Q&A: Pommie Lutchman, CEO Ocular Technologies
Are there any specific areas of growth you are targeting in the mid-future?
Yes, social media integration into the enterprise seems to be the focus of companies wanting to take advantage of consumer-driven data and applications. We already have a solution for this, and plan to market it aggressively to the public in the near future.
What is your buzzword for the industry in 2012?
Definitely “social media integration”
Are we seeing enough innovation in the technology space in SA?
Unfortunately not. Too many companies and entrepreneurs are scared of taking the plunge to invest heavily in innovation.
By looking at what the industry wants, and how to address these needs, we can turn the sector on its proverbial head, and achieve the impossible. If India can do it, and do it successfully, so can we…
Will we see a new disruptive innovation in 2012?
I doubt it. Too many players wanting too many different things is bad for the sector – for any sector. Once we start working as a cohesive unit, much like the auto industry currently does, we will not drive massive progression in the industry.
Also, true innovators focus on a single problem or challenge, and work aggressively towards overcoming it. In SA, too many people cannot afford to do this, either due to the economic situation, internal instability, ever-increasing living costs and the like.
If a company, or individual, has the capacity and bandwidth, and does not need to worry about the aforementioned stumbling blocks, innovation will fall into place. With the aid of government, this is certainly achievable – but the first steps are taken alone, and this is where most will falter.
What phone do you currently use?
iPhone 4S, for personal use; Blackberry Bold 9900, for company use; and an iPad2 64Gb for, well, just about everything else.
What is your industry bugbear?
Cronyism and selfishness – both of these have their roots set deep in my psyche, and neither of them is good for our industry or our country.
I have maintained an ethical and morally irreprehensible philosophy within in my company and in my personal life, but unfortunately not all in our industry and in our country steer their ship with the same rudder, so to speak. Sad, but true.
On the latter, I believe too many in our sector feel that they need to do only what they do, amongst themselves, with no assistance and/or collaboration with others. Maybe its just me, but I cannot and do not understand that mentality.
Some of the best products, solution and concepts out there were borne out of a mutually-beneficial relationship or collaboration. Can’t we just all get along?
Any favourite apps in your library?
Flipboard (for iPhone and iPad) is brilliant, and I have moved entirely to eBooks for all my reading (magazines, novels and even manuals these days) – I use Zinio and Apple’s iBooks for this, and they both are used daily.
For my hobbies, I also have the dJay for iPad from Algoriddim, and EveryDay Golf Coach HD, and EveryDay Golf Coach Power HD (both from Noel Rousseau).
Online video in enterprise? Yes or no?
No, not in SA anyway. Until we can get internal LAN/WAN quality up to global standard, and affordable, high-speed data access down to the consumer, this will be a waste of time, effort and money.
Social media – yes or no?
Emphatic YES! As an industry expert on all things related to customer contact, and on the speaking circuit that I appear on quite regularly, I preach about the value and insight one can glean from social media, and how it benefits the enterprise as a whole – not just in the contact centre or operations spaces.
Until such time as people start believing in social media as the feedback mechanism from their customers, they are always going to one step behind.
What do you do when you’re not at the office?
I am a certified sound engineer, and music has always been my passion. So, anything music related, including “back-room” production, composition and re-engineering – these are my biggest “time-wasters”.
I also assist individuals who want to start out in their own businesses, with guidelines and mentoring for entrepreneurship, and hope to make this a key component in my personal development going forward.
Finally, family is everything to me. As much time as I can spend with them, I do, as there is no bigger pleasure in life than seeing those who are close to you flourish as a direct result of the time and effort you spend with them.
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