Business Connexion's UCS Technology Services (UCS TS) unit has bought out Joint Venture Pumps Services (JVPS) for an undisclosed amount.
This move is in a bid to offer fuel retailers an end-to-end service, the company says. UCS joined JSE-listed Business Connexion (BCX) towards the end of 2010 when it spent R614 million to purchase Accsys, CEB Maintenance Africa, Destiny Electronic Commerce, UCS Solutions and UCS TS before later selling the 70% stake in Destiny.
BCX, which is the subject of a R2.67 billion buyout by Telkom, says the deal allows UCS TS to provide a "unique market offering through a single entity for fuel retail services". It will also provide it with 200 fuel automation professionals.
Its UCS TS unit supplies, installs and supports solutions at more than 1 450 service stations in Southern Africa. This ability has now been augmented through the addition of JVPS, which it says is an industry leader in product supply and support to the petroleum industry in Southern Africa.
UCS TS CEO Saul Gorin says the acquisition "provides us with a unique opportunity to extend the value that we can offer to fuel retailers. We can now deliver an end-to-end service from the fuel tank, through to head office."
The JVPS portfolio includes fuel dispensing equipment; a range of forecourt automation equipment, including automated tank gauging; forecourt controllers; and an environmental management solution for the forecourt. These elements, says BCX, will allow UCS TS to provide technology that is capable of enabling the Internet of things (IOT).
Last September, UCS TS won a deal to provide hardware support and management for automation equipment across 800 Engen retail outlets across South Africa.
Through extended data collection, smart networking, micro-electronics, predictive analytics, environmental management and attendant tagging, BCX will leverage its big data competency, it says.
CEO Isaac Mophatlane says the purchase of an adjacent industry business, with sensor and controller technologies capable of rich integration with core information technologies, is in line with BCX's IOT strategy. "Many industries will be transformed through the impact of IOT, of which the retail petroleum industry is one such example."
Gorin notes the convergence between the forecourt and convenience store, which makes management of the total service easier for the staff, also provides consumers with a single transaction point.
"Fleet managers and motorists will have smarter service stations with an ability to accept various payment methods, enable value-added services payments and support vouchers and coupons."
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