Efficiency top theme for coming years

Egyptian systems integrator LINK Development believes that the enterprise sector is now looking to make IT efficiency a top priority in the coming years, particularly in the government and education sector. The company has expanded its presence at this year's GITEX Technology Week, opting to maintain a presence in both the Egyptian Pavilion in Hall 2 and the Microsoft pavilion in Hall 7.

Hanan Abdel-Meguid, LINK's Chief Executive Officer says: "The economic downturn has touched every company and institution, and decision-makers are now looking at changes that will boost productivity and protect and improve the bottom line. More than ever, companies need a competitive edge. This, as well as the growth in their productivity, will come from IT."

The integrator's CEO decries the notion that firms have cut back on IT investment, and notes that the region's e-government authorities are prioritising finding new means of improving the quality and quantity of available online services which they can roll out to their demanding constituencies.

"Companies are still drawn to new technological solutions that save them money across all their business systems. Online services have become a must for government agencies that want to cut costs, reduce red-tape, improve efficiencies and enhance citizens' experience," she says.

One of LINK Development's major selling points this year will be its new range of virtualisation systems, which the integrator will be displaying at the show. Virtualisation refers to the ability to represent one physical entity - whether it is a server or an operating system - as several virtual ones. LINK believes that these emergent systems have the potential to drastically reduce overall energy consumption and cooling costs, resulting in up to 80% reduction of annual electricity bills.

Also new to GITEX this year is the developer's latest online education solution known as the Virtual Classroom, or V-Class.  The company claims that system can be easily deployed by students, educators and administrators and provides a platform not only for real-time interactive learning, but also for knowledge sharing and collaboration between teachers and students.