African Life has appointed EDS to take over and manage its central mainframe processing. The insurer expects the five-year agreement to reduce IT costs, improve security and allow it to improve its service to its internal users, its brokers and its clients.
EDS will move African Life`s mainframe processing into its computer centre in Senderwood, Johannesburg. Its world-class facilities, security and infrastructure will enable the outsourcing company to guarantee significantly higher service levels.
African Life, a subsidiary of Real Africa Investments, is one of the country`s fastest growing insurance companies. Its decision to outsource its mainframe processing was driven not only by current business requirements but also to accommodate its medium and long-term strategy. "More than ever before, smart management of information is the key to client service in the insurance industry," said Kobus Jacobs, deputy GM: information technology at African Life. "Virtually every aspect of our business performance is dependent on reliable access to up-to-the-minute information. In a business that`s growing as rapidly as ours, and where our needs are evolving in ways that are not always easy to predict, outsourcing provides the most flexible long-term solution."
Jacobs said EDS had been selected not only because of its resources - its superior facilities and its local and international expertise - but also because it understood Aflife`s business and was willing to provide the required flexibilities and guarantee its performance.
@EditorNote = EDS
EDS is a leader in the global information services industry. The company`s more than 120 000 employees specialise in applying a range of ideas and technologies to help business and government clients improve their finances, products, services and relationships. EDS, which serves clients in 45 countries, reported revenues of US $16.9 billion in 1998. The company`s stock is traded on the New York and London stock exchanges. EDS Africa has grown rapidly since opening its doors in South Africa in 1995, increasing its staff complement from 600 to over 2 000, often taking on staff from client companies in outsourcing deals. Visit EDS via the Internet at http://www.eds.com and EDS Africa at http://www.za.eds.com.
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