In India’s fiercely competitive and crowded market of video collaboration (VC), where multinational giants hold sway, A&T Video Networks (P) Ltd, a startup from Madurai, has established itself as a force to reckon with. Founded in 1998 and having completed its 25th anniversary, the company is poised to become a strong player in the premium segment of the VC market in India and abroad.
A&T began its journey as a reseller of video conferencing equipment, driven by a small yet enthusiastic team that recognised the transformative potential of video collaboration applications, particularly in healthcare and education. As a pioneer in the industry, the company had to prove that video collaboration went beyond a mere novelty. With each successful project, the company, headed by Mr. Ashwin Desai, earned the trust of customers and gradually established credibility in the enterprise, healthcare, education, and government/public sector markets. Today, A&T provides cutting-edge, end-to-end solutions in telemedicine, online education, e-courts, and various other domains. It counts prestigious organisations like IIM, IISc, Manipal, Apollo Hospitals, Aravind Eye Hospital, JK Tyre, and various government organisations like Indian Railways and the armed forces, as its clients.
A&T has a technical tie-up with Ubicast, France, to host, configure and manage its Nudgis Video SaaS platform in India. In 2019, As part of its Make in India initiative, the company established a factory in Arasanoor, a tier III town in Sivaganga District, Tamil Nadu, where it manufactures web cameras, PTZ cameras, speakerphones, video soundbars, and microphones. “We take pride in being the sole company to establish our R&D, design, and manufacturing capabilities in a tier-III town. Collaborating with engineers from rural India, we aim to cultivate a talent pool proficient in advanced technologies,” says Ashwin. To support the expansion of its manufacturing facilities, it is actively exploring various strategic funding options.
Before the pandemic, the hardware component of India’s VC market was valued at Rs. 350 crore. A&T's turnover stands at approximately Rs. 18 crore. However, projections indicate that the market will surge to Rs. 800 crore by 2024, and the company anticipates its turnover to surpass the Rs. 50 crore mark by then. This growth trajectory would elevate its market share from around 4% to over 6% during the same period. “Currently, a mere 5% of healthcare and educational institutions have adopted video collaboration. Hence, the room for growth is immense,” Ashwin reasons.
Strict adherence to values sets A&T apart. It is one among the select few organisations in the country that has adopted the tenets of CII's Model Code of Conduct for Business Ethics. It is soon entering into recycling e-waste as part of its Extended Producer Responsibility.
Export is a major focus for A&T. It already has established its footprint in the Middle East, SAARC, and Africa.
“Our ultimate goal is to establish a strong presence in the premium segment of the video collaboration market by providing exceptional value to our customers. To achieve this, we are committed to incorporating Artificial Intelligence into our product and service offerings, enhancing the user experience and delivering innovative solutions,” Ashwin reveals.