Leading IT systems and communications distributor Comztek has concluded a Microsoft licensing agreement - in conjunction with Microsoft large account reseller (LAR) and infrastructure services provider Enterprise Connection - for NMG-Levy Consultants and Actuaries.
The deal is one of the largest Microsoft open subscription licence (OSL) agreements to be signed in SA.
Matthew Lee, account manager at Comztek, says the OSL contract has been signed with NMG-Levy for a period of three years, a deal he describes as a significant achievement since OSL contracts are not easily signed in SA.
Lee says the deal signed with NMG-Levy is indicative of the growing willingness by South African corporates to rent or re-finance software rather than to purchase all software outright.
"NMG-Levy opted to finance its Microsoft software, because the Microsoft OSL option gives the company rights to free maintenance upgrades through software assurance, product training and gives NMG-Levy employees the option to personally purchase software at 30% to 40% discounted rates during the three-year contract period," he adds.
The deal at NMG-Levy incorporates a basket of products from the Microsoft stable, including desktop, operating system and Office upgrades, server and Exchange upgrades, installation and roll-out, as well as hardware.
Veena Pather, Enterprise Connection strategic marketing manager, says Comztek`s superior customer service levels, competitive pricing and commitment to long-term relationships were core reasons for Enterprise Connection selecting Comztek as its distribution partner.
"Comztek offers the right balance of technical expertise, product knowledge and fast turnaround times to complement our sales and service offering on OSL agreements for large customers. Thanks to teamwork, we were able to successfully provide the customer with the required components and licensing expertise," she adds.
Helena Badenhorst, Microsoft licensing specialist at Enterprise Connection, says the company`s eight Microsoft licensing experts - one of the largest complements of Microsoft Licensing skills in the country - always ensure that licensing agreements are ideally matched to the customers` requirements. Enterprise Connection`s unique LicenceRight methodology ensured the customer is correctly licensed at all times and measures compliance risk by ongoing, proactive contract and licence management.
"The benefits of Microsoft`s OSL agreement are numerous," says Badenhorst. "In addition to free ongoing maintenance upgrades, which also speeds up deployment of the technology, it gives customers free training to up-skill the user base faster and more effectively, utilising the Microsoft e-learning modules. And, the OSL agreement offers employees free home-use rights of the software.
"In addition, once a company reaches the end of its software licensing agreement, it has an option to either purchase the products outright, renew the licensing agreement, or uninstall the software," she explains.
Enterprise Connection is a Comztek Gold Certified Partner, a Microsoft Large Account Reseller and a Gold Certified Partner for Enterprise Systems.
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