Information and communication technologies
Australia is a sophisticated user of information communication technologies (ICT). Throughout the whole economy, ICT is ubiquitous, and is usually the first method of choice to undertake everyday tasks. The Economist Intelligence Unit annually ranks countries according to several aspects of information and communications technology, the e-readiness score measures the underlying infrastructure, the ability of individuals and businesses to use ICT to their benefit, legal transparency, and the extent to which the government encourages technology use. In 2009, Australia was benchmarked sixth globally for e-readiness after Denmark, Sweden, the Netherlands, Norway and the United States.
There are many examples of world recognised brands taking advantage of what Australia has to offer in ICT. Global names such as Avaya, Canon and IBM have built product development (R&D) facilities in Australia; Google Maps and Warner Bros have used their bases in Australia to develop profitable international digital content for business and entertainment sectors; Alcatel-Lucent, Cisco Systems and CSC run advanced technical assistance centres for operations around the world from Australia; and Logica CMG, Reuters and Infosys have made Australia central to their global risk reduction strategies.
The size of the market, its innovative outlook and a varied and sophisticated customer base combine to make Australia an ideal location to develop and test new ICT products and services. Software and processes that are built and adapted here are often rolled back into the global product development environment and subsequently used by customers worldwide.
Australia’s ICT market is worth nearly A$100 billion (Source: ABS, Cat. No. 8126.0, Information and Communication Technology Australia, 2006-07, October 2008). It is the fifth largest in the Asia-Pacific region, and the 14th largest in the world (Source: WITSA, Digital Planet: The Global Information Economy, May 2008). Approximately 400,000 Australians are employed in ICT occupations or specific ICT industry businesses (Source: ABS, Labour Force Survey, August 2008).
The domain knowledge that has enabled the development of the new products and services is a combination of financial skills and ICT skills.
Australian ICT companies have strong skills in:
• Payment Systems
• Risk and Compliance Business Intelligence
• Asset Management Systems
• Financial Intermediary Software Systems
Australian Financial services companies have strong skills in:
• Funds management
• Financial advising
• Regulatory Compliance and Risk Management
• Foreign Exchange and Securitisation
Banking, Financial Services & Insurance IT
The Australian Financial Services market is diverse and internationally strong with sizable
spending on innovative ICT solutions. Financial Services is the largest vertical market for ICT
spending. Within the Financial Services vertical, sophisticated use of ICT is apparent in everyday interactions with customers and behind the underlying operations.
The demand for innovative ICT solutions by Australian Financial Services Companies has lead to the successful development and export worldwide of solutions:
o Cognos, (now owned by IBM), built insurance based software to optimise forecasting with expertise from Australian insurance company Suncorp
o Google Maps was originally developed by Australian company, which was taken over by Google and is since developing Google Wave
o HSBC Australian operations have developed a new core banking platform called “GoldSuite”, which is doubling as a pilot site before they launch the system worldwide
Technology solutions for Government
Australia’s governments have been early adopters of technology solutions compared to other international markets. As a result, many world-class solutions from Australian companies are selling to international governments at all levels. In particular, Australia is a world leader in the areas of border control, criminal justice, identity management and homeland security.
Australia enjoys a strong position in the delivery of eGovernment solutions due to a wealth of innovative and specialist companies and a pro-active approach by the nation’s governments.
The Australian Government is committed to encouraging the development of Australia’s ICT industry, and plans to spend almost AUD$3 billion during the next five years to take it to even greater international heights.
E-Learning
Australia is establishing itself as the eLearning hub of the Asia-Pacific, developing and exporting corporate and education eLearning systems (including edutainment) to the world.
Australia is a mature and technologically sophisticated market with high internet, PC and smart mobile device penetration rates. eLearning systems are recognised as a mainstream option for the corporate and education sectors and are similarly embraced by consumers. This relative maturity and growth has also been driven by market characteristics including Australia’s geographically dispersed population, lack of language barriers, a high-quality communications infrastructure, government support and a culture of learning.
Australia’s education strengths, supportive government, multicultural population, strong technical skills pool and innovative digital content sector have also helped it become a leader in e-learning content and technology systems. Companies from Australia are developing new technologies, standards and content for use worldwide. Editure, MCQ International and Panviva are just some of those providing world-leading eLearning systems across vertical markets including defence and transport.
Australia also benefits from being amongst the world’s most multicultural nations. With immigrants from over 200 countries it is an ideal location to develop new eLearning content and to service the world.
Partnerhip with Australian companies
Australian ICT companies can assist financial services companies that:
• Are still using paper based processes.
• Are using a range of quick fix ad-ons and require a total business process overview and technology replacement strategies.
• Require Fund Management, Financial Planning, Trading, Regulatory, Governance, Risk, and/or Asset Management,
Business Intelligence expertise and solutions.
• Want to reduce costs with smarter technology solutions.
• Want to move to a customer centric operation.
• Want to adopt a range of security solutions.
• Want to transition to offering more online or mobile solutions.
• Want to work more in the B2B or B2C space.
Useful websites
• Australian Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy – www.dbcde.gov.au
• Australian Government Information Management Office – www.finance.gov.au/agimo/index.html
• Australian Information Industry Association – www.aiia.com.au
• Australian Interactive Media Industry Association – www.aimia.com.au
• Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation – www.csiro.au
• Electronics Industry Association – www.eiaa.asn.au
• National ICT Australia – www.nicta.com.au
If you are interested in Australian Information and Communication Technologies and wish to contact with exporters,
please contact Bożena Świerbutowicz bozena.swierbutowicz@austrade.gov.au
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