Talk the talk

Colm Ó Tuathaill, senior technology specialist at IBT Solutions, talks to David Clerkin.

You’ve just published a new version of your book on technology. Please tell us about it and why it needed to be updated.

The efficient use of technology can have a significantly positive impact on an organisation’s ability to carry out its activities and can also provide an opportunity to make considerable cost savings. Sadly, my 20 year-plus experience has taught me that, due to a lack of understanding, the potential of technology is not being exploited.

I have written and published, via the web, my book The Technology Jigsaw Explained. The book is a top-level explanation of modern technology, written in simple language, with an aim of trying to stimulate thought and action by the very people, I believe, would most benefit by its use.

Where is it available?

The book is available, free of charge, by visiting www.ibtsolutions.net. The site also has a free-to-use technology planning tool.

What was the take-up of the first edition? Who was it aimed at and what gave you the idea to write it?

More than 2,500 copies of the fist edition were downloaded - primarily from Europe but also from the USA, United Arab Emirates and Australia. From 1996 to 1999 I served as the technical and operations manager of the €42m Telecom Éireann Information Age Project. During this time I saw the lack of education as the primary blockage in Ireland to the take-up of technology. The book was my attempt to help remove this blockage.

I understand you left Eircom after about 20 years. How did you spot the opportunity to set up on your own?

I travelled throughout Ireland meeting with small business owners in my job. The constant message coming at me was that people did not understand technology - but they had a fear of engaging with IT people as they did not understand the language being spoken to them. Nobody ever explained the benefits and the value of the investment they were being asked to make. My company has two core principles - client education and value for money. These form the basis of any engagement with our clients as we seek to provide them with our technology auditing and planning services, which are supported by our comprehensive project management service.

How hard was it to set up from scratch?

The hardest thing to do is to convince people that technology should not be seen as a negative cost to their organisation, but rather as a business tool that has the potential to deliver better efficiencies within their organisation and reduce other traditional costs.

What kind of year was 2004 - both for you and the IT industry in general?

2004 was a very difficult year as most business people jumped into the “conservative trenches” as a result of the high media hype that Ireland’s growth was stopping and uncertainty lay ahead.

Thankfully the hype died down in the last quarter of the year. I would say that the majority of reputable IT companies saw earnings in the last quarter that saved the year for them.