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Global supply chain management identified as the single biggest challenge in hi-tech product development according to Infosys survey

Fremont, CA; April 29, 2005

In a survey conducted by Infosys (NASDAQ:INFY), at the Electronics Supply Chain Association (ESCA) Spring 2005 Symposium, an overwhelming majority (70%) of supply chain executives confirmed that managing global supply chain is the single biggest challenge in product development for the hi-tech industry. The event saw participation by 170 supply chain executives from 89 leading companies spanning the semiconductor industry, original equipment manufacturers, software vendors, distributors, and electronic manufacturing service providers.

The survey also confirmed that time-to-market is critical in new product introductions (43%), more so than quality of design (8%) or product differentiation (34%). Results show a strong indication from supply chain executives that in a rapidly changing market, companies are willing to tradeoff optimization of product features, performance, cost and reliability, primarily because modular versions of the product are introduced on subsequent releases as newer technologies develop.

The survey findings also revealed collaboration amongst design partners, suppliers, and customers is the key element of effective and integrated product management and in the current new product development process the collaboration environment is sub-optimal.

In addition, the majority also indicated marketing & sales as well as engineering were the primary influencers during the new product development phase. Manufacturing received only 3% of the votes, showing a strong disconnect between the perceptions of the roles played by the design and manufacturing functions.

Infosys provides business solutions to companies in the hi-tech and discrete manufacturing industry. Miguel Zuniga, Solution Manager at Infosys Hi-Tech and Discrete Manufacturing Practice, led an interactive discussion at the event titled "Integrated Product Management" on how companies could shorten the product lifecycle and maximize profitability through information-sharing and process integration. Commenting on the survey findings, he said, "The survey confirms our view that hi-tech companies would benefit greatly from a comprehensive and holistic view of each product throughout its lifecycle so that all parties involved can look for opportunities to increase competitive advantage. I look forward to further discussions with many of the participants that will enable Infosys to continue to develop innovative ways to improve global supply chain management and product time-to-market for our clients."

 

About Infosys Technologies Ltd.

Infosys, a world leader in consulting and information technology services, partners with Global 2000 companies to provide business consulting, systems integration, application development and product engineering services. Through these services, Infosys enables its clients to fully exploit technology for business transformation. Clients leverage Infosys' Global Delivery Model to achieve higher quality, rapid time-to-market and cost-effective solutions. Infosys has over 36,000 employees in over 30 offices worldwide. For more information visit www.infosys.com.

 

About ESCA

Founded in 1997 as SSCA (Semiconductor Supply Chain Association), the ESCA is dedicated to defining and promoting the implementation of best practices throughout the electronics supply chain with specific emphasis on facilitating a robust supply chain infrastructure in its member companies. As a significant link and resource to this dynamic industry, ESCA plays a key role in facilitating information exchange and collaboration efforts within the electronics supply chain through its many educational forums, symposiums, benchmarking, progressive research, industry news and market intelligence.

 

Infosys Safe Harbor

Certain statements in this release concerning our future growth prospects are forward-looking statements, which involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements. The risks and uncertainties relating to these statements include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties regarding fluctuations in earnings, our ability to manage growth, intense competition in IT services including those factors which may affect our cost advantage, wage increases in India, our ability to attract and retain highly skilled professionals, time and cost overruns on fixed-price, fixed-time frame contracts, client concentration, restrictions on immigration, industry segment concentration, our ability to manage our international operations, reduced demand for technology in our key focus areas, disruptions in telecommunication networks or system failures, our ability to successfully complete and integrate potential acquisitions, liability for damages on our service contracts, the success of the companies in which Infosys has made strategic investments, withdrawal of governmental fiscal incentives, political instability and regional conflicts, legal restrictions on raising capital or acquiring companies outside India, and unauthorized use of our intellectual property and general economic conditions affecting our industry. Additional risks that could affect our future operating results are more fully described in our United States Securities and Exchange Commission filings including our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2004 and on Form 6-K for the quarters ended June 30, 2004, September 30, 2004, December 31, 2004 and March 31, 2005 and Registration Statement on Form F-3 filed on December 20, 2004 and January 18, 2005. These filings are available at www.sec.gov. Infosys may, from time to time, make additional written and oral forward-looking statements, including statements contained in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and our reports to shareholders. The company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements that may be made from time to time by or on behalf of the company.

 

Media contacts:

For further information, please contact: PR_Global@infosys.com