Infosys reports positive results

An improvement in the overall business climate has prompted Indian outsourcer Infosys to raise its revenue and earnings forecasts despite posting a slight drop in quarterly profit today.

Revenue at the IT services firm reached US$1.15bn (AU$1.27bn), a 5.1 percent decline on the same quarter a year ago but a 2.9 percent increase on the previous quarter.

Infosys expects revenue to reach approximately $4.6bn (AU$5.09bn) for the full fiscal year, which signifies a one per ent drop on last year’s numbers.

While the results have surpassed Infosys’ own expectations, the company’s predictions for the future are rather conservative.

Reasons for this approach include the absence of significant market growth, high unemployment and currency volatility, said Infosys head of Europe BG Srinivas.

“The worse is likely to be over, but I will still view the future conservatively while being cautiously optimistic,” he said.

Infosys was reported to be chasing some 12 to 15 outsourcing deals worldwide. But Srinvas said the sales processes are taking longer than usual as clients focus on supplier consolidation and strategy reviews.

Infosys is still hiring 2,000 staff globally with a view to expanding its sales capability. The firm reported that it is hiring senior technology architects and business consultants.

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Satyam, Saab in $300 mn outsourcing contract

In a bid to expand the customer base, Mahindra Satyam, earlier known as Satyam Computer Services Ltd., on Tuesday said it is planning to tie up with Saab, a military defence and civil security solutions provider, to develop its India operations. Saab’s outsourcing contract to Satyam is estimated to be between $300-$400 million and is one of the largest customer wins in the recent past.

“This collaboration is a strategic step towards synergizing Satyam’s unique strengths in mission critical systems, ERP, engineering services, avionics and integration and Mahindra’s Systech’s manufacturing capabilities and engineering excellence,” said Anand Mahindra, Vice CMD, Mahindra Group.

The contract would also cover areas such as homeland security where focus is planned for end-to-end security solutions. “We view this relationshipa with Mahindra Satyam as a strategic meeting of two highly skilled teams believing in techincal and engineering excellence,” said Ake Svensson, President & CEO, Saab.

According to the initiative, Satyam and Saab will jointly address the Battlefield Management System (BMS) -- which is field proven and deployed across many countries -- for the Indian Army.

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Focus on core business and cost savings main drivers of IT outsourcing

The ability to focus on core business and cost savings are the primary reasons for IT outsourcing according to a new survey by Irish-owned Hibernia Evros Technology Group. Half (51%) of the companies surveyed were Irish small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) employing between 1-250 people. The results of the study were revealed at the announcement by HiberniaEvros of a new infrastructure outsourcing service for SMEs called OmniSource.

63% listed ‘focus on core business' in the top two reasons for outsourcing. Cost saving was the second most popular reason, mentioned in their top two choices by 51%. ‘Releasing internal IT staff for more strategic work' was highlighted by almost half (47%).*

"Irish firms have an increasingly sophisticated approach to outsourcing," commented John Kennedy, marketing director, Hibernia Evros Technology Group. "Market perception has been that Irish companies have been reluctant to outsource but the results of this survey suggest otherwise. 71% already outsource some element of their IT. It may be that the economic downturn is encouraging companies to focus more on their core business and explore ways to reduce internal costs."

The most common IT function outsourced is hardware support (72%) followed by web hosting (41%). Network management and security/virus protection (both 38%) are in the top four outsourced IT functions.

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Wipro to support laid-off French staff

BANGALORE: Wipro Chairman Azim Premji has reiterated the company's commitment to France, a key growth market for the company, by growing its presence and creating employment opportunities in that country.

Premji, who met Christian Estrosi from the Ministry of Industry Paris, during a high-level delegation meeting in Paris to discuss the Wipro's IT services growth strategy for France, said the IT firm was committed to work with local authorities to encourage local employment regeneration.

During the discussion, both Estrosi and Premji also spoke about Wipro's worldwide exit from the IP connectivity activity, which implied closure of its Sophia Antipolis centre, a Wipro release said.

During the discussions, Wipro reiterated the measures being implemented to support the employees who will exit from the company, including providing financial benefits.

According to Christophe Martinoli, Head of France, Wipro Technologies, "With continued investment and our focus in creating a skilled talent base in France, we intend to double our staff base and revenues in the next 18 months to serve our French customers across industries such as retail, manufacturing, telecom, energy and utilities, banking and insurance"

The company said over a period of time, it had increased its headcount in France from less than 30 to 170.

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