SOME businesses in Barbados are still not getting the desired outcome after implementing new technologies, according to Roger Hennis, manager, consulting services, at Deloitte.
“Investments in IT have not delivered what some businesses are expecting,” he told the BARBADOS BUSINESS AUTHORITY.
“With regard to where clients are with IT we are finding that a number of clients have implemented IT but they are not necessary getting the results that they have improved their business”.
One of the reasons, Hennis cited was that IT departments in some businesses would implement “a very complex system” without carefully carrying out research to find out what would work best for those who would actually use the systems.
“Oftentimes you have to start with the end in mind,” he added. “It is not necessarily about implementing a complex system, it is about understanding what the business wants to do and what you are trying to achieve, and once you figure that out then you can go find a solution that delivers exactly what you are looking for.”
He said a lot of local businesses were incorporating new technologies in their operations but “we are far behind based on the fact that some people don’t know where they should be” in terms of competing with regional and international businesses.
Using the example of some companies using the Square app on their phones to accept credit cards in the United States and banks in Jamaica using more advanced technologies, Hennis said once the technology was introduced here it could become “the norm”.
“So we need to have one or two innovative out-of-the-box thinkers saying they are going to try these technologies. One of the challenges we have in Barbados is that we are conservative and risk averse,” he said.
Hennis was quick to point out, however, that newer businesses were more willing to take a chance with newer technologies as they sought to grow their businesses.
He further said that tourism could employ greater use of technology to grow the industry, not only to increase numbers but get a different type of tourist.
Noting that the use of social media was important as well as packaging, he said not many people relied on brochures or traditional forms of advertising anymore. (MM)