subject: Ict Adoption Imperative For Indian Smes [print this page] Recent years have seen Indian SMEs grow by leaps and bounds due to continuous technological advancements and ever increasing market competition. SMEs play a significant role in the economic growth of the country, which can be understood from the fact that MSMEs contribute about 17% to Indias GDP. In a globalised economic scenario, it is extremely important for SMEs to adopt information and communication technologies (ICT) in order to withstand competition posed by its larger counterparts as well as increase its reach and customer base.
Importance of ICT adoption
According to Raman Chanana, proprietor of Sangeeta Enterprises, a small-sized manufacturer of leather belts in New Delhi says, Adoption of ICT is extremely important for Indian SMEs looking to gain traction in the global market. ICT helps SMEs to enhance the way they conduct business and increase core competencies.
Recently Pricewaterhouse Coopers conducted a workshop in Mumbai to highlight the significance of ICT in the SME sector. Ajay Shankar, proprietor of Ras Agro Associates, a small-sized manufacturer of ayurvedic products in Pune says, Implementation of ICT will enable Indian SMEs to understand and replicate business trends of their counterparts in the developed nations, thereby gaining insights for future growth.
Project Vikas
To enhance IT penetration in the Indian SME segment, the National Manufacturing Competitiveness Council (NMCC) and Microsoft India launched Project Vikas in 2009, which focuses on upgradation of local manpower to increase efficiency and business performance of SMEs. Since SMEs lack the means to go beyond their geographical areas to tap talent, the project aims to hone up the skill sets of the locally available workforce so that the SMEs do not have to be dependent on external agencies for skilled manpower. The project also aims to stimulate manufacturing competitiveness of the SME segment in India.
