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DVT's CloudSmiths creates Salesforce CRM powerhouse with Ideas Inc merger


Johannesburg, 04 Feb 2016
Derek Hughes founder business leader and The Driving Force of CloudSmiths.
Derek Hughes founder business leader and The Driving Force of CloudSmiths.

CloudSmiths, a South African SalesForce specialist and part of the DVT Group, is merging with one of South Africa's leading Gold Salesforce Consulting Partners, Ideas Incorporated (Ideas Inc).

The deal makes CloudSmiths the largest SalesForce specialist in South Africa. Derek Hughes, founder, business leader and The Driving Force of CloudSmiths, says that the deal has created a SalesForce business to rival any in Africa.

"Our exclusive focus on SalesForce makes CloudSmiths unique in South Africa," says Hughes. "We're a SalesForce company from top to bottom, and together with DVT are continually active at the forefront of the local software and services industry."

The merger of Ideas Inc with CloudSmiths is in line with DVT's dual objectives of high organic growth and investment into high-growth, high-return software businesses.

Chris Wilkins, Chairman of the DVT Group of companies, and Founder of DVT, says that CloudSmiths has everything it takes to become the largest and most successful SalesForce business in Africa.

"CloudSmiths already has pan-African clients, and a large South African client list," says Wilkins. "With (former Software Futures CEO) Derek Hughes at the helm, the company has everything in place to become the premier SalesForce partner on the continent."

Wilkins says that the merger has accelerated CloudSmiths' growth, and added more than 20 skilled and experienced SalesForce specialists to its growing team.

"The entrepreneurial and dynamic spirit of CloudSmiths, combined with the financial backing of DVT, has created a platform for fast but sustainable growth, and provides an ideal home for any ambitious SalesForce professional in the country," he says.

"We're more than just partners, we're a CloudSmiths customer and Salesforce user so we understand the benefits and synergies of the Ideas Inc merger and are completely invested in the success of the new entity," concludes Wilkins.

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CloudSmiths

Forged in 2014 by the merger of start-up Vistar and longstanding SFD Consulting, CloudSmiths is a Gold Salesforce Consulting Gold Partner. CloudSmiths specialises in the rapid deployment of Salesforce and the deep customisation and integration of the Salesforce Platform into third party applications. The company operates from offices in Johannesburg and Cape Town.

At the helm of the business is industry veteran Derek Hughes, former CEO of Software Futures and a co-founder of DVT, which now has a strategic investment in CloudSmiths. www.cloudsmiths.co.za

Ideas Incorporated

In just six years, Ideas Incorporated has built one of the largest teams of Salesforce specialists in Africa, have completed successful implementations across the SADC region, while maintaining constantly high customer satisfaction ratings and optimising strong technology performance and cost controls into their client's organisational culture. www.ideasincorporated.co.za

Led by Kim Fletterman and Rudolf Niehaus, Ideas Incorporated, with offices in Johannesburg and Cape Town, is a Gold Salesforce Consulting Partner and registered ISV partner. The Client In-sight App is available on the Salesforce AppExchange, the world's leading Enterprise Apps marketplace, at www.appexchange.com

DVT

DVT provides tailor-made software solutions and related professional services to clients throughout South Africa. DVT's technology solutions include .Net and Java, enterprise mobility and data and analytics. Its range of professional services include project management, business analysis, business process analysis, software quality assurance as well as Agile consulting and training. DVT's product based solutions include Agile team management (Axosoft and Rally), performance testing (NeoLoad) and practice management (Thomson Elite). Visit it at www.dvt.co.za.