NetApp to bulk up SA operations
NetApp, the Nasdaq listed computer storage and data management company, has underlined its intentions to invest significantly in South Africa as the group pinpoints a number of growth sectors in the local market.
In an interview with BusinessTech, Michael Styer, country manager of NetApp South Africa believes that retail, manufacturing and government all present the company with an opportunity for growth.
In November, US-based NetApp reported revenues for the second quarter of fiscal year 2012 of $1.507 billion compared to $1.251 billion previously. GAAP net income was $165.6 million, or $0.44 per share, compared to $175.4 million, or $0.45 per share, in 2011.
“There is significant investment by NetApp in South Africa. This year we are opening new corporate branded offices in the Design Quarter (Johannesburg). I also hope to take a significant chunk of capex available in the market for storage purchases in 2012,” Styer said.
He said that Net App had continued to grow in 2011, a time when many other vendors remained static or showed negative growth within “a very difficult economic environment.”
“If we showed growth under these conditions then I am very excited at the prospect of operating in an environment of improved economic stability with a product and functionality set that is new but tried and tested,” Styer said.
The company head highlighted the importance of economic stability. “This will drive up investor confidence bringing in foreign investment and maybe more importantly get local companies to spend, as most local companies have been very prudent over the last couple of years.”
He also pointed out that improved internet bandwidth would make the country attractive for cloud solutions, call centres, hosting centres, etc. “This will happen this year,” Styer said.
He noted that government was by far the biggest spender in the technology space. “Government has to start spending in this year as they have lagged on spend here over the last couple of years whilst there has been major upgrades in physical infrastructure.”
NetApp’s SA manager opines that innovation in SA is “world class, but we are lagging in investment and big money spends into the technology space so we are near the leading edge but nowhere near the bleeding edge.”
Loading ...