 Mr.
L.R. Gandhi is Chief Executive of Computer Valley,
a company dealing in all types of computer hardware and
peripherals. Graduated in Chemical Engineering from Osmania
University in 1973, Mr. Gandhi
developed flair for sales and started his career
as Marketing Executive
with HCL computers. In 1977 he joined Data DCM
and worked for the company for almost 11 years. In 1988
he was appointed as Manager, All India operations for
TEAC Floppy Disc Drives. In 1986 Personal Computer
was introduced in India and by 1988 the demand for PCs
were very high. The increasing popularity for the PCs
coupled with his 15 years of experience in the market
inspired Mr. Gandhi to venture in setting up his own business
- computer hardware trading in the name of Computer Valley,
in 1991 October. The company acquires its stocks in bulk
from corporate distributors like HCL, Wipro, DCL, Priya
and supplies to the needy retailers, system integrators
and systems maintenance companies. The turnover of the
company in the year 2000-2001 was about Rs. 3 crores.
Mr. Gandhi is also president of the TCCDA (Twin Cities
Computer Dealers Association). TCCDA, is an association
of Hyderabad and Secunderabad Computer Hardware Dealers.
It is a body that facilitates smooth business functioning
of its member entities by addressing inter and intra member
issues of the industry. The Association's vision is to
become an influential body in the industry to safeguard
the interest of its member by adopting proactive steps
and measures. Mr. Gandhi shared his views on the industry
trends and the TCCDA activities in an exclusive tête-à-tête
with Hyderabad-best. The details…
When was the Twin Cities Computer
Dealers Association (TCCDA) formed and what is its main
objective?
TCCDA was established in the year 1998. It is also an
industrial or trade organisation like FAPCCI and CII.
Its main objectives are: a) Developing cordial relations
and proper interaction among all the computer hardware
and peripheral dealers of Hyderabad and Secunderabad.
b) Representing the whole computer hardware trading community
to take up the problems with the government and other
organisations.
At present how many members are there in your association?
Two types of members are there in TCCDA. They are Dealer
members and Corporate members. The traders in computer
hardware and peripherals come under Dealer members. The
companies, which deal in distribution of computer hardware
and having their branch or head office in the twin cities,
can opt for the corporate membership. At present 125 dealer
and about 25 corporate members are there in our association.
You have been in
the market for the last 10 years. How is the trend in
computer hardware sales changing in the twin cities?
 When
I entered in to this business in 1991, State and Central
government organisations
were major patrons of the industry followed by
corporate companies. But in the last three to four years
the trend has completely changed. With the entry of the
Internet and World Wide Web; home, small office sectors
overtook the government and corporate. The student community
is the major catalyst for home sector’s advancement. Of
course almost 30-40 per cent of students residing in hostels
are also using PCs.
What is the total
value of the twin cities computer hardware and peripherals
market?
At present, in Hyderabad market, the average
monthly sale is 7000 – 8000 PCs. At this rate the market
value of the twin cities in the year 2001-2002 will be
more than 400 crores. This includes the value of peripherals
also.
What are the hot
selling products in the market presently, apart from CPUs,
Monitors?
The hottest selling products are Internet related hardware
like modems, routers, web cameras, besides Inkjet colour
printers, Scanners, etc.
Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu,
is promoting the IT industry in the state in a big way.
Does this promotion have any major impact on the computer
sales?
Definitely there is and there will be a major impact on
computer hard ware market. As I mentioned earlier government
was the major buyer of the computers. With the implementation
of IT projects like computerised property registration,
electricity bill payment, Mass computer awareness has
grown tremendously which is reflected in the present trend
of computer sales.
There is a general belief among
the public that because of the computers unemployment
is growing in India. How far it is true?
 Unemployment
is not growing only due to introduction of computers in
government and private organisations. Some years ago a
survey has been conducted on this notion. And the conclusion
of survey surprised me. It said that ‘computers never replace the jobs, but they only add some more.
If a company introduces computers, one person with the
computer will then do the work done by three persons.
In this case the additional manpower may be used for other
purposes. Of course some times they may be losing their
jobs, if there is no sufficient work for them. But at
the same time we need one or two persons to maintain the
computers. At one place if some body is losing job because
of computerisation on the other hand some body is getting
employment. So how can you say that computerisation leads
to unemployment growth?
Economists say that, each lorry manufactured in
the country is capable of generating employment for 4
people - in
the same manner 10 computers may generate one or two employment
opportunities in the form of maintenance engineers, network
engineers etc. It is only because of the computers that
most of our Indian software engineers are earning their
salaries in Dollars! Like a coin every subject has two
faces. When compared to the benefits of the computerisation
the ill effects are meagre.
Address: Computer Valley, 54, IV B, II Floor, Bharani
Complex, Minister Road, Secunderabad - 500 003. Phone:
781 4025 Fax: 781 5971
TCCDA, 157/6, 1st Floor, Staff Road, Gunrock Enclave,
Secunderabad - 500 009 Phone: 789 6625 / 781 0015
E-mail: dealersecretary@rediffmail.com
Click
here for List of TCCDA members
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4:17:09 PM 
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