Africa’s largest privately
 owned black economic-
 empowered information and communication technology (ICT) infrastructure management company, Integr8, IT is 
positioning itself to overcome poor service delivery and ineffi-
ciencies in the public sector of the local ICT industry.

“Government is ready for a new ICT giant. The public sector has been exposed to poor delivery output from service providers for far too long and it is ready for effective delivery of services at competitive pricing. Our track record of effective delivery in the private sector is what, we believe, is going to make a significant difference for us in the public sector,” says Integr8 group joint CEO Robert Sussman.

The company, which to date has primarily been positioned in the private sector, has been awarded a number of government contracts. “Our business is about 90% focused on the private sector and about 10% on the public sector. 
“With the interest in our company received from the public sector, we will have it the other way around within the next 36 months,” says Sussman.

The company reports that it is making significant inroads into this lucrative sector, which it attributes to a number of factors, but most importantly to its broad-based positioning, as well as proven record and delivery over almost nine years.

The company’s progressive 
approach to black economic-empowerment (BEE) has taken it from a zero empowerment rating, in 2005, to its current level- four rating where clients receive 125% recognition for their spend.

Sussman explains that the current economic downturn has worked in the company’s favour by providing Integr8 with an 
opportunity to expand its market share with services that 
reduce costs for clients.

“Companies are being faced with cash flow issues and are looking to reduce costs and 
improve efficiencies. We have an established ICT rental business that allows companies to rent ICT hardware, software, 
labour and maintenance, instead of owning it themselves, which significantly reduces their costs,” says Sussman.

He adds that the company has reached a point where it competes with the largest listed ICT businesses in South Africa, 
because of its size, aptitude and ability to adapt quickly to the market. Intergr8’s increase in growth has resulted in its pene-
tration of the African market.

Sussman reports that governments and companies in Africa want to become part of the global village and this has created a vast area for business opportunities.

As a result, Integr8 has established Africa’s first multimillion-rand Nerve Centre that provides a number of technical skills, technology, support and customised managed outsourced services to its clients in Africa. The centre includes a call centre, support services, on-demand support and remote monitoring capabilities and a host of other services, which allow for the management of all its client sites from a central point.

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