BOTHELL, Wash. – Winshuttle Inc., a private software company, entered into an alliance with Capgemini that will push the company further out in the marketplace and help grow its revenue to an expected $10.5 million in 2008, up from $5.5 million in 2007.  

The agreement was signed at the start of the year and will allow Capgemini, a consulting, technology and outsourcing company, to use Winshuttle’s transactionSHUTTLE application. Paris, France-based Capgemini had revenue of $12 billion in 2007 and employs 83,000 people in 36 countries. 

Winshuttle’s transactionSHUTTLE application connects SAP’s Business Suite application with Microsoft Excel or Access programs. Vikram Chalana, Winshuttle’s founder and chief executive office, said Capgemini is the fourth largest SAP implementations partner behind Accenture, IBM Global Business Services and Deloitte Development LLC. Chalana said one of the reasons why he expects his company to nearly double its revenue in 2008 is the alliance with Capgemini. 

Winshuttle’s software connects SAP and Microsoft Office applications, which allows companies to work better and faster, the company said. According to Winshuttle, its software is intended for business functions such as accounts payable, accounts receivable, human resources and purchasing.  

Chalana said he believes there is a large market for his company since Microsoft and SAP are the first and third largest software companies (Oracle is the second largest). In addition, he said there are about 20 million SAP users, 80 percent of the Fortune 500 companies use SAP applications, and Microsoft Excel is the most popular business application, which makes Winshuttle a connector of two large applications.         

Rajat Oberoi, the chief operations officer and co-principal of Winshuttle, said the partnership with Capgemini gives Winshuttle credibility and a lot more exposure.

“It obviously gives us a credibility in the industry that we are not a mom-and-pop shop. We’re an established company, we have been in business some time and companies like Capgemini and SAP are willing to work with us,” he said.

Oberoi said Winshuttle is currently working with Capgemini on a few projects, although he could not disclose customer names.

“We foresee a good potential from this partnership,” he said.  

According to Brad Little, the vice president of SAP Services for Capgemini, Winshuttle’s application has been an eye-opener for Capgemini’s clients.

Little said Capgemini got into a relationship with Winshuttle because the company provides a simple software application that helps the average business person.

According to Little, Capgemini has used Winshuttle over the years in different projects and thought it would make sense to enter into a formal arrangement. Oberoi and Little were responsible for bringing the two companies together in an alliance. According to Oberoi, the two companies started talking last July.

Bothell, Washington-based Winshuttle has 350 customers, including companies like Starbucks Corp., Home Depot, The Coca-Cola Co., and Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.

Eighty percent of Winshuttle’s customers have more than $500 million in revenue, and the company has been doubling its growth rate every year for about the last three years, so this year’s prediction of about $10 million is attainable for the company, according to Chalana.

In 2007, the company earned $5.5 million in revenue and was named to Inc. Magazine’s 500 List. The company was founded in 2000, but only developed its software with a couple of customers and did not officially become incorporated until 2003 when Winshuttle decided to enter the marketplace and make its software widely available. Winshuttle employs about 50 people worldwide with facilities in India, the United Kingdom and is looking to acquire an office in France. 

Chalana is from Chandigarh, India, and has been living in the United States since 1991; Oberoi is originally from New Delhi and came to the United States in 1987. Winshuttle also recently hired a chief technology officer, Surender Mohan, who is a 13-year Microsoft veteran.