Consultants in Computer Applications (CICA), a Pretoria-based systems integration house has been appointed a solutions partner for GoldMine SA, a division of JSE-listed Ixchange. CICA focuses on providing IT solutions for the vertical markets of telecommunications, financial services, real estate and the diplomatic services.
CICA`s Andre Pieterse says the company`s decision to change its focus to incorporate the customer relationship management (CRM) market, "was in response to both the changing needs of our existing clients, as well as in pursuit of a very dynamic, leading edge area of IT.
"South African companies are not only competing for the same customer base, which, as a result of technologies such as the Internet is far better informed and has far more choices then ever before, but are also competing against international companies for that same customer base. Improving their value proposition to customers is becoming a necessity if these local companies are to survive. Therefore, CRM software is no longer a "nice to have", but a critical business requirement."
Of all the CRM tools evaluated, Pieterse says he felt that from a functionality-per-Rand perspective, GoldMine FrontOffice offered vastly more value than any other similar products. "We also felt that GoldMine FrontOffice best addressed the largest portion and fastest growing segment of the South African market, namely medium-sized businesses."
Apart from the new markets open to CICA with GoldMine, Pieterse adds the company`s existing clients will have the opportunity to experience a fast track, but comprehensive CRM technology enabler, which will give them a distinct competitive advantage over their competitors.
"CICA`s GoldMine team is not made up of traditional IT people. All our specialists have strong accounting, auditing and management consulting backgrounds. As a result, I believe they have the skills to better understand our clients` businesses and therefore will be able to customise the software in such a way that it best supports the business processes of the client. This will result in the more effective use of GoldMine and in greater value-add, as well as a greater return on investment for the client," continues Pieterse.
According to GoldMine SA`s channel account manager, Stephen Buchalter: "CICA are one of the most professional solution partners around. Key factors that will ensure their success is their obsession with focus, their attention to detail, the thoroughness with which they work and the acumen of the staff they have recruited. They have also ensured that they have all their ducks in a row by having everyone in the company fully certified before allowing them near clients".
While headquartered in Pretoria, CICA can support national clients through its branch offices in Port Elizabeth as well as support offices in Durban and Cape Town.
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