How a tech company weathered the economic headwinds

Home National How a tech company weathered the economic headwinds

Over the past couple of years Namibia has faced severe economic headwinds, which are sometimes mostly tied to South Africa’s economic challenges. It is often said, “When South Africa sneezes … Namibia catches a cold.” Green Enterprise Solutions has certainly felt the pressure and has watched many other Namibian companies and organisations struggle and indeed go under. 
But the company has survived through a combination of long-term planning, belt-tightening and seeking greener pastures. 

The tech industry is an important contributor to growth in almost every economy. Its contribution to growth represents 5% of GDP and also drives 20% of overall productivity growth in the European Union
If you have not yet noticed, your current smartphone has changed from that of four or five years ago. Every year you get a phone that has new features, which is faster, sleeker and more efficient. 
The same goes for ICT hardware. Kehad Snydewel, the managing director of Green Enterprise Solutions, feels that companies need to constantly upgrade, update and be at the forefront with their equipment if they want to stay ahead of the competition. 

”This has meant that even during the tough times there has been replacement business. But during challenging times companies also look to see how they can operate more effectively and efficiently. This is where ICT also comes in,” he said.  Green Enterprise Solutions was founded in 2010 and provides information and communication technology (ICT) services to Namibian companies and government institutions. 

The company is owned and managed by previously disadvantaged Namibians and has the long-term objective to sustain Namibian businesses that make positive contributions to all their stakeholders. 
Green Enterprise Solutions has been able to assist local companies and organisations towards becoming more streamlined and effective. It uses their human capital where most needed and leverages ICT hardware to carry out tasks that can be automated. 

Aside from that, they have had to streamline their own business and during the tough times had to revaluate the number of staff members. ”We did this with a heavy heart, but it allowed us to weather the fiercest economic headwinds and Green is now in a position to start hiring specialists again in certain fields. 

“The first glimmer of recovery is visible and the organisation needs to be ready. Not just to cater to the needs of our clients in the Namibian market, but also further afield across the African continent,” Snydewel said. 

There’s no reason why a Namibian company can’t support and assist an organisation with its ICT needs across Africa. Spreading Green Enterprise Solutions’ revenue stream across multiple clients and countries means the company is less dependent on a single market, making it much more resilient. Looking towards the future, Green believes the business will be “online services, new smartphone-driven applications and online payment solutions”. Green is focusing on the rise in digitalisation of services in the country. Technological growth is something that cannot be denied or suppressed. Thus Green believes and invests in developing digital growth and innovation that will uncover many new business sectors, which will speak to the youth and entrepreneurs.  

”The entrepreneurial goldmine that comes with technological advancements that are readily available for entrepreneurs to tap into. Government and business in Namibia can streamline and secure their processes, offer real solutions to their stakeholders that will be less time-intensive – no need to stand in lines anymore – and generally create a more digitally advanced and enhanced society where data is secure and convenience is the name of the game,” he believes.

Snydewel is also of the opinion that Namibia is continuously improving its position on the Global ICT ranking index, and the country’s commitment to becoming a digital and technologically innovative force in Africa. There are companies, academic institutions and individuals who are all working together to not just make Namibia, but the whole of Africa digitally enabled. This is where Green is shifting its focus and talents and believes that the future is bright and filled with innovation and tech. 

In 2009 the then minister of ICT Joel Kaapanda said that access to ICT and the development of ICT-related skills in the younger population are national imperatives in enabling Namibia’s participation in an increasingly global economy. ”The growth of ICT in Namibia can only succeed with increased broadband access and a reduction of the cost of telecommunications. Namibia’s socio-economic development requires the maximum utilisation of existing and planned infrastructure,” he stressed. ◆