The Information Technology and IT-enabled services sector is a field that is undertaking speedy evolution and is transforming the Indian business standards. As the quality and quantity of services are enhancing day by day, the advanced information technology services are also rising. The majority of business operations are surrounded by software and IT services that are making impossible tasks possible.
One such organisation that is making this happen is Citrus Informatics based in Kerala. The company is contributing majorly to software and IT-related services. Citrus Informatics is an IT services company catering to the IT needs of the internal market. Currently, the company focuses mainly on the USA market in business sectors like Healthcare, Transportation, Logistics, Energy, Automobile, Broadcasting, and Non-profit, etc.
With a team of more than 220 highly skilled and technically proficient engineers, Citrus Informatics provides a wide range of management and engineering services including IT Consulting, Project Management, Technology Management, Product Management & Engineering, Architecture, Application/Solution Development, Mobile Apps, Database Design and Administration, Data Analytics, Machine Learning, Cloud Computing, UX Design, Testing and Quality Assurance, as well as Digital Marketing.
A Tech Legacy
Sarji R Mohammedali is the Founder and CEO of Citrus Informatics. Sarji accomplished IT professional backed by 25 years of diverse experience of spearheading large IT Divisions spanning Program & Project Management, Infrastructure & Operations Management, People Management, Research, Product Development & Engineering, Technology Management, Application Development, Information Security, and Quality Management across a broad spectrum of verticals in the IT industry in USA and India.
He post-graduated with an MBA degree in Systems & Operations Management, a postgraduate diploma in Software Marketing holds an engineering degree in Computer Engineering. He worked with Business Domains like Healthcare, Supply Logistics, Automobile, Transportation, Device Integration, Real Estate, Non-Profit, Educational, Broadcasting, eCommerce, eLearning, and Management, etc
He has equal competence in Management and technology/technical areas, and during 25 years of IT career, happen to successfully and effectively handle roles covering CEO, Heading of Software development divisions / Head of Software and Service Delivery, Project/Program/Product Manager, Technical/solution architect, Systems/Network Manager, Project Leader/ Lead Software Engineer roles.
Sarji has proven competence of having managed over many IT projects and was involved as core architect in many of the projects involved. His experience in managing multiple project teams and groups and managed up to 220 staff IT division comprising of Project managers, Business Analysts, IT technical teams, Quality Assurance & Control, and Administrative Staff in distributed global environment.
Sarji possesses exceptional acumen in piloting corporate IT initiatives and streamlining systems across industry sectors for accredited clients resulting in saving time and money. He has excellent exposure towards customer-facing roles and management of technology/system integration projects involving multi-vendor hardware, software customization, Software as Service (Saas), Cloud services, OEM models, enterprise applications, outsourcing, and onshore-offshore software development models.
He has been recognized for getting the job done in a highly resource-constrained matrix environment with the highest customer and team satisfaction using the offshore development model. Sarji has worked with senior consultants from various management houses to review and better the existing organization structure, policies, procedures, and processes in the areas of Product Management, R&D, Information security, and HR.
Sarji possesses a strong aptitude for Application Development, Software Architecture, Network & Systems Administration, Quality Assurance, Control, and Process Improvement, Risk Management, Resource Management, Change Management, and Human Resources Management.
Sarji also has extensive experience in managing projects in various technologies and tools including Java, C, C++, JEE, VC++, C#, VB, .Net, ASP.Net, JSP, PHP, Drupal, WordPress, Angular, React.JS, MS SQL Server, MySQL, PostgreSQL, iOS, Android, etc in various platforms and environments.
He is an extremely creative and effective trouble-shooter, an effective communicator with exceptional analytical, technical, and team-building skills with the ability to relate to people at any level of business and work with steering committees and other project managers.
He has acquired international experience by working in the USA and India. And representing the organization in various events and occasions covering locations like the USA, India, UAE, China, and Malaysia.
His Educational Achievements
- MBA (Operations Management)
- PG Diploma in Software Marketing
- Tech (Computer Engineering)
Catapulting Organizational Goals
Sarji started the company with 5 engineers in 2010 and grown it to 220 engineers in 2021 without any venture capital funding. The company successfully managed and grown even during recession times. Highly trustable by customers and employees. The company is known for its great working environment and employee friendliness.
Sarji is in the IT industry from 1996 onwards and Kochi was not known for its Technological competence during that time. From 1996 onwards he had nurtured many junior engineers and was successful in setting up an R&D center for product development and engineering in Kochi. He was instrumental in the development of IT equilibrium in Kochi and for generating IT employment potential in Kochi.
As part of previous engagements, Sarji successfully set up the R&D infrastructure in Kochi even before so-called IT parks were in place. Proven to the industry that smaller and medium-sized IT companies can contribute well to the international market. Helped/guided many educational institutions to improve the academics and syllabus.
Taken proactive steps to reduce the gap between industry and academia. Mentored many entrepreneurs and organizations in setting up reliable offshore infrastructure, processes, and policies in place.
Kerela – An Emerging Land of Opportunities
The founder is basically from Kochi, Kerala, and with an interest to be in Kochi and interest of being an entrepreneur along with the motive to give more job opportunities in Kerala, he has launched his business in this state. Also, Kerala is a beautiful state with a good number of skilled manpower and an educated community. The state has decent infrastructure also in place.
Dynamic Offerings
At Citrus Informatics – IT services are provided to customers with expertise in facilitating solutions for healthcare, automotive, airlines, cold chain, logistics, real estate, non-profit, and e-commerce domains. The company is familiar with the standards, protocols, and regulations applicable in each of these spaces. This kind of knowledge cannot be taught but it can only be learned through practical experience working closely with people in these spaces, making Citrus Informatics, an even more valuable organization.
With a team of more than 220 highly skilled and technically proficient engineers, Citrus Informatics provides a wide range of management and engineering services including IT Consulting, Project Management, Technology Management, Product Management and Engineering.
Architecture, Application/Solution Development, Mobile Apps, Database Design and Administration, Data Analytics, Machine Learning, Cloud Computing, UX Design, Testing, and Quality Assurance, as well as Digital Marketing.
Tech Journey Justified
Getting the right projects initially was difficult. Initial years have taken all steps to build credibility and trust. Initially, the team at Citrus Informatics focused services in some specific technology areas and then gradually took initiative to deliver services to other technology areas.
“The main step we have taken initially during this pandemic period was to ensure business continuity. We were able to provide it without any issues and that made our customers happy. Taken all the steps to ensure the safety of our staff and they are working from home from the beginning of the pandemic period,” says Sarji.
Industry Today and Vision Ahead
IT industry is booming in Kerala like in other states. A lot of new graduates are taking computer science and IT as their specialisation seeing the opportunity around. A lot of resources are available in Kerala. But the educational institutions need to take more proactive steps to improve the quality of students passing out from college and will have to take serious measures to bridge the gap between academics and the IT industry.
Kerala government is taking a lot of initiatives to promote start-ups and that also creates a mobilization in the IT service and product industry in the state. Even during the pandemic period, the IT companies in the state are doing good. And recently companies are facing resource shortages due to the increase in demand.
Citrus Informatics will be focusing on Europe and the Middle East area also apart from the USA. We want Citrus Informatics to excel not only in Service Industry and also in Software Products Industry. The company wanted to have the main revenue stream coming from Products in fiver year term.
Sarji’s Operational Obligations
Primary Role
- CEO, Citrus Informatics (India) Pvt Ltd ( citrusinformatics.com ), Ernakulam, Kerala, India from 2010 January onwards
[Citrus Informatics is an IT company started in 2010, providing Software development services to customers around the world. With the majority of customers in the USA, the company has more than 220 engineers working at the Kochi office.]
Additional Roles (Currently Handling)
- Offshore Head & Director of Engineering, Netspective Communications LLC, MD, the USA from 2010 onwards.
- Offshore Head, TCTI Inc, NJ, the USA from 2009 onwards.
- IT Advisory, RGB Broadcasting Equipments (India) Pvt Ltd, Ernakulam, Kerala from 2010 onwards.
Roles handled before Citrus Informatics
Centre Head [Head of Projects & Operations], UCI Technology private Limited (Software development Division of Trading Room Technologies, USA), Kochi, India July 2007-March 2009
- Head of Centre [Head-IT Projects & Operations]/Senior Vice President- Technology, Avenir Computer Services, (Software development Centre of Atinav LLC, USA), Kochi, India, 2001-July 2007
- Vice President- Technology, Atinav LLC, New Jersey, USA, 1999-2001
- Senior Project Manager/Senior Technology Consultant, Avenir Inc, (Parent Company of Atinav LLC), World Trade Centre, New York, USA, 1998-1999
- Project Lead/Software Engineer, Avenir Computer Services, (R&D Centre of Atinav LLC, USA), Kochi, India, 1996-1998
- Lecturer, Institute of Human Resources Development for Electronics, Kerala, 1995
