The industry in the district lags behind in terms of adopting latest technology and marketing tools.
A study of MSMEs in the district conducted by the Chamber of Commercial and Industrial Undertakings (CICU) has found that only 27 per cent of the units have their websites and just 9 per cent of the units use advanced software for research and development (R&D) and product development.
“Given the fast-changing global environment, adopting information technology is paramount,” says Upkar Singh Ahuja, CICU general secretary.
With so much information glut all around, modern day marketing tools and technologies have become a prerequisite for standing out and gaining visibility in the stiff competition internally and internationally,” he says.
The study had a sample size of around 200 units in the MSME sector, including firms in different spheres such as those manufacturing bicycle parts, textile, automotive components, sewing machines and hand tools with a turnover of Rs 10 lakh to Rs 5 crore. The study also found that 73 per cent units continue to operate using traditional printed directories in the age of internet. Around 20 per cent of the units still don’t have computers and continue to maintain records in books instead of using computers. 46 per cent still continue to rely only on traditional marketing methods instead of using computers or mobiles.
“Not only should the MSME step in to provide support to the industry, but industrial associations should also become proactive in providing support to their member firms in developing common facilities centres and platforms for sharing technology and marketing tools,” said Avtar Singh, President of the organisation.
“It is ironic that even though India is considered an IT superpower, MSMEs in India have been tardy in adopting technology and hardware for maximising its business, manufacturing and marketing purposes,” says Ahuja.
One of the reasons for the rise of Chinese firms is that they have leveraged technology and used marketing tools in a big way in the past 10 years, which is helping them capture market and attain competitive edge over other countries, including India.
For this reason, the organisation has also written to the ministry to help provide support to the sector. It has sought loan at subsidy for computerisation as cost of computers, laptops is very high. The industrial body has also urged the ministry that it should buy software in bulk at competitive price and make it available at affordable price to the MSME units because high-end software for product development and improvement is beyond the reach of MSMEs. It has also sought support for IT training. CICU urged that the ministry provide a scheme such as Skill Develop Initiative Scheme, in which the government bears the training cost to industry. To make latest technology available for the industry, industry-oriented hardware and software centres must be set up by the government across the country, the industrial organisation demanded.
Source: tribuneindia
