How to set up an IT Delivery Center in India
Five years ago I took a flight to India, got an accountant, hired an office space in a tech park, invited friends to a meeting in the Hilton board room and signed employment contracts. This won’t work that easy nowadays. But how to get it going today?
I would like to share with you my lessons learned on my successful company’s path in India:
1. Have a (offshore) strategy
The management needs to be convinced that India, as the world’s #1 IT hub, is the place to be. With plenty of talent, which you cannot find in Germany these days. Also with great IT-infrastructure and political stability. Also a government, which does not interfere with your business, but supports you improving it.
2. Think big – start small
Dedicate a hand-picked local employees to head the transition project and guide the – future – India team. Define your objectives and put them on a timeline. Select a consulting company like OPTANIUM to get people. Target to start with a small team within six months.
3. Set the financial expectations right
Do expect great savings, but plan for a proper ramp-up time. Many projects fail because of too high expectations within a year. Ask the management for enough time to get into a flow. Rome was not built in a day, but finally became an empire. Do things right, and do not repeat your mistakes.
4. Get the contracts straight
Best to ask a local company in India to hire and host your people, ideally one with a German presence. So you can contract the German entity and apply German law, while getting all benefits from the Indian entity in terms of skills and cheap labor. There are a few, like OPTANIUM.
5. Don’t fall for body leasers
Don’t make the mistake and get individuals from a body leaser. Find a reliable, established manager, committed with “heart & soul” and dedicated to your team members. Without a proper management structure in India, your best effort will fail. Guaranteed. Without. Any. Doubt.
6. Establish a distinguishing feature
Me-too companies do not attract skilled people. You want to be special to spark the fire within the hearts of your local talents. You need to own something others don’t have. A German presence, great technology, extras like a rental car on the weekend, participation in the company’s ebit, you name it.
7. Do away with payroll, accounting and legal
Find support to clear all regulatory hurdles for you. Outsource all no-profit-generating tasks to a local contractor with good connections to the government and local bodies. Ensure to track the results. Enforce your code of ethics and business.
8. Foster exchange
Bridge cultural gaps. Make sure your employees from both countries visit and get to know each other. During projects, for sales- and shareholder meetings, through team events and public holidays. Listen to your local team and promote their and your values and thoughts. Be open and honest, respect everyone’s opinion.
9. Two way habits
Be sure to apply the right set of customs depending on your location. Use indirect speech in India, more direct speech in Germany, do not lean on cars in Germany and do use Uber on Indian streets. Never negate your values, always follow your inner compass and get things done.
10. Be patient with the local bodies
Establishing an office in India takes weeks, not days. A Pvt. Ltd. (GmbH) registration takes up to eleven months, a new internet connection, a PAN card and a CIN, AoAs, MoAs much longer. Whenever you think you have accomplished a task, something new comes up – often unpredictable. Be patient and accept the challenge.
Conclusion
In terms of IT India is the best place to be. I dare to predict this will still apply for many more years. Looking at the shortage of resources (skills) in Germany, my advice for you is: Leverage Indian talent! Hire a service company to enhance your goals. Find the one company, which fulfills its promises. Good luck!
What are your thoughts and experiences? Let’s get in touch and exchange them.
Author: Marcel Nebel, Optanium GmbH
Picture: iStock.com
Besuchen Sie mich im Sozialen Netzwerk.
Publikation
Neueste Podcast Episoden
Episode 12/21: The Wisdom Workshop “Rethinking Business in Family Businesses” with Daniela Sarrazin (Interview in German)
By nature, Daniela Sarrazin is a down-to-earth person who is characterized by passion, courage, a strong will and clarity. Her heart beats for building bridges between generations as well as for the desire to open new doors for people and thus enable growth and self-determination. Life has shown her that it is important to live in the here and now and to let the past be and the future come to you.
Her guidelines for her actions and doings – also for today’s podcast titled “Rethinking Business in Family Businesses – are:
In motion, something gets moving. Water always finds a way. Follow it and you will find yours. Value creation through appreciation. Development in family businesses.
Listen to what the successful leadership developer and coach has to say.
Episode 11/21: The Wisdom Workshop 4th Interview with Ajahn Michael on “Forgiveness” (Interview in German)
“Forgiveness is a coping strategy to be able to mentally accept an actual or assumed wrongdoing of others without expecting any reaction from the other (such as an admission of guilt, remorse, apology) or demanding justice (retribution, prosecution).”
But the question arises, how exactly do I go about doing this? That’s what I’m talking about with Ajahn Michael.
Enjoy listening.
Episode 10/21: The Wisdom Workshop 3rd Interview with Ajahn Michael on “The Dependent Arising”
Whatever happens, happens because (under all the circumstances that could have been present) the very circumstances were present that led to the specific occurrence of the event.
This is about pure non-judgmental observation of the movements of our mind, which leads to understanding the impersonal nature of the process of arising of thoughts, feelings or emotions, as the whole chain of Dependent Arising sets it out, and the Four Noble Truths. It is about realization of the True Nature of things.
(From the course materials of Ajahan Michael)
Episode 9/21: The Wisdom Workshop Interview with Rolf Lutterbeck about “Consciousness Development” (Interview in German)
Rolf Lutterbeck, computer scientist, former executive, today systemic coach and trainer talks about the different levels of consciousness. We talk about the different perspectives that can be taken from level to level and what influence this has and can have on business and politics. What is needed for a hopeful future for future generations?
Thank you, dear Rolf, for your deep friendship. It’s nice that we know each other!
Enjoy watching the video, which is accompanied with really informative slides.
Episode 8/21: The Wisdom Workshop 2nd Interview with Ajahn Michael “How does suffering arise?” (German)
Why does Buddha define complaining, birth, sorrow, etc. with the term “suffer”? You could say that these terms lead to suffering. Actually, they are not suffering per se. But Buddha defined it as above. Why? This is one of the questions Ajahn Michael has long asked himself. Through long research in neurology, psychotherapy and psychopathology, he has found tools to exactly understand this. He shares his interesting discoveries with us in this interview. Especially the discovery that Buddha’s teachings are congruent with the aforementioned sciences.
This interview is a continuation of the first interview with Ajahn Michael. But it stands for its own and can therefore be watched independently.