BCM takes off in SADC

Companies in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) are buying into business continuity management (BCM).

So said Louise Theunissen, a representative of the Business Continuity Institute (BCI), addressing last week's ITWeb Business Continuity Conference.

Presenting the results of a survey the BCI conducted into BCM trends in the SADC region, Theunissen said full executive buy-in for BCM from companies in the SADC region had reached 69.8%.

Overall, the need for and the utilisation of BCM in the region has increased, according to the survey. Of the companies surveyed, 76.5% implemented BCM strategies in all phases of their business and 39.2% tested their business continuity plans annually.

There has also been increased awareness of BCM strategies, with 54.9% of companies surveyed reporting awareness at all levels of their organisations.

Positive statistics were also returned regarding the implementation of BCM plans within an organisation, with 59.5% of companies owning their BCM strategies and they were and implemented by internal resources.

Naturally, there are challenges facing the adoption of BCM programmes. The survey notes that in 2012, the number one challenge to BCM was gaining buy-in. Resources was the second-biggest challenge.

These challenges are nothing new to the BCM industry, and this was highlighted by a number of the speakers during the conference. Tracey Linnel of PriceWaterhouseCoopers highlighted these challenges.

According to Linnel, many organisations do not view BCM as important, or as important as other issues facing their businesses. Many organisations also feel that a disaster or calamity will never befall them.

Linnel believes approval rests on two fundamental principles. The first is BCM needs to have a noticeable impact on the bottom line; and the second is that BCM needs to deliver on its promises.

She added that organisations need to understand the purpose of BCM and mitigate the risk in order for BCM to have a noticeable impact on the bottom line and deliver on its promises.

The need for BCM, however, is unquestionable. Various industries, especially in the current economic climate, can benefit from BCM going forward as the pinch is felt. Disasters happen - the recession is a good example thereof. Businesses need to be prepared for all eventualities, and BCM can assist in this regard.