__p In today’s scenario, the task of salving the channel can only be sought in the hands of the IT majors in the country, rather than crying hoarse about the government’s lackluster approach towards the IT industry.
p____p A classic example of the government’s one-step forward two-step backwards approach was evident in the handling of the excise duty issue. The government first announced the abolition of the excise duty, and then, after what seemed a prolonged period of mulling over the issue, it reintroduced the excise duty in the form of additional duty on PC systems and CPU-box. And to add to the channel’s bag of woes, the government also imposed a two percent education cess across the board.
p____p Now that free-trade market regime is round the corner, it is imperative for the industry to pick up the gauntlet, shrugging its tendency to plough a lone furrow, and collectively face the competition from foreign markets, especially from countries in South-East Asia and the like, while proposing the path ahead for the Indian trade.
p____p This Year of the Olympics couldn’t have come at a more opportune time to remind us of the importance of moving ahead, setting the goals of – ‘Higher, Faster and Stronger’. While IT majors prepare to take the industry by storm, the channel will have its own role to play within the trade. Increasingly viewed as a pipeline between vendors and users, it can serve as a catalyst which will anticipate the needs of the market, help generate demand, provide consultative services and solve business problems, while continuing with the traditional role in supply chain logistics.
p____p Also, as trade associations struggle to find their feet, the industry’s self-defeatist ‘each-to-his-own’ approach will have to make way for a more selfless enactment of its business operations. If only the industry imbibes a little of the Olympic spirit and comes together to address the pressing needs of the industry, it can help to make a big difference to the trade as a whole and also meet the fast approaching challenges and opportunities!