Taking Things Apart

Most companies assembling PCs have succumbed to increased competition from
branded PCs and have taken to selling these brands. But not Pradeep Biyani of
Suntronic Systems in Kolkata. He still prefers assembling his own PCS and
selling it to customers.

Ask him why he has this passion for assembling PCs and Pradeep nonchalantly
shrugs his shoulders and says that he simply loves it! "Mentally I am yet
not prepared to sell PCs of any other brand than my own. I have tried to sell
branded machines in the past, but over time, I simply lose interest in it,"
he adds.

At the same time, Pradeep concedes that not selling branded machines can make
his bottom lines take a hit. But he is glad to be surviving doing what he is
passionate about.

Commenting on the declining popularity of assembled PCs Pradeep explains that
it is all a matter of commitment, delivery and management. "If one is true
to his commitment and provides quality support to his clients and manages the
whole thing properly, he needs not to worry," he explains. "As we
depend on our client likewise it will become difficult for them to get an
alternative. One has to deliver to that level," he adds.

According to him to attract and win the confidence of customers, an assembler
has to provide round the clock service. A branded PC vendor might slip in this
end, due to the breadth of their operations.

Starting young

Pradeep completed his schooling from Hindi High School stood 2nd throughout all
his exams. He then went on to graduate from the St Xavier's College, Kolkata
in the commerce stream. During his college days itself, he wanted to start his
own business and joined his uncle to learn the tricks of the tea business. But
just as he was a few months short of graduation, he realized that this business
was not his cup of tea, literally and decided to pursue chartered accountancy.
It was around this time that he got interested in PCs. But he got into the PC
business by pure chance.

VK Bhandari, MD, Supertron India is Pradeep's uncle and was planning to
start his own company. He was looking for a reliable person to help him and gave
Pradeep a chance to work with him. This is how he became a part of Supermatic
Computers in 1990, where he learnt the ropes of the IT trade.

Becoming an entrepreneur

But soon, the entrepreneur within him wanted more and Pradeep parted ways
with Supermatic four years later, founding Suntronics Systems immediately after.
While searching for a name for his company, Pradeep's sister gave birth to a
son, the first child in the family of this generation. "He was named
Sanchit and the Sun in my company's name is taken from there. And tronics came
from electronics," Pradeep smiles.

Suntronic is counted as one of the most trusted SIs in the city. Its success
can be underlined by the fact that it was awarded the 'Best Reseller' for
two years by DQ Week in 2004 and 2005.

Having operations in almost all major cities in the East as well as Jaipur,
Suntronics boasts of a strong government clientele.

PIYALI GUHA in
Kolkata