ICT Zone's computation shows success a sure thing

ICT Zone Ventures Bhd is confident that its business of leasing and renting personal computers (PCs) to offices will soar this year as it becomes a one-stop centre for such services, including the provision of equipment purchase loans.

Chief executive Lim Kok Kwang said the company is the only one in the country to provide computers for sale or rent, financing (for computer purchasers) and maintenance services.

"We managed to make a net profit of about RM100,000 last year, the first year the company started operations. We are confident of making a RM1 million net profit, owning to the contracts that we have acquired," he told Business Times recently.

He said ICT Zone Ventures' clients are mainly from the private sector and the government.

The company has assisted various government agencies and businesses to upgrade their technology platforms and service delivery systems by providing solutions in the form of quality information communication technology (ICT) equipment, services, repair, maintenance and consultancy.

Lim said the company has more than RM25 million worth of computers and equipment that have been rented out.

"Our rental can be as short as three days or up to two years," he said.

He said the company's net profit was very low last year as most of the seed money, which it had collected from the interest scheme fund, was used for marketing and paid dividends to shareholders.

"But we have plans to grow our business model and incorporate a new scheme into it, so that we can penetrate other markets, such as Indonesia and Brunei," Lim added.

He said the company will be commercialising the concept to home users by the middle of the year.

"Buying PCs is something that everyone does but at the same time, the IT industry changes rapidly. That is why we feel that the rental of home PCs will be something that will cater to everyone's needs," he said.

Lim believes the scheme will be a hit among home users.

ICT Zone Ventures was incorporated on January 28 2010 with a paid-up capital of RM5 million. On May 19 the same year, it was converted into a public company of limited liability - ICT Zone Ventures Bhd - with its principal business in ICT equipment rental operations and the management of the ICT Zone Ventures Interest Scheme.

Its affiliate company ICT Zone Sdn Bhd is among the top five players in outsourcing ICT resources and support industry.

ICT Zone has received various awards and accolades for its successes, including the SME 100 2009 "Fast Moving Company" by SME Magazine, the Hewlett-Packard Overall Performance Top Commercial Business Partner For Year 2009, the achievement of MSC status and the ISO 9001:2008 Quality Management System.

Its stellar performance had also earned it the Hewlett-Packard Platinum Business Partner acknowledgement.