Sond'ela Nature Reserve has relied on Itec Pretoria East to keep its print infrastructure running for more than 20 years, thanks to the office automation company's ability to provide it with flexible financing options as well as excellent support and service despite its relatively remote location.
Based near Bela-Bela, in Limpopo, Sond'ela Nature Reserve is a Gold Crown RCI resort and private nature reserve offering camping facilities and luxury chalets. The resort is regarded as one of the 10 best in South Africa and is fully open for business again after a fire originating from a neighbouring farm destroyed 30 nyalas, 64 chalets and the Maroela pool lapa earlier this year.
Itec is responsible for the supply, financing, servicing and support of Sond'ela's office automation equipment at the resort, as well as at its Bela-Bela office. Over the past five years, the resort has grown dramatically, and Itec's support as an office automation partner has helped Sond'ela to scale up its office automation environment to cater for this growth, says Ian Jansen van Renbsurg, Managing Director of Sond'ela Nature Reserve.
"Given our remote location, we understand the challenges Itec faces to keep our technology infrastructure running smoothly," he says. "However, Itec is able to send out technicians very quickly when we need support or service, even though their offices are 100km away." A focus on preventive maintenance from Itec also means less downtime in Sond'ela's office automation environment.
Jansen van Renbsurg adds that Itec's flexible financing options mean the costs of upgrading and adding new printers, copiers and MFPs are turned into operating expenses rather than capital costs, so the expense is spread throughout the financial year.
"Itec Pretoria East has grown with us over the years, and the service it has provided has always been good," he says. "And since hardware is much of a muchness, it is this level of personal service that makes the difference for us. I can pick the phone up any time and get exactly the help I need from Itec."
Sean Moran, Director at Itec Pretoria East, says companies in remote locations rely on their office automation equipment as heavily as companies in the major metros, but are often expected to settle for sub-par service. Itec has put in place the branch office network and the technology infrastructure to provide these clients with the service levels they deserve.
For example, Itec has solutions such as Sentry to ensure clients' document output devices (including printers, copiers and MFPs) keep running smoothly. Sentry automates the reporting of many common service and maintenance issues so that Itec can manage these devices in a proactive manner.
"Organisations are increasingly looking to vendors to provide them with a complete solution," says Moran. "They want true partners with strong technology and support infrastructures to help them optimise a function that plays a central role in their business processes."
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