PoolSense gets an investment boost!

Pioneers in pool technology receive a boost

Sebata Holdings Limited (JSE:SEB), through a 100% owned subsidiary, acquired a 30% stake in ProAutomation (Pty) Ltd. The pioneers in pool technology.

Transformed costly pool maintenance

The PoolSense device has transformed the complex and costly management of pool maintenance since its launch in December 2018. Allowing owners to monitor and self-manage their pool with a few clicks of their smartphone. Utilising the PoolSense smart pool monitor to transmit water quality – chlorine levels, pH levels, and temperature, via the SigFox network. The consumer is able to continually stay on top of their pool maintenance, reducing the cost and effort to seasonally restore one’s pool to safe swimming standards. The app not only alerts for readings that are of concern but recommends the action required to restore the water to the correct levels.

Recognised opportunity

Sebata recognises the opportunity on the continent as shown by Statista, given that the Home Automation industry will reach US$414m (R6.4bn) in 2020, and revenue is expected to show an annual growth rate of 16.0%, resulting in a market volume of US$749m (R11.6bn) by 2024. While household penetration is expected to reach 5.3% in 2020, estimates are that it will hit 11.5% by 2024. Commonly we view these devices and apps to be appliances like fridges, TVs, toasters and lights, but increasingly home automation is making new aspects more manageable, more efficient, and cost-saving.

Future plans

In Africa’s climate, with water hygiene and availability a huge focus, there exists a huge potential for Sebata and Pro Automation. Explains Heinrich Heesen, Founder at Pro Automation (Pty) Ltd. “While the household pool market is the initial focus, we intend to expand the product into the industrial, municipal and utility space by capturing the market for monitoring drinking water quality within their reticulation network.”

The company fits straight into our investment mandate of having strong IP and a strong management team. We see this as a product with strong international growth and will leverage off Sebata’s UK office to do so. This will serve to directly compliment Sebata’s water technologies division and the municipal clients it serves. In addition, Sebata will bring strong design and manufacturing capability to assist with new product developments from our facilities in Durban,” adds Craig King, CEO of Sebata Holdings.

“This device has completely changed my life owning a pool,” said Chetan Goshalia, Chief Sales and Marketing Officer at Sqwidnet, “After 12 years of being a pool owner, I have never experienced my pool being crystal clear until I started using the PoolSense device. No headaches, and impressively cost-saving.”

Sebata

Sebata is an ICT company, listed on the Main Board of the JSE, with four key divisions, namely software solutions, water technologies, consulting and ICT support services. These are primarily focused on smart city technologies and support.