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TorchNEWS: Contract Awards & Renewals

Contract Awarded There is no better validation of the aim of being a trusted advisor to one of our retail banking Customers than for them to approach Torch for an additional analysis work, with an extremely quick turnaround time for proposal acceptance and within the week the work is in production. Torch aims to secure…
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TorchNEWS: Lead Generation

Lead Generation Sometimes you just have to admit that there aren’t enough hours in the day and you need someone to work the task full time. To that end, Torch has signed a deal with a lead generation agency in order to get our Savings Initiatives and Administrative Outsource products to market. Afterall, what better…
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TorchNEWS: Improved Customer Service

Part of essential customer service improvements is looking for a way to reduce friction on behalf of our customers. Running out of data causes a great deal of friction and with the help of Torch Solutioneers™ RPA as a service we have managed to smooth out the experience. Torch can now offer Customers on Spotlight…
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TorchNEWS: Customer Feedback | SOW Awarded

Customer Feedback It’s always great to receive positive Customer feedback, especially from a long-term customer commending Torch’s ITIL maturity. It hasn’t come easy, but we are proud to use ITIL best practice across our Support@torch environment, with all of our Service Consultants being ITIL certified. Well done Services Team! SOW Awarded Torch is building a…
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TorchNEWS: Service Desk Improvements

Service Desk Improvements Part of Torch’s service commitments to customers involves the improvement the tools that we use, including our Service Desk. Even the smallest efficiencies gained by improving any part of the ticket resolution process can add up to have a significant impact over a month freeing up our Service Consultants to provide a…
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TorchNEWS: Master Agreement Signed

Master Agreement Signed On 1 August Torch starts work with one of South Africa’s leading financial services and insurance companies. This Master Service Agreement, along with a previously completed Telecom Expense Audit will enable both the commencement of the Torch Managed Services across all mobile assets and Torch Consulting to deliver the identified savings initiatives…
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TorchNEWS: Contract Extension

Contract Extension Thanks to the outstanding work the Torch delivery team continues to deliver, Torch’s long-time customer, a leading South African financial service provider has renewed their Administrative Outsource contract for a further 12 months. We are very proud of the team and look forward to the next year of providing value adding services for…
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TorchNEWS: Carrier Billing Portals

Carrier Billing Portals Torch has been mandated to audit a new pillar of telecoms expense for an existing customer, an international supplier of industrial gases related to products offered to the steel, automotive & fabrication, food & beverage, mining, petrochemical, pharmaceutical and glass industries. Getting complete and up-to-date data is arguably one of the more…
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TorchNEWS: Carrier Credits | Keeping the Customer Engaged | Torch on Spotlight | Distant Interactions

Carrier Credits Getting credits back from carriers is challenging, but as our blog frequently alludes to – perseverance is key. This is why  getting a credit approved by the carrier for incorrect billing going back to 2018 for one of the leading pathology laboratories operating throughout Africa is definitely a win! Keeping the Customer Engaged…
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Attention IT and Finance Managers! Communications Savings Initiatives (part 6 of 8)

As a leading specialist with over 15 years of experience in the field of Communications, we have developed more than 70  savings initiatives to unlock budget opportunities for our Customers.   We have proven ourselves by producing over R655,000,000 savings since 2004.   The best mobile data solutions Mobile Data Optimisation All mobile data products…
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Attention IT and Finance Managers! Communications Savings Initiatives (part 5 of 8)

As a leading specialist with over 15 years of experience in the field of Communications, we have developed more than 70  savings initiatives to unlock budget opportunities for our Customers.   We have proven ourselves by producing over R655,000,000 savings since 2004.   The best voice solutions Voice Traffic Optimisation We ensure that every second…
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Attention IT and Finance Managers! Communications Savings Initiatives (part 3 of 8)

As a leading specialist with over 15 years of experience in the field of Communications, we have developed more than 70  savings initiatives to unlock budget opportunities for our Customers.   We have proven ourselves by producing over R655,000,000 savings since 2004.   Pay only for what you need Infrastructure & Subscription Rationalisation We review…
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Getting your money back (part 10 of 10): Torch Mobile Administrative Outsource

Dispute Resolution Where variances have been detected, we raise the disputes with the vendors and ensure that credits are passed, and that corrective measures are taken to resolve the root cause.   The Torch Administrative Outsource consists of Asset Tracking and Management, Incident Management and User Support, Vendor Management, Reporting, Governance and Compliance, Optimization, Billing…
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Payment processing made easy (part 9 of 10): Torch Mobile Administrative Outsource

Vendor Settlement and Internal Allocation Using the formats required by your organisation, we create payment, and cost recovery allocation upload documents. We ensure that the vendors allocate your payments timeously and correctly, thereby removing the risk of interest charges, and account suspensions.   The Torch Administrative Outsource consists of Asset Tracking and Management, Incident Management…
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Keeping your vendors on track (part 8 of 10): Torch Mobile Administrative Outsource

Billing and Contractual Compliance Verification We hold the vendors accountable by ensuring that they are billing accurately and in accordance with their contracts.   The Torch Administrative Outsource consists of Asset Tracking and Management, Incident Management and User Support, Vendor Management, Reporting, Governance and Compliance, Optimization, Billing and Contractual Compliance Verification, Vendor Settlement and Internal…
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Making sure you have the best mobile deal (part 7 of 10): Torch Mobile Administrative Outsource

Optimization Using in-depth traffic analysis we are able to ensure appropriate fit for any service. We perform contract reviews across all of the telecoms vendors within the business, running, evaluating and adjudicating benchmarking on behalf of our customers to ensure that costs are optimised and efficiencies delivered. We run this exercise once in every contract…
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Easy, sensible rules for your employees (part 6 of 10): Torch Mobile Administrative Outsource

Governance and Compliance We ensure that the mobile policy is accurate, relevant and adhered to, thereby reducing the risk of revenue and data leakage within the organisation.   The Torch Administrative Outsource consists of Asset Tracking and Management, Incident Management and User Support, Vendor Management, Reporting, Governance and Compliance, Optimization, Billing and Contractual Compliance Verification,…
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Quick, easy, and helpful reports (part 5 of 10): Torch Mobile Administrative Outsource

Reporting Using the information gathered from the Asset and Vendor Management modules, we are able to provide detailed usage and cost reporting to all levels of the business.   The Torch Administrative Outsource consists of Asset Tracking and Management, Incident Management and User Support, Vendor Management, Reporting, Governance and Compliance, Optimization, Billing and Contractual Compliance…
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Make your life easier, make us the single point of contact (part 4 of 10): Torch Mobile Administrative Outsource

Vendor Management A single point of contact between the vendors and our customers, leveraging our telecoms relationships, reducing the risk of fraud, and ensuring control and accountability for your telecoms environment.   The Torch Administrative Outsource consists of Asset Tracking and Management, Incident Management and User Support, Vendor Management, Reporting, Governance and Compliance, Optimization, Billing…
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Take the hassle out of managing people remotely (part 3 of 10): Torch Mobile Administrative Outsource

Incident Management and User Support We support every user, every issue, every day. Our ITIL certified service desk ensures that SLAs are tracked and performance measured and reported on. We engage directly with the end users, therefore reducing the noise in the business and enabling users.   The Torch Administrative Outsource consists of Asset Tracking…
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Take the hassle out of managing mobile assets (part 2 of 10): Torch Mobile Administrative Outsource

Asset Tracking and Management We ensure that every corporate contract is associated to an employee/department, cost centre and mobile contract, in a centralised database. We concern ourselves with your HR moves, so that costs can be recovered from the correct cost centres.   The Torch Administrative Outsource consists of Asset Tracking and Management, Incident Management…
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Remote SIM and Cell Management (part 1 of 10): Introduction to Torch Mobile Administrative Outsource

Every user, every issue, every day…that is the motto of the Services team at Torch who remotely support and manage SIM connections for our Customers. If you need help managing your workforce remotely, Torch can assist!   Designed and built by Telecom Lifecycle Management Specialists, the Torch Administrative Outsource is a potent, modular, outsource based…
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TorchNEWS: Coronavirus Lockdown

Coronavirus Lockdown 2020 will go down in history as the year that our global connectedness and the full impact thereof was realised.  The loss of life and turmoil in over 169 countries has been swift.  Its affected everyone on the planet and left us all stunned. The President of South Africa has shown great leadership…
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Latest NEWS from Torch

TorchNEWS: Cost Allocations | Flying Solo

Both topics today are follow-ups from previous posts. It’s always encouraging to see forward momentum in any aspect of life. Cost Allocations Two weeks ago, Torch posted that we had been contracted to provide training for a Customer to decipher a vendor’s invoices in order to do internal cost allocations. Following the training, Torch have…
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TorchNEWS: New Customer Signed | Training

New Customer Signed Torch as signed a contract with a new insurance Customer, who provides insurance services to personal, commercial and corporate clients. Torch will be doing a Telecom Expense Audit to identify potential savings available across their telecom estate.   Cost Allocation Training Torch has been contracted to provide training for a Customer to…
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TorchNEWS: Solutioneering

Solutioneers™ Torch has signed our third Solutioneering contract with a long-term customer who are the largest retailer of building materials and associated products throughout South Africa, Namibia, Lesotho, Botswana, Swaziland, Malawi and Zambia. Torch was tasked with examining their internal processes and identifying where Robotic Process Automation (RPA) can be implemented. We have determined a…
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Torch Telecom Management Platform (part 2 of 6): Knowledge, Insight and Visibility

Lessen the dependency on providers for usage and cost based information Make decisions using fact-based information. Anytime, anywhere access to critical data pertaining to all providers, expenditure, consumption, technologies deployed, services used, contracts, devices, users and locations. For detailed information about the service, please click here.
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TorchNEWS: Mobile Asset Registration Portal | New Managed Services Consultant

Mobile Asset Registration Portal As part of Torch’s mobile clean-up and Administrative Outsourcing for one of the world’s leading organisations of independent assurance, tax and advisory firms; Torch has built and made live a Mobile Asset Registration portal. As the name suggests, the portal allows users to register the details of their mobile devices and…
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Torch Telecom Management Platform (part 1 of 6): Introducing Spotlight

  Over the next few weeks we’ll publish information about the various Torch products and services, starting with Spotlight, our Telecom Management Platform.   Designed and built by Technology Expense Management Specialists, Spotlight is a powerful, modular, cloud based platform that delivers unparalleled visibility, analytics, and controls across your entire Telecom landscape.   Spotlight is…
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Latest NEWS from Torch

TorchNEWS: Project Management as a Service

Project Management as a Service Torch now offers Project Management as a Service (PMaaS) as a stand-alone service which can be deployed to fill any resource gaps for the Customer to achieve technology, policy and efficiency related project goals, both internal and external. The PMaaS information will be added to the website soon but feel…
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TorchNEWS: R350K Savings from 3 Savings Initiatives, Additional Contracts Awarded at Existing Customer, Overcoming the Struggle for Data

R350K Savings from 3 Savings Initiatives After being awarded the Management Consulting contract for a leading stockist and distributor of both specialty and commodity raw materials to a variety of industries last year, Torch has identified potential first year savings of over R350K across three different Savings Initiatives looking at both mobile and fixed line…
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TorchNEWS: New Website!

New Website Content The new year is often synonymous with a fresh start, and Torch has done just that with a refresh of our website content. Among other changes, our new sales collateral has been included for a richer view of Torch’s offerings to more easily aid in illuminating where Torch would add value to…
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TorchNEWS: Ending the Year on a High Note – Part 2! | Contract Scope Expansion | New Managed Services Consultant

Ending the Year on a High Note – Part 2! Torch successfully signed on two new customers last week with quite different proposals. The first, a contract review for a leading higher educational institution with a strategic focus on expanding educational offerings for formal qualifications at under- and postgraduate level, and professional development courses. The…
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TorchNEWS: Ending the Year on a High Note!, Digitisation & Automation Drive

Ending the Year on a High Note! Following successful Telecom Expense Audits, Torch has in this last week secured additional contracts with two Customers. The contracts are for Savings Initiative work with one of the largest construction companies in the South and sub-Saharan African construction sector, and Administrative Outsource for an international supplier of industrial…
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TorchNEWS: RPA Deployed at Torch

RPA Deployed at Torch Torch has been actively moving to digitise and automate internal processes for improved Customer service for some time now. A major achievement on this journey has been the deployment of our Robotic Process Automation (RPA) environment, and specifically a bot to deal with after-hours service requests. The bot, affectionately named J.E.S.S.,…
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TorchNEWS: 1st Disruption Solutioneers™ Contract Awarded, Mobile Administration Transition Project, Torch Awarded Contract

1st Disruption Solutioneers™ Contract Awarded Torch been awarded another contract with a leading South African financial service provider of short-term insurers, long-term insurer, health insurance as well as insurance and personal finance comparison platforms. Torch’s Disruption Solutioneers offering is a new stream being explored, in addition to our existing administration outsource and sales initiative work.…
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TorchNEWS: Torch Awarded Mobile Services Management Contract, Torch Successfully Activates Spotlight®, Customer Migration to Cloud Saves R1,2 mil

Torch Awarded Mobile Services Management Contract Torch has been awarded the Phase 2 mobile services management contract for a leader of solutions for the commercial banking environment and end-to-end ATM management. This follows Torch’s completion of Phase 1, the clean-up the mobile voice estate, and the writing and implementation of a mobile device policy. Torch Successfully Activates…
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TorchNEWS: Torch Perseveres for Customer’s Billing Data, Torch Appointed for a Telecoms Expense Audit for New Customer

Torch Perseveres for Customer’s Billing Data After 3 months of perseverance, Torch has received billing data for one of the leading pathology laboratories operating throughout Africa, providing vital diagnostic and monitoring pathology services in South Africa, Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.  Torch is blessed to have such a driven…
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TorchNEWS: R6.7mil in Savings to Customer, Torch Awarded Management Consulting Contract, Torch Enables Improved Customer Mobile Asset Management, Cross Border Cash Flow

Torch Awarded Consulting Contract worth R6.7mil in Savings to Customer Torch recently announced being awarded a Management Consultant contract with a leading South African financial service provider of short-term insurers, long-term insurer, health insurance as well as insurance and personal finance comparison platforms. The savings projections numbers have been reviewed and show a saving of…
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TorchNEWS: Corporate Social Responsibility supported by Torch

If the words ‘volunteering’, ‘environmental protection’, ‘good governance’ and ‘ethical behaviour’ spring to mind when someone mentions Corporate Social Responsibility, then you would be 100% correct. Corporate Social Responsibility, also referred to as CSR, is most commonly understood to be a business model adopted by companies allowing them to focus on benefiting society and in…
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TorchNEWS: Torch Automates Monthly Movement Reports, Torch Awarded Consulting Contract, Torch Customer Service Review

Torch Automates Monthly Movement Reports Torch finance automated monthly movement reports to save time fixing tedious linking errors between data. With this new automation our Director of Professional Services will save over an hour per month. A great example of how Robotic Process Automation (RPA) can put time back into the diary and therefore assist…
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TorchNEWS: Torch Automates Customer Reports, Torch Negotiates Credits for Major Customer, Torch Promotes Youth Work Experience, Torch Awarded Management of VoIP RFP

Torch Automates Customer Reports Our Development team has automated Cost Allocation Reports (CAR) for the largest retailer of building materials and associated products throughout South Africa, Namibia, Lesotho, Botswana, Swaziland, Malawi and Zambia. Through this automation, we put 45 minutes back into the day for each Torch Service Consultant. Torch is looking forward to future…
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The Future of Jobs

When Tito Mboweni, the South African Finance Minister, makes the cognitive leap and blames 4IR for the recent Standard Bank branch closures, I think he is missing two very important points (or just ducking the issue). Firstly, given that unemployment is at 55.2% for economically active South Africans between 15 and 24, (39.6% for economically…
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Latest NEWS from Torch

TorchNEWS: Customer Carrier Summons Revoked

Carrier Summons Revoked At the start of 2019 our Customer was unexpectedly sent a summons for damaged Telecoms infrastructure from one of their carriers. Needless to say, the customer was not happy considering there had been NO communications from the carrier leading up the summons. Our customer immediately engaged the services of an attorney but…
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Latest NEWS from Torch

TorchNEWS: Torch Awarded Telecom Expense Audit, Torch Secures Infrastructure Rationalization Contract

Torch Awarded Telecom Expense Audit Torch secures Telecom Expense Audit for the world’s largest manufacturer of elevators, escalators and moving walkways.   Torch Secures Infrastructure Rationalization Contract Torch secures infrastructure rationalization contract with a specialized food services and support solutions in catering, cleaning, hygiene and pest control company with over 30 000 employees throughout Africa.
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IndustryNEWS: Risk of “opting out” of Vodacom’s Limit Lock

Earlier this year ICASA, the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa, instituted regulations enforcing automatic “out-of-bundle” limit locking by the mobile providers, therefore preventing users from incurring out of bundle charges unknowingly. However, one of our Customer Service Consultants recently discovered her customers’ mobile provider had suddenly stopped sending usage alerting (data, minutes) via SMS.…
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Latest NEWS from Torch

TorchNEWS: R 650 000 Customer Saving, Torch Secures Management Consulting Contract, Customer Savings Realised, Customer Savings Initiatives Approved

Torch Secures Management Consulting Contract Torch secures Management Consulting contract with national insurance customer, a leading South African financial service provider of short-term insurers, long-term insurer, health insurance as well as insurance and personal finance comparison platforms.   Customer Savings Realised Torch recently cancelled 920 dormant SIMS for a national RSA leader in financial services.…
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Latest NEWS from Torch

TorchNEWS: Torch Appoints Software Engineer, Awarded Mobile Voice Clean-up Contract, New Telecom Expense Audit, Awarded Management Consulting Contract

Torch awarded Mobile Voice Clean-up Contract Torch awarded a contract to clean-up the mobile voice estate for a leader of solutions for the commercial banking environment and end-to-end ATM management. The contract includes the writing and implementation of a mobile device policy.   Torch awarded Telecom Expense Audit Torch secures Telecom Expense Audit for a…
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Latest NEWS from Torch

TorchNEWS: R 840 000 Customer Saving, Awarded Mobile Device Expense Audit, 40% Savings Target, Awarded Data and Fixed Voice Clean-up Contract

Torch secures Mobile Device Expense and Managed Service Audit Torch secures Telecom Expense and Managed Service audit for international supplier of industrial gases related to products offered to the steel, automotive & fabrication, food & beverage, mining, petrochemical, pharmaceutical and glass industries. Torch is very excited about our most recent audit. It offers us the…
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Latest NEWS from Torch

TorchNEWS: 920 Dormant SIMS Cancelled, Awarded Telecom Expense Audit, Awarded Mobile Managed Service Contract, Renewed Mobile Managed Service Contract

Torch finds and cancels 920 dormant SIMS for Customer Torch finds and cancels 920 dormant SIMS for a national RSA leader in financial services. Our customer had the need for a once-off clean-up of their SIM estate. Torch followed our tried and tested process to identify which SIMS were sitting idle and could be terminated.…
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The Huawei Saga

By now everyone probably knows that Huawei have managed to land themselves in hot water with the US. If somehow you have not heard about it, here is the short(er) version. The US blacklisted Huawei earlier this month, leading to Google, Qualcomm, Intel and others to cease trading with the Chinese Tech giant. The last…
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Latest NEWS from Torch

TorchNEWS: R 100 000 Customer Credit, MPLS and DIA Management, Renewed Mobile Device Management

Torch awarded Management of MPLS and DIA RFP for Customer Torch awarded Management of MPLS and DIA RFP for a global leader in international transport & logistics with the largest integrated logistics network in Africa. Our customer required MPLS and DIA solutions at their locations in South Africa, South DRC, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, and…
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SD-WAN Fad or Future?

Software-Defined Wide Area Network (SD-WAN) is making inroads into the South African mid to large enterprise customer segment. But is this just another tech fad or is there merit to the hype? While SD-WAN is not anything new, the South African Enterprise market seems to be reaching a mature enough state to deploy it. Certainly,…
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