Updated: Naukri Launches Professional Networking Site – Brijj
Updated below
(Original post: 2007-08-09 05:36 AM PST) This just in: Info Edge (Naukri.com) has launched a professional networking site, Brijj.com, reports WATBlog. From the About Us page, the mandate of the site seems fairly similar to Linked In – introductions, business opportunities and jobs.
During a recent earnings call, Naukri CEO Sanjeev Bikhchandani had explained their need for a professional networking site: Job sites don’t tap passive candidates, and Bikhchandani believes that a networking site can plug that gap. Naukri.com has a database of over 10 million resumes, and a possible integration with Brijj gives it the opportunity to engage better with those for whom Naukri goes off the radar when they’re not looking for a job.
However, Naukri is not the first Indian company to try the professional networking site. Rediff had launched Connexions as a professional networking site in 2004 (I think)…it never took off. Then there’s also Techtribe, which recently received funding from Canaan Partners; they’re attempting the reverse: a tech networking site trying to make inroads into the tech jobs space with a referral system.
Question is – if you’re already on Linked In, will you migrate to Brijj? I think Linked In’s global footprint will be difficult to compete with for Naukri, since that brings a completely different segment of opportunities.
Update: In response to a critique of Brijj here (crossposted here at the ContentSutra group on Facebook), Bikhchandani comments that they have gone live with the basic feature set that they felt was essential for a start, and there are product enhancements planned. Granular privacy settings are in the pipeline. However, the company does not expect revenue anytime soon from Brijj. He adds that they chose speed to market over building a spectacular product, but taking four to six months more…I’m not sure if that’s the right approach – a lot of this social media game is about first impressions, and if there are teething problems, it just wont take off.
Disclaimer: I have an inconsequential number of shares of Info Edge.
Hey thanks for the credit. Hope you didn't mind me using your line "You read it first here" ;) .. And its interesting you think that linkedin might be difficult to beat. Being on linkedin and being active on linkedin might be two different things :)
I think the challenge for any web 2.0 player isnt registrations its engagement. If naukri focuses on engagement rather than only registrations i think it has an edge when it comes to leveraging its network with professionals across india to create an indian centric business network.
Id love to know what you think.
I am a rookie as far as indian internet space is concerned. First, I agree with what Rajiv is saying. Second, there is a need of a local (Indian) proffesional Networking site which will be customized to Indian scenario. From a business model perspective, Naukri could have a first movers advantage. BTW…i too would LOVE any feeback on this…
With more than Rs 2bn cash in balance sheet and some of the finest brains in the industry, I dont see why Naukri can't make sucess of it. Company will find itself one of the biggest value creator (for stake holder ) in few years down the line. Worth holding/adding into your portfolio.
Nikhil, are there any patent issues involved for creating a business networking site, as I think Linkedin has the patent for business networking site concept? Is there any patent violation if Infoedge or some other internet company starts a business networking site?
Kapil Ohri
It's a very good attempt. Nice looking site and very easy to use, but the product is same. May be they think they can localize it and provide Indian jobs and network…. lets see. Again congrats to the whole team…
@ Kapil Ohri: There can never be any patents for ideas. Business networking is in its whole, just an idea, a concept. No one can claim ownership of ideas. If in fact linked in has created a whole new procedure for recommending friends based on your interests, etc, only those procedures could be patented. Otherwise your free to start your own business networking site, if thats what you have in your mind :)
Great work! Refreshing colors! BUT ok ok product. Atleast provide something extra…. though packing paper is amazing!!
Hi,
Looks like after all it won't have a first mover advantage. http://www.linkedzone.com already has established inroads into this space and is not as big a copy of Linkedin as Brijj is. Brijj has even copied the Percent Profile complete.
Yes, there are many other players already in this space. Gladoo (http://www.gladoo.com) offers job search coupled with professional networking. The site is from the house of TolMol (http://www.tolmol.com) which is a fast growing name in the comparison shopping in India.
Well I am not too sure how many Indians would want to become a part of this site. The good thing about linked.in is that users discovered it first and then came the headhunters and HR managers so it is okay to be linked.in..but if your HR manager sees your profile on Nuakri you can get into trouble. So my bet is that this site will be filed with HR and headhunters and not professional job seekers..in todays day where supply is shorter then demand i am not too sure if it will help naukri too much..as professionals will be keep away from this as they can get into trouble.
By the rajiv you will be surprised to see the number of professional who are active on linked in from India..
Why cant Indian companies innovate rather than just copy something which is already available..Clones dont work even if they are nicely designed.. Indians are going crazy with this Web 2.0..its all internet..create something which is not available already and they will be succesful..the indian offerings dont really fix the gap and meet the needs of the users..
Bigadda is another such example..the proposition is same as orkut..so why should one really go there.. Bombay is flooded with hoardings of bigadda.com…and rediff iShare..why is it that only Indian companies need to do this heavy advertsing..I have never seen a single advertising of orkut and facebook in India and yet they are most succesful models of web 2.0..I guess when you dont have something new to offer,, then you can only advertise..to get some registration..engagement well that stays with the original innovators..
Its the turn of naukri now to launch their outdoor campaign..i am sure the ad agencies are laughin their way to the bank..