HERALD: What is your specialty?
ANUJA GAUNEKAR: We are a web design and development company providing a range of affordable custom website design, inexpensive e-commerce website design services to clients across the world. We offer a great Software as a Service (SAAS) platform that provides a full blown website plus a large range of components. We immerse ourselves into new niches to find problems the market experiences and then we set out to create web applications to solve those problems with out-of-the-box solutions. We religiously track all development processes to continuously improve our processes for developing superior SaaS app products in terms of code quality, speed of delivery, security and user experience. Our website is www.arbizsolutions.com
HERALD: What is your USP?
AG: SaaS platform in itself drives competitive advantage and produces more value. Competitive advantage in the SaaS business model comes from leveraging the customer-vendor network connection to re-engineer business processes and service delivery, while building a large customer base to create economies-of-scale and network effects. Starting a SaaS company in 2017 is much different from starting in 2005 or 2008. We believe that to compete in SaaS today and for the future, you have to create an organisation that can make a product customers are always in love with that also gets high retention from them.
HERALD: How does your company help Goans, especially start-ups?
AG: Firstly we provide employment to freshers. Although we are basically a location independent company and can hire people remotely anywhere in the world, we pick up freshers from Goa, train them and put them on already live projects. We can also help any IT web company building and managing their projects. We are also coming up with products that would suit the local niche market. We also do reports analysis to determine performances in terms of income and expenses.
HERALD: What issues did you have to face when you thought of launching this company?
AG: The common issue that any woman faces is the balancing the family along with business. Besides that, delivering projects on time, especially when there are unforeseen situations, makes it difficult. Trying to establish a brand, adjust to match or exceed the competition and keep your business profitable is a challenge no matter how many years you have been in the business. There are times one feels like quitting but so far I have managed to stay afloat. I have not taken any help from the government. They do have certain schemes which have not been promoted well.
HERALD: What made you work as an entrepreneur in Goa?
AG: I always wanted to be one. However, one has to consider a lot of things especially the finance part and most importantly the fear of failure. I had already done a lot of freelance coding work for clients and created entire websites for them. That gave me confidence to work in Goa. Flexibility is also one of the aspects. I get to choose projects and work at my own pace. Also, when you are your own boss your success depends on your own effort. Being in business also allows me to follow my other passions like biking and also being a sports person to devote some time there. I enjoy what I do so I do not consider it work at times and being an entrepreneur there is no limit to creativity as to what I want to build.
HERALD: How do you see the Goan market? Are you planning to spread out?
AG: As of now we do not have any plans to spread out. Goa has a lot of scope in terms of delivering IT services. We plan to develop products that will help Goans with automation and other services.
HERALD: Where do you see yourself five years from now?
AG: Five years is a long time. Many things can change in that period and it is difficult to see where you will be, or even where you would like to be. I believe in setting small goals and targets and evaluating them every now and then. Besides increasing my turnover and making products and services profitable, I wish to empower people, especially women. I would also try and attain social goals and give back to the community.
