Zonke Monitoring Systems (ZMS) was established in 2000 in anticipation of the National Gambling Board releasing an RFP for the monitoring of limited payout machines. It was launched with a single purpose of responding to the RFP following the then Minister of Trade and Industry, Alec Erwin, opting for a single central monitoring system.
ZMS’s monitoring system software and hardware for the limited payout machine industry are developed and manufactured locally, although some components are still imported. On the Key Systems side, ZMS has an agreement with Key Systems in the USA to manufacture some components and assemble locally.
“We started with manufacturing enclosures locally and will increase the local content as and when adequate skills are developed. It is high on our agenda as we have the sole distributorship for Africa,” said ZMS CEO, Hosea Malope.
“Our vision was to start operations in South Africa and then target the international market. Unfortunately the rollout in South Africa took long to start, which forced us to review our strategy. In the last two years we started some operations in Swaziland and Zimbabwe. These are with operators as opposed to regulators as these countries’ legislations do not provide for central monitoring.”
ZMS provide two solutions. The main solution monitors gambling activities for player protection, revenue, taxation and compliance with standards and legislation. The second solution is based on the same concept, but monitors keys and assets. Both systems provide access from anywhere for effective monitoring.
Malope says ZMS’s customers are “route operators, bingo operators, casino operators and any company that has assets that must be secured.
“We will be working with the regulator on the continent to introduce central monitoring of gambling activities. We will focus on the two solutions and rather grow into other territories as opposed to adding products. We are in talks with at least six countries and hope that our efforts will begin to pay off soon.”
The central monitoring system benefits the following:
* Member of the pubic – The machines they play pay according to the legislation and cannot be manipulated.
* The Gambling Board uses the system to ensure effective regulation and account for revenue due to the government coffers.
* The provincial government and treasury are assured that gambling taxes and VAT payable by the industry are accurate.
Key and Asset Management Solutions on the other hand if implemented properly have the following benefits:
* There will never be a need to change locks in a building as keys should never leave the office.
* No productivity loss due to misplaced key or assets.
* You always know who took the key or asset and for how long.
* Tighter control of important keys and assets.
* Email and SMS alerts for all violations.
* It can integrate with the access control and clocking system.
* Reduced insurance premiums and claims.
ZMS currently employs 36 fulltime staff members and recently took four students on a learnership programme. “We feel we need to accelerate skills development, especially for previously disadvantaged individuals,” said Malope.
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