Forbtech

What Forbtech does

Forbtech (legal name Formulated Business Technologies) is a privately held South African managed IT service provider founded in 2009 and headquartered in Alberton, Johannesburg. The company delivers managed IT, telephony (VoIP and cloud PBX), Konica Minolta multifunction printers, Zoho business applications, and resold broadband (Liquid, Vodacom, DFA) to South African small and medium-sized businesses, with targeted use cases in healthcare, legal, education, engineering, and non-profit verticals. Service delivery follows a branded five-stage methodology (Access, OnBoard, Manage, Protect, Optimize) and is supported by an in-house support desk, a Zoho Desk self-service portal, and 24/7 remote monitoring.

The company's technology stack is built on authorized-partner relationships with tier-1 vendors — Microsoft (365, Azure), Fortinet, Konica Minolta, Yealink, Yeastar, Zoho, Dell EMC, Mikrotik, Hikvision, and SolarWinds — rather than on proprietary technology. A proprietary service-delivery framework (Access-OnBoard-Manage-Protect-Optimize) and BBEEE Level 2 certification are the principal intangibles. The company also operates an ICT online store for hardware transactions.

The business model is predominantly subscription and recurring: managed IT retainers, VoIP per-user fees, HaaS hardware leasing, broadband resold on monthly contracts, and Zoho Apps subscriptions, supplemented by quote-based professional services including Virtual CIO engagements and IT audits. GTM is sales-led and direct, using the company website, WhatsApp, Zoho Bookings, email, and content marketing (an 'IT Talk' blog). Pricing is not publicly disclosed; all engagements are quote-based.

Name

Forbtech

Legal name

Formulated Business Technologies

Website

https://forbtech.co.za

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Forbtech is a South African managed IT service provider in Johannesburg offering managed IT, VoIP telephony, Konica Minolta printers, Zoho apps, and resold broadband to SMB and mid-market clients across healthcare, legal, education, and engineering verticals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Johannesburg

HQ country

South Africa

HQ region

Africa

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Managed IT Services: Ongoing delivery of managed IT solutions covering workstations, servers, networks, and security with monthly retainer/contract pricing. Services include monitoring, maintenance, support desk, and proactive management.
2. Telephony & VoIP Solutions: Voice over IP and cloud PBX telephone systems, sold as part of managed service contracts or standalone subscriptions. Revenue derived from line rentals, user fees, and hardware.
3. Hardware as a Service (HaaS): Subscription-based model where businesses lease hardware (printers, copiers, IT infrastructure) instead of purchasing outright. Provider handles maintenance, upgrades, and replacements.
4. Multifunction Printer Products & Services: Sale and ongoing service of Konica Minolta multifunction printers and copiers. Revenue includes hardware sales, consumables, and service contracts.
5. Zoho Apps Integration & Support: Implementation and ongoing support of Zoho business applications (CRM, workflows, analytics). May be bundled with managed services or sold as standalone consulting.
6. Internet/Broadband Services: Reselling of Liquid broadband fibre internet connections (10Mbps to 1Gbps symmetric, uncapped, static IP). Revenue from monthly internet service fees.
7. Professional Services & Consulting: IT consulting including Virtual CIO (VCIO) services, IT audits, IT infrastructure assessments, and cloud migration projects. Typically project-based or retainer engagements.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Forbtech is a South African managed IT service provider delivering outsourced IT solutions to businesses. Its core offerings include managed IT services (workstation, server, network and security management), VoIP/cloud PBX telephony, Konica Minolta multifunction printers, Zoho business application integration, broadband fibre internet reselling, and Hardware-as-a-Service (HaaS) subscriptions. The company wraps its services in a five-stage Access-OnBoard-Manage-Protect-Optimize methodology designed to deliver predictable, standardized IT operations.

Product overview

Forbtech is an IT business solutions provider offering a portfolio of managed services. The core offerings include Telephony (VoIP and cloud PBX systems), Managed IT Solutions (workstation management, cybersecurity, and infrastructure), Konica Minolta Multifunction Printers (office automation), Zoho Apps (business process automation), an ICT Hardware Store, and Liquid Broadband Fibre internet services. The company's service methodology follows a five-step approach: Access (analysis), OnBoard (initial setup), Manage (ongoing delivery), Protect (security and backup), and Optimize (automation and real-time issue resolution).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Telephony (VoIP & Cloud PBX) VoIP and cloud PBX telephony solutions for South African businesses, offering features such as virtual fax, call forwarding, conference calls, and mobile integration. Delivered through Yealink and Yeastar hardware and platforms, typically billed per user/line as a monthly subscription.
• Managed IT Solutions Comprehensive managed IT services covering workstation management, server management, network monitoring, security, backup, infrastructure maintenance, and 24/7 support desk for South African businesses that lack internal IT departments. Delivered under the Access-OnBoard-Manage-Protect-Optimize framework as a monthly subscription/contract.
• Konica Minolta Multifunction Printers Office automation products and services including Konica Minolta multifunction printers, copiers, and document management solutions. Sold as hardware with ongoing service contracts covering consumables, installation, and support.
• Zoho Apps Integration & Support Implementation and ongoing support of Zoho business applications (CRM, workflows, analytics, and the Zoho Suite) for process automation and analytics. Bundled with managed services or sold as standalone consulting engagements.
• ICT Online Store (Hardware Sales) E-commerce storefront selling workstations, printers, phones, and related IT hardware to business customers. Sourced from partner brands and resold directly to end customers.
• Liquid Broadband Fibre (FTTB Internet) Fibre-to-the-Business broadband internet resold from Liquid Telecom, with symmetrical speeds ranging from 10Mbps to 1Gbps, uncapped data, static IP addresses, and 1-10 contention ratio. Billed monthly on tiered pricing.
• Virtual CIO (VCIO) & IT Consulting Strategic IT leadership and consulting services including Virtual CIO engagements, IT audits, IT infrastructure assessments, and cloud migration projects. Typically delivered as project-based or retainer engagements.
• Hardware as a Service (HaaS) Subscription-based leasing of hardware (printers, copiers, IT infrastructure) with maintenance, upgrades, and replacements included. Eliminates upfront capital expenditure for clients.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduced IT operational costs through managed services model replacing need for internal IT staff
• +2 more outcomes

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• YealinkcoreTechnology or IntegrationYealink is a global communication solutions provider offering VoIP phones, video conferencing devices, and unified communications equipment. Forbtech is an authorized partner/provider of Yealink products, offering Yealink desk phones, video devices (including Microsoft Teams-certified devices), and related solutions to South African businesses.
• MicrosoftcoreTechnology or IntegrationForbtech offers Microsoft 365 and Microsoft Azure cloud services as part of its product portfolio. The company provides Microsoft Teams-certified Yealink video devices and leverages Microsoft cloud infrastructure for customer solutions.
• Konica MinoltacoreTechnology or IntegrationForbtech is an authorized dealer of Konica Minolta multifunction printers and copiers. The company offers the full range of Konica Minolta office automation products with expert knowledge, installation, and ongoing service support.
• FortinetcoreTechnology or IntegrationForbtech offers Fortinet cybersecurity and networking products, including firewalls and network security solutions. Fortinet is listed as a key technology partner on the company's website.
• ZohocoreTechnology or IntegrationForbtech is a provider and integrator of Zoho business applications, including Zoho CRM, analytics, workflows, and related Zoho Suite products. The company offers Zoho Apps as a dedicated service category and provides implementation and support services.
• Liquid Telecom (Liquid)coreTechnology or IntegrationForbtech resells Liquid Telecom's broadband fibre internet services (FTTB - Fiber to the Business). Multiple speed tiers are available including 10Mbps to 1Gbps symmetric, uncapped connections with static IP.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Datacentrix: Datacentrix is one of South Africa's largest IT managed services and infrastructure providers, offering managed IT, cloud, security, and workplace automation to mid-market and enterprise. It overlaps with Forbtech across the full managed-IT stack but operates at significantly larger scale and across more verticals.
• BCX (Telkom Business Connexion): BCX is a major South African ICT integrator and managed services provider within the Telkom group, delivering networking, cloud, security, and managed workplace services. It competes for the same SMB-to-enterprise IT services wallet Forbtech targets, but with substantially broader infrastructure and carrier assets.
• Vox Telecom: Vox is a South African ICT group offering managed IT, cloud, VoIP, connectivity and security to business customers. Forbtech resells Liquid fibre and VoIP services, while Vox owns carrier and managed-service infrastructure, making it a directly comparable competitor in the SMB managed-IT-plus-connectivity segment.
• Altron Systems Integration: Altron's SI division delivers large-scale managed IT, security, cloud, and workplace services across South Africa. It is a tier-1 incumbent in the same SMB-to-enterprise managed-IT market where Forbtech competes, though at meaningfully greater scale.
• Bytes Managed Solutions: Bytes is a leading South African IT distribution and managed services company that delivers managed IT, cloud, security, and enterprise workplace solutions. It overlaps with Forbtech across managed IT and Microsoft stacks but extends into enterprise and large public-sector markets.
• Tarsus Technologies: Tarsus Technologies is a South African IT distribution and managed-services business with broad enterprise and SMB coverage. It competes for similar Microsoft, cloud, and security budgets as Forbtech and offers channel-level reach that pressures local MSPs.

Direct peers

• Nashua (Altron-owned): Nashua is a South African office automation and managed workplace services provider with strong Konica Minolta heritage, offering managed print, document, telephony, and IT services to SMBs. Its service portfolio and SMB customer focus directly mirror Forbtech's telephony-plus-managed-IT-plus-printing bundle.

Regional players

• Mustek Limited: Mustek is a South African IT hardware distributor and managed services provider offering computing, networking, and IT services to resellers and end-clients. Its hardware-led service and VAR-style operations overlap with Forbtech's ICT store and workstation managed services.
• Regal Distributors SA: Regal Distributors is a South African IT distributor and managed-services provider focused on networking, security, and unified communications. Like Forbtech, it bundles Fortinet/Mikrotik and SMB-focused managed services, making it a relevant regional peer for vendor-aligned managed-IT services.

Emerging players

• Logicalis South Africa: Logicalis is a global MSP and Cisco Gold partner with a South African presence delivering managed network, cloud, and security services. It overlaps with Forbtech's Fortinet-led networking and managed-IT offering, though it skews more toward mid-market and enterprise.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/forbtechsa
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/forbtech

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Forbtech