REGION CAN AVOID THE TECHNOLOGY OVERDOSE OF CORPORATE AMERICA, SAYS SUMMIT DUBAI CHIEF

E-business implementation discussed at Summit’s second forum


In its second year, Summit Dubai 2001 is set to tackle the hype or reality question that has seemingly clouded the uptake of e-business in all four corners of the globe, accordingly to conference organisers, Global Management Consultants.

Launched as the region’s first-ever business symposium, the upcoming Summit Dubai will stress that e-business implementation is key to businesses of all shapes and sizes.

Saira Azhar, Global’s chief executive officer said : "There has been ample press highlighting dotcom crashes, B2B silence following loud launches and suggestions that corporations are neck-deep in hardware and software, particularly in the wake of the bugless millenium.

"While this may be so, we are of the belief that the United States particularly is just undergoing a realignment, albeit a sharp one, and that all businesses must adopt e-business for long-term success in this New Economy."

Azhar acknowledges that Corporate Middle East, while IT and Internet savvy, has yet to place substantial investments in systems and equipment. She suggests that this places the market in a favourable buying position.

"E-business, while requiring some investment in software, systems and PC upgrades, does not have to mean that IT budgets surge," she said.

"We do not have to follow Corporate America and overdose on technology. We are in the position where we can look at the US, Europe and other markets and shop with knowledge," insists Azhar. "Thus, we can effectively embrace e-business systems and applications, ensuring that e-business does what it should do – and that is enhance our corporate lifestyle and bottom line."

On the definition of e-business, Azhar said that it is still commonplace for e-commerce and e-business to be confused : "According to leading information & technology publishers, ITP, e-commerce is the buying and selling of goods, whereas e-business is about the way in which we conduct traditional business activities in the web-driven environment."

Summit Dubai 2001 has gained blue-chip support from alliance partners such as Accenture, Arab Wide Web, ASP Gulf, Bywater, IBM, Oracle, and Dubai’s Internet City as lead sponsor . While, ITP Publishing is on-board as Summit’s official publishing house.

The conference will take a three-prong structure comprising seminars, B2B showcases and product workshops. It runs from October 2-3 2001 at Emirates Towers Hotel.