Big Hand for firm's focus on clientele

Courier Mail: 08/01/2007
By Carin Pickworth

 WHILE it would have been nice to slip into cruise control, integrated marketing solutions company Devnet has hit the brakes for the best interests of its business.

Named Queensland's No.1 internet company in the 2006 Deloitte Technology Fast 50, Devnet has experienced 272 per cent revenue growth in the past three years – making it a confirmed leader in technology development in Australia.

Devnet's managing director Craig Deveson says the secret to the company's rapid growth is the combination of relating to its customers and knowing when to stop.

"We managed to grow so quickly due to flexibility," Mr Deveson says. "We could have grown further and much quicker, but we decided to wind things back for the sake of quality.

"It has been for the better of our customers now and our future customers."

Devnet offers customers online marketing solutions that enable companies to tailor programs to their clients, and as a result has secured a major contract with Telstra online.

Mr Deveson says competition for technology companies is hotting up in Brisbane, but a customer service focus allows Devnet to stand apart from the rest.

"Our business is based upon servicing the individual needs of our customers and we deliver this by being both a marketing company and an IT web development firm," he says.

Devnet expanded to Brisbane from its Melbourne base in 2003, a move so favourable it has encouraged the young company to expand overseas. "We plan further expansion nationally within the next two years and into Asia thereafter."

The success of Devnet comes off the back of research out of CPA Australia that one in three small businesses fail to maximise their IT investments. The findings come out of CPA Australia's latest small business survey Information Technology – Its Impact on Small Business.