Microbits no longer a white-box maker

SA-based Microbits has moved away from assembling white-boxes to become a distributor of US based Ardence range of desktop and server management software.

Max Mentiplay, managing director at Microbits, said the deal, signed in late March, was due to the company’s need to change its focus from assembler to distributor.

“When you get to margins of 10 percent you have to be a magician to stay in business. There's been a real shift towards customers purchasing PCs from big name vendors because the price difference between tier one and white boxes are no longer different.”

Mentiplay also said distrbibuting Ardence’s software streaming product range takes the company back to basics, he said.

“We have gone back to looking at what is the customer’s biggest problem and how do we resolve it with IT?” he added.

Microbits will distribute Ardence’s desktop and server products including, Desktop Addition, Data Centre Addition (for servers) and Ardence Secure Edtion.

Mentiplay said Ardence’s security software was being used by the US military and some US-based nuclear power plants.

“We have continued to supply products to the education sector, government department and some commercial industries. Our focus has been in South Australia, however with Ardence we are looking for reseller partners in other states to help us,” he said.