FABS boss canvasses virtualisation

Chief executive officer of Mauritius-based Footprint Africa Business Solutions (FABS), Mrs. Karien Bornheim has recommended virtualisation of platforms for Nigerian-based businesses.

This is coming as FABS has engaged a Nigerian media communications agency, TopComm.
Speaking in a chat in Lagos, last week, Mrs. Bornheim who was in the country on a business trip, said that by adopting virtualisation, businesses could optimise any platform they may wish to deploy in terms of software solution.

She also identify complicity in the Nigeria’s public sector deployment of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), especially with respect to software application, hence creating confusion on what and how to deploy a given service that could lift the administration of governance through technology.

“They don’t know what exactly they really want. Also, the people change very often and it is difficult to make decision that could spur growth and enable the catering for clients better,” she said.

According to her, FABS utilizes the platforms of world class software providers such as the IBM, Microsoft, Oracle, Novell, Red Hat among others to deliver a quality service to its customers in virtually all parts of the globe.

Pointing out that in most cases, especially at this moment of meltdown, organisations do not really have to buy new software, stressing that usually, what her firm does is to embark on health-check of the environs followed by recommendation, which often times include training, upgrading so as to meet up with global best practices.

“We have our own expertise in our bid to deliver and we would not give any customer a product that is not certified,” she declared.

FABS, which has extended its presence to Lagos, Abuja to name a few, she said, provides business solutions to its teeming patrons across the continent of Africa from its operational headquarters in Johannesburg and hopes to capitalise on its relationship with TopComm to secure a foothold into the nation’s market.

“FABS has been engaged with TopComm in an informal manner over the past 12 months and has seen a marked improvement in its footprint in the Nigerian market,” she said.

Bornheim expressed optimism that the partnership would also stimulate opportunities for FABS as a global business solutions provider to make the desired in-road into the abundant and vibrant Nigerian market.

“We truly believe that the combined strengths of TopComm and FABS will enable both companies to grow exponentially in Nigeria,” she said.

She revealed that over the years, her company has come to discover that although most companies may not necessarily buy a new software application, some still prefer to deploy open source suite.

“In Open Source, the license is free, but the support service is not,” she said, stressing that Linux environment is the way to go.

She cited an instance with East African countries where open source application has become an official software backed with a government decree.

She further said that FABS is keen in management of IT application to make certain that solutions deployed are well managed based on chosen projects.

However responding, the General Services and Strategy Manager at TopComm, Mr. Seyi Jawando, affirmed the determination of his firm on ensuring that the strategic partnership benefits from the competence which TopComm is known for.

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