Synthesis Staff, Author at Synthesis Specialized Software Development Fri, 09 May 2025 15:04:25 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.1 https://www.synthesis.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/cropped-favicon-2-1-32x32.png Synthesis Staff, Author at Synthesis 32 32 Going Beyond Theory: Real-World Lessons in Digital Transformation https://www.synthesis.co.za/going-beyond-theory-real-world-lessons-in-digital-transformation/ Fri, 09 May 2025 13:06:39 +0000 https://www.synthesis.co.za/?p=21869 Real Solutions to Real Problems “We’ve helped transform businesses across multiple industries by solving their unique integration challenges,” explains Matthew Crockett, Head of Synthesis CODE. “In shipping, we encountered a client struggling with siloed systems. Their booking system, inventory tracker, port logistics, and billing all operated independently, causing delays and errors. Customers could book containers […]

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Real Solutions to Real Problems

“We’ve helped transform businesses across multiple industries by solving their unique integration challenges,” explains Matthew Crockett, Head of Synthesis CODE. “In shipping, we encountered a client struggling with siloed systems. Their booking system, inventory tracker, port logistics, and billing all operated independently, causing delays and errors. Customers could book containers that weren’t available, and the company lacked a real-time view of operations.”

In the agricultural sector, we integrated data from 15 disparate systems into one cohesive platform. “What began as paper-based interactions with relationship managers driving to farms has evolved into a powerful 24/7 self-service platform,” notes Crockett. “This transformation has drastically improved customer experience, reduced administrative overhead, and provided a single customer view.”

For financial services clients, we’ve overcome complex regulatory requirements while modernising legacy systems. “Banks face unique challenges balancing innovation with compliance,” says Marsh Middleton, Head of Commercial at Synthesis CODE. “We’ve helped institutions create secure, integrated platforms that maintain regulatory standards while enabling new digital services.”

Key Insights from Our Experience
Through these projects, we’ve gained valuable insights applicable across industries:

“A critical lesson from our work is that syncing systems is essential for transformation,” says Middleton. “Companies often try to resolve integration challenges using pre-made API products, which can lead to accumulated licensing costs and systems that don’t fully meet their needs.”

Crockett adds, “There are pros and cons when deciding what to buy or build, but from our experience collaborating with financial services to supply chain companies, when complex systems and legacy infrastructure are involved, building a custom solution is typically best.”

A customised central API that connects all systems and presents data in a single digital platform transforms this pain point. Once established, new digital channels—mobile apps, voice assistants, or emerging technologies like VR—can be added easily without rebuilding everything.

“What’s exciting is the potential each business has,” explains Middleton. “Disconnected systems should never be the reason they don’t reach that potential.”

Our Process: Making Digital Transformation Real

When approaching digital transformation, we focus on creating a clear roadmap before implementation.

“We start by plotting where a company wants to be and then map out how to get them there,” Crockett explains. “The magic we bring is the ability to help them chart that journey and then walk it with them.”

It’s tempting to jump straight to exciting technologies, but this often leads to wasted resources. Middleton notes, “A reliable digital partner will first assess your current level of complexity and maturity, using this to dictate your next steps for digitalisation.”

This methodical approach ensures sustainable progress: “It’s like signing up for an ocean marathon without having mastered swimming in a pool. There are fundamental skills you need before diving into the endpoint magic,” says Middleton.

Our process typically follows these steps:

  1. Assessment of business needs and current systems
  2. Cloud enablement and infrastructure setup
  3. System integration and modernisation
  4. Targeted AI implementation where beneficial
  5. Knowledge transfer and team upskilling

“The business value unlocked from cloud isn’t just moving data—it’s the ability to innovate and build digital products more rapidly, releasing to customers at global scale,” says Crockett.

The Path Forward

As Mark Twain said, “The secret to getting ahead is getting started.” For businesses, meaningful digital transformation isn’t about presentations or agendas—it’s about having a clear vision, a roadmap to achieve it, and creating an integrated environment that makes digital transformation real.

“One piece of advice that stands out is to pick a partner prepared to share knowledge and upskill your team,” concludes Crockett. “When we hire, we look not just for high-end skills but for team members able to teach those skills, ensuring your success long after our project concludes.”

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Synthesis Partners with Remapped to Accelerate Oracle Workload Migrations to AWS Cloud in South Africa https://www.synthesis.co.za/synthesis-partners-with-remapped-to-accelerate-oracle-workload-migrations-to-aws-cloud-in-south-africa/ Mon, 05 May 2025 06:55:46 +0000 https://www.synthesis.co.za/?p=21797 Synthesis Software Technologies, a leading South African software development and cloud solutions provider, today announced an exciting new partnership with Remapped, an innovative SaaS platform that significantly accelerates and optimizes Oracle workload assessments for AWS cloud migrations. Synthesis is the first partner to bring this transformative solution to the South African market, setting a new […]

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Synthesis Software Technologies, a leading South African software development and cloud solutions provider, today announced an exciting new partnership with Remapped, an innovative SaaS platform that significantly accelerates and optimizes Oracle workload assessments for AWS cloud migrations. Synthesis is the first partner to bring this transformative solution to the South African market, setting a new benchmark for speed and efficiency in Oracle to AWS cloud migrations.

With over 25 years of expertise, Synthesis continues to pioneer groundbreaking technologies that deliver rapid impact and robust solutions for its customers. The introduction of Remapped enables Synthesis to further enhance its capabilities by simplifying and accelerating the complex Oracle workload assessment processes, ensuring consistent, accurate, and insightful outcomes for customers considering cloud migration.

“Partnering with Remapped empowers us to deliver optimized license assessments (OLAs) faster and more effectively,” said Paul Spagnoletti, Revenue Executive at Synthesis. “The ability to quickly and accurately assess complex Oracle workloads gives our customers clarity and confidence, streamlining their decision-making process and accelerating their migration journeys. This is a significant leap forward for cloud adoption in South Africa and a substantial value-add for our clients.”

The Remapped platform provides automated, data-driven technical and commercial analysis, significantly reducing assessment times and costs associated with Oracle workload migration projects. This partnership allows Synthesis to deliver enhanced value through reduced licensing complexities, optimized migration outcomes, and substantial cost savings, enabling them to provide a superior, expedited service to customers.

Remapped’s platform has already demonstrated substantial benefits globally, including an average 58% reduction in Oracle licensing costs and significantly shorter assessment periods. By leveraging Remapped, Synthesis anticipates driving greater efficiency and profitability for its customers, solidifying its position as the preferred cloud migration partner in the region.

Together, Synthesis and Remapped are reshaping the future of cloud migration in South Africa, helping businesses achieve faster, cost-effective, and strategically sound transitions to AWS cloud environments.

For more information, visit http://www.synthesis.co.za and https://remapped.ai/.

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Synthesis Helps Accelerate Business Cloud Journey’s With No-cost VMware Migration to AWS https://www.synthesis.co.za/synthesis-helps-accelerate-business-cloud-journeys-with-no-cost-vmware-migration-to-aws/ Wed, 02 Apr 2025 11:54:29 +0000 https://www.synthesis.co.za/?p=21449 Businesses are increasingly looking to the cloud to maximise their technology investments and accelerate digital transformation initiatives. The recent acquisition of VMware by Broadcom has introduced a wave of uncertainty and operational shakeups, leaving many businesses scrambling to secure their IT environments. In response to these challenges, Synthesis offers a compelling solution: a no-cost assessment […]

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Businesses are increasingly looking to the cloud to maximise their technology investments and accelerate digital transformation initiatives. The recent acquisition of VMware by Broadcom has introduced a wave of uncertainty and operational shakeups, leaving many businesses scrambling to secure their IT environments. In response to these challenges, Synthesis offers a compelling solution: a no-cost assessment to determine the value of migrating from on-premise VMware environments to AWS native services.

The Impact of Broadcom’s Acquisition of VMware

Broadcom’s acquisition of VMware has brought significant changes, particularly in licensing and operational structures. The shift from perpetual to subscription licensing has increased costs for some customers by up to tenfold. This dramatic expense rise has prompted many organisations to reconsider their IT strategies and explore more cost-effective alternatives.

Why VMware Customers Should Migrate to AWS

Migrating to AWS offers numerous benefits which include:

  • Enterprise Leader – AWS is positioned as a Leader in the Gartner Magic Quadrant for Cloud Infrastructure as a Service, worldwide.
  • Operational Resiliency – Helping millions of customers since 2006. Best availability track record. Running a wide variety of use cases at a greater scale than any cloud provider.
  • Long-Term Value – Continuous improvement. Culture of customer cost reductions: 134 since 2006.
  • Culture of Innovation – Recognized as the most innovative public cloud provider.
  • Breadth and Depth – AWS offers 200+ services to support any workload, with custom-built silicon like Graviton and Nitro for better performance and efficiency.

AWS provides enhanced scalability, flexibility, and the opportunity to unlock further innovation with access to its comprehensive suite of services. By moving to AWS, businesses can reduce their reliance on costly VMware licenses and take advantage of AWS’s robust infrastructure and advanced capabilities.

Synthesis’s Migration Approach

Synthesis has developed a structured approach to ensure a seamless migration from VMware to AWS. This approach consists of four key phases:

  1. Assess: The first step involves evaluating the current VMware environment and determining the best strategy for migrating workloads to AWS. This phase includes preparing a migration business case and a roadmap for future modernisation.
  2. Mobilise: In this phase, Synthesis prepares workloads for migration by establishing a best practice landing zone, creating a migration framework, and securing the necessary resources. AWS investment can be used to cover this cost partially or fully in some cases.
  3. Migrate and Modernise: Synthesis rapidly executes the migration of VMware servers to AWS, eliminating the need for VMware licenses. This phase ensures minimal downtime and disruption to business operations.
  4. Operate and Optimise (Optional): Post-migration, Synthesis offers managed services to support customer workloads, ensuring a seamless transition and ongoing optimisation.

Addressing Key Challenges

The transition from VMware to AWS addresses several critical challenges faced by businesses in the wake of Broadcom’s acquisition:

  • Licensing Changes: Broadcom’s new licensing model has significantly increased costs for on-premise VMware customers. Migrating to AWS eliminates the need for these costly licenses, providing a more cost-effective solution.
  • Support and service disruptions: mergers often lead to restructuring and shifts in service and support models. By moving to AWS, businesses can avoid potential delays, reduced service quality, or changes in support terms associated with the acquisition.
  • Strategic uncertainty: the future roadmap for VMware products under Broadcom’s ownership is unclear. Migrating to AWS provides businesses with a stable and predictable environment, aligning with their long-term IT strategies.
  • Operational disruptions: the integration of VMware into Broadcom’s operations may cause temporary or long-term disruptions. AWS offers a reliable and stable platform, ensuring the continuity of critical operations.

Why Choose Synthesis?

Synthesis stands out as a trusted partner for AWS migrations, with over a decade of experience and recently attaining AWS Premier Tier status. Recognised as one of the most highly skilled AWS partners in South Africa, Synthesis has a proven track record of successfully migrating customers to AWS. The company has also obtained the AWS Migration and Modernisation Competency, further demonstrating its expertise and commitment to delivering exceptional results. Our competencies provide our customers with AWS Funding on migration as an added benefit.

AWS Migration Pathways and Tools

AWS offers multiple migration pathways to suit different needs, including AWS native services such as EC2, ECS, EKS and Outposts. AWS’s native migration tools, such as AWS Application Migration Service (MGN) and AWS Database Migration Service (DMS), along with third-party ISV tools such as Cloudamize and Migration Evaluator, accelerate and simplify the migration process.

Synthesis’s customer-centric approach ensures that each migration is tailored to meet the unique needs and goals of the business. The no-cost assessment provides valuable insights into the potential benefits of migrating to AWS, helping businesses make informed decisions about their IT strategies.

The acquisition of VMware by Broadcom has created significant challenges for businesses relying on VMware’s on-premise solutions. Synthesis offers a timely and cost-effective solution by facilitating the migration to AWS, enabling businesses to reduce costs, enhance scalability, and unlock new opportunities for innovation. With a structured approach and a proven track record, Synthesis is the ideal partner to guide businesses through their cloud migration journey.

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Synthesis & Cintra: Your Partners for Oracle on AWS Success in South Africa https://www.synthesis.co.za/synthesis-cintra-your-partners-for-oracle-on-aws-success-in-south-africa/ Wed, 19 Feb 2025 08:00:34 +0000 https://www.synthesis.co.za/?p=21331 Synthesis and Cintra have partnered to bring the power of Oracle on AWS to South Africa. Join Paul Spagnoletti, Stuart Bunby and Abdul Sheikh on this webinar as they provide expert insights on leveraging Exadata, optimizing licensing, and planning successful migrations. We'll introduce Cintra's REMAP tool for assessments and discuss how our combined expertise can help you achieve your cloud goals.

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Synthesis and Cintra have partnered to bring the power of Oracle on AWS to South Africa. Join Paul Spagnoletti, Stuart Bunby and Abdul Sheikh on this webinar as they provide expert insights on leveraging Exadata, optimizing licensing, and planning successful migrations. We’ll introduce Cintra’s REMAP tool for assessments and discuss how our combined expertise can help you achieve your cloud goals.

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Cryptography and Data Security – Experts Unpack the Big Issues https://www.synthesis.co.za/cryptography-and-data-security-experts-unpack-the-big-issues/ Tue, 11 Feb 2025 15:04:04 +0000 https://www.synthesis.co.za/?p=21258 Synthesis in partnership with Altron and Thales hosted a round-table discussion on cryptography and data security with the help of TechCentral and Publishared recently. The event brought together leaders and professionals from various industries to explore the evolving role of data in business operations. The discussion was rich with insights, covering critical areas such as data value, security, […]

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Synthesis in partnership with Altron and Thales hosted a round-table discussion on cryptography and data security with the help of TechCentral and Publishared recently. The event brought together leaders and professionals from various industries to explore the evolving role of data in business operations.

The discussion was rich with insights, covering critical areas such as data value, security, compliance, artificial intelligence, and the future of data-driven decision-making. Participants shared their experiences and challenges, offering a comprehensive view of how organisations are adapting to the ever-changing data landscape.

The strategic role of data in business

They began by acknowledging that data is not just an operational asset but the lifeblood of modern businesses. It informs strategy, customer experience, investment decisions, and return on investment. However, the question arose: are businesses truly maximising their data’s potential?

A key discussion point was data quality – ensuring that organisations collect and maintain high-integrity data. Without clean and accurate data, insights become unreliable (garbage in, garbage out). They explored how businesses could enrich and refine data to increase its utility and overall business value. The conversation naturally led to the question of how to assign value to data.

They discussed the importance of aligning security measures with the value of the data being protected. For example, investing in a US$10-million security solution for data worth only $50 000 is not justifiable. This led to an exploration of the broader concept of the data economy, where data is monetised and its value is directly tied to its utility and relevance.

Data value and monetisation

Assigning value to data remains a challenge and the conversation naturally evolved into data monetisation and how businesses can assign tangible value to data? This led to a broader discussion on the data economy – how organisations leverage data as a revenue stream while maintaining privacy and compliance. They also discussed how businesses can break down silos and enhance data collaboration through cryptographic solutions, enabling secure data sharing while preserving privacy.

Data security and collaboration

A significant hurdle discussed was the concept of collaboration, both internally between departments and externally with partners. A key takeaway was the importance of anonymising and encrypting data to maintain security while still deriving value. The participants in the round table debated methods of stripping personally identifiable information to allow secure data sharing without compromising security policies, ethics or regulations.

Another area of concern was dated data. As businesses move towards real-time data utilization, old and outdated data loses relevance. The shift towards live-streaming data and AI-driven insights was acknowledged as a necessity for businesses striving to remain agile and competitive in 2025 and beyond. Participants also critiqued some regulations, particularly in regions like the EU, where fines for non-compliance could sometimes be seen as a cheaper alternative to investing in expensive security measures. This raised a broader question: do existing regulations genuinely improve security, or do they create unnecessary barriers to business innovation?

Data security as a business enabler

One of the most engaging discussions centred on the changing perception of security – specifically, positioning security as a business enabler and using robust data security measures as a differentiator in the market, appealing to customers who value data ethics and trust.

Round-table participants also explored the challenge of securing data while maintaining agility. Businesses need real-time insights but must balance speed with security. They debated how security gates and controls can be implemented without stifling innovation and discussed how encryption, for example, can facilitate data sharing between departments or even businesses within the same industry, breaking down silos and enabling more informed decision making.

Bridging the gap between security and business leaders

Many organisations struggle to communicate data security needs to executives and board members effectively. One attendee pointed out that CISOs and CIOs often fail to speak the board’s language, making it difficult to secure investment in security initiatives.

Instead of focusing solely on cyber risks, security leaders must frame discussions around how data security drives business value, efficiency and competitive advantage. Participants dived into the aspect of positioning and being able to align technical solutions to business gains.

Data discovery and platforming challenges

The discussion then moved into data discovery and platforming. Many organisations struggle with data silos, where valuable data is hidden across different business units and divisions. We discussed the importance of finding ways to discover and pool data from various sources, while also addressing the concerns of different teams through robust security and encryption mechanisms – allowing them to benefit from the use of the data without the challenges of it containing to sensitive information.

The evolving role of the CFO in data security

The conversation expanded beyond traditional security leadership roles, emphasising that cybersecurity is now a burden to chief financial officers. As cybersecurity investments become a critical budgetary consideration, CFOs need a deeper understanding of security risks and solutions. This shift is driving more informed financial decisions around security spending and investment in risk mitigation strategies.

Round-table panellists discussed how this change is driving more intuitive customer experiences and better business outcomes, as CFOs are now more involved in understanding the value of data and the need for innovative solutions to address gaps and fine-tune strategies. This also has a direct impact on the quality of the questions being raised about data, its security and the business’s investments in this space. Ultimately this raises the bar in terms of the questions the business can ask about data, its security and how we value that data in the first place.

Skills and the global data landscape

The discussion also touched on the loss of South African professional skills. Participants shared insights from different countries, like Nigeria, where repatriation of skills is prevalent and these professionals, having gained experience in more complex developed-world environments, bring back this thinking and innovation. There could be a “brain-gain approach” to entice skilled professionals back to share their valuable knowledge and skills in South Africa.

Participants also discussed the challenges of adopting new data-related technologies, particularly in regions like South Africa where some global innovations are not yet viable.

Key takeaways

  1. The value of data must be carefully assessed to ensure that security investments are proportionate to the data’s worth.
  2. Breaking down data silos and enabling secure data sharing through encryption is critical for collaboration.
  3. Businesses need to drill down into the utilisation of mechanisms that provide real-time data insights to improve agility and guide business strategy.

Conclusion

The round table provided a comprehensive exploration of the challenges and opportunities in cryptography and data security. From the importance of data quality and value to the evolving role of AI, the discussion highlighted the need for a balanced approach to data security that enables business growth and innovation. As businesses continue to navigate the complexities of the data landscape, the insights shared during this event will serve as a valuable guide for future strategies and data decisions.

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Synthesis TV Hype AI versus Practical AI https://www.synthesis.co.za/synthesis-tv-hype-ai-versus-practical-ai/ Tue, 14 Jan 2025 08:02:26 +0000 https://www.synthesis.co.za/?p=21209 Where to start with AI the customer journey, simplify complexity, revolutionising contact centres, and how AI protects employee well-being explains Marvin and Archana.

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Where to start with AI the customer journey, simplify complexity, revolutionising contact centres, and how AI protects employee well-being explains Marvin and Archana.

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If AI is set to transform businesses, then why are so many failing to succeed with it? https://www.synthesis.co.za/if-ai-is-set-to-transform-businesses-then-why-are-so-many-failing-to-succeed-with-it/ Mon, 18 Nov 2024 14:51:41 +0000 https://www.synthesis.co.za/?p=20978 Generative AI has entered the spotlight as one of the most exciting technological developments. But two questions arise. Firstly, when companies, like AWS and Synthesis Software Technologies, have been using it for years then why is the excitement only brewing now? Secondly, why are so many businesses failing to implement it successfully? This was the […]

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Generative AI has entered the spotlight as one of the most exciting technological developments. But two questions arise. Firstly, when companies, like AWS and Synthesis Software Technologies, have been using it for years then why is the excitement only brewing now? Secondly, why are so many businesses failing to implement it successfully?

This was the conversation on an episode of Synthesis TV where Chris Erasmus from Amazon Web Services (AWS) South Africa and Paul Spagnoletti from Synthesis Software Technologies share their insider insights.

The Rise of AI Awe

From its recommendation engine to Alexa, Amazon has been successfully implementing AI for over 25 years. And this success has been a key factor driving the company’s renowned leadership across markets.

Spagnoletti explains how Synthesis has been using it to enhance its customers’ efficiency for years from fraud detection to email routing.

What has caused the global awareness, hype, and a step change according to Erasmus is that this technology is now in the hands of consumers. It has become democratised at pace.

“In terms of the evolution of humanity, many people think of the internet as the “big thing,” explains Spagnoletti, “but it’s not. It’s going to be AI and most importantly, it’s going to be the way we handle AI that we will be known for in generations to come. That is where the excitement lies. And, of course, without the internet and the cloud, AI would not have been put into the palm of our hands. Technologies like the internet, cloud, and data intelligence are all very big pieces of this incredible puzzle that we’re playing with, enabling everyone to experience AI.”

Business Breakdown

But why are so many businesses experiencing a breakdown and not business build-up when it comes to using AI?

“Because not everyone is taking the step back and actually thinking about the data and their data strategy and having that house in order to take real advantage of AI. That’s the biggest contributor to AI success,” explains Erasmus.

Spagnoletti explains that his customers’ first request is to use AI to leapfrog their business. But this is often where the mistakes come in. Businesses want to jump into AI without the fundamentals in place and without understanding the most relevant use cases for their businesses. Explaining this creates the “penny-drop moment.”

“We get so caught up in the passion around the technology that we go for the big shiny thing when actually some of the work that that AWS have done within Amazon itself, around the supply chain for example, that’s not the big shiny thing but the value to the business is profound. It’s almost hidden and nobody really talks about that. We get caught in the hype and not the value that can be built with AI anywhere from overlooked processes to boring administration. Value can live anywhere,” says Spagnoletti.

The AI Advantage

For successful businesses, Generative AI is already being used to create smarter, more personalised customer experiences, streamline internal operations, and even drive new business models. In many ways, AI represents the next frontier for these businesses.

Their recipe for success, according to the discussion on Synthesis TV, lies in their implementing the fundamentals and moving from there.

They start with an understanding of the underlying data fabric. They assess its accuracy, determine its location, and strategise how to leverage it effectively.

They understand where they want to go, and what they want to achieve and plan a clear route forward taking progressive steps over massive manoeuvres. Success is about the business value and not about the technology itself. Successful projects are purpose-driven.

Security is ground zero and they ensure data safety before launching any solutions. This includes foundational details from understanding where their data sits and how secure it is.

Lastly, most of these businesses have migrated to the cloud because it makes implementing AI cheaper, faster, and more effective.

Cloud Cadence

AI has been a driving factor around cloud cadence. Businesses once asked: “Should we move to the cloud?” Today the question has shifted to “How do we move to the cloud most effectively?”

However, businesses that “lift and shift” into the cloud miss the opportunity to access AI. Businesses are increasingly recognising that they must refactor and optimise their systems to fully unlock the cloud’s potential and the AI advantages that it enables. “Our customers understand that success means modernising and optimising the cloud. A recent customer wanted to lift and shift 60% of their estate only to come back to us and ask to optimise it completely. They want to leverage the cloud fully to shift the needle and access innovation,” says Spagnoletti.

However, migrating to the cloud is not simple. Many companies face significant challenges balancing legacy processes with the demands of modern cloud solutions. Businesses that haven’t fully transitioned are often caught in a state of “paralysis by analysis,” hesitating to move forward due to their fear of failure.

To force themselves into the new world of cloud, some companies are opting for a lift and shift as a stepping stone.

However, getting the technical aspects of the cloud right is not the only challenge. Cultural resistance often presents an even bigger obstacle. Legacy businesses may struggle with outdated principles and processes that slow down their adoption of newer technologies. The real challenge isn’t just moving to the cloud—it’s educating all relevant employees, gaining approval, and making the most of cloud infrastructure once there.

Engaging the Experts

Overcoming these challenges is where AWS and Synthesis play a critical role. They offer expertise not just in cloud infrastructure but also in optimising cloud adoption so businesses can thrive with AI and implement AI innovations successfully.

Synthesis, with its roots in software development rather than infrastructure, has taken a unique approach to cloud adoption. Unlike traditional infrastructure players who were forced to adapt to the rise of cloud computing, Synthesis embraced cloud technologies from a development perspective, recognising that putting code on servers wasn’t enough. AWS, with its flexibility, scalability, and constant innovation, became its platform of choice, allowing Synthesis to extend the value of its software for its clients.

“As AWS’s first Advanced Partner in Africa, and now 1 of 2 AWS Premier Partners in Africa, Synthesis has been instrumental in helping companies not only migrate but also fully leverage cloud-native features to shift the needle in their business operations.

We have spent over a decade investing in competencies and being at the forefront because we know what the cloud can achieve for businesses. Today, by combining our cloud skills and data, security, and AI expertise, we are proud to work hand in hand with AWS to ensure our customers are an AI success story and not another failed business” explains Spagnoletti.

The awe surrounding AI is apt and with the right expertise, foundations, technologies, and clear directions, certain businesses will be guaranteed radically transformative outcomes. The stage is set. It is now up to the players to own the show.

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Synthesis Achieves AWS Premier Tier Status in the Amazon Web Services Partner Network https://www.synthesis.co.za/synthesis-achieves-aws-premier-tier-status-in-the-amazon-web-services-partner-network/ Thu, 26 Sep 2024 17:28:04 +0000 https://www.synthesis.co.za/?p=20551 Synthesis Software Technologies announced today that it has achieved Premier tier in the AWS Partner Network (APN). The achievement is significant and differentiates Synthesis as an AWS Partner who demonstrated expertise and notable success in helping customers design, architect, build, migrate, and manage their workloads on AWS. “Synthesis is delighted to achieve AWS Premier tier […]

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Synthesis Software Technologies announced today that it has achieved Premier tier in the AWS Partner Network (APN).

The achievement is significant and differentiates Synthesis as an AWS Partner who demonstrated expertise and notable success in helping customers design, architect, build, migrate, and manage their workloads on AWS.

“Synthesis is delighted to achieve AWS Premier tier partner status” said Michael Shapiro, Managing Director at Synthesis. “I am incredibly proud of our team for achieving Premier partner status. This recognition validates our deep expertise in AWS and highlights the significant benefits for our customers. With this achievement, we can offer even greater access to advanced AWS resources, solutions, and support. Our clients with our assistance can confidently leverage the full potential of AWS to drive innovation, realise global reach with high availability, and scale efficiently, all while benefiting from our team’s proven commitment to their success in navigating complex cloud journeys.”

To earn the Premier tier, partners must complete a rigorous approval process through accreditations and certifications, must demonstrate a long-term investment in their relationship with AWS, and must have extensive expertise in deploying customer solutions on AWS. AWS Premier Tier Services Partners also have a strong team of AWS Trained & Certified technical consultants and have deep expertise in project management and professional services.

The Journey To Now…

Synthesis has been working with AWS for more than 10 years, being one of the longest-standing AWS partners on the African continent. The software development company has been proudly recognised as a technically astute partner for AWS, which has been supported by the achievement of many competencies.

Confirming our ability to execute for our customers and naturally AWS, some of our highlights would include:

  • Designing and deploying many of the initial AWS Landing Zones ( LZ’s)
  • Migrating and modernising complex workloads in the Banking sector
  • Being the first local partner to obtain Competency accreditation in Financial Services in the SSA region
  • Being the first local partner to obtain Security competency in the SSA Region

Synthesis possesses core competencies spanning multiple domains, including Financial Services, Security Solutions, Migration and Modernisation, DevOps, Microsoft Workloads, and Public Sector.

While the achievement of this significant milestone is a notable accomplishment for Synthesis, the primary beneficiary remains the esteemed Synthesis clientele. The success attained ultimately translates into enhanced value and advantages for our valued customers.

Synthesis possesses an extensive and proven history of experience complemented by multiple professional certifications. Our organisation is well-equipped to support clients through every phase of their digital transformation journey. We deliver value-added services in the following areas:

  • Assessing customer’s environment for Cloud
  • Building out Landing Zones against the backdrop of best practice
  • Migrating and modernising workloads for the cloud
  • Automating through DevOps
  • Providing insight through the Synthesis FinOps practice
  • Securing environments through Cloud Security offerings and services
  • Underpinning this with MSP (Managed Services Partner) capability, operationalising   cloud environments through best-in-class engineering skills

Synthesis then further enhances investment in cloud through native and ISV (Independant Software Vendor) solutions like Platform Engineering, Event Streaming, GenAI, and ML (Machine Learning) modelling, to name a few, to extend applications and deliver business and customer value.

“We are really appreciative to our amazing partners at AWS for this recognition. Our partnership continues to grow stronger owing to the close collaboration and focus. As we expand and grow our operations across Europe and the Middle East, this premier status serves as a powerful validation of our capabilities and expertise. It reinforces our reputation as a trusted partner and opens doors to new opportunities, solidifying our position as a leading cloud solutions provider in these dynamic markets”, explains Ariel Weber, Head of Growth at Synthesis.

This year, Synthesis was voted the preferred software development company in South Africa for large business projects (MyBroadband, 2024).

Making contributions to the advancement of technology in our country, Synthesis recently won the Prize of Excellence with AWS for the AI Launchpad solution and the Intelligent Software Partner Award 2024 at the ICT Awards Africa.

“For Synthesis, it does not stop there, we now offer a VMWare no-to-low-cost migration program to migrate from VMware to native AWS technology such as EC2/ (The heart of the AWS architecture allowing organisations to have scalable computing capacity providing the ability to develop and deploy applications without hardware constraints).  We are also currently looking at additional competencies such as MSP, GenAI, and Cloud Operations. The Premier Partner Status now provides even more benefits and access to these programs and advantages for our customers, which is very exciting for us”, says Paul Spagnoletti, Head of Cloud, Security, and Managed Services at Synthesis.

Synthesis recently assisted BankServAfrica in the launch of PayShap, the first fully functioning ACH payment system that runs in the cloud, the first application to be implemented in the AWS cloud because it didn’t have the complexity of legacy systems and would allow Synthesis to establish a well-architected cloud infrastructure for future implementations of migrations of applications.

The PayShap platform was launched in March 2023 and was built to address key goals recognised by the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) and the Payments Association of South Africa (PASA). Synthesis designed and developed Cloud infrastructure for BankservAfrica as a requirement for the deployment of PayShap, and built the foundation for the organisations ongoing cloud journey. The payments platform links communication between BankservAfrica and the participating Top-tier South African Banks. The platform provides best-in-class AWS cloud and security benefits. The solution that has been deployed provides a scalable inter-bank, real-time payments system with a greater uptime from the launch date.

This is a testimonial to our success, and we look forward to many more stories to share.

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AWS: Celebrating Partnership https://www.synthesis.co.za/aws-celebrating-partnership/ Mon, 19 Aug 2024 13:30:28 +0000 https://www.synthesis.co.za/?p=20188 Chris Erasmus, The Country General Manager, South Africa at AWS and Executive Head of Cloud & Security at Synthesis, Paul Spagnoletti, discuss how partnerships have helped AWS accelerate business growth in South Africa.

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Chris Erasmus, The Country General Manager, South Africa at AWS and Executive Head of Cloud & Security at Synthesis, Paul Spagnoletti,  discuss how partnerships have helped AWS accelerate business growth in South Africa. 

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Synthesis AI Launchpad Marketing Content Generator https://www.synthesis.co.za/synthesis-ai-launchpad-marketing-content-generator/ Tue, 30 Jul 2024 12:41:05 +0000 https://www.synthesis.co.za/?p=19528 Enoch Chandayengerwa, explains how you can use the Synthesis AI Launchpad as a Marketing Content Generator.

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Enoch Chandayengerwa, explains how you can use the Synthesis AI Launchpad as a Marketing Content Generator.

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