Mr Shiva is the CEO of tech start-up www.chekdit.co
Shiva is a driven entrepreneur. He is the CEO of tech start-up www.chekdit.co, which is a project management app. This app is being developed by Shiva to address the field level problems at sites like productivity, accountability, coordination, execution, skill scarcity & many more that we face in the construction & interior fit-out industry. Shiva has a hand on experience with a demonstrated history of completing several projects & specialised in all types of interior fit-out works. He has experience of more than ten years working in the Gulf in a similar industry and a total experience of more than 20 years.
Shiva started his project management & entrepreneurial career at the age of 18. It was just after he had completed his diploma in the year 1995, he had been working in a small construction company in India, where he happened to get a contract of his own for the erection of a lightning arrester. He says that it was the time when there was no internet, people used to communicate through some wireless means & these wireless transmitters were placed in the hill stations on the hilltop & the transmitter locations for police departments, or transport department and other government departments. Shiva got a project worth Rs. 9900, back at that time. He completed the project in a time span of one week, it was a thrilling experience for him, where he had to work day in and day out without any swift access to resources. Gradually after his first project, he got the opportunity to study Engineering at National Institute of Technology and then moved to Dubai where he got his hands-on experiences in the construction and interior fit out Industry and then started his own company in the year 2013.
Shiva explains how he got into project development accidentally. Yes, he says that it was not his choice to choose civil engineering as a profession. Shiva says that it was his marks that determined his subject and thus because of his score his college department landed him to civil engineering subject, however, he also expresses his gratitude towards the subject as slowly he started enjoying it and it landed him to the pedestal of success.
Shiva says unlike other industries, the projects in the construction industry make you feel like you’ve designed or created a monument which is to stay for quite a long time or even your lifetime. This is a feeling of gratitude and belongingness towards what you’ve built. Whenever you pass by, you can proudly show it to the person who is significant in your life. I think you will get this kind of proud moment a very little in any other industry.
One thing that Shiva emphasises on is that an individual should never quit learning & should constantly absorb what is happening around us and watch for where is the market heading towards.
When there is a market slow down, we tend to cut down on the cost and very rarely focus on Innovation, Technology and R&D. After the 2008 economic crisis Gartner looked at 30 F1000 companies, All of them invested in new growth opportunities rather than cutting the cost. The have conquered the next decade of business and the other players have flattened their growth curve. In my opinion the companies should use this economic downturn situation to invest in implementing new technologies, innovate, R&D and Training.
Shiva adds marketing as one of the crucial skills, that one should have while operating in the market & it should be a continuous process. He says that 67% of the business owners work in the business. Whereas he believes that a businessman is supposed to work on the business rather than working in it.
• Skill scarcity – At current trend the Covid 19 situation have migrated skilled workers to their home towns. More and more skilled workers are already engaged in agriculture. They are no sooner expected to return to work. India is poised to grow. As per World Economic Forum, India’s top 40 cities will constitute $1.5 Trillion in luxury retail market. Once the market rebounds we will have acute shortage of skilled manpower. Companies should hire the ITI passed out guys into this field. Train them and get them into a monthly payroll.
• Lack of technology use in the construction industry
• Productivity – Disengaged employees at the workplace costing the companies $450-$550 Billion per annum only in US as per a study by Gallup. There is so much of distractions around us and productivity is the biggest challenge today. The limited skilled Work force are dictating the terms at work site. The daily wage concept can be move towards monthly salary and bring the workers in the monthly payroll.
He ended with a note to everyone in the market that one should not take traditional ways of business. Every entrepreneur has to be innovative & competitive, never forgot keeping a check on your list and also focus on personal branding. Shiva says, “Today’s LinkedIn is going to be tomorrow’s Facebook.
