Mthombo IT Services (M-IT), the newly formed empowerment company focused on the delivery of specialist IT services and support to the corporate and public sectors, has formed a strategic partnership with PM Tech, the Johannesburg-based, the software solutions development, networking and IT consulting company.
"We`re building a relationship which will benefit our customers and our respective companies," says Lucky Khumalo, chief operating officer, M-IT and one of the four M-IT founders. The others are Nkosinathni Khumalo, CEO, Lance Basserabie, non executive director, and Eben Klynsmith, chief financial officer.
In terms of a three-part agreement, PM Tech, which has extensive expertise in the Oracle database, data warehouse and specialist Unix and VMS operating systems fields, will undertake a skills transfer programme to enhance M-IT`s own internal knowledge base and technical capabilities as well as augment skills on the ground at customer sites.
"We will also work together on a deal-by-deal, joint venture, basis, to our mutual advantage, developing and expanding specific markets such as the public and quasi-Government sectors, where M-IT is particularly strong," says Peter Bruggeman, director, PM Tech.
In addition, M-IT has become a Value Added Reseller of PM Tech`s PM Ora, a locally designed, comprehensive Oracle database manager. The latest version, PM Ora Professional, V 2.3, enables users to manage their Oracle database environment to maximise time for planning, development and expansion. The database can be managed and administered from any Web enabled client.
"It`s a new relationship we`re looking forward to developing as I believe it will enhance both organisations substantially, taking us, as a company, into areas where previously, we have not been particularly active, while at the same time helping M-IT develop its own internal skills in line with its empowerment strategy," says Bruggeman.
To meet its goals of developing its employees, M-IT, which describes itself as a second generation empowerment company, has a strategy skills transfer through strategic partnerships.
In addition to becoming a PM Tech partner and VAR, M-IT is also Hewlett-Packard`s first empowered service partner. This enables M-IT to provide service and support directly to the customer. It is initially servicing the Gauteng area and is currently focused on maintaining HP NetServer environments.
M-IT is also a Compaq Accredited Service Provider, and is currently looking to formalise other strategic relationships with IBM and Cisco on a services and support basis.
The company, which opened its doors in Gauteng in July, plans to expand to Cape Town and Durban in November and establish other branch operations in Port Elizabeth, Bloemfontein, Pretoria and Mpumalanga next February.
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