To The Point Newsletter: Jul-Aug 2024 by Pinnacle ICT

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

Hello there

Exceptionalites!

As we embark on another exciting month, we would just like to remind you all, that “We are Won”. This campaign isn’t just a slogan; it’s a testament to our collective commitment to excellence and the power of teamwork that drives everything we do.

At Pinnacle, we are a winning team, and our success is built on three fundamental pillars:

Winning Deals – Through our relentless pursuit of opportunities and our innovative approach, we consistently secure new business and drive growth.

Winning Customer Trust – We prioritise our customers, ensuring that every interaction builds trust and strengthens our relationships.

Winning Respect – Amongst each other and our stakeholders, we foster an environment of mutual respect, where collaboration and integrity are at the forefront.

Together, we embody the spirit of “We are Won,” and it’s through this shared mindset that we continue to “Deliver the Exceptional” every day. Let’s carry this momentum forward, supporting one another as we strive for even greater achievements in the months ahead.

For the upcoming annual closure dates, please be advised that HR will process the 5 compulsory leave days on behalf of all employees.

There is no need for employees to also submit a leave application for the same dates.

However, if you plan to take additional leave either before 20 December 2024 or after 1 January 2025, kindly remember to submit your leave requests in accordance with the established leave procedures.

PEOPLE OF PINNACLE

Lee Barker – Gqeberha

Congratulations to the Barker family on the arrival of little Milane. Milane was born on the 19th of April, weighing 3.45 KG’s. How precious is she!

Frans Hallet – Joburg

Andrew Hay – Cape Town

Congratulations to Andrew and his wife, Amy, on the arrival of their little princess, Holly Hay, born on March 15th! Wishing your family endless joy, love, and cherished moments as you embark on this beautiful journey together.

Well, hello there, Princess Leah! Frans and his wife joyfully welcomed their beautiful daughter Leah into the world on the 26th of August. We hope that Leah brings you countless moments of happiness, laughter, and love.

Anandi Hartzenberg – Joburg

Congratulations to Anandi and her husband, Gerhard, on the arrival of their first little bundle of joy, Liam, who arrived on 7 March! We are thrilled to share in your joy and excitement as you embark on this wonderful new adventure as a family of three. May every moment with your precious baby be filled with love, laughter, and countless blessings.

PROMOTIONS

Coert Vorster

Date Joined: April 2022

New position: Chief Finance Officer

Janco Taljaard

Date Joined: May 2022

New position: Marketing Manager

WELCOME TO THE TEAM

HR Additions

We’re excited to introduce the newest additions to our HR team! Please join us in welcoming Lehlogonolo Matlawa, Bronwyn Frederick, and Lisa Booysen.

MaryJane Radzuma Recruitment Specialist

We are thrilled to welcome MaryJane to our team as a Talent Acquisition Specialist. MaryJane is a results-driven professional with a wealth of experience and an outstanding track record in both business development and the seamless matching of talent with relevant opportunities. Her mastery of psychological intelligence forms the foundation of her extensive professional network, reflecting her deep interest in human interaction. This quality makes her an ideal candidate for any role she undertakes.

MaryJane lives by the motto, “if you do what you have always done, you will get what you have always got,” demonstrating her openness to change and adaptability. With a robust personality and the ability to work autonomously, she thrives in outcome-focused environments. Her exceptional entrepreneurial skills are invaluable to any organization. Committed and innovative, MaryJane consistently goes the extra mile to achieve success.

Officer

Hlogi Matlawa Human Capital

As a committed Talent Acquisition specialist, Hlogi brings a solid history of elevating recruitment standards, improving employee satisfaction, and offering extensive support in Talent Acquisition.

She is enthusiastic about leveraging her expertise and accomplishments to enhance HR and Talent Acquisition teams, delivering impactful solutions that fuel company growth.

Bronwyn Frederick Human Capital Consultant

Throughout her career, Bronwyn has predominantly worked in management consulting, gaining experience across various industries and countries in Africa and globally.

Bronwyn loves traveling and immersing herself in new cultures and destinations. At heart, Bronwyn is a homebody with three furry companions.

Lisa Booysen Human Capital

Officer

Lisa is diligent, dedicated, and eager to expand her knowledge. Possessing strong communication abilities, she thrives in collaborative environments and excels as a team player.

She enjoys interacting with others and actively engaging in group endeavours.

CAPE TOWN

Lisa Nxumalo IT Desktop Engineer

Jacques Visagie General Manager: AI & Services

Stefan van Heerden Brand Manager: SSI

Natalie Barridge Operations Assistant: Dell

Mpho Ramosedi Retail Claims Clerk

Thabo Kgomo Retail Credit Controller

Jacques Liebenberg Brand Executive: SSI

Damon Lukas Warehouse Assistant

Brandon Naidu Technician

Vera Castelyn Credit Controller

Women’s Day

TECHSCAPE RIDING THE AI WAVE

TECHSCAPE WAVE

In August, Pinnacle proudly hosted the “Techscape - Riding the AI Wave” event, a remarkable gathering that highlighted our strategic focus on artificial intelligence and its potential to revolutionise industries across Southern Africa.

This event not only showcased the innovative solutions offered by our partners but also marked the launch of Pinnacle’s new AI services division, which is dedicated to helping businesses navigate the complexities of AI adoption.

Our CEO, Tim Humphreys-Davies, set the tone for the event with an insightful keynote, emphasising that AI is more than just a technological trend—it’s a critical component of modern business strategy. He outlined how, with the right approach, AI can drive substantial growth and operational excellence, provided it is supported by clear objectives and robust planning.

Nvidia’s Claudio Polla discussed the growing importance of AI in business efficiency, noting that Nvidia’s technology is at the forefront of this revolution. AI, especially Generative AI (GenAI), has reached a pivotal moment, similar to the impact of the iPhone on mobile technology. Polla highlighted that AI is driving Nvidia’s growth, with organisations globally deploying thousands of Nvidia GPUs to support AI models. He stressed the importance of efficient AI infrastructure, addressing common misconceptions about GPUs and promoting Nvidia’s AI Enterprise platform, which simplifies AI deployment. As businesses increasingly adopt AI, it is expected to add trillions to the global economy annually.

Yesh Surjoodeen, MD of HP South Africa, highlighted how AI is transforming work, learning, and life. He pointed out two major shifts: the rise of generative AI and a changing relationship with work driven by a demand for flexibility. Surjoodeen emphasised the growing role of AI at the edge, enabled by neural processing units (NPUs), which will enhance productivity and security. HP is focusing on AI-enabled PCs with built-in endpoint security, ensuring a secure and efficient user experience, while also equipping partners and employees for the AI-driven future.

John Press, Sales and Marketing Manager at Microsoft, highlighted the inflection point in the PC market driven by AI copilots, the advent of Windows 11, and the upcoming end of support for Windows 10 in October 2025. He stressed that cybersecurity remains a top concern, with rising cybercrime and ransomware attacks. Windows 11, with AI integration through Copilot, offers enhanced security, productivity, and manageability, positioning AI as a core tool for everyday workflows. Press encouraged businesses to start transitioning to Windows 11 now to leverage AI’s transformative potential and ensure robust security.

Presentations from Supermicro and Infinidat provided valuable perspectives on the infrastructure and data protection needed to support scalable AI projects. Supermicro’s focus on advanced hardware solutions and Infinidat’s emphasis on smart data backup and protection underscored the critical importance of safeguarding AI investments in today’s digital landscape.

Doug Woolley, GM and Vice President of Dell Technologies South Africa, wrapped up the presentations by discussing key trends that the channel should focus on in 2024, including AI’s growing role in cybersecurity and the hybrid work model. His talk was particularly timely, given the ongoing evolution of work environments and the increasing need for robust digital security measures.

Huawei highlighted the critical need for a robust technological foundation—comprising cloud, servers, storage, and networking—to support

AI advancements. Huawei’s commitment to innovation is evident from its investment of 23.4% of its revenue in R&D, amounting to Y1.11-trillion over the past decade. The company also collaborates extensively with partners to deliver industry-specific solutions powered by AI. Huawei’s latest offerings, such as the Xinghe Intelligent Solutions for campus, WAN, and network security, aim to enhance digital services and enable intelligent connectivity across industries.

“Techscape - Riding the AI Wave”

was a resounding success, leaving us inspired and motivated to continue driving AI advancements. As we look to the future, Pinnacle remains committed to leading the way in AI, ensuring that our partners and clients have the tools and support they need to thrive in this rapidly evolving landscape.

JOBURG

HUAWEI AFRICA CONNECT

Huawei hosted the “Africa Connect” event at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg from 2 – 3 July, which brought together over 2,500 business and technology leaders from across the continent.

The event, themed “Accelerate Industrial Intelligence,” focused on the role of AI-ready data infrastructure in driving digital and intelligent transformation across various sectors, including finance, transportation, and manufacturing.

Keynote speakers, including Peter Zhou, Vice President of Huawei, and Mad Chen, Vice President of Huawei Sub-Saharan Africa, discussed the advancements in AI and data storage technologies that are essential for the next phase of Africa’s digital journey. Huawei introduced its “1+3+X” reference

architecture for AI-ready data infrastructure, highlighting innovations such as the OceanStor A800 high-performance storage and the Omni-Dataverse global file system. These technologies aim to support the growing data needs of enterprises in the region, particularly in the context of AI and large-scale digital transformations.

The event also featured discussions on the importance of sustainable and scalable data solutions, with a focus on Huawei’s efforts to reduce energy consumption in data centres.

The launch of the OceanClub community was another highlight, aimed at fostering collaboration and innovation among industry partners in the field of data storage technology.

DELL TECH RALLY

16 JUL 2024

On the 16th of July, Pinnacle Johannesburg hosted the Dell Tech Rally, an engaging event that brought together technology enthusiasts and professionals to delve into the latest advancements in Dell’s technology offerings.

The day began with a comprehensive technology overview, where attendees were introduced to Dell’s state-of-the-art solutions aimed at driving innovation and efficiency across various business sectors.

Following this, participants had the opportunity to engage in a hands-on technology experience, allowing them to explore Dell’s products and solutions more intimately.

The event concluded with a networking session, providing a valuable platform for attendees to connect, share ideas, and discuss how Dell’s technologies could be utilised to meet their unique business needs.

MICROSOFT ALPACA FLOOR DAY

21 AUG 2024

On the 21st of August, Pinnacle Johannesburg hosted the Microsoft Alpaca Floor Day, an event designed to incentivise the sales teams to enhance their engagement with Microsoft products. The event offered a unique opportunity for participants to “ALPACA” their bags and win travel vouchers by attaching specific Microsoft SKUs to their sales.

The qualifying SKUs included:

• Microsoft 365 Business Standard (KLQ-00654 and KLQ-00216)

• Office Home & Business 2021 (T5D-03515 and T5D-03481)

• Office Professional 2021 (269-17191)

To be in with a chance to win, participants needed to sell a minimum of 10 licences of any of the qualifying products. The event successfully motivated the sales teams to actively promote Microsoft solutions while offering them an exciting opportunity to win travel vouchers.

HISENSE HOSTS FIRST FLOOR DAY WITH PINNACLE

23 AUG 2024

Hisense made a strong impression with their very first Floor Day event at the Pinnacle office, creating an unforgettable experience that blended excitement with innovation.

Themed around soccer, the event saw the Hisense team come out in full force, transforming the office into a dynamic space filled with energy and enthusiasm.

The event featured an array of interactive activities and displays, allowing our sales team to experience Hisense’s latest offerings firsthand. The highlight of the day was undoubtedly the impressive lineup of massive prizes, including state-of-the-art TVs and soundbars.

Hisense’s commitment to excellence was evident in every aspect of the event, from the meticulous planning to the engaging soccer-themed activities. This successful Floor Day not only showcased Hisense’s cutting-edge technology but also strengthened the relationship between Pinnacle and Hisense, leaving a lasting impact on all who attended. This event marks the beginning of an exciting partnership, with Hisense setting a high standard for future collaborations at Pinnacle.

DATACENTRIX CELEBRATES THEIR ANNUAL SPRING DAY

29 AUG 2024

On the 29th of August, Datacentrix welcomed the new season with a vibrant colorful Spring Day celebration at their office.

The event was a lively affair, filled with activities and food, bringing together employees and partners for a day of fun and excitement. The success of the event was made possible by the generous support of several leading brands, including Acronis, Commvault, Dell, Infinidat, Port, Eaton, and Evolis.

Each of these brands played a crucial role in ensuring the day was both enjoyable and memorable. Their contributions added a special touch to the event, allowing attendees to engage with the latest innovations and products in a relaxed and festive atmosphere.

The Datacentrix Spring Day celebration not only marked the arrival of a new season but also strengthened the relationship between Pinnacle and Datacentrix.

CAPE TOWN

SALES KICK-OFF

21 AUG 2024

On the 21st of August, Pinnacle Cape Town hosted its sales kick-off event, themed around the glamour and elegance of the Great Gatsby era.

The event was led by Pinnacle’s Regional Director, Michael Dockerill, who provided the team with a comprehensive overview of the FY2024 results and outlined the expectations and goals for FY2025.

Following this, Channel Sales Manager Tamlyn Mc Laughlin took the stage to add a touch of fun to the proceedings. She presented several light-hearted awards and recognised the top performers of FY2024, celebrating the team’s achievements and setting an enthusiastic tone for the year ahead. The event successfully combined business insights with team recognition, leaving everyone motivated and ready to tackle the challenges of FY2025.

WINDHOEK

DELL INNOVATIONS

16 JULY 2024

On the 16th of July, Pinnacle & CES Namibia hosted an insightful event at The Opera House in The Village, Windhoek, Namibia, focusing on accelerating business transformation through advanced technology solutions.

The event kicked off with a networking breakfast, setting a collaborative tone for the day.

The agenda included a detailed presentation on Dell’s on-premise virtualisation integration, showcasing how these solutions can enhance business infrastructure. Attendees also gained valuable insights into Dell’s perspectives on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Generative AI (GenAI), with a special focus on workforce accelerator workshops and innovative analytics.

These sessions were designed to equip businesses with the tools and knowledge needed to fast-track their transformation journeys effectively. Overall, the event was a success, offering attendees practical strategies and the latest technological advancements to drive business growth.