Connect with us

Uncategorized

Genuine Software Guards Intellectual Property Smedley -Williams

Published

on

Kindly share this post

Richard Smedley-Williams is the sales director at Autodesk. Smedley-Williams has been in the Autodesk industry for 10 years. His work is centered on building Autodesk channels and equipping the channels to have the right skills, capacity and capability to assist customers. He spoke with funmi ilesanmi.

Autodesk Symposium
We started the first design symposium last year and we started it to support our objectives of creating awareness in the market around the new tools that are available. Last year we focused mostly on most of the AutoCAD products and this year we want to take a upper notch from the presentation perspective and show customers the more intricate, more specialized but very interesting design tools. The objective of this symposium is to bring customers together to showcase to them the most innovative design tools so that we can help the Nigerian market become more competitive.

Interest in the Nigerian Market
All the infrastructure are here; oil and gas, architecture. When you drive from the airport to Victoria Island, you see different projects here and there. The population is huge; the Nigerian market is very innovative and very tech savvy. The Nigerian market is probably one of the most technologically savvy markets in West Africa so we feel that it is an obvious choice to work here coupled with the strong professional bodies here like the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) is why we think Nigeria is so attractive.

Software Piracy
We would like to eradicate software piracy in a positive way so we would like to accelerate awareness around the benefits of using legal software. If you considered the price – value balance, customers do not complain about a BMW being expensive. We have reached the right point in our pricing strategy and now we want to make customers aware of why it is better to use legal software. We have a relationship with the NCC which is at the early stage. We have not formalized a programme with them yet but we would like to keep it as positive and as meaningful as possible.

Amnesty Period Given to Users
Our experiences in other parts of the continent plus the believe that with an amnesty period, you are giving customers a period of time when there is a lot of education, a lot of discussions, a lot of events, all happening about the same time to give the market a time and give customers a time to get legal software. If we feel that customers are receptive to the positive approach, we might consider a clampdown but we prefer to take the awareness approach rather than clamping down on illegal users.

Extension of Amnesty Period
We feel that people want to use genuine technology and we want to make sure they know where to get it from.

Causes of Software Piracy
I think customers do not know where to buy original software and they do not know what illegal software looks like. I maintain that if a customer does not know where to buy software from, they do not know why they should value it, they have an assumption of how much they think it costs so it is a very holistic school of thought.

Building Information
It is consistent, coordinated approach to modeling the building in 3D to experience their project before it is built. The benefit of that is because you can design your building, you can visualize your building when it s not yet built. Visualization is such a powerful tool. It allows you to simulate. For example, if you have a building with too much glass it is going to have a lot of heat during the day but less heat at night so it allows you to visualize, to simulate and in doing so you can coordinate the building with the architect, with the mechanical engineer and the team in planning heating and ventilation
The benefit of that is to pull everyone together earlier so that you can to build better designs in a short dramatic time.

BSA Report on Piracy in Nigeria
The BSA is the Business Software Alliance which has come together to eradicate illegal use of licenses around the globe and conducts studies all over the world. The BSA is a professional governing body and the most recent software piracy report from BSA which I think was in 2008 indicates software piracy to be at about 80 per cent for Nigeria. How they come to that was through lots of research but it is not about design, it is about software piracy overall. It includes all kinds of software.

Advantages of Using Genuine Software
The first one from a customer perspective is that you can stay on the current version of software. When there is a new release, you get that automatically because it is a part of your subscription. The next is with specific regard to direct support. Then there is increased productivity that you can achieve, there is no loss to your reputation because professionals want to work with professionals and that is part of the third line of the campaign which is to change efficiency. The possibilities are numerous but pirated software tends to crash. Using genuine software is a proactive way of guarding your intellectual property.

Awareness
We have run quite a comprehensive programme with the design symposium, we have got newsletters we send to our customers and in the news letter we include stories on how to check tricks. There is an electronic mail to customers plus the design competition we are doing with the Nigeria Society of Engineers (NSE) and then there is the newspaper advertisement. We have also distributed thousands of posters. Predominantly, awareness has been through the channel partners, keeping them up to date and informed of what is going on. They in turn inform their customers. It means they have one-on –one discussions with their customers.

About Autodesk
We have got the broadest and deepest products available. We have products from 2D designs to very high end, to industrial application design. We launched the consumer application design not too long ago. We have over 60 million downloads of consumer application. In the consumer application environment, we have sketching tools. What we found is that a mechanical toy application that even 10 year old boys love and we are finding that changing across the markets dramatically and many people want to make use of designs. And that is available on the App store and it cost few dollars to get those software applications.

Economic Benefit of Using Original Software
I strongly believe that if you look at all the countries that are strong with architecture, engineering, construction and leading the way, for Nigeria to lead the way, you need all those things.
I think Nigeria has come a very long way and it is wonderful. There are buildings going up, refurbishment of buildings so Nigeria has a lot to gain from using genuine software because it will make the country more profitable and more competitive and if you are more competitive, you can be more innovative and if you are more innovative, you can create anything and make the work environment conducive for everyone.

Software Piracy in Nigeria
Obviously piracy is high in developing countries than in more developed countries but I believe that here it will change. If you take the NSE for example, the partnership is brilliant because to be a professional engineer here means something. To be an architect here means something and we are partnering with such institutions because they use genuine software and that means something as well so there is a lot to gain.


Kindly share this post

Dear Reader, Your support matters. But we believe that technology makes life more exciting and helps improve the lives of people around Nigeria and indeed the world. That is why, we have devoted our energy to independent reportage of technology and finance and how they affect lives. Our incisive and analytical view of how technology news affects the daily life help individuals and organizations make up their minds. Quality journalism costs money. Today, we're asking that you support us to do more. Kindly support our effort to deliver technology and finance journalism to everyone in the world. Donate as little as N1,000. Bank transfers can be made to: UBA Plc 1017156876 Communication Week Media Ltd

Continue Reading
Advertisement
Comments

Uncategorized

Afreximbank and Ecobank Join Forces to Boost Trade and Compliance Across Africa

Published

on

Kindly share this post

African Export-Import Bank and Ecobank Group have embarked on a collaboration aimed at simplifying trade and compliance for businesses in Africa by integrating Ecobank’s Single Market Trade Hub and Afreximbank’s MANSA Digital Repository Platform.

With the collaboration, African businesses will benefit from seamless shared services across the two platforms, with users of the Single Market Trade Hub able to easily leverage MANSA’s comprehensive database for efficient know-thy-customer (KYC) and customer due diligence (CDD) checks while MANSA platform users would, in turn, be able to directly connect to the Single Market Trade Hub to explore trade opportunities to expand their businesses across Africa.

The Ecobank Single Market Trade Hub connects registered businesses across Africa on a single platform, helping them benefit from opportunities in the unified market of 1.4 billion people created by the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA).

It serves as a one-stop repository for the AfCFTA by providing small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) and corporates with insights about the agreement while its online match-making feature enables importers and exporters to upload their profiles and showcase goods and services they offer, or wish to source, with the aim of finding partners within Africa.

Once a match is found, connections are made via the platform and the transaction can be concluded leveraging on Ecobank’s trade and payment solutions in 35 African markets.

The MANSA Digital Repository Platform, or MANSA, is a one-stop-shop for due diligence matters on all African entities. As a centralised digital repository, MANSA seeks to eliminate information asymmetry and to increase intra-African trade and trade with the rest of the world.

It drives and promotes good governance culture among African SMEs and creates visibility for their businesses while also supporting African entities to expand, diversify and add value to their export products at both the local and international levels. Entities onboarded unto MANSA are allotted an Africa Entity Identifier (AEI) code which enables them to leverage other Afreximbank products and initiatives.

MANSA is also a key digital solution at the Africa Trade Gateway (ATG) marketplace which houses a suite of digital platforms designed as a single window to enable Afreximbank better deliver on its mandate, providing critical services to support and promote intra-African trade and the implementation of the AfCFTA. The platform enables African entities to accelerate their business activities at the ATG marketplace by working with verified information on trusted counterparties.

The new collaboration is, therefore, enabling Ecobank and Afreximbank to provide a central solution to the key challenge of KYC compliance and access to business across 35 countries in Africa. The improved interoperability is expected to further streamline cross-border trade and compliance in Africa, fostering greater financial and economic integration on the continent.

Afreximbank is a pan-African multilateral financial institution established to finance and promote intra- and extra-African trade.

Ecobank Group is a leading private pan-African banking group with unrivalled African expertise.


Kindly share this post
Continue Reading

Uncategorized

Leadway Assurance Pledges Transformative Role to SMEs

Published

on

Kindly share this post

Leadway Assurance said it has chosen to go beyond risk underwriting to play the role of transformative partner for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the country.

The underwriting firm played this role by empowering SMEs with practical strategies on how to navigate risks inherent in Yuletide season.

Leadway recently organized a webinar session for SMEs titled, “Driving Increased Sales During the Festive Season.”

Speaking on the reason for the session, the underwriting firm said it realized that as momentum into the 2024 festive season continued, businesses, especially small and medium enterprises (SMEs), face paradoxical realities of increased sales opportunities and consequent cocktails of business risks.

It said recognising the fact that with consumer spending and holiday making increasing businesses for SMEs, there were the possibilities of risk from these spikes in commercial activities such as – theft, accidents, burglaries, fire outbreaks, frauds, and system failures.

Against this backdrop Leadway said it has reaffirmed its position as a transformative partner to SMEs by empowering businesses with practical strategies for navigating the complexities of the season.

“This aligns with the brand’s mission to deliver robust risk management and business solutions to bolster economic growth, Head of the Retail Division at Leadway, Umashime Oguzor-Doghro said.

As connected to insurance, Oguzor-Doghro said: “Insurance was often seen as a reactive tool, but at Leadway, we position it as a strategic asset. With our competitive risk management solutions—spanning property, transit, and employee coverage, we enable businesses to operate with confidence, knowing they are protected from the unforeseen.

What sets us apart is our free advisory service, which ensures businesses are fully equipped before they even take up our insurance products.” he added.

In addition to risk management, Oguzor- Doghro said the webinar championed collaboration as a catalyst for success, adding that Leadway’s partnerships with event managers and SME stakeholders aim to ensure seamless operations during the festive season, reinforcing the company’s role as more than just an insurer but a reliable business ally.


Kindly share this post
Continue Reading

Uncategorized

Mastercard, MTN, and Arifu Launch Digital Skills Program for African Small Businesses

Published

on

Kindly share this post

Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth, MTN Group Fintech and Arifu have partnered to support about one million small businesses in Cote’ D’Ivoire and Uganda, to digitize their operations, increase the use of digital financial services and access digital marketplaces through the MoMo Coach chatbot.

This program, part of the Center’s global Mastercard Strive initiative, aims to enhance the resilience and growth of small businesses by providing essential digital skills. It is one of the ways Mastercard Strive has disseminated chatbot-ready business building content for small businesses in the region, which is currently also available in Kenya and Nigeria.

Small businesses in sub-Saharan Africa, especially those impacted by the pandemic, have faced significant barriers in adopting digital tools. As of December 2022, only 27.65% of businesses in sub-Saharan Africa had adopted digital tools to enhance their efficiency, showing a slight improvement from 19.44% in August 2020. A lack of relevant skills continues to limit their growth and access to essential financial services. MoMo Coach addresses these gaps by providing free, accessible upskilling content via popular messaging platforms.

Supported by the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth and delivered by Caribou Digital, this program equips small businesses with digital skills, enabling them to adopt digital tools, access capital, and engage more effectively in digital marketplaces. The program aligns with Mastercard Strive’s broader goal of reaching 18 million small businesses around the world to go digital, get capital, and access networks and know-how.

“Small businesses are vital to Africa’s growth and create opportunities for a more resilient and inclusive regional economy. We are delighted to catalyze a partnership between MTN Group Fintech and Arifu to equip almost one million small business owners with the digital skills and knowledge essential for thriving in an increasingly digital economy, setting them up for success.” said Subhashini Chandran, Senior Vice President of Social Impact for Asia Pacific, Europe, Middle East and Africa

The MoMo Coach solution, powered by Arifu’s Grasp Platform, uses mobile messaging to deliver micro-learning experiences. It is accessible across multiple channels, including WhatsApp, Telegram, Facebook Messenger, SMS and MoMo. This gives small business owners and entrepreneurs flexibility in accessing practical, actionable tips to unlock growth opportunities in the digital economy.

Serigne Dioum, CEO of MTN Group Fintech, further adds: “Empowering small businesses with digital skills is key to driving inclusive growth in Africa. Through MoMo Coach, we are unlocking opportunities for entrepreneurs to thrive in the digital economy, strengthening communities, and shaping the future of business across the continent.”

The program has been rolled out in Côte d’Ivoire and Uganda, reaching over 930,000 MTN customers, merchants, and agents, with more than 75,000 small business owners accessing free digital courses and over 45,000 actively engaging with MoMo Coach. Courses offered include “How to Start Your Business,” “Money Management,” and “Grow and Secure Your Business.” These courses are based on insights derived from MoMo merchants and agents, and they address key challenges like affordability and access to relevant business knowledge—enabling small business owners to navigate the digital landscape.

Aminata, a 31-year-old business owner from Gôh-Djiboua, Côte d’Ivoire, is one of the many beneficiaries of MoMo Coach. Selling shoes and clothing since 2022, she says: “There’s a lot of competition, but MoMo Coach helps me sell better. Before, I used all my profits to buy new stock, which left me using my capital for expenses. Now, I split my profits: one part for business growth, another for expenses, and some savings for other projects.” She has also started using WhatsApp to increase her sales, noting: “My income has increased. When I post my goods, I sell more.”


Kindly share this post
Continue Reading

Trending