This
has been a relatively a late entrant in our ICT market.
Even today there are only a few firms that provide dedicated
software services and even fewer that have adopted any form
of quality standards. However like any learning curve, more
and more firms are coming into this fray; systematic procedures
and practices are being implemented so that quality software
houses are being produced.
The basic clientele for the software houses has usually
been the corporate houses .i.e. the institutional market.
That being so it naturally follows that most of the software
are database related.
While few years back, visual basic was the predominant choice
for programmers of late there has been a gradual shift to
use other tools to provide better service to the customer.
Furthermore with the passage of time firms have also realized
the importance and benefits of installing an ICT system
in a company. The fact that computer penetration is high
in the metropolitan cities has helped in the sense that
computer literacy among personnel has increased. Hence they
are more likely than ever before to adopt a new computer
software system.
It is true that the growth of the ICT sector is being hampered
by the lack of proper telecommunication infrastructure,
Bangladeshi companies continue to make the best out of what
is being given to them. With the infrastructure situation
improving, the software market is bound to increase.
One of the prime indicator or growth factor for the software
industry is technical people. Similarly in order to retain
and groom these technical personnel these firms need to
earn on an increasing scale. To date that has been proved
to be quite difficult. However in recent times, with the
growth of the ICT training sector, availability of skill
people has been enhanced. Also more and more software business
houses are soliciting order from outside. Hence it is expected
that within a decade software will form a predominant part
of our economy.