ICT Business Development Manager Career in South Africa
Explore the official OFO occupation, common tasks, specialisations and approved South African qualification pathways.
Occupation overview
Identifies and generates new ICT business opportunities to further improve market share and awareness by gaining an understanding of customers' ICT needs and promoting goods and services to these customers. Works closely with colleagues to close sales opportunities and facilitate implementation. May manage some key customer accounts.
What does a ICT Business Development Manager do?
An ICT Business Development Manager finds potential customers and new markets for information and communication technology products and services. The role involves understanding clients’ technology needs, explaining suitable solutions, developing business opportunities, working with colleagues to complete sales and helping ensure that implementation goes smoothly. It can also include responsibility for important customer accounts.
How to become a ICT Business Development Manager in South Africa
- Build a foundation in information technology, business administration, customer needs and sales-related activities.
- Consider a relevant pathway such as the Further Education and Training Certificate: Information Technology: Systems Development at NQF level 4, or the Higher Certificate in Information Technology in Information Systems at NQF level 5.
- The Further Education and Training Certificate: Business Administration Services: Training and Development Practices at NQF level 4 may also support the business and development side of the role.
- Develop experience understanding customers’ ICT requirements, presenting technology solutions and supporting sales opportunities.
- Progress into management by taking on greater responsibility for business development, customer accounts and coordinating implementation with colleagues. Relevant education can support entry into the field, but management roles commonly also involve workplace progression and responsibility for results and clients.
Edupstairs Preparation Guidance
Focus on combining ICT understanding with customer engagement, opportunity development and commercial communication. Practise explaining technology in a way that responds to a customer’s needs, working with colleagues to move an opportunity through to implementation, and maintaining professional relationships with key accounts. Confirm current qualification, provider and assessment details with SAQA or an accredited provider before enrolling. The listed qualifications are relevant pathways, not automatically universal requirements for every employer or management role.
Useful school subjects
- Information Technology
- Computer Applications Technology
- Mathematics
- Mathematical Literacy
- Business Studies
- Economics and Management Sciences or Economics, where offered by the school system involved, and English
Skills that may help
- Identifying potential ICT business opportunities
- Understanding customers’ ICT needs
- Explaining and promoting ICT goods and services
- Sales and opportunity development
- Customer relationship management
- Communication and presentation
- Collaboration with colleagues
- Supporting implementation planning and coordination