PUBLICATION: BIZCOMMUNITY RETAIL
DATE: 06 MARCH 2008
SMEs are forced to adapt to changeable IT conditions
Businesses within the growing small-to-medium space are under pressure to adapt general modus operandi and business models to suit new conditions in the IT market. So claims Robert Sussman, joint MD at Integr8 IT, South Africa's largest privately owned national BEE ICT network integration and infrastructure management specialist.
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In
his delivery of a presentation at the launch of Phakisa, a SME
Development Programme initiated by the Information Technology
Association (ITA), Sussman pointed out the need for businesses – most
notably those in the small to medium bracket – to understand the
process of change in IT management structures.
“The ICT
sector is moving towards a more streamlined and more structured
approach to service delivery. There is a general shift towards a
multi-sourced environment and there is new opportunity to be gained by
service providers who understand the dynamics represented in this
growth. The conventional supply and demand outsource relationship can
no longer meet current and expected market requirements,” said Sussman.
His company has developed a mentorship program that is
aimed at assisting operations in the small-to-medium bracket to develop
and implement a strategic approach to ICT investment and use.
“Our role is to enhance this market through information share and by
offering proven expertise that is aimed at lowering the cost of
ownership for businesses who are embarking on their journey into IT
investment and operation,” says Sussman.
Phakisa also
served as a platform for the introduction of key communication
technology influences identified by the company. These included Web 2.0
or second generation of web-based communities and hosted services, such
as social networking sites, that facilitate online information share
and collaboration between users.
“Businesses must know
that they are operating under vastly different conditions than was the
case a year or two ago. The advent of Internet and Web 2.0 is directly
affecting the way business is conducted and managed. Now there has to
be a level of interaction between all role players in an organisation
in terms of technology. The traditional approach of a stand-alone IT
administrator versus the rest of the business simply cannot work
anymore,” added Sussman.
He also referred to local
bandwidth supply and routing, suggesting that local businesses should
be proactive in their dealing with service providers to ensure reliable
connectivity in order to bolster levels of competitiveness and profit.
“There are a few questions to be answered in terms of how best to
utilise the Internet as a critical business tool. Key considerations
include security, cost, the hosted e-mail option and storage of data –
all of which will help to determine connectivity and usage policy and
strategy,” he said.
And Sussman did not pull any punches
at the podium. The 30-something IT executive had something to say about
regulation and the existence of what he calls “wide-reaching,
stringent” legislation.
“Distinct trends have emerged in
worldwide legislation relating to electronic communication and the
storage thereof. Corporate scandals, identity theft and the upsurge of
electronic communication in business activity have led to the
introduction of these laws. Businesses need to be proactive in
compliance and not fall into the trap of distraction over missed
opportunity to comply and balancing this necessity against core
competency.”