Emerio GlobeSoft

AT THE height of the Asian financial crisis in 1997, while other businesses had to scale down operations or close down altogether, Mr Harish Nim bucked the trend.

He could do so as he had identified a business opportunity in the local information technology industry. "At that time, Asia had a lack of companies providing IT support services for large multinational companies.

"I had a dream of starting a Singapore-based company which could eventually scale up to become the best of its kind," the 48-year-old chief executive officer of Emerio GlobeSoft recalls.

Clearly, his foresight has paid off. The 1,300-strong company celebrated its 10th anniversary this year.

Emerio's focus today, Mr Nim explains, is on remote infrastructure management services. "We monitor clients' systems and provide technical support, making sure their networks remain integrated and functional all the time."

And if a problem does surface, Emerio's people here and in 14 offices worldwide work on it, alerting onsite staff of potential difficulties or troubleshooting issues. The main aim is to ensure that the client's business goes on as usual.

Ten years on, Mr Nim says his formula for success remains simple, with the delivery of top-class services and service excellence at the top of his agenda.

"The most important reason for our growth has been our ability to deliver," he says.

So if a client asks for a team of 130 to set up a new system immediately, as has happened in the past, Emerio is up to the challenge.

"We need a multinational force to ensure there is always someone attending to customers, 24 hours a day," he says.

His approach to overcoming challenges is similarly straightforward.

He says: "If you suffer a setback, get through it, move on and do not dwell on it. Learn the lesson and apply it the next time the same problem comes up."

It is a method that works. Emerio is consistently ranked among the top companies of its kind globally and has picked up numerous awards, including its first Enterprise 50 award this year.

"An E50 award provides legitimacy to a small and medium-sized enterprise like us," Mr Nim notes. "It is gratifying to be recognised."

Another benefit is added visibility among potential employees, giving Emerio a boost in an industry where the competition for top talent is as fierce as the battle for market share.

With forecasts indicating an $8 billion industry by 2015, Mr Nim is game for more. He says: "We will continue to deliver out of South-east Asia, but also explore significant business development in Japan and Germany, where there are several barriers to entry, but tremendous potential."

The challenges may be tough, but Mr Nim says that with concentration and determination, anything is possible.

"Have an unrelenting focus on what you set out to achieve and stay true to your path. Be prepared to have disappointments, have a view to the future and make sure whatever you bring to the table has real value, consistently," he adds.

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