Hong Kong security vendors: FAIL - enterpriseinnovation.net

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INDUSTRYPROFILEOnline CRM start-up looks overseas for opportunitiesThe government could do more to help local tech start-ups, says KeithTam, CEO of e-Sense, provider of online CRM, event management, andemail marketing applications By Teresa LeungTam: Local investors are less interested inslow return sectors like ITCWHK: Why email marketing, eventmanagement, and CRM?Keith Tam: We did applications resellingbusiness prior to developing ourown products, but products from theUS, Europe as well as open-source onescan’t solve local businesses’ problems.They can’t use these offerings withoutlots of efforts on optimization. Theseproducts are costly, and take users along time to implement. A lot of localbusinesses are SMBs, which can’t affordto pay HK$80,000-100,000 for anapplication.Our business platform GearApp isaimed to provide not just apps like CRM,email marketing, event management butalso effortless integration between theseapps so they share the same database automatically.CWHK: When was the company established?KT: We started in 2008.CWHK: How many founders are there?KT: There are two of us. Now there aresix employees, including four developersand two part-time marketing staffers.CWHK: How do you differentiate yourself?KT: There are companies providingmass mailing services but our apps enableblast results to get back to the CRMdatabase directly, unlike typical servicesout there that you have to input blast resultsback manually into your database.The interface for each app is similar,so users don’t need to spend much timeto learn how to use them.CWHK: How much do your online appscost?KT: Our apps were launched aboutthree months ago and are still in a freetrial phase. We will soon announce theprices, that will be a bit lower than themarket standard because we want to attractas many users as possible.Most of the local companies are smalland still need some time to understandCRM. They want to try one app first andif they find it useful they might subscribemore from us. The charge per app permonth won’t be more than HK$300.CWHK: How many trial users are there?KT: Less than 10.CWHK: What are the challenges facingyou?KT: Local firms aren’t using much IT atthe moment, with around 60 percent ofthem using email. Many of them thinkERP and CRM must be expensive andThe government has the HKPC, but that organizationhas a consultancy arm, which has become a competitorto many tech startupsare not yet aware of inexpensive SaaSofferings. There’s a dilemma: They can’tafford expensive apps, but they don’t believein cheap offerings either.What they are familiar with is emailblast, and this is why we started withthis application. We also write blogs andcreate e-newsletters to help users understandmore about CRM and how theycan make better use of technologies.The government could do more tohelp tech companies like us. They setup the Hong Kong Productivity Council(HKPC), but the organization has a consultancyarm, which has become a competitorto many tech startups.CWHK: What’s your goal? Do you wantyour company to be acquired?KT: We hope to work with an investorwho can bring us to overseas marketswithin a year. The local market is small,which is why many young people preferto work for bigger companies to startingtheir own businesses.There are local investors interested inus. But they won’t be aggressive becauseproperty and stocks offer them greater return.IT? You will only see return withinfive to 10 years.CWHK: What apps do you plan to offernext?KT: We look to introduce case- andproject-management in the future. Wemight also look at introducing a builderfor in-house developers to build applications.332 Computerworld Hong Kong May 2010 www.cw.com.hk
How You CanCatch HackersRed-Handed?Security e-news can helpEveryFridayComputerworld HK Security e-news provideslatest information on breaking industry news,virus alerts, new hacker threats and attacks,training resources, compliance, webcasts,white papers … everything you need to releaseyourself from the anxiety of informationinsecurity!http://www.cw.com.hk/For enquiriesConnie YipAccount DirectorComputerworld HKTel: (852) 2589 1373Email: cyip@questexasia.comwww.cw.com.hkMay 2010 Computerworld Hong Kong 33
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