While big Indian IT companies bet high on BFSI (Banking Financial Service and Insurance) sector, Bangalore based IDS Next, a hospitality software solutions provider, is betting big on hospitality sector. Not only that, IDS Next unlike other IT behemoths that depends on Western market, gets its major chunk of revenue from Indian, Middle East and African markets. Its strategy of ‘Make in India plus Market in India’ has worked so well that now Binu Mathews, CEO, IDS Next proudly claims to command a 60 % of market share in the organized mid and five star chains segment in India. Excerpts from an exclusive conversation with Sameer Bakshi of SMEpost.com
Q : Tell us something about IDS Next?
A : IDS Next Business Solutions Private Ltd was founded by Mr. Suresh John in 1987. Our products empower every aspect of hotel operations while introducing higher degree of automation. We have our head-quarter and R&D center in Bangalore and have regional offices across India. Plus, we do have full-fledged sales and support offices in Africa, Sri Lanka and Middle East. We are a truly ‘Make in India’ software company with world-class solutions to efficiently cater to the technological needs of global hospitality.
Q : What is your market share in India. What about your presence in overseas market?
A : In India, we are no doubt the dominant player with over 60 % of market share in the organized mid and five star chains segment. This apart, we have strong presence in Middle East market in regions including UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Iran, Oman and , Bahrain We are also expanding across Africa and clients in this continent are spread across Kenya, Senegal, Ethiopia, Egypt, Ghana, Uganda, Sudan and Tanzania. We too have many leading hotels in Sri Lanka, Maldives, Malaysia, Thailand, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, and Solomon Islands using our software.
Q : What segment of the hospitality industry you cater to?
A : We cater to each and every segment of the hospitality industry. Right from a small lodging offering limited services to five star standalone or chain hotel or boutique property, our Hotel ERP has all the required features to automate operations across departments.
Q : Who are your top clients? Can you segregate your revenue stream between 5 star hotels, 4 star hotels, 3 star hotels and budget hotels?
A : Over these years, we have managed to win over the trust of 4000 plus hotels globally. Some of our top clients are Ramada Hotels, ETA Star, Ramee, Sterling, Swissôtel, Aitkens Spence, Colombo Courtyard, Sarovar Hotels & Resorts, ITC Fortune Group, Royal Orchid Hotels, and Pride Hotels. We enjoy equal percentage of representation in all categories
Q : Tell us something about your products/solutions?
A : Our host of products includes end to end hotel management software or Hotel ERP, restaurant management software, club management software, and banquets & conference management software. We do also have mobile apps for hotels to ensure speedy check-in and a restaurant menu app to speed up restaurant operations.
Q : What are your flagship products?
A : Four variants of our robust and highly integrated hotel software namely, FortuneNEXT 6i Enterprise, FortuneNEXT 6i Professional, FortuneNEXT 6i Express and FortuneNEXT 6i Genie are flagship products.
Q : IDS Next’s growth story so far and how do you plan to start 2016?
A : We are present in over 40 countries across South East Asia, South Asia, Oceania, Middle East and Africa. We are working towards a unique mobilytics solution in 2016. This has the potential to change the way hoteliers have been looking at hospitality software so far. With this solution, we aim to help hoteliers access interactive data and real-time information pertaining to their business on the go.
