Microsoft`s volume model of taking technology to market makes its solutions more accessible and affordable than competing offerings. It is nevertheless necessary to implement the products correctly to gain maximum value. This is according to Jacques Loubser, managing executive of Business Connexion`s Microsoft Competency.
"It`s a commodity model, and while many of the technologies may be leaning towards commodity, there is still competitive advantage to be gained. How? Through the manner in which the technologies are deployed," says Loubser.
He notes that advances in user technology have made Microsoft`s platform one of the most easy to use, but adds that enterprise solutions quickly become complex. As such, these solutions require advanced skills and experience to ensure clients are getting the best from their technology investments.
"The key to optimal value creation using Microsoft technologies lies not in the actual deployment of products, but rather in the system architecture. System design is where the differentiator lies, and where the opportunities for competitive advantage can be found and exploited. However, this is a highly abstract discipline - not all system integrators are the same, and as a result, not all implementations of technology are the same," Loubser explains.
He believes that access to local skills, as opposed to reliance on support from international suppliers, is the optimal route for South African businesses to achieve value. However, he cautions that the levels of system design experience can be limited.
"Using the experience of local partners, vendors are able to reach further into the market, while service delivery models are tailored to the requirements of businesses in any particular geographical location. Companies looking for Microsoft enterprise technologies should be aware that system design is at the core of a successful solution, and they therefore require the services of a proven partner," he continues.
He says Business Connexion`s Microsoft Competency has invested considerable resources into developing intellectual property to deliver better services to clients.
"We understand the Microsoft enterprise environment intimately, and have been building skills on the technology platform for years," he adds.
In a market that is increasingly demanding, Loubser says clients want to be assured of the knowledge and reputation that service providers carry in the enterprise environment. "South African clients are reluctant to spend money on system architecture and planning, and seldom realise that more benefits can be gained from such investments than from money spent on maintenance," he says.
"Astute technologists know that competitive advantage can be achieved from commodity products - but that advantage depends on how the system is created, rather than the components that make up the system," Loubser concludes.
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