Time ripe to act on IT boom

Business Asia, Sept 13, 1999

South Australian companies need to embrace the global e-commerce revolution or be left in its wake, a leading information technology manager says.

Alan Scott, a former EDS Australia state manager for South Australia, said e-commerce was changing the nature of business globally and domestically.

"South Australian companies will either become part of this revolution or they will be overwhelmed by it -- it's their choice," he said.

"During the past few years, I've seen a number of innovative ideas emerge from South Australia that have a real chance to succeed in the global marketplace."

Scott recently left the global corporation to pursue e-commerce opportunities.

After seven years with EDS, he is now planning to work with a number of start-up companies that have their sights set on the global marketplace.

As South Australian manager, Scott played a key role in helping EDS Australia win its breakthrough whole-of-government computer outsourcing deal in South Australia.

Since then, the corporation has operated the computer processing infrastructure of the State Government and established a number of major centres of expertise in Adelaide to service the Asia-Pacific region.