Exel Petroleum has appointed Comparex Africa PetroChem, a division of Comparex Africa, as its preferred supplier for all its information communication technology (ICT) requirements.
The four-year outsourcing agreement includes the purchase of all Exel`s old equipment and replacing it with a newly designed architecture, as well as positioning Exel as a `Net Liberated Organisation` (NLO).
"We are proud to have concluded an agreement with a client of this calibre and look forward to supporting Exel`s vision for growth," says Richardt Human, Business Development Manager, Comparex Africa PetroChem.
PetroChem has designed a new IT infrastructure to incorporate all current systems and applications in use by Exel. The design is scalable to accommodate future requirements and can be managed remotely to lower support costs and raise service levels.
"Comparex Africa PetroChem competed with four other companies for this contract," says Jaco du Preez, Group IT Manager, Exel Petroleum. "We are extremely pleased with PetroChem`s approach to our ICT challenges. The way in which they structured Exel`s strategic ICT growth-path met 100% of the very stringent evaluation criteria we set. PetroChem`s commitment towards BEE targets, and assisting in achieving our corporate vision, shows its dedication towards the task at hand."
The new design facilitates the `self-service concept` developed by PetroChem, using design principles that enable Exel users to customise their own services profile based on rules defined by themselves. PetroChem will support the new infrastructure with its support processes and personnel. All Exel information technology personnel will be transferred to PetroChem.
PetroChem has also developed a model, which will position Exel in the future as a NLO, this means that Exel and its business partners will have access to the latest information they need to meet their business growth targets.
Exel`s CEO Maurice Radebe explains why the marriage with Comparex is beneficial. "Since its inception in 1997, Exel has grown to a R1.5 billion turnover company with more than 100 service stations. Exel currently employs over 70 people and provides petroleum products to major customers which include Transnet, The South African Police Services, Eskom, Imperial, Wonderwater Mine, etc. Exel has in a short space of time grown its market share to more than 3%. As a significant player in the market Exel would therefore like to continue providing its customers with best in class products and services. We believe that the agreement with Comparex will ensure that we meet our customer ever-increasing demands with relative ease."
As the custodian of Exel`s IT governance, PetroChem will ensure that all technology delivered to Exel will comply with standards in accordance with agreed governance principles. PetroChem will not only provide services directly and own Exel`s IT assets, but will also source and leverage the deployment of solutions from other service providers in the industry.
After the new infrastructure and processes have been stabilised, PetroChem in conjunction with Exel will address building the future application platform to support Exel`s objectives.
"We are confident that PetroChem is more than capable of managing all our ICT services from now until 2005 and beyond," concludes Du Preez.
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Comparex Africa is the leading integrator of ICT-based business solutions that make its clients more successful. Based on a strong customer-centric approach, Comparex Africa delivers technology-business solutions from the full range of competencies within its group that align its clients` strategic and operational business needs.
Comparex Africa`s client-centric structure stems from its Systems Integration Model, a methodology that allows for flexibility and close client relationships. Offering business solutions that address all areas of its clients business, Comparex Africa services organisations within the corporate and large enterprise, government and parastatal markets as well as within the medium enterprise sector in all vertical markets. As an organisation with its roots firmly embedded in Africa, Comparex Africa reflects a cultural diversity, relying on the unique contribution of each of its skilled employees to succeed. Transformation is an overriding business imperative for Comparex Africa and as such it has dedicated resources from across the organisation to drive employment equity, economic empowerment and social investment programmes.
Comparex Africa is the African division of Comparex Holdings, the JSE Securities Exchange-listed multinational. Comparex Holdings was recently recognised by Financial Mail as SA`s top company over five years.
For more information on Comparex Africa, visit: www.comparexafrica.co.za
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