About Us

and what we do.

Since 2013, Hive Information and Communication Technology has been dedicated to providing top-notch IT and networking services to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in and around Johannesburg. Our mission is simple: to empower businesses with the technology they need to thrive and grow.

With over a decade of experience in the industry, we understand the unique challenges that SMEs face when it comes to IT infrastructure and network management. That's why we offer tailored solutions designed to meet the specific needs of each client, ensuring reliable, secure, and efficient systems.

Whether you're looking for managed IT services, network setup and maintenance, or cybersecurity solutions, we are committed to delivering expert support and exceptional service. Our team of skilled professionals works closely with you to understand your business goals and provide cost-effective solutions that keep your operations running smoothly.

At HiveICT, we take pride in building long-lasting relationships with our clients. Your success is our success, and we are here to support you every step of the way.

Services

Hardware

Solution Design and Sourcing

Software

Configuration and Implementation

Maintenance

Support and Maintenance

Property Management

• Objective:

Monitor solar inverters in real-time across a number of properties.

• Tech:

• Abstract:

The client installed inverters, batteries, and panels at six small commercial properties across Gauteng. However, the cloud service provided by the hardware manufacturer was designed for single-site installations, making it difficult to access information for reporting or taking action. Additionally, the data was reported every 5 minutes, but the client needed real-time information.

• Solution:

• Hardware:

We used a standard, commonly available single-board computer (SBC) with a custom enclosure to house both the SBC and the RS485 to USB adapter. No additional on-site devices were required since the data was directly pushed to the cloud.

• Software:

We developed a service that runs on the SBC, which reads data from the inverter via an RS485 interface and stores it in a queue for transmission to the cloud service. Additionally, a virtual machine was set up to collect (via MQTT) and store the data from each site, as well as to host the dashboard and automate the reporting processes.

• Outcome:

The client gained valuable insights into the status of the property’s inverters, including grid supply status, current power usage, and the total usage for both the current and previous month. We also recorded the times when the grid supply dropped and returned, along with the duration of the outages. This data enabled the property owner to negotiate a backup supply rate per hour with their tenants, which was added to future rental agreements, ultimately enabling them to increase the return on investment (ROI) for the solar systems.

Branch Network

• Objective:

Two remote branches required access to clients head office.

• Tech:

• Abstract:

The client needed staff at their branches to access sales and manufacturing data created by personnel at the head office. Additionally, the client required Time and Attendance devices at the branches to communicate with a central server at the head office.

• Solution:

• Hardware:

Mikrotik routers were placed at branches as well as head office, the router at head office was configured to act as the VPN concentrator while the branches were configured to split traffic destined for head office through the vpn tunnel and all other internet traffic was routed as usual.

• Software:

We also created a simple web interface that allows the admin at the head office to manage VPN access credentials for both branch locations and remote users.

• Outcome:

Staff at the branches no longer needed to email large sales and technical files, which were taking up unnecessary space in their inboxes. Attendance data was consolidated on a single server at the head office, enabling the client to integrate it with their payroll software. Additionally, this setup allowed the client to support hybrid and flexible work for sales reps covering large regions.

Digital Signage

• Objective:

Automatically distribute marketing and product content to remote branches across southern Africa.

• Tech:

• Abstract:

The client had been sending USB thumb drives containing marketing and product media (videos and images) to be played on a loop on monitors throughout their stores. The issue they faced was that some stores were playing incorrect media, often featuring promotions that had already expired.

• Solution:

• Hardware:

We consulted with the client and designed a signage interface featuring a considerable amount of animation, which required a fairly powerful device. After evaluating options, we decided to use Intel NUC i3 miniature computers.

• Software:

Taking advantage of an existing library, we built a cloud service to centrally store all current content and promotional materials. On the branch side, we customized an operating system to fetch the latest content after hours and display it in an organized view, which also included news and weather updates. Since the content is fetched and stored locally rather than streamed, the system remains resilient to internet outages.

• Outcome:

The client no longer had to coordinate the physical distribution of content, giving their social media and marketing manager the ability to deploy promotions across all their outlets effortlessly.

Contact Us

Let us know how we can help you.

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