SME Guidebook Offers Tips on Selection of Cloud Solutions

To assist local SMEs in the selection and adoption of cloud services for savings in internal IT investment, the SME Global Alliance and the Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC) have jointly compiled the “Hong Kong SME Cloud Solution Guidebook”.

Speaking at the launch today (23 November 2012), Mr Tommy Lo, CEO and Chaplain of the SME Global Alliance, said, “With the variety of cloud solutions available, SMEs always find it hard to identify services that best suit their needs. A survey conducted by the Alliance and HKPC earlier has also found that in addition to security concerns on the technology, a lack of market information and knowledge on the selection criteria are also key barriers for adoption of cloud services among local SMEs. We need to help SMEs bridge the knowledge gap.”

On top of useful tips for SMEs in choosing cloud solutions, the Guidebook also introduces 24 cloud solutions for reference. Mr Gordon Lo, General Manager (IT Industry Development) of HKPC, said, “HKPC experts have selected these solutions based on six areas, including investment cost, method of application, customer support, user experience, data safety control and system functions. In addition, the Guidebook has listed out the features and functions of these solutions to facilitate SMEs in making the right choice.”

The Guidebook is a major initiative of a project which aims to help SMEs in retail, wholesale, and distribution industries reduce IT investments through independently tested and evaluated cloud applications. Funded by the SME Development Fund of the Trade and Industry Department, the project also includes seminars and technical workshops.

Three thousand copies of the Guidebook will be distributed to SMEs free of charge. Apart from the printed version, an electronic copy is available on the project website (www.sme-cloud.org). For more information about the project and collection of the Guidebook, please contact Dr Victor Ng, Senior Consultant (IT Industry Development) of HKPC, on tel.: (852) 2788 5880 and email: victorng@hkpc.org.

For other media enquiries, please contact Miss Justina Shum of HKPC’s Corporate Communications Division at tel.: (852) 2788 5895 or email: justina@hkpc.org.

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Mr Jonathan Ho
General Manager
Corporate Communications
Hong Kong Productivity Council
Tel: (852) 2788 6390
Fax: (852) 2788 5056
Email: jonathanho@hkpc.org
Website: www.hkpc.org

23 November 2012

“Hong Kong SME Cloud Solution Guidebook” offers useful tips for SMEs in the retail, wholesale, and distribution sectors in choosing cloud services for cost reduction.