Bangalore :
Germany’s relatively stable economy in the troubled Euro Zone has prompted Wipro to increase its headcount.
India’s fourth largest software exporter has decided to triple its headcount in the next three years.
According to a company statement, the company plans to add 1,000 employees in Germany by 2016, from 500 employees at present.
Wipro counts a global automotive company, a European utilities’ major and a large telecom company in Germany as some of its 30 clients in the region.
FOCUS ON SMALL FIRMS
To drive stronger incremental growth in the future, Wipro is looking to address the requirements of medium-size enterprises in Germany in addition to large global enterprises, said Rajat Mathur, Chief Sales and Operations Officer (Growth Markets), Wipro.
Similar to Wipro, other Indian IT companies are also looking to increase their European presence – either by acquiring companies or recruiting in Germany.
In September last year, Infosys made its largest ever acquisition by buying Swiss consulting firm Lodestone Holding AG for $350 million. At the time of the acquisition, CEO S.D Shibulal said the acquisition would help Infosys in getting access to 850 IT consulting employees and also give it a scale in SAP software implementing business. SAP makes software for companies to manage their accounting, supply chain and other inventory management functions.
Cognizant in December last year acquired six companies for an undisclosed amount in Germany. All these companies have development centres in Germany. ccording to sources inside HCL Tech, the company plans to increase headcount in the region. When contacted an HCL spokesperson said that the company does not comment on workforce in a particular geography and does not make any forward looking comments.
Apart from the large companies, even mid-size Indian IT companies are also increasing their Germany play.
In January, Pune-based Geometric bought 3Cap Technologies, a German firm specialising in automotive electronics engineering with 110 employees, for an undisclosed amount.
REVENUES FROM EUROPE
Despite slowdown, revenues from Europe for all the top 5 IT companies have crossed the billion-dollar mark.
“We are seeing an increased viability for offshoring,” said Shashi Bhusan, Senior Research Analyst, Prabhudas Lilladher. Industry estimates peg the Germany IT market at around $80 billion in 2012.
source: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com / Business Line / Home> Industry> Info-Tech / by The Hindu Bureau – venkatesh.ganesh@thehindu.co.in / Bangalore – June 12th, 2013