We’ve been building smarter business systems that optimise operations since 1990.

We’ve been building smarter business systems that optimise operations since 1990.

Smarter business systems tailored for your needs

At ViaData, we’ve been building smarter business systems since 1990. Founded in South Africa, we exist to help organisations optimise operations, adapt faster, and scale smarter with custom, cloud-hosted software solutions.

Unlike one-size-fits-all vendors, we partner closely with clients to understand their unique needs and deliver systems that reflect how they work best.

Our proprietary Catalyst™ platform accelerates development, reduces risk, and ensures every solution is agile, adaptable, and future-proof.

With over 30 years of success across industries, from agriculture and finance to logistics and manufacturing, we’ve built a reputation for responsiveness, reliability, and results.

Smarter business systems tailored for your needs

At ViaData, we’ve been building smarter business systems since 1990. Founded in South Africa, we exist to help organisations optimise operations, adapt faster, and scale smarter with custom, cloud-hosted software solutions.

Unlike one-size-fits-all vendors, we partner closely with clients to understand their unique needs and deliver systems that reflect how they work best.

Our proprietary Catalyst™ platform accelerates development, reduces risk, and ensures every solution is agile, adaptable, and future-proof.

With over 30 years of success across industries, from agriculture and finance to logistics and manufacturing, we’ve built a reputation for responsiveness, reliability, and results.

The value we offer

Smart Systems. Built Around You.
ViaData delivers custom, cloud-based business systems that fit your workflow, not the other way around.

Custom Software Solutions
Tailored platforms built rapidly with our Catalyst™ engine, cutting dev time and cost in half. Agile, scalable, and made to evolve with your business.

Fruit Industry Solutions
Trusted by leaders like Dole and Maersk, our ERP tools handle everything from export docs to grower payments and cold chain logistics.

Travelyst (by ViaData)
An all-in-one travel operations platform transforming how tour operators manage bookings, suppliers, itineraries, and more.

From enterprise giants to growing SMEs, we help businesses break free from rigid systems, and build the tech that drives them forward.

Active Users across all clients

Travelyst Active Users

Customers over 35 years

Active Users across all clients

Travelyst Active Users

Customers over 35 years

The
business
case

Many businesses feel trapped between rigid off-the-shelf software and slow, costly custom builds. Generic ERP, CRM, and SCM systems often demand expensive customisation or force teams to compromise their unique processes and competitive edge.

ViaData solves this problem.

ViaData’s Catalyst™ platform delivers rapid, scalable solutions tailored to your competitive edge. We partner with clients, leveraging their deep operational knowledge to build systems that actually work for them.

The result? Faster rollouts, lower costs, and software that evolves with you, not against you.

Directors

Craig Byren
Managing Director, Viadata

Craig Byren is the Managing Director of ViaData and its resident problem-solver. He joined in 1992 and has driven the company’s growth through bespoke software solutions. In 2004, after steadily increasing his shareholding as he became Managing Director, guided by a hands-on leadership style and firm belief in ViaData’s potential.

A systems thinker, he blends technical expertise with business acumen. He was instrumental in developing Catalyst, Viadata’s business systems engine, and continues to work closely with the technical team. With a background in information systems and accounting, he brings a practical, data-driven approach. He thrives on complex challenges, from strategic decisions to software design. He is passionate about creating effective solutions and delivering them quickly enough to remain relevant.

Earlier in his career, Craig worked at Shell South Africa and Info-Plan, gaining experience in development, planning, and network administration. He is fluent across both legacy and modern platforms, from COBOL to Catalyst. Outside work, Craig believes in balance and lives by the motto “work hard, play harder”, spending time with his family, golfing, or hiking, ideally far from his inbox.

Alister Main

Director of Systems Development

Alister heads the systems development at ViaData, combining deep technical expertise with a passion for simplifying complexity. As the architect of Catalyst, he leads the team to design smart, elegant software that addresses real business challenges.
With experience ranging from hardware engineering to software leadership, Alister offers a rare blend of logic, creativity, and practical know-how. He excels at translating complex requirements into clean, efficient systems that simply work.

Outside of work, Alister enjoys trail running, weight training, and spending time with his family.

Sabi Isaacs

Director of Business Analysis

Sabi leads business analysis at ViaData, working closely with all clients to design, implement, and support intelligent software solutions. She has been instrumental on major accounts such as DOLE and Santam, managing everything from software prototyping, training and implementation.
With a strong background in insurance and a keen eye for practical systems, she bridges the gap between business needs and technical delivery. Sabi is recognised for her hands-on approach and ability to stay focused, even on the most complex projects.

Beyond work, she is a dedicated mother of four who still manages to fit in the occasional beach camping trip as well.

OUR DRIVING PHILOSOPHY

ViaData is the go-to partner and facilitator for those seeking to evolve and improve the way they run their everyday operations.

ViaData flexes and grows with its clients, constantly improving its offering and empowering key strategic decision makers with agile software solutions that are fit-for-purpose, freeing the user up, to do more of the things they’d rather be doing.

People come first

BEE

ViaData is a competency-driven, equal opportunity employer committed to genuine empowerment and value creation.

We prioritise continuous staff development, fostering critical thinking, initiative, and flexibility, with nearly half our employees holding shares in the company.

Our proactive BEE strategy focuses on meaningful empowerment, achieving nearly 50% procurement from Black-owned businesses, transferring 26% equity to Black employees, and promoting diverse leadership, including a Black female Financial Director on our board. Despite industry skill shortages, Viadata consistently hires previously disadvantaged talent and remains dedicated to surpassing ICT BEE Charter standards.

Social
Responsibility

At ViaData, our commitment to community engagement continues to evolve alongside the needs of those around us. For over 25 years, we supported educational excellence through a partnership with UCT’s Commerce Faculty – including an annual award for the top final-year Information Systems project and mentorship for IS Honours students transitioning into the workforce.

More recently, our efforts have expanded to meet broader social challenges.

During the COVID-19 lockdowns, we established a support fund for individuals who provide personal services to our staff – including hairdressers, cleaners, and physiotherapists – offering shopping vouchers, direct financial assistance, and food packs to help navigate the disruption.

We provide annual support to the Solstice Foundation, an NGO driving outreach in education, sport, homeless shelters, and reading development.

In 2024, our Managing Director completed a Robben Island–to–Blouberg Strand swim to raise funds for Aspire Youth, an organisation empowering young South Africans through business training and personal development. Contributions came from ViaData and many of our customers.

We’ve recently launched a Bursary Fund to support the educational needs of under-resourced youth, helping unlock access to learning and opportunity.

BEE

ViaData is a competency-driven, equal opportunity employer committed to genuine empowerment and value creation.

We prioritise continuous staff development, fostering critical thinking, initiative, and flexibility, with nearly half our employees holding shares in the company.

Our proactive BEE strategy focuses on meaningful empowerment, achieving nearly 50% procurement from Black-owned businesses, transferring 26% equity to Black employees, and promoting diverse leadership, including a Black female Financial Director on our board. Despite industry skill shortages, Viadata consistently hires previously disadvantaged talent and remains dedicated to surpassing ICT BEE Charter standards.

Social
Responsibility

At ViaData, our commitment to community engagement continues to evolve alongside the needs of those around us. For over 25 years, we supported educational excellence through a partnership with UCT’s Commerce Faculty – including an annual award for the top final-year Information Systems project and mentorship for IS Honours students transitioning into the workforce.

More recently, our efforts have expanded to meet broader social challenges.

During the COVID-19 lockdowns, we established a support fund for individuals who provide personal services to our staff – including hairdressers, cleaners, and physiotherapists – offering shopping vouchers, direct financial assistance, and food packs to help navigate the disruption.

We provide annual support to the Solstice Foundation, an NGO driving outreach in education, sport, homeless shelters, and reading development.

In 2024, our Managing Director completed a Robben Island–to–Blouberg Strand swim to raise funds for Aspire Youth, an organisation empowering young South Africans through business training and personal development. Contributions came from ViaData and many of our customers.

We’ve recently launched a Bursary Fund to support the educational needs of under-resourced youth, helping unlock access to learning and opportunity.