'We have the lowest attrition rate in the industry'

A few weeks back Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) chairman and MD S Ramadorai
announced big plans for Bengal. Perhaps he was buoyed by the fact that TCS'
Kolkata center growth rate was five points more than the company's nationwide
growth rate of 40%. In an interview with Dataquest, Ajoyendra Mukherjee, VP and
head of Kolkata Operations, TCS, speaks about the evolution of the Kolkata
center, its pros and cons as well as plans in place for the future.

How has the Global Development Center in Kolkata evolved, and what has
been its role in TCS' overall global development model?

TCS began its operations in Kolkata as a data processing center in 1976 with a
10-member team. Today, the company's operations in the East are spread across
Bhubaneshwar and Jamshedpur.

TCS Kolkata plays a key role in TCS' global network delivery model and is
focused on industries like energy and utilities, manufacturing and processes,
retail and distribution, life sciences and healthcare, media and entertainment
as well as BFSI. The major service practices followed in this center include
Oracle applications, SAP IS-U, RFID, business intelligence/enterprise
application integration/knowledge management as well as migration and
re-engineering.

Last October, TCS launched its dedicated Japan offshore development center
(J-ODC) at the Salt Lake facility as the focal point for TCS' offshore
operations for Japan.

What advantages or disadvantages have Kolkata posed to TCS in terms of
attrition, salary levels, and competence of manpower among others?

We would like to make it clear that there is no salary differential within
TCS across its different centers within India.

TCS has been at the forefront of recruitment and continues to attract the
best talent from all parts of the country, including West Bengal. We also have
the lowest attrition rate in the industry at 11.3% at the close of FY '06-07.

How has TCS been able to offset the typical disadvantages of the city like
bandhs?

As a global company, TCS leverages its global network delivery model to
ensure that regional/local factors do not affect operations in any manner. TCS'
J-ODC at Salt Lake facility, Kolkata leverages the pioneering global network
delivery model and works together with satellite J-ODCs in Shanghai and Hangzhou
(China) as well as other global development centers in India to execute 24x7
engagements for Japanese customers.

Who are the clients that are serviced from Kolkata?

Though it will not be possible to give an exact count of the clients, TCS
Kolkata services leading global companies spanning industries like energy and
utilities, manufacturing and processes, retail and distribution, life science
and healthcare, and media and entertainment, and banking and financial services
and insurance.

What are the plans on the anvil for TCS in terms of manpower and
infrastructure expansion in Kolkata?

At the close of Q4 FY '06-07, TCS Kolkata has a total headcount of over 6,957
people. In the next two years, we plan to recruit 10,000 more and reach the
20,000 mark here in three years time.

As part of our expansion plan, TCS will be setting up a 40-acre IT Park at
Rajarhat where we have purchased land at the rate of Rs 1.5 crore per acre.

There are plans to start BPO operations too from the city.

Rajneesh De



rajneeshd@cybermedia.co.in