As IT companies prepare to showcase their wares at the upcoming Gitex exhibition in Dubai, Karim Beshara, CEO Internet service and solutions provider LINKdotNET, says that the current boom in the IT industry is expected to continue, and will be boosted by the business potential in software outsourcing from the region.
The exponential growth of LINKdotNET is expected to continue in the next few years, in line with the industry’s pace of development, but the potential of nearshore outsourcing can further accelerate that growth.
Citing the massive investments in IT as the key driver for change, he says: “Our growth from a small ISP and software development company to one of the region’s largest Internet service and solution providers is a reflection of the current IT industry boom. Businesses and governments in the region have effectively gone on an IT spending spree to reap business benefits from technology.” The ongoing climb in IT spending in the Middle East and North Africa is expected to double in 2008, compared to three years ago, reaching a massive US$13.4 billion. According to IDC, the premier global provider of market intelligence on the information technology industry, the regional IT spend in 2003 was US$6.9 billion.
Beshara believes that the region has bigger opportunities on a global scale, if it captures the potential business of IT solutions outsourcing. Citing India as an example that has capitalised on this opportunity to become a major exporter of IT solutions, he says: “Some countries in the region, like Egypt, have huge potential for IT outsourcing. They have already started to tread on this path which can become a major export business.
With industry analysts predicting new challenges for India in IT labor shortage and escalating costs, Beshara sees an opportunity now for certain countries to aggressively market themselves as viable, albeit smaller, alternatives for IT solution exporters. Egypt, for example, already has the potential to grow its software export shares, banking on its large IT skills base, an English fluency in the IT industry, lower costs, and the added advantage of closer time zones to Europe and US.
He believes that a Middle East-based company such as LINKdotNET has the ability to position itself as a software solutions provider, not only within the region but globally, due to its breadth of scope, sound IT knowledge and cost-effectiveness. The company plans to demonstrate these software development capabilities at Gitex, particularly in the areas of e-government, telecommunications and enterprise solutions.
With numerous solutions already in place in governments such as that of UAE, KSA, Egypt and Bahrain, and capabilities across the range of e-government enablement, Beshara believes that LINKdotNET is a strong e-government solutions contender both within and outside the region. These solutions are designed to offer businesses and citizens ongoing 24x7 electronic processing of requests, easy access to information through Internet or mobile and better client servicing through help desk management solutions. They also enable internal collaboration among various government departments through intranets and workflows, and are then extended in an integrated manner to the public through e-government portals.
In telecommunications, LINKdotNET will demonstrate its customer care solutions that offer companies an integrated in-depth view of their customers’ profiles and services used, in order to maximize customer satisfaction and determine additional revenue sources. Also on display will be the company’s e-Self Care portals which take telecommunications customer servicing to a 24x7 availability, by offering web-based services to these customers. In addition, LINKdotNET will be demonstrating its digital entertainment solutions for network operators, which include the enablement of online music stores to have digital content downloadable on mobile and PC while reserving all digital rights.
Under its enterprise portfolio, LINKdotNET will show its e-business integration solutions that provide a common infrastructure for the varied mix of systems and applications in place within organisations. Also on show are CRM (Customer Relationship Management) solutions, designed to enable business and government call centres to manage their customer base in an integrated, efficient and cost effective manner. The company also plans to demonstrate its key strength of business portal and intranet development.
LINKdotNET will be showcasing its solutions at Gitex at its demonstration area, located within the Microsoft stand in the Sheikh Rashid Hall, Stand Number C9-1, Pod C2H2.
About LINKdotNET
LINKdotNET is one of the largest Internet Service and Solution Providers in the Middle East, North Africa and Pakistan. It provides, maintains, develops and promotes Internet solutions and services that span Internet connectivity, hosting, online advertising, network solutions and web development.
LINKdotNET is a subsidiary of Orascom Telecom Holding Company, the largest integrated telecommunications services provider in the region. The company has regional presence through offices in Egypt, UAE, KSA, Algeria and Pakistan. It employs more than 1000 consultants, web developers and support staff to deliver world-class Internet solutions to its users and clients.
The software development arm of the company, Link Development, offers technology solutions to businesses and governments, with a particular focus on portals and intranets, e-commerce, Enterprise Integration, CRM implementations and e-branding.
LINKdotNET owns and partners in several online properties, such as MSNArabia, in which it is responsible for web infrastructure and content development. LINKdotNET is a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner in five competency areas, and has achieved ISO 9001:2000 and CMMI Level 3 Certifications.
More information on the company can be found at www.link.net
