The recent Cisco Expo South Africa, held from 3-5 March at Sun City, attracted a record number of delegates.
"Bytes was the official sponsor of the event for the second year running, and I'm happy to say that this year's Cisco Expo really delivered value," says Patrick Hastings, divisional managing director at Bytes Systems Integration. "It was a great opportunity for Cisco's clients and business partners to gain insight into where the technology is going, and what that will mean for business."
Cisco's plans are nothing if not bold. The company's aim is to become the number one IT company based on its dominance of networking technology and the realisation that the value of technology is increasingly dependent on its interconnectedness. The keynote address by Howard Charney, Cisco senior VP and industry doyen representing the office of the chairman, expanded on this vision and how it relates to Africa.
Breakaway sessions enabled delegates to come to grips with new technologies, while the expo itself presented an opportunity to see how Cisco's technologies could be harnessed to deliver business value. The expo also provided excellent networking opportunities.
Delivering his keynote on behalf of Bytes Technology Group, CEO Rob Abraham gave a comprehensive picture of the huge opportunity represented by Africa. With 60% of the world's uncultivated, arable land; a population that is 40% urbanised; a compound annual growth rate of 5.6%, making it the third-fastest growing region globally; and growing individual wealth and investment - Africa is a "game-changer", Abraham said.
As a company with R7 billion in revenue, Bytes has both the size and the will to participate in these markets. It already has offices in six countries outside of South Africa, and certified partners in nearly 20 more.
"Our strategy is to build our presence out into Africa by following our clients," Hastings adds. "By following rapidly expanding companies like Standard Bank, Shoprite, Group Five, SAB Miller and Illovo Sugar, we are expanding our presence with investment into real capability on the ground, which in turn can be leveraged for new clients."
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