The IT service company TietoEnator expanded its field of operations to India last year via a corporate acquisition. The unit, which is located in the city of Pune, is responsible for the development of healthcare information systems for hospitals.

TietoEnator acquired the German company ITB AG, which specializes in healthcare information-system solutions, in January 2005. The company had a subsidiary, long-standing traditions and ready cooperation processes for off-shore product development.

The Indian unit, which is part of TietoEnator's Healthcare and Welfare business area, focuses on developing the company's iMedOne product family. iMedOne is one of Europe's most technically advanced systems that supports clinical treatment practices and can be easily adapted to various operating and user environments. The product family is used in 150 hospitals.

Professional skill and motivation

With the acquisition, 120 Indian software developers were transferred to TietoEnator's employ. The number of personnel has almost doubled since January 2005.

"In India you will find personnel who are highly educated, professionally skilled, fluent in English and motivated. Because competition is hard, those who have been educated are extremely ambitious and gifted," says Calle Lindfors, who is responsible for the Healthcare and Welfare business area at TietoEnator.

Although Pune is not one of India's biggest IT cities, there is plenty of expertise. The challenge for TietoEnator has been to develop its position as a sought-after and competitive employer. "So far we've managed, because the turnover is fifty per cent less than the average for companies in India," Lindfors says.

More operations in India

Lindfors says that TietoEnator will be carrying out healthcare product development in the future both in the Nordic countries and in India. Indian cooperation with the Nordic countries will be increased so that a greater number of standard components that can be applied to the needs of different countries will be obtained.

The capacity will also be increased in India in order to exploit customers' business sectors other than healthcare. "India has become a centre for expertise in business processes on a global scale. TietoEnator intends using this know-how capital," Lindfors emphasizes.

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"Indians are professionally skilled and highly motivated workers," says Calle Lindfors.