New force in micros for business

Press, 22 October 1986, Page 46

New force in micros for business

Business microcomputer retailing in New Zealand strides forward with the arrival of Computer Land, which has more than 850 business centres in 25 countries. The Christchurch-based group, Businessworld Computers, Ltd, is the master franchise-holder for New Zealand, and runs a Computer Land business centre in its new building at the corner of Oxford Terrace and Montreal Street.

The Computer Land network will be the major force in business microcomputer systems in the country and the only effective national network. For the user, ComputerLand will mean faster introduction of new products and technology to the country, more choices, more sophisticated support, and specialised learning centres.

Businessworld is developing in other fields as well, particularly in minicomputers, as an authorised IBM systems remarketer dealing in the IBM System/36 range. Mr Bruce Foulds says the New Zealand network will draw on the product evaluation facilities of Computer Land world wide. The New Zealand centres will know quickly details and quality of new product releases; both in software and in hardware. This help will be valuable in specialised fields such as desktop publishing, computer-aided design, graphics, networks, and communications.

Computer Land will be able to import directly a .wider range of peripheral equipment (printers, disk drives, cards, etc).

Computer Land centres in New Zealand will be part of an international network linked by computer. Orders and information will be transmitted instantly. The emphasis is clearly on business. ComputerLand calls its outlets business centres, and the main (but not the only) brands of personal computer hardware available will be IBM and Compaq, both leading business brands. Businessworld and Computer Land have strong links with IBM products. Computer Land was the main retail channel when the IBM PC was released on the market in the United States, and Businessworld has kept staunchly with IBM through the “clone wars.” For Businessworld, the

Computer Land link will allow rapid development of the learning-centre courses already begun. Beth Coleman, formerly of Texas Instruments in the United States, will be in charge of the Computer Land Christchurch learning centre, with other paid tutors. The Computer Land chain will provide visual aids, standard course ware and training materials to run on the personal computers in the learning centre, brochures, and evaluation material. Computer Land will also help in technical training. Businessworld has always been known for support through its service centre. This will be maintained with a 24-hour call-logging service. Formalised maintenance service agreement and installation/support services are available to all Computer Land clients.

The franchisor, Computer Land Australia, will give the Christchurch centre access to all types of staff training from management to technical and sales functions. Businessworld, in which the working directors are the Foulds brothers (Bruce, Maurice and Lester) and Brian Heald, has

sprung from a tiny company set up in 1981, with only one full-time employee. In late 1982 the firm became an IBM PC dealer, and in 1983 it was the top dealer in the country. Businessworld now operates a network of companies across the country. Group revenue for the 1986 year is estimated to be $25 million. Total staff is 121, with more than 30 based in Christchurch, the head office of the national group.

This year, Businessworld, which had set up a flourishing subsidiary in Auckland, forged a national network of independent dealers into the Businessworld group. The Foulds brothers and Brian Heald (formerly an IBM executive) own the master company, Businessworld Computers, and the Businessworld (and Computer Land) centres in Christchurch and Auckland. The master company has shareholdings in the Businessworld companies in Wellington, Palmerston North, Masterton, and Hastings. It has distribution agreements with the other Businessworld companies in Hamilton and Dunedin. The network of Com-

puterLand centres may not be limited to existing members of the Businessworld group. Where there is assessed to be a need other centres are likely to be opened.

The link with Computer Land comes just after Businessworld’s move to its new offices in what is becoming like Computer Row: Oxford Terrace towards Christchurch Hospital. The building is “intelligent” — it is wired for computer networks. This means all offices will be able to link into the world Computer Land network, or to communicate with other offices in the building, or nationally. On the ground floor is the Computer Land Business Centre. This is modified from a new Computer Land business centre model in Melbourne, dedicated to business per-sonal-computer solutions. On the first floor is the Computer Land service centre and Businessworld administration. The second floor will be home to the Businessworld Systems Division. The Computer Land Learning Centre share the third floor with executive offices and formal meeting areas. While the ComputerLand centre will be what Mr Bruce Foulds describes as the “high profile link to the, public,” Businessworld Systems will continue with its independent System/36 and software activities. IBM traditionally marketed its System/36 equipment direct to users, with selected value-added companies (who used the equipment in configuring systems for specialised uses). The appointment of the Businessworld Group as an authorised systems remarketer is something for them to be satisfied about. Mr Brian Heald, a director and shareholder of the master Businessworld company, heads the Businessworld Systems Division. This includes a local software support group under Grant Lange. Businessworld is now a major force in minicomputer software. The various Businessworld centres have developed their own applications software in fields ranging from trans-

port to auctioneering. The Christchurch Businessworld’s strong point has been in applications for lawyers and chartered accountants. The pooling of this System/36 software will give Businessworld a strong marketing base. But the real software coup is Businessworld’s recently announced link with DACA Software Australia Proprietary, Ltd, a Melbourne-based company run by a former New Zealander, Mr David Cole. This is a leading IBM software house. The systems division also offers contract programming services, and has the rights to distribute an important System/36 programme generator, a major productivity tool, whether used by Businessworld or the client’s staff.