When the news broke that Eskom had awarded its National Power Grid Intelligence Tender to Actom Smart Technology and CT LAB, it marked a significant moment for South African infrastructure. The deployment of 1,300 VECTO edge-computing devices effectively establishes the world’s most visible electricity grid.
For the team at Superdecks, this milestone represents the culmination of a four-year partnership. While CT LAB engineered the hardware to solve Africa’s power quality needs, our role was to engineer the brand trajectory that would take this technology to market.
Translating Complexity into Clarity
The challenge with deep-tech products—specifically those involving edge computing and grid intelligence—is communication. The engineering is often brilliant, but the value proposition can easily get lost in technical specifications.
Four years ago, Superdecks began working with CT LAB to develop the VECTO brand identity and strategy. Our objective was clear: we needed to translate highly technical capabilities into a coherent brand story that resonated with engineers and procurement committees alike.
We moved the narrative beyond just “monitoring hardware.” Instead, we positioned VECTO as a comprehensive intelligence platform—the “backbone” of a modern smart grid. This required a visual identity and communication strategy that signalled reliability, innovation, and global competence.
Differentiation in a Crowded Market
In the tender announcement, Thabeka Sonelu, chairperson of Eskom’s tender committee, noted that CT LAB’s offering “stood apart, even from some steep international competition.”
This is the core function of strategic branding. In a competitive tender process, technical parity is often assumed. The differentiator becomes how effectively a company communicates its solution. Over our four-year engagement, Superdecks managed the ongoing marketing and strategic positioning to ensure that every touchpoint—from the visual identity to the sales collateral—reinforced VECTO’s position as the market leader.
We helped ensure that when decision-makers looked at VECTO, they didn’t just see a device; they saw a viable, long-term partner for national infrastructure.
From Stellenbosch to the Global Stage
Today, VECTO devices are monitoring the heartbeat of the South African grid, and the brand is expanding into the EU, Canada, and Australia.
For business leaders and decision-makers, the takeaway is straightforward. Having a superior product is essential, but it is rarely enough on its own. To secure national tenders and international market share, technical excellence must be paired with strategic clarity.
At Superdecks, we believe that the most complex problems deserve the clearest communication. We are proud to have played our part in VECTO’s journey from a Stellenbosch innovator to the intelligence behind Africa’s largest smart grid.
