The company has set up an ERP solutions centre in Mumbai to cater to the region. The centre will be promoted as a one-stop solution project to its customers covering all aspects of information technology including networking, re-engineering, consulting and ERP implementation.

The company intends to set up more ERP solutions centres all over the country. It has envisaged an investment of $3 million to $4 million in the next couple of years in India. CBS India vice-president, PS Srinivasan, who heads the Mumbai centre, says, "We will use the Indian ERP centre as a resource hub synergising experience and CBS methodologies to deliver world class products to our clients."

"Given the highly skilled English speaking manpower here, India emerges as a true choice," says Tristan M Hoag, vice-president,ERP of CBSI on the company choice for the ERP. He also attributed the `virtual day' advantage, lower costs and high class technological levels for choosing India. The company intends to move more ERP solution and related works to the Indian facility. CBSI provides SAP and PeopleSoft solutions.

According to Srinivasan, the ERP solutions will be one of the company's major export ventures. He said that it would launch a recruitment drive soon to strengthen the staff.

CBS India executive vice-president (operations) K Subramaniam said that the company has formed a highly experienced team of ERP professionals. "The proven CBSI strategy of off-shore working will be extended to the ERP solutions and services will be offered to clients in India as well as outside."

CBS India, which is a 100 per cent subsidiary of CBS Inc, is planning to set up similar solution centres in other cities soon and has identified some places in south India. CBS India was set up as a software development centre and has expanded toBangalore in 1995.

The company also offers partnership sourcing programmes and IT consulting to corporates. In partnership sourcing, the company teams up with its clients to use IT as an effective tool for evolving business needs by custom tailoring software applications, maintenance and re-engineering. It also designs technical architecture and network solutions which include data warehousing.

While singling out IT consultancy as an area of great potential in India, Subramaniam said that different industries face different sort of problems which need to be tackled through consulting.

In 1997, CBSI has registered a turnover of $194 million, up 43 per cent from the previous year's $135.3 million. It had taken over Synergy Software Inc and CW Costello and Associates in 1998. The company is considering future acquisitions to augment its current geographical presence and has focussed on integrating and strengthening the newly merged entities to provide continued growth and success. CBS Inc has clients likeToyota, Chrysler, Citicorp, Motorola, Kellogg's and others.