As we approach the halfway point of 2023, it’s time to reflect on the most influential business leaders in the Asia-Pacific region. These leaders have not only made a significant impact on their own companies but have also helped to shape industries and economies across the region. They have demonstrated resilience, creativity, and a commitment to innovation, paving the way for future success.
One of the most notable business leaders in the region is Tahsinul Alam Sarker, the Founder, and CEO of Workspace InfoTech Limited (WSIT) & Sarker Trade International Ltd (STIL). With a passion for entrepreneurship and a deep understanding of the export industry, Tahsinul Alam Sarker has transformed his company into a leading international exporter.
Tahsinul Alam Sarker’s leadership, strategic thinking, and dedication to innovation have led to his company’s success and helped shape the industry. As we look to the future, Tahsinul’s influence will surely be felt for years to come.
Journey as an Entrepreneur
In 2008, Tahsinul Alam Sarker had a clear vision of identifying a gap in the market for high-quality, customized software solutions that could be developed quickly and cost-effectively. With a small team of engineers, he founded Workspace Infotech Ltd. Initially working out of a small office space and relying on word-of-mouth referrals, the company grew as its reputation for delivering exceptional software solutions grew.
As they attracted larger and more complex projects, Tahsinul Alam Sarker expanded his team, invested in new technology, and diversified their service offerings to stay ahead of the curve. He looks back on the experience as challenging yet rewarding, allowing him to pursue his passion for technology and positively impact businesses and individuals worldwide.
In 2019, Tahsinul’s passion for entrepreneurship and experience in the export industry led him to start another business – Sarker Trade International Ltd. Focused on delivering high-quality products, particularly Jute, Food, and Tiles, to clients around the world, Tahsinul Alam Sarker conducted extensive market research to identify the most promising export opportunities.
He developed a robust supply chain to ensure timely and high-quality product delivery. By building relationships with clients and suppliers and maintaining open lines of communication, he provided exceptional customer service. Starting an export company had challenges, but Tahsinul Alam Sarker is excited about the opportunities ahead. He is committed to building a successful and sustainable business for the long term.
Overcoming Challenges
Tahsinul Alam Sarker believes that every successful entrepreneur has undergone a trial and error-process, experiencing both successes and failures. He faced challenges and hurdles while striving for success. Starting with small investments, he faced the challenge of obtaining funding to grow his company. One particular incident he remembers is during Eid Festival when he worked on an outsourcing project, only to be deceived by the client and not receive payment due to the fraudulent project. This was a huge setback for him and his company.
Initially, he focused on expanding the company by grabbing any project available, but the challenges he faced helped him identify potential red flags and avoid similar situations later. He learned from his experiences and moved forward, strengthening his business. Despite these challenges, Tahsinul Alam Sarker remained resilient and now runs his business strongly, drawing on the lessons learned from his early struggles.
Leading with Passion
Tahsinul Alam Sarker began his professional journey as a part-time core software developer for the German company “frentle” around 2007. Following his BSc, he joined “Nekan Engineering” as a software engineer, rapidly progressing to a tech lead role for three projects within a year. In 2009, he started his own business, Workspace InfoTech. He continued to advance from a core software developer to a senior software engineer, tech lead, project manager, and ultimately CEO.
As the company’s founder, he has operated in multiple roles within the same organization. Tahsinul’s educational background in software engineering has helped him to focus entirely on the same field in software development throughout his career.
Workspace Infotech Limited (WSIT)
Workspace Infotech Limited (WSIT) is a company that provides innovative and reliable software solutions to its clients using expert teams and cutting-edge technologies. The company has been serving both National and International clients for years with a mission to transform ideas into technology.
Its services include software development, mobile app development, web development, UI/UX design, graphics design, and hosting solutions. WSIT’s team uses the latest technologies to create impactful and functional sites, from simple landing pages to complex application development. Its sites are optimized for performance and user experience.
The company has also developed several products, including a hospital management system, a WhatsApp bulk messaging system, an e-commerce business solution, a real estate management system, research software, a digital invoice system, and an ERP solution. WSIT is strongly committed to delivering high-quality services to its clients, focusing on customer satisfaction. With its expertise and innovative technology, WSIT is a reliable choice for businesses looking for software solutions.
Future of the Company
Tahsinul Alam Sarker is excited about the possibilities that lie ahead. He believes that as new technologies emerge daily, the demand for custom software solutions will continue to grow, and his companies will thrive by adapting to the market’s changing needs.
He envisions a future where artificial intelligence and machine learning will be leveraged to develop innovative and sophisticated software solutions. He also plans to expand the reach of his businesses to new markets and geographies, focusing on promoting ethical business practices and positively impacting the communities they serve.
Tahsinul Alam Sarker is keen on implementing the plan to address basic needs such as clothes, food, shelter, education, and healthcare, focusing on the growth of digital infrastructure in the agriculture sector. His companies are also looking into different projects that utilize AI and ML to make a meaningful impact on people’s lives while driving innovation.
Business after the Covid19 Pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted businesses worldwide, resulting in financial losses, decreased productivity, and employee retention issues. Tahsinul Alam Sarker faced similar challenges in his company. However, he recognized the need for businesses to adapt quickly to the changing situation to survive and thrive in the post-pandemic world.
Tahsinul Alam Sarker has been focusing on increasing the productivity of his employees and encouraging them to overcome the difficulties posed by the pandemic. He has traveled extensively worldwide to pursue new projects and meet potential clients, increasing the chances of securing more projects for his company.
Sarker Trade International Ltd. (STIL)
STIL is a trading company based in Dhaka, Bangladesh. It imports and exports jute bags, tiles, software and IT services, and various food items. The company has a long heritage in the trading business, both in the global and domestic markets. STIL is committed to manufacturing and supplying its customers with the best products and services worldwide. This aligns with the company’s mission to deliver high-quality products and services through innovation, creativity, and value.
The company’s vision is to become a world-class organization with excellence in everything it does. Its goal is to achieve sustainable growth and establish long-term business relationships with global strategic partners, generating a win-win situation for all parties involved and promoting international cooperation. STIL is committed to recognizing and valuing diversity across its teams and fostering an inspiring workplace with an agile, high-performance corporate culture.
The company’s core values include perceiving customer needs at the utmost, providing flexibility in sourcing, service efficiency, pricing competitiveness, and customized solutions for customer requirements. STIL is also committed to environmental issues. Its manufacturing process is non-polluting, recycles all wastes, and does not release harmful materials into open land. The company is subsidizing sustainable development through its economic activities combined with fulfilling its social responsibilities, including education, health, safety, and environmental aspects.
Being an international export-import platform, The Company has served customers for the past few years with the best quality Jute items, Foods, and Tiles. It is always one step ahead of buying raw materials, manufacturing, and supplying high-quality products all over the world.
Products & Services
1. Software & IT
STIL offers custom software development, website design, graphics design, database design, ICT support, training, and hosting solutions. It provides cloud ERP software, HR management solution, and UI/UX design services to local and international clients with a team of experienced professionals.
2. Tiles
The company offers a wide range of tiles for bathrooms, bedrooms, commercial spaces, kitchens, living rooms, and outdoor areas. It provides modern, luxurious designs inspired by nature that are easy to clean and maintain. The company’s diverse tile collections cater to customers’ specific needs and preferences.
3. Jute Bags
STIL offers a range of eco-friendly jute bags, including ladies’ fancy bags, festival bags, and promotional bags. It also provides heavy-duty shopping bags, biodegradable Sonali bags, and customized wedding jute bags. All bags are made using high-quality resources and exported worldwide for their quality and variety.
4. Food
STIL is a leading exporter of high-quality food products, including nuts, tea, seafood, bread, jam, honey, and butter. The company sources its products from trusted suppliers across the globe and offers competitively priced items. The company’s commitment to customer satisfaction has made them a preferred exporter of food products in the region.
Whether it’s WSIT or STIL, Tahsinul Alam Sarker believes in delivering top-notch quality to customers.
Empathetic Leadership
Tahsinul Alam Sarker considers his company a home where every employee is like a family member. With more than ten years of experience as CEO, he appreciates the hard work and dedication of all team members, who have grown to more than 300 in number. He believes that putting pressure on employees can lead to decreased productivity and, instead, focuses on identifying and collaboratively addressing any obstacles that may arise.
Tahsinul Alam Sarker always aims to create a comfortable and supportive work environment that fosters employee satisfaction and motivation. He pushes his team members beyond their limits and assists them in acquiring the success they aspire to achieve. Tahsinul Alam Sarker believes that he may dream, show the way, and bring work, but his team sustains the work with their hard work and dedication. As a result of their combined efforts, the company offers high-quality, top-notch services to their clients.
Achieving Excellence
In 2021, Tahsinul Alam Sarker was internationally recognized by CEO Insights India Magazine as one of the world’s top 10 business leader CEOs. This prestigious award honors the most respected C-level executives in the industry. Tahsinul Alam Sarker believes that the success of a business is determined by how well it meets the needs and expectations of its stakeholders, which include customers, employees, shareholders, and the wider community. One of the ways he achieves this is by maintaining high levels of customer satisfaction, serving over 200 clients worldwide.
Another key factor in the success of Tahsinul Alam Sarker’s business is his focus on employee engagement. He understands the importance of having a motivated and engaged workforce and has created a dynamic team that he considers one of his finest achievements. Additionally, he is proud to contribute to society by creating employment opportunities for the unemployed.
Innovation is another cornerstone of Tahsinul Alam Sarker’s business strategy. He recognizes the need to develop innovative products, services, and innovative processes that meet customers’ needs. He is constantly implementing new technologies to develop life-changing solutions to achieve this.
Finally, STIL is expanding its market by exporting Jute, Foods, Tiles, and more from Bangladesh, tapping into new markets and helping producers and manufacturers to produce more products. The company is accessing a larger pool of potential customers by reaching beyond the domestic market.
Growth Through Innovation
Tahsinul Alam Sarker emphasizes the importance of innovation in driving a company’s growth. According to him, in today’s fast-paced and competitive business environment, companies must continuously improve their products and services to stay ahead of the competition.
Tahsinul Alam Sarker believes embracing new ideas and technologies is crucial in better serving clients and remaining competitive. To achieve this, he emphasizes staying on top of industry trends and investing in developing his team’s skills and expertise.
One of the Top Clients Story – Flowcite
Tahsinul Alam Sarker has had the privilege of working with numerous clients throughout his career. However, one of his top clients, Flowcite, stands out as a particularly unique and successful partnership. Flowcite is an All-In-One Solution For Research Application Company that operates globally.
When they approached WSITSTIL, they needed a customized research system to assist individuals in researching, writing, justifying, editing, and publishing their thesis papers or journals. The company’s team of skilled developers worked closely with the client to create a tailored solution that addressed their specific requirements.
Initially, the project began with creating a Prototype, which WSIT’sSTIL’s passionate team poured their hearts and souls into to provide high-quality service. The client was impressed with the Prototype and returned to WSITSTIL to develop the product further. The company is proud to have created a product called Flowcite, which has been possible due to the company’s motto of “transforming your ideas into technology.” WSITSTIL prides itself on providing exceptional service to its clients.
The company is currently in talks with Flowcite about partnering to sell the product worldwide. The transition from being a client to a partner has been made possible because of WSIT’sSTIL’s sincerity and trust in their work. The company prioritizes appreciating its clients and recognizes that its software represents a vision for many individuals who will utilize it.
Quote
“Tahsinul Alam Sarker’s motto is: SKY’s the Limit. He believes there are no limits to what a person can accomplish if they are willing to work hard and aim high.”
