Q: Tell us about your strategic vision in starting Quedyon? What inspired you to start this venture? What is the significance to the name? Santhosh: When we look at the usage of technology in developing countries like India, by comparing with developed countries like US and UK, we will wonder how less the developing countries are using the technology, especially IT. So, I just did some analysis and spoke with some people regarding this and came to know why they are not completely utilizing IT. I observed two main results from my analysis. First, with Big Enterprises and Companies, they have started using IT in almost all their activities, but not for all the activities and they are presently building for their remaining activities as well. Second, when we look at Small and Medium Scale Enterprise (SMEs), they are using IT just for some of their activities, mostly they are less informative about how IT can improve their productivity and business process. Some SMEs are informative about IT advantage, but they fear to involve it because of misunderstanding on cost involved and risk of migrating to IT from non-IT. This ignites me to think of strategies to involve IT in all kind of enterprises. As a result, I zeroed in on starting an IT Consulting and Service Providing Company with the strategic vision of involving IT in all kind of industries irrespective of size. We focused on bringing clarity into the minds of people about how IT can change their productivity with acceptable cost involved in transformation. My first inspiration was my Dad ‘Duraisamy’. He is a businessman who provides transport service and own 15 trucks as of now to carry goods across India. He came from nothing to this level by his hard work and passion. There is a lengthy story if we need to talk about his struggles and success from struggles, so I will describe his journey in short “Nothing can stop you from success if you show passion and don’t give up with pain and struggles, but one thing can stop you, that is You”. Well, regarding the significance to the name ‘Quedyon’; when I started looking for naming my venture, I came across various brands defined meaning to their name based on their work and significance to the people, etc., but, I’m not convinced with those kinds of name and decided to create a unique name without the above mentioned significance. My focus was to create and build a Brand from scratch. So I started mixing alphabets to come with a name that creates positive vibe on pronouncing. The result is ‘Quedyon’. Q: Please detail what are Quedyon’s flagship services and key expertise of your team? What are the type of projects would your venture like to undertake? Santhosh: At Quedyon, we are focused on developing custom and innovative solutions based on the insights into the business processes to drive better productivity, efficiency and cost effectiveness though the involvement of latest technologies. Our major services include Digital Transformation, Application Development, Custom Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), Automation, Web Development, Cloud Solution, Digital Marketing and Offshore Outsourcing. ERP and Automation Solution focuses on analyzing the current business process involved in the organization and provide automated planning solution to deliver higher business performance. Web Development involves Website UI/UX Design & Development, e-Commerce Solution, Content Management System (CMS) and Open Source Development. Digital Marketing service involves Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Search Engine Marketing (SEM) and Social Media Marketing (SMM). We deploy recent technologies, MVC framework and open source frameworks based on the requirements. We are interested in undertaking projects that are challenging and bring value to our clients. As I said earlier, our focus was to involve IT in all kind of industries irrespective of size, so we plan how our above mentioned services will suit the industry and derive solution to improve their value, efficiency and productivity. Also, we are interested in undertaking offshore outsourcing projects and our highly skilled team can save them with resources and cost for better productivity. Q: What have been the most satisfying customer experiences that made a distinct impression on you? How would you characterize and define customer satisfaction? Santhosh: Recently, we had some good experience with a client in printing industry. We did a custom ERP application for their work flow automation and work management. Initially, they are not aware of such custom application and we made them understand how this application can help them improve their productivity and efficiency. As soon as they understand the work we are intended to develop, they are very much enthusiastic and made us enthusiastic to come up with the exact solution for their workflow management. The final outcome of the ERP application was very much satisfying and the client admired & impressed about their application we developed. This gives us a boost up with our further clients. Even we got few references from them as well. I characterize and define customer satisfaction in single word “Happiness”. There is everything inside this word about our customer satisfaction and what we deliver. That exactly is our Vision “Delivering Happiness as a Value through Evolving Technologies”. Q: Who is your target customer audience? What are the standout value propositions that should compel a potential customer to consider Quedyon? Santhosh: At present, we are focusing on industries that are less exposed to ERP, Software and Automation Systems and utilization of IT is limited. And in established industries, we are focusing on developing custom ERP, software and automation systems that centered on minimizing the manual process. Range of industries we are targeting is from small level to big industries. In web development front, our target is startups and scaling up industries that are in need of website and web applications. In terms of established companies, we are focusing on revamping the existing outdated website and develop it with recent technologies. And, we are focusing on Digital marketing for the same audience who are marketing centered to acquire their clients. When we speak of our value propositions, it is our Craftsmanship Digital Transformation. At Quedyon, we are a team full of Digital Craftsmen, who works towards client’s problem and craft the solution that the client will admire at. Our focus was to create admiring solution, not simply a solution for the problem. When the client starts admiring the solution to their problems, their confidence will boost exponentially. Q: Can you elaborate some of your recent works and industries your services helped? Santhosh:Here are some of our recent works, I. Printshop Management We did this for a Printing Industry Company which is doing several printing and designing works. Our task is to build an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Solution to automate their works and we come up with web based application to automate their all the possible manual works. We automate all their different department works into this single application stage by stage. Works will be allocated by the managers and the status of work can be tracked and also developed employee performance reporting system. Application is responsive for various devices. II. Customer Relationship Management We created an easy tool to simplify marketing tasks. Project involves, Lead management, Allocation/Re-allocation of executives to handle leads, Leads follow-up creation, updates on follow-up, follow-up notifications and performance tracking of executives. III. Research Consultancy Management We developed a web application for a research consultancy. Project involves, Managing the researchers list, Employee management, Research work allocation and re-allocation, Work status update and tracking and Accounts module for client payment management. IV. Website with Wordpress CMS for Electric Components Manufacturing The objective of this project is to design and develop website for electric components manufacturing company to show the information about the company and products & services they do with detailed specifications. In addition, contents in the website should be editable by using CMS. We developed custom categorized products and the website is responsive. Multiple Quedyon development engagements are actively underway. Q: What are valuable lessons learnt that will benefit other entrepreneurs particularly those based in India? Santhosh: Based on my experience, I would suggest few things to remember for the entrepreneurs particularly in India, Ready to face consecutive 18 months of uncomfortable in your business (in terms of revenue, effort, outcome, etc.,), this may come at any period in your business lifespan. If you successful withstand that period, then you are a master, else if you gave up, everything you built and your efforts will be lost in a moment. Always be updated with recent technologies, else you will slowly thrown out of consideration. There is intense competition coming from all directions, be prepared to face hurdles. Reference and word-of-mouth is the key here in India. If you are strong in this, your marketing will almost take care of itself. Plan before execution; will save you lot of time and provide clarity on what you are doing. Q: What are the pressing near-term requirements and aspirations for your venture? Santhosh: At present we are looking to expand our client base and to keep our foot on all the industries where we can provide our services. We are developing few SaaS products for providing class leading IT services to budget constrained businesses. In the meanwhile, we will build our team further with recent and evolving technologies to keep up with the pace of technological advancements. In the near future, we are looking to expand our services to the entire world; to be a leader and preferred IT service provider globally; aspired to setup a company in all possible global locations and provide job opportunities for as many as possible. Q: Who or what have been key influencers in your career and entrepreneurial pursuits thus far and now as CEO of Quedyon Technologies? Santhosh: First one without doubt was my Dad (one thing I should say here, till the moment I gave this interview my dad don’t know that I’m into business, he taught I was working in a company, I’m managing my financials by myself; let him know once he hear Quedyon from his reference or media). I will show him one day, this is the value I built. Next is my wife, who understand me at hard times and encourages me to do more. Then, Professor Jothi, he is my teacher in my college days and one of my mentors now who pushes me to think out-of-box and move forward with my goals. Then comes Karthi (I used to call him Edison), my close friend from my college, a technical talent and technical head at Quedyon; he taught me about focus and to kick off the distractions. Notably, my team at Quedyon, they are passionate towards the goal and inspire everyone in the team to move forward with heads straight. Finally, my 2 year old daughter, at the moment she teach me everything including passion, hard work, learning new things, breaking the barrier and so on.