Wipro Technologies (incorporated 1946, in operation since 1945) is an India based global IT Services ,IT Solutions and Technology Services Major.It is headquartered in Bangalore,India and is listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange and The National Stock Exchange (India) and the New York Stock Exchange.

With over 25,000 employees and revenues in the excess of US $ 1.2 billion it makes Wipro one of India's major Information Technology companies. Wipro has 54 dedicated development centers across India, Europe and United States, and also has 30 offices in North America, Europe and Asia Pacific.

Azim Premji, Chairman and Managing Director of Wipro is said to have been responsible for expanding and diversifying this company from FMCG company which made Vanaspati Oil,Soap and other FMCG products into the IT services company it is now.

Wipro, along with other Indian IT Services Companys like Infosys and TCS, are spearheading India's booming Business Processing Outsourcing(BPO) sector.

Wipro Limited achieved a PCMM Level 5 and SEI CMM Level 5 certification as an IT Services Company in 1995.

Offices and facilities

Wipro is headquartered in Bangalore, India, in a campus spread across 4,64,000 square feet. Wipro has 54 dedicated development centers across India, Europe and United States, and also has 30 offices in North America, Europe and Asia Pacific. Wipro's centres in India are spread across Bangalore, Gurgaon, Mumbai, Hyderabad, New Delhi and Pune.

History

Wipro was set up in the backdrop of the small town of Amalner in Maharashtra in 1945. Primarily an oil factory, the chief products were Sunflower Vanaspati and 787 laundry soap (a by-product of the Vanaspati operations). The company was called Western India Products Limited, with a modest presence in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh.

In the 1970s Wipro embarked on an ambitious phase of expansion and diversification.

It was in the early eighties that Wipro made its foray into the Infotech arena. An energetic, committed team of professional R & D and marketing managers came together in Bangalore in 1980. With this began the Wipro Infotech story. In a small lab at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), the team developed the first Indian 8086 chip.

Wipro has transcended from being a service provider to being a consultant, guide and trusted partner.

Timeline

Wipro Limited was incorporated in 1945 and commenced its operations in 1946. Significant milestones are:

• 1947:An oil mill and hydrogenated cooking medium plant set up.
• 1975:Wipro Fluid Power set up to manufacture hydraulic and pneumatic cylinders.
• 1980:Information technology services for domestic market started.
• 1983:Software products subsidiary -Wipro Systems Ltd. - established.
• 1985:Toilet soaps manufacture begins.
• 1989:Joint venture with GE of US for medical systems, Wipro GE Medical Systems Ltd.
• 1990:Product software business discontinued; software services begin.
• 1992:Lighting business established.
• 1994:Merger of subsidiaries Wipro Technologies Ltd. and Wipro Systems Ltd. with Wipro Ltd.
• 1998:Relaunch of Wipro identity with Rainbow Flower and positioning statement, "Applying Thought" .
• 1999:Software business reaches SEI certification.
• 1999:Wipro Net set up by restructuring Wipro Ltd.'s communication services business to address the Internet market.
• 2000:Listing of Wipro Ltd.'s ADRs on New York Stock Exchange.

The Entrepreneur Factory

There is something in the Wipro 'Air' which churns out entrepreneurs. a large percentage of the successful IT or IT related startups in India are by ex-employees of Wipro. There definitely must be something to the business practices within the organization which nurtures their people to go out and excel with exciting new ideas. Alongwith Citibank, Wipro employees probably accounts for atleast 50% of all successful startups.

Wipro Businesses

• Wipro Technologies
• Wipro Infotech
• Wipro Consumer Care and Lighting
• Wipro Fluid Power
• Wipro GE Medical Systems
• Wipro ePeripherals (WeP)
• Wipro BPO