JSE's Blue Financial Services outsources to Integr8 IT

Issued by MicroZone for Integr8
Johannesburg, 16 Aug 2007

Blue Financial Services, the JSE AltX (Alternative Exchange)-listed financial services company, has outsourced the management and maintenance of its IT operation to Integr8 IT, South Africa's largest privately owned national IT network integration and infrastructure management specialist.

Blue Financial Services is based in Gauteng, South Africa, and has successfully entrenched its business network across key areas in Africa, including Botswana, Cameroon, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia. It is also expanding into West Africa. The company has over 106 branches and a staff complement of over 600 people.

Its service offering to clients includes personal loans, mobile technology and home improvement loans. Roll-out in Africa and the realisation of its capital-raising strategy is a key priority for the company as it minimises regulatory risk and mitigates exposure to exchange rates.

Management sought to outsource the capability and care of its ICT infrastructure to a prospective partner with an established track record in the market.

The two companies committed to a service level agreement in 2006. As the outsourced ICT partner, Integr8 IT continues to supply proactive infrastructure management services, product and support, as well as assist Blue Financial Services with its strategic IT direction.

To date Blue Financial Services has invested in a number of services outlined in Integr8 IT's managed services portfolio. These services include complete IT Infrastructure rental and Microsoft Active Directory & Exchange roll-out in South Africa and Africa, as well as the entire connectivity and hosting services.

"Integr8 IT has provided its client and partner with cutting-edge technology to bolster productivity and improve communications and efficiencies between branches and improve Blue Financial Services response times to its client base. This has a direct impact on its image and performance in the market place," says Robert Sussman, MD of Integr8 IT.

Bennie Strydom, sales director of Integr8 IT, says Integr8 IT is positioned to add value to clients that are expanding their infrastructure and require expertise on how to extract the maximum value with minimal cost and interruption to core business.

"Blue Financial Services is [the] up-and-coming financial services provider in Southern and East Africa. It has broken the mould of the traditional 'microlender' and continues to demonstrate a fresh, dynamic approach to the financial services market. The partnership with Integr8 IT has been instrumental in helping to secure its position at the forefront of technology, thus ensuring back-office functions and client service standards are maintained," says Strydom.

Integr8 IT

Integr8 IT is South Africa's largest privately owned fully-empowered network and infrastructure management company.

A renowned leader in the field of system integration, infrastructure management and support services, the company employs a wealth of highly-skilled, best of breed, certified system engineers who are directly involved in high level consulting, support and integration.

Integr8 IT has brought to market the Nerve Centre (www.nervecentre.co.za), South Africa's first ever digital hub, managing and regulating many of the country's leading corporations.

The company's core focus is on network infrastructures specialising in design, planning, deployment, management and maintenance. Offices are located in Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, and the company has representation in Port Elizabeth, East London, and across the southern Africa region.

Integr8 IT is a Microsoft Certified Gold Partner for Advanced Infrastructure Solutions, Network Infrastructure Solutions, Information Worker Solutions, and OEM Solutions.

It has been acknowledged and accredited with many awards, namely: Microsoft Gold Partner of the Year, African ICT Achievers - CIO of the Year for Africa, Best Customer Experience of the Year, Network Infrastructure Solution of the Year, Security Solution of the Year for Middle-East, Africa, & Eastern Europe, Advanced Infrastructure Solutions, and many others, every year, since its inception.

Named as one of the country's top ICT companies and honoured with a position among South Africa's Technology Top 100 Companies, Integr8 IT has established itself as a strategic partner with numerous internationally-recognised technology vendors and industry leaders, including: 3Com, Attix 5, CA, Citrix, Cisco, IBM, Intel, Microsoft, MTN Network Solutions, Sun Microsystems, T-Systems and Verizon Business.

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