Time for firms to upgrade

As companies around the world scramble to cut costs, launching redundancy programs and production halts, IT analysts claim the time is ripe for investment in information technology.

Properly-configured IT business management solutions can reduce operational costs, improve the internal flow of information and speed up data processing, according to Marcin Taranek, the president of the management board of IFS Poland.

One of the key steps involved in making an IT upgrade is the development of the internet as a communication channel with customers and partners. Investments in consumer relationship management (CRM) and enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems are also vital, said Patrick Flanagan, CEO of software company ODL.

Nipun Gupta, managing director of BT Global Services' office in Poland, noted that companies can save up to 10-20 percent on operational costs by improving their IT solutions. "The first effects are visible within five-six months after the implementation, while material profit comes about a year after that," he said. Gupta added, however, that upgrading equipment is not enough to guarantee savings. "Procedures for effective use and proper training are crucial," he concluded.

Other experts stress the need to improve the efficiency of existing solutions. According to Jarosław Szymaniuk, the solutions team manager at Microsoft Poland, the average company uses about 10 percent of server capacity and 40 percent of their total memory storage capacity. Moreover, large companies overspend by around seven percent on software licenses when their actual software usage and needs are taken into account.

Interest in IT solutions is expected to grow as the financial crisis continues. "The current situation is challenging. If companies do not understand that they need to invest in and implement new technologies, they will not cope in the difficult times," Szymaniuk said.