Great Companies: How did you get your idea or concept for the business?
Ajay Kumar Garg: I had a very unique manufacturing (automotive) and consulting experience that helped me gain core knowledge, expertise and confidence in client facing engagements that too at CXO levels.
I piloted some small assignments in the beginning and got hugely successful. My work was appreciated and that gave me more confidence and motivation to take up transformation assignments. I also delivered expert advice as a freelancer and earned an hourly fee in dollar terms. Thus, the idea of starting something of my own got wings.
Great Companies: What are the various Services provided by PACE
Ajay Kumar Garg: PACE offers a variety of business services services like -
a) Assistance in Sourcing and Procurement with an objective of improving productivity through cost savings, process improvements and compliance.
b) Business Transformation to take companies from Reactive to Strategic state.
c) Due diligence and diagnostics
d) Learning and Development in the area of Procurement and Softer skills like leadership, time management, teamwork etc.
e) Sourcing from India especially engineering parts to other parts of the world (mainly US and Europe) thereby giving cost arbitrage
Great Companies: What makes PACE different from hundreds of other similar service providers?
Ajay Kumar Garg:
I have a rich and rewarding experience with the greats like Ariba (now SAP), Accenture and Genpact in services sector (ITES) and also core technical knowledge about indigenisation of engineering components from my stints with automotive companies. Coupled with my engineering degree in Mechanical Engineering from one of the pioneering institutions, Delhi College of Engineering, I can offer an equivalent level of quality and speed at much competitive price points thereby helping the start-ups and MSME companies to benefit and prosper.
Finally, I have gained experience over the years to gather knowhow across industries to source direct and indirect categories using the most advanced and widely popular sourcing levers. I can help companies in Automotive, FMCG, CPG, Hospitality, Banking, Hitech manufacturing sectors to run sourcing and supply chain projects with relative ease and command.
My tutorials on Procurement Fundamentals are full of true case studies, live examples and interactive role plays making the subject interesting and attractive.
Great Companies: What are the struggles and challenges you face?
Ajay Kumar Garg: None worth talking about. Its just that many times I find customers not believing the outcomes promised, easily and I have to invariably deliver a proof of concept.
Sometimes, customers go slightly impatient expecting quick results without allocating adequate resources.
Great Companies: How do you plan to grow in the future? What does 5 years down the line look like for PACE?
Ajay Kumar Garg: Well, I derive maximum satisfaction when companies actually see the implementation of my recommendations bringing visible and favorable results. I do not call myself a consultant and always believe in crossing the winning line together. In 5 years, I see PACE stopping promotional activities and becoming one of the most searched or talked after service providing brands when the subject is 'Procurement Transformation to enhance Productivity' or 'Change Management' or 'Process over People'
PACE would have 5000+ followers on LinkedIn and likes in less than 5 years.
Great Companies: If you had one piece of advice to someone just starting out, what would it be?
Ajay Kumar Garg: Just believe in yourself and your actions speak better than words. Demonstrate it to prove it.