NIIT enters SAP with Osprey acquisition

Mumbai: NIIT, the leading Indian information technology solutions provider, has acquired Osprey Systems, a privately-held, full-lifecycle SAP solutions and services provider and channel partner headquartered in Charlotte, USA.

"This acquisition was driven by NIIT’s recognition of the size and the growth prospects of the consulting, implementation, integration, maintenance, training and full-lifecycle solutions around SAP in the US," says NIIT CEO Vijay Thadani.

With this acquisition, NIIT will jumpstart its entry into the very attractive and demanding SAP solutions-based segment in the US. The acquisition, structured as an asset purchase through NIIT (USA) Inc, was a cash transaction. The acquisition is expected to generate $35 million in revenues over the next three years.

NIIT had recently tied up with the US-based SunGard Planning Solutions, a leading business consulting firm, to offer disaster recovery and business continuity planning solutions in Asia-Pacific and India as part of its software offering for the finance, banking and insurance practice.

Business continuity planning and management has assumed unparalleled importance after 11 September 2001, and corporations are increasingly realising that any breakdown of IT systems reduces competitiveness.

The tie-up will enable NIIT to provide these services to large organisations with complex software systems. Those engaged in real time data processing will also benefit from these offerings. NIIT will provide comprehensive software solutions, ranging from assessment of risk associated with the customers’ business to monitoring the plan and maintaining its relevance.

With the partnership, NIIT will be in a position to leverage the expertise of SunGard Planning Solutions for delivering a total business continuity solution. The relationship will help NIIT customers in analysing their business and IT risks and developing and maintaining the plan effectively, with minimal impacts on the resources of the company.

"This new offering meets the current demand for business continuity solutions from our finance, banking and insurance customers, wanting to secure their IT investments," says NIIT director and president (software business) Arvind Thakur.

NIIT had recently launched its suite of enterprise knowledge solutions (EKS) for worldwide business. With this, NIIT has become the first company in India to offer customised knowledge solutions for enterprises.

EKS is a comprehensive technology, content and services package, enabling organisations to maximise employee productivity and improve business results. In addition to conventional learning applications, EKS addresses areas like product launch, process dissemination, product support and induction. EKS can help cut down cycle time for sales deployment of new products by as much as by 90 per cent.

About NIIT’s entry into this sunrise area, where organisations are impatient to see the financial and business advantage of implementing knowledge solutions, NIIT chairman Rajendra S Pawar says: "Our EKS guarantees specific business and financial results. Our alliance with Click2Learn enhances the capability of EKS in the global e-learning market."