Maxtec
Maxtec (rebranded QBS Software Africa) is a South Africa-based value-added distributor of enterprise software, cybersecurity, and infrastructure technologies serving channel partners, resellers, and software vendors across Southern, East, and West Africa.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1988
- HeadquartersBryanston, South Africa
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Maxtec does
Maxtec, operating since 1986/1988 as a South African private company (legal entity Maxtec Peripherals (PTY) Ltd), is a value-added distributor (VAD) of enterprise software, cybersecurity, and infrastructure technologies serving channel partners and resellers across Southern, East, and West Africa. Following its 2026 acquisition by the UK-headquartered QBS Technology Group, the company was rebranded as QBS Software Africa and now operates as a controlled subsidiary within QBS's global software distribution conglomerate, with headquarters in Johannesburg (Fourways) and an East Africa regional office in Nairobi.
The company does not develop proprietary products. Its offering consists of a curated distribution portfolio spanning 15+ third-party vendors across cybersecurity (Fortinet, Thales-Imperva, ItsMine, Orca Security, Sectigo, Fortra, Acronis), IT operations and ITSM (Atera, Ivanti, TeamViewer), risk and compliance (Qualys), document productivity (Nitro, Bluebeam), storage (Nexsan), and network automation (NetBrain). Delivery is enabled by the QBS Software Delivery Platform, which grants access to over 12,500 global and niche software vendors, alongside AWS Marketplace Designated Seller of Record (DSOR) status that allows direct procurement through AWS.
The business model is B2B2B: Maxtec earns distribution margins by onboarding vendors, recruiting and enabling channel resellers, and providing technical pre-sales, professional and managed services, training, and go-to-market support. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed. Customer segments are primarily technology partners/resellers and software vendors, with secondary exposure to MSPs, mid-market enterprises, and AEC (architecture, engineering, construction) professionals. Revenue mechanics are recurring in nature via ongoing vendor licensing relationships.
Maxtec firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Maxtec
- Legal name
- Maxtec Peripherals (PTY) Ltd
- Website
- https://maxtec.co.za
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1988
- Operating status
- Acquired
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Maxtec (rebranded QBS Software Africa) is a South Africa-based value-added distributor of enterprise software, cybersecurity, and infrastructure technologies serving channel partners, resellers, and software vendors across Southern, East, and West Africa.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Maxtec industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Enterprise Software Distribution
- NAICS
- Other Computer Related Services (541519)
- SIC
- Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)
- akta.pro primary industry
- IT Procurement & Sourcing Services (Hardware/Software) (BPAEAOAG)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- IT Asset Discovery, Inventory & CMDB Services (BPAEAOAE)
Keywords
Where Maxtec is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Bryanston
- HQ country
- South Africa
- HQ region
- Africa
Offices2 records
Markets served
Maxtec business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Value-Added Distribution: Revenue generated through value-added distribution of software, cybersecurity and infrastructure technologies to partners across Africa. The company earns margins through vendor partnerships, providing technical enablement, marketing support, and localization services.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
Maxtec product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Maxtec (QBS Software Africa) is a value-added distributor of enterprise software, cybersecurity and infrastructure technologies across Africa, sourcing solutions from more than 12,500 global and niche software vendors and delivering them to channel partners and resellers in Southern, East and West Africa. The company combines regional technical enablement, professional services, training and managed services with the QBS Software Delivery Platform to give vendors a route into African markets and give partners access to global vendor portfolios. It holds AWS Marketplace Designated Seller of Record status and operates a structured partner zone for onboarding, procurement and deal structuring.
Product overview
Maxtec (now rebranded as QBS Software Africa) operates as a value-added distributor (VAD) of enterprise software, cybersecurity, and infrastructure technologies across Africa. The company does not develop its own proprietary product but rather distributes and enables a portfolio of third-party vendor solutions. The product portfolio consists of distributed vendor brands spanning cybersecurity (Fortinet, Thales-Imperva, ItsMine, Orca Security, Fortra), IT operations and service management (Atera, Ivanti, TeamViewer), risk and compliance (Qualys), document productivity (Nitro, Bluebeam), certificate management (Sectigo), storage (Nexsan), and network automation (NetBrain). These products are delivered through the QBS Software Delivery Platform, combining local expertise with access to over 12,500 global software vendors. Services include technical enablement, professional and advisory services, managed services, and channel development support for partners across Southern, East, and West Africa.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Fortinet Distribution Distribution of Fortinet's unified cybersecurity platform covering network, endpoint and cloud security with the Fortinet Security Fabric ecosystem and Security Fabric solutions providing automated protection, detection and response. Delivered to IT resellers and channel partners across Africa.
- Thales-Imperva Distribution Distribution of Thales-Imperva data security and cybersecurity solutions that safeguard organizations against cyber threats and secure sensitive information across cloud, data centers and networks. Delivered to channel partners across Africa.
- Qualys Distribution Distribution of the Qualys Enterprise TruRisk Platform providing unified cyber risk posture visibility and enabling precise remediation activities to measure and eliminate cyber risk. Delivered to resellers and partners across Africa.
- Ivanti Distribution Distribution of Ivanti unified endpoint management, zero trust security and IT service management solutions providing single-pane-of-glass visibility for enterprises to secure and service devices, combined with Maxtec's implementation and support services.
- ItsMine Distribution Distribution of ItsMine agentless data loss prevention (DLP) solution that protects against data exfiltration and intellectual property theft, typically deployable in under one hour. Delivered to African channel partners.
- TeamViewer Distribution Distribution of the TeamViewer remote connectivity platform enabling instant IT support, seamless collaboration and secure cross-device access for businesses across African markets.
- Atera Distribution Distribution of the Atera all-in-one IT management platform for managed service providers (MSPs) combining remote monitoring and management (RMM), professional services automation (PSA), help desk, ticketing, patch management and AI-powered automation into a single solution. Delivered with Maxtec's implementation, onboarding and localized support.
- Nitro Distribution Distribution of the Nitro PDF productivity platform enabling document creation, editing, conversion, e-signatures and secure sharing with OCR capabilities and Microsoft 365/SharePoint integrations. Delivered to African channel partners.
- Orca Security Distribution Distribution of Orca agentless cloud security solution providing centralized visibility of cloud estates and enabling security teams to focus on remediating actual risks. Delivered to African channel partners.
- Bluebeam Distribution Distribution of Bluebeam PDF-based collaboration solutions (part of Nemetschek Group) for architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) professionals, enabling project workflow and digital collaboration, with Maxtec providing localized onboarding, training and ongoing support.
- Sectigo Distribution Distribution of Sectigo Certificate Manager (SCM), a universal platform for managing digital certificate lifecycles for enterprise human and machine identities, supporting public CAs, private CAs and automation. Delivered to African channel partners.
- Acronis Distribution Distribution of Acronis cyber protection solutions providing backup, disaster recovery and security for endpoints, servers and cloud workloads. Delivered to African channel partners.
- Nexsan Distribution Distribution of Nexsan enterprise storage solutions providing secure, reliable data storage systems. Delivered to African channel partners and enterprise customers.
- Fortra Distribution Distribution of Fortra enterprise security and automation software solutions. Delivered to African channel partners and enterprise customers.
- NetBrain Distribution Distribution of NetBrain network automation and intelligence platform for enterprise network management and troubleshooting. Delivered to African channel partners and enterprise customers.
- Value-Added Distribution and Partner Enablement Services Value-added distribution and enablement services covering technical enablement, pre-sales expertise, demonstrations, training (including Fortinet, Qualys and Thales-Imperva classroom training), proof-of-concept support, professional services, managed services, vendor onboarding, partner recruitment and channel & market development support for technology partners and software vendors across Southern, East and West Africa.
Companies that use Maxtec
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Maxtec technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Maxtec partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
15 partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- BluebeamcoreStrategic partnership announced March 17, 2026 to expand digital collaboration capabilities across southern and eastern Africa, targeting architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) professionals. Bluebeam, part of the Nemetschek Group and developer of PDF-based collaboration solutions, will leverage Maxtec's regional expertise and partner ecosystem to deliver localized onboarding, training, and ongoing support.
- AteracoreStrategic partnership to deliver AI-powered IT operations across southern and eastern Africa. Atera is positioned as the world's first autonomous IT platform unifying RMM, help desk, ticketing, and patch management with AI agents. The partnership combines Atera's capabilities with Maxtec's implementation, onboarding, and localized support services. South Africa represents a key growth opportunity for Atera.
- IvanticorePartnership to develop smarter IT service management (ITSM) solutions focused on intelligence, service, and security. The collaboration enables delivery of intelligent ITSM solutions to the African market.
- FortinetcoreValue-added distribution partnership for Fortinet's unified cybersecurity platform including Security Fabric solutions that provide automated protection, detection, and response across Fortinet and 500+ third-party solutions.
- Thales-ImpervacoreDistribution partnership for Thales-Imperva cybersecurity solutions that safeguard organizations against cyber threats and secure sensitive information across cloud, data centers, and networks.
- QualyscoreDistribution partnership for Qualys Enterprise TruRisk Platform providing unified cyber risk posture visibility and remediation activities.
- TeamViewercoreDistribution partnership for TeamViewer remote connectivity platform enabling instant IT support, seamless collaboration, and secure operations across devices.
- ItsMinecoreDistribution partnership for ItsMine agentless data loss prevention (DLP) solution typically requiring less than 1 hour to deploy.
- NitrocoreDistribution partnership for Nitro PDF productivity platform enabling document creation, editing, conversion, signing, and secure sharing with OCR and Microsoft 365 integrations.
- Orca SecuritycoreDistribution partnership for Orca agentless cloud security solution providing centralized visibility of cloud estates and risk remediation.
- SectigocoreDistribution partnership for Sectigo Certificate Manager (SCM) managing digital certificate lifecycles for human and machine identities.
- AcroniscoreDistribution partnership for Acronis cyber protection solutions.
- NexsancoreDistribution partnership for Nexsan storage solutions.
- FortracoreDistribution partnership for Fortra cybersecurity and automation solutions.
- NetBraincoreDistribution partnership for NetBrain network automation solutions.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Maxtec competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Exclusive Networks: Listed global value-added distributor specializing in cybersecurity and infrastructure solutions — directly comparable to Maxtec's Fortinet/Qualys/Thales-Imperva cybersecurity-led distribution model. Operates a similar VAD model with regional channel enablement.
- Westcon-Comstor: Global VAD focused on cybersecurity, networking, and collaboration vendors — directly comparable business model to Maxtec, with deep African presence and similar enterprise vendor portfolio (including Fortinet and others that overlap with Maxtec's line card).
- Rectron: South African value-added distributor of enterprise software, hardware, and digital solutions — a direct regional competitor to Maxtec/QBS Software Africa in the South African channel with overlapping vendor categories and similar SMB/enterprise partner base.
- Tarsus Distribution: South African value-added distributor of enterprise IT products including software, networking, and security solutions — a direct regional VAD competitor to Maxtec with similar customer segments (resellers, system integrators) across Southern Africa.
- ALSO Group: European-headquartered VAD with growing African operations — closely comparable VAD business model with vendor enablement, logistics, and channel services, competing for the same global vendor partnerships Maxtec holds.
- Datacentrix: South African integrated ICT solutions provider and value-added distributor with enterprise software, infrastructure, and services capabilities — a direct regional peer overlapping with Maxtec on enterprise IT distribution and managed services in Southern Africa.
Broad incumbents
- TD Synnex: One of the world's largest IT distributors with broad software, hardware, and services distribution — a broad incumbent that competes with Maxtec on enterprise vendor relationships and increasingly on African market coverage, but at vastly greater scale.
- Ingram Micro: Global IT distribution giant with established African operations (including via Pinnacle acquisition in South Africa) — broad incumbent competitor with overlapping vendor portfolio and greater financial scale than Maxtec.
Emerging players
- Pax8: Cloud-focused VAD/distributor serving MSPs with SaaS procurement and enablement — an emerging player with a comparable MSP-focused distribution motion (similar to Maxtec's Atera and RMM/PSA portfolio), though primarily cloud-native rather than mixed-model.
- Sherweb: Cloud services distributor focused on Microsoft and security SaaS distribution to MSPs — comparable cloud-led VAD model with similar MSP enablement capabilities, though without Maxtec's African geographic footprint.
Market position
Strengths1 record
Weaknesses1 record
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Maxtec social profiles
Digital presenceMaxtec financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Maxtec leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Maxtec funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Maxtec M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Maxtec
What does Maxtec do?
Maxtec (QBS Software Africa) is a value-added distributor of enterprise software, cybersecurity and infrastructure technologies across Africa, sourcing solutions from more than 12,500 global and niche software vendors and delivering them to channel partners and resellers in Southern, East and West Africa. The company combines regional technical enablement, professional services, training and managed services with the QBS Software Delivery Platform to give vendors a route into African markets and give partners access to global vendor portfolios. It holds AWS Marketplace Designated Seller of Record status and operates a structured partner zone for onboarding, procurement and deal structuring.
Is Maxtec a public or private company?
Maxtec is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently acquired.
When was Maxtec founded?
Maxtec was founded in 1988. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Maxtec based?
Maxtec is headquartered in Bryanston, South Africa, in the Africa region.
How does Maxtec make money?
One revenue line is on record: value-Added Distribution.
Who are Maxtec's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Exclusive Networks, Westcon-Comstor, Rectron, Tarsus Distribution, ALSO Group and Datacentrix. Broad incumbents are TD Synnex and Ingram Micro. Emerging players are Pax8 and Sherweb.
Does Maxtec have an API?
No public API is recorded for Maxtec.
What industry is Maxtec in?
Maxtec's product category is Enterprise Software Distribution. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAEAOAG, IT Procurement & Sourcing Services (Hardware/Software), with a secondary code of BPAEAOAE, IT Asset Discovery, Inventory & CMDB Services. Its NAICS code is 541519 and its SIC code is 7372.