It takes a lot of daring, self-belief and expertise for somebody to start up a business in New York and succeed. Those were the traits that Japanese IT engineering expert, Seishi Sato clearly possessed when he opened his business in this center of global business and finance.
Seeing the huge concentration of Japanese companies in New York and knowing how to meet the business needs of his compatriots, in May 1990, Sato set up SYSCOM (USA) Inc. as a comprehensive information and communications technology (ICT) provider.
From the head office in Manhattan, Sato presided over the company’s expansion to the West Coast.
“Right now, we have around $18.5 million in sales with offices in New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco,” said the company president and chief executive officer.
To date, SYSCOM sees 70 percent of its revenues coming from Japanese enterprises operating in the United States and has obtained IT business partners in Tokyo to bridge IT systems implementation in the U.S. and Japan markets.
Aiming to be a one-stop ICT solution for all its customers, SYSCOM provides IP phone, data server, data storage systems and enterprise resource planning. Additionally, in 2011, SYSCOM introduced its own computer cloud service called “CLAVIS” for all U.S.-based clients.
“We provide more ICT solutions than any single company. No other company provides this variety at our size of operations,while offering such a high level of technical support,” Sato said.
He also provides continuous IT training for in-house engineers, so they can deliver the latest technology to be adopted for its global base enterprise clients.On his formula for success in one of the world’s toughest business markets, Sato believes in investing in IT systems from the start, as well as developing a business model targeted at mid- to large-size enterprises only in the U.S., Canadian and Mexican markets.
- Originally prepared by Global Media for The Japan Times Special Report on the East Coast 2014 (Credit: Elizabeth Arcega)
