The Information Society Initiative Tayside

The Information Society Initiative Tayside is uniquely placed to help Tayside companies explore the benefits of new information and communications technology for their organisations. Located in state of the art Information Technology demonstration centres attached to the Business Shops in Dundee, Perth and Arbroath, ISI Tayside provide companies with free and independent advice on computer hardware and software and the latest IT developments including the Internet , e-commerce and the Millennium Bug issue.

Here are some of the news stories that SPOT-light communications have helped to promote for ISI Tayside.

Tayside Technology Suppliers Register On-Line

Eleventh Hour Warning For Tayside Businesses

Demand explodes for Internet Business School

Tayside Technology Suppliers Register On-Line

The Information Society Initiative (ISI) Tayside, has invited the local information and communications technology sector to become partners in helping Tayside businesses benefit from the new technology.

The invitation came as ISI Tayside launched their website at the Business Shop Angus, 61 Marketgate Arbroath, and called for local suppliers of computer hardware, software, and support services, to register on-line for inclusion in an ISI Tayside Approved Vendors Database.

The success of ISI Tayside to date has been shaped by its ability to provide businesses with free and independent advice on the latest developments in information and communications technology. After discussing their business needs with the ISI IT Advisors, many companies discover that fears about the new technology are unfounded and can make future IT investment decisions with confidence. The next part of the equation is to find a supplier who can meet their needs.

Roger Catignani, Project Leader, for ISI Tayside explained: " Almost 200 Tayside companies have sought advice from ISI Tayside since our launch in the summer of last year. We want as much new ICT [Information & Communication Technology] investment as possible to be sourced through local suppliers. This is a great opportunity for them to expand their local customer base and put the Tayside business community at the forefront of the information and communications technology revolution."

Companies selected for inclusion in the Database are expected to come from the Tayside area, have a business bank account and be able to supply three business references on work they have completed over the last three years.

The ISI Tayside web address is www.isi-tayside.co.uk

Eleventh Hour Warning For Tayside Businesses

An eleventh hour warning was issued today for Tayside businesses unprepared for the Millennium Bug, that they risk financial collapse in the date change over for the year 2000. The stark warning came as the Information Society Initiative (ISI) Tayside, and Scottish Enterprise Tayside, launched a major offensive to tell Tayside companies that the Millennium Bug could kill their businesses.

Urging companies to take steps to beat the bug, Roger Catignani, Project Leader for ISI Tayside, said that unless companies took action now to deal with the Year 2000 issue, many businesses may not survive into the next millennium. He said:" Around a quarter of UK companies are already experiencing Y2K problems as they wind up the current financial year and project expenditure plans into the next year. This bug will affect businesses whether they have computers or not. All Tayside businesses are at risk. The supply chain issue poses a major threat. If your company depends on one or two key customers or suppliers whose systems fail because of the Millennium Bug, how would you survive?

Fears over the lack of action by Tayside companies on the issue were re-inforced by Tom Millar, IT Advisor for Scottish Enterprise Tayside. He said: "These training courses will help companies asses the risks within their own supply chains. Funding, from the Scottish Office's £2.6 million investment to help Scottish businesses beat the bug, will in Tayside, give companies access to FREE advice, training and information.

"The feedback from these courses is excellent. Companies who have attended have been surprised by the potentially widespread effect of the millennium bug, but relieved that there are things that they can do to minimise the risk to their business, such as identifying the supply chain partners which put them at risk."

Companies who want FREE advice, information and training to beat the Millennium Bug should contact the Business Shops on 0800 854854.

Tayside businesses will lead the way in a new initiative designed to help them create an Internet edge in their business operations when fifty Tayside companies go "back to school" this week to learn how to make the most of the Internet explosion.

The Tayside companies are gearing up their Internet programmes with the help of the Information Society Initiative (ISI) Tayside, just as a national supermarket chain expands its e-commerce activities by offering free internet access to its ten million customers.

Demand explodes for Internet Business School

Companies signing up to the free Internet Workshops, following a successful Internet Conference hosted last December by ISI Tayside, booked the workshops three times over. As a result, the planned 30 places have been doubled during February and a third programme is planned for March. The Workshops will help companies examine whether their businesses are ready for the Internet, how to create a profitable Internet presence, and how to promote and market their business on the Internet.

Mr. Mike Collins, IT Advisor for ISI Tayside, explained why they have taken this initiative:

"ISI Tayside provides free and independent advice to companies looking to the make the best use of the new information and communications technology.

"We knew from our Internet conference that many local businesses wanted to know more about the business potential of the Internet and devised these free Workshops to help them develop informed Internet business plans. We are delighted that so many companies are taking the time to address this key business issue.