AnD Communications, based in KwaZulu-Natal, has completed its rebranding to Telviva, marking the culmination of an acquisition that began six years ago. The evolution has seen the company transition from being a reseller of PBX solutions to a becoming a telco that enables its clients to meet the growing requirements from modern customers for what is predominantly digitally-driven omni- and multi-channel communications.
Formed in 1988, AnD Communications (AnD) has a proud history in voice and data communications solutions, servicing primarily the KwaZulu-Natal market. Originally, Telviva and AnD entered a white label partnership in 2015 to provide customers in that province with access to the greater range of services that the cloud would unlock.
Over the years, the company built up a substantial customer base as a white-label partner of Telviva, and at that point started looking for a suitable provider of cloud-based business telephony solutions. They had a choice as to whether to embark on the journey on their own, or to partner with an industry expert. They chose the latter. In 2018, Telviva acquired 51% of the shares in AnD, establishing a co-ownership agreement to assist it with the virtualisation of its cloud communication products. In 2020, Telviva increased its shareholding in the company to 100% of the issued equity.
“AnD is a well-known brand in KwaZulu-Natal and was built to service the unique needs of the local market, which is one that is heavily driven by customer-centricity and relationships. Telviva meanwhile wanted to set up a regional sales presence, and the sense was that a partnership would create synergies needed to better service the market. It offered Telviva the growth that they were looking for, while AnD was able to enhance its product offering and grow closer to its main provider,” says Kelvin Brown, who co-founded AnD, and is currently Customer Operations Executive at Telviva.
“With the initial acquisition in 2018, the company was called Analogue and Digital Communications, and the first step was to change the name to AnD Communications to reflect the growing importance of cloud communications. This is the next step in that evolution; it is easier for us to go to market as Telviva, and to benefit from being part of a bigger brand, including having economies of scale at which to deliver our products and services more cost-effectively,” adds Brown.
More benefits for KZN customers
Ryan Proksch, Regional Executive for KwaZulu-Natal, says that customers in the province can continue looking toward the high level of service that they have been receiving, with few changes on their end. With the rebranding journey being a gradual one over the years, there will be no management, staff or technology changes. Even the company banking details have remained the same, though their bill will now carry the Telviva branding.
Some things have changed, however, and for the better: “A lot of customers chose AnD as a supplier because of its customer-centricity. Through Telviva, they now have a larger support base with access to more engineers and experts from around the country, as well as a broader range of products and services. They also benefit from being part of a cloud free-call community with over 95 000 users. Beyond this, we are still a small business based in KwaZulu-Natal, with our customer being number one,” says Proksch.
Proksch points out that Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) is a major sector in the province, and that Telviva is well suited to serving this market as it has a full suite of Unified Communication as a Service (UCaaS) and Managed Contact Centre as a Service (CCaaS) solutions for customers of varying sizes.
“We can do more than just supply businesses with a Cloud PBX and some telephony hardware, but offer UCaaS, CCaaS and a number of things in between. There is a sweet spot in KwaZulu-Natal where our product works; we have a trusted solution, we have the experience from servicing customers in other regions and we now have a big support network across the country to offer our regional customers,” Proksch explains.
Acquisition success
For Telviva, Brown says the acquisition has brought in additional skills into the company, as well as providing it with a physical presence in KwaZulu-Natal, which is a unique market within the South African business environment. Combining a comprehensive product suite with local knowledge gained through acquiring an existing business has helped drive growth and result in a successful transaction for Telviva. He adds that the presence of similar principles and value systems between the two companies also contributed to the deal’s success.
“We are no longer just a telephony business, but are looking to enable our clients to engage with their customers, stakeholders and suppliers in different ways, including through modern digital channels such as web chat or WhatsApp. Being part of Telviva isn’t just about additional products or bundled services, but shifting from voice and toward multi- and omni-channel solutions that empower our clients to enhance customer experiences. We are still staying true to our roots, including maintaining our small business agility and customer-centricity. There has however been a shift in customer requirements, and the business is evolving to meet this need,” Brown says.
David Meintjes, Telviva CEO, adds the rebrand is the next step in a bigger growth journey for the company. “Telviva has grown nationally and beyond, with customers in North America and the UK. This is not just about a name change. Rather, it is a moment of strategic importance for Telviva’s growth generally, and enhanced service offerings for the KwaZulu-Natal market specifically.”
