From sourcing components to final delivery, delivering a ready-to-deploy product to a key government body is no easy task. Narrating the challenges and advantages of this journey, Pratheesh V Nair of Tachlog shared insights on providing turnkey solutions with EFY’s Nitisha Dubey.
Q. What exactly does Tachlog do?
A. Tachlog is primarily a design company specialising in embedded application development, with a focus on the aerospace and space technology sector. In a more detailed form, we are a micro, small and medium enterprise (MSME) handling highly sophisticated technical requirements with a package of services. These include circuit designing, PCB designing, mechanical designing, component procurement, prototyping, assembly/fabrication/production, firmware and software development, and integration and testing. We create robust, high-performance electronic systems based on the specifications demanded by our customers. Whether it is for a control card, a robot, a checkout system, or gyroscopes, we have a team that precisely crafts them to make them functional even in high radiation or temperature. Our primary clientele includes various Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) units, as well as defence and scientific institutions across India.
Q. Who are your target customers?
A. ISRO is our major client, as I said, and we derive most of our revenue from purchase orders issued by its divisions for space missions and technology development programmes. Our systems have been deployed in some of the country’s most prestigious space missions. Currently, Tachlog collaborates with ISRO units in Kerala, including the Inertial Systems Unit (IISU) and the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC). Recently, we expanded our engagements with ISRO centres outside Kerala, including the Human Space Flight Centre (HSFC), the U R Rao Satellite Centre (URSC), the Laboratory for Electro-Optics Systems (LEOS), the ISRO Propulsion Complex (IPRC), and others.
Beyond space research, we are actively exploring opportunities in the defence sector and have started forming consortia to co-develop solutions with partners strong in manufacturing. Collaborations with space agencies of other countries and associations with other aerospace companies in the private sector are another set of agendas that we are currently focusing on. We are in discussions with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) regarding their embedded system development needs.
Q. While specifying that ISRO is the major client, what services does Tachlog extend to them?
A. As a turnkey service provider and an research and development (R&D) firm, in our engagements with ISRO, we have delivered seven flight cards in a very short span of two years. Tachlog has been associated with ISRO for more than 30 turnkey projects. We played a significant role in the development of the rugged, commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) computer for the relocatable robotic arm manipulator technology demonstrator (RRM_TD), which was recently successfully executed by ISRO. Tachlog was involved in the circuit design part of this project, delivering the flight-qualified control board. Besides, DatoScoop, the in-house product of Tachlog, is currently used by ISRO for testing various gyros.
Q. Do you create finished products or just modules/parts?
A. We do both, depending on the project. Some of our designs, like control cards, are modules that go into larger systems, but we also build finished products like a total system integrated with several modules and parts when required. Our approach is flexible, and many modules are versatile enough to be reused in different applications.
Q. Where do you source your components from?
A. We prioritise sourcing from Indian manufacturers whenever possible. However, for specialised components like semiconductors, we often rely on imports from countries like the US and Taiwan. We avoid using Chinese components to support local industry and for quality assurance.
Q. What embedded platforms do you primarily work with?
A. We work across multiple platforms depending on the application. This includes ARM-based microcontrollers, high-performance system-on-chip (SoCs) for Yocto build Linux and real-time operating system (RTOS) applications, field-programmable gate array (FPGA) platforms for timing-critical tasks, and many more. Our team is capable of working with any embedded platform, and our strength lies in being able to choose and implement the most suitable platform for a given challenge.
Q. What is your PCB design and prototyping workflow like?
A. Our workflow starts with gathering detailed requirements and understanding the customer’s budget. Once the circuit is designed, our layout engineers create the PCB considering manufacturing and performance standards. We create a prototype for testing and then proceed to a pilot production phase, where we identify and address any early failures before initiating mass production. This careful, phased approach ensures consistency and reliability.
Q. How do you acquire and retain clients in the R&D services space?
A. We rely on the quality of our delivery and strong post-sales support. Our belief is that consistent communication and technical excellence are essential to maintaining long-term relationships with our clients.
Q. Do you patent your innovations? What is your IP strategy?
A. We are working on a set of patents, particularly in robotics and agricultural technology. Our intellectual property (IP) strategy is practical—we focus on innovations that can generate revenue, not just on filing patents for the sake of it. A good patent must create commercial value.
Q. How do you price your turnkey development services?
A. Our pricing reflects our quality. We are not a low-cost provider, but we also do not overcharge. We believe in fair pricing for the level of R&D and reliability we offer in turnkey solutions.
Q. What are your plans for international expansion or cross-industry growth?
A. We are exploring international opportunities, mainly in the aerospace domain. Many current projects come through third parties, which reduces our visibility and revenue. We are working on creating direct connections with end customers abroad. Currently, discussions are underway to establish our presence in the UAE market. Across industries, we see opportunities in agriculture, medical technology, and defence.
Q. What are your revenue sources?
A. Sales make up about 90 per cent of our revenue. Services contribute roughly five per cent, and consulting adds another five per cent. We have remained a successful bootstrapped company, with our primary financial partner being Canara Bank, which has supported us throughout the stages of our growth.
Q. What sets you apart from other embedded design companies?
A. Primarily, we do not just follow specifications—we work with clients to refine requirements and ensure the final output is truly functional. We always prioritise quality and invest heavily in R&D, which is a tough task in the aerospace segment. The success of DatoScoop, the data acquisition system developed in-house, exhibits this. Its end-to-end development was fully handled by Tachlog.
Q. What is your payment cycle like?
A. Our payment cycle typically ranges from eight months to a year due to the lengthy span of project execution and payment procedures of government entities. While it provides steady work, it creates cash flow challenges. Advance payments are difficult as they require bank guarantees. We have managed this cycle with careful financial planning and strong banking partnerships.
Q. What challenges do you face in this industry?
A. Technical engagements in the aerospace domain demand extreme precision—a constant challenge where even minor errors can be critical. Maintaining a multidisciplinary team and managing it effectively adds another layer of complexity, but both are essential for survival in this high-stakes field. Further, securing suitable projects through public tenders remains a major challenge. Competitors often submit unrealistically low bids without a thorough understanding of the project scope, which frequently results in poor project execution. Additionally, inaccuracies in tender documents can distort financial estimations and planning. Price should never come at the expense of quality, and greater transparency and accuracy in budgeting are essential for successful project outcomes.
Q. Are you currently seeking investments?
A. Yes, we are actively looking for strategic investors who can help us scale. While banks have supported us so far, a capable investor can accelerate our growth and provide the capital required for productisation, branding, and expansion.
Q. What are the key challenges to building a successful electronics product in the Indian market?
A. Gaining acceptance for a product in the Indian market is indeed not easy, especially in electronics. The Indian market is highly value-conscious, demanding innovative products that deliver high quality at a competitive price. Striking the right balance between cost and performance is often the biggest hurdle, especially for emerging companies without the economies of scale enjoyed by large players. On the other hand, government initiatives like the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) aim to boost the visibility of Indian products, but several areas need refinement—such as simplifying onboarding processes, improving procurement transparency, and increasing outreach and support for smaller vendors.
Q. What are your testing and validation procedures for in-house products?
A. We have dedicated test cases for each in-house product to ensure its functionality. Our quality control team uses test benches to validate each board before assembling the final product. This ensures that maximum stress testing happens outside the final system, reducing risk and increasing reliability. We simulate real-world operating conditions as much as possible during these tests.
Q. What software and tools do you use for simulation and embedded development?
A. We use tools like OrCAD for circuit and PCB design. For simulation, since many tools are expensive and not always used daily, we often collaborate with service providers who perform simulations for us. This is more financially viable than purchasing high-cost licences outright. We use Solid Works for designing the mechanical parts/assemblies.
Q. Do you provide after-sales services?
A. Yes, after-sales support is essential, especially for products like the DatoScoop, where client requirements often evolve. We have a dedicated team to handle updates and troubleshoots, facilitating the best after-sales service.
Q. How do you handle firmware updates for deployed embedded devices?
A. In many projects, firmware updates are not feasible after deployment, so we build configurable firmware with tunable parameters through external commands. In cases where updates are required and feasible, we provide firmware over-the-air solutions based on the system’s capability.
Q. Where do you see Tachlog in the next five years?
A. Tachlog is emerging as a key player, evident in the critical nature of the projects we are currently handling. At present, we are involved in several high-profile initiatives related to ongoing space missions by ISRO, including Chandrayaan-4 and Gaganyaan. Over the next five years, we envision Tachlog becoming a global leader in the aerospace industry, supported by a portfolio of in-house developed products.
Q. Despite the challenges, what motivates you to continue working in this domain?
A. While challenges certainly exist, there are also several inspiring factors that motivate us to continue working in this domain. Foremost among them, as I said, is the privilege and pride of contributing to prestigious projects with ISRO. We were involved in the development of Vyommitra, ISRO’s half-humanoid robot. Contributing to such critical projects strengthens us not only financially but also significantly enhances our technical capabilities. Although meeting the technical demands of aerospace applications is challenging, the experience equips us with the expertise and confidence to handle a wide range of complex embedded systems projects.
Q. How was your recent fiscal growth, and what are your expectations for the next two years?
A. COVID-19 had a significant impact on our operations, particularly affecting the market of our in-house developed smart water meter product. However, we have since recovered and achieved approximately 150 per cent growth over the past year. Looking ahead, we expect 10 times growth over the next two years. We are planning to expand our facility from about 185 square metres (2000 square feet) to approximately 557 square metres (6000 square feet). Also, we plan to increase our team size from 25 to 100. At present, we are in the process of building a local consortium with other companies working in different disciplines, with an intention to further streamline our turnkey services. We also partner with similar companies in the aerospace domain, within ecosystems such as Kerala Space Park (KSPACE), to expand our businesses and strengthen our capabilities.
