GST implementation has resulted in increasing number of cloud-based GST compliant solutions and their adoption by large companies as well as small and medium enterprises.
Since they come at different price points, they are affordable to small and medium businesses. For instance, Zoho offers services at ₹2,999 a month per organisation for 10 users. SahiGST, a start-up and part of Vayana network, offers three plans in the range of ₹1,200 to ₹12,000.
Tech disruption
The implementation of GST meant that the unorganised sector, which account for more than 50 per cent of the businesses, had to adopt technology.
Javed Tapia, Founder and Managing Director, Clover Infotech, said, “When GST was implemented, it brought with it complexity that required the intervention of technology.” This forced companies to look for solutions that are easy to adopt and flexible in terms of usage.
For instance, in March the company launched GST compliant ERP services implemented on Oracle Cloud that evoked interest among its clientèle. Though it is still early, Tapia expects the segment will contribute significantly to the revenue in the next 12-15 years. Clover Infotech caters to medium and large enterprises.
Chennai-based Zoho Corporation too saw significant uptake for its GST compliant Zoho Finance Plus, which the company launched in April 2017. Prior to the launch, the company’s majority of the clients were overseas.
According to a senior official, the company saw significant traction from Indian audience post-GST. With the growing demand, the company is planning to set up data centres in India in coming months.
Microsoft India too offers GST compliant solution in its Microsoft Dynamics platform, an end-to-end solution hosted in its cloud platform Microsoft Azure.
Samik Roy, Country Head (Dynamics) at Microsoft India, said, GST is one of the key disruptions that brought about huge transformation along with e-commerce in retail, where 90 per cent of the trade is unorganised. “The sector is slowly getting into organised retail and is at different stages of technology adoption phase,” he said.
Cloud advantage
These provide huge opportunity for cloud service providers as the companies are looking for platforms and solutions that are easy to use and less capital intensive.
Tapia of Clover Infotech said, “This is what makes cloud attractive for consumers.” Cloud offers pay-per-use model where you can pay for what you are using with the flexibility to offload data when you do not need it. “This can help companies focus on their core businesses, he added.