Copy Cat invests in innovation to grow market share

Technology company, Copy Cat Group, is implementing a new transformational strategy to increase its market share in the ICT market.

Managing Director Vishal Patel says the company has been sharpening its innovation edge to develop new products for the modern market targeting businesses, governments and individuals.

“We have invested in a team of innovators that will drive he next phase of the company’s growth,” he said.

Mr Vishal Patel, who took over as managing director during Copy Cat’s Group 30^th anniversary celebrations held on Tuesday evening in Nairobi,said Copy Cat growth will be driven by new trends in IT such as digitisation, cloud and managed services.

ICT Cabinet Secretary Joe Mucheru challenged the company to list on the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) to spread ownership of the company to other Kenyans.

Mr Mucheru said that ICT companies are growing fast and transforming Kenya’s economy and should thus spread ownership to the public.

“Listing will allow Copy Cat to discover its worth and its owners to unlock the value of their investment,” Mr Mucheru said in his key note address.

He said the management should give Kenyans a chance to share in the success of the company, which was started operations in 1986 as an office machines vendor but has transformed into a full-fledged ICT company providing both hardware and software solutions.

He said ICT companies are primed for growth, noting that studies show 70% of the skills that will be required in the labour market will be technology based.

Mr Patel said he will present the matter to the board to give a way forward. “We will consider it since listing comes with a lot of gains for the company and staff.”

Copy Cat Group offers hard ware and software products and services, which include security equipment, printers and copiers, cash handling equipment, data centres and consultancy. He said the company had increased its presence in the region with operations in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Rwanda.




The company, which in 1994 entered Tanzania market by acquiring Business Machines Tanzania Ltd, is expanding to other regional markets with a presence Uganda and Rwandan market. “East Africa is an exciting place to be as a technology company,” he said. “The region is quick to embrace technology, with Kenya being a global leader. The contribution of ICT to GDP is growing and we are ready to be part of this growth.”

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