FINAL WORD
How system integrators can ride out the downturn
Ayman AlBayan at STME gives four tips on how system integrators can ride out the downturn.
In line with the rapid evolution and adoption of technology, system integrators in the Middle East have witnessed a major boost. The systems integration market has offered, and continues to develop different solutions for the better functioning of businesses across all industries. Currently, the systems integration sector offers fullfledged IT managed services including professional services, cloud computing, networking, and security and hardware solutions.
The development of new products and services in the systems integration sector has further added to the overall growth of the IT services sector.
As reported by MarketsandMarkets, the systems integration services market in the Middle East and Africa is expected to grow to $ 11 billion in 2016, at a CAGR of 9 % during 2011-2016. Communications and media, and the government sectors are the biggest contributors to the growth of the systems integration sector. Healthcare, utilities, and services industries are expected to be drivers of the systems integration sector in the future.
However, although the systems integration sector is enjoying steady growth, it is not immune to the pressures of smaller or reducing budgets set amidst challenging requirements for security, backup, networking, and other organisational computing requirements.
There is hope for the systems integration sector as long as demand for its products and services remain high, and in the Middle East and North African region, demand for these products
Ayman AlBayaa is the CEO of STME
and services are expected to remain or increase in the foreseeable future, regardless of budgets.
What is necessary to compete and succeed in this climate is a realignment of internal strategy. This should be viewed as an opportunity for business development and growth, rather than a constraining challenge.
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It is important to recognise that organisations are looking for value creation. This is more than just value for money. Products and services that are offered need to specifically address current organisational requirements and also include components for future requirements and expansion.
This can be achieved by providing products with future scalability options and also providing combined product and
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service bundles from different vendors. Systems integration providers need to focus on staff and training. It is important to build in-house knowledge and competencies that can assist organisations with matching products and services to their requirements. Knowledgeable and well-trained staff can be a defining competitive advantage for
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systems integration providers. Systems integration providers as technology solution providers should offer clients the best-in-breed and up-to-date technology products and services. To do this, it is essential that systems integration providers are focused and flexible to adapting and adopting change as new products and services enter
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the market. Systems integration providers should keep an eye out for opportunities in the market. These could come from smaller organisations or from unfamiliar industries. Taking on these new clients could lead to new product and service development. As such, these opportunities should not be missed.
Planning and constructing a positive business approach to handle challenging situations, such as the drop in overall expenditure in the Middle East and North African region due to the fluctuation of oil prices, could be the difference between survival and growth. Once the correct and appropriate strategies necessary are devised, it is possible to thrive in economic downturns.
66 Issue 03 INTELLIGENT TECH CHANNELS