ACSTRA Africa, new ACCPAC reseller conglomerate

In response to demands placed on businesses to select and maintain the right business software solution, several ACCPAC resellers in Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban and Nigeria have joined forces to create the African Consulting Strategic Alliance (ACSTRA) Africa.

According to Michael Stewart, acting managing director at ACSTRA Africa, the mission of the new company is to provide its customers with an end-to-end quality business solution by leveraging strategic partnerships and best-of-breed products.

Discussions between the previously independent resellers revealed that, as individual enterprises, it is more difficult to provide customers with a cost-effective, complete end-to-end solution on a pan-African scale.

Stewart Explains: "This made us realise that by combining our efforts we would be able to offer skills in virtually all aspects of the IT arena with our focus on ACCPAC and related e-business infrastructures, including thin client and Internet functionality."

Jeremy Waterman, managing director at ACCPAC Africa, comments: "The formation of ACSTRA Africa should reap great rewards for the associated resellers and their customers. Furthermore, with ACCPAC's best of breed products and an extensive knowledge base within the group, ACSTRA Africa is ready to target much larger and more diversified organisations than previously possible as independent resellers."

Additionally, ACSTRA Africa understands that to replace or update any core business system is a strategic decision for businesses to make. An incorrect choice of product or service provider can be a major setback for business operations. Kevin Laing, acting sales and marketing director for ACSTRA Africa, colloquially refers to the process as a 'business software heart transplant', and ACSTRA Africa as the Chris Barnard of business software solutions, possessing the skill sets to tackle the operation.

Laing adds: "In today's fast-paced technology arena, it's both time consuming and expensive for companies to develop skills sets to maintain their business software systems. ACSTRA Africa is equipped with all the necessary skills, from understanding your business requirements and choosing the right system, through to installation, training and continued after-sales support."

ACSTRA Africa believes that developing and maintaining face-to-face business relationships with clients is paramount because, as Laing states: "All too often, technology replaces the personal touch." The company's official launch will take place on 10 May and will operate immediately from Nigeria, Durban, Sandton, Cape Town and the East Rand. Laing says that plans to expand into the rest of Africa are far advanced. "By having points of presence in major centres throughout Africa, ACSTRA Africa can best service organisations that conduct business nationally and beyond the borders of South Africa," he concludes.