Digital revolutionaries storm into SA

By Basheera Khan, UK correspondent, ITWeb

Johannesburg, 19 Jul 2000

Following its recreation into RedBrigade in April this year and subsequent development into Europe and the US, the South African arm of the IT services company formerly known as Mastech Europe has been launched.

RedBrigade SA, based in Sandton, will host the company`s virtual private network and is expected to become the company`s global nerve centre.

"We are investing heavily in the South African marketplace as we believe the country is at the forefront of technology," comments Guil Hastings, CEO of RedBrigade worldwide. "In the next six months, our South African business will expand into Cape Town, host our global training centre, and networking group, and incorporate a state-of-the-art Cisco-approved lab."

"Business revolution by technology development is at a very exciting stage in SA," explains Angus Young, country manager, RedBrigade SA. "Wireless and mobile commerce is on the brink of massive adoption in Japan, Europe and the States, and RedBrigade will champion these technologies in SA. Through strategic partnerships both locally and globally, RedBrigade is poised to accelerate the country`s adoption of e-business and m-commerce."

Hastings believes that current growth rates show a tremendous demand for IT services across the board. In fact, he says, if a company keeps pace with market growth, it is doubling the size of its business every five years.

In light of this, says Young, it`s unlikely that most companies will be able to afford to maintain their IT skills to the level of their future IT needs and that`s where RedBrigade sees its role.

The company is in partnership discussions with CommerceOne, founder of the Global Trading Web, and Worldwide Africa Investment Holdings, a major black empowerment investment group.

It also plans to introduce a range of Point CRM products into SA, and leverage off its relationship with ThinAirApps to develop Wireless Application Protocol-based functionality for its client base. Local clients include Standard Bank, PQ Africa, EDS, Bynx, Phambili and Multichoice. RedBrigade is also negotiating a training partnership with Tibco.

RedBrigade is an independently operating wholly owned subsidiary of iGATE Capital, with offices in the US, England, Scotland, Ireland, Sweden and Finland. Specific skills areas include Web development, CRM, ERP, Java, OO, Oracle and networking.