Title: Using ICT as a Collaborative Tool for SME Development Inter and Intra Sectoral Development
1Using ICT as a Collaborative Tool for SME
Development Inter and Intra Sectoral Development
fastforward to SME Competitiveness in Trinidad
and Tobago
Presenter Cassim Parak
2There is no doubt that the SME Sector is a key
catalyst for economic growth and job creation
3The Importance of SMEs
- SMEs are the anchor and growth drivers for
economies universally - SMEs contribute substantially to the GDP of any
country - SMEs create employment
- SMEs generate capital
- SMEs level the playing fields between large
corporations and monopolies - SMEs are also consumers that form a bridge
- Todays SMEs are tomorrows large enterprises
4Is this Collaboration?
5The Future is Now
HTML
E-mail
WAP
PDA
SMS
Internet
Collaboration
Voice
Partners
Procurement
Employees
Agents
6ICT as a Collaboration Mechanism
- Exploiting and utilising information thru ICT is
the key to staying in business and going for
growth. - SMEs must learn to gather, assimilate, work,
exploit and explore all the information at hand. - SMEs need to use various user-friendly ICT
solutions for promoting their business. - ICT use plays an important role in enhancing
various business functions including the quality
of response and timeframes for responding. - Knowledge Management Collaboration between
Knowledge Workers
7The Importance of a Collaborative Framework
- Reduce costs by automating the supply chain
- Increase efficiencies by focusing on the core
business - Focus becomes Quality of Service or Product
- Reduce administration personnel costs
- This is the age of the Information eConomy
embrace IT
8Collaboration Elements
- Document Repository Indexed document container
for document management (user definable
attributes). - Discussion Forum Interactive forum for online
Topical Discussions (Category/Catalogue). - Feedback Forum Interactive medium for general
and topical feedback looping. - Notice Board Structured billboard for the
posting of notices (general, personal or
topical). - Calendaring, Scheduling, Tasking
- User Directory List Database of employees
including profile information with the ability to
dynamically or through updates integrate to Human
Resources application. - Companies Directory List Segments for
Suppliers, Partners, Customers, electronic yellow
pages, etc. - Information Search Retrieval System Advanced
Search system locates information precisely
efficiently. - Product Price Catalogues
- Customer Interaction Touch Points and Mediums
9Impact of the ICT Strategy of Large Enterprises
to SMEs to the Economy
- Gap widens between the Large Enterprise the SME
- SME Competitiveness negatively impacted
- Monopolies get bigger
- SME is less attractive as an employer of choice
- Imbalanced economy
- Profit Value Proposition attrition
10ICT Collaboration Where are the Large
Enterprises
- Shared Services Model
- Automation of Administrative functions
- People Learning
- Knowledge Workers
- Costs of ICT
- Connectivity Touch Points
- Profiling Personalisation
- Information Mining for decision support
11Basic ICT Considerations for the SME
- Infrastructure
- Connectivity
- Business Applications
- People Learning
- Access Security
- Backup Disaster Protection
- Data Management
- Personalisation
12ICT Investment Considerations
- Consider Open Source Software
- Shareware versus Shelfware
- Lowering or Eliminating Connectivity Costs
- Learning Programs on ICT use
- Be wary of obsolete technologies ensure a
cost-effective technology refresh program - Encourage your ICT Supplier to Partner your
business - Dont be intimidated Walk the Path
13Benefits of ICT Collaboration for the SME
- Improve business process
- Achieve World-Class status
- Best Practice methodology
- Access new markets
- Reduce cost Increase efficiencies
- Effective Marketing
- Employment and wealth generation
- Relative competitiveness increases
14A Shared ICT Infrastructure Model for SMEs
- Focus on Core activities
- Aggregate ICT investment costs
- Reduce Capital investment costs
- Reduce Maintenance costs
- Economies of Scale through divide use
- Conform to business specifications
- Collaborate Co-op
- Standardise Technology
15e.com institute delivers common-sense business
solutions that leverage the power of the net as
an enabling mechanism of the new economy
our objective
- is to position e.com institute as a provider of
eBusiness Solutions to the African Continent
(Nepad Support)
16Focus Areas
Enterprise Solutions
Suppliers
Business to Business
Customers
Business Intelligence
The Business
Business to Consumer
Local Competitors
Employees
Decision Support
Landscape
Global Competitors
Business to Employee
Management
New Entrants
Knowledge Management
Focus
Performance Management
17Methodology
- Envision
- explore opportunities
- develop E-Business strategy
- Define
- Identify functionality to be implemented
- Architect
- Define the technical environment
- Build
- Develop Prototype
- Implement
- Deliver Rollout
- Train
- Support Structure
18Conclusion
- One of the hallmarks of the information age is
that the new currency of business is information
or knowledge sharing. The way in which that
knowledge is managed can ultimately determine the
success or failure of any enterprise.
Collaborative Technologies offer the ideal medium
for- - Easy Knowledge creation sharing
- Access to information anytime, anywhere
- Better decisions through better information
- Knowledge workers without limits
19Thank You