Banks should assist IT, BPO companies now

Harshini PERERA

Striving to achieve a vision by being dynamic and benchmarking themselves against the best in the world, hSenid has built its name in the Human Resource Information System, mobile application and outsourcing software development in the USA and Europe.

hSenid Software International CEO Dinesh B Saparamadu started his business in the hope of giving an opportunity for Sri Lankan engineers to achieve their goals through his company.

Here are the excerpts of the interview with him for this week's Young Entrepreneurs column.

Q: How did you come up with your enterprise?

A: It had been my passion to start my own company even when I was studying in the USA. I studied and worked in the USA for nearly 10 years and dreamt about starting an IT company at home in Sri Lanka.

When I came back to Sri Lanka, I worked for a company for one year. That was to understand what areas are lacking in the Sri Lankan IT industry.

I understood that there was a lack in the Human Resource Information System and wanted to start my company focused on that area.

I started the company in 1997 which was a niche market. I felt that I can make a real impact in the IT industry in Sri Lanka by running a business. I thought that I can make a difference in the IT industry. Adding to this effort I ventured into mobile application programming in 2000.

Q: As a young entrepreneur what are the challenges you face?

A: At the early stage, the key challenges were recruiting appropriate human resources and finding business. Our first customer was Shell Gas and later we have been catering to Sri Lanka Telecom and SriLankan Airlines in supplying Human Resource Systems. The HR systems will help these companies to grow with the enhancement of employees' capacity.

We have been very keen and attentive to our customers to build customer satisfaction. I was very keen on bringing out the best in our employees as the solution to have a capable human resource. We need to enhance the quality of work and life of our customers and our employees. hSenid needs to make Sri Lankan products famous in the world.

The company will tap local resources to bring advanced products and services to the world market.

Q: What are the strengths of the company?

A: IT industry has been a fast growing industry. The strength of the company is the customer focused service it provides.

We make our customers successful and the company grows with this.

The company has always been innovative and creative and there is a special focus on employees and helping them in achieving their goals through company goals.

Q: As a young entrepreneur how do you manage your enterprise?

A: The key strategy of our company is to work as a team. We are a non-hierarchical and more of a flat organization. Our strength is people whether it is employees, customers or stakeholders to achieve a common goal.

Q: How did you supply with capital initially?

A: An IT company initially does not need a big capital but there should be enough capital for the growth of the IT company. I got family support largely from the initial stage of the company's implementation process. There were three employees at the initial stage and today it has grown to 300.

Q: What are the aspirations?

A: I am from a family where my parents were professionals but I had many uncles who were running businesses. I also wanted to start business when I was in the USA. I thought that I could contribute more to my country if I had my own organization.

Q: What are the strategies you adopt to enhance the efficiency of your employees?

A: I have adopted a strategy of giving continuous learning for my employees. The company has received certifications such as ISO where an efficient process is being introduced and that has had a positive impact on our employees.

Q: What is the support you think the Government should extend to the industry?

A: The incentives given by the Government for the IT industry should focus on indigenous IT BPO entrepreneurs. There should be tax reductions and capacity building training for these up and coming entrepreneurs. They are a crucial segment of the industry.

The commercial banks in Sri Lanka should assist emerging IT BPO companies financially. We need to have financial infrastructure in place to encourage up and coming IT BPO entrepreneurs in Sri Lanka.

Q: What is your goal in business?

A: Our goal is to put Sri Lanka among the leading countries as an IT destination and to be an innovative and skillful IT company in the world. We need to have an impact on the Sri Lankan society as a responsible company. We need to assist and help young engineers to achieve their goals through hSenid.

Q: What are your future plans?

A: We have our presence in many countries and we are already in India.

We need to cater to the Indian market more aggressively. We have a plan to venture out to many countries and we will be innovative continuously and introduce latest technology.

Our customers will benefit from our tools and technology for the future as well.

Q: What is the support you get from your family members?

A: At the early stages, I received support from my family especially from my mother.

In this business, one has to travel a lot. My wife and children have understood the situation and handle home affairs well without me. This has been a support for me in my business.