IT Cambodia challenges ... India, China?

Looking from the outside, the headquarters of Digital Divide Data (D3) in the capital of Phnom Penh doesn't look like a launch pad for an IT revolution.

It is a big, slightly rough and unassuming three-story house. But that trivial outward appearance is contained in the most innovative "social organization" in this Angkovat country. In fact, D3 is the first nonprofit organization to do business . profitable.

Quality is first

On the outside, the D3's headquarters is crude and built in the traditional "cream cake" in Cambodia.Source: BBC

Unlike many other non-governmental projects, D3 focuses on technology rather than traditional handicrafts. D3's success, seen from a certain angle, can be measured by the number of employees who left to set up their own company, competing with their former boss.

In a spacious, air-conditioned room on the second floor, dozens of employees were sitting on the computer keyboard. D3's main business is data entry, and their customers can be anyone from a local mobile network that needs to aggregate customer information to the international news agency that needs to set up a library. storage.

Even the prestigious US Yale University is on the list of D3 customers. They want to transfer all paper data into digital format for more convenience for later inspection and analysis.

This is a form of outsourcing initiated by Indian technology firms before this wave spread around the world. The founder of D3, Jeremy Hockenstein believes that the same story can be repeated with Cambodia.

" In general, Cambodia is not very well-developed, and it does not have the same reputation as India or China. But through these projects, we can prove that Cambodia can outsource and do well. Another good competition is another ".

However, he also emphasized the novelty of the Cambodian name on the world outsourcing map that could attract initial attention and attention, but it is the quality of the new job that makes impressive decisions and the final revenue. and.

Educate

At the age of 26 and after 4 years of work, Kann Kunthy became the general manager of D3.Source: BBC

It took only 4 years from Kann Kunthy, a keyboard-based data entry officer, to become D3's general manager at the age of 26. His promotion process could be considered typical of the philosophy of "Graduation to sewer." donation "at D3.

" There are two graduation paths: Inside and outside. Hundreds of people have left D3 after a period of work to look for better business opportunities, and their income has tripled ," said Kunthy. explain. "My future plan depends on whether anyone can do it for me ."

Not only do they learn through real work, employees at D3 also get paid by the company to participate in many formal courses. Each shift has only 6 hours per day, so employees have enough time to foster their knowledge.

This is a training policy that has helped many of them gain confidence, and a degree to establish their own career, or to apply for better positions elsewhere.

In addition, D3 also pays great attention to recruiting people with disabilities or without learning to go to work. They are really a very socially responsible environment.

" D3 is a great success that everyone wants to learn ," commented Adam Sack, an expert at the International Financial Group in Phnom Penh. " Although they are a social enterprise, they are still very good and profitable. The profit is the clearest sign that they are on the right track ."

Extend

The D3 model is expanding rapidly. They opened a branch in Battambang and also recently opened operations in Laos. According to Hockenstein, more than two dozen other countries have contacted him to discuss the possibility of developing similar "social enterprises."

Asking Cambodia to repeat the achievements India has made in IT may be a bit far-fetched, but undeniably, the IT ship in Angkovat's country is moving gear, thanks to its approach to the workforce. reasonable, full of humanity.

To date, more than 250,000 IT personnel are working in Cambodia, compared to the plentiful zero a decade ago.

Trong Cam