In late 2013, Otto Wireless Solutions took the decision to bring commercial products into its portfolio.
This may seem far removed from what has become a successful distribution formula for a company whose focus has always been to provide products for the industrial business sector, but according to general manager Chris Viveiros, this is not such a drastic departure when one considers the changing needs of the industrial client.
“If we want to continue to grow into the number one independent wireless hardware provider in South Africa, we need to think outside the box,” he says. “Aside from opening the possibility of selling into the retail sector, one of the things we always try to consider when making strategic decisions is the changing needs of our existing customer base.
“With this in mind, many of our existing customers have an installer base, and as technology becomes more readily available, we have seen a big move to installers and maintenance crews being equipped with tablets and making use of Android-based applications in order to log service progress and report back to the office in real time.”
Combining this consideration with the Bluetooth interfaces which are now readily available on Otto Wireless’ GSM modules, Viveiros points out that there are advantages to equipping, for example, a vehicle tracking installation technician with the means to communicate with a hidden tracking device, without any physical connection being present. “Providing only the GSM engine is not really servicing all the customer’s needs,” he explains. “This is why we have signed up with Prestigio in order to bring high-quality products directly to the market, at highly affordable prices.”
The Prestigio product range, which already includes a range of tablets and smartphones, will soon also include smartboards (interactive whiteboards) and other intelligent devices. Since Otto Wireless deals directly with the manufacturer to ensure the products are competitively priced, Viveiros believes these smart devices will find their way into existing customers’ boardrooms, display areas and into their technicians' hands, as well as opening up retail options.
To back up the product launch, Otto Wireless Solutions is also investing in a local repair centre to provide customers with peace of mind when purchasing these products.
To whet the appetites of its existing customer base, Otto Wireless will be highlighting some special offers on the Prestigio range in Dataweek.
For more information contact Chris Viveiros, Otto Wireless Solutions, +27 (0)11 791 1033, chris@otto.co.za, www.otto.co.za
