Embracing technology to bridge the digital divide
…an exclusive interview with Kehad Snydewel, MD of Green Enterprise Solutions
Green Enterprise Solutions (Pty) Ltd was founded in 2010 as a wholly-owned Namibian company, providing information and communication technology (ICT) services to corporate Namibia.
Green is owned and managed by previously disadvantaged Namibians and has a long-term objective to sustain a Namibian business, which makes positive contributions to all stakeholders.
The company’s vision is guided by Namibia’s national development plans, namely Vision 2030, the National Development Plan 4 (NDP4) and the Harambee Prosperity Plans.
Green’s operations focus on services such as applications, networking, security, operating environments, storage and data centre technologies, consulting, integration and managed services to create customised client solutions.
Green’s services have become more and more relevant, particularly at the advent of the fourth industrial revolution, through which disruptive technologies and trends, such as the Internet of Things (IoT), robotics, virtual reality (VR) and artificial intelligence (AI) are changing the way modern people live and work.
What follows is an interview by Edgar Brandt (EB), New Era’s Head of Business and Lifestyle, with Kehad Snydewel (KS), managing director of Green Enterprise Solutions.
EB: You recently launched a new Strategic Plan for Green. What does this plan entail, and how is it different from your previous strategy?
KS: Our new strategy builds upon what Green has created and established since its founding in 2010. We started as a small company with a bold vision, and this new strategy gives us the roadmap we need to continue building on this vision, a vision that sees Green turning into a powerhouse in IT services and innovations – not just across Africa but globally. It is certainly a bold and challenging vision and strategy, but that sums us up as Green. We believe that we, as Green, are ready for this challenge.
EB: How active is Green in the region and the rest of the continent?
KS: We have been very fortunate to be active – not just in Namibia. Although Namibia is home, it is a relatively small market – and for a company like ours, with our ambitions looking further afield to South Africa, eSwatini and Kenya, amongst others, we can increase our footprint. We will always see Namibia as our home and our most important market. Our partnerships with organisations like Lenovo and others have helped us expand, as it has given us easier access to these markets.
EB: How would you describe Green’s position in the Namibian market?
KS: Green has spent the last decade establishing itself and forging a reputation as a brand that provides all manners of high-quality IT services. We pride ourselves on our forward-looking vision and our ‘in-house’ software developers create custom-made apps for our clients across all industries in Namibia. As the technology sector continues to evolve and provide new opportunities and innovations, we have been right there to assist the Namibian public and private organisations to embrace, imbed and leverage this technology for their stakeholders.
EB: How can government support companies like Green in their development and expansion endeavours?
KS: Green already works closely with many of the ministries and with the government. We do feel the need to focus a lot more resources on developing IT skills in the country. We are still seeing too many consultants and companies coming in from overseas to do projects which Green or other Namibian IT companies are perfectly capable of carrying out. This would also mean the knowledge stays in the country and does not leave when the consultants leave.
Essential aspects would be to stimulate Public and Private Partnerships, where IT companies like Green Enterprise Solutions provide skills and training, and they are given access to resources to develop, integrate and implement IT solutions. It can and should be a very mutually beneficial partnership.
EB: What is Green’s philosophy on service delivery?
KS: Our philosophy is very simple; we will move heaven and earth to please the client and give top-notch service – thinking not within the well-worn paths, seeking solutions. We make tailor-made solutions for all our clients – big and small. Another important aspect is the fact that when a project is finished, our aftercare service is second to none. This attitude and philosophy have seen our clients return time and again to work together with us. Our whole team is dedicated to carrying out this philosophy. This gives us enormous pride.
EB: How can Green advance the IT evolution and enhance the implementation of the Fourth Industrial Revolution?
KS: As I mentioned earlier, working in PPPs is essential – to keep abreast of innovations in technology. If you see how far ahead some parts of the world are compared to Namibia, we need to work together. However, I see many positive developments in the start-up space, upskilling of graduates and the embracing of technology by the young people of Namibia. But we do need to have the resources, the will and the opportunity to implement all the opportunities that the Fourth Industrial Revolution brings with it. There is no reason why the next technological innovation cannot come from Namibia.
EB: How does Green view the importance of research and development through the establishment of research hubs in Namibia?
KS: It is something we applaud and support. As Green, we also develop and support young, up-and-coming innovators and developers in-house. So, the concept of research hubs is music to our technology-minded ears. But, as ever, these hubs need sufficient funding, access to the market and the full support of the ministries and government.
EB: Where do you see Green as an IT entity within the next five years?
KS: I cannot divulge too much at this point; I can, however, say we will continue our path of growth and expansion across the continent and beyond. We will do this with our excellent team, which, in turn, will also continue to grow. Watch this space!
EB: What is Green’s take on publicprivate partnerships, and how can these advance Namibia’s IT ambitions?
KS: As mentioned in a previous answer, we think they are essential to the growth of the tech sector, in this case, and will be the basis of our success as a country.
EB: What can Green and likeminded institutions do to develop local IT and programming skills?
KS: Green is keen to work with schools, academic institutions and private enterprises to ensure we increase the rate at which local IT skills and programming skills are developed. We see how programming and basic IT skills are taught at schools from a young age in other countries, putting their kids way ahead of most children in Namibia.
As a father, but also as a tech guy, I want my children and all Namibian children and students to have this opportunity and access to developing their skills and learning to programme. It is the only way we can bridge the digital divide that we are facing in Namibia and Africa – and we simply cannot ignore the continuous development of technology; we need to embrace it as a country in all its forms.