Legendary Service

His hard work and dedication has also brought credibility to Nirmal Infotech
in the city.

Nirmal Infotech is one among the early birds in Bangalore’s IT service
business. And it sure has got its worm! The company recorded a turnover of Rs 4
crore in 2000-01 and estimates to close the current fiscal with a turnover of Rs
6 crore.

This growth can be attributed to K Raghavendra Karanth’s philosophy to
focus on service and support rather than box pushing. This has also helped him
build a long list of loyal clients along with excellent relationships with
leading vendors like IBM, HP, Zenith, Satyam Infoway and APC.

Karanth’s first brush with IT was when he joined Hardsoft Computers as an
engineer at its technical repair center. This was where he learnt the tricks of
the service trade. During his tenure he got himself acquainted to several
vendors in the market. The monotonous work of a service engineer started to
niggle him, and he decided to quit the company and start something on his own.

In the year 1992, Karanth launched Nirmal Infotech with a meager investment
of Rs 300. He started off as a third-party servicing center for computer
peripherals. Nirmal Infotech was soon recognized as a printer specialist for
Zenith, Crompton Greaves and DCM. Impressed by the company’s policy of
providing reliable service support, Zenith Computers appointed them as its first
dealer in the country.

Today, the company has positioned itself as a prime multi-product reseller
for computer systems and peripherals. Karanth’s commitment in supplying
quality products and after-sales-service has helped the company build a sizeable
customer base and reputation. Most importantly 50 percent of Nirmal’s business
is through repeat orders. "That indicates the trust reposed by our
satisfied customers in the company," says he.

Headquartered in Bangalore, Nirmal Infotech also has a branch office in
Mangalore, with a total manpower of 30 qualified and experienced executives.
"Today we have strategic partnership in our business with several global
leaders to deliver world-class products and solutions to our customers,"
says Karanth.

BUSINESS TIE-UPS

Today, Nirmal Infotech is Zenith’s authorized corporate dealer (CD), which
is the highest level of business partnership with the company. Nirmal Infotech
distributes the entire range of products including, full range of servers,
desktops, notebooks and home PCs. "By launching an exclusive showroom for
Zenith products in Mangalore we are also recognized as Zenith’s exclusive
retailer (ZER) in the market," says Karanth.

Nirmal Infotech also carries the distinction of being the oldest business
associate of Zenith Computers in south, lasting for more than eight years and
also only business associate to be awarded dual dealer status of Zenith namely
CD and ZER.

"Working with Zenith, we have mastered our support skill," says
Karanth.

Nirmal Infotech is also the authorized advance business partner (ABP) for the
entire range of IBM products including servers, Netvista desktops, notebooks,
workstations and storage products. "Being IBM’s business partner for the
past three years in various capacities, has helped us move towards achieving our
corporate vision of making a name among customers and principals alike,"
says Karanth.

THE STRENGTH WITHIN

Employees are the strength of any organization. Nirmal Infotech has a team
of highly motivated professionals, who believe in dedicated customer support,
both in the terms of sales and service. "Our team is constantly updated on
the latest technology through various training programs of our OEMs and also
through our in-house training," says Karanth.

Since its incorporation in 1992, Nirmal Infotech has sustained a year-on-year
growth rate of 30 percent till date. Karanth attributes this growth to the
growing list of reputed customers who have judged Nirmal’s performance and
service support to be the best. Karanth is now planning to move in to a new
office space of 1,600 sq ft in one of Bangalore’s prime locality.

He has also plans to open three retail showrooms in Bangalore. "Retail
will be our next focus," Karanth hopes to see these showrooms up and
running by mid of this year.

SUNILA PAUL