An Interface with Mr. Umesh Pai Managing Director Eplan India
IU: Can you please brief Eplan in India & Company’s Current Operations?
Eplan Software Private Limited has established a strong presence in the Indian market since its foray in the year 2000 through distributors and agents initially and then directly in 2017. The company’s operations in India are centred around providing comprehensive design and engineering solutions to a diverse range of industries.
Eplan’s India headquarters is located in Bangalore, with regional offices in Mumbai, New Delhi, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Kolkata and Pune. The company has built a robust customer base of over 1200 clients and more than 3000 installations across the country, catering to sectors such as Factory Automation, System Integrators, Machinery Manufacturers, Automotive OEMs, Food and Pharma companies, etc.
Eplan’s focus in India is on empowering businesses to streamline their engineering processes through its suite of software solutions. These include Eplan Electric P8 for electrical engineering, Eplan Pro Panel for panel designs, Eplan Fluid for fluid power engineering and Eplan Preplanning for early project planning stages. The company’s solutions aim to enhance efficiency, reduce design time, and ensure error-free documentation for its customers.
To further strengthen its position, Eplan has invested in a dedicated team for sales, support, training, and consulting services in the country.
Eplan’s growth strategy in India revolves around continuous innovation, strategic partnerships, and a customer-centric approach. By catering to the evolving needs of the Indian market, the company is poised to play a pivotal role in driving digital transformation and engineering efficiency across diverse industries.
IU: Can you share some of the challenges Eplan India faced in the early stages of its development and how they were addressed?
In its early stages, Eplan India faced several unique challenges in adapting to the Indian market, including the need to transition companies from traditional CAD tools to advanced engineering software solutions. Recognizing the lower engineering level in India compared to other countries, where many firms still used drafting tools, Eplan India focused on providing comprehensive solutions, training, and support to help businesses embrace more sophisticated technologies.
One of the key hurdles was positioning Eplan’s products effectively in the Indian market. The company aimed to highlight the high scope of its solutions, emphasizing benefits like interdisciplinary engineering, faster design processes, and error-free documentation. Eplan recognized the significant growth potential in India and expected to play a vital role in the Control & Automation field related to Electrical, Fluid and Process Plant engineering.
To achieve this, Eplan invested heavily in research and development, incorporating valuable customer feedback from the Indian market into its globally applicable engineering solutions. The company’s development team in Germany tailored its offerings to fulfill the diverse requirements of Indian industries, which include Factory and Process Automation, System Integrators, machinery manufacturers, and firms across sectors like Power & Energy, Automotive, Machine tools, Crane, Marine, Ship Building, and Material Handling.
Through dedication to innovation and a customer-centric approach, Eplan India successfully navigated these challenges, establishing itself as a leading provider of engineering software solutions in the country. The company’s success was driven by its commitment to addressing the unique needs of the Indian market, showcasing the power of innovation and customer feedback in driving growth and success in a competitive environment.
IU: In what ways does Eplan INDIA envision the future of Automation and its impact on sustainability and innovation?
Eplan India has a clear vision for the future of automation and its impact on sustainability and innovation. As a leading provider of engineering software solutions, the company is poised to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of automation in the country.
At the heart of Eplan’s vision lies the concept of “The Next Level of Industry,” which aims to seamlessly integrate electrical, and process engineering through a comprehensive suite of software tools. By empowering businesses to streamline their engineering workflows, Eplan seeks to enhance efficiency, reduce design time, and ensure error-free documentation – all while promoting sustainable practices.
One of the key drivers of Eplan’s success has been its focus on research and development. The company’s development team in Germany works closely with customers to incorporate valuable feedback, ensuring that its solutions remain tailored to the unique requirements of Indian industries, ranging from Factory and Process Automation to Machinery Manufacturing and Building Automation.
As the Indian market continues to embrace digital transformation, Eplan is ready to enable businesses to navigate this transition. By providing cutting-edge software solutions, comprehensive training, and dedicated support, Eplan aims to equip Indian companies with the tools and expertise needed to thrive in the age of Industry 4.0, fostering innovation, sustainability, and long-term growth.
Through its unwavering commitment to innovation and customer-centricity, Eplan India is shaping the future of automation in the country, empowering businesses to achieve new levels of efficiency, productivity, and environmental responsibility. The company’s vision is to be at the forefront of this transformation, driving sustainable growth and innovation across industries.
IU: Can you provide an overview of your vision for the future of Eplan India and its role in the engineering industry?
Eplan India envisions a future where engineering efficiency and innovation converge to drive sustainable growth across industries. As a leading provider of engineering software solutions, the company is poised to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of automation in the country.
At the heart of Eplan’s vision lies the concept of “Efficient Engineering,” which aims to streamline challenging engineering processes for machine and panel builders. By empowering businesses to apply their expertise more efficiently, Eplan seeks to enhance productivity, reduce design time, and ensure error-free documentation – all while promoting sustainable practices.
Eplan’s focus on research and development has been a key driver of its success, allowing the company to stay ahead of the curve and anticipate the evolving needs of the market. The development team works closely with customers to incorporate valuable feedback, ensuring that its solutions remain tailored to the unique requirements of Indian industries, ranging from Factory and Process Automation to Machinery Manufacturing and Building Automation.
As the Indian market continues to embrace digital transformation, Eplan is ready to enable businesses to navigate this transition. By providing cutting-edge software solutions, comprehensive training, and dedicated support, Eplan aims to equip Indian companies with the tools and expertise needed to thrive in the age of Industry 4.0, fostering innovation, sustainability, and long-term growth.
Through its unwavering commitment to innovation and customer-centricity, Eplan India is shaping the future of automation in the country, empowering businesses to achieve new levels of efficiency, productivity, and environmental responsibility. The company’s vision is to be at the forefront of this transformation, driving sustainable growth and innovation across industries.
IU: How does Eplan India support collaboration and data exchange with other engineering tools and systems?
At Eplan, we understand the importance of seamless collaboration and data exchange across the engineering ecosystem. That’s why we’ve designed our solutions to integrate seamlessly with a wide range of other tools and systems, empowering our customers to work more efficiently and effectively.
One of the key ways we facilitate collaboration is through our integrated part management practices. Our Eplan Data Portal gives users direct online access to high-quality product catalogues from a growing pool of prestigious component manufacturers. This allows our customers to easily access the information they need, streamlining the design and engineering process.
But it doesn’t stop there. Eplan Electric P8’s compatibility with international standards enables cross-referencing and error checking to be automated, making it easier to exchange data with other tools. And with the ability to import and export through many file formats, import device data and connections from external systems, and utilize the Eplan API for high-level customization, our solutions are designed to play nicely with others.
To further enhance collaboration, we’ve developed Eplan eMANGAGE, a cloud-based solution that provides the foundation for active project and location-independent collaboration. This allows users to easily upload projects from the Eplan Platform and share data with colleagues, partners, suppliers, and purchasers quickly and securely. Here, I would like to talk about our partner network. Eplan collaborates closely with partners like Eaton, Mitsubishi Electric, and Trace Software International to enhance the customer experience and streamline engineering processes. For instance, Eaton’s integration within the Eplan Partner Network aims to reduce engineering efforts through configuration tools and high-quality data embedded in the Eplan Data Portal.
At the end of the day, our goal is to empower our customers to work smarter, not harder. By seamlessly integrating our solutions with other engineering tools and systems, we’re helping to foster a more collaborative and efficient engineering ecosystem in India and beyond.
IU: Can you elaborate on the services and support that Eplan India provides beyond its software solutions?
Eplan India goes beyond just providing software solutions by offering comprehensive services and support to help customers maximize the benefits of its engineering tools. One key aspect is the Eplan Solution Centre, an online support system that provides software service customers with efficient processing of their application questions. This accelerates response times and enables customers to track the status of their support tickets at any time.
For subscription customers, Eplan India offers comprehensive support for application questions about the Eplan Platform as well as Eplan Cloud products. Experts are available to start processing requests within four hours and provide solutions as quickly as possible. Support is provided in English by knowledgeable Eplan Support experts.
In addition to direct support, Eplan India offers comprehensive eLearning resources through Eplan.com, providing exclusive access to numerous online tutorials covering the Eplan Platform 2024. This empowers customers to expand their knowledge and get the most out of their Eplan software. Furthermore, Eplan’s experienced consultants work closely with customers to help them utilize Eplan solutions efficiently and introduce new engineering methods. The consultants collaborate with customers to unlock the potential for implementing integrated workflows, ensuring that they derive maximum value from Eplan’s offerings. By leveraging Eplan’s eLearning platform and expert consulting services, customers can streamline their engineering processes and stay ahead of the curve.
Beyond digital support, Eplan India has a strong local presence with offices in key cities like Bangalore, Mumbai, New Delhi, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Kolkata, and Pune. This allows the company to provide in-person training, consulting services, and customized solutions tailored to the unique needs of the Indian market. With a dedicated team for sales, support, training, and consulting, Eplan India is committed to being a trusted partner throughout the engineering lifecycle.
IU : How does Eplan India stay updated with the latest technological advancements and industry standards?
At Eplan India, we’re always on the lookout for the latest and greatest in engineering technology and industry standards. It’s a fast-paced world out there, and we know that to stay ahead of the curve, we need to be proactive in our approach to research and development.
For instance, Eplan’s cloud-based engineering platform, Eplan Cloud, integrates data and projects globally, facilitating seamless collaboration and data sharing. With Eplan eMANAGE, users can securely upload projects into the Eplan Cloud, ensuring centralized access to project data. The inclusion of leading companies like CHINT in the Eplan Data Portal enriches the database with high-quality device data, enhancing engineering workflows. By leveraging cloud-based solutions and data models, Eplan empowers users to streamline processes, reduce errors, and drive efficiency in engineering projects.
That’s why we’re constantly collaborating with our customers, listening to their feedback, and incorporating it into our solutions. We want to make sure that our software is not only cutting-edge, but also tailored to the specific needs of the Indian market and by participating in international events like the Hannover Messe, we’re able to get a bird’s-eye view of the industry and anticipate where things are headed next.
But it’s not just about the software – it’s about the people behind it too. We invest heavily in training and development programs for our team members because we know that their skills and knowledge are the foundation of our success and we extend that same commitment to our customers, offering comprehensive training programs and resources to help them get the most out of our solutions.
At the end of the day, our goal is to be a trusted partner in the engineering ecosystem – not just a software provider.
By staying on top of the latest technological advancements and industry standards, we’re able to deliver innovative, efficient, and globally competitive solutions that help our customers achieve new levels of success. It’s a tall order, but with our global network, our culture of continuous learning, and our unwavering commitment to our customers, we’re confident that we’re up for the challenge.
IU: What are the future plans for Eplan India in terms of expanding its product offerings or entering new markets?
As we embark upon 2024, our foremost endeavor is the migration to cloud technology. We steadfastly affirm this trajectory as the quintessential route for our patrons to secure an enduring triumph. Moreover, we are advancing toward a sagacious, intuitive engineering platform. One of our pivotal objectives for 2024 is to enhance our onboarding protocol, allowing our clients to leverage our software with unprecedented swiftness. In all our pursuits, the principle of customer-centricity remains sacrosanct. It transcends being merely a value; it is the very core of our organizational identity.
To ensure our offerings stay ahead of the curve when it comes to technology and industry standards, we are dedicated to continuous innovation and R&D. By tapping into our global network and partnerships, we plan to expand our reach far and wide, especially in the up-and-coming markets of Asia.
Our goal is to be the one-stop shop for all your engineering software needs, no matter what industry you’re in or what part of the world you’re in. We’re dreaming big, thinking big, and working hard to make Eplan India the name that comes to mind when you think of “engineering innovation.”
With significant growth expected in the coming years, we’re confident we can position ourselves as the leading provider of Control & Automation solutions. So stay tuned, because the best is yet to come!
For more details: www.eplan.in