Global engineering and industrial software firm Aveva will extend its partnership with JSE-listed technology services firm EOH, to offer sales and support for its software portfolio as an in-country partner.
The deal will see EOH offer Aveva's complete portfolio of industrial and engineering solutions, an expansion of the previously provided Wonderware solutions. The firm will also help manage support functions for Aveva within Sub-Saharan Africa.
Aveva's core mandate is to drive digital transformation across the asset and operational life cycle of capital-intensive industries, such as oil and gas, power, marine, paper and pulp, chemical and mining.
Aveva merged with Schneider Electric's industrial software business in March, as a step towards leveraging better digital transformation in these industries.
The combination brought together Aveva's design, engineering and construction capabilities with Schneider Electric's industrial software business, which ranges from simulation through to real-time manufacturing operations management.
Dr Ravi Gopinath, Aveva's chief operating officer, explains: "Sub-Saharan Africa is home to a large number of companies in the process, mining, metals, minerals and power industries.
"In order to increase our presence and best serve this market, we sought an experienced partner with an established customer base. Aveva (with Schneider Electric) has a longstanding relationship with EOH, through Wonderware Southern Africa (a business unit of EOH) having supplied and supported the Wonderware suite of products since 2003.
"As a result, the company was the logical choice to take on the distribution of Schneider Electric software in Southern Africa because of its existing focus on, and technical expertise in, the mining, manufacturing and infrastructure sectors."
EOH has presence in 26 countries across the Middle East and Africa, with over 2 000 customers, and is viewed as one of the largest technology services companies in Africa.
Zunaid Mayet, EOH group CEO, says the combination of the companies' qualities will propel higher customer satisfaction. "The agreement reflects the level of commitment to leverage local partners to enable digital transformation in the region.
"More so, Aveva's reputation for innovation, coupled with the value proposition of the industrial software platform to drive digital transformation, represents a unique opportunity.
"With our focus and technical expertise in the mining, manufacturing and infrastructure sectors, we are the perfect partner to manage and deploy Aveva's industrial solutions in Sub-Saharan Africa, while maintaining the highest levels of customer satisfaction."