Harris Technology buys notebook reseller

Harris Technology has bought out mobile computing specialist Portable Computer Systems (PCS) for an undisclosed sum.

Nancie Horne, general manager at North Sydney-based PCS, could not say how much Harris Technology had paid for her company but said the acquisition would give the 15-person corporate reseller a lot more leverage.

“[But] even though we didn't have an online presence and will become part of an online player with Harris, our focus has been a personalised approach to major corporates to sell,” she said.

PCS managing director John Clarke is retiring, but Horne said that it was mostly business as usual for PCS's single North Sydney outlet.

The 15-year-old reseller will continue to operate out of its North Sydney premises under the PCS banner for the immediate future and Horne -- who has also been there for 15 years -- plans to stay on. “Harris Technology seems very keen to keep things as they are,” she said.

However, she conceded becoming part of a large organisation such as Harris Technology -- a subsidiary of retail giant Coles Myer -- meant eventually that change could be expected. “We are expecting to be much more successful as a result.”

David Foster, managing director of Harris Technology, was on holiday when CRN called, but said in a media statement that PCS had an award-winning ProCare service centre and a corporate and government client base that would complement Harris Technology and contribute to the latter's growth.

Ivan Baric, national marketing manager for Harris Technology, said the financial details were “commercial-in-confidence”. PCS had been on the market, and Harris Technology saw the company as a good fit, he said.
“PCS is a successful company and has a similar focus on corporate and government,” Baric said.

John Clarke, PCS' retiring managing director, said the companies shared the same philosophy. “Our customers are at the heart of what we do and who we are. Both have experienced exceptional growth in the IT market and through becoming a part of Harris Technology we have the opportunity to add value to both companies,” he said in a statement.

PCS -- a previous Toshiba Reseller of the Year -- buys as required from 30 to 40 vendors, but focuses mainly on Toshiba products.