AI, Business Growth, and Global Expansion Key Insights Shared at SGCCI and Integrity Network’s ‘Ask Me Anything’ Event
Surat: At a special ‘Ask Me Anything’ event organized by the Southern Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SGCCI) and Integrity Network, Dr. Anand Deshpande, founder and chairman of Persistent Systems, interacted with entrepreneurs having an annual turnover of over 50 crore rupees.
During the event, entrepreneurs from the IT, software, SaaS, and artificial intelligence sectors received guidance on business expansion, leadership, and future challenges.
Dr. Deshpande stated that to take any company to new heights, clear goals, market leadership, team-focused thinking, and strong corporate governance are absolutely essential. He advised entrepreneurs to identify specific niche markets where a 20 percent market share can be achieved to establish leadership, rather than chasing a small share of a large market.
He said that for business growth, the founder must move away from a “my company” mindset and adopt a “our company” approach. Employees should be developed not just as employees but as partners, and options like ESOPs should be considered to make them participants in the company’s success.
Discussing the growing influence of artificial intelligence, Dr. Deshpande said that AI is rapidly challenging human capabilities in tasks like coding and data analysis. In such a scenario, the future could be challenging for IT companies that limit themselves to selling “man-hours” or coding services.
He said that in the coming times, companies will have to adopt outcome-based pricing models instead of billing by the hour. Additionally, due to the increasing need for data security, there will be a significant rise in demand for secure AI models based on private data and AI agents.
In response to a question about expansion into foreign markets, Dr. Deshpande mentioned the “Buffalo Strategy.” He said that instead of spending resources to create new markets, new companies should become part of the ecosystem of established global platforms like Salesforce, Microsoft, and AWS. This makes it easier to access millions of existing customers and accelerates the process of international expansion.
During the event, three companies from Surat were specially honored for achieving tenfold (10X) growth in their business over the past four years. The honored companies included Vasundhara Infotech, DesignViz, and a major e-commerce aggregator. The founders of these companies also shared their experiences, telling entrepreneurs about business challenges and success formulas.
Organizers of the event stated that such platforms play a significant role in connecting Gujarat’s entrepreneurs with global thinking, modern technology, and innovation. Such high-level programs will continue to be organized in the future to strengthen Surat’s IT and technology ecosystem.
Surat
Surat is a historic port city in the Indian state of Gujarat, known for its significant role in maritime trade during the Mughal era, particularly in the 16th and 17th centuries. It was a major hub for textiles, diamonds, and spices, attracting traders from Europe and Asia, and was famously visited by the British East India Company. Today, Surat is a thriving industrial center, often called the “Diamond City of India,” and remains a key economic powerhouse.
Southern Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SGCCI)
The Southern Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SGCCI), based in Surat, is a prominent trade body established in 1949 to promote business and industrial growth in the region. It has played a key role in facilitating trade, addressing policy issues, and supporting the development of industries such as textiles and diamonds. Over the decades, SGCCI has become a vital platform for networking and advocacy, contributing significantly to the economic progress of southern Gujarat.
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Surat
Surat, a major port city in the Indian state of Gujarat, has a rich history dating back to the 16th century when it was a prominent trading hub for the Mughal Empire, known for its textiles and diamond trade. It was famously sacked by the Maratha king Shivaji in the 17th century and later came under British rule, continuing as a key commercial center. Today, Surat is a thriving industrial city, renowned for its diamond cutting and polishing industry, as well as its silk and cotton textile production.
Southern Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SGCCI)
The Southern Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SGCCI), based in Surat, is a prominent trade body established in 1948 to foster industrial and commercial growth in the region. It has played a key role in advocating for the diamond, textile, and chemical industries, which are vital to Gujarat’s economy. Over the decades, SGCCI has served as a bridge between businesses and government, contributing to the development of trade policies and infrastructure in southern Gujarat.
Persistent Systems
Persistent Systems is a global software and IT services company headquartered in Pune, India, founded in 1990 by Dr. Anand Deshpande. It has grown from a small startup into a publicly traded firm specializing in digital transformation, cloud computing, and AI-driven solutions. The company is known for its long-standing partnerships with major technology firms like IBM and Microsoft, and it operates in over 20 countries worldwide.
Salesforce
Salesforce is a global cloud-based software company headquartered in San Francisco, California, founded in 1999 by former Oracle executive Marc Benioff. It pioneered the Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) model with its customer relationship management (CRM) platform, revolutionizing how businesses manage sales and customer data. The company is also known for its iconic Salesforce Tower in San Francisco and its strong philanthropic culture, including the 1-1-1 model of giving back 1% of product, equity, and employee time to communities.
Microsoft
Microsoft is a global technology company founded by Bill Gates and Paul Allen in 1975 in Albuquerque, New Mexico. It revolutionized personal computing with the MS-DOS operating system and later the Windows platform, becoming one of the world’s most valuable companies. Today, Microsoft is known for its software products like Office and Azure cloud services, as well as hardware such as the Surface devices and Xbox gaming consoles.
AWS
AWS, or Amazon Web Services, is a comprehensive cloud computing platform launched by Amazon in 2006. It originated from Amazon’s internal need to manage its own infrastructure and quickly evolved into a dominant force in the tech industry, offering services like storage, computing power, and machine learning to businesses worldwide. Today, AWS plays a critical role in powering much of the internet and modern digital economy.
Vasundhara Infotech
Vasundhara Infotech is a software development and IT services company based in India, known for delivering custom web and mobile solutions. While specific historical details about the company are limited, it has established itself as a provider of digital transformation and outsourcing services, serving clients across various industries. The company’s name reflects its focus on technology-driven growth, and it continues to expand its portfolio in areas like AI and cloud computing.
DesignViz
DesignViz is a prominent design museum located in Prague, Czech Republic, dedicated to showcasing the history and evolution of graphic design, visual communication, and industrial design. It was established to preserve and exhibit Czech and international design heritage, with collections spanning from the 19th century to contemporary works. The museum highlights key movements and figures, offering insights into how design has shaped culture and society over time.
