Peak Day Blues

LN Revathy of The Hindu has a good article in today's Business Line detailing the growth of the IT/BPO industries in Coimbatore over the years. She also elaborates on the fact on how Coimbatore has turned itself into a Medical Transcription hub. The city is set to emerge as the ‘Medical Transcription Outsourcing Capital of India', say leaders in the medical transcription space. Players such as CBay Systems and Spheris have expanded their operations here rapidly. CBay, for instance, has its largest facility here in an area of about 20,000 sq.ft. The company has, in the last eight months, opened up two centres, initiated tie-ups with local colleges to rope in students. A few others are exploring opportunities across the landscape as this (medical transcription) industry is predominantly South-based. Being the chosen hub for MT, the city also has a number of people travelling from smaller towns such as Salem, Erode, Pollachi and Udhagamandalam attracted towards this steadily growi

InferX Corporation, a market leader in next generation distributed Predictive Analytics and Business Intelligence Products and Solutions, today announced that it has signed a Memoradum of Understanding (MOU) with KG Information Systems Limited (KGiSL), part of KG Group of companies to develop solutions powered by InferX products and market to its client base in the Banking, Financial Services and Insurance (BFSI) and Healthcare sectors in the United States, India and globally. The KG Group of companies will license InferX products and develop specific BFSI and Healthcare sector solutions under the guidance and collaboration of InferX technical managers and market to its client base. The solutions will feature InferX's proprietary Predictive Analytics (PA) technology to deliver next generation business intelligence solutions. "The ability to enhance our current portfolio of business performance management solutions with InferX's real time, distributed predictive analytics t

On September 15, 2008 Lehman Brothers filed for Bankruptcy triggering the biggest ever financial crisis faced by mankind. Around 2 million jobs were lost in the US alone and it wiped out life long savings of millions of shareholders. At its prime, Lehman Brothers was the fourth largest Investment Bank! As we are approaching the first anniversary of the Lehman collapse, which effectively started the subprime mortgage crisis, Channel 4 of UK has done an interesting investigative reporting. So, who really pulled the trigger on Lehman?

Cognizant Technology's (CTS) new campus @ KGiSL SEZ, made at a cost of Rs. 180+ crore, was inaugated by DyCM of TN, MK Stalin last Sunday. Spread in 23-odd acres inside KGiSL SEZ, the first phase has been built to accommodate over 6000 plus professionals. Cognizant started Coimbatore operations in 2005 with approx. 50 professionals and have ramped up to over 2,200 professionals today. Apart from the newly inagurated campus, Cognizant has its presence inside the KGiSL Campus and the adjacent Kumaraguru College of Technology campus. Read the various media reports here

KGiSL , renowned for its IT/BPO ventures and educational institutions, has just launched its maiden venture in residential dwellings named " KGiSL Metropolis " near its upcoming SEZ in Saravanampatti. KGiSL Metropolis consists of 288 single bedroom apartments (@695 Sq Ft each) and 108 Double Bedroom Apartments (@1185 Sq ft each). KGiSL Metropolis is situated right at the entrance of Coimbatore's first IT Specific SEZ (Special Economic Zone) which already houses Cognizant Techonologies, Robert Bosch, Perot Systems, IndiaLand KGiSL, and Ugam Software. It's also at a walkable distance from its main campus which houses KG i SL, KG f SL, SPi Healthcare, KGiSL College of Arts & Science, KGiSL - IIM, KG Eye Hospital etc. For more details about the project, check out www.kgislmetropolis.com.

Hi-Tech Infrastructure Private Limited, promoted by Coimbatore-based KG Information Systems Limited (KGISL), plans to invest around Rs 600 core over the next two years in building a township at a special economic zone (SEZ), the first SEZ for IT and ITeS sectors being developed at Saravanampally in Coimbatore. Speaking to Business Standard, KGISL Managing Director, Ashok Bakthavathsalam , said the company was developing the SEZ on 150 acre, of which 65 acre had already been allotted to Robert Bosch India, Cognizant and Perot Systems. Bosch is setting up a research and development centre in the SEZ with an investment of around Rs 250 crore. Bakthavathsalam said the SEZ was expected to attract investments to the tune of Rs 2,000 crore and generate employment to about 15,000 people over the next two years. “KGISL alone will invest around Rs 600 crore in the SEZ, which will be funded through a mix of internal accruals and debt,” he said. The company is planning to set up a budget hotel, 4

Snapped this on my way back home from office y'day morning... was thrilled!

Snapped by my sis-in-law at her ex-worksite (Shoba Develprs) in B'lore.. they overloaded the truck and it capsized!

Saravanampatti can now boast a police station of its own. The new building was inaugurated by DGP of TN, Mr. Jain two days back. The new police station is located on the Kalappati Road, just 100 odd meters from Kalapatti Pirivu (Junction) where there's already a police check post. Bad news is, now the cops can easily nab drunk drivers on weekends!! :-(

More than two million citizens of the southern Indian state of Kerala work abroad, with nearly 90% finding employment in the Gulf region. According to official estimates, between 200,000 and 500,000 of them -- particularly those working in Dubai -- are likely to be laid off and return home by midyear. Non-resident Keralites make up a significant percentage of the state's population, and they send back nearly US$8 billion in remittances annually, more than double the state's tax revenues. According to experts, the impact of the reverse exodus -- both economically and socially -- could be devastating. Read the full article here - http://is.gd/12FQY

Coimbatore has become the hot bed of Swine Flu in India with 2 confirmed cases and four more suspected ones. A 34-year-old woman and her five-year-old son, who had come from Boston, US to Coimbatore on May 28, had tested positive for the H1N1 virus. They have been kept in a quarantine ward at the Coimbatore Medical College Hospital. And unfortunately, a lady doctor who was treating them is now suspected to have developed flu like symptoms!! According to TOI: The doctor, who is treating two confirmed flu patients at the hospital, has developed fever and throat pain last evening. Her blood samples have been sent to the National Institute of Communicable diseases, Delhi, Dr Kumaran, Dean (incharge) of hospital told reporters here. Meanwhile, three members of a family--husband, wife and daughter, who returned from Atlanta to Coimbatore this morning, have also been admitted for suspected flu symptoms, Kumaran said. PS: Folks, pls be careful!

CBay Systems, a leading global medical transcription (MT) company inaugurated its centre in Coimbatore on Wednesday. The new facility on 18,000 sq is located at Rathinam Technopark of Rathinam Techzone Campus, Eachanari in Coimbatore. CBay plans to hire over 700 people in Coimbatore by December 2009 and reach a strength of 1500 employees over a year. The MT industry has a good presence in Coimbatore, with Spheris India, another large MT company already functioning. Mr Dinesh Kumar, Director and COO – India Operations, CBay Systems: "In three months, the centre entailing an investment of Rs 11 crore will start functioning with 450 seats. Coimbatore is hub for MT in South India and the city has very strong MT work force. Also, the proximity to Chennai and Bangalore is an added advantage. In an effort to induct fresh talent into our company, we will be extending our training program to several educational institutes." An article in ET quoted: The presence of 27 engineering colle

Mr. Jayamurali, KGiSL's VP of Corporate Relations is quoted in an article by LN Revathy of The Hindu Business Line.   The article, detailing the current job scenario in ITeS/IT space, can be read here - http://is.gd/uWLM   Excerpts from the journal:   Mr Jai Murali, Vice-President (Corporate Relations), KGISL, said the challenge was in getting the right talent. The company, he said, will need to place 120 people by June 1.   He has just got back after a two-week tour of the US, Europe and Canada with two mega projects for his company. "It involves 82,000 inbound calls a month and this would soon grow to 1,20,000 calls. They are seeking our service for customer and sales support services. We have 20 agents on the job at present, but will need another 120 by June 1," he said.   He said there were enquiries for voice-based services from a Canada-based travels company, a consumer products company in the US, a charity fund raising firm in the UK and trade fair rel

This was an article from the St. Petersburg Times Newspaper on Sunday. The Business Section asked readers for ideas on "How Would You Fix the Economy?" Some people thought this was the BEST idea. He nailed it! Dear Mr. President, Patriotic retirement: There are about 40 million people over 50 in the work force; pay them $1 million a piece severance with stipulations: 1) They leave their jobs. Forty million job openings - Unemployment fixed. 2) They buy NEW American cars. Forty million cars ordered - Auto Industry fixed. 3) They either buy a house or pay off their mortgage- Housing Crisis fixed. All this, and it's still cheaper than the "bailout".

We've all been inundated with numerous forwarded chain E-mails from our friends/family claiming that many of the OTC drugs available in India are actually banned worldwide for their side effects... To be honest, I never gave it a serious thought, as we are all too familiar with these chain e-mails cliaming to cast a bad omen on us if we don't forward it to 100 odd friends... Also, I was thinking that the Govt. of India would have banned them in any case and the big pharmas won't be able to market them so blatantly.... I guess I was SO WRONG!! But DNA is reporting in this piece , that many of the OTC drugs in India are in fact banned!! Commonly used medicine brands like Enteroquinol, Furoxone (anti-diarrhoeal), Novalgin (pain killer), Nise, Nimulid (pain killer, fever), DCold, Vicks Action 500 (cold), Droperol (anti-depressant), are banned worldwide. Their side effects outweigh their benefits, says the March 31, 2009 issue of Monthly Index of Medical Specialties (MIMS), a re

Robert Bosch Engineering and Business Solutions Ltd, the IT subsidiary of global automotive component maker Robert Bosch, is allocating over Rs 250 crore to expand its operations in Coimbatore, sources have said. The company will induct 4,500 people into its operations at the Coimbatore Hi-Tech Infrastructure Private Ltd (CHIL) IT SEZ in Saravanampatti near Coimbatore. The IT subsidiary currently employs over 4,000 people at centres in Bangalore and Coimbatore. Robert Bosch Engineering and Business Solutions was likely to shift many of its internal contracts for European automotive majors to Coimbatore, with a bulk of the recruitment for the expanded facility likely to be done locally, sources said. So far, the first of four proposed buildings for Bosch at the CHIL SEZ has been completed. The rest are expected to be operational by the end of this year. Source: BS

LK Advani and his BJP are all over the Internet, painting the cyber world with their ads... Now, one was wondering where Indian National Congress was! Last time I checked their site , 'it was very slow to respond, had not been updated for ages and there was no star blogger! But hold on, all that's going to change with a new updated site . INC has also started an aggressive campaign on the net to get some techie voters! But the million dollar question still remains... is Rahul Gandhi going to start a blog? Read my previous post on Techie Politicians here

Check out this Brilliant ad below, conceived and created by JWT for The Times Of India group titled "A Day in The Life of Chennai". Based on last year's superhit song Naaka Mukka, it captures the intrinsic duality of Chennai. Incidentially, this ad won several awards for JWT and its executioners

Times of India lists out the names of four powerful women in Tamil Nadu politics who are the king makers behind the scene and seldom make it to the public eye. According to TOI, the four women are: Rajathi Amma -- wife of Karunanidhi Premalatha -- wife of Vijayakanth Sowmya Anbumani -- wife of Anbumani Ramadoss Sasikala Natarajan -- best buddy of Jayalalithaa The story written by jaya menon details their power plays; an interesting story for those interested in TN politics. Read more here

Baroness Susan Greenfield, an eminent neurologist was recently quoted at a Summit where she described how the Internet is changing the way we think (especially kids). Her observations looks straight out of a science fiction novel/movie where the evil Internet is changing the human mind, but I guess we should take her study with a pinch of salt rather than claiming Internet is doomed for mankind. More here Describing the online world, Greenfield added: "You are living in a child-like world of actions and sensations that do not mean anything other than what you see is what you get. "Screen thinking is strongly sensational, short in span, has no conceptual framework, no metaphors and favors process over concept." Greenfield said that relationships forged in the "computer world", through social networks and multiplayer environments such as Second Life, are "intruding on the full spectrum of human relationships".

PC World's John Ribeiro reports about a Bangalore based BPO which hires only physically handicapped people for its operations. Vindhya E-Infomedia set up by Ashok Giri and his wife Pavithra with an investment of Rs.6 million is focused primarily on the low-end of the BPO food chain, consisting mainly of data-entry work. Read the full article here Giri recognizes that his business model will not make him a lot of money unless he increases volumes, adds new kinds of outsourced business processes and hires more people. He plans to add more facilities and aims to have 5,000 staff by 2015. There is greater interest from customers, both in India and abroad, he said. Getting more staff is not likely to be a problem as the company expands, as by Giri's estimate there are at least 1.9 million disabled people in Karnataka state who are qualified to be hired. Bangalore is the capital city of Karnataka.

I got this as an e-mail forward and am not sure about its authenticity; but nonetheless a brilliant way of putting things across or as the old saying getting others to put their feet in the mouth! Speech of DG Kashmir at UN An ingenious example of speech and politics occurred recently in the United Nations Assembly that made the world community smile... A representative from India began: 'Before beginning my talk I want to tell you something about a rishi named Kashyapa of Kashmir (Kashyapa, son of Marichi, son of Brahma), after whom Kashmir is named. When he struck a rock and it brought forth water, he thought, 'What a good opportunity to have a bath.' He removed his clothes, put them aside on the rock and entered the water. When he got out and wanted to dress, his clothes had vanished. A Pakistani had stolen them.' The Pakistani representative jumped up furiously and shouted, 'What are you talking about? The Pakistanis weren't there at that time.' The

Clicked this at the portico of my office very early in the morning few days ago!! SPi was moving out their old systems.

Had gone to Chennai Silks in X-cut Road recently and found this new hydraulic two-tier parking system in their basement garage. Initially when the security folks told me to park my car under it, I was a little hesitant! God foresaken, what if it collapsed? My car will be crushed underneath!* Still I was adventurous and decided to park it anyways. *PS: The thought that I can claim full insurance if indeed my car got crushed, thereby making it possible to buy a new one helped me park it faster :-)

Most of you who read blogs and newspapers online will now be familar with a smiling Advani asking you to read his blog and proclaiming himself to be India's new Obama -"Advani for PM" google ads are everywhere! And yeah, the ads have started to become annoying too... At first I was amazed that an 81-year-old man is ready to connect with the young & restless, and I saw myself going through his blog every now and then. I also was quite impressed with their IT Vision document , detailing their plans for an IT Bharat! In fact, an ex-IIM guy is managing the whole online campaign - Prodyut Bora! Looks like MSM (mainstream media) has picked on this new trend, and Reuters has come up with an article detailing the wired-politicians who are trying to catch the net savvy juntas votes in the upcoming elections! Both Congress and the BJP's prime ministerial candidates are elderly, but that has not stopped the parties from reaching out to the youth, using text messages, campai

S Sujatha of Economic Times has written an exhaustive article about Coimbatore's current real-estate market, and its future prospectus. Through her article, she's debating that with the onset of IT companies setting up shop in two SEZs coming up, real estate sector in Coimbatore is going to hold off in these recession hit months. Excerpts: The Manchester of South India, Coimbatore, is still brimming with a lot of positive energy as far as the real estate scenario is concerned. The city, with a population of 1.8 million people, has a few pan-India players in the real estate market but the 35-40 odd local developers are confident of staying in business despite the economic slowdown. Though many are in the wait-and-watch mode, buyers are looking at this growing city as the place for long-term investment, especially on the residential front. Industry experts say majority of the buyers are from nearby cities like Chennai and Bangalore and non-resident Coimbatoreans and NRIs, who wan

Perot Systems Corporation, a US-based $2.8 billion information technology company, is setting up a new campus in Coimbatore. The company would invest $7-8 million (Rs 35-40 crore) in the first phase. The 1,500-seat facility, coming up on 7.3 acres at Saravanampatti, is expected to commence operations in March 2010, said Vardhman Jain, managing director (insurance and BPO), Perot Systems. It has earmarked a total investment of $50 - $60 million for the facility. With a seating capacity of at least 10,000, it would touch an area of one million sq ft in the third phase, Mr Jain said. The company at present employs around 500 people in Coimbatore.

Economic Times reports: The much awaited IT park - Tidel park at Coimbatore is expected to start functioning from January 2010. After a three year wait, work is in full swing for building the park inside the IT & ITES special economic zone (SEZ) at Vilankurichi, behind Coimbatore Medical College. Promoted by the State-owned Elcot, the project is expected to be ready for occupation by companies by September 2009. With a built-up area of 1.7 million sq ft, the Tidel Park is expected to provide employment to 12,000 IT & ITES professionals. Conceived in August 2006, foundation stone for the Park was laid in February 2007, but the evacuation work began only in November 2007 and the civil works contract was awarded only in September 2008. "The delay was mainly due to complying with various government stipulations and also since a contractor had backed out due to price escalation. A second global tender was floated and Mumbai based B E Billimoria & Co are the civil contractor

Of late, I'm getting a barrage of emails which claims to give you cool electronic gadgets at throw-away prices and the websites mentioned are never heard of. In fact, when I first got an email, I thought it's actually an authentic one, but when I saw that it didn't have an "https" extension, I grew suspicious. And my suspicions turned true, when I started receiving similar looking mails with different web addresses. Folks, be on the lookout for similar hoaxes and never give away your credit card details!! Here's one such email: hi: Merry Christmas & happy new year ! We are a leading Agent of electronic items,and basically sell camera,mp3/4,laptop,game consoles,mobile phone,TV...... we have got high quality management system. The products comes with high quality and competitive price, and all with international warranty. Being a High-Tech product trading company, we aim at providing high return to our customers and catch the update trend in the market.no ma

Ignou is launching a diploma programme in 'finance and accounting outsourcing' in tie-up with Accenture, targetting 10 lakh students from cities and interiors, to help them derive benefits from the outsourcing sector. "The programme will be aimed at undergraduate and graduate students from tier I to tier IV cities and will be available to more than ten lakh students across India through Ignou's extensive network," said a spokesperson of the University. Students having a minimum eligibility of plus-two pass out and 50% aggregate in English can apply. The course duration will be six months and applications will be available up to February 15. Eligible candidates will have to pass a written admission test on English communication and quantitative ability, the spokesperson said, adding the course is open to working professionals who want to upgrade their skills in the finance and accounting outsourcing domain. The said programme will be first in a series from the vars