A FEW WORDS ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS IN MYANMAR AND THE SECTOR YOU ARE WORKING IN
Initially an IT Service provider, NetSmart has been wearing multiple hats within the IT sector since it’s inauguration in 1999. The preferred choice for businesses entering Myanmar to equip their offices with IT, NetSmart has been also catering for the needs of large infrastructure projects across the country for various ministries. Taking on the heritage of over 15 years of experience in ICT, we have now transformed our business to be the provider of scalable cloud-based business management solutions.
WHAT IS YOUR COMPANY’S STRATEGY IN MYANMAR?
Our strategy is reflected in our mission statement, which is to fast-track companies in their transition to a cloud-ERP-assisted business in order to staying ahead of competition more effectively while leveraging the skills of their own staff to work more efficiently. Hence, our value proposition is simple; Help people to get better at what they do by providing necessary training to build capacity and to spur the company’s growth by implementing a system that stores and channels information in a meaningful way.
HOW HAS YOUR COMPANY GROWN SINCE ITS ESTABLISHMENT IN MYANMAR?
NetSmart growth has been in stark correlation with Myanmar’s unique socio-economic transformation of the past years. The inherent changes businesses had to adapt to (e.g., tax regulations, increased competition) has opened a window of opportunity for NetSmart to extend on its existing knowledge in IT and leapfrog to cloud-based business management services which tackle the inherent issues local SMES are facing today. Thus, our growing customer base interprets us not only as an IT company but as a business consultancy who offers the necessary digital tools – ERP, HRMS, CRM – to assist their businesses.
WHAT IMPROVEMENTS HAVE YOU SEEN IN YOUR INDUSTRY THERE LAST FEW MONTHS / YEARS?
From the technological vantage point of a local ICT company, the advances in recent years have been exponential. We now see our customers digitally interwoven with their businesses in real time. Additionally, AI and machine learning have made their debut to ERP and other digital business management solutions. Our customers have now the ability to interact with their business via voice recognition and receive sales forecasts based on smart algorithms. From an economic standpoint the opening of Myanmar has allowed small players to compete more effectively, which has helped to disrupt the market with innovative solutions, providing more velocity for companies like NetSmart to deliver based on agility, serviceability and quality.
WHAT ARE THE KEY MESSAGES YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH OUR MEMBERS REGARDING THE BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT IN MYANMAR?
While the potential of Myanmar is still very high, as ranking one of the most difficult countries in the world to do business in, it requires long term view and patience to see sustainable result. Investing in HR for the development of the skills will pay off.
YOUR LIFE IN MYANMAR AND YOUR RELATIONS WITH SWITZERLAND?
As my family is located in Switzerland and my businesses operate in Myanmar, I see two different worlds like 2 projectors in front of me at the same time, which provides me constant reflections. I wish myself to serve as a bridge between the two cultures and business practices.
WHAT CCI FRANCE MYANMAR HAS DONE TO SUPPORT YOU AND YOUR ACTIVITY?
Network, training, cultural and leisure opportunity, and general support to business.
YOUR ADVICE FOR A NEWLY ARRIVED EXPAT IN MYANMAR
Show genuine interest in the people and the country.
YOUR FAVORITE PLACE IN MYANMAR
Bagan!
