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'CWG New ICT Business Strategy Will Address National Issues'(AllAfrica Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Computer Warehouse Group (CWG), an information and communications technology (ICT) solution company, has said the change in its business strategy, which is reflected in its five year strategic plan to take the company in a different direction into a more robust subscription business models, will help in addressing key national issues. The uptake of the company's new cloud products not only in Nigeria but also in Ghana, Cameroon and Uganda proves that its emerging business model of providing cloud services on a subscription basis is scalable, repeatable and transferable, and more sustainable and profitable. Group Chief Executive Officer of CWG, Mr. Austin Okere, who gave the information in Lagos recently, said: "We crafted the plan code named CWG 2.0 in 2010, realising back then the pervasiveness of cloud computing and the major enablement for this in our region following the increase in broadband access from 0.65 terabytes to a combined capacity of 9 terrabytes per second. We were very clear that while our tremendous growth over the years had been propelled by our traditional businesses in hardware and software sales and support, and VSAT bandwidth vending, these represented mature and declining margin businesses, the import of which have been evident in our recent financial statements." Emphasising the imperative in the shift in strategy, Okere said: "We consider the refocusing of our business into a subscription based model as a dual advantage play. In addition to being a more sustaining strategy, it maximizes our social impact investing on the economy of Africa, and helps to create jobs by empowering entrepreneurs in the countries of our operation." Head of Power Business, CWG, Mr. Gbadebo Adesina, said the plan to privatise the power sector, opened a new business opportunity for CWG, as it partnered a company in India to provide key solution to address the technical and non-technical loses in power distribution. "Our solution which provides an effective medium for energy audit and revenue assurance is currently undergoing proof of concept with two of the largest distribution companies (DISCOs) in Nigeria, and we expect that this new line of business will be at implementation stage by third quarter of 2015," he said. Following its listing on the Nigerian Stock Exchange in November last year, the company has vigorously pursued its CWG 2.0 initiative with the inauguration of a tier 3 Data Centre and the release of many products, which have been solely locally developed, or in collaboration with other innovative Companies such as MTN Nigeria, Diamond bank and Ericsson among others. Chief Technology Officer of CWG, Mr. James Agada, said: "CWG 2.0 is all about the freedom to dream and the passion to execute. CWG 2.0 defines the future direction of our company. In summary it is a social impact investment initiative directed towards empowering the African entrepreneur." The CWG 2.0 solution comprises products such an online resource planning solution that enhances proper business inventory management by business owners; openshoppen, an e-commerce site that provides multiple shop owners the opportunity to open virtual shops online, complemented by an integrated secured payment gateway, thereby allowing online buyers to pay for products and services with their cards. CWG 2.0 also includes payment terminal service provider (PTSP) smart grid solution, and various cloud services which promote cashless policy initiative of the Central Bank of Nigeria. Recently, the company entered into strategic partnership with SES Astra, a Satellite services provider to provide teleport and platform services for the pioneer satellite-based free to air and free to view digital television system that will be launched commercially in the fourth quarter of this year. Copyright This Day. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). |