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Bytes buys Inter-Active Technologies

Staff Writer
By Staff Writer, ITWeb
Johannesburg, 10 Nov 2014
Buying Inter-Active enhances Bytes People Solutions' offerings, says MD Madelise Grobler.
Buying Inter-Active enhances Bytes People Solutions' offerings, says MD Madelise Grobler.

Inter-Active Technologies, which has just retrenched 4% of its staff due to tough economic conditions, has been bought by Altron TMT unit Bytes People Solutions, which is part of Bytes Technology Group.

The deal, subject to regulatory approval from the Competition Commission, will extend Bytes People Solutions' range of value offerings across both inbound and outbound customer services to current and new customers, Altron says in a statement. A purchase price was not disclosed.

Inter-Active Technologies delivers a range of services, including call centre consulting services, outsourced customer contact centres, customer service technology platforms and customer service software.

Bytes People Solutions MD Madelise Grobler says the deal will greatly enhance the entities' existing service offerings. "The acquisition of Inter-Active Technologies will add enormously to the current capabilities of Bytes People Solutions as we aggregate the skills and abilities of the respective businesses."

Grobler notes the unit has been looking at how it can extend its services and reach for some time. "The opportunity to purchase Inter-Active Technologies was most fortuitous, and we believe there are tremendous positive and strategic benefits to the acquisition."

Tough times

While Inter-Active has been going through a tough time, Bytes People Solutions' recent half-year results were "exceedingly positive," the company says. Revenue increased 14% to R4.3 billion, and adjusted headline earnings were 19% higher than last year.

Inter-Active CEO Brendan van Staaden says combining Inter-Active into the company will give it the "necessary expertise, skills and people to continue to deliver exceptional services and solutions". The deal is expected to be integrated seamlessly.

Inter-Active has been battling the "impact of an economy plagued by poor economic policy, mismanagement of public enterprises, as well as the effect of costly strike actions which have negatively impacted upon the South African economy as a whole". Despite its efforts, it had no choice but to go through the first serious rationalisation of its 10-year history recently, cutting 45 jobs.

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