| What sets him apart On August 1, 1980, when Mr Gupta started Databyte Equipment, along with one of his partners, Mrs SJ Gupta, the current Executive Director of the company, the market and industry was new for them. In the words of Mr Gupta, “The use of computers and other allied products was slowly catching up in the country. At that point of time the market for hardware and embedded systems was not as organised as it is today. It was difficult in those times to convince customers about the workability of the product. Especially for a small enterprise like Databyte, it was really tough to penetrate the market no matter how innovative the products were.” Mr Gupta, a graduate from IIT Delhi, however, had faith in his innovations and knew that his prospective customers were bound to notice his products. Right from the first day he experimented and brain-stormed with his highly skilled team to launch new products in the market. Mr Gupta’s sole focus was developing and manufacturing high quality solutions for India. Asked about the USP of Databyte Equipment, Mr Gupta replies, “Having a strong in-house R&D, we offer solutions that cater to Indian requirements and we further back it up with committed after sales service.” Mr Gupta worked for a year at the prestigious Bhabha Atomic Research Centre and then moved on to Computer Group of Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, before floating his own company. Overcoming challenges As the head of Databyte, the journey for Mr Gupta has been a mixed experience. He claims to have had little advantage, having entered the market early on, particularly when there were not many players. However, he also had to face several hurdles arising out of stringent government regulations. Creating a viable and stable all-India network for sales and service of Databyte products was another serious concern for Mr Gupta. Databyte Equipment successfully overcame this challenge as well, establishing a mix of its own offices and dealers. Today, Databyte is headquartered in Pune and has sales presence in New Delhi, Kolkata, Panchkula and Chennai. The company also has plans to set up sales offices in various parts of South India. Achievements Operating in the hardware and embedded systems segment for a period of 25 years, Databyte has accomplished several noteworthy tasks, such as developing Intelligent Message Terminal for the Indian Defence, Dbcomm Communication Server and Communication Solutions for Indian banks. As part of a CSR activity Mr Gupta, on behalf of Databyte, developed an audio visual technology aid for rural India that would facilitate learning among children as well as adults in small towns and villages. An avid reader, Mr Gupta loves trekking. He takes time out of his busy schedule and heads to the hills for arduous treks. |
