Project managers in support of SAVANT

As a newly established member of the SAVANT Information and Communication Technologies and Electronics (ICTE) sectors marketing and promotion campaign, local enterprise project management (EPM) specialist Fulcrum IT will expand its business and help enhance SA's reputation, both locally and abroad, within the field of applied enterprise-wide project management.

Applied innovation forms the core of the SAVANT initiative, an industry-led and government-backed campaign officially launched in March. The idea is to actively promote South African services, solutions, technology and skills within the competitive field of ICTE. Secondary benefits include further established trade links, investment and business opportunities between SA and international sites.

Pieter Erasmus, Director: Business Development of Pretoria-based Fulcrum IT, says the company is ready to market the benefits of applied innovation within the realm of EPM. This is an area of IT infrastructure and process management that many companies have yet to benefit fully from.

"Few companies are aware of the functionality they already have in their existing IT investment. Fulcrum IT has three main areas of competency: Microsoft value-added business solutions, project implementation, and training and consulting. The company has years of experience in customised software development - both in specialised environments such as finance and industry, as well as office productivity and project implementation for all sizes of customers. SAVANT is a credible and comprehensive means of promoting the country's ability as far as ICTE-related services and support is concerned.

"The ability to leverage off IT solutions is what separates advanced thinkers from the masses within ever-competitive global market economies. Our clients have the opportunity to partner with a player with proven experience in the field of carefully engineered software solutions. We look forward to marketing our inherent project management skills, experience and technical ability and establishing new markets," says Erasmus.

SAVANT, the Department of Trade and Industry and the ICT Development Council, is focusing on the promotion of six main areas - IT training and certification, niche software development and niche application enhancement, infrastructure in Africa and application hosting for Africa, wireless development and application software for wireless development, business process outsourcing and call centres, and pilot laboratory or test market.

The Minister of Trade and Industry, Alec Erwin, says: "The development of customisable solutions that improve processes and streamline the management of IT infrastructure is where South African ICTE industry excels. We have the expertise, experience and tenacity to apply effective solutions and best practices for business. We welcome the inclusion of companies that have at their core the development of solutions and understand the need to back this up with necessary effective training and support."

Says Adrian Schofield, president of Information Industry South Africa: "We are pleased to welcome Fulcrum IT aboard. Our goal is to place SA on the world map as far as its technical ability, skills acumen and proven innovation is concerned. Fulcrum IT develop solutions that add value to the project management process, an area that many companies still struggle with, and we believe the company has much to offer the campaign and its objectives."