National integrator, Hostech/Anittel (ASX:HTC), has launched a new SMB advisory board headed up by former Axxis Technology managing director, Mathew Dickerson.
The initiative is backed by Hostech/Anittel executive chairman and Anittel founder, Peter Kazacos, and is aimed at delivering better services and technology offerings to SMB-sized customers.
The company claimed the advisory board would provide a conduit between the Hostech board of directors and the market for new ideas, concepts and services before they are rolled out to market.
Dickerson, Kazacos and newly appointed Anittel/Hostech CEO, Ilkka Tales, came up with idea after Dickerson sold his Dubbo-based Axxis Technology business to Anittel in February. Alongside Axxis and Anittel, Hostech also acquired Accord Technologies and Aspirence to form an SMB provider powerhouse in Australia. Hostech is in the process of changing its trading name to Anittel, but will continue to operate under the HTC ticker on the ASX.
“The SMB space is completely different to the enterprise space and I knew we needed to approach this market differently. I’ve seen it work well with government organisations but has never been used before in relation to SMB,” Kazacos said in a statement.
Dickerson agreed servicing SMBs took unique focus and ongoing customer dialogue.
“Really, this is about having a two-way conduit to keep a link with the market place,” he told ARN. “We want to focus on points of pain, ideas for clients – but on the flip side, it might be about new products, concepts and ideas which we can take to a mini focus group.”
The Advisory Board will be manned by a range of members including clients, vendor and distributor individuals covering specific focus areas. Dickerson said it was looking for 10 members to get a cross-sectional view of the market.
It will meet four times a year and conduct two meetings over video conferencing. The first strategic planning meeting is expected take place just before Hostech/Anittel’s annual general meeting in late October.
Dickerson will report directly to the Hostech/Anittel board of directors.
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