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Intelligent SME . tech is a Lynchpin Media publication for professionals with an interest in global SME news and events . If you wish to subscribe for regular copies , then please email : info @ lynchpinmedia . com

ELLO AND WELCOME to the 21st edition of

Intelligent SME . tech . I hope you ’ ve had a wonderful month and that you enjoy the latest issue . This month ’ s cover story features Chantel Scheepers , CEO of OakTree Power – a climate technology start-up headquartered in London , UK .

Not only does OakTree Power ’ s Demand Side Response ( DSR ) technology help businesses across the UK to reduce their energy consumption and emissions and support net zero targets , but it also generates a new revenue stream for them as companies that contribute to this scheme get financially rewarded by the National Grid .

We hear more about this , different sustainability strategies and the company ’ s missions and aims on page 44 .

Meanwhile , we explore some key advice for CIOs in our Editor ’ s Question this month . Three experts from GitLab , Lacework and Okta , offer their thoughts and opinions , discussing the constantly changing role of a CIO , as well as the visibility and drawbacks that come with it .

Our Expert Profile , on page 34 , focuses on what start-ups need to consider from day one in order a build a reliable and scalable business – particularly from a cybersecurity perspective . Alonso Bustamante , Senior Director , Strategy & M & A at Cloudflare , expands on this , highlighting how important it is for SMEs to know their assets , while also discussing the benefits realised from adopting a Zero Trust approach .

Manufacturing is our Industry Focus this month . The UK ’ s manufacturing sector has responded well to the challenges of recent years – through staff training , automation and investment . Don Valentine , Absoft ’ s Commercial Director and ADIMA ERP Lead , talks to us more about this and how the SME manufacturing landscape is slowly changing from page 41 .

Our Scaling Up , on page 63 , explores the significance of having a single , connected solution that manages business operations as effectively as possible . Karin Jones , Business Applications Director at Microsoft South Africa , speaks to us in more detail about reimagining business applications to be better together .

We also have a round-up of all the latest SME news from across our regions , while our ‘ intelligent ’ brands section looks at what ’ s new in sales and marketing , finance , HR and customer experience .

I hope you enjoy this issue and please do not hesitate to get in touch if you ’ d like to contribute to a future edition .

Catherine Darwen , Assistant Editor

Rebecca Miles , Editor of Intelligent SME . tech , is currently on maternity leave . While she ’ s enjoying precious time with her new arrival , Jess Abell and Catherine Darwen will be heading up Intelligent SME . tech and Intelligent CXO . They would be delighted to hear from you . You can email them at jess @ lynchpinmedia . com or catherine @ lynchpinmedia . com

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