At the last press conference, I had the pleasure of presenting a series of proposals related to the IT market in Greece and in particular, the organization of companies participating in public projects, either as consultants-researchers or as contractors-implementers.
It is obvious that after more than 40 years since the first release of today’s PCs – Personal Computers – by IBM in August 1981, a lot of water has flowed down the drain, structures have been created, there are now companies of all sizes and objects and a multitude of specializations as well as the necessary human resources and especially experience.
Already since the beginning of 2000, we had identified in SEPE, the Association of Information Technology and Communications Companies of Greece, the need to institutionalize a Registry of Information Technology and Telecommunications Suppliers / Contractors. Unfortunately, this plan was never completed, in the logic of some that in an “unstructured” market there can be more opportunities for them. Many, today, do not have business…
However, the new programming period, the Recovery Fund and especially the Digital Transformation Bible, is already a reality that businesses must see and prepare themselves so that they can implement it. After all, 470 actions and €10 billion do not become reality with wishes and intentions (no matter how good they may be..).
More specifically, our proposal is summarized in the need for member businesses of the Association, which represents 90% of the total turnover of the sector, to establish a market organization plan with roles and conditions.
More specifically, there should be a separation of the role of the consultants/consultants who will be responsible for drafting the tenders (under specific standards and conditions) from the role of the implementer/contractor, for projects above (for example) 1 million € so that on the one hand the work of the scientists employed is remunerated, and on the other hand there is transparency and control and of course a professional approach. At the same time, there will be incompatibility between the consultant and the contractor, so that photographic and gratuitous specifications are avoided.
On the other hand, the distinct role of the contractors will include special conditions for participation in projects above 1 million € (always the limits as an example), while based on specific criteria there can be 4 or 5 levels of contractor degrees, depending of course on the subject and specialization, but also on the value of the project.
Such a structure will bring order to the market, incentives for investment, specialization, increased employment, incentives for mergers, incentives for investors and funds, but above all transparency and savings of resources, especially if we imagine how many times the same companies submit the same supporting documents over and over again, the minimum participation requirements have no logical basis and delay the evaluation, while the committees and courts spend months on evaluations and appeals.
So if we all want the implementation of digital transformation plans to proceed quickly, the State, businesses and society, we must prepare accordingly. We know the problem and there are solutions!
In any case, we will submit the proposals for dialogue and reflection to our collective bodies and we hope that this time we will have a result. For a better Digital Tomorrow, in a better Greece!