IWM ReNewed
Closing in on 10 years since the Ujjain simhastha project, the first test and, in hindsight, the launchpad of the company, we take a leap. The company will now enter a growth phase, fueled by renewed vision and ownership. It needs to carry forward the ideas and values that have made it a pioneer in the ‘Swachata’ space and add in a bold strategy to expand its footprint and impact. Take the positives, find new avenues, and scale nationally. That is the core of what the company intends to do.
So what are the positives. Since its inception, the focus of the company has been on excellent execution. Our work in Indore is a testament to that. Aligning with the national scheme, we established new standards of road sweeping and technology integration in the sector. Our excellence comes from the management's hands on nature and focus. We have said yes to work that we can give our all to, shying away from many opportunities in the process. As we look ahead to take on new challenges, it is important to remember that the selectivity of projects and people that we engage in, will only become more important.
I speak for all of us when I say that our greatest strength has been our ability to uplift our ‘swachata sipahis’, to provide them dignity, empathy, and a workplace they can be proud of. There is no doubt in my mind that the goodwill that the city and our work has earned in the last decade rests on the shoulders of those who work day in and day out to provide us a clean, green city. It is our core responsibility to empower them, stand by them, and honor them every chance we get.
Excellent Execution. Innovation. Radical Dignity.
बेमिसाल काम — जो सबको दिखे। नई सोच — जो हमें आगे रखे। पूरा सम्मान — जो हर सिपाही का हक है।
The shape of the industry has changed drastically in the last decade. We have new competitors, matching us on many of our previous advantages. Some with deep pockets, others with deep connections. Looking ahead, the industry will continue to consolidate, especially in the municipal business. If not national players, then regional players of great strength. Our position in Indore provides us an opportunity to capitalize on the surrounding region. But it comes with a caveat. There is only so much one can do in a certain region or in a certain government, before creating a risk profile that is hard to manage. Hedging through regional variance will solve for this risk and also provide wider opportunities. Creating this balance requires what we have stated before: selectivity. It is difficult, especially in the work we do, to create grand strategies with high certainty, ambiguity is innate. And we should make it our friend.
The only certainty I see is in knowing that continuous effort to bring new technology and methodology to the country and its people will prove strategically, and impactfully, positive. To be clear, this is not limited to new machines. We should look to explore and incorporate new ways of doing things as well. Case in point, our effort for river rejuvenation in Kshipra. This applies to internal processes too, like the draft for an integrated software system. These aren’t ideas or systems just for the sake of newness, their adoption is the difference between IWM continuing to be a leader in the space or being remembered as the company that worked in Indore. In pursuing the cutting edge, we also open ourselves to unseen opportunities and new markets. This can be our flywheel, our source of infinite advantages. It is difficult to build, and it might not always pay off, but that is exactly why it is a worthy pursuit.
Looking to put these ideas into practice, and create a medium term horizon (3 years) for the team, we land at a simple plan:
Consolidate Home: Deepen our roots in Indore and surroundings. Expand selectively: Execute 2-3 projects outside our region. Pioneer the New: Launch one new vertical or breakthrough process.
It should be our aim to multiply our size, in both numbers and impact. The country is looking onwards, and we have the ability and privilege, to charge that journey.
Let us not wait too long.