Biren Selarka, Managing Director of Acma Computers Ltd., shares insights on the evolution of India’s IT landscape—from basic PCs to AI-powered infrastructure. He emphasizes Acma’s growth through continuous innovation, global expansion, and a strong service-driven approach. His advice to young tech entrepreneurs is to focus on specialization, stay adaptable, and embrace lifelong learning.
IT Voice- You’ve been steering Acma Computers for decades. How has the IT infrastructure landscape in India evolved during this time?
Biren Selarka- The transformation has been nothing short of phenomenal. When we began, computers didn’t even have hard drives—just basic PCs with floppy drives. Fast forward to today, we’re dealing with advanced setups including servers, hyper-converged infrastructure (HCI), WAN, enterprise Wi-Fi, and now, artificial intelligence. The landscape has matured from rudimentary setups to complex, smart systems that power enterprises.
IT Voice- What were the key challenges you faced in Acma’s early days?
Biren Selarka- We started as a one-man operation, so the initial hurdles were significant—winning client trust, securing capital to procure hardware, and delivering prompt after-sales service single-handedly. At the same time, adhering to government norms and handling excise duties was also a big challenge. Every function, from sales to compliance, had to be managed alone in the beginning.
IT Voice- Acma has expanded into enterprise IT, cloud, and managed services. What inspired this strategic move?
Biren Selarka- The biggest lesson we’ve learned over the years is that evolution is survival—both for individuals and organizations. The moment you get comfortable, you risk becoming irrelevant. Our growth into cloud and managed services was driven by a need to stay ahead of industry peers and empower our clients with cutting-edge solutions. Expanding into managed services also allowed us to go beyond geographic boundaries and support clients globally.
IT Voice- How are Indian enterprises redefining their infrastructure strategies with the rise of cloud and hybrid models?
Biren Selarka-While cloud and hybrid models are definitely here to stay, we’re also witnessing a reverse trend—some cloud workloads are moving back on-premise due to escalating costs and heightened data security concerns. Hybrid infrastructure is shaping up to be the future, especially in India, as storage demands grow and cloud performance and cost efficiency come into question. This will continue to drive investments in robust on-prem infrastructure.
IT Voice- In a competitive tech market, how does Acma differentiate itself?
Biren Selarka- We keep our philosophy simple—deliver advanced, reliable IT solutions backed by strong service, all at an affordable price. This clarity in approach helps us maintain long-term relationships with clients who trust both our capabilities and our consistency.
IT Voice- How crucial are strategic partnerships for Acma, and how do you decide whom to partner with?
Biren Selarka- Strategic alliances are vital—not just for Acma, but for our clients too. When choosing partners, we focus on three key aspects: how well their solutions align with client requirements, the quality of their after-sales support, and their pricing transparency. We believe in partnerships that bring mutual value.
IT Voice- Can you highlight a project that showcases Acma’s capabilities and innovation?
Biren Selarka- One standout project was for a global animation company relocating from the U.S. to Hyderabad. We successfully executed their entire IT infrastructure deployment, including the setup of a massive data center with over 65 server racks. It demonstrated our ability to handle large, complex deployments seamlessly.
IT Voice- With rising cyber threats, how does Acma ensure client infrastructure is secure and resilient?
Biren Selarka- Cybersecurity is broad and constantly evolving. Our approach is consultative—we assess each client’s specific needs and recommend scalable, future-ready solutions. For example, a rapidly expanding healthcare client required scalable security, and we suggested a firewall solution that could grow with their infrastructure without needing a hardware overhaul.
IT Voice- Talent acquisition and retention remain major hurdles in IT. How are you building a future-ready workforce?
Biren Selarka- Attracting and retaining talent is a common concern across the industry. We’ve learned that building the right organizational culture—one that respects individuals, fosters learning, and supports growth—helps us not only retain our people but also attract high-caliber talent.
IT Voice- AI and automation are reshaping IT. How do you see them impacting infrastructure and services?
Biren Selarka- AI will undoubtedly disrupt traditional models in enterprise IT and service delivery. While some routine jobs will be automated, I believe AI will create more opportunities than it removes. New roles in AI management, data analytics, and infrastructure optimization are already emerging. The focus should be on reskilling to meet these evolving demands.
IT Voice- What’s your vision for Acma in the next five years?
Biren Selarka- We aim to become a trusted transformation partner for our clients—offering solutions that support their digital evolution. Internationally, we’ve already expanded into the Middle East and are now operating in six countries. Our goal is to deepen this global presence while staying rooted in client-centric innovation.
IT Voice- What advice would you give to young tech entrepreneurs in India?
Biren Selarka- The younger generation is incredibly smart and agile, but one key piece of advice would be: focus on mastering one or two core areas rather than spreading too thin. Specialization enables faster growth and better scalability. Stay curious, stay committed, and never stop evolving.
