Columbus Technologies is now an independent developer and marketer of systems management software, after concluding a management buy-out of its two major investors, Mustek and Sizwe Africa IT Group.
Columbus says Sizwe Africa IT Group was the majority shareholder, with 51% in the company, while Mustek had a 25% shareholding.
“Sizwe, as majority shareholder, could not really function as a partner/reseller due to Columbus's channel strategy, but Mustek still remains a technology partner,” says Columbus CEO Mpume Dywili.
He adds that having influential investors like Sizwe Africa and Mustek gave the commercial boost the company needed to start as a new software development operation facing stiff competition in SA.
“The partnership was very successful and gave us the financial foothold we needed to establish the company and secure a firm position in the market. As we expanded and matured, however, we found we needed more independence, particularly in our reseller channel space,” says Dywili.
Clashing interests
Apart from the need for more independence, there were other reasons for the buy-out, Dywili says.
customer engagements.”
The buy-out presents reduced potential for channel conflict and an increased ability to engage with partners that could expand Columbus's sales footprint, Dywili says. Another advantage is the “ability to make marketing, investment and development decisions that are focused on our core business, as well as bringing us in sync with Brainware AG in Switzerland”, which is the original developer of the Columbus suite of management products.
The Columbus suite of products was originally developed for the United Bank of Switzerland as an in-house management tool, 20 years ago. Demand saw the tool expand into a comprehensive suite of commercial enterprise, life cycle and contract management solutions that cover planning, project scoping and management, implementation and on-site support, explains the company.
Looking ahead
Columbus says the buy-out sees it emerge as a wholly owned subsidiary of Swiss-based desktop management software developer Brainware Solutions AG.
“Columbus has already signed up a number of channel partners that will make a considerable difference in our ability to bring intelligent integrated remote management and asset, licence and contract management to the market. Our customer base has nearly doubled since last year,” says Dywili.
Columbus has introduced the Columbus Education Programme, where the company is working with some tertiary institutions to assist it with ICT asset management as well as structured remote management.
“Columbus 7, which is earmarked for worldwide release in Q3, will be a major release as well. We are seeing a far greater interest in asset and licence management modules, as well as the Columbus Incident Manager, our helpdesk offering,” says Dywili.
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