JSE-listed USKO is previewing a selection of industry-specific e-business solutions at the Department of Trade and Industry`s National Export Week `99.
The group will showcase its exportable e-business development capabilities at the USKO stand in Hall 5, Nasrec from the 19-23 October, 1999. In addition, USKO will participate in the seminar running alongside the exhibition, when it joins SAP, Microsoft, Deloitte and Touche and Rainbow Software International for an e-commerce conference.
Under the banner of the Commercial Ventures division, USKO will demonstrate a selection of globally exportable solutions aimed at the travel, education, pharmaceutical, online investment, publishing and healthcare industries.
The planned preview will introduce orderpharm.com, an e-business solution specifically aimed at the pharmaceutical industry. Orderpharm.com facilitates online procurement and delivery of scheduled and over-the-counter (OTC) pharmaceuticals as well as shop-front products.
In addition, USKO will display the recently launched `Edumaster` product, an administration system for schools and tertiary educational institutions. The Windows-based education solution is Y2K compliant and can be customised to the variety of school setups and educational requirements that exist in South Africa. The program is designed in a modular format in order to allow schools to gradually upgrade their current system as needs and budgets dictate. In the exhibition line-up, the group has also included a sneak preview of `Finestra`, a travel industry e-business solution.
USKO`s transactive switch technology, best-known for its use in USKO`s MediSwitch division, will also be on show during Export Week. MediSwitch, a pay-for-use application, is aimed specifically at linking Medical Aids Funds to healthcare service providers.
Incorporating Electronic Data Interchange (EDI), the real-time transactive switch ensures the rapid processing of data and permits the interpretation, formatting and relay of data between trading partners, allowing for prompt and economical electronic interactions, explains Strauss. Industries that are significantly transaction-orientated, such as the travel, healthcare and pharmaceutical industries will reap the benefits of a move towards e-commerce, and USKO will provide the technology to accommodate a smooth, profitable transition. Mozaic Digital Design, a subsidiary within the USKO group that specialises in digital new media, will also participate on the USKO stand.
Mozaic offers Internet development, strategic planning, digital media placement, interactive CD ROM`s, digital corporate identities, AV presentations, intra- and extranet application development, screensavers, corporate video production, and is well-known in the "new media" industry for its work on the BMW, Compaq, Fedsure, SAA/Netcare "Travel Clinics" and NSPCA Websites.
According to Wendy Strauss, communications director at USKO Commercial Ventures, the multi-industry solutions previewed at Export Week will be directed at enabling businesses within the relevant global markets to benefit from the growing potential that e-commerce transacting has to offer. "USKO believes its technology offerings are globally competitive in terms of cost, innovation, and time to deploy," comments Strauss.
She highlights the fact that USKO has seized the e-business opportunities available in `trade communities`. "Entire industries can be brought into the e-business arena by being enabled to trade and communicate with one another electronically. The healthcare industry, for instance, consisting of doctors, pharmacies, pathologists, hospitals, and specialists, has been e-business enabled by the transactive switch technology inherent in USKO`s MediSwitch solution," explains Strauss.
Strauss points out that internationally, e-business has proved a highly feasible investment for several companies who have averaged billions of dollars worth of sales. In fact, Forrester Research estimates that global business-to- business transactions will be valued at about $327 billion dollars by the year 2000.?
"On the local front," she adds, "companies have displayed a reticence to invest in e-business, expressing concern about looming Y2K difficulties. However, this trend is expected to change as soon as Y2K has passed, and previously frozen budgets will be allocated to bringing business into the global economy. BMI-T research indicates that, by the year 2002, South Africa will be spending approximately R87 billion Rand on electronic transactions."
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Usko
Usko Ltd, one of SA`s leading listed IT groups, has the services, resources, and products necessary to offer the business sector a complete e-business solution. This offering is supported by the 3 main divisions of Usko Ltd, namely: Communications, Software & Services and e-Commerce.
Usko Communications focuses on delivering the infrastructures and methodologies for Networking, Internet services and MS Business Solutions.
Usko Software and Services provides solutions in the areas of Business Intelligence, Customer Relationship Management, ERP and large-scale development, all based on world-class products.
Usko e-Commerce offers creative, technical and business strategy services that include management consulting, business strategy planning, Web development and design, as well as application development and integration. This division is also the home of Usko`s transaction switching solutions.
The integration of these core competencies, backed by leading-edge technology, makes Usko the IT partner for the new millenium. For more information, take a look at Usko?s web site on http://www.usko.com