Companies seek new ways of using technology in bid to remain relevant

Kenyan companies whose business is under threat from technological advancements are finding solutions to reverse their fate.

The firms, which include the Postal Corporation of Kenya (PCK), Travel Agents, Cinema companies and cyber cafe operators, are in a rush to maintain their relevance.

The internet and mobile phone money transfer systems have seen PCK losing out on its core businesses of sending mail and money.

To counter this the company has come up with technology solutions to tackle the reducing need to post hard-copy letters.

Information and Communication minister, Samuel Phogisio said that PCK will employ email in its delivery chain, where individuals send electronic mail to its offices spread across the country where it will be packaged and delivered to recipients who have no access to computers.

“We are also looking into the possibility of the Postal corporation to team up with Cisco’s Tele Presence technology to deliver real-time, face to face interactions between people using advanced visual, audio and collaboration technologies,” Poghisio said.

Information and Communication PS Bitange Ndemo cites e-commerce through Enterprise content management, instant messaging, online shopping, online banking, domestic and international payment systems as the next viable technological engagements for the country’s postal sector.

The popularity of internet based services is hinged on the low cost of transactions, safety and speed where clients are assured of near instant deliveries.

PCK has also gone further to install a closed circuit television surveillance system within its premises as its seeks to cut the theft and loss of mails and parcels that has seen the state owned firm spend millions of shillings in compensations and legal suits.

The faster internet speeds that came with the landing of the undersea fibre optic cable last June have made it easier for traders to download movies and re-produce them in a matter of hours, pushing movie houses to close shop.

Already, technological advancements that have aided piracy and falling prices of entertainment gadgets have pushed Kenya Cinema, Odeon Cinema, Globe Cinema and Shan Cinema to close their doors.

However, the few standing movie shops such as Fox 20th Century and Silver Bird are still maintaining their middle class targeted services and say all is not lost as they chart new ways of attracting crowds to their theatres.

Silverbird Cinema’s General Manager Sheria Saidi, says the company is rolling out 3D technology on all its sites in a bid to reverse the downturn.

“The ultimate 3D technology can only be felt on a big screen. We have embraced it and we are confident that just like the rest of the world, cinema attendances in Kenya will increase due to its popularity” Mr Saidi said.

“We are also developing 3D Gaming in partnership with local Sony Distributors conversant with the new technology,” Saidi added.