Wednesday 16th January 2002

Irish SME* Sector To Lead the Way in Embracing IT Outsourcing Strategies

Newly-formed InterFusion Networks launches suite of IT professional services targeted at small and medium-sized enterprises

Dublin, Ireland 7th June 2001 A new Irish based company, InterFusion Networks has announced a comprehensive range of IT professional services which will allow organisations to outsource key activities from network design and systems integration through to project management and managed services. InterFusion Networks, which is privately funded, believes that the SME sector will lead the way in adopting IT outsourcing strategies.

Derek Daly, Managing Director explains why InterFusion has decided to focus on this sector. "Our experience indicates a huge skills shortage amongst small and medium-sized enterprises. Furthermore, the increasing adoption of e-Business models and willingness to embrace the potential of Internet technologies is fuelling demand for more sophisticated professional services such as Application Service Provision, Web Hosting and VPN implementation. Smaller organisations find it extremely difficult to define and implement a viable IT strategy and this is clearly hampering business growth and competitiveness."

InterFusion Networks has been established with the express aim of supplying IT professionals, skilled in the area of designing, building and supporting the networks needed to provide secure, swift and robust e-Business infrastructures. While their primary target market is the SME sector, they also offer a wide range of IP-centric services to Service Providers. Derek Daly adds. "The integration of private LAN/WAN infrastructures with Internet and other public based services adds a major level of complexity to the communications infrastructures of private organisations. InterFusion Networks can complement and enhance skillsets within the Service Provider arena and ensure a seamless communications solution for the client."

Derek Daly believes that the professional services market is at an embryonic stage in Ireland and cites the delayed rollout of broadband access technology in the form of Cable and DSL as a serious constraint to its growth. "Many of the newer service offerings depend on the ability to speedily access information using a cost model which is within reach of the small business sector. We welcome the imminent introduction of a limited ADSL service and believe that Telecom Service Providers and Cable Operators alike should be much more pro-active and committed to ensuring that indigenous industry can avail of next-generation access infrastructure."

Derek Daly also believes that the growth of IT professional services in Ireland will mirror trends already apparent elsewhere in Europe. "Europe has seen strong growth in outsourcing with the Nordic territories clearly leading the charge."

According to IDC the European infrastructure services market will be valued at more than $45 billion by 2004. "We are confident that the Irish market will embrace the opportunities offered by outsourcing, adds Daly. Companies who lead with a strong services portfolio will be best positioned to capitalise on this trend."

*SME is defined as those small and medium-sized enterprises with less than 250 employees.