26 October 2001
DELOITTES TECHNOLOGY FAST 50
GROWTH COMPANIES
LEADERS OF THE TECHNOLOGY PACK
The Deloittes Technology Fast 50 recognises the 50 fastest-growing technology organisations in SA, based on percentage growth in turnover over the past three years.
To qualify, organisations must develop proprietary technology which contributes to the major portion of its operating revenues; must manufacture or improve a technology-related product; or must devote a high percentage of effort to research and development of technology or technology-related products.
The ranking is based on the Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Technology Fast 50 that has been run in the US.
1 Name: IPS Group
Turnover growth: 2 954%
Profile: The humble parking meter has undergone something of a revolution in recent years - courtesy of the IPS Group.
The company has specialist technology in the field of ultra low-power digital electronics, coin validation, smart cards and multipayment solutions - everything to convert a parking meter into an electronic system. These guys aren't kidding when they say they specialise in the application of technology and computerised solutions to Old Economy industries.
Customers include city and town councils. IPS even offers to take over the job of managing the parking meters, using sophisticated hand-held computers to assist workers in the field.
Other areas of expertise include the electronic pay phone, an example of the company's ability to widen its product and service offering, with only minor adjustments to the technology.
IPS's spectacular growth is put down to its unique technology, which was developed inhouse, and luck. Having established itself in the local market, the export market now beckons.
Founded: 1994
Employees: 100
2 Name: Net1 Applied Technology Holdings (Aplitec)
Turnover growth: 1 972%
Profile: Aplitec creates financial delivery systems based on smart cards and owns the SA licence rights to the Universal Electronic Payment System (UEPS), a standard for smart-card payments.
In SA, the "killer application" for the UEPS technology is the delivery of a low-cost payment system that can be used by people who do not have access to bank accounts. Aplitec is refining the concept of smart-card payments in taxis. The technology is currently available in 70 retailing companies across the country.
Aplitec's goal is to become a dominant wholesale provider of universal smart-card payment and settlement systems nationally, with a view to providing smart-card-based financial services to areas where they do not exist or are not advanced enough.
Founded: 1989
Employees: 2 500
3 Name: Resolution Software
Turnover growth: 1 817%
Profile: Consulting firm Resolution Software specialises in end-to-end business solutions for medium-to-large corporations. It uses Microsoft applications and technology.
Founded: 1997
Employees: 70
4
Name: Vesta Technology Holdings
Turnover growth: 1 035%
Profile: Vesta is involved in the development and supply of IT software solutions to the financial services sector and e-learning and human resources markets. It also supplies clients with technical support.
Founded: 1998
Employees: 71
5
Name: Datatec
Turnover growth: 838%
Profile: Datatec distributes technology products worldwide. The group also provides management support, using network integration and Internet products through three subsidiaries, including a telecommunications consultancy.
Founded: 1987
Employees: 3 450
6
Name: Idion Technology Holdings
Turnover growth: 808%
Profile: Listed firm Idion operates through two subsidiaries that provide business optimisation solutions and services. It also deals in software for disaster recovery and continuous server operations.
Founded: 1994
Employees: 320
7
Name: CiTec.Net
Turnover growth: 800%
Profile: Internet access provider CiTec is a tier-one company that receives the Internet through an international bandwidth and channels it to its businesses, mainly in the corporate sector. It also manages bandwidth for clients.
Founded: 1997
Employees: 45
8 Name: Prism Holdings
Turnover growth: 627%
Profile: Prism is a niche market player focusing on secure electronic payments and transactions. It provides functional solutions to leading companies globally - in the physical and virtual worlds.
Founded: 1994
Employees: 320
9
9 Name: CS Holdings
Turnover growth: 504%
Profile: This IT services and consulting firm has three subsidiaries, which help clients to achieve strategic and operational objectives through the use of technology. It provides tailor-made business solutions.
Founded: 1990
Employees: 576
10
Name: Intrinsic Technology
Turnover growth: 453%
Profile: This IT company trades in hardware, software and networking and is a full solution provider. It uses Compaq and HP products and technology imported from the US and Europe. Intrinsic conducts its business throughout Africa.
Founded: 1988
Employees: 105
11 Name: Stella Vista Technologies
Turnover growth: 391%
Profile: Stella Vista specialises in communications and information systems, using light emitting diode technology. It provides research, marketing, sales and development support to a broad-based clientele.
Founded: 1994
Employees: 23
12
Name: Openware
Turnover growth: 375%
Profile: Openware develops customised software for a range of industries. It also provides project management and outsourcing services to its clients.
Founded: 1991
Employees: 62
13
Name:Symetrix Information Technologies
Turnover growth: 340%
Profile: IT solutions company Symetrix provides total solutions to the corporate sector. Its client base comprises the financial, banking, insurance, medical and retail sectors. A major part of its business is servicing and supporting its clients' IT infrastructures.
Founded: 1998
Employees: 90
14 Name: Swiftnet
Turnover growth: 337%
Profile: Telkom affiliate Swiftnet imports and markets wireless data communication technology. It also installs and maintains the communication equipment that is used mainly in the security industry and corporate companies.
Founded: 1995
Employees: 56
15 Name: AST Group
Turnover growth: 330%
Profile: The AST Group, through its subsidiaries, provides tailor-made ICT solutions and e-business assistance to its clients. It is also involved in management consulting.
Founded: 1987
Employees: 2 500
16 Name:Mosaic Software
Turnover growth: 284%
Profile: Mosaic is a software provider for consumer-generated electronic fund transactions, such as in automated teller machines. The company is entrenched in the financial services industry locally and has a presence in the UK and Australia.
Founded: 1994
Employees: 200
17 Name: Global Technology
Turnover growth: 264%
Profile: This company provides technology solutions to banking institutions, insurance firms and the financial divisions of companies. Its client base is spread throughout sub-Saharan Africa.
Founded: 1989
Employees: 603
18 Name: Sun Microsystems SA
Turnover growth: 253%
Profile: This company deals in hardware, software and services that power the Internet. It is part of a multinational that operates in 170 countries.
Founded: 1994
Employees: 100
19 Name: Integrated Gateway Solutions
Turnover growth: 252%
Profile: Integrated Gateway Solutions is a logistics provider to the freight and shipping industries.
Founded: 1996
Employees: 16
20 Name: NetActive
Turnover growth: 243%
Profile: NetActive provides Internet services to small and medium companies. It operates eVentures, Netflorist and www.netparent.co.za.
Founded: 1996
Employees: 250
21 Name: Dimension Data Holdings
Turnover growth: 234%
Profile: Dimension Data subsidiaries provide managerial services to group companies. The company designs, supplies and implements communication networks and information technology solutions in SA and internationally.
Founded: 1983
Employees: 10 273
22 Name: Azisa
Turnover growth: 230%
Profile: Azisa develops portable and embedded software and hardware products for the Internet and telecoms industry. It generates 80% of its revenue from international customers.
Founded: 1994
Employees: 200
23 Name: Choice Technologies
Turnover growth: 216%
Profile: Choice Technologies is a majority black-owned, managed and controlled IT solutions provider. It installs and configures wide area network (Wan) and local area network (Lan) equipment and high-end server technology.
Founded: 1995
Employees: 125
24 Name: UUNet(SA)
Turnover growth: 209%
Profile: This Internet-based network provider has a corporate client base. It offers a dedicated fixed line connection to the Internet, which ensures a nonstop online service. The company also provides security software, such as antivirus software.
Founded: 1994
Employees: 210
25 Name: UCS Group
Turnover growth: 197%
Profile: UCS group supplies software technology and customised solutions to businesses in the retail sector. It specialises in payroll and knowledge software.
Founded: 1997
Employees: 530
26 Name: Psitek
Turnover growth: 180%
Profile: Psitek designs electronic units for the telecoms industry, which aids service provision in rural and informal markets. It also produces technology for Telkom to prevent telephone line tapping. The company exports its products to other parts of Africa.
Founded: 1980
Employees: 60
27 Name:UEC Technologies
Turnover growth: 163%
Profile: A wholly owned subsidiary of Altech, UEC focuses on the design, development and manufacture of compressed digital television and data reception for satellite, terrestrial and cable television and Internet service providers. It also designs and develops interactive television applications.
Founded: 1994
Employees: 600
28 Name:Inhep
Turnover growth: 163%
Profile: Inhep is one of the few local companies that manufacture and supply their own brand of security control systems. It sells its product to companies that install security products in homes and businesses. The products are also exported worldwide.
Founded: 1985
Employees: 125
29 Name: Parsec Design Solutions
Turnover growth: 158%
Profile: Parsec specialises in high-end digital electronic products and services for the world market. It distributes electronic components and software and is involved in the telecoms and military markets.
Founded: 1993
Employees: 65
30 Name: MIP Holdings
Turnover growth: 155%
Profile: MIP Holdings develops business administration systems to companies in the financial services and health-care industries. It also offers open-source support tools and services focusing on the delivery of rapid application development for e-commerce and Web enablement.
Founded: 1990
Employees: 50
31 Name: Rubico
Turnover growth: 154%
Profile: Rubico delivers component-based business solutions to the corporate sector. The company buys components and tailors solutions for particular business needs. Rubico's solutions do not require writing code.
Founded: 1994
Employees: 180
32 Name: AVS Content Security
Turnover growth: 146%
Profile: This company provides IT security solutions such as antivirus and content filtering for PCs and networks. It also manages company servers remotely and handles data recovery.
Founded: 1998
Employees: 20
33 Name: Iocore
Turnover growth: 143%
Profile: Iocore provides customised and packaged IT services and solutions using Microsoft, Oracle and SAP technology. It serves big corporations and has a strong presence in the banking, financial and insurance industries.
Founded: 1995
Employees: 300
34 Name: MGX Holdings
Turnover growth: 138%
Profile: This company supplies a range of document and information management technologies, using digital, film and paper media.
Founded: 1983
Employees: 1 500
35 Name: Eclipse Networks
Turnover growth: 113%
Profile: This customised IT solutions provider specialises in storage area networks, Lans and Wans. It is strong in the mining industry and financial services sector.
Founded: 1981
Employees: 140
36 Name: Pragma
Turnover growth: 103%
Profile: Pragma specialises in asset management solutions for big corporations. It uses its own software, On Key, and asset management improvement programs. It also has a personnel component, which provides qualified technical staff in the field of asset management solutions.
Founded: 1990
Employees: 64
37 Name: Open Architecture Systems
Turnover growth: 100%
Profile: This company makes most of its revenue from the sale of two products, Darwin, its own brand financial accounting package, and Citrix software, which centralises management databases and applications.
Founded: 1990
Employees: 15
38 Name: AfriGIS
Turnover growth: 95%
Profile: AfriGIS is the leading provider of geographical information system (GIS) solutions in southern Africa.
Founded: 1997
Employees: 60
39 Name:landeo Ten, trading as
Media Unlimited
Turnover growth: 91%
Profile: A dealer in branded computer hardware, software and consumables, Media Unlimited installs and maintains systems on behalf of clients such as Iscor.
Founded: 1980
Employees: 8
40 v Fabrinox
Turnover growth: 91%
Profile: This stainless steel fabrication company manufactures components and food processing equipment for the food and beverage industry. It also manufactures, under licence, steel products for international companies.
Founded: 1993
Employees: 58
41 Name: Safmarine Computer Services
Turnover growth: 83%
Profile: IT service provider Safmarine is an IBM business partner. It specialises in application development, using Lotus and Websphere technology and IBM products. It serves the shipping, financial services and retail industries.
Founded: 1974
Employees: 110
42 Name: Cognos SA
Turnover growth: 81%
Profile: This Canadian-owned computer software vendor sells business intelligence tools. It uses Internet technology to help companies co-ordinate decisions. Cognos also provides non-Internet intelligence tools to companies not yet online.
Founded: 1997
Employees: 13
43 Name:MB Technologies
Turnover growth: 80%
Profile: Operating across the corporate spectrum of medium-to-large businesses, this company supplies hardware and software solutions for the Internet. It markets several of its own branded software packages used in data storage and e-business.
Founded: 1985
Employees: 1 000
44 Name:Keops Isis Industrial
Information Systems
Turnover growth: 76%
Profile: Keops Isis is a software development and systems integration house. Its main clients are government departments, the air force and the metals and telecoms industries. It also provides a maintenance service to its clients.
Founded: 1984
Employees: 250
45 Name: Netstar
Turnover growth: 76%
Profile: Netstar is the leader in vehicle tracking and recovery in SA. It has nine franchises; 85 fitment centres and 135 000 subscribers. The company has recovered more than 10 000 vehicles in the past seven years.
Founded: 1994
Employees: 250
46 Name: SAS Institute
Turnover growth: 70%
Profile: This computer software and services company is a branch of a US firm. It markets SAS software in business intelligence for big corporations.
Founded: 1976
Employees: 100
47 Polycomp
Turnover growth: 65%
Profile: Polycomp manufactures and services electronic display signs. It has a broad customer base, ranging from churches to mining houses and railways. It also exports worldwide.
Founded: 1985
Employees: 75
48 Name: Compuware Corp SA
Turnover growth: 60%
Profile: Compuware is a global provider of software and services that help IT professionals develop, integrate and manage the performance of the applications driving their businesses.
Founded: 1995
Employees: 48
49 Name: Allied Technologies
Turnover growth: 49%
Profile: A member of the Altron group, Altech designs and manufactures telecoms equipment, electronic components, cellular telephony and IT solutions.
Founded: 1946
Employees: 3 212
50 Name:Laser Measurement
Turnover growth: 48%
Profile: This company manufactures and supplies laser measurement instruments for the mining, pulp and paper and food and beverage industries. It has an international distribution arm, K-Tek based in the US to sell its products abroad.
Founded: 1996
Employees: 14
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