Office 2000 Founders’ Story
As we enter the new year, we look back and reminisce about how far we have come. The journey so far has been spectacularly exciting and enriching. We have over the years met fabulous clients who believed in us, giving us a free hand to design AV installations we thought were best for them, and have built an energetic, passionate team with whose support we know we can conquer the world.
Formed in 1998 with Azharuddin and Premkumar as partners, Office 2000’s primary focus was on selling Office Automation and AV products. The incubation time was a steep climb, with many major players in this field; nevertheless, personal equity and customer satisfaction enabled us to get a firm footing in the market in South India.
By 2002, we had grown enough to diversify into AV solution engineering, with about 12 young techies supporting the business. Prabha Lakshmi joined the team as the third partner in 2003 taking on Business Acquisition as her primary focus. In 2005, the company became a private limited and was renamed as Office 2000 Solutions Pvt. Ltd.
The brand ‘O2K’ was created to develop indigenous products and identify OEM suppliers from across the globe. Soon, O2K started its operations in Singapore to cater to customers in SEZ/STPI locations in India.
Headquartered in Chennai, with branch offices in Bangalore, Pune and the pan-India presence of resident engineers, O2K today has a business turnover of over INR 60 crores, with a strength of about 100+ employees, and with marquee names as clients.
The Dynamic Trio
Azharuddin
With Electronics as his passion and background, Azharuddin started his career with M/s. Modi Xerox as a Field Engineer. Soon after he switched to Pertech Computers Limited where hard work and the willingness to learn contributed to his fast career growth. After a five year stint, he joined M/s. Jumbo Electronics to gain international exposure in UAE. Five years with one of the leading office automation companies in the Middle East gave him the opportunity to understand the underlying technology. His role in setting up their assembly unit at Jebel Ali Free Zone kindled the entrepreneur in him and brought him back to India in 1996.
D. Premkumar
With an academic background in Industrial Electronics, Premkumar started his career with M/s. Magnafield Controls, a company involved in the servicing of non-destructive testing equipment. In three years, he found himself in the position of Service Engineer in Pertech Computers Limited. Self-confidence and dedication contributed to his rapid career growth. With an urge to start his own venture, Prem quit his company in 1989. Prem started a small UPS manufacturing unit christened IndoJanix. Having been in power-correcting business for over 7 years, in 1996, Prem decided to team up with Azhar to diversify, and Office 2000 was born.
Prabha Lakshmi
Prabha Lakshmi committed her career to sales soon after completing her education and has ever since remained so – graduating from being a front-end sales person, to becoming a Sales Team Leader, and thereafter managing and directing a sales organization. After rising through leading IT organizations like Pertech Computers Limited, ICIM, Intergraph Corporation, and Microland through her commitment and passion, Prabha was bit by the entrepreneurial bug in 2003. She joined the Office 2000 team as the third partner, taking on business acquisition as her primary focus.