Although the South African ICT channel has undergone a number of shake-ups, it has yet to reach maturity.

If you are looking for that stupendous top-level executive to join your company, the chances are they are not on the job market. But that doesn`t mean they`ve found their "final resting place".

To truly reap the benefits of investment in network infrastructure, companies must ensure they install networks intelligently, bearing in mind both future challenges and advancements in technologies.

In a knowledge- and information-based business world, where high security levels are an imperative, firewalls and anti-virus software are no longer enough to ensure companies` system security.

The business benefits offered through asset rental options (ARO) are manifold, but realising a return on investment (ROI) is trickier than it might appear.

There`s a lot of noise being created around the benefits of blade servers - which doesn`t seem to be the usual vendor hype.

A campaign by US and European retailers to fast-track radio frequency identification (RFID) deployment has led to an explosion of interest, but experts warn that claims of fast returns and short-term benefits may be premature.

Recent developments have seen business process management (BPM) converging with workflow and other technologies to drive automation of business processes. The result is improved efficiencies, greater return on IT investment and increased flexibility.

SA can benefit greatly from offshore outsourcing business, but numerous obstacles stand in the way of it becoming a global player.

Most software developers and other vendors have a mid-range strategy these days - aimed at SMEs. The proliferation of options for smaller, often cash-strapped concerns calls for a careful strategy to avoid misdirected spending.

The hype surrounding B2B a few years ago was matched only by the silence that followed the concept`s spectacular implosion. Has B2B expired, or are the remaining players just quietly getting on with the job?

Notebook sales enjoyed phenomenal growth in 2003 and the trend is likely to continue, but the market dynamics are not as simple as they first appear - and the extinction of desktops may come later rather than sooner.