32. Comvision Australia

Revenue: $6.4 million
Growth: 16.95%
Founder: Owen Johnson
Head office: Wheelers Hill, VIC
Year founded: 2004
Employees: 30
Industry: Professional Services
Website: comvision.com.au

How Comvision started

As a fresh-faced university graduate, Owen Johnson co-founded Comvision Australia with a mission to empower SMEs with IT solutions, particularly in the manufacturing and engineering sectors. While computers were common in workplaces back then, many smaller organisations hadn’t yet grasped their potential for boosting productivity and efficiency.

Johnson recognised these sectors depended on technology for their operations but lacked an understanding of the risks of IT system failures. His team of experts delivered outsourced IT manager and IT support services, offering advice, budget assistance and long-term solutions. 

Growth

Over time, Comvision Australia has expanded its services to include IT automation and cybersecurity, growing significantly in staff, revenue and profitability. But the transition from a single-person operation to a larger enterprise saw all the common pitfalls many small businesses face – in particular, struggles around hiring and training staff, delegating jobs, balancing core work with administrative responsibilities, and maintaining a work-life balance.

Johnson says learning to work on the business rather than in it was a big factor. He started to systematise processes, established an organisational structure and trained his team to take on roles only he had traditionally filled. Shifting his role from an income generator to a force-multiplier was a pivotal lesson.

Where to next

Comvision Australia’s isn’t finished growing. It wants to continue to evolve, particularly by expanding its service offering to mid-sized enterprises. Its holistic approach not only offers IT support and management, but also comprehensive cybersecurity management. This includes expertise in governance, risk and compliance – an area where many organisations lack specific knowledge and capability.

Johnson and his team want to continue empowering businesses with the right knowledge so they can harness technology effectively, futureproofing them against an increasingly digitised world.