Adapt, Adopt, Advance

Companies on the Super 50 list have evolved with changing industry dynamics, adopted new technology, and made prudent financial decisions.

- Dinesh Arora

Forbes India’s annual Super 50 list aims to identify Indian companies that have consistently exhibited strong growth in sales, high profitability and significant shareholder returns.

The year gone by has been an interesting one as India witnessed the biggest change in its taxation system since Independence, in the form of the Goods and Services Tax (GST). Despite the teething issues, along with the effects of demonetisation, companies across sectors handled this transformation well. As a result, India’s GDP grew at 7.7 percent in the fourth quarter of FY18. While India Inc has rejoiced in this triumph, a few companies have overshadowed others with their astute business strategies and sound decisionmaking. We have observed some commonalities in the direction these companies have taken, which earned them a spot in this year’s Super 50 list.

INORGANIC GROWTH

Charles Darwin said: “It is not the strongest or the most intelligent who will survive, but those who can best manage change.” In today’s dynamic business environment, companies that have the agility to manoeuver their course of action are the ones that survive and prosper, while those that fail to innovate and future-proof their businesses are left behind. Nearly 42 percent of companies on last year’s Super 50 list have not made it to this year’s list.

While most companies chart a linear growth path, some take the inorganic route to fast-track their reach. The majority of the Super 50 companies this year have exhibited this trait, with more than 50 percent of them entering mergers and acquisitions in the last three years.