Commander reviewing staff numbers

Commander will review its staff numbers over the next four months in order to determine any overlap following its purchase of Volante, according to company boss Adrian Coote.

Coote told CRN Commander’s buyout of Volante was in the compulsory acquisition phase, which means remaining shareholders have to let the supplier acquire Volante.

“We have taken people from Volante and Commander to make up an integration team. It will go through a three month period of review both company’s departments to see where staffing issues overlap.

“However my feeling is Volante who look after IT services won’t have departments that clash with Commander.”

Coote also it would be another three to four months before any definitive plans for staff cuts are made.

In other Commander news, the company said it would extend its regional service centres around Australia, following a successful pilot in Launceston, Tasmania.

"Commander Centres" - owned and operated by franchisees - provide a point of contact for sales and support for the integrator's range of voice and IT hardware and communications services.

"By opening centres in key regional areas, more SMBs and regional branch offices will benefit from a convenient single source and one-stop-shop for Commander solutions,” he said.

Depending on the location, each facility will employ between five and 12 people in sales and service roles.

Coote said the Launceston centre was fully operational, while Hobart was still under construction.

“Three additional centres will be opened over the next six-eight months, across in Wollongong, NSW, Mandurah, WA and Ballarat, Victoria.”

By the end of 2007, a total of 14 more centres in other major regional centres in Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland will be opened, said Coote.