK, Canada and Africa through other HCL Group companies. "In the later stage, we are planning to go to the US and Australia through partnership," he said.

Actually, HCL Peripherals has done some good business in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Muscat in the last year itself, which contributed around 10 percent to the total turnover of 2002-03.

"HCL is a well-known name in the international market and we have expertise in building solutions on heterogeneous platform and embedded software, which will give a breakthrough in the international market. HCL Peripherals has grown as a solution company over the years and we have a strong R&D and software team, who exclusively develop customized solution for the customers," explained Srinivasan. The company plans to double its team in R&D from present 40 to 80, in the next six months.

According to Srinivasan, thin-clients have a market share of 57 percent in the US and Europe and TCO (Total Cost of Ownership) is seen in a big way in the overseas market. HCL Peripherals will compete in the price-performance point and support.

Meanwhile, HCL Peripherals is increasing its reach and availability in the domestic market. The company is in the process of appointing a national distributor shortly to take its products across the country. Presently, the company has 16 regional distributors and 55 authorized channel partners in the country. "This year, we will focus more on the north and western regions and increase our presence there. We are conducting roadshows across the country and also enhancing logistics support in B and C class cities," pointed out VR Kirubakaran, Manager (Marketing), HCL Peripherals. The company has also tied-up with HCL Frontline division for marketing its complete range of networking products through the later's stores.

HCL Peripherals is increasing its OEM supply too and it has set a target of having 25 OEM partners by this year-end.


The company has divided its business into four major focus groups--display, technology products (thin-clients), info-kiosks and networking. "We have developed this into specific groups with clear focus and giving enough attention to build all these segments. HCL Peripherals has grown into a complete solution company now," explained

Srinivasan.

S Gopikrishna