Fios incorporates Synergy Computing's Jhb operation

Fios has incorporated Synergy Computing's Johannesburg operation, a fellow Sekunjalo Investments subsidiary, to form the country's first Cognos Corporate Performance Management partner capable of delivering a complete solution.

The merged entity will trade under the Fios moniker as of 1 September 2007; while Synergy Computing's coastal operations (Durban and Cape Town) will continue to trade under the Synergy brand.

Fios CEO Brad McCeedy notes that as the first and only Cognos Corporate Performance partner in South Africa, the company is positioned to offer a complete intelligence solution, relieving its customers of dealing with multiple partners for this essential element of improved business management.

"We believe this is a big benefit from an integration point of view; our clients gain a single point of contact and can take advantage of financial expertise matched with technical know-how from one supplier," he says.

According to Steve Harris, Sales Manager at Fios, the combined organisation is eager at the prospect of cross-selling presented by the amalgamation of their previously separate customer bases.

"South Africa has a host of BI technology providers of which Synergy was one; together with our Office of Finance competence, Fios presents a unique value proposition which directly addresses a growing market requirement; that of performance management solutions," he says.

Explaining the Cognos partner model, country manager David McWilliam says globally, the software vendor has two sets of partners. "Office of Finance partners deliver solutions around our enterprise planning and financial consolidation products; this is a highly-specialised field which demands a deep understanding of the financial management profession."

The second type of partner is more focused on the provision of business intelligence solutions, a more technical field where data extraction, consolidation and analysis feature prominently. "With the merger of Synergy Johannesburg with Fios, Cognos has the first South African partner, which is now capable of delivering performance management solutions. With performance management recognised by large companies as an essential component of effective management, we believe this is a positive development for the new Fios organisation, as well as for the market, which requires such expertise," McWilliam says.

Cape Town-based Synergy Computing MD Christo Bredenkamp says the company's Cape Town and Durban operations will continue to operate under the Synergy brand, which has valuable brand equity in this region. "Synergy is a Western Cape-born operation; this merger serves the company well by improving cost structures through collocation and anticipated co-operation between Fios staff and our own," he says.

"The real value for our clients lies in the extended value proposition presented by the merged entity in the Johannesburg region. Synergy as a brand is not going to go away; with a renewed focus on the coastal market in which we have performed very well." he concludes.

It is anticipated that both operations, Fios and Synergy, will continue to grow and offer their clients the best possible service.