Why IT Adoption is no longer a CHOICE but NECESSITY for MSMEs

Doing business in today's world requires well-set systems with various measures and counter measures. Everything needs to be process driven if one wishes to maintain control over the enterprise. The systems may be proper logical or scientific one or just a “system” but there has to be one because that is what tells everyone how to work and manage the functions. But today the business environment and the influence of other extraneous factors have become highly enmeshed and complex. This makes running an enterprise a greater challenge especially for smaller players with limited resources notwithstanding the fact that it is much more complex for the larger players. Thankfully we have several IT/ ICT solutions today to help us find our way through the forest.
But there are skeptics who think that need for IT in business is highly overrated and unnecessary. For those who still question productivity gain can diligently calculate and do accounting of time and money invested in physical management of data vis-à-vis electronic ones.
Published in April 2012 issue of SMEWORLD. Click Here

MSMEs in 2012 and Beyond - The Sectors That Hold Promise

The initial pseudo-turnaround gave way and the dark clouds of inflation and recession are looming in the background. But unlike my case where I was unprepared, businesses have seen how bad things can go as recently as 2008 – 2009. Most had learnt their lesson and have become frugal and cautious. The economic trend at the end of this year is quite similar and there are lots of uncertainties around. In these days of slowdown, sky-rocketing costs and low investor confidence, some sectors are still resilient and are promising enough to remain focused on or to invest in. These sectors are not gravity-defying areas but highly grounded, essential and reasonably contemporary businesses with tremendous growth potential and market size to fit many. In this article, I will focus briefly on few such sectors which hold fair promises as sustainable investment options for entrepreneurs in the coming years.   
Published in January 2012 issue of SMEWORLD. To read the complete article, click here.