In the digital world, technology is the primary source of value-creation. A recent Harvard Business School study documented that – leading digitally-enabled companies generate better gross margins, better earnings, and better net income than organizations that have not fully adopted the digital-first growth strategies.
What is driving this new and improved value creation model is the emergence of new, more profitable business models that deploy new digital technologies like social, mobile, cloud analytics, big data, and IoT. Yet even with these resources, it becomes exceedingly difficult for companies to derive the optimum value of technology, for they will have to make the right investments in the right areas to achieve their desired goals with the right change management.
Chennai-based NetworkGain Consulting is a peer-to-peer network of technology and business experts that strive for a positive culture, operate with the highest standards of integrity and ethics, right corporate governance, and most importantly giving back to society.
In the below excerpts of the interview given by Koushik Ramani, the Managing Partner and Papitha Mohan, the Partner at NetworkGain, the duo shares the dynamics of running the company:
Please brief our audience about your organization, its values, vision, and mission.
NetworkGain is a BizTech consulting firm that puts the expertise and true care for results at the center of everything we do. We understand business and consult on value creation using technology. Global organizations or small and medium enterprises, we get the everyday dynamics and can accelerate their journey to success. And we do this by outcomes, by inspiring powerful connected minds to create bold and practical solutions.
Brief us on how you have made an impact in the consultancy niche through your expertise in the market?
We don’t believe in run-off-the-mill solutions and consulting endeavors. We took a step back, understood that the attention span of a customer base as well as the base itself is quite limited. Almost all of them expect an end-to-end solution to maximize the returns on investments. However, when it is packaged and delivered what they are unsure of is what they got is something that they need or something prepackaged and retrofitted to guide their asks. In a way, we don’t carry the larger burden (read: baggage) however provide them a complete “Assumed Ownership” of getting what we consulted, deployed leveraging our strong ecosystem of cohorts ranging from digital technologies like marketing, web technology to disruptive technology solutions like AR/VR and deep-tech network programming reimagined.
Essentially, we don’t just recommend transformative solutions but help bring that vision to life by collaborating with our cohorts. In summary, it is our unique ability to complement business to technology and vice versa that helps us in connecting the dots to build digital realities, where everyone comes together, and everyone gains. That’s exactly where our name comes from too.
Brief us about the featured person(s) and their journey in the consulting industry.
Koushik is a seasoned professional with over twenty-one years of experience in providing technology solutions across the globe, across industries. He started his career as a programmer and has hands-on experience in identifying the right solutions, develop the architecture, by leveraging thought leadership and professional eminence based on deep expertise in Change, Run, and Grow that leads and sustains businesses.
Papitha is a technologist turned marketer with experience in data warehousing and business intelligence. Her area of expertise includes branding and digital CX engineering. An entrepreneur at heart forever, she jumped at the chance to co-found NetworkGain with Koushik with modern principles and values like expertise over experience, workover job, and gender equality.
What are/were the challenges you and your team come across in your day-to-day operations?
Firstly, this is the most important driver why we’ve come into existence. Secondly, the sense of satisfaction for having contributed to achievement is derived only when you face and overcome the challenges. Incidentally, we believe every problem does not lend itself to a single departmental solution. Making clients believe in this new model of consulting is the biggest hurdle, and then we’ve to be comparable with the Big-5s to be considered. We’ve managed to do it well so far with the big names we’ve in our clientele in these two years.
Moving from a comfortable, well-organized infrastructure (from Resources to People) for backing-up and for the things that were taken for granted, quite literally in a corporate environment (mundane operational activities) to running everything from enabling functions, to bookkeeping, handling our business social commitments, alongside growing the business, and delivering value.
Taking into consideration, the current pandemic, and its impact on global economies, how are you driving your organization to sustain operations and ensuring the safety of your employees at the same time?
In a hindsight, and with due respect to all the frontline workers, doctors, and medical practitioners (we bow to their contribution), the pandemic was a blessing in disguise for our “Workforce of the Future” model of operations. Right from day 1 of starting our operations, we believed in work from anywhere and executed the same. In essence, the pandemic had the least impact on our operations, however, like everyone else during the peak lockdown our business conversations were merely conversations. The sign of recovery, especially for these kinds of niche consulting, started only towards late Q2 -early Q3. Our entire eco-system also bore the brunt of the pandemic, however, luckily we’ve all survived, and are looking forward to the new normal and a better FY ’22.
What would be your advice to budding entrepreneurs who aspire to venture into the consultancy sector?
First, it is about identifying the core area of expertise where you would like to add value, and then identifying the broader spectrum adjacent to this core. Develop the capability with a capital “T” – Deep in the chosen area, broader understanding of the adjacent areas. It’s a niche offering to venture into as long as you have a passion for making others successful, even at the time more than your own. Most often than not, this sense of achievement will drive you to sustain the business over any hardship you may face.
Second, do not reinvent the wheel. Wherever possible try to have synergic partnerships that will deliver for you. Third, we see consulting start-ups mushrooming owing to the layoffs in the middle/senior management in MNCs. If you can’t find a sweet spot that will make you unique and your offering inevitable, then there’s no point in venturing to be yet another consulting firm.
Where do you envision your organization to be in the long run and what are your future goals?
We believe in living our lives well while we make an impact in the world of business. So, in terms of numbers, we do not set hard goals nor wanting to be part of the global corporate rat race. We see money, because of our commitment to customer success.
We aim to be one of the trusted partners for global tech startups and enterprises alike. We are focusing on DX for Manufacturing, CPG, Healthcare, and Insurance for now. We would want to venture into other verticals like Travel and Hospitality. We want to be part of initiatives that bridge the digital divide and taking innovation to the last mile.
Give us a few testimonials of your clients that accurately highlight your organization’s position in the market.
“I have been working with NetworkGain for more than a year now. They are different from the rest of the consulting majors. They don’t just draw up the plan but stay with you to execute it and co-own the results. Their work in revenue maximization has helped us pave a new path and standardize our processes”
CEO, IT Services Organization, Part of large conglomerate.
