The Journey Of Wipro Began In 1945

The journey of Wipro began in 1945, when the Western India Vegetable Products Limited was incorporated in Maharastra state, India. The vegetable products factory gradually by 1970s expanded into a consumer products group, hydraulic cylinders and then entered the InfoTech area. In early 80’s when India was on the threshold of an IT boom, Wipro entered the Infotech area and tasted early success in its R & D. In 1980, an energetic, committed team of professional R & D and marketing managers was brought together and in a small laboratory at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bangalore, the team developed the first Indian mini computer based on Intel 8086 chip. Wipro continued it successful journey when it tied up with GE Medical Systems to set up a Joint Venture 1992. In 1997, Wipro launched Six Sigma, the internal quality rejuvenation process to ensure that its quality standards are world class. In 2000, Wipro’s ADS was listed on the New York Stock Exchange as WIT, and its equity shares listed in India on the Stock exchange - Mumbai, and the National Stock Exchange. In December 2001, Wipro Limited became the first PCMM Level 5 and SEI CMM Level 5 certified IT Services Company globally. Wipro’s voyage maintains its consistency with the recent acquisitions like GE Medical Systems IT, Spectramind e Services, R & D services of Ericsson in India and Nervewire. With many significant achievements Wipro continued to spread its wings to place like US, UK, Asia Pacific and Middle East markets.

Some of the milestones in the journey of Wipro 1945

Incorporation as Western India Vegetable Products Limited

1947

Establishment of an oil mill at Amalner, Maharashtra, India

1960

Manufacture of laundry soap 787 at Amalner

1970

Manufacture of Bakery Shortening Vanaspati at Amalner

1975

Diversification into engineering and manufacture of hydraulic cylinders as WINTROL (now called Wipro Fluid Power) division in Bangalore.

1977

Name of the Company changed to Wipro Products Limited

1980

Diversification into Information Technology under Information Technology Division

1981

Launched India's first mini computer.

1981

Manufacture and marketing of flexi - pack of hydrogenated cooking oil for the first time in India

1982

Name of the Company changed to Wipro Limited

1983

Formation of Wipro Information Technology Limited and Wipro Systems Limited.

1984

Production of toilet soaps with a capacity of 4000 tonnes per year.

1986

Launch of Santoor brand toilet soap.

1987

Manufacture of fatty acid and glycerin at Amalner

1988

New Business Unit, Wipro BioMed started to market and service bio-analytical and diagnostic instruments.

1990

Incorporation of Wipro GE Medical Systems, a joint venture with GE Medical Systems.

1991

Diversification into Lighting and launch of Baby Care products

1995

Wipro Infotech and Wipro Systems merged with Wipro Limited

1996

Registered Office of Wipro shifted from Mumbai to Bangalore

1997

Six Sigma Quality journey begins

1998

Wipro launches its repositioned Corporate Identity (Rainbow Flower and Applying Thought) and rearticulates its externally reoriented values

1998

Wipro branded computers and systems launched

1998

Achieved SEI-CMM Level 5, highest global software quality ranking in all Software Services offered by Wipro

1999

Wipro becomes # 1 in market capitalization in the country

2000

Wipro listed on New York Stock Exchange

2001

Becomes the first company to be assessed at PCMM Level 5

2002

Acquisition of GEMSIT, Spectramind and the R & D services of Ericsson in India

2003

Acquisition of Nervewire

Original Wipro concepts that had major impact on the industry Offshore Development Center (ODC) Wipro was the first company to innovate the concept of Offshore Development Centers, which offered multiple benefits to the customers. These centers are created in India with dedicated space, people and network infrastructure for clients in different parts of the world. The ODC model enabled us to undertake projects in India instead of sending the engineers to the clients’ site. It helped to reduce the costs for the client, thereby helping us to get a large number of new clients. All others in the industry have since adopted this model. Wipro Academy For Software Excellence (WASE) program Wipro was the first company to get BSc graduates to work on live projects and get trained over the weekends. Wipro ties up with BITS Pilani so that WASE students could receive a post graduation degree at the end of 4 years. This model helped us to reduce costs for the client and service their need for legacy systems. It also helped in increasing the talent pool. Channel And Franchisee Operations In 1987, when competition took the route of direct selling, Wipro was the first Company to introduce channel partners for selling computers and printers in India. This model helped us to reach the customers in remote area. We extended this model for sales support through franchisees, a mode; our competitors subsequently followed. Flexi Packs For Vanspati Wipro was the first company in India to package vanspati in flexible packets creating concept of refill packs, thus revolutionizing this vanaspati packaging concept. This resulted in saving of packaging material and reducing the cost of vanaspati for the customer. Wipro leadership position #1 Networking Integrator. Voice & Data, May 2000. Based on networking sales revenue #1 PC Brand recall in household survey. Dataquest, June 2000 #1 IT company in India. Dataquest, July 2000. Ranked on revenue #1 in user opinion poll and power survey. Computer World, September 2000. Ranked on image, credibility and financial robustness #1 Home And Office Pc Brand recalled in User’s Choice Survey. PC Quest, September 2002 #3 Most admired company. Economic Times- ORG Marg, January 2000 #2 Software exporter from India. Dataquest, June 2000