Professor Manoj Maharaj of the Discipline of Information Systems and Technology (IS&T) was an invited panellist at the GovTech 2023 SMME event, a collaboration between Microsoft South Africa and the State Information Technology Agency (SITA).
It provided a platform for Small, Medium, and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) in the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) space to engage with the panellists on how to harness opportunities to drive innovation and, ultimately, economic growth.
In his introductory remarks, Maharaj highlighted the pressing issue of the digital divide, which poses significant challenges for society but also many opportunities for SMMEs. He stressed the need for SMMEs to maintain an active and robust online presence, thus enhancing their ability to tap into a wider customer base.
He also urged government and business to drive the simplification of data access in South Africa, noting that the current complex processes to purchase data obscure its high price, which impedes digital access for the majority of South Africans. ‘The often-quoted statistic that 95% of South Africans have access to the Internet is misleading, as this access is transient. Sustained, high speed affordable Internet is still inaccessible to most citizens. In an information-driven world, denying access to this information is denying access to economic development and freedom.’
Maharaj offered the following advice to SMMEs: ‘The first step is to identify a problem in your community through a robust data-driven approach, and then seek a solution in collaboration and partnership with the community. Collaboration with other similar small businesses is also beneficial as the collective wisdom of diverse perspectives drives innovation. Do not think of this as an environment in which one SMME is in competition with another, but rather as a “coopetition”, a collaborative competitive environment in which all parties grow.
‘Devoting time to craft a comprehensive business proposal that incorporates emerging technologies is also important. Using Artificial Intelligence to drive efficiency and effectiveness in everything that an SMME does is vital for sustained success.’
Words: Mbuthuma Ongeziwe
Photograph: Supplied