The Integr8 Group, the largest privately owned BEE ICT managed services company on the African continent, has been awarded a substantial extension of its full outsource agreement with Amadeus Southern Africa in South Africa. Service, complete support and managed services will now also be extended to another nine African countries.
Amadeus, as an established global provider of marketing, distribution and IT services to the travel industry, employs in excess of 9 000 people and facilitates bookings for 104 400 travel agency locations and 36 600 airline sales offices.
This latest development within the alliance follows a stringent request for proposal process, by Amadeus Southern Africa and the company's Europe-based central office, initiated to review the company's market engagement strategy. This would facilitate expansion with a strategic ICT partner going forwards.
The agreement represents a renewal and expansion of the current service level agreement and partnership in place between the two companies. It is also an outsource agreement that effectively extends the partnership beyond South and southern Africa and into the rest of the SADC region.
Peter Long, General Manager, Amadeus GTD Southern Africa, said the decision to partner with the Integr8 Group was based on the managed ICT services company's exemplary track record in service and support, proven expertise in the market, and sustained presence within the domestic and international marketplace.
The Integr8 Group has an established footprint within the Africa market with regional offices that continue to provide managed ICT service and support in Kenya, Lesotho, Mozambique, Nairobi, Nigeria, Zambia and Zimbabwe, among others.
Furthermore, the Integr8 Group held appeal as a prospective partner to Amadeus, having provided important technical services and support over a period of 10 years. This level of service and support is instrumental in reinforcing existing systems designed for the competitive travel services sector.
The travel vertical is viewed by the Integr8 Group as being highly strategic in value and one that continues to hold a great deal of opportunity for the right service provider.
“We have known the Integr8 Group for many years. We have entrusted the reliability and efficiency of our core operational network and ICT services infrastructure to the management of this group and they have, to date, performed exceptionally well and have always delivered on target,” says Long.
“Due to the fact that Amadeus is a very dynamic company delivering services to a dynamic and unique industry, it was important for us to identify an ICT support partner that is able to adjust and perform accordingly to our customer market. Our choice in supplier would need to be flexible regarding services and committed regarding deliverables, as well as have a healthy, proven track record within the ICT services industry. The proposal submitted by the Integr8 Group was by far the best solution and costing for which the RFP was issued. As such, Amadeus will be outsourcing all its ICT services for the entire African continent, including an additional nine countries to the Integr8 Group,” he continues.
Executive management at the Integr8 Group believes this latest development in the partnership represents a significant achievement for the company and strengthens its Africa expansion strategy.
“We are very pleased with the results of this critical RFP process initiated by Amadeus. They are the leading global ICT travel service, with an established and firm reputation throughout the world. We are delighted to be a part of the expansion process, to continue to support key ICT services in South Africa and now expand via our footprint in Africa. Our strategy will remain to grow with them locally and abroad, and within international territories remains a priority on our agenda. At the same time, we are also encouraged by the additional level of credibility this development offers our growth strategy within Africa. The region remains a strategic market for the Integr8 Group,” says Robert Sussman, joint CEO, The Integr8 Group.
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