...and SMEs get cloud power

In an effort to tap business from small- and medium business (SMB) enterprises, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) introduced the iON, a cloud-based IT services solution.

In an effort to tap business from small- and medium business (SMB) enterprises, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) introduced the iON, a cloud-based IT services solution.

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The company expects to garner $1 billion (R4,500 crore) revenues from this new offering over the next five years.

“We have identified manufacturing, retail, healthcare, education and professional services (legal, auditing, for instance) as five major revenue drivers in India for iON,” V Ramaswamy, global head, iON, told HT. The company is evaluating the potential of this service in other developed and emerging economies as well, he said.

‘Cloud’ refers to sharing or renting of Internet-based software or data without owning them, much like web-based e-mail services. The services enable a small entrepreneur to use IT services without having to invest large amounts in infrastructure or expensive software.

iON would help an SMB build business advantages, said N Chandrasekaran, CEO and managing director, TCS .

TCS would take upon itself the entire array of IT platform services that would include hardware, software and network components leaving an SMB to focus on its core business functions. “Pricing will be based on usage and charged on a monthly basis,” said Ramaswamy.

iON clients would typically be SMBs with R1-R400 crore revenues, the company said.