ASP-Philippines
Offshore development, therefore, is the focus of ASP, one of the subsidiaries and brands of InterActive Holding Inc. (IAH),which is engaged in software re-selling and its coresponding professional services, marketing, and software development. With contract in the US, UK, and Ireland, S. Gainsford says ASP - with more than 16 software developers - should be able to make it big in the field of offshore development.
To this end, he sees Europe and Japan as major growing markets. The Japanese in particular, "are facing an inevitable problem: their population is shrinking - they have 125 million people today, and that is projected to fall to 120 million by 2025. But they still have the same businesses and industries to look after., so they will be desperately short of qualified people. So there's an opportunity there for offshore sourcing. The Japanese may not like it, but they will have to put up with it," he says.
Meanwhile, in order to respond to the needs of local banks, which are adapting new technologies to comply with international standards, or to top emerging markets that demand the use of newer technologies, Prosoft, another IAH brand, focuses on systems integration, software resale, business consultancy, and implementation services with special emphasis on te financial sector.
Other IAH subsidiaries and products are NaviWorld Philippines, a re-seller of Microsoft Dynamics' Navision that provides consulting and implementation services, and e-Motion HR and Payroll which provides a human resources and payroll solution developed specifically for the Philippine setting.
IAH's list of clients includes Metro-politan Bank and Trust Co, (Metrobank), Pilipinas Savings BAnk, SM Group of companies, and Jollibee.
IAH's success in the Philippines, says S. Gainsford, is due to its people. "In fact to turn companies profitable, thus successful, the secret is to help your people," he notes. "When people open (the same business as yours), the first thing they do is (tap) your employees. Its easaier for them to do that. So i have to make sure we don't lose our people."
Amazingly, in S. Gainsford's experience, "obvious things," such as better facilities, making the environment friendlier, and additional benefits, such as provident plans, help in motivating employees. "Making sure (you) have amenable terms and conditions generates employee loyalty," he says.
Last year, only one ASP employee moved to another company - a far cry from the years before S. Gainsford took over the company, when its employee turn over was as much as 20% annually.
"Leaders should have a vision, but they should not be scared of succession as well," he says. "People are scared of that, with people possibly taking their jobs. But it's something you have to do. And to grow your successors (among the people currently working for you), you have to look after your people."
