King Again

Centralized association in UP;
Jamshedpur gets a second IT
association; CDAT elects new team for 2006-07; CMDA-Pune members get together to catch fraudster; Nagpur gets a new association; Karnal association focuses on IT awareness, defaulters; The progressive 15 (PCAIT), East Delhi computer traders form association; Siliguri gets its first IT association; TCCDA election a nonstarter now.

These were some of the prominent headlines that hit the channel publications over the last year. There is often a debate whether channel associations have any real
existence or not. And the answer is yes and no.

Surprisingly, these comments came from members of the associations. Many channel associations in the country do exist only on paper and function only when there is an issue in the market. The reasons being that resellers do not have the time to attend meetings or to participate in association activities, there are no takers for office bearer posts, election are not held regularly, there are factions within the local body etc. However, resellers should understand
the fact that there is strength in unity. As the saying goes, 'United we stand, divided we fall.'

Survey highlights

30 associations from 28 cities and towns 2 associations out of the survey, 4 new ones in 12 associations improved performance but 10 slipped

What makes an association popular and effective

Lobbying: Octroi and sales tax policies with government, networking with bureaucrats Resolving member issues: Taking up fraud, cheating and cheque bouncing cases Conducting member welfare programs: Training programs and seminars, sports meets, family get togethers Business development: Organize expos, business directory Active and transparent: Meets regularly and is prompt in conducting elections

Though, it is heartening to see business growing at a rapid pace and volumes touching new heights, it is simultaneously becoming very hard to run a business. Margins are under constant pressure. Undercutting and unethical competition is haunting the business. Defaulters and bad debts give nightmares to traders. It is at this juncture that resellers feel the importance of associations and their role in guiding (controlling) the market.

Understanding the power (and role) of the associations in business/market about two years back, DQ Channels embarked on a novel initiative of ranking the channel associations across the country based on their performance
and activities. We got a very good response to our association survey. In fact, it acted as a catalyst and spurred associations across the country to become more active.

Now, we are proud to present the result of our 3rd annual ranking of channel associations in the country,
in association with IDC India, world's largest IT market research organization. Who moved up, who slipped down. Here we present the 'DQC-IDC Annual Association Survey 2007'.

This year, the survey covered
30 associations across the country; two above the last years count. In our first survey in 2005, we covered only
26 associations. The association names were short-listed for the survey after thorough evaluation of their activities and performance over the last year. In fact, this year, TCCDA from Hyderabad and AKITDA from Kerala were not considered in the survey (both appeared in 2006 survey) as they are now completely inactive and defunct.

The four new entrants in this survey were: Bihar IT Traders Association (BITA) from Patna; Allahabad Computer Dealers Association (Allahabad); Malabar IT Dealers Association (MITDA) from Kozhikode and Computer Dealers Association of Tirunelveli (CDAT).

Out of the 30 associations covered across the country, South had the maximum with 10, while North and West stood second with eight each and East with four. In all, 274 respondents were covered from these 30 associations, in the survey. Chennai and Delhi were the only two cities that had two entries each (two regional associations from the same city participating in the survey).

Unlike last year, the results this time were no surprise. There were not many changes, drastic reposition (ranking) movement of associations. An interesting observation was that associations in the metros did pretty well. They either retained their positions or moved up from the last years, ranking, except in a couple of cases. Upcountry associations witnessed some strong changes, with seven moving ahead and eight slipping down from their previous positions. Overall, 12 associations moved up the list, while 10 slipped. Four associations retained their positions and an equal number made a debut.

TAIT: Two to tango

It was Traders Association of Information Technology (TAIT), which made it to
the first position for the second consecutive year. TAIT scored a high of 6.96 to reach the numero uno position, which is based on analyst evaluation,
size of the city and members feedback. The total weightage was divided in
the ratio of 50:10:40 respectively. TAIT ranked fifth in the 2005 survey. It is Mumbai's premier trade body and one of the oldest associations in the country, established in 1996.

The association's victory was mainly influenced by a very positive feedback from the members coupled with good analyst ratings.

TAIT has been very effective in resolving member issues and conducting member welfare programs. It provides quality support to both members and non-members whenever required. Last year, it published a business directory and held successful events and seminars. It also meets regularly and is prompt in conducting elections and office proceedings. It has two full-time employees for association activities.

TAIT is putting in concerted efforts (with the government) to abolish octroi, in the interest of industry and trade, as it has always been a concern for channel partners in Mumbai. However, it is yet to achieve some results here.

The association currently has about 400 members registered with it, while only 350 are active. Though, membership has declined over last year overall, TAIT represents the issues and concerns of about 2,000 channel partners in Mumbai.

In second place was Jalandhar Computer Dealers Association (JCDA), which pushed the South Gujarat Information Technology Association (SITA) to third position. JCDA's ability to solve local member issues like fraud, cheating and cheque bouncing cases gave the necessary push to the association and positive image among its members. Its increased activities in conducting seminars and awareness events like Linux, has resulted in better analyst ranking and an overall score of 6.85.

JCDA has about 90 members registered with it and the membership is growing constantly, year after year. It is quite regular in organizing monthly meetings, family get togethers and cricket tournaments.

SITA scored 6.53 in the total rating. It is another old association in the country, established in 1996. It currently
has over 200 members in the association.

SITA made an all-round performance
with events, seminars, elections, meetings and other activities. It recently published a business directory.

Delhi's Computer Media Dealers Association (CMDA) came fourth this year, moving two steps ahead of last years ranking. It got 6.40 points in the total rating, which was mainly influenced by the positive feedback from members. CMDA has more than 135 members and claims to meet regularly. It did a couple of events and seminar for the welfare of the local channels. However, the place where CMDA lacks is in government interface and networking with bureaucrats, especially since it is present in the country's political capital.

Information Technology Association of Orissa (ITAO), Bhubaneswar, ranked fifth in the survey with a total rating of 6.39. In fact, it slipped one position from last year but retained a respectable ranking. The association was number
23 in the first year of the survey. ITAO has done well in handling issues like sales tax and entry tax. However, issues like Microsoft raids, drop in events and other activities dampened the organizations prospects from retaining its old position or moving ahead.

Delhi-based Progressive Channels Association of Information Technology (PCAIT) is the association to be watched out for this year. It made tremendous progress with increased activities such as publication of business directory, enabling website as platform for the members to discuss issues and being part of the Delhi government team (delegates) to Moscow, for a three-day cultural and trade interaction between Moscow and Delhi. PCAIT, which is at sixth place

this year, is a relatively new association started in 2005 and has about
90 registered members.

At number seven is Kolkata-based Computer Association of Eastern India (Compass), a premier trade body in East India. Compass has always been maintaining its position in the survey and this time managed to notch up two levels to be number seven. It scored on membership drive, organizing training programs and mega annual IT trade fairs. Compass is quite active with internal meetings, elections, events, and seminars, among others.

Vidharbha Computer Manufacturers and Dealers Welfare Association (VCMDWA) of Nagpur was pushed down to eighth rank from five in 2006. It scored only 5.91 in the total rating and this was mainly attributed to the drop in association activities and handling of local issues such as octroi and others. Both, analyst rating and member feedback were not exciting for VCMDWA.

Computer and Media Dealers Association (CMDA) of Pune improved its position by just one level from last year's ranking. At nine, CMDA's score improved mainly because of the positive feedback from its members, as it handled various local issues capably. CMDA got 5.89 in the total rating.

Information Technology Traders Association (ITTA), Chennai, is back to 10th place after a gap of one year. It got 5.82 in the total rating and the score increased only because of its activities and involvement in local issues. It recently organized an awareness program on VAT for resellers. However, the association is not regular with its monthly meetings and election, which has not taken place for several years now.

Baroda Information Technology Association (BITA) ranked 11th this year. BITA got very good feedback from its members for its role in removing octroi in the region. It worked closely with Gujarat Chamber of Commerce to get it done. But BITA performed low in association activities, such as organizing events, internal meeting etc.

Allahabad Computers Dealers Association was the new entrant at
12th position. Though, the association came into existence in 1998, it qualified for the survey only this year because of its recent activities and programs in the market. It organized several roadshows, training programs and published a business directory over the last year. More than 100 members are registered with the association.

Malabar IT Dealers Association (MITDA) of Kozhikode is another new entrant this year. MITDA made it to
13th position in its debut, thanks to the associations initiatives on various fronts. It organized various events, seminars and programs, creating a positive impact among its members.

Information Technology Traders Association (ITTA), Pondicherry, retained its rank at number 14. It scored only
5.68 in the total rating. Started in 2001, ITTA has maintained its membership constantly at 40, which is good considering the market size. However, ITTA failed to spread its wings to nearby towns such as Cuddalore, Villupuram, Panruti, Neyveli, Tindivanam and Chidambaram, which are an opportunity for the association.

Uttaranchal IT Trade Association (UITTA) from Dehradun is another association which maintained its previous rank (at 15). It scored only 5.61 in the total rating. UITTA has over 100 members registered with it and the association was started in 2000. It was moderate in association activities and conducting meetings.

The next 15

The next block of 15 associations did not have anything significant to justify ranks and were ranked in the following sequence:

• Indore-based Madhya Pradesh Telecom and Computer Traders Association (MPTCTA)
• Kanpur Computer Dealers Association (KCDA
• Chennai-based G-10 Computer Dealers Association (GCDA)
• Jamshedpur IT Association (JITA)
• Ahmedabad Computer Merchants Association (ACMA)
• Computers Dealers Association of Trivandrum (CDAT)
• Goa IT Business Association (GIBA)
• Jaipur-based Rajasthan Computer Traders Association (RCTA)
• Coimbatore Computer Dealers Association (CCDA)
• Computer Dealers Association of Tirunelveli (CDAT)
• Bangalore-based Association for Information Technology (AIT)
• Madurai-based Computer and Media Society (CAMS)
• Cochin-based All Kerala Computer Manufacturers and Dealers Association (AKCMADA)
• Lucknow Computer Vyapar Mandal (LCVM)
• Patna-based Bihar IT Traders Association (BITA)

We congratulate all the winners who made it to the top, while our best wishes go out to all the others.

Finally, resellers should understand the importance of an association and its role in guiding the market. An association is a collective effort for the common benefit of the community. Associations should also listen to members' concerns and strive for the welfare of the community. Unless there is a value, members would not stick to the associations. Happy working!

S Gopikrishna

(gopiks@cybermedia.co.in)

OVERALL RANKING OF ASSOCIATIONS

OVERALL RANKING OF ASSOCIATIONS

RANKING BASED ON MEMBER FEEDBACK