Mr Sanjay Shaw
Associate Vice President,
POS and retail infrastructure division
HCL

talks about the origin, growth and success of HCL, in a
one-to-one interview with Retailer

Retailer: What is the origin and success of HCL Infosystems?
Sanjay Shaw: Established in 1976, HCL Infosystems started providing value-added services in key areas such as system integration, networking consultancy and infrastructure development. After winding up of IBM from India, we started designing our own motherboards, database etc. and launched in 1976 the first microcomputer-based commercial computer with ROM-based basic interpreter. By 2003, HCL became the first organisation to cross sale of 50,000 personal computers with a turnover of $ 4 million. HCL is now coming up with a very aggressive range of kiosks and hand-held products. HCL has direct sales, channel sales and retail sales network across India. We are continuously meeting the customer's demands and by focusing on integrated enterprise solutions, we have strengthened HCL Infosystems.

Retailer: What inspired you to opt for retail business ?
SS: HCL always believes in creating new segments and, accordingly, work on it. Four years before, we predicted that retailing sector would grow. At present, this sector is one of the most happening sectors in India. Besides this, we made our financial position safe and sound. That is why we have opted for this particular sector.

Retailer: Which products and services is HCL Infosystems providing?
SS: HCL provides various types of products and services to its customers. We specialise in making front-end billing machines with touch screens technology, scanners, printers, UPS, display systems, electronic cash register (ECR), mobile handling products etc. Our services also help our customers in establishing networking systems in their stores. HCL covers the entire spectrum of the information technology and provide our customers 24x7 services. Therefore, HCL has become the single window solution provider in today's market.

Retailer: How have your clients been benefited?
SS: Our customers can now easily design and print bills on different types and sizes of papers. Very cost effective, these machines also help our clients in searching previous bills, with date, account or customers name. Front-end billing machines also help our customers in keeping track of the inventories.

Retailer: How does HCL Infosystems make the retail industry perform better?
SS: As I said, our products helped the industry in maintaining or keeping proper stock levels during regular-price situations, and helps them to avoid out-of-stock situation, which cuts down stock and over-pricing. Our kiosks also help the industry by forecasting potential problems and rectifying these in time.

Retailer: What is coming up?
SS: We are working on infrastructure management and warehousing. We are also bringing out new products. Work is going on surveillance and security integrated systems. Radio frequency is another technology where HCL is working on.

Retailer: How will you rate HCL five years hence?
SS: We would like to position HCL as number one choice of customers. We believe that India will position its retail industry at par with international standards.

Interview conducted by S L Talwar
Email: stalwar@franchiseindia.com