SMEs look to Tata

The Information Technology as a Service (ITAAS) offering from Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) is finally catching the fancy of India's SMEs, reports Business Standard.

The IT company recently signed an agreement with Apparel Export Promotion Council, an industrial council in India, to provide IT solutions and services to its nearly 11 000 members.

Earlier, TCS also signed up with Pithampur Audyogik Sangathan (Indore), which has 500 members, and Coimbatore District Small Industries Association, which has over 5 000 members.

Recruiting the right staff is a key component of corporate success, and arguably even more important for small and medium-sized businesses, states Times Online.

“Recruitment has a huge impact on SMEs because the presence of individuals is highly felt. It is a high-risk enterprise for them,” says Scott Russell, director of CPH Consulting, a recruitment outsourcing firm.

Recruitment, however, can be tricky for SMEs. “They don't have large brand names or reputations that attract the best candidates for jobs,” Russell says.

BT Business has rolled out a guide - Understanding Green Business Practices - to help Irish SMEs understand how sustainable business practices and ICT can help the world and their bottom line, Silicon Republic reports.

In Dublin, Dr Chris Tuppen, BT's chief sustainability officer, reminded Irish SMEs how they can make a difference. Tuppen was recently named one of The Guardian newspaper's Top 50 people most likely to save the world from climatic disaster.

“The 250 000 SMEs in Ireland are not only the lifeblood of the economy, but they can make a big difference to tackling climate change, while at the same time discover new long-term commercial opportunities.”