Direct marketing, variable print and bulk mail processing specialist LaserCom, a division of Bytes Technology Group, is moving its head office to industrial hub Amalgam in Johannesburg.

The company’s PaperGeni envelope and tally roll division will now be under the same roof.

“LaserCom has experienced phenomenal growth over the past six years and has more than doubled its size,” says Konni Hoferichter, divisional MD at LaserCom. “In addition to the fact that we have simply run out of space at our existing locations, the move will enable us to increase operational efficiencies by having all our employees and divisions housed in one building.”

The new headquarters, which will accommodate 300 employees, measure 13 500m2. They are strategically located close to Witspos, which handles the bulk of South Africa’s mail.

“It makes business sense for us to be in the vicinity of Witspos, and it also means that we will be able to significantly reduce our carbon emissions through reduced transport distances, which is a major consideration for the company. As part of the Bytes group, we are committed to reducing  our carbon footprint.” To that end the new building incorporates many energy-saving features.

In terms of operational efficiencies, Hoferichter notes that the move will put an end to duplication of resources, eliminate the need for costly transport between premises, and streamline communications across the company.

“Because the premises are large enough to accommodate growth well into the future, we will be able to take on many more large accounts without having to worry about having the necessary resources.

“In addition, by having everyone under the same roof, we will be able to offer enhanced benefits to our staff, such as a full-service canteen.”
The move is under way and will be completed by the end of August. There will be no disruptions to LaserCom’s business.

Direct marketing, variable print and mail processing specialist LaserCom, a division of Bytes Technology Group, has been rated as a Level 2 (AAA) Contributor and Value-Adding Supplier according to the BB-BEE Codes of Good Practice by accredited verification agency Empowerdex. This is the second year running that the company has achieved the rating.
In 2009, the rating was awarded to LaserCom after a surge in compliance with the DTI’s Codes of Good Practice, and the company moved from an overall score of 68,6% to 91,02%. The latest rating gives LaserCom an overall score of 96,86%, an increase of 5,8%.
“BEE is not about just about compliance,” says Gene Pillay, the manager tasked with coordinating LaserCom’s BBBEE efforts. “It’s about enlightened business practices and a commitment to making a difference in the broader community in which we operate.
“The score entitles LaserCom clients to claim 156% of the value spent with the company as BEE procurement due to the value add component. This is an excellent incentive for our customers as none of our competitors has a comparable BBBEE rating, so this gives us a significant competitive advantage over them.”
In the last 12 months, LaserCom achieved the following:

• It scored 22,83 points out of a possible 20 for ownership. This is because Bytes Technology Group, which is 27% owned by broad-based empowerment group Kagiso, received the additional three points above 20 as a result of various bonus points awarded to Kagiso.
• It maintained its training and skills development, scoring the maximum 15 points.
• It enhanced employment equity to 13,35 out of a potential 15 points.
• It scored 19,45 out of a possible 20 points for preferential procurement.
• It scored a maximum 15 points for enterprise development, and a maximum five for socio-economic development.

“The endorsement from Empowerdex affirms LaserCom’s holistic approach to transformation as indicated by each of the individual scores we achieved,” says Pillay.

LaserCom is the national leader in its space, with operations in Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town, it fulfils the postal requirements of most banks, telcos, and many other blue-chip organisations. It produces more than 30 million pages a month, and recently launched South Africa’s first transpromo (transactional/promotional) service.