Over three decades, Sonata has transformed itself from
the IT business division of a chemicals company to
a global services partner of choice for leaders across
the software Product and Enterprise IT Services space.
We share with you the story of a journey across time
that has seen the company nurture its core values even
as it embraced change to enhance its relevance to
customers and grow business.
PRODUCT ENGINEERING ENTERPRIsE IT TEChNOlOGy INfRasTRUCTURE
The roots – an Indian software product company
Three decades ago, in 1986, Sonata started life developing original software for Indian industry. It launched over twenty-five popular software products for everyday business tasks including – Prakashak, the desktop publishing tool adopted by some of the country’s leading newspapers, IBIS (SMB Accounting Tool), and ResQ Professional (auto-save utility).
Sonata had a mindset for innovation ahead of its time. It was the first company to publish software of independent authors such as WordLord and Timex. It was also probably the first company in India to market the software in an equally ingenious manner: by mail order.
1991-2000
1986-1990
Extending the Product DNA to Engineering Services
From engineering original software, Sonata began to offer a wide range of product development services to clients. The first of these was in the form of an offshore product engineering lab for a US based accounting software developer. A Centre of Excellence before the term was coined, it delivered enhancements, globalization, sustenance and re-platforming from DOS to Windows on their native program. Sonata’s intrinsic product development strength was the springboard for its success in Product Development Services.
Technology services for the Enterprise
Sonata established its early IT services credentials with a base of Indian and multinational companies, which included reputed Pharma and Telecom leaders.
Moving into software distribution
Sonata leveraged its software sales expertise to sell software for global ISVs. The first of these was a tie-up in 1992 to resell FoxPro.
When Microsoft bought over Fox Software, the relationship developed deeper and Sonata began reselling desktop software from Microsoft. Over the next two decades Sonata would emerge as one of the largest value-added resellers for Microsoft in India.
Bold step towards multi-brand distribution
At a time when other players in the Indian market were dedicated distributors of a single software company, Sonata boldly adopted a multi-brand distribution strategy. Alliances with SCO, Symantec, IBM, Oracle and Computer Associates
were signed.
Multifaceted Relationships – Going 360°
Sonata signed up for a defining relationship on SCALA, the Swedish-origin mid-market ERP solution in 1995. It was with the help of Sonata that SCALA was able to make quick inroads into the Indian markets and also address localization needs through Sonata’s product engineering. The relationship went beyond distribution – from marketing to product engineering, professional, and implementation services to give partners and customers the best of expertise and value. Interestingly, this partnership led to the setting up of Abisko, a JV in Cyprus in 1998, to serve product engineering needs of SCALA.
Sonata had a unique ability to offer such a 360° partnership model to enable its ISV partners succeed with their products.
Enabling large-scale Enterprise Business Applications
The SCALA association opened the doors to core ERP projects with leading global CPG, Manufacturing, and Distribution businesses for Sonata and led to forty such implementations in the region. Sonata evolved a Global ERP Roll-out Methodology, adding to execution quality for customers.Adding value to software and software vendors
Sonata gained reputation as a partner of choice for software systems solutions with customers and vendors. Value-added services in implementing solutions on emerging software such as Lotus Notes workflow applications and Crystal Reports enabled customers to realize the full value of these technologies, early in their lifecycle. Combined with Sonata’s approach of providing turnkey marketing and distribution services for software in India, vendors gained a one-stop solution for product success.
Partnering a new-age global ERP product initiative
Sonata’s ERP expertise led to another path breaking relationship in 2004,as a partner to Microsoft’s new play in the segment with what evolved to the current Microsoft Dynamics AX product. Over a decade, Sonata became a strategic partner in the Microsoft Dynamics AX ecosystem offering value-added engineering, complex integration, vertical specific solutions, implementation, and support, thereby contributing to the success of the product in the market.
Sonata further strengthened its ERP portfolio with offerings from Oracle
and SAP.
Gaining a global IT Services footprint – winning with
leading customers across the world
Sonata built its core large Enterprise IT customer base – amongst them a global F&B CPG major (2002), aworld leader in Travel (2004) and
a leading healthcare multinational (2005).
Sonata’s service model based on a customer-specific Centre of Excellence nurtured what it considers the core of its value proposition – long-term relationships with lasting customer business impact.
Sustaining leadership – managing scale and service in
the face of competition
In a strategic move, Sonata reinvented itself to begin focusing on the Large Accounts market segment of the software product redistribution market in India. This approach, combined with a sustained thrust towards a superior service and the flexibility to adapt to evolving models of business in the segment, saw Sonata gain in strength and sustain leadership in a market where many of its competitors had to exit.
Staying ahead of the curve for customers
Sonata engaged with a leading global SMB ERP software vendor to migrate their applications to a Cloud-based delivery platform and to extend service to Mobile enablement.
Sonata focused on vertical-specific solutions for Dynamics AX Retail, and developed and delivered implementations on superior customer engagement solutions based on Omni-Channel Commerce, Analytics, Personalization and Mobility to
world-leading retailers.
Going deeper to emerge higher
Sonata customized the hybris platform for a class-leading Omni-Channel business enablement for a leading Travel company. Sonata fittingly was named hybris’ Most Innovative Partner of the Year 2012 for its capability to adequately handle the issue with domain-specific knowledge.
Sonata enhanced focus on Travel, Retail and CPG verticals – winning leading Airline, Mass Merchandiser, Apparel and Transit Retail accounts to build on client base and capability.
Sonata opened a Development facility in Redmond, USA to develop a wider range of responsive delivery models to meet customer needs.
Taking technologies of the future to market
Sonata added business application Appliances and Technology Platforms to its portfolio of infrastructure solutions, representing StorSimple, Oracle Exalytics
and Moovweb. Integrated to its own services, Sonata continues to be an early mover in bringing emerging IT solution models to market.
Sonata won the Windows Azure Cloud Partner of the Year 2013 in India – a recognition of its capability of helping customers and partners translate new technology to on-ground value with its services.
Software products – 1986 CADD Digitization Services – 1986-87
Award-winning products Early days at Sonata – 1986-87
Upgradation of Basavanagudi office – 1995 Tie-up with IBM – 1994
1986-1990
Sonata started life as the IT division of Indian Organic Chemicals Ltd., developing original software applications for Indian industry.
1991-2000
Sonata spun off as an independent company in 1994. It also became the first company in the country to launch an ESOP program with over 38% equity in the hands of its employees. The move was aimed at encouraging a sense of ownership amongst employees, their commitment to the long-term success of the company and substantive creation of wealth for them.
The Sonata Head Office in Basavanagudi underwent a massive upgrade in 1995 to a 50,000 sq ft workspace capable of accommodating 500 professionals.
Soon there was the need to plan for more growth and Sonata went public in 1998 to finance the expansion – getting a premium of eight times the face value and being oversubscribed four times in a difficult financial market. A new 35,000 sq ft development facility was added in Bangalore and BVQI’s ISO certification achieved.
Driven by its people
2001-2010
Sonata attained the SEI CMMI Level 5 certification in 2001, reinforcing its commitment to quality. The years 2002 and 2003 saw Sonata gaining a global footprint, with multiple offices in the US, Europe and APAC. The company soon expanded to a 1000+ team and 100M+ USD p.a. revenues. Three new development facilities were added (RMR Bangalore, and Hyderabad Development Centre in 2004 and Global Village in 2008) to address the growing needs of customer engagements.
2010+
With a team of 2500+ and ›200M USD p.a. in revenues, Sonata renewed its strategic focus to grow as a value-added IT service provider. It established new offices in the Middle East & ANZ and a development facility in Redmond, USA to offer better service to its customers in the region.
Sonata has always focused on being a relationship-driven company, whether it is nurturing its customers or building a special bond with its employees. Several of its leading customer and alliance partner relationships reached a milestone 10-year partnership as the decade progressed. Over a fifth of the employees working in the company have tenures of over ten years, and in many cases, they have been growing within their chosen customer account over the period.
Sonata
and
Sonata opens offices across India, US, Europe, Middle East, and APAC
Working at Sonata Team bound together by shared values
Innovation recognized – 2012 Celebrating 10 dynamic years – 2014
Sonata’s people - Tenure in years
21%
› 10 yrs 5-10 yrs 3-5 yrs ‹ 3 yrs
23%
26%
THREE DECADES
OF GOING DEEP IN
THOUGHT,
COMMITMENT
& EXECUTION
THOUGHT
From an inspiration to deliver superior products to Indian
customers that was ahead of its time, pioneering an Offshore
Delivery model, Customer-specific Centers of Excellence,
360° technology engagement and through to platform-based
services, Sonata has always nurtured the value of being
a thought leader in the area of IT services.
COMMITMENT
From a commitment to customers through unique delivery
models that ensure superior focus and service to their needs, to
commitment to enable our employees to tap their full potential
and passion for work, Sonata has always nurtured the value of
being committed to making its stakeholders win.
EXECUTION
It takes a bias for action and the motivation to execute to the
highest standards of excellence to translate the best of ideas
to realized value. With a track record of embracing change to
realize new opportunity and placing quality of results achieved
as the primary yardstick, Sonata has always nurtured the value
of great execution.
Technology Expertise
With roots in product engineering, Sonata has always been committed to bringing an added technology edge to its engagements. World-class alliances and a track record of 360° relationships with best-in-class technology providers in its focus verticals enables Sonata to bring deeper innovation, reliability and speed to market with new technologies.
Domain Knowledge
Sonata seeks to catalyze transformational business outcomes for customers – best done with a deeper understanding of the interface in business needs and technology. Sonata’s complementary focus on enterprises in the Travel, Retail and CPG verticals and on software vendors and solutions serving them helps hone this understanding in a unique manner.
Customer Commitment
Sonata measures itself by a key outcome – long-lasting customer relationships with sustained value addition. Delivery models, which drive customer focus, superior service and stronger relationships are at the heart of every engagement.
THREE DECADES
OF GOING DEEP IN
TECHNOLOGY
DOMAIN &
Sonata Vision
A world-class firm that is
a benchmark for
Catalyzing Business Transformation
for our Customers,
Fulfilling Employee Aspirations &
Caring for our wider Community
through Depth of
Thought Leadership
Customer Centricity
Execution Excellence
APS Trust Building
Bull Temple Road, N R Colony Bangalore 560 019, India T+91 80 6778 1999 F+91 80 2661 0972 www.sonata-software.com
