ArmInfo. Armenian companies do not realize the value and importance of digital technologies as new possibilities for business development. The director of the Armenian representation of the corporation Microsoft Liana Korkotyan expressed this opinion to the journalists on May 30 during the joint event with the Bank ACBA-Credit Agricole "Digitalization of business".
"I hope that the situation will change soon and the businessmen will reevaluate the role and the significance of digital transformation for the raise of effectiveness of business processes. Today they are not ready to pay for the use of digital technologies. And Armenia's indicator on the use of pirated versions of Windows is the highest in the region - 86%", she explained.
For his part, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of ACBA-Credit Agricole Nikolay Hovhannisyan noted that currently only 10-15% of the Bank's clients use digital services. "Thanks to such events, we want to raise awareness of business organizations about the benefits of digitalization," he stressed.
Answering the question of ArmInfo, N. Hovhannisyan explained that thanks to digitalization, a small group of talented and ideological people using digital technologies can become a worthy competitor to large business, regardless of how much a large company invested in the development of its activities. "The bank is interested in cooperation with Microsoft, since with the activation of the use of digital technologies the Bank will be able to expand the range of operations, customer base, financing volumes and make a significant contribution to the Armenian economy," added N. Hovhannisyan.
During the event, the participants were presented with modern software solutions that will help make the transition to digitalization, thereby increasing the efficiency, flexibility and availability of business, and ensuring success in business development through digital transformation. Deputy Chief Executive Officer of ACBA-Credit Agricole Bank Nikolay Hovhannisyan and Director of the Armenian office of Microsoft Liana Korkotyan signed a memorandum on cooperation, within the framework of which the parties intend to promote the growth of business processes efficiency and increase the competitiveness of SMEs.
To note, "ACBA-Credit Agricole Bank" CJSC has been operating in Armenia since 1995. Since September 2006, the largest European banking group Credit Agricole SA has been the majority shareholder of the bank. With a 15.56% equity interest, followed by the participation of SJSC Sacam International (a member of the Credit Agricole SA group) in the amount of 12.44%, along with which there are 10 regional Unions of Villager Mutual Assistance). In terms of coverage of the branch network, the bank is included in the TOP-5, and by the number of regional branches it occupies the third position. In terms of lending to SMEs, ACBA-Credit Agricole Bank is included in the TOP-10 - as of April 1, 2017, 37.5 billion AMD or 19.1% of the bank's loan portfolio. The Bank traditionally leads in agriculture, but at the same time it actively finances other sectors of the economy and retail lending.
To recall, Microsoft is the world leader in information technology, providing a wide range of devices and services, software and IT services. It is one of the world's largest corporations, operating in more than 190 countries. With Armenia, Microsoft Corporation has been cooperating since 2007 under the signed agreement in Edinburgh (Scotland), according to which Microsoft implements a number of investment, educational and innovation programs in Armenia, including the opening of the Microsoft Innovation Center in Armenia.