Whilst it is true that many companies see the light of day despite a barrage of forceful challenges in the local IT market, a large portion of these companies fail to fully recover and mostly end up frustrated and discouraged. Then, there are those that adapt and exemplify tenacious commitment to service, solution and technology - they buck the system and refuse to lie low. Integr8 IT is one such company.
With a high profile established client base that continues to grow, one could be forgiven for thinking that an air of arrogance has crept in some way along the line and, like the many prestigious networks Integr8 IT services and supports, has spread throughout the entire framework of the business. But this is not the case - quite the opposite in fact.
Integr8 IT`s management insist its leadership structure is based on the desire to learn more, seek value, and lead from the front. The entire operation is based on the collective responsibility and skills of a group of individuals with a central goal in mind: to profit from continuous value-add, service excellence and dedication to clients and partners.
"Yes, this is a time of re-awakening in the local market, certainly from a network perspective. There has never been a more pressing time to re-invent, innovate and stick to the core business. And, businesses realise that it absolutely fundamental to establish an effective network environment and aim towards a reduction in the total cost of ownership and an increase in the return on investment. At the same time though, growth and development in a challenging market can be a double-edged sword. Whilst it can boost a company and inject a dose of confidence into decision-makers, it can also be a destructive force lulling a business into a false sense of security. We have found that serious attention to core functionality, management and service is the best recipe to cope and benefit within a tough economic climate," explains co-directors of Integr8 IT, Lance Fanaroff and Robert Sussman.
Manager Erez Grushka, who heads up the company`s Operations and Logistics and helps regulate its national network spreading across Durban, Port Elizabeth, East London and Johannesburg, concur with Lance and Robert`s viewpoint. From the outset, says Grushka, the company has obliterated the ivory tower concept and adopted a policy of shared responsibility towards profit, work, business processes, service, support - basically all that Integr8 IT encapsulates as a business. The approach is based on the understanding that a client is seen as a partner and the service level agreement has come to represent the beginning of a long-term relationship and not a once-off sale.
"We endeavour to understand our clients business. It is our belief that you never close a sale, but rather open a long-term relationship. We will never attempt to sell someone technology if it is not going to ease a process, streamline a procedure or do something that results in a more efficient activity. Your company cannot fake values. It either has them or doesn`t."
"We continually make sure that we prove ourselves to our clients in terms of skills, service levels, value add, and business benefit. We are constantly aware of the fact that our foundations must be solid in all areas, and we must always walk before we run. Our people are willing to learn and are motivated to come up with new ideas. Our core teams consist of super smart guys that have grown up with IT. These are amazing people. If you don`t like to work hard, and be intense and do your best, this is not the place to work. Integr8 IT personnel feel closer to the company`s common goal, because they are led by leaders that are in the trenches with them. Integr8 IT is a company that is able to move very rapidly. We set our priorities on what our customers are asking for. We recognise that customers want trusted advisors and not vendors."
We are extremely optimistic, yet always vigilant, about our future," concludes Sussman.
Judging by Integr8 IT`s impressive list of clients that include the likes of American Express, Seekers Travel, Rex Trueform, The Softline Group, Forest Oil, The Laser Group, Nestl'e, and The Netcare Group of Hospitals, the company is on the right track. According to Fanaroff, Integr8 IT has endeavoured to acquire as much product knowledge as possible and utilise the opportunities that accompany its partnerships with leading IT players including Microsoft, 3Com, MTN Network Solutions, Intel and Computer Associates (CA).
"The emphasis is not just on application, technological ability and acumen, but on a solid return on investment and a reduction in the total cost of ownership. IT decision-makers want to make sure they are getting value for money and that the network and infrastructure is best serving the business. It would be pointless for a company to invest in IT and manage it themselves, and not really know if they are benefiting from the experience. It would be just as ludicrous for a company to outsource to a partner that has limited finances, skills, resources or technical ability. 'Speciality` is what is sought out because 'speciality` is what works," says Fanaroff.
Share
Integr8 IT (Pty) Ltd is a wholly owned network technology services and solutions company in southern Africa. Based in SA, the company employs a wealth of highly skilled and certified system engineers who are directly involved in high level consulting, support and integration.
With offices located in Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, and representation in Port Elizabeth, East London and Port Elizabeth, Integr8 IT spans nationally across Southern Africa and Africa continent. It has the people and expertise to plan, deploy, manage and maintain an information technology environment.
Whether a client seeks better control of its networked environment or is in need of practical solutions, complex or simple, Integr8 IT provides the answers with enhanced information technology services.