Intekom launches definitive new portal for South Africa`s SME sector

South Africa`s SME sector now has a vital new empowerment tool at its disposal to entrench its role within the country`s economy.

This follows the launch by local ISP Intekom of South Africa`s first definitive business-to-business Internet portal developed specifically to promote the business interests and growth of this burgeoning market sector.

Branded 'Inzuzo`, the Zulu word for 'gain`, the content-rich portal has been designed to empower small, medium and micro enterprises by providing a free interactive Web presence and by facilitating the free flow of business-related development information and advice.

"The idea is to ensure a better success rate of start-up and small businesses and to help entrench this vital sector within the economy," says Intekom Marketing Manager, Salma Kidd. "Companies will be able to list or edit their product and service details online at no cost in order to increase their exposure to corporate and international markets, as well as within the SME sector generally.

"This is in line with government`s recent identification of SME businesses as the main growth engine of the South African economy for years to come," she adds.

Designed as an online information directory of where to go for what, Inzuzo`s main lever will be through its targeted, value-added content and services.

The portal will be a source of information for businesses, including daily updated financial and investment news and advice on starting, running and marketing a small business. It will also cover aspects like raising capital for a growing business, management and e-commerce strategies, finance, accounting and tax related issues, expanding internationally, and government regulations, labour and legal issues.

Information will also be published on tenders and tendering assistance, affirmative procurement assistance, company registrations and SME forums, whilst database features include sophisticated product and service cataloguing of all SME businesses plus regional and sectoral indexing and search capabilities.

In addition, it also incorporates a variety of business tools such as financial calculators, tools for share movement analysis, and access to a range of national and international trading opportunities.

According to Intekom`s Deputy Managing Director, Ashiek Manie, the portal creates an important interface between SMEs, the corporate sector and the public sector, and is expected to become the main entry and access point to local SME businesses, products, services and suppliers. In addition, it will offer online access to government and related tenders as well as to strategic business opportunities.

"This is where we see the portal adding real value," says Manie.

"By creating an information and communications forum for SMEs, we are actually creating a virtual community of like-minded businesses with similar needs and interests who can share ideas, exchange value and establish partnerships that will enhance their business leverage.

"In other words, we are providing the platform and the connectivity that will put them in touch with what they need to make a difference to their bottom line."

According to recent research published by BMI TechKnowledge, there are already more than 600 000 registered SME businesses locally whose combined IT spend rose to more than R11-billion last year. This is expected to rise significantly more again this year - as companies move to take advantage of the massive opportunities presented by the Internet and e-commerce. Many, however, are unsure of how to set up a website and need assistance in developing an effective and coherent e-commerce strategy.

Manie confirms that development of the Intekom small business portal recognises this need and is in deliberate accord with recent government initiatives to promote the SME sector as a major economic force in South Africa.

"We are firmly behind these initiatives and will co-operate with any government agency, NGO or Section 21 business that shares a similar commitment to supporting this sector," he continues. "The launch of Inzuzo is a clear indication of this.

"South Africa is a developing economy still dominated by the corporate sector and there is obviously a strong need to encourage entrepreneurship and new business development. More people must be able to become employers. This will help to increase levels of employment in order to bring about a more equitable distribution of wealth.

"We are confident that the Inzuzo portal will succeed as intended in stimulating and facilitating this process. We want it to be recognised as the home of the small business in South Africa."

Going hand in hand with the launch of the portal, Intekom has also introduced an innovative range of bundled solutions similarly designed to meet the Internet needs of developing businesses and help them compete with the corporate sector.

The solutions are the product of extensive research by Intekom - including consultation with relevant stakeholders - into how SME businesses specifically can exploit the Internet to reach customers, cultivate relationships and develop new prospects, explains Corporate Product Manager, Charmayne Cox.

"Basically, we wanted to provide a customised, one-stop solution for clients at an affordable, flexible cost. Developing a range of bundled solutions that would meet the needs of both the high and low end of the market, and everyone in between, was obviously the way to go," she adds.

The end result is a range that offers SME users an exceptional low-cost opportunity to register an Internet presence and gain additional online consulting, Web maintenance and Web hosting services and support normally only available to bigger, established businesses.

SBweb-lo and Sbweb-hi

At the lower end of the range are Intekom`s SBweb-lo and SBweb-hi Web Development, DNS and Hosting bundles. The former offers three to five Web pages, five-10 images and scans, feedback forms, 10 virtual mail accounts, three hours free online marketing, text navigation, Indigo hosting, and much more.

The latter bumps up the number of Web pages offered to seven-15, images and scans also to seven-15, and virtual mail accounts to 15. It also provides a navigational bar and four hours online advertising, in additional to the same basic features of the entry-level product.

Security Bundled Solutions

Intekom`s Security Bundled Solutions feature powerful but easy to implement GNAT Box firewall protection and access control, plus high speed dedicated leased line connectivity for comprehensive access to all Internet resources and services and better reliability and less errors than an analogue service.

Server and Workstation Bundled Solutions

Three levels of Intekom Server and Workstation Bundled Solutions complete the range. Each contract provides an Intel nightlite Server 10/100 and five entry-level Pentium III workstations, plus installation, network cabling, one dial-up account and 10 virtual mail accounts.

In addition to these product bundles, Intekom is also offering solutions for businesses to build their own networks. These can be tailor-made to suite individual business objectives, with monthly rental fees covering the support and maintenance necessary in today`s high-speed network environments.