“The problem with competition is that it takes away the requirement to set your own path, to invent your own method, to find a new way,” said Seth Godin. I am reminded of this quote as Indian businesses, especially in new sectors, have looked at global businesses for inspiration and proven business models.
Doing business in India is a testimony to Darwin’s theory of “survival of the fittest”. Today, in every domain of business and activity, there is opportunity and every player, Indian and global, is rushing in to make hay. To say we live in ultra-competitive times is an understatement. Funding is drying up. There is less money in circulation. Consumers/customers have multiple options and are spoilt for choice. There are regulatory issues, scaling up is a challenge and technology is a real disruptor.
The cover story this issue dissects and critically evaluates the emergence and growth of home-grown, Indian-owned businesses that are locked in a battle for market share with MNCs for which India is the only market where growth is assured over the next decade.
Deputy editor Sutanu Guru, who anchored the cover story, delves deep to see how various Indian businesses, be they Patanjali, Hero or Flipkart, are pitted against global rivals in their individual domains. He was assisted by special correspondent Monica Behura, who examines the meteoric rise of Baba Ramdev’s Patanjali Ayurved and competitors’ response to its success, and associate editor Ayushman Baruah, who looks at the turf battle between Flipkart and Amazon and how Alibaba will be making it tough for every player. Read senior associate editor Suman K. Jha’s interview with desi campaigner S. Gurumurthy for his take on Indian businesses.
In banking, though, international players that have been operating in India for decades, are suffering huge losses and are often defocused on India because of their global concerns. The market share of some are going down and being ceded to Indian banks. Will we see this trend in other sectors too?
We also bring you what entrepreneurs like Zopper’s Surjendu Kuila and investors like Ashish Bhasin think of the desi versus foreign battles and who they see winning in the end. BW Businessworld columinst Ramesh Jude Thomas’s Last Word just hits the nail on the head when he says that Indian businesses have all the advantages on their home turf, and all they need to do is drive that advantage with very high standards and world-class customer engagement.
In this issue, four new ministers of the Modi government with key portfolios, namely Manoj Sinha (MoS, Telecom), Santosh Gangwar and Arjun Meghwal (MoS Finance) and Hansraj Gangaram Ahir (MoS, Home) spell out their priorities to Suman Jha in exclusive interviews.
Deputy editor Raghu Mohan gets Religare Enterprises CMD Sunil Godhwani to talk candidly about the impending reorganisation of Religare’s businesses and the strategic thinking behind it. Digital media company Arre’s Sai Kumar talks to marketing and advertising editor Noor Fathima Warsia about the importance of OTT, among other things. Also, don’t miss Grundfos CEO Mads Nipper’s interview with assistant editor Paramita Chatterjee in which he speaks of the smart use of water for sustainable development.
Happy reading.
BW Reporters
The author is the Chairman & Editor-in-Chief of the BW Businessworld Group and the Founder & Editor-in-Chief of the exchange4media Group
