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Increasing need for medical and paramedical professionals has led to the emergence of some organised educational institutes. Delhi Paramedical and Management Institute (DPMI) is one such brand which is expanding via franchising. In an interview Vinod Bachheti, Chairman, DPMI shares the brand’s future aspirations via franchising.
Abha Garyali (AG): Share with us about the success journey of DPMI so far.
Vinod Bachheti (VB): My entrepreneurial journey began in 1996 with the launch of our first DPMI College. After the first branch was successful, we opened a second branch. Running a college requires two kinds of efforts – first the educational effort, which is focused on building better college systems, better curriculum, innovative teaching techniques etc. The second kind of work required is non-technical which involves identifying the right locations, local administration, local marketing, motivating staff, controlling costs and the general passion to run a business.
In six months we have had five branches operational and six more finalised for the coming years. The franchise model worked here well because the 10+2 paramedical segment is a capital-intensive model and there would have been limitations on how much we could have grown.
AG: When and what motivated you to adopt the franchise route for DPMI?
VB: In 2012, the word, franchising had entered our dictionary and we found it to be a good fit with our model. Through this model we could expand and reach a wider audience with our limited resources. A decade after DPMI started with its Paramedical training services and the kind of success it had with the students associated, it was difficult to accommodate and serve aspiring students from different parts of the country at our Delhi centre. The demand from students and limited resources at hand led us to extend franchise of DPMI brand in hands of some committed entrepreneurs and educationists.
We had local partners who were convinced with our model and felt that the model would work in their community. This model allowed us to focus on the educational part of running the college while our partners looked after the local issues. It was a perfect match as the franchisees complemented our skills beautifully.
AG: What is the success mantra for DPMI? In what ways is it different from other educational and training institutes in India?
VB: DPMI vision to ‘become a pre-eminent educational group that works towards the overall advancement of the society by enabling the brightest minds of the country to achieve what they desire to and what they deserve to' has also incidentally become the success mantra of DPMI. It has created a legacy in the domain across India. DPMI has reached the numero uno position today as it has really evolved and kept up its pace with the passing time offering numerous selections. We offer exhaustive, relevant, original and easily comprehensible study material. To top it up, the faculty at DPMI is a perfect mix of academicians and subject experts who are made to go through a tough selection and training process to impart flawless training services.
AG: Where do you see the brand in five years time? What are your plans till the end of 2012?
VB: We plan to expand from more than five centres at present to 100 centres in next five years. The DPMI brand is very dynamic in nature. The brand promise is reflected in all the verticals and we see a lot of potential in multi geography multi brand approach of expansion. We see all the brands growing at a good pace in the international geographies in the coming few years.
AG: How many franchise outlets does the brand presently has?
VB: Currently, DPMI has 10 franchisees across India and plans are in the pipeline to further extend our reach to multiple cities.
AG: What according to you is the scope for aspiring franchisees in this business? Is the future bright in the years to come?
VB: According to a McKinsey-NASSCOM study, the paramedical profession is projected to grow to USD 225 Billion by 2020, employing 10 million directly and 20 million people indirectly. With India poised to benefit the most from this scenario due to the demographic dividend of young, surplus manpower, the need for trained professionals is paramount. Moreover the employability of college graduates is low, with major gaps in soft skills and technical skills. An investment in Paramedical training therefore pays rich dividends, as the training industry is poised for a boom, thus being the right opportunity for entrepreneurs to invest in innovative business models.
AG: What are the qualities and qualifications that you seek for in your franchisees? How much investment is required by aspiring franchisees?
VB: DPMI always puts quality before business motives and thus have reached such heights after years of hard work. The essential pre-requisites to become DPMI franchisee are fire to excel, right skills and attitude, experience and knowledge in education industry, ideas which can change the face of this industry and all it takes to make a successful entrepreneur. All potential franchisees are carefully screened to ensure that they match the DPMI spirit. Each branch is then carefully selected after considering the viability of the project. We personally ensure the success of each of our branches and take pride in the fact that we have one of highest success rates in the industry. The investment required may range from Rs 8 to 17 lakh (depending upon the city).
AG: What kind of training and support do you offer to a franchisee?
VB: As a DPMI branch, our franchises become a part of the team that is focused on supporting the branch with the best. They are provided with the right training, tools and support. Extreme measures are taken to make sure their association with DPMI is fruitful. They receive extensive support by the following methods: training, recruitment, operational support, curriculum design, advertising & promotion support and continuous product development. Being a DPMI franchisee, the entrepreneur gets our continued support and guidance in every possible manner. We have created a franchise support system that will assist franchisee with every conceivable issue that may arise in running a DPMI branch.
