In the vast landscape of Indian enterprise, small and medium-sized businesses form the resilient backbone of the economy—contributing significantly to employment, innovation, and GDP. Yet, these enterprises often find themselves battling isolation, limited resources, and rising digital demands. Addressing this long-standing gap, Vishal Prakash Shah, Founder and CEO of Synersoft Technologies, launched United SMEs, a revolutionary platform designed to unify, empower, and digitally transform India’s fragmented MSME ecosystem.
A serial entrepreneur, inventor, and cybersecurity pioneer, Vishal brings over two decades of tech leadership and MSME advocacy to the table. In this exclusive conversation, he shares the inspiration behind United SMEs, how it’s breaking silos, democratizing expert access, and helping small businesses achieve big-company capabilities—all through a shared-resource, impact-driven model.
1. What inspired Synersoft to launch the United SMEs platform, and what core challenges does it aim to solve for small and medium enterprises?
Synersoft’s decade-long work with thousands of Indian MSMEs revealed a persistent pattern: SMEs are hugely important to India’s GDP yet operate in silos, lack bargaining power, struggle to afford full-time specialists, and rarely keep pace with rapid digital change. This fragmentation was the spark for United SMEs, whose rallying cry is “Unity for Leveraging the Majority.” By gathering firms under one banner, the platform tackles three chronic pain points—Learning (continuous, affordable up-skilling), Sharing (access to experts and best practices on a time-share model), and Bargaining (group buying that unlocks big-company prices). In short, United SMEs converts scattered solo buyers into a powerful collective that secures quality services, deeper discounts, and know-how that would otherwise be out of reach.
2. How does United SMEs foster collaboration and networking among its member businesses, and what unique tools does it offer?
Collaboration is baked into United SMEs’ shared-resource ecosystem. Members don’t just browse a vendor list—they plug directly into expert teams that several SMEs “time-share.” HR professionals run fixed-cost recruitment drives, digital marketers manage collective campaigns, and seasoned trainers deliver the Hop-On Hop-Off (HOHO) training calendar with 200+ live hours a year. Unlimited seats mean every employee can attend without extra fees. Beyond these services, the platform regularly hosts joint webinars, peer round-tables, and success-story showcases, encouraging owners to swap insights and form supply-chain partnerships. Collective bargaining extends even further: pooled orders for refurbished hardware, antivirus suites, hybrid email, and cloud backup fetch discounts of up to 70 percent—savings each SME could never negotiate alone.
3. In what ways does the platform help SMEs navigate digital transformation and stay competitive in today’s evolving market?
United SMEs translates “digital transformation” into bite-sized, affordable actions. First, it closes basic infrastructure gaps: hybrid enterprise-grade email at one-third the normal cost, licensed refurbished PCs and workstations with warranties at 50-70 percent savings, and bulk-priced cyber-security plus cloud backup that protect data without straining cash-flow. Second, it boosts online visibility through shared-service digital marketing—10–12 creatives, targeted email blasts, blogs, and Google Ads—run by professionals focused on lead generation. Third, HOHO sessions keep staff current on Excel automation, CRM usage, sales funnels, and leadership, ensuring new tools actually get adopted. Finally, Synersoft’s own consultants document processes and re-engineer workflows so technology upgrades deliver measurable ROI instead of shelf-ware. Together, these steps let even small firms compete with larger players on speed, professionalism, and customer reach.
4. How is United SMEs different from other SME-focused platforms or associations in the Indian market?
Most SME bodies act as directories or event hosts; United SMEs is a full-stack execution partner. Five aspects set it apart:
- Shared Experts, Not Just Contacts – Members directly access HR, IT, marketing, and training professionals on a scheduled, pay-per-use basis.
- Integrated Service Bundle – Recruitment, training, IT infrastructure, marketing, and compliance sit inside one affordable membership, eliminating vendor sprawl.
- Unlimited Workforce Training – The HOHO model offers real-time, unlimited participation instead of per-head fees.
- Collective Bargaining Muscle – Aggregated demand turns small orders into bulk deals with enterprise-grade pricing.
- Outcome Accountability – Standardised processes, dashboards, and feedback loops track savings, hires closed, leads generated, or skills gained—so value is provable, not promised.
This holistic, results-driven architecture means the platform behaves like an extension of each SME rather than an intermediary marketplace.
5. What future developments or features can users expect from the United SMEs platform as it continues to grow?
The roadmap is designed to deepen impact while widening reach:
- Digital Member Portal & Mobile App – Scheduled for rollout, the app will let owners track service tickets, view training calendars, book consultations, and monitor savings in real time.
- New Service Lines – Upcoming additions include legal and export compliance, software licence audits, and cyber-risk assessments—areas where SMEs often stumble.
- Regional & Language Expansion – Dedicated partner networks and vernacular content aim to penetrate Tier-II and Tier-III cities, democratising access far beyond metros.
- Fintech & Government Tie-ups – Partnerships with NBFCs, credit-guarantee schemes, and subsidy programs will bundle finance and grants directly into the platform experience.
- Impact Dashboards – Soon, each member will receive quarterly “Outcome Reports” summarising ROI on training, recruitment efficiency, digital reach, and cost savings—turning anecdotal success into data-backed proof.
All milestones feed the broader vision: a unified, self-sustaining SME ecosystem where every growing business can tap enterprise-class resources at micro-enterprise prices.
About the Respondent Vishal Prakash Shah is the Founder and CEO of Synersoft Technologies supporting UnitedSMEs. A seasoned technology stalwart, an inventor of patented cybersecurity technologies, a writer, a serial entrepreneur, and an investor, he is known as the “Go to Guy” for MSMEs. His expertise in IT security and business resilience has positioned him as a trusted advisor for enterprises navigating the digital age.
