Amitabh Sharma
Features Coordinator

E is the buzzword now, virtual space is becoming a viable turf for businesses to expand their reach and create visibility among their target audience. Marketers around the world are looking for more interactive ways by which to communicate with consumers online-with computer knowledge you can create a social virtual meeting place bringing people from anywhere into a social network space.

“Persons cannot depend on one set of skills for all their working lives,” says Lewis S Buchanan, chief executive officer of Iva Communications. “In today’s changing, competitive world, old skills quickly become obsolete and new ones become essential for success,” Buchanan adds.

Buchanan, whose company is promoting the concept of e learning, feels that youngsters should refresh or update their skills, which requires a great deal of continuous training. “Companies understand that gaining a competitive edge in quality and innovation depends on having the most skills, talented, flexible workers in the global marketplace,” he says.

With eCommerce getting ready to play a vital role in Jamaica and the wider Caribbean; businesses will have increase their presence online. Information system can help companies in Jamaica extend their reach to offshore locations, offer new products and services reshape jobs and workflows, along with a change in the way they conduct business. “These companies can create eye-catching electronic brochures, advertisements, product manuals, and order forms on the web, with the right training and development for their employees,” Buchanan says.

Buchanan is mooting the concept of internet and computing core training (IC3) certification where one would get to learn software, hardware and other key applications. Jamaican workers needs to develop the key skills needed to develop, install and operate these technologies. “If you are not improving or acquiring new skills sets you are vulnerable-someone from another country will take your job,” feels Buchanan, “this is truth for every country in the world.”

With this shift, this new economy can help transform Jamaica from more than sugarcane, bauxite and tourism based economy to and e- Commerce-focus driven nation. “Jamaica can position itself for one of the greatest growth in history through e commerce,” says Buchanan.

The world is fast becoming one marketplace, the challenge before the corporates is not only to maintain their position in the competitive marketplace, but to create new ideas, to improve skills and strive to be the best in whatever they are doing. In 1969, in eighth grade, Bill Gates and a friend built a clunky computer that played tic-tac-toe. His friend, Paul Allen, recalls Gates saying at the time, “Don’t you think that some day everybody will have one of these things? And if they did, couldn’t you deliver magazines and newspaper and stuff through them? I mean, I wonder if we can make money doing something like this?” everyone knows who Bill Gates is today.

Information technology in Jamaica is at its development stage-with the passing of the digital signature, Jamaica is ready to develop a robust and vibrant eCommerce sector. “We only need to develop our skill set to take advantage of some of the jobs that will become available,” avers Buchanan.

Information Technology will throw up opportunities for Web Developers, Programmers, Video Editors, Data Entry operators, Online Sales Representatives, Call Centre Representatives being some of them. Internet is fast becoming a ‘convenience store’, one can buy products from fresh flowers, books, real estate, musical recordings to electronics, furniture and office supplies – they are all available at a click of a button.

Access to technology is not only going to change the way people work but how business is carried about, “It is a win-win situation, the goal is to use information educate, train and build a technology savvy workforce,” says Buchanan, “For the business, it is a critical tool to forecast, help cut inventory, improve customer service and reduce waste which will allow consumers to enjoy lower prices.”

amitabh.sharma@gleanerjm.com