Microsoft assists partners in boosting SME sector at local business event

Small to medium businesses visiting this year`s Biz 2000 and Soho expo, hosted at the MTN Sundome from 7-10 September, will be able to have information technology issues addressed for the first time. Microsoft South Africa has invited its partners to host an IT Pavilion at the event, offering a range of business solutions powered on Microsoft technology.

Says Colette Damant, business development manager at Microsoft South Africa: "The feedback received from small medium enterprises (SMEs) at previous events was that there was a need for information technology support and insight. Microsoft approached its partners that could best meet these needs and successfully recruited a selection of businesses. Besides the IT pavilion, SMEs can also visit the ABSA lounge, where they can go and listen to a series of IT talks offering them practical assistance on their business ventures."

The Microsoft partners exhibiting at Biz 2000 include: Diametrix Solutions and Business Nervous Systems, Ambassador Training and Development, Quadrant Two Solutions Development, ComQuest Computer Services, Destiny e-commerce, Netsurit and Sage Computer Technology.

Diametrix Solutions and Business Nervous Systems understand that SMEs want their technology systems to be as simplified as possible, so SMEs can focus on their core business. As a result the two companies will be presenting SMEs with a fully integrated business solution, consisting of the necessary hardware, networking and software infrastructure. This will also include the accounting software programme Accmatrix which was developed on a Microsoft platform to ensure full integration with the Microsoft Office elements. This approach ensures integrated support is provided by a single solution provider.

Central to the effective running of an office is staff who are trained on the latest computer programmes. Ambassador Training and Development will provide SMEs with insight into its latest training programmes, focusing on both end-user training and technical training (certification) using Microsoft technology. Ambassador has pioneered the concept of on-site training without disrupting its clients hardware infrastructure and/or networks.

For SMEs wanting to see how an effective office environment works, Quadrant-Two Solution Environment will provide visitors with a mini-office display, depicting how to integrate the various elements of Microsoft Office. Additionally, ComQuest Computer Services will be providing IT solutions to SMEs attending the expo. ComQuest will provide total IT solutions including consulting, hardware and software, network design and implementation, internet connectivity, remote systems management and outstanding backup and support.

BMI-TechKnowledge`s latest research on the SME sector predicts that by the end of this year nearly 40 percent of SMEs will be using some form of e-commerce. With this in mind Destiny e-commerce, a Microsoft Commerce Partner, will form part of the Microsoft IT pavilion. Apart from its payment gateways to three of the four major banks, Destiny can provide SMEs with the tools necessary to expand their businesses on-line. Destiny e-commerce forms part of the Datatec group and provides the cornerstone of the groups e-commerce capabilities.

For those attendees at the event wanting to gain the most current business information in an informal setting, Netsurit the network support company, will be hosting a series of discussions for SMEs in the ABSA lounge. The topics under discussion will range from outsourced IT for SMEs, to reducing IT costs.

As far as the legalities of software are concerned, Sage Computer Technologies will be displaying SoftTrack, at the IT pavilion. SoftTrack is a software auditing system designed specifically with the SME in mind. The auditing system builds a strategy for SMEs indicating what software they need to cost effectively run their organisation. The system will also be able to establish how many PCs in an organisation are licensed, assisting SMEs in ensuring their software is legal. In addition Sage Computer Technologies will be demonstrating HP, Compaq, Xylo and other leading IT products offering a total IT solution.

"Through the diverse set of information technology solutions offered by Microsoft and its partners at the Biz 2000 IT pavilion, Microsoft looks forward to introducing the small business owner to relevant IT solutions. We hope that this type of event is the first of many like it, and repeated in years to come," concludes Damant.