NZSB computer business booms

Press, 24 September 1983, Page 20

NZSB computer business booms

By

WARREN MARETT

The Information Services Division of the New Zealand South British Group will be close to a $5O million a year business by the end of this year, according to its general manager, Mr George Wheeler.

Mr Wheeler has been visiting Christchurch to attend the fifth annual conference of the Hartley New Zealand chartered accountant user group. Hartley Computer New Zealand, Ltd, is a subsidiary of the division, as is Idaps Computer Science (N.Z.), Ltd, Interactive Applications, Ltd, and the newly acquired Sydney-based firm, Manufacturing and Commercial Systems. Some months ago Mr Wheeler stated that his am-

bition was to achieve sales of SIOOM a year within five years. Mr Wheeler and his staff manage the subsidiary companies from a strategic viewpoint only. “Our concept is having entrepreneurial business units that have clearly defined markets and objectives,” said Mr Wheeler. New Zealand South British formed the division early this year because it had a desire to be in the computer industry. “A big part of the financial services industry will be information based,” said Mr Wheeler. “It makes a lot of sense to have the division.” As well as Manufacturing and Commercial Systems, the division has just bought

the remaining 16 per cent of Idaps, from General Accident Fire and Life Assurance Corporation, Ltd, and Idaps staff members. “We have got a lot of momentum and are looking at several other companies,” said Mr Wheeler. He did not rule out the possibility that the division would fill a gap in its current product range and sell microcomputer hardware. “It is likely we will be in the personal computer distribution business in time,” he said. “In practice, the microcomputer business in New Zealand might be smaller than people perceive it to be, but its potential is huge.”