Get the Nasscom opportunity

One of the initiatives that Nasscom has taken up is to build communities for
more collaborations. I think this is the time for solution providers (SPs) and
value-added resellers (VARs), who have for long complained that Nasscom
represents only the big players, to take full advantage of this industry
initiative.

It is crucial for both SPs as well as Nasscom to grab this opportunity. Look
at any software major today-Microsoft, Oracle, SAP, Red Hat, Symantec, AutoDesk,
IBM-building communities of SPs and VARs is one of their top priorities. They
are getting partners to get solutions that are quick and highly customizable.
There are so many partners from India who are reaching out to customers across
the world.

Similarly, if you look at names like Wipro, Infosys, and TCS, you will see
that they too want to have a very strong network of partners who will work out
solutions on their platforms. At a time when IT is spreading in small
enterprises and locations beyond metros, partners will play a key role.

Communities and collaborations means that pro­­­fessionals across small/big
organizations, and across geographies will network to share problems, best
practices, business opportunities and solutions. Often there is apprehension
that sharing might result in loss of competitive edge or business, but
experienced hands claim that networking and sharing, if done in a fair and
structured manner, finally is a win-win for all. I urge all SPs to take this up
seriously, and thus push Nasscom to give it the required focus.

Finally, my appeal to the new team at Nasscom will be to try their best to
dispel this perception that Nasscom does not care for small players. The time is
right and best for the SPs-large and small, to get organized and leverage the
domestic and global opportunities. And who will do this better than Nasscom.