Spotlight

Re-inventing libraries

A specialist in the library solutions domain, Total IT Solutions provides a broad spectrum of solutions that give a library that extra edge. By Neeraj Gandhi

Total IT Solutions commenced operations in 2002 as a software development firm providing Web-based library software, e-content and single search solutions for large libraries. Addressing the requirements of large universities, engineering colleges, research institutes and other institutional libraries, Total IT Solutions was established to offer customized solutions for the management of and access to e-resources.

Over the years, the company has served different institutes by developing library portals, and helped libraries manage and access their e-resources by providing search solutions for their e-content. This has, in turn, helped these institutes enhance the value of information retrieval.

“Two decades ago, the scenario of a typical library symbolized the collection of physical catalogs to access reading material. This was cumbersome, and took a lot of time. Keeping this in view, we decided to enter the library solutions domain and offer e-content, digital library software and search solutions [that provided a single search interface for all the resources in a library],” said Rajeev Kumar Mishra, Managing Director, Total IT Solutions Pvt. Ltd.

“Today, our solutions help users search through printed resources, subscribed Internet based e-contents like e-journal, e-books, online databases, e-learning courses, and the contents of digital libraries along with openly accessible content available on the Internet,” he added.

The company has its corporate office in Delhi, and has six branch offices in Mumbai, Lucknow, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Chennai and Bangalore. As of March 2008, it had recorded a turnover of Rs.16 crore.

The Journey

It’s an uphill task for an enterprise to establish itself from the scratch and create a niche in the market. Establishing a brand identity, hiring appropriate employees, defining customers and entering into tie-ups with partners are all tasks that must be undertaken. The absence of other players offering similar niche solutions went in the company’s favor; it was successful in creating a name for itself in the market. In India, it enjoyed the benefit of sometimes being the only company to offer software and search solutions for large academic and research institutes.

“There are approximately fifty software companies in India offering library software for managing published books. However, we are the only company offering a holistic range of software for published resources, virtual libraries, search solutions for e-resources etc.,” said Mishra.

The path to success was not an easy one. The company had to overcome its own set of challenges to carve a niche. “The biggest challenge for us was to get quality manpower with a combined knowledge base of library and computer science. To overcome this problem, we trained people in house,” said Mishra. Another challenge was to educate and convince the customer on the importance of having a search solution, apart from just an online subscription, so that users could search through these contents and increase utilization.

Total IT Solutions has never looked back after completing its first project whereby it installed a virtual library solution at Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya at Indore. Today, it has the credit of being the first software company in Asia to develop and market e- resources management and search solutions software.

Presently, it employs eighty professionals who are experts in the fields of library and computer science. Total IT Solutions has also gained the distinction of working with many prestigious institutes and organizations in the country including IITs, IIMs, DRDO Labs, CSIR Labs, Aligarh Muslim University, Safdarjung Hospital, and Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Medical Science, among others.

The company’s vision is to become a global leader in its area of expertise, i.e., a global leader providing Digital Library Software solution, Integrated Library Software, e-Resources Management in Search Solutions, providing e-Content to the library.

Future Plans

After making its presence felt in India for over six years, Total IT Solutions is looking at markets outside the country. For this fiscal, the company is eying untapped regions in the Middle East and Southeast Asia. It recently entered into agreements with distribution companies in Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei region, as a part of its ongoing expansion. “We will soon be closing deals with a few distributors in Thailand and Middle East,” said Mishra.

For the last three years, Total IT Solutions was growing at a rate of 35%. However, after it finalizes deals with distributors in the Middle East and other countries, the company expects to grow at a rate of 70% and above. In addition, it is also exploring Venture Capitalist funding to create a presence in 25 countries across the globe.

“By 2011 we should have a worldwide presence offering ERMSS solution to all libraries. Presently, only 10% of the libraries worldwide are using this type of solution,” said Mishra. In an effort to fulfill its corporate social responsibility, the company will soon launch a free portal for users to access Internet-based contents.

neeraj.gandhi@expressindia.com