[kictanet] Expensive software systems?

[Shem Ochuodho]

Bro. Antoine,
 
Great reading back from you. I believe together we can, and shall, overcome.
 
Best rgrds,
Shem

--- On Fri, 6/27/08, antoine bigirimana <antoine at e-tools.com> wrote:

From: antoine bigirimana <antoine at e-tools.com>
Subject: RE: [kictanet] Expensive software systems?
To: shemochuodho at yahoo.com, kiriinya2000 at yahoo.com, "'KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions'" <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke>
Cc: "'New Vision List'" <newvisionkenya at yahoogroups.com>, "'Haron Wachira'" <hwachira at itakenya.com>
Date: Friday, June 27, 2008, 2:57 PM








Hello Shem,
 
Thank you very much for mentioning SmartGov ERP developed in Rwanda by E-Tools Rwanda.
 
Hello All,
 
The systems developed for USA , Canada and European Union
tend to include many features that are not necessarily relevant for the East African market and they are also very expensive.
We believe the most cost effective solution for our developing and poor countries is to use our local talent, supplemented if need be
by seasoned international experts: more and more these internationals may even have roots in East Africa . The cost savings are twofold: support is local and easier; our people are cheaper even when they earn top salary in our economies: it is not rare to get a ratio of 1 to 5. The savings could be then used to solve some other urgent problems.
 
E-Tools Rwanda and E-Tools Kenya are designed to create any software solution required in the East African region.
 
antoine
 

 




From: Shem Ochuodho [mailto:shemochuodho at yahoo.com] 
Sent: Wednesday, June 25, 2008 11:55 AM
To: kiriinya2000 at yahoo.com; KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions
Cc: New Vision List; Haron Wachira; Antoine BIGIRIMANA-Yahoo
Subject: Re: [kictanet] Expensive software systems?
 




Wesley,
 
Actually given the right parameters, even ERP-like software can be locally developed. The two closest examples of ERP-like systems I have come across that were 'locally' developed were: a system by Haron Wachira (he formerly of Diamond Systems - the 1st Kenyan firm to assemble computers) which I remember being used by a major Tea company through its network, among others, and Rwanda 's SmartGov. There is a very thin line between these systems and conventional ERPs. 
 
Btw, before I even thought that 'hardware' manufacture/assembly is a pipe-dream for us - until I came across the 'fabless trend' that Nigeria is already pushing. It is truly cutting-edge technology - and 'knowledge work'. For those who might not know, in such a scenario, a country/firm that does not have the technology to 'manufacture' chips/VLSI can still design systems, and then send designs to places like Malaysia for production/manufacture of the chips. The 'intelligence' or brain-work (and hence the money) is not in the manufacture, but in the design, particularly for products whose value is in the uniqueness/complexity, not numbers.
 
In effect, if the environment is right, it is doable.
Shem
--- On Wed, 6/25/08, wesley kiriinya <kiriinya2000 at yahoo.com> wrote:

From: wesley kiriinya <kiriinya2000 at yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: [kictanet] Expensive software systems?
To: "Shem Ochuodho" <shemochuodho at yahoo.com>
Cc: "KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions" <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke>
Date: Wednesday, June 25, 2008, 12:55 PM
 
 


      
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/pipermail/kictanet/attachments/20080628/0376d1d7/attachment.htm>