Current Edition >> Archives Section >> Leading Stories >> November 2002
Amidst widespread concern that not enough is practically being done to foster SMME development in South Africa, a new electronic database customised for the SMME sector in a highly operative and user-friendly way, could fast-track economic development critical to the country. The database - an electronic software package designed by the CSIR Division for Information and Communications Technology (CSIR icomtek) - is called inTouch Africaź and provides a case history and performance record of each SMME registered on it.
The program has been implemented in the Northern Cape province as a pilot project, and other provinces are now geared to follow. In implementing the program in the Northern Cape, local business support centres (LBSC's) have been equipped with the software package, while their staff have been trained in the applications. Implementation is a joint venture between the Provincial SMME Desk, Ntsika Enterprise Development, CISP (an Italian NGO), and CSIR icomtek.
The practical value of inTouch Africa is that the program as managed by a LBSC makes available to any SMME, service provider or governmental body extensive operational info about any SMME registered in the system. Such information can then be used in decisions regarding allocation of tenders, service capacity, networking choices, etc. More information about inTouch Africaź on page 10 of this edition.
Because of their very nature, LBSC's is ideally suited to serve as managerial units for inTouch Africaź. According to Johann van Rensburg, project co-ordinator of CSIR icomtek, altogether 50 LBSC's countrywide have already been earmarked to be equipped with and trained in the system. The objective is to gradually increase the total number of linked LBSC's to over 100.
The beauty of the system is that it could excellently serve any institution or body which has SMME's as members. After the LBS's, next in line for implementation is the Multi-purpose Community Centres (MPCC's) which are currently being deployed by the national GCIS. As a matter of fact, implementation has already spread to a number of these MPCC's that are part of other initiatives serviced by the CSIR.
By accessing the enabling and supportive info on the inTouch Africaź program with a few computer clicks, an SMME or SMME stakeholder could generate a lot of developmental activity, which in turn should escalate into further spin-off. This means that the SMME sector in SA could be strengthened considerably in terms of sustainability, development and expansion.
Therefore institutions such as other provincial SMME Desks, central departmental SMME directorates, chambers of business, corporate SMME divisions, etc., could benefit immensely from implementation of the inTouch Africaź program. Also individual, progressive SMME's should be sure to log onto the inTouch Africa system themselves. Thus clearly inTouch Africa points the way to go if SMME development in the country is to be technologically leapfrogged.
Putting the final touches to the pioneering implementation of the inTouch Africaź software system for SMME's in the Northern Cape, from left Bruno Venditto (CSIP), KJ Aphane (Kimberley Business Service Centre), Mildred Pretoruis (Upington Business Support Centre), Hunter Malibu (Kuruman Business Support Centre), Johann van Rensburg (CSIR icomtek) and Deen Mouton (Lower Orange Economic Development), workshop in Kimberley on 25 October 2002.
For more info, Johann (Rensie) van Rensburg could be contacted at 082 447 6239 or e-mail jvrensbu@csir.co.za.
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