A Tryst with internet and website development
There was a time when having a website was considered something new.
Back in the mid-1990s, India had just begun its journey with the Internet. While many others were still trying to figure out what this new technology could do, I found myself exploring how businesses could use it.
One of my early forays into the digital world was with Madeinindia.com. A web portal that introduced print advertising to the digital space. At the time, it was interesting to see how businesses were experimenting with creating interactive websites such as “XEROX”, which let users select the right photocopier model based on their daily usage requirements. Today it may seem ordinary, but it was a window into the future at the time.
Soon after, I partnered with “Indiayellowpages.com”, an online version of the traditional yellow pages. In the month that followed, I worked with hotels and exporters who discovered how the internet might help them reach audiences much beyond traditional boundaries.
Around the same time, I received my first website development assignment for a travel agency. The website was built entirely using raw HTML code. There were no drag-and-drop builders, no templates, and certainly no AI tools. Completing that project gave me immense satisfaction and it provided me a lot more chances.
One project I remember particularly, developing a website for MADITSSIA, the association of madurai’s small-scale enterprises. A foreign agricultural company discovered the association online and reserved a stall at a food and agro exhibition. It was one of the first times I saw how the internet could create opportunities between people who might not have connected otherwise.
Another hotel website I developed received its first online room booking. Today, online booking happens every second, but at that moment it felt like a tiny victory and a sign of things to come.
The digital world has changed beyond our wildest expectations. We moved from an era where “Content is King” and website navigation were the main priorities.
Yet one thing has not changed.
Technology keeps changing, Opportunities frequently belong to those who are willing to investigate what others have not yet recognised.
Thirty years later, I still find that journey just as fascinating.
Stay tuned with me! More milestones soon.
