News - Vox

Level Up Your Business, Elevate your Brand.

Posted on 14 November 2022 by Suhail Dinat

Like your most precious child, nurturing, growing, and developing a business into something respectable is a process which requires patience, dedication, and effort. What may seem from the outside as a small ‘mom-and-pop’ store could be a legacy family business passed down through generations. What you and I may consider a tiny restaurant could be someone else’s vision come to life. What the general public may underestimate could, in fact, be someone’s blood, sweat, and tears – and to them, at least, mean significantly more than just a business.

Fact is, all organisations need to be respected, and to dismiss an entity based on external appearances is akin to judging a book by its cover. Sadly, however, this is the reality we face – we live in a society where first impressions and appearances are truly everything. This means that, to many brands, you only have one chance to make a good first impression – much as you have a singular shot at remaining respectable, taken seriously, and relevant in today’s modern era.

With this in mind, Vox would like to introduce our Jan 2023 Business Offering: which gives you a chance to level up your brand, and in doing so step up your organisational game.

We’re offering you a chance to start your New Year the right way and make an impact this 2023. Gone are the days where brands could skate by on minimal brand CI’s without investing in the required business resources. Today’s modern brands require modern solutions, and modern ways of reaching more informed, educated, and spoiled-for-choice customers than ever before.

In the interest of enabling your brand to be taken seriously by seeming more professional, organised, and modernised than ever before, we encourage you to explore our Level Up capabilities. With each bundle, your organisation will receive the following:

An personalised and customised Web Domain and Web Hosting.
Complete Cloud Mail Services.
Comprehensive Mail Management.
And, upon selection of the Premium Pack, access to one SME/Channel or FTTB new package.

The days of utilising free-to-use platforms in search of cost-effective solutions are long gone. True, sometimes it’s essential to cut costs, but there’s a fine line between being thrifty and depriving your business of the support it needs to reach that elusive next level. By Levelling Up your business, you immediately propel your professionalism into the stratosphere – appearing, communicating, and operating as a serious entity and significant player within your respective market sphere.

This is ideal for new and mid-sized businesses seeking a foothold in already established environments. As we’ve mentioned earlier, customers can be picky, and have a tendency to lean towards brands both familiar and trusted. A free-to-use site accompanied by an Email address which could be from anyone makes it hard to be taken seriously by new users. This package allows your brand to display all the signs of professionalism a prospective customer wishes to see – in doing so guaranteeing more sales and greater brand loyalty.

Much like you wouldn’t give your home, loved ones, or family anything short of the best, so too should your organisation receive the same investment and attention. Our Level Up bundle is a surefire way to ensure that you’re not just investing in your company but building a brand – one firmly rooted in professionalism and with an eye on the future.

Step into the tomorrow of the digital sphere and revolutionise the way your brand is perceived. Both you, and your organisation, will thank us tomorrow (and, hopefully, quite a fair bit after).

3CX Welcomes Titanium Status

Posted on 10 October 202231 July 2024 by Suhail Dinat

When you talk about growth, impressions, a commitment to service excellence and rapidly progressing through your field, you’d be amiss to not mention Vox and 3CX.

It seems like just yesterday that we introduced 3CX to the South African market. Maybe time flies when you’re doing well? Fact is, Vox has only been offering 3CX solutions for around two years, but the growth and impact we’ve made in this time has been tremendous. Don’t believe us? We’re proud to say we at Vox have been ramped up to Titanium Status (the highest partner status available) in record time.

Yup, like Eskom moving up stages, Vox and 3CX saw our progression speed through Bronze to Silver to Gold to Titanium in just over a year. Combine this with our Advanced Technical Certification (also the highest in its field), and it’s safe to say we’ve maximised our journey thus far. That being said, let’s take a look at our journey, the reasons behind our success, and why we believe our growth has been so consistent and rapid.

We introduced 3CX as an on-premises offering to SA in September 2020 – with the Cloud Variant released in June of 2021. Within a few short months (September 2021), we had already gained Titanium Status – this rapid ascent serving as proof of our unwavering commitment to service excellence and immaculate delivery.

Coming off the back of a pandemic (you may have heard of it), we believe that 3CX was exactly what customers needed at that specific moment, as the world rapidly transitioned into a Hybrid environment. Truth be told, there were calls before the onset of COVID-19 to have a softphone type app on one’s PC. Fast forward a few months, some lockdowns, and the introduction of Work from Home, and we were well on our day towards integrating a practical, feasible and affordable solution across the board. The centralization of the platform, along with the mobility it offered, combined to be precisely the solution many a brand needed in an otherwise confusing MACRO climate – which served only to boost our already rapid growth.

As the months (or should we say years?) have rolled on, we’ve seen a massive uptake in that customers today want that entire suite of products with minimal management required on their behalf. This, we believe, has worked in our favour – 3CX allows our team to handle the entire environment – from VM’s to Licensing, to far beyond. Couple this with an affordable price range (it’s a tight period, and customers have little time for complicated products with exorbitant fees) and we’ve managed to offer feasible, realistic, and attainable solutions which address the needs of modern business owners.

When compared to our first entry-into-market, which was to service customers with on-site PBX, our evolution to Cloud-based solutions which don’t compromise on quality is quite astounding. As we have come to realise that Cloud is the now and the future, so too have our consumers – and this ability to adapt to unique requirements is testament to our willingness to do more. At Vox, we believe in moving and evolving with technological innovations – and this is reflected in our continuous growth in the case of 3CX.

So, where we are is fine – but what comes next?

As it stands, we aim to tick all boxes in terms of customer needs.
We’re currently exploring complimentary call-center enhancements which give our clients greater functionality
We’re also working on a management platform for business partners – but watch this space, because it’s bound to be huge.
We continue to focus on our strategic partnerships (so, if you’re reading this and you’re interested, be sure to get in touch).

It should be noted that, in order to gain our proud Titanium status, there are multiple criteria, sales and targets to be made – this is not a case of simply climbing through the ranks with ease. In fact, it’s the result of our 300+ staff, engineers and teams on the ground who have allowed us to reach both the highest tier of 3CX accreditation and the Advanced Technical Certification. That being said, let us not toot our own horn any further – instead, we’ll let Natassia Allery (the 3CX Global Sales Director) bring it home for us:

“Since partnering with 3CX in 2020, Vox Telecom has had a meteoric rise to Titanium partner level. Vox Telecom is an excellent 3CX Partner; technically and commercially: successfully servicing hundreds of mutual 3CX customers. I look forward to seeing the new heights our partnership will reach!”

Let’s talk… Cyber Security Assessment Month!

Posted on 3 October 2022 by Suhail Dinat

Like sands through the hourglass (just kidding – this isn’t one of THOSE episodes), the passing of time means annual events roll around before you can say ‘long weekend’. It’s been a long 2022, admittedly not as bad as the two years presiding it, but one full of moments, events and memories guaranteed to last a lifetime.

As we enter October, however, the general air of excitement begins to creep in. After all, what’s not to love? Holidays, end of year energy, a whole World Cup, and all things festive on the horizon – but it just feels like we need something more. Is something missing? Did we forget an event? Have we missed a trick? If you answered yes to any of the above, you’re probably right – because it’s Cyber Security Month, and we guarantee most of you have forgotten to get excited.

Honestly, we understand why. After all, Cyber Security Month at first glance seems as exciting as a live broadcast of “Joe Biden’s Favourite Hits”. After all, it’s hardly a topic which elicits feelings of awe, wonder and intrigue – Area 51, this is not. However, the purpose of this month goes a long way to rectifying this – and it’s our hope that together we can reveal the true nature of the complex, complicated and downright scary concept that is hacking, being hacked, and protecting your digital self.

Cyber Security isn’t just a made-up term used by rappers in Fast and Furious Movies to look tech savvy. It’s a real threat affecting real people and very, very real businesses – often considered a death knell, with damages totaling billions of USD annually, millions of lives lost, and countless innocent families alike. It’s destroyed human lives, organisations around for generations, threatened to topple entire governments and, with us being in the midst of a complete digital revolution, is guaranteed to both skyrocket and represent the next generation of criminals (plus their victims).

In short, it’s not a concept to be ignored or underestimated – which is why we’re devoting an entire month towards raising awareness.

It goes beyond that, though, as we dual focus our attention on not just your Personal Protection, but what we as an entity can do for you. Have you heard of our Free Assessments? We certainly hope so – we’ve said quite a bit about it in weeks gone by. Essentially, these are our tools and your gateway towards unlocking your brands entire digital potential. A series of completely free (although there are paid options as well) designed to enhance your online security, identify weaknesses, establish a platform for future growth and, mostly, strategise the future well-being of your establishments.

Why are we mentioning this in the same breath as Cyber Month?

Well, these Assessments are equally important this month, as their key component lies in allowing customers to enhance their brands digital security. It’s not just any half-baked Assessment either – these rely on key fundamental pillars from some of our strongest brands to offer you comprehensive evaluations and relevant information for key areas of your organisation.

These range from Firewall Security to Network and User Risk, M365, Cloud Readiness, CSAT, Teams Assessments, Cost Management, General Health Checks and beyond – but we’ll get into that in full detail in the next few weeks. For now, all you need to worry about is that Cyber Security Month is here (well, almost here), it’s coming, and you can brace yourself to get Cyber Smart.

So, what can you expect?

Every week, we’ll be releasing one part of our blog series designed to inform, educate, and hopefully entertain you rather than serve as bedtime reading.
We’ll also be releasing a series of Social Media Posts – 40 posts, 40 days, giving you invaluable insight on how not to become a digital Karen.
A weekly newsletter, recapping the events just passed (because two is ALWAYS better than one).
A series of TikToks, posted on our Vox Channel, where we provide you with tips and insider information from our team of experts.
The ability for customers to sign up for our Hackathon, where we encourage businesses to challenge our team of Hackers to test their security (for free, of course), and win a prize.
And, of course, a (you guessed it) weekly Podcast or Ted Talk, where we’ll be discussing all things Cyber.

Look, we know it’s not Shark Week, after all there’s no Megaladon in sight (and the only thing Big and Scary on our horizons are these blogposts at first glance), but all we request is you give it a chance and allow us to pleasantly surprise you. We’ll do our best to be engaging, informative, and not too much on the boring side – and we hope that, together, we can both leave Cyber Safer.

Braintree entrenches African retail, FMCG expertise with repeat awards from LS Retail

Posted on 29 September 2022 by Duo Marketing

Braintree, a trusted Microsoft Gold Certified Partner powered by Vivica Holdings, has been named as an LS Retail Diamond and LS One Platinum partner for 2022, further entrenching the company as an expert in providing digital solutions to the retail and FMCG sectors across Africa.

LS Retail is a leading global provider of all-in-one business management software solutions for retail and hospitality companies across the globe. The LS Retail partner ecosystem has grown steadily over the last two decades, offering scalable solutions to manage the complex operational requirements of retailers. With partner companies in eighty-eight countries, LS Retail has the largest partner ecosystem in the Microsoft Dynamics world.

“We are delighted to have won these two LS Retail partner awards, which is unique as we are the only partner worldwide to implement both the LS Central and LS One – retail solutions. Braintree has secured LS Retail Diamond Partner Status four years in a row, as well as the Platinum Partner award for two consecutive years. These two prestigious awards are testament to our growing strength in retail and fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) sectors, with more businesses wanting to transform digitally and build their online presence,” says Avril Howes, Strategic Head for SMC at Braintree.

The Diamond Partner accolades are the highest achievement for a LS Retail partner, only awarded to companies that exhibit extraordinary dedication to the LS Retail solutions by solving complex problems together and secured unparalleled revenue growth success during the previous year. Only sixteen out of over four hundred partners worldwide accomplished Diamond Partner status.

Diamond Partner status is awarded to partners who display extraordinary dedication to the company’s solutions and are exceptionally successful in terms of sales. In addition, Diamond Partners are invited to serve on the company’s Partner Advisory Council. Braintree interact directly with LS Retail’s management team, leading partners globally, and actively participate in the refinement of the LS Central and LS One Retail Solutions. 2022 marks the second year in a row that Braintree has had the honour of serving on the council.

“Our performance over the past year was driven through securing major accounts with multinational brands that we are now helping to grow and expand throughout the continent. We are also pushing the boundaries of what these solutions can do, and this has forced us to innovate in the way in which we implement these solutions and brought us closer to top talent within LS Retail itself and Global Retail Community.

“We applaud the dedication of our staff, who accepted the challenge and worked to ensure our customers were fully satisfied. The breadth of our team has helped us deliver results while providing a high level of service and support to our customers,” says Howes.

Certified LS Retail partners are experts in retail and hospitality, as well as in LS Retail’s solutions. They know the business requirements and legislation of the operational entities. Braintree offer services which includes the customisation, localisation, project management and technical support for Retail and Microsoft Business Central. LS Central extends Microsoft Dynamics Business Central, an all-in-one ERP which complements the LS Retail offerings to offer a comprehensive retail system for all types of retailers. LS One is a retail-only system that is ERP agnostic and can be integrated into a customer’s ERP system of choice.

“Congratulations to all our Partner Award winners for always raising the bar higher. We are very proud of your success and thankful for your dedication and commitment to LS Retail,” says Peter Vach, Vice President for Partner Operations at LS Retail. “Our partner ecosystem is one of the main reasons for our success – but even more importantly, it is a community. It is a pleasure to have such professional, competent, collaborative people in our ecosystem.”

Vivica acquires Activate Group to strengthen IoT portfolio

Posted on 27 September 2022 by Rodney Taylor

Guardian Eye, a Vivica Group company that offers remote CCTV monitoring, access control and industrial control systems, has acquired Internet of Things (IoT) as-a-service provider Activate Group. The aim is to combine the expertise of Activate with the scale of Vivica to accelerate the deployment of IoT technologies across several sectors in South Africa.

Founded in 2011, Activate Group is a founding member of the IoT Industry Council, which promotes technical excellence and the adoption of best practices and standards in order to drive uptake of the technology in the country. The company’s products and solutions include an IoT platform, devices and several types of connectivity, all of which enable a broad range of applications. Vox has had an existing relationship with Activate since 2018 when it selected the company’s IoT platform to power its own offering.

“We evaluated a lot of platforms and found Activate to be the ideal partner for us. There’s always a tendency to think or assume that SA is behind the times and international products are better, but we were thrilled to find a local company that is on par with the best international companies. What really excites us is that we have had a relationship for four years already and it was time to ‘take it to the next level’,” says Jacques du Toit at Vivica Group.

As part of the acquisition, Activate Group will fall under Guardian Eye, which offers cloud-based access control, visitor management, CCTV security, integrated IoT applications, real-time monitoring and analytics and runs a remote operations centre that provides customers with 24/7/365 cost-effective monitoring and reduces the requirement for guards on site.

Activate Founder Rodney Taylor says that bringing together Activate and Guardian Eye solutions offered synergies, as a growing number of IoT applications have to do with security, monitoring and tracking as well. He adds that Guardian Eye will remain the primary brand as it is more well-known in the market, with Activate being the IoT product. Within Guardian Eye, Activate will focus on providing IoT solutions to the healthcare, retail and logistics sectors.

“I have built Activate Group by myself over the past few years, and this acquisition will take the company to the next level. Being part of Guardian Eye gives us access to the much larger user base that exists within the broader Vivica Group, as well as the capacity to deploy the huge volumes of sensors that are needed to meet the requirements of larger customers,” says Taylor.

The acquisition ties in neatly with Vivica Group’s desire to bring together companies that challenge the conventional and enable problem-solving – whether it’s energy, security, connectivity or cloud computing – while also enabling an entrepreneurial, visionary spirit to grow and scale in a sustainable manner.

Taylor adds that as the enlarged Guardian Eye businesses harnesses the synergies resulting from the Activate Group acquisition, the focus will be on job creation through creating opportunities for growth, and training and mentoring employees in order to push them up the ladder.

“We were attracted to Activate Group’s entrepreneurial spirit and attitude, and Vivica Group can act as the ideal incubator that can guide this business through to maturity. Security is crucial in South Africa, and Guardian Eye will help create safer communities around South Africa through these innovative IoT products as well as the services provided by the remote operations centre,” says du Toit of Vivica Group.

qwerti launched to help guide local businesses on their IT strategy

Posted on 27 September 2022 by Craig Freer

Vivica Group, formerly known as Vox Holdings, has launched a new subsidiary, qwerti, which will provide locally-based enterprises, SMEs and consumers with cost-effective, personalised advisory and managed services to help them better manage their IT infrastructure and spending, enhance network and data security, and effectively and efficiently migrate to the cloud.

“qwerti was evolved out of the Vox stable to consolidate all managed services under a single brand, leveraging 15 years’ experience in delivering innovative and cost-effective services to the corporate and consumer market. Being an independent organisation allows us to be vendor-agnostic, as well as to expand our product offerings beyond what was traditionally offered through Vox. We are a mid-size MSP partner that has all the capabilities and tools that one would find in much larger organisations, but is able to deliver a more personalised level of support for our customers,” says Craig Freer, Head of Division at qwerti

According to Freer, qwerti will look to take advantage of the recent and ongoing evolution in the managed service provider (MSP) space: traditionally, organisations looked to MSPs for proactive IT management and improved uptime, and overcoming the lack of internal IT skills, or to simply free up more time for company IT staff to allow them to engage in more strategic work. Now, organisations are turning to their MSP for access to new technologies, for guidance around cloud migrations, to enhance their security, and to realise cost savings.

In response, qwerti is looking to meet and exceed these evolving business requirements by playing the role of a trusted advisor, by providing advisory and virtual CIO services; the role of a strategic partner, through monitoring, professional services and managed services; and as a technology supplier by offering customers hardware rentals and sales.

And, this is offered for multiple stacks across the IT estate. While the company doesn’t offer its own ISP services (access, voice, PBX, etc), it offers SLA management; in the case of networking (including routers, switches and WiFi), Infrastructure (including servers and network-attached storage) and the end-user (hardware and software), qwerti offers support across the stack, all the way from advisory to hardware sales and rentals.

There is also comprehensive support for security (both firewall and endpoint) as well as for cloud services, such as Vox’s Virtual Data Centre, Microsoft Azure, or for cloud backup.

“Our highly skilled teams provide a personal and flexible approach to proactively managing your entire IT estate, while our advisory consultants ensure continuous improvement and alignment of IT with your business strategy,” says Freer.

In order to provide the highest level of service to customers, qwerti has been structured with multiple teams: the organisation has its own business systems, such as integrated ticketing and monitoring, which will be maintained by the Systems Team; the Advisory Team will be key to assessments and continuous improvement at clients; and the Managed Services Team which handles advanced monitoring and dedicated end-user support.

Then there is the Professional Services Team which will be involved in major projects such as Microsoft 365 or Azure cloud migrations, while the Field Services Team will be responsible for any onsite support including troubleshooting or fixing problems that cannot be resolved remotely, or setting up IT hardware for new users.

“We start off every engagement with an IT assessment by our Advisory Team in order to unpack where the customer is in terms of their network, security, cloud strategies and more. This enables us to identify areas for improvement and to present the customer with a tailored roadmap for the future.

“In effect, our advisors act as the customer’s virtual CIO – they drill down into what is happening, monitor performance of multiple providers including the Managed Services Team, and strive for continuous improvement,” adds Freer.

Braintree acquires Xbox business from Vox, launches new rental model

Posted on 5 September 2022 by Heath Huxtable

Braintree, a trusted Microsoft Gold Certified Partner powered by Vivica Holdings, has completed the acquisition of the Xbox business of Vox and has introduced a new flexible rental model as part of the company’s efforts to make consoles more widely accessible to the public.

“The principle idea behind the transaction was to expand our offering to include Xbox Series S and Series X consoles, peripherals and game vouchers, further strengthening our position as the ‘Masters of Microsoft’. We have reimagined the rental model and are contacting existing customers to inform them of the changes,” says Heath Huxtable,

Huxtable points out that today’s consoles aren’t just about playing games: users can install all their streaming apps and even browse the web, while being able to connect them to your soundbar or AV receiver – and play UHD blu ray discs in the case of the Xbox Series X – turns them into a complete home entertainment system.

Huxtable says the new flexible rental model features a reduced monthly cost, while customers can opt-out at any time without penalties by providing 30 days’ notice. AN upfront deposit equal to one month’s rental value depending on the unit rented. If a console malfunctions during the rental period, Braintree will collect, assess and replace (and not repair) the device.

“Lower rentals along with the lack of fixed-contract terms will make consoles accessible to a wider portion of the public. The opt-in/ opt-out model also makes it possible to rent consoles for a short period before returning them. This makes it ideal for personal use over the holidays, social gatherings, or even in recreational zones at corporate functions or workplaces,” adds Huxtable.

The Xbox business will be added under Braintree Home, which brings together the full breadth of the company’s consumer offerings, ranging from game consoles and peripherals, vouchers that parents or partners of gamers can buy as a gift to purchase digital copies of games or make in game purchases, and game pass subscriptions which give the user access to a full catalogue of games – as well as software such as anti-virus solutions for personal and family use.

“When the customer wants to cancel their rental, they can just provide us with the 30 days notice; Braintree will organise for a courier to collect the device, at no cost to the customer, when the notice period is due,” says Huxtable.

In addition to the rentals, customers can also opt to purchase the consoles outright, should they want to.

Introducing… Braintree Gaming!

Posted on 2 August 2022 by Suhail Dinat

What do you get when you combine innovation, practicality, affordability, simplicity and, well, awesomeness? If your answer involved any combination of the words “Braintree” and “Gaming” (or, in an ideal world, Braintree Gaming), you’re pretty much on the money.

You may not have noticed (on account of it being so subtle) but life has been pretty…. stressful lately. Stressful enough to induce bouts of controller smashing, curse-word abundant fits of rage – assuming, of course, you have a console to start with. Which, you may be surprised to hear, isn’t as common in South Africa as you may think – or should we say wasn’t?

Introducing Gaming by Braintree, which takes the concept of affordable, accessible Gaming and completely redefines it.

You see, back in the day (and by that we mean 2019), taking a break or relieving stress could mean anything from a night out on the town to a day at a spa. Today, things have changed, the world has gone remote, and we’re seeing increased popularity amongst alternate ways of escapism.

With this in mind, Braintree Gaming was born – your platform to doing everything you’ve dreamt of without stressing about the logistics.

Feel like fishing or taking control of Man United? What about saving the president or jumping out a plane? Does this whole pandemic remind you of an apocalypse which needs navigating, or are you just frustrated and seeking pure, unadulterated chaos in whichever open world RPG does it best for you? Imagine a universe where you can be the best footballer in the world and a master assassin in the space of an hour. A world where you can fly, drive or shoot anything you wanted. A world where lockdown and curfew genuinely didn’t exist, and where your superheroes aren’t just real- they’re you.

Well, welcome to the world of Gaming – and we’re glad to have you join our team.

In fact, you wouldn’t be the only one to do so, as studies indicate that as of 2020 there are an estimated 2.7 billion gamers worldwide- the highest number in human history. With an average age of 34, it’s interesting to note that this constitutes both kids and grown-ups accordingly.

A common misconception, however, is that gaming is only for “serious” gamers. The words “noob” and tales of pro-players destroying all challengers are greatly exaggerated. Yes, there is a competitive element should you wish to partake in it, but gaming has never lost its purity in that all it takes to enjoy is a console, the right game, and some free time. Young, old, it’s all good- pick up and play is a thing of the present.

And, for those of you who know you’ll be greeted with eyerolls at the suggestion of a new console (“you’re too old! Grow up!”), here’s some facts to back up your motivation:

Studies have shown that not only do action games enhance attention spans, but they also assist with language learning and decision making.
Gaming in general has been scientifically proven to overcome bias and cognitive dissonance.
Again, studies have shown that regular gameplay can improve overall mental health and have an uplifting effect on moods.
More studies (people have really investigated this) indicate that gaming has a positive impact on both cognitive and social skills.
Gaming has also been proven to assist with the following:
Foundation Skills: achievement drive, self-awareness, critical thinking, and self-confidence.
Performance Skills: Perceptual, Motor, Attentional and Timing.
Problem Solving: Personal Development, Identity, Creativity, EQ and Self-Esteem.
Decision Making: Team Skills, Leadership, Communication, Cohesion and People Management.

(This is where you scream “yeah, science!”).

Look, we’re not saying that a new console will cure the blues, but we are saying that blowing off some steam is an essential part of dealing with today’s external world. And we speak from personal experience when we say that while the concept of gamers may scream spotted pre-teens and Fortnite, the reality is a mix of countries, ages and demographics combining in one of the few truly unbiased, free-to-join examples of multi-culturalism in the world.

However, the economic impact of the world we live in has created a similarly universal need to tighten belts and pinch pennies. In other words? Outright purchasing a console is, to many, an unattainable dream at this stage.

But does using one need to be?

Braintree Gaming was born off the back of Vox Gaming, which you may remember aimed to eradicate issues such as affordability to reach players across the board. Gone are the days where you needed a massive capital outlay to afford a basic console. You can say goodbye to long lines outside Makro on Black Friday, to trying to find a console repair shop at the eleventh hour or wondering which title to buy your introverted nephew.

At Braintree Gaming, we bring you the best of all worlds, with rental options AND option to outright purchase across a variety of consoles and hardware models. Better yet, our unique SLA allows for full repairs and replacement at no extra charge should you be renting from us and require it. It doesn’t stop there. We offer discounted rates on Fibre and Xbox combos, unprecedented access to a wealth of features (such as QoS) designed to enhance gameplay, and a network of Gaming events, tournaments and prize bearing competitions for you to enter (and hopefully win).

No longer do you have to spend an arm and a leg on something which will be obsolete within a short few years. Braintree Gaming is rapidly redefining the concept of a ‘one-stop-shop’ to allow players a simplified experience. Need your Xbox Game Pass? We’ve got you. Looking for a voucher for someone special? You bet you’re covered with us. Need news, information, the latest industry developments, and your informational hub for all things Gaming? Look no further – we’ve got you covered.

The magic of gaming is that anyone can enjoy it. Guys, girls, parents, even grandparents- there’s no age limit to who can have fun – which should, in theory, make this open for all to partake in. Sadly, our country faces many challenges in terms of accessibility and affordability – until now, that is. We rent, we supply, we assist, we support – it’s literally a case of Push Start and you’re good to go.

Yup, it really is that simple- but, then again, isn’t that what gaming is all about?

Let’s talk… Assessments

Posted on 1 August 2022 by Suhail Dinat

Ask a business owner, any business owner, about the challenges they face when running their entity, and chances are you’ll receive a list more comprehensive than the Vatican Archives.

Between budgets, resources, staff, expenses, customer services and, and, and… it’s a long, challenging job, one which requires so much meticulous attention to detail that it’s easy for things to fall through the cracks. As such, it can be near impossible to successfully run a business whilst simultaneously keeping an eye on everything at once – why is why regularly conductive assessments are necessary to point out where your immediate attention needs to be.

But, first things first – are we being dramatic, or do all businesses genuinely need Assessments?

The short answer is a definitive yes, as you can’t know where you’re going until you first establish where you are.

Done correctly, an Assessment is an opportunity to understand your business by identifying it’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. Said Assessment can, in turn, create a solid foundation for growth and allow you to strategize and refine your approach accordingly.

In fact, we’d go a step further and argue that in order to drive business growth, profitability and customer loyalty, regular Assessments are mandatory. We aren’t just talking about evaluating your performance metrics and points of difference either – but rather a systemic unpacking of your programmes, software, security, and digital infrastructure to ensure your business adheres to IT best practice. If done correctly, your business may objectively understand where gaps have been formed (both internally and externally) whilst providing you with a framework from which to repair them. This, in turn, allows for a seamless transition from where your organisation currently is to where you’d like it to be.

Enter Assessments by Vox, your gateway to unlocking your businesses true potential…

Our Assessment Portfolio has been systemically designed to help you identify areas of concern whilst providing you with a framework from which to improve. Within said portfolio, each entity further presents a wide array of evaluations which our team of experts are capable of conducting –providing the perfect platform from which to build towards future success. Our range of Assessments are vast, comprehensive and encompasses a variety of virtual, digital, hardware and software related components to ensure no stone is left unturned in our mission to optimise your business potential.

The Portfolio in Question? Glad you asked…

As can be seen above, our range of Free Assessments are designed to focus on a plethora of potential business weak points, so as to encompass the full spectrum of your possible needs. From basic Cyber Security to Firewall, Cloud and Network Assessments to the more in-depth software related issues such as Microsoft and Azure Management, our team of experts are capable of truly unlocking multiple levels of your brands potential risk areas.

Many of the above points are areas which tend to be overlooked, but each play a vital role in determining the success of various business functions. You may not consider Firewall Security a high-priority factor, but did you know that South Africa is the third most targeted country in the world in terms of Cyber Crimes? Or that correct Cloud Cost Management can in fact save your business thousands of Rands every month? Let our team tell you how you may need help before offering a solution tailor made for you – because what good is figuring out what’s wrong without knowing how to fix it?

The best part? These assessments above arecompletely free of charge – all you need to do is reach out and let our team of experts take it from there. There are, however, more comprehensive Paid counterparts – which you can similarly find below:

We believe that, for any organisation to thrive, transparent communication and collaboration is essential – which is why our Assessments team provides your business with a platform for consultation.

Rather than pushing blanket solutions which may not be 100% right for your unique needs, we’d prefer to look at your business and understand where you need help before advising you further – so let’s start the conversation and open the door to maximizing your business potential. We repeat: the importance of correctly conducted Assessments cannot be overstated enough, as these are truly your gateway to maximizing and unlocking your full potential. As you can see, our range of Assessments are comprehensive and cover all potential painpoints – ensuring that no matter your need, potential vulnerabilities, or areas of improvement, we have a solution and a team of experts willing to provide you with the required guidance.

Interested in hearing more? Join us on 3 August 2022 at 11h00 for an informative session where we unpack what we can offer your business with our comprehensive free assessment range as illustrated above.

Click here to register.

WIN a Rugby Sevens Experience!

Posted on 13 July 2022 by Suhail Dinat

What are we if not experiential creatures?

For many of us, the definitive moments in our lives were not shaped by material items. A first kiss, the birth of your child, the loss of a loved one – these are moments, memories and experiences which impacted us, immaterial of how much we earned, what car we drove or what we did for a living.

What are our lives if not a series of experiences which define who we are, for better or worse?

See, who you are is not measured by your clothes, your job, your wallet, or your phone, but rather what you did and how much you truly enjoyed life. Our time in this world is short and made more beautiful for this very reason – which is why it’s our experiences which truly measure the value of our existence. Money comes, time passes, but what really remains etched in the annals of our souls are the memories we picked up along the way.

Think back to 2010; that goosebump inducing, flag waving, fleeting moment in time which created memories many of us will treasure forever. There was something… magical in the air, a unanimous energy which encapsulated a nation – an impact so profound that its very memory is enough to induce wave after wave of nostalgia. Scarcely can a Vuvuzela be heard, or the words “Waka Waka” be said in jest that many of us aren’t immediately transported to a lifetime long passed – such is the profound impact of an experience on the human psyche.

The onset of the virus (which we shall not name further) has, sadly, robbed us of far more than our freedoms and loved ones. Instead, it deprived us of something far more valuable, something irreplaceable which we may never redeem – time. We’ve already established that our time is limited, which is why two years lost isn’t just two years lost. Instead, those two years of experiences, memories and moments tragically snatched away from us have effectively shortened our lives.

How many birthdays did we miss, celebrations did we not celebrate, events did we cancel and holidays did we bank? How many of us have come to forget the liberation of being surrounded by loved ones at Christmas, the excitement of venturing into a foreign land or simply being able to watch your favourite sports team? Sure, today life is normalizing, but we’ll never truly be able to recoup time fallen away.

This is why, today, as life begins to normalize, it’s twice as important that we find our feet and learn to truly experience life once again. We’ve lost two years, two whole years, and none of us can really afford to waste a single further second.

Which brings us to our latest experience – the 2022 Rugby Sevens World Cup.

Life may slowly be normalising, but there still seems to be a sense of trepidation to fully reembrace the old normal. We’re afraid, naturally, of taking things too fast and ushering another wave of fear, lockdowns, and disease. However, it’s our duty to start picking up the pieces of the experiences we’ve left behind – which is why the Vox team is offering you the chance to, finally, enjoy another once-in-a-lifetime experience at the Rugby Sevens WC in Cape Town.

Make no mistake, we’re not just offering you free tickets and a stadium tour, but rather a memorable, enjoyable, and never-to-be-forgotten VIP experience. Think Grandstand Tickets to the Saturday or Sunday game. Think a personal chauffeur to transport you as your heart desires. Think a twin room, with breakfast, at the Table Bay Hotel in Greenpoint, sundowners at the Grand Café and all the trimmings. Yup, we’re offering you the chance of a lifetime to make memories which will last you a lifetime – and hopefully put you on your way to leaving the boring nights watching Netflix of 2020 and 2021 in your rearview mirror.

We’ve lost time, of that there’s no doubt, but the saying does go “there’s no time like the present”. As far as we can tell, it’s now incumbent on each of us to live, laugh, love, and make memories in excess to compensate for years gone by. It’s been a hard time on everyone – businesses, families, the relatives of lost ones and people meant to experience milestones, but we now have the opportunity to pick up the pieces and resume normality once again.

When you look back, you won’t measure the worth of your life by how many breaths you took, but rather the moments that took your breath away. For us, that was the World Cup 2010, but for you it could be the Rugby Sevens Experience. To enter, all you have to do is sign up for any connectivity package or upgrade your current line and you’re good to go. Oh, and did we mention that the prizes involve tickets for two? Because what’s the point of amazing experiences if not with the ones we need to share them with?

So, get entering, get experiencing, and let’s get living again – heaven knows we need it.

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