Training stepped up for local software makers

The Government is stepping up the training of IT entrepreneurs to enhance competitiveness in the local outsourcing business and cut companies’ dependence on expatriates.

The Kenya Industrial Research and Development Institute (KIRDI) is set to roll out a one- year training programme that is expected to help local software producers gain world class business and technical skills.

“The overall goal of these programme is to contribute towards building national capacity for ICT/It enabled services in software development and outsourcing to make Kenya a major player in the ICT and BPO services in the region.” read a statement in a paid up advertisement by the Government.

KIRDI has partnered with United Nations and an Indian software firm Kamtech Associates to tap software development skills from India, the latter which has emerged as the biggest software and business Outsourcing market.

Despite most organisations automating their services with the adoption of electronic payrolls and electronic banking solutions, local software developers have found it difficult to penetrate the domestic market compared to developers from India and the US.

The government not only plans to help local entrepreneurs secure IT contracts in corporate firms but also help them penetrate the lucrative Business Processing outsourcing (BPO) market.

The government says it aims to create 100 new ICT development enterprises a year in the next three years.

Many IT experts have blamed the lack of quality and efficiency benchmarks for the slow pace of ICT sector growth.

This is mainly because it has forced local companies to opt for branded software while others seek certification from countries like India to gain global recognition.

Software development is considered a premium BPO venture and quality training will help the country stake a claim to this business that has remained the preserve of India.

Locally, BPO operators have concentrated on the low paying work such as voice- related jobs and back office operations

The country previously lacked a good telecommunication infrastructure but this has since been fixed with the connection of the country to two undersea cables.

But Mr Alex Gakuru, a local software programmer, says although the move is welcome, the Government should have first done a survey to determine the needs of local software developers.

The training initiative follows earlier State bid to introduces benchmarks aimed at raising the quality of home grown computer applications and sharpen their competitiveness on the global platform.

Under the proposed training curriculum, the minimum level for computer literacy will be an International Computer Driving Licence — a vendor neutral standard that is not linked to any software.

Skills upgrading

Kenyan employers have complained that the lack of standardised training has left them with the burden of investing in skills upgrade for new employees, adding to their labour costs.

This has prompted local companies to opt for branded software and seek expensive IT expatriates from countries like India to gain global recognition, further adding a cost burden to their business.

Despite most organisations automating their services with the adoption of electronic payrolls and electronic banking solutions, local software developers have found it difficult to penetrate the domestic market.

Industry players expect the roll out of benchmarks to give the industry a shot in the arm in its pursuit for acceptability in local and international markets.