Lured by the potential of the Indian market, the US-based business intelligence and enterprise planning software company Cognos is exploring the possibilities of expanding its operations in India.

"We are currently examining whether it should be a sales office or a wholly-owned subsidiary, as we see huge potential for the business intelligence and enterprise planning software in India," Forrest Palmer, MD, Asia, said on the sidelines of a seminar in New Delhi on Wednesday.

Currently, the US-based company is selling its products through Systime, Datamatics and S P Billimoria.

Cognos is also introducing its full suite of corporate performance management software, and therefore, it becomes more pertinent to have a direct presence for better interface with the customers, Palmer said.

With the launch of CPM, which would assist the companies in terms of target setting, planning, measurement, analysis and forecasting enterprise planning, Cognos is depending on the demand from banking, finance institutions and insurance, telecom, pharma, retail and the government.

"We are targeting the top 500 companies in India," he said.

At present, Cognos, a $550 million company, has 100 customers in India who are using its different software modules.

In terms of the revenue last year, Asia Pacific contributed nine per cent of the total revenue, he added.

However, he declined to comment on India's share, saying it was significant.