Tech EX offers us a new direction

To start off this week I have a little bit of a lament to express. And maybe lament isn't the right word but I've really had my fill of those out there who either directly or indirectly "put the boot" into our fair city.

It doesn't matter what medium is used, be it electronic or more traditional means, there are people out there who delight in making mileage on any piece of bad news that might reflect badly on us as a community. Even stranger is when the actions of individuals are generalised to pass judgement on our city in its entirety - which defies logic.

This type of unhelpful comment undoes the good work being done by others in the community to lift it up.

But the great thing is that there are some fantastic initiatives happening in and around town which don't get as much press as the bad news - and it is the good initiatives which deserve attention.

This weekend there is a major event occurring which every business person, and resident for that matter, should attend. It is Tech Ex at the War Memorial Centre.

It is no secret that Wanganui is at the forefront of the development and rollout of ultra fast broadband. We have a window of opportunity to be a first mover in the use of this technology.

While there are some doubters out there, I am convinced that UFB is an opportunity for us all to enhance the way our businesses deliver value to our customers. My strategic plan has at its core better and more effective use of technology in the delivery of service to my clients and I, for one, will be at Tech Ex checking out ways in which I can achieve that goal.

If for nothing else, Tech Ex is an opportunity to see the potential that UFB can bring to our lives generally. There will be exhibitors who will show you things that you can do to maximise the benefit of this technology - as well as those who are doing incredible things right now.

Wanganui District Council has thrown its support in behind Tech Ex and I believe it is an excellent use of its funds, because Wanganui has an opportunity to position itself as a centre of excellence in this information age and we should grab it with both hands. We need to encourage young and old alike to develop innovative ways to maximise this technology - before the rest of the country catches up.

Entry to Tech Ex is free and the doors open tomorrow at 10am and it runs until 4pm Sunday. You can check out the website www.techex.co.nz and there is a Twitter feed you can hook into as well. From robots to video conferencing and from business tools to education, there is something for everyone.

So Wanganui, there it is, a fantastic opportunity/good news story this weekend. Get there and experience it and be part of the start of something great!

Zenith Solutions is a Wanganui-based management consulting practice. It specialises in providing strategic planning, business process improvement and financial management services. Contact russell@manageable.co.nz or phone 021-244-2421.