Business intelligence (BI) software
and services company SAS is reorganising its Asia Pacific Group to ensure a
greater focus on the Indian and Chinese markets. SAS Asia Pacific vice
president Phillip Beniac said that the company at this stage aims for a high
double to triple digit growth in 2002 in these two countries. Mr Beniac added
that based on the current estimates on the business plans for 2003, the
company expects the continuation of this trend.
Quoting IDC, he said that the BI
segment is currently worth US$1.2 billion, where 43.5 per cent comes from
Australia and New Zealand, while South East Asia, India and Korea contribute
35.3 per cent. The Apac market for the BI segment as per IDC estimates will
experience a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 23 per cent to touch
$3.3 billion in 2006. The market in India is expected to grow at a CAGR of
30-40 per cent for the next 3 years.
The competition, service
levels, etc are very similar to those in some of the developed European
markets. Besides the cellular subscriber base in India is expected to touch
10 million users by end of this year. The company sees this expanding to four
times this number by 2006.
