In a move to increase the local and global competitiveness of southern African companies using information technology, the Technology & Operations Division of Nedcor Bank Limited has agreed in principle to form a joint venture with one of India`s major software companies, International Computers (India) Limited - ICIL.
The newly formed company will market services in the telecommunications, retail, utilities, banking and insurance sectors in southern Africa, leveraging its relationship with ICIL to provide world class turnkey projects, software maintenance and professional services solutions. Nedcor Bank has been signed up as the joint venture`s first client.
ICIL has been assessed at SEI-CMM Level 5, the highest level of Carnegie-Mellon University`s Software Engineering Institute and has strategic alliances with Microsoft, Oracle and Siebel.
Says Barry Hore, executive director of Nedcor Bank`s Technology & Operations Division: "The formation of this alliance is in line with our strategy to associate with world class players.
"In southern Africa, we have a shortage of specific IT skills and our partnership with ICIL will allow Nedcor Bank and other clients to supplement this shortfall with professional skills to improve on system quality, time to market and scalability.
"At the same time, we want to leverage ICIL`s world class software development capability and facilities to educate and train previously disadvantaged South African resources.
"The partnership is ideal in that we both have strong process driven cultures and together we will apply ICIL`s branded service offerings. "Building on the experience gained with Nedcor Bank, the new company will apply this learning to further tailor its offerings to the southern African market.
"We believe this approach will provide the edge over other software houses from India, China, the Philippines and players in the developed world."
Following the international trend towards off shore development centres - as evidenced by ICIL clients P&O Nedlloyd (transportation), Informix, Sprint, Cisco Systems and other large Fortune 500 companies - the partnership will leverage the strong ICIL team in India. ICIL also has operations in the US, Europe, Japan, the Far East and Australia.
Says Carol Marshall, managing director of the joint venture: "ICIL has superior software services capability but is still flexible according to the client requirements and local conditions.
"We plan to reduce the cost of information technology as well as increase solution effectiveness, efficiency and output quality. Ultimately, we will enable our clients to be more successful and competitive.
"We can also assist Nedcor Bank and other companies to uplift the quality of their internal processes, as evidenced by ICIL productivity measures."
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