Thanks to these orders in hand, the company hopes to at least double its turnover in fiscal 2000. For the nine-months ended June 1999, the total turnover of the company was Rs 7.68 crore. Net profit for the period stood at Rs 1.74 crore.

The main advantage of Visesh Infosystems (a small and new entrant into the software sector) is that it has a good business mix of software products, off-shore/on-site projects and high-end training. But it's the focus on the high-margin software product business that will rake in the mega bucks for the company. In 1998 it launched `Visesh Businessoft' - an ERP product.

In the ensuing fiscal, an upgraded version was launched. Despite the subdued activity in ERP, the company's product has received an encouraging response. The company's other products include Visfin, Vissal, Vispur, Visfa and Visinv. The company has also entered into the e-commerce training segment.

In order to sell its products (the main stumbling block for a product-based company), Visesh Infosystems has entered into a strategic marketing alliance with MassSOft Services, New Coast Communication, USA, Ajay Mittal of Canada, Microbase Software Systems, Intellect Data Systems and Astute Systems.

While the long-term business agreement with these outfits will ensure a stability of income for Visesh Infosystems (as it will no longer be dependent on the vagaries of the market for selling its products), the profit margins will be lower (as compared with direct selling).

For fiscal 2000, Visesh Infosystems has projected a substantial improvement in its financial performance. Domestic sales/services are estimated to shoot up to Rs 8.72 crore, while exports are likely to rise to Rs 5.25 crore. The contribution from educational services and other income is projected at Rs 1.4 crore. On a total income of Rs 15.37 crore, net profit is projected at Rs 4.07 crore and on an expanded equity of Rs 10 crore, the EPS for fiscal 2000 works out to Rs 4.89. This discounts the offer price of Rs 50 by a multiple of 10.22. Visesh Infosystems has an impressive clientele which includes Tata Honeywell, GE Capital, British Telecom, National Pansonic, Marico Industries, Gabriel India and JCT Ltd.

Although in the past, operating margins were low at 8 per cent, the move up the value-chain will help the company better it's performance in the future. Visesh Infosystems has drawn up a Rs 15.75-crore programme for establishing off-shore development facilities in Gurgoan, expanding existing development facilities and marketing operations and the existing educational institute at Bangalore as well as setting up new schools in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Hyderabad. The company also plans to set up full-fledged branch offices in USA and Canada.