Sean Joubert

Consumers are having a massive impact on both the IT industry and IT departments within enterprises. This trend emerged during several talks at the Dimension Data Accelerate 2011 executive forum in Bryanston last week.
Not only does the Consumer Protection Act pose huge threats and opportunities for SA’s IT sector, but customer service trends are changing the way contact centres are run and the consumerisation of IT is changing the way IT departments will be run in future, said speakers at the forum.

Keynote speaker and attorney Roger Knowles warned that the new Consumer Protection Act would have far-reaching implications for everyone in business today. In many cases, its effects had yet to be determined. However, the Act also presented opportunities for those in the IT sector with the foresight to identify them, he said.

Tony Frost

Also focusing on the impact of consumers, Dimension Data’s general manager, Microsoft solutions, Bradley Bunch, noted that consumer-driven trends and technologies could not be ignored and had to be incorporated into enterprise infrastructures.

Other key trends that came under discussion at Accelerate 2011 were virtualisation, unified communications and environmental sustainability.

Tony Frost, chief executive of Sirocco Strategic Management, told delegates that sustainability and leadership were the same thing. He said business leaders could no longer afford to turn their backs on sustainability, and he pointed out that that technology is critical to solve problems such as high energy and water demands. Also speaking at the event, Sean Joubert, MD of Dimension Data, Middle East and Africa, elaborated on the company’s recent brand refresh. He explained: “Accelerate conveys speed, a sense of urgency, pushing the boundaries and moving to the next level. We want to ensure that we remain credible and relevant and to help clients meet their business objectives. Our value proposition has involved from a technology supplier to managed services, outsourced solutions and offerings.”