Aftersales help keep clients
Brunei wired: People visiting websites of Brunei's top organisations and private businesses are likely to be using sites developed by The Rumbian Nation. Picture: Rudolf Portillo
Saturday, May 10, 2008
WHEN IT services firm The Rumbian Nation was established in 2000, it was up against 16 other firms out to get a decent share of the domestic market. The venture has survived the competition since, with its clientele growing mainly through referrals from satisfied customers.
Promising integrity and good customer service has kept The Rumbian Nation alive for eight years.
Managing director Simon Soo Say Wah says his company was striving when he and his then partner started the business in 2000 with the support of their community and businesses.
"We were both from Kuala Belait where everyone knows everybody. When they heard what our plans were the press were called in, businesses sponsored."
The pair made a good team Simon had the ideas and his partner could make them happen, he recalls.
The Rumbian Nation specialises in web design development and software programming, as well as aftersales service.
Simon and his partner co-managed the business since then until a year ago when Simon started operating on his own.
"There were web development companies and freelancers in the industry but we managed to promise integrity. I think the integrity factor is what has kept us alive.
"We started off creating a name, securing a spot in the server and creating a site that means something to (potential clients). We grew our name from engaging in aftersales care," he adds.
The Rumbian Nation has a range of clients, including established organisations in the private sector, such as the Brunei Economic Development Board, Brunei Shell Petroleum, Brunei Liquefied Natural Gas, Baiduri Bank as well as government ministries and private companies.
"Our client base has reached around 60 companies, meaning we have created websites for all of them," he says.
The growth of web development in his company has expanded from static website that only lets people know of products to more sophisticated forms that allow interaction.
"Through feedback from clients we found that our customer wanted more interaction with their own customers within their websites, which we can assist them in," he says.
"I think customer service is also important, all these years we have been quite blessed, we have not really done aggressive marketing, but we get clients through referrals of satisfied customers."
His company has also won recognition through the Brunei ICT Awards.
"That gave us the recognition, where to some companies they prefer to work with companies which have been recognised," he says.
He hopes to diversify his range of services to include online transactions, search engines as well as basic computer services.
Some clients challenge the firm with growing expectations.
"They always expect international qualities. We can deliver, but is it sustainable to use those type standards in Brunei? They want international standards but they are not willing to pay the price," he says.
Another challenge is keeping locals in the firm's workforce.
"There are setbacks with the expectations offered by the private sector as they still prefer to work for the government," he says.
Simon says the local IT industry has the potential to grow further if more opportunities were given to local companies by the government to use their services and products.
"I have seen IT products developed by locals which are very good, if not at par with big international IT companies. I think the Brunei government should give local IT developers some areas to let them manage some projects," he says.
"If they think we are not good enough, then an individual department can be set up to allow certain projects which are on safeguard to test us out, so they would know our capabilities." The Brunei Times
Promising integrity and good customer service has kept The Rumbian Nation alive for eight years.
Managing director Simon Soo Say Wah says his company was striving when he and his then partner started the business in 2000 with the support of their community and businesses.
"We were both from Kuala Belait where everyone knows everybody. When they heard what our plans were the press were called in, businesses sponsored."
The pair made a good team Simon had the ideas and his partner could make them happen, he recalls.
The Rumbian Nation specialises in web design development and software programming, as well as aftersales service.
Simon and his partner co-managed the business since then until a year ago when Simon started operating on his own.
"There were web development companies and freelancers in the industry but we managed to promise integrity. I think the integrity factor is what has kept us alive.
"We started off creating a name, securing a spot in the server and creating a site that means something to (potential clients). We grew our name from engaging in aftersales care," he adds.
The Rumbian Nation has a range of clients, including established organisations in the private sector, such as the Brunei Economic Development Board, Brunei Shell Petroleum, Brunei Liquefied Natural Gas, Baiduri Bank as well as government ministries and private companies.
"Our client base has reached around 60 companies, meaning we have created websites for all of them," he says.
The growth of web development in his company has expanded from static website that only lets people know of products to more sophisticated forms that allow interaction.
"Through feedback from clients we found that our customer wanted more interaction with their own customers within their websites, which we can assist them in," he says.
"I think customer service is also important, all these years we have been quite blessed, we have not really done aggressive marketing, but we get clients through referrals of satisfied customers."
His company has also won recognition through the Brunei ICT Awards.
"That gave us the recognition, where to some companies they prefer to work with companies which have been recognised," he says.
He hopes to diversify his range of services to include online transactions, search engines as well as basic computer services.
Some clients challenge the firm with growing expectations.
"They always expect international qualities. We can deliver, but is it sustainable to use those type standards in Brunei? They want international standards but they are not willing to pay the price," he says.
Another challenge is keeping locals in the firm's workforce.
"There are setbacks with the expectations offered by the private sector as they still prefer to work for the government," he says.
Simon says the local IT industry has the potential to grow further if more opportunities were given to local companies by the government to use their services and products.
"I have seen IT products developed by locals which are very good, if not at par with big international IT companies. I think the Brunei government should give local IT developers some areas to let them manage some projects," he says.
"If they think we are not good enough, then an individual department can be set up to allow certain projects which are on safeguard to test us out, so they would know our capabilities." The Brunei Times
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