Practical solutions for specific sector challenges

August 28, 2024

Emilio Jorge, managing director of BCX in Mozambique, talks to The Energy Year about combining international capabilities with local expertise and tailoring IT services to the needs of oil and gas companies. BCX is a South African information communications technology (ICT) provider for enterprises and public-sector organisations across various industries.

How does BCX assist Mozambican clients in their digitalisation journeys?
At BCX, we believe in a hands-on approach to transformation. We find that we are most effective when we’re actively involved throughout the process because it allows us to directly address crucial challenges such as the lack of specific skills often present within organisations. By integrating with our clients’ teams, we can guide them through the transformation journey and prepare them for working with new tools and processes.
We pride ourselves on developing practical solutions to specific local challenges. We don’t chase cutting-edge technology for its own sake; instead, we leverage IT to create tools that address real-world needs. A prime example is Koleta, our revenue collection system used by municipalities, sports venues and other customers to digitise their revenue streams and manage them more effectively.
Our company engages in projects of all sizes and we foster a culture of creativity by empowering young talent fresh from university to brainstorm and propose solutions. These solutions, often mobile applications, may seem small in terms of investment, but they deliver significant returns. They not only generate revenue for BCX but also help businesses modernise, streamline processes and ultimately achieve greater profitability.

What products and services do you offer to the oil and gas sector?
We approached Anadarko with NetApp technology for data storage before the acquisition of their African assets by TotalEnergies. We deployed Cisco networking solutions for them and Dell equipment at TotalEnergies.
Beyond equipment, BCX also offers expertise and professional services to support our clients’ operations. Eni is another major client for BCX in Mozambique. We provided them with a comprehensive infrastructure-as-a-service solution for three years and, following a brief hiatus, we connected with them again in 2023. We currently have a team of around 12 staff split between their Pemba and Maputo offices, and we manage their service desk.
Looking ahead, we have responded to a recent RFI [request for information] from Eni to localise the support services for the critical infrastructure on their offshore facilities. This aligns perfectly with our strengths and we see it as a significant growth opportunity.
By combining our local expertise with the broader resources of the BCX group, we’re well-positioned to secure this engagement and showcase our full potential as an integrator in the Mozambican oil and gas sector. The project would involve managing all aspects of Eni’s communications, CCTV, networking and security systems.

 

What differentiates BCX from other ICT providers?
BCX stands out by offering a combination of international capabilities and a strong local presence. We have ITIL [Information Technology Infrastructure Library] certification to ensure our service delivery adheres to a recognised quality framework and we engage in clear discussions with our clients about service quality, a level of transparency not often found in Mozambique.
Additionally, BCX is ISO 9001 certified for quality management, and our adherence to established best practices gives clients the confidence to do business with us. Through BCX, clients gain access to internationally recognised capabilities at a fraction of the cost of partnering with our global competitors.

In what other sectors does BCX operate?
Within the mining sector, BCX has become a trusted partner for comprehensive infrastructure support, encompassing everything from end-user computing and service desk functions to network management, storage solutions and server support.
We supported Vulcan when they outsourced their IT operations for the first time in Mozambique. We trained a team of young Mozambican technicians for the project and they were able to significantly reduce Vulcan’s operational costs. Clients are confident to leave application development, application support and security management to their in-house teams if they know BCX is handling the critical infrastructure backbone.
We have carried out successful projects in these areas for the Mozal aluminium smelter and major players in Mozambique’s telecommunications sector such as Vodacom, Tcel and TDM. The financial sector is also very important to us and we have been partners with Mozambique’s central bank for over 13 years, a testament to the quality of our service.
Recognising the importance of local talent, we prioritise building a highly skilled workforce and we train technicians to international standards, creating teams capable of managing IT services at a level previously only achievable through OEMs [original equipment manufacturers]. This commitment to local development, coupled with partnerships with major OEMs such as HP, Cisco, Dell and Lenovo, allows us to deliver world-class services at a competitive price point.

What opportunities lie ahead for the company in Mozambique?
Looking ahead, we are targeting projects of a larger scale. Our strong financial standing allows us to offer unique value propositions such as infrastructure-as-a-service solutions for companies who only need temporary IT infrastructure. This service includes hardware, comprehensive managed services and even plug-and-play user solutions for businesses that are just entering the market.
BCX is also breaking new ground by investing in Mozambique’s first public cloud. This USD 6-million project is a partnership with Alibaba Cloud and will launch in May 2024. It caters specifically to the Mozambican market and local regulatory requirements, particularly as regards data sovereignty concerns. This investment highlights our commitment to anticipating and meeting the evolving needs of the Mozambican business landscape.

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