CIOTechOutlook >> Magazine >> May - 2014 issue

TURNING OBSTACLES INTO OPPORTUNITIES IN AN INTERNET SOLUTIONS MARKET

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Always having a keen eye for detail, Punit Thakkar, MD of Shivaami Cloud Services Pvt Ltd, was fascinated by how the entire world evolved with the aid of the internet. Belonging to the computer generation, he wanted to convert his interest into building something for the future, and thereby plunged headlong into his entrepreneurship career in 1997. But while any entrepreneur’s key focus would be on the ability to learn and be inquisitive, Punit Thakkar went a step ahead and focused on joining the dots and being innovative. "I studied the market and discovered that what people were looking for – and had not yet found – was an internet company they could truly rely on. So I put all my passion into meeting these needs", says Thakkar. Thus, born was Shivaami in the year 2004, providing internet services to a small group of clients, to begin with.

Having formed Shivaami, Punit realized that running a business was different from just showcasing technical expertise, and thus shifted his focus on having a slightly more profit centric approach. Undeterred by the challenge, he used his commercial base of previous clients as an opportunity to explore new ways of technology, learning the lessons of a good CFO. In addition, backed by a chain of satisfied clients who referred his name to their associates leveraged his business. Further, having an eye for detail, Punit saw the void he could fill with a spam free email system from Google. Thus, in a short span of time, Punit helped Shivaami establish itself as a cloud products marketing company for Google, aiding clients understand the potential difference cloud can make to their business. "Cloud-based technology is creating fantastic business opportunities. It is amazing how so many companies can come together, how so many different solutions can be found", says Thakkar. Today, cloud computing is drastically changing the online business environment, enabling businesses to run faster and efficiently at a reduced cost. Punit grabbed this opportunity accompanied by leveraging the latest technologies to help grow businesses with the help of his internet savvy experts.

Google Apps at an Affordable Cost
Moving on, governed by the ideology to adopt a futuristic technology, he realized the potential of Google Apps in aiding organizations share information and ideas easily. Hence, with his team of trained professionals, he helped organizations setup Google Apps at an affordable cost, flexible for both medium and large scale companies. Today, Shivaami helps set up email configurations, implementing every app component required by the customer with appropriate features as demanded. “Google Apps is highly reliable and easy to operate, but support is available for administrators from the expert team at Shivaami who are trained directly from Google”, says Thakkar. Thus, the startup gained traction and stability, since Punit’s key focus was on creating a differentiator.

Being different does not ensure progress in business, since steps must be seized to attract customers and clients. Punit found the answer to this puzzle in the form of SEO, the best way to attract clients. Under his leadership, the company learnt how to track clients using SEO, and turn them into customers. The company successfully drove visitors to its clients' websites, converting them into buyers, thus ultimately assuring maximum ROI. Gifted by a team who shared his interest in technology, Shivaami seized every challenge and opportunity in helping its clients acquire top rankings on major search engines.

A Thirst for More
Apart from SEO, gaining a foothold in the technology oriented internet solution market required proper research and development. Learning and discovery is quintessential for every business development. An entrepreneur must be willing to learn and at the same time inspire his team mates to explore and gain, from the world at large. According to Punit, research and development is the business mantra for Shivaami’s success. “There is nothing to equal the thrill of finding a new idea and turning into a new product or service. Innovation is what makes our business so exciting. A breakthrough might be just around the corner. So we have to keep searching”. Today, Shivaami has more than ten years experience in the field of digital media, meeting every challenge along the way and keeping pace with clients and anticipating their specific needs.

Client need is paramount for any entrepreneur, but Punit feels SMEs too should be looked at, and not ignored and bypassed in the process. He thus, sets an example for future entrepreneurs as he is a staunch follower of the saying that “there is room for all sizes of business in the firmament. What matters is the size of the dream”. An internet marketing expert, specializing in search engine optimization, pay per click advertisement, social media and email marketing, the man with no shortcuts finds his thirst for achieving more still insatiable – a true entrepreneurial spirit.

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