Walmir Scaravelli
This year, the information technology sector should receive investments of around US$ 129.7 billion, a volume 3.6% higher than that recorded in 2013, according to data released by the Gartner Institute. Cloud computing and mobility are the big trends and promise to stay in the spotlight.
Considering only the Brazilian market, however, the prospects are not so promising. In a year of late Carnival, the World Cup hosted in the country and presidential elections, executives see the significant reduction in working days as an important obstacle to new business in IT. The prospect of a low GDP, high interest rates and the return of the specter of inflation are also factors that can inhibit investments by the business community.
However, technology is essential for maintaining competitiveness and should not be neglected under any circumstances. In a globalized and complex corporate universe, those who do not modernize simply cannot resist. Therefore, even in a downturn scenario, computerization has to be prioritized, regardless of the company's field of activity.
In civil construction, for example, programs such as PAC and Minha Casa, Minha Vida, in addition to infrastructure works carried out on behalf of the World Soccer Championship and the Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games, led large construction companies and developers to invest in technology to increase business efficiency and profitability. But smaller companies are still far behind in this process.
In the case of agribusiness, one of the sectors that had the best performance in 2013, technology has also proved to be an essential investment. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply (MAPA), last year, the balance of foreign trade in agribusiness was positive at US$ 82.91 billion, which offset the deficit of US$ 80.35 billion in other sectors of the economy. Even with this good performance, the rural entrepreneur still faces immense challenges. Producers of different crops, especially those who plant on a large scale, suffer, above all, from problems related to logistics. The state of abandonment, in which many of our roads and highways are found, makes the flow of production a Herculean mission.
Still speaking of logistics, the problem is not limited to agribusiness. Entrepreneurs from the most diverse segments are always looking for tools that enable the delivery of their products with quality and punctuality. In this sense, being computerized can be the differential to face bottlenecks.
The shortage of IT talent is also something as serious as the low investments expected for the sector. Preparing qualified professionals, who are able to find intelligent solutions to help Brazil break down these barriers, will be one of the priority missions this year.
*Walmir Scaravelli is Commercial Director and founding partner of Mega Sistemas Corporativos, a company that offers differentiated technological solutions for business management for companies operating in the Construction, Logistics, Manufacturing, Fuels, Agribusiness and Services segments.
Considering only the Brazilian market, however, the prospects are not so promising. In a year of late Carnival, the World Cup hosted in the country and presidential elections, executives see the significant reduction in working days as an important obstacle to new business in IT. The prospect of a low GDP, high interest rates and the return of the specter of inflation are also factors that can inhibit investments by the business community.
However, technology is essential for maintaining competitiveness and should not be neglected under any circumstances. In a globalized and complex corporate universe, those who do not modernize simply cannot resist. Therefore, even in a downturn scenario, computerization has to be prioritized, regardless of the company's field of activity.
In civil construction, for example, programs such as PAC and Minha Casa, Minha Vida, in addition to infrastructure works carried out on behalf of the World Soccer Championship and the Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games, led large construction companies and developers to invest in technology to increase business efficiency and profitability. But smaller companies are still far behind in this process.
In the case of agribusiness, one of the sectors that had the best performance in 2013, technology has also proved to be an essential investment. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply (MAPA), last year, the balance of foreign trade in agribusiness was positive at US$ 82.91 billion, which offset the deficit of US$ 80.35 billion in other sectors of the economy. Even with this good performance, the rural entrepreneur still faces immense challenges. Producers of different crops, especially those who plant on a large scale, suffer, above all, from problems related to logistics. The state of abandonment, in which many of our roads and highways are found, makes the flow of production a Herculean mission.
Still speaking of logistics, the problem is not limited to agribusiness. Entrepreneurs from the most diverse segments are always looking for tools that enable the delivery of their products with quality and punctuality. In this sense, being computerized can be the differential to face bottlenecks.
The shortage of IT talent is also something as serious as the low investments expected for the sector. Preparing qualified professionals, who are able to find intelligent solutions to help Brazil break down these barriers, will be one of the priority missions this year.
*Walmir Scaravelli is Commercial Director and founding partner of Mega Sistemas Corporativos, a company that offers differentiated technological solutions for business management for companies operating in the Construction, Logistics, Manufacturing, Fuels, Agribusiness and Services segments.
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