Earlier this year, ARN launched The Hot List, a new regular magazine column that examines partners on the upward move - these are companies to watch.
Each month, ARN Deputy Editor, Hafizah Osman looks at companies that have risen to prominence already or are progressing beyond their start-up origins.
Netstripes
Number of staff: Nine
Age of company: Nearly two years old
Products/solutions it brings to market…
“Netstripes is an Aussie tech start-up that specialises in helping small businesses successfully use the Internet to consistently win more customers.
“Netstripes has created a platform, which creates a mobile optimised website for a third of the cost and within a couple of weeks.
"The service is highly customisable for each small business and comes with a full strategy (social media, SEO, email marketing) to ensure the key outcomes a client needs from their website are achieved affordably.”
Business differentiator…
“Netstripes innovations allow SME owners to build a big business like digital presence with the right strategy in less time and for a third of the cost of a professional agency. It provides guided systems for SME owners to unravel the complexities of digital marketing for their respective businesses through online content, strategy, research, and Bizruption events.”
Future plans…
“We have set on a mission to get 30 per cent more small businesses harnessing the power of digital engagement by 2020. By creating more sustainable companies, which are easier to find by their ideal clients, the economy can only benefit and an estimated 700,000 jobs could be created, fuelling economic growth in our country.
“This is our overriding mission as we continue to work with small business owners to transform their individual businesses. We also want to work with all levels of government and the media to create mass awareness of this cause.”
Key message to the channel in 2016…
“Digitally engaged businesses earned more than $350,000 per annum over those who are not. Considering every small business can start their digital engagement journey on the right path within two to four weeks, it is important to take action and start the journey now.”
Adatos
Number of staff: Eight
Age of company: Nine months old
Products/solutions it brings to market…
“Our solution derives valuable insights from data in order to predict, profile, detect, and recommend. It also has capabilities that can be applied across any vertical to turn information into insight and ensure a return on investment for the business.”
Business differentiator…
“Adatos’ core technology is ahead of the curve in the machine learning analytic industry because it is self-learning and self-evolving, making it faster and more efficient. Adatos optimises key AI approaches in its solution, delivering end-to-end intelligent analysis-as-a-service.”
Future plans…
“Our short-term focus in the Australian market is to identify early adaptors who meet our criteria for successful implementation.
“Successful targets may be in the form of potential channel partners and/or direct clients who will help build Adatos’ presence in Australia. We are also keen to forge relationships with the data science community both on an academic and professional level.”
Key message to the channel in 2016…
“An Adatos machine is a force multiplier for data scientists and addresses the issue of a skilled shortage of people with the skills to understand and make decisions based on Big Data.
“Where before it might have taken a data scientist two months to answer a key intelligence question, now a data scientist can answer several of them within two weeks.”
Zynet
Number of staff: 10
Age of company: 17 years old
Products/solutions it brings to market…
“Zynet operates within four key service pillars comprising consultancy and design, proactive IT management, secure information exchange and Cloud solutions.
“Our services encompass business assessment; project management; solution design; backfill and technical support; project support; migration support; complete infrastructure management services – proactive and prevention focused IT management; public and private Cloud solutions and services; secure information exchange (TraceMail and RightFax document delivery solutions); and file transfer protection.”
Business differentiator…
“What sets us apart from the competition is a distinct collaborative style focused on maximising our clients’ return on their IT investment. Our customer-centric approach sees us delving deep into their organisation to truly appreciate the operating environment and requirements.”
Future plans…
“We are seeing a greater awareness among our clients with regards to the security of systems and information. With the recent launch of TraceMail, we are looking forward to simply and effectively enhancing the customer experience. At the same time, we want to meet the challenges of information privacy, compliance and confidentially regulations for customers.”
Key message to the channel in 2016…
“The channel must remain agile and responsive to the questions and demands of Cloud. There is an increasing reliance on the channel to provide trusted advisory as clients look to ensure they are moving in the right direction.”
Zscaler
Number of staff: 557
Age of company: Eight years old
Products/solutions it brings to market…
“Zscaler delivers unified, carrier-grade Internet security without the need for on-premise hardware, appliances or software.
“Today, Zscaler protects more than 15 million users at more than 5000 enterprises and government organisations worldwide against cyberattacks and data breaches, while staying fully compliant with corporate and regulatory policies.”
Business differentiator…
“Zscaler was architected from the ground up as a multi-tenant, distributed Cloud security platform.
“As a truly integrated Cloud security platform, Zscaler delivers carrier-grade Internet security, advanced persistent threat (APT) protection, data loss prevention, SSL decryption, traffic shaping, policy management and threat intelligence – all without the need for on-premise hardware, appliances or software.”
Future plans…
“Zscaler will continue to deliver on its mission to help organisations securely adopt Cloud computing, mobility and IoT.
“We will accelerate investment in its technology, grow our customer base and partnerships and aggressively scale the business to meet growing demand.”
Key message to the channel in 2016…
“Businesses are presented with a challenge to secure all Internet-connected devices that connect to a corporate network, and it’s crucial that the channel understands the value proposition of a comprehensive Cloud-based security model.
“We will continue to work with our resellers and partners to help support enterprises with increasingly mobile users and the wide adoption of Cloud-based apps.”
Think Solutions
Number of staff: 20 people across Victoria and WA offices
Age of company: 17 years old
Products/solutions it brings to market…
“Our service offerings are extensive and include architecture design and consultancy, implementation and upgrade projects. Think Solutions also specialises in network design and re-design.
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“We deploy infrastructure solution sets across all the major vendors and sell software solutions and promote vendor solutions in the security space.
“We have our own Cloud infrastructure located in tier one datacentres as well as infrastructure located at our head office. Our Cloud offering is primarily aimed at supporting customers’ replication, back-up and recovery systems, disaster recovery testing and hosting.”
Business differentiator…
“Our employees are key. We have highly skilled, like-minded people working as a cohesive team and they work towards high levels of customer satisfaction.
“Our mission is simple - “Customer First”. In our customers’ eyes this results in a rapid movement into the trusted advisor position.”
Future plans…
“Think Solutions is moving into the managed service space. Our plan is to make some pivotal industry partnerships this year. We intend on continuing our knowledge in key growth areas of the ICT business and building on our successes.
“A key focus this year will also be to introduce IoT technology in the security surveillance arena.”
Key message to the channel in 2016…
“Always move forward with the customers’ best interests at heart. This way, you work on a model that makes both of you succeed.
“Building rapport with new clients is easier when you discuss major improvements with a focus on developing their business and then backing it up with the experience gained with other businesses that you have helped to succeed and thrive.”
