Nominate a champion of business technology

Today’s business world is a digitally connected one. Companies must constantly re-invent themselves and their products, delivering goods and services that are personally relevant to consumers, yet meaningfully different from the competition. Entrepreneurs who want to remain competitive must strive to innovate, grow, and disrupt their own businesses. In 2020, with a global health crisis in the form of the covid19 pandemic, the utilisation of technology by businesses, and their ability to re-strategise assumes increasing importance.

The TT Chamber has been celebrating such companies since 2018, when it joined forces with bmobile to introduce the business technology category of the annual Champions of Business Awards.

Business technology continues to be one of the fastest growing business sectors in TT. Owing to its boundary-less nature, technology enables local companies to have a presence and be competitive on the world stage. This award also highlights the significant role technology plays in transforming our economy.

The award is designed to recognise a technology-based or technology-driven company or an individual that has created or provided innovative technological solutions or services for new and existing market needs. It therefore recognises the creation of innovative, disruptive, technology-based companies or ICT-based solutions which have a significant impact on either their target users or industry as a whole.

One company or an individual is selected for the award from among three finalists, who were previously shortlisted by a TT Chamber selection committee from among all nominees. The award recipient will be revealed in a high profile, live national broadcast of the Champions of Business.

The Champions of Business Awards ceremony is scheduled for November 20 and, acknowledging the influence of covid19, we have adopted the theme “Redesign & Reimagine” for 2020. This year, for the first time, the event will be broadcast live via television and also livestreamed. We are confident that this medium will be able to reach a new, expanded audience and provide added exposure to our nominees, award recipients and corporate partners. There are four categories of award, including for Entrepreneur of the Year (sponsored by the Unit Trust Corporation), Internationally Known…T&T Owned Company of the Year (sponsored by Eximbank TT), Business Hall of Fame (sponsored by Guardian Life of the Caribbean (TT) Limited) and Business Technology (sponsored by bmobile).

According to category sponsor bmobile, “Technology has long been credited as a driver of innovation and many studies have confirmed that because of the wide array of opportunities it brings, ICT is a critical enabler of sustainable business growth in the private and public sectors, as well as the development of the national economy”. The individual or company to cop the business technology award must meet the criteria for nomination including being a locally registered company (TT) shareholding ownership; show evidence of commercialisation and turn over at least $500,000 per annum; be innovative or be a new invention; have a disruptive impact to the market; show marketing strength and ability to be a sustainable product, service or company and; demonstrate that this company or individual is engaged in responsible business practices.

As it does each year, the TT Chamber is asking the public to nominate businesses/businesspeople who have undertaken the journey and are deserving of being named a Champion of Business. Neither nominees nor the persons nominating them need to be members of the TT Chamber.

To see all award categories and criteria, follow these easy steps: (i) go to www.chamber.org.tt, (ii) click on Champions of Business (iii) Select the relevant category (iv) read the criteria and complete the requisite fields, then submit. Nominations close at midnight, September 14.

(Content courtesy the TT Chamber of Industry and Commerce)