Author: BS Srinivasalu Reddy
Publication: Hindustan Times
Date: December 29, 2007
URL: http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?id=38de7f62-b07e-4d5c-b7dd-12b74e4d5688
Astrology is fast catching up to become a
Knowledge Process Outsourcing (KPO) business, with more and more non-resident
Indians (NRIs) seeking astro-numerical counselling through this channel.
Chennai-based PR Sundhar Raja, who completed
a pilot project offering instant name identification and other astro-numerological
services through internet recently, is hoping to garner a revenue of Rs one
crore during the current fiscal, and is scouting for private equity investments
to fund expansions.
"Over 50 per cent of our revenues come
from NRIs. We have tied-up a couple of international web conglomerates for
client access, and developed a business model wherein the same quality of
services could be offered through 100 supervisors backed by support staff,"
Raja said.
"Till now the business has been a one-man
show. Now we want to replicate the quality of counselling through training
people. The present platform (www.astronumber.com) can dispense counselling
on certain aspects to 10,000 clients at a time," the astro-numerologist,
who did a couple of projects for National Aeronautics and Research Agency
of the US, added.
Astrology uses planetary positions and movements
for predicting future prospects or otherwise of individuals, while numerology
adds more accuracy to such projections. Internet has an advantage in the sense
those clients who are not interested in sharing personal details with others
can get their charts read through this means. It is also seen as being more
transparent, with the rates displayed on the website.
Raja has already floated a private limited
company called, JRS Astro Private Ltd, with headquarters in Chennai. The company's
corporate services encompass complete branding, including corporate name identification
or alter the existing name in consonance with the name or names of the promoters,
and preparation or alteration of its logo.
"Name and logo are important components
of a company's public identity. Besides, names have their own vibes, certain
names take the subject to their peaks and others may pull them down,"
Raja said.
The colour combinations should be in sync,
and there should be an internal and external harmony in the logo, he explained.
Unlike, other astrologers, who claim to predict
the future, Raja says, "Astrology indicates a direction of one's life
with about 70 per cent accuracy and the remaining 30 per cent is based on
the subjective analysis of the astrologer."
"With growing awareness of astro-numerology,
demand is on the rise for quality counselling. And to address this I chose
internet as channel. The company has developed and tested the software over
the last five-years," he added.