BYWATER - UK’s TOP CONSULTANCY FIRM - TO LEAD SUMMIT DUBAI AUDIENCE

Region’s SME’s can benefit from e-business lifestyle

The second Summit Dubai business symposium will be chaired by one of the United Kingdom’s leading management consultancy groups, Bywater PLC, according to conference organisers, Global Management Consultants.

"Bywater’s Stephen Cardell, singled out as the most ‘provocative speaker’ in last year’s Summit, is to be the facilitator for the seven speaker seminars during the two day event," said Saira Azhar, CEO of Global.

Cardell is noted as a leading management change expert, with a particular emphasis on assisting businesses make the transition to e-business.

"E-business implementation is what this year’s Summit Dubai is all about. It is also what today’s business is all about. Companies that shy away from e-business will die a slow, most likely painful, death," advised Cardell, during a recent visit to Dubai.

He stressed that e-business is a lifestyle that should be adopted by business of all shapes and sizes : "E-business is not just for the big boys. Experience shows that it is the small and medium size enterprises (SME’s) that can benefit most in the short term, particularly at new market entry."

Cardell said that one of the biggest challenges for SME’s is the entry cost barrier and that e-business dramatically lowers the investment required : "Companies can join a trading exchange at virtually no cost, or buy space on a third party e-procurement system to immediately realise transaction and buy-price savings," he said.

In support, source material from ITP Publishing confirmed a review of SME’s in Europe reported cost savings and revenue generation opportunities of 20 per cent and higher by SME’s embracing e-business. Cardell is of the opinion that a similar return can be achieved by region-based businesses.

He also confirmed that Summit Dubai 2001 is set for a repeat success as it kicks off a busy season this October following the commitment of Dubai Internet City and other leading blue chips

"Summit Dubai has already gained the support of Dubai Internet City, Accenture, Arab Wide Web, ASP Gulf, IBM, Oracle and ITP Publishing, among others," he said.

"For the second year running, DIC is to deliver a keynote presentation, likely to support the overriding conference message stressing that e-business implementation is essential for survival in the New Economy."

Summit Dubai, scheduled for October 2-3 2001 at Emirates Towers Hotel, is structured in three parts comprising speaker seminars, B2B showcases and workshops.