HERALD: What is your field of specialty?
KAPIL NAIR: Our automation, safety and security team consists of knowledgeable and goal oriented engineers who have rich experience across various industry verticals including, but not limited to, pharma, industrial and hotel industries. This forms the crux of our company CTS, which is complimented by a software team which provides industry grade software solutions that optimize manpower and accelerate the automation process. CTS’s forte is the constantly adapting and evolving thought process that keeps us firmly on the fast track in the age of rapid technological advancement. It’s this focus and growth oriented approach that has facilitated our growth in Goa and beyond. Our focus continues to be creating top quality and cutting edge products for our customers.
HERALD: Can you give an example of product created by CTS?
KN: In 2016 November, at IITF, the largest trade fair in India, CTS proudly unveiled the prototype of Colva biometric locker solution – a product that’s designed and manufactured in Goa. Colva is a smart locker that helps you go keyless, where you can share a locker, assign lockers based on timings, and enhance security by capturing the images when the locker is opened. Colva is a complete biometric e-locker solution that’s safe, highly secure and keyless. Based on state-of-the-art IoT (Internet of Things) technology, Colva is perfectly suitable for multiple industries, including defence, pharma, banking, hospitality, educational institutions and sports facilities.
HERALD: How does your company help Goans?
KN: Our company is organically Goan and our endeavour is to provide Goan customers with world class solutions without having to venture beyond.
In addition to partnering with global leaders, we also create partnerships with other Goan start-ups to build a holistic and competitive ecosystem.
Examples: PCB manufacturing, design, IT systems.CTS is extremely supportive of young talent and we provide employment for freshers as well as internships for college students in Goa.
HERALD: Who are your major customers?
KN: Most of our major customers in Goa are from the pharmaceutical, industrial and hospitality sectors. We have also provided solutions for several significant clients from these industries within and outside India. Other industries including insurance and telecom also feature in our customer base.
HERALD: What issues did you have to face when you thought of launching this company?
KN: Beginning anything from scratch is always the biggest challenge. I am glad to see that outlooks have progressed with time and people have become more encouraging and supportive of start-ups. To my mind, this is an extremely positive development. We were fortunate to have a solid starting team which made our launch and landing rather smooth. The thrust on digital has helped a great deal as more things are online and hence transparent. I am positive that things will only get better from here. We have not yet approached the government for assistance. We were lucky to have a close family member, who is an established and successful entrepreneur, as our mentor and he helped us a great deal with solid support and guidance.
HERALD: What made you work as an entrepreneur in Goa?
KN: After more than 15 years in the corporate world and having worked in Pune, Bangalore and the US, I wanted to move back and take the plunge to structure a start-up. I had a choice to opt for either Bangalore or Goa and my choice was an easy one to make. Goa is where I grew up and have the best memories. It is also undoubtedly the place which offers a better quality of life. I thought this would be an ideal way to give back to the state.
HERALD: How do you see the Goan market? Are you planning to spread out?
KN: Predominantly there are green fields projects in hospitality. In pharma there is less greenfield and more expansions. Within pharma there are a lot of brown fields as most of them were set up in the late 1990s early 2000. Currently there is intensive focus on HSE (Health, Safety and Environment). Energy efficiency is a vastly targeted arena too. We are perfectly positioned currently as we have partnered with global companies in this space. Home automation is what we plan to venture into and we are presently working on innovative solutions.
HERALD: Where do you see yourself in the next five years?
KN: I would like to see CTS becoming a celebrated brand in Goa very soon. Our focus will be on creating products in Goa and entering households with the same. We are committed to making homes and businesses in Goa safe and secure.CTS prides itself on its emphasis on Make in Goa.
