ISOFT TO UP INDIA
HEADCOUNT BY 600
iSOFT Group, the UK-based IT firm specialising
in healthcare segment, plans to invest $100 million over the
next three years in its Indian operations. It would also increase
its headcount here to 800 from 300 people at present.
iSOFT CEO Mr Tim Whiston said that the
investment would go into developing next-generation products
based on .Net technology and on applications for digital TVs
and mobile devices.
He said that this would be funded by internal
accruals. In 2003, the company recorded revenues of $170 million
and operating profit of $39.2 million. These are expected
to grow to $594 million and $139 million respectively in 2005.
iSOFT R&D CEO Mr Ravan Boddu said
that the company's development centre employed 300 people
and had a purpose-built 30,000 sq ft facility in Chennai,
with a total investment of $24 million so far. It would expand
both office space and headcount in the next three years. This
increased capacity will partly be used to resource the $100-million
project it won from the UK's National Health Service.
Mr Whiston said that the company's focus
was on socialised healthcare models, such as those in the
UK, Hong Kong, Australia and some European countries. The
UK accounts for 75% of its revenues and would continue to
contribute that much, even as the company explores other markets.
