Waikato’s digital stories to be revealed to the world

Waikato’s digital stories to be revealed to the world

Companies involved in the Waikato digital industry are set to have a brand strategy overhaul from globally renowned brand strategist Brian R Richards at FORUM 2011 as part of the Digital Industry Forum on 5 July.

“Right here in the Waikato we have world-class technology companies the world has yet to hear about. There is a real need for our success stories to be promoted to the world” says Cheryl Reynolds, SODA CEO and Chair of the Digital Industry Forum.

Led by globally renowned NZ brand strategist Brian R Richards, companies that attend FORUM 2011 will quickly learn how to crack and test their brand story to take to the world. Brian says, “Developing and positioning their offerings is something quite different to products themselves. Explaining the technology, its benefits, and improving the customer experience is all about understanding and need from the outside in.”

A recent NZTE-funded study completed by international economic development expert Petr Adamek identified that Waikato’s digital industry has highly specialised software companies that are global leaders in their areas of expertise.

“The 41 companies we studied employ over twelve hundred ICT professionals, have a combined sales revenues of almost quarter of a billion NZ$, plan to increase sales by another NZ$36 million, and to create more than one hundred new jobs throughout 2011”, says Petr Adamek.

These estimations indicate an overall expected annual growth of 14.7% in sales revenues and 7.9% in employment. “None of the firms in the study were planning to downsize in 2011”, said Petr Adamek.

“The Waikato is a key player in New Zealand’s digital industry but the world is not yet aware of it. We need to engage our digital enterprises and help them become more proactive in telling their stories of innovation and success around the world. This will attract the attention of global technology players who will seek to cooperate with our digital firms” says Wayne Attwell CEO of Bold Horizon.

The Digital Industry Forum was first established in 2009 by SODA Inc, Hamilton’s business incubator and cluster developer. The cluster initiative aims at grow, support and promote the collective capabilities of Waikato’s digital community to the world. The cluster has over 30 Waikato companies in its growing membership and the cluster’s LinkedIn Group boasts over 250 individual members.

SODA Inc. CEO Cheryl Reynolds says “companies involved in the digital industry can’t miss being a part of this regional change that will show the world just how smart and innovative the Waikato region is.”

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