India Ultrasound Sales 'N' Service Takes its Model Global
April 22, 2010
by Keith Loria, Reporter

Growing up in India, KRM Niranjan Kumar wasn't your normal 13-year-old boy. He was surrounded by family members involved in ultrasound scanning and he decided that it was a business that he wanted to get involved in himself. After working for some of the big companies throughout India, he decided it was time to branch out on his own.

In 1998, he started a small company in Calicut, Kerala, operating as a medical equipment dealer in India. Two years later, it expanded into India Ultrasound Sales 'N' Service, selling refurbished ultrasound scanners and color dopplers in Southern India.

"In 2002, we stopped dealing in the other products and started selling refurbished ultrasound units all over India," said DOTmed certified exporter Joshy Joseph. "In 2004 the company started exporting."

Today, India Ultrasound offers complete diagnostic ultrasound solutions for general radiology, obstetrics, gynecology, cardiology, vascular, peripheral vascular, breast, neurology, urology, surgical and veterinary applications. The sales, service, spares and training are focused toward both domestic and international customers.

By focusing on quality service and on-time delivery, India Ultrasound made sure to concentrate on its customers and they soon became the number one refurbished ultrasound reseller in India.

"We look to support our existing customers, gather more customers by providing quality products and timely support, and offering suitable solutions to customers," Joseph said. "Our satisfied customers across the globe show that we have been successful."

For the past three years, India Ultrasound has been a DOTmed 100 user and has grown year after year.

In 2008, the company started an ultrasound spare parts operation, and that has really helped to spike the business. Before that year, the company had done around $1 million in sales, but that figure grew to $1.8 million for 2008-09 and $2.3 million last year.

"Other than the financial growth, our company has grown with respect to technical expertise, spare stock, inventory stock, team strength and more," said Joseph. "We house our own inventory, refurbish our own systems and employ experienced engineers."

According to Bharatbook.com, which issued the report "India Ultrasound Systems Market: Strategic Market Analysis and Insight" last December, the ultrasound market in India is expected to grow 15% in the next five years. The report says the market is expected to be driven by a rapidly developing healthcare infrastructure in rural India and the increasing use of portable ultrasound systems in new applications such as critical care and vascular surgery.

India Ultrasound is expected to be a big part of that growth. Looking ahead, the company does not plan to rest on its laurels.

"Our aim is to be an ultrasound hub for the world, to start procuring ultrasound across the globe," Joseph said. "We plan to start different India Ultrasound offices across the globe for easy access."

India Ultrasound Sales 'N' Service: A DOTmed 100 Company Profile
August 19, 2009
by Keith Loria, Reporter

As India's first DOTmed 100 USA exporter for refurbished ultrasound scanners and color Dopplers, India Ultrasound Sales 'N' Service has achieved great success since forming 10 years ago. Although it began as a company focusing on service of ultrasound products, it has grown into a diversified business.
"Sales, service, spares and training are focused towards both domestic and international customers. Our business is targeted towards both end user as well as dealers/resellers," says Sreenivasan Kopula, marketing manager for India Ultrasound Sales 'N' Service. "Export also plays a vital role to establish ourselves in the market. India Ultrasound Sales 'N' Service is expanding through E-business. We share all our stock with customers through regular emails and mailers. We also do online service consultancy to our customers both in India and abroad."
The heart beat of India Ultrasound Sales 'N' Service was initiated by K R M Niranjan Kumar, who was inspired by ultrasound scanning at the age of 13. He then decided to build his career in ultrasound and continued his education in electronics and communications engineering. He worked 10 years for some major companies, and then decided to start his own.
India Ultrasound Sales 'N' Service is very conscious about its customers' business, keeping the quality and service as the key focus.

"We want our customers to run their businesses without any downtime. Hence during failures of any ultrasound product supplied to the Indian customers India Ultrasound Sales 'N' Service provides a standby machine and makes sure that the non-working machine is made ready for its operation at the earliest possible time," Kopula says. "Abroad customers are also taken care the same way."
Some highlights over the years include:
2000 - added extra growth to the company after getting dealerships from Trivitron (Aloka) and MITI Biosys Korea.
2002 - A website (www.indiaultrasound.com) showed their presence to the ultrasound world.
2004 - Full-fledged operation was started to serve all the parts of India.
2005 - The very first consignment abroad was sent to UAE.
2008 - started the ultrasound spare parts business
"Starting the ultrasound business was not that big a deal. To study the market and withstand the competition was one of the biggest challenges," Kopula says. "Quality, service and on-time delivery were the key focuses of the ultrasound buyers. Since all our business was based on an E-business model, more concentration was required to satisfy customer needs. We became the No.1 refurbished ultrasound reseller in India in a very short span of time."

'DOTmed Certified' Honor Reaches Around the World to India
October 18, 2006
by Michael Johns, Online Auction Associate

Niranjan Kumar, of India Ultrasound, in Kozhikode, Kerala, India, recently acquired his DOTmed Certified status. Here is what he has to say:

Kumar previously credited DOTmed with contributing to his expansion into the export market. Our export business totally depends on the Internet. Even though we are [distant from export customers] the Internet makes us so much closer, he said. DOTmed opened my eyes for an export market and we trust we will do more export business in coming years.
Recently, Niranjan commented by email,

"We just received - DOTmed Certified certificate by DHL . . . Thanks a lot.

DOTmed has helped us to do export business to USA, Mexico, Japan, Czech Republic, Italy, Nigeria, Libya, Dubai, Ethiopia, Iraq, Germany, Bulgaria, Moscow, Pakistan...

We salute DOTmed & Team for the help rendered to us."

If you are looking for a way to increase the visibility and credibility of your business then DOTmed Certified is for you.

DOTmed Certified companies give buyers confidence by publicly declaring their commitment to ethical business and obtaining three Letters of Reference.

Being DOTmed Certified is one of the best things you can do to build integrity for your business and the industry.

India Ultrasound Firm Keeps Prices Low and Technical Expertise High
January 03, 2006
by Barbara Kram, Editor

Sales `N' Service was established in 1998 as a repair and maintenance organization for ultrasound and color Doppler. "We started in south India and developed slowly in other parts of the country," said proprietor Niranjan Kumar. "Right now we are looking after the whole country with more than 6 office locations and a freelance network of more than 100, supporting them technically with spares, refurbishment, equipment, etc."

The company sells refurbished ultrasound and color Doppler of any make, buys quality machines from customers, and refurbishes to full operational capability. Sales `N' Service also rents to imaging centers. The firm was a pioneer in membrane replacement for electronic transducers and repair of mechanical probes. Its staff of more than 15 includes clinicians as well as technicians.
Competitive advantages for the company boil down to its prices, wide network, skilled engineers, customer relations, experience, and facilities. They pretty much have it all and that's reflected in a healthy growth rate of nearly 35 percent annually. "We offer good prices and quality machines. Our growth mainly depends on our team effort and customer good will. Our success in the market is because we are innovative in what we do--such as launching the rental scheme and providing component-level service," Kumar noted.

Sales `N' Service is also responsive to local and industry trends. For instance, the resale value for medical equipment is low in India compared to other countries. "That means we can offer good prices to the export market. Since we are associated with GE, Siemens, and Toshiba, the buyback products are taken in bulk." Kumar reported that his company was the first in India to export ultrasound and color Doppler equipment. Already well known in the U.S., Australia, Austria, New Zealand, and Japan, Sales `N' Service is cultivating markets including Dubai, Libya, Moscow, and Nigeria.

Kumar credits DOTmed with contributing to his expansion into the export market. "Our export business totally depends on the Internet. Even though we are [distant from export customers] the Internet makes us so much closer," he said. "DOTmed opened my eyes for an export market and we trust we will do more export business in coming years."

He also has some sound advice for other business people in the industry: "Be transparent as much as possible. Take initiative and be innovative. Do quality work not quantity work. Good prices and good products on less margin will get you a solid name in the market."