PROFILE
C
Could you provide some
background details about your
current position at SANParks and
what are the main challenges?
My responsibility is to modernise the
technology at SANParks. We have a
number of legacy applications that we
have to modernise, and it’s not common
to everybody. We also have significant
connectivity challenges, meaning that
service providers don’t want to invest in
infrastructure because it’s not worthwhile.
Our priority is to try and improve the
customer’s experience from a digital
perspective and we are trying to improve
connectivity, but with that comes the
challenge of gathering data, plus there are
other spin-offs like analytics.
What are some of the biggest
challenges you encounter in terms
of data centre/infrastructure
management?
As well as data centres, we use cloud services,
but again, to get to the data centre, you
need connectivity. For some of the parks
in the northern regions, there is reduced
satellite connectivity so connecting to the
parks is a challenge. But we are looking at all
of our infrastructure, redesigning it and using
more modern technology.
For example, we’re looking at software-
defined networks and have started rolling
it out. My vision is to move to a connected
park, so you have a ‘smart park’. We are
targeting our millennial customers so when
they go to the parks, they have connectivity.
That is our main challenge, but it is a general
problem across Africa, not just at SANParks.
How is Datacentrix – to whom you
recently awarded a five-year contract
for the full outsource of your network
and infrastructure services across
more than 100 sites – helping to
address these challenges?
Datacentrix is our partner on two fronts.
They have been appointed to assist us in
OUR CHANGE OF MANAGEMENT
STRATEGY IS VERY EFFECTIVE, AND
IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE GET THAT
RIGHT FROM THE WORD GO.
Are there any emerging trends within
the infrastructure space? What
would you identify as some of the
key talking points?
We have been engaging with service
providers and working very closely with
Microsoft. We already use the Azure Cloud
and will be provisioning further services. We
also have an IoT implementation which
works well for us.
The other aspect within the infrastructure is
cybersecurity, which is a high priority of ours.
As a tourist visiting our parks, from the time
of making the booking online to coming
into our parks and having the experience, is
important. So, we have to make sure that
your data is safe.
You have provided training and
development to ensure a range
of cross-disciplinary teams are
developed effectively. How have you
put this into practice?
One of my objectives and challenges is to
standardise a number of applications. We
have a number of initiatives when looking
at training and development. Our change of
management strategy is very effective, and
it is important that we get that right from
the word go. Because of the remoteness of
the parks, you can’t bring in a management
learning system to run a YouTube video,
because it’s difficult.
We engage people on an ongoing basis,
and we have much more positive responses
because people come and engage with you
and ask questions. You also have the normal
process of developing manuals.
What we have learnt at SANParks is that
people love to be in your face and learn and
ask questions and it’s the most effective way.
What is the best way to tackle the
skills shortage in IT?
modernising our OpenText platform and help
us digitise more products, identify challenges
and optimise it.
The second phase of the project will be to
automate all of our records. So, all of our
structured information will be sitting in the
OpenText platform and Datacentrix takes
that responsibility.
www.intelligentcio.com
We have a very active post-graduate
programme in South Africa. I have trained
a number of graduates and the best way
is to get them into the environment so
that they can work alongside you and your
team and get that market experience.
Getting an academic achievement is
fantastic, but it has to be supplemented
INTELLIGENTCIO
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