São Paulo – Navita, a Brazilian company that specialises in software development for corporate Websites and support to corporate BlackBerry mobile telephones, is investing in a process of brand internationalisation. The company’s strategic planning provides for partners and clients to be sought after in the main Latin American countries this year. Starting next year, the focus will be on the Asian and Arab markets.
"We have a plan for the second half and expect to generate good deals still this year, and then significantly expand in 2010, through partnerships with local companies that develop projects for Websites and BlackBerry, and also through partnerships with mobile operators," says Roberto Dariva, executive director at Navita. "Our initial focus is in Latin America, due to the fact that we know it better. We are not well acquainted with the Middle East and North Africa market yet, but it is part of our future plans," he claims.
The executive explains that this is not the company’s first attempt at reaching the foreign market. "In 2004, we had our first experience with the Netherlands, but realised that we still had a long way to go before we were up to the task. We spent the next four years studying the Latin American market and outlining strategies so that we could begin exporting to neighbouring countries, because of the ease of communication, time zone and the perception of value of our products and costs," he explains.
According to Dariva, the company usually participates in financial market fairs and promotes several events in partnership with RIM, the manufacturer of the BlackBerry, and also with mobile operator companies. "This year, we are going to take part in events in the United States, Colombia and a few others that have not been defined yet, linked to initiatives of the Brazilian government for backing up national companies’ export efforts," he says.
Despite the fact that the exported share is still quite small, only three weeks after the launch of the free BlackBerry translator software, the product is already being used by nearly 5,000 people in more than 70 different countries. "In the next promotional releases, we are going to add new languages, so as to include Asian and Middle Eastern countries," said Dariva.
Founded in the city of São Paulo in January 2003, Navita, generates approximately 40 direct jobs and caters to clients in various segments, among them the Pine bank, the Suzano Group, the VR Group, Porto Seguro and CCR Group. The unit in São Paulo is in charge of developing new businesses and projects, and the unit in the city of Florianópolis focuses on product research and development.
Navita counts on a certified team that was trained by RIM (Research in Motion). The company offers the following products: Navita Portal, turned to corporate Web portal design and content management; Navita Contact, for management of e-mail support services, and ombudsman and helpdesk automation; and Navita Mobile, a product for BlackBerry applications.
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
