The IT industry sector in SA took on a new complexion in 1999 when PQ Networks joined the Mustek stable - and Comztek was born.
Five years on, Comztek celebrated its anniversary with resellers and vendors at an auspicious event. The company also took the time to reflect on the milestones achieved over the years.
"One thing at Comztek has not changed over the years: our commitment to providing our channel partners with the best sales support, technical services and best-of-breed products," says Jenny-Lee Williams, marketing manager at Comztek.
"We remain passionate about delivering quality services and technical expertise to the channel so that our reseller partners are well positioned to provide their customers with quality service and solutions," she says.
This resulted in the Comztek story really taking flight in 2001.
While competing distributors were facing closure, Comztek not only survived, but flourished. In these troubled times, Comztek`s understanding of networking systems, its unrivalled focus on partnership with the local channel, and the provision of innovative services such as pre- and post-sales support, including the accommodation of backup equipment on behalf of resellers to alleviate logistical burdens, started to pay dividends.
"We had a strategy that saw us through the bad times, and has helped us to grow through the good. It works for us and it works for the channel," Williams adds.
Comztek also opened its very own retail division and is now a major player in the IT retail sector distributing, among other products, the Microsoft HED range, which includes Microsoft games, keyboards and mice.
In February 2002, Comztek established its 3Com Service Centre in Midrand (one of only two in the world). This centre has played a key role in supporting the local channel since its inception by providing the fastest possible turnaround times on 3Com products.
Comztek has become the distributor of choice for many leading vendors, one of which is Cisco. From small beginnings, Comztek was appointed a Cisco distributor for SA in 2002 and was awarded Cisco distributor status for Namibia, Zambia, Botswana, Angola, Mozambique and Zimbabwe in 2004.
Comztek has also received numerous industry and vendor awards, including:
* 3Com Distributor of the Year Award for 2003 and 2004;
* Symantec Distributor of the Year Award for 2003 and 2004; and
* Microsoft Distributor of the Year Award for 2002, 2003 and 2004.
Comztek has consistently featured highly in the annual CRN Outlook Awards - in 2004 for example, Comztek was voted the Best Distributor for Networking Software, Network LAN equipment and IP Telephony. This was the third consecutive year that the company had stamped its dominance on the networking software and networking LAN sectors.
In 2004, recognising the opportunities available to IT resellers with the convergence of IT and telecommunications, Comztek established a dedicated telecommunications division. It was soon appointed as an official distributor for the Siemens HiPath range of IP-enabled PBX systems.
Also in 2004, Comztek acquired a 31% stake in Otex Concepts, the local developer, manufacturer and supplier of the NetShield product range of products which enhance network connectivity and telecommunications.
And in the same year, Comztek and DS Technology Distribution - a specialist IT supplier to the African market for the last 12 years - jointly established Comztek Africa to distribute Comztek`s networking, hardware and software products across the continent.
"We would like to extend our appreciation and thanks to our loyal channel partners, vendors and staff for their support over the years. Comztek is committed to supporting our partners and we wish them well for a continued strong working relationship into the future," Williams concludes.
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