THE Association of the Computer and Multimedia Industry of Malaysia, (Pikom) is extending a helping hand to small- and medium-sized businesses that want to embrace ICT (information and communications technology).
Pikom is holding a series of one-day seminars, called SME Business Success with ICT, nationwide which is aimed at guiding the businesses to use ICT to improve their operations and efficiency.
The seminars also aim to correct some misconceptions that SMEs may have about ICT, such as how costly technology can be and how such investments should be left for a better time.
Wei Chuan Beng, Pikom chairman, said ICT is still low on most SME priority lists because many do not understand its importance.
He said there are about 900,000 SMEs in the country and 52% of these do not even have an employee dedicated to handle ICT in their businesses.
“Some of them are not aware of the importance of ICT while others think the nature of their businesses is not complex enough to justify an investment in such technology.
But in actuality, they need ICT if they want to remain relevant and competitive,” Wei said at the launch of the seminar series here on Monday.
He said the seminars will provide SMEs with tips on how to harness the power of ICT and e-commerce, which will help them compete on a global scale.
Eric Wong, chairman of Pikom’s SME support division, said the association believes it is its responsibility to educate SMEs on the use of ICT.
“The business world today is borderless. In order to stay in the game, we need to be innovative and ICT can help us do that,” Wong said.
In order to further drive home its message, Pikom will highlight SMEs that have successfully deployed ICT in their businesses, and these organisations will share their knowledge and experiences.
Another feature of the seminar series is guest speakers who will cover topics ranging from technology trends to how organisations can make technology work for them.
The series will kick off in Kuala Lumpur on June 7.
Pikom is targeting 3,000 participants for its 15 nationwide seminars, which are co-organised with the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation and is supported by the SME development agency, SME Corp Malaysia.
++++ www.pikom.org.my
