For any software-based company, the most critical task is to preserve its Intellectual Property Rights by making sure only the legalized and original versions of its softwares are used around the globe by all its users. However, with the advent of internet-based peer-to-peer sharing platforms, the use of legalized softwares has been compromised in an adverse manner and the same situation is being tackled by the Australia based Wilcom, which is developing cutting edge software for producing accurate and precise embroidery designs. Established in 1979, Wilcom is today present in over 100 countries with products in over 12 languages and has a global community of more than 2,50,000 licensed customers.
[bleft]“Most of Indian customers are job workers and have a very tight budget when it comes to converting to legalized software. Hence, we make available to them easy installment-based financing options.” – Janos Horvath, Channel Manager – West Asia, Wilcom[/bleft]
Among the best solutions for embroidery design development, software from Wilcom are used extensively as pirated versions and with India being the world’s biggest embroidery product manufacturers, the Asian country becomes the core of Wilcom’s anti-piracy drives. “With most of the manufacturers using low-cost Chinese machines, it is difficult for most of them to buy embroidery software which is at times equivalent to the price of the machines. Our company has launched a worldwide campaign to educate and compel unlicensed users to come forward and legalize their products. The campaign is currently the prime focus of our company and in the last fiscal year the conversion from pirated to legal versions contributed to 75% of our revenue. As for selling new products, we already have a clientele of high-end manufacturers and we are quite satisfied and secured on that front,” says Janos Horvath, Channel Manager – West Asia.
For conversions, the focus is on the ESP 2006 version of the embroidery software, as most of the manufacturers prefer legalizing their existing version of the same. Although there is an option of updating to the new software, sticking with the same version saves them from undergoing additional training to understand the changes in the new version. The latest E3 version of the software enables the user to make efficient designs by not only using the least stitches possible but also encompassing the aspects of sequin and double-sequins as per the design, which is very commonly used by many saree manufacturers.
Since using unlicensed software is punishable by law, Wilcom performs 3-4 raids in a month, and Janos first choice is to reach a cordial solution with embroiders by educating them about the benefits of using a licensed version. So far, the response to this initiative has been stupendous, with Wilcom, converting roughly 1000 embroiders every year, bringing the tally to 2,500 in India. More than the presence of other embroidery software providers, the real challenge for a high-end solution provider like Wilcom is to get the pricing right. “Most of Indian customers are job workers and have a very tight budget when it comes to converting to legalized software. Hence, we make available to them easy installment-based financing options for conversions,” asserts Janos. For the same purpose, the company in collaboration with IIGM has opened up training centres in Delhi and plans to open more in regions like Tirupur, Jaipur, Surat, Kolkata, Mumbai and many more.
