In the current article from the AMC Bridge location introduction series, we introduce Karthikeyan Karamchandran, Managing Director of AMC Bridge India, and our team in India. In our conversation, Karthikeyan guided our exploration of the diverse strengths of engineers in India, highlighting their cultural adaptability, multilingual skills, and robust technical expertise—attributes that make them invaluable in international IT projects.
Karthik began his career in software development in the banking and financial sector, later moving into CAD development because of his API programming expertise. Afterward, he became a software engineer at a major aerospace and defense corporation, where his work led to a collaborative partnership with AMC Bridge’s Ukrainian team, lasting until 2013. But in 2022, Karthik joined forces with AMC Bridge, playing a key role in setting up the company’s operations in India.
A glimpse into the history of the IT market in India
From a historical perspective, the Y2K bug, also known as the millennium bug or year 2000 problem, marked a pivotal moment for the IT market in India. As it happened, many computer systems and software used to represent years using only the last two digits. This representation meant that the year 2000 could be mistaken for 1900, potentially leading to data inaccuracies and system failures as the calendar shifted from December 31, 1999 to January 1, 2000.
The global concern surrounding the Y2K bug created a surge in demand for IT expertise as companies worldwide sought solutions to potential system vulnerabilities. With its burgeoning IT sector and a vast pool of English-speaking IT professionals, India seized this opportunity. During this era, India’s IT market experienced notable growth, driven by numerous Y2K projects initiated by major firms.
Today, the Indian IT market has evolved into a global powerhouse known for its innovation, advanced technology solutions, and highly skilled workforce. The sector continues to grow rapidly, embracing new technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, and cloud computing.
AMC Bridge in India: carving a niche in a competitive IT landscape
AMC Bridge distinguishes itself in the diverse and established Indian IT market with a distinct niche and a track record of successful collaborations. Many companies within the Indian IT sector, whether past or current partners or clients, have developers with skills and engineering backgrounds well-suited to AMC Bridge’s profile. We have significant growth potential in India as every major CAD or engineering software company operates there, and we have access to a vast pool of skilled professionals.
Although AMC Bridge is viewed as a new entity in India, it’s recognized not as a startup but as a company establishing its own legacy and expertise in handling personnel. Our immediate focus is on building trust with potential candidates, assuring them of our two-decade-long business history and our commitment to their welfare. The challenge lies in demonstrating our credibility to candidates. However, AMC Bridge’s robust reputation as an exceptional partner for some of the most prominent CAD companies significantly enhances our credibility and reassures potential candidates of the reliability of our collaboration.
The Indian IT market is highly diverse, ranging from small companies with around 10 employees to giants with over 100,000 staff members. In our specific CAD segment, company sizes vary from 100 to 10,000 employees. This vast landscape offers numerous opportunities for AMC Bridge to find the right talent with specific expertise and skills that align with our unique requirements. We seek individuals who can adapt to different projects and environments, maintaining a high standard of quality and skill that sets AMC Bridge apart in the market.
India’s engineers: cultural agility, multilingual capability, technical proficiency
Software developers in India frequently come from prestigious engineering institutions, where they acquire expertise in various programming languages, including Java, Python, and C++. The rigorous and competitive nature of India’s educational system not only equips them with technical skills but also instills a strong work ethic and adaptability. This adaptability extends beyond technical skills to cultural nuances as well. Developers in India often excel in navigating the subtle cultural differences in communication styles and work expectations found in international collaborations. Their exposure to diverse cultural and linguistic environments within India itself prepares them for the global workspace and enables them to work seamlessly with international teams and clients.
Higher education in India, primarily conducted in English, significantly facilitates the integration of software professionals in India into the global market. A typical well-educated individual in India is often trilingual and proficient in English, Hindi, and their regional language. This multilingual capability, especially prevalent among software developers, positions English as the preferred language for professional communication. This choice is both a necessity due to India’s vast linguistic diversity and a strategic alignment with the global nature of the IT industry.
I strongly believe that cultural agility and linguistic versatility, combined with technical proficiency, make software developers in India valuable assets in both domestic and global IT projects.
Direct insights and regular feedback
Like in any other country, individual reactions to criticism can vary, but culturally, we often view feedback as an opportunity for growth. In my experience, the key lies in how feedback is presented. When offering feedback, many developers adopt a balanced approach, accentuating positive aspects before addressing areas that require attention. This approach is rooted in the desire to maintain a cohesive work environment and sidestep direct confrontations.
I would like to underline the importance of direct, detailed, and frequent feedback for developers in India. For us, such feedback is a foundation for understanding the current state of progress and areas of improvement that serve as guidance for successful professional growth.
While at AMC Bridge, I witnessed a continuous improvement in providing feedback. At this point, I think it is very constructive, well-structured, and regularly presented at reasonable intervals.
Bridging communication
In global companies with international development teams, it usually takes some time to synchronize workflows within the team, communication practices, and project management strategies, eventually forming a cohesive and efficient rhythm of cooperation. In my experience, facilitating team interactions and meetings, rather than sticking only to individual one-on-one sessions, has proven effective in enhancing team building, especially in remote work environments. Team-level training, knowledge-sharing sessions, and even online hackathons can significantly improve team cohesion. These activities not only facilitate communication but also foster a sense of teamwork and collaboration.
In multinational teams where English is not a native language, adopting both written and verbal forms of communication is beneficial. Face-to-face meetings, even remotely via platforms like Teams, are invaluable. Sometimes, using AI tools for translation and subtitles during meetings can also help improve English language proficiency and comprehension. But it is important to remember that any software can be used only with the approval of the IT department. Regular interaction, whether about work or informal topics, helps break down language barriers and builds familiarity with different accents and styles of communication.
In my opinion, the key elements to fostering trusting relationships and effective communication are time, patience, and practice. For example, during the past year of remote work with various teams, I’ve found that building trust and understanding is paramount. Initially, there was a certain hesitancy in communication, but I’ve grown more comfortable over time. Now, I can confidently express my thoughts and viewpoints, knowing that my team members understand what I mean. This mutual understanding allows for open and robust communication: even if I express a point assertively, I’m confident it won’t be misconstrued. This level of comfort and trust didn’t happen overnight; it developed through continuous, dedicated communication during the past year.
Work flexibility and timely delivery
Developers from India are recognized for their commitment and frequently go beyond regular working hours to ensure project timelines are met. Working during off-hours or weekends is not rare, especially when dictated by project necessities. Still, at AMC Bridge, we prioritize offering our team members flexibility in their schedules, empowering them to choose between remote and office-based work as per their preference.
Building understanding and trust in global teams
At AMC Bridge, we have many communication channels. In my experience, the most common and reliable way of work-related communication is the written one. Sending updates or questions via email helps track the discussion, notify everyone involved, and create a framework for future communication. When it comes to project-related questions, I often encourage addressing them directly to teammates, team leaders, or delivery managers. If non-project-related questions arise, there is always a good option of reaching out to a dedicated HR specialist. Still, sometimes, I try to answer and help in such situations directly.
People often feel more comfortable communicating with others who share their language and cultural background. This comfort is less about the language itself and more about the shared cultural context and understanding. Words can carry different meanings across cultures; what might be interpreted one way in India could have a completely different connotation in the US. Therefore, when I speak with someone from another country, I’m very cautious about my word choice to avoid misunderstandings. Consider a scenario where I’m engaging in initial meetings with a teammate from a different country with whom I have no prior working history. In such situations, I am cautious in my communication to prevent any misjudgments that may arise from cultural differences. However, it changes when there’s regular, everyday communication that builds familiarity and understanding. Once a mutual comfort level is reached through the ongoing dialog, those barriers tend to diminish, allowing for more open and effective communication.
Building meaningful relationships
In the early stages of building our team in India, I took special care to foster a sense of comfort for all our employees. I established a routine of remote communication, ensuring they feel seamlessly integrated into the larger team. Where possible, I meet the team members regularly, and we exchange greetings, sometimes have lunch together, and engage in informal conversations.
Generally, my interactions with the team aren’t about serious issues or grievances; they haven’t approached me with any significant problems so far. Our conversations are more informal, centered around how the projects progress, their ease and satisfaction with assigned tasks, and the technologies they use. Being a developer myself, I understand their work and can discuss any technical complexities they might face. These aren’t formal one-on-one meetings, just casual chats to ensure they feel comfortable and incorporated.
Our main goal is to become the employer of choice
We’ve conducted thorough research on India’s talent reservoir to ensure we identify candidates who align seamlessly with our expansion goals. As we move forward, our plans are centered on fortifying our presence in India and integrating more profoundly into the Indian IT community.
We are in the process of establishing our core team, a task that demands considerable effort. Our plan is to gradually expand by adding more teams, with these initial 15-20 members serving as the foundation for a larger organization. As we aim to grow, it’s essential for us to foster long-term working relationships with this core team. Building trust is key to ensuring the employees feel valued and cared for by the company beyond their work output. We’re not just focused on immediate results; our vision involves creating enduring bonds and robust and reliable long-term relationships with the team members. We don’t want to see people leave; instead, we invest in nurturing lasting relationships. In this endeavor, effective communication plays a pivotal role in building and sustaining these connections.
Our most important long-term goal is becoming an employer of choice for developers in India, which is paramount for AMC Bridge. Recognizing the vast pool of talent and innovation in India, it’s essential that we position ourselves as a preferred destination for top-tier developers. It will ensure our continued growth and prominence in the market.
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