Technology is evolving rapidly, companies must be adaptable to thrive: Lee & Nee CEO

The mantra at the Kolkata-headquartered Lee & Nee Softwares Exports Ltd is: ‘If you help your customers grow and expand, you yourself also grow, in the process.’ And that’s how the company has been growing and going stronger by the day. The company topbrass feels that technology is a fast-moving industry, so we must be very flexible and agile as we need to keep adapting to new things. All this while the company has been doing things in a certain way. Newer technology is evolving every month. So future generations should not be rigid about what they already know. Their focus should be on providing the best solution to the customer. To do that, if they need to relearn or unlearn, they need to be ready to do that to ultimately satisfy the customers' needs and adapt to new technologies. That’s what Mahesh Gupta, CEO and MD, Lee & Nee Softwares Exports Ltd, feels strongly. Speaking to Bizz Buzz exclusively, Mahesh Gupta, narrates the journey of the company and the way forward

How did the Lee & Nee journey start?

Lee & Nee was started in late 1988 by my father - SM Gupta, who is also a Chartered Accountant. He had taken a computer course in NIIT organized for the Chartered Accountants and then realized the tremendous benefits of computers. Mind you, computers weren't common back then, but he understood that the potential of software could transform any business. He thought it was a good opportunity for the Indian industry to rise & shine. That's what prompted him to start this company. Hailing from a family of Chartered Accountants, I also pursued my CA course, even while in my college- St Xavier’s College, Kolkata. Finance was my priority in those days. Subsequently, I took a two years course from NIIT to upgrade myself with the latest technology to head a technology company. What was missing then was Sales and Marketing. Then I went to the University of Berkley in the US to get a Diploma in International Marketing, followed by an internship in a software company. By then I could gather knowledge about finance, technology and sales, three pillars of any business. When I came back to be with my family, I decided to join my family’s company and take this to the next level. I always wanted to do something where I belong to.

Where and how did the name come from?

The name of the company came from the names of my two sisters. My father and my family have all along been standing for women empowerment. And this is a small testimony to that.

What does Lee & Nee do now?

Lee & Nee has been a pioneer in the software development industry for over three and a half decades. We started with Software & Website development, and now are we also doing Digital Marketing along with ERP solutions. Digital marketing, again, is a broad term, so we do organic SEO for google rankings followed by social media promotion on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn & YouTube. We set up Google Adwords and Facebook campaigns for our clients and manage them. So all these three activities: SEO, SMO & PPC, are parts of digital marketing.

Another important service provided by us is ERP Solutions. We have got three types of ERP.

1) We are partners with SAP B1. SAP is a big brand globally. It is a German company and the world's No.1 ERP company. We are their authorized partners in India. We provide end-to-end solutions starting from selling licenses, doing the implementation, and providing the support & training to our clients. This is a high-end ERP solution for small to medium-sized enterprises.

2) We have our in-house BIZ ERP for people who cannot afford such high-end ERP. That is a cost-efficient product with similar features, but it's not as advanced as SAP. We're promoting it all over India.

3) We offer another ERP product known as Campus Konnect which is software for educational institutes like Schools, Colleges and Universities. It offers the entire solution from Admission to Alumni. Lastly, we also develop Mobile Applications. We develop mobile apps on native as well as hybrid platforms. These are the main areas in which we are currently working.

You have recently forged an alliance with MyWave. Can you tell us something about that?

Lee & Nee Softwares Exports Ltd has entered into partnership with MyWave a global leader in Gen AI solutions to Empower Businesses with AI in India. This strategic alliance offers unparalleled access to cutting-edge AI solutions and exceptional support, ensuring businesses receive the most comprehensive support to unlock their full potential in the AI era. MyWave, is a global leader in AI-powered solutions for SAP and a trusted partner of SAP itself. This collaboration positioned Lee & Nee at the forefront of India's AI adoption, bringing the future of business to the country for the first time. With cutting-edge Gen-AI technology, businesses now have the power to unlock unprecedented levels of efficiency and productivity.

What is your take on AI and how it can impact the sector positively?

Artificial Intelligence is rapidly transforming the IT landscape and defining the future of business. We must discover how to leverage this powerful technology to drive exponential growth and streamline operations. We must also discover and realize the synergistic power of SAP B1 and Gen-AI, showcasing how these integrated solutions can slash costs by up 8x. We must learn actionable strategies to optimize processes and achieve exceptional bottom-line results.

Our association with the global AI leader can serve as a powerful launch-pad for businesses seeking to embrace the future of automation. It is important to impart practical knowledge that can help in revolutionizing customers’ operations with the combined power of AI and SAP B1. Lee & Nee Softwares Exports Ltd. remains committed to being a leader in the AI revolution and empowering businesses with the tools they need to thrive in the new industrial landscape.

How many clients you have served so far and what is your current headcount?

We have served more than 6-7 thousand customers by now, which gives us the experience of working on different types of projects across different sectors. We can understand business requirements and can advise them on how they can have their software and solutions designed by us. That helps the customers to use our experience. We have a strong in-house team of 130 people working in the company. We are hence able to maintain the quality of work delivered to clients that too within the given timeline. These are the main reasons why people love working with Lee & Nee.