Kiwi Computer Challenge Helps NZ Businesses Emerge

Kiwi Computer Challenge Helps NZ Businesses Emerge from Recession

“Successful post-recession businesses will be those able to practically harness the power of computing technology to improve productivity and reduce costs. Get involved, or get left behind.” That’s the message from Pam Martin, a speaker at the NZ Small Business Summit being held in Auckland this Friday (10 September), where small business owners have the opportunity to share their views with politicians and business leaders.

As a regular judge of the David Awards, which recognise achievements of small businesses, Pam has recently seen significant changes in the way that successful small businesses use technology. “People are using computing technology to establish successful new businesses and grow existing operations. New technologies such as online services (‘cloud computing’) and social media are proving to be practical, effective and low-cost ways to create business efficiencies, promote products and services, and interact with customers. Those who aren’t getting involved risk getting left behind.”

From her own experience as a business owner, Pam believes one thing stands in the way of getting the best from our computers. “Kiwis have been enthusiastic ‘early adopters’, but are mostly self-taught, with help from friends and work colleagues, and on-the-job training. Whether we realise it or not, most of us have gaps in our knowledge and skills. We know enough to get by, but we spend too much time working out where we went wrong, or doing things the slow way because we don’t know any better. As a result, our productivity is leaking out through the holes in our computer skills. Many businesses lack the skills to get the best from their existing computers let alone realise the potential benefits of the latest innovations.”

The Kiwi Computer Challenge has been launched to address the problem. The purpose of the Challenge is to improve the core computer skills of New Zealanders to an internationally recognised standard of digital literacy, using the Internet and Computing Core Certification (IC3) as a benchmark. “The Challenge will see one million New Zealanders achieving IC3 by 2015 – and have fun doing it! No single organisation, business or group can fix this problem in isolation – this is about people power, not computers. It’s a way to show ourselves and the world what we can achieve when we set our minds to it and pull together”, says Pam. “As well as direct benefits to individual businesses, the overall improvement in knowledge and skills across the workforce and business community will have a significant part to play in moving New Zealand towards a full economic recovery.”

For more information go to www.kiwicomputerchallenge.co.nz

ENDS

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