PSI Data Systems, the global IT services arm of the Aditya Birla Group, is growing from strength to strength. In recognition of its outstanding achievements, the company was recently awarded a Certificate of Excellence for being among the fastest growing Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). The award was jointly conferred by the central government's Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) and the Department of IT, government of Karnataka. The award is a recognition of PSI Data's 33 per cent growth in exports, from Rs. 377 million in 2003-04 to Rs. 500 million in 2004-05.

The latest award comes close on the heels of a series of awards that PSI has received in the last year including an award for HR Excellence at the 2005 Asia Pacific Outsourcing Conference, the Businessworld Top 25 Great Places to Work 2004 award and the Deccan Herald Avenues award in the category 'organisation which creates fun and joy at work.'

The Minister for Communications and IT, government of India, Mr. Dayanidhi Maran, handed over the award to Mr. Sampath Iyengar, CEO of PSI Data Systems. The gala event was presided over by Mr. Dharam Singh, Chief Minister of Karnataka and attended by the who's who of the IT industry in Bangalore. Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Iyengar said, "This award reinforces our long-standing commitment to excellence and motivates us all the more in our pursuit of being a best-in-class, end-to-end IT solutions partner to our customers globally."

PSI Data Systems offers services in application/product development, enhancement, maintenance, migration/re-engineering and testing. Fully equipped delivery centres in Mumbai and Bangalore and offices in the US, UK, France, Germany and Japan cater to a distinguished roster of clients in banking, insurance, manufacturing, retail software and high tech industries.

In recent times, PSI Data has delivered successful projects to two global banks in India and a leading bank in Nepal. Also, in association with a leading Japanese system integrator, it supports the trade finance operations of six Japanese banks. PSI Data has also been delivering world-class development and testing services by running an offshore centre for a leading US technology and services player in the global electronic payments space, as part of a multi-million dollar relationship.

Founded in 1975 as a manufacturer of computer hardware, PSI Data Systems was acquired by the Aditya Birla Group in 2001. Two years later, it achieved SEI CMM Level 5 certification. A couple of years ago, PSI embarked on employee-centered initiatives aimed not only at increasing staff participation in the business, but also included training and development investments, regularly integrated meetings for effective communication, personal healthcare, creating a fun environment at work and much more. At any given time, about one-fourth of the company's 450 odd employees are stationed abroad.

PSI Data has been working on sharpening its focus in the banking, insurance and software industries in particular since it was acquired by the Aditya Birla Group. With heightened vertical focus, PSI Data has also strengthened its services to ensure differentiation in the competitive technology services field. For example, it has created winning value propositions for its banking clients in trade finance and for its software clients in the product engineering space.

One outcome has been stability in top and middle management. Over 25 per cent of the employees have spent over a decade in the company — commendable in an industry known for its high employee attrition rate.